some thoughts

Today we took up the last topic in our series on the foundations of the faith, namely, The Doctrine of Redemption (Redemption Applied). Together with Redemption Accomplished, [Creation, and Providence] this could be subsumed under the greater heading of “The Works of God.”

We began by reviewing our last session on Redemption Accomplished, remembering Christ’s work as Prophet, Priest, and King. I referenced Hebrews 10:14, pointing out that the purchase of redemption can be seen in the first part of the verse (For by a single offering he has perfected for all time…), and the application of it in the second (…them that are being sanctified). We then looked at Romans 8:28-30, noting that there are important distinctions to understand, both in our own devotional relationship with Christ, and in our evangelistic efforts. Incorrect theory leads to ineffective practice, and ineffective practice fails to be fruitful. Part of our “cultural mandate” (Matt. 28:16-20) includes a responsibility to understand this. So, we started by going through the various aspects of the entire process of salvation, using Part II of John Murray’s excellent little book, Redemption: Accomplished and Applied, as a guide.

• The Various aspects of the Redemption Fully Purchased by Christ.
1. Effectual Calling. The call in which “his sheep hear his voice.” Different from the general, gospel call. Matt. 11:25-26, 22:14; Romans 8:30; 1 Cor. 1:9; Ephesians 1-2; 1 John 3:1; 2 Tim. 1:9. Generally considered the special role of the Father in the covenant of redemption (though all three persons of the Godhead are involved in every aspect of creation, providence and redemption). This call is eternal and irrevocable (John 6:37-38; Romans 11:29).
2. Regeneration. “That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.” John 3. We must be born again before we can express faith, “enter the kingdom,” or even “see the kingdom.” This rebirth is precisely the promise of the New Covenant. As the Cambridge Declaration (1996) correctly (re)states, “Faith cannot be produced by our unregenerate nature.” See the story of Lazarus for a great illustration/analogy of this process (John 11). The point of John 3 is the necessity of the new birth for salvation, and the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit. Regeneration is neither baptismal or decisional–it is entirely monergistic and not synergistic (more, deeper still). Regeneration is the work of God alone.
3. Repentance and Faith. A turning away from false pleasures (sin, the flesh, the world, the devil) toward holy pleasures (Christ, purity, chastity, godliness, etc.). A fundamental correction of our innermost “wants.” The result, not the cause, of regeneration. John 1:12-13. Whereas regeneration is the work of God alone, repentance and faith (though a gift) are the work of man alone. The Holy Spirit enables this work–enablement which is itself a gift (Acts 11:18, 16:14; 2 Timothy 2:25; Romans 10, Lazarus example again). (I paused here to give the compass needle example–that we do not turn by external coercion, but by a fundamental change in our internal ‘principle,’ or ‘impetus,’ or ‘driver’ - the very composition of our nature is changed to be more attracted by God than by sin…so we turn.) These are a condition of salvation–where election is unconditional, salvation is not. We must repent and believe in Christ.
4. Justification. A declaration of our righteous standing before God, on the basis of Christ’s imputed righteousness. As John Stott said about 2 Cor. 5:21, “…Christ has no sin but ours, and we have no righteousness but his.” An event that happens on the basis of faith alone (or, sola fide) — the material cause of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. “It is faith alone that justifies; but the faith that justifies is never alone.” In contradistinction from the Roman catholic doctrine that justification is the reward of faith and good works, and which must be ’sustained’ or ‘maintained’ by faith and good works, or which can be increased. (more - see Canon IX, XI, XII, XXIV, XXV, XXX, XXXII). Romans, Phil. 3, Galatians, etc. Justification is an event, which precedes Sanctification.
5. Adoption. John 1:12-13; Romans 8:15-16; Galatians 4:6; Hebrews 2, 9-10; 1 John 3:1; Matthew 6:9. A most glorious truth, that God makes his enemies sons, whom he brings to his table and to his throne to rule alongside him.
6. Sanctification. The ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, whose trials and tribulations are never punishments or condemnation, but the loving discipline of our heavenly Father. It is a process, not an event, and will not be complete until we are glorified with Him. Romans 6-8 outlines the struggles of a believer, the fight between the new internal principle of the Spirit (or, the ‘new man’) against the desires of the flesh (or, the ‘old man’). Enablement to fight this fight is itself a gift of God; and part of the full redemption purchased by Christ on Calvary. Hebrews 10:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23.
7. Perseverance. Also part of the ‘full redemption’ purchased by Christ on Calvary. It is the distinguishing mark of a true saint, that he perseveres to the end. “Perseverance proves election–so persevere!” John 8:31-32; Hebrews 3:6,14, 10:14 (note verb tenses); Hebrews 6 (esp. vv. 9-12); Phil. 2:13; 1 Peter 1:10. As Piper has said, “we shall persevere and we must persevere!” Important to understanding this correctly is the doctrine of concurrence, discussed previously under the heading of the Doctrine of Providence.
8. Union with Christ. What Christ prayed for in John 17. Union with Christ, or (for Paul) being “in Christ” is a huge theme of Christianity–in fact, being in Christ is the nature and purpose, the means and the end, of Christianity–communion with Christ. 1 John 1:3.
9. Glorification. Our hope, the result of being with Christ. We shall see him as he is, and we shall know as we are known–the perfect will have come. We shall have new bodies–incorruptible. Death shall be swallowed up in life, Joy will always increase and never level off or decrease, it will always ebb and never flow, always rise and never diminish, it will grow increasingly more intense and never grow weary. Phil. 3 is the cry for this state; many other verses too numerous to list.
• We didn’t have time for it, but here I hoped to go through Questions 29-36 of The Westminster Catechism.
• I’d also prepared a chart comparing and contrasting the different views of today’s topic, namely Calvinism and Arminianism, which we didn’t get to. (Probably just as well.)

I wrapped up the class, and the course, with the amazing illustration of the essence of the Christian Life Sam Storms uses in Chapter 7 (”Sweeter Than All Pleasure”) of his excellent little book, OneThing: Developing a Passion for the Beauty of God…which I won’t give away here. For those who’ve read, or for those who will read, it’s the contrast between how Odysseus and Jason meet the Sirens’ Song. Pick up Dr. Storm’s book, and get the good stuff right from the source.

For those who attended the course, thank you so much for the honor and the privilege to teach you from His Word each week. The pressure drove me further into Him and His word, and I learned wonderful things from Him, and through you and your questions as well. I hope and pray these weeks have been instructional as well as inspirational, informative and reformative, that your heads have been enlightened and your hearts set ablaze for the glory of Christ Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

We’ll wrap up the series this evening at 6:30pm at the church, as Pastor Greg graciously leads us through the doctrinal distinctives of the Advent Christian denomination. Oh and yes…there will be pizza. Hope to see you there!