Saturday, January 24, 2009

For Whom Did Christ Give Himself?

For Whom Did Christ Give Himself?

Many well-intentioned Christians argue that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was for every man that inhabits the Earth. All that man must do is accept the gift of Christ. I submit unto you that Christ did not atone for the sins of all of mankind but a particular people. Notice the following passages:

His People

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

His Friends

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

His Sheep

John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

His Church

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

For Many

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

For Us

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

For Me

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

If Christ died for every man, then all would be in Heaven. The truth is that Christ died for the elect chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. To preach that Christ’s atonement was universal and that it is up to man to ‘finish the job’ is to preach a weak savior. I am thankful that my God redeemed a particular people, and ALL of them will be in Haeven some sweet day.

Bro. Michael Green, Jr.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Is God Fair?

Is God Fair?

When we discuss biblical topics such as the sovereignty of God and election/predestination, inevitably someone will question the fairness of such. Ultimately, they are questioning the fairness of God. Let us allow the Bible to speak for itself regarding God's fairness.

-Abraham
Gen 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Jam 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

-Jacob (speaking of the righteousness of God in his life)
Gen 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant;

-Moses
Deut 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

-Elihu
Job 36:5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

-David
Psa 99:4 The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.

-Jeremiah
Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

-Nebuchadnezzar
Dan 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

-Jesus (speaking a parable about fairness)
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

It becomes abundantly clear that God is just, fair, and righteous in all of His dealings. In Romans 9:14 Paul writes, “What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid.” Our Lord has done all things well. May we (His people) conform ourselves to his will.

Have a great day of worship tomorrow!

Bro. Michael Green, Jr.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Note

Good Afternoon -

I have updated the Ft. Wayne PBC (www.ftwaynepbc.org) website with additional sermons and have added some writings/thoughts to my blog. The sermons have been tested and are working correctly. I hope to add more in the days to come. They are in MP3 format and will have to be downloaded before they can be heard.

I want to especially thank Brother Paul Colter for his labors in digitizing the sermons and express appreciation to the others who have offered suggestions. My goal is to provide a comprehensive site for people our area that might be interested in attending Ft. Wayne PBC. Lord willing, more resources will be added in the future. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

I am also attending a meeting later this week that will enable me to produce a local access T.V. program it the Ft. Wayne area. I would like to either create a talk show dealing with the doctrines of grace or eventually broadcast Primitive Baptist sermons on television. I am very excited about this prospect. Ft. Wayne has over 200,000 people. My desire is for all of them to at least know about the truth that we believe. Please pray for this endeavor.

Have a great week!

Bro. Michael

THINGS THAT WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN GOING INTO A NEW YEAR

THINGS THAT WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN GOING INTO A NEW YEAR

We are indeed living in times of uncertainty. As we enter into a new year our nation faces worries governmentally, economically, globally, and personally. We do not know what tomorrow holds as we enter into 2009. However, it is a great blessing to know who holds tomorrow. This was joy to the first century Christians who faced similar trials.

The early church was plagued with much uncertainty as it struggled with spiritually darkness, antichrists, evil seducers, deceivers; all of which spring forth from the devil. It appears that they were so shaken by the attacks of the evil one that they begin to doubt their own salvation and relationship with the Lord. Notice the following teachings of John, Paul and Jesus.

In I John 5, John reassures them of a few of the innumerable certainties they have as God’s children. In particular, he reminds them that they know that they have eternal life. John writes, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God (v.13).” The greatest assurance that we have as God’s children is that we have a home beyond this sin-cursed earth. Jesus Christ laid down his life for the sins of the elect family of God (Matthew 1:21). He indeed saved his people from their sins. We were redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ and no one can separate us from the love of God. In Romans 8:38-39 the Apostle Paul wrote, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our relationship and eternal life is absolutely secure because of the efficacious work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Later, Paul wrote to the young minister Timothy regarding false teachers that would sow seeds of uncertainty amongst believers. In 2 Timothy 2 he wrote of those who taught error concerning the resurrection and had overthrown the faith of some of the Lord’s people. Did this destroy their eternal life? Were they no longer God’s children? No indeed! Again Paul writes, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. (v.19).” Paul was absolutely certain about the eternal life of those who were carried away in error. The Lord knows his people.

In John 6:37 Jesus stated that, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” This is great news for lowly sinners. Jesus did not come into the world to save everyone. He came to die for those that the father gave him (the elect). Through his sacrifice on the cross, all of these have eternal life. It is sad to think of the millions of well-meaning people who do not grasp this concept. It must be a great burden to not have the certainty of eternal life. Praise be to God that we can be sure. Not because of our works, but through the finished work of Christ we know that we will be face to face with the lord some day.

Whatever happens in the year to come may we rest on the promises of God and his word. The blessings of eternity far outweigh any trials that we face in this world. It is my prayer that we would diligently serve God on the foundation of this precious truth.

Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Ft. Wayne Primitive Baptist Church (www.ftwaynepbc.org) in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Ft. Wayne PBC meets every Sunday at 10:30am. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 758-0831 or by email at pastor@ftwaynepbc.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Ft. Wayne Primitive Baptist Church.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Interesting Thought on Adam's Transgression

I have been studying the subject of total depravity and found this snippet in A.W. Pink's, The Total Depravity of Man:

Very much more was included and involved in Adam’s transgression than is commonly supposed or recognized. Three hundred years ago that profound theologian James Ussher pointed out that wrapped up in it was "the breach of the whole Law of God." Summarizing in our own language what the Bishop of Armagh developed at length, Adam’s violation of all the Ten Commandments of the moral law may be set forth thus: He broke the first commandment by choosing another "god" when he followed the counsel of Satan. The second, in idolizing his palate, making a god of his belly by eating the forbidden fruit. The third, by not believing God’s threatening, in that way taking His name in vain. The fourth, by breaking the sinless rest in which he had been placed. The fifth, by thus dishonoring his Father in heaven. The sixth, by bringing death on himself and all his posterity. The seventh, by committing spiritual adultery, and preferring the creature above the Creator. The eighth, by laying hands upon that to which he had no right. The ninth, by accepting the serpent’s false witness against God. The tenth, by coveting that which God had not given to him.

It is interesting to see the depth of Adam's transgression of God's righteous law.

MG