John 15d I am the Vine Predestination

Transcription

1 1 John 15d I am the Vine Predestination THIS IS A LONG STUDY! (I have suggested where you could split it. You will need a board and props: hats, box, tray, stick, pad & pen. John 15 v 1,2,6 & 16: 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. Pruning is good and produces fruitfulness we ll look at that another time. But Jesus says He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.. such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. Cutting off and burning is permanent and leaves us with a question mark over our salvation. Some would like to say that this only applies to those who were never true Christians, but that seems too glib an answer. Can we lose our salvation? This is an important question and we will look at that in the study Cutting Off. But it is inextricably linked with predestination, and we have to look at that first. Before we start though, we need to know that some of the arguments we will hear are very persuasive, but totally contradictory. Some people find that they can only accept one or the other. Some can accept both, but hold them in tension. We will therefore need to keep a very open mind and remember the words of Martin Luther who said (pre-written on board) Predestination is a mystery, which forbids the unprofitable intrusion of prying minds. In order to approach this subject we need to establish some basic facts. Let s read Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And v 31: God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning the sixth day. Now Genesis 2:1 to 3 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Before we go on it is important that we are prepared to accept that what the bible says is true. If we believe that sin entered through Adam then we have to Unless otherwise stated scripture quotations are from Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicized, NIV Copyright 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

2 2 believe in Adam and Eve. Therefore we have to accept the Garden of Eden. Personally I also accept seven days of creation. (There is a Christian viewpoint called Theistic Evolution which suggests that God used evolution to create the diversity we now have. This contradicts Genesis 1v24-25, and someone 1 suggested that that passage should read: let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds, and after 387,492,871 attempts God finally made a mouse that worked. And he said it was quite good, but he could probably improve it a bit.) (Give out verses) (2) Pre-written on Flip Chart 1. God is creator Out of nothing By his will For his purpose For His glory Gen 1v1; Ps 19v1-2; Ps 33v6,9; Is 43v7; Is 45v12; John 1v3; Acts 14v15; Acts 17v24-25; 1 Cor 8v6; Col 1v16; Heb 1v2; Heb 11v3; Rev4v11; Rev 10v6 2. God is Eternal Time cannot change God Time can have no effect on God s knowledge He never learns new things or forgets things He knows all things, past present and future Ps 90v2-4; Job 36v26; John 8v58; 2 Pet 3v8; Rev 1v8; 1Sam 2v3; 1Jn 3v20 3. God is not part of creation But creation is continually dependant on God The Bible is the record of God s involvement with his creation 4. God is active in preserving his creation Job 12v10; Acts 17v25,28; Col 1v17 Heb 1v3; Eph 4v6 Ps 139v13; Ex 4v11; Ps 104v14; Mat 6v26-30; Ps 104v21, So far most Christians would have agreed. But it is here we find Christians diverging. What do we mean by active in preserving his creation? (Checking everything is more or less ok, giving us laws of nature, or forcing his will? Allow discussion) (3,4,5) Have prepared a printed copy of this section cut into paragraphs and a box labelled God. As each paragraph is read put the paragraph in the box. Put on hat labelled CALVIN. JOHN CALVIN (Hence Calvinism or Reformed Church) argued that besides ensuring that the Earth continues to obey the Laws of Nature which he established, he is actually active in every single thing that happens. You can t have an all-powerful God unless he s in total control. Look at Job 37: Wayne Grudem: Systematic Theology, chapter 15, p277

3 3 6 He says to the snow, Fall on the earth, and to the rain shower, Be a mighty downpour. 7 So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labour. 8 The animals take cover; they remain in their dens. 9 The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds. 10 The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. 11 He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. 12 At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. 13 He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love. He literally feeds the birds Mat 5v26 He controls every chance event Prov 16v33 He controls Nations Job 12v23; Ps 22v28; Acts 14v16, 17v26 Nothing happens in the World that is not actually and deliberately planned and carried out by God. Things may appear to happen naturally: grass grows, wind blows, leaves fall, but there is not one minutest detail, no spin of an electron, which is not specifically planned and directed by God. Amos 3v6, 4v6-13 However, our own decisions are real and we are held accountable for them but they are at the same time totally decided by God. It therefore follows that every evil action of man is planned and directed by God, although at the same time man is blamed for it. [2 Sam 12v11-12, 2 Sam 16v20-22], [1 Chron 21v1, 2 Sam 24v1, 10, 12-17]; Isaiah 45v7 This means that the Serpent, Eve, and Adam were also directed by God in order for man to fall, and those who crucified Jesus were also directed by Him in order to bring about our salvation. The Fall was essential to God s plan in order to be saved you had to be saved from something. Everything that happens in the world is the deliberate act of God, whether good and beautiful or foul degrading and evil. Because God controls everything he also decides before creation who would be saved and who would be eternally condemned. Look at the Ephesians 1 passage and note verses 4, 5 and11: 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will 6 to the praise of his glorious

4 4 grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God s grace8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, Since God chooses those who will be saved they can never loose their salvation, whatever they may do. Neither can they resist God s saving call. Because since the fall man is inherently evil, it is impossible for man to choose to accept Christ it has to come from God alone. If Jesus paid the penalty for all people, no-one would still be guilty therefore no more punishment could be required of them so they would all be saved. Therefore it is obvious that Jesus only died for those whom God has chosen. PUT THE LID ON CALVIN S BOX and take off hat. This is mid-way through this study. You may want to stop here and continue next time. Similarly have a tray labelled God and put the following paragraphs into that. Put on hat labelled Arminius. JACOB ARMINIUS remonstrated against Calvin (Hence Arminianism or Remonstrants) His arguments were that the world has been designed to work something like a clock it has been set in motion and will continue to a predetermined end, and in that sense there is predestination. It is true that the forces involved in nature emanate from God. The forces of Gravity, the atomic forces which control the electrons and which ultimately hold together every created object, rely continually on God s power. If he were to withdraw, the World would cease to exist. But God s initial design of the World means that it will work without his day to day control or intervention. BUT because of the nature of God he is able to override natural laws and processes sometimes we would call these acts of God and at other times miracles. The way the World operates is generally planned by God, but since sin entered, God s plan has been spoilt and what we now experience is not how God originally intended it.

5 5 Man is born sinful and unable to seek God, but God by his grace intervenes in man. His grace comes to all people, acts on all to convict them of sin, draws them towards salvation and enables the possibility of saving faith. Man has free will. However man s free will can always be limited by God s sovereignty. God allows all men the free choice to accept Christ by faith, or to reject him. He can respond or resist. Christ s sacrifice of atonement is sufficient for all mankind, but man can choose to reject it. All believers can have full assurance of their salvation, but they retain the ability of turning from Christ. Apostasy requires a conscious, deliberate, wilful rejection of Jesus and his salvation, and a renouncement of belief. (Hebrews 6:4-6) Predestination is based on God s foreknowledge. Predestination does not apply to every individual activity but is rather the comprehensive purpose of God which is the structural context in which history moves. As we are free to make choices God is not usually involved. But he does respond to our choices and actions in such a way that his purposes are ultimately accomplished. These purposes could be accomplished through many different specific events. God s plan is not a blueprint encompassing all possible future contingencies. It is rather a dynamic program for the world, the outworking of which depends in part on us. Take off Arminius s hat. Calvin had a very tight and controlled theory of God. But because of the almost mathematical way his theory developed, he had no room for manoeuvre. IF God is all powerful he must be in control. IF he is in control he would not have allowed sin if he didn t want it. Therefore he wants sin and as God he controls it. All sin is therefore from God and directed by God. IF God is all-knowing he knows who will be saved. IF he knows now, he knew before creation. IF he knew before creation, then he created a few people to be saved, but most he created for damnation. Ponder what that means Lets read five passages that are inconvenient for Calvin to read:

6 6 Ezekiel 33:11 11 Say to them, As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 1 John 1:5 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 4: Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 2 Peter 3:9 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 1 Timothy 2:3-6 3 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men Things like that don t fit in the box. And perhaps we should rewrite the Christmas story (Luke 2v9-10): 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said to them so you should be. I bring you terrible news of great sorrow and misery that will be for most people Arminius also had some problem scriptures: Look again at Ephesians 1:v4 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will And verse 11: 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, Arminius fudged the issue. He stated that election allows us to make a choice so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. And the

7 7 plan by which this is accomplished is predestination a general plan for saving all people. Calvin tried to put God in a box. Arminius recognised that God was bigger than that and allowed him more freedom. But in comparison with Calvin s box or Arminius tray God is actually big enough to fill this room! Or this building! Or go outside and look out and up! It is impossible to contain God. If what we understand of God limits him, it is our understanding that is flawed. If we find ourselves saying God can t do that then it s us who are wrong. Read Isaiah 55:8-9 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Does this suggest that we can begin to understand what God chooses to do? (his ways) Can we even understand his thoughts? Now let s consider us and our choices. Do we believe that we have free will? Yes but at the same time we want God to respond to our prayers and cause changes to occur which can limit the free will and choices of other people. And God can and does intervene supernaturally whenever he pleases. However he never causes us to make choices which we would regret. Once we detect God s hand controlling or directing us we respond in thanks and praise! Genesis 45:8 8 So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Suppose I exercise my free will and choose not to do what God desires? He may allow us to suffer the results of our rebellion Jonah 1:15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. If we fail to be obedient to the Lord s prompting he may pass us by and use someone else: Esther 4:14 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? God is sovereign and can force us to listen and obey Acts 9v1-6.

8 8 Usually we are free to make our own choices. We are free to accept Christ or reject him. So where does predestination come in? (As an introduction to some of the thoughts here it may be helpful for you to have looked at the study on 1 Corinthians 16. It is suggested that a piece of dowel (or bamboo cane) about 3ft or 1 meter long is placed on the floor (or on a table) in the center of the room. Mark on it about 16 divisions. The idea is that it represents the timeline of the Earth from God s perspective from its creation to its end. Explain that starting at the left hand end, each division is an important date very roughly! Creation, The Flood, Abraham, Exodus, David, Exile, Jesus. Then leave 4 gaps and indicate Today. Note that there is still time before the end of the world but we don t know how long. God, being in eternity can see the time before creation and also the time after the world has finished. Encourage everyone to imagine that they are God. Get them to get up and move around. They can look away from the Earth, or they can concentrate on one moment in time, in one particular location, and they can take as long as they like (perhaps look at young David selecting the fifth stone from the river how much time have we as God in Eternity to watch him? As God we are not limited by Earth time and eternity itself reaches far beyond Earth s limitations look out of the window! This line on the floor is the world, from creation to the end. In God s eyes, has the world begun yet? If yes, has it finished yet? Where in eternity does God call now? It s hard to talk about time in eternity because time doesn t exist, and God is free to move about in eternity. So he can be in a place where the world has not yet come into being. Or he can be in a place where the end of the World is long past. Or he can be spending an eternity considering the potential consequences of granting a prayer from our next prayer meeting. But of course he already knows that prayer before it is spoken. Some more questions without answers: Hand a pad of paper and a pen to someone farthest from the line on the floor. Explain that this person is writing names in the Lamb s book of life. When exactly is our name written in The Lamb s Book of Life? Is it compiled as the Earth progresses to its end? Or is it left to the last day?

9 9 Or was it written before the World started? And as there is no time in eternity could anyone say anyway? Could God have known what would happen to his creation before he said Let there be light? How much of eternity had passed before God decided it was still worth doing? Knowing it would lead to the suffering and death of his only son, Jesus? God knew every last detail of Earth s history, but in his love and for his glory he created this world, and he created us to live for him. Even though he knew that one of his created beings would rebel against him and spoil his creation. God knew everyone who would turn to him accepting the salvation he provided and the life with him that he had planned. God also despaired over those who would choose to reject him though in his love he had given them all he could. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, We have spent some time looking into one small aspect of God and we have not been able to understand. There are things which I find impossible to grasp. Things which my finite mind cannot reconcile and so I call it contradiction. That doesn t worry me. It would worry me if I thought I could tie God down or put him in a box. But I can t. God is too big! The best way to live this life is to accept what God has revealed about himself and his dealings with the world without question. If some things are hard to understand, or even appear to be directly contradictory, accept that this is so! And never say God can t Marvel in the fact that God loves us. That Jesus died for us. And that we were chosen before the creation of the world! Show circle pictures from the previous study Be amazed that although we chose Jesus and we have Jesus living in us, Jesus actually chose us and he has us living in Him! END HERE If people still struggle with contradictions: I want you to imagine for a moment - if it helps close your eyes you are in a shop where a whole wall given over to a Pick-n-Mix sweet display. You are standing there with a paper bag in one hand and a plastic scoop in the other. (If it helps, you can say you are choosing these for the grandchildren) What are you going for? Fizzy sherbet? Dolly mixtures? Toffees? Chocolates? Liquorice allsorts being careful to leave the ones you don t like? OK you can open your eyes.

10 10 The Bible is just like that. Calvin chose all the hard sweets and Arminius preferred soft centres. Actually we have to take the lot. We can t be choosy. It s best we don t try to eat it all in one go it needs to be savoured over a lifetime. And yes, you can go back again and again to your favourites, the display is refilled overnight! You can even say I don t like the taste of those. That s fine because we are all different. This display has been carefully put together to cater for the needs of everyone. And anyway, over time people s tastes change and as you mature you may well grow to like something you passed by before. BUT you have to just accept that Barley Sugar is not a Jelly sweet!