Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

ROM. 12: 1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

§3. LOVE TO CHRISTIANS.

JOHN 13: 34. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1 JOHN 2: 7. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh

children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

4: 7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 20. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how can he love God, whom he hath not seen ? and this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

GAL. 5: 14. All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

in darkness, and knoweth not whith- § 4. LOVE TO ENEMIES AND TO ALL er he goeth; because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

3: 13. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother, is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little

MEN.

MAT. 6: 12. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

18: 31. So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, saith unto him, O thou wicked servant; I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst me. Shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto

you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

LUKE 6: 27. I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you.

CHAPTER IV.

DOCTRINES OF GRACE.

§ 1. REDEMPTION BY CHRIST.

(For the Efficacy of his Death, see Part II. First Topic. Christ a Redeemer, p. 121. Many doctrines are illustrated inseparably from preceding topics.)

and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.

HEB. 13: 20. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever! Amen.

EPH. 2: 4. God, who is rich in mercy, for the great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, hath

II. Influence of the Resurrection of quickened us together with Christ.

Christ.

[blocks in formation]

COL. 2: 13. You being dead in trespasses and sins hath he quickened together with him.

§ 2. REGENERATION BY THE SPIRIT.

I. Various Representations of a Saving Change.

JOHN 3: 1. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him,

1 COR. 15: 21. As by man came death, by man came also the resur-Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Exrection of the dead. For, as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

2 TIM. 2: 8. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, according to my gospel; wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil-doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

1 PET. 1: 3. Blessed be the God

cept a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

TITUS 3: 4. But after that the kindness and love of God, our Savior, toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abun

dantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

2 COR. 5: 17. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold all things are become new.

GAL. 6: 15. In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but a new crea

ture.

EZEK. 19: 30. Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby you have transgressed, and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the LORD God; wherefore turn yourselves and live ye.

Ps. 51: 10. Create in me a clean heart, O LORD, and renew a right spirit within me.

EPH. 4: 20. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus; that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

(See Part II. First Topic, chap. II. p. 127.)

§ 3. ELECTION.

I. God chooses the heirs of Salvation.

MAT. 11: 25. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight! All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

13: 16. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For, verily, I say unto you,

[ocr errors]

That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

15: 13. Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up. Let them alone. They be blind leaders of the blind.

24: 22. For the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

LUKE 10: 20. In this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you ; but rather rejoice that your names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

JOHN 6: 39. This is the Father's will which hath sent me; that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing; but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one that seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Ye

10: 7. I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.-14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. - 16. Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice. - 25. believe not, because ye are not of my sheep as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall nev-' er perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.

18: 18. I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen ; but that the scripture may be fulfilled,

He that eateth bread with me, Hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.

15: 16. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go, and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. - 19. I have chosen you out of the world.

ROM. 9:11. The children being not yet born, neither having done good or evil, (that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,)... it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written,

Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? for who hath. resisted his will? Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say of him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and make his power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction; and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared unto glory, even us whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the gentiles.

11: 4. I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so at this present time, also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace then it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. 7. Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

T1 COR. 1:1. Paul, called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.-26. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are ; that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written,

He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

EPH. 1: 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved.-11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

T1 THES. 1: 2. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your

work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God: for our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much

assurance.

1 PET. 1: 1. Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace be multiplied.

JAMES 1 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.

JUDE 3. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

¶ JOHN 17: 2. Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. -6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world. Thine they were, and thou gavest them me: and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee: for I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

ACTS 2: 47. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

27: 23. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Cesar: and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit, we must be cast upon a certain island. - 30. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion, and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

ROM. 8: 28. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?.... Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?

II. This Choice Regulated by Wise and Benevolent Reasons.

GEN. 17: 1. The LORD appeared unto Abram and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect; and I will make my covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly.... thou shalt be a father of many nations.

18: 17. And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him; and they shall keep

« ÎnapoiContinuă »