(Article for publication week of 8-11-2010 AD)
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you..." (John 15:16a). In this text our Lord reminded His disciples that they had not chosen Him, but rather He had made choice of them. It is a good thing that God chose us, for we would never have chosen Him. Our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked and we cannot know them. No man has ever sought the Lord, until the Lord sought him.
That the Bible teaches the doctrine of election, no Bible reader can deny. A few of the many passages that teach the doctrine of election are Psalm 65:4; John 6:37; Romans 9:11; Romans 11:5; I Corinthians 1:27; I Thessalonians 1:4; II Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 1:4; I Peter 1:2; and I Peter 2:9. Lord willing, we will consider these passages in coming articles, but I just ask you, if you have never heard of the doctrine of election, or if you have refused to believe it, please look up, and prayerfully read these references.
Salvation is God's choice, not man's. God is absolutely sovereign, and He has the right and the power to do with His Own as He wills. This is a fact that you need to face- you belong to a sovereign God Who is able to save and He is able to damn. You need to face the solemn fact that God is not obligated to you. You need to humble yourself under His mighty hand and acknowledge His sovereign power over you. You need to admit that you do not have any "rights". You have squandered your birthright by leaving the Father's house.
No one has any reason to be opposed to the truth of election. Christians have no reason to oppose this Biblical truth, for it was God's choice that made you one of His Own. You would never have chosen the Lord, had He not first chosen you. It is grace alone that causes the Christian to differ from other sinners. Each of us who now believe in Christ for our salvation was once lost, and we could never have found our way to God had He not rescued us by marvelous grace. We once were blind, but God opened our eyes to behold the King in His beauty and see the land that is very far off. And why did God open your eyes and not the eyes of others who are yet in spiritual blindness? Why, the only answer is, it was His sovereign pleasure so to do! God could have left you lost and blind, but by sovereign grace He sought you out, for He had from the beginning chosen you to salvation and ordained all the means to bring you to faith in His Son. If you are a Christian, it is all of grace.
Nor do the unsaved have any reason to oppose the truth of election. You say yourself that you do not want Christ. You love your sin and do not want to be holy. It is your own depravity and rebellion that keeps you from repenting of your sins and fleeing to Christ. You want God to leave you as you are, and that is exactly what He has done. So you who are lost have no reason to complain if God has not chosen you, for you do not want to be chosen of Him.
The doctrine of election exalts God and abases man. The doctrine of election is a Biblical truth that cannot be denied. The doctrine of election should be embraced by all, and should be preached from every pulpit. Thank God for His sovereign election.
11 comments:
Dear Floyd
As for the Reprobate, Catholics believe that God predestines no one to hell. Scripture says God loves the world (John 3:16); He desires all men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) and that He has no pleasure on the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11).
The belief that God predestines no one to evil has been the constant teaching of the Catholic Church.
We not only do not believe that any are foreordained to evil by the power of God, but even state with utter abhorrence that if there are those who want to believe so evil a thing, they are anathema. Council of Orange (529 AD)
If any one saith, that it is not in man’s power to make his ways evil, but that the works that are evil God worketh as well as those that are good, not permissively only, but properly, and of Himself, in such wise that the treason of Judas is no less His own proper work than the vocation of Paul; let him be anathema.
Council of Trent, Canon VI of the Decrees on Justification
God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end.
Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1037
Because God predestines no one to hell, Catholics believe He gives His Grace, through Christ, to everyone and calls every one, no exception, to salvation.
For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men. (Titus 2:11)
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)
“‘All men are called to this catholic [universal] unity of the People of God…. And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by God’s grace to salvation.‘
Catechism of the Catholic Church # 836
Dear Thomas,
Catholics believe God gives everyone sufficient Grace to make him/her, using his/her freedom, turn to God and be saved. One way to explain it is using Jesus’ parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30).
In the parable the Master gave different number of talents to his three servants according to their abilities.
The Master obviously had the right to decide how many talents each servant received. The servant with only one talent was later condemned.
Yet his Master did not intend to condemn him by giving him only one talent. Had he deposited it in the bank he would be fine like the other two.
The servant was condemned for his own wrong action, i.e. hiding the single talent entrusted to him.
Thus Catholics believe that condemnation of the Reprobate always involves their freedom to reject God’s Grace – in other words they are responsible for their damnation.
Catholic’s view on Reprobation is called as Positive Conditional Reprobation – when God created the world He, being omniscience, foresaw the Reprobate’s rejection to His Grace and let them use their freedom to do so.
Yet God still wants them to be saved and still gives them sufficient Grace.
Dear Raymond,
Two Extremely Simple Questions
For Non-Catholics to Answer.
They are about as basic as you can get, and are both extremely important for your salvation. If they are so simple and are so basic, why then do non-Catholics refuse to answer them?
Why don't you be the first to answer them with the truth?
Question #1 :
Every church on earth had a founder with a name. Please name the founder of the Catholic Church? No guesses please, or personal opinions, just the facts.
Backup your answer with genuine historical documents and/or Bible verse(s).
Question #2:
After studying this page, please show me the Bible verse(s) which gave authority to anyone to found another church other than the one which Jesus Christ founded?
Here are a few hints to make it even easier for anyone to come up with the correct answers:
For Question #1:
Acts 8:1-3,
"And at that time, there was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem.
And they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea, and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men took order for Stephen's funeral and made great mourning over him.
But Saul made havoc of the church, entering in from house to house: and dragging away men and women, committed them to prison."
So here we have Saul making havoc of the Church which Jesus Christ founded.
It is obvious that Saul knew almost nothing about who the founder of that Church really was, or else he would not have been persecuting it.
Acts 9:1-5,
"And Saul, as yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked of him letters to Damascus, to the synagogues: that if he found any men and women of this way, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew nigh to Damascus. And suddenly a light from heaven shined round about him.
And falling on the ground, he heard a voice saying to him: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad."
So, Saul thought he was persecuting the Church that Jesus Christ founded, when in fact he was persecuting its founder.
Saul found out the hard way. Do you wish to find out the hard way also?
When you stand before Jesus Christ in judgment, do think He might ask you the same question that He asked Saul? "(substitute your name here) why persecutest thou me?"
I strongly suggest that you who persecute the Catholic Church had better find out who founded it,
that is if you value your salvation at all.
For Question #2:
Read these verses in your Bible:
Psalms 127:1, 1Corinthians 3:11, John 10:1-2, John 10:16, 1Peter 4:17, 2Peter 2:1, 1Corinthians 14:33, Luke 11:23, 2John 1:9, and Romans 10:15.
Now who will be the first non-Catholic to give me truthful answers to these two ever so simple and basic questions?
Dear Floyd,
Luther added the word 'alone' to his translation of Romans 3:28 because that verse also contradicted his teaching of 'Sola Fides', "For we reckon that a man is justified by faith alone independently of the works of the law."
Proverbs 30:6 Add nothing to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be exposed as a deceiver.
Luther says:
The great difference between doctrine and life is obvious, even as the difference between heaven and earth.
Life may be unclean, sinful, and inconsistent; but doctrine must be pure, holy, sound, unchanging ... not a tittle or letter may be omitted, however much life may fail to meet the requirements of doctrine.
This is so because doctrine is God's Word, and God's truth alone, whereas life is partly our own doing.... God will have patience with man's moral failings and imperfections and forgive them.
But He cannot, will not, and shall not tolerate a man's altering or abolishing doctrine itself. For doctrine involves His exalted, divine Majesty itself (WA, 30 111, 343 f.)
Dear Thomas Ray Floyd
Who Has The Authority?
And who does not!
Authority comes from the "Author of Life", Acts 3:15. All authority comes from GOD, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.
For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." (Romans 13:1-2).
Notice that GOD is selective as to just who He gives authority.
The Catholic Church has a form of government called a theocracy and operates as an "Hierarchy".
Like any other form of government, it has to have "authority" to function.
The Church received its authority from its founder, Jesus Christ...
Private interpretation of Scriptures can be exceedingly harmful to self and others. This has divided Christianity into hundreds if not tens of thousands of segments.
Too many individuals claim their position is right and are unwilling to freely discuss the position taken or to be submissive to moral authorities.
Holding to a personal position, or one of heretical source, places one's eternal soul in jeopardy. Such people often become instruments that lead others to perdition.
Dear Tom,
WHAT YOU MUST DO TO BE SAVED
Best of all, the promise of eternal life is a gift, freely offered to us by God (CCC 1727).
The Catholic Church teaches what the apostles taught and what the Bible teaches: We are saved by grace alone, but not by faith alone (which is what "Bible Christians" teach; see James. 2:24).
When we come to God and are justified (that is, enter a right relationship with God), nothing preceding justification, whether faith or good works, earns grace.
But then God plants his love in our hearts, and we should live out our faith by doing acts of love (Galatians 6:2).
Even though only God’s grace enables us to love others, these acts of love please him, and he promises to reward them with eternal life (Romans 2:6–7, Galatians 6:6–10).
Thus good works are meritorious. When we first come to God in faith, we have nothing in our hands to offer him.
Then he gives us grace to obey his commandments in love, and he rewards us with salvation when we offer these acts of love back to him (Romans 2:6–11, Galatians 6:6–10, Matthew 25:34–40).
15 Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
16 Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5: 15-16)
Jesus said it is not enough to have faith in him; we also must obey his commandments. "Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do the things I command?" (Luke 6:46, Matthew 7:21–23, 19:16–21).
We do not "earn" our salvation through good works (Ephesians 2:8–9, Romans 9:16), but our faith in Christ puts us in a special grace-filled relationship with God so that our obedience and love, combined with our faith, will be rewarded with eternal life (Romans 2:7, Galatians 6:8–9).
Paul said, "God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work" (Philippians 2:13).
John explained that "the way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:3–4, 3:19–24, 5:3–4).
Since no gift can be forced on the recipient—gifts always can be rejected—even after we become justified, we can throw away the gift of salvation.
We throw it away through grave (mortal) sin (John 15:5–6, Romans 11:22–23, 1 Corinthians 15:1–2; CCC 1854–1863). Paul tells us, "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).
Read his letters and see how often Paul warned Christians against sin! He would not have felt compelled to do so if their sins could not exclude them from heaven (see, for example, 1 Corinthians 6:9–10, Galatians 5:19–21).
Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that God "will repay everyone according to his works: eternal life for those who seek glory, honour, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth and obey wickedness" (Romans 2:6–8).
Sins are nothing but evil works (CCC 1849–1850). We can avoid sins by habitually performing good works.
Every saint has known that the best way to keep free from sins is to embrace regular prayer, the sacraments (the Eucharist first of all), and charitable acts.
Dear Raymond Floyd,
What is required in order to have Jesus ABIDE in us and we in Him?
Can we do it:
1. By accepting Him as our our own personal Lord and Savior ?
No. Where does the Bible say that?
2. By the grace of GOD only? Sola Gracias?
No. Where does the Bible say that?
3. By faith in GOD alone? Sola Fides?
No. Where does the Bible say that?
It is simple common sense that since He commanded that we must do something, then doesn't it stand to reason that He would also tell us how to do it?
Jesus was very clear in what we must do in order to have Him ABIDE in us and we in Him.
Jesus left this command for us in John 6:53-57:
53 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you (the taken away branch);
54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 HE WHO EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD ABIDES IN ME, AND I IN HIM.
57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me."
Dear Mr. Gromley:
Greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the past week you have posted several comments to the Narrow Way. We are so glad you are reading the columns, and pray they may be used of the Lord to get you through the strait gate and into the narrow way.
In these posts you have set forth most of the major heresies of popery. All of these have been repudiated scripturally down through the centuries by men much more able than myself. I have dealt with all these issues in my preaching down through the years, and you may hear many of my sermons on the internet at sermonaudio.com. I have also addressed these things in the Narrow Way column the past few years and they are archived at the Narrow Way blogsite, with which you are familiar. I urge you to go back and read the articles that deal with the issues involved. I will now try to reply to each of your questions again, knowing that all my effort will avail nothing unless the Lord reveal the truth to you. I am labouring for the glory of God. the defence of the gospel, and your eternal soul.
You have well stated the heresies of Rome: 1) An infallible "church" , as opposed to an infallible Bible; 2) the tyranny of the pope, as opposed to soul liberty of the believer; 3) justification by works, as opposed to justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ Alone; 4) the superstition of transubstantiation, as opposed to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. My first reply is to this first heresy. For the heresy of an infallible "church" and infallible pope is the basis for every other popish lie. With the sword of the Spirit, I shall now cut the root that supplies the corrupt Roman tree.
In a previous post you allowed that the popish "church" is infallible. In that post you quoted Matthew 16:18-19 to "prove" your point. Thus you admit that the scripture is the final authority. Without realising it, you have accepted scripture alone. If the popish "church" is the final authority then you need not quote any scripture, all you need is the decrees of the pope. I am sure you use the scriptures some, because you know that is the only thing that will convince me and other believers. As to the true meaning and application of Matthew 16:18-19, I will come to that later, when I answer your heresy of the false"church." I simply use your own words to expose your heresy. Out of your own mouth, you will be judged.
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The scriptures are the only and final authority in every matter. The scriptures are self-authenticating and do not need any "proof" but themselves. They have the vey breath of God upon them. We know the scriptures are the word of God because of the agreement of all its parts, the sublimnity of its words, the uniqueness of its message, and the fruit it has produced.
Our Lord Jesus Christ always quoted the scriptures to validate His Own teachings. For instance in Matthew 19:4 He asked, "have ye not READ?" This is but one example, but if you will read the gospels, you will see that Christ always quoted the scriptures as His authority. In Matthew 22:29 he told some, "ye do greatly err, not knowing the scriptures." This is the reason you err, because you do not know the scriptures. In John 5:39 our Lord said, "search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." Ou Lord enjoins us to read the scripures for ourselves. He never cited rabbnical learning as His authority. He always cited the scriputres.
Not only did our Lord cite the scriptures, but the apostles always cited them. For example Peter quoted from the books of Joel and the Psalms in his sermon on the day of pentecost. Paul always quoted the scriptures in his epistles. For instance, in the Roman letter, chapter nine (a chapter that you do not believe, according to your own words, and one the pope does not believe either, according to the Council of Trent), Paul says in verse 17, "the scripture saith".
In II Timothy 3:16-17 we read, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that; the man of God may be perfect, throughtly furnished unto all good works." The scriptures thoroughly furnish us, not opinions of men. The scriptures ALONE furnish us thoroughly. Away with the pope! Away with the Council of Trent! Away with all who set themselves above or even equal with the scriptures!
In II Peter 1:19 we read the scriptures are "a more sure word of prophecy." This is an astounding statement! Peter says that he saw the Lord transfigured. He was an eyewitness to the wonderful works of Christ. But we have a more sure word of prophecy. Strange- Peter did not claim to be an infallible pope!
The scriptures alone are our final authority, for all men are fallible sinners and subject to many errors. This the scriptures plainly tell us. All flesh is as grass (I Peter 1:24). "In many things we offend all" (James 3:2). "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The scriptures plainly tell us that if any prophesy or preach contrary to the scriptures, not to believe them. (Isaiah 8:20; Galatians 1:8-9; II John 10). This is the reason true believers will have nothing to do with popery, for it is contrary to the scriptures.
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(Brother Floyd's comments concluded)
The best of men are but men at best. Brother Peter, an apostle of Christ, and an elder in the church, sinned by his two facedness and hypocrisy and had to be rebuked by Brother Paul (Galatians 2:9-13). Peter was not infallible. Paul was not infallible. Regenerated men still have their flaws, and we are not to consider them as infallible. Unregenerate men (like the wretched pope and cardinals, and "priests") certainly are not infallible.
Our Lord plainly taught us to reject the traditions of men when they are in conflict with scripture. In Mattew 5, our Lord said 6 times "ye have heard', but I say". Six times he showed that rabbinical tradition was wrong and to be rejected. In Luke 20:46, He said, "beware of the scribes." In Matthew 15:3 our Lord condemned the Pharisees and scribes (the "ecclesiastical authority" of that day) for transgressing the commandment of God by their tradition.
Experience also teaches us that the scriptures are to be accepted as final authority. The Bible rejecting, Christ dishonouring, pope worshipping Romanists have a black record of what men will do when they claim infallibility. In one of your posts you said that immorality and dirty living are not that bad as long as we obey the "church". This mentality is the basis for the Inquisition and pedophile "priests."
Now on the authority of the scripture I tell you that the pope is a liar. There is nothing in scripture about a pope. There is nothing in scripture about cardinals or archbishops. There is nothing in scripture about an infallible "church." There is nothing in scripture about works of supererogation. There is nothing in the scripture about abiding in Christ via cannibalism. Thus your whole system is destroyed by the sword of the spirit, the word of God. Scripture alone, Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone, to God alone the glory!
I will be addressing your other comments and question as soon as I can. In the meantime. may the Lord have mercy on you.
Yours truly,
Thomas Ray Floyd
Dear Thomas,
How To Pray The Rosary - The purpose of the Rosary is to help keep in memory certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them.
There are twenty mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary, and these are divided into the five JOYFUL MYSTERIES, the five LUMINOUS MYSTERIES, the five SORROWFUL MYSTERIES, and the five
GLORIOUS MYSTERIES.
1.Make the Sign of the Cross and say the "Apostles' Creed."
2.Say the "Our Father."
3.Say three "Hail Marys."
4.Say the "Glory be to the Father."
5.Announce the First Mystery; then say the "Our Father."
6.Say ten "Hail Marys," while meditating on the Mystery.
7.Say the "Glory be to the Father."
8.Announce the Second Mystery; then say the "Our Father." Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with Third, Fourth and Fifth Mysteries in the same manner.
Those who pray the Rosary regularly would do well to be enrolled in the Confraternity to gain extra spiritual benefits for each Rosary they pray.
Dominican Manner of Praying the Rosary
After the Rosary:
HAIL, HOLY QUEEN, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. O GOD, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
After each decade say the following prayer requested by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima:
"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy."
As suggested by the Pope John Paul II the Joyful mysteries are said on Monday and Saturday, the Luminous on Thursday, the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, and the Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday (with this exception: Sundays of Christmas season - The Joyful; Sundays of Lent - Sorrowful)
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