of your sins were future when Christ died for you nearly two millenia ago?
If all our sins were future and Christ died for all our sins, then no future sin can cancel out what Christ has accomplished.
All of our sins were future and Christ died for all of them (Rom. 8:1; Heb. 8:12-13). If Christ died for all our sins, the debt having been paid, no sin can separate us from God.
Amen.
(From Dr. John Hannah's notes)
Elle,
ReplyDeleteCan you connect today's post with the Quotable about John Murray in Redemption Accomplished and Applied at Rahab's Thread on January 5th? (was that yours?) I'm not sure what, if anything you are saying about "eternal salvation." My "continuance in Jesus’ Word" has definitely faltered a few times in the last 30 years. I'm really not trying to be argumentative or anything, I'm just curious. http://devotions.pragmaticcom.com/
Julie,
ReplyDeleteThe post Quotable on RT by John Murray was not mine per se. The authors (all 3 of us) contribute to finding Quotables and links for those posts. While it was not a quote that I found, I do believe what John Murray was saying there. Dr. MacArthur's post, that is linked on RT, gives even further explanation.
My post today is taken from my personal notes while studying under Dr. John Hannah this past summer. Those notes were taken specifically from his discussion of the Unpardonable Sin (Mt. 12:31-32). Those were only some of Dr. Hannah's reasons for why a true believer cannot commit the Unpardonable Sin.
I did not type out all of his proofs. I was most struck by that idea of time being perfectly knowable to God, perfectly unknowable to us, and how God works perfectly in time to redeem a people unto Himself. Saving us through Christ's work on the Cross before I was born. Mind-boggling, and assuring to consider that God the Father did accept, has accepted, and will accept the atoning sacrifice of His Son for eveyone given to Him--though I still have future sins. That truth certainly speaks to the eternal salvation of believers.
As regards John Murray's point, he is speaking to the idea of pressing towards Christ in obedience and faith. He is speaking against the idea of an empty profession that is presumptuous without substance. Mt. 12:46-50 addresses this when Christ is told that His mother and brothers are waiting to talk with Him, He responds by pointing to His disciples and saying that, "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." One can only do the will of the Father when you know His revealed will, and then to trust the Holy Spirit to teach greater understanding of His revealed will (His Word).
Jn 8:31-32, from Murray's quote, reiterates this same truth. A true believer of Jesus Christ will not be content with mere profession but will be continually prompted by the Holy Spirit to persevere in knowing more of His Word and obeying it more thoroughly.
I think that when a believer is concerned about having faltered in continuance, or is concerned about assurance, that these are sweet promptings of the Holy Spirit to press forward. The answer for how to press forward is given in God's Word. The assurance for salvation is given in God's Word. The believer must feed on God's Word to be nourished in these concerns with true meat.
In Mt 12:20 a prophecy from Isa 42:1-4 about the work of Christ is given. Verse 20 states, "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory." The commentator, J.C. Ryle, describes this verse to mean, "...persons whose grace is at present weak, whose repentance is feeble, and whose faith is small. Towards such persons the Lord Jesus Christ will be very tender and compassionate."
In sum, the believer has definite responsibilities to continue towards Christ, and the believer has definite assurances when having failed to continue. The believer is not to trade presumption for assurance in either case. Jesus knows His sheep, and they know His voice. He will complete each one that is His.
This issue cannot be covered exhaustively in a comment thread, and while I've attempted to answer your question, please email me if I have not (acompletethought at gmail dot com). Thank you for asking. May God Himself be your fullest assurance.
In Him,
Elle
Elle,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I understand your point much better now:
"a true believer cannot commit the Unpardonable Sin" (I agree wholeheartedly!)
"Saving us through Christ’s work on the Cross before I was born. Mind-boggling, and assuring" (Amen)
"an empty profession that is presumptuous without substance" (my times of faltering could be described with these words)
"One can only do the will of the Father when you know His revealed will, and then to trust the Holy Spirit to teach greater understanding of His revealed will (His Word)" (still working on this one: http://devotions.pragmaticcom.com/2007/10/learning-in-flux.html)
"I think that when a believer is concerned about having faltered in continuance, or is concerned about assurance, that these are sweet promptings of the Holy Spirit to press forward." (I'm ashamed of how long it sometimes took for me to heed those sweet promptings)
“…persons whose grace is at present weak, whose repentance is feeble, and whose faith is small. Towards such persons the Lord Jesus Christ will be very tender and compassionate.” (by his grace)
Thank you again.
And she adds a hearty AMEN! Blessings...
ReplyDeleteI love this. Thank you, Elle.
ReplyDelete