There is a teaching prevalent in the Church today which says salvation is a “come just you are” proposition.  This is harmful to say the least and in the extreme it is blasphemous.  There are no instances in which any such message is ever given in scripture. In fact, there are multiple examples of the exact opposite being true.  Such as the rich ruler (Luke18:18-27) and the 5 virgins whose lamps we not prepared (Matthew 25:1-13,) and many others (See Matthew 7:21.) Christ said:

John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (NKJV)

Each of these examples notes there is was a requirement or change in those who came, were accepted, and allowed to actually enter into the promises given by God.  The critics of these comments will say those rejected in these examples did not come in earnest to God.  There is a sense in which it is true, they did not come in earnest, because they came in their own strength, or without the proper preparation of their hearts. But in human terms we cannot know the hearts of the individuals, or why they came.  The ruler went away sad, we wanted to follow Christ; he wasn’t able to, because his heart was not changed.  He knew the law, he understood the basic principles of the law, but the love of God and the repentance granted to those who are called, those referred to as the elect, is a gift of God, the Ruler did not demonstrate this Gift, which is key in our relationship to Christ our LORD.  This gift is not given to everyone, but only those chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.  Those chosen to serve Gods good purpose, not based on anything we would do, but for His purpose only.  Most people forget, Christ told his disciples:

John 15:16
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (NKJV)

I know exactly how this sounds; I once stood and said to those teaching me this doctrine, “How can God arbitrarily pick some over others?”  The response came to me, “Who are you Matthew to say anything God does is arbitrary!”  Who indeed?

Paul writes this doctrine in the book of Romans, it is also recorded in the Gospel of John in Chapters 6, 12, and 17.  Ephesians records the elements of the doctrine eloquently, as does the book of Hebrews.  In fact once you understand the teaching in its biblical context, standing apart from the human interpretations, the doctrine is evident in all of God’s Word.

Adam and Eve had no choice, except those choices given to them.  There was a garden, there were trees, and there was the law.  We could argue as humans (and in profound foolishness) that God could have omitted the law, thereby preventing the fall, or not planted the forbidden fruit tree, or restricted the serpent from engaging Eve.  He might have done anything consistent with His power.  This however is precisely what He did.  His intended purpose was exactly what has come to pass, both then and now.  This is the hardest truth to face.  Because we want to say “Hey that’s unfair!” (Like I did.) But the argument clearly given by Paul in Romans 9 counters this question, because the Spirit knows the natural reaction of the human condition, we always cry “why?”  Paul records the answer for us in terms of a potter and the clay.  We are the clay, God is the potter.  The Potter can do whatever he wants with the clay, he can make vessel to be used for honorable purposes, or vessels to be used for dishonorable purposes, they all come from the same place, but the determining factor of where they end up is entirely the work and decision of the potter.  This same language is used in the Old Testament regarding the arrogance of men, who want to be the masters over their own lives.

(Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:2-6; Romans 9:21)

None of us is the master over his own life, none of us is free.  We, like Adam and Eve before us, are subject to the vanity God has chosen in His wisdom to subject us to.  We are, what we are supposed to be!  God raises up the vile and wicked in this world sometimes, to put His people to the test.  The hard part is the answer to the question which seems to flow from a deep understanding of justice.  The question, “How can God find us at fault if we sin, who can resist His will to do anything other than what God has ordained?  The answer, “Who are we to say anything against what God is doing?”

We cannot come as we are.  We must be changed.  God must change us.  If He is unwilling to change us, then we have this assurance, we are like vessels created for destruction.  God will have mercy on whomever He chose to have mercy, and whomever He wills to harden will be hardened.

Romans 9:17-23
17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”
18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”
20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”  21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, (NKJV)

Blessings!

I have asked the question what is the Gospel, and to be certain the Gospel is far more than the word I have put to page. Its depth cannot be known, for within the Gospel is the revelation of God, at its end is the gift of “knowing and we are known,” for this reason we cannot now know the full details of the Gospel, even though God has given us the Bible.

In the Gospels we have an account of Christ during His incarnation. He came and lived as a man, fully vested in both the human form, as it was in the garden prior to the fall, and all of the attributes of God. John in his Gospel, tells us of the deity of Christ, of His goodness and service to a rebellious people, a people His father had determined to use as a vessel of His mercy, delivering to them the revelation of Scripture, the ordination of priests, and the conduit of delivery through which Christ was born in the flesh.

John tells us many great things about Christ, and some things omits which he says,

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written. (NASB95)
(John 21:25)

So many things which He did, even miracles which are not recorded (John 20:30.) I want us to think about these words. Given by God to us, inspired Scripture and a deep truth reflected throughout the context of Scripture.

Let us reflect for a moment on these passages,

From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (NASB95)
(Romans 11:28-36)

Here in these inspired passages we find the Mercy, Wisdom and Grace of God spoken of and given to us in terms which are almost foreign. No they are foreign. How do we comprehend, the casting away of some for the salvation of others? How do we comprehend, all things, those from Him, all through Him, and all to Him. If there is any doubt this is Christ of which is being spoken then compare,

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. (NASB95)
(Colossians 1:13-20)

There is no doubt. Christ is the “author and finisher” not only of the Faith of men, but all things.

The passages presented here are only a small reflection given in small words to men, to invoke the correct response of “fear and trembling.” We can no more comprehend the universe than a single blade of grass, or the horrific scent of war, or the overwhelming beauty of a single human iris, unique, sorrowful, and amazing. All these things cannot be written for the space of our world would be too small to contain these, and the details of all things, which God has done.

Think about it, for this is what meditation upon the word is.  Thinking about it for an extended time.

Hmmmmm, maybe I have my next article.
Blessings!

Many of us identify the beginning of sorrows in terms of the fall of man. To be certain this is sorrowful. However the title of this segment is a direct reference to Christ’s comments on questions about himself, and the heavenly rule. Christ is sited in all of the Gospels except John, as making statements similar to this regarding the end of the age.Scholars have debated the meaning and timing of these events ever since.

Matthew 24:4-14

⁴ And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.

⁹ “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. ¹⁰ And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. ¹¹ Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But he who endures to the end shall be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
(NKJV)

Mark 13:4-13

⁴ “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?” ⁵ And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁶ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,‘ and will deceive many. ⁷ But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. ⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

⁹ “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. ¹¹ But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ¹³ And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
(NKJV)

Luke 21:8-11

⁸ And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,‘ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them. ⁹ But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

¹⁰ Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
(NKJV)

Upon reflection, these statements are profound and worth our study and reflection.

They demonstrate that the Gospel or “good news,” was not always what we in modern culture would call good.

But Christ is recorded as teaching; these things must come to pass. They are called the beginning of sorrows, fearful sights, and great signs. How are these things good?

To understand that, context is required. Since the end of the age is noted, and significant events which have since come to pass are indicated. The context hold for the immediate future as well as the future not yet completed. Some of the events are larger than the destruction of the temple, or the fall of Jerusalem.

The good news? That’s comes in the form of promised delivery, not from the terrors, but rather through them, or after them. The assurance of salvation, frees us from the terrors, of disasters, illness, and even wars.

We are His children and as such we need to practice the blessings we have received, so God may be glorified.

Paul said it this way,

Romans 7:22-25

²² For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. ²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
(NKJV)

Romans 8:31-39

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(NJKV)

So, what are a few wars, earthquakes and terrors.

Context is everything, and once we are in Christ. Nothing is ever the same.

Blessings!