True Love
May 13, 2011 by Jay Adams
Have you ever noticed how closely love and the Holy Spirit are connected in the Bible?
“Can’t say that I have.”
Well, love is the first piece of fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22. Some even think it’s the basic quality from which the other items listed flow.
“Of course, now that you mention it, I remember it as the first fruit of the Spirit.
And, sometime, check out Colossians 1:8 where, in passing, Paul mentions “your love by the Spirit.”
“What do you think that means?”
Much the same as the longer reference in Romans 5:5 where Paul wrote,
God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us.
Before regeneration (of which the pouring is a picture) no one is capable of expressing God-like or God-pleasing love. Others may love with a sort of ersatz love, but the vertical dimension is totally missing from it.
“What does that mean?”
It means that God is left out of the picture; that such love has a heavy self-focus rather than an other-focus (and, in particular, leaving out God as the significant Other).
“Tell me more.”
Read the rest here
Showing posts with label Jay Adams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jay Adams. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Paul (or You) In Prison
From Jay Adams
In discussing problems with Christian counselees, we often find ourselves deeply involved in matters concerning the providence of God. People want to know “Why?” But it isn’t always possible to respond to that question in any specific way. If it is, fine; but that is the exception, not the rule.
So what do we say? Well, of course many different things—responses that fit each individual situation—but there are some principles (abstract as they may be) that people usually find helpful.
In referring to Paul’s imprisonment at Rome (Philippians 1) we show how God used it to convert soldiers as well as encourage others to go preach. As we open up the passage at some length, the following encouraging principles emerge:
- God is in your problem
- God is up to something in your problem
- God is up to something good
Whether or you are able to see all or even only part of what it is that He’s up to, you can rely on the fact because of Romans 8:28,29.
What is providence? It is the working out of God’s plan by God Himself. Unlike Deism, Christianity teaches that God plans His work,then works His plan. Deists believe that having created the world, He no longer is concerned with it. He wound up the clock, now it can run on its own. Rather, we believe He made and maintains the world. And that He personally does things in it—in particular, in people’s lives.
If you’re in some trouble today, reread those three facts, believer, and you should be encouraged by them—even if ‘right now you can’t see how God is at work in your problem. Some day—now or in eternity—you may understand fully. But it’s your task at the moment—to believe, and look forward to whatever outcome God may bring from it. In the long run, you may even be privileged to discover (as Paul did) what God was up to—and that you will see that it truly is good!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Limited Atonement
All Christians believe in limited atonement.
“No,” you say. “I don’t.”
Oh? Well, let’s see. Do you believe that God has the desire for all to be saved?
“Certainly.”
Do you believe He has the power to save all men?
“Of course.”
Then, why aren’t all saved?
“Because some won’t believe.”
So, He limited His own power to save on the basis of man’s willingness to believe?
“Well . . . “
Let’s take it a step further. The atonement didn’t actually bring God and men together, did it?
“What do you mean?”
Christ’s death didn’t actually atone for all men-the word means to bring about at-one-ment (bringing God and man together after their estrangement because of sin).
“Well, no. But it made atonement possible for all.”
So, there, you’ve admitted that Jesus’ atonement was limited-only those who believe are saved. If what He did actually atones-and not merely makes atonement possible-then all would be saved. If He paid the penalty for everyone’s sin, everyone would go to heaven because his sins would be paid for. God couldn’t punish Jesus and the unbeliever if the latter’s sins were actually paid for. That would be double jeopardy.
“Yes, but Jesus made salvation possible for all.”
So, then, if all are not saved
1.What Jesus did on the cross was limited by man; not for all, since the sins of only those who believe are forgiven.
2.What Jesus did on the cross was limited in its power to save.
3.What Jesus did on the cross was ineffective (limited) in the case of most men.
4.What Jesus did on the cross was limited (incomplete) because it requires man to make it effective.
If the Arminian is correct, Jesus‘ death saves no one. His death atones for no one. It is the Doctrine of Total Limitation! It is limited in what it can do because it depends upon man’s belief to make it effective. It was partially (limited) in its effect. The Arminian believes in atonement that is limited in its power to save. That’s total limitation.
Calvinists, on the other hand, believe that the death of Christ was effective and actually brings about the salvation of all those for whom He died. There is no waste in the atonement, it effects atonement for all of the elect. No one is lost for whom Jesus died. All of those whom God intended to be saved will be saved because Jesus’ death actually procured salvation for them rather than simply making it available.
This is from Jay Adams' Blog
“No,” you say. “I don’t.”
Oh? Well, let’s see. Do you believe that God has the desire for all to be saved?
“Certainly.”
Do you believe He has the power to save all men?
“Of course.”
Then, why aren’t all saved?
“Because some won’t believe.”
So, He limited His own power to save on the basis of man’s willingness to believe?
“Well . . . “
Let’s take it a step further. The atonement didn’t actually bring God and men together, did it?
“What do you mean?”
Christ’s death didn’t actually atone for all men-the word means to bring about at-one-ment (bringing God and man together after their estrangement because of sin).
“Well, no. But it made atonement possible for all.”
So, there, you’ve admitted that Jesus’ atonement was limited-only those who believe are saved. If what He did actually atones-and not merely makes atonement possible-then all would be saved. If He paid the penalty for everyone’s sin, everyone would go to heaven because his sins would be paid for. God couldn’t punish Jesus and the unbeliever if the latter’s sins were actually paid for. That would be double jeopardy.
“Yes, but Jesus made salvation possible for all.”
So, then, if all are not saved
1.What Jesus did on the cross was limited by man; not for all, since the sins of only those who believe are forgiven.
2.What Jesus did on the cross was limited in its power to save.
3.What Jesus did on the cross was ineffective (limited) in the case of most men.
4.What Jesus did on the cross was limited (incomplete) because it requires man to make it effective.
If the Arminian is correct, Jesus‘ death saves no one. His death atones for no one. It is the Doctrine of Total Limitation! It is limited in what it can do because it depends upon man’s belief to make it effective. It was partially (limited) in its effect. The Arminian believes in atonement that is limited in its power to save. That’s total limitation.
Calvinists, on the other hand, believe that the death of Christ was effective and actually brings about the salvation of all those for whom He died. There is no waste in the atonement, it effects atonement for all of the elect. No one is lost for whom Jesus died. All of those whom God intended to be saved will be saved because Jesus’ death actually procured salvation for them rather than simply making it available.
This is from Jay Adams' Blog
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