Doctrines of Grace Acrostic from Roger Nicole, 6 Points

   WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

Grace -                                      God has freely given us His love and has powerfully drawn us to Himself; when we deserve His punishment for our sin.  We are saved because He bestowed His loving favor on us, giving us the opposite of what we deserve.

Original Sin -                             (or Omnipresent Depravity) Depravity is Radical and Pervasive.  It has affected all of man's body and soul, including his will, mind, and emotions.

Sovereign Selection -                God has selected some people out of the sea of lost humanity from every people group, this choice being based only on His own good pleasure, glory, and His Sovereign will.  See Abstract of Principles, # 5.

Particular Redemption -            (Definite Redemption) Christ's Substitutionary death was particularly intended and planned for His people.  It actually accomplished the full redemption of everyone who will trust in Christ.  His death paid the price in full for all our sins, past, present, and future, including our unbelief.

Effectual Grace -                       Everyone whom the Holy Spirit draws to Christ, comes to Him.  It is Grace that works every time and can not fail.  The Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to the people of God.

Lasting Grace -                         God’s people are kept by the power of God from departing from Him.  Furthermore, He will not abandon us at any time or for any reason.  God is the One who perseveres, His grace lasts forever.  Everyone who has been chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and drawn by the Holy Spirit will persevere to the end.   
              

These beliefs drive one to be involved in evangelism and missions.

 adapted from a message by Dr. Roger Nicole

TULIPER 7 Points of Calvinism - Richard P. Belcher, SR.

TULIP-ER

Total Depravity (or total inability): The unbeliever is in bondage to Satan and is incapable of exercising his will freely to turn to Christ. Man is beyond all self—help because he is ‘dead in his trespasses and sin.̓ (This is not absolute depravity as everyone could be worse.) Man is “as bad off” spiritually as he can be and is naturally in rebellion against God.

Unconditional Election: Before the foundation of the world, God chose certain individuals out of His free grace and love and by His sovereign will. His choice was not based on any foreseen response, obedience, faith, repentance, or any condition, but according to His unchangeable purpose, secret counsel, and the good pleasure of His will.

Limited Atonement (definite atonement or particular redemption): “Christ died to save particular persons who were given Him by the Father in eternity past. His death was, therefore, a one hundred percent success, in that all for whom He died will be saved, and all for whom He did not die will receive 'justice' from God when they are cast into hell.” (D. E. Spencer) The intention of the atonement was for the elect and it actually obtained salvation for them.

Irresistible Grace (or effectual call): Salvation is based on God̓s free will and because God is all—powerful (omnipotent),, His grace cannot be resisted. “In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the Gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call” (made to anyone) “can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion.” (Loraine Boettner)

Perseverance of the Saints: Every individual who was chosen by Cod, redeemed by Christ, regenerated and given faith by the Holy Spirit will persevere to the end. Once truly believing, always persevering. Their assurance and trust will remain in Christ̓s finished work and in the promise that ‘salvation is of the Lord.̓ God will keep His sheep that He brings into His fold. His sheep have a love for the Savior, a hatred of sin, and a growth in holiness.

Evangelism: All believers must share the Gospel with the lost. We are commissioned by Christ to bring the gospel to everyone in our world. All people groups must be discipled. God ordains both the means and the ends. The people of God and the Word of God are key means to spreading the gospel to every people group on the earth and establishing a church among each people group to further the work of the gospel. Missions must be our heartbeat and it is not optional.

Responsibility: The Bible holds all men responsible to repent, believe, and turn from their rebellion to the Lord Christ. All people are without excuse for ignoring general revelations and special revelation. Believers are responsible to follow Jesus fully, including to be witnesses for Him to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Reigning Sin Romans 6:5-23

Introduction

1. (Ill.) Lets picture this scene, our President sends the Military - Cuba, Castro and some trusted men escape to the jungle. The U.S. Army assumes control over the entire Island of Cuba. -set up new judges, new money, its a brand new administration. The good news Castro's tyranny, rule, and authority has been destroyed. The bad news is Castro is still alive in the jungle, and his friends keep playing his tapes over radio. His authority is gone, but he still commands the Cuban citizens to obey him. Each one must chose to either obey the new Govt. or obey Castro. The new govt. is better, is in charge, has -authority, but we have served Castro for so long,we are accustomed to obeying his orders. The new govt. makes it illegal to obey Castro. We must now become a traitor if we go into - jungle to serve Castro or obey his orders. It will take our whole lifetime for Castro to be silenced. His control & authority is gone. Before we had to obey, now we can only obey him if we chose too. Rom. 6 = good news Sin's authority has been destroyed over every elect child of God. Castro has been dethroned. Reigning sin is over. Rom. 7 = bad news, Castro is still alive, powerful, waging war, deceptive and dangerous. Remaining sin, indwelling sin is in us until we die. It no longer reigns, no - is boss. It is no match for our New Commander-in-chief. But we in our own strength cannot out do indwelling sin. If we stop warring against it by God's method of mortification, killing sin, it will beat us all over the place. Castro is out of office, but he is not gone. His authority is gone. That's the good news we will focus on today. Sin's, dominion, rule, and authority has been destroyed in - life of every real Christian. If sin is still your master, you do not belong to Jesus yet, and if you will not forsake sin, divorce it & marry Christ, you will die in your sins. Paying for them forever & ever, separated from God's love, kindness & special presence. What your current relationship to Sin's mastery is, will tell you your destiny.

2. (Direction) Today we will study Rom. 6: 5-23 under these 3 headings:

a. The kingdoms have been changed for every genuine Christian. vs 5-11

b. Every genuine Christian is responsible to live like a regenerate person. vs 12-14 c.

Every human being serves either king Sin or king Christ. Vs 15 -23

I. THE KINGDOMS HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR EVERY GENUINE CHRISTIAN. vs 5-11

A. The country of death has been replaced by the country of life. (5)

1. We are joined with Christ in His death.

2. We are united with Christ in His resurrection.

B. Sin's dominion has been broken. (6) (Rom 6:6 NIV) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--

1. Sin's authority ended when we were crucified with Christ.

2. Sin's rule was rendered inoperative by the cross.

3. The destruction of our sin nature(old self) is the guarantee of the future removal of indwelling sin (body of sin)at our death.

4. We are no longer Sin's slaves.

C. Christ died once and removed Sin's dominion over His elect. (7-8)

1. Death breaks all ties & cancels all obligations. (ie)

2. Our union w/ Christ's death makes us separated & free from the old pagan nature & - person we were.

3. The only authority that can make a real Christian sin is his own will. (Ill) Geraldine - devil made me do it! (James 1:14-15 NIV) but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

D. Death's lordship was crushed by Christ (9) (Rom 6:9 NIV) For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery (dominion) over Him.

E. Christ victoriously & historically died for sin. (10)

F. Christ lives and glorifies the Father forever in His office as Lord. (10)

G. Everyone who is joined to Christ is free from Sin's dominion and rule. (11) (Rom 6:11 NIV) In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

H. (Ill.) One phone numbers we had -SC belonged to another family first - but they left that # and got a new number. We received calls from relatives & even patients, but they had left that #, to talk to them you needed - new one. Every born again Christian has left - old behind (Col 1:13) For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness & brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,

I. Castro is no longer in authority, no longer our master, boss, sovereign. Sin's dominion was broken on the cross for every true child of God. Reigning sin is gone, remaining sin has no authority to control unless we surrender to it. It asks for surrender, but we give in to it.

II. EVERY GENUINE CHRISTIAN IS RESPONSIBLE TO LIVE LIKE A REGENERATE PERSON. vs 12-14

(Rom 6:12 NIV) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

A. Sin must not be allowed to reign or be obeyed in our lives. (12)

1. Continue to reject Sin's authority.

2. Continue to refuse to obey Sin. (Heb 3:12-14) See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

B. Stop surrendering your body parts as weapons for Sin's army. (13)

C. Start surrendering your body parts as weapons for Christ's army. (13) (Rom 6:13 NIV) Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

D. Sin's authority & dominion has ended. It is over! (14) (Rom 6:14 NIV) For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

1. The law can no longer condemn us.

2. Grace is to rule and empower us. (Col 3:2-7) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death, therefore, your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must put off all of these.

E. (Ill.) If someone receives a heart transplant, how pleased would the medical team be if the new heart had all the problems of the old? Unthinkable. The new heart is to be different. It is not acceptable for a Christian to surrender to their indwelling sin. It used to be their love & boss, now it is there enemy. Kill it, don't serve it. You are responsible to war w/ your remaining sin, keep it on the run. Don't let it reign. It has been put out of office. You are surrendering to the guerrilla forces of a defeated enemy. You have - tools to win. Fight, kill, war.

III. EVERY HUMAN BEING SERVES EITHER KING SIN OR KING CHRIST. VS 15 -23

A. Every person has a master. (15-16) (Mat 6:24 NIV) "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

B. The one we obey is our real master. (16) (John 8:34 NIV) Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. (Luke 6:46 NIV) "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

C. Every genuine Christian was formerly a continual slave of Sin. (17)

D. Every genuine Christian surrendered to a new Master at conversion. (17)

1. We must obey to be saved.

2. We must obey a specific narrow doctrine (the gospel). (Heb 5:9) Jesus became the source of everlasting salvation for all who obey Him.

3. Our obedience is from the inner man, not merely outward performance.

4. We are to thank God for enabling us to obey by His sovereign power.

E. Every genuine Christian has been set free from Sin's mastery. (18)

F. Every genuine Christian has become a slave of Christ & righteousness. (18)

G. Christians are to serve Christ with the same dedication they formerly used to serve Sin. (19)

1. Why are people who were so committed to sin, so uncommitted to Christ & His church?

2. Use the same dedication & commitment now for obedience & service.

3. It's time for the complacency & fence sitting to go. We need some team players.

H. Remember your past dedication to Sin and your inability to do right. (20-21) (Rom 6:20-1 NIV)

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! I. Realize your present commitment to Christ and His kingdom of righteousness. (22) (Rom 6:22 NIV) But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is everlasting life. J. Realize that the fruits of your life display to all your master & destiny. (20-23)

1. If you serve Christ, you will live like Him more and more.

2. If Christ is your Master, you will have good fruits, works, service for His kingdom of righteousness. 3. If you serve Christ, you have everlasting life and will go to heaven.

4. If you serve sin, you will still be practicing things for which you should be ashamed.

5. If Sin is your master, you will produce bad fruits, works, and service for - kingdom of darkness.

6. If you serve Sin, your reward will be everlasting death in the lake of fire.

7. Your Master and your destiny is displayed by whom you serve w/ your life.

(Mat 7:15-20) "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from briar bushes? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

I. (Ill.) Race car drivers are dedicated. They are committed. After accident, hospital stay, rehab. what do say interview? I want to get back in the car. Got to race. Commitment. Examine yourself - see in - faith. Make your election & calling sure, be sure. Examine - fruits of others Are they wolves or sheep? Do they have good fruit or bad fruit? You are commanded - be And to test yourself. Just making a profession w/ - lips is not enough. Do you possess salvation? Are you even committed enough to faithfully attend & follow an expository series, or is feeding your soul a small thing in your eyes? If you don't follow it verse by verse it is confusing, & we are growing apart rather than together. No commitment, maybe no conversion. Is reigning sin dethroned or ruling in - ? Is Christ your Lord, or is comfort & ease? Do you love Him? Are you serving Him? Who is your king? We all know. Do you? You should. Righteous fruits follow a real conversion.

Conclusion

a. The kingdoms have been changed for every genuine Christian. vs 5-11 Darkness - Light, Sin - Christ b. Every genuine Christian is responsible to live like a regenerate person. vs 12-14

c. Every human being serves either king Sin or king Christ. Vs 15 -23 If you still have a sin nature, you still have reigning sin, the old self, & you are not converted. Some Bible foot notes and some Bible translations are confusing, NIV- sarx "Flesh" - mistranslated many times, its an interpretation, not translation. - giving you faulty two nature view J.N Darby, C.I.Scofield, C. Ryrie. Buy a New Geneva Study Bible. It will fix your problem. The error may still be in your head, just not in the footnotes or the text. Castro is in the jungle w/ a few supplies & a few men. His authority is gone. But he is still around. Reigning Sin's authority is gone. Remaining sin, indwelling sin is still present in the believer, both body & soul. You must learn how it works, & how to kill it. - Rom. 7 & 8 are about. Today, rejoice in good news. Sin's control, dominion, rule, & authority are all over!

Other Resources

Over 25 papers including my TH.M. Thesis and my TH.D. prospectus is available at the following website at Academia.edu

https://sebts.academia.edu/TedManby

Bible Verses that Teach Punishment by Degrees

Deut 28:20
Psa 28:4
Matt 10:14-15, 11:21-24, 12:41-42, 16:27
Mark 12:38-40
Luke 12:45-48
Luke 23:41
John 5:29
Acts 10:42
Rom 2:6, 16
Rom 14:10-12
2 Cor 5:10; 11:13-15
Gal 5:21
1 Tim 5:24-25
2 Tim 4:14

ROMANS 8:29-31 Only God Can Provide Security

 ROMANS 8:29-31

“For whom He foreknew (proginōskō), He also predestined . . . and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified . . . If God is for us, who can be against us?”

 

  I. Definition of “foreknew.”

proginōskō:

option #1. to choose beforehand, foreordain.               

option #2. to know something in advance.

option #3. to set one’s love upon someone.

The context of the passage must determine which definition or combination of definitions we choose.

For example the term: paper.

option # 1. a thin sheet material made from cellulose pulp.

option # 2. a newspaper.

 

I read the paper this morning during breakfast. (2. newspaper)

We used paper plates at the picnic. (1. sheet material)

II. Context:

 

The context of chapter 8 in Romans is declaring the believers security and hope during trials. Our future glory is certain because GOD is bringing it to pass.  Paul’s evidence of this certainty is laid out in verses 29-30.

 

The Biblical Order:	Man made order:  The following order or system which states part truth and part error allows for no certainty or guarantee.
GOD is choosing individuals.	MAN chooses to exercise his faith.
GOD is determining life events.	GOD sees that faith in advance, a thing.
GOD is calling individuals to salvation.	GOD is determining events.
GOD is justifying humans.	GOD is calling and justifying people.
GOD is going to glorify His chosen ones.	GOD is going to glorify the one with faith.

 

III. Grammar:

 

The grammatical structure of the passage requires the choice of definitions #1 (to choose beforehand) and/or #3 (to set one’s love upon someone). In each clause of the passage, “God” is the subject and “men” are the objects of the verbs, not things.

God  |  foreknew  |  whom

In the Greek text the term: “whom” is a relative pronoun that is masculine in gender and plural in number. Thus, it is impossible for Paul to be saying that God foresaw “faith” because “faith” is a feminine singular noun and its relative pronoun would have to be feminine in gender and singular in number as well. Hence, it would be translated as:

 

God  |  foreknew  |  what

 

Also, in the New Testament when the Greek word for “foreknow” (proginōskō) is used with “God” as the subject it always has people as its object. The New Testament never says that ‘God foreknew things.’ 

 Thus, Romans 8 teaches that the believer can wait with certainty and confidence, because he knows that God is sovereign in his salvation. God foreknows people (“whom,” not “what”). We can have confidence because God foreordains, God determines life events, God calls, God justifies, and God will finish what He begins at our resurrection and glorification.  This glorification is such a sure thing to occur for all “the called,” Paul speaks of it in the past tense (Gnomic Aorist) as if it has already occurred.  It is hard to get more certain than that!

The Order of Salvation

From John Murray, Redemption: Accomplished and Applied. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1982.


1. Foreknowledge and election
•    Foreknow: to foreordain or decree and to lovingly know in advance; to set one’s love upon another. Rom 8:28
•    Election: a free and unconstrained selection by God; to choose. Eph 1:4

2. Predestination: a sovereign, eternal, unchangeable decree of God concerning the elect and determining their destiny. Rom 8:30; Eph 1:11

3. Effectual calling: a sovereign and effective summons by which the people of God are ushered into the fellowship and union with Christ as their Redeemer, Savior and Lord. Rom 8:30, 11:29; John 6:44-45

4. Regeneration or new life: a miraculous change in a person’s heart and life wrought by a re-creative act of God. It is a radical, effective transformation and spiritual resurrection that results in repentance, faith and new obedience. Eph 2:1-5; 1 John 5:1-2[note Greek verb tenses]; John 1:9-13, 3:1-8; Titus 3:5

5. Faith and Repentance—Conversion: “Saving faith is permeated with repentance and repentance is permeated with faith.”
•    Faith is a whole-souled movement of self-commitment to Christ for salvation from sin and its consequences.
•    Repentance is a turning from sin unto God. It a change in heart, mind and will concerning God, ourselves, sin and righteousness. It includes a “true sens of our sin” and results in “a grief and hatred of our sin” along with a turning from it unto God. Acts 20:21; Eph 1:12-13, 2:8-9; 2 Tim 2:25-26; Rom 4:3-5:21


6. Justification: to be declared righteous by God. It is an objective, outward, legal act on the basis of Christ’s accomplished work. Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the believer’s account and they are accepted as righteous in God’s sight. It is a change in legal standing before God from guilty to not-guilty. Rom 5:1-2; 2 Cor 5:21

7. Adoption: to be received as a part of the intimate family of God as either His son or daughter. As such, the believer receives all rights, privileges and inheritance as His children. It is an outward legal act that results in a new relationship and the receiving of the Spirit of adoption, the Holy Spirit. It is a change in position. Eph 1:5, 13-14; Rom 8:9-11, 14-17; 1 Cor 12:13

8. Sanctification: this is an act of God “whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God.” It begins at conversion and remains a process until glorification. It is the work of God in us that begins with a radical division from sin and then continues the war with sin in our minds and bodies. It is a change of character. Heb 2:11, 12:14; Acts 20:32, 26:18; Rom 6:19, 22, 15:16; 1 Cor 6:11; 1 Thes 4:3-7; 2 Thes 2:13

9. Perseverance of the saints: to continue in the faith. True believer’s will persevere, endure and continue in the faith until their death. They are kept by God’s power, which will result in an enduring faith and a pursuit of holiness throughout their life. However, make-believers will not continue in the faith or continue on the narrow road. True saving faith will continue through trials and not die from struggles, falls into sin or set-backs. Genuine believers will return to trusting God and a pursuit of holiness again and again throughout their lives or they will be under God’s loving corrective discipline until they do. On one hand, the believer is responsible to exercise the means of grace to aid in spiritual growth and perseverance throughout their lifetime. On the other hand, God promises perseverance to all who are genuinely converted by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. A real Christian cannot become lost once he/she has been granted everlasting salvation. Matt 7:23; John 6:37, 63-65,10:9-10, 14, 24-30, 17:11; Rom 8:1-14, 25, 30; Phil 1:6; Heb 3:14, 6:12-13, 12:1-15; 1 Cor 1:2-9, 6:14; 2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:11-14

10. Glorification: this is an act of God towards His people in which He makes them perfect in holiness by a supernatural act. The believer’s soul passes into glory at his/her death. Their soul is made perfect in holiness, but this is only the beginning. The consummation of the glorification takes place at the first resurrection of believer’s at the second coming of Christ. John 5:24-29; Rom 8:23, 30; 1 Cor 15:20-28, 42-58; 1 Thes 4:16-18; Rev 19:11-20:6