Today I was doing some reading on the topic of Determinism in an old Philosophy book I was blessed to find when I came across and interesting quote entitled “Puppet Theater.”
“We see the puppets dancing in their miniature stage, moving up and down as the strings pull them around following the prescribed courses of their various little parts. We learn to understand the logic of this theater and we find ourselves in its motions. We locate ourselves in society and thus recognize our own position as we hang from its subtle strings. For a moment we see ourselves as puppets indeed. But then we grasp a decisive difference between the puppet theater and our own drama. Unlike the puppets, we have the possibility of stopping in our movements, looking up and perceiving the machinery by which we have been moved. In this act lies the first step towards freedom.”
Peter L.Berger: Invitation to Sociology
When I started studying the doctrines of Calvinism this was one of the few things I seemed to have a problem with. It was so hard to picture God as having a good and perfect plan for his people that is impossible to avoid. I had been raised on the idea of a free will and that I can do anything to prevent the work of God here on Earth. “The Earth belongs to us, and God doesn’t do anything on it without our permission” seemed to be echoed from the pulpit every Sunday morning. It didn’t take long to realize that I was being raised to believe in an unsovereign God, who in reality wasn’t God at all. Digging into scripture with this mindset revealed many things that were once looked over with apathetic eyes. I began to notice that God was a God who “works all things to his council and will” Eph. 1:11, “does as He pleases” Psalms 115:3; 135:6, and He does “according to His will on Earth and in Heaven…and no one can thwart his hand” Dan. 4:35. With these scriptures it began to be revealed that indeed, God does have a perfect plan for his creatures, and he carries out that plan until completion. No one can talk back to God and no one can stop His hand. We are, indeed, created as perfunctory apparatus’ for God’s own pleasure. I have no problem believe that God pulls the strings, because I also know that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” Rom. 8:28. The dividing line between the puppets of the theater and we as humans is the we are able to perceive the one who pulls our strings. And to him be the kingdom, glory, and power, Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Ben
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Pulled the Plug - A small update on some current and future events
Subsequent to the blog post from yesterday I though I would post about a couple things that I am doing and going to do here in the next few days.
First, just a few moments ago I unscrewed the dish from my T.V. in my room and pulled the plug. I found that I really have no reason for it, and in reality, no real reason for a T.V. in all the house. I have a computer that I can watch DVD's on theology, listen and watch sermons, lectures, and teachings, check the news and weather, and all the other things that I may need to do. All the T.V. has been doing is distracting me from what really matters in my life. I usually spend an hour or so a night watching T.V. before I go to bed. This time could be spent reading or studying, a much better usage.
Second, I haven't turned on my computer downstairs to play World of Warcraft in over a week now, and quite honestly I have no real desire to play.
Third, I was talking to a friend of mine the other night and we got on the topic of fasting. We discussed how our church usually portrays the idea. Pick something in your life, computer, T.V. chocolate, etc. and cut that out for a set amount of time and replace it with God. Though this may be a practical form of fasting, in essence it isn't the type we read through the entire bible. We've decided to take some time together and fast an entire day of food. I just e-mailed him last night about Friday being a good time. I don't have school this Friday and fasting the entire day will allow for hours of study, devotion, and prayer. I can't wait!
I hope this provided a good update for those of you in my life that are helping me grow.
In Christ Alone,
Ben
First, just a few moments ago I unscrewed the dish from my T.V. in my room and pulled the plug. I found that I really have no reason for it, and in reality, no real reason for a T.V. in all the house. I have a computer that I can watch DVD's on theology, listen and watch sermons, lectures, and teachings, check the news and weather, and all the other things that I may need to do. All the T.V. has been doing is distracting me from what really matters in my life. I usually spend an hour or so a night watching T.V. before I go to bed. This time could be spent reading or studying, a much better usage.
Second, I haven't turned on my computer downstairs to play World of Warcraft in over a week now, and quite honestly I have no real desire to play.
Third, I was talking to a friend of mine the other night and we got on the topic of fasting. We discussed how our church usually portrays the idea. Pick something in your life, computer, T.V. chocolate, etc. and cut that out for a set amount of time and replace it with God. Though this may be a practical form of fasting, in essence it isn't the type we read through the entire bible. We've decided to take some time together and fast an entire day of food. I just e-mailed him last night about Friday being a good time. I don't have school this Friday and fasting the entire day will allow for hours of study, devotion, and prayer. I can't wait!
I hope this provided a good update for those of you in my life that are helping me grow.
In Christ Alone,
Ben
Sunday, October 12, 2008
When Pride Comes Crashing
Beginning early in the afternoon I started feeling the spirit work in me. I knew God wanted to reveal something to me, but it was as if he was waiting until the proper time to reveal it. I continued through the day involving myself in the voluminous laughter of the fun at youth group and never gave myself time to just be alone and listen to God. Finally, as the gregariousness came to a close I prepared to head back home. It was in my car ride home that God finally revealed to me what he had been waiting to say. I will also mention that it was in the most unexpected, and peculiar way that God chose to reveal his words.
As I was listening to one of my favorite songs, by one of my favorite bands, Misery Signals, instead of just repeating the lyrics through my head, the words actually entered my conscious thought. The line “we’re just rehearsing who we think we are” stuck in my head. I found myself repeating it over and over again. Then I asked myself a simple question: Who am I? The answer: Well, I’m Ben Rudd, a descendent of the Rudd and Ebright family, I’m a Senior at Ithaca High School, I’m a thinker, I’m a reader, I’m a Christian, and more in depth, I consider myself a Calvinist. Of course, there is probably much more, but to keep it short I’m sure that I conveyed the general idea. What first struck me as odd was that I was able to name many things off and I finally neared the end of the list as a Christian and Calvinist. Then I really began to think. Are these things actually me, or have I been rehearsing who I think I am?
Of course, I am a descendent of the Rudd and Ebright family and I am a Senior at Ithaca High School, but was a truly a thinker, reader, Calvinist, or even a Christian? It was just within the past 1 – 2 years that I have been building up a collection of history, theology, and philosophy books. This of course made me a reader, and because of the material I was reader there was no doubting that I was a thinker. Also because of the material and words from various spiritual mentors I became to be known as a Calvinist. It is also just in these past 1 – 2 years that I could honestly consider myself as a professing and believing Christian. I was maturing in Christ and becoming the kind of person that I thought I would truly want to be, but for some reason, at this time, driving in my car, God felt the need to stop me where I was and truly reflect on some things.
Now this is where my pride suddenly came crashing. You see, I had been reading books by various reformed authors and listening to numerous people in my life who were also reformed. Based on everything that I was reader, being told, and discovering, I found myself as once foolish. I saw myself as once tricked by crafty Arminians. As the studying progressed and the idea that the people I once followed and looked up to believed something that I now saw a completely unbiblical I began to feel smarter. I saw myself as smarter than my parents, smarter than my pastor, and smarter than hundreds of thousands Christians in the world today. I had inundated myself with doctrine and thought I had discovered some esoteric meaning that scripture held. When in reality, I had only been a professing Christian for just over a year and had been studying works of many authors and leaving the bible in the dust. Yes, I was receiving scripture indirectly from the words of other authors, but I thought of myself as such a better Christian and believer than many people I saw in my life, but I cannot name to you one book of the bible that I have read through, or even came close. I was a terrible Christian and was reverting to Phariseeism. I revered myself and the doctrine I believed far higher than Christ and the gospel itself.
I was spending so much time rehearsing this person that I thought I was, when in reality I was a pompous Pharisee who thought that everyone who didn’t believe what I did new nothing and was diving headfirst in the wrong direction, but now I was suddenly realized that I was the stupid one, and I was definitely diving in the wrong direction.
All through this God was showing me that it isn’t what we say about ourselves that makes us who we are, rather, it is what we actually are doing that defines us. What I though myself as versus what I was actually doing where wholly different. I’ve decided that the time is now. I’ve been to full of pride to actually discover who Christ is. I have no idea who the God is that I worship. I only know what people have told and taught me. I was never digging into scripture itself, rather, what someone was saying about scripture and their belief. It is time to pull the plug. I’m pulling the plug on the T.V., the computer, and anything else that is going to distract me from discovering God’s word. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” It is no longer that I need to be filling my life with useless junk that I would run to instead of scripture. God should be the first and foremost thing in my life, along with everybody else’s.
Please pray along side me that God would grant me the strength to truly cast these things away. I want my life to be wholly focused on him and his word.
In Christ Alone,
Ben
As I was listening to one of my favorite songs, by one of my favorite bands, Misery Signals, instead of just repeating the lyrics through my head, the words actually entered my conscious thought. The line “we’re just rehearsing who we think we are” stuck in my head. I found myself repeating it over and over again. Then I asked myself a simple question: Who am I? The answer: Well, I’m Ben Rudd, a descendent of the Rudd and Ebright family, I’m a Senior at Ithaca High School, I’m a thinker, I’m a reader, I’m a Christian, and more in depth, I consider myself a Calvinist. Of course, there is probably much more, but to keep it short I’m sure that I conveyed the general idea. What first struck me as odd was that I was able to name many things off and I finally neared the end of the list as a Christian and Calvinist. Then I really began to think. Are these things actually me, or have I been rehearsing who I think I am?
Of course, I am a descendent of the Rudd and Ebright family and I am a Senior at Ithaca High School, but was a truly a thinker, reader, Calvinist, or even a Christian? It was just within the past 1 – 2 years that I have been building up a collection of history, theology, and philosophy books. This of course made me a reader, and because of the material I was reader there was no doubting that I was a thinker. Also because of the material and words from various spiritual mentors I became to be known as a Calvinist. It is also just in these past 1 – 2 years that I could honestly consider myself as a professing and believing Christian. I was maturing in Christ and becoming the kind of person that I thought I would truly want to be, but for some reason, at this time, driving in my car, God felt the need to stop me where I was and truly reflect on some things.
Now this is where my pride suddenly came crashing. You see, I had been reading books by various reformed authors and listening to numerous people in my life who were also reformed. Based on everything that I was reader, being told, and discovering, I found myself as once foolish. I saw myself as once tricked by crafty Arminians. As the studying progressed and the idea that the people I once followed and looked up to believed something that I now saw a completely unbiblical I began to feel smarter. I saw myself as smarter than my parents, smarter than my pastor, and smarter than hundreds of thousands Christians in the world today. I had inundated myself with doctrine and thought I had discovered some esoteric meaning that scripture held. When in reality, I had only been a professing Christian for just over a year and had been studying works of many authors and leaving the bible in the dust. Yes, I was receiving scripture indirectly from the words of other authors, but I thought of myself as such a better Christian and believer than many people I saw in my life, but I cannot name to you one book of the bible that I have read through, or even came close. I was a terrible Christian and was reverting to Phariseeism. I revered myself and the doctrine I believed far higher than Christ and the gospel itself.
I was spending so much time rehearsing this person that I thought I was, when in reality I was a pompous Pharisee who thought that everyone who didn’t believe what I did new nothing and was diving headfirst in the wrong direction, but now I was suddenly realized that I was the stupid one, and I was definitely diving in the wrong direction.
All through this God was showing me that it isn’t what we say about ourselves that makes us who we are, rather, it is what we actually are doing that defines us. What I though myself as versus what I was actually doing where wholly different. I’ve decided that the time is now. I’ve been to full of pride to actually discover who Christ is. I have no idea who the God is that I worship. I only know what people have told and taught me. I was never digging into scripture itself, rather, what someone was saying about scripture and their belief. It is time to pull the plug. I’m pulling the plug on the T.V., the computer, and anything else that is going to distract me from discovering God’s word. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” It is no longer that I need to be filling my life with useless junk that I would run to instead of scripture. God should be the first and foremost thing in my life, along with everybody else’s.
Please pray along side me that God would grant me the strength to truly cast these things away. I want my life to be wholly focused on him and his word.
In Christ Alone,
Ben
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Gone for a long time....
So as everyone can tell, it has been a while (ok, a very long while) since my last post. With school well on its way into the year and my perpetual addiction to World of Warcraft and my Xbox 360 posting, along with my extra-curricular studying has been far lower than acceptable. I apologize to those who have been checking regularly for a new post. Please be praying for me to be able to cast aside these addictions and pick up God’s Word for longer than a few minutes.
I expect to have some posts up soon, maybe tonight after I do some studying.
God Bless,
Ben
I expect to have some posts up soon, maybe tonight after I do some studying.
God Bless,
Ben
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Exegesis of John 3:16
Introduction:
If you asked many Christians today to quote for you one passage of scripture they have memorized it wont be uncommon to hear John 3:16 roll from their lips almost immediately. The overly prevalent usage of the scripture is scary when a proper exegesis is done. These words are scribbled on almost every work you see of a “Christian radical.” It was just a few weeks ago that I remember a man that had come through the Drive-Thru at the local Burger King. When paying the girl at the window he had slipped a $1,000,000 bill into the stack of money. She hadn’t realized it of course until putting the money in the register. Upon noticing, she glanced at it and handed it back to the man. He told her to keep it. She then brought it over to me to show what she had received. Of course, it wasn’t a million dollars. Rather, it was a piece of paper containing the “million dollar gift” God has offered you. Following a very short, misleading paragraph typed around the bill in a rectangular outline that is going to send more people to Hell than we can begin to imagine was written the all famous passage of John 3:16. Oh! Christian radicalism at its finest!
While you’re asking people to recite scripture you should also ask them what the terms mean contained in the verse. Again, it will be no surprise when you hear their answers.
To start, it would be proper to quote the passage so we have it to look back to when reading. Because the passage will be the main focus of this paper I will also post the verse in many common translations of the bible for comparison.
John 3:16:
(AMP) For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
(ESV) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
(KJV+) ForG1063 GodG2316 soG3779 lovedG25 theG3588 world,G2889 thatG5620 he gaveG1325 hisG848 only begottenG3439 Son,G5207 thatG2443 whosoeverG3956 believethG4100 inG1519 himG846 should notG3361 perish,G622 butG235 haveG2192 everlastingG166 life.G2222
(MSG) "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
(NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Upon reading the verse out of some of the most popular translations we see a very miniscule to no difference in the general “idea” of the scripture at all.
I. The Words + Their Assumed Meanings = The Problem
a. To obtain proper understanding of the scripture I want to focus on two words, that when properly defined and understood, alter the entire meaning of the passage, thus altering ones entire doctrine on salvation. After all, many Christians profess this as the verse that “gets you into heaven.” Going from the KJV we see two words of importance: ‘world’ and ‘whosoever’. The former is a very common word we see in John’s writings, along with other writers of the bible.
This word, being infused with tradition, is assumingly defined as: everyone, the whole body of man on the earth, or shorter, a universal term. The latter, again being infused with tradition, is assumingly defined as something like: Any person on the planet.
b. Now the problem: These words are so commonly used to a point that we feel no need to find definitions for them. Instead, we make assumptions on what they mean and infuse our traditions to make them wrap around our doctrine.
This principle is the same around the entire bible. One of the first things we learn when studying the bible is to read a passage as a whole. We have to remember that the original bible was never separated into chapters and verses. When studying the bible we ought to look for paragraphs, which are defined as a separation of thought. After reading an entire paragraph we can then begin to break down the general idea focused within the writing. When we read one verse out of an entire idea we are left with an incomplete slice of the entire thing. This makes paths for us to walk in with our own incomplete idea and slide in the slice like a puzzle thus recreating the idea (wow, that’s a lot of idea repetition, sorry.) Another important thing to remember when interpreting scripture is that the entire bible is the Word of God. Therefore one verse can’t contradict another. So when we interpret a verse we must also look at other scripture that relates to that verse. For example, if Jesus says that eating pie is a sin, then he goes and eats pie, we must interpret the verse as meaning “certain types of pie”. We may also then end up reading another passage that says “consumption of apple and cherry pie is sinful” Now we have a confirmation of our assumption and an interpretation. Jesus says eating pie is a sin. He himself ate pie, and since Jesus can’t sin we must know that certain kinds of pie may be consumed. Other scripture says specifically that consuming apple or cherry pie is a sin. Therefore we know that Jesus had to of eaten something like pecan pie. If no other scripture is found, then it can be considered “sound doctrine” to state that only the consumption of apple and cherry pie is a sin, all others are safe to eat.
II. World: What Can It Mean and What It Does Mean
a. First I would like to point out that previously when I say that ‘world’ is “assumingly defined as everyone, the whole body of man on the earth” I am not excluding this definition, I am just pointing out that this is the generally assumed one.
Starting on what the word can mean, I would like to introduce two statements that offer some contrast to its general definition. For example:
i. Because of a lack of technology, in turn creating a lack of knowledge, one making a map could stop at the ocean and assume there is no more land. When the map is then completed there is what we would know as a continent, surrounded by water. This would be called “the world” to the people of that day.
ii. A news reporter may make state while observing a massive hurricane that “the world is in turmoil.” Surely it is not, this is something we know as a hyperbole, or over exaggeration.
Now for a few biblical uses of the term taken from the same author showing us how the term is used and defined differently.
I. 1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
a. Surely we are not being told to not love “the whole body of man on Earth.” Jesus teaches that we are to “love one another.” We are also taught that “by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (cf. John 13:34-35) Because of this we must define the word differently. This verses is commonly interpreted as ‘not loving the sinful or fleshly offers of the world’ rather we are to love the spiritual or moral, Godly things – spirit over flesh.
II. Joh 12:18-19 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. (19) So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."
a. Surely it wasn’t the “the whole body of man on Earth” that had went after Jesus. It was a hyperbole of the extreme amount of people that did go after him.
As you can see in the four examples the term ‘world’ can imply a set number or “limited” amount of people.
b. What does world mean in John 3:16? To answer this question we must first explore verses that deal with the same topic of John 3:16. If you recall what I mentioned in I. b. about two important things when interpreting scripture we will be using the latter here.
I. Joh 17:9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
a. Jesus states specifically that it isn’t the world (keeping in mind that this usage of the term is implying “the whole body of man on earth”) he is praying for, rather it is only the ones the father has given him.
II. Joh 10:25-29 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, (26) but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. (27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (28) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
a. Paying close attention to the bolded words we can easily understand that Jesus came to die only for the sheep. It is only the sheep that will receive eternal life. It is also the Father who has given Jesus the sheep, like john 17:9 above.
III. Mat 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
a. Jesus will save his people from there sins. Who are his people? Look at the verses above. They are the ones the Father gives him.
IV. Mat 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
a. Jesus’ life is only a ransom for many. Here is a very strong point! This single verse tells us that world in John 3:16 does not mean every single person on Earth. It can’t because this verse would have to read entirely different. If it was to say that Jesus’ life was the ransom for the entire world then everyone would be saved no matter what happens because Jesus had paid the price. But for the matter of fully studying this out, and completely understanding it we must go on. Keep this thought in mind though.
V. Mat 26:28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
a. Again, his blood is only poured out for many
So what does ‘world’ mean in John 3:16. In light of other scripture we must interpret ‘world’ in John 3:16 as meaning “a limited or selected group.” Keep in mind that I have only listed 5 verses, to list the several others would be superfluous. One might then say that this is demeaning of Christ death because it makes it sound as though Christ only died for a small amount of people. To respond I will add Revelation 7:9 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” Today we are still part of that “no one.” Look at the technology we have that is able to count far past numbers we once thought imaginable. Still we are not able to number those who Christ has saved!
III. If World Is Limited Then What Does Whosoever Mean?
a. Since we have discovered that this verse in no way promotes a universal ability and given ‘world’ a studied, biblical definition that task of defining whosoever becomes much easier. Some synonyms of whosoever are words like: anyone or anybody. I think we can agree that these in no way change the meaning, just the word used. Now for an example.
i. If I am sitting in a room full of people (a declared limited group using our definition of world) and I ask a question like: “I will give a cookie to whosoever, anyone, or anybody that asks me.” Am I declaring this to the every person on the planet? Of course not, and it would never be assumed that way.
Using our definition of world we have to define whosoever as being “anyone, anybody, or any person out of the world (or group)”
IV. Conclusion
In conclusion I would simply like to state that through this study I have found it very logical and biblical to say that in the matter of John 3:16 the word ‘world’ in no way implies “everyone, or the whole body of man on Earth” and ‘whosoever’ therefore cannot imply “any person, anybody, or anyone on the planet” but rather “any person, anybody, or anyone of the limited or select group that defines the word world.”
If you asked many Christians today to quote for you one passage of scripture they have memorized it wont be uncommon to hear John 3:16 roll from their lips almost immediately. The overly prevalent usage of the scripture is scary when a proper exegesis is done. These words are scribbled on almost every work you see of a “Christian radical.” It was just a few weeks ago that I remember a man that had come through the Drive-Thru at the local Burger King. When paying the girl at the window he had slipped a $1,000,000 bill into the stack of money. She hadn’t realized it of course until putting the money in the register. Upon noticing, she glanced at it and handed it back to the man. He told her to keep it. She then brought it over to me to show what she had received. Of course, it wasn’t a million dollars. Rather, it was a piece of paper containing the “million dollar gift” God has offered you. Following a very short, misleading paragraph typed around the bill in a rectangular outline that is going to send more people to Hell than we can begin to imagine was written the all famous passage of John 3:16. Oh! Christian radicalism at its finest!
While you’re asking people to recite scripture you should also ask them what the terms mean contained in the verse. Again, it will be no surprise when you hear their answers.
To start, it would be proper to quote the passage so we have it to look back to when reading. Because the passage will be the main focus of this paper I will also post the verse in many common translations of the bible for comparison.
John 3:16:
(AMP) For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
(ESV) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
(KJV+) ForG1063 GodG2316 soG3779 lovedG25 theG3588 world,G2889 thatG5620 he gaveG1325 hisG848 only begottenG3439 Son,G5207 thatG2443 whosoeverG3956 believethG4100 inG1519 himG846 should notG3361 perish,G622 butG235 haveG2192 everlastingG166 life.G2222
(MSG) "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
(NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Upon reading the verse out of some of the most popular translations we see a very miniscule to no difference in the general “idea” of the scripture at all.
I. The Words + Their Assumed Meanings = The Problem
a. To obtain proper understanding of the scripture I want to focus on two words, that when properly defined and understood, alter the entire meaning of the passage, thus altering ones entire doctrine on salvation. After all, many Christians profess this as the verse that “gets you into heaven.” Going from the KJV we see two words of importance: ‘world’ and ‘whosoever’. The former is a very common word we see in John’s writings, along with other writers of the bible.
This word, being infused with tradition, is assumingly defined as: everyone, the whole body of man on the earth, or shorter, a universal term. The latter, again being infused with tradition, is assumingly defined as something like: Any person on the planet.
b. Now the problem: These words are so commonly used to a point that we feel no need to find definitions for them. Instead, we make assumptions on what they mean and infuse our traditions to make them wrap around our doctrine.
This principle is the same around the entire bible. One of the first things we learn when studying the bible is to read a passage as a whole. We have to remember that the original bible was never separated into chapters and verses. When studying the bible we ought to look for paragraphs, which are defined as a separation of thought. After reading an entire paragraph we can then begin to break down the general idea focused within the writing. When we read one verse out of an entire idea we are left with an incomplete slice of the entire thing. This makes paths for us to walk in with our own incomplete idea and slide in the slice like a puzzle thus recreating the idea (wow, that’s a lot of idea repetition, sorry.) Another important thing to remember when interpreting scripture is that the entire bible is the Word of God. Therefore one verse can’t contradict another. So when we interpret a verse we must also look at other scripture that relates to that verse. For example, if Jesus says that eating pie is a sin, then he goes and eats pie, we must interpret the verse as meaning “certain types of pie”. We may also then end up reading another passage that says “consumption of apple and cherry pie is sinful” Now we have a confirmation of our assumption and an interpretation. Jesus says eating pie is a sin. He himself ate pie, and since Jesus can’t sin we must know that certain kinds of pie may be consumed. Other scripture says specifically that consuming apple or cherry pie is a sin. Therefore we know that Jesus had to of eaten something like pecan pie. If no other scripture is found, then it can be considered “sound doctrine” to state that only the consumption of apple and cherry pie is a sin, all others are safe to eat.
II. World: What Can It Mean and What It Does Mean
a. First I would like to point out that previously when I say that ‘world’ is “assumingly defined as everyone, the whole body of man on the earth” I am not excluding this definition, I am just pointing out that this is the generally assumed one.
Starting on what the word can mean, I would like to introduce two statements that offer some contrast to its general definition. For example:
i. Because of a lack of technology, in turn creating a lack of knowledge, one making a map could stop at the ocean and assume there is no more land. When the map is then completed there is what we would know as a continent, surrounded by water. This would be called “the world” to the people of that day.
ii. A news reporter may make state while observing a massive hurricane that “the world is in turmoil.” Surely it is not, this is something we know as a hyperbole, or over exaggeration.
Now for a few biblical uses of the term taken from the same author showing us how the term is used and defined differently.
I. 1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
a. Surely we are not being told to not love “the whole body of man on Earth.” Jesus teaches that we are to “love one another.” We are also taught that “by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (cf. John 13:34-35) Because of this we must define the word differently. This verses is commonly interpreted as ‘not loving the sinful or fleshly offers of the world’ rather we are to love the spiritual or moral, Godly things – spirit over flesh.
II. Joh 12:18-19 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. (19) So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."
a. Surely it wasn’t the “the whole body of man on Earth” that had went after Jesus. It was a hyperbole of the extreme amount of people that did go after him.
As you can see in the four examples the term ‘world’ can imply a set number or “limited” amount of people.
b. What does world mean in John 3:16? To answer this question we must first explore verses that deal with the same topic of John 3:16. If you recall what I mentioned in I. b. about two important things when interpreting scripture we will be using the latter here.
I. Joh 17:9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
a. Jesus states specifically that it isn’t the world (keeping in mind that this usage of the term is implying “the whole body of man on earth”) he is praying for, rather it is only the ones the father has given him.
II. Joh 10:25-29 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, (26) but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. (27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (28) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
a. Paying close attention to the bolded words we can easily understand that Jesus came to die only for the sheep. It is only the sheep that will receive eternal life. It is also the Father who has given Jesus the sheep, like john 17:9 above.
III. Mat 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
a. Jesus will save his people from there sins. Who are his people? Look at the verses above. They are the ones the Father gives him.
IV. Mat 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
a. Jesus’ life is only a ransom for many. Here is a very strong point! This single verse tells us that world in John 3:16 does not mean every single person on Earth. It can’t because this verse would have to read entirely different. If it was to say that Jesus’ life was the ransom for the entire world then everyone would be saved no matter what happens because Jesus had paid the price. But for the matter of fully studying this out, and completely understanding it we must go on. Keep this thought in mind though.
V. Mat 26:28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
a. Again, his blood is only poured out for many
So what does ‘world’ mean in John 3:16. In light of other scripture we must interpret ‘world’ in John 3:16 as meaning “a limited or selected group.” Keep in mind that I have only listed 5 verses, to list the several others would be superfluous. One might then say that this is demeaning of Christ death because it makes it sound as though Christ only died for a small amount of people. To respond I will add Revelation 7:9 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,” Today we are still part of that “no one.” Look at the technology we have that is able to count far past numbers we once thought imaginable. Still we are not able to number those who Christ has saved!
III. If World Is Limited Then What Does Whosoever Mean?
a. Since we have discovered that this verse in no way promotes a universal ability and given ‘world’ a studied, biblical definition that task of defining whosoever becomes much easier. Some synonyms of whosoever are words like: anyone or anybody. I think we can agree that these in no way change the meaning, just the word used. Now for an example.
i. If I am sitting in a room full of people (a declared limited group using our definition of world) and I ask a question like: “I will give a cookie to whosoever, anyone, or anybody that asks me.” Am I declaring this to the every person on the planet? Of course not, and it would never be assumed that way.
Using our definition of world we have to define whosoever as being “anyone, anybody, or any person out of the world (or group)”
IV. Conclusion
In conclusion I would simply like to state that through this study I have found it very logical and biblical to say that in the matter of John 3:16 the word ‘world’ in no way implies “everyone, or the whole body of man on Earth” and ‘whosoever’ therefore cannot imply “any person, anybody, or anyone on the planet” but rather “any person, anybody, or anyone of the limited or select group that defines the word world.”
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Its Been Awhile
So, how has everyone been doing?
It has been quite some time since I made a post. I just thought I would take some time and write a couple sentences describing why I've been gone and some future works I will be posting within the next day or two.
It was a couple weeks ago that I decided to purchase an Xbox 360. I imagine right from the start you can imagine what happens next. When comparing this to me recent World of Warcraft addiction I can say only one thing: They're the same. I found myself dedicating countless hours into a myriad of games that would only end in countless hours wasted. About a week into my play time I began to realize the poison I had consumed. I took a short break (about 2 hours) to only find myself sucked right back in. It wasn't until the past 2 or 3 days that I really have been able to set aside and do some studying. I feel new, like I just discovered my passion again. Which is really cool because I have the same excitement, if not more, to study the heck out of everything.
It was just today that I had been doing some heavy reading. I've been on my laptop from about 3pm - 9pm and have only stopped for the bathroom and dinner. After doing some reading I really wanted to do some writing.
I've been working on two things for the past 6 hours. The first is my exegesis of TULIP. I've been preparing a word document the contains the Five Points defined in my words with verses after each statement. It's kind of hard to describe because there is really no "attractive" way to describe a piece of paper with words on it, other than maybe talking about the brightness and "purity" of the papers whiteness. Anyway, I thought of something really cool to do. I copied every verse that I have in my paper from E-Sword and pasted them to individual notepad files. I then hyper linked the corresponding scripture. Now when someone is reading it off from my computer all the have to do is Ctrl-click the verse and it brings up the scripture. I thought that was really cool and really fun to put together.
The second thing I have been working on is an exegesis on John 3:16. I have read a couple articles and have watched a video on the scripture passage and decided that I wanted to put together my own article. I hope to have most, if not all of it done tonight so I can post it.
Glad to be back!
Soli Deo Gloria!
-Ben
It has been quite some time since I made a post. I just thought I would take some time and write a couple sentences describing why I've been gone and some future works I will be posting within the next day or two.
It was a couple weeks ago that I decided to purchase an Xbox 360. I imagine right from the start you can imagine what happens next. When comparing this to me recent World of Warcraft addiction I can say only one thing: They're the same. I found myself dedicating countless hours into a myriad of games that would only end in countless hours wasted. About a week into my play time I began to realize the poison I had consumed. I took a short break (about 2 hours) to only find myself sucked right back in. It wasn't until the past 2 or 3 days that I really have been able to set aside and do some studying. I feel new, like I just discovered my passion again. Which is really cool because I have the same excitement, if not more, to study the heck out of everything.
It was just today that I had been doing some heavy reading. I've been on my laptop from about 3pm - 9pm and have only stopped for the bathroom and dinner. After doing some reading I really wanted to do some writing.
I've been working on two things for the past 6 hours. The first is my exegesis of TULIP. I've been preparing a word document the contains the Five Points defined in my words with verses after each statement. It's kind of hard to describe because there is really no "attractive" way to describe a piece of paper with words on it, other than maybe talking about the brightness and "purity" of the papers whiteness. Anyway, I thought of something really cool to do. I copied every verse that I have in my paper from E-Sword and pasted them to individual notepad files. I then hyper linked the corresponding scripture. Now when someone is reading it off from my computer all the have to do is Ctrl-click the verse and it brings up the scripture. I thought that was really cool and really fun to put together.
The second thing I have been working on is an exegesis on John 3:16. I have read a couple articles and have watched a video on the scripture passage and decided that I wanted to put together my own article. I hope to have most, if not all of it done tonight so I can post it.
Glad to be back!
Soli Deo Gloria!
-Ben
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
My Essay on Salvation
Well, here is the long awaited for essay on salvation that I wrote for youth group. It is unchanged from the original copy I handed in. The emphasis that I put on certain parts didn't show up, but I think you will know where they would be placed.
Enjoy!
-Ben
In introduction I find it pertinent to state that this essay will be written from my faith in Reformed Doctrine. After studying out this doctrine, in my view, it is becoming very clear that it is the most biblically correct doctrine compared to others. Feel free not to read or do whatever you feel like, I don’t care. This paper will be choppy, mainly because it’s three different topics, but all relating to salvation.
The first thing I would like to present is this idea of a quick and easy salvation. “It will just take a minute; anyone can do it right now.” The times I have heard this line is innumerable, but this idea of synergistic salvation is unbiblical. I would much rather hold to the biblical, monergistic salvation. Where God, in his holy and perfect, triune self, and by his single hand starts, and carries through to the end his plan for those whom are to receive salvation.
I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. (25) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. (26) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
[Eze 36:24-27 emphasis added]
Do you see a pattern here? When I read this, I find that it’s all about God, and how great HIS name is. Not once in that text do I read of something that a creature of God had done. It is all about how HE may receive ALL glory. Preacher Paul Washer says it better than I can. He puts salvation like this:
“Salvation is all about the work of God demonstrating the glory of God, and that is why men such as ourselves should guard it so severely and preach it so carefully, because its all about God and his name; that his name be great among the nations. Hollowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done. It’s all about God!”
Notice verse 26 (And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.) First, this is amazing that God is even willing to take a heart of stone, a completely depraved human like me and give me a heart of flesh. For contrast, I want to review what a heart of stone is compared to a heart of flesh.
The heart of stone is: Darkened and ignorant (Eph. 4:17-18), Full of unbelief (John 6:63-64), Dead in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1), Depraved of mind (Rom. 1:28), Continually wicked (Genesis 6:5), and last, A slave to sin (John 8:34).
The heart of flesh is: Knowledgeable of sin (Rom. 3:20), sorrowful of sin (2 Cor. 7:10), Alive with Christ (Eph. 2:6), A slave to righteousness (Rom. 6:6), Renewed (Titus 3:5), Divine workmanship (Eph. 2:20), Born of God (1 John 5:1), and last, Clean (Ezek. 36:25)
Every man’s heart is a first a heart of stone, so where to we get this idea that man would even begin to have remorse for his sin, with true contrition, and then want to repent and believe to receive salvation. It is GOD who first must give a new heart, this new heart being the beginning of his work.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
[Php 1:6]
It is all entirely God; He begins the work of salvation and finishes it to the end. I play no role other than to be the recipient of God’s wonderful grace. And the best part is that I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The second thing I would like to present is an organized, biblical idea of salvation. The term “Ordo Salutis” is a Latin phrase meaning “The Order of Salvation.” I don’t know if you have heard of this before, I surely hadn’t until the past year that I have so diligently digging into the Reformed aspect of Christianity. The idea isn’t secular from the bible. It comes from Romans 8:29-30
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (30) And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
[Rom 8:29-30]
The idea is foreign to many people, mainly because it’s not taught in many of the churches today. This verse refers to those who are chosen by God, those who will be saved. It teaches us that our salvation follows an ordered line of events. God first foreknows those who are to be saved. Revelation 13:8 shows us that everyone who will inherit salvation will have there names written within the Lambs Book of Life before the foundation of the world. The topic of foreknowledge is a highly debated one today, just as it was centuries ago. This verse in Romans is often misinterpreted to say that God foresees faith within an individual. The problem with this interpretation is that it’s not what theses verses are saying, along with many others. If faith is the basis that God chooses off form then how shall we interpret the following passage:
though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls--
[Rom 9:11]
This passage shows is how God’s election works. It is based off from nothing that we can exert; it’s only by HIS purpose that we are saved. When God foresees he doesn’t look for anything we are doing, because we have done nothing good or bad. He isn’t looking for action, only looking for someone that can live by his purpose. I don’t know what God’s purpose is, and I wouldn’t dare try to say what it is. All I know is that those who will receive salvation have exerting nothing, and they can’t, there heart of stone will not allow it.
So back to the Ordo Salutis. First we are foreknown by God; next we are predestined by Him to receive salvation. Then those who He predestines are called by the Spirit. Since we know that all are foreknown will be predestined then this calling must then be irresistible. After their calling the elect are then justified. After justification we are then glorified. This entire process is one thing, you can’t remove a part of it or it all crumbles. The way it reads is that everyone who is first foreknown must then follow completely through to glorification. Not one of these processes can happen without the first or next happening.
The third and last thing I would like to cover is the question – I will say first that this is a topic that I still struggle with slightly, though I see the myriad of verses that would cause questioning of Arminianism. Who is it that Jesus died for? This is easy, if we take the typical Arminian response stating that Jesus came and died for the entire world and everyone in it and who will ever be in it. But I like to answer the question with the following passages:
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
[Joh 17:1-9 emphasis added]
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
[Joh 10:11]
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
[Joh 10:14-17]
Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
[Joh 10:25-29]
It is read that Jesus only lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus declares that people are all ready sheep, and others a not, we can call them goats. The first passage refers to a people who are chosen and given out of the world. If we go back to the second par that I covered we know that the sheep or ones that Jesus dies for are first foreknown by God and elected unto salvation. This gives us some insight when we read that Jesus prays for those who are given to him out of the world.
In closing I would simply like to restate this verse:
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
[Php 1:6]
It is so comforting to know that God has a purpose and a plan that he will carry out until the end. I was a lost sinner, as we all are from birth. But God so freely sent his son that his sheep may be saved.
Enjoy!
-Ben
In introduction I find it pertinent to state that this essay will be written from my faith in Reformed Doctrine. After studying out this doctrine, in my view, it is becoming very clear that it is the most biblically correct doctrine compared to others. Feel free not to read or do whatever you feel like, I don’t care. This paper will be choppy, mainly because it’s three different topics, but all relating to salvation.
The first thing I would like to present is this idea of a quick and easy salvation. “It will just take a minute; anyone can do it right now.” The times I have heard this line is innumerable, but this idea of synergistic salvation is unbiblical. I would much rather hold to the biblical, monergistic salvation. Where God, in his holy and perfect, triune self, and by his single hand starts, and carries through to the end his plan for those whom are to receive salvation.
I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. (25) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. (26) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
[Eze 36:24-27 emphasis added]
Do you see a pattern here? When I read this, I find that it’s all about God, and how great HIS name is. Not once in that text do I read of something that a creature of God had done. It is all about how HE may receive ALL glory. Preacher Paul Washer says it better than I can. He puts salvation like this:
“Salvation is all about the work of God demonstrating the glory of God, and that is why men such as ourselves should guard it so severely and preach it so carefully, because its all about God and his name; that his name be great among the nations. Hollowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done. It’s all about God!”
Notice verse 26 (And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.) First, this is amazing that God is even willing to take a heart of stone, a completely depraved human like me and give me a heart of flesh. For contrast, I want to review what a heart of stone is compared to a heart of flesh.
The heart of stone is: Darkened and ignorant (Eph. 4:17-18), Full of unbelief (John 6:63-64), Dead in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1), Depraved of mind (Rom. 1:28), Continually wicked (Genesis 6:5), and last, A slave to sin (John 8:34).
The heart of flesh is: Knowledgeable of sin (Rom. 3:20), sorrowful of sin (2 Cor. 7:10), Alive with Christ (Eph. 2:6), A slave to righteousness (Rom. 6:6), Renewed (Titus 3:5), Divine workmanship (Eph. 2:20), Born of God (1 John 5:1), and last, Clean (Ezek. 36:25)
Every man’s heart is a first a heart of stone, so where to we get this idea that man would even begin to have remorse for his sin, with true contrition, and then want to repent and believe to receive salvation. It is GOD who first must give a new heart, this new heart being the beginning of his work.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
[Php 1:6]
It is all entirely God; He begins the work of salvation and finishes it to the end. I play no role other than to be the recipient of God’s wonderful grace. And the best part is that I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The second thing I would like to present is an organized, biblical idea of salvation. The term “Ordo Salutis” is a Latin phrase meaning “The Order of Salvation.” I don’t know if you have heard of this before, I surely hadn’t until the past year that I have so diligently digging into the Reformed aspect of Christianity. The idea isn’t secular from the bible. It comes from Romans 8:29-30
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (30) And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
[Rom 8:29-30]
The idea is foreign to many people, mainly because it’s not taught in many of the churches today. This verse refers to those who are chosen by God, those who will be saved. It teaches us that our salvation follows an ordered line of events. God first foreknows those who are to be saved. Revelation 13:8 shows us that everyone who will inherit salvation will have there names written within the Lambs Book of Life before the foundation of the world. The topic of foreknowledge is a highly debated one today, just as it was centuries ago. This verse in Romans is often misinterpreted to say that God foresees faith within an individual. The problem with this interpretation is that it’s not what theses verses are saying, along with many others. If faith is the basis that God chooses off form then how shall we interpret the following passage:
though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls--
[Rom 9:11]
This passage shows is how God’s election works. It is based off from nothing that we can exert; it’s only by HIS purpose that we are saved. When God foresees he doesn’t look for anything we are doing, because we have done nothing good or bad. He isn’t looking for action, only looking for someone that can live by his purpose. I don’t know what God’s purpose is, and I wouldn’t dare try to say what it is. All I know is that those who will receive salvation have exerting nothing, and they can’t, there heart of stone will not allow it.
So back to the Ordo Salutis. First we are foreknown by God; next we are predestined by Him to receive salvation. Then those who He predestines are called by the Spirit. Since we know that all are foreknown will be predestined then this calling must then be irresistible. After their calling the elect are then justified. After justification we are then glorified. This entire process is one thing, you can’t remove a part of it or it all crumbles. The way it reads is that everyone who is first foreknown must then follow completely through to glorification. Not one of these processes can happen without the first or next happening.
The third and last thing I would like to cover is the question – I will say first that this is a topic that I still struggle with slightly, though I see the myriad of verses that would cause questioning of Arminianism. Who is it that Jesus died for? This is easy, if we take the typical Arminian response stating that Jesus came and died for the entire world and everyone in it and who will ever be in it. But I like to answer the question with the following passages:
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. "I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
[Joh 17:1-9 emphasis added]
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
[Joh 10:11]
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.
[Joh 10:14-17]
Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
[Joh 10:25-29]
It is read that Jesus only lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus declares that people are all ready sheep, and others a not, we can call them goats. The first passage refers to a people who are chosen and given out of the world. If we go back to the second par that I covered we know that the sheep or ones that Jesus dies for are first foreknown by God and elected unto salvation. This gives us some insight when we read that Jesus prays for those who are given to him out of the world.
In closing I would simply like to restate this verse:
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
[Php 1:6]
It is so comforting to know that God has a purpose and a plan that he will carry out until the end. I was a lost sinner, as we all are from birth. But God so freely sent his son that his sheep may be saved.
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