Predestination 7/6/08:
(choose, elect, ordained)- to destine in advance; foreordain; predetermine

Two main positions:
Monergistic/one-handed/God reached down and grabbed some people and saved them through Jesus.

Synergism/ God reached down his hand to lost sinners and that they reached back to him so that they took hold of Gods invitation and in so doing God pulled them out of death and damnation, but he did so by their partnership with Him.

Example: We are a drowning swimmer: Is Jesus the lifeguard who grabs us, or is he the lifeguard that reaches out and then only those who are saved are those who likewise respond to him by taking his hand.  (Isaiah 53:1 Hand of God)

Who adopted and designed the two positions:
In history these two positions are widely debated. Origin 185-254, and John Chrysostom 337-407 both held a 2 handed Salvation position, God saw those who would chose Him and chose them. Pelagius, 354, held the single handed salvation position, but without God’s involvement. Considered a heretic, and was condemned as one. Augusta, 354-430, originally held a two handed position, and landed on the one handed position, we are all deserve hell, and because of God’s grace he chooses some of us, and gives us an ill deserved gift of grace, his love, new heart, and makes us a new people. (Single handed predestination, everyone chooses hell and God chooses some, called the Augustinian position). John Calvin, 1509-1564, considered by many bible scholars the greatest bible teacher in history outside of the authors of scripture, (held a double handed predestination, God looked down in history saw who was going to chose Him, and he chose them).

We must know God’s heart before we continue:

Romans 10:5-17
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

What scripture says about predestination:
Exodus 33:19, Deuteronomy 10:15, 1 Samuel 12:20-22, Psalm 33:12, Psalm 65:1-5, Psalm 78:67-72, Psalm 35:4, Isaiah 41:8-10, Mark 13:20, Luke 22:22, John 6:35-51, John 17:2, John 17:6,9,12, Acts 2:28, Acts 4:28*, Acts 13:48, Romans 8:28-30*, Romans 9:1-10:4*, Romans 11:1-10, Ephesians 1:3-14*, Ephesians 2:4-10, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, 2 Timothy 1:8-12, 1 Peter 1:1-3.

Our teens have questions and I am going to attempt to answer them. I took last month and let the teens ask any question (moral, theological, and practical) and write it down for me to answer. I have categorized them and am going to answer them over the summer. I will be answering the questions from 3 points of view; scripture, world, and moral. I will be posting Tuesday the outline from the teaching on Sunday. So look for it. Love you all.

_pastor tim

Salvation 6/22/08

God’s plan to save us.
In the Beginning: Genesis 1:31 “Very good”, Delight Genesis 1:27, deception and disobedience sin enters through one man Romans 5:12 cover nakedness and first sacrifice Genesis 3:21, prophetic for Christ Genesis 3:15 

The story of redemption (deliverance; rescue)
Redemption starts and is repeated through out the Bible. Redemption is completed with Christ and His sacrifice for us. We discover all through the Bible that having a real and personal relationship with God is available through anything we can do, but solely dependant upon Christ. Knowing we are separated from God we need two primary spiritual needs.
First, we need to be restored back to God. Second, we need help, or the power, to change our lives. Sin shows the real depravity of our heart, selfishness, lust, greed, pride, anger, and the list goes on. Jeremiah 17:9. We must be Born again John 3:3.

 Redemption through Christ
Paying a ransom, Exodus 14:29-30; 15:2, there are so many scriptures in the New Testament that show Christ’s sufferings as redemption and the result of that sacrifice. Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Galatians 3:13. Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, 1 Timothy 2:5-6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Revelation 5:9. Jesus paid the ransom for us. Christ accomplished the salvation we all need.

 The extraordinary good news of eternal life
John 20:31- the book was written to show the redemptive story of Christ (a brief summarization)

 The Son of God
John writes and tells the story form the beginning. John 1:1-14 and John 1:34, shows that Christ is God, from God, and is here in human form. John continues to prove that Christ is God by writing down all his miracles, 2:1-11, 4:46-54, 5:1-17, 6:1-13, 6:16-21, 9:1-7, 11:38-44. He also proves that the prophecies in the Old Testament about Christ are true 2:13-22, 3:14, 5:46, 12:14-16.

 God’s Love
John 3:16, why leave heaven, all power, all worship. God wanted us, even in the middle of our sin Romans5:8, so Christ came to redeem.

 Why do we need to be saved?
John 8:34, we need Christ to allow God to be our Father. Ephesians 2:1-10.

 Jesus is the ONLY way.
John 14:6, the only “work” that can save us is the “work” in believing. John 6:29. And if we do believe God’s promise is strong John 1:12

 How does Jesus save us
John 1:29, 3:14-15, John 18-19 describes His death and chapter 20 describes his resurrection, John 11:25-26

 Do you believe?
Everyone has to ask this. Jesus asked this question, John 11:26.

 Assurance
John 6:37, Romans 8:35-39

Love you all,
_pastor tim