Second Note: As the Lord would have it, I developed a cough yesterday. As a result, I decided that, given the topic and the times, I ought to pull myself from the game, and so the sermon below will ...
The Shadow of the Almighty
Calvinism 4.0/Global Grace, Not Global Indulgence
Introduction: You have heard this stated a number of times before, but it is the kind of truth that all of us need to hear again and again. “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. to write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you” (Philippians 3:1, ESV). …
Calvinism 4.0/Calvinism and Deuteronomic Wealth
Introduction: One of the great challenges in Scripture is the challenge of rightly handling the blessings of God. The Giver gives His gifts, and the recipients receive them gratefully. But it is not long before what was initially accepted as sheer grace grows slowly into what is falsely assumed to be an entitlement. This is …
Calvinism 4.0/Preservation and Perseverance
Introduction: The usual way people refer to this next doctrine is with the phrase “perseverance of the saints.” I believe that for the sake of a fuller accuracy, we should make the phrase longer, a bit more cumbersome, but much richer and more complete. We should call it the “preservation and perseverance of the saints.” …
Calvinism 4.0/Resurrecting Grace
Introduction: We have learned from Scripture that our salvation is from all eternity, which is the reason it will extend into all eternity. In accordance with His good pleasure, the Father has chosen those who will make up the number of His elect. He did this before eternal times, before all worlds. His choice determines …
Calvinism 4.0/Purchased by the Son
Introduction: The doctrines of grace are a set of doctrines which describe the three persons of the Trinity as working in concert to secure our salvation. Those whom the Father chose, the Son purchased with His own blood. Those whom the Son purchased with His own blood, the Spirit effectually calls when He converts. At …
Calvinism 4.0/Election by the Father
Introduction: Everyone who believes the Bible knows that the doctrine of sovereign election is taught there. Unfortunately, this does not mean that we have universal agreement on the doctrine. There are two main approaches to the subject among evangelicals, the first being that God elects His own on the basis of foreseen faith. The second …
Calvinism 4.0/Man as Fallen
Introduction: The nature of the problem dictates whether or not there can even be a solution, and if so, what that solution might be. Among evangelical Christians, the nature of the “problem” that salvation solves can be described in two basic ways. Either man is sick in his sin, needing to take the medicine, or …
Calvinism 4.0/The Liberty of the Creature
Introduction: The theologians behind the Westminster Confession said something that was curious, and it was this: They did not want to say that God’s absolute sovereignty was merely consistent with the liberty of creaturely will, but rather that God’s sovereignty was what established the liberty of that will. God does not offer violence to the …
Calvinism 4.0/Chestertonian Calvinism
Introduction: When these precious doctrines of ours—referring to the absolute sovereignty of God over all things—are twisted in such a way as to perpetuate gloom, severity, introspection, accusations, slander, gnat-strangling, and more, the soul is never safe. The doctrines of grace are doctrines of gladness. But whenever God delivers His people in any remarkable way, …