Calvinism and Preaching the Gospel
Romans 9:11-23
- There is a sovereign election on how God bestows His mercy.
God bestows grace freely and in some cases electable. This is a catalyst for missions, not an impediment. The miracle is not why the Jews did not believe but that we were able to believe at all.
Why would God show selective mercy? v. 14
The reason these questions are so hard to answer is that we just do not believe that we deserve hell. God’s salvation is not for us, but for his pleasure.
- God’s highest agenda on earth is to glorify his name. V 15; 17; 22-23
This is to be the absolute center of our lives and ministries. With this principle it keeps us from sliding into heresy.
- This does not remove Paul’s understanding that each man holds the responsibility for his own destiny, and in some cases, the destiny of others, in his hands.
Who hardened Pharoah’s heart? Both Pharoah and God. Regeneration preceeding faith is not something that is completely sound. Matthew 11:21
We cannot take out of men’s hands the responsibility of man. The only reason we evangelize is out of obedience to God–some Calvinist say. Many people in the Bible were motivated, not by obedience, but by compassion. Matthew 13:58
Missionaries are intercessors that stand in the gap of belief between God and the lost people group. Matthew 13:58 Ezekiel 33:8
- We must maintain the centrality of the Gospel
This teaching comes in Romans 9, not Romans 1–Martin Luther
Growing deep with God means growing deep in the souls grasp of God’s radical love and mercy in the Cross, not knowing the finer points of Calvin’s Doctrine.
2 Peter 1;5-
Are we in danger of elevating something good–some type of good works–instead of the Gospel? What tradition is the Gospel, or the cross, central?
Identify the central problem. The real issue is in SB are not Gospel centered people any more.
DA Carson–one generation preaches the Gospel, one generation assumes the Gospel, and the third generation forgets the Gospel.
If you can get this message through Lifeway you need to do so. Brother JD did an excellent job. You have to hear this message.
