(Final post in this short series)
So the fact of human responsibility rests on our natural ability, is witnessed to by our consciences and is insisted on throughout the Bible. The ground of man’s responsibility is that he is a rational creature capable of weighing eternal issues and that he possesses a written Revelation from God, in which his relationship with and duty toward his Creator is plainly defined. We can add that the measure of responsibility is different for different individuals. Some have more light (increasing their guilt) and some have less. What we all need to do is to make the use of means and avoid a fatalistic inertia gripping us.
So the fact of human responsibility rests on our natural ability, is witnessed to by our consciences and is insisted on throughout the Bible. The ground of man’s responsibility is that he is a rational creature capable of weighing eternal issues and that he possesses a written Revelation from God, in which his relationship with and duty toward his Creator is plainly defined. We can add that the measure of responsibility is different for different individuals. Some have more light (increasing their guilt) and some have less. What we all need to do is to make the use of means and avoid a fatalistic inertia gripping us.
“The same God who has decreed that a certain end shall be accomplished, has also decreed that that end shall be attained through and as the result of His own appointed means. God does not disdain the use of means, nor must I.” (A W Pink, who I have relied on heavily for this message).
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The example of Acts 27 is often cited. God made known that he was going to save everyone who was with Paul on the ship but Paul did not hesitate to say to the centurion and the soldiers at one point, Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.
Perhaps the best text to bring the subject into sharp relief, however, is Philippians 2:12, 13 and I want us to close with this. There Paul writes
Therefore, my dear friends (my beloved), as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act (or do) according to his good purpose.
He is writing to the Philippians here and urging them to continued godly living. On the one hand, he stresses human responsibility very clearly telling the believers to continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Yet, when he comes to motivation it is all on the other side - for it is God who works in you to will and to act (or do) according to his good purpose.
When a minister wants to encourage believers to live the Christian life and be holy then he must stress their responsibility to do this. He will encourage them, if he can, by noting how they have been obedient in the past, but he will urge them to continue in the right direction and keep working out their salvation with diligence and hard work, making the most of the opportunities they have. He will want to call them to reverence and care not becoming lazy or presumptuous. He will want to keep them from complacency.
I want to stress that. I would say to every believer – are you working hard at being a Christian? Don't get complacent. Fear and tremble before God. Are you taking every opportunity to grow in grace? Are you at the meetings on the Lord's Day and in the week? Do your read the Bible at home? Are you prayerful? Do you endeavour to lead a holy life? What are you doing to let others know about the Saviour?
Yet, at the same time, a faithful preacher will want also to stress the sovereignty of God. He will want to remind every believer that it is God who works in you to will and to act (or do) according to his good purpose. His will is bound to prevail, however weak and wayward we may be.
Again I want to stress that too. Ah, believer, you are aware of many troubles and difficulties but don't forget that God is in control. He is working his purposes out in your life and though some things do not seem to make sense to you – do not be afraid. He is in control. His purpose will prevail.
I think there are at least three great dangers that often beset us as Christians and a right understanding of these doctrines and how they relate will help us to avoid them.
1. Laziness. We can grow lazy about serving God as believers and we can even misuse the doctrine of God's sovereignty to excuse ourselves. We must not make any excuses. Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. It is God's command.
2. If we are not lazy then we face two other obvious dangers. If we work hard and well we can begin to be proud. Whenever that danger comes we need to remind ourselves that it is God who works in you to will and to act (or do) according to his good purpose. Without him we can do nothing.
3. The other danger is the opposite one. When we see how little we have done we are tempted to despair. Once again the answer is to remember that it is God who works in you to will and to act (or do) according to his good purpose. Never forget (1:6) that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. We must still fight the good fight and serve him but he will make sure that we complete the task in him.
Perhaps the best text to bring the subject into sharp relief, however, is Philippians 2:12, 13 and I want us to close with this. There Paul writes
Therefore, my dear friends (my beloved), as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act (or do) according to his good purpose.
He is writing to the Philippians here and urging them to continued godly living. On the one hand, he stresses human responsibility very clearly telling the believers to continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Yet, when he comes to motivation it is all on the other side - for it is God who works in you to will and to act (or do) according to his good purpose.
When a minister wants to encourage believers to live the Christian life and be holy then he must stress their responsibility to do this. He will encourage them, if he can, by noting how they have been obedient in the past, but he will urge them to continue in the right direction and keep working out their salvation with diligence and hard work, making the most of the opportunities they have. He will want to call them to reverence and care not becoming lazy or presumptuous. He will want to keep them from complacency.
I want to stress that. I would say to every believer – are you working hard at being a Christian? Don't get complacent. Fear and tremble before God. Are you taking every opportunity to grow in grace? Are you at the meetings on the Lord's Day and in the week? Do your read the Bible at home? Are you prayerful? Do you endeavour to lead a holy life? What are you doing to let others know about the Saviour?
Yet, at the same time, a faithful preacher will want also to stress the sovereignty of God. He will want to remind every believer that it is God who works in you to will and to act (or do) according to his good purpose. His will is bound to prevail, however weak and wayward we may be.
Again I want to stress that too. Ah, believer, you are aware of many troubles and difficulties but don't forget that God is in control. He is working his purposes out in your life and though some things do not seem to make sense to you – do not be afraid. He is in control. His purpose will prevail.
I think there are at least three great dangers that often beset us as Christians and a right understanding of these doctrines and how they relate will help us to avoid them.
1. Laziness. We can grow lazy about serving God as believers and we can even misuse the doctrine of God's sovereignty to excuse ourselves. We must not make any excuses. Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. It is God's command.
2. If we are not lazy then we face two other obvious dangers. If we work hard and well we can begin to be proud. Whenever that danger comes we need to remind ourselves that it is God who works in you to will and to act (or do) according to his good purpose. Without him we can do nothing.
3. The other danger is the opposite one. When we see how little we have done we are tempted to despair. Once again the answer is to remember that it is God who works in you to will and to act (or do) according to his good purpose. Never forget (1:6) that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. We must still fight the good fight and serve him but he will make sure that we complete the task in him.
Amen
1 comment:
Neato..Right on.
Sometimes I feel that whatever I do doesn't make much of a difference because of all the evil on the earth but I suppose that definitly isn't the way to go about it.
I definitly don't want to stop loving others or start to fret.
I hope He will give me new strenght..
Take care have a happy easter. :)
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