Theology Thursday
Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit
Westminster Shorter Catechism
I remember the day when my whole theological framework changed. I was in my lounge room. I’d been researching for some time what was called ‘Calvinism’ and ‘Arminianism.’ These were two schools of thought about how the redemption of Christ was applied to the Christian.
Both were clear that the Bible taught ‘faith alone’ as the necessary ingredient. But how does one get faith?
For my whole Christian life (since I was 15) it had been drilled into me. We must choose, we all have the obligation and (critically) the capacity to believe in Christ. This is the Arminian school. But as I began to read what the Bible said about ‘free will’ I began to see that this is not what the Bible says.
Instead, I read that we don’t have the capacity to choose God. Not without His direct intervention. We were dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2). Before we can believe, we need our hard hearts to be changed and made alive (Ezekiel 36). We need to be regenerated (this is the theological term) before we can turn to Christ in faith (Titus 3:4-7). We need to be born again (John 3:1-8).
As God’s people, chosen before the foundation of the world hear the good news of the gospel, the Father wills the Spirit to give them the gift of faith that they would turn to Christ the Son, trusting Him as Saviour & Lord.
I don’t like the term Calvinism. It sounds like we are following a 15th Century French guy. But I do think Calvinism represents the best understanding of what the Bible says about how redemption is applied to us.
For Today:
Pray:
Passages: John 3:1-8, Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 1:1-5 & 2:1-10, Ezekiel 36:24-32
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit
Westminster Shorter Catechism
I remember the day when my whole theological framework changed. I was in my lounge room. I’d been researching for some time what was called ‘Calvinism’ and ‘Arminianism.’ These were two schools of thought about how the redemption of Christ was applied to the Christian.
Both were clear that the Bible taught ‘faith alone’ as the necessary ingredient. But how does one get faith?
For my whole Christian life (since I was 15) it had been drilled into me. We must choose, we all have the obligation and (critically) the capacity to believe in Christ. This is the Arminian school. But as I began to read what the Bible said about ‘free will’ I began to see that this is not what the Bible says.
Instead, I read that we don’t have the capacity to choose God. Not without His direct intervention. We were dead in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2). Before we can believe, we need our hard hearts to be changed and made alive (Ezekiel 36). We need to be regenerated (this is the theological term) before we can turn to Christ in faith (Titus 3:4-7). We need to be born again (John 3:1-8).
As God’s people, chosen before the foundation of the world hear the good news of the gospel, the Father wills the Spirit to give them the gift of faith that they would turn to Christ the Son, trusting Him as Saviour & Lord.
I don’t like the term Calvinism. It sounds like we are following a 15th Century French guy. But I do think Calvinism represents the best understanding of what the Bible says about how redemption is applied to us.
For Today:
- Have you ever heard the words Arminianism/Calvinism?
- What do you think the Bible says about faith?
- Do you see that only God could have changed your heart?
Pray:
- Praise the Father for the glorious work of Christ.
- Give thanks that Jesus has opened our eyes to His glory.
- Ask God for His Holy Spirit to open the eyes of others around us.
Passages: John 3:1-8, Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 1:1-5 & 2:1-10, Ezekiel 36:24-32
Posted in Theology Thursday
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