Wednesday, September 06, 2006
HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY
Matt. 13:13. "Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
We are now brought to the human responsibility side of the equations Christ places the responsibility squarely on them who see nothing revealed in his words but see His words only in parables. These are those like the religious leadership who refuse to understand the words that reveal the mystery of the kingdom. Because while seeing they do not see anything revealed by God but only that which they have contrived in their own imagination. The miracles that were clearly demonstrated by Jesus to the religious leaders were deemed, in their sight, as attributed to the working of Satan and not of God. While seeing they did not see anything but what they desired.
This principle is also laid out upon their auditory experiences as it is with their visual method of receiving information. Not only do they see what they want to see, but they hear only what they deem fit. Jesus explains that those who are irresponsible have no one but themselves to blame. While hearing they do not hear and therefore will be non-responsive to the information that they received. Nor do they understand because they reject the revelation of God only to replace His truth with their own psychological rationalization.
We are now brought to the human responsibility side of the equations Christ places the responsibility squarely on them who see nothing revealed in his words but see His words only in parables. These are those like the religious leadership who refuse to understand the words that reveal the mystery of the kingdom. Because while seeing they do not see anything revealed by God but only that which they have contrived in their own imagination. The miracles that were clearly demonstrated by Jesus to the religious leaders were deemed, in their sight, as attributed to the working of Satan and not of God. While seeing they did not see anything but what they desired.
This principle is also laid out upon their auditory experiences as it is with their visual method of receiving information. Not only do they see what they want to see, but they hear only what they deem fit. Jesus explains that those who are irresponsible have no one but themselves to blame. While hearing they do not hear and therefore will be non-responsive to the information that they received. Nor do they understand because they reject the revelation of God only to replace His truth with their own psychological rationalization.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
DISTINGUISHING GRACE
Matt. 13:11-12. And He answered and said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12."For whoever has, to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
Within this very passage we find God’s sovereign and distinguishing grace as stated, “To you it has been granted, but to them it has not been granted.” We cannot get around the fact that scripture teaches distinguishing grace.
God is sovereign but we cannot compromise the twin fact that man is also responsible for his actions. These are truths that scripture plainly teaches and yet seem paradoxical to the human logic. These truths are only a paradox to the finite reasoning of man but there is none of this with the Author and Creator of these truths. We cannot favor one of these truths without hindering the veracity of the other when we stand in the place as His mouthpiece. If we do so we misrepresent our Lord and His Word.
Throughout history good Christian folks have debated the positions known as Arminianism and Calvinism. Each side opposes the other for taking an unbalanced position. God’s sovereignty to the exclusion of man’s responsibility is what the Arminian accuses the Calvinist. The Calvinist charges the Arminian of usurping God’s authority in this distinguishing grace, or that Man is sovereign in his ability to accept or reject the grace that God has to offer in man’s salvation. When one carefully teaches everything God’s Word has to say on these issues we must take Him at His Word and let His pure and unfiltered meaning flow out of the text. When we do so, we will catch glimpses of just how encompassing our infinite God is as He shows us Himself. This in not unlike Moses encounter with his one on One communion with the great I Am. Notice as God plainly claims sovereignty over His grace and its distribution in Ex. 33:18-23 Then Moses said, "I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!" 19. And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion." 20. But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" 21. Then the Lord said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22. and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23. "Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."
With respect to understanding and possessing the grace to know the mysteries of the kingdom, we are told that whoever has this knowledge, to him shall more shall be given. This understanding begins as the seeds are sown in the good soil and produces a crop. On this basis he shall have an abundance. These are those who have a kingdom vision by their grace given knowledge to see their direction toward that goal which is the open and narrow gate into the kingdom of eternity.
On the other hand, whoever does not have this gift of the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom, even what little knowledge of it he does have shall be taken away from him. This is the forever lost soul who wanders aimlessly through life without a compass or any sense of eternal direction. His goal will never take him to anything of eternal benefit.
These two verses summarize the parable of the sower with fuller explanation to come. But before Jesus explains His parable, He continues to explain the reason that He is teaching in this parabolic manner.
Within this very passage we find God’s sovereign and distinguishing grace as stated, “To you it has been granted, but to them it has not been granted.” We cannot get around the fact that scripture teaches distinguishing grace.
God is sovereign but we cannot compromise the twin fact that man is also responsible for his actions. These are truths that scripture plainly teaches and yet seem paradoxical to the human logic. These truths are only a paradox to the finite reasoning of man but there is none of this with the Author and Creator of these truths. We cannot favor one of these truths without hindering the veracity of the other when we stand in the place as His mouthpiece. If we do so we misrepresent our Lord and His Word.
Throughout history good Christian folks have debated the positions known as Arminianism and Calvinism. Each side opposes the other for taking an unbalanced position. God’s sovereignty to the exclusion of man’s responsibility is what the Arminian accuses the Calvinist. The Calvinist charges the Arminian of usurping God’s authority in this distinguishing grace, or that Man is sovereign in his ability to accept or reject the grace that God has to offer in man’s salvation. When one carefully teaches everything God’s Word has to say on these issues we must take Him at His Word and let His pure and unfiltered meaning flow out of the text. When we do so, we will catch glimpses of just how encompassing our infinite God is as He shows us Himself. This in not unlike Moses encounter with his one on One communion with the great I Am. Notice as God plainly claims sovereignty over His grace and its distribution in Ex. 33:18-23 Then Moses said, "I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!" 19. And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion." 20. But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" 21. Then the Lord said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; 22. and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23. "Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen."
With respect to understanding and possessing the grace to know the mysteries of the kingdom, we are told that whoever has this knowledge, to him shall more shall be given. This understanding begins as the seeds are sown in the good soil and produces a crop. On this basis he shall have an abundance. These are those who have a kingdom vision by their grace given knowledge to see their direction toward that goal which is the open and narrow gate into the kingdom of eternity.
On the other hand, whoever does not have this gift of the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom, even what little knowledge of it he does have shall be taken away from him. This is the forever lost soul who wanders aimlessly through life without a compass or any sense of eternal direction. His goal will never take him to anything of eternal benefit.
These two verses summarize the parable of the sower with fuller explanation to come. But before Jesus explains His parable, He continues to explain the reason that He is teaching in this parabolic manner.
