Understanding Our Great Salvation (Part Two):
God Decides to Save Some
What has God decided to do about man’s sinfulness?

Earlier we heard the bad news. All men are sinful from birth and they cannot cleanse themselves. The thoughts of their hearts are only evil all the time. There is no one who does good, not even one.

Today we begin with the good news. The Good news in a word is… God. God has decided to do something spectacular, something that thrilled and surprised even the unfallen angels. God has looked down on the mass of sinful humanity and said, although they all deserve to die for their sins, I am going to save some. I am going to make a way of salvation for fallen, helpless sinners. God has decided to save some.

Romans 9 is called by some the most neglected chapter in the Bible. It is a difficult chapter but the basic message is plain; we do not decide to save ourselves, God decides. Salvation does not depend on our efforts, but on God’s mercy. “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." (Romans 9:15-16) It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. God has decided to save a multitude that no man can number from every tribe and tongue and nation to the praise of his glorious grace. Some are uncomfortable with this teaching. They claim it is not God’s decision but theirs. “It is my choice,” they say, “not God’s. I decide, not God.”

There were once three scuba divers that were exploring in an underwater cave. They all became lost in the cave and could not find the way out, and their air was running out. They all willed to be saved, and they searched for a way out of the cave. But they could not find the way. They needed someone to show them the way, to dive down into the cave and save them. They could not save themselves and they could not simply decide to be saved. They needed someone to decide to save them. Remarkably, two of the three did come out alive, because someone decided to save them.

So, too, you are lost in your sins, and you cannot decide to save yourselves. You need someone to decide to save you.

“For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

A second objection claims that it isn’t fair to everyone unless they all can decide to be saved. It isn’t fair of God to save some and not all. What is really fair? If all men have sinned and are guilty before God, what is fair or just for them? They must die for their sin and rebellion against God. We do not want God to be fair with us; we want him to be gracious. We do not want God to give us what we deserve; we want him to save us.

And that is the good news, God has in grace decided to save. The marvelous truth that often seems to be missed, is the astonishing mercy that God has shown in saving any at all. There is a way of salvation through the astonishing abundance of the mercy and grace of God.

That is why I began with the bad news that you are a guilty sinner and you cannot save yourself, because if you truly believe yourself to be a sinner, you will not object to God’s decision to save some. Instead you will marvel in the great grace and kindness of God in saving anyone. This is good news; this is the gospel. God has made a way of salvation for his chosen people.

What a great comfort this is to all those who believe. God has decided to save me, to place me in the never-ending care of Jesus Christ. I am in the hands of Jesus Christ and no one shall ever take me out of his hand.

How do I know that I am one of the some that God decided to save? I will answer your question with a question. Do you believe in Jesus the Christ and rest in him alone for salvation? If so, you are saved.

God has decided to clean up the mess that we have made because of sin. That is the good news. Are you searching for God? Do you want to be saved? Jesus invites you to believe in him.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

New Books for the Table The price is on each book. If you want a copy and it is already gone, let Pastor Mark know.

Disciplines of a Godly Family – Practical help and motivation for family worship and nurturing godliness throughout family life.

Training Hearts, Teaching Minds – Help for teaching truth to your children

When Sinners Say ‘I Do’ – A Practical, and grace based waltz through many of the issues of marriage. For married couples only.

A Journey Worth Taking – A book on calling and vocation, or finding your place in this world.

He Speaks to me Everywhere – Short essays on contemporary issues from a Christian worldview.

My Father’s World – Another book of short articles on a Reformed worldview.

Leading Little One to God – A solid devotional for families with Children. For use in family worship.

Peril and Peace; Monks and Mystics; Courage and Conviction – Well written, somewhat dramatized, Christian history books written for older children but great for adults as well.

Communion with God – A summary look at the theology of John Owen. Not for the timid.

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God – Great book that addresses many of the questions that arise with reformed evangelism. Very educational and movitating.

Pastor Mark also has some books available to borrow. They are abbreviations of old Puritan and Reformed books. They have updated the language and shortened the works. They have the funny colored stickers on the spine. Sign them out, read them, and bring them back; that is all I ask.

Missions
 The Mikhails: There are several copies of a recent update from Michelle Mikhail in a manilla folder on the missions table in the vestibule. Please feel free to take one. 

Michelle is in the Cleveland area assisting her parents in their preparation to move south. Their most fervent need is prayer. There are two areas of concern: 

1. Please pray for the pending replacement of the coptic “pope”. Please pray for one of a conservative inclination.

2. Please pray for the change soon of political leadership in their mission country. Please pray for a moderate. 

Having these prayers answered would enhance their ability to continue their work there. See the report for details concerning the Alexandria School of Theology and the family.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Confessional Corner

Westminster Larger Catechism

Q. 2. How doth it appear that there is a God?
A. The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God; but his word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation.

The Bible assumes God’s existence. Genesis states, “In the beginning, God…” The existence of God does not depend on rational proofs of his existence. God has left a witness to his existence everywhere we look. (Acts 14:16-17) We know that there is a God by His works and by His word.

“The very light of nature in man” refers “to the natural revelation of God in the human heart and mind.” “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-3, ESV) The works of God proclaim God and the light of nature in man knows it. “For what can be known about God is plain to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” (Romans 1:19-20, ESV) Only the fool says in his heart there is no God. (Psalm 14:1; 53:1) “Man has something that is unique to man, and that is the image of God, the light of reason, the ability to apply moral laws, the ability to understand a logical argument, the ability to perform math.”

What is the light of nature in man? Thomas Ridgeley believes that it is his rationality, man's ability to think and draw inferences from the created order; James Bordwine sees it as “creation’s testimony regarding its origin and composition,” Johannes Vos thinks it is man’s conscience in light of Romans 2:14-15; Calvin thinks it is mankind’s sense of the divine, “Though the stupid hardness in their minds, which the impious eagerly conjure up to reject God, waste away, yet the sense of divinity, which they greatly wished to have extinguished, thrives and presently burgeons. From this we conclude that it is not a doctrine that first must be learned in school, but one of which each of us is master from his mother’s womb and which nature itself permits no one to forget, although many strive with every nerve to this end.” (See also Reymond, Systematic Theology, p. 56-57)

How does the “light of nature in man ” know that there is a God? If you see tire tracks in the mud you know that a car has driven past. If you see creation teeming with creatures, you know that a creator has been working. Acts 14:16-17, God has left a witness to himself in the world that leaves men without an excuse for knowing God. We read in 1 Corinthians 1:21 “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” Man cannot reason his way to God. More than unaided reason is needed. The work of the Spirit in special revelation must apply the Word of God to the hearts of men. We know that God exists by His work of creation and by his continuing works within the created order. Theologians call this natural revelation. All men do know that God exists (Romans 1:18-20). Yet, something more than natural revelation is necessary for us to know God unto salvation. We can see his power and something of his character by observing the work of his hands. But we could never have guessed at the gospel simply by contemplating a sunset on a mountain peak. God had to communicate his saving love to us in another way. Theologians call this special revelation. In the Bible, when blessed by the Holy Spirit, we can learn the history of redemption, the unfolding covenant of grace, and how God has chosen to save his people from their sin and restore them to full communion.