Life, The Bible, and Zach Payne

"You can take wretch and make it beautiful, can You take a wretch like me? You can take whore and make her white as snow, can You take a whore like me? Write Your name on my heart so I cannot forget." 

-Zach Payne

There's this record by a guy named Zach Payne. I don't know many people that know of Zach Payne, and if I hadn't been at the right place (Oklahoma) at the right time (March 2007) I wouldn't know who he is either. I was playing drums for a band in Oklahoma at the time and our guitar player's brother was working on this record for a guy named Zach Payne.


Commuting back and forth between Beaumont, Tx and Oklahoma City, Ok was terrible. I spent too much money on gas, too much on car repairs, and there was often too much downtime while I was there, so I wasn't playing shows, but I couldn't be home working either. But I had a great time. Played a ton of shows throughout the United States and met some really spectacular people who I'm proud to call my friends.


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Highlights include the first show I played for them. We were the opening act of a decent sized festival. We were on the bill with bands like, Reliant K, Grits, Remedy Drive (<--ok not that big of a deal), etc. I had only learned the songs at home to a cd. Then I drove the 8 hours so the band could practice twice, then we left for Iowa for the festival. Our singer got super sick and basically lost all that makes his voice good, I barely knew the songs, I was nervous of course...then I walked on stage to play at 11am in the morning to see three thousand people looking at the stage.

Looking at us.

Expecting us to be...well...good.

To say we were good would be generous. Poor singer was really sporting a raspyness reminiscent of Kathrine Hepburn, so we had to cut a couple songs, which meant to fill the time spot we would have to jam on a couple songs for longer than we'd practiced. I gooyed only one part of the entire set. And it was one of those "musician's mistakes" so regular folks wouldn't have caught it anyway. For that I'm proud. ANYWAY....




So I got myself a copy of Zach Payne's first record. Before it was "released", though that would be a generous term considering there would be no record label, no promotion, no CD's in stores...you would pretty well have to know someone who knew someone to get it anyway. I knew someone, who knew someone, who knew Zach Payne, so I burned myself a copy of it (later I got it again, only this time on Itunes).

The album (titled simply, Zach Payne) kinda blew me away. It wasn't quite modern worship music (for that I was thankful), but it was certainly thematically "Christian". Musically, the record shifted easily between indie rock, acoustic, indie whatever...There are as many real instruments used as there are programmed sounds. From anthemic U2 esque sounds to simple acoustic numbers, to elements of a drum & bass sound. Vocally, Zach Payne sounds like kinda like a broken, dirty, indie Leeland Mooring. This is a complement. There is a lo-fi quality in his singing and it's entirely refreshing.

Each song stands well enough alone, but (like most albums) the songs sounds best in context of each other.

Theologically, I have zero issue with entire record. There isn't a line in it that I couldn't sing with conviction. He takes the subject of our Christian life and breathes honesty into it without reserve.

So yesterday, I turned on this record and was reminded of all the reasons I love it. I listened to it at least 3 times yesterday and once today...so far (listening right now).

"Who can restrain the voice of Justice? Who can deny His mighty deeds? Who can bring about a charge against Him? Who will set us free from sin and death? Who will turn our shame to righteousness? Who will turn our mourning into dance?"

The themes throughout the record are close to my heart. He tackles the Sovereignty of God and his own inability do good. But it's the daily struggle I think he hits right on the head. One song he energetically sings, "I will not be silent, till praise goes before You." and on another singing, "When I'm drowning, lift my head above the wave so I can breathe."

And this is honestly, how we feel. My Christianity is certainly a roller-coaster. I get bad attitudes I lose my temper. I do selfish things. I say mean things. I think mean things. My own depravity surprises me sometimes. Truly each of us is perfectly capable of committing even the most heinous acts.

Except for one thing...one thing that prevents complete and utter hell in our hearts. And that is the faithfulness of our Lord. 

I have heard one-too-many sermons in my youth dealing with the unfaithfulness of humans. This is a given. Up and down is the way it is. It is the grace of God that we ever experience "up".

In one or two hundred (feels like) of these sermons I was told, I needed to "make a commitment...Summer camp is over and it seems some of you aren't as 'on fire' for God as you were at Summer camp!"

To which I reply, DUH. That was Summer camp. It's easy to be faithful when there's a thousand of you there for a week, all trying to see who can glorify God the most. Never, growing up, (at least not until 11th grade) did I hear a youth pastor say, "Hey guys, let's look the apostle Paul for an accurate account of what to expect from from us and from God."

So hey guys, let's look at the apostle Paul.

When Paul said in Romans, "Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?" I don't think he was at summer camp. I don't think Paul ever went to summer camp. 

Prison, yes. Summer camp, No.

What I think, is that Paul understood that humans, even himself, are not faithful. We are not faithful to God nor each other. But God is faithful to us. Paul said,

 "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy."

Our lives are a roller coaster because our hearts are a roller coaster. There is sanctification, and God does wonderful things to our hearts when He puts His Holy Spirit in our hearts. But like the hymn writer said, "Prone to wonder Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love."

But God is rich in mercy. God is faithful. God is good.

P.S. Summer camps are awesome. I look forward to the day I can send my children to a wonderful, solidly reformed, summer camp.

P.S.S. You can buy Zach's album here on ITUNES. He has a new record out, that's not available online (that I know of). You can write him and request a copy. Zach says every dollar he makes goes to Missions to further the Gospel and into his music fund to make more records.

The "Heart" of Worship

" Relevance is not achieved by conformance to the world, it is achieved by conformance to God's Word."

-Gabriel H

There is a very funny and convicting video that is circulating the web "viral style" among Christians. It's called Sunday Morning.






"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.




I saw this exactly a week ago, I think, from a Presbyterian friend of mine. If I were a good blogger I would've commented on it then. But I'm a little slow on the trigger sometimes so here I am.


Anyone who knows me, knows I do not attend a church even remotely like this. My opinion is that this type of service comes across as vapid and hollow no matter what the heart's intention.

Don't get mad.

Just my opinion.

It's not "my style".

But I do think a video like this can remind us that Church can so easily become about the church goer exclusively. We say what we want, how we want, when we want (Saturday night service for the weekend late sleeper). The completely un-ironic earnestness of this attempt at relevancy is not in question. We know that these people truly desire to have their "heart" in the "right place" when it comes to the worship service.

But is the question of the heart's motive the only question?

Is God concerned with both the ends and the means?

We are required to worship God.

Does God require us to worship Him a certain way?

It's not in question that this was true for the Israelites. I've been reading Exodus and God has been instructing the construction and design of His temple.

God was very precise.

The size, shape and materials were all dictated. Later I'll be reading precisely what was expected to take place and how the people were to approach a Holy God.

How do you think Church should look today?

Do you think God has instruction for the Christian believer?

Does only the "heart" of the worshiper matter?

Do the means by which we worship God matter as well?

I have my thoughts. But I'm asking you.

The Kingdom of God

I heard yesterday, that no matter what system of Government you live under, whether Democracy, Republic, Parliament, Monarchy, Dictatorship, etc. the Government is only as good as the individual(s) who holds office. America, for instance, has arguably the freest and most noble system. The reality is that the leaders are rarely not more than depraved sinners, even who's good deeds are motivated by selfishness.

It is commendable to be active in your country's Government. Run for office. Vote your conscience. Be aware of the issues. Humbly fight for the rights of both the rich and the poor. The slave and the free.

But do not confuse your earthly citizenship with your spiritual citizenship.

A Christian lives in a Monarchy. Our King is Christ, and He is truly the best ruler to serve. Christ is at once, a royal leader, and a humble servant. Making the wisest judgments, and kneeling to wash the dirtiest feet.

   -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- 

I have been out of The United States for 8 months. In principle, I believe that British Columbia "suffers" from a completely socialized insurance program. It's not just Medical, it's Auto as well. The system of Government is Parliamentary. There are leaders here who are appointed and elected. Legislation is totally skewed in favor of the more populated areas of the country.

 But the nitty-gritty of it, is that I'm having a great time. These people do not feel oppressed and neither do I. We drive on paved and organized roads. We enjoy (in BC) at least a functional health care system. My wife is pregnant and I'm glad the health care is serving us so well.

But here's something I really love about Canada.

Canada is generally non-interventionist in the world (Esp. compared to the US).  Reportedly, in 2011 Canada will pull all their troops from Afghanistan. Also they officially didn't support the Iraq war. Yes there were some personnel there, but it was some of the lowest troop numbers of any country in Iraq. And guess what? Canadians do not live in horror of impending terrorist attack.
 So despite the differences in the system of government, Canada is much closer to to the correct way as far as Foreign Policy is concerned.

Now excuse me while I stroll down a road lined with flowers, to a huge lake nestled in a valley, surrounded by mountains. Where it hardly rains and we enjoy four complete and perfect seasons.

I'll Always Appreciate Your Attitude, But A Good Attitude Does Not A Theologian Make

Well, here we are. I just read Donald Miller's latest blog. I used to link his blog on here, but I removed the link because his theology just seems to be getting worse. He loves Jesus, I have no doubt. But he theorizes like a deist. His attitude toward truth has slipped into a place where it's hard for me to find the "worthwhile" in the midst of the "please ignore".

Miller asks the question, "Does God have a specific plan for your life?" Then he answers with, "Probably not."

Proverbs 16:9 says,

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."

If all we had to go on was this verse alone, it's enough to surmise that Miller's idea is false.

This idea of his seems to fly in the face of the teaching's of Paul who stated clearly (quoting the old testament) that God creates with PURPOSE.

The logical end of statements that support the idea of a "purposeless God" is that God is no more than the great winder-upper of creation's entropic clock. I find this, firstly, not biblical, and secondly, offensive.

Sorry Don. Lost me on that one.

Marital Advice

Husbands love your wives. Brad Paisley tells us how...

She says not to buy her flowers
Or big expensive gifts
She says she don't want jewlery
And she doesn't need another dress
If I want to show her how much I adore her
The best way that I've found
Is to make sure when I'm finished
I put that toilet seat down

We've been to counseling
To try and see the ways we could improve
This thing between us
And different ways to show each other "I love you"
Forget about those getaway vacations
To romantic coastal towns
If you want to say "I love you"
Then put that toilet seat down

'Cause in the middle of the night
It's cold and it's dark
And when I hear my name in vain
I know I haven't done my part
She just wants me to support her
And the best way that I've found
So with a gentle hand and a loving touch
I put that toilet seat down

I know it's kind of funny
You can teach a little puppy
But it's very hard to train a grown man
When I'm all about my buisiness
And the path of least resistance
She's the one that suffers in the end

In the middle of the night
It's cold and it's dark
And when I hear my name in vain
I know I haven't done my part
She just wants me to support her
And the best way that I've found
So with a gentle hand and a loving touch
I put that toilet seat down
Down, down

The State of the Biz

I'm nearly convinced that music as we know it is dead.

I should clarify.

I'm nearly convinced that the music industry (at least as we've known it for 50 years) is dead.

There are two reasons why I believe this. If you have another idea, please, let me know.

Number 1. There are too many artists trying to make money from the same pool of people. Every artist or band shares fans with another artist or band. Both of you are trying to get money and support and loyalty from the same people. The market has become over-saturated. I can't tell you of all the bands people tell me I need to listen to. Bands that are going to change my life. Well, I just don't have the time. Don't get me wrong. I'm a music lover. I have enough music to press play, and it won't stop for weeks. Gigabytes and gigabytes of music. Literally, Thousands and thousands of songs. I've got entire albums I've never listened to.

As of 2008, old info, there were over 8 million Myspace Band pages. 8 million...2 years ago.

And there's more music every Tuesday.

Number 2.

In June of 1999, Shawn Fanning developed an online service devoted to "sharing" music. It's legality was questionable. It was revolutionary. It was popular. But most important of all...

It was free.

In 2000, Metallica discovered that their entire catalogue of music was available for free download. They sued. Dr. Dre, discovering the same thing, also sued. And those two artists brought to the court the names of their own fans. In 2001, Napster went offline. In 2002, it declared backruptcy.

But by then, it was way too late.

Music had become available to anyone savvy enough to look for it and understand how to download it.

Lawsuits became the norm for Record Companies who were not really trying to win back lost revenue (what 16 year old could pay thousands of dollars in fines?) as much as they were trying to scare the population straight. It kinda/didn't work(ed). You see, fighting a war on downloading is futile. There is always a supply and there is always a demand. The market had changed. The product delivery was also going to change.

But, new websites sprung up. Music became extremely easy to download for a reasonable price. Apple's iTunes holds the corner on that market. But how long will it work? Just recently Apple raised the prices on many of the songs available. How high can Apple go?

This free music phenomenon also inspired the Artists themselves. As many as were against Napster and free downloading, there has been a strong voice encouraging the free distribution of music. Public Enemy's Chuck D supported the site, and Radiohead saw exponentially better album sales after their record Kid A was shared, fully 3 months, before it's official release.

Shawn Fanning also started SnowCap in 2002, and launched it in 2004. SnowCap was a legal online music store that was able to be coded onto existing websites, most notably, Myspace. I used SnowCap myself in 2006 to spread the music of my own indie band. The bands could upload their music onto the store and sell individual songs for a buck a piece. I remember when I first saw the service I thought it was revolutionary, user friendly, and a way to profitably spread your music. In retrospect, it's easy to see that there is no future idea for music distribution I predict as being game changing. The game changed 10 years ago.

In 2007, on the 10th of October, Radiohead released their album In Rainbows independently and for free. They set up an online system where the fan could choose exactly, if anything, he/she wanted to pay for the record. I wasn't really a Radiohead fan, but I certainly wasn't going to pass up being a part of this great music experiment. Naturally, I didn't pay a dime for In Rainbows (it was pretty good, certainly worth getting for free). While sales numbers were never released from the experiment, after all was said and done, Radiohead fared pretty well on the generosity of their die hard fans. Over 1 million downloads that first day. Imagine if only half the downloaders chose to pay for it. Imagine they only chose to pay 50 cents. With virtually no overhead, Radiohead would still make a ton of money. When the band released the album 3 months later officially in stores and whatnot, it charted number 1 in both the US and the UK. Their best sales since Kid A, which ironically was also available online 3 months prior to it's release. The difference was that with In Rainbows, Radiohead just went with the flow of the industry. No suing fans, no legal hoopla, just gave it away, and still made money.

Record labels are collapsing. Over the last few years, the number of job cuts has been incredible, but expected. In 2008, EMI, the biggest and the baddest, cut 2000 jobs worldwide. They are said to be planning more cuts this year.

While the labels fire themselves, the internet is thriving. In 2006, Derek Webb gave away his album Mockingbird in exchange for, not money, but information. For giving your name, email address and postal code he gave you his record. And he told you to tell all your friends to download it too. In the end he gave away over 80,000 copies of Mockingbird. But he certainly gained quite a bit. With his new information, he emailed fans about his shows. He knew your name, how to contact you, and where you lived. And the fans showed up. He began playing sold-out shows all over America. People started buying his records (including the one he gave away), they purchased shirts and other things. By all accounts it was a success. (He recently gave away his latest work, Stockholm Syndrome, in the same manner. I downloaded it for free and it's great.)

Based on that success, Webb started a new kind of website. Noisetrade.com became a place for bands and artists to give away their music in exchange for a little info and a little promotion. There are now hundreds of bands using the site. Many of them are my personal friends. Shoot, one of those bands is giving away a song that I played drums on. My own work is being given away.

And this is what I'm talking about.

People aren't going to pay for what is free.

I believe the only reasonable way to monetize music in the future is through a different kind of music product. The live show. Now it's also well known that live music has suffered. Ticket sales have slumped, true. But the live show is one of the few things you can't share online. Been to see a good band lately? You can't beat that experience. You can also monetize your music through the limited release of hard copies of the music. And get creative. If a 16 year old loves your band, they might also love the 20 page booklet you provide in the case of the 10,000 copies you release. Release on vinyl. It sounds better that way anyway. For something to have value, it must be rare. Creativity is the only thing that's going to work if the artist wants to continue his profession and pay his rent.

Anyway, just my thoughts today.

Baby

I'm having a baby.

Not me personally.

My wife is having a baby.

I'm having a baby in the sense that my wife is going to have a baby.

This is exciting.

I promise this blog isn't going to turn into one of those...

"Baby Blogs."

Where all I ever talk about is my baby.

But I'm still pretty excited about it.

In Summation

"If any man ascribes anything of salvation, even the very least thing, to the free will of man, he knows nothing of grace, and he has not learned Jesus Christ rightly." 

- Martin Luther

"No true Christian is his own man." 

- John Calvin

"He came to set the prisoner free, a message of simplicity." 

-Ted Kirkpatrick of Tourniquet

I hope that through these last five posts it has become clear just what I believe. It is no secret that I am a Calvinist through and through. Make no mistake. I don't think John Calvin was some sort of crazy prophet. But I do think he pretty accurately systematized the theology of the Gospel. What I'm saying is that I'm no follower of Calvin. I'm a follower of Christ. Calvin just understood the words of Christ better than most back in his day.

But what we know today as Calvinism, the theology itself, predates John Calvin, the man. Another name for Calvinism could be classical Christianity, or true Christianity.

The will of man has always been hotly debated among...well...men. For every group of orthodox Christians, through the ages, there seems to be group of people on the fringe, claiming "freedom of the will". At times this group of outsiders has had control. Catholicism before the Reformation had nearly snuffed out true Christianity. And even now, Arminianism has a good grip on the hearts of men once again. Charles Spurgeon quoting George Whitefield said, 

 

"We are all born Arminians." It is grace that turns us into Calvinists."

Ultimately, if we can learn anything from a solid study of the Bible, we can learn that God is in complete and utter control. To the lost, who hates God, this is dark news indeed. I would wish the Wrath and Judgment of God on no man.

But to the believing sinner.

The one that God has saved.

His great goodness and mercy know no boundaries. There is no limit to the blessing for those in Christ Jesus. His glorious grace has saved you. His love is set upon you. Unconditionally and without merit.

Paul said,

"In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

Do you number yourself with the elect of God? Have you learned of your sin? Do you put your faith in Christ for the removal of your guilt? If you have not, then do not delay. Christ will return for His church like a thief in the night. At a time when no man may know. Do not be bogged down in debates and arguing. Flee at once to Christ. There is no better time than now and there is no better God to serve.

He is truly the most gracious and good God-only-wise.

Sola Deo Gloria

Perseverence Of The Saints

 "Our perseverance is not dependent on our good works but on God's grace."

-Loraine Boettner

 "I shall lose none of them."

-Jesus Christ

I used to argue with my friends about this idea.

The idea commonly known as "Once saved, always saved".

Honestly (humorously) , it was always my Baptist friends.

There are a surprising number of people who would disagree with nearly everything I've written here, but would confidently assert that once you are saved, you cannot lose your salvation.

I didn't get it.

At least not back in those days.

It wasn't logical to me. It didn't make sense to believe that we are free to choose or reject God at anytime, until we become Christians. Then we are stuck. In my head it sounded like this:

Say we're all criminals (we are, so that's not hard). And say that in between our heinous crimes we sometimes run into a cop who tells us of our crimes, or we step in the Police Station every now and then just feel a little better about it all. But sometimes, some of us, the ones who aren't quite as bad, make the decision to actually step in the jail cell. We let them lock us up. We stare through the cold bars as we watch them throw away the key. Of course once we've settled into our caged life, we realize that it's not so bad in jail. It's actually quite wonderful. The bed is more comfortable, the friends are nicer, we all pray for each other, and it turns out the the "jailer" is really our savior. He loves us and we love Him, so we stay there forever, because once we're jailed, we're always jailed.

But you see, in my confused head, I thought that if we're choosing go to jail, we should be able to choose when to leave. We can be saved for as long as we want to be saved. I thought, we turn the key to lock ourselves in, but we put that key in our pocket, and if at some point, we decide we like our heinous crimes again, or we stop loving our savior, we just pull that key out of our pocket and we leave. Back to our life of crime and sin on the street.

This is a terrible analogy.

Here's a better analogy.

The reality is that we are born "dead" in that jail cell. Captive. Our sins have put us there. We all deserve to be there. We are lifeless rotting corpses. To our captive eyes the cell looks nice. We can't see the maggots eating everything around us. We don't even know that everybody sits on death row. We are happy, but we are chained. Blissfully waiting to be put to death for our crimes.

Bound.

Enslaved.

Dead.

Together we are worthless.

Then.

Our Savior comes.

He pulls us out of that cell. His Spirit breathes life into our spiritual lungs. We see the maggots and death as He brings us out of captivity. We have life. Our Savior tells us of how He served our jail sentence for us. He sat on death row. He died in our place. Death on a cross. Our will is changed. Where it was bound to sin, now it is bound to Christ. We are led out to freedom never to see that jail again. Never to feel the wrath and consequence of our crimes.

Free.

Alive.

Servant of Christ forever.

There is no going back once God has saved you. He has done the work of freeing you. You have no glory to share. It's all His doing. It's all for His glory.

Jesus said,

"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (Italics mine)

Once God has given you to Christ, Christ will not lose you. Period.


The Book of Jude in the Bible is really quite short. It's one chapter. One page. Jude finishes his letter by saying this,

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever."

Jude knew that the power of Salvation lay with God alone. Jude knew that man was not able to keep from stumbling, but that God is able to keep you from stumbling. God will present you blameless in the Glory of Himself.

There are 3 predominate ideas concerning this issue.

1. We decide when we are saved. We decide if we are not to be saved. (ultimate free-will)

2. We decide when we are saved. God keeps us from deciding not to be saved. (mix-n-match)

3.God saves us. We are saved. (God is the author and finisher of our Faith)

You should know by now I believe the 3rd option.

There are certainly sad situations of folks who professed faith, attended church, only to leave, and ultimately reject Christ in their heart. To these poor people Christ will say, "Depart from me for I never knew you." The wool was still over their eyes. If you know somebody who has left the faith, pray God would be pleased to draw them to Christ. Share the Gospel with them. It is the power unto salvation.

If you have forsaken the field of Christ's sheep, remember your first love. Peter said,

"...brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Seek the Lord. Only He has the power to save.

So once saved, always saved.

I still dislike that moniker. I don't feel it accurately represents the Gospel that is found in the Perseverance of the Saints. The Gospel is this...That while we were still sinners, Christ laid down His life for us. The penalty has been paid. Our sins are covered.

Christ has removed the guilty stain.

There is no new guilt.

If you can say this of your sins, then you can be sure of your calling and election. You can be sure of your salvation. You can be sure that because of God's mercy and grace, you will always be saved.



Coming Soon: In Summation.

It's Science Really

"Don't think you'll get away, no one ever has. Don't think He'll turn His back. It doesn't work like that. You're caught just like me, but it's not really all that bad."

-Scott Stiletta of Plankeye

"Twas blind but now I see"

-John Newton

The regenerative work of the Holy Spirit. 

That is our subject today.

When we talk about the work of the Holy Spirit in our  pre-christian existence we usually believe one of two things.

1. That the Holy Spirit tugs our heart strings in an effort to convince us we want Jesus.

2. That the Holy Spirit renews our heart and mind making us alive and finally able to actually see and believe that God is good and that Christ is our savior.

I'll go ahead and say from the get-go that I'm in favor of the latter of the two.

It's the only option if you've followed the logic thus far.

The Westminster Confession of Faith says,

" All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by His almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace."

When some folks discuss God's sovereignty in salvation, they talk about "free will", and they think God would never encroach upon our will and things like this. I guess my issue with that is that the Bible does not teach that man's will is absolutely free. It does, however, talk about man's will being slave to sin and Satan. This is because of the curse of sin.

If I'm born with a will that is slave to sin, I want nothing to do with God. Sure is nice that He changed my mind.

Regeneration allows us to to love God. Without it we are hopelessly lost.

I've spent quite a bit of time during these discussions in the Gospel of John. It's served me so well, I'm going there today as well. I quoted some verses in John 6 a couple weeks ago. This is a great place to start. Jesus said,

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." (Italics mine)

Christ is making a point here. The point that God the Father must draw sinners unto Christ. Jesus says no one can freely choose Salvation.

Often I get asked (as often as I discuss this with people who don't agree with me), "If a person can't choose God and God chooses the person, why do you pray for anybody? Isn't God going to do whatever He's going to do anyway?"

This is an excellent question. It's actually two questions. I'll answer the second one first.

Yes.

God is going to do whatever He wills to do. We can be absolutely sure of this.

Job said,

"I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."

God purposes are the surest bet you can make. He created the universe with a word. He destroyed Pharaoh's entire army in one fell swoop of the biggest wave they ever surfed. He's coming back for His church and He's not going to miss a single person. Jesus said,

"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

 
It has been said that "The Mountie always gets his man".

Well, maybe the RCMP will get his man. Maybe.

But I assure you, God will ALWAYS get His man.

The first questions asks "Why would you pray for anybody if God has already chosen?"

Well I ask you, Mr. Freewill Chooser, If God has limited His power in such a way as to never bend the will of man, what then, is the point of praying? Why would we pray that anybody be saved? God can't save them. At best He could influence their decision, but He can't do something to them they don't want Him to do.

That is not a biblical idea.

We pray because we're instructed to pray. We need no other reason. You can "logic" you way out of anything.

God MUST do a work that we don't ask for.

He MUST make us alive.

In my last post, I said that we are not saved because of our faith, we have faith because we are saved. If you have faith in Jesus Christ and believe that God has shown you grace on Christ's behalf, you have this faith because it was granted to you. Paul said,

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

It was a gift.

You don't deserve it.

You're not special.

But God, in His infinite Wisdom, has exercised His free will to save you. He has lavished his grace upon you. He gave you faith to believe and having believed you received grace. He did it just to make His power known and to show His great love for you.

One of the most dramatic examples of the irresistible call of the Holy Spirit is the story of Paul the Apostle.

Paul used to be called Saul. Saul was a very smart man. He was learned in Old Testament law and he counted himself a believer in god. His thing was that he didn't believe Jesus was anything special. In fact, he persecuted Christians for a living. It is generally agreed that Saul was present at the stoning of Stephen. Saul was happy to see him die. Saul hated Christ and all Christ's followers.

And this is how Saul lived.

Most of us (on the outside) were never this bad. We may have hated Jesus, but we weren't really going about killing people who do love Jesus.

Then as Saul is traveling toward Damascus, walking along, (probably keeping an eye out for any Christians he could kill or put in jail) Saul is met by the risen Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus spoke to him, asking him why he is persecuting the church. It was a pretty big deal. Saul was blinded by a crushing light, led by the hand to Damascus, met up with a dude named Ananias who touched Saul's eyes and Saul could see again. It's a great story, if you haven't read it in a while you really should. The point is that only after literal scales fell off his eyes did he get his vision back. And at the same time spiritual scales fell off his heart and he believed.

This is the regenerative work that the Holy Spirit does in every true Christian's heart.

When this work is done, your heart is no longer blinded, you are no longer dead in you sins.

You can see.

And you'll never be blind again.

It's science really.

What I mean to say, is that when the Holy Spirit calls you, melts the ice on your heart, and opens your eyes to the goodness of God...

You believe.

Coming Soon: Part 5. Perseverance Of The Saints.