Our sovereign God decides whom He wants to give mercy. For example, He picked Isaac over Ishmael. He hardened Pharaoh. He chose Jacob over Esau before the twins were born. God bestows or denies as He pleases (Romans9:9-18).
His divine will and pleasure also determine the salvation of humans. For those rejected by God, He withholds His Spirit from them, leaving them in their own ways. Christ ignored the rich and intelligent, such as knowledgeable and religious Pharisees. Though many of them had seen His miracles and heard His teachings, they ignored Him, further hardening their hearts. Then God was obligated to stick to His words to condemn them. Those elected to be saved go to Father through Christ. They could be wicked. Yet, their salvation would not compromise His words, holiness, majesty, truth, justice, goodness, mercy, and faithfulness. Through Christ, Father can save the greatest sinners without approving their wickedness. Father bestows salvation to the poor and foolish, corrupted tax collectors, prostitutes, the criminal next to Christ on the cross, and some hearing Christ’s teachings only once (Romans9:23, 1Corinthians1:26-31). God chose the Jews to give them the opportunities of His grace, leaving to perish gentiles, like the Egyptians, Persians, Greek and Romans. But when the Jews rejected the Messiah, Father replaced them with other nations (Deuteronomy7:7, Malachi1:2-3). So, for those saved, be humble, and adore and praise God. Out of His sovereign pleasure, He chose them before they were born. One’s salvation and righteousness depend on His will and sovereignty (Deuteronomy32:39, Psalm115:3, Daniel4:34-35, Matthew11:25, 1Corinthians1:29-31, 1Corinthians6:9,11). But don’t count on God’s mercy and continue to sin. Beware that salvation is not under our control, though Father is bound by His words that anyone can go to Him through Christ (Hebrews6:13-20, 3:15). On the other hand, don’t be discouraged because of your wickedness. God can bestow salvation to the worst without compromising any of His attributes. God designs the creation to glorify Himself and manifest His glory in all His characteristics, including His holiness, wisdom, mercy, justice, and sovereignty. It pleases God to exercise His sovereignty and bestow salvation. Glorifying Himself in our salvation pleases Him greatly. Summary of a sermon by Jonathan Edwards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr5DfgaIe1I According to Deuteronomy 32:35, in due time, the foot of the wicked unbelieving Israelites would slip. It is just a matter of time. Like one constantly walking in slippery places, they would fall by their own weight, and the fall would be sudden, casting them down to ruin (Psalm 73:18-19).
The wicked are not yet in hell only because of God’s mercy and sovereignty. Without our Almighty God, nothing can keep the wicked out of destruction because:
God’s wrath is as much against them, as against those damned in hell. Meanwhile, their sins are constantly increasing, offending God tremendously. Earthly king can only kill our body (Proverbs 20:2). But the fierceness of God’s wrath can cast us into hell forever (Luke 12:4-5, Isaiah 59:18, Isaiah 66:15, Revelation 19:15). Now God stands ready to have mercy on us. No matter how seemingly moral, strict, sober, or religious we are, unless we are born again, damnation will come swiftly, with suffering to all eternity in God’s merciless vengeance. Don’t wait till the day when He will only laugh and mock at our great suffering in hell (Proverbs 1:25-26, Isaiah 63:3, Romans 9:22). Now the salvation door is open. He loves us and can wash us from our sins with His own blood. Our hearts can be filled with love to Him. We can rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. If we neglect this extraordinary opportunity, we are going to bear the dreadful wrath of God. Therefore, those not in Christ awake, run away from the coming wrath, and go to God. Do not look back, lest be totally consumed by the fire of hell. Summarized from a sermon by Jonathan Edwards https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/edwards_jonathan/Sermons/Sinners.cfm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtHijgqceXo 罪人在愤怒的上帝手中 按照申命记 32:35, 邪恶不信神的以色列人总会滑倒。只是时间的问题。 就像人们经常在湿滑的地方行走一样,他们会迟早失足而突然跌倒,使他们掉在沉沦之中(诗篇 73:18-19)。 恶人尚未下地狱只是由于上帝的怜悯和主权。 除了全能的上帝,没有什么能使恶人免除被毁灭,因为: • 魔鬼准备抓住他们当作自己的 (路加福音11:12)。 • 正义要求对他们的罪恶进行无限的惩罚,不得到宽恕 (路加福音13:7, 以西结书8:18)。 每个未悔改的人 都是已被定罪并属于地狱的 (约翰福音3:18, 约翰福音8:23)。 • 他们周祥的计划和能力无法阻止他们突然离世 (传道书 2:16)。 • 地狱的折磨表现出上帝的愤怒。而他们的灵魂在地狱中饱受折磨 (以赛亚书57:20). • 除非他们悔改,上帝是没有义务让他们远离地狱。 上帝对他们的愤怒与对在地狱中被诅咒的一样。同时,他们的罪恶天天不断地加增,因而极大地冒犯了上帝。 地上的国王只能杀死我们的肉体 (箴言20:2)。 但是上帝的愤怒可使我们永远陷入地狱 (路加福音12:4-5, 以赛亚书59:18 & 66:15, 启示录19:15)。 现在上帝准备怜悯我们。无论我们看来是多么道德、严格、清醒或虔诚,除非我们得重生,否则诅咒将迅速到来,我们将遭上帝无情报复, 受永恒的痛苦。不要等到祂只会嘲笑我们在地狱遭受巨大痛苦的那一天 (箴言1:25-26, 以赛亚书63:3, 罗马书9:22)。 现在救赎的门已经打开。祂深爱着我们。 祂用自己的血将我们从罪孽中洗净。我们的心可以充满对祂的爱, 让我们以上帝的荣耀为乐。 如果我们忽略了这个难得的机会,我们将承受上帝可怕的愤怒。 因此,不在基督里的人醒来吧。 快离开即将来临的愤怒,奔向上帝。不要回头,以免被地狱的火完全毁灭。 Can believing in God as the creator of the universe imply having God’s saving grace?
No. Satan also knows God’s immense power (James 2:19). Before falling into wickedness, Satan was among the bright angels. He has extensive knowledge of God, heaven, hell, the Bible, and humans. The fall has not reduced his abilities nor eliminated his memory (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 13:19, 13:38; 1 John 2:13, 3:12, 5:18; Job 38:4-7; Ephesians 6:12; Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3; and Acts 13:10). But since Satan also knows God’s holiness, truthfulness, power, and wrath against sin, Satan trembles, anticipating his suffering (Luke 13:28, 29; Romans 9:22; Isaiah 2:10; and Revelation 1:7). Satan may feel convicted and tormented, with earnest desire to be delivered from misery. Again, such desire does not imply that he can receive God’s saving grace. Such desire is just self-love. Similarly, a man having such deep desires or biblical knowledge is no proof of salvation. Like Satan, seeing God’s glory or having more knowledge of God may only lead to more hate and fear. In distinct contrast, when God’s light shines in a person, enlightening the person through the Holy Spirit, the person will see God’s loveliness, beauty, and holiness, and the glory of the divine displayed through Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14, 4:6). Only God can give to humans what Christ has purchased. The opportunity to behold God’s beauty is God’s blessing to His dear children. As a result of such wonderful gifts, His children will see their ugly souls and humble themselves, making God bigger and themselves smaller. Then their guilty souls will rest. They will live in love and embrace their loving Savior. With God in them, they will have God’s divine nature. They will have the fruit of the Spirit. They will be joyful in God and have heavenly wisdom (2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 4:16, 17:6-8; Galatians 5:22-25; James 3:17). They will hate evil, love doing good deeds, and follow God’s command (James 2:20, 1 John 2:3-4). Such attributes are not based on self-love, but on seeing the love and beauty of God. The bearers of such wonderful gifts from God will go to heaven and enjoy eternal life. Summarized from a Jonathan Edwards’ sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WHWnUj5YZY https://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/truegrace.htm 有别于魔鬼之经历的真恩典 相信上帝是天地的创造者就意味着得到上帝的救恩吗? 答案是否定的,因为撒旦也有这样的认识 (雅各书 2:19)。 撒旦堕入邪恶之前是光明的天使。他对上帝、天堂、地狱、 圣经和人有广泛的了解。坠落并没有降低他的能力,也没有消除他的记忆 (约翰福音 8:44;约翰壹书 3:8;马太福音 13:19,38;约翰壹书 2:13, 3:12, 5:18;约伯记 38:4-7;以弗所书 6:12;创世记 3:1;哥林多后书 11:3;使徒行传 13:10)。 因为撒但也知道神的圣洁、真实、权能和对罪的忿怒,就战战兢兢地期待受苦之日的来临(路加福音 13:28, 29;罗马书 9:22;以赛亚书 2:10;启示录 1:7)。 撒但也许会感到被定罪和受折磨,迫切地希望从悲惨痛苦中解脱出来。这种渴望只是自爱,并不表示因此可以得到上帝的救恩。 同样地,人拥有如此深刻渴望或深厚圣经知识,也不是得救的证据。就像撒旦一样,看到上帝的荣耀或者对祂有更多的认识,也许只会导致更多的仇恨和恐惧。 得到上帝的光照而被圣灵感动的人与此形成鲜明的对比。 他们看到上帝的可爱、美丽、圣洁以及籍着基督彰显的神圣荣耀 (哥林多后书 2:14,4:6)。 惟有上帝才能将基督宝血所购买的救恩给予人类。上帝赐福祂亲爱的儿女,使他们能看见自己的美。 祂的儿女目睹上帝的奇妙,就会看到自己灵魂的丑陋,感到自己个人的卑微。在他们眼里,上帝变更伟大,自己变更渺小。他们有罪的灵魂将得到安息。他们将活在爱中,拥抱慈爱的救主。有上帝在里面,他们将拥有上帝的性情, 结出圣灵的果子。 他们会因上帝而喜乐,拥有属天的智慧 (彼得后书 1:4;约翰壹书 4:16;约翰福音 17:6-8;加拉太书 5:22-25;雅各书 3:17)。 他们憎恨邪恶,喜行善事,遵守上帝的命令 (雅各书 2:20;约翰壹书 2:3-4)。这样的属性不是基于自爱,而是基于看见上帝的慈爱和美丽。 拥有这些上帝奇妙礼物的人将进入天堂, 得享永生。 |
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