There’s a Lot of Believing Required Here
Scripture: 1 John 2:1Devotional Series: Whosoever
Teaching: Whosoever pt. 1 (SUN_AM 2021-02-28) by Pastor Star R Scott
There’s none that are seeking God. But there’s a righteousness that’s now available, and it’s without the law. It’s the righteousness of God which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all (not just the elect), amen? But comes upon all those who believe. You’ve got to believe. It’s not arbitrary. It’s not irresistible grace. It’s faith in Jesus Christ. Where does that ability come from? The gospel is the power of God to salvation. The gospel message illuminates our spirit man to be able to understand and see this free gift that God has given us in Jesus. And man, then, makes that final choice. You see, this is one of the biggest problems between Calvinism and Biblical truth. Calvinists don’t believe that man has any free volition at all. We don’t have a will, we’re manipulated. It’s predetermined. Now, I’m talking about as it pertains to salvation or to regeneration. It’s funny how they’ll allow us to be free and make every moral decision imaginable except as it pertains to regeneration. The Calvinists don’t remove free will from men in moral issues in general, only as it pertains to regeneration, to redemption, to our salvation. The Holy Ghost says in Romans, it’s unto all, it’s available to everybody, but comes upon all them that believe. For there is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
So, we’re being justified, pronounced righteous, freely by His grace. What’s grace? Unmerited favor. Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. What does it mean to redeem? To buy back, to purchase. So, now, this grace that comes through the redemption that’s in Christ—He, Jesus, whom God has set forth to be the propitiation through faith in His blood. Propitiation just means appeasement. It means God’s justice was satisfied against sinful man. How? By the blood of Jesus. Remitting means just to put away, to blot out. The handwriting of ordinances that was against us has been blotted out. And “to declare His righteousness, Romans 3:26, that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” There’s a lot of believing required here. There’s a lot of faith. Now the word “believe” is interesting; it means to have corresponding action. There’s an action. There’s an involvement. Whether the involvement is just within us, that illumination and that belief that rises up in us. Now, remember what faith is: trust, reliance, assurance. Why is any of that necessary if I’ve already been eternally elected, and nothing I can do will ever cause me to sin or fall away? Or commit sin that causes me to fall away? They don’t say you can’t sin. They say your sin will not separate you.
Why are they making things so hard? Well, we just saw over in John that He’s the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world. This is all-inclusive. It’s unto all, but it’s upon all them that believe. 1 John 2:1 says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he,” Jesus, “is the propitiation for our sins:” Hallelujah! “…and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Are you beginning to think that maybe it’s universal? That maybe it is for all men? You see, one of the most damnable doctrines of Calvinism is limited atonement. They believe that Jesus died only for the elect. He could’ve died for everybody; they’ll say, but He chose not to. Why? To show his sovereignty and that nothing can thwart His will. But the Scriptures show us nothing can thwart His love for all men, because God is love.
So, we’re being justified, pronounced righteous, freely by His grace. What’s grace? Unmerited favor. Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. What does it mean to redeem? To buy back, to purchase. So, now, this grace that comes through the redemption that’s in Christ—He, Jesus, whom God has set forth to be the propitiation through faith in His blood. Propitiation just means appeasement. It means God’s justice was satisfied against sinful man. How? By the blood of Jesus. Remitting means just to put away, to blot out. The handwriting of ordinances that was against us has been blotted out. And “to declare His righteousness, Romans 3:26, that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” There’s a lot of believing required here. There’s a lot of faith. Now the word “believe” is interesting; it means to have corresponding action. There’s an action. There’s an involvement. Whether the involvement is just within us, that illumination and that belief that rises up in us. Now, remember what faith is: trust, reliance, assurance. Why is any of that necessary if I’ve already been eternally elected, and nothing I can do will ever cause me to sin or fall away? Or commit sin that causes me to fall away? They don’t say you can’t sin. They say your sin will not separate you.
Why are they making things so hard? Well, we just saw over in John that He’s the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world. This is all-inclusive. It’s unto all, but it’s upon all them that believe. 1 John 2:1 says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he,” Jesus, “is the propitiation for our sins:” Hallelujah! “…and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Are you beginning to think that maybe it’s universal? That maybe it is for all men? You see, one of the most damnable doctrines of Calvinism is limited atonement. They believe that Jesus died only for the elect. He could’ve died for everybody; they’ll say, but He chose not to. Why? To show his sovereignty and that nothing can thwart His will. But the Scriptures show us nothing can thwart His love for all men, because God is love.