Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
What Jesus Said and the Word
One of the sad realities of the Christian faith today is that few
Christians have taken the time to know their Bibles and really listen
to what the Word of God says. Not only this, but few have taken the
time to really listen to what Jesus actually said. The result is that
many who profess Christ are led away by what is actually a corruption
of the gospel.
This result is a soul-destroying lack of knowledge, a spiritual fog
and confusion of mind that pervades that which calls itself Christian.
There is even much that passes for Christian today which stands in
opposition to Jesus' own words. Doctrines are called "evangelical," a
term which refers to the gospel, which are neither genuinely
evangelical or the gospel. The Word of God warns against false gospels
and false christs. Jesus, Himself, does so (Matt. 24:4,5,23,24). The
Scriptures are the only standard by which the spirits may be tried,
and they are to be searched.
To this problem is added the fact that we are confronted by a
multiplying of corrupt paraphrases, (putting things in man's word,
sometimes called dynamic equivalence) which falsely pass as Bible
versions and translations. Jesus said, "That till heaven and earth
pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all
be fulfilled," Matt. 5:18. While Jesus is speaking of the law, in the
context the law embraces in this text the entire Old Testament. His
point is, to use an English parallel, that not one dotted letter "i"
and one crossed letter "t" shall pass until all be fulfilled. He
clearly teaches by this the absolute principle of verbal, word for
word inspiration of Holy Scripture. Paraphrases, which are man's word,
are not Scripture, they are not translations. They are based on a
corrupt doctrine of Scripture and its inspiration. They are contrary
to the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
In harmony with this truth, all quotations are taken from the what is
called the King James version (KJV) or the Authorized Version (AV).
This is not a matter of traditionalism, custom or love of old form.
This version is still the most reliable, verbally accurate version of
the Bible in the English language, whatever superficial difficulties
it might present to a present day reader.
What Jesus said about ...
The words of Jesus touch on every aspect of the gospel, the way of
salvation, the church and the life of a Christian. It would be
impossible to exhaust this subject.
Yet there is much that Jesus said and taught that is ignored or set
aside today. For one who professes Christ this is a serious matter of
sin.
The material which follows is intended to address this matter and to
call those who have wandered out of the way of the truth to turn again
to the Lord.
Each article may be read by itself or in sequence one after another,
though with some deliberate repetition. The articles may be grouped
somewhat according to subject as they are below. An index is also
given. The articles are intended to make one think and search the
Scriptures.
The articles are somewhat grouped by subject:
* Introduction: 1,2
* The way of salvation and God's sovereign grace 3-16
* The church and kingdom 17-23
* Worship 24-26
* Principles of godliness especially in marriage 27-32
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
(1) Of Knowing Jesus
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Jesus directs us by these words not to some human philosophy or wisdom
but to Himself and His own person. He teaches us here that He is the
Savior, the only Savior, the only way by which man can come to God.
This confession stands at the heart of the Christian faith. The
Christian faith rests upon a saving trust in the person of Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord. It rests upon Him alone and nothing else.
There are not many ways to be saved but one way and only one way. It
is exclusive. In harmony with this truth the Apostle Peter testified,
"Neither is their salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," Acts 4:12.
Jesus said, "Éfor if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your
sins" (John 8:24). The issue is one of eternal life or eternal death.
To die in one's sins is to perish everlastingly under the just wrath
of God against sin. Man stands before God as a sinner, with a debt of
sin and guilt which must be paid. The justice of God requires that the
guilty be punished.
Jesus came for this very purpose to, "...save his people from their
sins," (Matt. 1:28). He does this by taking His people's debt of sin
and guilt upon Himself to make payment for their sin, giving His life
in the place of His people's life. He set this forth in the Last
Supper, when He took the last cup as a token of His sacrifice and His
blood and said, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins," (Matt. 26:28). As the good
shepherd of His people He says, "I lay down my life for the sheep,"
(John 10:15). Only through faith in Him we have righteousness before
God and eternal life. This is the blessing found in him: "That
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life," (John 3:15). So much is this the case that the knowledge of God
in Christ, and the spiritual communion which flows from it, is eternal
life. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only
true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent," (John 17:3).
This personal knowledge of Jesus Christ is also the foundation of all
knowledge of the truth. Jesus says not only, "I am the way," but also
I am "...the truth and the life." (John 14:6) Without that knowledge
man is in the darkness of sin and death. Without it we have no true
life, for life according to Scripture is communion with God. Jesus
says, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not
walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12)
Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word,
and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life..." (John
5:24). Trust in Jesus Christ is not an emotional decision or mystical
encounter. It is not a contentless "Jesus experience." Rather it is a
well-founded personal trust in Him, resting upon the knowledge and
understanding of His Word. In Jesus Christ is to be found the fountain
of all truth: the truth of God, of salvation in righteousness, of
mercy and grace, and of life eternal. Therefore Jesus said, "...the
words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that
dwelleth in me, he doeth the works" (John 14:10) Jesus' Word was not
His own, but the Word of God. Jesus therefore testifies of the Word He
preached that it is God's Word. He says to the Father, "I have given
them thy word." (John 17:14)
He speaks likewise of the Bible, and says, "Thy word is truth," (John
17:17) for out of the Bible we know God in Christ. The Christian faith
is one that has content. You cannot know Jesus if you do not know His
Word. The very purpose of the preaching of the gospel is shaped by
this fact. Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations."
(Matthew 28:19) The truth of the gospel is to be taught. Jesus said
moreover of the contents of that preaching, "...teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you," (Matthew 28:20).
There is a doctrine, a teaching, set down in the Scriptures. It is
Jesus' doctrine. It is the Word of God. He that professes Christ must
know it! Jesus said, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built
his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not: for it
was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which
built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and
great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24-28). On what are you building?
Do you know what the Word of God actually says? We may put it even
more simply: Do you know what Jesus said and taught and thereby know
Him?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(2) Of the Word of God
Jesus said: "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). Jesus declares not only
that God's Word contains truth but that it is truth. The Christian who
believes in Christ as "...the way, the truth, and the life," (John
14:6) is one who believes the Word of God set down in the Bible. Jesus
Himself explains the nature of that Word of God. He said, "Search the
scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are
they which testify of me" (John 5:39). It is by God's Word alone that
we know Christ and the truth of the gospel, that we believe, and that
we are saved.
But to believe in that Christ of the Scriptures means that we also
hold that Word as He did. Jesus Himself declared of that Word of God,
"The scripture cannot be broken," (John 10:35). It is essentially one
Scripture, (Jesus uses the singular not the plural). It is one Word of
God, an unbreakable truth. And it is without error. Truth by its very
nature is the opposite of the lie. By underscoring the unbreakability
of God's Word, the Scripture, Jesus leaves no room for
misunderstanding. The Scripture is altogether truth, from beginning to
end. Deny that fact, and you deny Christ and call God a liar.
When Jesus said that "the scripture cannot be broken," He was speaking
first of all of the Old Testament, for the New Testament had yet to be
given. Therefore Jesus Himself spoke of the creation and of Noah and
the Flood as factual history. Not only so but when He said, "Search
the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they
are they which testify of me" (John 5:39), He made certain principles
clear. First, the entire Bible is God's Word concerning Jesus Christ.
It is all gospel, not just some of it. Even the law represented Christ
in types and figures. It was Jesus Christ by promise in Whom the Old
Testament saints believed and were saved. Secondly, Jesus defines the
relation between the Old and New Testaments as one of promise and
fulfillment. He says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or
the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill," (Matt. 5:17).
In harmony with this the entire Bible, as it finds its center in Jesus
Christ, is God's Word to New Testament Christians. This means also
that God does not need to restate in the New Testament matters which
have always been the plain principles of His Word. "The scripture
cannot be broken." Therefore the New Testament declares also of the
Old Testament, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness," (II Tim. 3:16). All Scripture means all Scripture.
Do you know well the entire Bible? Is your church life founded on "all
Scripture?" Half a Bible in faith and practice, is a false gospel. The
Scriptures, and Jesus Himself, say so.
Nor is Jesus' doctrine of the New Testament any different. It also is
the Word of God. Concerning the New Testament Scripture He promised
His disciples the Holy Spirit which He would send. He said, "howbeit
when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth:
for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that
shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come" (John 16:13). By
that work of the Spirit, Jesus would give His church the gospels and
the epistles. His promise to His disciples was that His Spirit
"...shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). That
promise was fulfilled in giving us the written Bible in its finished
form during the lifetime of the apostles. The Bible was given by the
Holy Spirit through men in time, yet in such a way that it is wholly
God's Word--not man's word or opinion ( II Peter 1:20,21). This is the
testimony of the Scriptures themselves, it is given "by inspiration of
God," (II Tim. 3:16).
Jesus teaches an abiding standard of truth for the church of all ages
in the Word of God. He said, "I am the light of the world" (John
8:14). His light is not dim, obscure, or uncertain. The Bible can be
read and its teaching can be accurately known and understood by
believers. He that believes in Jesus then, believes that Word. This is
Jesus' own doctrine concerning faith and unbelief in the Word. He
says, "He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them
not, because ye are not of God" (John 8:47)
You must either say, "Thy word is truth," in obedience to Christ about
the Bible's teaching concerning the origin of the world, concerning
grace and salvation, concerning marriage and the roles of men and
women, or you must call Jesus a liar in unbelief. Do you hear His
Word?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(3) Of Man's Depravity in Sin
Jesus said: "Verily, verily I say unto you, The hour is coming, and
now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they
that hear shall live" (John 5:25). In this verse Jesus describes not a
man's body, but the spiritual condition of a man's soul and the work
of grace by which a man is saved through the hearing of God's Word. By
it Jesus teaches that man is spiritually dead, not merely dying.
Salvation involves a spiritual resurrection from the dead. This is
plain from the fact that Jesus speaks in the text not of the future
resurrection of the body, (something of which he speaks in a following
verse and as future, John 5:28), but He speaks of that hour which "now
is." This text is echoed by the Word of God which says, "And you hath
he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins," (Eph. 2:1,6). This
truth sets the boundaries for any scriptural doctrine of salvation.
Man is a dead sinner and as such he can do only what a corpse does,
stink in corruption. That only is a faithful doctrine of salvation
which begins with a dead sinner, and the need for a work of grace
which raises him from death to life.
Jesus said: "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
world, and men loved darkness rather than the light, because their
deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved" (John
3:19, 20). By this word Jesus teaches that man, being dead, is evil
and in spiritual darkness. He is not neutral, able to choose for God
and believe, but hates the light of the gospel and will not come to
Jesus. Man is not simply in darkness without knowledge or light, but
he is himself, as a sinner, darkness. He loves darkness, he has a bond
of love with darkness. In himself he hates the light of the gospel and
Christ who is the light of the gospel. He stands in unbelief.
Jesus also said, "No man can come unto me, except the Father which
hath sent me draw him..." (John 6:44). In this word Jesus teaches the
same principle, that man cannot believe of himself, he has no ability
to believe and no will to be saved. He "cannot come." His will is
bound, for as a willing slave of darkness he is spiritually dead.
Further, Jesus said to the wicked and unbelieving, "Why do ye not
understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word," (John
8:43). Man in himself cannot even spiritually understand the gospel,
so great is his darkness. He is, as all Jesus' miracles testify, blind
and deaf to spiritual things. His mouth is dumb so that he cannot
praise God. He is a leper in his soul, under the dominion of sin and
bound in the prison house of sin. He is the paralytic who cannot walk
in God's ways, whether in repentance or in faith. His sins must be
forgiven, (Luke 5:17-26).
Jesus teaches then that man is a dead sinner, unable to believe of
himself, having no free will by which he can come to the light of the
gospel, nor any ability to understand it. He teaches that man loves
the darkness of sin and death. Jesus teaches the doctrine of total
depravity and the total inability of man. God's almighty grace alone
saves! God saves dead sinners. Do you believe this word of Jesus and
see yourself as He says you must? Or do you see yourself in your own
wisdom, as yet having some good in yourself? Is your confession a
confession of Jesus' doctrine that we are spiritually dead in
ourselves, or is it a confession of man's word that we are not wholly
dead, not wholly bound in the darkness of sin and evil? Jesus said of
man in himself that he "loves darkness" and "hates the light." Do you
believe His verdict? Or do you believe that you can still come to Him
of your own will and decision when Jesus says that no man can thus
come to Him? This is not idle questioning. Jesus Himself warned of
false gospels and false christs who shall deceive many, Matt.
24:4,5,11,23-25). This is in fact a repeated warning. He also
confronts those who trust in themselves, in their righteousness, in
their faith and goodness and speaks parables against them (Luke
18:9-14).
These are serious questions. Salvation is by grace through faith but
it is a gift of God in every part, (Eph. 2:8,9) . Grace is not a mere
help to man who saves himself by his use of grace or the gospel. Faith
is the fruit of God's effectual work of grace in one raised from death
to life, who being spiritually dead, and called and quickened by
Christ, hears indeed and therefore believes. "The hour is coming, and
now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they
that hear shall live," (John 5:25). The doctrine of free willism is a
false gospel of a false christ. It is sinful pride that trusts in
oneself. Jesus also warns against this sinful pride of men, who trusts
in their own ability, deny their real spiritual blindness, and need no
Savior. He says to them, "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but
now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." (John 9:41)
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(4) Of Being Born Again
Jesus said: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God" (John 3:3). By this word Jesus teaches us that we cannot even see
the kingdom of God, we cannot believe except we are first born again.
To this He adds, "Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:6). Being born again is
strictly a work of grace, by the washing away of our sins and the work
of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Without it we can neither see and
believe nor enter God's kingdom by faith
By His words Jesus teaches us two vital principles. First, we are born
again by God's Spirit and therefore believe, and not the reverse.
Secondly, being born again is not an experience but a divine work of
grace in the soul, out of which we are saved through faith. Faith
therefore is not my decision, but the fruit of grace, of being born
again.
This same truth is taught in John 1:12,13: "But as many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them who
believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Those who believed on
His name were saved. They believed because they were given Christ by
the grace of God and therefore received Him and the gift of faith to
believe and be sons of God. If we would ask how did they receive Him,
the answer is not by their natural birth, nor that they chose Him, but
that they were born "of God." It was solely "of God." No man
cooperates with his own conception and birth, either physically or
spiritually. By that grace of being born of God we are given to hear
God's Word with spiritual understanding and to believe that Word.
Salvation is therefore also compared to a spiritual resurrection from
the dead, "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear
the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live," (John
5:25).
Thus Jesus says to the unbelieving wicked, "He that is of God heareth
God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God"
(John 8:47). Except a man be born "of God" he cannot hear and believe.
One who hears is "of God," that is, he is born of God's grace, given
eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to believe. To be sure the
sound of the gospel reaches the natural ear of all who physically hear
the preaching, and they are responsible for what they do with it in
unbelief. For God made man good, able to know spiritual things in the
beginning, but man fell into sin becoming spiritually deaf to the Word
of God. Salvation is by grace alone by which God gives spiritually
deaf ears to hear spiritual things.
Jesus Himself speaks of this when He teaches in parables. He says, 'He
that hath ears to hear, let him hear," (Mark 4:9). When the disciples
struggle with this and with why Jesus taught the people in parables,
He explains it to them. "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given
to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but to them that are
without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may
see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand;
lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be
forgiven them," (Mark 4:11,12; Isaiah 6:10) Salvation through faith is
a gift of grace. As the Savior's words clearly indicate, God does not
give that gift to all nor is it the purpose of the preaching of the
gospel to save all who hear. For many the Word of the gospel works
judgment. Faith is God's work of grace in us. You cannot write a
manual on how to be born again.
It is Jesus Who saves and that sovereignly. It is He that quickens us
(makes us alive), when we are spiritually dead in sin. He does this by
the power of His grace, His cross, and the Holy Spirit, that being
born again we should believe and be saved. Thus He says, "For as the
Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son
quickeneth whom he will (John 5:21). Just as surely as Jesus will
raise His people from bodily death and the grave, so does He raise us
from spiritual death. Does a man decide to be born? Do the dead decide
to rise from the dead by their free will? Jesus truly saves! It is in
that context that He says,"Verily, Verily I say unto you, he that
heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting
life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death
to life," (John 5:24). Are man's hearing and believing to be
understood as the cause of eternal life? Not at all. Note what Jesus
is really saying: hearing and believing is eternal life. He that has
the one (faith) has the other (eternal life), and the reason is that
he "is passed from death to life." He has been spiritually raised from
the dead. Therefore he hears, believes, and necessarily "hath
everlasting life" as his possession. He has this possession because
Jesus quickened him, as He says, "even so the Son quickeneth whom he
will," (John 5:21). This is Jesus' own explanation as is plain from
the context. It is His will that saves us and not our own will.
This raises a serious question. Do you believe in this Christ, or in a
false christ of man's imagination who can only save the dead if they
let him? Do you believe in the almighty power of this Savior Who
"quickeneth whom he will," or in one who quickens and makes men alive
spiritually when they will? We may even put the issue more directly.
Do you believe that Jesus is truly "the resurrection and the life"
(John 11:25) of the soul, as well as of the body? That is Jesus' own
testimony. Is it yours?.
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(5) Of God's Love
Jesus said: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life," (John 3:16). By this word Jesus teaches that
God's love for the world is not a love for all men head for head but a
love for believers (see also verses 17,18). The world God loved and
for which He gave His Son is the world of those identified by the
grace of saving faith, "that whosoever believeth should not perish."
Do not pervert the text by twisting that "whosoever," into what it
does not say, as if "whosoever" means "anyone who chooses of himself
to believe. "Since the text literally says, "all the believing ones,"
the "whosoever" should be understood as identifying certain
individuals by their spiritual characteristic, namely, the believing
ones or believers. They are the world God loves, the sheep of Jesus
Christ, gathered of Jew and Gentile (John 10:16). It is for that world
of His love that God gave His Son.
For these believers only Jesus also prays: "I pray for them: I pray
not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are
thine...Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
believe on me through their word," (John 17:9,20). By this word Jesus
prays for His eleven believing disciples and also for those who shall
believe. Not for every man does He pray, but for His people, for those
whom God loved. Note that they were "given" to Christ, both the
believing disciples and those yet to be born "who shall believe." They
belong to Christ because God in His love gave them to Christ. God's
love in Christ is first, the source of their salvation and of their
believing.
Of that love of God Jesus says, "...Thou hast loved them, as thou hast
loved me," (John 17:23). God loves His people with the same love with
which He loves Christ. Jesus declares that to be an eternal love when
He says, "For thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world,"
(John 17:24). As God loved His Son with an eternal love, so God loved
His people with the same eternal love. Jesus does not say God will
love them, only in the future, though He is speaking of those not yet
born, but "thou hast loved them." Always God loved His people. Nor is
Jesus speaking merely of the disciples, but in the context of those,
"which shall believe on me through their word," (John 17:20). Those
whom God loves are His people. Before they were even born or had done
good or evil, they were the objects of His love. Nor is there any
doubt in Jesus' mind that they shall come to faith, that they "shall
believe on me." Their faith then cannot be the cause of that love.
Rather the eternal love of God is the true cause of their faith.
The people God loved eternally were given to Christ, as Jesus said,
"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me
where I am," (John 17:24). As the Shepherd of the sheep belonging to
Him, He goes to the cross, redeeming them with His own blood, as He
said, "...I lay down my life for the sheep," (John 10:14). This is
necessary. As sinners, believers are not lovable in themselves but
worthy of condemnation. Jesus came to "save his people from their
sins," (Matt. 1:21) including also the sin of unbelief in which we
were born. Nor may we find in ourselves any cause for which God loved
us. His love is first, Who gave us to Christ. Thus Jesus can say, "all
that the Father giveth me shall come to me," (John 6:37) and "This is
the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given
me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last
day," (John 6:39). As His property Jesus seeks His sheep, not only
while He was on earth, but He continues to seek them by His Word and
Spirit through the gospel. He came to "seek and to save that which was
lost," (Luke 19:10) His property. To them, according to the will of
God, He gives eternal life, "that he should give eternal life to as
many as thou hast given him," (John 17:2). Born again of God's grace,
they hear with the hearing of faith and believe.
According to that love of God, He knows His people by name and they,
knowing and hearing His voice, believe and are saved. They can never
perish. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father,
which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father's hand" (John 10:27-29). Others abide in their
willful sin and unbelief because they are not the objects of God's
love. It follows that they are not given to believe, as Jesus said,
"But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto
you," (John 10:26). The language of Jesus is very pointed. He was
addressing especially the false teachers of His people of that day.
They did not believe, "because" they were not His sheep. God did not
give them to believe. They were born in unbelief as fallen sinners and
continued in unbelief under the judgment of God. They belonged to that
other world, the world that perishes, not the world that God loved.
Jesus said of them, "why do ye not understand my speech? even because
ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts
of your father ye will do," (John 8:43,44). The spiritual offspring of
the devil, they were not "of God." As Jesus continues in His
explanation, "He that is of God heareth God's words: ye hear them not,
because ye are not of God," (John 8:47). God's love, by the power of
His grace in Christ and by His Holy Spirit, begets spiritual children,
born of God. To them God gives saving faith.
By His words Jesus teaches that God's love is a sovereign eternal love
for specific persons, a particular love. God gave these specific
persons to Christ as His sheep and for them alone He died. He calls
them infallibly unto faith in Him and gives them eternal life. Jesus
says, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," (John 6:37). God's love is a
sovereign almighty love which sends the gospel to those whom He loved
from eternity. He saves them by it. It cannot fail. It is
unchangeable. Ask yourself this question: Do you believe in this
Jesus, the authentic Christ of the Scriptures, Who teaches an
all-powerful love of God? Beware of a false christ who teaches a
powerless love of God, powerless to send the gospel and powerless to
irresistibly work faith in the hearts of those whom he loves. That
false christ is not the Christ of the Scriptures.
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(6) Of God's Will and Personal Election
Jesus said: "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of
all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it
up again at the last day" (John 6:39). By these words Jesus teaches us
several things concerning God's will. First, that God has a certain
definite purpose in Christ which determines the final state of all
things and all men (predestination). Those given to Christ according
to the Father's will cannot be lost forever. He will raise them up
unto eternal glory. Jesus is speaking here not of the law or the moral
will of God, but of His eternal purpose, God's decree. Secondly, Jesus
teaches that of all that is given to Him He will lose nothing, that
is, God's will (His eternal decree) shall surely be done. God's
purpose and will shall stand.
God's will is His sovereign purpose to raise up unto eternal glory at
the last day His people, given to Jesus Christ. Jesus repeatedly
emphasizes this. He says, "As thou hast given him power over all
flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given
him," (John 17:2). Note well Jesus' words. God gave Christ power,
power over all flesh. He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He is so
for this purpose: to give eternal life as a gift of God. But to whom
is this gift given and for whom is it intended? Jesus says very
plainly, "as many as thou hast given him." It is for those given to
Christ of God's determination. It is not for all men head for head,
not by intention, design, will, or purpose. It is for many, many
indeed, qualified by one thing, they are given to Christ. Jesus is
speaking of what God did in eternity. He gave certain persons to
Christ. It is not we who give ourselves to Him but God who gave us to
Christ that He should give unto us eternal life. The text is plain and
simple.
Moreover Jesus teaches us what is given unto Him according to the
Father's will: His people who shall believe on His name. As He says,
"And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth
the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will
raise him up at the last day," (John 6:40). Jesus makes it clear where
this believing comes from. They believe because they are given to Him
and therefore shall come to Him by faith. For Jesus says, "All that
the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I
will in no wise cast out," (John 6:37). Jesus teaches that God wills
to save certain persons, chosen of God and given unto Christ to be
infallibly saved by Him. He teaches that according to the Father's
will we are elected unto faith and salvation through faith.
For the elect Jesus died. As He said, "I lay down my life for the
sheep," (John 10:15). Born of the Spirit as spiritually newborn babes,
we enter His kingdom. As He said, "Except a man be born of water and
of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). We
are not better than others but the work of God's almighty grace. Jesus
also thanks the Father that this is His will. He prays, "I thank thee,
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hidden these
things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes,"
(Matt. 11:25). The cause of this will of God Jesus also explains in
the next verse. It rests in God. It was His sovereign good pleasure,
the determination of His will alone. Jesus says, "Even so, Father: for
so it seemed good in thy sight," (Matt. 11:26). Note well that Jesus
teaches the truth that it was the good pleasure of God to reveal His
grace and to save some, the helpless babes and to hide the saving
knowledge of the gospel from others, leaving them in their pride and
unbelief. Jesus teaches the truth of sovereign election and
reprobation.
In harmony with this will of God to save His people, it is not
possible for a redeemed child of God to lose his salvation. He may
fall into sin or wander as a prodigal son for a season. He may as a
sheep "be gone astray," but Jesus will seek him out and find him
again. Jesus explains this. He says, "How think ye? if a man have an
hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doeth he not leave the
ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which
is gone astray?...Even so it is not the will of your Father which is
in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish," (Matt.
18:14). God's will shall infallibly be accomplished. This saving work
in Christ, grounded in election and Jesus' effectual saving work, is
the cause of our being born again and believing.
This doctrine is taught in obedience to Christ by the apostles:
* --that God knew in love from eternity (foreknew) certain persons,
predestinated in Christ unto the adoption of children of God,
(Rom. 8:29, 30; Eph 1:4-11);
* --that God willed all things in Christ, that He might be the head
of the elect church, (Col. 1:16-21);
* --that the cause of that will of God is His good pleasure, Eph.
1:11;
* --that God willed both vessels of mercy out of all nations and
vessels of His wrath, (Rom. 9:21-24);
* --that the cause of faith is in God's ordination--that as many as
were" ordained to eternal life believed," (Acts 13:48);
* --that others stumble at the word in their willful unbelief, to
which also "they were appointed," (I Peter 2:8).
But it is first of all Jesus' doctrine.
This truth is sometimes called Calvinism, and it is that as the
teaching of John Calvin. It was also the doctrine of Martin Luther in
his book The Bondage of the Will. It is, in fact, historic
Christianity, for it is the teaching also of Augustine. But it is
first of all the teaching of the Word of God by the mouth of the
Savior Jesus Christ.
All who hear ought to believe the gospel, and many are called by its
sound, but Jesus says, "many be called but few chosen," (Matt. 20:16).
This is the cause of the separation between faith and continuing
unbelief. Jesus does not teach a wonderful plan for all men which will
happen only if we let it. He rather teaches that some believe not,
"because ye are not of my sheep," (John 10:26). He makes it clear that
God is just and sovereign. He teaches that God is GOD. He teaches the
sovereign, almighty, sure will of His Father as a sure comfort to
elect believers. Do you believe in this Jesus of the Scripture? It is
a false christ of man's invention, whose Father wants to save all, but
cannot save whom He wills.
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(7) Of God's Will Concerning Believers and their Seed
"And Jesus said unto him (Zacchaeus), This day is salvation come to
this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham," Luke 19:9. With
these words Jesus points us to God's promise to Abraham, "And I will
establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in
their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee
and to thy seed after thee," (Gen. 17:7). God's purpose in election
and in His work of grace by which He becomes our God in Christ is
personal, but it is not individualistic. Jesus saves a church. He
says, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it," (Matt. 16:18). Gathering that church according to the
counsel of God out of all nations, Jesus commands the gospel to be
preached to every creature (Mark 16:15). In that preaching and
gathering of the elect, the nations are gathered into His kingdom and
made disciples (Matt. 28:19). The world God loved is saved (John
3:16). As many as are ordained to eternal life believe (Acts 2:47;
Acts 13:48). To this working of God's will belongs the truth that God
saves His people in families and believing households, gathering His
elect in the generations of believers (Gen. 17:7).
When Jesus passed through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem and the
cross, He did so for a purpose--to save Zacchaeus. He was
accomplishing His Father's will. He indicates that this is the case
when He calls Zacchaeus down from his perch in a tree and says, "for
today I must abide at thy house," Luke 19:5. Jesus does not simply say
what He will do, "abide at thy house," He says, "I must abide at thy
house." It is something that "must" be done. It was necessary because
His sheep must be saved and gathered. Jesus further explains this when
He says, "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he
also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to
save that which was lost," (Luke 19:9,10). Jesus' reference here is to
God's promise to Abraham, and the promise to His seed (Gen. 17:7).
That promise was in Christ Who is the seed above all (Gal. 3:16) and
to those who are the spiritual offspring of God's grace, children of
promise ( Gal. 3:29; Gal. 4:28). Such was Zacchaeus, "a son of
Abraham" not simply after the flesh, but one who, though lost in
himself, was made a spiritual son, one who had the faith of Abraham.
But in bringing that salvation to Zacchaeus, Jesus was not bringing it
to him alone, as an isolated individual. He brought it to his house,
to his family. Jesus says so. "This day is salvation come to this
house," (Luke 19:9).
In His work of grace God makes dead sinners living children of God, a
spiritual seed of Abraham, whether they be Jew or Gentile. This was
the teaching of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:9; Luke 3:8). It is also
Jesus' instruction concerning Zacchaeus. But that work of grace saves
a believer and His seed, not mere individuals. This is the blessing
which was given Abraham, first in his seed after him in his
generations, in which God gathered a spiritual, believing seed who
loved God and were His people. This blessing was not due to any
natural connection but was a work of grace. God established His
covenant with them, became their God, and made them His children. This
was not all the offspring of Abraham, his natural descendants, but a
spiritual seed gathered in the generations of his natural seed. The
Pharisees and scribes were also Abraham's children after the flesh,
His seed in that natural sense, but they were not Abraham's true
children for they did not have Abraham's faith. (John 8:39,40).
According to His promise and founded upon His will, God saved a
spiritual seed who were born by grace from above. That is what Isaac,
the child born by the promise, represents. Hence the Word of God says,
"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise," Gal.
4:28.
God also intended that there be a spiritual seed unto Abraham among
the Gentiles. When the Apostle Paul says, "Now we, brethren, as Isaac
was, are the children of promise," (Gal. 4:28) he is addressing
Gentiles in the church of Galatia. It is the Gentiles to whom John the
Baptist is referring when he says, "God is able of these stones to
raise up children unto Abraham," Matt. 3:9. Hence the Apostle Paul
says to the Gentiles, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's
seed, and heirs according to the promise," Gal. 3:29. As we have seen,
the promise was not to Abraham as a mere individual, "I will be a God
unto thee," but it was to his seed, "in their generations. " When
Jesus addresses Zacchaeus, it is that promise which He has in view,
including the fact that God sets his grace in families. God is always
pleased to save his people, "in their generations." He is pleased to
command the grace of election to run in the generations of believers,
to gather of the children of believing parents a people who are his
own possession, children born of His grace as Isaac was. For this
reason Jesus does not say to Zacchaeus, this day is salvation come to
you, personally, alone. What Jesus says is, "This day is salvation
come to this house," Luke 19:9. He did not say this because now the
building had a believer living in it. Jesus is pointing us to the
nature of God's promise to Abraham, and behind that to God's will to
save His people in households, gathering believers and their elect
seed in their generations into the blessings of salvation.
This has to do with the truth of election. We see this also when Jesus
declares His Father's will concerning the children of believing
parents who sought His blessing for their children, "Suffer the little
children to come unto me and forbid them not: for of such is the
kingdom of God," (Mark 10:14). God in Christ saves His people in the
generations of believers. Election and the grace of God are made to
run, according to God's will, in the generations. Not by any power of
the flesh nor by any cause in man is this the case. It is God's
sovereign determination. Hence the gospel is not merely, "Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," but it is, "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house," Acts
16:31. The gospel in Acts 2 is not, "the promise is unto you (Jews)
and to those afar off (Gentiles), " but the promise, to those pricked
in their hearts of the Jews, is "unto you and your children," Acts
2:39. Moreover, when it comes to the Gentiles, those "afar off," the
promise is, "believe...and thou shalt be saved and thy house," Acts
16:31. At issue is not first of all such a matter as infant baptism,
(though a necessary result) but the will of God--God's will of
election, God's promises in Christ. The gospel itself is at issue.
Jesus says of the children of believers--and they were infants--"of
such is the kingdom of God," (Mark 10:14). Jesus blesses them because
such children are the objects of His grace and saving work--His
blessing. Jesus brings salvation to a believer's household. "This day
is salvation come to this house," (Luke 19:9). It is likewise not
insignificant that two of Jesus' resurrection miracles involved the
raising children from the dead, the widow's son at Nain and Jairus's
daughter. Jesus also wrought other miracles among the children of
believers (Matt. 15:21; 17:14; John 4:46). Jesus came to save His
people from their sins, also the little ones of His kingdom (Matt.
18). Has Jesus brought salvation to your house?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(8) Of God's Choice
Jesus said, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because
thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast
revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in
thy sight" (Matt. 11:25,26). By these words Jesus thanks His Father
for His sovereign will to hide the truth of the gospel from some and
to reveal it to others, thanks Him for His righteous choice. Nor is
the cause of this will of God found in man but in God alone, for "Even
so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight." Therefore Jesus says,
"Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to
whomsoever the Son will reveal him" (Matt. 11:27). According to His
Father's will, Jesus, the Son, causes some to know the Father, by
revealing Him to them, bringing them as laboring and heavy laden to
Himself (Matt. 11:28). They are His sheep, who hear His voice. Christ
gives them saving faith to hear with the hearing of faith. Christ
knows them personally. He said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know
them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). The others are not His sheep.
To them He does not reveal the Father. To them He does not give saving
faith but leaves them in their willful unbelief. As He says, "Ye
believe not because ye are not of my sheep" (John 10:26).
Jesus, by the preaching, seeks His own, "and he calleth his own sheep
by name" (John 10:3). Jesus teaches a sovereign choice of God to save
some men and give them faith: election. And he teaches a sovereign
righteous choice of God to reject the others and condemn them in their
unbelief: reprobation.
In harmony with His Father's determination, Jesus preached in parables
to the people. When asked the reason by His disciples, He points to
the prophet Isaiah (Is. 6:10) and explains God's intended purpose.
"And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of
the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things
are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and
hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they
should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them" (Mark
4:11,12). God chose to save His people, to reveal Himself and His Son
Jesus Christ to them, and infallibly to call them to faith in Christ.
But God also, according to His determination, sovereignly leaves the
others in their sins. He sends His word to some that they might see
and be left without excuse, and yet not believe and be saved, for they
are not His sheep.
In harmony with this truth Jesus repeatedly speaks of this choice of
God, and of His own choosing as the Son of God. When speaking of the
tribulation of His church and their salvation, Jesus says of the last
days, " And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh
should be saved: But for the elect's sake, whom He hath chosen, he
hath shortened the days," Mark 13:20. While the text focuses on the
last days, in the language Jesus uses, He also explains election. It
is God's choice. When it comes to the preaching of the gospel many are
called by the word preached, but that some believe is a matter of
God's choice. He says, "Many are called, but few chosen," ( Matt.
22:14; see also Matt. 20:16). Salvation depends on God's choice and
not man's.
That choice includes Jesus' calling His disciples. This was not,
however, a mere choosing of men for office. Such an explanation is too
superficial. We read, "Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you
twelve, and one of you is a devil?" (John 6:70). In saying this Jesus
was responding to the confession Peter made of their faith in Christ,
"And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the
living God," (John 6:69). That confession was one which Peter and the
disciples did not make of themselves. It was rooted in God's powerful
work of grace in them. Jesus speaks of this same confession on another
occasion when He says to Peter, "for flesh and blood hath not revealed
it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven," Matt. 16:17. Peter's
confession,"thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," was not
Peter's work but God's sovereign work in him, God's revelation. He did
not make that confession by the power of Peter's choice, or any will
of his own flesh, but by the power of grace. God had chosen him in
Christ.
Thus Jesus says, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and
ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit," John 15:16.
Jesus' words are clear. It is He who chose His own. The disciples did
not make their decision for Christ. Christ, according to the will of
God, chose them. The fruit they should bear as His servants, through
faith and by the labor of the gospel, was also His and not theirs. He
ordained them, not only to office, but to be fruitful. The fruit of
their labor in the gathering of the church was also ordained of God in
Christ. Jesus explains the reason for this: "I have manifested thy
name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they
were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word," John
17:6. They were chosen and given to Christ and He to them. This is
true not of the disciples only, but of all of Jesus' sheep, who should
believe through the word of the gospel (John 17:20) and whom Jesus
wills that they should be with Him as those given Him of the Father
(John 17:24).
Jesus teaches God's choice in Him unto salvation and faith. It is a
false christ of man's invention who offers himself to all for man's
sovereign choice to accept or reject him. Faith is not a decision but
a gift of God.
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(9) Of Jesus' Death
Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life
for the sheep" (John 10:11). By this word Jesus teaches that He gives
His life in the place of His people as a substitute for them. He also
says, "...I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:15). His death is
a personal substitutionary atonement, not a general provision for all
men. Jesus lays down His life as a sacrifice for certain persons who
are His sheep, not for the goats. Jesus teaches that He did not die
for all men, head for head, but for His people out of the world.
Therefore Jesus does not say that He gives His life a ransom for sin
generally, but that He came "to give his life a ransom for many,"
(Matt. 20:28, Mark 10:45). His life given upon the cross is the ransom
for those for whom He died. They are many, but not all men, head for
head. Jesus' death accomplished the actual, complete salvation and
deliverance of those for whom He died. Jesus teaches a definite
atonement for sin in His blood, not a mere possibility or provision.
His blood cannot fail to save His sheep. The power of Christ and His
cross never fails to save His people. Jesus saved and therefore also
saves! As it is written, "For by one offering he hath perfected for
ever them that are sanctified," Heb. 10:14. He accomplished a finished
redemption in the cross.
Therefore Jesus speaks of Himself as the bread of life. As He said,
"... and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for
the life of the world," (John 6:51). By this He teaches that His death
is the only source of spiritual life and salvation just as bread
sustains our earthly life when we eat it. That world for which He gave
His life is fed by faith in Him with everlasting life. It is a world
that is surely saved, for He says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that believeth on me hath everlasting life," (John 6:47). Jesus does
not teach that He provides everlasting life for the world of all men,
head for head, but that He is everlasting life unto the world of them
who are united to Him by faith. His death is a true sacrifice. It
saved, ransomed, and delivered those for whom He died, and He now
gives eternal life through faith unto them as His sheep. As He said,
"My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me and I give
unto them eternal life..." (John 10:27, 28). This was God's design as
Jesus said, "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he
should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him," John
17:2.
Jesus teaches that He accomplished a finished salvation and a personal
substitutionary atonement for those for whom He died. Jesus teaches a
definite limited atonement, a particular redemption, not a universal
indefinite provision, not a mere possibility to become a personal
Saviour, if you will only let Him. He gives eternal life to His sheep.
Jesus teaches that He "knows his sheep," and not that He must engage
in an investigative judgment to find out who they are. Do you believe
in this Jesus of the Scriptures, Who knows His own, and dies for them?
There is a false christ of man's invention who dies not knowing his
own, a maybe saviour, a mere provider, who waits on man to make him
truly a savior. Do you believe in the Jesus Who genuinely saves?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(10) Of Our Coming Unto Him
Jesus said: "No man can come unto me, except it were given him of my
Father," (John 6:65). Coming to Christ by faith is a gift of God. The
grace of being born again is first. Jesus said, "Except a man be born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). By being born
again, God's people are given the spiritual ability to see, believe,
and enter His kingdom. This ability also must be spiritually stirred
up into the activity of saving faith. This too is God's work of grace
in His people. Jesus said, "No man can come unto me except the father
which hath sent me draw him" (John 6:44). Grace must also draw us to
Christ.
Jesus Himself seeks us and draws us to Himself as He taught us in the
parable of the lost sheep. He said, "What man of you, having an
hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and
nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find
it? and when he hath found it, he layeth it upon his shoulders
rejoicing" (Luke 15:4,5). Jesus came to seek and to save that which
was lost. Notice that that which was lost is His sheep. It belongs to
Him. The shepherd seeks the sheep because it is his sheep. The sheep
does not first seek him. The shepherd finds it, and not the sheep Him.
The sheep does not decide whether to come home. In itself it was lost
and would stay lost. We come to Him because He in His grace called us,
sought us, and saved us.
Jesus does this by His love through His Word and the working of His
Spirit in our hearts. That love works powerfully by His Word to save,
to give us the hearing ear of faith. Therefore Jesus says, "My sheep
hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me," (John 10:27). Nor
does that call of Christ by the preaching of His Word ever fail to
save His sheep, for He says, "All that the Father giveth me shall come
to me," (John 6:37). It is not possible for one of those sheep to
perish. All of those given to Christ shall come to Him because His
seeking and finding by His Word is a work of sovereign, irresistible
grace.
Moreover while God's word is preached generally, so that many hear its
sound, it addresses His sheep personally. Jesus said that "...he
calleth his own sheep by name," (John 10:3). He addresses His sheep,
saying, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and (I
will give you rest," (Matt. 11:28). He calls His sheep laboring and
heavy laden, that is, by certain spiritual characteristics which
identify them. By that work of grace His sheep see themselves and
their terrible burden of sin, believe, and come unto Him. Thus Jesus
names His sheep "believers," "hearers," "poor in spirit," "they that
mourn..." (Matt. 5:3-10). To them alone He promises, "I will give you
rest." Jesus does not promise rest to all, but to the ones coming to
Him, drawn by His grace. His promises are not general, not offered to
all, but are personal and particular. Do you believe in this Jesus Who
truly saves His sheep? There is a false christ, who can only offer
himself, and leave it with man whether he will come unto him. That
false christ is not the Jesus Christ of the Scriptures.
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(11) Of Saving Faith
Jesus said: "He that is of God heareth God's words: Ye therefore hear
them not, because ye are not of God," (John 8:47). By these words
Jesus condemns the unbelief of the wicked. Their problem was not that
they did not hear Jesus' words with their ears, but that they did not
hear with the hearing of saving faith. Jesus says of them, "Ye are of
your father the devil," (John 8:44). This is the natural fallen
condition of all men. Man is born unbelieving, a child of the lie of
sin. He is not "of God" by nature.
To be "of God" means to have been born again of His grace. Those who
are born again are now able to hear His Word. That spiritual activity
of faith by which a man hears God's Word and believes is the fruit of
grace in him. Without it he cannot believe.
God calls that power of faith into spiritual activity by the powerful
working of Christ by His Word. Jesus said, "Neither knoweth any man
the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal
him," (Matt. 11:27). Jesus must reveal Himself and the Father to us
that we should believe. He does this through the Word and sends
preachers that this Word might work faith in the hearts of His sheep.
Thus He prays, "...for them also which shall believe on me through
their word," (John 17:20).
By faithful preaching of the Word Jesus Himself speaks to us and works
the love of God, through faith , in our hearts. He says, "And I have
declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love
wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them" (John
17:26). That faith by which a man is saved is therefore a work of
grace alone by which he is made spiritually to know the Lord and to
hear His voice through His Word. The love of God is shed abroad in his
heart. Christ Himself by His Word and Spirit comes to dwell in his
heart.
Faith is a spiritual bond which unites us to Christ. It is a saving
knowledge of and trust in Christ. Therefore Jesus says, "He that
believeth on the Son hath everlasting life," (John 3:36). Jesus does
not say here "will have" (something future) but he "hath everlasting
life" (something present), that is, to believe is to have eternal life
now. Faith is eternal life itself working in us, so that he that has
faith has everlasting life and therefore also will have it in its
perfection.
We do not believe to earn everlasting life. Faith is not the cause or
ground of salvation. That would be salvation by the works of faith.
But faith is the means through which we are saved. Faith is a gift of
God, a work of grace, and the means through which salvation is
imparted to us. Out of that grace and gift of God we also are said to
believe. Do you have this gift of faith, in this Christ? Is the faith
by which you are saved your work, or God's gift in which you walk?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(12) Of Being Righteous Before God
Jesus said: "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of God," (John 3:18). By these words
Jesus teaches us not only that unbelievers shall be condemned but that
they by their sin and unbelief stand already under the judgment of
God. Man is a guilty sinner. In such a state of sin and unbelief he is
born. But Jesus also teaches that through faith in Jesus Christ a man
is freed from condemnation. Likewise Jesus said, "He that believeth on
the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall
not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).
Jesus teaches that unbelieving sinners are in fact dead, under the
wrath of God, and shall never have true life in communion with God.
God's wrath rests and abides upon them. Such is the state of man's sin
and guilt, but through faith a man is free from condemnation and has
life eternal. Faith is the instrument or means by which we are
declared righteous before God's judgment seat. This blessing is found
only in Jesus Christ. We are not delivered from condemnation unto
righteousness because we believe. Faith could never be the ground for
this deliverance because faith itself is the work of grace. Of Simon
Peter's confession of faith, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the
Living God," Jesus says, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh
and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in
heaven," (Matthew 16:17). To teach that we are forgiven because we
believe, have made a decision for Christ, or do good works, is to
teach the doctrine of salvation and forgiveness by works, whether of
man's will or man's activity or man's believing.
Rather Jesus teaches us by the prayer of the publican (Luke 18:9-14),
that it is in God's mercy that we are justified or righteous. God's
mercy is the source of forgiveness. As He says, the publican prayed,
"God be merciful to me a sinner," Jesus explains, "I tell you, this
man went down to his house justified," (Luke 18:13,14). It was God's
mercy which forgave the debt of his sins. Out of that mercy God gave
Jesus Christ to "...save his people form their sins" and called His
name Jesus, Savior (Matthew 1:21).
God does not set aside His justice. Payment for the sins of His people
must be made, justice satisfied, and God's wrath against sin taken
away. Therefore Jesus testifies of His blood, set forth in the cup of
communion, "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed
for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:28). Jesus bears the
wrath of God, pays the debt, in the place of His people that they
might be declared righteous before God. Jesus alone is the ground or
cause of our righteousness. He does not merely provide righteousness,
but he is the righteousness of His people before God. He cried out on
the cross, "It is finished," (John 19:30); not, "It is provided."
Through faith in His name, God imparts that blessing unto His people.
This blessing is without any works or righteousness found in man.
Faith stands without works; it is a trust in Christ. Such trust can
never itself merit anything. It is by its very nature a trust in the
person, works and merits of another, namely Jesus and His payment and
obedience. God through that saving trust in Christ imputes
righteousness without works, (Rom. 4:6). God justifies those who in
themselves are ungodly (Rom. 5).
In what are you trusting in your standing before God? Are you
righteous in this complete Saviour without works of your own? He that
believeth on Jesus Christ "is not condemned" (John 3:18). Do you?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(13) Of Forgiveness
Jesus said: "for this is the blood of the new testament, which is shed
for many for the remission of sins," (Matt. 26:28). By these words
Jesus not only describes the cup of communion as a testament of His
blood but He directs us to the nature of God's forgiveness of sins.
Forgiveness involves the remitting of a debt, a setting it aside as if
it were fully paid by one who cannot pay. Jesus teaches us to pray for
this blessing when He teaches us to pray, "forgive us our debts,"
(Matt. 6:12), and to pray, "Forgive us our sins," (Luke 11:4).
Sin is the violation of God's holy will. It is transgression of His
moral law. It leaves man guilty before God's judgment seat as a debtor
who owes to God that obedience he has not offered and deserves God's
just wrath for the evil he has done. Man is a debtor, bound in the
prison house of sin. Sin is not just what we do, or say, or think, but
we are sinners. Our very nature is corrupted in disobedience. We
cannot ever pay that debt. It must be paid by another, even Jesus
Christ. The punishment for sin, which is eternal death, must be borne.
Jesus came "to give his life a ransom for many," (Matt. 20:28). That
ransom price is death, both in body and soul. Jesus came to pay that
ransom for the "many" who are His people, laying down His life for His
sheep. Upon the ground of that ransom the debt is paid and God
forgives sins. The ground of that forgiveness is only in Christ. Our
works add nothing to it. God has given unto Christ divine authority
(as the One by Whom He will judge the world) in His name, to forgive
sins. Jesus therefore declares to His people, "Thy sins are forgiven
thee," (Luke 5:20; 7:48). By His word, Jesus declares that God
dismisses our debt of sin and guilt from His mind and remembers it no
more. By His Word Jesus cleanses the troubled conscience and truly
frees the guilty, burdened sinner.
To accomplish that work, Jesus came, both to die and to call
"...sinners to repentance," (Luke 5:32). Repentance, sorrow for sin,
and confession of sin are the means through which God in Christ
imparts this blessing. We are not forgiven because we repent or
believe, but through these means, for Christ calls forth faith and
repentance by the power of His grace in His people. He truly calls
"...sinners to repentance," (Luke 5:32), showing a man his sin and
working a sincere sorrow before God. Thus the sinner comes to Christ.
To the laboring and heavy laden, He says, "I will give you rest,"
(Matt. 11:28). That call to repent and believe, together with the
promise unto His believing people, "Thy sins be forgiven thee, " He
sends forth by the preaching of the gospel. It belongs to the purpose
of His work, "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in his name among all nations," (Luke 20:47). By his irresistible
grace His sheep, in sorrow for sin, hear His voice through that Word
preached, "Thy sins are forgiven...thy faith hath saved thee; go in
peace" (Luke 7:48,50).
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(14) Of the Source of a Godly Life
Jesus said: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in
me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me
ye can do nothing," (John 15:5). By these words Jesus teaches us the
source of a Christian's holy life. That source is not in the Christian
himself. By faith a believer is united to Christ as a branch is in the
vine. A branch cut off from the vine dies. It can bear no fruit, for
the life of the vine is not in it. So it is with the Christian life.
It is Christ's life out of which a Christian lives. In himself all he
does is sin. Except we be born again and planted into Christ by faith,
we can bear no fruit. Grace in Christ is the source also of a godly
life. This means that none of our works can ever merit or earn
anything with God, nor can they be part of our righteousness before
Him. All that we have is out of Christ. We are indebted to Him even
for the fruit of salvation which we bear and in which we walk. Nor is
the idea that Jesus gives us His grace and His Spirit, and now it is
up to us to bear fruit. Jesus said, "Without me ye can do nothing"
(John 15:5). Without faith in Christ, which is first as the foundation
of our life, we have no good works which are pleasing in God's sight.
Jesus works that godly life in His people by means of His Word and the
working of His Spirit. As He is the source of a godly life so His Word
is the means to work that life in us. Jesus prays to the Father,
"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth," (John 17:17). By
His Word Jesus cleanses us from the guilt and pollution of our sin in
order that we might bear fruit. He also stirs up in us a godly walk of
life, sanctifying us--making us holy--by the working of His Word and
Spirit, so that we are devoted in mind and heart to the service of
God. God in Christ effectually works a sincere, holy or devoted walk
of life in the fear of God.
Mere outward conformity to external or man-made rules is not
godliness. The love of God wrought in the heart of a Christian by
faith is the motivating power out of which proceeds that godly walk of
life. It is God's love in Christ which is shown to us and wrought in
us by His Word. As Jesus said, "And I have declared unto them thy
name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me
may be in them, and I in them," (John 17:26). Out of that love of God
we are given, as the privilege of salvation, to walk in God's ways,
willingly and responsibly, and to bear the fruit of a living branch in
the vine Jesus Christ. Therefore Jesus says to us, "If ye love me,
keep my commandments," (John 14:15). The Christian life of godliness
is one of gratitude in love. The love of God given unto us works the
obedience of love. Such obedience we offer unto God, not that we might
be saved, but because we are saved, not to earn forgiveness by our
works, but as forgiven and now free to serve God. Is this why you do
your works, in gratitude for salvation, or as something to earn that
salvation? Thankful obedience is the fruit of salvation in Christ, the
work of grace, and is done out of love. It is the only source of a
godly life, for Jesus said, "without me ye can do nothing" (John
15:5). Are your works wrought from the heart in the love of Christ out
of salvation in Him?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(15) Of the Not Yet Perfected Christian
Jesus said: "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but
is clean every whit," (John 13:10). Jesus spoke these words to Peter
when He washed His disciples' feet, giving unto them an example of
humility by His actions. Jesus' words are also important in another
respect. Peter at first would not be washed by Christ, so that Jesus
said to him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me," (John
13:8). Jesus' point to Peter by this statement is twofold: that we
must be washed by Him unto salvation and daily washed by Him in living
out of that salvation.
That is, first, to be saved we must be cleansed by the blood and
Spirit of Jesus Christ to wash away the guilt and pollution of sin.
That washing Jesus works by His Word and Spirit in our hearts when He
calls us out of the darkness of sin into the light of His grace,
forgiveness, and mercy. Thus Jesus said to His disciples that same
night in the upper room, "Now are ye clean through the word which I
have spoken unto you," (John 15:3).
In principle a Christian is made clean in salvation. He is righteous
before God, pure and holy in His sight, and God also works in him a
new holy life. But he is also yet in this world of sin and death and
not yet glorified. He is tempted and must battle with sin. In himself
he is still a sinner. In his own strength all he will do is fall into
sin, as Peter did that very night. In that spiritual warfare with sin,
Jesus is the Christian's only strength. As Jesus says, "without me ye
can do nothing," (John 15:5).
Therein lies the point of Jesus' instruction. As a Christian lives and
walks in the world, he becomes dirty with the stain and dirt of sin.
It cleaves to him in body and soul, staining his life in all that he
does .He is still a sinner. Sin stains all his works so that those
works can never save him. The Christian in this life,though forgiven
and in principle holy, for he is in Christ, is nevertheless not yet
perfect. He is being sanctified by the grace of God, is in principle a
new man in Christ, but he has yet an old man of sin and so he is both
old and new. Jesus illustrates this reality, under the picture of one
who is washed, but who, in that hot dusty climate, needed to wash his
feet. In principle he is clean, but yet his very walk is stained with
uncleanness. He is not yet entirely sanctified, indeed cannot be and
will not be in this life. He still sins and has need of repentance and
forgiveness. To teach that a man is entirely sanctified in this life
or can be, is to teach another gospel than that of Jesus Christ.
At the same time the Christian, when he falls unto temptation or the
daily sins with which he struggles, is not lost. He has not lost that
fundamental cleansing in Christ or fallen away from salvation. He does
not need to be saved a second time. This is the opposite error into
which Peter was then tempted to fall. When at first he refused to be
washed by Christ, Jesus said unto him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast
no part with me," (John 13:8). This is necessary. Salvation is not by
works but by the blood and Spirit of Christ. But then Peter, who was
already saved and washed in Christ in principle, overreacts. He does
not understand what Jesus is doing. Peter says, "Lord, not my feet
only, but also my hands and my head," (John13:9). Peter reacts in the
opposite extreme, as if he must then be saved or washed all over
again. It is exactly at that point that Jesus says,"He that is washed
needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are
clean, but not all," (John 13:10). The disciples were saved; they were
clean, with the exception of Judas who would betray Jesus. Even in
their sin and weakness, for they would all be offended in him that
night, they were clean. But they needed the daily washing away of
their sins through Jesus Christ, daily forgiveness, the daily renewing
of His Holy Spirit. Those who are in Christ can never fall away lost
forever, neither are they entirely sanctified in this life. They are
not yet perfected Christians.
Therefore Jesus could say to the same disciples later that night,
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed
is willing, but the flesh is weak," (Matt. 26:41). Are you daily
washed in Christ? Do you show it by praying the prayer Jesus taught,
"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," (Matt. 6:12)? Note
well that Jesus teaches that a justified and forgiven child of God
needs to pray for the forgiveness of sins which still cleave to him
(Rom. 7:14-25). This is God's Word. It is as necessary as prayer for
daily bread, (Matt. 6:11). It is spiritually essential (I John
1:7-10). That we are saved, justified and righteous before God, can
never be lost but we enjoy this blessing only in the way of daily
confession of sin and experience it in daily forgiveness. If you do
not pray for it daily, if it is not a part of your prayer life, you
are simply not living as a Christian. "He that is washed needeth not
save to wash his feet," John 13:10. Beware least you be found as some
were, "trusting in themselves that they were righteous and despised
others," Luke 18:9. For the same reason, "Even so faith, if it hath
not works, is dead, being alone," James 2:17. But that forgiveness
means that we strive no longer to live in sin (Rom. 6:1,2).
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(16) Of Final Perseverance
Jesus said: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow
me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave
them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of
my Father's hand," (John 10:27-29). These words of Jesus raise an
important issue: Is it possible for one who is saved, a believer, to
fall away and perish? Can a Christian fall from grace and be lost? The
answer of Jesus is straightforward. His sheep are given eternal life
and that gift can never be lost, for it depends not on the sheep but
on the shepherd who gives it unto them. He holds them in His hand and
they can never perish. God holds them in His hand and they can never
be plucked out.
But does not Jesus say when He speaks of the trial of His people, "he
that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 10:22)? Does He not
call us to "abide in me" (John 15:4) and say also, "If a man abide not
in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men cast
them into the fire, and they are burned," (John 15:6)? Are we not
called to persevere in faith unto the end? The answer is certainly,
yes. We also hold fast to Christ. But we do so because He wrought
faith in us, gives us eternal life, and holds us by the power of that
life that we might also persevere unto the end. Jesus keeps and
preserves us and therefore we endure unto the end and are saved. This
also is God's work of grace in His sheep. If a person's faith is based
on his own decision, his work of faith, rather than a work of grace,
that person is always in danger of changing his decision. To teach
that our holding on to Him or our enduring in faith is the cause of
our final perseverance, is to teach that salvation is man's work.
But what of our sins? When we fall into sin, do we not fall from
grace? The answer is, that left to ourselves, we would certainly fall
from grace and perish. Peter, who denied his Lord, would certainly
have perished in himself as would we all. It was grace that kept him.
As Jesus testified unto Peter even before his denial, "But I have
prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren," (Luke 22:32). Jesus' piercing glance brought
to remembrance Jesus' word, and by it Jesus turned Peter's heart (Luke
22:61) and wrought repentance. Jesus keeps His sheep, seeks them when
they stray, and turns them. Because He will never let them go, they
cannot perish.
What then of those who do not abide in Christ? The answer is, they
were never truly in Him. They appeared on the vine as branches in
Christ, were outwardly members of the church, but they were dead, they
drew no life out of Him by faith. They were unbelieving. Jesus teaches
this in the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4) of the seed which springs up
quickly in stony ground. He says of them, "who, when they have heard
the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in
themselves, and so endure but for a time" (Mark 4:16,17). They had not
the root of faith. Emotional and intellectual enthusiasm are not
faith. By grace alone we are preserved and persevere unto the end. Do
you stand in Christ?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(17) Of the Nature of His Flock
Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known
of mine," (John 10:14). By these words Jesus teaches us concerning His
sheep. They are a spiritual flock, whom Christ knows in love, and they
love Him as their shepherd. They are His church and kingdom. Of them
Jesus says, "My Father which gave them me," (John 10:29), that is "to
me." His sheep were given unto Him of God from eternity and He knows
them. He says also, "I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:15).
Those given unto Him were bought in His blood, for them alone He dies.
"My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me: and I give
unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish" (John 10:27,28).
They believe and are saved. They believe because they are "of God" and
hear His words, as Jesus said, "He that is of God heareth God's words"
(John 8:37). They are born of the Spirit, believe and enter His
kingdom as He said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God" (John 3:3). And again Jesus said, "That which is born
of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit"
(John 3:6).
Jesus teaches us that His flock, church, and kingdom is a work of
grace, chosen and given unto Him, purchased in His blood, unto which
He gives eternal life. It is a spiritual reality born by the power of
His spirit, called unto faith and kept unto everlasting life. The
church is a spiritual organism. Jesus describes it as a living plant
when He says, "I am the vine and ye are the branches" (John 15:5). It
is a living spiritual unity in Christ so that He says, "And the glory
which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as
we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect
in one" (John 17:22,23). Therefore He says also, "Behold, the kingdom
of God is within you," (Luke 17:21). The flock, church, and kingdom of
Christ in the world is an invisible spiritual unity in Christ the
Lord, a spiritual commonwealth. That church and kingdom is not limited
to one visible denomination or "church." To cling to a visible church
because of earthly ties or tradition, when it has become corrupt and
departed from the Word of Christ, is sin.
In harmony with the spiritual nature of His flock Jesus says of the
gathering and growth of His kingdom, "The kingdom of God cometh not
with observation," (Luke 17:20). It grows by the spiritual gathering
of His sheep through faith, not by earthly conquest, might, or power.
Nor is its growth measured in earthly terms of size or influence in
the world. It is a kingdom and flock gathered and ruled by grace now
in this world.
It is then a spiritual and heavenly kingdom, called "the kingdom of
heaven." Jesus says, "My kingdom is not of this world," (John 19:36).
Not in this present world, nor in Jerusalem, nor in an earthly kingdom
of glory, but in a new heavens and earth is to be found its visible
glory. As Jesus said, "When the Son of man shall come in his
glory...then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory...And he shall
set the sheep on his right hand...Then shall the king say unto them on
his right hand, come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:31-34).
Are you looking for this kingdom or another?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(18) Of His Kingdom in the World
Jesus said: "The field is the world: the good seed are the children of
the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the
enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the
world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are
gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this
world," Matthew 13:38,39). With these words Jesus explains the parable
of the tares of the field (Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43), a parable in
which He describes His church and kingdom as it becomes visibly
manifested in the field of this world.
Essentially that church and kingdom is the work of His grace, good
seed sown and planted in His kingdom. It is the gathering of His
people, the church, "the called out," for such is the meaning of the
word church in Scripture. His people are born by the power of His
grace, as Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and the spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," (John 3:5). His people are
His flock who enter by faith in Christ (the door of the kingdom and
sheepfold) and follow Him by faith as their faithful shepherd. As
Jesus said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in he shall be
saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9). Jesus'
kingdom is a spiritual commonwealth, the "kingdom of heaven." The
"children of the kingdom" are His people. They are the wheat,
according to the parable, in God's wheat field.
That church and kingdom also becomes manifest or visible in the world
as the church instituted by Jesus Christ, gathered under the preaching
of the Word, by which Christ rules His people as King from heaven. The
distinctive mark of that kingdom is the faithful preaching of God's
Word. In that kingdom, in its visible manifestation, are found not
only the wheat but also the tares of which Jesus speaks. Tares are
weeds. They are the work of sin and the devil who plants them in
Jesus' kingdom in this world, to subvert the life of that kingdom.
Such were the wicked and unbelieving in Israel of Jesus' day. They
claimed to be Abraham's children, but Jesus said, "If ye were
Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham," (John 8:39)
that is, they were not the true seed of Abraham, for they had neither
Abraham's faith nor his works of faith. They claimed God was their
father, but Jesus said unto them, "Ye are of your father the devil"
(John 8:44). They were tares, weeds in God's wheat field. So is it
always with Christ's kingdom in this world. There are outwardly
included in the church's life and worship those who have no part in
Christ, who do not believe in Him, and never will. Mere outward church
membership does not make one a Christian, nor does it save anyone.
It is Jesus' teaching that His church in this world is not yet
perfected and will not be until the harvest at the end of the world.
Jesus teaches moreover that this is God's will (Matthew 13:30). The
idea of a pure manifestation of the church in this world, consisting
of true believers only, is contrary to the teaching of Christ. It is
at the harvest that Jesus says, "then shall the righteous shine forth
as the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43). Do you
belong to the kingdom of Christ in the world? Are you God's planted
wheat, or a weed?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(19) Of One People of God
Jesus said: "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them
also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be
one fold, and one shepherd" (John 10:16). By the words this fold Jesus
refers to His believing sheep gathered out of Israel. They were the
true flock of Jesus Christ, true spiritual Israel. As God's people in
the Old Testament, Israel in its national existence was the visible
manifestation in the world of God's church.
Yet it was never true of the whole nation, head for head, that they
were God's people. Jesus says unto unbelieving Israel, "Ye believe
not, because ye are not of my sheep," (John 10:26) Note also what
Jesus says to Nicodemus, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). The Jews
were the seed of Abraham after the flesh by their natural birth, but
they were not the true spiritual seed of Abraham, for Abraham believed
God. Jesus said unto them, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do
the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told
you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham," (John
8:39,40). The nation of Israel as such was never the people of God.
This is also the testimony of the Word of God which declares, "For
they are not all Israel, which are of Israel," Rom. 9:6. Not all the
descendants of Israel, that is, Jacob, were the true Israel, the true
spiritual Israel, the people of God. Israel as a nation was never head
for head the chosen people of God. The nation was a visible form of
the church. In it was true believing Israel, but it was never the
whole nation. Only those born by the power of grace, as Isaac was,
were true children of the promise. "The children of the promise are
counted for the seed," not the children "of the flesh," Rom. 9:8.
Moreover it was the purpose of Christ to bring the believing remnant,
the true Israel of God of this fold into the blessings of the promises
revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus taught His disciples,
"Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to
rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of
sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at
Jerusalem," (Luke 24:46,47). It was also God's purpose to leave
unbelieving Israel, and that outward manifestation of the Old
Testament form of the church institute, as a nation, an empty shell.
Thus Jesus says, "behold your house is left to you desolate," (Matthew
23:38). Not only so, but God would erase the visible form of that Old
Testament institution. The temple with its altar and priesthood would
be destroyed. Thus Jesus speaks of the destruction of the temple. He
says, "There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not
be thrown down," (Matt. 24:2).
Rather it was Jesus' purpose, beginning with Jerusalem and this fold
of believing Israel, to gather other sheep not of that fold, that is,
the Gentiles, as He said "...Other sheep I have," (John 10:16). They
too must be brought into the fold of His people, but now out of the
nations. They are gathered into the one fellowship of salvation as the
flock of Christ, "one fold and one shepherd," (John 10:16). Jesus did
not set aside the true Israel of God for an interim while He turned to
work with the Gentiles, but brought Israel into the church as the
basis of the New Testament church. Jesus does not preach a special
future for national Israel but that His church is the true Israel of
God by faith. Into that church He brings the sheep given Him of the
Gentiles. This being "given Him" of the Gentiles is the work of the
Spirit and not the flesh. And the Gentiles believe, as did Abraham.
Therefore the apostle Paul says, "And if ye be Christ's then are ye
Abraham's seed," (Galatians 3:29).
This is also the instruction of the Word of God in other passages. The
Gentiles once stood outside the kingdom of God in its earthly
manifestation which was Israel. As such they stood also outside the
blessings of salvation. Hence we read, "Wherefore remember, that ye
being in time past gentiles in the flesh...that at that time ye were
without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without
God in the world," (Eph. 2:11,12). Israel, as the manifestation of the
kingdom of God, possessed Christ by promise. From those blessings of
salvation the Gentiles were once excluded. But now Christ has died and
risen again, accomplishing the true sacrifice for sins of which the
Old Testament sacrifices spoke. The effect has been to bring the
promises to fulfillment in Christ, to fulfill the law and raise the
kingdom of God to a new spiritual realization whose end is in heaven.
The result is that the Gentiles who were afar off have now been
brought near. "But now in Christ ye who sometimes were afar off are
made nigh by the blood of Christ," Eph 2:13. The result is that the
Gentiles are now citizens of the true spiritual Israel, the heavenly
kingdom of God in its spiritual fulfillment. "Now therefore ye are no
more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and
of the household of God," (Eph 2:19). In the light of this the New
Testament church, in Christ sitting upon God's throne, has the
glorified throne of David (Rev. 3:7). It is become by the Spirit the
true spiritual temple of God (Eph. 2:21,22) It has the true sacrifice,
the cross. It has the true manna, Jesus Christ, the living bread. It
has the priest-king after the order of Melchesidec (Heb. 5:10). It is
come into the true city of God and the true Zion (Heb. 12:22,23) which
are spiritual and heavenly.
Not only so but that New Testament church has its consummation in the
coming of Christ. It is, with all the saints of both the Old and New
Testaments, His bride (Eph. 5:25-27). That bride in her glory is also
the new heavenly city of God, New Jerusalem, (Rev. 21:2). It possesses
the true promised land, which the saints in the Old Testament were
seeking, "a better country, that is an heavenly," Heb. 11:15 (see also
Heb. 11:10-16). For the promise to Abraham of which Canaan was only a
shadow was that he should be "heir of the world," Rom. 4:13. That
promise is one of a "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness," II Peter 3:13. That promise is for the true spiritual
seed of Abraham, of Jew and Gentile, "And if ye be Christ's, then are
ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise," (Gal. 3:29).
The Gentiles are now "fellow citizens" (Eph. 2:19) of the true Israel
of God, the kingdom, with the children of God of the Old Testament.
The child of the Old Testament church, under the law, has become the
adult of the New Testament fulfillment (Gal. 4:1-7). Israel and the
church are one and the same spiritual organism, one people of God, one
fold under one shepherd. Jesus does not teach a division between
Israel and the church, nor does the rest of the Word of God. Jesus'
church is the true Israel of God in the Spirit through faith. Jesus
said, "There shall be one flock and one shepherd," (John 10:16). To
introduce the notion of a separation between Israel and the church is
a corruption of the purpose of God, which is to reconcile all things
in Christ (Col. 1:18-20). It is to rebuild "the middle wall of
partition between us," which the death of Christ broke down (Eph.
2:14). It is in fact a corruption of the cross and the gospel of Jesus
Christ. Do you believe in this Christ, one Shepherd of one people and
one flock?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(20) Of Children's Inclusion
Jesus said: "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid
them not: for of such is the kingdom of God," (Mark 10:14). Of whom
did Jesus speak these words? In the context we read of parents who
brought their children to Christ that "he should touch them," (Mark
10:14). That these were children of believing parents is indicated
plainly by their coming to Jesus and their bringing their children
with the desire that He should bless them. By the words, "of such,"
Jesus teaches that of such sort of children, children of believing
parents, "is the kingdom of God." Nor were these simply young
children, perhaps school-aged or toddlers, for the word used in the
gospel of Luke refers specifically to infants (Luke 18:16). These
infants of believers belong to Christ and are included in His church
and kingdom.
When Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive
the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein,"
(Mark 10:15) He teaches us that both adults and children enter God's
kingdom in the same way, by the same work of grace. He points us not
merely to a childlike simplicity of faith, but to the very way of
entering the kingdom of God, which He explains in John 3:3, "Except a
man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Being born again
is the way for the adult as well as the smallest child. Apart from
spiritual rebirth, no one can see and enter the kingdom by faith. God
is able to work this grace of rebirth in adults, and God is able to
work this grace of rebirth, in its beginning, in the hearts of the
smallest children who are His. They are of the kingdom of God then,
not by their natural birth, but only by this working of grace, which
has its origin in God alone. As Jesus said, "That which is born of the
flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit," (John
3:6). If we teach that children are excluded from receiving this grace
of rebirth, then we should also teach that no adult can receive the
kingdom of God, since the salvation of adults depends on that same
spiritual rebirth from above. But note well that there is in this a
God-given order of salvation. We are born again of grace in the Spirit
and therefore believe. Faith is God's gift, which He works by
spiritual rebirth, in the hearts of children and adults.
This is why we read that Jesus not only said, "of such is the kingdom
of God," but that He also "...took them up in his arms, put his hands
upon them, and blessed them," (Mark 10:16). By His actions Jesus
testified that God is pleased to work the grace by which we are born
again in the hearts of the children of believing parents. True, Jesus
does not say that every child, head for head, is saved any more than
that every adult baptized with water is saved. But of the children of
believers, as a body, He says, "of such is the kingdom of heaven." Of
such He holds as His own, of such are His sheep for whom He dies. For
it is also grace alone that saves the children.
What is the response of Jesus to those who would exclude the children?
We read that He was "much displeased" with His disciples for hindering
the children, (Mark 10:14) for His Father's will was being despised.
Having learned what Jesus taught them that day, the disciples later
preached to the Jews, "...the promise is unto you, and to your
children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our
God shall call" (Acts 2:39). To the Gentiles afar off they preached
the same word, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house," (Acts 16:31). Those who believed they baptized
into His kingdom, baptizing also their households (Acts 10:44-48;
16:15, 33, 34). They put Jesus' doctrine into practice. This is the
gospel and practice of the apostolic church. One who excludes the
children of believers from baptism, the sign of the washing of
regeneration or rebirth, says they have no part in Christ, in the
grace of being born again, or in the promises of His kingdom. This is
displeasing to the Lord Jesus.
At issue here is not simply the ordinance of baptism but the gospel
itself. Jesus came to save His people from their sins. They were given
Him of the Father. He does not come to save mere individuals. While
salvation is personal, it is not individualistic. God created families
when He created marriage. The fall into sin while it brought misery
and death upon marriage and family, did not destroy, by God's grace,
the will of God. That will of God was in the union of one man and one
woman, among His believing people to gather His church in the
generations of believers, "that he might seek a godly seed," Mal.
2:15. He promised that that seed would be gathered in the generations
of His people as a spiritual seed--the seed of the woman ( Gen. 3:15),
the seed of Noah (Gen. 6:16; Gen. 9:9), the seed of Abraham (Gen.
17:7). Centrally that seed is Christ (Rev. 12, Gal. 3:16), but in
Christ believers also are made that spiritual seed of promise (Gal.
3:29, Gal. 4:28). It is this seed of promise, the work of His grace,
that God in Christ is pleased to gather in the generations of
believers (Gen. 17:7). It is to this wondrous work of God that Jesus
constantly refers when He speaks of the children of believers, Mark
10:14, Matt 18:14. Indeed Jesus takes little children in his arms
repeatedly and sets them in the midst of His disciples. Nor are they
mere object lessons. They are the "little ones that believe in me,"
Matt. 18:6, Mark 9:42. Jesus brings salvation not to individuals only
but to a believer and his house. He can say in the light of God's
covenant promise to Abraham (Gen. 17:7) concerning not only Zacchaeus,
but also his family, "This day is salvation come to this house,
forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham," Luke 19:9.
Our Saviour views the grace of salvation as one which God sets in
families. The Christian family is a body. The church as the body of
Christ is made up not of mere individuals, certainly not of adults
only, but normally of households. While not every individual who is a
member of a church is saved, nor is every child of believers, God
saves a church and He saves households. This has to do with the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the God Whose
"faithfulness is unto all generations," Ps. 119:90. Children for
believers are "an heritage of the Lord," Ps. 127:3. Jesus is the
Shepherd of Whom it is said, "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd:
he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom,
and shall gently lead those that are with young," Isa. 40:11.
Therefore He says, "Of such is the kingdom of God," Mark 10:14 and to
Peter, not only "feed my sheep" but "feed my lambs," John 21:15.
At issue is the gospel of Christ. That the church consists of families
who stand before God by faith in dependence on His grace was true in
the Old Testament (II Chron. 20:13). It is no less true in the New
Testament. While adult men stand on the foreground in the baptism of
John the Baptist, they do so not solely as individuals, but as heads
of households, since it is all Jerusalem and Judea, who go out to him
to be baptized (Matt. 3:5; Mark 1:5). Nor does Jesus feed mere
individuals in His miracles of the feeding of the five thousand and
four thousand. Families came to him. The numbers represented only the
men, most of whom were heads of households (Matt. 14:21; 15:38).
Jesus' miracles embrace children who are raised from the dead, healed
of sickness, and delivered from the power of demons. In all that Jesus
says and does, (and the apostles after Him) this principle runs: that
God saves His people in families and gathers His church of believing
households. Zacchaeus and his house are saved, Cornelius and his
house, Lydia and her house, the Philippian jailor and his house. The
promises of the gospel of which the Gentiles are now heirs (Gal. 3:29)
and fellow citizens (Eph. 2:19) are at stake.
Exactly for this reason no Baptist, however Calvinistic he may be in
certain respects, is a genuine Calvinist. The truth of the fall in
Adam is that the human family fell into total depravity. The truth of
election is that God in Christ wills to redeem to Himself a people out
of all nations, a family gathered according to election in the
generations of elect believers. The truth of particular redemption is
that Christ died to save His people from their sins, also the lambs of
His flock gathered in the generations of believers, so that "of such
is the kingdom of God," (Mark 10:14). Jesus blesses the children held
in His arms in Mark 10:16 because the children of believers are the
objects of His irresistible grace. And the little ones of His kingdom
shall surely be saved because, "Even so it is not the will of your
Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should
perish," Matt. 18:14. This is authentic and complete Calvinism. It is
also the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(21) Of Baptism
Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," Matt.
28:19. This text, which speaks first of all of the calling to preach
the gospel and the work of missions, speaks also of baptism. It is the
command to administer baptism. Among many elements in this verse, to
name but one, Jesus plainly teaches that there is one God, one name
(singular) and yet God is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three persons.
Jesus teaches the doctrine of the Trinity.
Several elements stand out in Jesus' words concerning baptism, which
is our concern here. First, Jesus gives the command to baptize to His
disciples and in them to the church. By baptism we are brought into
union with God's name, baptized into His name. Baptism with water is
administered to us. It is something God in Christ is doing. We are to
"be baptized," as Ananias said to the Apostle Paul (Acts 22:16). While
we are called to seek this ordinance of God and Ananias calls the
Apostle Paul to seek baptism and to "wash away thy sins," by it,
baptism is something that is given to us, performed upon us. In it man
is passive. We are to "be baptized." (This distinguishes it from the
Lord's Supper which involves an active eating and drinking.)
Secondly, we are baptized "in the name" (or more literally "into" the
name) of God. In baptism God speaks, not man. God puts His name upon
us, separating us to Himself by His redeeming work in Christ. The
truth that man is passive and that it is God Who speaks is important.
Telling us what baptism is and what it is not, this sets before us the
nature of baptism. According to Jesus' instruction, baptism is not an
act of man, nor a word of man. The notion that baptism is man's
confession of his faith, a kind of symbolic public confession, is
false. It is true that confession of faith and of sin and repentance
accompanied the baptism of adults and heads of households (Matt. 3:6,
Acts 8:37), but that is not what baptism is. Baptism, according to
Jesus' instruction, is God speaking His Word as a visible sign and
seal, by which He represents the promises of the gospel. A visible
sign of the washing away of sins and righteousness in Christ (Acts
22:16) of the washing of regeneration or being born again and the
renewing of the Holy Ghost (Titus 3:5), it is a sign and pledge of the
promises of the gospel and of our being brought into union with them
by God's grace in Christ.
This is Jesus' point respecting baptism in Mark 16:16. Jesus said, "He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth
not shall be damned," Mark 16:16. The point of the text is that, under
the gospel, believers are saved and unbelievers are damned. It is the
spiritual meaning of baptism, as a washing away of sin and spiritual
birth, to which Jesus refers in order to make it clear how it is that
believers are saved. They are washed in the blood of Christ, born of
God, and therefore believe. Faith itself does not save us. It is only
a instrument of grace to bring us into union with the blessings of
Christ's death. He that is truly brought into the spiritual reality
which baptism represents through faith is saved. Jesus is not teaching
that we are saved because of our work of believing and baptism with
water, but that he that is brought by God's grace through faith into
the blessings of Jesus' death and resurrection, whose sins are washed
away in Jesus' blood and renewed by His Spirit, is saved. It is
because baptism with water is a visible sign and seal of these
blessings, that Jesus assures His disciples by the promise of Mark
16:16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." This means
too that mere baptism with water, which is only a sign and seal, saves
no one. Grace is not in the water (I Peter 3:21).
In setting forth this sign and seal of His blood and Spirit, Jesus
points us to the fact that by this spiritual reality we are brought
into fellowship with the name of God. We are baptized "in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," Jesus' atoning
death and the quickening power of the Spirit make us children of God.
God is become our God and Father. We are brought into the blessings of
God's covenant of grace. God's covenant is a relation of fellowship
and communion of life in which God is become our God and we His
people. This was God's word to Abraham, "And I will establish my
covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their
generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and
to thy seed after thee." Gen. 17:7. To speak of baptism only as a
washing in Jesus' blood and Spirit is to ignore the blessing
established by it, namely that God in Christ is become our God. In
baptism God says to His people washed in Jesus' blood, what He said to
Abraham, I will be thy God. Baptism is a sign and confirmation of
these blessings. It also has the same meaning and significance that
circumcision had, which was a token of the covenant (Gen. 17:11), a
seal of the righteousness of faith (Rom. 4:11), a pledge of the
regenerating grace of God in a circumcised heart (Deut. 30:6), and a
seal upon the covenant. Baptism and circumcision are in fact the same
thing in different form, both signs and seals of our incorporation
into God's covenant, founded on one work of God in Jesus' death (Col.
2:11,12).
What Jesus by His instruction concerning baptisms now teaches is that
the Gentiles, "all nations," are now brought into the name of God and
covenant fellowship with Him. That the Gentiles who were once aliens
from the covenants of promise (Eph. 2:12) are now brought nigh by His
blood (Eph. 2:13) and made fellow citizens with the saints and of the
household of God (Eph. 2:19). Baptism is the New Testament form of the
sign and seal of God's covenant and our incorporation into it and its
blessings. It is an outward and visible sign and seal of an invisible
spiritual reality which God bestows upon His elect. As the Lord's
Supper was given to replace the sacrifices of the Old Testament and
the Passover as a new testament in Jesus' blood, so baptism is a sign
and seal of incorporation into the blood of Christ, which is both the
true circumcision of Christ (Col 2:11) and the sign and seal of God's
covenant in the New Testament. We are baptized "in the name" of the
triune God.
As to infant baptism, this is simply the consistent teaching of God's
Word concerning baptism. The children of believers have never been
excluded from God's covenant, from the blessings of Christ's death and
life in Christ. God's promise is, "I will be a God unto thee and thy
seed after thee." That covenant bond God wills to establish "in their
generations," Gen. 17:7. Jesus' testimony, "of such is the kingdom of
God," Mark 10:14, speaks the same language. That He took young
children in His arms and blessed them (Mark 10:16), testifies against
those who would introduce their own invention of children's exclusion.
It is exactly because they are included in the covenant, church, and
kingdom of God, of which inclusion baptism is the sign and seal, and
God has put His name on them, that the Apostle can say to parents,
"bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," Eph. 6:4.
One does not nurture a dead tree but a living plant. Children are
addressed, as well as adults, as fellow saints in the epistles and
called to honor parents for the Lord's sake.
As to the misuse and corruption of Mark 16:16, "He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved," by which some try to exclude children
from baptism, by excluding them from faith and therefore also
salvation, it is to be rejected. The text itself is a promise
accompanying the commission to preach the gospel on the mission field,
not a command about how to administer baptism. This error of the
Baptist contradicts the Savior, Who speaks of these "little ones that
believe in me," Matt. 18:6. This error of exclusion also involves a
failure to interpret Scripture with Scripture, for the practice of the
apostles was, upon the conversion of the Gentiles, that a believer and
then his household were baptized. Thus it was with the Philippian
jailor, Lydia, and Cornelius. Thus also Paul speaks of baptizing "the
household of Stephanas," I Cor. 1:16. At issue is whether there are
two kinds of salvation, the one organic, a living unity as God saves
His people from generation to generation in the Old Testament and a
different God with a different salvation which is individualistic in
the New Testament. Such false individualism is not taught in
Scripture. At issue is really the gospel of grace, that God saves His
people in Christ. It is His work in us personally (Eph 2:8) and His
work also with a believer and his seed ( Gen. 17:7). God puts His name
upon us in Christ and takes us to Himself, and not man who saves
himself.
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(22) Of Eating and Drinking Him
Jesus said, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his
blood, ye have no life in you," (John 6:53). By these words Jesus
teaches that He is the sole source of grace and spiritual life. That
life is eternal life in communion with God. As Jesus said, "Whoso
eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life," (John
6:54). By eating and drinking Christ we have communion with Him, and
He imparts His life to us, just as bread nourishes the body. Just as
the bread we eat becomes a part of us, so He dwells in us. Jesus
therefore said, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,
dwelleth in me and I in him," (John 6:56).
The nature of this eating and drinking Jesus also explains. It is not
a physical eating and drinking. Grace and the life of Christ are not
communicated to us by eating with the mouth. Jesus said, "It is the
spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I
speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life," (John 6:63). It is
not by eating with the mouth, but by the work of the spirit through
the word, by faith, that Christ communicates His life unto us. It is
not by a literal eating of His flesh but by partaking of the grace of
His Spirit by faith that we eat Him. Therefore Jesus also said, "He
that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life," (John 3:36). Faith
is spiritually the means to feed our souls, even as we feed our bodies
by hand and mouth. It is thus we feed upon Christ so that He dwells in
us and we in Him.
As He instituted the Lord's Supper in the presence of His disciples,
Jesus said, "this is my body which is given for you; this do in
remembrance of me," (Luke 22:19), and, "This cup is the new testament
in my blood, which is shed for you," (Luke 22:20). By these words
Jesus set forth the elements of bread and wine as tokens of His body,
given on the cross, and of His blood, shed for the remission of sins.
When Jesus spoke these words He was sitting physically in the midst of
His disciples. The disciples could not have understood Him to mean
that the bread and wine were either physically changed into His
literal flesh and blood, or that He was physically present in them.
Grace cannot be eaten with the teeth. "It is the spirit that
quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing," (John 6:63). Jesus' own
testimony that the cup was "the new testament" of His blood indicates
likewise, that what He was giving unto them was a seal upon the
promise of the New testament or covenant which He established in His
blood on the cross.
By His commandment, "This do in remembrance of me," (Luke 22:19) Jesus
called His disciples and His church to keep a holy remembrance of His
death by faith. By administering the Lord's Supper of bread and wine,
His people are fed spiritually by faith with the spiritual blessings
of His one sacrifice on the cross. He Himself is present in the Lord's
Supper, not physically but spiritually, to feed His people by faith.
Do you believe in this Christ of the Lord's Supper or in a fleshly
superstition invented of men?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(23) Of Instruction Regarding Evangelism
Jesus said: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." (Matthew
28:19,20). By these words Jesus commissioned His apostles, and in
them, the church, to preach and to teach His Word. Likewise Jesus
said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature" (Mark 16:15). With this command, Jesus commissioned His
church with a specific calling to preach the gospel.
Fundamentally, it is by the preaching of the gospel that the church
becomes Christ's witnesses in the world. To that preaching of the
Word, Jesus joined the promise of His Holy Spirit to equip them to
preach and teach, assuring His disciples, "But ye shall receive power,
after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Jesus declares the power and purpose of that preaching. By preaching
men will believe and be saved. Thus Jesus prays, "...for them also
which shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:20).
Essentially, it is Jesus Himself Who gathers and builds His church
through the working of His Spirit and Word. Although the personal
testimony and witness of individual believers is of considerable
importance to lead men to the preaching of the gospel, it is through
the corporate witness of the church, through the preaching which He
has ordained in the church, that Jesus is pleased to work faith unto
salvation.
In harmony with Jesus' doctrine, the Apostle Paul says, "For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). While all believers may confess
Christ, Jesus appointed certain men to be preachers. Thus Paul says
concerning Christ, "And he (Christ) gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for
the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11,12)
Notice that this is the only way the Word of God ever speaks of saving
His people: by the preaching and hearing of Christ's Word, through men
sent by Him and set in the church to preach His Word. "How shall they
hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14) While in the Old Testament
God used visual symbols, vestments, and other means to represent His
Word, while both Israel and the heathen nations had choirs and special
music, while the pagan peoples used dramatic presentations and
athletic events in the service of their idols, Jesus' commission to
His church is one thing only: preaching--by one sent to declare the
Word of the gospel. The only promise of God in this regard is that He
will save His people by "the foolishness of preaching." (I Corinthians
1:21)
For men to introduce into the church anything else is to presume to be
wiser than Christ and to trample underfoot His express word, "Go ye
into all the world and preach the gospel," (Mark 16:15). Is your
evangelism in obedience to Christ? Do you believe the gospel of Christ
is "the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16)? Or do you turn
from "the foolishness of preaching" to the inventions of men? Do you
believe in this Christ Who will save His people through preaching, as
He has ordained? Or do you believe a false christ who needs man's
inventions to make his gospel palatable to men?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(24) Of Instruction Concerning Worship
Jesus said: "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the
Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit: and they that
worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth," (John 4:23,24)
These words Jesus spoke in answer to a woman of Samaria who had sought
to divert Jesus' attention from her sins by raising a continuing
controversy which raged between the Jews and Samaritans over how and
where God ought to be publicly worshipped. Jesus' answer is important
because He teaches here that not only was the Old Testament form of
worship to pass away, "the hour cometh and now is," but also teaches
us the principles of true worship.
By His words, Jesus points us to the nature of the "true worshippers"
of God and to the nature of true worship. True worship of God, no
longer limited to one people in one place, is to be a reflection of
communion with God. True worshippers then are those who worship God
from the heart by faith, not in a mere outward performance or
adherence to some ritual form, which characterized the worship of both
the unbelieving Jews and Samaritans of Jesus' day. True worship is
spiritual, that is, it springs from the heart in the fear of God and
true faith by the work of the Spirit. True worship is in truth, that
is, grounded in the truth of God in Christ, "the way, the truth, and
the life." (John 14:6) True worship is God-centered in Christ, not
man-centered.
Jesus makes two principles plain. First, the worship of God, also
public worship, is never an outward show. It springs from the
spiritual root of salvation in the heart. Condemning the hypocrisy and
outward show of the wicked among the Jews, He says, "This people
honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me," (Mark
7:6) Secondly, worship must be in truth. There is an objective
standard: worship must be according to God's revealed will. Jesus
says, "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men," (Mark 7:7). Applying these principles to our
worship, we may not introduce into the worship of God that which is
not taught in the Word of God. For that which is not done in obedience
to the truth is not worship in spirit, nor is it pleasing to God. It
is sin.
Positively, what has Christ commanded? He has commanded us to preach
His Word (Matthew 28:19,20), to baptize (Matthew 28:19), to keep the
Lord's Supper (Luke 22:19). Further, the Word of God teaches us to
pray (Matthew 6:9), to sing God's praises (Ephesians 5:19,20), to
confess our faith and hear His will (Matthew 28:20). These are the
things which are to be done from the heart in worship.
Negatively, we may not introduce into the worship of God anything of
our own invention or "commandments of men," whether belonging to the
Old Testament ceremonial law, which form of worship has ceased
(candles, vestments, altars, or the like), or to the worship of the
heathen such as drama, athletic events, entertainment, or any other
thing the mind of man may devise.
"The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:
for the Father seeketh such to worship him." (John 4:23) Do you so
worship from the heart? Is your worship pleasing to God, founded upon
His Word? Do you serve this Lord Christ in obedience in worship? Is
your worship God-centered or a false worship that finds its center in
man? Is it an outward performance in artistry entertaining to man, or
does it spring from the heart in the fear of God and obedience to His
Word?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(25) Of Instruction Concerning the Eternal Sabbath
Jesus said: "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the
sabbath: Therefore the son of man is Lord also of the sabbath" (Mark
2:27,28). Here Jesus rejects the false approach of the leaders of the
people to the sabbath. When God said in His law, "Remember the sabbath
day to keep it holy," (Exodus 20:8) He taught His people the principle
and duty of a holy worship of God from the heart for their spiritual
welfare. Falsely corrupting the sabbath into a mere abstaining from
work, the leaders had made all manner of human rules about it. They
neither understood the sabbath nor its true purpose. For "sabbath"
means rest. Never a mere ceasing from bodily labor, the rest of God
was a holy consecration unto God, communion with Him in the blessings
of spiritual life as His people. While the leaders of the people
thought man gave something to God by keeping the sabbath day, as if
man could thereby earn his salvation, Jesus teaches the opposite. It
was by the sabbath that God gave to His people His blessings. The day
was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
Moreover, Jesus made it plain that in Him alone was that true
spiritual sabbath or rest. He is the "Lord also of the sabbath." True
rest with God, true spiritual peace, is found only in Jesus Christ.
Because sin separates us from God, only through the death of Christ
and reconciliation through His blood is peace with God to be found.
Jesus is Lord of the sabbath because He came to establish that rest
and impart it unto His people by faith. Therefore it is written, "For
we who have believed do enter into rest." (Hebrews 4:3)
The law of God taught the people, "six days shalt thou labor and do
all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God:
in it thou shalt not do any work." (Exodus 20:9,10) By this God taught
the people two vital spiritual principles. First, fellowship with God,
a holy rest, could not be by their own works. Secondly, their own
works could never bring them into God's rest because they were works
of sin. The law then drove them to Christ, the Lord of the sabbath, to
find righteousness and salvation in Him by faith.
Christ has fulfilled the law and made His people holy: "For by one
offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews
10:14) Therefore it is written of faith in Christ, "For he that is
entered into rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did
from his." (Hebrews 4:10). In God's finished work of salvation in
Christ alone is true peace with God and eternal sabbath rest. This
principle the unbelieving leaders did not understand, and in fact,
rejected. They did not see that they must cease from their own works
and enter by faith.
In Christ, by the forgiveness of sin, we now have true peace with God,
true sabbath rest. The believer begins to live a life of holy
consecration to God, an eternal sabbath of eternal life. In Christ the
believer lives now in God's eternal sabbath rest. He has entered into
rest in principle. On this basis, believers who have entered that rest
by faith also have the calling to walk by faith and to daily labor to
enter that rest out of faith. "...Let us labor therefore to enter into
that rest." (Hebrews 4:11). For the Christian every day, not just one
in seven, is very really the Sabbath day which he enters by faith. To
keep the seventh day sabbath is to seek salvation by the works of the
law, by one's own works. It is a denial that the Lord of the sabbath
has come. Have you entered the true sabbath rest? Do you live in the
enjoyment of it?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(26) Of Instruction Concerning Regular Sunday Worship
Jesus said: "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the
sabbath: Therefore the son of man is Lord also of the sabbath," (Mark
2:27,28). As we saw in "Jesus' Instruction Concerning the Eternal
Sabbath" (23), Jesus taught by these words that He is the Lord of the
true sabbath of rest which would come by His work, death, and
resurrection, and which His people would enter by faith. We saw that
"sabbath" means rest, and that it is written, "For we who have
believed do enter into rest," (Hebrews 4:3) The believer has God's
rest now in principle in Christ and in fact lives now in God's eternal
sabbath of rest because the law of the sabbath has been fulfilled in
Christ.
Jesus also claims authority over that rest and over the sabbath as a
day of worship. He is Lord. He declares God's purpose in the Sabbath
day, that it "was made for man." (Mark 2:27) When God gave His people
the commandment, "Remember the sabbath day to keep in holy," (Exodus
20:8) and appointed to them a day of regular worship, He was giving
His people His blessing: a day of holy consecration in communion with
their God. Through that day, set forth in the law, they were led by
faith to Christ and to the promise of His finished work. Since that
finished work has now come in Christ, for the Christian, every day is
the beginning of the eternal sabbath of rest in the service of God in
Christ. The Old Testament form of the seventh day sabbath has ceased.
To keep it is a denial of the finished work of the cross and of true
sabbath rest in Christ.
Does this mean that the principle of regular public worship of God
taught in the law has ceased? Are there now nine commandments rather
than ten? The answer is no. When Christ fulfilled the law, He did not
abolish its moral principles nor its boundaries. Jesus set an example
of obedience by being found in the synagogue in worship according to
the Old Testament sabbath before His death. After His resurrection
Jesus set a pattern for the New Testament church of communion with His
disciples on the first day of the week by His resurrection, His
post-resurrection appearances, and by His pouring out of His Spirit on
the Lord's Day. (Acts 2; Revelation 1:10) By being in communion with
God in Christ in regular Sunday worship, Christ gives His people to
live the whole week out of faith in the blessings of the eternal
sabbath.
Therefore the Word of God says concerning "...holding fast the
profession of our faith...," that it is to be done by "Not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,"
(Hebrews 10:23,25). Willfully neglecting regular public worship, the
assembling of the church as instituted by Christ under the preaching
of His Word is sin. It is the way of those who walk in unbelief. It is
evidence that one's claim to be a Christian is false. Not to want to
be in church is not to want to be with Christ! For the same reason,
the moral principle that we are not to do our own pleasure on the day
of worship (Isaiah 58:13) still abides.
The first day of the week, Sunday, as a day of worship according to
the pattern established by Christ, is binding upon the New Testament
church, as the testimony, practice, and witness of the apostles in
obedience to Christ show us. We read of the church in Troas, "And upon
the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break
bread, Paul preached unto them" (Acts 20:7) The first day of the week
was the regular day of worship in Troas. Likewise of Christian giving,
an act of public worship, we read, "Upon the first day of the week,
let everyone of you lay by him in store." (I Corinthians 16:2) The
church did not decide the day of worship. The Lord of the sabbath did.
Do you profess Christ, the Lord of the sabbath? Does your walk in
regular public worship on Sunday in obedience to Christ show it?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(27) Of Instruction Concerning Obedience in Love
Jesus said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) By His
words Jesus points out a fundamental principle of the life of the
Christian, and of the church, in the world. The saving love of Christ,
through His death on the cross and resurrection, works in the
Christian an obedient love of Christ. Confessing Christ as Lord, the
believer holds Christ's will in his heart and keeps His will by faith.
The love of Christ bears spiritual fruit in the life of the church and
the believer because, by the grace of being born again, the Christian
is actually planted into Christ. He is made a good tree, and as Jesus
said, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit," (Matthew
7:17). This is the mark, according to the text, first of all of a
faithful preacher and faithful preaching of the gospel, of a good
tree. But it is also the mark of a believer who loves His Lord (John
15:5).
The love of Christ is a devoted love. Jesus said, "And he that taketh
not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that
findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my
sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:38,39) Denying his own will and
following after Christ in obedient love, doing His will, characterizes
the walk of the Christian.
Jesus does not teach a love of God which tolerates sin or compromise
with sin. Nor is the love of the Christian for his neighbor or fellow
believer one which tolerates sin and ignores iniquity. That would be
hypocrisy, not love. It would be to permit the neighbor to walk to his
eternal ruin. Such toleration is the unbelieving humanist's notion of
love. It is often called Christian, but it is not. We are called to
love, not to "be nice."
Because Jesus came to "call sinners to repentance," He also calls His
church to admonish, rebuke, discipline, and to cut off the wicked and
impenitent from among His people. Nor does this apply only to our walk
of life, for Jesus came reproving the leaders for their false doctrine
as well as their evil works. He says, "Whosoever therefore shall break
one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be
called least in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:19) He says of
offending or leading someone to sin, "But whoso shall offend one of
these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a
millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the
depth of the sea." (Matthew 18:6)
Jesus teaches the duty of an obedient love which calls those who err,
whether in doctrine or life, to repentance. A believer who loves his
Lord, the Lord Who died for his sins, is grieved by sin, his own and
that of others. A believer who truly loves his neighbor desires the
true spiritual good of his neighbor. Jesus says, "Moreover if thy
brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between
thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy
brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be
established. And if he neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church:
but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an
heathen man and a publican." (Matthew 18:15-17)
Do you walk in this obedient love of Christ? Is the love you profess
Biblical? Or is it man's philosophy of tolerance masquerading as
Christianity? Does obedience to Christ rule your life because He is
your Lord? Does your church reprove sin and seek those who wander in
sin to their own hurt, or does anything go?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(28) Of the Calling to the Right Love of Family and Friends
Jesus said: "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and
mother, and wife and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea and his
own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear
his cross, and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26,27)
These words of Jesus are striking, particularly in the light of Jesus'
own words to love our neighbor and to show love also to our enemies.
What do they mean? They do not mean, as some have understood it, that
we are simply to love father or mother less than Jesus Christ. To hate
something or someone does not mean to "love less." The word "hate" in
the bible never has any other meaning than to hate.
Jesus' words point us to the reality of sin which we are to hate.
Every human relationship which God made good in the beginning is now
corrupted and polluted by man's sin, whether that of parents and
children, of marriage, or of any other human relationship. Even our
own life, as it stands from our birth is corrupt and depraved. If our
walk in any of these relationships is to be pleasing to the Lord, we
must first die to them, hate them, as they lie in sin. We must die to
our own life and hate its depraved root. In sorrow for our sin, we
must turn from them to Christ. "Except a man be born again, he cannot
see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) The grace of God which brings
salvation works in us a new birth. According to this new birth, we die
to our old life of sin, die to our own life, first of all. By it we
also die to all the life of this world as it lies in sin. That work of
grace causes separation between men, spiritual separation between one
who loves God and the world which hates God.
Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came
not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance
against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foes shall be
they of his own household." (Matthew 10:34-36) The Christian gospel
does not bring an earthly universal peace and brotherhood, but
warfare, spiritual warfare between believer and unbeliever. For this
reason Jesus adds that we are to take up our cross and follow him.
(Luke 14:27) Being a Christian means standing for the sake of Christ,
even against family and friends, and suffering for His sake. In fact,
only in Christ are we enabled to walk rightly in the relationships of
life. We must die to them as they lie in sin, that we might receive
them anew in Christ.
How do we then receive them anew in Christ? It is in that connection
that Jesus teaches in the parallel passage, "He that loveth father or
mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37) The love
of Christ is an exclusive love. It is first, and we love others aright
only when we first love Him.
That may mean that we must rebuke and call to repentance friends and
loved ones though they cast us aside in response. That may mean that
for Christ's sake, I cannot enjoy normal fellowship with family
members because of their walk in sin and its barrier between us. That
may mean that we must leave, because the gospel is corrupted, a
comfortable and familiar church full of family and friends. We must
love Christ first. A faithful Christian must be ready to suffer the
loss of all things for the sake of his Lord, to bear even the reproach
of family and friends for Christ's sake, if need be. Yet it is also in
the way of seeking Christ first, that God will also work the
repentance and conversion of family members whom He is pleased to call
to salvation. Not compromise but the obedient love of Christ draws men
to Him.
Are you walking as a disciple of Christ? What is first in your life,
the Lord, or your earthly ties? Does your life and walk show it?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(29) Of Instruction Concerning Marriage
Jesus said, "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh, What
therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." (Matthew
19:6) By His words, Jesus sets forth the fundamental doctrine of the
Christian faith concerning marriage and also human sexuality. His
words were an answer to the leaders of the people and their question
about divorce, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every
cause?" (Matthew 19:3) They wanted to teach that divorce for any
reason was acceptable. Jesus, however, in answer pointed them to the
first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:27, and said, "Have ye not read,
that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female?"
(Matthew 19:4) God made the sexes. God made men and women. God made
marriage. Determining the nature of human sexuality in the beginning,
He ordained that a man should desire and cleave unto his wife, and the
wife unto her husband.
Therefore Jesus pointed the leaders to Genesis 2:24 where God had
said, "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall
cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh." (Matthew 19:5)
Since God made marriage, it is His institution, not man's. He made the
man to dwell with the woman. God performed the first wedding, and
still today, it is God Who joins a husband and wife in marriage.
From this truth Jesus draws a conclusion. In harmony with Genesis 2:23
He says, "Wherefore they are no more twain but one flesh." (Matthew
19:6). Marriage is a union which binds a man and his wife together in
such a bond of life and communion in every aspect of their life that
they cease to be two and become one flesh. God joined them together.
God alone has the right and authority to separate them. This God does
through death. Man's sin has corrupted marriage and human sexuality.
God ordained the union in lawful marriage between a man and a woman.
All human sexual activity outside that God-ordained union is sin, a
depraved corruption of a good gift of God.
For man to separate that union of one flesh is the destructive working
of sin, which is why Jesus added, "What God hath joined together, let
not man put asunder." (Matthew 19:6) Jesus teaches that marriage is a
permanent, unbreakable bond in God's sight. Man has no authority from
God to tamper with marriage by unlawful divorce. Nor are Jesus' words
limited to a certain kind of marriage, one which acknowledges God in
some way, such as a marriage solemnized in a church. When He speaks of
marriage and divorce, he says, "whosoever." Marriage as an unbreakable
bond is rooted in God's creation, whether the marriage of believers or
unbelievers, whether performed in the church or by civil authority.
Jesus says of divorce and remarriage, "Whosoever putteth away his
wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever
marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery."
(Luke 16:18) In Jesus' sight divorce does not terminate the original
marriage relationship. Therefore He calls remarriage after divorce
"committing adultery." Jesus teaches that marriage is a permanent
lifelong bond, as did the apostles in obedience to Christ (Romans
7:1-3).
Is this how you see your marriage? Do you believe in this Jesus Who
calls men to obedience to the will of God in marriage? Does your
marriage show it? "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed
undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews
13:4)
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(30) Of Condemnation of Divorce
Jesus said: "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put
asunder." (Matthew 19:6) By His words, Jesus sets forth the
fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith concerning divorce. His
words were an answer to the leaders of the people and their question
about divorce, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every
cause?" (Matthew 19:3) The leaders desired to teach that divorce for
any reason was acceptable. In answer, Jesus first pointed them to the
unbreakable bond of marriage which God established in the beginning in
Genesis 1:27; 2:23,24, and concluded, "What therefore God hath joined
together, let not man put asunder." (Matthew 19:6) Jesus forbids
divorce.
The leaders of the people did not want to hear this doctrine, as the
church today so often does not want to hear or understand. Out of
their own sinful lusts and hardened hearts, they wanted to be able to
divorce and justify it. The leaders asked Jesus, "Why did Moses then
command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?"
(Matthew 19:7) The leaders turned to the book of Deuteronomy, 24:1-4,
which gave a law regulating divorce and particularly forbidding the
taking again of a divorced and remarried spouse because of the
uncleanness of divorce and remarriage. Not understanding the spiritual
principles of God's law, they would have twisted His law to justify
divorce, as if God approved of it.
Jesus exposes their unbelief. He answered them, "Moses because of the
hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from
the beginning it was not so." (Matthew 19:8) God, Who made marriage in
the beginning, did not approve of their sin of divorce. Divorce is an
evidence of the depravity and hardness of man's heart in sin. It was
so among the wicked in Israel. It is an evidence of the same hardened
unbelief not only in the world, but also in the church of today. The
law, whether of Moses or the government today, cannot change a sinful
heart. That law can only "suffer," that is, control, regulate, or
outwardly restrain the sins which men do. Saving grace alone changes
that hardened heart.
Divorce that leads to remarriage is a form of adultery. Jesus said,
"Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth
adultery." (Luke 16:18) Divorce itself causes the spouse to be tempted
to commit adultery by remarrying (Matthew 5:32).
But is there no exception? Jesus sets forth only one exception to His
condemnation of divorce. He said, "that whosoever shall put away his
wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit
adultery, and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth
adultery," (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). This is the only exception: when
fornication or adultery has already so wounded the marriage
relationship, and it cannot be healed, Jesus does not require, but
permits divorce. Properly, also in this case, there should be
forgiveness and reconciliation which are the only true healing.
Because the doctrine of the apostles continues in this truth, we read,
"And unto the married I command, yet not I but the Lord, let not the
wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain
unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband
put away his wife." (I Corinthians 7:10,11) The apostle applies this
even to the case of the marriage of a believer and unbeliever in I
Corinthians 7:12,13.
Do you believe in this Jesus and His word concerning divorce? Does
your church? Is Jesus Lord also of your marriage? Or do you seek to
cover and excuse sin?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
(31) Of Forbidding of Remarriage after Divorce
Jesus said: "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another,
committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from
her husband committeth adultery." (Luke 16:18) By His words Jesus
terms the remarriage of divorced persons adultery. It is adultery
because marriage is a permanent, lifelong bond, broken only by death.
The only time the Word of God permits remarriage is when one's spouse
dies (Matthew 19:6; Romans 7:1-3). In every passage in which He speaks
of this subject, Jesus terms the remarriage of divorced persons
"adultery."
Divorce then is sin. Jesus gives only one exception, "except it be for
fornication." (Matthew 19:9) Note that in giving this permission,
Jesus is giving the sole reason for divorce, not a ground for
remarriage. The text does not say, Whosoever shall put away...and
marry another..., except it be for fornication. Jesus is not giving
permission, even in such a case, for remarriage. Of remarriage, He
says, "...and shall marry another, committeth adultery." (Matthew
19:9) And He says of the spouse, whether guilty or innocent victim,
"...and whosoever marrieth her which is put away doth commit
adultery." (Matthew 19:9)
Jesus makes it clear then that divorce does not dissolve the original
marriage. Therefore such remarriage is always called "adultery."
Moreover Jesus' words make it clear that it is not simply the act of
remarriage which is adultery, but the remarriage relationship itself
is a state of adultery, a constant walk of sin. Sin and divorce may
separate married persons. They give none the right to remarry another.
The doctrine of the apostles is no different. We read, "And unto the
married I command, yet not I but the Lord, let not the wife depart
from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or
be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his
wife." (I Corinthians 7:10,11). In the context in which the apostle
speaks of those who have never married, or virgins, he says, "But and
if they marry, thou hast not sinned." (I Corinthians 7:28) But he also
says, lest there be any confusion, "Art thou bound to a wife? seek not
to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife." (I
Corinthians 7:27). The calling of one divorced is to remain unmarried
or to seek reconciliation with one's spouse.
Marriage is a privilege, a good gift of God. Man by his sins so
corrupts marriage that it is possible to find oneself in a situation
in which God has taken the privilege of marriage from us. God calls
some to be eunuchs for the "kingdom of heaven's sake." (Matthew 19:12)
What of an innocent victim deserted and divorced by an unbelieving
spouse? "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or
sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to
peace." (I Corinthians 7:15) The married believer, abandoned by an
unbeliever, can live at peace with God's will. By "under bondage" the
apostle means that the believer is not held in sin in such a case. He
does not say they are not "bound" as to the marriage, but are not
"under bondage," that is, as to the sin of unlawful divorce. The bond
of marriage is not bondage. Sin is bondage. The apostle does not
contradict either Jesus' words or what he himself has just said
concerning remaining unmarried or being reconciled (I Corinthians
7:11), namely that remarriage is forbidden and is adultery.
Do you believe in this Jesus? Does your church? Does your marriage
reflect this?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary pastor
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
Christian Basics: If we would take the basics of the Christian faith
seriously, then we must begin with what Jesus actually said.
Index to articles:
What Jesus said about...
1. Knowing Him
2. The Word of God
3. Man's depravity in sin
4. Being born again
5. God's love
6. God's will and personal election
7. God's will and believers and their seed
8. God's choice
9. His death
10. Our coming to Him
11. Saving faith
12. Righteousness before God
13. Forgiveness
14. The source of a godly life
15. The not yet perfect Christian
16. Final Perseverance
17. The nature of His flock
18. His kingdom
19. One people of God
20. Children's inclusion
21. Baptism
22. Eating and drinking Him by faith (Lord's Supper)
23. Evangelism
24. Worship
25. The eternal sabbath
26. Regular worship
27. Obedience in love
28. Right love of family
29. Marriage
30. Divorce
31. Remarriage
32. Faithfulness in marriage
(32) Of Faithful Marriage
Jesus said: "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John
8:11) Jesus spoke these words to a woman taken in adultery, caught in
the act of sin. When the leaders of the people confronted Jesus with
her they sought to tempt Jesus. For the law said that such a person
ought to be stoned to death. Jesus turned the tables on them and said
to them, "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first
stone at her." (John 8:37)
The reality is that everyone has this sin rooted in his or her heart.
Jesus had said in His preaching, "Ye have heard that it was said by
them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you,
That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed
adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5:28) From the root
of this sin no one is free, "for all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God." (Romans 3:23) This is no less true of the sin of
adultery. Jesus came to "call sinners to repentance" and to grant the
forgiveness of sins. He as judge forgave the woman taken in adultery.
But that is not the end of the matter. Forgiveness never means that we
are now free to continue in sin or to return to it. Jesus said to the
woman taken in adultery, "Go, and sin no more." (John 8:11) The grace
of forgiveness works its way through the life of the forgiven in a
sincere repentance for and forsaking of the sin.
This has much to say concerning marriage, divorce, and remarriage.
Jesus teaches, "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man
put asunder." (Matthew 19:6) Divorce, as we have seen, is sin in
Jesus' eyes. The only exception in which Jesus permits divorce is when
adultery has already corrupted the marriage.
Moreover Jesus condemns all remarriage after divorce as adultery. Nor
does He speak of remarriage as a one-time act of adultery, but of the
ongoing relationship as adultery. True repentance requires a forsaking
of these sins and a breaking off of them that we should, "Go, and sin
no more." (John 8:11) Jesus calls men to true faithfulness to that
lifelong bond of marriage under all circumstances.
Marriage is a privilege, a good gift of God. Man by his sins so
corrupts it that it is possible to lose the privilege altogether. A
believer may well be called to dwell in single life, to be a eunuch
"for the kingdom of heaven's sake." (Matthew 19:12) Even of the victim
of divorce Jesus says, "The believer has but one calling, "let her
remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband." (I Corinthians
7:11)
This doctrine is Jesus' doctrine. The Bible never teaches another.
Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) But
that means, as Jesus said, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)
Jesus said of His doctrine of marriage, "All men cannot receive this
saying, save they to whom it is given." (Matthew 19:11) A faithful
marriage is impossible in man's strength. Promise-keeping concerning
one's vows in marriage is by grace alone. To trust in one's own
ability to keep the promised vows of marriage is a form of living out
of salvation by one's own strength and works. In God's grace in Christ
alone it is possible to walk in faithful marriage.
Do you know that all-sufficient grace? Do you walk in it in your
calling in marriage?
By Rev. Thomas Miersma, Missionary Pastor