J.A. Matteson
Can the blind at birth truly comprehend light, even when it is carefully described to them? Can the deaf at birth ever really experience the sweet sounds of springtime birds singing at sunrise? How could a person color blind understand the depth and vibrancy of red? "But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep" (Jn. 10:26). Note the key word used by Jesus: because. It is a causal word denoting why something is the way it is. This word in this statement, placed where it is, is problematic to the Arminian. Notice also what Jesus does not say, "You do not believe because of your hardness of heart," or "You do not believe because of your pride and refusal to repent," or "You do not believe because you lack knowledge and must be educated in the way of salvation," or "You do not believe because you can't make intellectual sense of it all." While all of those statements may be true at some level, they are not the ultimate cause of perpetual spiritual blindness resulting in unbelief. What fellowship has light with darkness, or can the living communicate with the dead? Jesus reveals a spiritual law of new birth and the Jews, whose hearts were cloaked in darkness, did not perceive the light. Why? Their spiritually dead condition was and, most horribly, would continue due to the efficient cause of divine election bypassing them according to the good pleasure of the Father's will. To those whom His favor rests faith is the instrumental effect of grace upon the heart, "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light..." (Isa. 9:2). In no way do the people walking in darkness who see the light perceive it meritoriously. Rather they perceive it in spite of their darkened souls, being enlightened as an act of divine grace. When the light of faith dawns in the heart the cares of the world take on the true measure of their insignificance in the blinding light of His eternal glory, "What is man that You are mindful of him?" (Ps. 8:4). So you believe that Jesus is the Christ? You do well. However, do not boast in anything other than the grace of God which has awakened you, revealing the identity of His Son to you. Any other boasting is evil. You brought nothing to the transaction but your deadness and sin. Salvation is of the LORD.
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
Innocent Blood
J.A. Matteson
The LORD does not change. That which the LORD deemed as evil in the days of the patriarchs and kings of Israel, He deems as evil today. "...at the command of the LORD it came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh...and also for the innocent blood which he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood...." (2 Kgs. 24:3-4). Innocent blood, persons not guilty of the violence inflicted upon them by their fellow man. The LORD is long suffering, forgiving iniquity and extending forgiveness to all seeking it. Whom among us today is the most vulnerable innocent blood suffering violence and death at the hands of their fellow man? Is it not our fellow human beings in the womb yet born? Their blood flows through our communities, our nations. If the LORD stays His righteous hand of wrath against the nations who murder His children in the womb, violating the sixth commandment, will He not owe an apology to king Manasseh? The LORD is impartial, a people that sows evil will reap evil. The LORD will not be mocked, wrath visits those who practice iniquity. Our lands are crimson in the shed blood of the innocent to satisfy "convenience" and "choice." The land is weary and the people mourn, confusion and anxiety is expressed among friend and acquaintance alike. An uneasy foreboding heaviness characterizes the mood of the people. Wrath is not a future possibility, it is a present reality. A people in confusion and despair characterize the wages of sin. To find absolution they must first look down before looking up to God, in so doing they will observe that their feet are covered with the blood of the innocent of their communities, the blood of the unborn. These are silent voices who cannot speak in their own defense. If those walking upon the earth, God's people, do not defend their right to life, who will?
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
The LORD does not change. That which the LORD deemed as evil in the days of the patriarchs and kings of Israel, He deems as evil today. "...at the command of the LORD it came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh...and also for the innocent blood which he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood...." (2 Kgs. 24:3-4). Innocent blood, persons not guilty of the violence inflicted upon them by their fellow man. The LORD is long suffering, forgiving iniquity and extending forgiveness to all seeking it. Whom among us today is the most vulnerable innocent blood suffering violence and death at the hands of their fellow man? Is it not our fellow human beings in the womb yet born? Their blood flows through our communities, our nations. If the LORD stays His righteous hand of wrath against the nations who murder His children in the womb, violating the sixth commandment, will He not owe an apology to king Manasseh? The LORD is impartial, a people that sows evil will reap evil. The LORD will not be mocked, wrath visits those who practice iniquity. Our lands are crimson in the shed blood of the innocent to satisfy "convenience" and "choice." The land is weary and the people mourn, confusion and anxiety is expressed among friend and acquaintance alike. An uneasy foreboding heaviness characterizes the mood of the people. Wrath is not a future possibility, it is a present reality. A people in confusion and despair characterize the wages of sin. To find absolution they must first look down before looking up to God, in so doing they will observe that their feet are covered with the blood of the innocent of their communities, the blood of the unborn. These are silent voices who cannot speak in their own defense. If those walking upon the earth, God's people, do not defend their right to life, who will?
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Pursue Jesus Christ
J.A. Matteson
We cannot will our way into spiritual enlightenment, God must reveal Himself to us. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (1 Jn. 1:4). Forget about pressing into the deep questions of your existence and the operation of the created order. Rather, make your aim to "know Christ and the power of His resurrection" (Phil. 3:10). We easily get distracted by what has been made, neglecting Him who made it. All things were created by Him and for Him, in Him are the treasures of all wisdom (2 Pet. 3:15). In our quest for wisdom and understanding let us pursue Jesus Christ, in whom reside life and light to make the simple wise and the wise humble. The greatest treasure on earth is as dung compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord. And not knowing what we do not know, God is well pleased to reveal more of Himself in unexpected moments and places as we remain in Him, spiritually poor, hungry, dependent. Moses began his day in ordinary fashion unaware that God would reveal Himself in the remarkable splendor of a bush on fire but not consumed. Jacob, sleeping under the night sky was delightfully startled to behold in his slumbering state a ladder to heaven revealing God's intimate presence. God's presence and self-disclosure is never demanded, we have no claim on it; it comes to His servants according to the good pleasure of His will. And yet, His servants may hasten His presence with its accompanying wisdom and understanding as they daily seek Jesus Christ above and before all else (Jer. 29:13).
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
We cannot will our way into spiritual enlightenment, God must reveal Himself to us. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (1 Jn. 1:4). Forget about pressing into the deep questions of your existence and the operation of the created order. Rather, make your aim to "know Christ and the power of His resurrection" (Phil. 3:10). We easily get distracted by what has been made, neglecting Him who made it. All things were created by Him and for Him, in Him are the treasures of all wisdom (2 Pet. 3:15). In our quest for wisdom and understanding let us pursue Jesus Christ, in whom reside life and light to make the simple wise and the wise humble. The greatest treasure on earth is as dung compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord. And not knowing what we do not know, God is well pleased to reveal more of Himself in unexpected moments and places as we remain in Him, spiritually poor, hungry, dependent. Moses began his day in ordinary fashion unaware that God would reveal Himself in the remarkable splendor of a bush on fire but not consumed. Jacob, sleeping under the night sky was delightfully startled to behold in his slumbering state a ladder to heaven revealing God's intimate presence. God's presence and self-disclosure is never demanded, we have no claim on it; it comes to His servants according to the good pleasure of His will. And yet, His servants may hasten His presence with its accompanying wisdom and understanding as they daily seek Jesus Christ above and before all else (Jer. 29:13).
Copyright © 2014 Immutable Word Ministries ("…the word of our God stands forever.") Isa. 40:8
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