OUTLINE:

There’s no way to reconcile everything in the Bible unless it’s all true.

The Root Cause of a False Gospel
Man has a terrible, though predictable, habit of stealing God’s glory for himself - STARTING with the Gospel!

To God Be the Glory
To slight God’s glory is to slight one’s own sanctification, for you cannot be sanctified in the absence of respect for His glory. (Ps 24:7-10; 1Co 2:8; 1Pe 4:14; 2Pe 1:17)

We cannot lay claim to a single act of goodness from a state of total depravity.

“weak”
from asthenes [“a” = without + “sthenos” = strength] – literally means “without strength”; in context, it means we were incapable of contributing to our salvation

We cannot lay claim to a single act of goodness from a state of total depravity.

2Ti 1:9
Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

Saving Faith is a Grace Gift
Only God’s elect will ever believe - belief is a grace gift from God. Man does not generate saving faith from the condition of total depravity in which he was born – that’s impossible.

Saving Faith is a Grace Gift
If, in any way whatsoever, a person misunderstands Jesus’ statement, “What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Lk 18:27), it’s very possible they misunderstand His Gospel!

Your life on Earth is meant to bring glory to God, not yourself.

Personal Hygiene
Blog – 12/3/21

Caution
Systematic Theology is not a “one size fits all” solution to interpreting Holy Scripture. In fact, since all such theologies are manmade, they are inherently flawed. As such, all theologies have strengths and weaknesses (why do you think there’s been so much contention between staunch theologians throughout history?).

Caution
I want YOU to have your OWN convictions, your OWN wisdom, and therefore your OWN abilities, so YOU can live in the CONTEXT of your OWN life and bring glory to God!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ
We are all born depraved. Salvation is a gracious gift from God. It is the result of the Gospel calling, which is: Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, humbled Himself to die on our behalf. Thus He became the sinless sacrifice to pay the penalty of our guilt. He rose from the dead to declare with power that He is Lord over all, and He offers eternal life freely to sinners who will surrender to Him in humble, repentant faith.

Proper Perspective When Studying Salvation
We must heed Solomon’s wisdom (Ecc 12:13-14). We are slaves given duties by our Master. We don’t always know the Master’s plans. He gives us faith instead.

So-Called “Free Will”
Slaves may suppose, even agree amongst themselves, that their “free will” gives them power to influence (or even modify) their Master’s plans. However, God’s decree was ordained before human history, sovereignly set in stone.