Feb 17
12
Responsibility
“… The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mk 1:15
Responsibility has nothing to do with ability. The words are not even spelled alike (ibility – ability). Man is responsible for his sin but has not the ability to change what he is … a sinner. Nor can he “uncommit” the sin he has committed.
Responsibility in the context of our fallen nature suggests blame, or to be at fault, or guilty before God. We must, and do, bare the blame for our sin. Otherwise God would not be just in legal condemnation, especially in the death of Christ. If we are not responsible then we are a victim of God and the death of Christ would be essentially to justify God rather than the sinner and correct a mistake He has made.
Every sinner that comes before God seeking mercy and forgiveness confesses and owns his responsibility and his inability to render to God payment for it. David, by the inspiration of God makes this very clear in Psalms 51:4 “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest”.
The Lord Jesus Christ in His suffering and death assumed the responsibility of His sheep’s sin, taking the blame, being made sin for them as their Substitute. That is one thing. Furthermore, He was, and is, able in the accomplishment of the same to satisfy the just demands of God as He has commanded. We are responsible but have nought to pay. Thank God Christ did … HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD! “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” Heb 7:25.
Not only are we responsible for our sin, we are responsible to repent to God and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We can do neither. We have not the ability. We are dead in our sin. We do the sinning … God in Christ does the saving. By His assuming the first, He accomplished the second. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” Romans 5:10.
Tommy Robbins
WHICH WAY ARE YOU GOING?
Genesis 4:1-5
Tom Harding
We live in a most religious world. In every county, country and culture; among all people, without exception there is some form of religion. Did you know that all religions can be summed into two groups. The way of Cain or the way of Abel.
Cain represents the way that seems right unto men (Prov. 14:12), the way of the flesh, works, self righteousness, self glory, do the best you can and God will be satisfied. Cain approached God with the best efforts of all his labors, “the fruit of the ground” and God had no respect unto him or his offering. It is recorded in the scriptures, woe unto them that have gone the way of Cain (Jude 24).
Abel represents the way that God has established throughout scripture to show mercy to undeserving sinners. It is the way of free grace (Rom. 3:24), the way of effectual substitution by a blood offering (2 Cor. 5:21), the way of faith (Heb. 11:4). Clearly, Abel and his offering is a picture of the only way of salvation in and through the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). The Lord called Abel a righteous man (Matt. 23:35).
Now, which way are you going? I know that all of us by nature are going the way of Cain, because that is what comes to us naturally. It seems rather logical and reasonable to approach God on the basis of our works. However, our best efforts will never satisfy God’s offended justice (Luke 16:15). God has singled out these two brothers to teach us the way of God’s salvation in Christ alone, through grace alone, through the blood alone, and to plainly condemn the way of works (Rom. 9:13-15). I pray that God will give us much grace to follow the example of Abel and to seek salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
If God Is Sovereign – How Are Men Responsible?
Todd Nibert
God is sovereign. You cannot take that too far or overstate it. Everything that happens, happens according to the sovereign will of God. “He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11).
If God’s will determines everything, how can men be responsible for their actions? Paul addressed this question in Romans 9:18-19, “Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth. Thou wilt say unto me, why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will?” A paraphrase would be, “If God hardened my heart, how can I be responsible? I am only acting from the heart that God hardened.” I do not know how to answer that question, other than to say, that is just the way it is. God is sovereign. We are responsible.
If my understanding of God’s sovereignty makes me conclude that men are not responsible for their actions, I really do not understand God’s sovereignty.
But did you know that a belief of human responsibility is an essential part of spiritual life. We have never confessed our sin before God unless we believe our sin is wholly our fault. There is no confession of sin if we lay the blame on God’s sovereign will. We have never truly asked for mercy if we do not believe we are responsible for our sins. If we deny human responsibility, we must also deny salvation by grace. Grace is for the guilty, not for victims of God’s sovereignty. God is sovereign and men are responsible. It is impossible to believe the Gospel if either of these truths are rejected.
Two lessons taught by Esau
The birthright which Esau despised and sold for a morsel of meat (Hebrews 12: 16) was not the natural inheritance of his father but, all of the promises of God in the coming redeemer. To him, it was just spiritual folklore and superstitious tradition. While the concept of such things may have a moral good and offer some future comfort to the dying, he could not see their immediate value. (Genesis 25: 32) He saw more value in a bowl of red stew than he did in the gospel of Gods’ covenant redeemer. There are two things here that were true of Esau and are true of all those who hear the gospel and laugh it to scorn.
First, is that the birthright was his. All he had to do was receive it. He had no work to be done and no price to pay. It was his to embrace, rejoice in, and be thankful for. So it is when the gospel is preached. “—the Spirit and the bride say, come. And let him that heareth say, come. And let him that is athirst, come. And whosever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation22: 17) But having heard the gospel they trade it off, like an unwanted piece of furniture, for whatever present need or want they have.
The second thing that I see in Esau ,and all those like him , is that the birthright was never theirs. By divine decree, through an eternal election of grace, God gave the birthright to Jacob (Romans 9: 10:13) In these two sons of Isaac, God will establish forever the purpose of God according to election. It is established as to the author of it, the way of it, and the objects of it. “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of Go that sheweth mercy. (Romans 9: 16)”
As best I can, I preach to all who will give me a hearing. I do my best to set before them the full free gospel of Gods’ sovereign grace in Christ. But, the hope that sustains me is Gods’ eternal purpose to save a people for the glory of his name. “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)”
Darvin Pruitt.
Your Name is Jacob.
God found Jacob in Shechem in trouble. God always finds his elect in trouble for “…man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” (Job 14: 1) He instructed him to go up to Bethel. Bethel means House of God. Bethel is the place where Gods presence and the glory of his great name are made known. God’s first order of business with the sinner is to make him own up to his own name. God makes to Jacob four declarations that sum up the work of God in the hearts of all those drawn of God into his house.
First: he tells him his name: Thy name is Jacob: Jacob the finagler. Always trying to scheme and arrange things to his advantage. Jacob, the business man, who is always trying to make deals and covenants to get what he wanted. Every natural man is a Jacob who endeavors to accomplish salvation and blessings by the power of his flesh.
Secondly: God says, “Thy name shall not be called any more Jacob.” By an act of sovereign free grace, God has intervened in the life of his elect and redefines the way he is to be identified in this world.
Thirdly: The Lord tells him, “Israel shall be thy name.” In that day, that final day of glory and resurrection, you will be before the throne of my majesty and numbered with those given me of my Father all of who bear the name Israel.
Fourthly: God called him Israel. Right then and there still in his sins, still feeling his rebellion and knowing his ignorance. God calls his elect now what he called them in their final perfection. In spite of what he is God treats him as a prince and a son and blesses him over all the other sons of Adam.
May God be pleased by his grace to reveal these four great truths and make them the reality of our experience of grace.
Darvin Pruitt
No better than Orpah’s kiss!
“Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung to Naomi.” Ruth 1:14
Both of them had an affection for Naomi, and therefore set out with her upon her return to the land of Judah. But the hour of test came; Naomi most unselfishly set before each of them the trials which awaited them, and bade them if they cared for ease and comfort—to return to their Moabitish friends. At first both of them declared that they would cast in their lot with the Lord’s people; but upon still further consideration, Orpah with much grief and a respectful kiss, left her mother-in-law, and her God, and went back to her idolatrous friends; while Ruth with all her heart gave herself up to the God of her mother-in-law.
It is one thing to love the ways of the Lord when all is fair—and quite another to cleave to them under all discouragements and difficulties. The kiss of outward profession is very cheap and easy—but the practical cleaving to the Lord, which must show itself in holy decision for truth and holiness—is not so small a matter.
How does the case stand with us—is our heart fixed upon Jesus? Have we counted the cost, and are we solemnly ready to suffer all worldly loss for the Master’s sake? The after gain will be an abundant recompense, for Egypt’s treasures are not to be compared with the glory to be revealed.
Orpah is heard of no more; in glorious ease and idolatrous pleasure, her life melts into the gloom of death. But Ruth lives in history and in Heaven, for grace has placed her in the noble line from whence sprung the King of kings. Blessed among women shall those be—who for Christ’s sake can renounce all. But forgotten and worse than forgotten, shall those be—who in the hour of trial, turn back unto the world. O that we may not be content with the mere form of devotion, which may be no better than Orpah’s kiss! But may the Holy Spirit work in us a cleaving of our whole heart to our Lord Jesus!
Spurgeon.