Paul did not labor that he might receive grace, but he received grace in order that he might labor.
Augustine, De gestis Pelagii xiv, 36

No distinction could be more important to our salvation.

Augustine knew what many over the years have not known—salvation is not of works; it produces good works.

He speaks of grace. Grace is something unmerited. It is an enabling power. Romans 8: 8 says that those who are “in the flesh [unsaved persons] CANNOT please God” (emphasis mine).” Yet people are always trying to do so by their own ability. The fact is that they are not able to do so: “Not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

That’s why they need the grace of God, regenerating and giving them the ability to believe the Gospel. Prior to that grace which brings spiritual life, one is dead spiritually; he cannot believe.

Roman Catholics have always believed that there is an element of ability left in man to which God may appeal. The Bible teaches otherwise. To be dead, isn’t to still have a little life left!

So, we are grateful to God, who provides for every aspect of salvation—from beginning to end. That provision is called grace.

Grace is an interesting concept—difficult for proud man to fathom. Men want to contribute something-if not everything—to their regeneration and justification.

There were some Puritans who believed by works, you could “prepare” yourself for regeneration, and they set people on long periods of becoming sensible to their sins, so that the Gospel could be given to them when ready. Not so. In Scripture, people are saved on the spot at having heard to GOOD News for the first time. Consider the Ethiopian Eunuch; Lydia (who had to have her heart opened to believe), or the Philippian jailer.

Alleine’s Alarm to the Unconverted is a handbook of Preparationism and ought to be avoided at all costs. It talks about all sorts of works, but in the chapter called “Directions to the Unconverted,” he never once says, “Repent and believe the Gospel.”

People are saved by grace through faith—which leads to works as a result of conversion.

Check out our online course, Theology and Counseling taught by Jay Adams!

Books related to dealing with problems:

1. A Theology of Christian Counseling by Jay Adams
2. Sanctification and Counseling by Jay Adams
3. Christ and Your Problems by Jay Adams

The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams

Visit our online bookstore for all your biblical counseling resource needs.
For biblical counseling training, check out our list of INS Online Courses.

Follow INS on Social Media:
– Facebook: noutheticstudies
– Twitter: @noutheticstud
– Instagram: @noutheticstudies

The post Grace Alone appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Protection of the church was also a very large concern—a church that had dismissed him, and then three years later re-called him, acknowledging that they could not do without him. A man who asked his meager salary to be reduced in order to help pay the stipend for other needy preachers. One who for years, ate off a  borrowed table, a scholar of the first water who had to sell his books in order to sustain life for himself and his wife. A man in bad health even from his earliest days, who preached from a canvass chair in his latter days. One who was ill-treated by well-meaning, but unknowledgeable physicians, who twice bled him as a remedy for his chronic illnesses. A master in debate, an expositor who wrote commentaries from his bed. A man who influenced millions of Christians and others (and through his lasting works still does). A scholar who put his scholarship to work in daily ministry, visitation of the sick and dying, a committed pastoral counselor, and reformer in doctrine and in the life of a city.

His was the first systematic theology of the Reformation, a remarkable volume begun at 20 years of age, enlarged through the years following and still in publication today! He was the first Protestant to send missionaries to a foreign land (Brazil). He founded and taught regularly at a seminary in Geneva. One, who unlike others, did not flee from the plague, but ministered to the sick. One who began a hospital. A man of iron will who persevered until one of the most wicked cities in Europe became one of the most righteous. And this, only because he stood up again and again to hostile forces. A man who threw himself into a mob to stop a possible insurrection. Hated by scores; loved by millions.

I could go on and on and on. But I simply note these things—few as they are selected from so much more—to thank God for sending this man to whom all of us are deeply indebted whether or not we know it, and with the hope that others will be encouraged to learn from him and through his many valuable writings. Praise God for John Calvin!

The post John Calvin appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Some time ago, I wrote an article for RC Sproul’s little monthly magazine Table Talk. In it I wanted to stress some aspects of the so-called “Five Points of Calvinism.” As you know, the word T-U-L-I-P is used as a means of remembering each of the points. T stands for total depravity; U for unconditional election, L for limited atonement, I for irresistible grace, and P for perseverance of the saints.

Now, many people find no difficulty in accepting four of the five points, notably, the first and last two in the word. I wanted to stress the fact that in leaving out the L, they not only mess up the word TULIP, but their own theology, and at the same time, miss what is, in many respects, the main doctrine of the five. So, I devised the TULIPBURGER.

Let me explain. The T and the P are like the two pieces of bun that hold a burger together—absolutely essential, but, in themselves, hardly a burger at all. I liken the U and the I to the lettuce and the tomato. Better, but still not a burger. Lastly, I suggest that the L is like the meat in the center. Truly, the idea of limited atonement is the “meat” of Calvinism. To hold to the fact that Jesus didn’t die for “mankind,” or, as that means, persons in general—but for persons in particular, is essential to having a “Personal Savior.” I’m delighted, that with the apostle I can say, “He loved me and gave Himself for me.” I agree with Luther who, when commenting on the first verse of the 23rd Psalm said, “Thank God for personal pronouns.”

To realize that Jesus’ death was 100% effective; that He didn’t die for people in general, but that He knew His sheep, and called them by name, and gave His life for each one of them individually is a blessed truth, not to be omitted from the burger. Because He did, therefore, every one of them will have eternal life. It is a rich doctrine not to be lost by focusing on buns, lettuce and tomato alone, while forgetting the meat.

Jesus didn’t come to make salvation possible—He came to “seek and to save that which was lost.” God was satisfied with His death for everyone for whom He died. He didn’t die needlessly for millions who would reject Him. He knew all that the Father had given Him, and said that not one of them would be lost. They would all be saved. After all, if Jesus’ death for sin really did satisfy God’s justice for any, it would also do so for all. So, if He died for all—all would be saved. Of course, we know that isn’t true. Yet, if universal atonement were true, then God could hardly punish men and women for eternity for whom Christ had already suffered the punishment. There is no double jeopardy. And therefore, there is no burger unless it is a TULIPBURGER!

The post Tulipburger appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

“I CERTAINLY DO!”

Glad to hear that.  Then, that means you believe in predestination, right?

“Well . . .”

C’mon.  You’ve got to believe in predestination if you believe the Bible?

“How’s that? Nobody I know at church believes in it.”

That’s a very sad situation.

“How so?”

Because Arminianism (a view that hold an opposite of a belief) denies the biblical teaching about predestination—and to deny anything biblical is sad..  Especially, when one claims to believe the Bible.

“How do you know that the Bible teaches predestination?”

I know it because, if for no other reason than the fact that it uses the word several times to describe how God has planned things before they take place—indeed, from all eternity.

“Oh . . . But suppose the word doesn’t really mean that?”

Then what else could it possibly mean?

“That God permits things to happen  . . ?”

Nope.  That won’t work. There is nothing/one out there besides God when it comes to planning. To whom would He give permission to do whatever is done?

“Not sure.”

Well, there’s a good reason for your uncertainty—since from all eternity things were planned, and there was no one else but God to do the planning. Even if He permitted someone to do something, that permission would be part of His eternal plan in order to bring about what He wants.

“Hmmmm.”

Why not take a good look sometime at, for instance, the first chapter of Ephesians? It might help you to understand.”

“Couldn’t go wrong doing that, I suppose.”

Right.  It’s easy to be an Arminian rather than Reformed—everyone is born an Arminian—thinking that man is more than he is and that God is less than He is. It takes being born again to turn that around so that man is less in one’s thinking and God is more.

“Well, I don’t know about that, but I’ll check out the verses that speak of predestination, anyway, and we’ll talk again about it.”

Good.  But remember, you won’t find the word “predestined” every time  the concept is presented.  In fact, in the majority of places in which predestination is taught, the word itself isn’t used.

“As I said, we’ll see.”

Good.  Remember every prophecy is an example of predestination—prediction is God telling us what is planned for the future. If it were not, we couldn’t depend on the prophecies in Scripture to be fulfilled.

“Hmmmmmmmm!!!!!”

The post Predestination appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Unlike some today, Calvin knew, that sinful human nature doesn’t really change. That we make for ourselves the same old problems in homes, at work, and in church—to mention but a few areas.

So, he wrote for all times—assuming that the biblical writers had them in mind. You’ll even catch him, at times, saying such things as “Now Paul says to us . . .” meaning that his Spirit-inspired words were being composed for the church of all ages—including ours.

Now, there is not only a dearth of exposition behind many contemporary sermons, but also a strong antipathy in some circles to apply anything. What a shame. How much good it would do those who have such tendencies to read Calvin with what I am saying in mind—not only his sermons, where this practice is more evident, but (surprisingly) in his commentaries as well.

Well, back to the place where I last stuck a gel marking pen in the last volume of Calvin that I haven’t completed during this re-reading marathon I have engaged in. I’d read a lot more, but the old eyes get sore and I have to do things like write blogs instead. Of course, eyes can get blurry from computer work as well, but shifting back and forth helps both problems a good deal.

I haven’t looked lately, and don’t intend to get up now to do so, but Calvin goes into this view of his in some depth in the early couple of sermons either in Galatians or Ephesians. If you’re interested, wouldn’t hurt you to read all four of those sermons anyway.

Oh, by the way—these are in old English letters, as I remember—so don’t let the “s” (which often look like an “f”) throw you. And, as a matter of fact, it’s a challenge to read and interpret the English translation. But the point I’m making is as clear as can be. You won’t have any trouble seeing that “fs/ss” and all—Calvin wrote for you and me (as well as for the church of all time).

The post Reading Calvin appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Those who claim that God is, what we used to call (before the days of political correctness), an “Indian Giver.”

“What does that mean?”

It means taking back again something you once gave to another. Because Indians were supposed to go back on their word: they’d give you something and then want it back, the expression was coined.

“Did they do that a lot?”

Have no idea. All I know is that’s what the expression means.

“How do some claim that about God?”

Well they think that after giving us life, God may take it away from us.

“Oh.”

There’s a syllogism of Security (as I like to think of it) that goes something like this:

Since “God’s gifts and calling are not recalled” (Romans 11: 29),

the “gift of God is eternal life,”

and the calling of God is “to be saints,”

then, we can be sure that we can never lose our calling or eternal life.

“Not exactly in strict syllogistic form, but I get the idea.”

Yep. But it’s a very important truth of Scripture. Let me ask you a question: “If the gift of God is life,” then what would it mean to take it back?

“Uh . . .. . hmmmm. . . . . I’ve got it!”

Good. What’s the answer?

“It would mean that if He did so, God would be killing spiritually some of those to whom He previously gave eternal life.”

Sounds strange when you put it out there for what it is, doesn’t it?

“And unbiblical too.”

Right.

The post They Aren’t Logical appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

“What do you mean by ‘in one sense?’”

Well, because Jesus said that all that the Father would give him will come to Him, we know that there will always be all the Christians that there should be.

“That isn’t what I had in mind—besides you are thinking of your Calvinism I see.”

Another name for biblical Christianity. What did you mean?

“What I mean is if we had more Christians we could have a greater influence.”

Oh!

“There are so many evil things happening in the world that we just don’t have enough believers to combat them all.”

Ah. Now I get your drift. But, frankly, I think that you’re entirely wrong.

“Huh? How’s that?”

Numbers have never meant much to God. He says things like, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” you know.

“Well, yeah . . . but . . .”

What do you mean by “but?”

“Just but . . . you know.”

I’m afraid I don’t know. The fact is that there are enough Christians in this world at this moment to turn it upside down if they really meant business for Christ. Look at what God did by means of twelve men! One reason why more isn’t being done is because others have the same idea you do. Since we are in the minority, they think that there’s little hope of accomplishing anything—so they don’t try. They pray for too little and expect less. What we need are “a few good men” as the Marines put it—meaning “righteous men,” as James put it.

“Well, I guess you just told me off!”

And myself. We all need to fully exercise our faith and go forth for the Lord!

The post There Are Not Enough Christians appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.