We Must Get to the Cross, and Dwell There

“Every plant must have both soil and root. Without both of these there can be no life, no growth, no fruit. The root is ‘peace with God’; the soil in which that root strikes itself, and out of which it draws the vital sap, is the free love of God in Christ. ‘Rooted in love’ is the apostle’s description of a holy man.

The secret of a believer’s holy walk is his continual recurrence to the blood of the Surety, and his daily intercourse with a crucified and risen Lord. All divine life, and all the precious fruits of it, pardon, peace, and holiness, spring from the cross. All fancied sanctification which does not arise wholly from the blood of the cross is nothing better than Pharisaism. If we would be holy, we must get to the cross, and dwell there; else, notwithstanding all our labour, diligence, fasting, praying and good works, we shall be yet void of real sanctification, destitute of those humble, gracious tempers which accompany a clear view of the cross.”

- Horatius Bonar, God’s Way of Holiness

Chosen By God

What exactly does the Bible mean that we are "chosen" by God?

Ephesians 1:3 - 10 (ESV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

I see that there are 2 primary beliefs in Christiandom as to what this means:

1. God sovereignly chooses whom He will bring to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ by effectually drawing them by the power of His Holy Spirit. Thus, He gives faith and repentance to those whom He chose before the foundation of the world.

2. God chooses those who choose - of their own free will - to repent of their sins and believe in His Son's death, burial and resurrection as their complete payment for their sins. Thus, the faith (from a seed given by God to every man) and repentance are self-produced out of their own free will.

Which view is Biblical? Is it one or the other or a combination of both?

The Grace of God in My Family

Today my 6 year old daughter (Jenna) was baptized! She was born again on September 16, 2007 and it took a little while for her to "get up the courage" to be baptized.

We are praying that Elijah and Rayanne will also be drawn to Jesus for salvation.