Stumblingblock Truths of the Gospel !

[FreeGrace2]

Thanks for engaging. I do not wish to get into the Pelagius argument. I am not a Calvinist so the only other alternative is Arminias. I believe we choose God then He chooses us. Its as simple as that.

Actually, there are more than just calvin and arminius. I recommend googling "free grace theology".

 

[Brightfame52]

Stumblingblock Truths of the Gospel ! 3

The next Gospel truth besides elect that is an stumblingblock to the natural man is Gods imputing of righteousness without works !

Rom 4:6

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

What does it mean without works ? Well the word works here covers a large spectrum, for instance, its the greek word ergon and means:

1. business, employment, that which any one is occupied
   1. that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2. any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
3. an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
   
   ἔργον érgon, er'-gon; from a primary (but obsolete) ἔργω érgō (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act:—deed, doing, labour, work.
   
   Anything done, a doing of any kind, be it physical or mental natural or spiritual, its a work !
   
   2041 /érgon ("work") is a deed (action) that carries out (completes) an inner desire (intension, purpose).
   
   And so, God imputes righteousness without works. Without anything done, without any doing of any kind !
   
   Now this Grand Truth the natural mind of man cannot receive, and its an stumbling block to him because it gives him no reason to be able to boast !
   
   However, the Truth of it [imputed righteousness without works] is confirmed in the scripture, for instance Rom 5:19
   
   For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
   
   How are these many made righteous ? By the Obedience of One, that One being Jesus Christ, and so Righteousness was imputed to the many without works, without them do anything !
   
   Now thats an stumbling block to the natural man ! And yet thats an Gospel Truth Rom 1:16-17 !

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Good works (in those who are called) are a result of belief, not the cause of belief. If it were there would be many more believers as there are many who do good works but are not believers.

 

[Brightfame52]

Predestination is a stumblingblock truth of the Gospel, for the Gospel is a Gospel of Gods Grace, and its role in Salvation Acts 20:24

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

of which predestination is a prominent feature. Eph 1:5-6

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

 

[Brightfame52]

What does the preaching of the cross mean? The preaching of the cross or gospel is a apparent denotation to the Person of Christ, Who He is; the Work of Christ, what He did; and for whom Christ did it, the purpose, and, therefore, the matter of His atoning Death: who actually profits. We cannot divorce Who Christ is from what He did, and, therefore, for whom He did it. He died. And, through that Sacrificial and Substitutionary Death He accomplished something: Christ Jesus the Lord obtained salvation for all those for whom He died. He did not merely make salvation possible, but He obtained redemption for those whom God had given Him, His Sheep, Gods Elect, His Body the Church.

Heb 9:12

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

The sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice/death cannot be separated from the efficiency of it. What Christ's atoning work has accomplished can never be abstract from its efficaciousness and, therefore, for whom it was accomplished.

Jn 6:37

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

This is because He hath for them obtained eternal redemption Heb 9:12

 

[Brightfame52]

Another stumblingblock truth of the Gospel is the fact that God has created from one lump of clay, mankind, some vessels unto honor [salvation] which are called vessels of mercy, and He has created from the same lump some vessels unto dishonor [damnation] which He calls vessels of wrath, which He fits for destruction Rom 9:20-23

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,3

 

[Brightfame52]

What are the deep things of God ?

1 Cor 2:10

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

Paul is seaking in the context of the theme of the Gospel of Christ, His Cross and Him crucified, we gather this from Vs 1-2

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

and this was precded by 1 Cor 1:17-31

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

So its not a difficult stretch to understand the deep things of God to be in connection with the Preaching of the Gospel of Christ, The wisdom of God.

 

[Brightfame52]

The wisdom of God is the deep things of God, ts comprised of the Eternal Acts of the GodHead from eternity Past. The establishment of His decrees that are manifested in time, like the death of Christ for His People, this was setup afore-time Rev 13:8

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

1 Pet 1:20

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Acts 2:23

23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Acts 4:27-28

27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

The Eternal Purposes of God are the deep things of God, the counsels of His Heart Ps 33:11

The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

Our Salvation in Christ is according to the counsel of the Lord Eph 1:5,11

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

So in Preaching the Gospel Paul declares Acts 20:27

For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. That is the deep things of God !f