Sunday Leftovers (10/22/06)

The supreme gift given by the Father to the Son is a redeemed people that will eternally glorify and delight in the Son. That means that we who are saved are God’s great gift to His Son. And those whom the Father has given to the Son not only will not be lost by the Son, they cannot be lost by the Son. Why? Because “the Son views every soul given by the Father to Him as an expression of the Father’s irresistible love” [John MacArthur].

That also means that the salvation offered by Christ is not offered begrudgingly. Jesus does not have to be coerced into offering Himself a sacrifice for mankind. God doesn’t have to have an “attitude change” from wrath to mercy. Rather, this is the great means by which He demonstrates His love to the Son and glorifies both Himself and the Son.

Three closing quotes:

• “External familiarity with Christ means absolutely nothing if there’s no internal transformation.” [MacArthur]
• “It is not because of the excellence of our lives that we have been called [by God] but because of the love of our Savior.” [Theodoret]
• “At no point does the Gospel encourage us to believe that every man will hearken to it, charm we never so wisely. The prophets, for all their passionate sincerity, for all their courageous simplifyings of the Gospel, will meet many deaf adders who stop their ears. We must reckon with this certain fact, and refuse to be daunted by it. But also there comes a point where accommodation can go no further. It is the Gospel we have to present, however we do it. We cannot hope to do it unless we walk humbly with the modern man, as well as with God, unless we are much more eager to learn from him and about him, than to instruct him. God help us, it is all very difficult. But was there ever a task better worth trying to do, or one in which, whether we fail or succeed, we more surely find our freedom?” [Roger Lloyd]