Bible Readings:
Genesis 18:6-19
Philippians 2:12-18
Sermon Outline:
Introduction
- The tension in Scripture between God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility
- the problem caused by polarisation:
- the importance of ‘both/and’ in place of ‘either/or’
- the example of God’s dealing with Abraham
The non-negotiable nature of God’s promises
- Paul’s pleading with/for the believers in Thessalonica:
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through
and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. THE ONE
WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL AND HE WILL DO IT.
Brothers, pray for us.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-25)
The means God uses in the outworking of his promises
- God’s involvement with Abraham in the planned destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
- the importance of Genesis 18:17-19
“Then the LORD said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
For I have CHOSEN him, SO THAT he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, SO THAT the LORD WILL BRING ABOUT for Abraham what he has PROMISED him.”
- the importance of Philippians 2:12-13
“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed –
not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence –
continue to WORK OUT your salvation WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING,
for it is GOD who works IN YOU to WILL and to ACT according to HIS good purpose.”
Conclusion
- Can WE HOLD BOTH these Scriptural truths in TENSION?
- the consequences of NOT doing so …
- Arminianism …
…. God is powerless to act and can only wait
patiently for us to exercise our will and act - Hyper-Calvinism
…. we cannot do anything but learn to live with God’s SOVEREIGN will- fatalism
Heidelberg Catechism
QUESTION 26. What dost thou believe when thou sayest: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?
That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that in them is, who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence, is for the sake of Christ His Son my God and my Father; in whom I so trust, as to have no doubt that He will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul; and further, that whatever evil He sends upon me in this vale of tears He will turn to my good; for He is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing also, being a faithful Father.
Eph. 1:3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
Eph. 3:14–16. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.
QUESTION 27. What dost thou understand by the Providence of God?
The almighty everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth, with all creatures; and so governs them, that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, all things, come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.
General, special, and very special Providence of God.
Ps. 103:19. The Lord hath established His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all.
Jer. 5:24. Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; that reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Ps. 145:15, 16. The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
QUESTION 28. What does it profit us to know that God has created, and by His providence still upholds all things?
That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and for what is future, have good confidence in our faithful God and Father, that no creature shall separate us from His love; since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.
1 Thess. 5:18. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Ps. 71:7. I am as a wonder unto many; but Thou art my strong refuge.
Rom. 8:35, 38, 39. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.