• Home
  • About This Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Subscribe
  • Comment Policy

Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series
Home Church Leadership Discipleship Did God leave all mankind to die in sin and misery?

Did God leave all mankind to die in sin and misery?

Posted on July 6, 2017 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment


Question 20Question 20 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, “Did God leave all mankind to die in sin and misery?”

The answer given is, “From all eternity and merely because it pleased Him God chose some to have everlasting life. These He freed from sin and misery by a covenant of grace and brought them to salvation by a redeemer.”

God chose.

God chose some.

God chose some to everlasting life.

The result is that the chosen are freed from sin and brought to the state of salvation.

This is the doctrine of election. The doctrine of God’s sovereign choice.

We like to think of ourselves as free moral agents with the ability to control our own destinies. We don’t want to have anyone tell us what we can or can’t do. We are taught that such freedom is our birthright and no-one should be able to take this away from us.

But, are we really free?

The Bible teaches us that we are not free apart from the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Experience seems to back this up. Who among us has not been exposed to someone who has been trapped in chemical dependence, perpetual anger or some other self-destructive behavior? Who among us has not struggled to overcome some habit or thought pattern that is contrary to what we know to be right?

The good news is that God did not leave us to flounder in our mess. He is the one who brings us into the state of being saved by a redeemer.

This knowledge should engender three things in us:

  • Humility – we are dependent upon God for our salvation
  • Gratitude – we should be thankful to God for saving us
  • Confidence – since it is up to God and not us, we can’t mess it up


Filed Under: Discipleship

About Mark McIntyre

A follower of Jesus Christ who shares observations about how Scripture should impact the church and the world. Mark is the original author and editor of Attempts at Honesty.

Follow Attempts at Honesty

Honesty in your Inbox

Radical Church

The radical call of Jesus

While growing up in the church, I did not grasp the radical nature of Jesus as he encountered the world in which he lived. Jesus defies all of our categories and calls us to something new.

No Matter How Bad it Gets . . .

The prophet Habakkuk questioned God about the turmoil he was experiencing in his culture. In the opening verses of the book that bears his name, Habakkuk lists the problems he saw around him. Iniquity, injustice, destruction and violence are listed in his complaint. Do these complaints sound familiar? A brief survey of the news will […]

Persecution

The blessing of persecution

Scripture is clear that sometimes the righteous will suffer persecution. In this Beatitude Jesus assures us that when this happens we are blessed.

How can we coexist?

This is the 20th post in the Sermon on the Mount Series. “Give peace a chance” “Coexist” You’ve probably seen bumper stickers with similar sentiments. The problem is that evil is a reality that must be dealt with. Some men (or women) will seek to dominate others through force or intimidation. Even a casual investigation into the […]

Shepherd vs. Leader

This is, after all, what the word pastor means. A pastor is a shepherd, or at least, is supposed to be a shepherd. Shepherds care for their flock, not just as a group, but as individuals.

Post Series

  • Westminster Shorter Catechism Series
  • Sermon on the Mount Series

Categories

Archives

Blogger Grid
Follow me on Blogarama

Copyright © 2022 · Focus Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in