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John 17: Christ’s High Priestly Prayer

John 17, known as Christ’s High Priestly Prayer, reveals Jesus’ unique intercessory role as mediator between God and believers. This prayer emphasizes Reformed themes of particular redemption, effectual sanctification, and eternal security through Christ’s priestly work. Here’s a Reformed analysis of key verses:

  • : Jesus seeks mutual glorification with the Father through the cross, establishing His authority to grant eternal life to the elect (John 17:1-2). This reflects His mediatorial role as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

  • : Eternal life consists in knowing the Triune God (John 17:3), emphasizing relational knowledge rather than mere intellectual assent – a key Reformed distinction between saving faith and nominal belief.

  • : Jesus explicitly prays “for those whom you gave me” (John 17:9), underscoring the Reformed doctrine of definite atonement. His priestly work specifically secures salvation for the elect, not merely making salvation possible for all.

  • : The Father’s keeping power (John 17:11-12) ensures the perseverance of saints. Calvin notes this “keeping” involves both protection from apostasy and progressive sanctification.

  • : Sanctification occurs through “thy truth; thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Reformed theology stresses Scripture as the sole infallible means of holiness, opposing mystical or tradition-based sanctification.

  • : Believers are sanctified not for isolation but for Gospel witness (John 17:18-19). Christ’s self-consecration as the highest sacrifice (John 17:19) mirrors the Day of Atonement rituals, fulfilling the Old Covenant’s shadows.

  • : The prayer for unity “as we are one” (John 17:22) refers to Trinitarian harmony, not institutional uniformity. Reformed ecclesiology locates this unity in our shared confession of Christ and Gospel truth.

  • : Unity serves as apologetic evidence that “the world may believe” (John 17:21), showing the missional focus of Christ’s priestly intercession.

  • : The demand “that they may be with me” (John 17:24) reflects Christ’s authority as High Priest to claim His redeemed. Turretin notes this demonstrates the efficacy of His intercession based on merit, not mere request.

  • : “I made known to them your name” (John 17:26) highlights the Reformed emphasis on God’s self-disclosure through Christ, completed in Scripture.

  1. : As our High Priest, Christ “always lives to make intercession” (Hebrews 7:25), applying His finished work to believers daily.

  2. : The prayer fulfills the Old Testament priesthood, with Christ as the final sacrifice and eternal intercessor (Hebrews 9:24-28).

  3. : Believers find comfort knowing Christ’s prayers – unlike human intercession – “has great power as it is working” (James 5:16) with guaranteed efficacy.

This prayer encapsulates the Reformed emphasis on Monergistic salvation: the Father elects, the Son redeems and intercedes, and the Spirit sanctifies – all working inseparably to secure every believer’s eternal inheritance.

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The Promises of Jesus

The following verses are taken from the Gospels. They focus on promises made to those who believe in our Lord Jesus, who died for our sins.

John 3:14-18 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

John 5:24-25 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.”

John 5:28-29 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.”

John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

John 6:37 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

John 6:40 “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”

John 6:54-57 “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.”

John 7:37-38 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

 (NKJV) John 8:51 “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

John 10:9-10 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:14-16 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

John 10:27-29 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 12:25-26 “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

John 12:46 “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

John 14:2-4 “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

John 14:19 “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”

John 14:20 “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

John 14:21 “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

John 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

John 15:10 “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

John 15:11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

John 15:26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”

John 16:12-15 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”

John 16:23-24 “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 5:3-11 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”

Matthew 5:19 “Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 6:3-4 “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:6 “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (See also Luke 11:9-10.)

Matthew 7:11 “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Matthew 7:21, 24-25 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”

(NKJV) Matthew 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.”

Matthew 10:42 “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”

Matthew 11:6 “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 12:49-50 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 18:18-20 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 19:29-30 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

Matthew 21:18-22 Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (See also Mark 11:12-14.)

Matthew 25:34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, Ineeded clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’”

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them [the eleven disciples] and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Luke 6:37-38 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 9:48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”

Luke 11:11-13 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

In Luke 21:33 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Source: NIV Version, unless otherwise noted.
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Bible Study: Ephesians 1

The letter to the church at Ephesus was authored by the apostle Paul.  This study looks at the first chapter of this letter.

As Christians, our greatest blessings are more deeply appreciated when we comprehend that our Father – the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is glorified (Eph1:14) in blessing his children. Most fathers find great joy when their children are around them, united in kindred spirit. I recall taking my four children to a restaurant when they were young during a holiday trip. The restauranteur said to me with great admiration as he sat us around a unique table, “You have a glorious family.” In a way, I understand the Father’s joy as being glorified when his children come to him. As a father looking at my beautiful children, I was glorified in my family via the Spirit of God and the light surrounding us.

Moreover, we are to reciprocally bless, meaning praise the Father for his blessings: “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” and “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 as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Eph 1:3-4 ESV)

Notably, the Father has blessed us “in Christ,” which denotes a necessary vital union with Jesus Christ. The following explanation that the apostle Paul gives emphasizes this vital union that “in Christ” means:

Key points are revealed here:

  1. We were predestined as chosen by the Father in Christ – “in him”
  2. We were chosen long before the world was created – “before the foundation of the world”
  3. Our predestined selection was a sovereign act of love for us with a view that we are his children adopted out of the world’s masses – “in love” by “his will”
  4. Our enablement to rejoin the Father’s family was achieved “through Jesus Christ,” whose act brought legal restitution to the Father when his ransom-death paid for our sin on the cross.
  5. We are viewed as “holy and blameless” in Christ, firstly as we are covered by his redemptive act of atonement on the cross referred to as legally justified (cf. Romans ch. 3, 5) – holiness can only be our ongoing aim – and will always be “not yet fully obtained” as we approach purity via his indwelling Spirit.

Our blessing came to us through Jesus Christ’s redemptive act of dying for our sins on the cross of Calvary as the entrance method God chose to bring us back home. He has blessed us “in Christ,” also noted as “through Jesus” – reiterated for impact as “in the Beloved” and “in him” – “…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 (Eph 1:5-6 ESV).

The blessings we derive are primarily spiritual and cover the broad scope of life now and into eternity, things that only followers of Jesus can understand and appreciate by faith. Paul notes that the Father has blessed his chosen, preordained children who come to him via Jesus by faith with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places… according to the riches of his grace” (Eph 1: 3, 7). As children, we are restored, and restitution is made to the Father – thus, by grace, we are saved.

We know these are spiritual blessings because, as the Father’s children, we acknowledge that he gives us insight into the gospel of grace in the Word of God to the degree that “he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will.” Moreover, we, the believers, the church, are universally united via the Spirit of Christ “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” (Eph 1:9-10).

Again, I want to draw attention to the “the Father of glory” (Eph1:17) who is at work to “give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe” (Eph 1:17-19)

Why would the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be so concerned that you have wisdom, a revelation of his knowledge, by having our hearts enlightened? It is so that you, the reader, can know “the hope to which he has called you” and that you understand all of God’s efforts via his Word set forth by reading, pastoral ministry, preaching and prayer to him, available as God the Father’s own possession.

King David, a man of great power and wealth and victory over his enemies, could say prayerfully with praise to the Father: “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139: 13-14 NASV)

Have you ever thought about being a child of God? Let’s go one step further. Have you ever considered that though you come to your father as the one who created you and gave your life? Through Jesus Christ by faith, this life is renewed and restored to unify you and your Father. You are not your own possession! The Father is taking back his rightful fatherly role over you as his child in redeeming you from the corruption of this world (which continually disregards his Creatorship/Fatherhood). The New American Standard Bible puts it this way:

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Eph 1:13, 14)

Takeaway of Chapter 1: You were elected — predestined to be reunited with the Father by faith in his son Jesus Christ. The gospel is a message of truth, bringing you salvation from eternal judgment. By connecting with Christ to God’s family, the Father is taking you back as he created and now His redeemed possession. This offers you unlimited spiritual blessings now and in eternity as you follow Jesus Christ. The Father “gave him as head over all things to the church” (Eph 1: 22), and Jesus continues to lead and guide his faithful followers, showered with eternal blessed insight.

 

 

 

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Depend on Jesus to Give You Eternal Life

January 11 is my deceased mother’s birthday. Had she lived on, she would have been 96 today. She was a devout believer in Christ. I know she has gone to be with Jesus, to a special place prepared explicitly for her. In her long time in long-term care, she loved singing hymns with the Pastor, who visited frequently and the facility’s community,

Her favourite scripture was quoting Jesus from John 14:2 NLT: There is more than enough room in my Father’s home… I am going to prepare a place for you…

In addition to knowledge of the facts of the gospel and approval of those facts, to be saved, I must decide to depend on Jesus to save me. In doing this, I move from being an interested observer of the facts of salvation and the teachings of the Bible to being someone who enters into a new relationship with Jesus Christ as a living person.

Therefore, we may define saving faith in the following way: Saving faith is trust in Jesus Christ as a living person for forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God. This definition emphasizes that saving faith is not just a belief in facts. Moreover, believing faith is a personal trust in Jesus to save me.

Much more is involved in salvation than simply forgiveness of sins and eternal life, but someone who initially comes to Christ seldom realizes the extent of the blessings of salvation that will come. Moreover, we may rightly summarize the two major concerns of a person who trusts in Christ as “forgiveness of sins” and “eternal life with God.”

The main thing that concerns an unbeliever who comes to Christ is the fact that sin has separated him or her from the fellowship with God for which we were made. The unbeliever comes to Christ seeking to remove sin and guilt and enter into a genuine relationship with God that will last forever.

The definition emphasizes personal trust in Christ, not just belief in facts about Christ. Because saving faith in Scripture involves this personal trust, the word “trust” is a better word to use in contemporary culture than the word “faith” or “belief.” The reason is that we can “believe” something to be true without personal commitment or dependence.

I can believe the sky is blue or one plus one is two, but I have no personal trusting commitment or dependence on anyone when I simply believe those facts. On the other hand, the word faith is sometimes used today to refer to a commitment to something despite strong evidence, to the contrary, a sort of irrational decision to believe something that we are pretty sure is not valid! 2

The word trust is closer to the biblical idea, since we are familiar with trusting persons in everyday life. The more we come to know a person, and the more we see in that person a pattern of life that warrants trust, the more we find ourselves able to place trust in that person to do what he or she promises, or to act in ways that we can rely on. This fuller sense of personal trust is indicated in several passages of Scripture in which initial saving faith is spoken of in very personal terms, drawn from personal relationships. John says, “To all who received him who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (John 1:12). Much as we would receive a guest into our homes, John speaks of receiving Christ. 3

John 3:16 tells us that “whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Here John uses a surprising phrase when he does not simply say, “whoever believes him” (that is, believes that what he says is true and able to be trusted), but rather, “whoever believes in him.” There is a sense of trust or confidence that goes into and rests in Jesus as a person.

Faith, for John, is an activity which takes men right out of themselves and makes them one with Christ.” There is a significant indication that New Testament faith is not just intellectual assent but includes a “moral element of personal trust. 1 Such an expression was well suited to express that personal trust in Christ is involved in saving faith.

Jesus speaks of “coming to him” in several places. He says, “All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out” (John 6:37). He also says, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). In a similar way, he says, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28–30). In these passages we have the idea of coming to Christ and asking for acceptance, for living water to drink, and for rest and instruction. All of these give an intensely personal picture of what is involved in saving faith. 3

The author of Hebrews also asks us to think of Jesus as now alive in heaven, ready to receive us: “He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). Jesus is pictured here (as many times in the New Testament) as one who is now alive in heaven, always able to help those who come to him.

With this understanding of true New Testament faith, we may now appreciate that when a person comes to trust in Christ, all three elements must be present. There must be some basic knowledge or understanding of the facts of the gospel. There must also be approval of, or agreement with, these facts. Such agreement includes a conviction that the facts spoken of the gospel are true, especially the fact that I am a sinner in need of salvation and that Christ alone has paid the penalty for my sin and offers salvation to me.

It also includes an awareness that I need to trust in Christ for salvation and that he is the only way to God and the only means provided for my salvation. This approval of the facts of the gospel will also involve a desire to be saved through Christ. This personal decision to trust Christ is made with my heart, a commitment to believe with my whole person.

The beauty of this is that the Holy Spirit will lead you into a deeper trusting faith. You can be sure from the very beginning:

…everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him. John 3:15

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life… And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life … (John 3:36)

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:15)

For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” …Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who believes has eternal life. (John 6:40, 47)

1 Leon Morris

2; Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology

3 Ibid

4 Ibid

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The Providence of God

When the scriptural guidelines are understood, it becomes clear that all atomic movement in the universe and among his creation only occurs with Christ’s oversight and allowance. This makes sense since he is the co-creator of this world. (Col 1:15-18)

There seems to be nothing in Scripture that would indicate that some things are outside God’s providential control, or that these ways of God’s acting are unusual or unrepresentative of the ways in which he acts generally. Moreover, many of the verses that speak of God’s providence are very general: Christ “continually carries along all things by his word of power” (Heb. 1:3), and “in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:17). He “accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph. 1:11). Such Scripture passages have in view more than exceptional examples of an unusual intervention by God in the affairs of human beings; they describe the way God always works in the world. 1

Notably, two historic, well-studied church leaders, John Calvin and John Wesley, agree on the importance of understanding the doctrine of Providence for our Christian encouragement, albeit their differences of view.

Ignorance of providence is the ultimate of all miseries; the highest blessedness lies in this knowledge. – John Calvin

Among the foremost classic Christian doctrines, “there is scarce any that is so little regarded, and perhaps so little understood” as providence. – John Wesley

Here, we will begin with a the following excerpt from Wilhelm Braekel, Puritan Theologian. The Christian’s Reasonable Service. Edited by Dr Joel Beeke. 2

Consider the providence of God concerning all His creatures…that is, the immediate provision for, and dispensation of all things. This is to be observed in Genesis 22:8, “God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” Providence is also referred to as ordinance (Psa. 119:91), God’s way (Psa. 77:13), God’s hand (Acts 4:28, 17:28), God’s upholding (Heb. 1:3), God’s working (Eph. 1:11), God’s government (Ps. 93:1), and God’s care (Job 12:10, 1 Pet. 5:7, Acts 17:28).

The Heidelberg Catechism clearly and devoutly describes providence as follows: The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by His hand, He upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by His fatherly hand; that we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from His love; since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.

Providence is a divine power. This is not merely due to providence being executed by the omnipotent One, but particularly in reference to the extrinsic execution of this power towards His creatures. It is therefore stated with emphasis, “And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him …” (Mark 5:30). Providence is an omnipotent power. When perceiving the magnitude of the work of creation; the innumerable number of creatures; the unfathomable diversity of their natures and appearance; the existence and continuation of each created object according to its own essential nature; the movement of animate, rational, and inanimate creatures; the precise order of all things both as to movement and the manner in which one object initiates the motion and progression of another object—one must lose himself in amazement regarding the infinite power and wisdom of God by which all things are maintained and governed. By this power God irresistibly executes whatsoever He wills, and no one can prevent Him from doing so. “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” (Isa. 14:27); “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure” (Isa. 46:10).

Providence is an omnipresent power of God. This is not merely true in reference to the omnipresent Being of God, but particularly in reference to His energizing power in all His creatures. This power of God does not merely manifest itself generally in all things. Neither does it merely affect the initial secondary causes, which in turn further initiate motion and activity in all other secondary causes. This power of God penetrates the existence of every creature, and thus, in an immediate sense and via all secondary causes, affects the ultimate outcome of all things. The power of God is therefore in all things and manifests itself in all that exists and moves. If we had clear perception, we would observe this power in everything.

1 Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 2004), 342.

2 Excerpt: Wilhelm Braekel, Puritan Theologian. The Christian’s Reasonable Service. Edited by Dr Joel Beeke.

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Avoid the Status Quo

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

I dip into a leadership devotional every morning while my wife prepares coffee before our joint bible devotional. The following is from the renowned business speaker John Maxwell: 1

The status quo is Latin for “the mess we’re in.” But leaders see beyond the mess. They have a vision for what could be and are never content with things as they are. To be leading, by definition, is to be in front, breaking new ground, conquering new worlds, and moving away from the status quo. This proactive and visionary approach sets leaders apart and empowers them to make a difference.

Leaders are not just those who lead but are willing to be different and take risks. A person who refuses to risk change fails to grow. A leader who loves the status quo soon becomes a follower. Raymond Smith of the Bell Atlantic Corporation once remarked, “Taking the safe road, doing your job, and not making any waves may not get you fired (right away, at least), but it sure won’t do much for your career or your company over the long haul. We’re not dumb. We know that administrators are easy to find and cheap to keep. However, leaders who are risk-takers are in very short supply. And the ones with vision are pure gold. As a leader, you are not just a follower but an integral part of the process.”

Many people seem afraid of the risk because they are more comfortable with old problems than with the challenge of devising new solutions. The difference is attitude. When you seek out potential leaders, look for people who seek solutions.

1 Source: Leadership, John Maxwell

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Predestined explained by John Stott

When studying theology, theologians often see the truth differently, depending on their denominational upbringing. For example, reformed preacher John MacArthur holds to the doctrine of election, as does the reformed theologian John Stott. Stott explains predestination here, in contradistinction to the opposite view:

Predestination, often misconstrued as fostering apathy, actually maintains a delicate balance. While salvation is indeed God’s work, it does not absolve us of our responsibility before Him. Scripture’s emphasis on God’s sovereignty does not diminish our responsibility, but rather, it underscores the harmony between the two.

Instead, the two lie side by side in an antinomy, an apparent contradiction between two truths. Unlike a paradox, an antinomy is not deliberately manufactured; it is forced upon us by the facts themselves. We do not invent it, and we cannot explain it. Nor is there any way to get rid of it, save by falsifying the very facts that led us to it.

A good example is found in the teaching of Jesus, who declared both that ‘”no-one can come to me unless the Father … draws him” (John 6:44) and that “you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:40). Why do people not come to Jesus? Is it that they cannot? Or is it that they will not? The only answer which is compatible with his own teaching is: Both, even though we cannot reconcile them.

Predestination is said to foster narrow-mindedness, as the elect people of God become absorbed only in themselves. The opposite is the case. The reason God called one man, Abraham, and his one family was not for their blessing only but that through them, all the families of the earth might be blessed. Similarly, the reason God chose his Servant, that shadowy figure in Isaiah whom we see partly fulfilled in Israel, but especially in Christ and his people, was not only to glorify Israel but to bring light and justice to the nations.

Indeed, these promises were a great spur to Paul (as they should be to us) when he courageously broadened his evangelistic vision to include the Gentiles. Thus, God has made us his own people, not that we should be his elite favourites, but that we should be his witnesses “to proclaim the glorious deeds of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Peter 2:9). So the doctrine of divine predestination promotes humility, not arrogance; assurance, not apprehension; responsibility, not apathy; holiness, not complacency; and mission, not privilege. 1

1 Stott, J.R.W. (2001) The Message of Romans, Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press (The Bible Speaks Today), pp. 251–252.

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The Predestined Elect: Made live with Christ

We herein primarily focus on Ephesians 2:1–7. While Jesus and Peter explain regeneration through the imagery of birth, Paul explains regeneration through the imagery of resurrection from the dead. As the theologian Dr. Hoekema states, for Paul, “regeneration is the fruit of the Spirit’s purifying and renewing activity, that it is equivalent to making dead persons alive, that it takes place in union with Christ, and that it means that we now become part of God’s wondrous new creation.” 1 Paul speaks of God making dead persons alive in Ephesians 2: And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1–7)

In Ephesians 2 we see a powerful picture of what takes place in regeneration. The sinner is dead but God makes him alive. The sinner is in the grave but God resurrects him from the dead. Notice that, contrary to Arminianism, there is no contingency or intermediate stage here in which God begins to make a sinner alive whereby the further outcome of that act is dependent upon the sinner’s decision. Rather, the transition is immediate, instantaneous, and unilateral as the sinner is at one moment dead and the next moment alive (Ephesians 2:10). The situation is comparable with the resurrection of Christ. Christ was dead but God in great power resurrected him bodily from the grave (Ephesians 1:19–20). Or consider Lazarus, who was dead, rotting in the tomb for days, and suddenly, at the command of Christ, was resurrected and walked out of the tomb alive (John 11). The theologian Reymond observes, “The conclusion cannot be avoided that God’s regenerating work must causally precede a man’s faith response to God’s summons to faith.”

Moreover, the sinner who is “made alive” is in a situation not only comparable to Christ’s, but also receives new life that is actually found in and with Christ. Paul states that God made us alive together with Christ and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), so that in the coming ages we would know the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ. Paul’s readers have come to life with Christ, who was dead and rose again; their new life, then, is a sharing in the new life which he received when he rose from the dead.

It is only in union with him that death is vanquished and new life, an integral part of God’s new creation, received. Because the believer’s previous condition has been spoken of as a state of death (Ephesians 2: 1, 5), there is no direct reference to Christ’s death or to the believer’s participation in it. Instead, the sharp contrast between our former condition outside of Christ and being made alive with him is presented. The theologian O’Brien is right in identifying being made alive with the resurrection of Christ. As Sinclair Ferguson states, “Regeneration is causally rooted in the resurrection of Christ” (1 Peter 1:3).

Like produces like; our regeneration is the fruit of Christ’s resurrection.” It is Christ’s resurrection which is the very basis of the sinner’s coming to life with Christ, as is further demonstrated in Ephesians 2:6 where the sinner is raised up and seated in Christ. Our spiritual resurrection to new life is made explicit by what Paul contrasts it to, namely, deadness in trespasses and sins and bondage to the world (“following the course of this world,” Ephesians 2:2); and Satan (“following the prince of the power of the air,” Ephesians 2:2); and the flesh (“once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind,” Ephesians 2:3). Like the rest of mankind we were “by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3). Therefore, being made alive, as O’Brien states, implies not only forgiveness, but also “liberation from these tyrannical forces.” Paul’s words here in Ephesians 2 closely parallel his words in Colossians: “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses” (Col. 2:13; cf. Rom. 6:11).

Finally, Paul also states that being made alive together with Christ is by grace (“by grace you have been saved”). O’Brien comments, “He draws attention to a mighty rescue which arose out of God’s gracious initiative, which had already been accomplished in Christ, and which has abiding consequences for them: it is by grace you have been saved.” As seen throughout Paul’s epistles, grace stands opposed to merit or any contribution on the part of man (Ephesians 2:8–10). 2

Grace is God’s favor toward sinners in spite of what they deserve (Rom. 3:21–26; 4:4; 5:15). The word “save” (“by grace you have been saved”) can and is many times used to refer to an eschatological reality, the deliverance from God’s wrath and final judgment. As Dr Thielman observes, in some passages Paul can “describe it [saved] as an ongoing event in the present (1 Cor. 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor. 2:15) and say, ‘Now is the day of salvation’ (2 Cor. 6:2; cf. Isa. 39:8). But Paul “normally refers to it as something believers will experience in the future, presumably at the final day (1 Thess. 2:16; 1 Cor. 3:15; 5:5; 10:33; Rom. 5:9–10; 9:27; 10:9; 11:26).

However, as O’Brien explains, the case differs in Ephesians 2, for “saved” refers specifically to what “has already been accomplished and experienced.” It describes a “rescue from death, wrath, and bondage and a transfer into the new dominion with its manifold blessings. In a roundabout way, the periphrastic perfect construction draws attention to the resulting state of salvation.” Paul is referring to salvation as something that is “emphatically present for believers” even though the “use of the perfect tense in Ephesians 2:5, 8 for salvation is unusual.” 3

Paul does draw our attention to the future eschatological consequences of this salvation in verse Ephesians 2:7, being seated with Christ in the coming age. However, in Ephesians 2:5–6 Paul shows that being saved by grace means that God making us alive together with Christ is also by grace. Therefore, being made alive or regenerated is neither an act that is accomplished by man’s works of righteousness nor an act conditioned upon man’s willful cooperation. Rather, being made alive is by grace and by grace alone, meaning that it is purely by God’s initiative, prerogative, and power that the sinner is resurrected from spiritual death.

Grace is not merely unmerited favor in the sense that one may choose to receive or reject a gift. Grace is the impartation of new life. Grace is a power that raises someone from the dead, that lifts those in the grave into new life. Grace is not merely an undeserved gift, though it is such; it is also a transforming power. Grace imparted life when we were dead, and grace also raises us and seats us with Christ in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 2:6)

Therefore, it will not do to say with the Arminian that God’s grace is a gift to be accepted or resisted. Yes, God’s grace is a gift, but more than that it is a powerful gift that actually and effectually accomplishes new life as God intends.

The Puritan, Matthew Henry notes: Those who have experienced the grace of Christ for a longer time are under more special obligations to glorify God; they should be strong in faith and glorify him more eminently. Yet to glorify him should be the common goal of all. We were made for this, and we were redeemed for this; this is the great intention of our Christianity and of God in everything he has done for us: it is unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14). He intends that his grace and power and other perfections will by this means become clearly visible and glorious, and that his people will exalt him.

Further Henry states: Election, or choice, respects that lump or mass of mankind out of which some are chosen, from which they are separated and distinguished. Predestination has respect to the blessings they are designed for; particularly the adoption of children, it being the purpose of God that in due time we should become his adopted children, and so have a right to all the privileges and to the inheritance of children. We have here the date of this act of love: it was before the foundation of the world; not only before God’s people had a being, but before the world had a beginning; for they were chosen in the counsel of God from all eternity. (Ephesians 1:4)

I like to summarize it this way: God predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— not our free will alone. Free will must be preceded by God’s will to chose us, then He opens our minds to the Spirit’s proclamation of the gospel when heard, as he in continuum also sends the teaching preacher to reveal Christ to that individual.

1 Theologian notes: The Effectual Call of Election, Ron Rhodes 

2 Ibid

3 Ibid

4 Ibid

 

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Understanding the origin of Evil

One of the best definitions of the mystery of evil is philosophically developed by Jonathan Cahn, a Messianic Jew. Herein, I have selected some of his best deductive reasoning.1

In popular culture, evil is often depicted in an almost cartoonish form. Because of this, its existence is often dismissed. But its presence is real, and its impact on our world is critical. We do so at our peril if we should dismiss or ignore it.

What is evil? And how did it come into existence? It is both a mystery and a problem. The mystery is the problem. The problem is that it is attempted to be used in countless arguments to disprove God’s existence or nature.

To find the answer, we must start with the foundations. That evil exists cannot be debated. To deny it is to deny reality. But the fact that evil exists does not disprove the existence of God. Nor does it disprove the existence of a supernatural or spiritual realm—far from it. If there was nothing more to life or existence than the material realm or the physical universe, we could not speak of good or evil. Then war, death, murder, and destruction would not be evil or even a problem but simply the playing out of forces and the rearrangement of molecules and atoms.

If there was nothing more to the universe, then we could not judge the Nazi murderer of Jewish children to be evil, or the righteous who risked their lives to save the lives of Jewish children from Nazi murderers to be good. Nor could we esteem life to be of greater value than death. As with meaning, values, and significance, good and evil require a reality beyond that of the physical. Without this all values, all moral codes, are meaningless, arbitrary, and valueless.

Evil, like good, is ultimately transcendent. Its existence does not disprove that the spiritual realm exists, but proves that it does. This leads to the next question: If evil exists, then how did it come into existence? More specifically, if God is good, then how could there be evil? And if God created evil, then how could God be good? But if God did not create evil, then how could evil exist? Or how could God be God? Therein lies the problem and the mystery. But the very problem of evil contains its answer.

If evil was created, it would not be a problem, nor would it be evil. Evil is a problem for the very reason that it was not created. It should not exist, because it was not created, and yet it does. The existence of evil defies the created order. It is not of the creation and thus exists in opposition to the created order.

Evil exists in defiance of existence. Evil is not simply a force, like that of an earthquake, a hurricane, or a fire. All these bring calamity and destruction. But none would constitute true evil. Both hurricanes and serial killers bring death. But hurricanes are not evil. Serial killers are. Why? The hurricane is an impersonal force. It acts without consciousness, will, choice, volition, or intent. But the serial killer commits his acts with conscious intent, will, and volition—and so is evil. And so evil is not an impersonal force—but a personal one, requiring consciousness, volition, will, and intent. Thus in our search for an answer to evil, we are led to personhood.

The Anti-Being What is it that makes evil evil? Evil is an inversion—an inversion of truth, of reality, of existence. Evil is, by nature, inverted and, by nature, inverts. It twists, bends, and turns existence in upon itself. It exists as anti-existence. Its being is anti-being, and its nature, anti-nature. It is a negation and therefore seeks to negate, a nullification that exists to nullify. It has no true, ultimate, or absolute existence and therefore acts to bring that which exists into nonexistence. And so evil, by nature, seeks destruction. It opposes that which is. Possessing no absolute or true existence of its own, evil is, as well, by nature, parasitic.

Being not of the created order, it can exist only by drawing its existence from that order. Evil must use the good. And so though good can exist without evil, evil cannot exist without good. Truth can exist without falsehood, but falsehood cannot exist without truth. Laws can exist without crimes, marriage without adultery, and life without murder.

Clarifying Note: Satan opposed Yahweh God, with his intent to usurp God’s sovereignty saying: “I will ascend above the top of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.” Isaiah 14;14 In this sense evil was not created by God, but by the misuse of a fallen angel’s free will.

But crimes cannot exist without laws, adultery without marriage, nor murder exist without life. Destruction requires structure, immorality requires morality, and sin requires the holy. The good is primary. Evil is the parasitic inversion of the good. And so the existence of evil inadvertently testifies not against the existence of the good—but for it. It bears witness, unwillingly, to the existence of the good—the existence of God.

As Jonathan’s book develops he helps us understand the headship of evil powers referred to Satan, the antithesis of good effecting our universe and which nations are at the forefront of satanic representation in the current ongoing saga prior to the prophesied Second Advent of Christ. A very important book for our time. I have posted a YouTube by Jonathan Cahn below. 2

1 Cahn, Jonathan. The Dragon’s Prophecy: Israel, the Dark Resurrection, and the End of Days (pp. 6-7). Charisma House. Kindle Edition.

2 Video by Jonathan Cahn

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When trouble comes your way

I waited patiently for the LORD, And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. Psalm 40:1-2

I suggest reading the Psalms regularly, especially the Psalms of King David, whom God called “a man after my own heart.” I herein share one of my evening devotional readings noting a Davidic Psalm from Dr. David Jeremiah:

King David knew something about suffering, particularly suffering caused by his own actions. But he also knew to whom he could turn during those times of trouble.

What great comfort and joy come to us when we understand that God is rich in grace and mercy and forgives, restores, and redeems! The Lord lifts us from our personal pits of despair and puts us in right standing with Him, transforming our lives in ways we could never imagine.

When times of trouble arrive—even trouble we bring on ourselves—we must turn to God and wait patiently for His help. He’ll never fail us. Remember these truths about the God you serve, then proclaim them to everyone who will hear. It’s our responsibility and privilege to share God’s truths with others, empowering them to find hope and comfort in Him.