I was listening today to Seye Maj message on God's sovereign choice this morning on my way to work. It was beautiful how he built the sermon from the Synod of Dort, and I appreciated the history he brought in. Another thing was the arguments he made even though I felt that the Ephesians 1 reference was quite read to fit a theological framework (my thoughts in personal judgement).
But there was something he said at the latter end: all Christians believe in election, just how we explain it differs. It felt so gracious for many reasons.
First, that he recognized other Christians as Christians. Beautiful. Ah. I felt so happy, and learned something I can't put to words but while we discuss the mysteries around our regeneration, we should always remember that we're brethren. Secondly, he said he holds that the Reformation view is better for him.
Then the part that blessed me the most. How do you know you're elect?
I listened a bit and paused there to meditate until I got distracted. But I really wanted to re-hear the things he was saying. They were really reinforcing the Sola Gratia truth. Things happening within more than things without, things that depend more on God than us: sorrow for sin, fear of God and desire for righteousness.
But I had a question (please, don't bother about a debate). I'm just reflecting. You know I was asking myself, and telling myself, all of these is the crisis between how much of God, and how much of man is responsible for their eternal destination.
The Reformed conclusion made God absolutely responsible for both ends in my opinion, even though, it's said to be passing over as the Esau-Jacob narrative puts it, but I feel that's a picture to show us God's grace without it being a conclusion on God's revelation in that face of scripture saying "God who wants all to be saved...and not willing that any should perish."
And then the Remonstrance (I told you all that he thought history 😂), makes it partly God and partly man; and that's also a bit tricky in the face of the substantial scripture supporting it was all of God.
And my conclusion is that we may be wrestling something altogether: the difficulty of looking at God's election and calling him unjust as Paul said in Romans 9 then adds "What if." I don't think he was making a sure statement. The opening makes it look plausible and assumptive. He wasn't sure God is doing that in my opinion.
So, I person was just reflecting. Could this be the difficulty? God chose us, and God didn't choose others; OR God quickened us to choose Him, and some chose and others didn't?
I would listen to Session 2 on my way home this evening.
May God bless those brethren, and it gladdens me personally that even the Remonstrance guys like the Protestant guys, in history, and by the fruit of their lives, were children of God.
God bless Pst. Seye and increase His grace upon Him. Such a good teacher, and not too emotive. Reminds me of @Thatnsukkaboy_ . They talk, and they just talk with much emotions. I know myself 😂😂😂
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 HE that believeth on him is not condemned: but HE that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For EVERY ONE that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But HE that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Twist “whosoever,” “the world,” and “he that believeth” however your theology demands, but you cannot erase what Christ plainly declares here: salvation is offered through Him to all, and men stand condemned ONLY for their unbelief, not because God takes pleasure in their destruction or deliberately withheld the provision of salvation from some.
In 2019 presidential election when it was still turn of the North, Peter Obi didn't think twice before deputising for Atiku.
Peter Obi didn't just deputise but he still put in the work and delivered South East and South South.
Peter Obi held his 2 regions down for Atiku. But Atiku failed woefully to secure the North.
Buhari beat him mercilessly in the North West and also decimated Atiku in his own North East.
Peter Obi actually gave Atiku a chance but Atiku fumbled it. How do you lose all 2 Northern regions and the middle belt.
One important trait lacking in our leaders is compassion, and in H.E. Peter Obi, we have a leader who is compassionate and caring.
A compassionate leader will not inflict pain on the citizens, and this is why it is important to vote for a leader who is caring and altruistic.
Pastoring @theforgeintl is one of the best privileges of my life!
Sunday after Sunday! We are getting better! Our curriculum getting richer! Souls are being discipled!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Reminds me of the story of the widows mite, when Jesus told the apostles when they admired the temple , “Truly i tell you, not one stone shall be left on another, everyone won will be thrown down”
This is exactly how they’ve built those empire and massive auditorium, he opened a massive one today in PH..
Anyway they are not even better than their spiritual father..
These are the fruits from the man in Ota..