Jerry Wragg

Unworthy slave of Jesus Christ

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

Jesus + Nothing = Everything God Promised - http://t.co/SupGlmioQ8

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

https://t.co/U8eR4oWeDJ

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@lukedsimmons D. Kofi’s counsel is prudent

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@lukedsimmons I had to address this same issue, even preached on it and wrote about it. It’s an important one, Luke. Your mention of this issue is not uncommon. Thank you. Pastors need to be wise.

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

I see what you’re emphasizing, and as to union with Christ and the position of having been sanctified in Him, I agree. The challenge with your post is that the biblical MEANS by which growth and maturity occur (empowered by the Spirit alone) are not mentioned, leaving the impression that progressive sanctification is an automatic part of the “unit” without our humble faith and holy striving. I also loathe “performance,” as you do, but we are to proactively—in diligent faith—“supply moral virtue” as commanded by our Lord
(2 Pet 1:5ff). Our union with Him makes our redemption assured, and our humble striving in His Spirit’s power by faith increases Christlikeness and maturity.

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@MBurtwrites @douglaswils 😏

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@Garcia_Mark_A It exposes the growing confusion in how God’s people draw interpretive conclusions when formulating convictions. So many are both ignorant of basic principles of interpretation and recalcitrant when corrected. These trends are not good.

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@graceforprize @MichaelCarlino And be sure to include Acts 26:20, where Paul clearly says that the grace behind genuine repentance and faith also empowers believers to “”practice deeds appropriate to” that claim.

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

“To take God's Word in vain is to read it without faith, to hear it without obedience, to quote it without submission. It is to reduce divine truth to an intellectual theory, a religious tradition, or a self-help slogan. God is not silent about such dishonor. He esteems not the proud, nor the clever--but the broken-hearted saint who reverences and clings to His Word as life itself. God's Word is His love letter to His redeemed people . . .
  stained with the blood of His Son,
  sealed with His Spirit,
  and full of precious promises.

If we would honor God, we must tremble at what He has spoken. Let His Word correct us, rebuke us, humble us, and lead us. Let us never handle it lightly or foolishly, but receive it with meekness, as God's voice in print.”

—C.H. Spurgeon

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@sevier_nick Outstanding, Nick.

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@brandonmscalf Yep

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

Israel sure endured centuries of severe chastening (even rampant deaths) despite not having a clue what God was talking about. The Amill interpretation turns Israel into an ignorant whipping boy, who felt the righteous anger of their God for no reason. They simply couldn’t get any clarity.

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@JeffTaylorLR Thoughtful thread, Jeff

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@RravenM @TerriGreenUSA Exactly

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@Isaiah45_7 @Fred_Butler It’s why I wrote “Free To Be Holy”

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@Isaiah45_7 @Fred_Butler Spot on

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

I respond in two ways: (1) their burdened heart about their spiritual state IS evidence of the Spirit’s work within them; and (2) 2 Pet 1:3-11 is one of the most crucial texts for helping doubting believers. When assurance is elusive, Peter declares what we’ve been “granted” in Christ, and then he calls the doubter to tap into the power of the Spirit by moving forward in diligent faith. Peter assures us that when we press forward in faith, the Spirit produces the moral fruit that gives evidence that Christ has indeed granted life to us, and assurance is strengthened. In our ministry, this text has become a life-changer for so many. In today’s church culture, Peter would be labeled a discourager and law-preacher. But assurance IS NOT fortified MERELY by clinging to the cross. YES, our salvation IS Christ’s work from start to finish! We can trust that reality and be assured within us by faith. BUT the cross of Christ provides power over sin, which Peter says we should diligently access for strengthening assurance. “When these qualities are yours and are increasing” we become “fruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Spirit deepens assurance as He empowers us to Christlike holiness. Telling doubters over and over that Christ did it all for them while neglecting to help them access divine power by diligent faith is discouraging. They need to experience Christ’s power over their sin. He’s promised it. Help the doubter diagnose where their faith is least diligent and walk with them toward a greater trust in all that we’ve been granted. They will begin to experience an increasing Christlikeness, and their assurance will deepen. It will NEVER be perfect. Battling sin and striving for holiness IS our privilege in the power of Christ. And amazingly, our meager offerings of obedience never diminishes His love for us! But He’s promised His power. He’s granted it. We have THAT guarantee within us! So “we press on” in His power.

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@TomHicks2LCF Paul Shirley and I wrote Free To Be Holy 10 yrs ago to deal with this very issue. This is excellent!

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

Especially when they regularly claim that assurance comes “only through Christ” without explaining the claim.

What are we to make of the various warning passages (2 Cor 13:5; Col 1:22-23; Matt 24:13) that seem to indicate the potential of a true child of God apostatizing?
Wouldn’t this approach tend to foster an unhealthy introspection,
external performance, and ultimately weakened assurance?
No! God has created us in Christ Jesus and prepared long ago that we should walk in good works, YET the ordained means by which
He brings about our preservation is the manifold commands, admonitions, encouragements, and calls to faithfulness.

We might look at the matter in this way:
Eternal Security → Promises God’s faithfulness, Describes
God’s securing power, Explains God’s sovereign purposes, Ascribes to God exclusive glory

Assurance → Grows with Christian faithfulness, Manifested
by increasing holiness, Shaken by a ravaged conscience, Fades with patterns of neglect and rebellion

God will do what He promises, but we are warned to practice what He commands (Heb. 10:23). God’s warnings against unbelief are
intended to forge an active and passionate growth in His grace, to prevent the self-deception of false security, to test levels of
faithfulness, and to cause sober reflection on the dangers of unbelief. These warnings will have different impact, depending upon the maturity level of each believer:

For the strong Christian– Warnings offer a reminder to press on all the more, and an abiding confidence that one has obeyed these cautions.
For the weak but willing – Warnings provide a
graphic deterrent to future patterns of sin. They display the specific care of God in pointing to dangers; They engender a greater dependence on grace.
For the weak and stubborn – Warnings bring instant clarity to trouble (chastening); They bring greater conviction to the conscience; They expose unbelief as the source of all stubbornness.
For the hardened – Warnings call for the justice of God, thereby upholding holiness; They confirm the traits of apostasy; They declare the absence of true
conversion.

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

@ConradMbewe Wonderful, brother. Congratulations!!

[Jerry Wragg @Jerry_Wragg]

And what, I ask, would he know of Jesus at all apart from the Spirit of Truth’s living and active written revelation, “breathed out by God?” Answer: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Seeking some way to “choose Jesus” apart from His own inerrant word opens an immediate portal to lies from the evil one.