Kunlé Abatan

Sinner saved by Grace | Reformed Baptist | Husband | Father

[Chukwuedozie Nwa Charlie @TheCharlesIsidi]

By the way, we may fight me, but I do believe that Christians should consider adoption A LOT, even if you already have your desired number of Children.

[Sam @DrFeruke]

My people are "Ecumenical".

(A long read but will be worth your time, if you're a Christian. I promise.)

We love the APPEARANCE of peace over truth, love or godliness.

I've tried to contemplate the cultural origins of this ethos but I don't have the education in Yorùbá anthropology to nail it down decisively.

What I've just noticed is that if a man sexually abuses a child, the elders would call for a meeting to reprimand the man. Then they they would beg the parents of the child to forgive the abuser "so that the family will not scatter".

In other words, we shield evil doers and maintain association with them for the sake of APPEARANCES - so that it looks like the family is still together.

And we carried this ethos into Christianity.

The Nigerian church is more concerned about appearances than truth.

And when I began to study theology and church history more, I found that this culture is very much contrary to the spirit of Jesus' ministry and the Apostles.

And this has also been my greatest regret in ministry.

Being born into our context I also believed that associations were a "greater good". I thought that "unity of the body" was a greater virtue than fidelity to God.

I used to think that any heresy or lie or error was acceptable as long as we maintain "peace" in the body.

So I've endorsed heretics in the past while knowing they were grievous heretics. To my mind, their heresy just wasn't a big deal like that.

To my mind, it's better to focus on the good things about them and praise those things. To my mind, it's better to overlook all their grievous unrelenting, unrepentant transgressions against God.

And false teachers love this mentality. They love it so much. They love to preach peace, ecumenism and the importance of the church "looking good to the world".

They'd say "while we are fighting, Satan is laughing ".

BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN SATAN IS AMONGST US CLAIMING TO BE ONE OF US?

They never think of this.

Meanwhile, the Apostles were so loud and clear that we must not associate with heretics because they're not part of us no matter how much they claim to be.

Romans 16:17-18
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. KEEP AWAY FROM THEM. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

This tweet will be too long to show you from Peter, Jude, John how the Apostles don't even want us to wish heretics farewell.

We are not meant to be friends at all.

Yet, I used to make friends with and endorse such. I regret it DEEPLY.

Even Satan has "good qualities".

You can learn diligence, present mindedness, doggedness, vast knowledge from Satan.

All these qualities are important. Satan has them.

Does that mean we should associate with Satan and praise him?

Your answer will be NO if you're a Christian.

Then I'll ask you why? Why not?

Because anything that is contrary to Jesus is evil. And nothing justifies evil.

Being right with God is both a means and an end in itself. Everything we are doing is to be right with God.

Thus unrepentant heresy and sinful behaviour is INEXCUSABLE, irrespective of the strengths of the person.

As Jude says...

Jude 1:22-23
Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—HATING EVEN THE clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

A one degree deviation from Apostolic Faith will land us at the opposite poles of the globe, if we trace the steps to the end.

A little yeast will change the whole bread to agege bread.

Let us purge the yeast so that the communion bread can remain unleavened just as Jesus wanted.

Don't let the church-communion-bread turn to Agege bread.

Paul said it first. I Nigerianised it.

[𝕸𝖔𝖍 ♱ ☧ 🛡 🍇 @Mohsule_]

@victor_otegz How about preach the gospel ?

[Judah Olorunmaiye @JudahMaiye]

Using financial and numerical increase as the dominant metric to measure church growth is really weird.

The church is not a financial or fashion institution; it is a Divine one.

The early church certainly grew in numbers, and their liberality and generosity ensured that there was no poverty in their midst, but much more than that: they increased in grace, the fear of God and their capacity to represent Jesus on earth.

Our essence and mission will determine how we measure success and growth.

[Jesse75 @Jesse7510]

Years after LFC was accused of not preaching salvation messages, they instructed their pastors to make altar call after every sermon.

They will teach Covenant Day of Financial breakthroughs, Covenant day of long life, during the end of the service the pastor will say “if you want to enjoy all these things you have to give your life to Christ”

[Joseph Spurgeon @Joseph_Spurgeon]

The Calvinism debate can be boiled down to one stubborn question that the Noncalvinist never really answers.

Imagine two twin brothers. Same home. Same parents. Same basic upbringing. Both hear the same gospel. Both are told they are sinners. Both hear that Christ died and rose again. Both are commanded to repent and believe.

One believes. The other rejects Christ. What made the difference? That is the question. Not whether the believer really chose Christ. Calvinists believe that he did. The question is: Why did he choose Christ when the other man did not?

Maybe you say one understood the gospel better. Fine. Why? Maybe one was more humble. Why? Maybe one had experiences that softened him. Maybe certain conversations, sufferings, relationships, memories, warnings, or circumstances prepared him to respond differently. Ok Why?

Because now you are talking about providence.

God put this man in this family, at this time, in this place. God brought these people across his path. God ordained these circumstances. God caused him to hear this particular preacher proclaim this particular gospel message at this particular moment.

So did those providential differences explain why he believed?

If yes, then God’s providence made the difference. And now you have to ask why God gave one man the providential influences that brought him to faith and not the other.

But suppose you deny that. Suppose you say none of those things actually explains the difference. Both men received sufficient grace. Both were equally able to believe. Their circumstances did not determine it. Their experiences did not determine it. Their understanding did not determine it.

Then what did?

Maybe you say the believer had stronger desires for Christ. Then where did those desires come from? If his desires explain his choice, then they are part of the explanation for why he believed.

Maybe you say it was his character. Then what shaped that character?

Maybe you say it was his nature. Then why did his nature move him toward Christ while the other man's did not?

Every time you give a real explanation for why this man believed rather than rejected Christ, you are identifying something that actually made the difference. And then we can ask where that difference came from.

But to escape the difference being God's decisive acts, the non calvinist eventually refuses to let anything explain the decisive difference.

Not providence. Not nature. Not character. Not desires. Not understanding. Not circumstances. Not differing grace.

So what finally explains why one man believed?

His will chose to. Why did his will choose Christ rather than reject Christ?

Because it just did.

That is not an explanation though. Its just arbitrariness. This is the fatal problem with what is called libertarian free will: the will becomes the unexplained explainer.

The libertarian can give you all kinds of reasons the man had for believing. But here is the question that matters: What was the choice-specific reason he believed rather than rejected Christ? If precisely the same nature, desires, reasons, circumstances, influences, and grace could have produced the opposite choice, then none of those things explains why this choice actually occurred.

Everything could remain exactly the same, and the will could simply fire the other direction. This is by definition arbitrary and rationally unintelligible.

The Reformed view does not have this problem because we do not imagine the human will as some autonomous little god floating above the man’s nature, affections, desires, and reasons.

Men choose according to what they want. Their choices are real. Their desires are real. Their reasoning is real. Their willing is real. But the will belongs to a person, and fallen man, left to himself, does not want God. He loves darkness rather than light. He will not come to Christ that he may have life.

So why does anyone believe?

Because God makes the difference. God chooses. God governs providence. God sends the preacher. God brings the gospel. And through that gospel, by the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, God does not merely stand outside the sinner begging an autonomous will to make the right choice.

God gives life to the dead. He takes out the heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh. He renews the will. He opens blind eyes. He changes what the sinner loves. Christ, whom the sinner once rejected, is now seen as glorious and desirable.

And then the man chooses Christ. Really chooses Him. Freely chooses Him. God does not believe for the sinner. God does not repent for him. God does not drag him into the kingdom against his will. God changes the man, and therefore the man comes willingly.

So put the two brothers beside each other again. One believes. One does not.

Why?

The noncalvinist eventually says, “Because one will chose one way and the other will chose another,” and when you ask why, the explanation finally evaporates.

The Reformed Christian has an answer. God made the difference. And therefore the believer does not finally look at his unbelieving brother and say, “We received the same grace, but I arbitrarily supplied the decisive difference.”

He says with Paul: “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

That is the difference between Calvinism and NonCalvinism. One ends with an autonomous will that has no rational explanation and yet did the most vital work for salvation.

The other ends with grace. From beginning to end, sovereign grace.

[Tod Ashby @TodAshby]

“I’ve read the Bible” isn’t an exegetical argument.

Also, saying no one can derive particular redemption from Scripture without importing Calvinism simply assumes the conclusion you need to prove.

Forget Calvin. Forget Owen. Forget Westminster.

Jesus lays down His life “for the sheep” (John 10:15), then tells unbelievers, “you do not believe because you are not among my sheep” (10:26).

Christ “loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25).

His blood actually “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9).

By one offering He “has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Heb. 10:14).

You can dispute the Reformed exegesis of those texts, but you cannot simply declare your interpretation “the Bible itself” and competing exegesis “extrabiblical.”

You haven’t actually made an argument. You’ve just assumed your conclusion.

[𝔚𝔥𝔦𝔱𝔢𝔅𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔡 @HwsEleutheroi]

Sir, the topic has been debated for centuries...millennia, really. We can either pretend we can start from scratch, or, maybe, just maybe, consider that some wisdom has already been expressed on the topic.

Sir, your objections have been answered...fully, biblically, and on every level: exegetical, historical, philosophical. No one is dodging the issues of theodicy, will, etc. But when thousands and thousands of pages have been written, why ignore them and pretend the answers have not been given? You do not do that in any other field, so why do it here? It just wasn't consistent with what you have said and done with all the other topics you have addressed. You did not go to original sources...you sent with secondary sources from opponents of the view. That's now how it needs to be done, and I think you know that.

So the ball is in your court. Here is my honest suggestion: social media is not a healthy environment for meaningful theological consideration. Poisonous, really. But you have a chance to do something here. You can read Sproul. I would be happy to send you _The Potter's Freedom_. But my fear is that you will be pressed to do some quick debate, take a position, and then go to your grave defending it...all before having a chance to seriously consider the facts. That's the nature of today's pop culture, unfortunately. Or, you can be wise. Let the topic cool off. We both know it will die in a few days if the fire is not fed. People move on. Take the time to read Sproul. Maybe my work, maybe watch some of the debates. Have Claude summarize, if the time demands are too extensive. But do some reading. You will discover we are people of Scripture. Sola scriptura, tota scriptura. Constant emphasis upon consistency in hermeneutics and exegesis. I have defended the Trinity, deity of Christ, resurrection, etc., around the world, in debates in mosques in South Africa, or with Unitarians in Dallas. And I will tell you this: the exegetical process I use to defend monotheism, Trinity, resurrection, atonement, etc., when facing the world religions, is the same exegetical process that DRIVES me to confess the truth of "Calvinism." That's the issue. Will one be consistent, or will one use one standard for one question, and another for another?

Let me suggest one other thing. Let me ask you to consider the debate linked below. It is not on Calvinism, specifically. It is on how men have peace with God. It is with a Muslim representative. It took place in a mosque in Erasmia, South Africa. Now, I would say the message I delivered there is fully Reformed, to be sure. But I invite you to consider the content of the gospel I presented to the Muslims who were sitting on the floor only a matter of feet from me as I stood before the qibla. The exegetical standards I used as I answered Shabir's questions, from the Greek text of the New Testament, are the exegetical standards that lead me to be a Calvinist.

https://t.co/jZxPSqniKw

[Kunlé Abatan @kunleabatan]

If you truly gained entry into Heaven and saw the LORD, you won't come back to this fallen world.

[Felix @felixherbt]

The first time I went to heaven this year was an exclusive meeting with Jesus. I sat with him discussing some things. ~Apostle Arome.

Last time it was Pst Adeboye drinking tea with God in heaven.

These 21st-century pastors should take it easy on us… wtf 🤯

[Jeremiah Knight @iamrjknight]

This man is Arpan Ap, from Maharashtra, India, and he is nothing but a wolf in the guise of a prophet. He loves to call himself a king. He sits on a throne, draped in gold and jewels, and makes a mockery of the gospel of Christ. His message is a false gospel of prosperity, promising riches and status to those who follow him. He speaks gibberish and calls it tongues, and he takes pride in claiming there are levels of tongues, even a supposed angelic tongue. This is blasphemy, a complete distortion of the Word of God, designed to inflate his ego and feed his appetite for fame and fortune.

Set his falsehoods beside the true messengers of God and the contrast exposes him instantly. The biblical prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, were men who feared God. They did not sit on thrones or adorn themselves with fine clothing and jewellery. Their calling was one of sacrifice, suffering, and deep reverence for the holiness of God. Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord and was undone by it, "Woe is me, for I am ruined!" Isaiah 6:5. Jeremiah endured mockery and persecution for his bold proclamations. John the Baptist wore camel's hair, lived in the wilderness, and called people to repentance, not to wealth. These men were not kings. They were servants of the Most High, carrying His Word with trembling and humility.

One of his favourite verses to twist is Proverbs 19:4, "Wealth adds many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend." He uses it to justify his lifestyle, telling his followers that God endorses luxury, that blessing is visible only through material riches, and that luxury is not fit for the poor. He preaches a gospel where being rich is the ideal Christian life.

But what does Proverbs 19:4 actually say? The verse is not a blanket endorsement of wealth. It is an observation about fallen human nature. The wealthy are surrounded by people drawn to their riches, and the poor are abandoned because people chase wealth and position rather than character and integrity. Far from promoting riches, the proverb exposes how money manufactures false friendships built on self interest. In the kingdom of God, true friendship is marked by love, not money, and genuine relationships are built on the truth of the gospel, not on outward displays of wealth. The man quoting this verse from a golden throne has proven its point without realising it. His crowd has gathered around the gold.

This wolf craves admiration and position. His so called prophecies are a gateway to prosperity. He exploits the ignorance of those who trust him and speaks of wealth and success as though these were the true calling of God for His people. But Scripture is plain about men driven by selfish gain who distort the gospel for their own interests. "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil" 1 Timothy 6:10. Christ never promised earthly wealth and never told His followers to chase earthly glory. He said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" Matthew 6:33. The kingdom of God does not consist of wealth and status but of humility, repentance, and righteousness in Christ.

As for his supposed tongues, there is nothing biblical in the gibberish he performs. The tongues of the New Testament were real, intelligible languages given by the Holy Spirit to declare the mighty deeds of God, and the hearers at Pentecost understood them, "we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God" Acts 2:11. Paul commanded that tongues in the church be orderly, interpreted, and for edification, 1 Corinthians 14:27 and 28, never a private exhibition of pride. Nowhere does Scripture teach levels of tongues, and nowhere does it hand any man an angelic tongue as a badge of rank. His teachings are not from the Holy Spirit. They flow from his own desire for control and power over the people who trust him.

The true prophet is not concerned with personal glory. He is concerned with faithfully proclaiming the Word of God. The Lord Jesus warned us exactly about men like this, "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits" Matthew 7:15 and 16. The fruit here is plain for anyone with eyes. Self promotion, arrogance, and a prosperity gospel that feeds the flesh. But God is not mocked.

His kingdom is not the kingdom of God, and his words are not from the Lord. To everyone sitting under him, hear this as a plea and not an insult. Come out before you are swept away with his lies. There is no glory in earthly wealth and power. True prosperity is found in Christ alone, through humility, repentance, and faith in His finished work on the cross. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36. That is the question this man refuses to face, and the question every one of his followers must face before it is too late.

And as for him, he may sit on his throne a little longer, surrounded by wealth and applause. But the day is coming when God will strip away every ounce of the false glory, and he will stand before the true King of kings. On that day there will be no throne for him, no gold, no crowd, only the judgment of a holy God who will require an account for every word and every deceit. "I will not give My glory to another" Isaiah 42:8. Repent, sir, while mercy still calls, for the judgment of God is coming, and His wrath burns against those who twist His Word for personal gain.

[Dan Burmawi @DanBurmawy]

I know Pastor Nuhad Hassan personally.

He is a Kurd from a Muslim background who converted to Christianity and led a church in Lebanon for over a decade.

On July 19, Pastor Nuhad went to Syria to visit his village, and on July 20 he was arrested by al-Julani’s government over posts he made during the Afrin massacre against the Kurds.

I just hung up the phone with friends and family members who are seriously concerned that he will be sentenced to death, the judges in Syria today are former ISIS jihadists, and they will sentence him according to sharia.

I will contact the members of Congress who support al-Julani and urge them to intervene for Pastor Nuhad’s release.

Please pray for him.

[Reformation Wall School @ReformationWall]

https://t.co/mzGIXHGEIW

[Dr. Michael J. Svigel @Svigel]

Theology 101: Believing in the sufficiency of Scripture doesn’t mean believing in the sufficiency of a single verse of Scripture in isolation from the rest of Scripture interpreted by a single reader in isolation from the community of faith.

[Dr. Michael J. Svigel @Svigel]

Theology 101: In our preaching and teaching, we should not stand in front of Christ, but behind Him; we should not stand over the Bible, but under it; we should not stand away from our flock, but among them.

[Philip Hunt 🇿🇲 @zambiahunt]

Missions, Africa's Own Responsibility

African churches must examine their own hearts. Too often, the cry is: "We cannot do missions because we lack resources." This thinking is a cancer that must be removed from our assemblies by the scalpel of the unchanging Word of God.

Paul's churches were not wealthy. The Macedonian churches gave out of extreme poverty (2 Corinthians 8:1–5). The Philippian church supported Paul from the beginning (Philippians 4:15–16). The early church did not wait for favourable economic conditions. It gave sacrificially because it believed the gospel was worth it.

As local churches in Africa, we must embrace our responsibility and not repeat the mistakes of the West. We must build healthy interdependence for the sake of gospel advance — African churches partnering with African churches, and with global partners who honour our authority and serve alongside us rather than above us.

The Vision: Christ made known in every village, town, and city across our continent — sent by African churches that sacrifice to carry the gospel to communities that do not yet have healthy churches.

[Chad Bird @birdchadlouis]

Keeping Secrets Can Be Deadly, Psalm 32. Head to https://t.co/Yrg5F0E7Fx for the reading guide and to catch up on previous posts from the Bible in One Year series.
Happy Studying! #BibleinOneYear #Biblestudy

[Sam @DrFeruke]

Pride hates correction; wisdom loves truth. The proud man feels self-sufficient; the wise man is eager to be helped.

The wise man is unbothered by the tone of his counsellor. The proud man demands that correction arrive in the perfect tone.

[Jeremiah Knight @iamrjknight]

A Hindu family. A church that called me a spy. Ten years of alcohol. A pastor who thought he was becoming God. And a God who saved me anyway.

My testimony is now up. 👇All glory to Him alone.

https://t.co/Pz6cKUKTL2

[Jeremiah Knight @iamrjknight]

A man can sit in church for years and still never know the Lord.

He can hear sermons, sing hymns, attend meetings, learn Christian language, quote verses, defend doctrine, serve in ministries, and still remain a stranger to the new birth. Church attendance can surround a man with truth, but it cannot raise a dead soul to life. Only God can do that.

“Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

This is one of the most terrifying realities in the visible church. Many have become comfortable around holy things without being made holy by God. They are familiar with sermons but unfamiliar with repentance. They know the sound of prayer but not the poverty of spirit. They speak of Christ but do not bow to Him. They have religion in their habits but no resurrection in their hearts.

“Having a form of godliness, although they have denied its power” (2 Timothy 3:5).

The danger is not merely outside the church. The danger is inside the pew, inside the choir, inside the ministry team, inside the pulpit, inside the home that calls itself Christian while the heart remains unchanged. A man may be known by the church and still be unknown by Christ.

“Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

That should make us tremble. Jesus did not warn atheists only. He warned religious people who used His name, claimed spiritual activity, and yet never belonged to Him. Their mouths were full of ministry, but their lives were full of lawlessness. Their confidence was in what they did for Christ, not in whether they had truly been brought to Christ.

“And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).

The new birth is not a mood. It is not a decision card. It is not church culture. It is not being raised in a Christian family. It is not agreeing with Christian morals. It is the supernatural work of God by which a sinner is made alive, given a new heart, brought to repentance, granted faith in Christ, and turned from darkness to light.

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26).

Do not comfort yourself merely because you are near the things of God. Judas was near Christ and perished. The Pharisees searched the Scriptures and rejected the One to whom the Scriptures testified. The Israelites saw mighty works and still hardened their hearts.

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

The question is not, “Have I been in church?” The question is, “Have I been born again?” Do I hate the sin I once protected? Do I love the Christ I once resisted? Do I bow to the Word I once ignored? Do I grieve over my corruption? Do I run to the cross? Do I bear fruit that only grace can produce?

“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3).

A church seat cannot save you. A Christian family cannot save you. Baptism cannot save you. Ministry cannot save you. Knowledge cannot save you. Morality cannot save you. Only Christ can save sinners, and the man who belongs to Christ will not remain dead in the very sins from which Christ came to deliver him.

“They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him” (Titus 1:16).

So let every churchgoer tremble kindly before God. Let every professing Christian examine himself in the light of Scripture. Let no one hide behind years of attendance while the soul remains untouched by grace.

It is better to be disturbed now than damned later.

It is better to question false peace than to hear Christ say, “I never knew you.”

Religion can place you among the people of God.

Only the new birth can place you in Christ.

[Chad Bird @birdchadlouis]

As Christians, we often quote Bible verses to teach or encourage, but we also sometimes take them out of context.

While the statements we make might contain a general truth, they can misrepresent what the passage is actually saying.

One of the more commonly quoted out-of-context verses is Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

This is popularly used to affirm Christ’s presence in small Bible studies or prayer groups. And, yes, while it's true that Jesus is present with his people, that’s not what THIS verse is actually about. In fact, I have seen this passage misapplied to justify staying away from church and just gathering with a couple of like-minded Christian friends over coffee and Bibles.

The context concerns church discipline and reconciliation. In Matthew 18:15–20, Jesus teaches how to handle a fellow Christian who sins against you: confront him privately, then bring two or three witnesses if he doesn’t listen, and finally involve the church. Where such guidelines are followed, if even two believers agree, it will be done by the Father.

The “two or three gathered” refers to these witnesses, not just any casual gathering. Jesus promises his presence in this difficult, often painful process of seeking repentance and restoration. This echoes Deuteronomy 19:15 and other biblical passages, which require two or three witnesses to confirm a matter legally (we read Deuteronomy 19 today in Bible in One Year).

Using this verse to describe God’s presence in fellowship is not untrue, but neither is it true to its original context. The passage reveals God’s will for accountability, confession, repentance, and healing within the community of faith.

This reminds us to approach God’s Word with humility and care. Instead of treating the Scriptures like a collection of stand-alone, inspirational quotes, we should study them within their full context. See the place of the verse within the chapter; the chapter within the book; the book within the canon.

Doing so helps us better understand the Word of God and faithfully apply his truth.
_________

See my free course on “Reading and Interpreting the Bible” at the 1517 Academy for more on this topic: https://t.co/pLoz5SHRB3