John Bunyan's works regarding Justification by Grace and the Benefits of being a Christian:

• Justification by an Imputed Righteousness
• Saved By Grace
• The Doctrine of Law and Grace Unfolded
• The Holy War
• The Saint’s Privilege and Profit

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Selected works by Saint Augustine of Hippo.

Some of Saint Augustine's works (in PDF):

• Grace and Free Will
• Rebuke and Grace
• The Predestination of the Saints
• A Treatise on the Gift of Perseverance
• Treatise on the Grace of Christ, and on Original Sin
• A Treatise Concerning Man’s Perfection in Righteousness

Happy Reading! Be Blessed!

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JUST BEGIN TO SAY....

"Would you like to be rid of this spiritual depression? The first thing you have to do is to say farewell now once and forever to your past. . . . Never look back at your sins again. Say, 'It is finished, it is covered by the Blood of Christ.' That is your first step. Take that and finish with yourself and all this talk about goodness, and look to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only then that true happiness and joy are possible for you. What you need is not to make resolutions and to live a better life, to start fasting and sweating and praying. No! You just begin to say, 'I rest my faith on Him alone, who died for my transgressions to atone.'" [D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression, page 35]

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CONVICTION OR ACCUSATION?

How can you tell the difference between the Holy Spirit convicting you of sin and Satan accusing you about a sin? Ray Ortlund offers some wise reflections.

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The Benefits of being UNITED with Christ.

-John Irenicus

Our union with our Jesus Christ has certain benefits for our lives as Christians. First and foremost, we are now justified (accounted righteous) before God. Paul said,

• "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...." Rom. 8:1 (KJV)

Because we are judicially united with Christ, we now have a right standing in the face of the law and in God's sight. We are now considered as righteous as God's own Son, Jesus Christ.

Second, in Christ strength, now we live. Paul wrote,

• "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Php. 4:13 (KJV)

• "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Gal 2:20 (KJV)

When Paul struggled with his "thorn in the flesh" (perhaps a physical ailment), he found that although it was not removed, God gave him sufficient grace to bear it. Thus said the apostle,

• "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Cor. 12:9 (KJV)

This power of Christ is not found merely in the inspiration of his example and in his teaching. He also gives us concrete help that we might fulfill what he expects us.

Moreover, union with Christ also means that we will share in his suffering. The disciples were told that they would drink the cup that Jesus drank, and be baptized with the same baptism as he had (Mar. 10:39). If tradition correctly serves us, most of them suffered a martyr's death. After all, Jesus had already told them not to be surprised if they encountered persecution:

• "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." Jn. 15:20 (KJV)

Paul never shrink from this prospect; for sure, to share Christ's sufferings was one of his goal. Paul wrote,

• "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death..." Php. 3:8-10 (KJV)

Peter, on the other hand, urged his fellow Christians,

• "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 Pet. 4:13 (KJV)

Suffering and trial may not be beneficial for us the moment it took place; but the old saying "there is a rainbow after every storm" is equally true in Christianity. Overcoming trials and sufferings for the sake of Christ actually brings us unexplainable joy.

Last but not the least of the benefits we have in being united with Christ is that we also have an assurance of reigning with him. The two disciples who asked for positions of authority and prestige were instead promised suffering (Mark 10:35-39); but Jesus also told the entire group that because they had persevered with him in his trials, they would eat and drink at his table in his glorious kingdom (Luk. 22:30). Paul made a similar statement:

• "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us." 2 Tim. 2:12 (KJV)

Although even after we are saved we often experience trials and suffering, we are given resources to bear them. God's Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses (Rom. 8:26). God also provides us the way out to overcome every trial (1 Cor. 10:13). And for those who suffer with Christ, a glorious FUTURE lies ahead.

We should, therefore, remain united in Christ to the end by faith.

• "YOU NEED TO PERSEVERE so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Heb. 10:36 (NIV)

To God alone be the glory. Amen!

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The relationship of Faith and Works (an Evangelical view)

-Jon Irenicus

The principle of salvation by grace brings us to the question of the relationship of faith and works. It is apparent from what has been said that works do not produce salvation. Yet the biblical witness also indicates that while it is faith that leads us to justification, justification must and will invariably produce works appropriate to the nature of the new creature that has come into being.

It is well when we quote the classic text on salvation by grace, Ephesians 2:8-9, not to stop short of verse 10, which points to the outcome of this grace:

• "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10 (RV)

Saint James the Apostle puts it even more forcefully in his discussion of the relationship between faith and works which is summed up in his statement,

• "Even so faith without works is dead." Jam. 2:17 (BBE); see also v. 26.

Despite the fairly common opinion that there is a tension between Paul and James, both make essentially the same point: that the genuineness of the faith that leads to justification becomes apparent in the results which issue from it. If there are no good works, there has been no real faith nor justification.

We find support for this contention in the fact that justification is intimately linked with union with Christ. If we have become one with Christ, then we will not live according to the flesh, but rather by the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-17). The union with Christ which brings justification also brings the new life. As Paul says,

• "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is A NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW." 2 Cor 5:17 (KJVA)

Paul does not say that only "some" of the things that we are before are renewed, instead he says "ALL" of them are actually become new. Therefore, if our faith is really genuine, if the faith we have is the saving faith that comes from God, then we will most assuredly manifest the fruits of being born-again as we abide in Christ through faith.

• "I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (ISV)

• "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thes. 1:3 (NIV)

Therefore, a Christian does not try to save himself by his works for he trusts in Christ alone for his salvation. This does not make salvation by Grace a license to sin. A true believer of Christ obeys God in love, not in order to be saved, but because he is already saved.

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Have You Ever Read Romans 9? (James White)

Here's a great exegesis of Romans 9 by Dr. James White. Enjoy.



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ZOMBIE-ism?

-Jon Irenicus

Some of the free-willers that I had conversation with consider the [Calvinistic] doctrine of Total Depravity as Zombie-ism (a term they use to make fun of the doctrine because it seems to deny free will).

The truth is, Zombie-ism is a fact according to the Scriptures!

1. Man's heart is evil (Mark 7:21-23)
2. Man's heart is sick (Jer. 17:9).
3. Man is a slave/zombie of sin (Rom. 6:20).
4. Man does not seek for God (Rom. 3:10-12).
5. Man cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14).
6. Man is at enmity with God (Eph. 2:15).
7. Man is is by nature a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3).

Calvinism does not make a zombie out of a man, rather it exposes it. It is the concept of obedience that follow faith not reason that makes a zombie out of a man. Does Zombie-ism deny the FREE WILL of man? I don't think so.

Regarding Free will, the Westminster Confession of Faith rightly explains,

[9.1] God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor, by any absolute necessity of nature, determined to good, or evil.

[9.2] Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power to will and to do that which was good and well pleasing to God; but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it.

[9.3] Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation: so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. [Westminster Confession of Faith, Article 9]

In my previous article about Unconditional Election (Is God's election Unconditional?), I have already stated how I understand Free Will:

I insist, on the other hand, that Unconditional Election is not inconsistent with free will, that is, as I understand the term. I deny, however, that humans have free will in the Arminian sense. What Calvinists emphasize is that sin has removed, if not freedom, at least the ability to exercise that freedom properly. Loraine Boettner, for example, compares fallen humanity to a bird with a broken wing. The bird is "free" to fly, but is unable to do so. Likewise, "the natural man is free to come to God but not able...."

Man's freedom of will, therefore, is limited within certain boundaries:

1. Man's free will is limited within the boundary of God's sovereign decree. It can neither go beyond nor contradict what God has already planned. (click here for a more extensive study).
   
2. It is limited within the boundary of man's nature. For example, you can choose to fly like superman, but your human capabilities will not let you do so. In application, a sinner has freedom of will, but inclined only to do the evil desires of his sinful nature.
   

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The Arminian Election

Arminian: "I believe in Bible election. God votes for you, the devil votes against you, and you cast the deciding vote."

The evangelist (?) cackled like he had laid an egg after "refuting" the biblical doctrine of election with the above illustration. Since this is the Arminian's favorite story, several things should be pointed out.

• First, this illustration denies that God is even close to Almighty. He desperately wants to accomplish His purpose but is unable to do so.
• Second the reason that God is unable to do what His heart desires is that another being, of equal ability and power, can checkmate Him. This terrible illustration gives the devil equal power with God.
• Third, to add insult to injury, the mighty will of man comes in to break the deadlock between God and the devil.
  

How God-dishonoring can false doctrine become? The free-willer may be "unwilling" to admit these, but his theology makes man supreme, the devil second, and God is third at worst, and tied for second, at best. I wonder if these people ever read;

• But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth Job 23:13.

• Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth Romans 9:18.

• "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.... what I have planned, that I will do." Isaiah 46:10-11 (NIV)
  

• "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)
  

• "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD." Proverbs 21:30 (NIV)

• "The LORD works out everything for his own ends— even the wicked for a day of disaster." Proverbs 16:4 (NIV)

• "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,.." Ephesians 1:11 (NIV)

An outline of the doctrine of Total Depravity

-Jon Irenicus

I first wrote this for myself in my notebook long ago before I actually embrace the whole of Reformed theology with all my heart (that was last year). I compiled the points of Total Depravity because I found it necessary for me to better grasp the whole concept of the doctrine in an overview, outline-like manner. Here are the points which I arranged myself (some points here, however, are not my own words but from certain Reformed articles that I read in the past). I hope this helps you too!

1. When Adam committed his first sin against God in the Garden of Eden, we also sinned with him (united with him in committing that sin) since he is the universal representative (head) of mankind (Rom 5:17-18). Therefore, every man is a sinner since birth (Psalms 51:5) and by nature “children of wrath” which also means “enemies of God” (Eph 2:3; Col 1:21). [It was Adam’s original sin that brought condemnation to all men (Gen 2:17, 3:1-24; Rom 5:17-18). The Fall is necessary and permitted by God so that He may demonstrate His mercy and grace through His Son (Rom 11:32).]
2. If Adam represented all men when he committed the First Sin, then all men are also by nature “slaves of sin” for whosoever commits sin is a slave of sin (Jn 8:34; Rom 3:9, 23). A slave of sin is someone who is in bondage to his sinful nature, hopelessly gratifying the cravings of the flesh and its thoughts (Eph 2:1-3).
3. Even though free and uncoerced, the fallen will has no desire for anything except to indulge the evil tendencies of the heart (Gen 6:5). As long as a person is inclined only to evil, he chooses only evil (Rom 3:9-12). Fallen humanity loves darkness and hates light (John 3:19). So whenever a person is confronted with a choice between darkness and light, he chooses darkness. He chooses what is attractive to him, what his free will desires (Rom 3:9-12).
4. Sinners are not as sinful as they can be. A sinner can also serve for his community, donate alms to the poor, and have domestic love, etc. But all these works, even if done sincerely, will not please God for it comes from a sinful heart (Isa 64:6; Rom 8:8). What we say is: sinners have wholly lost ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation (Prov 20:9; Rom 3:9-12; Eph 4:17-18).
5. Everything that proceeds not from faith is sin (Rom 14:23). Therefore, everything that a sinner does is abomination to the Lord for it does not proceed from a saving faith in Christ, and unless a sinner is grafted into the true Vine (Christ), he will never be able to bear fruits that are acceptable before God (Mat 7:17; John 15:5). Even his prayers shall be abominations unto the Lord (Prov 28:9)—even his thoughts (Prov 15:26). Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, because it cannot be. So then, they who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom 8:7-8).
6. A sinner is someone who is spiritually dead (insensitive and unable). He cannot see spiritual things, and he cannot understand and perceive them. The natural [or unregenerate] person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned (Mat 13:13-15; 1 Cor 2:14).
7. All men have the responsibility to repent for their sins and turn to God through faith in Christ. But because they were blinded by Satan so “that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,” sinners will consistently and willingly reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ unless God has enabled them through Spiritual Regeneration (Acts 26:18; Rom 3:11; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 4:18).
8. There is none who is righteous in the sight of God, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one (Rom 3:9-12). Therefore, All men (without exception) deserve death and hell (Mat 5:48; Rom 3:23).
9. The reality of hell is God's clear indictment of the infiniteness of our guilt. If our corruption were not deserving of an eternal punishment God would be unjust to threaten us with a punishment so severe as eternal torment. But the Scriptures teach that God is just in condemning unbelievers to eternal hell (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; Matthew 5:29, 10:28, 13:49, 18:8, 25:46; Revelation 14:9-11; 20:10). Therefore, to the extent that hell is a total sentence of condemnation, to that extent we must think of ourselves as totally blameworthy apart from the saving grace of God.

It is hard to exaggerate the importance of admitting the condition of all men to be this bad. If we think of ourselves as basically good or even less than totally at odds with God, our grasp of the work of God in redemption will be defective. But if we humble ourselves under this terrible truth of our total depravity, we will be in a position to see and appreciate the glory and wonder of the work of God for our salvation.

It is also helpful if we consider the confession of the LBC (1686) regarding the doctrine:

[6.1] Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which secured life for him while he kept it, and although God warned him that he would die if he broke it, yet man did not live long in this honour.

- Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, seduced Adam by her, and he, without any compulsion, wilfully transgressed the law of their creation and the command given to them by eating the forbidden fruit. - And this act God, according to His wise and holy counsel, was pleased to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory.

[6.2] Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them. For from this, death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.

[6.3] They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and their corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation. Their descendants are therefore conceived in sin, and are by nature the children of wrath, the servants of sin, and the subjects of death and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus sets them free.

[6.4] All actual transgressions proceed from this original corruption, by which we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil.

[6.5] During this life the corruption of nature remains in those who are regenerated, and although it is pardoned and mortified through Christ, yet this corrupt nature and all its motions are truly and properly sinful. [London Baptist Confession (1689), VI. 1-5]

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My Personal undersanding about Irresistible Grace and Effectual Calling

-Jon Irenicus

As I understand the term, "Irresistible Grace" implies that when God has decreed something for the good of his elect, God will carry out that plan sovereignly by using every possible means of Grace in accordance to his own good pleasure (Eph. 1:4-5, 11). God's Grace then, is irresistible; not merely in the sense that man cannot resist the exertions of Grace or of the Holy Spirit (Act. 7:51). It means, rather, that Grace can overcome all resistance and make his influence irresistible (1 Cor. 15:10). After all, God is sovereign and can overcome all resistance when he wills (Pss. 115:3; Dan. 4:35).

Also, it does not mean that God makes his elect receptive and obedient by FORCING their will; instead, he do so by inspiring them inwardly by the Holy Spirit’s conviction (2 Cor. 3:18), and outwardly by making all things work together for the good of his people (Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:11), to the point that they, by their own free choice, will obey God and grow in love through faith (Phil. 2:13). This will be further explained again later.


Is God's sovereignty artificial?

If in the end Grace can be overcome by the will of man, then the truth of God's sovereignty will be at stake. (*Arminians also agree that God is absolutely Sovereign over ALL things, but at the same time "not so" sovereign over the will of man, for man is sovereign over his own salvation). Would God plan something and at the end fail in fulfilling that decree? Is God that weak that he will let his eternal decree fall into pieces just because man's so called free-will stood against it? Who is more sovereign then? The Potter or the clay? The Bible tells us that God is totally and absolutely sovereign in fulfilling his decrees. In the book of Isaiah, God declares:

• "[I am God, and no other is God, even none like Me], declaring the end from the beginning, and from the past things which were not done, saying, My purpose shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure. . . . Yes, I have spoken, I will also cause it to come; I have formed; yes, I will do it." Isaiah 46:10-11 (MKJV)

Morever, the Bible says that God's ways are all perfect; meaning, when he use something as a means to carry out his plan, it will be effectual and efficacious (Ecc. 28:15; Isa. 55:11). James White once said, "God is not a god who merely attempts to save those whom he wants to save..."

More specifically irresistible grace refers to the sovereign work of God to overcome the rebellion of our heart and bring us to faith in Christ so that we can be saved (Eph 2:1-6). If our doctrine of total depravity is true, there can be no salvation without the reality of Irresistible Grace. If we are dead in our sins, totally unable to submit to God, then we will never believe in Christ unless God overcomes our rebellion; and God does, sovereignly, by his Irresistible Grace (Act. 16:14).

The Gospel of our Lord is offered to all men (in the sense that God calls everybody to repent and believe in him)--this is what we call the "universal invitation" or "outward calling." But since all men are desperately wicked and inclined only to doing evil, they will never respond unless they are first regenerated by God. Therefore, this outward call will have no effect to the sinner unless God grants him belief and repentance (Joh. 6:44, 65; Act. 18:27; Phil. 1:29).

When God calls an elect outwardly, he also extends that call inwardly by giving him a "new heart" and a "new spirit" to make it certain that the elect will receptively believe the Gospel (Ezek 36:27; Jer. 24:7). This is what we call "EFFECTUAL CALLING" which is a result of God's irresistible Grace. I must emphasize, however, that God never forces the will of the spiritually DEAD sinner. Try forcing a DEAD, ROTTEN person to labor for you and see if he would respond! Therefore, God does not merely assist the spiritually dead sinner; he actually quickens them (Eph. 2:5; Col. 2:13)!

The London Baptist Confession (1689) shares with the same idea with this Reformed view of Irresistible Grace. It states:

[10.1] Those whom God has predestinated to life, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time to effectually call by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death which they are in by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. He enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God. He takes away their heart of stone and gives to them a heart of flesh. He renews their wills, and by His almighty power, causes them to desire and pursue that which is good. He effectually draws them to Jesus Christ, yet in such a way that they come absolutely freely, being made willing by His grace.

[10.2] This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not on account of anything at all foreseen in man. It is not made because of any power or agency in the creature who is wholly passive in the matter. Man is dead in sins and trespasses until quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit. By this he is enabled to answer the call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed by it. This enabling power is no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead. (The London Baptist Confession 1689, Article X. 1-2)

Therefore, those whom by the Grace of God has chosen from eternity to be saved, when called by the Gospel, will surely respond in faith and repentance through the Holy Spirit's germination. Jesus Christ himself declares:

• "All that the Father gives me WILL COME TO ME, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out." John 6:37 (ESV)

Those whom the Father "gives" to Christ are the elect, and according to our Lord, they will [surely] COME to him [ofcourse, by Faith]. This is irresistible grace. In the same chapter, Christ also says,

• "NO ONE can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." Joh 6:44 (ESV)

Notice how Christ emphatically declares that "NO ONE" [including the elect] can actually come to him [or have faith in him] unless he is drawn first by the Father. This reflects the total inability of man to have faith in Christ which I explained here. As long as a person is inclined only to evil, he chooses only evil (Rom 3:9-12). Therefore, the initiative must come from God, not from the will of man (as free-willers insist). It is God who enables the sinner so that he may willingly respond in faith and repentance:

• He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has ENABLED him." Joh 6:65 (NIV)

Implication of the doctrine: This doctrine actually gives way to the 5th petal of Calvinism which is Perseverance of the Saints. You cannot believe Perseverance of the Saints without accepting the reality of irresistible grace. Also, you cannot be consistent with the truth of Total Depravity if you reject the truth of irresistible grace. In the end, by God's sovereign Grace, all elect will be saved to the fullest and none of them will be finally lost nor totally fall away, that is, in accordance to what God has already planned even before the world began.

Here are some useful verses in the Bible with relevance to the doctrine of Irresistible Grace:
Gen. 20:6; Ezra. 1:5; Eze. 36:27; Pss. 139:16; Pro. 21:1; Hag; 1:14; Joh. 6:37, 45, 10:3-4, 27; Act. 13:48, 16:14; 1 Cor. 12:13, 15:10; Eph. 2:1-6, 3:7; Phil. 2:13; Jam. 4:15; Rom 8:33-39; Jer. 24:7.

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Why do we have to discuss the Scripture to unbelievers if only Christians can understand the Bible?

A. W. Pink on “Heed the Word” [1]

Today we behold some of the fearful crops which have resulted from that evil sowing: “some of,” we say, for it is greatly to be feared that the full harvest does not yet appear. Shocking and appalling is the situation which is already spread before us. It has become increasingly evident, even to man who make no pretensions unto spirituality, that the restraining hand of God has been more and more removed from the world, till a spirit of utter lawlessness and recklessness now possesses a large proportion of mankind.

But only those with an anointed eye can perceive why this is so, namely because the influence formerly exerted by God’s Word was suppressed. The majority of church-goers of the preceding generations had instilled into them doubts upon the authenticity of Holy Writ: theological professors and “up-to-date” preachers openly denied its supernatural character. Once the awe-inspiring authority of God’s Word was removed, the most potent bridle upon the lusts and passions of the masses was gone.

Our chief desire and design will be to furnish young preachers with material to use in sermons, aimed at resolving the perplexities and removing the doubts which perturb not a few of their hearers, and so counter and nullify the infidelities of modern “education.”

Yet here again we must anticipate an objection: Since the regenerate alone are capable of discerning spiritual things, why attempt to convince the unregenerate that the Bible is a Divine book? If faith be the sole ear competent to hear the voice of God, why try to reason with unbelievers?

While it is true that no arguments, however convincing in themselves, can remove the veil of prejudice from the understanding of the unregenerate or convert the heart unto God, yet that is far from allowing that such means possess no value.

It has often been said by good men that the Scriptures are addressed to faith. That is true, yet only a part of the truth, for if it were taken absolutely it must follow they are not addressed to any devoid of faith, which is a palpable error.

Our Lord bade the skeptical Jews, “search the Scriptures,” and declared, “He that rejecteth Me and receiveth not My words hath one that judgeth him: the Word that I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48), thereby showing plainly the natural man is under binding obligations to heed and be subject unto the Word!

The fact is that the Word is addressed to man as a rational creature, as a moral agent, as a responsible being, and it carries its own evidence—evidence which is addressed both to the reason and conscience.

[1] A. W. Pink, The Doctrine of Revelation