Sin and Its Consequences
Most would agree that the world is in terrible shape. Civil unrest is evident all over the earth. Crime continues to increase. There is deep concern about growing drug usage.
Some insist that the answer must be found in a radical change in governments. Others claim that vast sums of money must be committed to work necessary change for those in poverty. People must be assured adequate education, housing and other necessities of life. Only then will there be change for the better.
What so many refuse to see is that there is here a “heart problem.”
This “heart problem” can be traced back to its beginning in the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve. These two were created perfect and capable of loving and serving God without sin.
However, Adam sinned in eating of the fruit of the forbidden tree (Genesis 3). Our first parents listened to the lie of the devil who came in the serpent (Rev. 12:9). Man believed Satan that he could “become as God…”
The threat of God now fell on Adam: he died. This death was a separation from God’s favour; it affected his physical existence—ending in the grave; and it would result in everlasting punishment in hell (except a way of deliverance were provided).
The consequences of this sin of Adam have had devastating effect on all of mankind. Adam was the representative and first father of all of mankind. His one sin brought death upon all mankind (Rom. 5:12). The sad result is that all are born dead and thus incapable of doing any good (Rom. 3:10-19).
This “heart problem” has also otherwise been called “total depravity,” that is, the inability to do anything right in God’s sight. Scripture speaks of the “heart of stone” (Ezek. 11:19) and an “evil heart” (Jer. 16:12).
The above has important implications concerning man’s salvation as well. If there is to be true life—that is, a new or “clean” heart (Ps. 51:10) to solve his “heart problem”—that must originate from God Himself. Except a person is first born again, he cannot even see the kingdom of heaven (John 3:3).
It is further true that God’s word must be preached to all nations (Matt. 28:19) so that when God has given a new life, there would be seen proper response: true conversion. The word of God declares, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved …” (Acts 16:31). That is the promise of the gospel which has never failed yet—nor ever will. Rev. Hanko
The Striving of the Spirit: Genesis 6:3 (1)
“And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years” (Gen. 6:3).
It is sometimes quite amazing how various texts in God’s word can be twisted to mean something quite different from what they say—a twisting which often is in defence of some erroneous doctrine.
This is also often done with the passage in Genesis 6:3. It is quoted in support of the idea that God wants to save all men; and that He gives them a certain time in which to repent—after which time, if they do not repent, He destroys them.
The argument from this passage goes like this. Because the text says that God’s Spirit “shall not always” strive with man, there was a time when He did “strive” with man. That striving with man is interpreted to mean that the Holy Spirit was in the hearts of all men, restraining their sin and attempting to lead them to repentance. Because the text says, “Yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years,” it is interpreted to mean that the striving will continue for another 120 years, i.e., for the period of time during which the ark would be built.
It ought to be immediately obvious to a Reformed man that this cannot be the meaning. If the Holy Spirit within man is striving to bring man to repentance, not only is the Holy Spirit presented as being totally unable to accomplish His will, but He must finally give up in despair because of the obstinacy of man which He is singularly unable to overcome. This presents the Spirit as weak and helpless before the mighty power of man’s sin.
The difficulty is that the text says nothing of the kind. No one has the right to interpret the word, “strive” as meaning some kind of internal effort on the part of the Holy Spirit to bring stubborn man to repentance. It is better to go to other parts of Scripture to find the meaning and follow the Reformation principle: Scripture must interpret Scripture.
The word which is translated “strive” in this text is found in two other places in Scripture.
The first is in Ecclesiastes 6:10 and is translated “contend:” “… neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.” The idea of “strive” is, therefore, the idea of “contend” and is a far cry from the idea of “attempting to lead to salvation.”
The second passage is more important. It is found in Nehemiah 9:30: “Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.” The word which is translated, “testifiedst against” is the same word as is used in Genesis 6:3 where it is translated “strive.” This “testifying against” is said to be “by thy spirit in thy prophets.” That is, this testifying against the wicked is done by the Holy Spirit and through the prophets—i.e., through their preaching. The reference in these words of Nehemiah is to the incessant rebellion of the children of Israel throughout their history by which they constantly disobeyed God’s commandments and sinned against Him (29). The “testifying against them” was to warn them of the consequences of their sin and to condemn their evil. These warnings and condemnations came through the prophets who were inspired in what they said by the Holy Spirit.
If we take these two passages into consideration in our explanation of Genesis 6:3, it immediately becomes obvious that the word “strive” in this passage cannot possibly be interpreted as “seeking the salvation of all men by an internal work of the Spirit.” The days prior to the flood were days of terrible wickedness (cf. 5-7, 11-13). God testified against the wicked and contended with them in their wickedness. But, taking the other passages into account, it is clear that God did this through the testimony of the “prophets” of that time who spoke the word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. One such passage is Jude 14-15, where Enoch is described as proclaiming the word of God that God would come in judgment upon all these wicked people. The same truth is taught in Hebrews 11:7 where Noah is described as “condemn[ing] the world.”
So we may safely conclude that Genesis 6:3 refers to the preaching of Enoch and Noah, which preaching God used to testify against the wicked, prior to the flood. (to be continued…) Prof. Hanko
Living Like the Devil?
Is the faith of our fathers living in your life? In your church? We sing the song: “Faith of our fathers living still …” and no doubt the faith is living. But the question is, “Where is that faith living and confessed?” And, “What is the faith of our fathers?” It was expressed over 350 years ago by our church fathers at the Synod of Dordt (in the Netherlands). We use the familiar acrostic: TULIP to help us remember what our fathers said the Bible teaches:
T – Total Depravity
U – Unconditional Election
L – Limited Atonement
I – Irresistible Grace
P – Preservation of the Saints
The last of the five points of Calvinism teaches that God preserves His people so they can never be lost. To put it simply, it means this: “Once you are saved, you are always saved.”
God’s word is full of proof for this beautiful truth. And though many deny it and tell you that you can be lost and saved many, many times, and therefore can never be sure of your salvation, the Bible says otherwise. Talking about His elect sheep, Jesus said: “And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28; cf. 6:39, 17:2, 11-12; Rom. 8:37-39; II Tim. 1:12; 4:18).
Some object to this doctrine because it supposedly makes men “carnally secure” in their salvation. That is, if I know nothing can make me go to hell once God has saved me, I will “live like the devil.” There have been some who have used this beautiful truth as an excuse to live like the devil. But they are not Christians. Nor do they understand this truth. Because this truth also implies “PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS.” Those who never fall away are saints. They are holy. And they are given power to live holy lives. They “continue in well-doing” (cf. Gal. 6:9). Anyone who says he can “live like the devil” has not experienced the saving power of Christ and does not know the meaning of Philippians 1:6: “He that hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” God will continue working good works in us until Christ returns. Don’t think otherwise.
Is there any hope for Christians without this doctrine? We don’t need to be “scared to heaven.” We need comfort. Because we know that if it were up to the Christian to remain saved, he would never be able to do it. You know yourself!!!! There is no power in me apart from God’s grace.
