In 1610, just one year after the death of Dutch seminary
professor, James Arminius, his followers drafted five articles of faith based
on his teaching. They called it a “Remonstrance”, a protest against the
official teaching of the Church of Holland expressed in the Belgic Confession
of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism. They argued that the teaching of the
church was wrong.
Not long ago I was in a discussion with a man who said, “You
didn’t answer my question!” I replied, “Oh yes I did. You just didn’t like my
answer.” The problem wasn’t a failure of communication, it was a failure of
acceptance. And that’s what these Arminians were doing.
Unlike the teaching of the church they believed that: (1)
man is never so completely corrupted by sin that he cannot savingly believe the
gospel when it is put before him; (2) God’s election of those He will save is
prompted by His foreseeing what they will of their own accord, believe; (3) Christ’s
death on the cross did not ensure the salvation of anyone, nor did it secure
the gift of faith to anyone (for there is no such gift); (4) what the cross did
was create a possibility of salvation for everyone who believes; and (5) once
saved it rests with the believer to keep himself in a state of grace by keeping
up his faith—those who fail at this will fall away and be lost.
Now think of the implications of this! What the Arminians were
saying is what millions of Americans who populate thousands of churches today
believe. What they are saying is what I believed for years, because it was what
I was taught—man’s salvation depends ultimately on his own decisions.
Now what’s amazing is that the Bible is quite clear on all
of this. Years ago a dear woman at Hebron was reading through the Bible as part
of our church-wide “Read through the Bible” effort. She had been in hundreds of
Bible studies where she had consistently raised Arminian objections to what was
being taught. When she got to the end of the Book of Revelation she called for
an appointment. And there in my office she confessed, “I don’t like it. I don’t
agree with it. But I have to say that total depravity, God’s unconditional election,
limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints are
all through the Bible. In fact, it’s front and center!”
Indeed it is! And no one is clearer on this than John. In
fact, he nails it right out of the gate. If you read the first 18 verses of
John 1 carefully, you’ll find him speaking plainly and forcefully in favor of
God’s sovereignty and man’s inability; the same way the church of Holland
understood it.
This Sunday we begin a new series: “That You May Believe, a Study
of the Gospel of John.” This week’s message is entitled, “Taking Dead Aim”. That
is exactly what John does in these first 18 verses. He not only sets forth the
incarnation of God in Jesus Christ, he enumerates four clear implications of that
incarnation.
In preparation for Sunday you may wish to consider the
following:
1. How long after the Ascension did John write his gospel?
2. Why does he borrow from Genesis 1 in beginning his gospel?
What does this tell us about what he’s saying?
3. How does he describe our salvation in verse 12?
4. How is one saved? (See verse 13)
5. Whose will is exerted to bring about our rebirth and
adoption?
6. How is grace communicated to us? (See verse 16)
7. How is grace and truth apprehended by the sinner? (see verse
17)
8. What does John say about the identity of Jesus Christ in
verse 18?
9. How is verse 18 a perfect sequel to verses 1 & 2?
10. Why do you think many believe that John wrote chapter 1:1-18
after he had finished his gospel?
See you Sunday!
