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28th September 2024
SaturdayReflection
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'John Piper offers'
'founder and teacher of desiringGod.org'
"How Shall People Be Saved?"
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13 "As the scripture says, "Everyone who calls
out to the Lord for help will be saved."
14 But how can they call to him for help if they
have not believed? And how can they believe
if they have not heard the message?
And how can they hear if the message is not
proclaimed?
15 And how can the message be proclaimed if
the messengers are not sent out?"
.....Romans 10:13-15
But the hearers do not believe; they are "disobedient and contrary."
My aim here is to urge us all to embrace the paradox of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility.
The sad thing is that some embrace the sovereignty of God over the human will and say: "It is wrong to portray God with his arms stretched out, inviting and calling."
And others embrace the responsibility of man and say, "If God invites and calls and beckons, then he can't really be sovereign over man's will, and man really is ultimately self-determining and God is not really in control of all things."
Both of these are sad mistakes.
It is sad, because one group rejects something deep and precious that God has revealed about himself - namely, his absolute sovereignty.
And the other group (who embrace the sovereignty of God) sometimes rejects something utterly crucial for understanding the justice of God in dealing with people.
So my aim is not to explain the paradox but simply to underline it, in the hope that God will cause your mind to submit to his word, whether you can explain it all or not.
This is what it means for God to be God.
Man is not the final, ultimate sovereign over his own life.
God is.
God is the potter. We are the clay.
But on the other hand, God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth".
First, there is the unbelief and lostness of the world without Jesus.
Second, there is the fact that though God is sovereign over the human soul, whether believing or unbelieving, he holds out his hands all day long.
These two points come together and force the question: how is the voice of this God heard?
How are his extended hands seen?
How is his patience known?
He sends messengers and entrusts to them the message of reconciliation
They open their mouths and say, "We implore you on behalf of Jesus, be reconciled to God".
And people hear the gospel.
And in the gospel they hear Jesus calling and inviting and drawing.
Here we need another message.
But I leave it for the Holy Spirit to preach to your own heart.
Effective messengers of the gospel are sent by God.
Speaking for Jesus is not a merely human impulse.
God blesses God-sent messengers of the gospel.
But be careful here!
Don't say to yourself, "I am not sent, and so I will not speak."
Rather say, "Here I am, Lord, send me.
Send me to an unreached people.
Send me across the street in my perishing suburb.
Send me across the office.
Send me to the telephone today.
Send me across this room when the service is over."
Yes, there is a divine calling and a sending that is more official and vocational - that is what I have as a vocational pastor.
That is what some of you will have.
But there are more spontaneous, occasional callings and sendings.
If you have Jesus within you, you will experience this.
So let's all pray for this to happen to us more and more:
Lord here I am, send me.
Open my mouth with the gospel.
May many hear and believe and call on your name and be saved.
Oh how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings good news!
><(((°>
This is an edited version.
The full article, and Bible references, is avaiable on request
'John Piper'
is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary.
For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He is author of more than 50 books, including Desiring God:
Meditations of a Christian Hedonist and most recently Foundations for Lifelong Learning:
Education in Serious Joy.
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