The Golden Chain - Sovereignty and Love

Dennis Tuuri

Outline: Romans 8:29,30 The Golden Chain – Sovereignty and Love Sermon Notes for February 4, 2007 by Pastor Dennis R. Tuuri Intro: John 6:37,44,65, Luther and Erasmus (Bondage of the Will) I. The Canons of Dort - An Introduction A. Canons and Acts 15 B. The Synod of Dordrecht (Dort, South Holland) and the Reformation Jacob Hermsen, Jacobus (James) Arminius - 1560 to 10/19/1609 1610 -The Remonstants, James 1 of England International - England, Scotland, France (Empty Vhairs), the Palatinate, Hessia, Brandenburg, Switzerland, Geneva, Bremen, Embden Prayer and Fasting, Oath, 11/13/1618 to 5/9/1619 C. The Canons of Dort (ULTIP or TULIP) 1. Divine election and Reprobation 2. The Death of Christ and the Redemption of Men Thereby 3,4. The Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof 5. The Perseverance of the Saints II. Sovereignty and Love - The Golden Chain A. The Saints Are Foreknown - “For whom he did foreknow” 1. Foreseen or Foreloved? a. Foresee - Acts 26:5; 2 Pet. 3:17 b. Forelove 1 Peter 1:2 unto obedience (Ro. 11:2-6; Ps. 1:6; 1Co. 8:3; Am, 3:2; Mt. 7:23 ; Ge. 18:19; Ex. 2:25; Ps. 144:3; Jer. 1:5; Ho. 13:5; Gal. 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:19; I Jn. 3:1 If foreknowledge of faith, “the faith that God foresees is the faith He himself creates (John 3:3-8; 6:44 ,45,65; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 1:29) 2. Evidence to Interpret as “foreloved” a. v. 29a is a differentiating statement about “whom,” not what, but God foresees all men b. Exegesis, as opposed to eisegesis, demands the simplest interpretation c. Faith, good works, our concurrence with His call all are the effects of predestination Acts 13:48; Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 1:9 d. Context Stresses God’s Action, Man’s Passivity, A Foreknowledge That Determines Existence e. Not Superfluous With Predestinated Jer. 31:3 - Love That is Active Volition B. The Saints Are Predestinated - “he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Eph. 1:5 - cause of predestination is solely God’s grace - “to Himself” “according to the good pleasure of His will” “to the praise of the glory of His grace” Foundation - Christ; Object. Dead Men; Blessing - Salvation; Means - Call and Justification; Final End The Glory of God C. The Saints Are Called - “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called:” (See Gal. 1:15) Outward by Word, Inward by Spirit Vocation, A Holy Calling (2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Peter 1:15 ) – Sanctification to a Purpose John 15:16 D. The Saints Are Justified - “and whom he called, them he also justified:” E. The Saints Are Glorified - “and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” III. The Crimson Chain and Our Sufferings “he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” IV. The Preeminence of Christ- Priority and Supremacy “that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Incarnation, Baptism, Resurrection, Ascension