Reprobation and the Worship of Man

Dennis Tuuri

Outline: Romans 9:1-10:1 Reprobation and the Worship of Man Sermon Notes for March 11, 2007 by Pastor Dennis R. Tuuri Intro SB2 HB2996, SB776 Taking It to the Living Room The Golden Chain of Romans 8:29, 30; God’s Absolute Sovereignty In All Things and Unconditional Election (Ephesians 1) Reprobation Rom. 1:28 “a reprobate mind”; 2 Cor. 13:5; Tit. 1:16 Reprobation and the Confessional Church (See Next Pages) Reprobation and Double Predestination Reprobation and “Lapsarianism” Reprobation and the Bible 1 Peter 2:8; Jude 4; Rom. 11:7,8; Psalm 69; Matt. 25:41; Pr. 16:4; Mt. 13:11; Mt 11:25,26; Rev. 4:11 I. Reprobation and Paul’s Sorrow – 9:1-5 Context II. Reprobation and Natural Privilege (Judaism) – 9:6-9 The grievous error of dispensationalism has caused many to stumble. III. Reprobation and Election – 9:10-13 Reprobation Serves Election Esau “that the purpose of God according to election might stand” Pharaoh, “that I might show my power in thee” Hearts Softened Through Mercy Pots “That He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy” Judas was chosen. His reprobation serves the election of men via Jesus’ death. IV. Reprobation and Justice – 9:14-18 God IS Justice! Matthew 20:15 Hodge Quote; Calvin Quote V. Reprobation and Coercion – 9:19-24 Dt. 29:4; Ps. 69:23; Isa. 6:10, 29:10 God ordains man’s very limited free will. WCF, Chapter 3, Section1 VI. Reprobation and Natural Privilege (Zionism or Humanism) – 9:25-33 A supposed natural privilege of humans leads to coercion by the State. Humanism and Coercion vs. Christianity and Freedom From Cosmic Purposelessness to Human Sovereignty VII. Reprobation and Paul’s Desire Context Conclusion: The Canons of Dort as a Pastoral Document Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 2 - Of God, and of the Holy Trinity. 1. There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him ; and withal, most just, and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty. 2. God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself; and is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever Himself pleaseth . In His sight all things are open and manifest, His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands. To Him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience He is pleased to require of them. Several Definitions of Reprobation The eternal purpose of God to suffer many to sin, leave them in their sin, and. not giving them to Christ, to punish them for their sin. (Owen) What is the decree of election? The eternal, sovereign, and gracious good-pleasure of God to save to eternal glory some men through the means of faith in Christ. What is the decree of reprobation? The eternal, sovereign, and righteous good-pleasure of God to condemn others to eternal damnation on account of their sin. (PRC Catechism ) Reprobation is that eternal will, good pleasure, or purpose of God according to which He determined that some of His moral, rational creatures would be cast into hell forever on account of their sins; and that this fact would serve the cause of Christ and redound to God’s glory alone. Rev. Gise J. Van Baren (PRC) Canons of Dort - The First Main Point of Doctrine Divine Election and Reprobation The Judgment Concerning Divine Predestination Which the Synod Declares to Be in Agreement with the Word of God and Accepted Till Now In the Reformed Churches, Set Forth in Several Articles Article 15: Reprobation Moreover, Holy Scripture most especially highlights this eternal and undeserved grace of our election and brings it out more clearly for us, in that it further bears witness that not all people have been chosen but that some have not been chosen or have been passed by in God's eternal election-- those, that is, concerning whom God, on the basis of his entirely free, most just, irreproachable, and unchangeable good pleasure, made the following decision: to leave them in the common misery into which, by their own fault, they have plunged themselves; not to grant them saving faith and the grace of conversion; but finally to condemn and eternally punish them (having been left in their own ways and under his just judgment), not only for their unbelief but also for all their other sins, in order to display his justice. And this is the decision of reprobation, which does not at all make God the author of sin (a blasphemous thought!) but rather its fearful, irreproachable, just judge and avenger. Article 16: Responses to the Teaching of Reprobation Those who do not yet actively experience within themselves a living faith in Christ or an assured confidence of heart, peace of conscience, a zeal for childlike obedience, and a glorying in God through Christ, but who nevertheless use the means by which God has promised to work these things in us--such people ought not to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to count themselves among the reprobate; rather they ought to continue diligently in the use of the means, to desire fervently a time of more abundant grace, and to wait for it in reverence and humility. On the other hand, those who seriously desire to turn to God, to be pleasing to him alone, and to be delivered from the body of death, but are not yet able to make such progress along the way of godliness and faith as they would like--such people ought much less to stand in fear of the teaching concerning reprobation, since our merciful God has promised that he will not snuff out a smoldering wick and that he will not break a bruised reed. However, those who have forgotten God and their Savior Jesus Christ and have abandoned themselves wholly to the cares of the world and the pleasures of the flesh--such people have every reason to stand in fear of this teaching, as long as they do not seriously turn to God. Article 18: The Proper Attitude Toward Election and Reprobation To those who complain about this grace of an undeserved election and about the severity of a just reprobation, we reply with the words of the apostle, Who are you, O man, to talk back to God? (Rom. 9:20), and with the words of our Savior, Have I no right to do what I want with my own? (Matt. 20:15). We, however, with reverent adoration of these secret things, cry out with the apostle: Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways beyond tracing out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Or who has first given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen (Rom. 11:33-36). Children’s Notes for Romans 9 1. Before we were made, God set His ___ ___ ___ ___ on us. 2. The “Golden Chain” is found in chapter 8 of ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 3. God’s rule over everything is found in chapter ___ of Ephesians. 4. God saves us by grace, not our works. We find this in Ephesians ___. 5. God decides to send some people to ___ ___ ___ ___. 6. Without God’s grace, no one can or ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ love Him. 7. Paul was very ___ ___ ___ about Jews who were on the way to hell. 8. The Jews thought they had a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ to blessing by God. 9. God uses even the ___ ___ ___ of men for His purposes. 10. God said He loved Jacob but hated ___ ___ ___ ___. 11. Was this because Jacob was better than Esau? 12. God made Pharaoh’s heart ___ ___ ___ ___. 13. Pharaoh chose to have a ___ ___ ___ ___ heart. 14. God ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ more people than He hates. 15. God is ___ ___ ___ ___ in all His doings. 16. Men are not ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 17. When men won’t be ruled by God, they try to ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ others to serve them. 18. We must love God more than ___ ___ ___.