Just Thinking

I've been thinking. I was asked recently what I thought about Calvinism. My first thought is I really don't care too much for labels. But, we live in a world of labels. I'm a Christian. That's a label. I'm a Southern Baptist. That's a label. If I move back to Kentucky, I'll be a Kentucky Baptist. That's a label. So I guess we can't really get away from labels. Still, I prefer to focus less on labels and more on Jesus and His Word. Besides, John Calvin would cringe if he knew his name was being used as a label.

Salvation, as revealed in God's Word and delivered to us by the apostles and prophets is a mystery we don't fully understand. Paul writes about this mystery, "For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things" (Ephesians 3:1-10). John speaks of a time yet future when, "the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets" (Revelation 10:7).

So what does all this mean? Well, for one thing, when it comes to salvation, it means the plans and purposes of God are far beyond anything my fallen finite mind can fully comprehend. Consider this in light of what Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers. "Rather, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him'" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

When it comes to the mystery of salvation we must remember, the Bible is replete with passages that speak of God's sovereignty. Furthermore, it is replete with passages that speak of personal responsibility. Where these two streams of thought meet is beyond me. This is part of the mystery of salvation none of us will fully comprehend this side of glory. And we may not fully comprehend it on the other side of glory either. After all, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 29:29).

The bottom line is this: I don't fully understand the mystery of salvation and you don't either. It boggles my mind--even as a 46 year-old, seminary trained theologian of rare inability. But this much I do know, as a 10-year-old little boy, I prayed to receive Jesus and Jesus saved me. I didn't fully understand it all then and I certainly don't now. But I believed what the Bible taught, in, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). Since that time I have come to believe the words of Jesus, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you" (John 15:16). And therein lies the mystery. So, let's not get wrapped up in labels. Let us do what the Bible says. Let us make our own calling and election sure (see 2 Peter 1:10) and let us proclaim the gospel so that others may hear and be saved (see Matthew 28:16-20). A final word of caution: When contemplating the mysteries of God, always err on the side of sovereignty.

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