God’s Grace in the Synoptics

Coming up next on Renewing Your Mind. There are many who will hear a sermon or a Bible lesson, but there is a smaller number inside that circle who will respond to the gospel and inner concentric circle. The few inside the many in these few are the elect of God.

Those who hear the call.

Do so because of God's sovereign grace God awakens the good center brings them to life regenerates his soul is with the new birth is all about. This week on Renewing Your Mind, Dr. Steven Lawson is explaining the doctrines of grace God's perfect plan of salvation will come with me to Matthew chapter 22 in verse 14 we hear the words of our Lord speak directly plainly and clearly to this precious, wonderful doctrine in Matthew chapter 22 in verse 14 Jesus said for many are called but few are chosen. This requires some explanation. As you know, in the Bible there are two calls. There is the general call and then there is the effectual call the general call is the call the preacher. The general call is the call of the parent of the Sunday school teacher who brings the word of God and issues an invitation aura a call to come to faith in Jesus Christ. But I can only bring the word of God to your ear. I cannot go any further. God must take it from the ear to the heart and that is the effectual call the sovereign call of God in this case when he says, many are called, the reference is to the general call the outward call notice he says many are called, not all are called there are many people who will live and I never hear the name of Jesus Christ. There are many people who will never once in their lifetime. Hear the gospel of Jesus Christ that there there are many people on the other side of the earth who have never heard the claims of Christ. There many people in the United States of America who have never heard the purity of the gospel of Jesus Christ that we can only cite many are called, not not even all this refers to the general call that can be rejected and is often resisted and refused but then he says, but in his Martin Lloyd Jones is often said praise God for the butts in the Bible because it was only the general call, no one would ever be saved. It takes sovereign grace to take the word that comes to the year and then bring it to the heart. And by the way, let me say this.

No one will ever be saved without first hearing the general call faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 1016, 17 so this is necessary that it be brought to the year but that's only step one. That's only first base. God must now take it deeper into the heart and into the soul. And that requires sovereign grace in the last part of verse 14 addresses sovereign grace, electing grace, predestinate eating, grace, and he says, but few are chosen. Couple of things stand out to me about this verse. First of all, the difference between many, and few there are many who hear the gospel. There are many who will hear a sermon or a Bible lesson, but there is a smaller number inside that circle who will respond to the gospel and inner concentric circle. The few inside the mini and these few are the elect of God, he says, but few relatively few now in heaven there is this vast multitude that no man can number myriads of myriads and 10,000s of 10,000.

It is an enormously large group in heaven that have been chosen, but compared to those on the broad gate headed for destruction. They are few in comparison to the mini that are on the broad path headed to destruction.

Few are chosen as word chosen collect us means chosen out of many chosen out of the larger number. Not all are chosen. You see that not even many are chosen few are chosen in comparison to those that are passed over by the Lord, and you see what an extraordinary thing it is to be chosen by God to be one of his everyone of us to be on our knees every one of us ought to be overwhelmed every moment of every day of our Christian life that God chose me for himself and this also includes the other doctrines of sovereign grace implied in this all those who are chosen crisis died for those who are chosen in the Holy Spirit will call and draw and regenerate all those who are chosen to be preserved in grace in Matthew chapter 24 Jesus again speaks of the elect of God in Matthew chapter 24 in verse 22 is also found in Mark 1320 Jesus said unless those days had been cut short. No life would have been saved but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short in the elect are those who are chosen out of the world by God to be given to the Lord Jesus Christ and here believers and the elect are synonymous terms. If you're a believer you are so because you are the elect of God from before the foundation of the world and all of the elect will become believers and these become interchangeable synonymous terms again in Matthew chapter 24 in verse 31, Jesus continues to identify all true believers, as the elect of God and so in Matthew 24 in verse 31, and it's also in Mark 1327 Jesus said in he referring himself will send forth his angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other actually referring to God will send forth his angels in all believers are the elect of God. Again, they are used. Enter changeability, Jesus will also speak of death and atonement. In Matthew 20 and verse 28. As Jesus speaks of himself.

We read just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, remember this is the account where the mother of James and John said I want my two sons to sit on your right and on your left when you come in your kingdom. And Jesus said it's not mine to give up my father, but you also don't know what you're asking for. Because, are you ready to drink my cup and inner into the suffering that belongs to me and it speaks to the fact that for us to be recognized in heaven with unusual distinction and with great reward.

It would require great suffering and great persecution to have such places of recognition but he then adds for just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, meaning James and John would have to serve greatly to receive such a place in the kingdom and he says in the Son of Man also came to give his life at the metaphorical expression for his death. And please note, his life would not be taken he would give his life and Jesus said in John 10.

In verse 17 I have authority to lay my life down and I've authority to take it back up again.

This commandment I received from my father John 10 verse 18 Jesus, the Son of Man will give us life's blood was not spilt was poured out Jesus was not a victim.

Jesus was the victor because he gave his life. It it was not a human accident. It was a divine appointment at the cross when he died and he listed that with this metaphorical expression than to give his life he he intentionally gave his life for you and me, a ransom which is a price paid to free and redeem a slave. We were slaves of sin as slaves of Satan in the Lord Jesus had to come into this world and to lay down his life in order to pay the price to ransom us out of the slave market of sin and being held by Satan's is a ransom which was the purchase price for who pare in the place of on behalf of many spots will take the many to mean all but I think the many here refers to.

Not all, but too many. A large number but not all these are Lord's own words describing his own death that he would lay down his life and give his life a ransom for many. Referring to all the elect. Also in Matthew 26 and in verse 28 and Jesus says something the same as he approaches the time of his death.

This is also in Luke 14 in Luke 22 Matthew 26 verse 28 for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. This would've been a wonderful time for Jesus to clarify the matter. If in fact he lay down his life for everyone, but most correctly. He poured out his blood. Please note again.

It was not spilt accidentally. It was intentionally poured out by Jesus Christ himself for many for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus will also speak to the doctrine of the irresistible call of God. The effectual call of God, and if you come with me to Matthew 11 in verse 25 an interest they were going through Matthew's gospel five times so that's why take you three wants and all of a sudden I got a take you back to the beginning we go through it yet another time is 29 Lost My Way were thinking now of the effectual call of God, the sovereign regeneration by the Holy Spirit in Matthew 11 verses 25 to 27 this is a blockbuster passage of Scripture. At that time Jesus said, I praise you father, Lord of heaven and earth. Whatever is about to follow is very high on Jesus's list of wonderful truth and what is about to say. Father, I praise you for this. There is a certain excitement in his soul about this truth and notice what it is and it may surprise you that you have hidden these things that these things refers to the truth of the kingdom that you have hidden these things and we just Titus of God hide something. I promise you'll never find it.

Everything God does is perfect and what he hides will never be found. I praise you that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and this is a sarcastic reference to the Pharisees who thought they knew it all.

They are wise in their own eyes as they are intelligent in their own self estimation.

He says God is hidden from the arrogant and the proud in the boastful and the bombastic God is hidden, it now instead. Notice how continues to read and have revealed them to infants when he says infants here. He's referring to those in a humble state who are of total dependence upon the father and refers to those who have been humbled by grace to come with an empty hand before God and to submit themselves under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It is to these that God has chosen to reveal these truths. How amazing this is.

He hides it from the religious crowd and the religious leaders who thought they knew it all and he has revealed it to mere infants and to mere babes hidden then if that were not enough. Jesus punctuates what he just said is a backoff. He actually advances the argument yet further yes father for this white was well pleasing in your sight and others got took great delight in hiding it from some and revealing it to others. Now there would be some Pharisees that would have revealed to them and that was by sovereign grace of Paul was a Pharisee Nicodemus was a Pharisee there.

There will be some Pharisees who would have it revealed to them that they were among the few his father. For this way was well pleasing in your sight. All things have been handed over to me by my father and no one knows the son except the father, nor does anyone know the father except the son and anyone to whom the son wills to reveal him will Jesus saying is you'll you'll never know the father and to never know God means you'll never enter into a saving relationship with God.

You may know about God, but you never know God. Unless Jesus chooses to reveal the father to that one, so it speaks to the sovereignty of God in salvation does not, and you know it's amazing the very next verse, verse 20 it says coming to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me run meek and lowly in heart shall find rest for your souls.

For my burden is easy and my yoke is light. This evangelistic passage right next to living next door to this text on sovereign grace and the sovereignty of God in salvation. So many passages in Scripture have these just side-by-side and this is one of those and you can't throw the baby out the bathwater. You can't except one reject the other. We have to receive them both. If you look in Matthew 13 and in verse 11 Matthew 13 verse 11 Jesus said to his disciples again were thinking about the sovereign application of salvation by the effectual call of God says to you that has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven stop right there. You'll never know the truth of salvation unless it has been revealed to you and the one who is the revealer is a R is none other than God himself to you. It has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, referring to the crowd. It has not been granted. So why do you believe the others do not believe.

Well it's been granted to one and is not been granted to the other. He then goes on to say, but blessed are your eyes because they see in your ears because they hear very clearly. It is implied. Not all I see. And not all ears hear what why do you see what others in your family do not see why do you hear what your next-door neighbor does not hear. Is it because you have a higher IQ. Is it because you're smarter, you can connect the dots no the difference between you and them is God has chosen to reveal it to you and he has chosen not to reveal it to them.

Salvation is for God to give or for God to Passover is the sovereign right of the Potter to do what he will with the lump of clay will that's Matthew 13. Look at Matthew 16. It's more the St. Matthew 16 in verse 16 Jesus in the previous verse said who do you say that I am because he had just asked a nice it will. Some say you're John the Baptist. Some say you're Elijah. Some say you're this or that Jesus River is a great preaching is to the new Jesus then said that you say that I and Peter wants knocks it out of the park. Peter for wants does not need and after foot meant Peter for wants nails it gives the right answer. That is what he says you are the Christ, the son of the living God.

Jesus said to him, blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you so how did you come to know this. If a mere human teacher could not teach you this, or your own intellect could not come to this conclusion so how do you know that I am the Christ, the son of the living God. When other sites, but these John the Baptist or others assembly just a carpenter from Nazareth had a you know that I am the son of God, the long promised Messiah, the Christ, and Jesus will give the answer. My father who is in heaven, has reveal this to you. This is an inside job, and is a result of sovereign grace. How can we be anything but humble. Knowing this truth and how could we be anything but on our knees. Whether were standing on our feet are not within our heart and soul on her knees because God has singled us out is make us proud. That makes us humble. They God is singled us out to reveal himself to us in by the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ finally preserving grace.

If you'll come to Matthew chapter 10 verse 22 meant to do these rather quickly. Matthew chapter 10 verse 22. You will be hated by all because of my name, but it is the one who endured to the end who will be saved. Perseverance is the mark of the elect perseverance in pursuing the Lord. Those who fall by the wayside. It can be said the faith that fizzles before the finish had a flaw from the first. It was bogus belief, it was a counterfeit conversion but is the one who presses on faithful to the end.

In pursuing and following the Lord. That's the mark of the one whom God has truly called to him self not a matter of us holding on him as a matter of him holding onto us so the one who endures in the end will be saved. Matthew 24 in verse 22 and less those days had been cut short. No life would've been saved but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short in their cut short so that the elect will not suffer more than they can bear. And again in Matthew 2424 for false Christ's and false prophets will arise and will show many great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. I want to know is not possible if possible but is not the literary device to provoke our thinking know my sheep or my voice and I know them and they follow me and a thief and a robber in a fall Shepherd, Jesus said they will not listen to him.

John 10 verse five and then finally Matthew 2431 while you're right there in that section and he will send forth his angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together his elect three times in Matthew 24. Once, twice, three times believers true believers those who are authentic believers are identified as the elect of God, he will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. This is the teaching of Jesus.

These are the words of our Lord is spoken very clearly on sovereign election, definite atonement, irresistible grace, preserving grace springs to consummation.

In conclusion, our study of the Gospel of Matthew in the same versus most of them are found also in Mark May God make this very clear. One of us, Dr. Steven Lawson is better teacher this week on redoing your mind were glad you joined us, is taken a very careful look at what we call the doctrines of grace, the truths we find in Scripture about God's sovereignty and salvation. We see that these doctrines of grace are found throughout Scripture. Even in the Old Testament we shared only a few of the messages this week but if you'd like to continue your study, we invite you to contact us with a donation of any about and we will send you the complete series, foundations of grace New Testament, there are 24 messages in this three DVD set and at the 24 minutes each. The series would be a great foundation for a Sunday school class were small group in your home so requested with your dip when you call us at 800-435-4343. You can also reach us online at Renewing Your Mind.Ward Lemieux was grateful to have for our president and CEO Chris Larson stopped by the studio and the cruises we mark 50 years of ministry here at Woodmere. We are indeed grateful are before the impact. This program is having around the world. We are thankful to God because we know that the word of God never returns void.

God sends it forth and it accomplishes exactly what he intends for it to do you or do your listeners pray for this ministry and the impact of the work of looking here and I want you to be encouraged with this testimony. They came in from Brian is a 17-year-old high school student over in Tampa, Florida. He says I was first introduced to look in your ministries by my uncle was a big fan of Dr. Strohl in his ministry. My first real personal introduction to look in her, however, was when I first wrote the holiness of God which my uncle lent to me about a year ago, though not from a reform background. I was intrigued by the profound biblical teaching, and I began to look at the other outreaches the leader offers, he said, as I write this I am listening to Dr. Godfrey study discovering Deuteronomy my 45th looking or conduct course since last March I subscribed to table talk magazine. I listen to simply put Luther in real time, and ultimately with RC's role still taking looking interconnect studies and reading books by leader teaching fellows in my spare time.

He says God in his wondrous grace has blessed me and numerous others. I'm sure with a magnificent teaching and outreaches of licking your ministries and I am eternally grateful to him and to all the workers there legionnaires played in integral part in my life. Thanks to everyone who is a part of this great ministry. May God continue to bless you that you may reach so many others in need of a spiritual Reformation in their lives that only the word of God can provide. Thank you so much Brian for sending that we are indeed grateful for that encouragement from Brian and the effect of assuring that with the screws. The apostle Peter exhorts us to be prepared to make a defense to anyone who S for reason for the hope that we have in Christ. With that in mind, I hope you'll join us next week as we discover the answers to the tough questions urchins face is beginning Monday here on Renewing Your Mind