Bald Eagles and the Glory of God

Every year hundreds of bald eagles migrate to our area and leave in the early spring. One day I found an area where many of them were sitting in the trees along the river and I simply waited until they took flight. Here is one of the pictures I took. I added my favorite creation quote from Revelation 4:11 and a well known verse from Isaiah 40:31.

Ligonier Conference Live

Check out the live webcast of Ligonier's National Conference on Evangelism According to Jesus....

MARCH 13th, 14th and 15th

http://viewers.316networks.com/viewer/viewerframes_parent.asp?b=&p=&networkID=3001028&WMP=1&WMPv=7&RPIE=1&RPNAV=0

R.C. Sproul

Check out R.C. Sproul's audio and video resources at
http://www.ligonier.org/rym.php

Medical Testimony Against Abortion

The first video in Abort73's "The Case Against Abortion" series is now online.

Called as Saints

I. Paul called all the Roman believers—saints.

Romans 1:6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are a saint (Romans 1:7)
The NT references for "saints: (Acts 9:13, 32, 41; 26:10; Rom. 1:7; 8:27; 12:13; 15:25, 26, 31; 16:2, 15; 1 Cor 1:2; 6:1, 2; 14:33; 16:1, 15; 2 Cor. 1:1, 8:4; 9:1, 12; 13:13; Eph. 1:1, 15, 18; 2:19; 3:8, 18; 4:12; 5:3; 6:18; Phil. 1:1; 4:22; Col. 1:2, 4, 12, 26; 1 Thess. 3:13; 2 Thess. 1:10; Philemon 1:5, 7; Heb. 6:10; 13:24; Jude 1:3; Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 4; 11:18; 13:7; 13:10; 14:12; 16:6; 17:6; 18:20, 24; 19:8; 20:9)

The word “saint(s)” is the word that is used most often in the New Testament just as we use the word “Christian” to describe a believer of today. The following are the NT references for saints: *Look them up in there context...

harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem. . . Acts 9:13
also to the saints who lived at Lydda. . . Acts 9:32
and calling the saints and widows. . . Acts 9:41
lock up many of the saints in prisons. . . Acts 26:10
because He intercedes for the saints. . . Rom 8:27
to the needs of the saints. . . Rom 12:13
going to Jerusalem serving the saints. . . Rom 15:25
the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. . . Rom 15:26
may prove acceptable to the saints. . . Rom 15:31
Lord in a manner worthy of the saints . . . Rom 16:2
and all the saints who are with them. . . Rom 16:15
in Christ Jesus, saints by calling . . . 1 Cor 1:2
unrighteous and not before the saints . . . 1 Cor 6:1
that the saints will judge the world . . . 1 Cor 6:2
as in all the churches of the saints. . . 1 Cor 14:33
the collection for the saints. . . 1 Cor 16:1
themselves for ministry to the saints . . . 1 Cor 16:15
the saints who are throughout Achaia . . . 2 Cor 1:1
in the support of the saints . . . 2 Cor 8:4
you about this ministry to the saints . . . 2 Cor 9:1
supplying the needs of the saints. . . 2 Cor 9:12
All the saints greet you. . . 2 Cor 13:13
God, To the saints who are at Ephesus. . . Eph 1:1
you and your love for all the saints. . . Eph 1:15
glory of His inheritance in the saints. . . Eph 1:18
are fellow citizens with the saints. . . Eph 2:19
To me, the very least of all saints. . . Eph 3:8
be able to comprehend with all the saints. . . Eph 3:18
the equipping of the saints for the work. . . Eph 4:12
among you, as is proper among saints. . . Eph 5:3
and petition for all the saints. . . Eph 6:18
To all the saints in Christ Jesus. . . Php 1:1
All the saints greet you, especially. . . Php 4:22
To the saints and faithful brethren. . . Col 1:2
love which you have for all the saints. . . Col 1:4
the inheritance of the saints in Light. . . Col 1:12
has now been manifested to His saints. . . Col 1:26
of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. . . 1 Th 3:13
be glorified in His saints on that day. . . 2 Th 1:10
Lord Jesus and toward all the saints . . . Phm 1:5
hearts of the saints have been refreshed. . . Phm 1:7
and in still ministering to the saints. . . Heb 6:1
all of your leaders and all the saints. . . Heb 13:24
once for all handed down to the saints. . . Jude 1:3
which are the prayers of the saints. . .Rev 5:8
add it to the prayers of all the saints. . . Rev 8:3
with the prayers of the saints. . . Rev 8:4
and the saints and those who fear. . Rev 11:18
with the saints and to overcome them. . . Rev 13:7
and the faith of the saints. . . Rev 13:10
Here is the perseverance of the saints. . . Rev 14:12
they poured out the blood of saints. . . Rev 16:6
drunk with the blood of the saints. . . Rev 17:6
you saints and apostles and prophets. . . Rev 18:20
found the blood of prophets and of saints. . . Rev 18:24
is the righteous acts of the saints. . . Rev 19:8
of the saints and the beloved city. . . Rev 20:9

The Greek word for "saint" is hagios, holy, set apart
The OT use of the word "holy":
1 Kings 8:4-- holy utensils
Exodus 28:2-- holy garments for the priest
Exodus 29:37-- holy altar


"Called saints" is declarative in nature because in it God declares a person to have a certain status based on something that He Himself has done.

Heb 10:10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 13:12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

I am a saint by the effectual calling of God not on the basis of my character.

However—

II. Believers are called to a lifestyle (Eph. 5:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16 1 Thess. 4:1-8) which reflects their already given status (Rom. 1:7 ).

If we are saints, we should live accordingly.
Eph 5:3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;

Being called saints, is a statement of identity, not attainment.

Illustration: "act your age"
"Act in a way that is appropriate for your age"
"Behave in a way that is befitting or required for one your age."
"Act in a way that corresponds to your position"
Scripture tells us about the appropriate behavior of believers/saints/Christians/.

Lev 20:26 'Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.
Deut 7:6 "For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deut 7:7 "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples,
Deut 7:8 but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

1 Pet 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts {which were yours} in your ignorance,
1 Pet 1:15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all {your} behavior;
1 Pet 1:16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

1 Thess 4:1 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us {instruction} as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.
1 Thess 4:2 For you know what commandments we gave you by {the authority of} the Lord Jesus.
1 Thess 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; {that is,} that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thess 4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
1 Thess 4:5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
1 Thess 4:6 {and} that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is {the} avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned {you.}
1 Thess 4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
1 Thess 4:8 So, he who rejects {this} is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

A Must Read Review of Hagee's book, In Defense of Israel

Here is a great review of John Hagee's book, In Defense of Israel, by a Jewish Christian. Check it out: DID JESUS COME TO BE THE MESSIAH? A Response to John Hagee’s new book, In Defense of Israel by Michael L. Brown, Ph.D.

The Called Ones of Jesus Christ

Romans 1:6 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ

I. What does it mean that the Roman believers are “the called” of Jesus Christ ?

Romans 1:6 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ

Jude 1:1 Jude 1:1 Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:

There are at least two uses of the word called
(1) The General Call: a call that comes through the preaching of the gospel (Matt. 4; Mark 13:10; Acts 8:40).

(2) The Effectual (Effective) Call: The effectual call is effective, that is, it always results in salvation (Romans 8:30, Romans 1:6-7; I Corinthians 1:9, 26; II Peter 1:10)

"Effective calling is an act of God the Father, speaking through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which he summons people to himself in such a way that they respond in saving faith." (Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1994), 693.

Commentaries of Romans that see the special use of calling here:

- Douglas Moo
“ “Call” and its cognates are used by Paul to express an “effectual” calling. What is meant is not an “invitation” but the powerful and irresistible reaching out of God in grace to bring people into his kingdom.” Douglas G. Moo, The Epistle to the Romans, NICNT (Grand Rapids, MI.: Eerdmans, 1996), 54.

Thomas Schreiner
“Here it denotes the effective call accompanying the preaching of the gospel. Those who are called exercise faith in Christ (see 8:28-30). To say that Roman believers are “beloved by God” and “called to be saints” applies language to the church that was used for Israel as God’s elect people.” Thomas R. Schreiner, Romans, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament ( Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998), 36.

Albert Barnes
"The called of Jesus Christ. Those whom Jesus Christ has called to be his followers. The word called (see ver. 1) denotes not merely an external invitation to a privilege, but it also denotes the internal or effectual call which secures conformity to the will of him who calls, and is thus synonymous with the name Christians, or believers. That true Christians are contemplated by this address is clear from the whole scope of the epistle. See particularly Roman chapter 8."
http://www.studylight.org/com/bnn/view.cgi?book=ro&chapter=1

Matthew Henry
"The called of Jesus Christ; all those, and those only, are brought to an obedience of the faith that are effectually called of Jesus Christ."
http://www.ccel.org/h/henry/mhc2/MHC45001.HTM

Leon Morris
"When we think of our position as Christians we are inclined to think first of what we do, and so we speak of our faith or our commitment or the like. But Paul stresses God’s initiative. Christians are people whom God has called. He goes on to speak of being called to belong to Jesus Christ. There is a responsibility attaching to call. Those called belong to Christ. Their lives are his."
Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans, IVP (Leicester: IVP/Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988), 52.

Other key text:
Rom 8:28-30 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose.For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

**See 1 Cor. 1:18-31 for this effectual calling of God.**

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE."
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
29 so that no man may boast before God.
30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

The ultimate purpose in God choosing and calling us is so that no one would boast before him.

Examples of the divine/effectual call:
One non-salvific example—the raising of Lazarus (Jn 11:39-44)
Salvific—the apostle Paul (Acts 9:1-6; 22:3-11)
Salvific— Lydia (Acts 16:13-14)