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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
SOVEREIGN GRACE
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," JOH 3:16.
Our text teaches the doctrine of sovereign grace. The blessed sovereignty of God is not hindered by a person's rebellion. He loved His children while they were yet sinners and in rebellion. He sent His Son and gave His Son while we were yet sinners; it does not limit the atonement to those who are willing to accept. This would teach that the atonement was limited; it would teach that those whom God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son so they would not "perish, but have everlasting life," would still perish because their god was such a wimp that He could not draw them unto Himself. Look at the horrible deceit in such a teaching; it teaches that God is so limited He is not able to save those who are not willing to believe.
If God loves a person, He will influence him; He will not allow him to place himself beyond the reach of His mercy. God is able to influence the biggest wretch and sinner. Remember how He influenced the jailer. Think of the Apostle Paul. He confessed he was the chiefest of sinners, and certainly he was not coming to Jesus to accept him on his way to Damascus. Saul was bent and determined to destroy the church. All God did was turn on a little light. This same Almighty God who said, "Let there be light, and there was light," GEN 1:3, stopped that mad monster with but a ray of light which shone into his soul.
ACT 9:3-4 says, "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Don't you suppose that same almighty Creator of the heavens and the earth could turn on a little light in any soul He chose to influence?
What happened to all his rebellion when the light came on for Saul? "And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" ACT 9:6a. Look how such a rebellious lion was instantly transformed into a lamb. The atonement Jesus made for the world was not limited by the rebellion of Saul; he was regenerated and became the Apostle Paul. He not only refused to accept Jesus, he was bent and determined to be the greatest enemy the church ever had, but God was able to influence him; with a flash of light he was transformed into a meek little lamb saying, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?"
This great God, who brought the universe into being by the power of His Word, also influences rebels to serve Him by means of a new creation. As surely as He created the universe by the power of His Word, so by the power of His Word He brings about a new creation in the soul. In EPH 2:8-10 we read, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
This matter of a new creation follows the same pattern the Lord used in the first creation. Turn to GEN 1:2 to see how the work of regeneration is accomplished; look for the very first thing the Lord did. "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." He moved upon the darkness. How does the work of regeneration begin? The Word enters the dark soul by the power of the Spirit, and then He commands there to be light, and that is exactly how He influences a rebel in the new creation. When the light came on and Jesus spoke powerfully to his soul, the Apostle Paul fell prostrate on the ground. Oh, beloved, that tyrant became so submissive before the almighty hand of God. No longer could he persecute the church because he became a different man instantly. It was the end of his mad career; the Lord converted him on the spot.
Now what do such conversions tell us about the theory that the atonement is limited to only those who are willing to accept Jesus? If that were true, there wouldn't be a saint in heaven. The atonement is for those whom God chose from eternity, and He affects that by the wonder of His grace, by the divine influence of the Spirit upon the heart working the new creation in the heart. EPH 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." You see, God has foreordained where we will walk, and He has foreordained our salvation. It was predetermined from eternity, and there is no way that you and I can put ourselves beyond His call of mercy by our little rebellious attitude.
Consider a small child having a tantrum; he may think Mommy and Daddy can't change things. No. If a parent loves the child, discipline does a lot; it changes the attitude. Have you ever heard of a parent taking a child out for a little attitude adjustment? That is what the Lord does with you and me. He gives us a little attitude adjustment; He knows how, and He is big enough to do it.
Where do we find the harmony between God's sovereignty and the phrase, "...that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," in our text? Whose decision is it whether I'm going to believe or not? How do we see God's unconditional sovereignty connected with "whosoever believeth"?
Turn with me to ACT 13:46, "Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles." In that verse we see that we are responsible if we reject the gospel. Do you see why we cannot teach that the atonement is limited from the other side of this same principle?
The Jews who rejected the gospel will be called to an accounting; they had the gospel proclaimed to them, and they refused it. On the Day of Judgment they will not be able to defend themselves on the basis that the atonement was limited, and therefore they were justified in refusing it because it did not include them. The Lord will call them to stand before Him to give an account of why they rejected the gospel.
Verses 47-48 continue, "For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth [but herein we see God's sovereignty in influencing those for whom He gave His Son]. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
Isn't there a blessed harmony between God's sovereignty and the the free will of man? Those who believed did not do so because compulsion was imposed upon them; they were made willing in the day of God's power to will and do of His good pleasure. cf., PHI 2:13.
Now do you see where the atonement lies? God has used it to effect the salvation of His elect and no more, but the atonement is not the limiting factor. The limitation is found in "whosoever believeth." Who will believe? Only those who are ordained to eternal life will believe; now we see God's electing love and His sovereign grace in perfect harmony with JOH 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Amen.
ONLY A SINNER
Naught have I gotten but what I received, Grace hath bestowed it since
I have believed; Boasting excluded, pride I abase--I’m
Only a sinner saved by grace.
Once I was foolish, and sin ruled my heart, Causing my foot-steps from
God to depart; Jesus hath found me, happy my case--I’m
Now a sinner saved by grace.
Suffer a sinner whose heart overflows, Loving His Savior, to
Tell what he knows; Once more to tell it would I embrace'--I’m
Only a sinner saved by grace.
Author: James M. Gray, 1851-1935
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.