Monday, June 01, 2009

The Potter's Power Over the Clay

This message was preached on October 5, 2008 at Valley Church in Smithfield, Utah. "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?" Delivered with much "fear and trembling", this sermon is an exegesis of Romans 9:14-29 and an examination of the God's sovereign election in salvation. There is so much misunderstanding and confusion that surrounds the issue of election, and my hope is that this message will clear much of that away. The Church must not be ashamed of, or apologize for, God, and one of the greatest hindrances to our coming into the fullness of the stature of Christ is our failure to embrace this essential God glorifying truth: that salvation is all of God and not of man. Listen below:

6 comments:

Jesse Morrell said...

2 Cor 5:20 shows how salvation requires the free will consent of man. God begs men to be reconciled unto Him. It salvation was "all of God and none of man" why does God here beseech men to be reconciled? For reconciliation to occur, both of the conflicting parties need to consent. God is willing to be reconciled to all sinners, but not all sinners are willing to be reconciled to God. All are not saved, not because of God's election, but because of man's free will. Salvation requires the choice of man to repent of sin and believe the Gospel. Synergism, not monogism, is taught in the Scriptures.

Eli said...

Perhaps if you listen to the sermon you'll find out.

The Scriptures clearly teach monergism, but your arguments rest on human reasoning. To God alone be all the glory.

Margie said...

It behooves me Jesse that your still hammering on false conceptions and teaching. Hope you listened to this word our brother is preaching. It's a true word spoken. Jesus said this in Matthew 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. I pray your ears and heart were tuned in.

Evan Schaible said...

Eli,

I too have to agree with Jesse on this particular point. You did not used to believe this way, and as I have seen in numerous saints who are now following "mans reasoning" in the form of Calvinism, you have changed your theology very,very drastically over the last few years.

I will admit that I have not listened to the sermon but I have heard many sermons on this exact passage, been cornered by many Calvinists as they try and "be Gods instrument of election" in converting me to their theology, so with all due respect I will say that I have heard it all before, and with your deep understanding of Israel it would seem that you would not so grossly take this scripture from its context and use it for personal theological furtherance. But to each his own, and we all must stand before the judgment seat to give an answer for what we have built upon the solid and sure foundation of Christ.

May the Lord deliver us from theological propoganda.

- Evan

Anonymous said...

Saying that reform calvinism is health and life to the soul is like snake venom is to the circulatory system. The fact is that you cannot be born again and be a true follower of christ and hold to reform error. Calvinists twist the scriptures to suit their error.the truth is this that John 3:16,17.18 the words preached by the Lord Jesus is the awesome majestic record of his love revealed for all mankind. Without equivocation.

Eli said...

Hi Anonymous,

Did you get to listen to the sermon? Also, please check out these two articles:

http://www.timothyministry.com/2011/02/critique-of-limited-atonement-and.html

http://www.timothyministry.com/2011/03/letter-to-limited-atonement-brother.html

There are more forms of Calvinism than one would think.

Blessings,
-Eli