Issue 861 – Two Sides – September 23, 2022

Yesterday was the beginning of the autumnal season. 

In places, the leaves have turned and begun to fall, while there isn’t a hint of colour yet in others.

The days will continue to get shorter until the winter solstice on December 21. That is the natural progression of time and seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. Of course, the reverse is true in the Southern Hemisphere; yesterday marked the first day of the spring season.

I have always been fascinated by the differences between the northern and southern hemispheres. It seems marvellous to me that one planet could have opposites like that. It almost seems a paradox, yet it is undeniably true.

There is a seeming paradox in the Scriptures about salvation. Do we choose to accept Jesus, or has God ordained His elect?

Those vastly oversimplified positions are two perspectives (along with many variants) that Christians wrestle with. I know where I fall on the spectrum, and it has been a theological journey to get there as I shifted from one camp to another. You may agree with me, or you may differ.

As important as that issue is, even if we have strongly differing positions, we have something far more important in common.

However, the process of salvation occurs, and regardless of whether we are God’s elect or have free will, none of us know who will be saved. We are given the mandate to reach the lost and to disciple them into being followers of Jesus.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

Matthew 28:16-20

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8

The miracle is that any sinner can be regenerated through Christ through faith alone. We can set aside our theological differences and work with other believers to accomplish the task God calls us to.

The Lord could have chosen to take all believers home when they converted. Instead, in His infinitely and perfectly wise plan, He chose to leave us behind and make the church the instrument He uses to reach the lost.

The Holy Spirit changes hearts, but we are called to go forward and proclaim the truth. People are lost and hurting, destined for eternal torment without Jesus.

What are we doing to help them come to know the truth? Will we be the ones to throw them the lifeline of God’s fantastic evangel?

We might label ourselves as Calvinists or Arminians, or something else. We might choose to hold those perspectives and reject labels. In doing so, we must remember that “the other side” are also followers of Christ.

Let us hold our theological convictions strongly, remembering that not every issue is essential for gospel proclamation. We can disagree with our brothers and sisters in Christ in many matters and still serve the same Lord in love.

Let’s do that.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

 Gleanings From The Word

 Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV). 

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