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Brett Meyer (Brett_meyer) Member Username: Brett_meyer Post Number: 164 Registered: 1-2008 |
George, my BOC quotes from my comment on Monday 24th at 1:57am are taken from previous posts in this discussion which were annotated with a link to the online BOC page and article section. Pastor Holzer, God reconciles all those who He calls to faith by the Holy Spirit working through the Means of Grace to create Godly contrition and faith (Christ's righteousness) in Christ alone. God is not reconciled to every unbeliever who remains under the Law, dead in sins, alive to sin - God's wrath and condemnation remain upon them. Your assertion that I must be confessing a Calvinistic doctrine because I reject UOJ's universal reconciliation is unfounded. I confess Christ died and paid for the sins of the whole world. All righteousness resides in Christ and never apart from Him. Christ is apprehended as Mediator between God's wrath over sin and the world and Propitiation for sin through the gracious gift of faith in Him alone. God would have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. Most men reject the promise of the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ that is offered in the Gospel proclaimation. This confession doesn't make me a Calvanist. To teach that God has absolved the unbelieving world who reject the Means of Grace and stand outside of Christ through unbelief makes the confessor an Enthusiast. Christ's payment for the worlds sins is completely Objective. The Holy Spirit working faith in Christ alone through the Means of Grace is completely Objective. There is nothing about the doctrine of Justification that is not Objective. To claim faith as subjective is a subtle nod toward faith as an work attributable to man - which is blasphey toward the Holy Spirit and Christ - Who's righteousness faith is. George states March 25th, "This is why we also insist that those without faith in Christ may not regard themselves as forgiven of their sins." George states March 24th, ""Even he who does not believe that he is free and his sins forgiven shall also learn, in due time, how assured his sins were forgiven, even though he did not believe it.” (LW 40 366-367) He then proceeds to cite Romans 3:3." More contradictions from the doctrine of UOJ. George do you need me to quote current UOJ defenders when they declare that the only thing that can create faith in an unbeliever is the statement, "Your sins are forgiven, God has declared you justified, righteous and worthy of eternal life." This is the so-called reality of UOJ which is required for faith to cling to. So UOJ according to George Mueller states that those without faith in Christ may not regard themselves as forgiven of their sins but yet Scritpure teaches them that their sins were forgiven even if they don't believe it. And modern UOJists on Lutherquest and Steadfast Lutherans teach that the declaration that their sins are already forgiven is gospel message they need to hear and believe in order to recieve eternal life. My BOC quotes above confirm that we are not acceptable - for the sake of Christ - outside of the gracious gift of faith in Christ alone. That God is only reconciled by the gracious gift of faith in Christ alone. That God does not absolve anyone of their sins except through the gracious gift of faith in Christ alone. These teachings oppose the tenets of UOJ 100%. UOJ is a false gospel. In Christ, Brett Meyer | ||
     Rev. David R. Boisclair (Drboisclair) Advanced Member Username: Drboisclair Post Number: 502 Registered: 1-2002 |
Brett, your response above indicates just what George Mueller stated in his last post that you do not understand our doctrine. Your idea of what we teach is off. However, there are some points that you make above that you fail to recognize are our teaching as well as yours. First of all, you state, I confess Christ died and paid for the sins of the whole world. All righteousness resides in Christ and never apart from Him. Christ is apprehended as Mediator between God's wrath over sin and the world and Propitiation for sin through the gracious gift of faith in Him alone. God would have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. We believe this as well. This is the bulk of what we mean when we speak of Objective Justification. The key phrase here is "All righteousness resides in Christ and never apart from Him.""Righteousness" is "Justification": Christ is our Justification (1 Cor. 1:30). When God causes us to receive Him by faith we receive the Justification which He is. By the way, the term is "Calvinist" not "Calvanist." Secondly you state, Christ's payment for the worlds sins is completely Objective. The Holy Spirit working faith in Christ alone through the Means of Grace is completely Objective. There is nothing about the doctrine of Justification that is not Objective. To claim faith as subjective is a subtle nod toward faith as an work attributable to man - which is blasphey toward the Holy Spirit and Christ - Who's righteousness faith is. The first part of this paragraph is a point that Siegbert Becker makes in one of his essays on Objective Justification. Becker points out that what we call "Subjective Justification" has objective aspects. "Objective" and "Subjective" are merely labels to indicate what God has done apart from us (objective) and what God does in us (subjective). You could use "General" and "Individual" or "Universal" and "Particular." When we speak of faith being "subjective" or "individual" we are speaking of God's action of applying the redemption of Christ personally to any one of us by creating faith in us. This He does through the means of grace. To say that we are Enthusiasts is misrepresenting our doctrine and setting up a straw man to attack. The differences between you and us are probably not as great as you may think. It may be all a matter of terminology whether to speak of "justification,""reconciliation," or "forgiveness" in certain connections. We use these words as we believe Scripture uses them, and we have rejected the errors of Universalism, Synergism, and Enthusiasm. So, please, do us the courtesy of sparing us these accusations as we will spare you the accusation of Calvinism if you reject Calvinist teaching and interpretation. However, to deny that God on His own for the sake of Christ has reconciled Himself to the world for the sake of Christ is to deny what the Bible clearly states in 2 Cor. 5:18-21. | ||
| David Breitenfeld (Dbreitenfeld) Advanced Member Username: Dbreitenfeld Post Number: 847 Registered: 10-2004 |
Brett, if you are correct that UOJ is a false teaching.... Did God reconcile the world through Christ's death? What did Christ's death on the cross achieve? Did it achieve forgiveness of all sins? Did it achieve reconciliation between God and man? Did it achieve peace with God? Was it a payment in full to God for the sins and trespasses we did against God, past-present-future for the whole world or for some that belong to God? Was his death for some people or for the whole world? Was Christ our substitute? If Christ is our substitute, was there anything not accomplished to reconcile people to God? Was the works God did through Christ on the cross complete to save people? If not, what was still needed to be done? When Jesus says on the cross, "It is finished." Did he really mean something else, or was he saying his walk to the cross was finished, or his work of redeeming all of humanity was finished, or something else? If you want to show UOJ is false we can have a discussion. | ||
| Brett Meyer (Brett_meyer) Member Username: Brett_meyer Post Number: 165 Registered: 1-2008 |
Rev. Boisclair, my understanding of Universal Objective Justification comes directly from UOJ proponents such as yourself. I have represented the doctrine accurately and consistently. If you contend that I don’t understand these specific confessions which you all claim are faithful to UOJ –George Mueller, “God justifies no one outside of his grace. The whole world has been justified by God's grace. Nobody but a believer stands in God's grace.” - then yes, I do not understand your doctrine. But then that’s the contradictory and convoluted nature of your doctrine and not my ability to comprehend – this quote is a prime example of the gospel which has been foisted upon the Lutheran church. You state that you believe Christ is apprehended as Mediator and Propitiation through faith alone – and yet your confessions contradict your statement: Franz Linden Wednesday, November 6, 2013 7:44pm “The Scriptures are clear, however, that Christ takes away the sin of the world and that He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. They are equally clear that God has justified all who sinned by His grace and that God was, in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.” Pastor Rolf David Preus Thursday, March 13, 2014 2:24pm “…more importantly, in the clear Scriptures that teach that God, for the sake of the vicarious satisfaction of his dear Son Jesus, has declared the entire world of sinners to be justified. To deny this is to deny the universal redemption, atonement, propitiation, and reconciliation – indeed, the very idea of universal grace is lost if God did not justify all those whose sins Jesus bore on the cross.” Franz Linden Sunday, March 23, 2014 “Your heresy, Mr. Meyer, glosses over verses 23 and 24 and the first part of verse 25, and focuses on the one phrase "to be received by faith." But it's in the very parts you would gloss over that universal objective justification is clearly and loudly proclaimed. All have sinned and are justified by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ. God did this when He made Christ the propitiation - the acceptable payment - by the shedding of Christ's blood.” In each case UOJ teaches that for Christ’s sake (Christ as Mediator and Propitiation) God has forgiven the sins of the whole unbelieving world – such that their sins are forgiven whether they believe it or not. It’s dishonest to tell people you believe that Christ is Mediator and Propitiation by faith in Him alone when you teach otherwise. Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” Christ is apprehended as man’s propitiation through faith alone. The differences between the doctrine of UOJ and Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions are all encompassing – UOJ is 100% contrary to God’s Word. You state, “to deny that God on His own for the sake of Christ has reconciled Himself to the world for the sake of Christ is to deny what the Bible clearly states in 2 Cor. 5:18-21.” Do you really intend to say that God reconciled Himself to the world? | ||
| Brett Meyer (Brett_meyer) Member Username: Brett_meyer Post Number: 166 Registered: 1-2008 |
David asks: Did God reconcile the world through Christ's death? No. Reconciliation with God is solely by faith in Christ alone worked graciously by the Holy Ghost through the Means of Grace. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with Godthrough our Lord Jesus Christ: What did Christ's death on the cross achieve? The completed payment for the whole world’s sins was achieved. All righteousness resides in Christ and never apart from him. Therefore only those in Christ solely through faith are considered righteous by God and have Christ’s righteousness. Did it achieve forgiveness of all sins? No. Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Clearly, no the unbelieving world’s sins were definitely not forgiven. If the whole world had the gracious gift of faith in Christ alone their sins would be forgiven. No faith – no forgiveness. John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Did it achieve reconciliation between God and man? No. Did it achieve peace with God? No. Peace with God is solely through the gracious gift of faith in Christ alone. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Was it a payment in full to God for the sins and trespasses we did against God, past-present-future for the whole world or for some that belong to God? The atonement was payment for the whole world. Isaiah 53.6 (quoted in the next response) Was his death for some people or for the whole world? Christ died and paid for the sins of the whole world. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Was Christ our substitute? 1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world. UOJ teaches that 1 John 2:2 confirms that justified the whole unbelieving world. Yet, Scripture also declares that Christ is our Propitiation through faith alone - Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; Since Christ is our propitiation through faith alone God has not absolved the sins of the unbelieving world. If Christ is our substitute, was there anything not accomplished to reconcile people to God? The only thing remaining for people to be reconciled to God through Christ is for the Holy Spirit to graciously work through the Means of Grace to create faith in Christ alone – Christ’s righteousness – in those God has called. BOC, “"Paul on the contrary, teaches that we have access, i.e., reconciliation, through Christ. And to show how this occurs, he adds that we have access by faith" (citation listed in comment above) Was the works God did through Christ on the cross complete to save people? If not, what was still needed to be done? Christ’s payment for the whole world’s sins is complete through the Atonement – Christ life and death to pay for the sins of the whole world was accepted by God the Father and proof of this is Christ’s resurrection. Are all people then saved? No. Because God reveals in Holy Scripture that He works through the Means of Grace to create the gracious gift of faith in Christ alone for regeneration, righteousness, the forgiveness of sins, redemption from the Law and eternal life. When Jesus says on the cross, "It is finished." Did he really mean something else, or was he saying his walk to the cross was finished, or his work of redeeming all of humanity was finished, or something else? The atonement is complete. Christ’s payment for the world’s sins is complete in Christ’s atonement. The whole world wasn’t redeemed in the atonement. To redeem is to buy back from under the Law. Everyone who rejects Christ remains under the Law and not under God’s grace. Being under the Law they are surely not redeemed. Is there redemption in Christ for the whole world? Yes. But the whole world is not in Christ because only those with the gracious gift of faith in Christ are in Christ and redeemed. Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Was the whole world redeemed and therefore received the adoption of sons? No.Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Most clearly the unbelieving world doesn’t have the Holy Spirit and therefore they have not received the adoption of sons and are not redeemed. Now those who have faith in Christ alone are redeemed from under the Law Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Martin Luther 74. But what is the process whereby Christ gives us such a spirit and redeems us from under the Law? The work is effected solely by faith. He who believes that Christ came to redeem us, and that he has accomplished it, is really redeemed. As he believes, so is it with him. Faith carries with it the child-making spirit. The apostle here explains by saying that Christ has redeemed us from under the Law that we might receive the adoption of sons. As before stated, all must be effected through faith. Now we have discussed the five points of the verse. http://www.trinitylutheranms.org/MartinLuther/MLSe rmons/Galatians4_1_7.html In Christ, Brett Meyer | ||
| Dennis Boettcher, Kantor (Boettden) Senior Member Username: Boettden Post Number: 1701 Registered: 5-2004 |
Romans 4:5 -- But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, ... Please interpret. Romans 5:18 -- Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. Please interpret. You have ad hominem-ed confessors of objective justification ad nauseum, using the acronym "UOJ" in full sarcasm mode (as does your idol, Gregory Jackson) -- since I'm finally seeing some sincere discussion rather than scathing diatribe, I simply ask that you give you simple, straightforward interpretation of the afore-referenced passages. I just want to know where you stand on these passages in Scripture. That is all. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. My church website About my family | ||
| Brett Meyer (Brett_meyer) Member Username: Brett_meyer Post Number: 167 Registered: 1-2008 |
Dennis, just to clarify - UOJ (Universal Objective Justification) is not a sarcastic or derogatory remark. It is simply an acronym and nothing more. Likewise with Huberian since the doctrine of UOJ is identical to Huber's UOJ sans his confession concerning election (for most UOJists). Romans 4:5 is used often by those defending UOJ. They state that "Him who justifies the ungodly," teaches that God justifies unbelievers - while they are unbelievers and even if they never believe - He has absolved them of their sin. It's amusing that this verse is distorted in this way because it leads with "to him who...believes on Him" and ends with "his faith is accounted for righteousness." This is a justification solely by faith alone verse. So then how to understand the middle, "Him who justifies the ungodly," - God justifies the ungodly by calling them to repentance and faith in Christ graciously through the Means of Grace. Justification solely by faith in Christ alone. Now, can it really be understood how the doctrine of UOJ teaches - that God absolves unbelievers - No. Proverbs 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. So justifying the wicked, the ungodly, is an abomination to God. How then can this verse ever refer to God justifying the wicked unbelieving world? - it can't and it doesn't. Romans 5:18 Another verse used to defend the doctrine of UOJ by saying "the free gift came to all men," means the gift of Christ's righteousness came upon all men. That God has declared the whole unbelieving world to be righteous. This is another perversion of God's Word. Note in verse 15, "much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." Note how these connected verses are not consistent with how many the free gift has abounded unto. Verse 15 - many, verse 18 - all men. But what is the result that verse 18 teaches the free gift of righteousness delivers - "justification of life" which is eternal life. Verse 17 confirms salvation "the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ". So then all those who receive the free gift are saved eternally. Now does that apply to unbelievers? No, John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Unbelievers are condemned already and Scripture teaches God's wrath and condemnation remain, abides, on unbelievers. Definitely not saved eternally so definitely God did not declare them righteous. So how is "the free gift came to all men" to be understood? It's to be understood as the Gospel proclaimation "came to". The Gospel promises are proclaimed to the whole world. The Christian Book of Concord confirms my confession when it states, 10] These treasures are offered us by the Holy Ghost in the promise of the holy Gospel; and faith alone is the only means by which we lay hold upon, accept, and apply, and appropriate them to ourselves. 11] This faith is a gift of God, by which we truly learn to know Christ, our Redeemer, in the Word of the Gospel, and trust in Him, that for the sake of His obedience alone we have the forgiveness of sins by grace, are regarded as godly and righteous by God the father, and are eternally saved. 12] Therefore it is considered and understood to be the same thing when Paul says that we are justified by faith, Rom. 3:28, or that faith is counted to us for righteousness, Rom. 4:5, and when he says that we are made righteous by the obedience of One, Rom. 5:19, or that by the righteousness of One justification of faith came to all men, Rom. 5:18. 13] For faith justifies, not for this cause and reason that it is so good a work and so fair a virtue, but because it lays hold of and accepts the merit of Christ in the promise of the holy Gospel; for this must be applied and appropriated to us by faith, if we are to be justified thereby. 14] Therefore the righteousness which is imputed to faith or to the believer out of pure grace is the obedience, suffering, and resurrection of Christ, since He has made satisfaction for us to the Law, and paid for [expiated] our sins. http://bookofconcord.org/sd-righteousness.php UOJ is a false gospel which opposes Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. In Christ, Brett Meyer | ||
| David Breitenfeld (Dbreitenfeld) Advanced Member Username: Dbreitenfeld Post Number: 849 Registered: 10-2004 |
Here is proof of UOJ Hebrews 9, 10 The Earthly Holy Place 9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 For a tent[a] was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence.[b] It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section[c] called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age).[d] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. Redemption Through the Blood of Christ 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come,[e] then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify[f] for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our[g] conscience from dead works to serve the living God. 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.[h] 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but theheavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Christ's Sacrifice Once for All 10 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Consequently, when Christ[a] came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. The Full Assurance of Faith 19 Therefore, brothers,[c] since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. The new Covenant is established. Christ the high priest, Christ the lamb made the sacrifice. Payment in full for all, it is complete. The world has been reconciled to God. The forgiveness of sins is for all. God now implements this new covenant to all by being you being born of God. This rebirth is the work of the Holy Spirit to give faith, so that you will believe in all that He had done for you. |
