It Cost the Lord Everything

New American Prophet ^ | July 29, 2023 | Bradlee Dean

[Rev M. Bresciani]

“Don’t believe anyone who says it’s easy to become a Christian. It cost God everything, including His own Son. And it’ll cost you the same thing, including yourself.” -John MacArthur

[napscoordinator]

How dumb. Jesus was sent down to earth to shape it up. When his job was done, he was killed and returned to God in Heaven. That was the master plan from day one.

[vrwc1]

Don’t believe anyone who says it’s easy to become a Christian. – John MacArthur

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Jesus

[GMThrust]

That’s the fruit of Calvanism.

[EliRoom8]

That’s the fruit of Calvanism.

True.
Calvinism confuses justification and sanctification. The result is a Calvinist salvation which involves works and more works until one's death. Even then the Calvinist is not assured of his salvation. This Calvinist confusion inevitably marginalizes Christ's completed work at Calvary and puts a large measure of propitiation onto the "believer's" shoulders.

Subsequent growth and maturity in Christ after a person is saved (sanctification) does require changes. The believer has been born-again and is able to walk in the "newness of life." A saved believer has the indwelling Spirit and Scriptures to grow in his understanding of Christ and resist temptation. If he fails by sinning, he has the remedy of I John 1:9.

As to a person's salvation by faith Christ's explanation to Nicodemus prior to John 3:16 laid this all out. Christ used an incident in the Book of Numbers to illustrate it. Many of the complaining and implacable Jews were being punished by the Lord were now suffering after being bitten by a lethal snakes in the desert wilderness. As a remedy God responded to Moses' plea by having the construction and raising of a brasen serpent in the middle of the camp. The remedy was that an afflicted Jew merely looked upon it to receive the cure. Thus, it was a simple belief apart from works. Christ suggested that this foreshadowed the cure his raised cross would offer mankind. He then finalized His argument with that well known Gospel passage.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

[GMThrust]

“...inevitably marginalizes Christ’s completed work...”I would say it makes it completely insignificant! What is the point of Christ’s sacrifice if, at the end of the day, nobody knows if they are “chosen”. There is no burden of propitiation on our shoulders, because in the Calvanist mind, you are either part of the elect or not. Doesn’t matter what you do, you are in or out, regardless of your belief.

[EliRoom8]

Over-emphasized election quells any desire to share the Gospel. Why go to the trouble?

[cowboyusa]

There is no Salvation without Obedience.