Why Will Many Perish?

The Canons of Dort (1618-19) recognized that no one perishes because of the insufficiency of the atonement. Canons of Dort: “And, whereas many who are called by the gospel do not repent nor believe in Christ, but perish in unbelief, this is not owing to any defect or insufficiency in the sacrifice offered by Christ upon the cross, but is wholly to be imputed to themselves” (2:6).

Christ died sufficiently in value and worth for all mankind. Look at three verses of Scripture that clearly teach the sufficiency of the atonement: John 3:16, 1 John 2:2, and 1 Timothy 2:6. A literal interpretation of these verses shows beyond question that the death of Jesus Christ is sufficient in worth and value for all people. Yet, many will perish in unbelief.

In 1 John 2:2, the Bible teaches Christ died sufficiently for "the whole world." Therefore, the atonement of Christ is sufficient for Gentiles as well as Jews, "the whole world." The Mosaic sacrificial system was for the Jewish nation. The sacrifice of Christ is not limited to the Jews. His death is sufficient for "the whole world." Yet, many will perish in unbelief.

The sufficiency of Christ crucified has to do with value and worth. However, sufficiency saves no one. Christ likewise died efficiently to purchase people unto God (Acts 20:28). Therefore, the atonement is sure to save certain people, all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31). God's purchased people are saved at the cross of Jesus. 

Why Are All Guilty?

"As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10). That's what the Bible teaches. Look at James 2:10, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." Breaking God's law of commandment only one time means we are guilty of all. 

You may say, "If breaking one commandment means I am guilty of all, then there is no hope for me." Wait! There's good news. Jesus Christ is our righteousness. He was without sin. He is the only man without sin. When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, the righteousness of Christ is put on our account. The only way that we can be righteous before God is in Christ alone (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Being self-righteous can never please God. It is like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). People who think they can please God being self-righteous see no need to receive the righteousness of Christ. They may consider themselves to be good, but we will never be good enough. Righteousness is the perfect obedience of Christ.

Christ was righteous in both active obedience and passive obedience. In active obedience, Christ fulfilled the law of God in all things. He came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He died on the cross for our sins in passive obedience to God the Father's will. By faith in Christ, every believer is accounted righteous. Believe unto righteousness in Christ (Romans 10:9-10). 

What Are Covenants?

There are two major covenants in the Bible. They are described as the Old and New Covenants, also known as the Old and New Testaments. The Old Covenant was the law of God given through Moses. The New Covenant is the grace of God working in us (Philippians 1:6; 2:13). Believers enter the New Covenant with God by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are obvious differences between the Old and New Covenants. The Old Covenant was fulfilled in the perfect obedience of Christ (Matthew 5:17). The New Covenant revealed Christ in the Gospel. The Old Covenant confirmed the curse of sin, resulting in Christ crucified for our sins (Galatians 3:10). The New Covenant confirms the Gospel of Christ taking away all our sins (1 John 1:7). That's the grace of God in the everlasting covenant (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "But if God enters into covenant with sinful man, he is then so offensive a creature, that must be on God's part an act of pure, free, rich, sovereign grace. When the Lord entered into covenant with me, I am sure that it was all of grace, nothing else but grace."

The New Covenant brings the grace of God in Christ. Spurgeon described it as "an act of pure, free, rich, sovereign grace." It's pure grace because it's all of grace. It's free grace because it's the gift of God for believers. It's rich grace, because God's mercy in Christ paid our sin debt in full. It's sovereign grace, because only God Almighty can give it to us. We enter the New Covenant by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10)).

Who Are God's People?

The New Testament word church originates from the Greek word ekklesia, which means the called out. It includes all who respond to God's call out of darkness into the marvelous light of Jesus our Lord (1 Peter 2:9). We have come to faith in Christ, through the Gospel and by the Holy Spirit. The church is all of God's people called by the Gospel and the Holy Spirit to faith in Christ (Romans 1:16-17).

When we repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ known as the church (1 Corinthians 12:13). The church is God's chosen people, known as the body of Christ.

Isaiah prophesied the coming of Christ as the chosen of God (Isaiah 42:1). God the Father chose the Son of God before time began to be the Savior of the world. The Son of God was chosen as the Head of the church, which is his body, composed of all who are saved (Colossians 1:18; 1 Peter 2:4). The church is God's chosen people in Christ.

The church includes all of God's people, who are born of the Spirit. We have come to repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are members of his body known as the church. All true believers compose the body of Christ.  The church is God's chosen people in Christ (Ephesians 1:4).

What Is the Kingdom?

God's kingdom is in the power and glory of Christ. God's kingdom is through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The kingdom is in King Jesus our risen Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3). In his second coming, Jesus shall reign as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16).

God's kingdom comes through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. He said, All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth  (Matthew 28:18). He came into this present evil world to defeat sin, Satan, and death, through the cross and the resurrection. The power of evil was broken, yet the victory has not come in all of its fullness. The warfare rages, as the kingdom of light attacks the powers of darkness. However, the complete defeat of evil will only come at the return of Christ in kingdom power and great glory (Luke 21:27; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

We enter God's kingdom by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:5-8; 1 John 5:1). Only through the power of our Lord Jesus can we break free from the control of the evil one (1 John 5:18-20). God's kingdom comes to us in power through the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16; 14:17).

God's kingdom shall come in great power and glory at the second coming of Christ. Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in heaven: Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10). God's kingdom power continues to work until that day when Jesus returns. Then, God's kingdom shall come to bring the final and total victory. 

What Is Your New Life?

W. A. Criswell said,"Without the presence of the Spirit there is no conviction, no regeneration, no sanctification, no cleansing, no acceptable works. ... Life is in the quickening Spirit." 

Life in the Spirit is from God the Father, through the Son. Such a new life is for every believer in Christ. The Holy Spirit works in us and through us to the glory of God. Dr. Criswell understood that the new life is indeed life in the Holy Spirit.

Life in the Spirit brings salvation through conviction and regeneration. Only the Holy Spirit can convict us of the need to know Jesus Christ as our Lord (John 16:7-11). Only the Holy Spirit can quicken us to new life through new birth (John 3:5-8).

Life in the Spirit is sanctification. He is our growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). The Holy Spirit teaches us, guides us, comforts us, and sustains us in walking with the Lord. He enables our new life with fellowship or communion with God in Christ (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Life in the Spirit is an eternal relationship with the Lord Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Life in the Spirit begins and sustains our new life. Our perseverance in Christ is dependent upon the seal of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit gives us new life eternal through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).

What's Kingdom Prayer?

Jesus taught us how we should pray (Matthew 6:9-13). We should pray to God our Father, Your kingdom come. Your will be done. Prayer is not about our will being done. Prayer is asking God's will be done. We are asking for God's kingdom to come. And what is the kingdom of God? For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The kingdom of God is the Holy Spirit bringing righteousness, peace, and joy into our lives.

Jesus taught us to focus our prayers upon God's will. That's our prayer for the Spirit of God to overcome evil in this life. We are asking for God's kingdom to come and God's will to be done. We are praying that the Spirit of God will work in our lives with righteousness, joy, and peace through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus taught his disciples the model prayer, also known as the Lord's prayer. They learned to focus on the kingdom of God, and that means to ask for God's will in our prayers. So, we should pray to our Father in heaven, Your kingdom come, Your will be done. When God's kingdom comes, the will of God is done. 

The kingdom of darkness is at work in this present evil age. Satan and the powers of darkness are defeated when God's kingdom comes in power. Light defeats darkness every time. That's when we pray to God our Father, Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10). Learn to pray for God's will to be done in every situation. That's kingdom prayer.