Revival Reflections

I'm still thinking about tonight's sermon. Bro. Keith made two statements that continue to run through my mind. First, he stated that God always wins. Second, he stated that God is determined to save sinners. These two truths are connected. In fact, the cross teaches us both.

At first glance, the crucifixion of Christ might seem like defeat. If the narratives only gave us the account of his arrest, trials, beatings, and death, it would most certainly be a story of defeat. That is most certainly what the audience of Christ's crucifixion thought. "He saved others," they scoffed, "let him save himself." They chided, "Come down from that cross, and we'll believe you are the Christ." All looks lost. Yet, we know, God always wins. The empty tomb turns the bloody cross into a message of victory.

Paul states, "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to an open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (Col. 2:13-15). In other words, what the world (and Satan) saw as defeat was actually the picture of Christ "triumphing over them." Elsewhere, Paul expresses that had these "rulers" understood what was truly happening in the crucifixion of Christ, they would not have participated. He states, "None of these rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Cor. 3:6).

What Satan meant for the toppling of God and the destruction of mankind, God meant for the deliverance of sinful humanity. What Satan saw as defeat, God declared victory. When Satan thought he was delivering the deathblow he was merely bruising the heal. When Satan thought he would be receiving his crown, he actually received a crush skull (see Gen. 3:15). Through his obedience, even to the point of death on the cross, Christ was highly exalted and given a name above every name (see Phil. 2:5-11). Jesus, now ascended on high as King of kings and Lord of lords, rules from his unshakable throne. The cross means God always wins.

The cross also means that God is determined to save sinners. The Scripture is clear, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, now wishing that any should perish, but at that all should reach repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). God desires sinners to come to repentance. The cross guarantees that those who come will find forgiveness. We must, however, keep in mind that the salvation does not come to everyone. We are not universalists, who believe that all people will go to heaven. We believe that only those who turn from their sin and trust in Jesus' person and work will be saved. The appointment by God of individuals to salvation is often called the doctrine of election. Concerning election:

The 1963 Baptist Faith and Message states:

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is a glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility (Article V. God's Purpose of Grace).

Monticello's Articles of Faith states:

Election is God’s eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life-not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ-in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified (Constitution Article III. Sec. 1. G).

Monticello's statement of faith declares that we believe God has determined to save sinners. He has chosen, through the death and resurrection of the Son, to bring life to those who repent and believe. And we are confident that God always wins. So let us join with Paul is saying, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).