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Mike McInnis

Ye Shall Not Surely Die #12

Mike McInnis • September, 29 2013 • Audio
19 Articles 1,627 Sermons
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Mike McInnis
Mike McInnis • September, 29 2013
19 articles 1,627 sermons
What does the Bible say about free will?

The Bible teaches that man's will is not truly free but is in bondage to sin.

The concept of free will, as often understood in modern thought, is challenged by Scripture which emphasizes humanity's bondage to sin after the Fall. Romans 3:10-12 states that there is no one righteous, no one who understands, and no one who seeks God, indicating that our natural disposition is toward sin, making our will enslaved. Man's attempt to approach God on his own terms and through his own wisdom denies the sovereign grace of God which is extended to us in Christ alone. Consequently, the notion of true free will in relation to spiritual matters must be viewed through the lens of Scripture which affirms that salvation is solely the work of Christ, not dependent on man's will.

Romans 3:10-12

Why is the concept of original sin important for Christians?

Original sin is crucial for understanding humanity's need for salvation.

Original sin explains the fallen state of humanity and our inherent sinful nature as a result of Adam's transgression. This doctrine is significant as it illustrates the depth of human depravity and the necessity of divine intervention for salvation. Without recognizing that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), we cannot appreciate the grace offered through Jesus Christ. It underscores that we cannot attain righteousness on our own, but must rely on the atoning sacrifice of Christ, which is the only source of redemption. To deny original sin is to diminish the need for Christ's sufficiency in the salvation of His people.

Romans 3:23

How do we know the sovereignty of God is true?

The sovereignty of God is affirmed throughout Scripture, particularly in His control over all creation and redemption.

God's sovereignty is intricately woven throughout Scripture, where He is depicted as the ultimate authority over all things. Passages such as Psalm 115:3 declare that our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases, affirming His absolute control. Additionally, in Ephesians 1:11, we see that God works all things according to the counsel of His will, supporting the truth that nothing occurs outside of His divine plan. This sovereignty is particularly evident in salvation, as illustrated in Romans 8:30, which speaks of God's purpose in predestining, calling, justifying, and glorifying His people. Recognizing God's sovereignty encourages believers to trust in His providential care and eternal plan.

Psalm 115:3, Ephesians 1:11, Romans 8:30

What is the significance of Christ's atonement?

Christ's atonement is essential for the salvation of His people, fully satisfying God's justice.

The atonement of Christ represents the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, perfectly addressing the penalty of sin for His people. By laying down His life, Christ offers a once-for-all sacrifice that appeases the wrath of God and secures eternal redemption, as highlighted in Hebrews 10:12. This underscores the belief that salvation is not a joint effort between God's grace and human works; rather, it is solely based on Christ's sufficient work on the cross. The misunderstanding that one must add human effort to salvation undermines the completeness of Christ's atonement and leads to a form of religion that is contrary to the Gospel. Thus, the significance of Christ's atonement lies in its sufficiency and necessity for our salvation.

Hebrews 10:12

Sermon Transcript

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God had plainly told Adam not
to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which He had
established in the garden. He also declared what would occur
when he ate of it. There were no ifs involved, either
in the prohibition or the outcome of his disobedience. It is part
of the natural disposition of men to desire knowledge. This
quest for knowledge and wisdom is not in itself sinful. Yet,
as with all other things which the Lord has put at man's disposal,
his natural disposition is to use those things in a sinful
manner. and to suppose himself to possess
a certain degree of wisdom which enables him to develop his own
philosophy and standards which he would prefer to those of God.
Satan appealed to this natural desire for knowledge when he
introduced a lingering thought into Eve's mind, subtly questioning
the sovereign right of God to do with his own as he wills.
And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat
of every tree of the garden, Now while she is pondering this
nagging question which he had initiated, Satan tells the first
and greatest lie ever introduced to men. Ye shall not surely die. Thus he began weaving his web
of deceit by accusing God of unfairly keeping something from
them which they surely deserve and which will enable them to
be on an equal footing with God. In essence saying, what right
does he have to prohibit you from this quest of knowledge?
He owes you a fair chance and a square deal. Because of her
weakness and his subtlety, she was deceived thereby and ate
the fruit. She then gave the fruit to Adam,
who ate it willingly and knowingly, demonstrating his love of the
flesh and his desire to know what he had no business seeking
out. Thus is manifested the carnal pride and presumption of men,
that they can, by their own wisdom, search out and find the way of
God. He demonstrated Paul's words,
because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God,
neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and
their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise,
they became fools. Man's desire to design his own
religion and develop his own philosophy is rooted in his conceited
opinion of his worth and supposed wisdom, which he has inherited
from Adam. At the heart of this desire is
the denial of the very principle which Satan cleverly deceived
the woman with, saying he shall not surely die. Practically all
of the religions of men, in one fashion or another, believe that
men possess an innate immortality. Along with man's natural belief
in his own immortality is a deeply rooted notion that he possesses
a free will which is for all intents and purposes sovereign,
since he believes that even God himself does not possess the
right or ability to control it. Man goes about strutting and
preening in his wisdom, natural understanding, and fleshly religion,
supposing that he can approach God in the power of his own free
will. Men never grow weary in their
determination to worship God on their own terms and choosing.
Man, in his supposed wisdom, does not consider that the work
of Christ alone is sufficient for the salvation of his people.
The preachers of modern religion speak of Christ as having made
salvation possible, but that only man, by his free will, can
make it complete by believing it. This is not the preaching
of the cross, but is a mongrel religion which tries to amalgamate
the work of God and the work of men. to cling to such delusions
as to perish. If the work of Christ on Calvary's
cross is not sufficient to purchase the eternal redemption of His
people, how could men in any wise conclude it? E-mail us at 4theCORE at windstream.net. That's 4theCORE at W-I-N-D-S-T-R-E-A-N
dot net.
Mike McInnis
About Mike McInnis
Mike McInnis is an elder at Grace Chapel in O'Brien Florida. He is also editor of the Grace Gazette.
Broadcaster:
Grace Chapel
Theology:
#Original Sin #Total Depravity #Soteriology
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