Wherein Do We Differ?

Q: What does the Bible say about the sovereignty of God?

The Bible teaches that God is sovereign and has absolute control over all things, as stated in Psalm 115:3. The sovereignty of God is a central theme in Scripture, emphasizing that God is in control of everything that happens. Psalm 115:3 states, 'Our God is in the heavens; he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.' This means God's will is never thwarted by human action; rather, His purposes prevail in all circumstances. Many religions might acknowledge God's sovereignty but in a limited sense, suggesting His plans depend on human choices. However, true biblical sovereignty illustrates that God is the first cause behind everything, including salvation. Romans 8:28-30 also reveals God's sovereignty in the predestination and calling of His elect, confirming that God orchestrates every detail of both life and redemption.

Q: Why is the doctrine of election important for Christians?

The doctrine of election is crucial because it affirms that God has chosen His people before the foundation of the world, ensuring their salvation. The doctrine of election is foundational to the understanding of God's sovereign grace and the assurance of salvation. Ephesians 1:4 states, 'According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,' highlighting that our selection by God is not a result of our actions or decisions but is purely by His grace and purpose. This doctrine emphasizes the idea that salvation is rooted in God's will rather than human merit or effort. It reassures believers that their salvation is secure, as it is not dependent on fluctuating human will but is grounded in the unchanging character of God. Thus, understanding election shapes our view of God's justice and mercy, as only those He has chosen will truly come to faith and experience redemption.

Q: How do we know total depravity is true?

Total depravity is evidenced in Scripture, demonstrating that all humanity is dead in sins and unable to save themselves, as indicated in Ephesians 2:1. The doctrine of total depravity asserts that humanity, as a result of the Fall, is completely unable to achieve righteousness or seek God on their own. Ephesians 2:1 notes, 'And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins,' clarifying the spiritual condition of every person. This 'deadness' means that individuals cannot respond to spiritual truth or act toward salvation without divine intervention. The implications of total depravity suggest that human efforts toward morality or religion are futile because they stem from a sinful nature. Understanding total depravity enhances our appreciation for God's grace, as it becomes clear that salvation is entirely a work of God, requiring His grace to awaken the spiritually dead and grant them faith and repentance.

Q: What does the Bible say about the atonement of Christ?

The Bible indicates that Christ died specifically for the elect, securing their salvation through His atoning sacrifice, as taught in John 10:15. Scripture reveals that the atonement of Christ is a definite and effective sacrifice for the sins of His people. John 10:15 states, 'I lay down my life for the sheep,' which signifies that Christ's death was not a mere possibility of salvation for all but rather an actual atonement for those chosen by God. This sacrificial act guarantees the removal of sin for the elect, affirming that Christ's blood was effective and sufficient to save them completely. Furthermore, 1 Peter 2:24 emphasizes that Christ bore our sins in His body, indicating that He took the punishment due for the elect, ensuring that they would never face condemnation for their transgressions. Understanding the particular nature of the atonement fosters deep gratitude in believers for the certainty of their salvation and the cost at which it was purchased.

Todd's Road Grace Church would
like to invite you to listen to a sermon by our pastor, Todd
Nyberg. We are located at 4137 Todd's
Road, two miles outside of Mattawar Boulevard. Sunday services are
at 1030 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bible study is at
945 a.m. Wednesday services are at 7 p.m. Nursery is provided for all services.
For more information, visit our website at toddsroadgracechurch.com. Now here's our pastor, Todd Nyberg. Paul had been accused by the
religious conservatives and the religious liberals of his day,
the Pharisees and the Sadducees of heresy. And he answers their
accusation in Acts chapter 24. They said he was a mover of sedition.
They said he was a pestilent man, an infectious disease. a
ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. And they accused him
of profaning the temple and profaning their religion. And he gave his
answer to them and said, I have not done the things they accused
me of. But he says in verse 14 of Acts
chapter 24, But this I confess unto thee, I plead guilty here,
that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I, the
God of my fathers, believing all things that are written in
the law and in the prophets." Now, obviously, there was a great
difference between what Paul believed and between what the
religious conservatives and the religious liberals believe. I
think it's interesting that these two parties had no special bond
with each other. They disagreed with one another,
but they were united together in their hatred of Paul and his
gospel, and they wanted him to be put down. They had tried to
kill him, and he was rescued by the Roman army, and this is
when he is speaking before Agrippa to try to settle this thing.
They wanted to kill him. Now, there was obviously a great
difference between what Paul believed and what they believed.
What was the difference? And I want to bring that to today. What I preach, who I preach,
is greatly different than what most are preaching in this day. It could be that you'll go to
church this morning and hear your pastor preach a completely
different message than the message that I am bringing. Now, here's
my question. Wherein do we differ? What is different between what
I preach and what most men preach who claim to be preachers of
the gospel and claim to believe the Word of God. There is a difference. I don't want to pretend there's
not. There is a difference. I hope you listen very carefully.
Wherein do we differ? Now, it's not a natural character. Not claiming to be better than
anybody else or more understanding than anybody else. It's not in
form and organization of the church. It's not in religious
dress. We look not like anybody else.
It's not in the way we observe the ordinances. We observe the
Lord's table. We take the wine and unleavened
bread in remembrance of Him. And we practice baptism by immersion. Many other people practice baptism
by immersion and take the Lord's table the same way. There is
no difference there. Where do we differ? Paul said, after the way which
they call heresy, so worship I, the God of my fathers. The first place we differ is
we have a different God. Now, I hope you heard what I
said. We have a different God. The God they worship is not the
God of the Bible, but a weak God, a pygmy God that doesn't
deserve the name of God. His will is subject to man's
will. He cannot do what He wants unless
men first allow Him to. He is not the God of the Bible. David said, our God is in the
heavens. He hath done whatsoever He hath
pleased. The God of the Bible is God indeed. He is sovereign. Now, most people
will say, well, I believe in the sovereignty of God. Well,
what do you mean by that? God is sovereign. That means He has a will. There's
such a thing as the will of God. And He has the power to make
His will come to pass. And He always does make His will
come to pass. Every time. Everything that happens,
He is in absolute control of. The scripture says, He doeth
according to his will in the armies of heaven and among the
inhabitants of the earth, and none can say his hand or say
unto him, What doest thou? God is sovereign. Now, Paul said, after the way
which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers. Any
God that is not an absolute sovereign, the first cause behind all things,
in absolute control, who controls salvation. He controls who will
be saved, and He passes by whom He pleases to pass by. He's absolutely
sovereign. Whatever He does is right. Anything
less than that God is no. God. We have a different God. Secondly, we have a different
view of the Scriptures. Paul said, after the way that
they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing
all things that are written in the law and in the prophets. What we believe, who we believe,
is what this book and who this book declares. This is the religion
of this book. All we know of God, all we know
of His gospel, all that He's pleased to reveal to us about
Himself is found in this book. All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God and is profitable. for doctrine, for correction,
for reproof, for instruction in righteousness, that the man
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
Now, it will not do you any good to say you believe the Word of
God is the Word of God, the inspired Word of God, and reject or dismiss
as a doctrine of secondary importance anything in the Word of God.
What do you have to believe? You have to believe everything
God says. That's what a man has to believe
to be saved. Everything God says. Now, how many people say, well,
I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, but they reject
predestination. When the Bible says, for whom
he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his son. The Bible says that. How many
people say they believe the Bible is the Word of God and they reject
the great doctrine of election? that God chose who would be saved. Romans 9, 11, for the children
being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God according to election might stand. Not of works, but
of him that calleth. It was said unto her, the elder
shall serve the younger. Now, these things are clearly
written, and somebody says, I believe the Bible is the Word of God,
and yet they either reject the doctrine that's taught or dismiss
it as a doctrine that's really not important and impossible
to understand. Now, that's no respect for the
Word of God. We believe what is written. We believe all that is written. Now, I know a lot of people will
say, well, I believe the Bible is the Word of God, but do you
pay any attention to what it says? That's wherein we differ. We differ with regard to our
view of Scripture, Holy Scripture. Wherein do we differ? Where would
I differ from so many preachers of this day? Well, we differ
as to what took place in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve
were placed in the Garden of Eden with an innocent nature. You know the story. The serpent
beguiled Eve. She ate of the fruit. Her eyes
were opened. And that is what is called the
fall of man. Men fell. Men became a sinner. Men became a flawed human being,
no longer upright as they once were. That's why people tell
lies. That's why people steal. That's why people commit sexual
sin. They're now sinners. They don't have this innocent
nature they had before the fall. Now, most will agree with that,
but What the Bible teaches regarding Adam and Eve's fall, remember
God said, in the day you eat thereof, you shall surely die. Man became dead in trespasses
and sins. Dead. Now what does dead mean?
Well, if you see a man who is not breathing, his heart's not
pumping, he's dead. Show him a beautiful painting. He can't see it. He's dead. Play
beautiful music to him. He can't hear it. He's dead.
Give him the best tasting food you can come up with. He can't
taste it. He's dead. He can't smell a sweet
fragrance because he's dead. He can't feel something soft
and velvety because he's Dead. The natural man is dead in trespasses
and sins. He cannot perform the functions
of spiritual life. He can't hear the gospel. No
matter how clearly you preach it, he's unable to understand. He can't see the beauty of Christ.
He can't see the beauty of salvation by grace. He's unable to believe. It's impossible for him because
he's dead in sins. Our Lord said in John chapter
6 verse 44, no man can come to me. Except the Father which has sent
me, draw him. He's dead, completely unable
to save himself. Dead in trespasses and sins. 1 Corinthians 15, 22 says, In
Adam all die. The natural man cannot perform
the functions of spiritual life. He can't believe. He can't repent.
He can't love. He's dead in trespasses and sins. Totally depraved. Every faculty
of his soul has gone wrong. and totally unable to do anything
to save himself, dead in trespasses and sins. Now, to believe in
free will or to believe in some kind of moral ability is a denial
of man being dead in trespasses and sins. So, there's wherein
we differ. We differ as to what took place in the garden. Now,
another place we differ is we differ as to what took place
in eternity. before time began, before the
creation of the universe. Now, most people believe that
God made a plan that He hoped would be carried out in time,
but as to this plan being carried out, it was left open-ended,
dependent upon what men do. Now, we believe no such thing.
Known unto God are all His works from the beginning. The Lord Jesus Christ is called
in Revelation 13, verse 8, the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world. Now, what took place in eternity?
Well, the Scripture says, according, Ephesians 1, verse 4, according
as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world. God elected a people, and He
gave those people to the Son to represent. And the Son agreed
to be their surety, agreed to be their Savior, and He came
as a representative for those people. Everything happened in
eternity. Now, listen to this Scripture.
Romans 8, verse 28 says, And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are called
according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, them
He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His
Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover,
whom He did predestinate, them He also called. And whom He called,
them He also justified. And whom He justified, them He
also glorified." Past tense. All of this was done in eternity. What happened in eternity? Everything. You see, God is not limited by
space or time. Everything that is was done in
eternity. Do I understand that? Of course
I don't. Do I believe it? Altogether,
because God is God and everything took place in eternity. Hebrews
4.3 says the works were finished. Finished. from the foundation
of the world. And we differ as to what took
place on the cross. Now listen real carefully. Most
believe that Christ died for all men without exception. We believe no such thing. He
said, I laid down my life for the sheep. Not everybody's a
sheep. There are goats. A goat will
never become a sheep, and a sheep will never become a goat. He
said, I lay down my life for the sheep. He said in John 17,
9, I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but
for them which you've given me, for they are thine. Christ died for the sheep. Christ
died for His elect. Now, most people believe that
Christ made salvation potential. He made salvation possible. He
made men savable. But He didn't actually save.
Now, we believe no such thing. When the Lord said, It is finished,
everybody He died for was completely saved. Their sin was washed away. Most limit the saving efficacy
of the blood of Christ to the will of man. Why, He died for
everybody, He wants to save everybody, but as to whether or not His
blood works, it depends on whether or not you have as an act of
your free will accept what He did on your behalf. If you don't,
it didn't work for you. That is foolishness. The Lord Jesus Christ, His blood
is not limited by the will of man. He said, This is the will
of him that sent me, that of all which he hath given me I
should lose nothing, but raise it up again at the last day. Most believe that on the cross
there was role-playing going on. The Father was treating His
Son as if He were guilty. Son, I know you didn't do this,
and this is so noble of you to do this, but I'm punishing you
for their sins. That wasn't role-playing going
on. Now, listen to me. On the cross, God the Father
poured out all of what hell is upon His Son because His Son
was guilty. Guilty as charged. The sins of God's elect were
laid upon Him so that He became guilty of those sins. Through His own self, bear our
sins in His own body on the tree. He became guilty of those sins
and He was smitten for those sins by His Father. It wasn't role-playing going
on. Do I understand that? No. Do I believe it? Altogether,
he really became guilty, and just as truly as he was made
sin, every believer is made the very righteousness of God in
him. Now, most people believe that
there are people in hell for whom Christ died. I don't believe
that for a second. No, we totally differ there.
Would God punish the same sin twice? What if you were sentenced
to three years in prison, and after that sentence was over
and you'd served your time, the judge said, well, you've got
to serve another three years for the same sin. That would
be unjust. God will not punish the same
sin twice. If my sin was punished in the
Lord Jesus Christ, I'll never be punished for it. Here's an
illustration. This is true. There was a brush
fire going on and the fire was advancing rapidly with the wind
blowing toward this group of people. And so one man said,
burn what's in front of us. And then there was a, the fire
started going rapidly the other way and it left nothing but burnt
grass. And so they got in that burnt
section and the fire came through and passed them by because it
could not burn where it had already been burnt. God will not, God
cannot punish for the same sin twice. If Christ bore my sin
and was punished for it, I cannot be punished for it. Thank God
for that. That's my hope. If Christ died
for me, my sin is put away. It's blotted out. It is altogether
gone. And we differ as to what happens
in a sinner's heart when God saves them. Some people believe
that the old nature is changed and men virtually, by grace,
become better and better until they're ripe for heaven. Don't
believe that for a second. Many believe that faith must
come before there can be life. You believe in order to live. Faith, then life. Don't believe
that for a second. Don't believe that for a second.
It's not so. Some believe you can have life
without faith. You can have spiritual life and
yet really not know what it is to trust the Lord Jesus Christ.
But you have spiritual life. Don't believe that for a second.
Some believe that you can have the Lord Jesus as your Savior,
but not as the Lord of your life. Oh, you'll go to heaven when
you die, You're going to be disobedient here on earth, and you're not
going to walk with Him here on earth. You're just a disobedient Christian.
I don't believe that for a second. Someone that is not under the
Lordship of Christ has never been saved. When God saves a
sinner, He gives him life from the dead. He puts something there
that was not there before. He gives him a new heart. It's
the work of God the Holy Spirit. A new heart will I give you.
He gives that man a new heart. And now that man becomes an out-and-out
disciple and follower and lover of the Lord Jesus Christ. He
truly sees Christ as his all. And he follows Him all the days
of his life, persevering unto the end. Oh my, when Christ died
and accomplished that man's salvation, he was guaranteed this. God's
going to save him. God's going to do a work of grace
in his heart. God's going to give him a new heart. He's going
to live. He's going to believe. He's going to love. Wherein do
we differ? We differ as to the content of
the Gospel when it's preached. Paul said in Romans 1, verses
16 and 17, I'm not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ, for it, the gospel, is the power of God unto salvation
to everyone that believeth. The gospel is the power of God
unto salvation, and if the gospel is not preached, no one is saved
by that message. The question is, what is the
actual content of the gospel? What is preached when the gospel
is preached? What is it that is believed and
preached? Well, I know what men say. Men
say, God loves everybody. Christ died for everybody. God
wants to save you. But that is not the content of
the gospel. The gospel is what happened in
eternity. The work of the Father. You can't
preach the Gospel and not preach election. The Gospel is what
happened in the garden. You can't preach the Gospel and
not tell how men are dead in trespasses and sins and completely
unable to save themselves. The Gospel is what took place
on the cross. Christ Jesus actually bore the
sins of those who believe and put them away and wiped them
out and they'll never have to give an account for them. They're
gone. That's the difference. The Gospel is not preached if
the actual work of Christ is not declared how He died to the
elect and accomplished their salvation. And we're called upon
to look to Him and believe on Him and look nowhere else. The
Gospel is not preached unless the saving work of God the Holy
Spirit is preached. What He does in the new birth,
what He gives a new nature. And this is what we're called
upon to believe. Believers believe and this is what they believe.
What do they believe? They believe everything God says,
and the gospel is not preached unless this message is preached. When there's a message of salvation
by works in any way, the gospel is not preached. I don't care
if you put it in the beginning, in the middle, or the end of the
message. Here's salvation by works in the beginning. God loves
you. Christ died for you. He wants to save you, but it's
up to your free will as to whether or not you'll be saved. That's
a message of salvation by works at the very beginning. It's no
good. No one is saved from that message. Or here's works in the
middle. Well, you through your own efforts
and works and prayers and Bible reading and witnessing, you become
a better and better person through what you do. That's salvation
by works in the middle. Somebody who believes that does
not believe the gospel. No life comes from that. Somebody
that puts works on the end, well, you'll gain a higher reward in
heaven by your works. It's true salvation is by grace.
And it's true, salvation comes through the blood of Christ,
but you'll at least earn a higher position in glory if you have
certain good works that'll make it to where you can do that.
That'll make you saved. That's a message of salvation
by works, and there's no life in that message. One of the big
hot political pockets of our day is same-sex marriage. Well,
let me tell you this about same-sex marriage. It can't produce life.
It cannot produce life. And the gospel that is preached
in this day is very much like that. It cannot produce life. Only the gospel of God's grace
is the power of God unto salvation. By grace, if you say, said Paul,
through faith, and that not of yourselves, it's the gift of
God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Now, that is wherein
we differ. We have a different God. The
God that's preached in this day is not the God of the Bible.
We have a different understanding of what took place in the garden.
Man became dead in sins. Not still able to do some things. We have a different view of what
took place in eternity. Everything took place in eternity. Known unto God are all of His
works from the beginning. All of God's elect were saved
and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He saved us, Paul
said, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to His own purpose and grace which were
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. We have a different
understanding as to what took place on the cross. When the
Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary's tree, Here's what he did. He
completely saved everybody he died for. They don't run the
risk of the possibility of the hazard of being anything but
saved because their sins have been wiped out, put away. They
are no more. We differ as to what takes place
in a sinner's heart when God saves him. God places in him
a new heart that was not there before, a new nature. That's
how he believes. That's how he repents. God has
done something for him. And we differ as to the content
of the Gospel. If this is not preached, what
I'm saying right now, the Gospel is not preached. Yes, we differ. And there's no
point in saying that we don't. But here's what I have to say
to you. I say to you what Moses said to his father-in-law. Come
with us, we'll do thee good, for the Lord hath spoken good
concerning Israel." Now we have this message on DVD and CD. If you call the church, write,
or email, we'll send you a copy. This is Todd Knipers, praying
that God will be pleased to make His self known to you. That's
our prayer. To request a copy of the sermon
you have just heard, send your request to messages at toddsroadgracechurch.com. Or you may write or call the
church at the information provided on the screen.

Wherein Do We Differ?

What does the Bible say about the sovereignty of God?

Why is the doctrine of election important for Christians?

How do we know total depravity is true?

What does the Bible say about the atonement of Christ?

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

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Wherein Do We Differ?

What does the Bible say about the sovereignty of God?

Why is the doctrine of election important for Christians?

How do we know total depravity is true?

What does the Bible say about the atonement of Christ?

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

Comments

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