4. Jeremiah Nortier | Calvinism in Tribulation | Open Air Theology Conference 2024

Calvinism in Tribulation and the Sovereignty of God in Suffering

So, thank you all for having me today. This conference has been truly remarkable reminding me that salvation is truly of the Lord. Amen. So God doesn't just simply save us and say good luck. No, he's with us.

Jesus promises us that he will be with us even to the end of the age all the days, right? He gives us his spirit and he sanctifies us and he is sovereign over all of that even the types of suffering that we undergo in this broken and fallen age.

And so my topic today is Calvinism in Tribulation and so sometimes when we think about tribulation we think about the great tribulation in eschatology. And as exciting as that topic is that's not what I'm talking about when we're talking about tribulation.

We're talking about great affliction time of suffering. What are we gonna do in those times when we're suffering and yet we're looking up to God saying why I Want to submit to you? Calvinism provides the pillow in which you can lay your head on at night and go to sleep and rest in the absolute Sovereignty of God.

I was listening to the dividing line one day and dr. White made this incredible point. He's talking about the acrostic tulip. You know the five points of Calvinism and he said something to the effect of if tulip could be rewritten It would be Stulip and I was like what that makes no sense to me and his point was it would start with the s the sovereignty of God because when you look at the five points of Calvinism this presupposes a Sovereign God who sees the end all the way from beginning and has divine purpose in everything.

And so when we talk about suffering Listen it has been granted to you if you're in Christ. It has purpose it has purpose to sanctify you for your good and for God's glory. And so as Calvin that's one of our favorite Bible verses is Philippians 129.

Paul says this for it has been granted to you that for Christ's sake you should not only believe but also Suffer for the sake of Christ as much as we are going to talk about and we should that faith is an effectual gift of The Holy Spirit regenerating your heart causing you to be born again.

And he has gifted you faith that faith is also going to be met with times of affliction times of Tribulation and struggle and you can look to God and say thank you. And as James says you can find joy knowing that he is going to mold your faith and make it perfect.

And so if you would please stand with me as we read from God's Word We're gonna be looking at the thorn in Paul's flesh. So if you would turn with me to 2nd Corinthians chapter 12, we're gonna be looking at verses 7 through 10.

God's Word says so to keep me from being conceited because of the surpassing greatness of revelations a thorn Was given me in the flesh a messenger of Satan to harass me to keep me from being conceited.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this that it should leave me. But the Lord said to me my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly.

Paul says of my weaknesses. So that the power of Christ may rest upon me for the sake of Christ. Then I am content with weaknesses insults hardships persecutions and calamities. But when I am weak, I am strong.

Let's pray Heavenly Father. We lift your name on high. We bend the knee to your sovereignty and all things and God we trust you and everything. We trust you in times of affliction. We trust you in times of confusion knowing this that you are in control.

God I pray that you would help strip us of all pride and any any type of thinking that we have accomplished anything. God you ultimately are running the show. Please help us to look to you and give you proper glory.

Lord, please help your truth to shine forth and edify the Saints pray these things in your name Jesus. You may be seated. So I want to make a quick note in verse 10 where we see a a wide range of Tribulation.

Remember that word in its broadest sense means affliction. Paul mentions all kinds of tribulation that he has been experiencing and in verse 10 He says I am content with weaknesses insults hardships persecutions and calamities.

And so if we're familiar with the life of the Apostle Paul, in fact back just a chapter earlier in chapter 11 He gives us a brief synopsis of all of what he has been doing in his life for Christ in the ministry.

He gives us a brief synopsis when he says five times I received at the hands of the Jews 40 lashes minus one three times I was beaten with rods once I was stoned three times. I was shipwrecked night and day adrift at sea.

I was in danger of rivers dangers of robbers danger of my own people danger of the Gentiles. Danger in the city danger in the wilderness danger at sea danger from false brothers. Danger and toil and hardships through many sleepless nights.

I was in hunger and thirst often without food cold and it was exposed to all of these calamities. So Paul has received great affliction and I want to pose this question to all of us to be thinking about throughout the sermon.

How was Paul able to say I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses. How was Paul able to say I am content with weaknesses insults hardships persecutions and calamities. How did Paul say for when I am weak?

Then I am strong. Look back with me back up in verse 7 Paul says so to keep me from being Conceded because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations a thorn was given me in the flesh a Messenger of Satan to harass me and he says the second time to keep me from being conceded.

Okay, he repeated this twice. He wants us to make special awareness that the Apostle Paul has these great Experiences, but God is sovereign and he is keeping me humble. The NASB says that this was to keep Paul from exalting himself from becoming arrogant.

Paul understands that he is an apostle by Christ Jesus by the will of God and that carried the Temptation to think highly of himself the Apostle. Paul was a true apostle. He had the signs of an apostle, right?

He did many wondrous mighty works and deeds and yet he trembled at the thought of being tempted to boast in himself. Rather than boasting in his Lord verse 7 he mentions because of the surpassing greatness of revelations.

Now if we go back earlier in the context here in chapter 12 We get a little insight to the kinds of visions and revelations. He was talking about he says he's received many Visions and revelations that he received from the Lord Paul.

Then proceeds I believe in verse 2 to refer to himself in the third person. Right. We're about to look at this verse where he received this wonderful vision revelation. He's not even sure how to describe it, but he just doesn't want to boast in it, right?

He's telling us his mountaintop experiences as he has seen and tasted that the Lord is good. But don't get it twisted that he has been able to do these things in the power of his own might. One of those visions look with me in verse 2 Paul says I know a man in Christ Who 14 years ago was caught up into the third heaven whether in the body or out of the body.

I do not know God knows. I know that this man was caught up into paradise whether in the body or out of the body. I do not know. God knows. And he heard things that cannot be told which man may not utter.

So I believe in verse 7 when we see that Paul experiences may amazing revelations. This is the time that he is referring to That he had lofty experiences that God had granted him. But as we're going to see that God also granted that Paul would suffer greatly for the sake of Christ.

Paul says a thorn was given me now in your mind or in your your Bibles make special note of this. How is this given to Paul? Paul is saying that this thorn was Given to him in the flesh and then he says a messenger of Satan to harass me.

Now we're not told exactly What this thorn in the flesh is but we know its function. We know this for this thorn was meant to harass and torment the Apostle. This thorn in Paul's flesh is some kind of spiritual attack.

He calls it a messenger of Satan. And so even though we're not told exactly what this thorn is I believe it's just vague enough to easily glean principles as a Christian to look to this moment of affliction and says look how Paul responded in times of affliction and tribulation.

Right. I want that same peace. I want that same comfort to know that God's grace is sufficient. And we look more into the context as we're going to develop. We're gonna see that Satan has been relentlessly attacking the believers at Corinth.

And if you mess with the bride of Christ, then by extension you're messing with the Apostle Paul. He has been laboring in discipleship with these Corinthian believers and a couple chapters earlier He says he is trying to present to the present them as a chaste bride to Christ.

He loves them dearly. And so Paul Numerous times has been telling the believers at Corinth. You are in the direct crosshairs of the enemy and you don't even know it. Earlier in the letter. He speaks of the urgency that the believers must carry out church discipline because they have Unrepentant sin in their midst and you must be in prayer to be reconciled in love and forgiveness and he says this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan and his schemes.

So if you would look back with me to 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 Where the Apostle Paul tells them there is a spiritual battle in your midst and you must be on guard and you must be ready. Chapter 10 starting in verse 3 Paul says for though we walk in the flesh.

We are not waging war According to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power. This divine power is able to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments in every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God.

How by taking every thought captive to obey Christ? He's telling the believers at Corinth that they are in a spiritual battle and they must prepare themselves. That the kingdom of darkness is in their midst and the arch enemy of God does not fight fair.

He is the father of lies and he will subtly malign the truth and distort it ever slightly. The enemy will wreak havoc. Havoc on an undiscerning mind With every wind of doctrine and will sift you like wheat if you do not know King Jesus and his word.

And I believe that this is a principle that we can all glean that we must fight not with earthly made weapons. But with weapons that have divine power. We do this by putting on the whole armor of God.

Renewing our hearts and minds with God's truth being equipped with the knowledge of God revealed to us in his word. And we do this day by day looking to King Jesus The author and the perfecter of our of our faith.

Amen. So in chapter 11 Paul informs the Corinthians that the enemy Unfortunately is already in their midst and has infiltrated their local gatherings and has already begun to build strongholds. Look with me at 2nd Corinthians 11 verse 3 Paul says, but I'm afraid that the serpent that deceived Eve by his cunning.

But let's look back at verse 3. He says but I am afraid that the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning. Your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ for if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed or if have received a different spirit from the one that you received or if you accept a different Gospel from the one you have accepted you put up with it readily enough.

He's saying you have no discernment. You will let anyone come into your midst and preach a false Jesus in verse 5 says indeed I consider that I'm not least inferior to these super apostles. Okay Paul is telling the Corinthians that you are tolerating anyone to come into your midst even false teachers these so-called Super apostles who are no apostles at all.

They are allowing them to come into their midst and distort the gospel of grace. And so we don't know exactly what these super apostles taught but Paul is saying they are teaching a false Jesus a false gospel and their teaching is not leading to the Holy Spirit, but to demonic spirits.

Paul is telling them that you are not taking every thought captive rather you are slowly being led astray by subtle arguments that are raised against the knowledge of God a moment ago. We read about this wide range of tribulation and persecution.

That Paul had endured for the sake of Christ and in that list I want to talk about one that really stood out to me. Paul said the danger of false brothers. Okay now Talking about tribulation. We're talking about hardships and when we start talking about persecution Jesus had a lot to say about how we as Christians followers of Jesus will be persecuted in this world.

And he says you're gonna be blessed for it, right? But remember back in the Sermon on the Mount. He said blessed are the persecuted. Those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of God.

And what I want to say is this makes sense to me. Okay, they first hated Jesus. They're gonna hate us. Jesus says they hated me first. They're not look how I'm your master if they hate me, they're coming after you next, right?

We are a city on a hill. We are salt and light the world's gonna hate it when we speak the truth and expose sin. What's hard for me to understand is how professing believers will persecute those among themselves.

Paul listed that as one of the the persecutions many Afflictions that he suffered in his time at Corinth. So what we're learning here is that Satan will throw fiery darts from outside persecution from the world.

But he is also going to invade our midst and attempt to divide from within. How is he gonna do this? It's gonna be through unrepentant sin spreading lies false doctrine corrupting the gospel of grace.

Tempting the Saints like he has from the very beginning with the lust of the eyes the lust of the flesh and the pride of life so the kind of persecution that Paul is receiving from false brothers are professing Christians that are Slandering and maligning the character of Paul to his fellow believers those who he loves dearly.

And he's been pouring out his life as an offering to them and friend. I don't know if you've experienced church hurt. Those people that malign and trash your character to other Christians, but I've seen it Devastate churches before it is awful.

Backbiting secret slander about one another to build yourself up. That is the enemy and It's tearing Paul apart. Spiritual warfare. We must deal with sin. We must guard the Saints from this. I have experienced this before and it hurts so dearly, but praise God.

He is sovereign and it did not catch him off guard. Amen. This will harm souls and it will ultimately bring reproach on the Word of God. These self-proclaimed super Apostles were creeping in to the Corinthians midst if you have your Bible open second Corinthians 1010.

This is what they were saying about the Apostle Paul. They said yeah, Paul's letters are weighty and strong. But his bodily presence is weak and his speech is of no account. Okay, obviously they couldn't dismiss the fact that his letters are pretty pretty strong.

We understand. He's an inspired possible by God. So yeah, they they recognize the truth that he said but they looked at this as an opportunity to backhandedly say Yeah, but in person he's a pushover. He's not a real leader.

You don't you don't look to the Apostle Paul and when you do he is just a terrible speaker. What these super Apostles are saying you don't need the Apostle Paul you need us. Okay, do you see the subtlety of how Satan is working in their midst and let me just say this friend the greatest lie Contains the most amount of truth in it.

The subtlety of the enemy will use things like flattering speech to deceive the hearts of the naive causing divisions to create obstacles contrary to sound doctrine and no doubt the Apostle Paul is Receiving blistering fiery darts from every angle in this spiritual battle with the Corinthians.

So this gives us a little bit more context look with me at verse 7 in our main passage a Thorn Paul says was given me a and he goes on to say a messenger of Satan to harass me. Once again, we don't know exactly what this thorn is.

But we know that it is a thorn in Paul's flesh. It's causing him agonizing pain, but we do get this detail. It says that it's an it's an Angela's a messenger of Satan. This is almost the exact same language that Paul used earlier in the previous chapter To describe the super Apostles that were being instruments of Satan himself.

And so if you do want to look with me at 2nd Corinthians 11 13 Paul says this for such men these super Apostles are False Apostles false messengers deceitful workmen disguising themselves as Apostles of Christ in no wonder for even Satan disguises himself as an Angelus a messenger an angel of light.

So that is no surprise if his servants also disguise Themselves as servants of righteousness their end will correspond with their deeds. And so in some way These false teachers no doubt have been Tormenting the Apostle by slandering his slandering his character discrediting his apostleship and spiritually attacking the Bride of Christ.

They have been slowly Corrupting the thinking of the Corinthian believers and leading them to a false Christ who cannot save. And so I believe we're getting a peek into the pastoral heart of the Apostle Paul.

He was broken over this. He was constantly praying and pleading to the Lord. Look with me in verse 8 three times I pleaded with the Lord about this about this thorn this Angelus of Satan that it should leave me.

I believe this is the heart of a pastor a man of God who continually goes to the throne of God in prayer when he feels the attacks of the enemy him on himself and he sees the attack of the enemy on the Saints.

Paul elsewhere says I endure all things for the sake of the elect that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Something else I want to make special note of in verse 7 is that this thorn in the flesh was Given to the Apostle Paul.

This should be perplexing right because you mean this Affliction whatever it is exactly this spiritual attack from Satan that it's harassing and tormenting him is a gift. If you look into the Greek of this this was bestowed as a gift to the Apostle Paul.

Okay, very interesting. The only way to understand this is that it was sovereignly bestowed upon him by God himself. You have to have a big view of God to understand that even Affliction is a gift. Remember Philippians 129 it's not only granted to us to not only believe but also to suffer For the sake of Christ, right?

Yes, we are victorious through suffering. The professor and scholar of New Testament George Guthrie, I loved what he said about this in his commentary. He said paradoxically the thorn in Paul's flesh was both a gift from God and a goad from Satan.

And so it's easy to understand that affliction and persecution are Flaming darts from the enemy but listen Paul had the perspective that his entire life was in the hands of his sovereign triune God and had Exhaustive purpose and everything that comes about in his creation.

The the Creator is not just some distant Ethereal a deity that's just spun this world into motion and is just chilling and sitting on the sidelines. We understand that God has revealed himself in the person of the Eternal Son Jesus Christ and it is Jesus who entered in his own creation to redeem Humanity all that the Father has given him.

But how in the world Paul did you have this perspective that even through suffering and tribulation that this is a gift from God? Paul had the perspective that trials are for our good and for his glory.

These ordained trials are meant to sanctify and grow us in holiness to mold us More and more into the image of Jesus. Amen. And when you have this absolute under when you when you have this understanding of God's Absolute sovereignty in all things then certain verses you can never read the same way again.

Talking about verses like Romans 8 28, right? For and we know that those who love God those who have put their faith in King Jesus and have peace with God who have been justified. Those of us that love God truly all things are working together for our good.

Those who are called according to his purpose God is sovereign. God is working out all things together for our sanctification. Nothing random is happening in his world. That is why we can say God divinely appoints gifts bestows as a gift trials in our lives to strengthen our faith and so perhaps one of the best stories to illustrate this is the Sufferings of Job.

The text says that Job loved the Lord and he feared God. Satan saw this and Satan targeted him. Satan was like, you know what? I'm going to harass him. Satan says to God does God does Job fear God for no reason?

You've blessed the work of his hands. You've given him all the possessions. If you take that away, he will curse you and die. And so Lord said to Satan behold all that he has is in your hand and then he later said it's only spare his life.

Now I want to make a note at this point. This is remarkable. Because God and Satan are both at work in the life of Joe, but here's the key principle God and Satan are at work in different ways. Satan is at work by bringing accusations against Job.

He's prowling around like a lion trying to sift Job like wheat and he is tempting Job to curse God. Yet God is absolutely in control of what happens. Satan can only accomplish what the Almighty permits and has ordained to happen.

Nothing more and nothing less. Just a moment ago. We heard about the Calvinism of Luther right so many shared principles. Luther even Affirmed this truth that even the devil is God's devil. Does that make sense?

Satan is on a leash. He can only do what God ordains and permits and so Satan is at work in Job's life. And God is at work in Job's life in different ways. Satan destroyed Job's property and his livestock and he did this by inciting pagans to plunder his goods.

Satan also killed all of Job's children by somehow orchestrating a natural disaster. I want you to feel the weight of that. No one has it as bad as Job did lost everything. To say that he was being harassed by Satan does not begin to describe the onslaughts of crushing blows from the enemy.

All of this was taking place under the sovereign control of God. Job could have easily blamed Satan for all these attacks and been consumed with anger. Against the arch enemy of God who is billions of times stronger than we are.

He could have been mad and cursed God for allowing this to take place in his life. But only by the grace of God. Job worshiped and said these famous words the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord and in all this Job did not charge God with wrongdoing and.

Then a little while later Job's friends come on the scene when he was suffering and they said this is happening. Because God is angry at you. You have sinned in some way. They were wrong. They were not true friends.

Job cried out in the midst of their bad advice and counsel. He said for I know my Redeemer lives though. He slay me. I shall trust in him and at the end of Job's journey and all this he says I know that you God can do all things and no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Does that make sense. God is sovereign. Nothing random is happening in his world. The New Testament actually says God had a direct purpose in Allowing this affliction ordaining these events to happen in Job's life in the New Testament.

James 511 says you have heard of the steadfastness of Job and you have seen the purpose of the Lord. How God is compassionate and merciful. God experienced Job. Experienced more of God's gracious character through suffering.

Right if we know the end of the story of Job He was blessed beyond measure. Listen trials are necessary in the life of a believer to grow us and to show us more of God's grace and to learn This principle that God's grace is sufficient.

James 1 12 says blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial for when he has stood the test He will receive the crown of life. God is not only sovereign in regeneration and our justification. Listen.

God is also sovereign in our sanctification and So as Calvinists, we use the word sovereign a lot, don't we? We do so what do we mean by that? Well for one I would just say it's a biblical term right.

Jesus Christ is king of kings and Lord of lords. He is the blessed and the only Sovereign and if you have a good old King James Bible, it says the only potentate and that right brother Danny. That's what I'm talking about Jesus Christ.

God is the only sovereign that means that God possesses transcendent power. God is all-powerful. Scripture declares Hallelujah for the Lord our God the Almighty the omnipotent Reigns. So you better believe God is sovereign and we will say it.

And so I believe Calvinists recognize that God's almighty rule and reign Cannot be thwarted by anything in this created order. So everything that comes to pass in history is ultimately decreed and permitted in real time by God's sovereign Will to take place.

Well, Jeremiah, that's a good theory, but you better prove it buddy book chapter and verse great. Look at Ephesians 1 11 for a God who works all things together after the counsel of his will God is absolutely sovereign over his creation.

Dear saint. Every moment of your life has divine purpose. Nothing random happens under God's divine rule. A Comforting Psalm that I look to all the time. I just love it is when King David said in Psalm 139 Your eyes saw me when I was in the womb all the days.

Ordained or predetermined for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence even through the Apostle Paul Acknowledging this truth about the sovereignty of God in his affliction.

I want you to understand this. He was not robotic right one of the main criticisms that I hear from those in favor of choice meat theology and You know I'm talking about and just critics from all over there saying well I guess we shouldn't pray anymore right because if God has determined whatsoever comes to pass.

What's the point? Now as Andrew said earlier, we are not talking about a hard Determinism that is a robotic we are affirming divine determinism in which God not only predetermines the end But he predetermines the means to bring about that end.

I want you to understand we have a limited finite Perspective if we are going through a God-ordained trial, you better believe the Saint will cry out to God in prayer. Amen. You can understand that prayer is not changing.

God prayer is changing us. Does that make sense? God's sovereignty is working through the prayers of his children. We are not asking God to be a genie and to pray something that goes against his will.

We are praying that God's will be done in our heart in our life prayer changes us. Prayer does not change God. As we are looking at the scripture. I want you to understand what's what's at the bottom of this universe is not some cold Impersonal chance that can't tell us anything.

Let me tell you this if our if there was no God as Richard Dawkins, I'm gonna spare you this quote that I had for Matt came and read it. I don't like it, but he understands the utter futility of everything.

There's no justice. There's no love. There's no anything and he says this is ultimately because at the bottom of the universe. There's nothing I Want you to. I want you to understand if there was nothing at the bottom of the universe.

Other than impersonal chance then everything we're experiencing is cold and is robotic but praise God that's not true. What is ultimately resting? Every everything is resting on according to the word of his power is a sovereign Triune God that has purpose in everything that happens in history.

That's interesting word history. It's his story of Redemption. The prophet Isaiah said that this one and true God declares the end all the way from the beginning saying my Counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure.

I have spoken and I will bring it to pass. I have purposed literally a predetermined plan and I will certainly do it. Okay, that's that's why we can look at a trial and say God has granted that this happened to me for my good.

And for his glory. Okay. Something else that the psalmist says I says yeah, even from ancient times. That means when we look back in history We can say oh God had a purpose in that and he can actually tell us in his word the purpose for why something happened In the past even for things Not yet done.

That means God can give us prophecy about things that haven't happened yet. He not only knows it but he has a purpose for it. We have to wrestle with this reality you are not God. You are not God you are a part of the creation and Please hear me.

Yes. We do have a will we have a will to do what we desire. And that is compatible with God's will that's eternal. You have a will that is temporal finite that you choose according to your desire. God has an eternal will.

Does God determine things? Yes. Do we determine things? Yes, just not in the same way. I Want you to think about this? This is not a contradiction unless you lower God and you elevate man and say that we determine the same way.

Now you have problems. Listen, you are not God. And until we quit blurring the lines between the Creator and the creation and we have a strong distinction. You will have a distorted view of the sovereignty of God you will have a conceited and elevated view of man and you will not be able to rest securely in the finished work of Jesus Christ and that idea of bringing God down and elevating man is slowly buying into the damaged goods of Rome's dubious gospel the Roman Catholic Church.

And so as we look back at the Apostle Paul did God have purpose and Paul's suffering. Yes, did Paul know that? Yes, and yet he pleaded that God would take this from him. He was wrestling with spiritual warfare.

He was resting in the promises of God. He was fleeing to the Lord in prayer. And I want you to understand that prayer is meaningful. Jesus himself told us yes. The Father knows everything that you need still pray.

Right, even though God has exhaustive purpose and what's about to happen. He wants us to pray and go to him. I believe truly this is what it means to have Relationship with God right in relationship. We have back-and-forth Communication, right?

How do we speak to God? It's through prayer. How does God speak to us through his living and breathing Word? So we see the Apostle Paul fleeing to the Lord in prayer why. Because he loves him. That's where the source of our strength comes from to God.

He is walking with the Lord. So he is praying to him and talking with him. I want to say also The Lord talks to us communicates through to us through other saints, right? No doubt. The Apostle Paul is in a corporate church context he is no doubt praying on behalf for those believers at Corinth and Interceding on their behalf.

My point is is our walk with the Lord is not supposed to be only Individualistic but is meant to be corporate with the body of the Saints. Paul is modeling this for us. Right, these are incredible truths that I want us to be Encouraged with that as children of God we can flee to the Lord in prayer and we can seek him during times of affliction and great Tribulation knowing this next truth that I want us to look at that My grace is sufficient for you and my power has made perfect in weakness.

Okay, I Love this phrase My grace is sufficient for you as I was Thinking through this I couldn't help thinking back to the battle cry of the Protestant Reformation. Right that we stand on the soul and fallible authority of the Word of God solo scripture.

Scripture alone. We look to God's Word alone for our authority in our in our life, right? And how are we made right before God by faith alone? And then we see out of the Protestant Reformation that we are saved by God's grace alone solo gratia.

God Monarchistically is working out all things together after the counsel of his will. God's grace is Sufficient so I was thinking about solo gratia and I was thinking about this. Well, that's talking about our justification, right?

God's grace Regenerates us puts that new heart in us to look to King Jesus in repentant faith and he justifies us. Declares us right no longer guilty of condemnation and the penalty of our sin, but we're learning a Fantastic truth that God is not only God's grace is not only sufficient in our justification.