Pastor Dietsch Teaches a Series on Church Membership 101 (Session 26) - Understanding Predestination скачать в хорошем качестве

Pastor Dietsch Teaches a Series on Church Membership 101 (Session 26) - Understanding Predestination

Here is a copy of today's hand-out: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GuQh... 1. Purpose of this Lesson • This session continues a basic introduction to predestination and election, reviewing definitions and reasons to believe the doctrine. • The pastor emphasizes humility before God’s “secret counsel” and the limits of human understanding. 2. Three reasons to believe in predestination (review from prior week) • It is taught in Scripture. • It reflects God’s character. • It is in the best interest of sinners, who are spiritually dead and unable to choose God unless He first chooses them. 3. Story illustrating resistance to God’s sovereignty • The pastor recounts a chaplain assistant who resisted the doctrine until reading Jesus’ words: “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” • The story illustrates how Scripture—not argument—ultimately convinces. 4. Passages commonly used against election explained in context The bulk of the session examines verses often cited to deny predestination, showing how context clarifies their meaning. • 1 Timothy 2:1–4 — “God desires all men to be saved.” o “All men” refers to all kinds/classes of people (kings, authorities, old/young, male/female), not every individual without exception. o Paul uses “all men” this way elsewhere (e.g., Titus 2). o The point: God saves people from every social category. • 2 Peter 3:9 — “Not wishing for any to perish.” o The “you” in the passage refers to believers, not humanity in general. o Peter contrasts “mockers” (they/them) with the “beloved” (you). o Meaning: God is patient toward His people, ensuring none of His own perish. • Matthew 23:37 — “I wanted to gather your children…but you were unwilling.” o Jesus is addressing Jerusalem’s leaders (scribes and Pharisees) who hindered the people and rejected God’s messengers. o The unwilling ones are the leaders, not the children He desired to gather. 5. Additional discussion: John 3 and “whosoever believes” • Jesus teaches that one must be born again (born of water and Spirit) to see or enter the kingdom. • Regeneration precedes faith; the Spirit’s work is like the wind—unseen but evident. • “World” in John 3:16 means all peoples, not every individual without exception. • “Whoever believes” is a genuine invitation, but belief itself is the result of the Spirit’s prior work. 6. Closing themes • Salvation is entirely God’s work; believers have no one to thank but Him. • The gospel goes to all nations and all kinds of people.