FIVE LIFE-CHANGING DOCTRINES AND HOW THEY PERMEATE THE BIBLE; A. EXTENSIVE CORRUPTION

I.    Introduction to the doctrines of sovereign grace

What do I mean by sovereign grace? When we speak about salvation, it is God's sovereign right to extend His grace to whomever He desires (Rom. 9:15-16). Salvation is of the Lord exclusively. God is not dependent upon man to add anything to his salvation that God has not already provided. Jesus saves. Period. He doesn't offer the possibility of salvation dependent ultimately upon a sin-enslaved man's "free will" to make salvation a reality. Slaves, if they are genuinely in bondage, don't free themselves. They must be set free. We see this in the life of Joseph in Egypt. A sinner is entirely passive in his redemption for reasons we will explain below. Man can only add his sin, for that is all he possesses. 

Why are these foundational doctrines so important to combat veterans and their spouses? Unless you understand the Bible as a whole, you will see that it reveals a consistent, unified message. You cannot know what you are going through due to combat and its subsequent adverse effects. In this manual, we will build a theological "house" into which all the traumas reside for examination. 

If we are going to build a house, where should we start building first? The walls? The roof? The windows? We work the ground first to lay a solid foundation for the walls and roof. If we are going to live in a broken, sinful world, Jesus, our house, has become God's unbreakable Rock protecting us now and forever (Mt. 7:24ff). Upon Him by the Spirit, we are empowered to stand against life's coming storms. 

We want to examine your problematic issues from combat because you can't help thinking about them. Right?

They won't disappear unless you recognize Christ Jesus is the only means God has provided to deal with them. Think about it this way. You have come to God to receive the one tool He has provided to build your life's eternal house. You need a way to travel, you need a life, and you need truth. Jesus said He is the way to God. He is the only life, abundant and eternal, God has given. Only in Jesus do we find the truth (Jn. 14:6). Jesus, as Francis Schaefer rightly stated, is the true Truth, revealing Himself to us in His Father's Word. Jesus told His Father, Your Word is truth (Jn. 17:17). When Jesus shows Himself to us in Scripture, we see the Father, they being One in essence, i.e., divine, and one in their essential unity of redemptive purpose (Jn. 10:30, 38).

With the Spirit of Christ as your direction, life, and truth in you, God can blunt and defang your terrible, sharp memories. God may not immediately heal the damage done to you from combat. He didn't with me. However, in union with Christ, God slowly changes the focus from combat and its harmful miseries to Christ and the glories related to Him. 

All of us were born believing we don't need God's saving, sanctifying grace. The military pounded into us that we are sufficient in ourselves to take on any challenge. In union with Christ, He communicates the obstacles that our sin, Satan's dominion, God's Law, and His wrath against our sin have become barriers that law-breakers cannot scale or penetrate.

Combat is the tool God has used to show yourself as you are. The effects of trauma so often strip us of every scaffolding we have erected around ourselves. By the Spirit, we see our spiritual bankruptcy before a holy God, who then God clothes us with Christ's righteousness and strength.  

So, what can make our lives different from those outside the Church of Jesus Christ? Aside from your salvation, what makes your life any different from other veterans or spouses struggling with traumatic stress? Do you still get as angry as the day you left combat? Is your depression, anxiety, hyper-arousal, or nightmares the same or getting worse? God took five decades with me to let me experience change. Don't let that discourage you. I needed every second of the pain and the accompanying lessons to realize the Father was growing Christ in me. I wouldn't trade one second of those years of suffering. Those years were as much about you as they were and are for you. Veterans outside of Christ suffer just like you, but so many of them have no God, and thus no hope and indeed no spiritual power. 

Does your faith in Christ inform your trauma? What I mean is, does your faith point you to Christ alone when trauma overcomes you? Or does it tell you to be deeply introspective about your failures as a believer? If you focus on how miserable your faith is as opposed to how great Jesus is, that He alone is faithful when we are not, then this manual is for you.  

We will explore the following five doctrines that encapsulate God's sovereignty in salvation:

1. Extensive Corruption

2. Unconditional Election

3. Particular Atonement

4. Effectual Calling

5. Preservation and Perseverance by Christ. 

A.    Extensive Corruption 

When we use the adjective 'corruption,' we mean boundless, immeasurable, and complete. When we think of ungodliness, we often use terms such as iniquity, turpitude, degeneracy, perversion, pervertedness, and debauchery. 

"In much of present-day evangelism it is assumed that the one thing man can do in the exercise of his own liberty is to believe in Christ for salvation. It is supposed that this is the one contribution that man himself must make to set the forces of salvation in operation and that even God himself can do nothing towards this end until there is this crucial decision on man’s own part. In this assessment there is total failure to reckon with human depravity, with the nature of the contradiction that sin involves. Paul tells us that not only is the mind of the flesh not subject to the law of God but also that it cannot be (Rom. 8:7)." (John Murray, "Irresistible Grace"). 

Extensive in this context means that man’s sinfulness extends to the total man. Sin influences our mind, heart, and will– the complete man. The Bible en toto, from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22, describes man as entirely affected by sin; no part of us remains unaffected by sin as before Adam sinned. 

Ligon Duncan has correctly observed that after the Fall (Gen. 3), man "is totally unable to do any spiritual good and it is therefore impossible for him to do anything on his own to contribute to his salvation," and he "therefore, cannot choose God." ("TOTAL CORRUPTION - TOTAL INABILITY.") The apostle John reminds us that Jesus came to His own, and His people did not accept Him (1:11). On top of that, Paul declares in Romans 3:11b, There is no one who seeks out God. Paul quoted from Ps. 14:2, which adds in v. 3, They have all turned aside, together they are corrupt. No one seeks God. All men have turned aside from God. Romans 5:10a, For if while we were enemies (of God). Colossians 1:21 states, And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds 

We all acknowledge that Christians and non-Christians do good things as we humans evaluate good things. Many unregenerate people give millions of dollars to charities. You know people who don't know Jesus personally who help neighbors when in distress, have good marriages, love their children. We could multiply such acts of kindness into the billions. However, of all those 'good' works, how many are done by God's gracious gift of faith to glorify God and because of absolute love for God? If extensive corruption is true, then none of them. What's left are works done from a depraved heart. 

Jesus spoke in parables, illuminating the disciples' minds, but not those on the outside, not "in Christ," because "fallen man does not naturally have the ability to understand His truth." 

The degree to which man is a sinner: 

1. Some say man is good but has learned bad habits.

2. Some say humanity is sick in sin.

3. Extensive corruption teaches that man is incapable of spiritual goodness. A sinful man never does acts of righteousness and can’t do it in and of himself in his unregenerate state. 

As a result of Adam’s transgression, men are born in sin and are, by nature, spiritually dead. Therefore, to become God’s children and enter His kingdom, we must be born again (Jn. 3:3).

Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned–Rom. 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,Rom. 8:5-7 For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Ps. 51:5 Behold, I (David) was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 

Because men are born in sin and are by nature spiritually dead, Jesus taught that men must be born again if they are going to enter God’s kingdom (Jn. 3:3-8). You can’t see or enter the kingdom of God until you’re first born again. To be born again means you have been given a regenerated heart and are born from above. You can’t have saving faith or even want to repent until you have been born from above. Jesus says that being born of the Spirit is like the wind blowing. Can you cause the wind to blow? You can’t cause yourself to be born again, either. Let me ask, did you choose to be born the first time? 1 Pet. 1:3. 

As a result of the fall, men are blind and deaf to spiritual truth. Sin has darkened their minds, and their hearts are corrupt and evil. See Gen. 6:5; 8:21, Eccl. 7:20, Isa. 64:6, Mk. 7:21-23, Jn. 3:19, I Cor. 2:14 – cannot understand, Eph. 4:17-19; 5:8, Rom. 8:7-8 – cannot submit to God's law or please God. 

Before sinners are born into God’s kingdom through the regenerating power of the Spirit, they are children of the Devil and under his control; they are slaves to sin. See Jn 8:34-36, 43-45, Jn. 8:, 2 Tim. 2:25-26-Repentance is a gift. 1 Jn. 3:10- You are either a child of God or the Devil, 1 Jn. 5:19, Rom. 6:20, Tit. 3:3-6. 

The reign of sin is universal. All men live under its power; none are righteous, not even one. See 1 Chr. 6:36, Pss. 130:3; 143:2, Prov.s 20:9, Eccl. 7:20, Isa. 64:6, Jas. 3:2-8, 1 Jn. 1:8-10, Rom. 1:18-25, 3:9-12. 

Jn. 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

John 1:12-13 is all one sentence. Verse 13 clarifies the people who believed and received Him. The people who received and believe in Him are the ones who have been born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. The people who are born of God are the ones who believe in and receive Him (Christ). 

A person will never choose God unless God changes his heart of stone into one of flesh. We are born into slavery to sin, with hard hearts and stiff necks. Man does not have within himself the power or ability to choose God. Man does not have or want God until he is born from above, which God initiates. Remember, being born is not something that a person can do themselves. You did not choose to be born the first or second time. See 1 Pet. 1:3-5, Jn. 3:3-8. 

Man left in his spiritually dead state is unable of himself to repent, believe the Gospel, or come to Christ. He has no power within himself to change his nature or to prepare himself for salvation. See 1 Cor. 2:14, Jn. 6:63-65 No one can come to Jesus unless the Father has granted it to him. Jn. 6:37-40 All that the Father gives Jesus will come to him, and Jesus will raise him on the last day. Jn. 6:44- ' Draw' is the same Greek word as 'drag' used in James 2:6. God makes the dead heart willing to come to him. See Eph. 2:1-5, Acts 13:48; 16:14; 18:27, Phil. 1:29, 2 Tim. 2:25-26, Eph. 2:8-9 – Faith is a gift. 

After God Himself regenerates us, the Spirit gives us faith and repentance, gifts of His grace. Regeneration (being born again) is a monergistic (God alone working) work. Synergism means that God and man are indispensable for a person's salvation. After being quickened or made spiritually alive by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit alone enables the regenerated man to do that which is good and pleasing to God because the heart's attitude has changed. Because of the new birth, man effectually and willingly responds to God’s call to embrace the grace offered in the Gospel. Man then can exercise saving faith and repentance. From this perspective, we can see the work of salvation as synergistic, with man and God acting together. Only by the new birth can the sinner believe in Christ for salvation. (by Buddy Woods) 

1.    Dissenting Responses 

"The Reformation taught man does not have a free-will. Man’s will is bound by sin and Satan so that it does not have the ability to choose God. It believes man cannot perceive the Truth to be saved; God does it all for us. But if we could not perceive the Truth, then why did Jesus preach it to us? Other Christians also believe that man cannot choose God to be saved; again, God does it all. He chooses us but we do not choose Him. But if sinners cannot choose God, then why did God tell them to choose Him?" (Thomas Taylor, "Calvinism Refuted."; emphasis added) 

Josh. 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve ; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.1 Kgs. 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him . And the people answered him not a word. 

Dt. 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 

"The above verses prove conclusively that a depraved man can choose God. To deny man’s free-will is to deny the Bible." (Thomas Taylor, "Calvinism Refuted.") 

Keith Rivas says much the same thing as Taylor and others. He writes, 

Jesus makes it clear that we cannot come to Him without being drawn — right? Later in the gospel of John, we find that Jesus ascending into heaven is what will draw all men to Him (John 12:32). 

It’s at the point of the ascension that all men are now drawn with the ability to choose to follow or choose to rebel. If we are drawn, the next question that needs to be answered is how we can know that we have a choice. 

This is a simple point to explain, but a vital one to remember, understand, and share with others who have this same question cross their mind. 

The good news of the gospel is that through faith we are given grace and forgiven of our sins due to what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross and coming back to life. Putting your faith in something is as much a choice as any of the other choices that you’ve made in life — yet Calvinism denies that Christians have that ability. ("Five reasons Calvinism is a false doctrine,"; emphasis added) 

Arminian Ron Graham has written, "'The fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3) seriously hurt humanity. "Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all mankind, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12)."'" (Emphasis added) Jesus spoke of a man "in whom there is no deceit" (John 1:47). He was Nathanael, a perfectly honest man, proving that human beings can have unspoiled faculties. ("Total Depravity.") 

2.    A Biblical Response 

I wish Jesus and Paul could agree on the nature of man after the fall. Jesus said Nathanial was "a perfectly honest man" with "unspoiled faculties." But Paul says all have sinned. There's none righteous. Even Jeremiah disagreed with the Lord, "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9). What's up with this? When Adam sinned, and all died--Rom. 5:12, Nathaniel wasn't affected by sin since Jesus said he was not a cunning man. But it was Jesus who said, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders" (Mt. 15:19). We must interpret Jesus's words to Nathaniel in light of Jesus' words to Peter (Mt. 15:15). 

Can we choose Christ apart from the new birth? On the one hand, the Bible is straightforward: man is dead in sin, incapable of willing himself to do any good in God's eyes, nor does he want to love God. On the other hand, sinful man is fully capable of responding to the truth of God. Both theological systems derive their teaching from Scripture. Either God doesn't know what He believes, or He speaks out of both sides of His mouth. One approach has misunderstood God, and the other has not. One must yield, and the other must lead. 

Many Christians acknowledge man's deadness in sin. In this, it is correct. But others alter the meaning of "dead" to "seriously hurt." This theological system has found a way around man's spiritual corruption and inability by rejecting the clear teaching of Scripture, e.g., Eph. 2:1-3. It has chosen the route of free will, with the assistance of pre-non-saving grace. Some suggest man possesses the power of contrary choice. He can choose against his sin-enslaved will to decide for Christ. Philosophically only, that makes perfect biblical sense to some Christians because it's the sole way for a spiritually dead man to be able to choose God. Thus, free will becomes the sacred cow of most evangelicals. The Bible knows of no such ability. 

It's easier for many Christians to say I don't believe in free will, which, on the surface, makes my position sound ludicrous. But the Bible speaks of "you being dead in trespasses and sins," and thus dead means dead. The implications are clear: a spiritually dead man is incapable of choosing God. You freely choose what shirt you wear, what car you drive, and what woman you will marry. But when we move into the spiritual realm, Scripture paints man in the worst light possible, with no ability whatsoever to choose God. Why would a God-hating enemy want to choose God? 

The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter X, "Of Free Will," stipulates:

II. Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power to will and to do that which was good and well pleasing to God;[2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Cor. 3:3] but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it.[Rom. 8:2; Eph. 2:1-5] 

III. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation:[Acts 26:18; 1 Cor. 2:10, 12; Eph. 1:17-18] so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good,[Ezek. 36:26] and dead in sin,[Ezek. 11:19; 36:27; Phil. 2:13; Dt. 30:6] is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.[Eph. 1:19; Jn. 6:44-45] 

IV. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, He frees him from his natural bondage under sin;[Song 1:4; Ps. 110:3; Jn. 6:37; Rom. 6:16-18] and, by His grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good;[2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 3:4-5; Eph. 2:4-5, 8-9; Rom. 9:11] yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he does not perfectly, or only, will that which is good, but does also will that which is evil.[1 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:5] 

What did the Reformation teach about man's will as it relates to God? Notice what the apostles John and Paul said about man's choice regarding the second birth. 

Jn. 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.Rom. 9:16 So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy. 

1. But if we could not perceive the Truth, then why did Jesus preach it to us? 

2. But if sinners cannot choose God, then why did God tell them to choose Him?  

Why do you think Jesus tells us to choose Him? Better yet, can we perceive truth and choose Christ apart from regeneration? No. Jesus gave us an impossible command to obey in our unregenerate state so that we would seek Him who has obeyed God's Word on our behalf (Gal. 3:23). 

Gal. 3:23-24 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 

But if we can obey God apart from the new birth--remember, Nicodemus didn't grasp/perceive Jesus' words when He spoke them to this Jewish ruler. Most evangelicals miss the obvious here. Dt. 6:5 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 

Numerous times in Luke's Gospel, we read statements like, "But while everyone was astonished at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, 44 “As for you, let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of Man is going to be handed over to men.” 45 But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement. (emphasis added) 

This statement flies in the face of what many believe, "But if we could not perceive the Truth, then why did Jesus preach it to us?" It also goes directly against Paul's words, "But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14). Remember what Jesus did for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and astonishment, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They served Him a piece of broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it in front of them. 44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “So it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Lk. 24; emphasis added) 

One concept many Christians rarely consider is the point of complete ignorance and spiritual darkness. Total bewilderment may drive us to Christ, or we will continue in our lostness and hatred of God. For God's elect, confusion and terror are good things. My God-ordained bewilderment pointed me to Christ. In evangelicalism, confusion seems utterly terrible. God must not leave me in the dark. He must meet my expectations at every turn. For God's elect, bewilderment teaches us patience and waiting on the Lord, among other needed lessons. 

Suppose you had the opportunity to speak to a church you perceived as filled with "nominal" members. What I mean by "nominal" is "Christian" in name only. What would you tell them?

Some preachers today would present the Gospel. That is to say, "Jesus died for your sins. You need to trust in Him"; something along those lines. I would move in a different direction. I would preach the law in all its unvarnished exacting perfections first. My goal would be to crush these "nominal" churchgoers" under the weight of God's precepts. Then, I would preach the Good News. Law first, Gospel second.

That sounds harsh. It is. The problem with presenting the Gospel as it is given in most evangelical churches today, whether in the States or overseas, is that today's model of the Good News, "You must be born again," is presented as if it is possible, humanly speaking. When Scripture says, "You must be born again," Jesus never tells Nicodemus how (John 3). Jesus preaches the law via a demand, "You must . . . !" This command unsettled Israel's great teacher. He was dumbfounded. Jesus proclaims the law: either repent (thoroughly of every sin) or believe (with your whole being, perfectly as Jesus did), and none of us can repent or believe precisely as God demands.

"Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life" leaves people with the impression God accepts their self-righteousness as they sit in the pews. They just need the finishing touches that only Jesus can give them. Yes, they are sinful, but not that sinful. 

The problem with this presentation is evident—hopefully. We present the law as strict yet gracious. But the law has one job; the prophets gave it to crush humanity's self-righteousness with its exacting weight. The cop is not on his beat to help us when we "step out of line." He is there to collar us and drag us off to jail. We have broken the law. There are no do-overs. The judge then hands down his sentence: guilty. 

But when the people in the pews hear: God loves you. You need Jesus because you have messed up; the message is that you aren't that bad in Heaven's eyes. We can easily justify our behavior because the pastor has never told us we are utter spiritual failures deserving of death.

Jesus summed the law in the two Great commandments (Mt. 22:36-40): Love God with your whole being and love your neighbor as yourself. How have you done with these divine demands? Did you love God completely yesterday? Did you love God enough? Did you love Him as Jesus loved the Father, 24/7? Did you love your fellow man wholeheartedly? Did you judge them to any degree? Did you get angry with your neighbor? Did you honor your parents completely every second of the day? Did you covet anything of your neighbor's? Did you shade the truth to make yourself look better? Did you just put your love for a person, like your children or friends, above your love for God? Is there anything in your life you love more than God?  Is there anything you desire more than pleasing God? Have you taken the Lord's name in vain? Have you ever become indifferent toward God? Have you prayed without ceasing? Could you have loved God and man more? Of course, you could. Then, you failed to uphold the law's demands. You have broken the law. You are guilty before a holy Judge. No excuses.  

You see, people in bondage to sin can never meet the law's demands--perfectly, nor do they desire to do so. Their emotions, intellects, and wills are held fast by sin. Having PTSD makes obedience in the face of possible triggers engage our negatively transformed minds before we have a second to think about the situation to obey God. We get angry without thinking because we live in a ready-to-fight mode. We are impatient because a firefight can't wait for more ammo. We need it yesterday! 

The law presents us with an unscalable wall that we can never climb. The slightest infraction will ultimately result in death at the hands of an angry God. We are all born in deep trouble where God is concerned. God gave the law to crush us with its exacting demands and to drive us out of ourselves to Christ. 

The question you must answer if you are not a Christian is, who will deliver me from the body of this death? If you believe you can somehow pull this off after seeing every futility of your past endeavors with the law, how will you get it all together in the future? The past informs the future. Your spiritual goose is cooked, my friend.

Preachers that don't destroy any possibility of hope that you can keep the Law as God demands are not doing you any favors. They have placed your soul in a tub of water and slowly turned up the heat each Sunday, until one day, you die in your sins. PTSD is not your biggest problem; an angry God is. 

Christ's preceptive (active) and penal (passive) obedience have dealt with your sins completely for a Christian veteran or First Responder. You have nothing to fear, ever. 

So, if you are reading this and realize you can never measure up to Jesus's perfect, exacting law-keeping, then you need to believe in Him to do what you can never do. The kindest thing I can ever tell you in this context is that you are a lawbreaker and rebel in God's eyes. You need more than help. You need a Savior who perfectly satisfies all the law's demands.