Biblical Redemption--Parable of the Sower & the Seed

Paul J. Wickliffe, author, historian (B.A. U.S History)

They say you cannot separate a person's character from their reputation. Well, when it comes to historians and the testimony of individuals removed from us in time and space, all we have to go by is the historical record. 

    Historians are people who have biases that are, more often than not, in conflict with scripture. When that happens, do you think a believer in Christ will get an honest, objective account from an unbelieving historian (In scripture they were called recorders). At best, if the historian heeds their God-given moral conscience, a believer may get a halfway decent assessment and post of their character. At worst, they will be maligned and smeared by the historian whose worldview is in complete opposition to Christ himself.  Such is the case of John Calvin, a French Protestant Reformer, whose Holy Spirit's understanding and elucidation of the sacred scriptures won him many enemies.

    I have perused many accounts of Calvins' health problems and I have surmised that his challenges in this area were NOT normal in any sense of the word. . . Even for that period of time. 

    Scripture is clear about the believer's obedience and the health blessings that follow. The cursing of God on the other hand, bring with it unparalleled health problems, most of which have no remedy or relief. 

    I know what I am speaking about, I, through ignorance, was chastened by God for 2.5 years with the severest case of ulcerative colitis imaginable.—a 50 pound weight loss, sleepless nights (up 8-10 a night) and bathroom calls 15-18 times in a 24 hr. period, chronic fatigue, not wanting to eat (unable to maintain B.M.R.--basal metabolic rate--calories necessary to maintain body weight in a resting state), the consistent loss of blood 24 hrs. a day, emotionally drained, spiritually discouraged (I forgot and neglected the importance of observing and reverencing the sabbath), pain that caused me to cry myself to sleep, occasions of irritability with my wife, hopelessness—the dread that the next day would be just like the preceding one with the same outcome. You get the idea! 

    In Calvin's case, I do not believe it was a matter of ignorance. He was hated by Rome for spreading what they perceived was heresy. The great Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards, died from a violent reaction to a 'vaccine' he received. Jesus told us to WATCH (Mark 13:37), as well being WISE as serpents, but harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16).

    The moment we forget the practices perfected by Rome for the elimination of her enemies, whether through alchemy, pharmakeia, political intrigue, consensus 'science,' or religious chicanery, we will likely fall victim to their nefarious machinations. With that said, let us examine Calvin and his influence on Protestant thought and his defense of the Bible. 

    This is what Calvin saw in scripture. His followers came up with the acronym T.U.L.I.P. This was in response to Rome’s Arminian heresy at the Synod of Dort. While the following acronym represents that which was formulated by his disciples, the worded definitions are solely the creation of Paul J. Wickliffe, author, and believer in Jesus Christ.

TOTAL DEPRAVITY—Man is incapable of saving himself. Man’s fallen nature, through Adam and Eve’s inherent sin, prevents the redemption of man to his Creator. A covenant involving the three persons of the Godhead knew that man’s regeneration towards his Creator could only be remedied by:

1. Christ’s substitutionary, unlimited atoning blood sacrifice

2. The Holy Spirit moving upon the sinner to have the old man crucified, Christ’s righteousness imputed, sanctification and consecration initiated

3. God’s redemptive plan is overseen by the conductive, predestined, sovereignty of the Father
 

UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION—God places no conditions upon men for their redemption. God’s elective counsel has determined this before the foundations of the world.
 

LIMITED ATONEMENT—Christ died only for the elect. In I John 2:2 it says, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  This IS NOT saying that all men are saved! If that were true, then why did Christ himself indicate in the parable of the sower and the seed, that of the 100% on which the seed falls, only 25% will be regenerated by the Holy Spirit? Jesus in Matthew 7:13, 14 said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
 

IRRESTIBLE GRACE—Since God is omnipotent and his determinate counsel has gone forth, no one God has elected will be lost. In Romans 8:38, 39 it says, “. . . neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
 

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS—In Revelation, the phrase “he that overcometh” is used several times. The saints can overcome ONLY because Christ in us, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, makes that possible.
 

The counter remonstrance (protest) by Jacob Arminius (at the Synod of Dort) and his surrogates, was a Jesuit and Vatican attack and assault on Calvin, while at the same time an attempt to undermine the substance and hope upon the foundational doctrines CLEARLY taught in scripture.
 

Many people  appear to struggle with the ‘Job complex,’ namely why do bad things happen to ‘good’ people. In Job, Satan had to get permission from God to buffet Job financially, materially, and then physically (See Job 1:12). Job had done nothing wrong. God was assessing his faith! This apparent conundrum is solved when one understands:

1. GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL—Involves man’s sin, Satanic influence OR both. God is not directly involved in whatever series of events may transpire. He is, you might say, passive.

2. GOD’S PERFECT WILL—Operational in heaven, much rarer on Earth. God is, you might say, active or directly involved in whatever series of events he may orchestrate.
 

These actions all fall under the umbrella of God’s sovereignty. If you struggle with this as many people do, ask Christ to help you in your unbelief. These things must be taken by faith. Stop trying to understand an infinite Creator in matters such as his sovereignty. I will leave you with this from Isaiah 55:8, 9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”