I John 4:19
We love, because He first loved us.
Message: Is Grace Resistible?
Time: The author of this epistle never identified himself by name, but Christians since the beginning of the church have considered this letter authoritative, believing it was written by John the apostle. A date of about AD 90, with John writing from his exile on Patmos, ends up being the best proposition. John focused on three issues: the zeal of the believers, standing firm against false teachers, and reassuring the Christians that they have eternal life.
What the Lord is Saying:
Is Grace Resistable? Is it possible to resist God's grace?
The western church condemned Pelagius and his teaching at the Second Council of Orange in AD 529. Also struck down was semi-Pelagianism. Augustine, Pelagius and the French monk John Cassian lived during the late 4th and early 5th centuries. John Cassian and semi-Pelagianism steers a middle ground between Augustine's view of grace alone and Pelagius view of works. This view affirms grace as a need for salvation, yet still denies original sin and the depravity of man. Thus, grace is necessary but humans take the first step toward God. People need grace to be saved, but this grace does not take the initiative in salvation. Augustine meanwhile says that no sinner can seek God of their own accord. The only people who seek Him are those who He first sovereignly and effectually are drawn by His sovereign grace.
Thus, the dividing line is whether there is synergy in divine grace - God and human beings working together toward regeneration. But John Calvin and Augustinians say that divine grace is monergistic in regeneration where only God brings about the new birth of believers. We love, because He (God) first loved us. God guarantees that His elect will love Him. He will overcome their resistance to Him.
Promise: If God reveals his love to man then they can't reject him. There is glorious love and beauty of our Creator.
Prayer: Thank you for loving me God. Thank you for calling me to be with You, to be Yours for all time.
Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of April is about salvation by grace alone. March was about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January is about the doctrine of God.
