The Mysteries of the Kingdom (4)

And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not hear (Luke 8:10).

In the last three articles, we have been answering this question about our text: "Is this election and reprobation, or just acknowledging that some just will not turn and believe (as some commentaries maintain)?" After a careful examination of the passage (and the parallel passages in Matthew and Mark) we have seen that indeed election and reprobation are taught in Luke 8:10.

At this point I would like to refer to four other passages for additional proof that God sovereignly accomplishes His purpose through the preaching of the gospel, both in the salvation of the elect and in the damnation of the reprobate.

 (1) The first of these is Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." This is a strong statement that the gospel is the means to accomplish election. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The gospel is God's sovereign means to save. That it is such a power only to the elect is evident from the phrase "to every one that believeth." Who are those who believe? They are the elect, for they alone receive the gift of faith (Phil. 1:29).

(2) In Isaiah 55:9-11 we read, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Not even once has the preaching of God’s Word returned void, nor does it ever fail in achieving God's will regarding any individual. For God accomplishes His pleasure in election and reprobation through the preaching of His Word.

    (3) Paul writes in II Corinthians 2:14-17, "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ."

As he brought the Word to the heathen world of his day, Paul saw with his own eyes the fruit of the gospel in the gathering of the church. But he also met opposition, hatred and persecution—all of which arose our of hatred for the gospel. This rejection of the gospel was not a reason to be downcast or to despair. For even in this God gives the victory in Christ. Paul is victorious when the gospel saves; he is equally victorious when the gospel is rejected.

Why is that? Because the gospel and the effects of the gospel among men are always a pleasing odor to God in Christ. The effects of the gospel are a pleasing odor to God in Christ because the effect of the gospel is controlled by what God accomplished through Christ on Calvary where Christ died only for the elect and for none other.

The gospel and its effects are a sweet smell to God in them that are saved because the purpose of God in gathering His people through the gospel is accomplished. But the gospel and its effects are also a sweet smell to God in them that perish because in the death of the wicked, brought about sovereignly through the gospel, God accomplishes His purpose in their damnation. No wonder the apostle exclaims in astonishment: "And who is sufficient for these things?" And no wonder that he adds: "We are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but [we preach] as of sincerity, as of God." How many today corrupt God's Word by preaching "smooth things" in order not to offend their hearers!

(4) The final passage is John 12:37-41: "But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: that the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom bath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He bath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him."

Here also Isaiah 6 is quoted, the same passage as Jesus quotes in explaining why He taught in parables. But here the doctrine of reprobation in connection with Jesus' ministry is very sharply set forth. Because the prophecy of Isaiah had to be fulfilled, they could not believe. That is the final explanation for the unbelief of the Jews when they had seen so many mighty miracles. Jesus had come to accomplish all the purpose of the Father in the salvation of His own for whom He died, and in the damnation of the wicked who perish in their sin.