Foothills Bible Church

How does a belief in the doctrines of sovereign grace affect a pastor, a Christian, or a ministry? Will believing these doctrines even make a difference?

I. Affects our Character. A true understanding of total depravity and the glorious grace of God lavished on sinners will have a profound effect on the believer’s very character. This is the inward affect.

1. Humble, not Proud. How can we be prideful when we understand that we’ve been saved by God’s grace alone, as a free gift to an undeserving wretch?

“For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” 1 Cor 4:7

“And when they came to him, he said to them: You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;” Acts 20:18-19

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,” Eph 4:2

2. Merciful, Gracious, Patient, Forgiving… We must treat others the way God hast treated us.

“and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” Luke 11:4

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36

II. Affects our Worship. We who understand God’s glorious grace should set the pattern for worship in our homes, the church, and the world. This is the outward effect.

In Luke 7:36-48 we have the story of Jesus eating at a Pharisee’s house. A sinful woman comes to Jesus and weeps, washing his feet with her tears, drying them with her hair. She kisses his feet and anoints them with oil. The Pharisee judges her and questions Jesus’ discernment. Jesus explains to him that whoever is forgiven much loves much. Brothers, we believe in the total depravity of man and the exceeding sinfulness of our sin. We should understand that we have been forgiven much, and should therefore love much by pouring out extravagant thanks, praise and worship at the feet of Jesus!

1. Zeal, Passion! No Arminian should ever “out-worship” a believer in the sovereign grace of God! If we have seen the sinfulness of our hearts, and the amazing grace of God for such as we, let us lead the way in worship.

“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” Romans 12:11

“Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!” Psalm 47:1

“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23

2. Private Devotion. Before offering public extravagant worship we should live a lifestyle of worship. We

must lead our families in worship.

3. Public Worship (in the congregation). The pastors set the “tone” of worship in the congregation. We

should therefore worship God outwardly in such a way that demonstrates to all that we have had a life-changing

encounter with the God of grace!

“I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.” Psalm 40:9-10

“Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation” Psalm 111:1

“saying, I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” Hebrews 2:12

III. Affects our Confidence. Do we believe in a sovereign and mighty God? Let our ministry show it in our undying, unwavering confidence in our God! This is the ministerial effect.

“Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.” 2 Cor 3:4

“in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” Eph 3:12

“For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end…Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need…Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus…Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.” Heb 3:14, 4:16, 10:19, 10:35

1. Confidence In Evangelism (in the gospel, work of Holy Spirit, etc). “Work like an Arminian, sleep like a Calvinist” (Mark Driscoll). Some argue that belief in election and predestination will dampen evangelism. Just the opposite is true! It is our belief in a God who is sovereign in salvation that gives us confidence and assurance that He will indeed save sinners through our preaching of the gospel!

“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” John 9:4

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” 1 Cor 3:6

“it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” 1 Cor 1:21b

2. In Prayer. Some object, “If God is sovereign, why pray?” It is our belief in a God who works all things

according to the counsel of his will that gives us confidence that he will work through our prayers and has

power to answer them! God uses prayer as a means to work out his sovereign will. Apart from his moving

us to pray, we wouldn’t be praying in the first place!

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Phil 2:13

“having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will”

Eph 1:11

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” 1Joh 5:14

3 In Building the Church. Many are the frustrations and problems in joining Christ to build his church. But

our faith in a sovereign Lord who has declared that he will indeed build his church and finish what he has started

should drive us forward in putting our hands to the plow and never looking back.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Phil 1:6

A. Jesus WILL do it! (Matt 16:18)

B. Love the Sheep for Whom Christ Died! (1 Cor 1) With all the problems Paul had with the

church at Corinth, how could he first say (before addressing the problems) that he thanked God

always for them (1:4)? Were they not a source of pain for Paul? No, he thanked God for them, because

he recognized the sovereign grace of God in their lives (v4), and knew that they were “called to be

saints,” and “called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (vs 2, 9). Indeed, Paul’s

confidence was not in the Corinthians, but in God: “God is faithful, by whom you were called..” (v9).

It was Paul’s faith in God’s sovereignty in salvation – that God had chosen these believers, redeemed

them in Christ, called them by the Spirit of God, and would preserve them to the end – that caused him

to KEEP ON building up that church, no matter what depth of problems they faced. He recognized the

sovereign grace of God in their lives, and he loved the sheep for whom Christ died. We would do well

to do the same. Never, ever, ever Give up!!

Conclusion

A belief in the doctrines of God’s sovereign grace will indeed affect us and our ministry, to the very core. It will shape our character, be seen by all in our worship and praise, and give us deep confidence in God as we join him in his glorious work of building the church of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! The Lord God Almighty reigns!