Discernment, Sovereignty, and Assurance in Faith

 

Summary

In our gathering today, we delved into some profound theological questions that challenge and enrich our faith. We began by exploring the meaning of Matthew 7:6, where Jesus advises against giving what is holy to dogs or casting pearls before pigs. This passage teaches us discernment in sharing the gospel, especially when faced with insincere inquiries meant to entrap rather than seek truth. Jesus Himself exemplified this when He chose not to answer the Pharisees' questions that were intended to trap Him.

We also discussed the role of the Holy Spirit in heaven, affirming that He will continue to indwell and empower us, just as He does with the glorified body of Jesus. This eternal presence of the Spirit will enable us to fulfill God's perfect will in the new creation.

The conversation then shifted to the Old Testament's portrayal of the Trinity. While the Old Testament contains hints of trinitarianism, it is in the New Testament that the full revelation of the triune God is made clear. This progression underscores the continuity and fulfillment of God's revelation from the Old to the New Covenant.

We also tackled the complex relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. It's crucial to understand that these are not contradictory but complementary truths. God is sovereign over all, yet He has ordained human responsibility as part of His divine plan. This understanding helps us navigate our faith without falling into the trap of blaming God for our sins.

Lastly, we addressed the assurance of salvation and the reality of doubt. Doubt can arise from various sources, including spiritual attacks, personal sin, or a lack of focus on Christ. True assurance comes from fixing our eyes on Jesus and living a life of genuine repentance, characterized by contrition, confession, and a commitment to a new way of living.

Key Takeaways:

- Discernment in Evangelism: Jesus teaches us to be discerning in sharing the gospel, especially when faced with insincere questions. We are not obligated to engage with those who seek to trap us rather than seek truth. This discernment is crucial in our evangelistic efforts. [00:34]

- The Holy Spirit's Eternal Role: In heaven, the Holy Spirit will continue to indwell and empower us, enabling us to fulfill God's perfect will. This eternal presence assures us of His ongoing work in our lives, both now and in the new creation. [01:59]

- Trinitarian Revelation: The Old Testament contains hints of the Trinity, but the full revelation is found in the New Testament. This progression highlights the continuity and fulfillment of God's revelation, emphasizing the need for the New Covenant. [04:28]

- Sovereignty and Responsibility: God's sovereignty and human responsibility are not contradictory but complementary truths. Understanding this helps us navigate our faith without blaming God for our sins, recognizing that He ordains both the ends and the means. [14:14]

- Assurance Amidst Doubt: Doubt is a common experience for believers, but it does not negate our salvation. True assurance comes from focusing on Christ and living a life of genuine repentance, characterized by contrition, confession, and a commitment to a new way of living. [28:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:04] - Introduction of Panelists
- [00:34] - Matthew 7:6 and Evangelism
- [01:59] - Role of the Holy Spirit in Heaven
- [02:48] - Trinitarianism in the Old Testament
- [04:28] - Old vs. New Covenant
- [08:26] - Law and Grace
- [12:41] - Sovereignty and Responsibility
- [17:39] - Misunderstanding Sovereignty
- [21:41] - Regeneration and Conversion
- [25:40] - Assurance and Doubt
- [28:38] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
- [33:36] - The Holy Spirit's Guidance
- [38:47] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 7:6 - "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."
2. Philippians 2:12-13 - "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
3. Hebrews 12:1-2 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Matthew 7:6 suggest about how we should approach sharing the gospel with others? [00:34]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in heaven, and how is it similar to His role in our lives now? [01:59]
3. According to the sermon, how is the Trinity hinted at in the Old Testament, and how is it fully revealed in the New Testament? [04:28]
4. What examples were given in the sermon to illustrate the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility? [14:14]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:6 guide us in discerning when to engage in spiritual conversations and when to refrain? [00:34]
2. In what ways does the eternal presence of the Holy Spirit empower believers to fulfill God's will, both now and in the new creation? [01:59]
3. How does the progression from the Old Testament to the New Testament enhance our understanding of the Trinity and the continuity of God's revelation? [04:28]
4. How can believers reconcile the concepts of God's sovereignty and human responsibility in their daily lives, especially when facing personal challenges? [14:14]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent conversation where you shared your faith. How did you discern whether the person was genuinely seeking truth or trying to entrap you? What would you do differently next time? [00:34]
2. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more aware of His presence and guidance in your daily decisions and actions? [01:59]
3. How does understanding the Trinity as revealed in the New Testament impact your relationship with God? What steps can you take to deepen this understanding? [04:28]
4. Think of a situation where you struggled with the balance between God's sovereignty and your responsibility. How did you navigate it, and what did you learn from the experience? [14:14]
5. When you experience doubt about your salvation, what practical steps can you take to refocus on Christ and strengthen your assurance? [28:08]
6. Identify a specific sin that easily entangles you. What strategies can you implement to lay it aside and fix your eyes on Jesus more consistently? [28:38]
7. How can you cultivate a lifestyle of genuine repentance characterized by contrition, confession, and a commitment to a new way of living? [31:54]

Devotional

Day 1: Discernment in Sharing the Gospel
In Matthew 7:6, Jesus advises His followers to exercise discernment when sharing the gospel, particularly when faced with insincere inquiries. This teaching emphasizes the importance of recognizing when someone is genuinely seeking truth versus when they are attempting to entrap or mock. Jesus Himself demonstrated this discernment by choosing not to engage with the Pharisees' questions that were designed to trap Him. As believers, we are called to be wise and discerning in our evangelistic efforts, ensuring that our time and energy are invested in those who are open to receiving the message of Christ. [00:34]

"Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words." (Proverbs 23:9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you felt your faith was being challenged insincerely. How can you approach similar situations with discernment and wisdom in the future?


Day 2: The Holy Spirit's Eternal Presence
The Holy Spirit's role is not limited to our earthly lives but extends into eternity. In heaven, the Spirit will continue to indwell and empower believers, enabling them to fulfill God's perfect will. This eternal presence assures us of His ongoing work in our lives, both now and in the new creation. The Holy Spirit's indwelling is a source of strength and guidance, helping us to live in accordance with God's purposes and to experience the fullness of His love and grace. [01:59]

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you currently experience the Holy Spirit's guidance in your life, and how can you be more open to His leading in your daily decisions?


Day 3: The Progressive Revelation of the Trinity
The Old Testament contains hints of the Trinity, but it is in the New Testament that the full revelation of the triune God is made clear. This progression highlights the continuity and fulfillment of God's revelation, emphasizing the need for the New Covenant. Understanding this development helps believers appreciate the depth and richness of God's nature and His plan for humanity. The revelation of the Trinity is a testament to God's desire to be known and to invite us into a relationship with Him. [04:28]

"Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:26, ESV)

Reflection: How does the understanding of the Trinity deepen your relationship with God, and how can you incorporate this understanding into your worship and prayer life?


Day 4: Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
God's sovereignty and human responsibility are not contradictory but complementary truths. God is sovereign over all, yet He has ordained human responsibility as part of His divine plan. This understanding helps believers navigate their faith without blaming God for their sins, recognizing that He ordains both the ends and the means. Embracing this balance allows us to live faithfully, trusting in God's control while actively participating in His purposes. [14:14]

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to balance God's sovereignty with your personal responsibility, and how can you seek God's guidance to find harmony between the two?


Day 5: Assurance in the Midst of Doubt
Doubt is a common experience for believers, but it does not negate our salvation. True assurance comes from focusing on Christ and living a life of genuine repentance, characterized by contrition, confession, and a commitment to a new way of living. By fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can find peace and confidence in our faith, even amidst uncertainty and spiritual attacks. This assurance is rooted in the unchanging nature of God's promises and His faithfulness to His people. [28:08]

"Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall." (2 Peter 1:10, ESV)

Reflection: When you experience doubt, what practical steps can you take to refocus on Christ and reaffirm your faith in His promises?

Quotes

"I think Jesus does it regularly with the Pharisees when they come with their questions that are not honest questions, but are meant to trap Him. And you know, when they came to Jesus and they said, 'By what authority do You cleanse the temple?' And Jesus says, 'Well, I'll tell you by what authority I cleanse the temple if you tell me whether John the Baptist was sent by heaven or by man.' So, He's refused to answer their question. He has refused to throw pearls to swine." [00:00:37]

"And, I think, similarly with us, the Spirit will fill us to overflowing, gift us, enable us to do God's perfect will in the new heavens and new earth." [00:02:11]

"So, whilst the evidence was conducive to trinitarianism, (of course, God who essentially exists us triune would reveal Himself in ways that are conducive to trinitarianism) none of them expounded a doctrine of the Trinity until the New Testament. And so, what was latent in the Old, as Augustine said, is patent in the New. So, there are adumbrations of trinitarianism in the Old Testament." [00:04:04]

"God is sovereign over all, yet He has ordained human responsibility as part of His divine plan. This understanding helps us navigate our faith without falling into the trap of blaming God for our sins." [00:14:14]

"Yet He also tells us that He is neither the author nor the approver of sin. It tells us that God is over all and almighty over all and sovereign over all, yet it also tells us that God doesn't tempt us. And so, we have to understand that at least at the outset that God's sovereignty and man's responsibility are not apparent contradictions." [00:14:35]

"Now, some might say, 'Well, that sounds simplistic.' Well, I think, quite frankly, God makes it as simple as we could possibly need to hear it. It's not that complicated, but I had to work through for many years this whole idea, 'Well, this is just a contradiction in Scripture or at least an apparent contradiction or antinomy in Scripture' when I don't believe that's how God gives it to us." [00:15:02]

"And so, there is a whole variety of reasons why people may experience doubt, but the experience of doubt in and of itself is not evidence that we are not converted. What it demonstrates is that we need to run to Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to grant us that assurance that we once had." [00:28:19]

"Feelings within our hearts, they can deceive us, they can lie to us. Feelings are real. Feelings are genuine. God gives us feelings. The Spirit gives us feelings. We shouldn't ignore our feelings, but we shouldn't listen to them when they're lying to us against what we know to be true." [00:30:22]

"Because true repentance means not only being broken over it, not only being contrite over it, being humbled by that sin, but also confessing that sin. And also, it means sort of striving to live in a different way, to consecrate ourselves to a different way of living, a different pattern. That's true repentance." [00:31:23]

"I think we do need to be very careful that we do not limit what the Holy Spirit can do when God doesn't give us those very particular limits. You know, there's so much in Acts where, you know, 'You don't need to worry about what you say; the Holy Spirit is going provide it to you.'" [00:38:06]

"Well, again, that's apostolic time, but there are amazing testimonies of what the Spirit has done throughout history and how He has illumined people through the truth of His Word, grounded in His Word, never contrary to His Word. I think that's the most important thing that the Spirit would never guide us in anything, illumine us in any way to believe or think on something or do something that would be contrary to His specially revealed Word." [00:38:58]

"So, He is alive and working through the Holy Spirit and that's important to remember." [00:39:47]

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Transcript
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