I have a friend who questions me about my Calvinism on a regular basis. I love it. He recently asked me, “Where’s the hope in believing that everything is out of your control?”<\/p>\n
With a smile and no hesitation I replied, “That’s exactly where it is. My hope lies in the fact that salvation lies outside of myself.”<\/p>\n
I don’t say this to pat myself on the back for having such a quick answer. I say this because this is indeed the only hope of mankind. And I rejoice in it.<\/p>\n
The more that I get to know my own heart, the more sinful I see it to be. Scripture testifies to the stark reality that the heart of man is the problem of man. We can look around the world and see all sorts of evil in all shapes and sizes, and it all came from one place: someone’s heart. Sin is not something outside of us that causes us to stumble or do bad things. Sin comes from within. Jesus himself preached that from within the heart comes all evil. We are our own worst enemy.<\/p>\n
If we are our problem then how fearfully hopeless are we if our hope lies somewhere in us, or in something we have to do? If I look within myself to find hope I will find none.<\/p>\n
So where does my hope come from? My hope comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. The gospel announces that salvation has come outside of ourselves and inside of Christ. In Him do we find forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. When I look inside of myself, or outward to my works, I am not looking to that which can save me. But when I look completely outside of myself and away from my works, and gaze upon Christ lifted up to die, I see His work for me, and I am filled with hope. I can’t do it, but He has.<\/p>\n
This is where Calvinism gets it right. Sure, our Arminian brothers proclaim that saving comes by grace through faith in Jesus, but it still requires, to whatever tiny degree it may be, some sort of something on our part. Calvinism says, “Salvation is of the Lord.” It is Jesus Christ who comes and resurrects our lifeless hearts unto salvation. There is nothing in me that can raise myself from the dead, or even assist Jesus in raising me. He does it, and He does it alone. That is precisely the source of my hope. Jesus Christ does it all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have a friend who questions me about my Calvinism on a regular basis. I love it. He recently asked me, “Where’s the hope in believing that everything is out of your control?” With a smile and no hesitation I replied, “That’s exactly where it is. My hope lies in the fact that salvation lies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[151,152,249,250,274,278,474,557,562,567,598,602,619,620,645,652,678,679,698,699,786,807,871,901,1080,1144],"class_list":{"0":"post-1302","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uncategorized","7":"tag-arminian","8":"tag-arminianism","9":"tag-calvinism","10":"tag-calvinist","11":"tag-christ","12":"tag-christianity","13":"tag-faith","14":"tag-god","15":"tag-gospel","16":"tag-grace","17":"tag-heaven","18":"tag-hell","19":"tag-hope","20":"tag-hopin","21":"tag-in","22":"tag-inside","23":"tag-jenkins","24":"tag-jesus","25":"tag-josh","26":"tag-joshua","27":"tag-man","28":"tag-me","29":"tag-no","30":"tag-outside","31":"tag-salvation","32":"tag-sin","33":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1216,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-means-of-sovereignty\/","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":0},"title":"The Means of Sovereignty","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"November 23, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cWhen he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, \u2018The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gospel"","block_context":{"text":"Gospel","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/gospel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1926,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/he-died-for-me-limited-atonement-the-universal-gospel\/","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":1},"title":"He Died for Me: Limited Atonement & the Universal Gospel","author":"Joshua Mills","date":"June 4, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"How can the atonement be limited in its efficacy without restricting the content or the scope of the free offer of the gospel? In his book, He Died for Me, Jeffrey D. Johnson seeks to solve the dilemma on how the death of Christ can be sufficient for all without\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book Review"","block_context":{"text":"Book Review","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/book-review\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/31mcWUAEOyL._UY250_.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1629,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/martyn-lloyd-jones-on-the-sermon-on-the-mount\/","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":2},"title":"Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Sermon on the Mount","author":"Joshua Mills","date":"May 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I have heard many people say, \u201cSurely the Sermon on the Mount teaches that we have our sins forgiven only if we forgive others. Doesn\u2019t our Lord say, 'but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses'\u201d (Matt. 6:15). Is this true? Is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"bible\"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/tag\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/05\/268.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/05\/268.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/05\/268.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4017,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/unless-the-father-draws-john-641-47\/","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":3},"title":"Unless the Father Draws; John 6:41-47","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"February 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 41\u00a0So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said,\u00a0\u201cI am the bread that came down from heaven.\u201d\u00a042\u00a0They said,\u00a0\u201cIs not this Jesus,\u00a0the son of Joseph, whose father and mother\u00a0we know? How does he now say,\u00a0\u2018I have come down from heaven\u2019?\u201d\u00a043\u00a0Jesus answered them,\u00a0\u201cDo not grumble among yourselves.\u00a044\u00a0No one can come to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/photo-1476610182048-b716b8518aae.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/photo-1476610182048-b716b8518aae.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/photo-1476610182048-b716b8518aae.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/photo-1476610182048-b716b8518aae.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4012,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/christ-loses-nothing-john-638-40\/","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":4},"title":"Christ Loses Nothing; John 6:38-40","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"February 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 38 \"For\u00a0I have come down from heaven, not to do\u00a0my own will but\u00a0the will of him\u00a0who sent me.\u00a039\u00a0And\u00a0this is the will of him who sent me,\u00a0that I should lose nothing of\u00a0all that he has given me, but\u00a0raise it up on the last day.\u00a040\u00a0For this is the will of my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/philipp-pilz-704745-unsplash-e1555081226119-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/philipp-pilz-704745-unsplash-e1555081226119-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/philipp-pilz-704745-unsplash-e1555081226119-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/philipp-pilz-704745-unsplash-e1555081226119-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/philipp-pilz-704745-unsplash-e1555081226119-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/02\/philipp-pilz-704745-unsplash-e1555081226119-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2074,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/finding-comfort-in-the-sovereignty-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":1302,"position":5},"title":"Finding Comfort in the Sovereignty of God","author":"Edward Larow","date":"June 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many of us, when faced with situations of turmoil, are filled with a great debilitating fear. As a sixth grader, I was bullied by a gang of young boys. They would wait for me outside of my classroom, and threaten me at every point of my day. At times I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gospel"","block_context":{"text":"Gospel","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/gospel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/06\/front-of-a-small-boat-1467012883o0s.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/06\/front-of-a-small-boat-1467012883o0s.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/06\/front-of-a-small-boat-1467012883o0s.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/06\/front-of-a-small-boat-1467012883o0s.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/06\/front-of-a-small-boat-1467012883o0s.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/06\/front-of-a-small-boat-1467012883o0s.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/685"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1302"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1302\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}