Molotov Mitchell's two cents

Helpful Biblical Metaphors (Grace Irresistible revisited)

Many places in scripture reveal God's heavy-handed grace which He uses in pursuit of an individual for salvation. Each example is pure genius even when the writer or speaker doesn't explain the metaphor they've put forth. To the reader it should be obvious. A sinner cannot get away from God. And a sinner cannot find God apart from God revealing Himself.

Blindness

A blind person is impaired greatly. In John 9:35-38 even after Jesus heals the blind man's physical eyes, he still needs Jesus to reveal His identity. In the following verse Jesus says, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." Isaiah's experience is similar. Isaiah preached to people who not only became blinder, but deaf as well--Isaiah 6:9,10. The point of these passages is spiritual site. A person must see spiritually before they are saved. And the opening of the spiritual eyes is not contingent on the blind man's will.

Sheepness

Psalm 23, every child's favorite psalm says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake..." The Good Shepherd takes care of what is His. In John 10, He even protects intruders from harming His flock. The lives of sheep are dependent on their shepherd. From safety to nourishment--the shepherd is responsible. If Christ truly is a good shepherd, no sheep can sneak out of His sight.

Pregnancy

"Born Again" is the catch phrase of evangelicals to signify their Christianity. They derive the phrase from John 3:3-8. Here Jesus tells Nicodemus, he must be born of the spirit. Nicodemus balks at Jesus's choice of metaphor because it's obvious that no person can be born twice. But in wisdom, Jesus chose this metaphor because it speaks of the sovereign push of new birth. Now think about your own mother. Would she give you any credit for your birth. I think not. You were birthed into this world by no work of yourself. You did not select your parents or family. You did not choose the time or place of your birth. You did not even choose to be given life. In the same way, salvation is not an act of volition. It is a secondary cause.

Circumcision

The ritual of circumcision within Judaism was commanded by God to the Patriarch Abraham in Genesis 17:10. All male Jews were to be circumcised on the eighth day as a sign of God's covenant with them and their people. An eight day old child cannot circumcise himself. I laugh even as I type that. Even most men would not even think to signify covenant on themselves this way. A child must be circumcised by an outside agent acting on his behalf. In the modern era, moils or doctors preform the circumcision task. It is yet another example of secondary spiritual cause.

Baptism

The sacrament of baptism was instated before Christ ascended in the air. He says in Matthew 28:19, "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit..." Here the Apostles are commissioned to go plant the church among the nations. Baptism is a public statement of your being submerged into the life of Christ. Another act not contingent on you. The Apostles baptize because the Holy Spirit baptizes. The baptizee relaxes in the arms of the baptizer because the Christian relaxes in the arms of the Holy Spirit as He fills the believer.

Gifts

A dear friend of mine once told me his biggest problem with the doctrines of grace is the metaphor of a gift. Salvation is a gift from God. He quoted Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;" He said gifts don't have to be opened. If on Christmas you don't want to open your presents under the tree, you don't have to. [I've never met a child who didn't] He continued to say that repentance is a gift and faith is a gift. Gifts, if they are truly gifts, don't have to be opened, he said.

Perhaps my friend's metaphor functions in today's culture where presents are found in boxes wrapped-up pretty under synthetic trees. However, in first century Israel this is probably not the case. [I'm no anthropologist.] Plus read both Ephesians 2:8 and 9 again. "For by grace" =receiving something you don't deserve, "you have been saved" =outside causal relationship, "through faith; and that not of yourselves," =faith is not a work of man. It too is a gift. "it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." If faith were credited to you, you would get credit for putting your faith in God. That is not what this verse is talking about. And that is not why Paul uses the word Gift. This gift does not need to be opened. The Roman soldiers already opened Him, and nailed Him to a cross so the whole world could see God's present for you. And "The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." Romans 11:29

Slavery

"Conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ." 1st Peter 1:17b-19. Redemption is not terminology we use today except with religious implications. But when Peter wrote this to God's people, they immediately tied his words to the slave trade or property of some kind. Slaves do not choose their buyer. Sure a freeman may sell himself into slavery, but once a slave, he cannot do more than his contract stipulates. A slave cannot choose who buys him from his prior master. If God has bought you, it is not your decision. He is your new master. This purchase is not made without a powerful transformation of your heart. So where you may have despised your old master, you rejoice over your new master.

Deadness

Both Ephesians 2:1-5 and Colossians 2:13 agree and explain that we are like dead people while in our sin. But Christ made us alive. I have closing questions for you: can a dead man resurrect himself? If we are truly as bad as Romans 3 says we are, can we choose God? Do you believe the Bible when it says that no one seeks God?