357 – Dec. 23 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

“A great revival resulted under his ministry”
 December 23, 1741 – John Waller was born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and was a descendent of the honorable Wallers in England. No man suffered more or experienced greater success in his ministry in Virginia and S.C. than he. His uncle had made arrangements for him to be educated in the law, but upon his death, his father was unable to finance even a classical education. Allowing himself to indulge in every type of wickedness and profanity, he quickly acquired the appellation of “Swearing Jack” Waller. He was sometimes called the “devils adjutant” to muster his troops. He was on the grand jury who was presented the case against the Baptist preacher, Lewis Craig and heard his testimony when he said, “I thank you for the honor…While I was wicked you took no notice of me: but since I have altered my course of life, and endeavored to reform my neighbors, you concern yourselves much about me. I forgive my persecuting enemies, and shall take joyfully the spoiling of my goods.” When Waller heard him speak in such a humble manner, he was persuaded that Craig was possessed of something he had not seen in him before and desired to have the same experience. Waller began to attend the Baptist meetings, and he experienced very intense conviction for seven or eight months. He said, “I had long felt the greatest abhorrence of myself.” In hearing another man cry out for mercy he felt his own heart melt, “…and a sweet application of the Redeemer’s love to my poor soul.” He said that there were periods of struggle…but he took refuge in the Word of God, especially in Isa. 50:10. He was ordained to the ministry in June of 1770 and it was attended with great success. A great revival resulted under his ministry and he had a membership of 1500.
Dr. Greg J. Dixon from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins Thompson /, pp. 536-37

Predestination

Predestination – This is a subject that can be very confusing when one deals with a person that believes that God has died for some and not for others. They have a convoluted explanation that easily confuses me. Being simple minded, I use a simple explanation.

Let me begin with an undeniable truth. Christ died for all men. I Timothy 2:3-6 says “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

We find the desire of the Father and the Son that all men would be saved and toward the accomplishment of that purpose, the Son gave himself a ransom for all, not just some. We also must consider the verse found in Hebrews; Hebrews 2:9 which says “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Seeing that Christ gave himself a ransom for all and tasted death for every man then this predestination that is referenced is not a person that has been predestinated but must be the plan.

May we consider the passages written to the Church in Ephessus, Ephesians 1:4,5 which says “According as He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according the good pleasure of his will,…” Before the foundation of the world a plan was established to save man that would sin. It was predestinated that those that would be saved would be saved through Christ precious blood.

Paul reasoned with King Agrippa and told of his conversion and then Paul said to Agrippa, Acts 26:27,28 “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Verse 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am except these bonds. Paul is expecting people to be saved by choice upon hearing the Words of God.

Ephesians 3:11 “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” Christ was predestined to come to earth and present Himself as the perfect sacrifice for man. That was His purpose in wrapping Himself in flesh and hanging on the cross and shedding His blood. Now Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” God predestined that those that would be saved would not be by good works but through Jesus Christ and would be unto good works. II Thessalonians 2:13 further clarifies “…God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” The predestinated plan of salvation is through the Spirit and belief in the resurrected Christ.

In Christ is the term we need to see.