READING FOR JUNE 17, 2024: EXODUS 4, EPHESIANS 1, PSALM 55:1-8 EXODUS 4 This is the second entire chapter devoted to preparing Moses for his mission. Most of this chapter consists of Moses raising objections and God knocking them down. The fact that Moses was so reluctant is disappointing, but likely represents a common human frailty. Let’s reflect on the many times we have read scripture and found some reasons why we did not put it into practice. (A common excuse today is those directions we don’t like shouldn’t be taken so literally.) If we are honest with ourselves, we likely make Moses look good by comparison. In response to Moses’s concern about his legitimacy with the people, God took what items Moses already had (i.e., staff and arm) and performed validating miracles with them. Let’s remember God uses what we already have to carry out the mission He has given.The third sign was prophetic of the judgment God would eventually render toward Egypt.
Next Moses uses the excuse of his supposed poor speaking ability. This likely was not a valid excuse because in Acts 7:22 we read that “he was proficient in speaking.” Finally, we read in verse 13 that he just didn’t want to go and thought someone else should do it. Again, he is just like us, but certainly not like Jesus who said, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:44). Finally, God allows Aaron to be Moses’s spokesman. Do we ever settle for God’s second best when He wants to give us more?
Moses then appropriately asks leave of Jethro, his employer and father-in-law. God reminds him about the signs he has authorized to back up his words. He also forewarns Moses about the trouble Pharoah will cause due to his hard heartedness. This condition will be caused by Pharoah’s own rejection of God’s truth, which God will then intensify to achieve His greater purposes. This will culminate in the deaths of the firstborn sons during the last plague, the original Passover. Remember this event in turn foreshadows Jesus’s atoning death for us. After all this preparation, isn’t it weird that God tries to kill Moses enroute to Egypt? It seems that, for reasons not given, Moses had never had his own son circumcised. How could he lead God’s people if he had not done his part to uphold the Abrahamic covenant? Fortunately, Zipporah sprang into action to save the day. Spouses are often so helpful. Just to be certain everyone was awake when studying Galatians: Christians now don’t need to be circumcised to be saved. Finally, Moses and Aaron arrived in Egypt. As Moses addressed the people, all went according to the script God gave beforehand. In fact, “they bowed low and worshiped.”
EPHESIANS 1 This chapter is a mountaintop of Christian theology. There are two major Christian interpretations of it: Wesleyan Arminianism and Calvinism. As a Methodist church, we adhere to the former. This following page will first give a summary of Wesley’s and Calvin’s positions on some key theological points by way of a chart adapted from Mary Fairchild.
READING FOR JUNE 17, 2024 CONTINUED: EPHESIANS 1 (Part 1—Calvinism/Wesleyanism Chart)
| Theological Concept | Calvinist Position | Wesleyan Position |
| The sovereignty of God is the belief that God is in complete control over everything that happens in the universe. His rule is supreme, and his will is the final cause of all things. | God's sovereignty is unconditional, unlimited, and absolute. All things are predetermined by the good pleasure of God's will. God foreknew because of his own planning. | God is sovereign but acts in concert with and response to man's freedom. God's decrees are associated with his foreknowledge of man's response. |
| Total depravity refers to the condition of humankind after the fall in the garden. This means the sin nature has been inherited by all people and all need salvation. | Because of the Fall, man is totally depraved and dead in his sin. Man is unable to save himself and, therefore, God must totally facilitate salvation | Because of the Fall, man has inherited a corrupted, depraved nature. Prevenient grace is defined as the preparatory work of the Holy Spirit, given to all, enabling a person to respond to God's call to salvation. |
| Election refers to the concept of how people are chosen for salvation. | Before the foundation of the world, God unconditionally chose (or "elected") some to be saved. Election has nothing to do with man's future response. The elect are chosen by God. | Election is based on God's foreknowledge of those who would believe in him through faith. In other words, God elected those who would choose Him of their own free will. |
| Atonement is the most controversial aspect of the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate. It refers to Christ's sacrifice for sinners. | Jesus Christ died to save only those who were given to him (elected) by the Father in eternity past. Since Christ did not die for everyone, but only for the elect, his atonement is wholly successful. | Christ died for everyone. The Savior's atoning death provided the means of salvation for the entire human race. Christ's atonement, however, is effective only for those who believe. |
| God's grace has to do with his call to salvation. Calvinism says God’s grace is irresistible, while Arminianism argues that it can be resisted. | While God extends his common grace to all humankind, it is not sufficient to save anyone. Only God's irresistible grace can draw the elect to salvation and make a person willing to respond. This grace cannot be obstructed or resisted. | Through the preparatory (prevenient) grace given to all by the Holy Spirit, man is able to cooperate with God and respond in faith to salvation. Because of "free will" men are also able to resist God's grace. |
| Perseverance of the saints is tied to the "once saved, always saved" debate and the question of eternal security. | Believers will persevere in salvation because God will see to it that none will be lost. Believers are secure in the faith because God will finish the work he began. | By the exercise of free will, believers can turn away or fall away from grace and lose their salvation. Believers are secure if they continue with the Lord. |
READING FOR JUNE 17, 2024 CONTINUED: EPHESIANS 1 (Part 2), PSALM 55:1-8 Paul’s greeting begins with a reminder that every spiritual blessing we have comes to us through Jesus. When people say they are spiritual but not Christian, Paul suggests they are completely misled. This chapter is a favorite of Calvinists, who point to verses 4-11 as complete proof of God’s sovereign choice alone in electing individuals to be Christians based upon His will alone and His plan alone. They say He alone predetermined this choice before the world was created.
Wesleyans would say not so fast. Notice Paul states in verse 12, “we who were the first to hope in Christ,” suggesting human free will enters into the process. This “first” group represented the Jewish Christians. Then Paul further adds, “You also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise.” This also suggests that these Gentile believers utilized their human faculties such as listening, reasoning, and committing in becoming Christians.
The expression “sealed with the Holy Spirit” convinces the Calvinists that the Holy Spirit will not let believers lose their salvation. While there is no hint to the contrary in this chapter, Wesleyans point to other portions that warn against falling from our secure position. Consider Eph. 5:3-6: “Sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints... For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
This chapter includes a prayer that both Calvinists and Wesleyan can pray with confidence. Although we often with good reason pray for ourselves and our friends to get well physically, most of Paul’s prayers address spiritual health: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Eph. 1:18-19). PSALM 55:1-8 These first eight verses are totally about David’s feelings of inner agony. Perhaps we assume that God knows all about our state of mind so that we don’t need to tell Him. Yet, these verses suggest that David thought these feelings were vital to express verbally to God, even though we know that David knew that God knows all about them. There seems to be mystery around the whole concept of prayer. But we do know we are told to pray whenever we are anxious (Phil 4:6), so David was in fact following Paul’s counsel many centuries before Paul wrote that letter. We also see the perfect Son of God prayed in the Garden so fervently that sweat became like drops of blood. Despite our limited understanding, let’s share our feelings with the One who knows and loves us completely.
