I do want everyone to read Mike Ratliff’s post this morning. It is one Gospel. And below his Post I’ve added a long list of expanding on his verses. Including some key verse from Ephesians, Romans and 1 Corinthians where Paul mentions the Gospel.
But first, let’s relook at how Dr. S. Lewis Johnson framed the discussion of our Salvation, in the Unity of the Work of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our Salvation. This is the sermon that made a great impression on my some 25 years ago as I first studied his work.
Well suppose we say, “We must exercise faith.” That’s true. We must exercise faith. Faith is however the coming and that faith is given. So everyone who is given to me shall come. He shall exercise faith. Faith itself is the result of the giving of God.
In the ages past in the counsels of the eternal Trinity, the Father elected a people of God. The Son of God agreed to come and execute the work of redemption laying the foundation for their salvation, winning for them eternal life and the gift of faith by which they would receive it, and the Holy Spirit also covenanted to apply that gift to the people of God.
That is what is meant when we read, “Everyone given shall come and no one can come unless he’s given.” This, my dear friends, is the doctrine of the prophets. It is the doctrine of the ambassador of the King. It is the doctrine of the apostle to the Gentiles. It is the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the doctrine of heaven, and unless we bow to this doctrine we shall not understand the teaching of God. “No man can come to me,” Jesus said, “unless the Father who sent me draws him.” But when we come by the grace of God he will raise us up at the last day. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, what a doctrine, what comfort, what assurance we have in all the experiences of life. We are given by God the Father to Jesus Christ as the people of God.
Well it’s an airtight case. I don’t know why people don’t rejoice in this. I don’t understand why they don’t shout from the house tops the wonderful program and plan of God, and incidentally we are called upon to preach a universal gospel because we don’t know, we mere humans we don’t know the make up of the final family of God. We proclaim this message. Trust the Holy Spirit to be the instrumentality of the Father’s drawing to Jesus Christ. We preach the glories of the Son of God the greatness of his salvation and invite men to come to him, and promise them on the authority of the word of God eternal life. The Lord Jesus says in the last few verses, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life.” What a magnificent claim. In fact his is simply a reiteration of those claims.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: Gal 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Eph 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: Eph 1:4 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: Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Rom 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1Co 15:11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
Jesus’ Word in John’s Gospel
Jhn 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Jhn 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Jhn 6:36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
Jhn 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
Jhn 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Jhn 6:39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Jhn 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Notice the Warning….
Jhn 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jhn 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Jhn 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
Jhn 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Jhn 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Jhn 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Jhn 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Jhn 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Jhn 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Jhn 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
Jhn 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Just remember, as I first learned twenty five years ago….
In the ages past in the counsels of the eternal Trinity, the Father elected a people of God. The Son of God agreed to come and execute the work of redemption laying the foundation for their salvation, winning for them eternal life and the gift of faith by which they would receive it, and the Holy Spirit also covenanted to apply that gift to the people of God.
That is what is meant when we read, “Everyone given shall come and no one can come unless he’s given.” This, my dear friends, is the doctrine of the prophets. It is the doctrine of the ambassador of the King. It is the doctrine of the apostle to the Gentiles. It is the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the doctrine of heaven, and unless we bow to this doctrine we shall not understand the teaching of God. “No man can come to me,” Jesus said, “unless the Father who sent me draws him.” But when we come by the grace of God he will raise us up at the last day. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, what a doctrine, what comfort, what assurance we have in all the experiences of life. We are given by God the Father to Jesus Christ as the people of God.
3 thoughts on “Unity of the Work of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our Salvation.”
I did a bit of AI Research and found.
Yes. In fact, I found a passage where Johnson states the point almost exactly as you describe.
In his systematic theology lecture “The Decrees of God”, after discussing objections to foreordination, he says:
“That of course supposes that God has determined the end without respect to the means.”
Then he immediately explains:
“He has determined not only the individuals who are going to be saved, but he’s determined that they be saved through prayer. He is determined that they be saved through witnessing. He is determined that they be saved through the reading of the Bible. In other words, the means have been determined just as much as the end.”
That is probably one of the clearest statements of Johnson’s view. His point is that God’s decree is not merely a decree of outcomes. God ordains:
the end,
the process leading to the end,
the instruments used to achieve the end,
and the secondary causes involved in the end.
A second statement from the same lecture is also helpful:
“Now, he determines the means as well as the ends.”
This is classic Reformed theology. Johnson is arguing that election does not make prayer, evangelism, preaching, or faith unnecessary because God has decreed those things as the very means by which His decreed purposes come to pass.
Another related statement from the same message is:
“All events are equally certain in the mind of God whether they are brought to pass by his own power, or whether he determines that they take place through some secondary agency.”
That phrase “secondary agency” is important. Johnson frequently used it to explain how God sovereignly governs history while employing human actions, preaching, prayer, rulers, and other created means.
If you’re collecting strong Johnson quotations on sovereignty, I’d rank these three among the best:
“Now, he determines the means as well as the ends.”
“The means have been determined just as much as the end.”
“All events are equally certain … whether … by his own power … or through some secondary agency.”
Those three sentences together are essentially Johnson’s concise explanation of how God’s sovereign decree encompasses both ends and means.
Rainbow Trout 
I did a bit of AI Research and found.
Yes. In fact, I found a passage where Johnson states the point almost exactly as you describe.
In his systematic theology lecture “The Decrees of God”, after discussing objections to foreordination, he says:
“That of course supposes that God has determined the end without respect to the means.”
Then he immediately explains:
“He has determined not only the individuals who are going to be saved, but he’s determined that they be saved through prayer. He is determined that they be saved through witnessing. He is determined that they be saved through the reading of the Bible. In other words, the means have been determined just as much as the end.”
That is probably one of the clearest statements of Johnson’s view. His point is that God’s decree is not merely a decree of outcomes. God ordains:
A second statement from the same lecture is also helpful:
“Now, he determines the means as well as the ends.”
This is classic Reformed theology. Johnson is arguing that election does not make prayer, evangelism, preaching, or faith unnecessary because God has decreed those things as the very means by which His decreed purposes come to pass.
Another related statement from the same message is:
“All events are equally certain in the mind of God whether they are brought to pass by his own power, or whether he determines that they take place through some secondary agency.”
That phrase “secondary agency” is important. Johnson frequently used it to explain how God sovereignly governs history while employing human actions, preaching, prayer, rulers, and other created means.
If you’re collecting strong Johnson quotations on sovereignty, I’d rank these three among the best:
Those three sentences together are essentially Johnson’s concise explanation of how God’s sovereign decree encompasses both ends and means.
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The Decrees of God
Isaiah 14:24-27
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The Decrees of God (The Foreordination of God and the Freedom of Man)
Isaiah 14:24,27 Ephesians 1:11
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