Mike Ratliff does a good job of capturing Paul’s experience and teaching in the Bible. Particularly in linking Roman’s 8 with Ephesians 1. Adding to that what John recorded Jesus saying from John 6. Of course there is much more. In my own church experience the depth of this doctrine is not to taught, at least not in this way, and it should be.
KJV Bible….
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
This isn’t the first time I’ve commented on this topic. Reading it, it may seem too direct, ”full of hypocrites”? Sounds too strong. But also we should never be proud of any of this. Humbling recognizing this is all by God’s Sovereign Grace. That’s the Amazing Grace, we sing about.
”Why are our churches full of hypocrites? Most are simply converts not the truly regenerate. Many of the regenerate are mired in spiritual immaturity because they don’t understand that they must submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ so they will mature unto Christ-likeness. Many believe their salvation was accomplished once and that was that, however, as we have seen, it is a process that continues until death. I have mentioned many times on this blog about the Remnant. This is the group within the Church that is genuine. I have also shown you that the Church is made up of the Visible Church and the Invisible Church. The Visible Church is what we see and it is made up of genuine believers, the Remnant, and disingenuous believers who are not genuine believers at all, but are only religious. However, the Invisible Church is the genuine Church and it contains only genuine believers. Therefore when you look out in the world and see the Visible Church you will see many churches that look good and some are huge and appear spectacular, etc. However, that is the Visible Church. It contains within it, the religious, professing Christians who are not genuine, and also the Remnant, the Invisible Church. However, the Invisible Church is just the Remnant. Jesus knows who are truly His.”
If you want more along this line here is a section about the Church from the old Westminster Confession.
Rainbow Trout 