Acting in Gratefulness that God Opened the Flood Gates

Israel, God’s Darling Son at the First

“In communicating his Word them, he joined them to himself, that he might be called and esteemed their God. In the meantime, ‘he allowed all other nations to walk’ in vanity (Acts 14:16), as if they had nothing whatsoever to do with him. Nor did he give them the sole remedy for their deadly disease—the preaching of his Word. Israel was then the Lord’s darling son; the others were strangers. Israel was recognized and received into confidence and safekeeping; the others were left to their own darkness. Israel was hallowed by God; the others were profaned. Israel was honored with God’s presence; the others were excluded from all approach to him. ‘But when the fullness of time came,’ (Gal. 4:4) which was appointed for the restoration of all things, he was revealed as the reconciler of God and men; ‘the wall’ that for so long had confined God’s mercy within the boundaries of Israel ‘was broken down’ (Eph. 2:14).”

From Calvin’s Institutes, p. 460

Israel—so privileged—needed to follow her Lord in her life in the world. She was to be His witness to the varied nations of the Mediterranean theater and beyond. Instead her privileged hallowing became perverted hardening. She was to be a servant—Isaiah 49, 50, 52-53. She listened with physical ears, but the testimonies of the Lord were not heard with the mixture of faith. She grew dull, wickedly dull of hearing.

So, in God’s activity of raising up His new Israel, His own Son, to be the faithful servant and witness unto the nations, He accomplishes the reality that privileged Israel was in fact to be and do. Christ’s own heeding His Father’s words meant His decreasing—to be a servant (Philippians 2), so that others would increase. Jesus did that—amen!

Moreover, in light of Calvin’s quote above, I am not at all certain that I see the significance of the broken wall (Eph. 2:14). For example, with Acts 2-3 (the outpouring of the Spirit), Acts 8 (Philip with an Ethiopian), Acts 10 (Cornelius, a Greek), and Acts 11, 13 (Antioch—a beachhead for Gentile expansion), do I see the barrier-conquering work of God’s ways? Really see it? God tramples down the prejudices of men—skin color, food and dress practices, economic situations, intellectual capacities, and familial habits which encompass ways, traditions and special days. This is the work of the fruit of His gospel for His church. He broke the wall; in what ways of self-trust, self-comfort and pride do I seek to keep up the walls? Am I genuinely grateful?

G. Mark Sumpter

Calvin on the Rocks

McNeill Edition of the Institutes, p. 255 A Calvin Crack-Up

MAN HAS NOW BEEN DEPRIVED OF FREEDOM AND CHOICE...

“The Perils of this topic: point of view established, I

1. We have now seen that the dominion of sin, from the time it held the first man bound to itself, not only ranges among all mankind, but also completely occupies individual souls. It remains for us to investigate more closely whether we have been deprived of all freedom since we have been reduced to this servitude; and, if any particle of it still survives, how far its power extends. But in order that the truth of this question may be more readily apparent to us, I shall presently set a goal to which the whole argument should be directed. The best way to avoid error will be to consider the perils that threaten man on both sides. (1) When man is denied all uprightness, he immediately takes occasion for complacency from that fact; and, because he is said to have no ability to pursue righteousness on his own, he holds all such pursuit to be of no consequence, as if it did not pertain to him at all. (2) Nothing, however slight, can be credited to man without depriving God of his honor, and without man himself falling into ruin through brazen confidence. Augustine points out both these precipices.”

Sumpter: Do you get what J.C. is saying? Two points of a dilemma. 1) You tell man he is broken, crushed, rebellious and tied up in knots, dead in sin—an altogether true biblical maxim. Man, then, says, “what gives…why try for God then?...it’s all doubt, so let’s sack out… I’m done, wake me up when it’s over….” To reverse paraphrase Robert Schuller, old Crystal Cathedral Bobby, of the 80s, “Since man is all scars, then, forget the stars.” That’s dilemma side one. Now, 2. If you tell men about seeking God; if you grab a kettle and metal spoon and start clanging into the tomb and Lazarus rolls over and hits the snooze button to get up and listen for the VOICE, then----you give man some brownie points. He’ll say, “Look, the water is not that bad after all… and….. “Look Mom, no hands…” or “Whadda mean depravity…I can hear the voice of God blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back….” J. C. says, give man an eyelash of self-generated strength and he’ll take the industrial strength biceps of Ray Lewis of the Ravens for good-credit, heaven-bound righteousness …. “…nothing can be credited to man without depriving God of his honor.”

So how does Calvin fix the problem?

“Here, then, is the course that we must follow it we are to avoid crashing upon these rocks: when man has been taught that no good thing remains in his power, and that he is hedged about on all sides by most miserable necessity, in spite of this he should be instructed to aspire to a good of which he is empty, to a freedom of which he has been deprived.”

Preach man’s utter depravity, and that his will is bound. Preach that he aspire to which he is empty, to a freedom he doesn’t have.

So, YES—preach depravity and duty. Men must be told, you are D.O.A., and they must be told, “Come forth!” and “Get up, the Master is calling for you.”

I crack-up—it’s no dilemma with Calvin. Aspire to a good of which you are empty, O Man. You have nothing, so there and ninner, ninner; come to Christ!

G. Mark Sumpter

Mercy Motivations--Kingdom and Church, II

New Creation Mercy

Where God exerts his rule through his Word and Spirit, the effects of sin are healed. Thus the kingdom is like a great banquet (Matthew 22:2) and is a state of total fulfillment of blessedness (Matthew 5:3, 10). This healing is always partial, because the kingdom is not fully come, yet this healing is substantial, because the kingdom is already present.


Edmund Clowney writes that kingdom evangelism must have a holistic focus:

“The renewal of Christ’s salvation ultimately includes a renewed universe… there is no part of our existence that is untouched by His blessing. Christ’s miracles were miracles of the kingdom, performed as signs of what the kingdom means…His blessing was pronounced upon the poor, the afflicted, the burdened and heavy-laden who came to Him and believed in Him…The miraculous signs that attested Jesus’ deity and authenticated the witness of those who transmitted the gospel to the church is not continued, for their purpose was fulfilled. But the pattern of the kingdom that was revealed through those signs must continue in the church…Kingdom evangelism is therefore holistic as it transmits by word and deed the promise of Christ for body and soul as well as demand of Christ for body and soul.” [from a chapter, “Kingdom Evangelism,” by Clowney, found in the book The Pastor-Evangelist (edited by Roger Greenway, 1987]

More from the book by Timothy J. Keller, Ministries of Mercy.


A man’s hands were wrapped to protect himself—he looked like a boxer with gauze and tape around his knuckles—and he was on a bed lying hemmed in, much like a large tent, with a mesh of nylon netting. He only moaned as I spoke with him. I read Psalm 23 to him this past Thursday—and he brightened up. I reflected with him on the Lord’s shepherding mercies. I spoke. He moaned. I prayed. He moaned. He didn’t/he couldn’t make eye contact with me. But his countenance told me that he was listening. I ministered with him for about 20-25 minutes. God’s providences are always gift-wrapped. Holistic gifts, encircling both body and soul, encompassing word and deed, are the ones that present the incarnation to us. God spoke out Himself; God enfleshed Himself. Word and deed, holistic stuff...a new creation already on the way.  


G. Mark Sumpter

Mercy Motivations--Kingdom and Church

Game-Changing Mercy

The kingdom of God is power, God’s ruling power present to heal all the curse of sin. It moves the people of God to meet psychological, social physical needs, bringing God’s kingly blessing as far as the curse if found.

“If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28).

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted” (Luke 12:32-33).


Francis Schaeffer has shown us that, because the kingdom is present partially, but not fully, we must expect substantial healing, but not total healing in all areas of life.


Quoted from Timothy J. Keller, Ministries of Mercy , p. 53

Substantial healing; ministries of mercy, even tiny steps, are weighty, influential, noticeable, and game-changers. THAT is doing the works of repentance, seen, for instance, from the preaching of John the Baptist.

G. Mark Sumpter