Poor In Spirit

"Blessed are the poor in spirit...." Matthew 5:3

It means a complete absence of pride, a complete absence of self-assurance and self-reliance. It means a consciousness that we are nothing in the presence of God. It is nothing, then, that we can produce; it is nothing we can do in ourselves. It is just this tremendous awareness of our utter nothingness as we come face to face with God. That is to be poor in spirit.

Martyn Lloyd Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount

The Shadow of Death

 Even though I walk 
       through the valley of the shadow of death, 
       I will fear no evil, 
       for you are with me; 
       your rod and your staff, 
       they comfort me. Psalm 23:4


We all will walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The place where death hovers over us, looming large and dark, quietly over our shoulders. I have been there. Nothing makes one consider life's ultimate import more than facing it's loss. Death comes to everyone. Death is the consequence for our sin (Genesis 3:3). It wasn't always set up to be that way. God will make all things new for those who love him (Revelation 21:5). But even so we as believers will all walk through the valley of the shadow of death (unless Christ comes early in our lives).  God has allowed physical death for a time for his children, but not forever.  He promises to never leave or forsake us, so evil can do nothing (Hebrews 13:5). Neither evil from demonic forces, nor evil from sinful man, nor evil from flawed creation can touch us as we walk with our Lord unless he allows it . And he promises to only allow it if it is in our best interest (Romans 8:28). His rod is present to dispense wrath towards the forces which would destroy us. His staff is there to shepherd us through difficult times and to comfort us with a reassurance that he is present and strong. What a wonderful thing to know that God loves me and that I am his son! Let me never forget all his benefits (Psalm 103:2).

Predestination Is Compatible With The Free Will Of Man

If God knows what I will choose in the future and allows me to make that choice, then my choice is free and it is predestined by God (because he does not intervene to change the outcome of that choice). This is true in regards to salvation. God at any point can intervene and cause his will to be done in regards to salvation over riding the free will of man. For example, Paul had revelation from God that was over powering, indisputable and salvation producing. This is not the norm but the exception. God's will is always done. God therefore can accomplish his purposes completely and sovereignly, controlling all things, without man doing anything accept believing based on his calling and revelation. As faith is not a work, salvation is completely accomplished by God by the work of Jesus Christ and the drawing of God the Father. In this way, God is sovereign and all powerful, controlling all things, and man is free to believe or refuse to believe (in most cases eg Paul's example above).