For the Gospel Forum

A PHARISEE AND A CALVINIST

2009-12-24T19:18:07-08:00

Thabiti Anyabwile of the Pure Church blog wrote a recent piece here that is just priceless, and gives me a lot of food for thought. Sometimes we just have to be theologically correct. This is not wrong in itself, but we must be careful not to become too prideful.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/thabitianyabwile/2009/12/20/calvinist-confessions-1/

The article appears below and I have highlighted in bold some of the points that spoke to me:

I’m a Pharisee. And I’m a Calvinist.

Those things should not go together. But they do in far too many instances. The Calvinist should be the last to become a Pharisee. Our theology should keep us humble. Or, so we’re told.

But I’m a Pharisee. And I’m a Calvinist. Which means I’m a bad Calvinist.

Here’s the first reason I’m a Pharisee and Calvinist, or, one reason why those two things happen together far more often than they should. The Pharisee and the Calvinist are both exacting persons. They care about precision, about “getting things right.” They care about the letter because each believes getting the letter correct is important. And it is.

So, there is this “bent” toward intellectual things. There is this tendency to live in our heads. And when that meets with a theological tradition as rich and robust as the Reformed tradition, sparks fly–in our heads. Add to that a pinch of argumentative spirit and out comes the Pharisee.

But you know what’s lost? The spirit, or the Spirit. Sometimes both. The letter kills. That’s what happens with us Calvinist Pharisees.

In my particular case, the letter became pretty important once I realized I had spent a few years of my life giving praise to an idol. Once I realized I had believed a lie and bowed to a god who was not God, well getting things correct theologically became desperately important. Who wants to “get it wrong” in the things of God? I certainly didn’t any longer.

I didn’t know it, but I began the Christian life with this impulse that could either help me grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and/or push me into peevish, narrow, gnat straining regard for “getting it right.” I’ve experienced both in my Christian life. The difference is made by where you’re aiming: those who aim at knowing Jesus escape so much pharisee-ism; those that aim at “getting it right” become so much more Pharisaical.

Perhaps you’re like me. You’ve had some experience that’s left you zealous for getting it right. You love the Book in part because you love parsing things, dissecting them, weighing them, identifying what is wanting, tossing the chaff and holding onto the wheat. There’s a joy that comes from discovery–and refutation. Soon, you’re proud you’re not “one of those publicans” that explains the Trinity in loose language, that balks at giving various views of the atonement, that’s read the latest book from one of “those authors.” “Lord,” you pray, “I work to get it right. I avoid mistakes. I protect your word. I’m not like those who ‘happily’ accept ‘weak’ doctrine.”

Truthfully, it isn’t our theology that keeps us from the self-righteousness of the Pharisee. Our theology, and the smugness of “Reformed” correctness, are part of the problem. Oh, I don’t mean we have aberrant ideas mingled with our theological outlook. We’d never have that. I mean all this heady truth barely lights our hearts. Our theology becomes the handmaid of our pride and our empty orthodoxy. Our fine theological theorems too seldom ignite liberty, joy, love, or anything else that accompanies the Spirit. Honestly, how often does your theology leave you with Jesus?

I know. The Lord reveals Himself in and by the word. The Spirit and the word belong together. Pharisee.

Do you remember that time when you were free? No, I mean happily care-free in your walk with the Lord. When there was lightness to everything?

Do you remember when you could share with others something God was teaching you, perhaps with imprecise language and a lot of enthusiasm, without first hesitating to make sure you were saying it “correctly”? Perhaps you were too liberal in assigning your enthusiasm or ideas to God, but you were happily excited about the possibility that indeed God had done something in you, for you, through you. Do you remember that?

I do. It was before I was self-consciously “Reformed.” I didn’t have a label then, other than “Christian” or “Baptist.” Even those I held lightly. I was label-less, free. And I felt free. I did dumb stuff. I said dumber stuff. But people knew what I meant. Then I discovered what I meant, and knowing what I meant seemed to replace experiencing what I meant.

Now, “experience” is a bad word. Pharisee.

Yep. That’s me.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a “Calvinist” because what we popularly call “Calvinism” or “Reformed Theology” looks a whole lot like what I understand from the Bible. I think that’s what the Bible teaches, and that’s what I believe. So, I’m comfortable with the label–if we have to use one. I’m just not comfortable with the self-righteousness I see all too often in my heart and life. I’m sure I was self-righteous before; after all, I was an adherent of the world’s largest works-based religion. Pride and self-justification have always been there. Yep. Certified Pharisee here.

But here’s the bottom line: As long as my inclination toward detail ends with “getting it right” and not with getting more of Jesus, I’m going to be a Pharisee. Our theology doesn’t keep us humble. Jesus keeps us humble. I think there are a lot of Calvinist Pharisees out there, like me, who push deeper into the theology trusting the next truth to abase them before God. But we keep getting “puffed up” instead. Why? We settle for knowing more rather than knowing Jesus. We don’t stop to sit at Christ’s feet, to adore Him, to commune with God the Spirit. Far too often, that’s not the goal we have in mind.

My grandmother couldn’t cite you two theological terms if you paid her. She probably never heard of the theological “giants” of church history, and certainly never read them. You know what she did? She “had a little talk with Jesus, told Him all about her troubles. He would hear her faintest cry, and answer by and by.” With all her “little talks with Jesus,” she had infinitely more than I’ve gotten from my books. She walked with the Lord about like Enoch.

I know. Books are not the enemy. Books are our friends. Communing with the saints is important. That’s how we get it right and avoid mistakes. I know. I know. Pharisee.

There was another “Calvinist” (speaking anachronistically, of course) who won his bout with his inner Pharisee. He wrote: “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8). I want to be more like that brother–gripped by the greatness of knowing Jesus.

Lord, let us know you and cease the pretension of Pharisees.

---------------------------------------------

The author of the above piece was a Muslim at one time. I have always enjoyed reading his material.

Stan

A Study of Morality

2011-04-15T00:17:06-08:00

At that fateful moment, Adam and Eve are standing together at the tree, and although only the woman and the serpent speak, Adam was present, and it seems he accepted the fruit that his wife handed him. He was fully complicitous, and indeed, Yahweh holds him responsible. Yahweh reproaches Adam. Adam says: Well, Eve handed to me. She gave it to me. Eve explains, the serpent tricked me. Yahweh vents his fury on all three, and he does so in ascending order: first the serpent for his trickery and then the woman, and finally the man. The doctrine of original sin, which is the idea that humans after Adam are born into a state of sin, by definition. The actions of Adam and Eve bring death to the human race, they don’t bring a state of utter and unredeemed sinfulness. In fact, humans have moral choice in each and every age. Adam and Eve after eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and bad, they also lose their harmonious relationship with nature. There had been a peaceful relationship between creatures and humans to that point. Humans are banished now from the Garden. It used to yield its fruits to them without any labor, but now humans have to toil for food and the earth yields its fruits only stintingly. The humans will learn that the concomitant of their freedom is responsibility. Their first act of defiance is punished harshly. So they learn, that the moral choices and actions of humans have consequences that have to be borne by the perpetrator. Evil is a product of human behavior, not a principal inherent in the cosmos; man’s disobedience is the cause of the human predicament. So knowledge or wisdom or perhaps moral freedom, seems to come at a very high price.

The disobedience happens in a rather backhanded way. It’s interesting, Yahweh tells Adam before the creation of Eve that he’s not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, lest you die. Eve doesn’t hear this command directly, she hasn’t been created. Then we meet the cunning serpent, and although many will identify the serpent as Satan, an enticer, a tempter, some sort of evil creature, the serpent doesn’t seem to be so. The serpent in Eden is simply a talking animal.

Adam and Eve after eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and bad are like Yahweh; they have become wise in that they have learned they have moral choice. They have free will, they can defy Yahweh and Yahweh’s plans for them in a way that animals and natural phenomena cannot. But now that means there is a serious danger here, Yahweh says, “Now that the man has become like one of us, knowing good and bad, what if he should stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and life forever!” So the acceptance of mortality as an inescapable part of the human condition, the quest for immortality, Yahweh could not afford to allow them access to the tree of life, and Yahweh maintains the upper hand in this, the fact that they eventually must die. Yahweh has to punt the ball, he has to modify his plans by barring access to the tree of life, humans are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Because of the length of these reasoning’s, read more at,

http://thatlifeyahwehhas.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated;-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max;-results=12

Thanks for any insight.

The Biblical Concept of Election & Predestination - By R.C. Sproul

2010-07-15T05:13:33-08:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As a long time student of Dr. R.C. Sproul I can think of no other living theologian with a more biblical worldview or a greater knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. To clarify, there are certainly some theologians teaching today that are of the same caliber; however, none that I would consider to be a better source of scriptural expertise.

Recently, Dr. Sproul has done a very comprehensive audio/video lecture series on the biblical doctrine of election/predestination. When time permits, I’ll post, under this topic, the web links to the .MP3 (audio) files in the sequence that they were originally presented. In the lecture segments that I’ve studied so far, it is very interesting to learn what various Christian denominations have done to the interpretation of this most crucial doctrine. Everything from completely ignoring the plain language of Scripture; to the molding of “election” into a “man centered” doctrine of self-determination. Amazing!

I’ll leave further commentary for future posts.

I understand that this subject has been broached and discussed in other areas of this forum. However, I could not in good conscience pass up the opportunity to share such a high quality, well presented, and most importantly, SCRIPTURALLY FAITHFUL work of biblical exegesis.

In Christ,

Review of PULPIT CRIMES by James R. White

2011-04-07T07:38:54-08:00

Review of PULPIT CRIMES by James R. White

James R. White is the hit man for Reformed Theology. He is the complete professional religious debater, highly intelligent and armed with all the educational accouterments and offices so dear to the Calvinists. James is an expert in Hebrew and Greek and an instructor of the foolish and unlearned. He is a very serious man. A brief clip shown on You Tube of him laughing probably was aired by an incredulous admirer to prove he (White) has a sense of humor. I was curious to see how many hits it got but I couldn’t find it again, though I did see it once.

However, this strident little book (156 pages) is not amusing, nor meant to be. It lists the numerous crimes committed from the pulpits of popular contemporary Christianity in America. These crimes are mostly related to the mishandling of God’s Word but also include the crimes of many gadfly listeners as well as the implication that, if it’s popular, it can’t be good.

Mr. White never actually identifies the perpetrators of these pulpit crimes but assures us we will be able to figure out just who he is accusing of spiritual malpractice. I agree with many of his charges against those who deliver an unbalanced presentation of God’s Word.

Yet I do not believe the solution to the problems of the Church (which James White acknowledges are on-going in every generation) is Calvinism/Reformed/Sovereign Grace teaching. One stipulation of a crime scene investigation is that you do not mishandle the evidence and thus contaminate the conclusions drawn as to who did what to whom. Nor do you present the wrongly accused before the court of God’s Word, the final arbitrator of all truth.

Mr. White takes a while to get there in his various accusations but at last he corners the butler and it is us! “Us” being those who believe that God’s saving grace is offered to every sinner through the Gospel. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

Every sinner is thus supplied by God with a reason to have the faith that instantly declares him righteous forever and a present possessor of eternal life. Those who refuse to believe God about Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection are then held accountable for not believing Him. Otherwise, the Lord is held accountable for the loss of sinners He could have saved by the same method the Calvinist believe He used for the elect.

Reformed thinking then sees nothing wrong with God holding sinners accountable for not having faith that God withheld from them! Horrid reasoning which is wrapped in the disguise of reverence for God’s holiness and sovereignty! God’s attributes do not clash!

The Calvinist error is that faith is seen as a work of man unless mystically supplied by God to the previously chosen (in eternity past). Yet Abraham in chapter 4 of Romans is declared righteous before God without works but by faith. This excludes faith from being a work of the flesh or a work of God apart from the Word. Thus the faith that saves sinners is initiated by the Word of God, the Gospel. No wonder Paul declared the GOSPEL as the power of God! The Calvinists believes the power was in a decision that God made before the earth was created.

So back to Mr. White’s list of crimes. He explains well the communion service as far as he goes but leaves out its reference to the Rapture. The communion service, correctly understood, is to first remember Christ’s death for us in the PAST. Secondly, it refers to our PRESENT when we are “declaring” or preaching His death to all as the only means of salvation by our partaking of the elements. Thirdly, we are to continue doing this “until He comes”, an obvious reference to our glorious FUTURE when the Bridegroom comes to sweep His Bride up to Heaven just before the coming wrath of the Tribulation.

A minor note: Mr. White speaks of the inevitableness of death as a great motivator for spiritual progress. This is in sharp contrast on both points with Paul’s teaching; Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51,52

Absent from Mr. White’s rap sheet is the teaching of some Calvinists that he himself would not approve of given the beliefs he has stated. He correctly defines baptism as having no part in our redemption. He clearly states that he believes only in the baptism of the regenerate. But not a word of reproof for those of the Reformed persuasion who believe in baptizing babies! It would seem that Mr. White’s sword only has one edge, and that is reserved for those outside the Reformed fold.

No Reformed book of this type would be complete without several repetitions of their favorite passage and Mr. White does not disappoint us in that observation.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:22-23 (NKJV)

This is the favorite verse for the Calvinist/Reformed/ Sovereign Grace teachers like Mr. White, who push Lordship salvation as the only true expression of Christianity. Briefly, these folks believe that “true” Christians will always live increasingly righteously because they are the elect of God who not only receive Christ as their Savior but as their Lord in every thought, word and deed.

Sound good? After all, God DOES want us to live as Christians to His glory, does He not? Of course He does! But is Lordship Salvation the full and only expression of Christ’s salvation? Not!

Look at the verse again: these professors of faith call Christ “Lord” and they have works ... big time works! These are EXACTLY what the Lordship Salvation proponents teach are the true marks of “real” Christians!

Yet Christ rejects those who come to Him at the last day with those same “credentials”! On what basis? “I NEVER knew you”. Knowing Christ in this sense refers to being born-again and thus a possessor of eternal life forever, freely! John 5:24

Note that Christ does not reject them because they have “lost” their salvation; rather, He NEVER knew them! The weakest, most worldly believer is saved forever because of the blood shed for his/her sin! We need never fear losing a gift we never “deserved” in the first place.

Let us rather fear living a life that does not reflect a growing knowing of Christ. See Philippians for details!
And let us remember as Christians that we will all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.1 Corinthians 3 NKJV

At this Judgment for Christians only, we will not be judged as to whether or not we were “real” Christians (our presence there attests to our authenticity) but to have our deeds examined by Christ. True works will be rewarded, fleshly works will burn.

You will never see this teaching in Reformed circles as it gives assurance to the weakest believer, and a guilty fear is the ally of Reformed thinking.

In the meantime, thank you dear Lord Jesus for providing Your Word of grace for our growth! May we eat and be satisfied today and thus serve You with a glad heart! “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32 (New King James Version)

Scrip

SDA view of the Trinity--Reviisted

2011-03-21T23:40:33-08:00

Jeremy,

Have you seen the latest article in Adventist World about the Trinity?

http://www.adventistworld.org/issue.php?issue=2011-1003&page=20

See what you think. It reads quite orthodox and would likely pass muster with the likes of Craig Hawkins or Rob Bowman.

What do you think in light of your excellent research on this topic?

The author makes this quote at the end of the article:

Careful reflections on the triune God can come only from a heart and mind trained in humility. Speaking adequately of God is a daunting task. Scripture must be the primary source of our knowledge of Him. Christians manifest their avowed dependence upon this Book, which contains many affirmations of the deity of the three divine Persons. “The historic formulation of the Trinity . . . seeks to circumscribe and safeguard this mystery (not explain it; that is beyond us), and it confronts us with perhaps the most difficult thought that the human mind has ever been asked to handle. It is not easy; but it is true.”2
--------------------
The quote in bold is from J.I. Packer, a true giant of the faith.

Stan

My New Book; Trashing the T.U.L.I.P, Chapter One

2011-03-05T11:38:44-08:00

This is a draft of the first chapter of my new book, Trashing the T.U.L.I.P. As the title implies, it is slightly aggressive in nature. However, being somewhat experienced in debating Calvinists, I can honestly say that it is comparatively mild to some massive missives thrown at me!

For verification of some “enthusiastic” Calvinist retorts look up
http://homepage.mac.com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/attoptowes.htm to see Calvinist A.M. Toplady’s gentle rebuke to John Wesley, that awful Arminian. Here’s some of his opening sentences to Reverend Wesley in that letter;

Though you are neither mentioned, nor alluded to, throughout the whole book, yet it could hardly be imagined that a treatise apparently tending to lay the axe to the root of those pernicious doctrines which, for more than thirty years past, you have endeavoured to palm on your credulous followers, with all the sophistry of a jesuit, and the dictatorial authority of a pope, should long pass without some censure from the hand of a restless Arminian, who has so eagerly endeavoured to distinguish himself as the bellwether of his deluded thousands.

I do not pretend in any way to be worthy to be included with these two great brothers of the past, yet the battle for the truth of the Gospel for all must be continued. I am sure those two dear men are presently rejoicing in the Presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, linked in His love and Spirit, fully knowing now the grace of God in each other.

For the record, I am not an Arminian, though the Calvinist insists there are only two doctrinal positions which are defined by his own. I am neither, nor are many others, in spite of such teaching.

So I proceed; say anything that you want. After all, I am looking for reactions that will teach me too. The only thing I beg of you, knowing full well that the hardened Calvinist will not grant this favor, is PLEASE do not tell me that I do not understand Calvinism!

If I don’t, I feel the Calvinist must bear some responsibility for my ignorance. I have read many articles, blogs, and books that hammer home the five petals in repetitious regularity leading to rigormortus of the senses!

I think I am reasonably intelligent, I know I’m born-again, I have been studying, teaching and preaching God’s Word for some 55 years, so if I don’t understand your teaching, maybe it’s you!

So please indulge me and read away and then comment freely ... after all, Im no John Wesley and probably you are no A.M. Toplady! God bless you, Dennis Clough (I chose to say that and you were destined to receive it

Trashing the T.U.L.I.P.

I believe the theological system of Calvinism is not true Christianity and I mean to dismantle it using the acronym commonly associated with it T.U.L.I.P., one petal at a time. This is not to say that all Calvinists are not Christians but rather that the system of thought embodied in the T.U.L.I.P. is, at its best, not the clear Biblical message and, at its worst, is blasphemous in its primary concept of God.

We may say, charitably, that the subtle errors of this system and those who champion them are unintentionally opposed to the truth of God. Yet such error remains counter productive to the salvation of the lost and the growth in grace of the saved and so must be opposed.

The reception of Calvinism’s doctrines by many as God’s truth does not make them so. Truth is not determined by a majority, by tradition, by zeal or even some temporal good result. It is determined by the Word of God alone, entered into through the Gospel of grace, via the One Mediator between man and God, Christ Jesus.

The Gospel! One is struck after many readings of Calvinist/Reformed/Sovereign Grace/ Covenant articles, sermons and books at how seldom the simple Gospel is clearly explained let alone even mentioned! Even the T.U.L.I.P has no G! Yet the Apostle Paul called the Gospel “the POWER of God unto salvation”! Romans 1:16

And even when the Gospel IS referred to. the great fact of the physical resurrection of Christ is almost always absent! This in spite of the fact that Paul said Christ’s resurrection is so important that without it, Christianity is worthless to anyone, the Apostles are liars, and no one is saved, let alone to be resurrected.

It does seem that the Reformers and their contemporary theological descendants are far more concerned with defending God’s Holiness and Sovereignty than they are in publishing the Gospel to sinners. So there is a tragic limiting of this glorious Gospel message and its transforming power to a few “select elect”! This crime fires this writer’s heart to reshape the twisted Scriptures found in the T.U.L.I.P. and to restore them to their original form, to the glory of God.

Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.Ps.119:104

TOTAL DEPRAVITY:

The tulip is a beautiful flower whose petals overlap each other in a wonderful symmetry that forms its cup-like shape. The T.U.L.L.P. acronym is of a similar design, so it has been said that to destroy one petal, particularly the first one, is to destroy them all.

Changing metaphors for a moment, this is because the T, standing for Total Depravity, is the very foundation that makes Calvinism’s further teachings required and even reasonable, if this first be true.

It isn’t true! The real purpose of the teaching of Total Depravity is not just to underscore the Biblical truth that we are all born sinners (a truth every instructed Christian fully acknowledges) but rather to teach that we are incapable of hearing the Word of God in our natural, evil state.

The Bible, Calvinism, and Bible Christians all teach that all people are conceived “dead in sins and trespasses” and are born actively opposed to God. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)

Having been born at war with our Creator, we found; the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. Romans 8:7 NKJV

Our scriptural description as sinners only gets worse; we also have a heart problem! And He (Jesus) said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. Mark 7:20-22 (NKJV)

Summing up our previous condition as sinners; we were conceived in sin, born dead, blind, deaf, actively resisting God, as the result of an evil heart pumping the poisonous blood of serpent-bitten Adam into every thought, word and deed. I trust no one can now say that I am understating the case for our total depravity or total LOSTNESS!

A word about the term dead, as in spiritually dead. We should not think in terms of a dead body whose corpse is indisputable evidence that its spirit is separated from it. Indeed, dead for the sinner means he is by nature born separated by his sin from spiritual union with the Spirit of God. He is out of sync with a Holy God and will continue to sink unless God saves him. Yes, spiritual death means separated from any communion, least of all deep harmonic intimacy with the Spirit of God, whether in this life or the next.

Note: the raising of Lazarus cannot be used as an example of regeneration (as some have endeavored to do) but only physical resurrection, since this friend of Jesus was already born again before he died.

NOW; The question we must honestly ask of the Scripture in this matter is: can such dead, lost individuals hear the voice of God and respond of their own volition in either a negative or a positive fashion?

Most emphatically, yes! Scripture records a number of such incidents. As it only took one apple to demonstrate the law of gravity to all, so one Biblical portrayal of a lost sinner hearing the voice of God should reveal that God’s voice can be heard and understood by every lost sinner. Whole Calvinists’ libraries would be destroyed by a humble reception of the Biblical record in this matter!

More than one example is here cited and each is very important since experience teaches that the proponents of Calvinism can take the most direct, easily understandable verses in the Bible and torture them into shapes to serve their cause. For instance, those first encountering Calvinist teachings are often amazed to learn that Calvinists’ do not believe that “world” means world in John 3:16 nor does “whosoever” means whosoever!

So the sons of Calvin work on God’s words, hammering and pressuring them to make the Scriptures say something other than what they plainly say.

Hence the INVALUABLE importance of an actual, historical example from God’s Word that can be misconstrued only intentionally. And we mean to give not just one Biblical shot to sink this Calvinist flagship but a volley of such Biblical examples. We repeat; God speaks to sinners and such are able to understand their Maker, in direct opposition to the teaching of Calvinism. We shall see this as a fact in Scripture.

We call to the witness stand Adam and Eve, who bear testimony that they experienced instant spiritual death (separation from God) as promised by the Lord if they ate of the forbidden fruit. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis2:16,17

We understand that God was speaking of spiritual death here and not physical death (that came too, but later) because they did not die physically the day they ate the fruit. That leaves only spiritual death as the meaning since the sentence was to be carried out in the day (24 hour period) of the infraction. Adam and Eve were excluded from God’s presence.
Yet after the fatal fulfilling of that curse they later still heard and responded to their seeking Savior’s voice. So he (Adam, the “dead” sinner) said, “I heard Your voice(God) in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10

The seeking Savior God then did two things. One, He described the personal consequences of this first sin to all three participants. Two, God also announced the great news of the coming of Christ into the world to restore all things by the destruction of Satan. And I will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed (Christ); He (Christ) shall bruise your head (Satan), And you (Satan) shall bruise His (Christ’s) heel.” Genesis 3:15
Then God shed the first blood of innocent animals (implied in the action of making coats of skin) and covered their nakedness before Him. This was something that their self-made fig leaf aprons could not do. Something more than physical nakedness is being covered here; the sin of Adam and Eve is being hidden from the eyes of their Holy God. Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21

Next we see in the Scriptures, Abel, born a “dead” sinner, (doubtlessly instructed by his parents in the Word of God as a child), offer a blood sacrifice. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. Hebrews 11:4
Abel’s sacrifice pleased God, because its blood exhibited faith in Christ’s future sacrifice for sin. The blood of the lamb shed by Abel had no power to take away sin of itself. It pointed to the Lamb of God whom God Himself would sacrifice for the world. It also made Abel righteous before God because of Christ’s imputing His own righteousness to Abel’s account. Only THE blood sacrifice carries such benefits!

(Please try to be fair as we look at Scripture here and do remember that Christ calls for our loyalty to the truth in all things, over all other teachings and teachers, even those as close as our parents. Jesus told His disciples; “for One is your Teacher, the Christ.” Matthew 23:10b Some will perhaps read these pages and have to let go of things taught them by people they love and respect. Yet it is, it must be, Christ first in all things, above all others.)

But the refusal of Cain to obey God in this matter of offering a blood sacrifice is a devastating blow to two foundational teachings of Calvinism; 1. That Total Depravity causes an inability to hear God and respond to Him; and 2. that God does not call the non-elect!

In an AMAZINGLY sharp contrast to the teaching of Reformed/Calvinism doctrine we here see God actually PURSUING Cain with the intent that “he, (Cain) do well”!

6 So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Can anyone doubt that “doing well” here simply means offering the blood sacrifice that God was pleased with in the offering that Abel provided? Such an offering would indicate faith in Christ even as Abel’s had signified. And can anyone doubt that in this passage God is putting two different ways in front of Cain, necessitating a choice on his part?

The significance of Cain and Abel’s reactions to God’s instruction are clarified in the words of the Gospel of John. There we see that it is not for SINS (plural) that sinners go to Hell but rather for A SIN (singular); refusing the grace and forgiveness of Christ.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 3:18-20 (New King James Version)
God sovereignly chose to allow Adam the tremendous responsibility of obeying His word regarding the tree of good and evil.

God knew Adam would, against God’s will, sin and plunge the world into a cataclysmic state of rebellion and death that would put it on collision course with the wrath of a Holy God.
This is important! Some ask, “WHY didn’t God DO something if He knew Adam would sin?”
The answer is that God did do something. He gave Adam His Word of instruction and negative promise. This Word is the same essence as the Word that brought all of creation into existence! Adam did not HAVE to sin but he did; the choice was his, right or wrong.

Although sin has changed many things, the responsibility that God sovereignly gave Adam, complete with the option of obedience or disobedience, has never been revoked for mankind.
God still sovereignly allows a sinner today to chose to obey (believe the Gospel and be saved) or to disobey (refusing to believe the Gospel and remaining lost).

Adam had to do only one thing to be lost; eat the forbidden fruit. A sinner today is in a similar position; he must do only one thing to be saved; eat the bread of Heaven.
This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” John 6:50,51

God reasoned with Cain, God warned Cain, God punished Cain: the context shows that Cain understood that it was God speaking to him. He also understood what God was saying, yet he stubbornly, willfully, rejected the will of God that he be saved from his sin.

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40
Can an honest reading of the scriptural record of this encounter leave any doubt that Cain heard God’s voice, understood God’s will and yet chose to reject it in spite of the clear warning of God?

And if Calvinism be presumed true in its seemingly most cherished primary doctrine of Total Depravity causing spiritual deafness, we are left to contemplate the rather ludicrous sight of the God of foreknowledge and predestination actively pursuing and reasoning with the non-elect Cain in a fruitless effort to save his soul!

Stated another way, God who in eternity past did not chose/elect Cain was actively, personally engaged in seeking to save him! And failed, a thought abhorrent to those whose defense of the sovereignty of God leads them to both unbiblical and illogical extremes in that doctrine, as well as others.

To add yet another slant to this tragic/comic scenario, the completely dead Cain is arguing with a God he cannot hear, see or comprehend! After killing his righteous brother, he received his sentence from the Judge of all the earth and his opportunity for salvation closed with these solemn words, “ Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD” Genesis 4:16a Now, in all scriptural honesty, who is seen as responsible for Cain’s departure into eternal lostness but Cain himself?

People born lost, remain lost because they reject the Christ who is seeking them and for no other reason. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:18-21

As the Scripture says; If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone.” Proverbs 9:12 It is the sinner’s responsibility to believe God’s Word unto salvation and he can do so when taught from the Scriptures. Paul spoke of this teaching to Timothy; and that from childhood you have known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15

Does it make any kind of sense to anyone that God would seek to turn Cain from the way of destruction if He had chosen in His sovereignty not to save Cain? Is God one who works against Himself and must have an army of Calvinist writers defend His conflicted ways with a volley of books intended to form a fortress against scriptural logic?
Christ has assured us that, “NO kingdom divided against itself can stand.” Matthew 12:25 That would presumably include the Kingdom of Heaven, including the matter and manner of the salvation of souls.

While the Psalmist could wail that “No man cared for my soul” Psalm 142:4, no one will ever be able to say that God did not care for his soul! In fact He cared so much, He allowed His own Son to die in our place! Such grace as this pictures is intended for all sinners even if they reject like Cain! What more could God do than He did with the man Cain? Or for us?

Another example of an unsaved man hearing and understanding God’s Word is found in the life of Pharaoh as it intersects with that of a disobedient Abram’s in Egypt. Although we are not told that Pharaoh actually heard God speak in an audible voice, the scripture shows that God did indeed communicate with this powerful, unsaved ruler! He got “the word” as his actions show, recorded in the Word.
17 But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.” Genesis12:17-20

Let us now consider another Old Testament sinner who did clearly hear the very Word of the Lord from the Lord’s mouth for himself and understood it, even with all the customary impeding accouterments of dead sinners, of which we have already spoken.
1 And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar. 2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”
4 But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.”
6 And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. 7 Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
8 So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid.

Do we need to point out that here is another clear incident of God speaking to a “dead” sinner who clearly understood Him? This heathen king not only heard God but actually held an intelligent conversation with Him. His obedience validates our conclusion that sinners can hear the word of God, even in their fallen state, and obey it.

Thus we saw God warn Adam that in the day he sinned, he would die, referring to spiritual death. This is proven by the fact that Adam continued to live physically long after eating the forbidden fruit. His spiritual death was swallowed up in life upon receiving the good news that the coming Seed of the woman (virgin birth) would save him and Eve.

The shedding of blood to provide animal skins to cover their nakedness before God (referring not to physical nakedness but rather their sin) no doubt added to their assurance of salvation even as it clarified it in their minds and hearts. May it do so for us as well who have not just the symbolic forecast as they, but the actuality of a Crucified, Risen Saviour !

Let us now take a look at some New Testament incidents that are in harmony with our belief that unregenerate man can hear, understand God and be regenerated (saved). We of course believe that Christ is God and that He speaks the Word of God to all.

In a single chapter of Matthew’s gospel, we have a conglomeration of four different groups of unregenerate men seeking to defeat the Saviour in several debates about spiritual matters. The Pharisees, the Sadducees, the lawyers and the Herodians all take their best shot and all go down to ignominious defeat BECAUSE they do understand the word of God spoken by the Son of God. It’s summed up this way; And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore. Matthew 22:46
Y
et another scripture that attests to the ability of lost men to understand God and react to His word: Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. Matthew 21:45

Yes, unsaved man can hear God and understand Him!
In fact, Christ speaks to men and challenges them to use their normal powers of reasoning to make spiritual decisions. This presupposes that they have the ability to do so, even though sinners all!
55 And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? 57 “Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? Luke 12:55-57

Does the Calvinist really know something about this matter of unregenerate men understanding spiritual truths that Christ does not?

Christ often challenged His opponents over the Scriptures meaning and never treats them as though they had no ability to understand the Scriptures. If they had no such capability, He would be remiss in holding them accountable. But He does indeed point out their responsibility for correct interpretation,

Here are several places where He does that;
25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.” Mark 12:25-27

Let us now consider the ubiquitous scripture that sprinkles the pages of the Calvinist’s many repetitious tomes. The frequency of use of only a few on such an important subject should suggest to the careful reader that the supply of such texts that can be tortured to fit the Calvinist’s spiritual template is limited indeed!

Here’s a favorite verse, uprooted from its natural contextual soil, now lashed to the stake of traditional Calvinism as a major support against the wind of the Spirit. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Unfortunately for the position of the Calvinists, yet happily for the world Christ died for, no one has the right to rip up what God has planted. A reading of the chapter from whence this verse was unlawfully plucked will show that Paul is describing two, yes, two messages that are to be received in a sequential manner.

The number one message is, of course, the Gospel itself, prioritized by Paul! 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1,2

In other words, Paul began his ministry with the unsaved Corinthians by sticking to the basic Gospel message which he summed up this way; 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:3,4

The second message is to only those who have received the first message. 6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature 1 Corinthians 2:6. The second message is described as the “things of the Lord” and they are deeper truths requiring more understanding.

This is logical! Learning the basics before matriculating is true of ANY discipline! For instance, one cannot hope to do advanced trigonometry who has not yet learned how to add up two and two! And the Gospel is decidedly and blessedly as simple as 2+2=4 so all may be saved whether they move on to the deeper things or not.!

So, refusing the easily understood Gospel which enables one to be born-again and thus able to go higher or deeper in the Spirit revealed truths of Scripture, is to remain a “natural man” (read unsaved). Therefore, the natural man is excluded from further revelation. Jesus put it this way to a recalcitrant Nicodemus, “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? John 3:12 In this case, as in Paul’s preaching the Gospel first in Corinth, “earthly things” would be, first of all, being born-again, an experience which must occur on earth before death if one is to be saved.

It is clear as well, that in the estimation of Christ, Nicodemus should have already experienced the new birth due to his previous exposure to the scriptures! What but this conclusion can be meant by ; “10 You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

I believe the “we” of verse 11 refers to Christ and the Prophets whose collective voices Nicodemus had failed to hear in his duties of teaching the Scripture to Israel. Yet Christ’s holding him responsible for this spiritual negligence supports the conclusion that his sinful state did not render him incapable of hearing and obeying God.

According to Jesus, one cannot even “see” the Kingdom of Heaven without the new birth. Lacking that primary occurrence one is unable to delve into the deeper things taught by the Spirit. But God has revealed them to us (born-again, mature believers) through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10

Although there are any number of misuses of scripture on this subject, we will close this section of destruction of the major petal of the T.U.L.I.P. (Total Depravity) with the restoration of a scripture to its proper place. This scripture was long ago captured and pressed into duty as another makeshift prop for the doctrine of Total Depravity and kept from its rightful God-honoring place, for far too long. It’s as out of place in the service of Calvinism as the use of the American flag would be to patch a roof.

43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:43,44
There is probably no scripture dearer to the heart of the Calvinist than this one. That’s because it seems to fit and support his understanding of Total Depravity so well. However, the Calvinists’ very misuse of Total Depravity actually occasioned an opening for such an interpretation which necessitated a further warping of these verses. A cross-threaded bolt makes for a cross-threaded nut! So let us free this captured verse from its slavery and put it back in context to find its true home and real meaning.

John 6:43,44
A lot of religious people, even true Christians, love “mystery”! Smoke and mirrors are sometimes more attractive in their estimation than just the plain truth. Here we are told God MUST DO SOMETHING or men, especially “dead” men, cannot come to Christ! And look, God is using this mysterious word “draw” to describe what this action must be!

The Calvinist got so excited over this wonderfully enigmatic word that they broke it into two parts like a big pill, to make it easier to swallow. In his excitement, our brother decided that there is an “outer call” and an “inner call” of the Gospel. More about those non-biblical terms later in examining Irresistible Grace; for now, one petal at a time, one petal at a time (memo to self)!

What does “draw” mean in this text? Where, oh where, will we find the answer? Oh, here it is in the very next verse! Almost like Someone planned to have the explanation right there in front of us. But some do so love a mystery!
45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me .John 6:45

What a let down! You mean this great term “draw” which has been used for a prop by the Calvinist for so long is really the common carrying beam for the weight of all of God’s building? That, in other words, you must be taught by God to know who Christ is and your need of Him? Just like the Scripture states?

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: Romans 10:14-18

Notice verse 18 clearly sums up that unbelieving Jews have heard the Gospel and continue to reject it. So that is what Christ is saying about the Pharisees; they have heard and rejected the teaching of God in the Prophets which draws one to Christ.

We must not overlook the special circumstances of Christ’s words in John 6, however in order to fully understand verses 43 and 44. We know that in John 4, Christ pointed out to His disciples that “the fields are white unto harvest”. The reason this was true is that “other men labored” (the OT Prophets) to bring this crop (of instructed Jews/Samaritans) into a readiness for Christ and His disciples to “harvest” (bring to salvation)..

So the context in both instances is dealing with an Israel that has been God’s special vineyard, tended (taught) by the Prophets, about the coming Messiah in particular. That leaves unbelieving Jews in John chapter 6 unable to come to Christ because they have resisted the teaching of God about Him through the Prophets.

The Pharisees in particular elevated the teachings of Moses (“we know God spoke to Moses” John 9:29) above Christ’s teaching as here but also the other “writings”, i.e., the Prophets. Yet ignoring the Prophets was to ignore the teaching of God Himself and thus be “unable to come to Him, Christ.”.
Of course, Moses himself was a Prophet who spoke of Christ, warning all to listen to Him or perish. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. John 5:46 Thus the Pharisees were without excuse for the sin of their unbelief just like every other sinner before God.

Perhaps its fitting to end this portion of Trashing the T.U.L.I.P. with a teaching from Abraham to the rich man in Hell. The rich man had begged Abraham for a drop of water and been denied, Then he asked that Lazarus be sent to his five brothers to warn them not to come to that dreadful place, Hell. His rationale was that his brothers would be so amazed to see Lazarus back from the dead that they would listen to him, believe God’s word about Christ and be saved from “this awful place”; Hell.
Abraham’s reply is quoted by Christ: “But he(Abraham) said to him,(the rich man in Hell) ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ Luke 16:31

This negative response by Abraham to the rich man’s evangelistic suggestion is another way of Christ saying “unless my Father draw you, you cannot come to Me.”
Now, because Christ had come and added His voice to the Prophets in even clearer words, the crime of Christ-deniers, Jew or Gentile was then and remains now, many times more heinous and deserving of a severer punishment.
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:29 (New King James Version)

Thank God, the message of Christ is clear and can be understood by ALL sinners! And ALL may be saved by simply believing the Gospel. The God of all grace has reached out in eternal love to all; please hear today and be saved. That is His will for you!
Christ said; “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. John 5:24

One Reason I am A Dispensationalist

2011-03-25T14:48:35-08:00

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” Zachariah 12:10

The context shows that God is speaking to Israel. The Word of the Living God points to a future time since the event described here has never yet happened in the Bible or Israel’s history.

Since God is clearly saying that Israel will look on the One they pierced, of necessity Israel will still be a nation.

Since it is Christ they pierced, Christ must also be resurrected.

Since it is God speaking about being pierced, Christ is clearly seen as God.

Since they are described as repenting nationally it reveals that both God and future Israel (which generation did not do the actual piercing but continued in the same rejection that led to it) hold Israel accountable for the crucifixion of their Messiah, even though the present Pope recently exonerated them.

Since they repent both nationally and individually (for the most part) they will be forgiven and regenerated, thus becoming the glorious Israel God has always predicted through His Prophets. They will be a nation made up of the blood descendants of Abraham, recipients of the blessing of the New Covenant even as Jeremiah said:

31 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to[d] them,[e]”
declares the LORD.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the LORD.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the LORD.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
Jeremiah 31:31-34 NKJV

The Apostle Paul settles the question as to whether God has abandoned the nation Israel in Romans 9:1: I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.

Also, Paul shows that God’s original plans for His beloved people were not altered so as to make them either replaced by the church or a part of it as a nation. Obviously, saved Jews became Christians. In the future, Israel will always be a nation and the church will always be a body, the Bride of Christ. God’s ability is not limited! He can bring to pass what He said about their role in the world and in the future Kingdom.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 29:11

“Adventists and Muslims: Five Convictions”

2010-02-12T12:15:22-08:00

In the same issue of Adventist World that contains the article that Stan posted about in this thread, the current February 2010 edition, there is also an incredible article entitled “Adventists and Muslims: Five Convictions
How to build on what we have in common,” written by William Johnsson (former editor of the Adventist Review).

Here are some excerpts from it (emphasis mine):

Several months ago I received a message totally outside my previous frame of reference: a spiritual leader of many thousands of Muslims in several countries, a sheikh, stated that God had given him a vision about Adventists. He had made contact with lay Adventists; now he was asking to meet with leaders from the General Conference. [...]

[...]

The following day the sheikh and I met to consider what topic should form the basis for the discussions with the larger group. Almost immediately we settled on the Second Coming. We decided to ask each side to prepare short papers on the general topic of Jesus’ return, on the signs of the Second Coming, and on the antichrist. Then came the moment I had been waiting for. “Sir,” I asked, “is it true that you received a vision about Seventh-day Adventists?”

“Not one, but three,” he replied. “All three had the same message: Seventh-day Adventists are the true People of the Book [a term from the Koran, designating followers of Allah who are not Muslims]. Adventists already are God’s people, so do not try to convert them. Instead, work with them.”

[...]

I turn now to a second conviction: Seventh-day Adventists are uniquely positioned to bring the gospel to Muslims.

Adventists have the following advantages over other Christians in taking the good news to Muslims:

The place of the Scriptures. We base our practices and beliefs on the Bible and the Bible alone. This devotion and loyalty to the revealed Word impresses Muslims, who look to the Koran as God’s revelation.

[...]

A reform movement. We understand our message to be not a new one but a return to the teachings of the Bible. We are completing the partially realized reformation begun by Luther, Calvin, and the other stalwarts of yesteryear. Muslims also consider themselves to be part of a work of reformation.

These nine features uniquely position Adventists to establish relations with Muslims at all levels and to advance our divinely appointed mission of taking the gospel to the whole world. But we are not well known in the Islamic world; indeed, we are hardly known at all. When Muslims hear of Christians, they immediately think of pork-eating, alcohol-imbibing, loose-living men and women who side with Israel.

A major task with which we must grapple is to educate Muslims as to who we are and what we stand for. When that is done, attitudes change from disbelief to amazement, to appreciation, to warm acceptance.

In meeting Muslim leaders, I emphasize from the outset that I prefer to be known as an Adventist rather than as a Christian. For Muslims the name “Christian” carries such negative associations—associations that do not belong with Seventh-day Adventists—that I would rather avoid the term. And “Adventist” captures well the driving pulse of who we are—our hope in Jesus’ return and sense of divine calling to tell it to the world.

[...]

Among the negative stereotypes and myths about Muslims to which our people are subject are the following:

[...]

“Allah” is the name of a pagan deity. This myth is quickly disproved by a study of etymology. “Allah” is simply the Arabic term for God, was so used by Arab Christians before Muhammad, and is still so used. Because Islam arose among Arabs and the Koran is written in Arabic, inevitably the name “Allah” was adopted to designate God.

[...]

In recent months I have become acquainted with an Adventist businesswoman who bears a burden for work with Muslims. This was not always the case; in fact, she grew up disliking Muslims, but the Lord changed her heart. She confided to me that previously she wore expensive jewelry, but as she began to be involved with Muslims, with their emphasis on modesty, she felt she must remove the jewelry, eventually disposing of it.

Here, perhaps, is a parable of what could happen on a large scale as Adventists reach out to Muslims.

William G. Johnsson is assistant to the General Conference president for interfaith relations.

http://www.adventistworld.org/issue.php?issue=2010-1002&page=11

Well, okay, if they don’t want to be known as “Christian,” then so be it. Wow. There are just so many incredible things in the above excerpts.

What do you all think?

Jeremy

Union with Christ

2010-05-13T09:37:14-08:00

I’m reposting this from a post on the Heidelblog.

From Caspar Olevianus, An Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed, trans. Lyle Bierma, Classic Reformed Theology, vol. 2, ed. R. Scott Clark (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2009).

“Since, then, in the Articles of the Faith, which contain a summary of the gospel, Christ the King Himself offers to us that kingdom of His; and since He effectually confederates us to Himself through faith by the power of His Spirit so that He might rule in us, let us briefly explain what faith is. Once we know the will of God, faith is to assent to Him in the whole of His Word as one who is true and omnipotent. It is thus to give Him glory and not to give consideration to anything in ourselves or other creatures that appears contrary to His Word. The primary goal of faith is to look in this Word at the promise of the gospel, the promise that the Father truly presents Himself to us in Christ and through the Holy Spirit graciously justifies those engrafted into Christ, sanctifies us more and more, and preserves us by that same power by which Christ was raised from the dead and had all things subjected to Him. This is so that the hope of eternal life that is grounded in this truth and power might be most certain (p. 16).”

”This article concerning Christ’s person — which consists of two natures, human and divine, joined together in an eternal personal union while the properties of each nature are preserved forever — contains the foundation and basis of the royal priesthood of Christ, and consequently of the eternal covenant between God and humanity. Human happiness is to be united with God, the source of all good (1 John 1:3). By contrast, the greatest unhappiness is to be separated from God. Humanity, however, had separated itself from God through sin and had entered into a covenant with the devil. In the same way, therefore, that there was a certain person through whom sin entered the world, and death through sin, and who thus became the cause and, as it were, foundation of the defection from God and of the covenant with the devil, so also there ought to be a certain person designated by God as the foundation and cause of an indestructible union with God, the source of all happiness (p. 67).”

“Moreover, the human Christ could not be a Savior by His power unless the divine nature were joined to Him in the unity of His person, from which, as from the Father at the same time, the Holy Spirit proceeds, who leads us into possession of Christ, engrafts us into Christ, and regenerates us unto eternal life (1 Cor. 15:21, 45; Rom. 8:8–9). Indeed, so that those who have once truly been engrafted into Christ by the Holy Spirit can never again be cut off from eternal life, the λογον Himself — the eternal Son of God, consubstantial with the Father, namely, the very fountain of life, in which there was life from the beginning (John 1:4) — must dwell σωματκως, that is, personally, in His assumed human nature for all eternity (p.72).”

“Our entering into covenant and reconciliation with God required that both of these natures in the Mediator be true and intact, with their properties preserved. In the same way, since the covenant and union must last for all eternity, so that even after the resurrection our true flesh and bones might enjoy happiness (Phil. 3:21), it is also necessary in the foundation, namely, in the Mediator, upon whom the task of saving us forever was placed, that tremain intact forever — body and soul, flesh and bones (p. 73).”

“Vivification, therefore, is the second fruit of the resurrection of Christ because Christ Himself, who is always living, is our life through faith, and because, by the power that we draw from Christ our Head, we arise in this life to newness of life through the Spirit of faith. This is so that by living pure and holy lives, we might wholly consecrate ourselves to the will of God. That is what the apostle teaches in Colossians 3:1–2: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” That is also why he says in Romans 6:4–5 that we were engrafted into the likeness of Christ’s death so that, as participants in His resurrection, we might walk in newness of life. With these words he is not only offering the resurrection of Christ as an example for us to imitate; he is also, and especially, teaching that this is brought about in us by the power of Christ’s resurrection so that we are able to rise again to a new life (p. 97).”

“Third, the ascension is the progression and continuation of His righteousness. This is primarily because He could not ascend into heaven, into that great glory, in His own body accursed in our sins, unless He had been fully justified for our sins and faith (Heb. 1:7) (p. 104).”

“The second fruit is that by His ascension Christ makes us to sit with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6), so that we do not simply anticipate heaven in mere hope but already possess it in Christ our Head and Brother. This is because after full expiation for our sins had been made, the Pledge, in the earthly and bodily form that He received from us, now possesses heaven on our behalf. It is also because we possess a spiritual and heavenly pledge received, in turn, from Him, namely, the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us. So we are engrafted into Him by the power of the Holy Spirit through faith in the promise of the gospel (p. 105).”

“His operations are many and diverse. First, He is given so that He might bear witness in our hearts to the love of the Father (Gal. 4:6) and illumine the eyes of our minds with the knowledge of Christ. Thus, He engrafts me into Christ through faith, as a branch into the vine, and makes me a partaker of Christ and all His benefits (John 15:1ff). The union with Christ and His benefits that the Holy Spirit brings about in us is powerfully expressed in Scripture when it says that the Holy Spirit sprinkles us with the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:2), makes us “members of Christ” (1 Corinthians 6:15), feeds us with Christ (John 6:50–58), gives us Christ to drink (1 Corinthians 10:4, 16; 12), and builds us on Christ (Ephesians 2:20). Here the office and purpose of the Holy Spirit given to us is shown, namely, that through faith the Spirit might unite us to Christ as closely as possible and might achieve similar results in both members and Head, seeing as it is the same Spirit, the same life and glory (Rom. 8:1–26) (p. 124).”

“The communion of saints signifies first that outward fellowship by which members of the visible church are called into one body of people through the ministry of the teaching of the prophets and apostles, and through the sacraments. It also signifies that inward union by which those whom the Lord has forever chosen to be a part of this visible assembly, that is, those who truly believe, are united by the same Spirit with the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and with each other (p. 131-132).”

“I believe that whatever is and is called sin — whether it be original sin in the form of that transgression in Adam’s loins and the consequent corruption that I carry around in the flesh, or actual sin in the form of the wicked thoughts, words, and deeds that arise out of original sin — I believe, I say, that through faith, by which I am and remain engrafted into Christ, all of that is forgiven me by the gracious goodness of God. God does this in such a way that He erases all memory of both guilt and punishment, just as if I had never sinned or had no sin. Therefore, I trust that already now I am blessed (p. 133-134).”

“For those of us who are truly engrafted into Christ through faith begin to possess—in addition to that benefit of forgiveness with which the image of Satan is covered – another benefit at the same time: the restoration of the image of God… (p. 134-35)”

Nate

Investigative Judgment Query

2009-09-23T13:46:40-08:00

I keep reading about the scapegoat and the associated idea that satan becomes the substitute for our sins somehow. Could someone give a clear and biblical reasoning for this position? I’ve been researching the investigative judgment and am interesting in all opinions on it. Thanks for your time.