Looking at Truth

WHAT IS YOUR HIGHEST DESIRE?

2012-01-19T07:30:00.000-06:00

What is God's highest desire for the believer? It is to bring Him glory in every aspect of their lives! What should be the chief motive believers in this life? It is to give God glory in every aspect of their lives! As The Westminster Confession States: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. Scripture is clear when it tells us that all we do must be for the glory of God: Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

A facebook friend posted a link to this article written by Dr. Steve Lawson at New Reformation Ministries featuring the motives and desires of Jonathan Edwards.

MAY WE ALL RESOLVE TO LIVE FOR GOD'S GLORY!

Resolved - Tabletalk Magazine

For the last four years, I have spoken at a conference on the West Coast called “Resolved.” The name is drawn from the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards and is aimed at college students and “twenty-somethings” in the next generation. As an eighteen and nineteen year old, young Edwards wrote seventy resolutions, which became his personal mission statement to guide his life. To launch the first conference, I spoke from Edward’s first resolution, what Edwards determined would be the single most important pursuit in his life — the glory of God.

Edwards began his Resolutions with what he desired to be the driving force of his life — an all-absorbing passion to pursue the glory of God. “Resolved: that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory and to my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved: to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved: to do this whatever difficulties I meet with, how ever so many and how ever so great.”

With this before his eyes weekly, this first resolution set the tone for his entire life. In every arena, he resolved to honor God supremely. Everything else in his life would be subsidiary to this one driving pursuit.

What is the glory of God? The Bible speaks of it in two ways. First, there is His intrinsic glory, the revelation of all that God is. It is the sum total of all His divine perfections and holy attributes. There is nothing that man can do to add to His intrinsic glory. Second, there is God’s ascribed glory, which is the praise and honor due His name. This is the glory that man must give to God.

For Edwards, to be resolved to live for God’s glory means to exalt His most glorious name. It means to live consistently with His holy character. It means to proclaim and promote His supreme greatness. This is the highest purpose for which God created us.

Why did Edwards place this resolution first? He understood that Scripture places the glory of God first in all things. Edwards was gripped with a transcendent, high view of God. As a result, in writing his “resolutions,” he knew he must live wholeheartedly for this awesome, sovereign God.

Thus, Edwards intentionally chose to “do whatsoever I think is most to God’s glory.” Here is the interpretive principle for everything in life. You want to know what God’s will is? You want to know whom to marry? You want to know what job to take? You want to know what ministry to pursue? You want to know how to invest your resources? You want to know how to spend your time?

There it is! Everything in life fits under this master theme. Anything out of alignment with this principle pursuit is in dangerous territory. Sometimes our decisions are not between right and wrong. Sometimes they are between good, better, and best. These are sometimes the hardest decisions. Edwards said that he would not live for what is merely good. Nor for what is better. He purposed to live only for what is best. Whatever is most to the glory of God — that is what is best!

Edwards believed that God’s glory was inseparably connected with his “own good, profit, and pleasure.” Whenever he sought God’s glory, he was confident that it would inevitably yield God’s greatest good for his life. The glory of God produced his greatest “pleasure.” So it is with us. Would you know unspeakable joy? Abundant peace? True contentment? Then pursue God’s glory.

With unwavering determination, young Edwards chose this first resolution to mark “the whole of my duration.” As long as he was alive, this was to be the driving thrust of his life. He must always live for God’s glory. He would never outgrow this central theme. He must never exchange it for a lesser glory.

Also, Edwards’ believed that his commitment to God’s glory would bring the greatest “good of mankind.” By seeking God’s honor, the greatest advantage would accrue to others. Thus, living for the glory of God would lead to the greatest influence of the Gospel upon the world. Souls would be converted. Saints would be edified. Needs would be met.

Would you have maximum impact upon this world? Would you lead others to Christ? Would you live for eternity? There it is! Live for God’s glory.

No matter what, Edwards resolved to live for God’s glory despite “whatever difficulties I meet with, how ever so many and ever so great.” Regardless the cost, despite the pain, he would pursue God’s honor. Even if it meant persecution or poverty, his mind was made up, his will resolved. He would pay any price to uphold the glory of God, regardless of the hardship that awaited him.

This is my challenge to the next generation: Would you seek the highest goal? Would you know the deepest joy? Would you realize the greatest good? Would you cast the widest influence? Would you overcome the greatest difficulties?

Then make this first resolution of Jonathan Edwards your chief aim. Be resolved to live for God’s glory.

THE COMMITMENT FACTOR

2012-01-09T17:13:00.002-06:00

In my years as a believer in Christ, I have repeatedly tried to boil down what the bottom line to my Christian walk is.

I have read volumes and volumes about the Christian life and more volumes on theology. Included in my readings I have read biographies, autobiographies, articles and blogs on Christianity. I have listened to messages and testimonies and seminars and sketches relating to the Christian life. I have had conversations with preachers, teachers, believers and even unbelievers on this same subject and it seems that many miss the mark of what the Christian life should boil down to.

What does the Christian life boil down to? What is the bottom line in Christianity? What is of the utmost importance in the Christian life?

EVANGELISM?

Some believe that we are saved to get ready for heaven. Their whole gist boils down to a "God is waiting" "The Lord is knocking on your heart's door" theology. Everything in the church is geared toward bringing others to Christ.

Typically the result is a shallow theology that uses a shallow evangelistic appeal and finalizes itself in a "live and let live" philosophy. It results in being wary to preach against false teachers and false belief systems. It results in not wanting to speak of eternal damnation. It results in using a "Jesus loves you and wants to be your friend" method of evangelism.

Is this what the Christian life should boil down to?

REWARDS?

Others believe that the whole Christian life is about rewards. They wrongly take Matthew 6:19-20 and other passages to mean that we must live the Christian life and work for building some sort of reward treasure chest so that we get more "atta boys" at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

These believers feverishly work towards bringing others to Christ so that they can add more rewards to their treasure chest. They unceasingly read the Sermon on the Mount and the Gospels thinking that if they put themselves in the way of persecution they will gain more rewards. Preachers preach and teach and even write that somehow this is the necessary motivation for the Christian to live the Christian life in a way that is pleasing to God.

Is this the bottom line for the Christian?

ASSURANCE?

Still others say that you can be 100% assured of being saved no matter what you do or how you live. These are the ones who believe in decisional regeneration. Those who promote this, believe that you can be assured of your salvation by a simple formula of "belief" without having to show any fruit of salvation in your life. You may doubt your salvation at times but as long as you "believed" you are assured of your salvation.

They point to verses such as John 5:24 and 1 John 5:13 to say that if you somehow "believe" in Christ with no strings attached you will be assured of your salvation. (Most of these people do not believe in repentance as a necessary response to salvation. and... They also believe that no transformation needs to take place to be a believer. and... Some even believe you can deny Christ and be a believer.) Sadly, most of those who say this have misconstrued the context of the above mentioned Scriptures.

Is this the ultimate purpose of Christianity?

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

Each of the factors mentioned (along with many others stated in Scripture) are important but they must be brought into balance with all of God's Word and within the context they were written in.

We must evangelize - We are commanded in the Great Commission to do so! Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-49: John 17:18; Acts 1:8. We are also commanded to grow in Christ and to teach others and to use our spiritual gifts and to be the pillar and support of the truth as the church, along with many other things. Evangelism is simply one tenet (of many) that is required of us.

We will receive rewards - Scripture is clear that there will be rewards and crowns given in return for our deeds done in this life. We must also realize that we will give account for all of our deeds at the Judgment Seat of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us. Rewards are simply a result of how we have lived and not a reason or a basis for our Christian lives. I desire greatly for God to tell me when I get to glory: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant". That would be enough reward for me!!!

We can be assured of our salvation - The assurance of salvation we can have is not through creeds or decisions or walking an aisle but in doing what God requires of us as believers in Jesus Christ. We must come to understand that there are more verses that speak on assurance than John 5:24 and 1 John 5:13. It is more than "believing" that gives us assurance. Assurance comes when we are doing what God desires of us as believers in Christ. Romans 8:14-17 speaks to this fact:

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."

Assurance comes to TRUE believers not MAKE believers.
Assurance comes as the Holy Spirit works in and through the believer.
Assurance comes to those who are being ...led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Assurance comes when The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God...

Many have a false assurance of their salvation because people who "led" them to the Lord say: "All you have to do is believe..." These "leaders" are not taking into account the whole of what Scripture says on this important issue.

James 2:17 says: Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
James 2:19 says ...the demons also believe, and shudder.
Matthew 7:21 is clear to the fact of false assurance when it says: Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

THE COMMITMENT FACTOR!

Sooooo.... What does the Christian life boil down to? What is the bottom line in Christianity? What is of the utmost importance in the Christian life?

Commitment is the single answer.

In salvation we are justified by faith. (Romans 5:1) Salvation is a gift given by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Salvation is not based on anything we have done. (Titus 3:5-7) Once we are saved we are expected to live as one who is saved. This is where commitment comes in. We are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) therefore we must commit to His rule and reign in our lives. Christ now is the boss and anything less than our commitment to Him is unacceptable!!!

How do we commit to Christ? By living for Him and doing all things for His glory. (Philippians 1:21; 1 Corinthians 10:31) Sounds simplistic, doesn't it??? If we live committed lives, devoted to Jesus Christ, the rest will come. We will want to evangelize! We will not have to worry about rewards! We will be assured of our salvation! We will have the Holy Spirit working in us and through us! Our lives will be consumed with Christ!

What is the bottom line in the Christian life? COMMITMENT TO CHRIST!

Tim Bergen

2011'S MOST READ & WATCHED

2011-12-28T13:09:00.001-06:00

Not that numbers mean anything but...

Here are this year's top articles (none of which were written this year) for LOOKING AT TRUTH.

THE OPRAH CULT and THE UNITY SCHOOL OF CHRISTIANITY--Tim Bergen
THE PASTOR’S ROLE IN THE CHURCH #1--Tim Bergen
THE MEANING OF THE WORD "WOMEN" IN 1 TIMOTHY 3:11 --Tim Bergen
DR. PETER MASTERS' (Pastor of The Metropolitan Tabernacle) VIEW ON PIPER'S CHRISTIAN HEDONISM--Dr. Peter Masters
ROB BELL AND GENESIS?--Don Rawson
ROB BELL: "You are a living Eucharist."--Tim Bergen

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Top YouTube views from my (thepainter3) videos

Paul Crouch considers MacArthur a fine preacher

who needs to be "overwhelmed by the Holy Ghost"

This is an excerpt of a message given by

Dr. Steven Lawson at the 2007 Resolved Conference

titled:

IT WILL COST YOU EVERYTHING

from Luke 14.

For the full message go to: http://bit.ly/c0aIQu

Kristian Nicole Bergen

2011-08-24T04:30:00.000-06:00

Kristian Nicole Bergen

Yesterday was an amazing day for the Bergen family. We adopted Kristian Nicole Bergen into our family. I could go on and on about all of the wonderful aspects leading up to this but I won't bore you with the details since I have purposely focused my blog on Biblical and doctrinal issues. I would be remiss, however, if I would not publicly thank 2 people in particular.

The first thank you goes to Charity, our case worker who put the wheels in motion. Charity was the case worker for a boy we had fostered and thought of adopting but due to circumstances things did not work out. Charity was also Kristian's case worker who knew Kristian was a believer and desired to be in a committed Bible-believing home. Charity approached us and the wheels were set in motion. There are not many case workers like Charity, at least not in our experience. This lady truly had the best interests of both parties in mind and... she cared. This was more than a job for her. She really understood/understands the importance of a nurturing environment for children. She may or may not read this, but to us she is truly our hero. Over the past year or so she has become a great friend and loved one. If any case workers are reading this, please, please, please learn from this.

The second thank you goes to Kim, a friend of Kristian. This lady along with her family selflessly put into Kristian's life by having her over from time to time and most importantly, introduced her to Jesus Christ. This lady along with her husband and children spent the time and it paid off. Kim is truly a great commission Christian. We are forever grateful for her care and love to our daughter way before we even came into the picture. We see the sovereignty of God working both in our lives and in the life of Kristian over and over again. God is so good.

The third and greatest thank you goes to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from whom ALL blessings flow. His grace and mercy are evident in our lives day to day and we cannot thank Him enough for the blessing of adopting Kristian.

This morning I could not sleep and I think that the reality of God's grace and mercy to me is sinking in with this whole adoption event. There are many thoughts going around in my bald head, but three have stood out.

Beth (Joel's girlfriend), Joel, Liv, Tim, Judy, Dre & Kristian Bergen

1. God's grace and mercy--I believe that God's grace cannot be divorced from His mercy. In other words, to understand and savor the grace of God we must understand and delight in His mercy to us. As a sinner, I deserve eternal damnation but as His elect, God extended His mercy and I got what I didn't deserve. He declared me righteous. In declaring me righteous God extended unmerited favor to me and I live in His grace. So how does this play into our adopting Kristian? This adoption is a huge blessing that we do not deserve. Matter of fact, we deserve quite the opposite, we deserve a life of non-blessings as sinners but God in His mercy gave us Kristian. This mercy is God's unmerited favor to us--His grace. Are we blessed? Oh, beyond measure!!!

2. The Holy Spirit's leading--Being a Bible church guy this is always a hard one to explain. We almost always try to make the leading of the Holy Spirit an intellectual and academic exercise. The saying goes: "If you study and follow Scripture then you will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit." Of course, I agree with that, but... I believe there is a supernatural work that takes place with the leading of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. Nowhere in Scripture does Kristian's name come up. Nowhere in Scripture did it tell us that we were to adopt a teenage girl. Nowhere in Scripture did it tell us that Charity and Kim and a multitude of other people would guide us into a process of adoption. Scripture does give principles for living and in living out the principles of Scripture the Holy Spirit works in us and through us for His glory!!! As we strive to live for Christ, we allow the Holy Spirit to work and as the Holy Spirit works in us, He guides us each step of the way. What a wonderful blessing to have the Holy Spirit. If we look at Acts 4 we see that Peter responded to the Sanhedrin's inquiry filled with the Holy Spirit in verse 7 and verse 13 shows the amazement of the men at his response. Peter's eloquence and articulate response has to be attributed to the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit within Him.

Our Family with Mrs. Martha O'Neal (Beauregard Parish Judge)

3. God's adoption--I am adopted both physically by my parents and spiritually by God. His adoption made me an heir of His inheritance. I am a fellow heir with Christ--Romans 8:17a says: and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ... Yesterday the judge asked us if we understood that Kristian would partake of the inheritance just like any of our other children. We, of course, agreed wholeheartedly. It hit me though, that her past does not matter. Where she came from does not matter. What happened with her biological family does not matter. She now is our child. From that point forward it was as if all things in the past were erased and gone. She is a Bergen--NO ANDS, IFS OR BUTS about it. The same thing is true in God's adoption of believers. The past is gone. The old life is gone. This is a new day. We are new people (creatures) We are now children of the King of kings. 2 Corinthians 5:17 became even clearer to me: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Isn't that fantastic?

I am so thankful for Kristian Nicole Bergen and I am thankful for the many lessons that I have learned and am learning through this wonderful process called adoption.

Tim Bergen

THE TRUTH ABOUT WOMEN (Godly Mothers in Particular)

2011-08-11T10:27:00.001-06:00

Middle age is an interesting phenomenon. It is what we may call one of the crossroads of life. For those of us who married and have remained so since our 20's, the middle 40's bring many realizations regarding the meaning of life. We are getting older, our kids are getting older, and... the sun is setting on our parents' lives. The middle years of anyone's life brings with it some harsh realities.

This week we are facing one of those harsh realities. Our son, Joel will be going to Southeastern Louisiana University. He has completed his summer of work (which included landscaping and 6 weeks at Camp Pearl) and the final preparations are being made for his move into college life.

One of those final preparations was for Joel to go to the eye doctor. As I was waiting for the eye exam to wrap up, I got into a conversation with the mother of one of his high school mates. She was explaining how it was bittersweet that her youngest was going to college. The house would be empty and there would no longer be the regular school activities to attend at South Beauregard. She also was lamenting the fact that her husband was rejoicing at how the house would be empty and now they would be able to do some of the things they had not been able to enjoy because of their first priority always being THE KIDS.

This conversation was hitting all too close to home. Even though we still have one at home and we are adopting another teenager. The end is in sight. In less than 3 years (Lord willing) all the kids will be out of high school and going to college. I have said the same things this lady's husband said, many times: "Won't it be nice to be able to take off when we want to? Won't it be nice to eat out and not have to rush because this kid needs the car or that kid needs to go to the high school for band practice? Won't it be nice..." ...to which my wife has always emphatically said "NO!" I could not comprehend! Huh? What? What does she mean? She cleans up the house when the kids leave for school and 10 minutes after they get home in the afternoon, it is messier than before she cleaned it! The drama is unending (especially with girls) because someone always has hurt feelings or they don't feel good or they are too fat or their clothes aren't right... Is my wife mentally ill? Doesn't she think that a peaceful quiet will be nice?!?!

I left the Walmart Vision Center thinking...

How can I make sense of all this?

One thing I had to dismiss right off the bat was that my wife is an imbecile! Matter of fact, she is one of the most intelligent people I know. She graduated with highest honors from college, she can carry a conversation about anything knowledgeably, she is looked to for advice among her peers at work, fellow church people and friends, she is godly AND... she can debate theology with the best!!!!

The second thing I had to dismiss was that my wife is weak and socially inept!!! Nope! She has a confident presence about her. She's quick witted. She likes people. She enjoys great conversation and she is enjoyable to be around! She definitely is not weak, matter of fact, she is exceptionally strong! She can hold her own in any given situation. Believe me, she has been in some situations...

So what gives...

Well, I just couldn't figure it out. This made no sense to me, so I thought I would look at Scripture. After all it is profitable for everything 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says and Hebrews 4:12 says that it is powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, not to mention, it is living. Oh yea, I could not forget that it is inspired by God--2 Peter 1:21. So last night, I spent a couple of hours just looking to see what the Bible said on this particular subject and you know what, I found the answer. GOD MADE HER THAT WAY!! What?! Yep, God made her that way.

Now you smart types are probably saying at this point, duh Tim!! But... Do you truly understand the theology behind this? Do you practically understand the ramifications of all this? It would take pages and pages and pages for me to begin to answer those two questions, but... let me just whet your appetite from Scripture without any explanations.

Genesis 1:27-28:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Proverbs 31:24-31

She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen. Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: "Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.

1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

1 Timothy 5:14

Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;

Titus 2:3-5

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Wow, this brings into perspective why children are so important to their mothers! Doesn't it?

Have you ever eaten crow? I'm not really fond of it, matter of fact I hate the taste. It looks like it is on the menu once again... along with some humblepie... which isn't as sweet as... say cherry pie!

I am thankful for a Godly wife who loves me in spite of my shortcomings and loves my children better than I can. I am thankful that she has taken the truths of God's Word to heart and LIVES THEM. I couldn't ask for more!!!

PS I asked my wife what she thought our retirement would look like. She said she hopes our house will be filled with grand children!!! MAY GOD BE GLORIFIED!

Tim Bergen

Not all are to be missionaries. But all are to tap into the joy of this great global cause of Christ.

2011-08-06T08:46:00.001-06:00

There is a Global Gladness to Be Had

August 6, 2011 | by: John Piper | Category: Commentary

I assume you are like me. I know (in my head) that my joy enlarges with significant engagement in world missions. But I drift away from this engagement and this joy. It takes a biography or a message or a video or an article or a conference to wake me up to the drift.

We would like to do that for you in September at our National Conference, as so many have done it for us — wake you up to Global Gladness.

One of the reasons the universe is as large as it is, is not that humans need that much room, but that God wants a suitable demonstration of his majesty. Accordingly he gave humans hearts and minds with huge capacities of vision and amazement.

One of the terrible effects of the Fall is that our souls have shrunk. We are content with very small vision. And our ability to be amazed is often exhausted by artificial worlds in movies. This is tragic.

The real world is a stunning place. World population is an astounding size. Complexities of languages and cultures are mind-boggling. The universality of sin is manifest and terrible. The misery of suffering is appalling. The prospect of eternal suffering is the most sobering truth in the world. The coming of Jesus to save repentant people from every culture is the greatest news in the world. The hope of the end of sin the arrival of a new world of righteousness and joy in the presence of God is worth everything. And God’s granting us to be essential in this global redemption is astounding.

These are the greatest realities we were made to live for and think about and pray over and dream toward and throw ourselves into.

And my point here is that God has made our hearts capable of great joy in these things. Joy that can be had no other way. Not all are to be missionaries. But all are to tap into the joy of this great global cause of Christ.

So for the sake of your joy, I hope you will come. It is a glorious thing that God means for his glory, and human good, and our gladness to enlarge together in this world.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/there-is-a-global-gladness-to-be-had
________

© 2011 Desiring God http://www.desiringgod.org

Desiring God is a teaching ministry of John Piper supplying the body of Christ with over 30 years of books, sermons, articles and more to help you find joy in God.

What Are We Saved For???

2011-08-02T09:31:00.000-06:00

PICTURES OF FAITHFULNESS

2011-08-02T08:40:00.003-06:00

Manaaim 2011

Manaaim 2010

Every morning I pray for missionaries that I know. [I am a missionary's kid and missionaries are near and dear to my heart.] Most of the missionaries I pray for are people who I have come to know and love.

Today I prayed for Jim and Lydia Johnson. After my prayer time this morning, I logged onto my facebook page and saw that Jim and Lydia's daughter had added pictures of the Manaaim campgrounds that are being built for camps, seminars, conferences and general training for the churches in the Jaguaribe Valley (Northeast Brazil). Alot has been accomplished since I was there in April 2010.

Jim and Lydia Johnson

Now, if you ever meet Jim and Lydia, what you will find is a humble, unassuming, Godly couple who have a passionate determination to see the church established in a very ungodly, unchurched area of Northeast Brazil. Bill and Sandi Graf, who left the field due to health reasons, began the work there and the Johnsons continue on.

I visited with Jim and Lydia in April of last year. They are now in the city of Morada Nova. The work is hard. The people they are seeking to reach with the Gospel are extraordinarily cold and uninterested, but they continue on.

I think Jim and Lydia understand what they have been called to do. I think they also understand that their job is not to save people but simply to faithfully proclaim the Gospel and establish the church by pointing people to the cross of Christ.

Jim and Lydia are a great example to me of being faithful in ministry. As Jim showed me a map of areas he was planning on targeting in coming years, I asked him what his plans were and he said unassumingly: "I wouldn't be surprised if I spend the rest of my life here in this area." Of course plans change and I don't know what God has in store for them but in that sentence you see someone who is committed and faithful to the task at hand.

Really, isn't that what all believers are called to? No, we may not be on the mission field but we are to be salt and light right where we are (Matthew 5:13-16). Jesus before His ascension gave a geographical scope to the disciples as to where He wanted His church established and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.

A second lesson that I learned from Jim and Lydia is that faithfulness is not flamboyant. I have had in my mind at times that if I can only grow my ministry in numbers that that will show my faithfulness. Jim and Lydia have spent years spreading the Gospel and building those campgrounds. Jim specifically told me that they are building the campgrounds as the Lord provides the funds, matter of fact with the undeveloped part of their property they are raising crops to fund it! Hmmm No debt -- No big appeals by email and letters for money -- No huge buildings or media centers -- Just trust Christ to supply their needs. And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Thanks Jim and Lydia for showing me how to be faithful as I minister for God's Kingdom!!!

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Jim and Lydia serve with the Brazil Gospel Fellowship Mission as church planters. BGFM has recently adopted its 2020 Vision which seeks to focus on planting churches in areas that have no Gospel witness presently. We are looking for men and women who are passionate to see the church established in areas where the saving message of the Gospel has not been proclaimed. If you would like to know more about BGFM's 2020 Vision and would like to be a part of a family of missionaries who have made the proclamation of the Gospel their goal since 1930, feel free to contact me, Tim Bergen at timbergen44@gmail.com or you can contact BGFM's Executive Director, Dan Anderson at dan.bgfm@gmail.com.

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Parts 4-7

2011-07-18T07:16:00.000-06:00

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 4

By Justin Edwards

There’s only one proof of the Holy Ghost in your life and that’s a holy life. - Leonard Ravenhill

In this series rebutting Dr. Andy Woods' article titled, What Is Wrong with Lordship Salvation?, we have covered the issues of saving faith and repentance, which could be condensed to repentant faith as a requirement for salvation. Dr. Woods has a very unbiblical view of salvation, yet this view is common among the contemporary evangelical church today. The ramifications of this erroneous theology, which fundamentally is classic easy-believism, is the creation of an unorthodox category of "carnal Christians", a distorted view of sanctification, and a distorted view of assurance of salvation and perseverance of the saints (also known as "eternal security"). These latter three positions represent the final three arguments against lordship salvation by Dr. Woods and will be covered in the coming days.

Part 4 - Carnal Christians

In closing Part 3 last week, I addressed the following statement from Sugar Land Bible Church's Position #6:

That being said, we just as strongly maintain that salvation in Christ will result in a changed life (2 Cor. 5:17, 1 Cor. 6:11).

Not only does this statement contradict Dr. Woods' view of repentance as it relates to salvation, but it contradicts his position of "carnal Christianity". If "salvation in Christ will result in a changed life", which it most certainly does, how does Dr. Woods account for this statement at the end of his third argument:

While carnal Christianity is obviously not God's perfect will for His children, such a categorization is a legitimate possibility.?

According to Dr. Woods' inconsistent theology, "simple belief" in Christ allows for a continually habitual lifestyle of unrepentant sin, such as homosexuality or adultery. This category is one that allows for no viable spiritual change in the life of the professing Christian. It constitutes that the professing Christian can continue living as an unbeliever despite the many references in 1 John to the contrary. Yet, according to his own Position #6, salvation will result in a changed life. You cannot have it both ways, Dr. Woods.

Have you believed the deception?

To open up his third argument against lordship salvation, Dr. Woods makes the claim:

Third, Lordship Salvation ignores the possibility of a carnal Christian.

This is an untruth. Lordship salvation proponents - that is, believers in the unadulterated Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ - do not ignore the possibility of a carnal Christian, per se; but they do deny the possibility that one can remain carnal all the days of their Christian walk. Further, Dr. Woods concludes,

If complete commitment and yielding to Christ is an initial prerequisite for salvation, then there is no such thing as a believer who is carnal or not completely surrendered to Christ.

This is another misrepresentation of what faithful servants of the Gospel teach. To teach otherwise, one would have to believe in the heresy of sinless perfection. Moreover, it is not possible to be perfectly surrendered to Christ, but what Christ calls us to is radical submission to His will, which will result in habitual obedience as opposed to habitual disobedience to the Word of God (1 John 3:4-10). Additionally, Dr. Woods' statement further reveals his misunderstanding of the sovereignty of God in our salvation, as he believes any such commitment to Christ results in some kind of works-based salvation, when in fact, this radical submission to Christ is wrought of the Spirit of God through regeneration (Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13).

As a proof-text for biblical claims of carnal believers, Dr. Woods tells us:

Yet the Bible contains numerous examples of carnal believers. For example, Lot, who is called “righteous” three times (2 Pet 2:7-8), exhibits perpetual unrighteous behavior (Gen 19:30-38).

Perpetual? Merriam-Webster defines perpetual as:

continuing forever; everlasting; valid for all time; holding for life or for an unlimited time

Dr. Woods takes one example from Lot's life and extrapolates a whole category of Christians who live in continuous, wanton sin. However, just as he did point out, Lot was declared righteous by God (2 Peter 2:7-8). If Lot was called righteous by God, his life would have been marked by the habitual practice of righteousness (1 John 3:4-10). We cannot take one instance in Lot's life and develop an entire doctrine around it, such as perpetual carnal Christians. This is a gross abuse of the Scriptures. The truth is, Lot hated lawlessness and was "greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked" and tormented "his righteous soul over their lawless deeds". That does not sound like a man who habitually practiced a lifestyle of sexual immorality, lest he was a hypocrite and had no right to judge the acts of these wicked men.

Dr. Woods continues with the example of the Corinthians:

Similarly, the Corinthians are called saints (1 Cor 1:2) yet the rest of 1 Corinthians reveals their un-saintly behavior. Thus, Paul refers to them as carnal believers (1 Cor 3:1-3).

These "carnal believers" were operating according to their flesh in this one area regarding the resolution of personal conflicts, but nowhere in this text do we see they continued to operate as carnal believers in the whole of their life. On the contrary, we see in chapter 1 that Paul thanked God for their faithfulness and acknowledged they lacked no spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 1:4-9). In this particular instance, Paul was admonishing and instructing them as infants in Christ because they were acting in the flesh with regard to conflict.

Another admonishment from Paul is found in 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, where he instructs the Corinthians in what to do with so-called brothers, eg. professing Christians, who willfully engage in a sinful lifestyle:

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Some may consider this to be harsh, especially in this age of tolerance within the visible church. But the Apostle Paul is not playing games, and neither is God. The so-called brother was living like an unbeliever, one who was still under the dominion of Satan (Ephesians 2:2). Paul instructed the Corinthians that the proper thing to do is address their sin and expose it to the light of Scripture, and if they refuse to repent, we are to cut off fellowship with them "for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord (1 Corinthians 5:5)". There are three possible outcomes in this situation:

1) There will be no repentance because this so-called brother is, in fact, not a child of God.

2) There will be repentance and reconciliation (2 Corinthians 2:6-8), which is the result of the Father's discipline (Hebrews 12:4-11).

3) The so-called brother will die in their sin, and we may have no assurance that they were born again believers.

If number 2 proves to be true, then this temporarily "carnal Christian" will no longer be so, or it could be that a false convert became born again as a result of conviction through the Holy Spirit and the loving discipline from the Body of Christ in the local church.

The bottom line is this: Christians do sin, but Christians do not practice sin as a lifestyle. Christians may act carnally, but they will not remain carnal. The evidence and assurance that one is born again is a continual progression in the conformity to Christ, while the evidence that one is not born again is a continuous state of carnality. And why is this so? Because as born again children of God, we are new creations in Christ. We have been purchased and are now owned by our Master, Jesus Christ, and are thus no longer slaves to sin but have become slaves of Christ. While we have been freed from the bondage of sin, we have now come under the freeing bondage of Christ's righteousness. We are no longer slaves of unrighteousness to obey it, which leads to death, but are now slaves to God to obey Him. These are marvelous truths that can be found in Romans 6:1-23, which can be summed up in verses 20-23:

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is God's promise to us: freedom from the bondage of sin, bought into slavery to God, obtaining divine fruit that leads to sanctification, which results in our glorification - eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In conclusion, there is no such thing as a category of Christians who continuously and habitually practice a lifestyle of unrepentant sin. Scripture shows us that Christians can live carnally, but carnal living is not the brand or recognized mark of the born again believer. On the contrary, the life of the believer is marked by holiness and a hatred of sin, though we may and will fall to temptation. Should a professing believer sustain a habitual lifestyle of unrepentant sin, they are to be cut off from fellowship for the sake of their souls. God has promised that He sanctifies every blood-bought child of God until the day He glorifies them (Romans 8:29-30; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; Titus 2:11-14)); therefore, no child of God can remain in a continuous state of carnality as this opposes the will of God (our sanctification).

Dr. Woods teaches that a professing Christian can live any lifestyle they choose, and at the end of the day, they are still saved if they once professed faith in Christ. In today's carnal church, this false teaching contributes to the damnation of many poor souls in assuring them of salvation when they could biblically have no assurance according to their lifestyle of sin.

My friend, Mike Ratliff, posted an article earlier this month on sanctification showing that sanctification is a divine work of God that is rooted in the divine work of the Holy Spirit. I believe this gives us an excellent transition into Part 5 of this series, which addresses the relationship between justification and sanctification. Mike writes:

Regeneration is birth; sanctification is growth. In regeneration, God implants desires that were not there before: desire for God, for holiness, and for the hallowing and glorifying of God’s name in this world; desire to pray, worship, love, serve, honor, and please God; desire to show love and bring benefit to others. In sanctification, the Holy Spirit “works in you to will and to act” according to God’s purposes; what he does is prompt you to “work out your salvation” (i.e., express it in action) by fulfilling these new desires (Philippians 2:12-13). Christians become increasingly Christlike as the moral profile of Jesus (the “fruit of the Spirit”) is progressively formed in them (2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 4:19; 5:22-25). Paul’s use of glory in 2 Corinthians 3:18 shows that for him sanctification of character is glorification begun. Then the physical transformation that gives us a body like Christ’s, one that will match our totally transformed character and be a perfect means of expressing it, will be glorification completed (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:49-53).

Regeneration was a momentary monergistic act of quickening the spiritually dead. As such, it was God’s work alone. Sanctification, however, is in one sense synergistic—it is an ongoing cooperative process in which regenerate persons, alive to God and freed from sin’s dominion (Romans 6:11, 14-18), are required to exert themselves in sustained obedience. God’s method of sanctification is neither activism (self-reliant activity) nor apathy (God-reliant passivity), but God-dependent effort (2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 3:10-14; Hebrews 12:14). Knowing that without Christ’s enabling we can do nothing, morally speaking, as we should, and that he is ready to strengthen us for all that we have to do (Philippians 4:13), we “stay put” (remain, abide) in Christ, asking for his help constantly—and we receive it (Colossians 1:11; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 1:7; 2:1).

Indeed, which is to say "carnal Christianity" is a myth and tradition of men, as sanctification begins immediately at justification as a result of the new birth.

For related articles, please see:

Dear "Carnal Christian"

Who Am I According to God? Who Are You?

Are You Living a Lie?

Don't Play Games with Your Eternity
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What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 5

By Justin Edwards

Had it been possible for you to have had salvation without sanctification, it would have been a curse to you instead of a blessing. If such a thing were possible, I cannot conceive of a more lamentable condition than for a man to have the happiness of salvation without the holiness of it; happily, it is not possible. - C.H. Spurgeon

Lordship salvation is one of the most hotly debated topics in the evangelical church today. The dividing line is generally made along the lines of monergism and synergism, which house the set of beliefs of Calvinism and Arminianism, respectively.

Monergism is the biblical view that regeneration (our being born again) is the work of God alone. There is nothing that we do to add to this work of the Holy Spirit, lest we be contributors to our salvation. Therefore, because our rebirth into new creations is a work of God alone, God alone may get the credit for our salvation, thus making no room for anyone to boast (Ephesians 2:9).

Synergism, on the other hand, is the non-biblical view that man's will cooperates with God's will in the work of regeneration. It assumes that God's sovereign work of redemption is ultimately limited by man's sovereignty of his own "free will". Therefore, man can boast in his salvation as having done something (believing by his own will and ability). This view posits that God wants to save all but can't, and he wants to make them holy but can't.

Simply put, monergism declares salvation is for the glory of God alone (Soli Deo Gloria), while synergism puts man in a position to share the glory with God.

With this basic foundation laid, we can now move forward into the doctrine of sanctification and its relationship with justification in this series titled, What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation?

Part 5 - Sanctification

In his article posted at Bible Prophecy Blog titled What Is Wrong with Lordship Salvation?, Dr. Andy Woods of Sugar Land Bible Church argues that lordship salvation proponents - that is, biblical Gospel proponents - blur the lines of justification with sanctification. In his fourth argument, Dr. Woods wrongly suggests,

Fourth, Lordship Salvation confuses sanctification with justification.

To be clear, justification is the judicial decision of God to declare sinners not guilty in His holy courtroom. Because of the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ, which is to say He is the only righteous man to walk the earth having perfectly kept the Law of God, He was fit to be a substitute on our behalf to atone for our sins against God (2 Corinthians 5:21). The theological term for the unblemished Lamb of God taking our punishment for us is substitutionary atonement (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18). When sinners turn to God in repentant faith, having trusted in the Person and finished work of Christ alone, they are immediately declared righteous before the throne of God (Romans 3:21-26). This righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus Christ whereby God looks at the saved sinner as though perfect in His eyes because they are clothed by Christ's righteousness having been justified freely by His grace. This is justification and it comes by faith alone (Romans 5:1).

Sanctification means to be set apart, to be made holy. When we are justified by faith, we are immediately sanctified positionally (1 Corinthians 6:11). This means we are set apart by God as a holy new creation born of Himself (1 John 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:17), having been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:14, 22; 1 John 1:7). This positional sanctification means we have been eternally separated unto God as a holy people (1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 10:10, 14).

Neither justification or sanctification can occur without regeneration. As mentioned in Part 2, sinners are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13). They can no more make themselves alive or raise themselves from the dead than Lazarus could have raised himself from the dead (John 11:43-44). Jesus called the dead man Lazarus to come forth, and he did. So it is with every sinner who is spiritually dead, who cannot possibly please God (Romans 8:7), who cannot discern the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:14), that must be called forth from the spiritual grave by the voice of the Son of God (John 5:25). Without Jesus calling sinners forth, they cannot be made alive (Ephesians 2:5), and every single sinner He specifically calls forth, will hear and live. This is the authority given to Him by the Father (John 17:2). When Jesus calls us forth and the Holy Spirit makes us alive, this is what it means to be born again (John 3:3-8). And as we can see in John 1:12-13, being born again is not something we do by a decision to choose God and believe:

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

and it is according to the mercy of God:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, - 1 Peter 1:3-5

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. - Titus 3:5

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” - John 6:63-65

It is important to explain each of these elements of salvation (regeneration, justification, and sanctification) because it becomes clear that salvation is a work of God alone for His glory alone (Ephesians 1:3-14). We can no more choose or cause ourselves to be born again than a baby can choose or cause himself to be born from his mother's womb. We can no more choose to become adopted children of God than orphaned babies can choose their adoptive parents. This is therefore imperative to understand when deconstructing a position such as Dr. Andy Woods' position against lordship salvation.

When Dr. Woods makes the unbiblical claim:

After coming to Christ, God issues another call for His children to pursue practical sanctification or discipleship,

he does so with a synergistic understanding of Scripture. What Dr. Woods means by practical sanctification, at least in the biblical sense, is the working out of our positional sanctification into every day holiness. But Dr. Woods considers such practical sanctification an option for the professing believer and not necessarily something that is guaranteed to follow justification. This is what we know from Scripture:

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. - Philippians 2:12-13

There are some who take verse 12 to mean we must work to keep our salvation, but that is not what the text is saying at all. Looking to verse 13, we see that it is God who is working His good pleasure through us according to His will. Paul is telling us to be submitted to the will of God and yield to the purifying work of the Holy Spirit. Our sanctification is a cooperative effort with the Holy Spirit to fulfill God's will for our lives - our sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8) - and the works we do are the works God has predestined us to work (Ephesians 2:10). Most assuredly, these plans of God (His will for us) cannot be stopped:

“I know that you can do all things,and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." - Job 42:2

So to assert as Dr. Woods that sanctification or discipleship is second-tier Christianity or an optional second calling of God for us to become practically righteous and holy is to fundamentally misunderstand that

he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6

and that Jesus is

the founder and perfecter of our faith... - Hebrews 12:2

Even Dr. Woods at some level understands this by his contradictory Position Statement #6 that "...salvation in Christ will result in a changed life (2 Cor. 5:17, 1 Cor. 6:11)." Why? Because God is the author of our faith and He is the perfecter of our faith, which is to say He makes us alive to hear the Gospel to respond in repentant faith to be conformed to the image of Christ to finally be glorified with Him in heaven (Romans 8:29-30).

Moving along to the remainder of Dr. Woods' argument, he tells us concerning discipleship:

For example, those whom Christ called to be His disciples, like Peter, were already believers (Matt 16:24-25). We see the same salvation pattern at work through Old Testament Israel. First, the nation was redeemed through the Passover Lamb and then, sometime later, the nation was put under the Mosaic Law for purposes of sanctification (Exod 19:1ff). Thus, submission to Christ's Lordship is prerequisite for this second step of sanctification rather than for the initial step of justification. Therefore, the Scripture teaches Lordship Sanctification rather than Lordship Salvation. Lordship Salvation confuses this two-step approach by reading the principles for sanctification back into what is required for justification. In other words, what is the result of salvation mistakenly becomes the initial requirement for salvation. This mistake is tantamount to putting the cart before the horse.

Hogwash, Dr. Woods! Every born again Christian is a disciple from spiritual birth! The very goal of evangelism is to go out and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). There were many people following Christ at the time He gave the call to be disciples (believers). The crowd had gotten so large (Luke 14:25) that Jesus turned to them and said,

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple...So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:26-27, 33

Not everyone in the crowd is a believer. In fact, 85% of Americans profess the Christian faith, but how many of them actually live as though they are disciples of Christ? A mere profession of faith is absolutely worthless in spiritual matters. The one who has not counted the cost to follow after Christ with what has been revealed to them, yielding to His Lordship, cannot be His disciple. This is why Jesus actually upped the ante because He knew there were many just following the crowd.

Just as it was then, there are many today who follow the crowd through their easy-believism because of empty promises of a temporally rich life, to buy fire insurance, to add Jesus as a fad or accessory, to be part of a "church" social club, or any other number of reasons that church or religion might appeal to them. But these people could care less about pursuing holiness, loving God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength through obedience, and following Christ at all costs. These are those who Scripture refers as living as enemies of the cross, whose god is there belly, and who have their minds set on earthly things (Philippians 3:18-19). These are false disciples who consider the cost of discipleship too high and are not willing to follow Christ (John 6:66).

This, therefore, is the biblical view of sanctification:

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. - 1 John 3:2-3

Do you see that? Because we are children of the Most High, we will purify ourselves as He is pure. We are being transformed into the glory of the Lord by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18), which means we will increasingly manifest the fruit of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The spirit He has given us is one of love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7), enabling us to become holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:14-16), holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

It is with these promises that we see there is no gap between justification and practical sanctification. The same God who works grace in us to believe is the same God whose grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldliness (Titus 2:11-14). Lost people are carnal people, and when they are consumed by the grace of God, they are promised to become increasingly less carnal as they increasingly become more holy. That is why carnality as a stagnant state for the Christian is a myth, and it is why Dr. Woods' argument that there are second level Christians who have yielded to "Lordship Sanctification" is blasphemous to the sovereignty and reputation of God Almighty.

From the moment of salvation, God continues to work His salvation in us through the new desires He has planted in our hearts (Psalm 37:4; Ezekiel 36:25-27). And just as the grave clothes were removed from Lazarus giving him freedom to walk in newness of life, our spiritual grave clothes will be removed as we obey the Lord Jesus Christ to put off the old self and walk in newness of life:

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:20-24

This takes us into the final argument from Dr. Woods against lordship salvation, which he suggests destroys the assurance of salvation for the born again believer. Having thus covered saving faith, biblical repentance, the myth of the continuously carnal Christian, and God's work of sanctification in this article, it will become clear why it is so important to examine oneself whether we are truly in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5) by studying Scripture to ascertain biblical assurance of salvation. Please then continue to Part 6.

In the meantime, I invite you to add the following message from Paul Washer to your mp3 player as he preaches on true conversion: Paul Washer: True Gospel - Conversion

Sanctification is the outcome and inseparable consequence of regeneration. He who is born again and made a new creature receives a new nature and a new principle and always lives a new life. A regeneration, which a man can have and yet live carelessly in sin or worldliness, is a regeneration invented by uninspired theologians, but never mentioned in Scripture. - J.C. Ryle

http://airo-cross.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-is-wrong-with-non-lordship_31.html

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What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 6

By Justin Edwards

Chosen vessels of mercy, notwithstanding their backslidings, are brought back; but ah! remember that nine out of ten of those who backslide never were God’s people. - Charles Spurgeon

In this series addressing the erroneous arguments in Dr. Andy Woods' article against lordship salvation titled, What Is Wrong with Lordship Salvation?, I have attempted to biblically counter each of Dr. Woods' points with regards to saving faith, repentance, carnal Christianity, and sanctification. In each of these articles, it has been shown that Dr. Woods has a flawed view in these respective areas and significant misunderstanding as to what lordship salvation actually is. The reason for this, of course, is primarily because Dr. Woods adheres to a low view of God's glory in our salvation, which causes him to attribute any type of repentance or committing one's life to Christ as works-based effort to achieve salvation. With a biblical view of salvation, one understands that eternal life begins and is completed with God, and it is His work, not ours, that causes us to be born again and subsequently progress into holy living, without which no one will see God (Hebrews 12:14).

The common theme throughout the articles in this series (as is the common them throughout Scripture) has been the view of the glorious sovereignty of God in our salvation. God's sovereignty is so critical in understanding the doctrine of salvation (soteriology) that if one fails to grasp its fundamental truths, then the rest of their understanding of salvation will crumble or not make any sense. The doctrine of biblical assurance of salvation is no exception to this and will be the final argument addressed in Dr. Woods' article.

Part 6 - Biblical Assurance of Salvation

Dr. Woods opens his fifth and final argument with the following:

Fifth, Lordship Salvation destroys the believer's assurance of salvation.

On the contrary, NON-lordship salvation gives false converts false assurance of salvation whereas lordship salvation exhorts one to examine himself in the mirror of God's Word:

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. - 2 Corinthians 13:5

Whereas NON-lordship salvation condemns any such self-examination because it assures potential false converts that as long as they were once sincere when they "asked Jesus into their heart" they are saved, Scripture tells us in Jeremiah 17:9,

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

The truth of the matter is, biblical assurance of salvation cannot be destroyed when one entrusts himself to the promises of God by engaging these promises in the objective truth of God's Holy Word. Too often, men and women depend on their feelings and subjective experiences to give them assurance of salvation, and what's worse, they have easy-believist pastors of the false modern evangelical gospel potentially leading them down the path of destruction instead of encouraging them to examine themselves in the Scripture.

Dr. Woods continues,

Lordship advocates never precisely define what kind of commitment to Christ is necessary in order to become a Christian.

I find this to be an interesting false premise as I never have a hard time telling people what kind of commitment is necessary to become a Christian. Jesus was pretty clear in this regard when He said,

whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:33

Salvation costs us everything, Dr. Woods. Whatever has been revealed to us is what we must forsake. If there is anything for which the cost has been counted and we are not willing to lay it at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we do not want a Savior any more than we want a Lord. Let's use a practicing homosexual as an example.

Joe is a practicing homosexual and has just been exposed to Dr. Woods' gospel message, which according to his article, might be something like this:

Jesus loves you and wants to forgive you of your sins. All you have to do is ask Him to forgive you and trust Him to be your Savior. If you ask Jesus to come into your heart, He will!

So Joe prays a prayer to ask Jesus into his heart, then Dr. Woods might say something like this,

If you just said that prayer and are sincere in believing in Christ as your Savior, then you're saved and I welcome you to the family of God!

Now Joe, being that he knows nothing of repentance, the holiness of God, the judgment of God, and the power of God in our salvation to change the hearts of men, continues to practice homosexuality. When Joe said the "sinner's prayer", he was not broken over his sin and certainly did not repent of it, yet believes himself to be saved because he believes in Jesus to have forgiven him of his sins. Years later, Joe, still an unrepentant homosexual, runs into Dr. Woods and expresses doubts that he is saved. Dr. Woods might tell Joe he remembers him coming to the alter a few years back and as long as Joe was sincere in believing in Christ, he is saved. If given the chance, Dr. Woods might also tell Joe that he needs to submit to the second part of God's plan for his life and commit his life to Jesus as a disciple. In the end, Joe continued as an unrepentant homosexual and never turned from his sin, but because he "changed his mind about God and Jesus", Joe will die a homosexual saint.

Blasphemous! Can you see the obvious error in this false gospel? I used the sin of homosexuality because it is often seen by the evangelical church as a "worst-type sin". But the same verses that condemn homosexuality, are the same verses that condemn drunkenness, adultery, fornication, idolatry, thieves, liars, revilers and more (1 Corinthians 6:8-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5-6). It is for this reason that one cannot remain in their sin and abide in Christ (1 John 3:6). When God justifies us, He also washes us and cleanses us from these sinful lifestyles (1 Corinthians 6:11) so that this will be true:

Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. - 1 John 3:9

To be clear, this verse is not saying Christians do not sin. The Apostle John is referring to living in a habitual pattern of practical righteousness rather than living in a habitual pattern of sin. The Christian walk, therefore, is a lifestyle of repentance where one is continuously repenting (out of godly remorse) as they are progressively sanctified (2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 3:10) and directionally conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 12:2). This is why John says the following in 1 John 3:10,

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

And as if it could not be any more clear:

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. - 1 John 3:7-8a

Even though these Scriptures make it abundantly clear that the Christian does not and cannot habitually practice a lifestyle of sin, there are many in the easy-believist camp who might say all Christians habitually sin because we are sinful creatures. They twist the Scripture to fit their agenda or misunderstanding of salvation and sanctification, or perhaps to justify the grip that sin has on their own lives, yet we see in the Word of God that sin no longer has dominion over the believer (Romans 6:14) and Christ came to destroy the work of the devil (1 John 3:8). What's more, those who have been set free by the Truth have been freed from the bondage of sin (John 8:34-36; Romans 6:17-18) to where it no longer controls us (Romans 8:1-2; Galatians 5:16-26). Therefore, an assurance of our salvation is whether or not we are controlled by sin to obey it or controlled by the Spirit of God to obey Him (Romans 6:22).

Dr. Woods asks,

How much surrender is required?

That's also an easy question to answer, Dr. woods. Total and absolute surrender is required. When Christ purchased us with His precious blood, we became His exclusively (1 Corinthians 6:20). This means our money, our time, our possessions, our family, our bodies and our very life are now His. He owns us. We may not realize at the time of our salvation just how much He owns us, but He owns us nonetheless. The evidence that one is born again, therefore, is the willingness to continue to surrender to the Lordship of Christ (Luke 9:23). This total and absolute surrender is simply devotion and unwavering allegiance to Christ the King. It's as simple as giving up control of one's life and submitting to the will of God in as much as one knows what that means at the time of salvation. As God conforms us to Himself, we will increasingly understand what it means to surrender to His will, and as He destroys our idols one by one, we will all the more surrender to His Lordship.

Dr. Woods also asks,

How long is this surrender to last?

Another easy question to answer. Surrender is to last forever, Dr. Woods. The evidence of this can be found in Scriptures that tell us we must abide, finish the race, persevere, and live in the Spirit such as 1 John 2:24, Colossians 1:23, 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Hebrews 12:1-2 and Romans 8:12-14. These, of course, are only possible by the hand of God who will allow nothing in all of creation to snatch His children out of His hand (Romans 8:38-39; John 10:27-29). Every Christian, then, abides, finishes the race, perseveres, and walks in the Spirit as a pattern of life.

Dr. Woods, again, has another easy question to be answered:

How much fruit must this surrender produce?

Jesus tells us this fruit will be a hundredfold, sixty, or thirty (Matthew 13:23). How much is this? I don't know exactly, but the point is there is fruit indeed. By this we know there is no such thing as a continuously fruitless Christian.

Dr. Woods asserts,

Because these questions are never precisely answered, the believer spends the rest of his Christian life wondering if he truly made enough of a commitment to become a Christian.

It seems I have answered these questions, Dr. Woods. In any case, the Christian does not spend the rest of his life wondering if he has committed enough to become a Christian. The false convert, on the other hand, may never have biblical assurance of his salvation if he does not examine himself in the Scriptures to know whether he has the Spirit to testify with his spirit that he is a child of God (Romans 8:15-17). Yet, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and diligently seek God (Hebrews 11:6) through the Word of God do not have to worry about whether or not they are saved. This is because their hunger and thirst for the things of God through the application of the Living Word will manifest the fruit that gives evidence of one's salvation.

On "backsliding, Dr. Woods points out,

Because of the believer's potential for “backsliding,” the Christian can never really know until his dying day if he is a committed Christian.

It is important to define terms here. If by "backsliding" Dr. Woods means one can remain "backslidden", then no, there is no such thing as a backslidden Christian. Such a person needs to be born again. But if by "backsliding" Dr. Woods means one can fall into sin and be restored unto fellowship with God by the discipline of the Father through the Holy Spirit, then yes, Christians can "backslide". Lordship salvation does not teach otherwise.

Assuming that Dr. Woods' definition is of the first definition, he sets up another false premise to suggest lordship salvation causes one to never know "until his dying day if he is a committed Christian." (On a side note - "committed Christian" is redundant as all Christians are committed followers of the Lord Jesus Christ). This is ludicrous as the born again believer, eg one who has surrendered to the Lordship of Christ, most certainly may have biblical assurance of salvation during the extent of their Christian walk. It is when the born again believer falls into sin that their assurance might be shaken, which is why we are called to make our calling and election sure to see that we are progressing in our sanctification (2 Peter 1:5-11; Philippians 2:12-13). Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the continued exposure to the Word and believers to hold us accountable, we will be brought to repentance and restoration of our assurance. This is all part of the loving discipline of the Father to assist His children to becoming more like Christ. If one never undergoes such discipline, God Himself says they are not His child:

But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. - Hebrews 12:7-11

Lastly, Dr. Woods concludes his argument stating,

Thus, Lordship Salvation steals the joy that accompanies the knowledge that one's eternal destiny is sealed. Far from such a guessing game, Christ gives all believers instantaneous assurance of salvation at the point of justification (John 5:24; 6:47).

The true Gospel, Dr. Woods, yes, the true Gospel according to so-called "lordship salvation", actually gives rest to the souls of men. By obtaining assurance of salvation through objective examination in the Bible, the souls of men and women can rest in the grace of God as they begin to see their reflection in the mirror of God's Word. This, of course, is quite different than giving mere lip service for the assurance of salvation. Do you suppose God gives instantaneous assurance of salvation to the rocky soil and the thorny soil hearers? Of course He doesn't as they are not saved (Matthew 13:20-22).

The evidence of our salvation does not come from prayers or emotional experiences; rather, the evidence of our salvation comes through God's preservation of our souls as we continue in the faith and can see the progression of the work of grace in our lives (Titus 2:11-14; 2 Peter 1:5-9). And why is this case? Because salvation is of the Lord and it is He who is perfecting His work in us through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. If one can see no evidence of grace-bearing fruit in their life, then they have every reason to believe they may not be saved.

Whether one is truly born again or has surrendered to the Lordship of Christ can perhaps most easily be seen in asking this question: have I entered into the yoke of Christ to be taught in the way of righteousness? (Matthew 11:29-30)

This is true rest for our souls. And what is the condition of our finding rest for our souls? To bow in humility and put on the yoke of Christ. To be lowly in heart and meek, which is to say to be submissive to the authority of one's master. Christ, our Master, has called us to a life of obedience, so when one confesses the Savior as Lord (Romans 10:9-10), he is confessing to God that he is willing to obey Him and trust that He will direct our paths.

Submitting to the Lordship of Christ means nothing more and nothing less. Out of love for the Sovereign King and Pierced Savior, we commit our lives to Jesus because this is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). The evidence that we love Christ is whether we obey Him (John 14:15, 23; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6). If one is not willing to obey Christ, then how could they possibly have assurance, much less be saved? Even more so, how can one claim to love authority when they do not obey them or have the desire to learn from them? That is as ridiculous as it is absurd.

Dr. Woods and those of his persuasion are the very cause of the false conversions and continuously carnal Christians who hold faulty fire insurance policies. They base the assurance of one's salvation solely on mere profession and attempt to make the narrow gate as wide as possible. The Word of God is clear, however, that those who are born again and love Christ have departed from wickedness (2 Timothy 2:19) and yield to the command to "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22). The blood-bought believer is committed to righteousness, holiness, and newness of life (Ephesians 4:24; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Romans 6:4). The believer desires to please the Lord in everything (Ephesians 5:10) and constantly seeks to understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17).

The believer is zealous for good works (Titus 2:14) and has a heart to see lost souls saved (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15). The believer loves the brethren (1 John 3:14) and does not forsake fellowship with believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). The believer increasingly manifests the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:8-10) and puts off the old man and the works of darkness (Ephesians 4:17-24; Colossians 3:1-17).

These are just some of the evidences or marks of one who is now a slave to righteousness - a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. These things will become realities in the life of the believer in increasing measure as God perfects His righteousness in the life of the Christian until the day of Redemption (Ephesians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 8:29-30). It is because God has planted His seed in us that we can no longer live according to the flesh and remain lovers of our sin to live in it (1 John 3:9), but rather we will increasingly love the things that God loves (righteousness) and hate the things that God hates (evil). As Paul tells us in Colossians 3:1-4,

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. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

The only alternative to the person described above is found in Philippians 3:19-20,

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

Believers set their mind on heavenly things as a pattern of life, while nonbelievers set their minds on earthly things as a pattern of life. There is no middle ground, regardless of what Dr. Woods and others might teach.

That brings us to the end of Dr. Woods' arguments against lordship salvation. We have covered saving faith, repentance, carnal Christianity, sanctification, and biblical assurance of salvation. In an effort to tie up loose ends, I will hopefully conclude with Part 7 by the end of the week.

In the mean time, I highly recommend going through the following series from Paul Washer titled, Biblical Assurance of Salvation. It is a 5-part series that will help you understand further the contrast between the born again believer and a mere professor of the faith.

If any man be not sure that he is in Christ, he ought not to be easy one moment until he is so. Dear friend, without the fullest confidence as to your saved condition, you have no right to be at ease, and I pray you may never be so. This is a matter too important to be left undecided. - Charles Spurgeon

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What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 7

By Justin Edwards

On March 19th the Bible Prophecy Blog posted an article by Dr. Andy Woods of Sugar Land Bible Church refuting the biblical doctrine of "lordship salvation" titled, What Is Wrong with Lordship Salvation? I'm very thankful this was posted and praise God for the opportunity to carefully examine critical and essential doctrines of the Christian faith that are under attack by modern evangelicalism. As a result of Dr. Woods' article and by God's grace, I was able to sharpen my understanding of God's work in salvation and hopefully provide you understanding of what this doctrine does and does not teach. The series was broken up into the following 6 previous parts:

Part 1 - Introduction

Part 2 - Saving Faith

Part 3 - Repentance

Part 4 - Carnal Christianity

Part 5 - Sanctification

Part 6 - Biblical Assurance of Salvation

And now,

Part 7 - Conclusion

Be diligent in searching the Scriptures

In my own experience in discussing these issues with various people and reviewing the work of those on both sides of the debate, I conclude that much of the controversy is derived from a gross misunderstanding of what lordship salvation teaches, which gives birth to misconceptions and misrepresentations when dismissing or condemning this doctrine. At root, as I understand it, whether or not one adheres to lordship salvation is the view through which one sees the work of salvation. On the one hand, those who view salvation as a work of God alone for the glory of God alone (monergism) accept "lordship salvation" as nothing more or less than the pure Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. While through the lens of synergism, on the other hand, believers view salvation as a work of God with the cooperation of man to achieve salvation, which lends to the misunderstanding that any type of commitment to Christ or repentance from sin are additional works instead of gifts from God.

Even within this theological divide, there are those who profess such biblical truths that faith and repentance are gifts from God, yet this reality does not permeate their subsequent understanding of soteriology (doctrine of salvation). For example, one might claim that faith is a gift from God, but they would deny that God chooses to give faith to those He elected from eternity past, but rather each individual must exercise their faith out of their human ability to do so in order to be saved. These two ideas are diametrically opposed to one another, yet one might resign to say they don't understand how it works out exactly, they just know God's sovereignty and man's free will somehow work together. Sadly, this is theological laziness.

It is one thing to not understand a biblical doctrine and continue seeking God to reveal His divine mysteries to us, it is quite another to incessantly remain ignorant on a doctrine because one is bent on remaining stuck in traditions of men and therefore has no desire to search the Scriptures for themselves. It is then out of this seemingly willful ignorance that one tosses around falsehoods and fallacies about the teaching of lordship salvation proponents. This is why it is imperative that we study to show ourselves approved in order that we might bring glory to God (2 Timothy 2:15) and refrain from falsely accusing the brethren.

With that said, many who supposedly reject what is known as "lordship salvation" simply do not understand what it actually means. They rely on others to tell them what it means rather than study the issue and the biblical doctrines themselves. This is damaging to the proclamation of the Gospel because the message going forth is one that is not complete, such as a gospel defunct of biblical repentance (turning away from a sinful lifestyle to God in faith).

Dr. Woods is one such person from what I have researched through his church's website. As far as I can tell, Dr. Woods is a sincere man who may love the Lord, but he is significantly confused in his theology. Reading through Sugar Land's statement of faith, they have elements of the sovereignty of God and work of the Holy Spirit to sanctify those God justifies. If sanctification is an absolute and direct consequence of justification, then Dr. Woods' positions from his article on saving faith, repentance, carnal Christianity, and assurance conflict with his statement of faith. This type of confusion is rampant in the visible church, which has left many sheep disillusioned and giving perhaps many more nominal christians false assurances of salvation. Especially around the doctrines concerning salvation, the following Scripture from James 3:1 is ever so important:

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

This applies to preachers and teachers of the Gospel, and preachers and teachers of false gospels. I do not know the heart of Dr. Woods nor would I assume anything about him, but I would call him to repent from the repentant-less gospel he is preaching, to humbly submit himself to the Lord that he might gain the knowledge of the truth in matters of soteriology, and contend for the faith that was once delivered to him. At the end of the day, the message we preach will be out of the abundance of our hearts, so it is critical we examine what we believe lines up with the Word of God, most especially in matters of salvation, lest we deceive ourselves and deceive those who listen to us. The consequences for not doing so could be damning if we fall outside of orthodoxy into heresy (Galatians 1:8-9).

To close this series out, I'd like to briefly outline what lordship salvation is and what it is not.

What Lordship Salvation Is NOT

1. Lordship salvation does not teach that one must change their behavior before coming to Christ.

2. Lordship salvation does not teach that one must consciously assess every area of one's life and consciously forsake every single sin and idol before coming to Christ.

3. Lordship salvation does not teach that there is no such thing as a Christian living carnally.

4. Lordship salvation was not developed as a response to fight carnal Christianity.

5. Lordship salvation does not teach salvation through justification by faith plus works.

6. Lordship salvation does not steal the joy of salvation or take away assurance of salvation from born again believers.

7. Lordship salvation does not teach that one must be perfectly obedient or is sinless after one is saved.

8. Lordship salvation does not confuse sanctification with justification.

What Lordship Salvation IS

1. Lordship salvation teaches salvation is monergistic (a work of God alone) whereby God is the absolute author and the absolute finisher of our faith for which He may get the glory alone.

2. Lordship salvation teaches that saving faith is more than an mental assent to knowledge about Christ, but rather a trust in the Person of Christ and His work on the cross to not only save us from the wrath to come but also to save us from the bondage of our sin.

3. Lordship salvation teaches that repentance is more than just a change of mind about sin and Christ, but it involves a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of attitude toward sin. The result of genuine repentance rooted in godly sorrow will be a change of behavior. In essence, the faith that saves is a repentant faith where one turns from a sinful lifestyle toward God in faith.

4. Lordship salvation teaches that this repentant faith is a gift from God whereby the Holy Spirit changes the heart of the sinner, thus enabling the person to respond positively to grace through repentance and faith. God actually plants new desires in the heart of the new believer where they will increasingly hate sin and love God.

5. Lordship salvation teaches that love for God will be evidenced by a life of obedience and a lifestyle of repentance.

6. Lordship salvation teaches that because salvation is of the Lord, the regenerated believer will submit to the authority of the Lord and Master of all creation to live a patterned life of habitual obedience.

7. Lordship salvation teaches that the believer will be gradually conformed to the image of Christ in cooperation with the Holy Spirit through sanctification. This sanctification begins at the moment of justification.

8. Lordship salvation teaches there is no distinction between a disciple and a believer. All believers are disciples.

9. Lordship salvation teaches that while a Christian may act in carnal ways, carnality will not be the patterned lifestyle of the believer and such carnality is only temporary. All Christians are disciplined by God and convicted by the Holy Spirit to repent from their sinful behavior.

10. Lordship salvation teaches biblical assurance of salvation by examination of one's life through the objective Word of God, not based on past emotional experiences or prayers.

11. Lordship salvation teaches that believers will continue in the faith as it is God who keeps us. This means the believer will continue to surrender to the Lordship of Christ in increasing measure.

12. Lordship salvation is the historical and biblical doctrine of orthodox Christianity.

Much confusion can be cleared up if one honestly assesses what is being taught by lordship salvation proponents and considers the clear teaching of Scripture on these matters. Some folks are fundamentally ignorant of the truth of this doctrine, while others work as the pawns of Satan to destroy souls by blurring the lines of truth and illusion. A significant reason for why there are so many false converts in American churches today is because of the diluted and polluted message taught from pulpits and the decisional evangelism so rampant today. This has led to a distinctly unbiblical category of "carnal Christians" and will contribute to many professing Christians burning in hell for all eternity under the wrath of a God they did not know.

If you are still struggling with this doctrine or even still deny its truth, please ask yourself:

Have I, myself, surrendered to the Lordship of Christ?

If you have not or do not know the answer to this question, then please, by all means, post a comment below or message me privately. This is no matter to take lightly as it is of utmost important for you to know that Christ is your Lord as much as He is your Savior. After all, Jesus Himself said in John 10:27,

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Do you hear His voice? Does He know you? Do you follow Him? All sheep do, so please be sure you have this assurance by biblical examination of your heart.

If you have questions about any information contained within these articles, please post your comments in the appropriate parts of this series.

May God alone be glorified by these efforts to contend for the faith, and may the Body of Christ be stirred proclaim the unadulterated Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

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What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 3

2011-07-04T08:53:00.001-06:00

By Justin Edwards

I'm thankful that Christ saved me, but I'm not ready to obey Him. Jesus is my Savior, but I do not love Him enough to hate my sin and flee from it. Jesus died for me and I appreciate that, but demanding that I follow Him is a little too much right now - maybe later. I love God with all of my heart, but I still love my sin. That's ok, right? I believe God is in control of all things, except me - that's why I want to retain control of my life and do things the way I want to do them. God's will for my life is nice, but my will still be done, at least for now. Jesus came into my heart, but I'm not ready for Him to teach me yet. Christ forgives me because I believe, but thirsting for righteousness and being holy is for disciples. I'll be a disciple one day, but for now I'm happy with just being saved - after all, obedience is for "super Christians". In short, I will not bow to Christ, at least not yet - but praise God for grace, yes? - John "no-lordship" Doe

Ridiculous, isn't it? This is the implication for those who reject so-called "lordship salvation". These are the things they allow with the position that one only has to believe, but not follow the Lord Jesus Christ in obedience and love for the cross and the person of Christ. Such a person is Dr. Andy Woods of Sugar Land Bible Church who was recently featured on the Bible Prophecy Blog with the article, What Is Wrong with Lordship Salvation?

In Part 2 of this series titled, What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation?, I addressed the matter of saving faith. Dr. Woods teaches that all one needs for salvation is an intellectual assent to facts about Christ and His work on the cross. He also believes the following words are synonyms of each other: belief, faith, trust, confidence, and repentance. So with that, let's tackle the differences between Dr. Woods' definition for repentance and biblical repentance.

Part 3 - Repentance

Dr. Woods begins his second argument against lordship salvation with the following:

Second, Lordship Salvation places an impossible requirement upon the unsaved. The unsaved person is dead in his trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1) and thus incapable of doing anything of spiritual value, such as obey, submit, forsake, etc...By making these other things the conditions of salvation rather than simply believing, obstacles are placed in front of the unbeliever that he or she is incapable of fulfilling.

Perhaps Dr. Woods is referring to Jesus, when He said:

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:26

And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:27

So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:33

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. - Matthew 10:37

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. - Matthew 10:38

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. - Matthew 10:39

Impossible? Absolutely - for the carnal mind:

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. - Romans 8:7

Who then can be saved? Who then can meet these impossible demands of Christ?! The disciples asked Jesus these very questions after they witnessed the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22 walking away from Christ because he was not willing to forsake all that he was and all that he had for the Kingdom of God. He loved his riches more than he loved God. They were his idols and he was not willing to forsake them. But Jesus answered them in Matthew 19:26,

With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Oh but for the sovereign grace of God, none would be saved! It is indeed utterly impossible for the flesh to submit to the authority of Christ, but by grace, we are willing to do so - and will do so.

Continuing, Dr. Woods says:

The lost are capable of doing only one thing that is pleasing to a holy God: trusting in His provision for salvation.

No, Dr. Woods, the lost are not even capable of doing that. It is because we are dead in our trespasses as carnal men that we can do nothing but rebel against God. We cannot please Him, period (Romans 8:7). So, even our faith, even our trusting and the ability to do so is a gift of God, lest we should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

Finally, on the doctrine of repentance, Dr. Woods suggests:

What then shall we make of the numerous biblical commands for the lost to repent (Acts 2:38; 17:30; 2 Pet 3:9)? The Greek word translated repent is metanoeō. It comes from two Greek words meta and noeō. Meta means change, as in metamorphosis. Noeō means “to perceive.” From the word noeō we get the English word notion, which refers to an idea emanating from the mind. Thus, repent or metanoeō means to change one's mind about Christ rather than to change one's behavior in order to come to Christ. In this sense, repentance is a synonym for faith. Position Statement #6 captures this idea when it says, "With respect to salvation, repentance is a change of mind regarding the Person and work of Christ."

From my experience in learning of the non-lordship salvation position, the two major points of contention are the sovereignty of God (sovereign grace creating saving faith) and the definition of repentance. Dr. Woods has echoed what most contend from his position that repentance is nothing more than a change of mind about who God is and what Christ has done. Further, they misrepresent true repentance by asserting that Gospel preachers and teachers teach that repentance means to change one's behavior before coming to Christ. On the first hand, Dr. Woods definition is biblically insufficient. On the second hand, biblical repentance does not mean to change one's behavior before coming to Christ, but biblical repentance always results in changed behavior.

The Blue Letter Bible features the 19th century Anglican Archbiship of Dublin, Richard C. Trent, to explain the different forms of repentance. Trent sums up biblical repentance that leads to salvation as follows:

It is only after metanoeō has been taken up into the uses of Scripture, or of writers dependant on Scripture, that it comes predominantly to mean a change of mind, taking a wiser view of the past...a regret for the ill done in that past, and out of all this a change of life for the better...μετανοεῖν and metanoeō gradually advanced in depth and fulness of meaning, till they became the fixed and recognized words to express that mighty change in mind, heart, and life wrought by the Spirit of God (‘such a virtuous alteration of the mind and purpose as begets a like virtuous change in the life and practice,’ Kettlewell), which we call repentance.

In other words, while metanoeō does technically mean "to change one's mind", its usage and context in Scripture is deeper than that. Biblical repentance, therefore, involves a change in the mind (intellect), in the emotions (heart), and the will (volition leading to changed behavior).

One such evidence of this can be found in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5, where we see that only the poor in spirit, the mournful, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will see the Kingdom of Heaven. The poor in spirit recognize they have broken God's Law and have sinned against a holy God. They understand their lost condition, and recognize their desperate need of a Savior. For having offended God, they are contrite in spirit and mourn over their sinful behavior against God (Psalm 34:18, 51:17; Isaiah 57:15, 66:2). This leads to a resolution to turn their back on the very thing that hung Christ on the cross, a changed attitude toward sin and a desire to obey the One who saved them. This kind of repentance is a change of mind, a change of heart, and a change of the will. Please see Blessed Purity for further explanation.

Another piece of evidence for repentance that results in a change of attitude and behavior is found in 1 Thessalonians 1:9:

For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

What do we see in this passage? The Thessalonians turned to God, from idols, to serve God. In other words, they could not serve God unless they forsook their idols. Repentance, therefore, is a turning away from sin and turning to God to love Him and obey Him. To make this point even more clear that repentance is turning from sin to God in faith, we see in Acts 14:15 where Paul and Barnabas rebuke the men of Lystra for worshiping idols,

Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

Notice Paul did not charge them to only turn to God. He clearly tells them to turn from their idols and to turn to the living God. Those who teach that men do not have to forsake their sin are those who do not value the law of God. They often use Romans 7 to show that "even Paul" sinned and did not do what he wanted to do, but rather did the things he did not want to do. It sometimes comes across that they may be looking to minimize, excuse, or justify their own sinful behavior. However, what they fail to understand is that Paul hated his sin and saw himself as wretched:

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! - Romans 7:24-25

And because the born again believer has the mind of Christ at the moment of conversion (1 Corinthians 2:16), he will go on to bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Luke 3:8). Martin Lloyd-Jones said of repentance:

Repentance means that you realize that you are a guilty, vile sinner in the presence of God, that you deserve the wrath and punishment of God, that you are hell-bound. It means that you begin to realize that this thing called sin is in you, that you long to get rid of it, and that you turn your back on it in every shape and form. You renounce the world whatever the cost, the world in its mind and outlook as well as its practice, and you deny yourself, and take up the cross and go after Christ. Your nearest and dearest, and the whole world, may call you a fool, or say you have religious mania. You may have to suffer financially, but it makes no difference. That is repentance.

Interestingly enough, in his second argument Dr. Woods did not share the statement that follows "With respect to salvation, repentance is a change of mind regarding the Person and work of Christ." Position #6 actually closes with:

That being said, we just as strongly maintain that salvation in Christ will result in a changed life (2 Cor. 5:17, 1 Cor. 6:11).

Precisely, Dr. Woods, which is why your theology is a mess of contradiction. Why do you think it is that salvation will result in a changed life? It is only because salvation is a work of God alone from grace alone whereby He gives to us the gifts of faith and repentance (Ephesians 2:8; 2 Timothy 2:25). The new heart He gives us, at conversion, is wrought with godly sorrow and a turning from sin (2 Corinthians 7:10), a saving faith (Matthew 13:23), and a love for His commandments (1 John 5:2-4).

In closing, Scripture is clear that not just any faith (Parable of the Sower) and not just any repentance (Judas, for example, had merely a repentance of the mind alone) is enough for salvation. Moreover, faith and repentance are not synonyms, but rather two sides of the same coin. What God requires is a repentant faith, which is only possible as a gift from God. This type of faith, or trusting in God, is a contrite faith, with a heart's desire to obey in love the commands of Christ. It is love for the One who saved and delivered them from their sin, and it is love for the King, Ruler, Master, Sovereign, and Lord who rules over them, not with a rod of iron, but with pierced hands and feet.

Please continue to Part 4 that addresses the mysterious "carnal christian".

For additional articles on biblical repentance, please see:

What Is True Repentance?

Godly Sorrow or Hopeless Repentance?

Is Christ Your Lord?

True Repentance

Spurgeon on Repentance

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 2

2011-06-23T08:22:00.002-06:00

By Justin Edwards

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. - Mark 1:15

Dr. Andy Woods of Sugar Land Bible Church was recently featured on the Bible Prophecy Blog with his article titled, What Is Wrong with Lordship Salvation? He provided 5 arguments for why lordship salvation is wrong, and as I informed you in the introductory article, What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 1, I will be addressing each of his flawed arguments in a series to be sure to cover all of Dr. Woods' errors in a thorough manner. My aim is to provide clear evidence from Scripture for why "lordship salvation" is nothing short of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, to clear up confusion for those perplexed by Dr. Woods' article, to give clarity of the lordship salvation doctrine for those who have been deceived by teachings such as that provided by Dr. Woods, and to edify the Body of Christ and encourage the brethren to boldly proclaim the unadulterated biblical Gospel. I pray this endeavor will honor and bring glory to my God and King, for whom I owe my life as a humble servant because of His love and sovereign grace (Romans 12:1).

Part 2 - Saving Faith

Dr. Woods' position truly hinges on his first argument, and likewise crumbles under it. Because he and many others like him in the evangelical church hold to a low view of God, which is to say that man holds greater sovereignty over himself than the Omnipotent Creator, it is difficult for them to comprehend God's work in our salvation. Moreover, Dr. Woods inherently charges those who believe in the unadulterated Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as preaching another gospel with such statements as,

Lordship Salvation changes the very heart of the Gospel, which only requires a child-like faith.

My challenge to Dr. Woods and every person reading this article who agrees with his assertion of lordship salvation - are you prepared to declare men and women who adhere to "lordship salvation" as heretics? After all, if lordship salvation "changes the very heart of the Gospel", would that not be another gospel? Would this other gospel not be accursed according to Galatians 1:8-9? Are you prepared to mark godly men such as Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Martin Lloyd-Jones, George Whitefield, John Bunyan, A.W. Pink, B.B. Warfield, John Knox and the Puritans, J.C. Ryle, Leonard Ravenhill, Steven Lawson, John MacArthur, Ray Comfort, Al Mohler, C.J. Mahaney, Ray Comfort, Paul Washer and many other stalwarts of the faith as heretics? Because I tell you, these men believe in none other than the Lordship of Christ and our surrender to Him at salvation. Or perhaps you were a bit irresponsible with your words, Dr. Woods? If you truly believe these men, who represent historical Christian orthodoxy, are preaching a message that is contrary to the heart of the Gospel, do you stand by these implications? Why or why not?

Dr. Woods continues in his first argument:

There are probably somewhere between 150 to 200 New Testament passages which singularly condition a lost person’s salvation upon belief alone in Christ (John 3:16; 6:28-29; Acts 16:31; Rom 1:16, etc...). Belief is a synonym for faith or confidence or trust in God’s provision. The moment a lost person exercises trust in Christ is the moment he is saved.

So the devils are then saved, Dr. Woods? If all saving faith requires is to believe, then what of these devils who believe there is one God and tremble (James 2:19)? Clearly, it is more than just intellectual assent to a list of facts of who Christ is and what He has done. After all, faith without works is dead (James 2:20). Therefore, it is the type of belief one has that results in saving faith, and it is not of ourselves lest we should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Dr. Woods continues,

Why has God made salvation so simple? God has designed salvation as a free gift (Rom 4:4). If there were some human action to be performed beyond belief then salvation becomes something that we do rather than what God does. Such a human insertion reduces salvation’s free gift status by making it something we earn. In other words, under the Lordship Salvation model, surrender or commitment becomes a work that one does to earn salvation despite the fact that the Scripture is clear that salvation is not by works (Eph 2:8-9; Isa 64:6). Also, God has specifically designed salvation so that the principle of human boasting is eliminated (Rom 3:27; 4:2). Yet, if the unsaved could do anything to merit salvation beyond simple belief, such as commit or surrender, then he has contributed to the salvation process and thus has something to boast over. God cannot allow this to happen given His aversion to pride of any sort.

Dr. Woods has it backwards in terms of working and boasting. Because a position such as Dr. Woods' reduces belief to a human work, it is no wonder there is an attempt to reduce faith to simple intellectual belief. By adding any type of commitment or repentance to this type of belief, from their perspective, it adds works to salvation. And I would agree with them if salvation was indeed left up to man's own choosing or natural ability to choose God in faith.

But, as we were completely spiritually dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:1) and blinded by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), it is only by the absolute sovereign grace of God who shines His light in us, thus breaking the power of darkness and lifting the veil from our blinded eyes (2 Corinthians 4:6), that we are enabled to believe with conviction. God must perform open-heart surgery on us that we would love Him with all of our mind, soul, heart, and strength (Deuteronomy 30:6) , and when He does, we will come to the cross! (John 6:37, 17:2) Our salvation, therefore, is wrought out of the will of God, not man (John 1:13, Romans 9:16), because He is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5) and wills to bring glory to Himself through His perfect plan of redemption (Ephesians 1:3-14).

Having established that salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9; 1 Corinthians 1:29-31), and it is impossible for natural man to discern the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 8:7-8), we may now move forward in defining saving faith.

The simplest definition of saving faith is:

It is authored by God (Hebrews 12:2, Philippians 1:6). It is solely His work (Philippians 2:13). Saving faith is meek (Matthew 5:5, Matthew 11:29). Saving faith obeys (Hebrews 5:9, 1 John 5:2). Saving faith bears fruit (Luke 3:8, 8:15). Saving faith loves God and people (Matthew 22:36-40).

Saving faith is trusting that Jesus is both God and Lord (John 20:28), who alone has the power to forgive sins (Luke 5:24, John 8:58), has also the power to save us from our sins (Romans 5:10) and destroy the dominion of sin over us (Romans 6:5-11; 1 John 3:8). So yes, I agree with Dr. Woods that the moment a person exercises trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, he is saved because he is justified, sanctified, and washed by the blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:11, 1 John 1:7). But this is not mere intellectual assent to a list of facts, it is a faith that actually trusts that God can do what He promises to do - that is, to save us from His own wrath and to save us from the bondage of our sin.

In closing his first argument, Dr. Woods tells us,

Lordship Salvation perverts this divine order by making salvation something we do for God rather than something He does for us. It is Christ who saves us rather than our surrender or commitment to Him.

No, Dr. Woods, your misconception about lordship salvation perverts this divine work of God. And about God doing something for us - everyone single person reading this article and every single person who has ever carried oxygen in their lungs deserves the just punishment of eternal hell (Romans 3:23, 6:23). We have all broken God's Law, therefore none of us are righteous (Romans 3:10). The Sovereign Lord would still be good and would still be just if He saved none of us and we all perished in hell for our iniquities. However, before the foundation of the world, He chose to redeem a people for Himself through His own Son because of His great mercy (1 Peter 1:2, 20-21). So it is completely and absolutely, from start to finish, something He does for us. He chose a people for Himself, He purchased them with His blood, and He reconciled them through the Spirit - despite our wickedness and to the praise of His own glory.

The reason why faith commits, surrenders, and obeys is because faith is a gift and a work of God in us. He changes our heart and our attitude, which gives us the desire to submit to His will and enables us to comply. The childlike faith Dr. Woods mentioned is precisely what we must have in order to receive the gift of eternal life (Matthew 18:3). A child's faith is humble and submits to authority. In humility, they are able to be taught and obey the commands of authority. Likewise, without this humble submission to the authority of Christ, no one will see the Kingdom of God.

The following excerpt is from Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, who delivered this divine message on June 13th, 1862 titled, Faith and Repentance Inseperable (transcript). This must-listen sermon can be downloaded at Sermonaudio. Here, Spurgeon warns of a type of belief that does not save (paragraphs created for easier reading):

Faith means trust in Christ. Now, I must again remark that some have preached this trust in Christ so well and so fully, that I can admire their faithfulness and bless God for them; yet there is a difficulty and a danger; it may be that in preaching simple trust in Christ as being the way of salvation, that they omit to remind the sinner that no faith can be genuine but such as is perfectly consistent with repentance for past sin; for my text seems to me to put it thus: no repentance is true but that which consorts with faith; no faith is true but that which is linked with a hearty and sincere repentance on account of past sin.

So then, dear friends, those people who have a faith which allows them to think lightly of past sin, have the faith of devils, and not the faith of God's elect. Those who say, "Oh, as for the past, that is nothing; Jesus Christ has washed all that away"; and can talk about all the crimes of their youth, and the iniquitous of their riper years, as if they were mere trifles, and never think of shedding a tear; never feel their souls ready to burst because they should have been such great offenders—such men who can trifle with the past, and even fight their battles o'er again when their passions are too cold for new rebellions—I say that such who think sin a trifle and have never sorrowed on account of it, may know that their faith is not genuine.

Such men as have a faith which allows them to live carelessly in the present who say, "Well, I am saved by a simple faith"; and then sit on the ale-bench with the drunkard, or stand at the bar with the spirit-drinker, or go into worldly company and enjoy the carnal pleasures and the lusts of the flesh, such men are liars; they have not the faith which will save the soul. They have a deceitful hypocrisy; they have not the faith which will bring them to heaven.

And then, there be some other people who have a faith which leads them to no hatred of sin. They do not look upon sin in others with any kind of shame. It is true they would not do as others do, but then they can laugh at what others commit. They take pleasure in the vices of others; laugh at their profane jests, and smile at their loose speeches. They do not flee from sin as from a serpent, nor detest it as the murderer of their best friend.

No, they dally with it; they make excuses for it; they commit in private what in public they condemn. They call grave offences slight faults and little defalcations; and in business they wink at departures from uprightness, and consider them to be mere matters of trade; the fact being that they have a faith which will sit down arm-in-arm with sin, and eat and drink at the same table with unrighteousness. Oh! if any of you have such a faith as this, I pray God to turn it out bag and baggage. It is of no good to you; the sooner you are cleaned out of it the better for you, for when this sandy foundation shall all be washed away, perhaps you may then begin to build upon the rock.

My dear friends, I would be very faithful with your souls, and would lay the lancet at each man's heart. What is your repentance? Have you a repentance that leads you to look out of self to Christ, and to Christ only? On the other hand, have you that faith which leads you to true repentance; to hate the very thought of sin; so that the dearest idol you have known, whatever it may be, you desire to tear from its throne that you may worship Christ, and Christ only? Be assured of this, that nothing short of this will be of any use to you at the last.

A repentance and a faith of any other sort may do to please you now, as children are pleased with fancies; but when you get on a death-bed, and see the reality of things, you will be compelled to say that they are a falsehood and a refuge of lies. You will find that you have been daubed with untempered mortar; that you have said, "Peace, peace," to yourselves, when there was no peace. Again, I say, in the words of Christ, "Repent and believe the gospel." Trust Christ to save you, and lament that you need to be saved, and mourn because this need of yours has put the Saviour to open shame, to frightful sufferings, and to a terrible death.

And that will lead us well into Part 3, which addresses Dr. Woods' argument against the necessity for repentance, biblical repentance that is.

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 1

2011-06-21T08:33:00.001-06:00

By Justin Edwards

What's the Answer for a Culture in Decay, Decline, or Despair?

On Saturday, March 19th, an article came across my Google Reader titled, What Is Wrong with Lordship Salvation? by Dr. Andy Woods of Sugar Land Bible Church. The article was posted at Bible Prophecy Blog, which is generally a good resource for keeping up with end-times happenings. Unfortunately, because of this non-lordship salvation article and its rejection of the biblical doctrine of "lordship salvation", I had to remove it from my Blog Roll as I do not want to cause confusion to the Body of Christ or lend to the false assurance of salvation of false converts. Instead, Lord willing, I will be rebutting Dr. Woods' 5-part argument for his non-lordship position and show why he is in danger of preaching another gospel - one that does not save.

Due to the length of Dr. Woods' article and the many errors within it, I will break my response into at least 6 articles with Part 1 being a response to Dr. Woods' introduction. If you would like to read Dr. Woods' article in its entirety, you can do so here: What Is Wrong with Lordship Salvation?

If this is your first time hearing of "lordship salvation", you might find the following article helpful to you: Lordship Salvation - It Will Cost You Everything.

Part 1- Introduction

Dr. Woods begins his article with the following:

Lordship Salvation is the idea that an unbeliever must commit all areas of his life to Christ as a condition for being saved.

A common tactic I have found of those refuting lordship salvation is their use of logical fallacies, such as the Straw Man fallacy above. I do not know of any person who believes in the unadulterated Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, otherwise known as "lordship salvation", who suggests or teaches that one must consciously commit all areas of his life to Christ as a condition for being saved. The implication with Dr. Woods' packaging in the above statement is that one must consciously consider every area of one's life before coming to the cross, and surrender it to the Lord if they are to be saved. This means, according to Dr. Woods' understanding of lordship salvation, that one must repent from every single sin and surrender absolutely every element of a person's life in conscious consideration, if they are to be forgiven. That is a false representation of the lordship salvation position.

The truth is, one must indeed surrender all to the Lord Jesus Christ. Biblically speaking, this means one forsakes everything to be a disciple of Christ (Luke 14:33). Practically speaking, when one is born again of the Spirit, they give up ownership of themselves and their belongings, and they let go of the world and the chains of sin around their neck, broken by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, when one forsakes everything for Christ, they forsake control of themselves and put on the gentle yoke of Christ that leads them in sanctifying grace (Matthew 11:29). As humble servants of their Master, the Christian, from the moment of salvation, will begin a journey that leaves their old life behind in increasing measure as they are transformed by the renewing of their mind (Romans 12:2).

Dr. Woods continues in his introduction,

Another way of articulating Lordship Salvation is, “if Jesus is not Lord of all then He is not Lord at all.”

Yes, Jesus is the sovereign Lord over all creation. He is Lord of nonbelievers and believers alike. The only difference between the nonbeliever and the believer is that the believer has acknowledged His lordship, which is to say the believer submits to Christ's authority simply by professing Him Lord from the core of their new heart (Romans 10:9). The believer has discovered the preciousness of Jesus Christ as Divine, Sovereign Ruler and Master. The believer has valued Christ more than anything else in the world, including their sin and pride. This does not mean that the saint has perfectly repented, but it does mean he acknowledges his sinfulness, is mournful over it, and submits to the authority of His Master to be taught by His grace to deny worldliness and ungodliness (Titus 2:11-14). What results is obedience to the commands of Christ and a relationship of servanthood out of love for a King. Dr. Woods' position divides Christ into a Savior and a Lord, meaning one can receive one (Savior) without acknowledging the other (Lord). If one only wants half of Jesus, how could they possibly receive all of Him?

Continuing his discussion, Dr. Woods explains,

Lordship Salvation began to significantly enter the American evangelical community in the 1980’s through the ministries of various prominent theologians and pastors. The movement began with the well-intentioned concern to address too much carnality in the Christian world.

Not exactly. As a result of antinomian influence in the American church (namely dispensational and no-lordship antinomianism), which has resulted in countless false conversions due to "cheap grace", easy-believism and decisional evangelism, certain ministries began to take a stand and recapture the Gospel according to the Lord Jesus Christ. One such ministry is that of John MacArthur, who is often vehemently attacked by opponents to the point of declaring him a heretic. It is arguable how the term "lordship salvation" came about, but the fact of the matter is the doctrine is an essential element of the Gospel and has been taught as such down through the ages of church history. Why? Because "lordship salvation" is nothing less or more than the Gospel. The concern of "too much carnality in the Christian world", as Dr. Woods suggests, has been the concern of godly men since the Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthians and warned them about carnality.

Dr. Woods continues,

However, the proposed solution to this legitimate concern was to increase the sole requirement for salvation in an attempt to argue that carnal Christians were never really saved in the first place since they had never initially yielded to Christ’s Lordship.

What is the "sole requirement" for salvation, Dr. Woods? According to your next two sentences, your definition of saving faith is severely lacking:

Sugar Land Bible Church does not believe in or teach Lordship Salvation. For example, Position Statement #6 in our church constitution says, “…repentance, as in a person willfully turning from sin, cannot be a condition for salvation.”

This distorted view of repentance has no Gospel-saving power. What he suggests has been added to the "sole requirement" of salvation has, in fact, always been part of the requirements of salvation - that is, repentance and faith. Dr. Woods, your position allows for a professing Christian to remain in their sins for the totality of their "walk". Your position allows for a justification that does not necessitate sanctification. Your position allows for an infinite gap between justification and sanctification, eg, sanctification may never occur. Your position divides believing and discipleship. Your position allows for one to ultimately walk away from the faith, yet still be considered a Christian because, by golly, they *once* believed. Finally, your position allows for the "christian" to hold on to their sin, continue in the world, continue to love the world, and continue to be a friend of the world as long as they once "asked Jesus into their heart". This, Dr. Woods, is contrary to the Gospel that is the power of God to salvation for all who believe (Romans 1:16). The Gospel not only saves people, Dr. Woods, but it changes them - without fail (Romans 8:29-30). Your position is one of the very causes of "too much carnality in the Christian world."

Many people look at the Lordship controversy as merely semantics. They believe that this issue has no real significance for practical living or ministry.

Indeed, Dr. Woods, this controversy is not mere semantics and its significance is monumental for practical living and ministry. Ultimately, your gospel is a man-centered distortion of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The latter Gospel, on the other hand, is a sovereign plan of God to redeem a people for Himself, according to the counsel of His own will, to the praise of His glorious Son, and to conform a holy and blameless Bride to the image of the Lamb of God who is King of His Church and who will be King of all kings. The Gospel according to God not only saves people from the wrath to come, but it saves them from the bondage of their sin, which is to say the Truth sets us free, it sets us free indeed (John 8:34-36).

In closing his introduction, Dr. Woods says,

In actuality, Lordship Salvation introduces at least five problems into the life of a church.

On the contrary, Dr. Woods, as Scripture will reveal in posts to come...

A BIBLICAL LOOK AT TONGUES

2011-06-17T10:42:00.005-06:00

The issue of tongues in the church is a difficult one. It is difficult because there are many, of what can be considered, open ended statements regarding the issue.

-1 Corinthians 13:8 says that “tongues will cease” but nowhere in Scripture do we hear that they did cease.
-Acts says that the believers spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance so why is that not true today?
-1 Corinthians 14 seems to give a list of qualifications if one is going to speak in tongues in the church.
So what is right is what is not?

The issue of tongues is not really the main issue – THE ISSUE GOES DEEPER. The reason the issue of tongues is so problematic today is that many who practice tongues believe that it is directly connected to a believer’s salvation and sanctification. Two doctrinal statements share this explicitly:

The United Pentecostal Church says in its doctrinal statement under its heading THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION: We enter into the New Testament church through faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, repentance from sin, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial sign of tongues.
http://www.upci.org/about-us/beliefs/21-about-us/beliefs/91

The Assemblies of God say regarding the baptism in the Holy spirit: The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.
http://ag.org/top/BeliefsStatement_of_Fundamental_Truths/sft_full.cfm#8

So what is the problem with tongues? Many say that tongues have ceased without any Biblical statement that it has ceased, others don't care and still others believe that it is ok to be practiced in the church.

Here is a simple look at speaking in tongues from a Biblical Perspective. This is an overview and not necessarily a complete exposition of the texts.

A BIBLICAL LOOK AT TONGUES

Tim Bergen

WHAT IS DISPENSATIONALISM?

2011-05-23T05:47:00.003-06:00

Dispensationalism is a system of theology that sees God working consistently with inconsistent man in different ways during different periods in time. While there were different responsibilities for man during these periods the mode of salvation has always been the same. Salvation always is by grace through faith. Christ was and is the only means of salvation: John 14:6—“I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.” Man’s responsibility and response to the drawing of the Holy Spirit is to believe. Acts 16:31—…"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." There are no works whatsoever that can save us apart from the person and work of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9—“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Distinctives:

There are several distinctives that are characteristic of dispensationalists.

A literal, grammatical, historical hermeneutic (interpretation of Scripture).

When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studied in light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.

David L. Cooper, The World’s Greatest Library Graphically Illustrated (Los Angeles: Biblical Research Society, 1970), 11.

The interpreter should, therefore, endeavour to take himself from the present, and to transport himself into the historical position of his author, look through his eyes, note his surroundings, feel with his heart, and catch his emotion. Herein we note the import of the term grammatico-historical interpretation.

Milton S. Terry, Biblical Hermeneutics (NY: Philips and Hunt, 1883; reprint, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976), 231.

In essence, the literal, grammatical, historical method of interpretation is designed to arrive at authorial intent by allowing the ideas plainly found within the text to speak for themselves.

An understanding of dispensations (divinely ordered stewardships) by which God directs man according to his purpose. These are not methods or ways of salvation but rather they are instructions or rules of life that defines man’s responsibilities down through different ages. While the number of dispensations is not necessarily key in being a dispensationalist, many if not most hold to seven dispensations which are listed.

The dispensation of innocence (from the creation of man to the Fall of man) Genesis 1:28–3:6
The dispensation of conscience (from the Fall to the Flood) Genesis 4:1–8:14
The dispensation of civil government (from the Flood to the dispersion at Babel) Genesis 8:15–11:9
The dispensation of promise or patriarchal rule (from Babel to Mount Sinai) Genesis. 11:10; Exodus 18:27
The dispensation of the Mosaic Law (from Mount Sinai to the Upper Room) Exodus 19; Acts 1:26
The dispensation of the Church (from the Upper Room to the Rapture) Acts 2:1; Revelation 3:22
The dispensation of the things to come—the Kingdom (from the Rapture to Eternity) Revelation 6:1–22

A clear distinction between God’s program for Israel and God’s program for the church. Below are itemized some of the reasons for this distinction.

Different Promises (Earthly vs. heavenly)

Ezekiel 36:24 For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ.

Different Seed (Physical vs. Spiritual)

Romans 9:6 For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel
Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Different Births (Sinai vs. Pentecost)

Exodus 19-20 Israel became a nation at Sinai
Acts 2 The Church began at Pentecost
Hebrews 12:18-24 For you have not come to a mountain… but to Mount Zion… and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant…

Different Nationality (Jewish vs. Heavenly)

Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”
Phil. 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven…
Rev. 5:9 for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood, men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

Different Temple (Physical vs. Spiritual)

I Kings 8:11 …the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
Ephesians 2:21 In whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.

Different Relationship w/ Christ

I Peter 2:7-8 The Stone which the builders rejected… a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense…
Ephesians 2:20 (God's household), having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.

A pre-tribulational, pre-millennial eschatology. Major events are listed below.

Rapture

The rapture refers to the supernatural removal of the church out of this world. The pre-tribulational rapture position states that Christ will return at any moment to take believers with him, whether alive or dead (John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17), before the great Tribulation. As a result of this resurrection (Daniel 12:2; John 5:28-29), bodies of believers will be reunited with their souls, transformed, and instantaneously brought into conformity to Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Philippians 3:21).

Judgment Seat of Christ

Following the rapture and in heaven, New Testament believers will stand before Christ to be judged, not for sin, but for the quality of their works while on earth (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Works that stand the judgment will result in reward; works that do not will result in loss of reward (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

Tribulation

The tribulation refers to seven years of great conflict and distress on earth as an expression of God’s wrath against sinful man. It is referred to as the day of the Lord (Isaiah 30:23-25; 34:1-8; 35:1-10; Joel 2:28-32; 3:1-21; Zephaniah 3:8, 16-20; Zech. 14:1-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10), the great tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30; Matthew 24:9, 21, 29; Revelation 7:14), the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), and the seventieth week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27; Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5). This will be a significant time of persecution particularly for Israel (Matthew 24:9-24; Revelation 12:6, 13-17)

Return of Christ

Christ will come again at the end of the age to rule in power and glory and establish His kingdom on earth (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 15:23-24; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Hebrews 9:28). Although no man knows the timing of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:44; 25:13; Acts 1:6-7), believers should be characterized by an eager expectancy as they anticipate His coming (1 Corinthians 1:7; Philippians 3:20; Titus 2:12-13; 1 Peter 1:13).

Millennium

The Antichrist and the false prophet will be overthrown and Satan will be removed from the world (Daniel 7:17-27; Revelation 20:1-7). Following these events, there will be a literal, thousand year kingdom on earth where the saints will help Christ rule and reign (Isaiah 42:6; Jeremiah 31:31; 33:15; Ezekiel 36:24; 37:21-28; Revelation 19:11-16; 20:1-7).

Final Judgment

Bodies of unbelievers will be raised (Daniel 12:2; John 5:29) to stand before the throne of God (Revelation 20:11-13) for the purpose of being punished eternally alongside Satan in the lake of fire for their sin (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:10, 15).

New Heavens and New Earth

Those of us who are believers will live with Christ forever and ever in the New Heaven and New Earth. (Revelation 21:1-5)

A clear understanding that God is His own glory and all that happens here on earth ultimately brings glory to Him.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Tim Bergen

WHY I AM A DISPENSATIONALIST by Paul J. Scharf

2011-05-19T12:54:00.003-06:00

I was reared in a conservative Lutheran church and school where dispensationalism was a term of derision and began life as a most unlikely candidate to become a teacher of dispensational theology. Today, however, I am deeply committed to classical dispensationalism and feel so strongly about this position that it affects every aspect of my belief and practice. Why am I now a dispensationalist? I offer seven introductory reasons.

1. Dispensationalism understands the relevance of the entirety of Scripture.

Teachers in the denomination I grew up in employed several catch phrases when they came to difficult prophetic sections of Scripture. They would speak of “closing the Book” or talk of passages like Daniel 7-12 or Revelation 4-20 being “filled with mystery.” Preterists and other non-dispensationalists also cloud such portions of Scripture by speaking of them in terms of “apocalyptic language” which is incapable of clear, systematic interpretation (especially futurist) and fulfillment.

Dispensationalists recognize that the symbols in these difficult passages are actually meant to shed light on real people and events (see Rev. 22:10; cf. Deut. 29:29, Prov. 25:2) in the same way inspired writers used devices to communicate in non-prophetic writing . Dispensationalists relish unearthing the meaning of obscure passages which may be understood only in the light of clearer (often later) revelation.

The dispensationalism I have known is not given to wild sensationalism, but rather compels the student to master the Scriptures (in their original languages, if possible) so that he or she may fully develop all that the Scriptures contain. From the dispensationalist’s vantage point, the task will never be complete this side of glory.

2. Dispensationalism employs consistent literal interpretation.

Seeing distinctions between the church and Israel, dispensationalism rightly promotes a glorious future for both. Confusing these two peoples of God has resulted in much mischief throughout church history. Conversely, when the church is understood as a New Testament mystery (Eph. 3:1-12) which began at Pentecost, the free church model and the Baptist distinctives become plainly evident.

The distinction between the church and Israel is one of the firstfruits of literal interpretation. This coincides with a proper understanding of progressive revelation, normally interpreting later revelation on the basis of that which came earlier.

In Michael Vlach’s words,

Dispensationalists want to maintain a reference point in the Old Testament. They desire to give justice to the original authorial intent of the Old Testament writers in accord with historical-grammatical hermeneutics (Vlach 17).

Ronald Diprose contrasts the alternative:

The logic of replacement theology required that much of the Old Testament be allegorized. Only in this way could the Church be made the subject of passages in which the nation of Israel is addressed. This led to the virtual abandonment of the Hebrew world view and concept of God and the adoption of a framework of thought which had its roots in Greek philosophy (Diprose 169-170).

Literal interpretation involves the idea that there is no allowance for interpreting a text on the basis of any subjective influence, including the meaning of metaphors or images in a non-parallel passage. In my opinion, the consistent use of literal interpretation has been modeled best by dispensationalists.

3. Dispensationalism provides a comprehensive framework for understanding all of history.

The flow of history is obvious and logical when it is expounded through the seven dispensations of traditional dispensationalism. The God Who created all things in six days will work within history to fulfill the plan He has revealed—bringing His kingdom to earth for 1,000 years as history’s culmination.

The Bible makes it clear that in the future—as in the past—history will be marked by definite events and that the significance of these events is certain and knowable. Christ said, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28, NKJV).

Above all others, dispensationalists have done well in explaining the significance of the flow of history and its signal and distinctive events. The attempt to use the system to analyze specific signs of the times is a byproduct of dispensationalism rather than its driving force.

4. Dispensationalism emphasizes the glory of God.

Though not exclusive in this regard, dispensationalists clearly proclaim that the glory of God is the purpose behind His working in history—from creation to the final judgment at the Great White Throne. With each new dispensation, God’s glory is declared in a new and fresh way, through the advance of special revelation and the additional resources which He provides, so that men might more fully reflect His glory.

In the present age, believers enjoy the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit (John 14:17) and even the very mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16)—and yet these blessings pale when compared to those which still await us (1 John 3:2).

5. Dispensationalism brings the ministry of Christ into clear focus.

If one begins with the Old Testament and works forward, it becomes clear that Israel’s Messiah came offering the Kingdom which they had expected since the days of Abraham (cf. Gen. 17:6). Bible scholar extraordinaire Alva J. McClain summarized as follows:

The Kingdom announced by our Lord and offered to the nation of Israel at His first coming was identical with the Mediatorial Kingdom of Old Testament prophecy, and will be established on earth at the second coming of the King. This…is supported by the material in both Testaments taken at its normal or face value (McClain 275-276).

On the basis of this understanding, one can fit together many passages in the gospels which would otherwise remain puzzling. The work of Christ—past and future (cf. Acts 1:6, 7)—may also be set in its complete context.

6. Dispensationalism is the fulfillment of Reformational truth.

Though he would be horrified at the thought (as Dr. Myron Houghton, my theology teacher, once said), Luther taught me dispensationalism in seed form in my Lutheran grade school religion classes. His emphasis on the distinction between Law and Grace is truly the basis for understanding the Bible dispensationally. It reveals the truth that God has dealt with mankind on the basis of different stewardship responsibilities at different times in history without providing different ways of salvation.

The charge that dispensationalism cannot be correct because of the recentness of its development is impossible to reconcile with either history or theology, as the progressive refinement of the understanding of truth during the church age demonstrates. Ultimately, I do not view dispensational theology as a betrayal of my strong Lutheran upbringing, but rather, a fulfillment of it.

Dr. Thomas Ice, executive director of the Pre-Trib Research Center, introduced this concept to me during a conversation which I had with him while in seminary. In short, he explained that dispensationalism flourished—beginning in the 19th century—as a result of the literal interpretation and verse-by-verse teaching which had been re-introduced by the forces of the Reformation. Theology is the queen of the sciences, and dispensationalism is the queen of all theologies.

7. Godly dispensational teachers have modeled this theology for me.

God has given me the indescribable privilege of receiving dispensational theology directly from some of its greatest teachers. Among them have been Dr. Rolland McCune, Dr. Charles Ryrie, Dr. Renald Showers, Dr. John Whitcomb and the late Dr. John Walvoord.

I have found that dispensationalism is not a distraction for such men, nor does it deter them from teaching “the weightier matters of the law” (Matt. 23:23, NKJV). Rather, it drives them to perfect their understanding in all areas of theology so that they might build upon the foundation offered by historic, orthodox Christianity with the surpassing glory of dispensational truth.

A new generation of “faithful men” (2 Tim. 2:2) is committed to carrying these teachings forward. Efforts such as the Pre-Trib Study Group (with its annual conferences) and Baptist Bible Seminary’s Council on Dispensational Hermeneutics evidence new energy which will continue to drive serious study and advance within dispensationalism for many years to come, should Christ tarry. By His grace and for His glory, I hope to be in the center of that movement.

Works Cited

Diprose, Ronald E. Israel and the Church: The Origin and Effects of Replacement Theology. Waynesboro, GA: Authentic Media, 2004.

McClain, Alva J. The Greatness of the Kingdom. Winona Lake, IN: BMH Books, 1974.

Vlach, Michael J. Dispensationalism: Essential Beliefs and Common Myths. Los Angeles: Theological Studies Press, 2008.

Paul J. Scharf is a graduate of Maranatha Baptist Bible College (Watertown, WI) and Faith Baptist Theological Seminary (Ankeny, IA). He is the editor of the Columbus Journal in Columbus, Wis., an associate with IMI/SOS International in Hudsonville, Mich., and a ministry assistant for Whitcomb Ministries, Inc. in Indianapolis, Ind. Scharf served as a pastor for seven years and has taught the Bible on the elementary, secondary and college levels. He is a contributor to Coming to Grips with Genesis: Biblical Authority and the Age of the Earth (Master Books, 2008) and has written numerous articles for Gospel Herald and The Sunday School Times. He is a member of the Pre-Trib Study Group. Paul is married to Lynnette, and the couple resides near Columbus, WI.

THE ELECTRUM by Dr. Kevin Bauder

2011-02-21T11:23:00.004-06:00

Those who are beginning to study the debate between Calvinism and Arminianism tend to entertain two related but mistaken assumptions. The first is that the debate involves only two primary positions. The second is that the more extremely one implements either position, the more distant one must be from the other position. The first of these assumptions is simply untrue. The second is true, but only to a point.

Like visible light, positions in the debate between Calvinism and Arminianism form a continuous spectrum. Every Christian who has an opinion on the issues can be located somewhere along that spectrum. The issues that define the positions, however, are not necessarily those that one might expect.

Participants in this debate will be found arguing about divine sovereignty versus human freedom, about the ordo salutis, about the extent of human depravity, about the role of prevenient grace, and about whether election is unconditional, conditional, or corporate. To be sure, all of these questions are important, but they eventually lead to one critical problem. That problem is the definition of divine foreknowledge.

Divine foreknowledge is the hinge upon which all the other debates turn. One’s definition of foreknowledge will determine whether one ends on the Arminian or Calvinistic side of the debate—and everyone who expresses an opinion is on one side or the other.

Arminians see God’s foreknowledge as His foresight. God looks ahead through the corridors of time and sees what free people will choose. For Arminians, divine foreknowledge is essentially reactive.

For their part, Calvinists see God’s foreknowledge as causative. God’s foreknowledge does not passively observe the future, but rather shapes it. God’s foreknowledge makes things happen. According to Calvinists, foreknowledge is not so much God’s foresight as it is His forethought.

Once a definition has been chosen, the other pieces of the puzzle fall into place almost unavoidably. If God’s foreknowledge is causative, then election must be unconditional. If election is unconditional, then divine calling has to be efficacious. That being so, prevenient grace cannot have reversed the volitional effects of depravity. In other words, most of the Calvinistic system follows with logical certainty from a particular definition of foreknowledge. The exception is the negative side of particular redemption—i.e., the denial that Christ provided redemption for the non-elect.

By the same token, most of the system of Arminianism necessarily flows from viewing God’s foreknowledge as foresight. The exception here is the denial of eternal security. Just as some Calvinists affirm a universal provision of redemption, some Arminians affirm eternal security.

This observation implies that shades and gradations exist on both sides of the dividing line. Strict Calvinists affirm limited atonement, while moderate Calvinists do not. Strict Arminians deny eternal security, while moderate Arminians affirm it.

In other words, the debate involves not two, but at least four positions. These are strict Arminianism, moderate Arminianism, moderate Calvinism, and strict Calvinism. Beyond these four, other positions stretch out both sides of the spectrum.

Much ink has been spilled over the phenomenon of hyper-Calvinism. Unfortunately, this term is generally used as a bare pejorative. The abuse of the term, however, should not be allowed to obscure the fact that a genuinely hyper-Calvinistic position does exist, though its adherents sometimes prefer to call it “High Calvinism.”

What are the characteristics of a hyper-Calvinist? Four particularly bear mentioning. These include the denial of common grace, the adoption of a supralapsarian order of the decrees, the acceptance of a doctrine of reprobation or double-predestination, and a refusal to make a free offer of the gospel. More extreme versions of hyper-Calvinism might also teach the doctrine of eternal justification or a form of antinomianism. To the extent that a person holds these four beliefs, that person is going beyond traditional Calvinism as defined at Dort, and that is what makes the position hyper-Calvinistic.

A corresponding position exists on the Arminian side of the spectrum. This position does not really have a label, but for sake of designation it could be called hyper-Arminianism. How does this position differ from historic Arminianism?

Traditionally, Arminianism and Calvinism take similar views of depraved human nature. This similarity is evident in Article Three of the original Arminian Articles, which affirms,

That man has not saving grace of himself, nor of the energy of his free will, inasmuch as he, in the state of apostasy and sin, can of and by himself neither think, will, nor do any thing that is truly good (such as saving Faith eminently is); but that it is needful that he be born again of God in Christ, through his Holy Spirit, and renewed in understanding, inclination, or will, and all his powers, in order that he may rightly understand, think, will, and effect what is truly good, according to the Word of Christ, John 15:5, “Without me ye can do nothing.”

Theological students who encounter this statement for the first time often mistake it for a Calvinistic affirmation. It is not. For both traditional Calvinists and traditional Arminians, the will has been so affected by the fall that humans, left to themselves, are utterly incapable of any positive response toward God (in other words, they have lost the moral ability to believe). The difference between Calvinists and Arminians consists in how they solve this problem. According to Arminians, God restores some element of moral ability to all humans as an aspect of prevenient grace. Calvinists believe that God restores full moral ability, but only to the elect as part of saving grace.

This original disabling of the will is what hyper-Arminians deny. In their mind, every human being already has complete freedom of will in every sense, and is always and fully able to choose God at any time. Effectively, hyper-Arminianism denies that depravity has affected the human will. (This position is sometimes mistaken for Pelagianism, but Pelagian theology also denies the imputation of original sin.)

In today’s debates, hyper-Arminians often prefer to call themselves Biblicists. They usually insist that they are neither Calvinists nor Arminians. In one sense, they are right: their position is much more extreme than historic, traditional Arminianism. Nevertheless, their definition of foreknowledge places them firmly on the Arminian side of the spectrum.

So does their insistence upon a libertarian definition of freedom. By this definition, the will is not free unless one might actually make the contrary choice. For Calvinists, however, freedom consists in the ability to do what one chooses without constraint or restraint. Most Calvinists have believed that the will can be shaped and even determined in a number of ways without damaging genuine freedom. The debate between libertarianism and compatibilism corresponds closely to the divide between Arminianism and Calvinism.

This debate also propels some Arminians into an even more extreme position. They reason that if God knows our choices in advance, then we necessarily will make the choices that He foresees. If we will necessarily make a particular choice, however, then it is not really possible to make the contrary choice. In other words, even with a “soft” definition of divine foreknowledge as foresight, libertarian freedom becomes impossible.

The logic of this position is really air-tight, and it results in a pretty abysmal choice. One can affirm foreknowledge and remain biblical, but sacrifice reason. Or one can deny foreknowledge and remain logical, but be forced to reinterpret Scripture in radical ways. Those who deny foreknowledge are known as Free Will Theists or Open Theists. For the most part, Open Theists insist that their theology is simply the logical extension of the core ideas of Arminianism.

Opposite to Open Theism is a position that denies any form of human freedom and subjects every event and decision to “hard” determinism. In extreme versions of hyper-Calvinism, this position makes God so much the author of sin that humans bear little or no actual responsibility for their acts. All Arminians and most Calvinists are horrified by these ideas, just as all Calvinists and most Arminians are horrified by Open Theism.

At this point in the spectrum, an odd thing happens. On one end of the spectrum, hard determinism turns into fatalism (choice is merely an illusion, but people are really ruled by fate). On the other end of the spectrum, freedom becomes so loose as to become virtually random, and therefore essentially a matter of chance, luck, or fortune. But fate and luck are simply different names for the same thing. In other words, the two ends of the spectrum meet. Someone who goes far enough in either direction will end up in exactly the same place.

In the present essay, I am not trying to argue for one direction or the other. Nevertheless, I would like to draw out certain lessons. First, understood in these terms, all Christians who express an opinion end up in some version of Calvinism or Arminianism. Second, more than two positions are possible. Both Arminianism and Calvinism have moderate and extreme versions. Third, it is not proper to critique any position by pointing to its extreme expressions, for the most extreme expressions of both directions are identical to each other. Fourth, there is no one distinctively “Biblicist” position. People from extreme hyper-Calvinists to hyper-Arminians (and perhaps many Open Theists) believe that they are deriving their conclusions from the text of Scripture—and invariably the advocates of one view think that the advocates of all the others are overly influenced by extra-biblical considerations.

Nevertheless, some positions are more biblical than others, and that leads to a final observation. The issues that come into play in the “electrum” are of different kinds. Some of them are serious enough to affect fundamentals of the faith. Any position that makes God the efficient cause of sin is blasphemous. Likewise, any theory that denies exhaustively definite foreknowledge constitutes an implicit denial of the gospel. Furthermore, any theory that makes ultimate salvation dependent upon human work or merit damages the very foundations of the faith.

Having said that, Christians of good will should not impute these extreme theories to the more moderate expressions of Calvinism or Arminianism. To say that every Arminian is an Open Theist or a Pelagian is slander. To suggest that Calvinists necessarily make God the author of sin—as if God Himself induced people to do evil—is to engage in distortion to the point of deception. Each position needs to be understood in its own terms and represented fairly.

Other points of argument, however, are of lesser significance. The definition of foreknowledge is important, but it is an issue over which Christians may charitably disagree. The same is the case with the position of faith and regeneration in the ordo salutis, the definition of election, and the role of common grace in restoring the moral ability to choose God. To be sure, these questions matter a great deal, but they are not the sort of questions over which Christian fellowship and cooperation must fracture. We should be able to discuss such things without raising tempers and voices.

Those discussions would be more fruitful if they began with a spirit of curiosity. A Calvinist ought to wonder how an Arminian can hold the system of faith together with putative integrity and consistency, and the Arminian ought to wonder the same thing about the Calvinist. Therefore, the first step in the discussion should not be to look for evidence that the other is wrong, but to discover those parts of the system that make it seem right. Even if we want to refute another position, the first step toward being able to do that is to learn to articulate it in a convincing way. If each of us would extend this courtesy to the other positions in the “electrum,” we might often change the character of the debate.

All Mortal Vanities, Begone
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

All mortal vanities, begone,
Nor tempt my eyes, nor tire my ears;
Behold, amidst th’eternal throne,
A vision of the Lamb appears.

Glory His fleecy robe adorns,
Marked with the bloody death He bore;
Seven are His eyes, and seven His horns,
To speak His wisdom and His power.

Lo! He receives a sealèd book
From Him that sits upon the throne;
Jesus, my Lord, prevails to look
On dark decrees and things unknown.

All the assembling saints around
Fall worshipping before the Lamb,
And in new songs of gospel sound
Address their honors to His Name.

The joy, the shout, the harmony,
Flies o’er the everlasting hills
“Worthy art Thou alone,” they cry,
“To read the book, to loose the seals.”

Our voices join the heav’nly strain,
And with transporting pleasure sing,
“Worthy the Lamb that once was slain,
To be our Teacher and our King!”

His words of prophecy reveal
Eternal counsels, deep designs;
His grace and vengeance shall fulfill
The peaceful and the dreadful lines.

Thou hast redeemed our souls from hell
With Thine invaluable blood;
And wretches that did once rebel
Are now made favorites of their God.

Worthy forever is the Lord,
That died for treasons not His own,
By every tongue to be adored,
And dwell upon His Father’s throne!

This essay is by Dr. Kevin T. Bauder, president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Plymouth, MN). Not every professor, student, or alumnus of Central Seminary necessarily agrees with every opinion that it expresses.

I WISH

2011-02-08T05:59:00.003-06:00

I WISH believers were as passionate about freedom from sin as they are about freedom from Government!

I WISH believers were as outspoken about Christ as they are about the president and politics!

I WISH believers would defend Scripture and discuss doctrine like they defend and discuss the freedom to bear arms!

I WISH believers would love Christ like they love their political ideals!

lastly,

I WISH believers would be as overwhelmed, as emotional and as grateful to God for OUR GREAT SALVATION as they are for our men and women in uniform!

TIM BERGEN

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

2010-12-18T09:21:00.006-06:00

This season I have been exploring the meaning of Christmas. As you can see in a previous post I have a hard time with short, little, superficial statements (i.e. "Jesus is the Reason for the Season") that try to "cutely" condense the deep, immutable, and foundational doctrines of Christ and His church. This is a dis-service to Christianity and simply continues to assist the church on its greasing of the slippery slope that it is sliding down.

Bible.org has an excellent article (included below) on the importance of Christ's incarnation which is the TRUE meaning of the season.

TIM BERGEN

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By Bob Deffinbaugh

Created 06/02/2004 - 00:00

The Importance of the Incarnation

The idea of a “god” involving himself in the affairs of men by coming to the earth is not a novel one. In the Greek culture of New Testament times there were numerous instances in which the “gods” were said to have manifested themselves in human flesh.¹ In our own times there are numerous examples of “super-beings” who have intervened in human history. In the movie “E.T.” this being was far from human. Characters like the “Bionic Man” and the “Bionic Woman” are more human than divine. “Superman” and “Wonder Woman” are more “other worldly” and more closely approximate the Greek heroes.

All of our present day “super-beings” offer provide little help when it comes to the doctrine of the incarnation, however. In the first place, these are fictional characters--nobody really believes in them. This predisposes us to doubt the description of our Lord in the New Testament. In addition, these “super-heroes” of our time are vastly different from the person of Christ, who is God incarnate. There is nothing in fact or in fiction in the history of man which matches the mystery of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Humanly speaking, no one anticipated God’s intervention into human history by the birth of a child, born in a manger. Not even Judaism was looking for Messiah to come in this way.² Furthermore, we have become so accustomed to the biblical narratives of the birth of our Lord and the credal formulations of the doctrines involved that we have often ceased to appreciate the mystery of the incarnation.

If we are to properly appreciate the mystery of the incarnation, we must first come to recognize the importance of the coming of our Lord as God incarnate. For this reason I have chosen to devote this first message on the incarnation to the subject of the importance of the incarnation. Let us consider the reasons why it the doctrine of the incarnation is vital to every one of us.

(1) The Doctrine of the Incarnation Should be the Focus of a Christian Celebration of Christmas.

We are rapidly approaching Christmas. Strangely enough, this is a time of depression, not just for men and women in general, but particularly for Christians. The “let down” is noticeable, I think, for all of us. Some of this is probably the fact that we have spent considerable money and effort to make the celebration of Christmas enjoyable, and yet the returns have been minimal. A great deal of our depression is related to the fact that much of our concentration is turned away from the message of Christ’s incarnation. The great joy of Christmas is inseparably bound with the fact of His incarnation.

It is probably not necessary to remind you that December 25th is hardly to be considered the time when our Lord was actually born. No one really knows the exact date of our Lord’s birth.³ We do know that by the end of the fourth century Christ’s birth was celebrated on January 6th, and then later on, celebration was divided between January 6th and December 25th. In early Rome the Feast of Saturnalia was celebrated for seven days from the 17th of December to the 24th. This festive week was “marked by a spirit of merriment, gift giving to children and other forms of entertainment.”⁴

Throughout the centuries various elements of pagan celebrations have been included in the observance of Christmas. It is due to these “other-than-Christian” elements that the central focus of Christmas on the incarnation has been obscured. If we are to truly enter into the spirit and celebration of Christmas in Christian worship than we must focus our attention on the event of the incarnation, which is the heart of the Christmas message.

(2) The Doctrine of the Incarnation is Not Only Neglected by Christians Today, It is Under Attack By Those Who Would Call Themselves “Christians.”

While our culture is very open to “super-beings” who are fictional, there has been increased hostility and opposition to the biblical doctrine of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. In history there have been those who have sought to handle the difficulties of the incarnation by sacrificing either the deity of Christ (e.g. the Ebionites) or his humanity (e.g. the Docetists). Quite recently there has been a bold attack on the doctrine of the incarnation made by a group of theologians, whose essays have been published under the title, The Myth of God Incarnate (S.C.M., 1977).⁵ In no uncertain terms the incarnation is dismissed as a myth, along with other fundamental doctrines of the faith:

Michael Goulder astonishingly attributes belief in the deity of Christ to the supposed influence of Simon Magus on the Church, and also to the psychological impact of Peter’s experience of the (mythical!) resurrection, and the subsequent “power of hysteria within a small community.”⁶

But what in fact they seem to be doing, at least in the recent symposium, is to evacuate the divine element from Jesus just as surely as they have done it with Scripture. They are denying not merely Nicene and Chalcedonian definitions of Christ but the basic truth which these definitions sought, in the cultural heritage of their own day to express, that Jesus shared to nature of God as well as our nature. They are not reinterpreting traditional Christology but abandoning it.⁷

“Christianity is always adapting into something which can be believed” is a presupposition of the essayists in this symposium; so much so that it is quoted in the first paragraph of the book. And miracles cannot be believed. The miracles of Jesus must be repudiated, because miracles do not happen: so ran the message of the film Who Was Jesus?, directed by one of the contributors to The Myth of God Incarnate.⁸

A study of the incarnation of our Lord is therefore not only necessary in order to properly observe Christmas, but also to preserve the purity of sound doctrine, which has come under attack at this very point.

The doctrine of the incarnation provides the Christian with a doctrinal touchstone to determine a departure from orthodoxy:⁹

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world (I John 4:1-3).

(3) The Doctrine of the Incarnation is Frequently the Point of Departure for Those Who Reject the Christian Faith.

We have already stated that the doctrine of the incarnation is central to a biblical Christian celebration of Christmas and that it is a truth currently under attack. But the doctrine of the incarnation is also one which is vital to the Christian faith because other biblical doctrines will stand or fall with it. Where men stand on the doctrine of the incarnation often defines the dividing line between orthodoxy and heresy, between true Christianity and the cults:

This is the real stumbling-block in Christianity. It is here that Jews, Moslems, Unitarians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and many of those who feel the difficulties above mentioned (about the virgin birth, the miracles, the atonement, and the resurrection), have come to grief.¹⁰

The uniqueness of the Christian faith is directly related to the biblical teaching of the incarnation of Christ:

The Christian doctrine of the incarnation is one of the two central doctrines which set out the unique features of Christian faith in God. Christianity shares with some other religions belief in an infinite and transcendent God, the source of the world’s being and of all its values. It recognizes that in every part of the world, traditions of religious belief and religious experience have made it possible for men and women to enjoy the blessedness of spiritual life and of the knowledge and love of God. But the Christian doctrine of the incarnation expresses the conviction of Christians that this God has made himself known full, specifically and personally, by taking our human nature into himself, by coming amongst us as a particular man, without in any way ceasing to be the eternal and infinite God.¹¹

The Purposes of the Incarnation

Perhaps the best way to underscore the importance of the doctrine of the incarnation is to consider the price for putting it aside. The Bible reveals a number of purposes for the incarnation of our Lord. When we do away with the incarnation, these purposes will not be realized. Consider with me the consequences of doing away with the truth of God incarnate.

(1) To Reveal God To Men

In the past, God had revealed Himself through His works (as recorded in the Scriptures), His world (Psalm 19:1-6), and His word (Ps. 19:7-14). In the coming of Christ, God was revealed in the person of Jesus Christ:

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb. 1:1-3a).

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him (John 1:17-18).

Our Lord can therefore say without any hesitation, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). And not only does the Lord Jesus reveal the Father to men, He also reveals men for what they are in God’s sight:

In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it . . . . There was a true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him (John 1:4-5, 9-10).

Before, God had revealed His standard of righteousness in precept and in principle, but in Christ that standard was revealed in person. The “measure of a man” is the measure of this Man (cf. Eph. 4:13).

The Lord clearly claimed to be the very One whom the apostles represented as the incarnate Son of God (John 1:1; 6:38; II Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:6,7; Gal. 4:4-5). To refuse to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as God incarnate is therefore to reject all of God’s divine revelation, be that the Old or the New Testament Scriptures (cf. John 5:39-40; 6:45, 68; 8:26, 31-32, 42-47; Matt. 22:29).

It is little wonder, then, that those who reject the biblical teaching of the incarnation also reject the authority of the Scriptures which so emphatically teach this doctrine. James Barr’s words are the logical outworking of his rejection of the doctrine of the incarnation:

My account of the formation of the biblical tradition is an account of a human work. It is man’s statement of his beliefs, the events he has experienced, the stories he has been told, and so on. It has long been customary to align the Bible with concepts like Word of God, or revelation, and on effect has been to align the Bible with a movement from God to man.

It is man who developed the biblical tradition and man who decided when it might be suitably fixed and made canonical. If one wants to use the Word of God type of language, the proper term for the Bible would be Word of Israel, Word of some leading Christians.¹²

(2) To Redeem Fallen Man

Nothing could be more clearly documented in the Scriptures than the fact that the principle purpose of the incarnation was to save men from their sins:

“For the son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10; cf. Matt. 9:13; Mark 10:45).

But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (Gal. 4:4-5).

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all (I Tim. 1:15; cf. I Jn. 4:10).

Rightly, then, Dr. B. B. Warfield concludes:

Eliminate sin as the proximate occasion and redemption as the prime end of the Incarnation, and none of the other relations in which it stands, and none of the other effects which flow from it, will be fulfilled, at least in the measure of their rights.¹³

The inseparable relationship of the incarnation of Christ and the atonement can be seen at the communion table. In our church we observe the Lord’s ordinance of communion weekly. Here, we are reminded that our salvation has been obtained through the shed blood of Christ on the cross of Calvary. What two elements are used to represent the work of Christ on man’s behalf? They are the bread and the wine. Both these elements are evidence of the necessity of the incarnation. The bread is a symbol of the body--the human body of our Lord which was given for man’s salvation. The unleavened bread reminds us that His body was without sin, which was also a result of the incarnation of our Lord. And the cup symbolizes the blood of our Lord which was shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Blood could not have been shed apart from a human body. Thus, the atonement which our Lord accomplished for us was dependent upon the incarnation. To put in more directly, “apart from the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins” (Heb. 9:22), and apart from a human body, there could be no shedding of blood (cf. Heb. 10:5-10).

We should hardly be surprised that Satan would choose to give his best efforts at undermining the doctrine of the incarnation, for it is foundational to man’s redemption. Dr. Hick, one of the authors of The Myth of God Incarnate, is quick to draw the conclusion that once the incarnation is set aside, Christianity has no special or exclusive claim to redemption:

The problem which has come to the surface in the encounter of Christianity with the other world religions is this: If Jesus was literally God incarnate, and if it is by his death alone that men can be saved, and by their response to him alone that they can appropriate that salvation, then the only doorway to eternal life is the Christian faith. It would follow from this that the large majority of the human race so far have not been saved. But is it credible that the loving God and Father of all men has decreed that only those born within one particular thread of human history shall be saved? (p. 180).¹⁴

The entire matter of man’s eternal salvation hinges upon the argument which is found in Romans chapter 5. The question underlying this chapter has to do with how the righteousness of one man, Jesus Christ, is able to save many. The answer is that it was through the sin of one man, Adam (5:12, 14-15) constituted the entire human race to be sinful before God and thus worthy only of His eternal wrath. The solution which God has provided is Christ, the ‘second Adam’ (5:14, I Cor. 15:45), whose righteousness will save all who are “in Him” by faith:

For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. so then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men (Romans 5:17-18).

Satan seeks to undermine man’s salvation by attacking the truths of Romans chapter 5 from both sides. On the one hand he seeks to deceive men so that they will not believe there was any Adam (evolution can be used very effectively here), thus there is no one sinful act which condemns the entire race. The result is that man is no longer a sinner by nature. If man is not a sinner, under divine wrath, then he surely needs no such thing as salvation.

Secondly, Satan seeks to deceive us as the “last Adam,” Jesus Christ. By corrupting the biblical doctrine of the incarnation Satan can bring us to the “logical” conclusion that since Jesus Christ was not God manifested in the flesh, He was not the one and only means of procuring man’s salvation. One man’s way of getting to heaven is as good as another’s.

Once the doctrine of the incarnation is set aside, the whole matter of redemption through the person and work of Christ is scuttled. And thus we find a great deal of controversy surrounding this vital doctrine.

(3) God’s Initial Purpose for Man, as Well as His Ultimate Purpose, is that Man Will Reign Over His Creation.

When man was created and placed in the Garden of Eden, he was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). While there is a great deal of discussion about all that is meant by the phrase “in Our image” one aspect of this is that man will, like God, rule:

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Gen. 1:26, emphasis mine).

When Adam fell, all mankind, indeed all creation (cf. Rom. 8:20-22), fell, and chaos resulted. Man’s rule is at best, distorted. God’s promise, both to Israel and to the church, is that His people will be a “kingdom of priests” who will reign with Him (Exod. 19:6; I Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10). This reign will be established when the Messiah comes to the earth to subdue it and to rule over it. The Messiah was to be of the offspring of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3), of the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:8-12), and of the seed of David (II Sam. 7:12-16).

In the gospels we find the genealogy of our Lord establishing Him as one of the descendants of Abraham, Judah, and David, as a legal (but not biological) son of Joseph (cf. Matt. 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38). In the accounts of the birth of our Lord there is a decided emphasis upon the promises which God had made to the Israelites of old, and especially those which pertained to the righteous reign of Messiah:

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the “Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:30-33; cf. Matt. 2:2, 6; Luke 1:49-54; 68-75).

Strange as it may seem, it was not enough that the second person of the Godhead was truly God--He must also be man in order to fulfill God’s purposes and His promises to man. The reason is that God’s purposes and God’s promises were made to man, as man. It was man who was made in God’s image, and who was destined to rule over His creation. It was a man who must fulfill God’s purposes and promises. Fallen man neither could nor would fulfill God’s purposes, due to his sin. Thus, a new man, a “second Adam” must intervene in human history. This man must also be free from all sin. To fulfill the scriptures He must also be divine (we shall study this more in our next lesson). In order for God’s purposes and promises to be fulfilled, the incarnation must occur. When the incarnation did take place, those who witnessed the event were assured that God’s reign (and thus the reign of the faithful) would now be established on the earth.

The importance of the humanity of Christ (thus, the incarnation) is underscored by the writer to the Hebrews in the second chapter of his epistle. He is writing of the superiority of Christ to the angels. In verses 6-8, he turns to Psalm 8, applying the verses which speak of the dignity and glory of man, in that he has been appointed to “rule over the works of Thy hands” (v. 7b). Not only is the writer using this psalm to speak of Christ, but to speak of Him who will reign as man. In verses 4 and 5 the author goes on to show that it was necessary for the Lord Jesus Christ to take on human flesh in order to minister to His brethren. The Messiah who was to reign, would do so as man.

In the 10th chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews the point is clearly made that the Lord Jesus, of necessity, had to add humanity to His deity:

Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering Thou hast not desired, But a body Thou hast prepared for Me” (Heb. 10:5).

Do you see the importance of the incarnation to the future hopes of both Israelites and the church? The return of the Lord and the establishment of His kingdom will only occur for men when God does so as man. When our Lord added humanity to His deity, He did so for all eternity. It is as the God-Man that He will return and He will reign, and we with Him. Do away with the incarnation and both the purposes and the promises of God are worthless.

(4) The Present Ministry of Christ is also One Which has Greater Meaning Because of His Incarnation.

Our salvation, accomplished in the past by the death of Christ on the cross and fully realized in His second coming and reign is contingent upon His humanity. In between the past and the future there is yet another ministry which our Lord carries on as man:

For there is one god, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time (I Tim. 2:5-6, emphasis mine).

At the present time, while the Son waits for the Father’s word to return to the earth and subdue His enemies (cf. I Cor. 15:20-28; Rev. 5). In this present time the Lord Jesus is our advocate with the Father (I John 2:1). His present high priestly role has special relevance to us because He has come to the earth as man, making Him a compassionate and understanding advocate and source of strength and encouragement:

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted (Heb. 2:17-18).

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:14-16).

The consequences of denying or rejecting the incarnation of our Lord are substantial, as we have seen. This is due, in part, because our Lord’s incarnation is eternal. What He became in the manger centuries ago, is what He shall forever be--the God-Man. To deny the incarnation is to deny the virgin birth, the miracles of our Lord, His substitutionary atonement, and His bodily resurrection. In effect, to deny the incarnation is to deny all. To accept the incarnation is to believe in all:

It is from misbelief, or at least inadequate belief, about the incarnation that difficulties at other points in the gospel story usually spring. But once the incarnation is grasped as a reality, these other difficulties dissolve . . . . Once we grant that Jesus was divine, it becomes unreasonable to find difficulty in any of this; it is all of a piece, and hangs together completely. The incarnation is in itself an unfathomable mystery, but it makes sense of everything else that the New Testament contains.¹⁵

If, indeed, the Bible is correct in teaching us that our destiny is inseparably linked to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ (which Romans 5 and many other texts emphatically demonstrate), then to deny the incarnation is to undermine the very core of our faith.

The Importance of the Principle of Incarnation

Incarnation is not just a debate about something which took place 2,000 years ago in history. The issues at hand in the incarnation of our Lord are matters of principle which have very practical ramifications. The broader issue of the incarnation is the relationship between the divine and the human, between the sovereign working of God and the human responsibility of man.

Let me attempt to illustrate what I mean by referring to the issue of the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures. The real question lying behind the issue of the inspiration and infallibility of the Scriptures is whether anything which is dependent upon human participation can be said to be divine and without error. To deny the incarnation is to deny the deity or the humanity (or both) of our Lord. Such a denial is to conclude that it is impossible for our Lord to be both undiminished deity and sinless humanity at the same time. To conclude this about the living Word is to necessitate doing so with the written word.

The underlying principle here is the relationship between the divine and the human. One of the most pressing problems for the Christian is how can God (the divine) indwell and manifest Himself in the human (me). To deny that the divine and human can be joined together in any practical or personal way is to deny the essence of our salvation and sanctification, for when we are born again we become one with God and He with us. To live the spiritual life is to be joined with Him in whatever we do. The Christian is urged to exert himself because of the divine enablement which God has provided, thus merging divinity and humanity, divine power manifested in human weakness (cf. Rom. 12:1-2; II Pet. 1:3-11).

The Importance of the Implications of the Incarnation

The doctrine of the incarnation implies several truths which the Bible elsewhere verifies. Let us conclude by considering what the incarnation of our Lord implies to us, which we dare not ignore.

(1) The Doctrine of the Incarnation Informs us of the Depravity of Man and of His Desperate Condition Apart from Divine Intervention.

Hopefully it has become clear that the incarnation involved a great condescension on the part of the second person of the Godhead. While there was much humiliation in His death, there was also humiliation in His incarnation (cf. II Cor. 8:9). The fact that God was willing to “stoop” to identifying with man in the incarnation of our Lord is evidence to the utter fallenness of mankind. Surely God would never have considered the incarnation unless there was no possible means by which man could save himself. The incarnation implies what the first three chapters of the Book of Romans boldly asserts--that man was totally, irreversibly, lost, if left to himself. Man neither could, nor would, choose to save himself.

The point is simply to be stated in this way: if the cure requires drastic measures, the ailment is severe. No one would conceive of allowing the doctor to remove a limb to cure an infection which could be treated by antibiotics. But if the ailment were a cancer that would kill the patient, then a limb is gladly sacrificed to preserve the life. No cure is more drastic than that of the incarnation and the cross. Man’s problem of sin is indeed fatal.

(2) The Doctrine of the Incarnation Informs us of God’s Desire and His Ability to Save Fallen Man.

If we would wish to attempt to fathom the love of God for fallen man, let us ponder the wonder of the incarnation. While it is usually to the cross that we turn our attention to ponder the love of God, we must recognize that, as someone has said, “the wood of the cradle and the wood of the cross are the same.” The cradle was but the first step to the cross. And it is by that cradle that we should seek to ponder the willingness and the ability of God to save men from their sins.

(3) The Doctrine of the Incarnation Warns us of the Folly of Rejecting Salvation in Christ and Substituting Our Own Efforts.

I have suggested (and I acknowledge this logical argument may have its flaws) that if man were not hopelessly lost, God would hardly have sent his Son to the cradle or the cross. If the salvation of man takes such drastic measures as a cradle and a cross, surely God is rightly angered by man’s efforts to save himself and thereby rejecting the person and the work of God’s Son. Because God has chosen to save sinners by sending His only begotten Son, surely God is righteous to demand that men find salvation only in His Son. How foolish it is to seek to stand before God in any righteousness which rejects Jesus Christ, God incarnate.

We shall shortly return to our study of the Book of Revelation. When we study chapters 6 and following we must agree with the writer to the Hebrews who has said (in a different context),

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the furry of fire which will consume the adversaries . . . . It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:26-27, 31).

What a wonderful, and reassuring view of God we have in the cradle, and on the cross. But for those who refuse the Christ of the gospels, they must face the Christ of the Book of Revelation, Who will subdue His enemies.

1 1Cf. The Truth of God Incarnate (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1977), Michael Green, ed., pp. 36-39.

2 Ibid, pp. 39-41.

3 Clement of Alexandria, toward the close of the 2nd cent. A.D., cites diverse views concerning the date of Christ’s birth among early churchmen (Stromata, Bk. 1, Ch. 21).

“Augustine points to the prevailing tradition in the 5th cent. among western churches concerning the birth of Christ and the observance of Christmas. ‘For He is believed to have been conceived on the 25th of March, upon which day also He suffered; . . . But He was born according to tradition upon December the 25th” (De Trinitate, Bk. IV, Ch. 5).” G. Lambert, “Christmas,” The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975, 1976), I, p. 804.

4 Ibid.

5 The major arguments of this book are summarized: (1) The idea of ‘incarnation’, that God became man in Jesus of Nazareth, is a construction built upon the New Testament and not found in it. (2) We must recognize that the idea of ‘incarnation’ is a myth. (3) Jesus was a real man born in normal fashion, a child of Mary and Joseph. He did not exist before his conception and birth. (4) The significance of Jesus lies in his ‘faith-response’ to God. (5) Christ’s Sonship can be seen as a development from the idea of God’s ‘man’ to that of God’s son, by analogy. The later full-blooded conception of God’s only Son was a mistaken development. (6) Jesus is not different in kind from other men. (7) His death was martyrdom which crowned his life and activated his mission. Taken from: George Carey, God Incarnate: Meeting the Contemporary Challenges to a Classic Christian Doctrine (Downers Grove: Inter Varsity Press, 1978), pp. 7-8.

6 The Truth of God Incarnate, p. 17.

7 Ibid, p. 109.

8 Ibid, p. 111.

9 It should be noted, therefore, that one of the authors of The Myth of God Incarnate, Maurice Wiles, is chairman of the Church of England’s Doctrine Commission.

10 J. I. Packer, Knowing God, (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1973), p. 46. In this 5th chapter, entitled “God Incarnate,” Packer does an excellent job of underscoring the importance of the doctrine of the incarnation.

11 The Truth of God Incarnate, p. 101.

12 As quoted in The Truth of God Incarnate, pp. 108-109. To deny the incarnation of our Lord necessitates the rejection of divine revelation (the Bible) which clearly teaches it. The normal sequence of events is that the denial of the incarnation is the final step of rejecting divine revelation, not the first step. Usually man begins by denying the authority and the message of the Bible and the final departure is to deny the incarnation. In the preface to the book, The Truth of God Incarnate, Michael Green summarizes the sequence of events which led to the publication of the book, The Myth of God Incarnate.

13 Selected Shorter Writings of Benjamin B. Warfield, (Nutley, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1970), ed. by John E. Meeter, I, p. 143.

14 Quoted in The Truth of God Incarnate, p. 116.

15 Packer, Knowing God, pp. 46-47.

Philippians: The Unconquerable Gospel

Source URL: http://bible.org/seriespage/importance-incarnation

CHRIST'S INCARNATION--The True Reason for the Season!

2010-12-06T08:41:00.002-06:00

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

INTRODUCTION

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. My family just loves this time of year. In our home we have decided to pick names due to the growing of our family. We now have 5 children and 2 significant others in the mix to buy Christmas presents for; therefore we decided to exchange names and then buy one large gift that will benefit the whole family—what it is, only Judy and I know at this point.

I have decided to take patriarchal liberties and opted to buy my fantastic wife some additional presents. This came as an epiphany to me (not really, but it sounds good) while we were shopping at an outlet mall in Gulf Shores, Alabama during our Thanksgiving vacation.

One of the reasons we like Christmas so much is because it brings church bodies and family together to celebrate. Next week our church (Broadlands Bible Church) will be having a celebration of Christmas with adults and children singing in celebration of the birth of Christ.

All celebrations, whether Christmas or not, have their serious and funny moments, especially with children involved. A magazine had this little “ditty” in it that brings this point to bear: A little boy and girl were singing their favorite Christmas carol in church the Sunday before Christmas. The boy concluded "Silent Night" with the words, "Sleep in heavenly beans." "No," his sister corrected, "not beans, peas." I am sure that you and your family have had some funny moments in your celebrations as well.

Somehow though in our celebrations, we have lost the true reason for the season. Instead of coming to terms with the true meaning of Christmas we have become enamored with a newborn infant in a manger. Instead of coming to terms with the true meaning of Christmas we have become enamored with gifts and family reunions. Instead of coming to terms with the true meaning of Christmas we have become enamored with all of the peripheral things, the physical things, the celebrations instead of the purpose of our celebrations. We have forgotten the true reason for the season. Don’t get me wrong, all of the things I mentioned are not bad, but we must remember to keep the main thing, the main thing.

Many believers say that Jesus is the reason for season, but really is that the true reason for the season? Yes, we celebrate the birth of Jesus at this time, but there is a deeper meaning: A more emphatic meaning; a much more important meaning; a meaning that is far greater than what the church many times actually celebrates. The reason for this season is to celebrate the beginning of a 33 year journey to the ultimate redemption of mankind. The reason for this season is to celebrate the beginning of a fulfillment of prophecies foretold through the Old Testament beginning right after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden given in Genesis 3:15.

The reason for this season is to celebrate the incarnation of Christ. Christ coming “in the flesh” to live a perfect life as an example of and the messenger and originator of the Good News—The Gospel—that He brought for man to be redeemed.

Christ’s incarnation meaning Christ’s coming to earth “in the flesh” is a mystery that we will not fully understand until we are in glory with Him. The great church reformer, Martin Luther said: The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.

BACKGROUND

John chapter 1 verses 1-18 give us a very detailed explanation of the incarnation. For us to understand what the incarnation is all about in verse 14 it is important to understand an overview of the verses leading up to it.

Verses 1-2 show the deity of Christ (that He in fact was God) and that He existed before all things were created. Verse 1 names Christ as the Word and that this word was with God and that this word was God. Verse 2 explains that He (Christ) was there in the beginning.

Verses 3-5 explain who Christ is: The creator—vs. 3; The life—vs. 4 and the light—vs. 5.

Verses 6-8 tell us who John the Baptist was. He was The forerunner of Christ or The one who announced Christ’s coming and message. John the Baptist was Christ’s “Sargent at Arms”. If you recall, the Sargent at Arms announces when the president comes into the House Chambers to give an address. I specifically remember when President Obama gave his State of the Union address that the Sargent at Arms came before the president as he entered saying: Madam Speaker: The President of the United States! John the Baptist did very much the same thing—He was the announcer of Christ. Verse 6 tells us that John the Baptist was a man sent from God. Verse 7 said that He was a witness of the light and verse 8 made clear that even though he was a witness of the light; He was not the light.

Verses 9-11 explain in more detail what Christ’s coming to earth did. Verse 9 explains that Christ, as the true light, enlightens every man. This doesn’t mean that every man will get saved or that every man will have the holy spirit but it means simply that Christ revealed himself to every man so that no man is without excuse. John MacArthur in his study Bible notes says: Through God’s sovereign power, every man has enough light to be responsible. God has planted His knowledge in man through general revelation in creation and conscience. The result of general revelation, however, does not produce salvation but either leads to the complete light of Jesus Christ or produces condemnation in those who reject such “light”. Verse 10 explains that even though Christ was in the world and even though he made the world those in the world did not know Him. Verse 11 gets more specific by saying that Christ came into the world that he made and “his own”–His people (the Jews)—rejected Him.

Verses 12-13 give us the specifics of salvation with verse 12 telling us how we must be saved which is by believing in His name and verse 13 explains that salvation is only through Christ.

Verse 14—explains in detail of Christ’s coming to earth which is THE TRUE REASON FOR THE SEASON. In this verse there are 3 things that I want us to see: 1. What Christ Became; 2. Where Christ Lived; and 3. What Christ Showed

WHAT CHRIST BECAME—And the Word became flesh

the Word

What does the word Word mean? Why did John use the word Word? Was it just a creative metaphor or was there a purpose? I believe that there were actually two purposes for John’s use of this word!

1. The Greek Word logos means more than just a simple utterance of syllables. It speaks of a decree or a mandate. It also speaks of prophecies given by the Old Testament Prophets. This word-Word-is a declaration and John is saying that Christ is the embodiment of the decrees and mandates of God. He is the fulfillment of the prophecies given by Old Testament Prophets. He is the declaration of the Gospel—HE IS THE GOOD NEWS.

This declaration; this mandate; this decree is God in the flesh—Jesus Christ. Remember what John 1:1 states: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This declaration is the creator; This mandate is the redeemer; This decree is from and is God Himself. This declaration is here! Christ is come!

2. The Greek Word logos, was a term that was familiar to both the Jews and the Gentiles.

a. This was a word that was used in the Old Testament and very familiar to the Jews. They understood the various decrees that the Lord gave such as when the Lord spoke creation into being. Psalms 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. They understood that the words used by the prophets as decrees when they gave messages directly from God and prophesied about His coming in the flesh. The Jews understood that God sent His word through these prophets. Now, in the New Testament, God sent His Word in the flesh. God sent the Gospel which was the embodiment of all those words and decrees from the Old Testament in the flesh who was Jesus Christ.

b. This also was a word that the Gentiles understood. It was a word that was used in Greek philosophy. This word logos brought along with it the idea of divine reason and wisdom even though John meant more than that and used it in terms of God’s decree.

This Word Logos was sent from God as his divine decree of the Gospel. This Word Logos was sent from God as the Redeemer of mankind and as Matthew 1:23 states "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." This Word Logos was sent from God and was God—God with us.

And the Word became flesh

The meaning of Christmas means so much more than a baby in the manger. The only son of God left the splendor of heaven; Knowing His destiny; Was the lonely hill of Golgotha; There to lay down His life for me; If that isn't love; Then the ocean is dry; There's no stars in the sky; And the sparrows can't fly; If that isn't love; Then heaven's a myth; There's no feeling like this; If that isn't love. This is the meaning of Christmas; A loving God sacrificing His son to the lowly humanness of mankind so that He could be an example here on earth and could ultimately give His life so that we could live.

Christ left His splendor behind to come and dwell in human form among sinful human beings so that we could have an example and be redeemed from our sins. Is there any more motivation that we need, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, to live for Him? Is there any more motivation that we need to stand with Paul and to say: For to me to live is Christ? Friends we are here as Christ’s children because the King of glory sent His son on our behalf and died on our behalf so that we could have life—John 10:10--I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

The meaning of Christmas is so hard for our human minds to comprehend--How an infinite God sent his infinite son to a finite and temporal world. The invisible became visible. The supernatural became natural even though He did not cease being God. Jesus was God incarnate—God in the flesh.—Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Not only did Christ come in the flesh but he lived on this earth.

WHERE CHRIST LIVED—And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us

Where did Christ live? He lived among us. Where did Christ live, specifically? He lived among His chosen people—He lived among the Jews.

dwelt

The Greek Word for dwelt literally means to live in a tabernacle or to tabernacle; to pitch a tent. This had historical significance to the Jews because God dwelt in the tabernacle when the Children of Israel were in the wilderness and God’s Shekinah Glory filled the place. The tabernacle was a temporary structure of worship that the Children of Israel used until the temple was built.

This word also spoke of his coming for a short time where he would fulfill his ministry on earth and leave. Christ basically pitched his tent on this earth—not for a permanent time but for a temporary period of time. In our younger days when our children were very young we used to go camping. Some of our best times camping were over the fourth of July when we would camp at Pioneer Park in Muskegon, Michigan with a bunch of friends from Maranatha Bible Church. The first few times we went, we camped in a tent—a bright purple and gray tent that was bought on sale for $79.99 at Sears. This certainly was a temporary dwelling place for us. We went to Pioneer Park for a temporary period of time—Fourth of July weekend; we fulfilled a specific purpose—fun and fellowship with friends from church and then we left. Christ did the same. His living on this earth was for a specific temporary time.

Where did Christ choose to live during His time on earth—among His chosen people the Jews—Even though they did not believe Him—Even though they ultimately rejected Him!!! He lived with them as an example and taught them the things of God.

What a lesson for us—Christ was sent for a particular time and a particular task on this earth and so are we, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been called to carry on Christ’s task here on earth. Our call is specific and important. Our call is to live out Christ’s example. Our call is to show others Christ whether they accept us or not. Sure we must be careful and loving but we must never ever compromise the Gospel.

The reason for the season is that Christ (the very son of God; the very King of Heaven; the very King of Glory) came in the flesh and lived among His people.

The last part of the verse then tells us what Christ showed.

WHAT CHRIST SHOWED—and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

and we saw His glory

When Christ came to earth—Christ was still divine—He was still deity—He was still 100% God. The evidence of who Christ was came through His glory—even though it was a veiled glory. If Christ would have shown much of His glory, no one could have been able to be in His presence—they would have died. It was too overwhelming; it was too glorious; it was too majestic for fallen man to behold.

This glory was not only a visible glory, it was a spiritual glory that only those who knew Him could see.

and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father

This glory was a true glory that only could have been shown by the Son of God Himself—Jesus. Jesus exhibited the same basic glory as His Father because they are one. This passage is clear that Jesus and God are one. To deny it is to deny God Himself. To deny it is to not believe that Jesus Himself is God.

Jesus’ glory was shown; it was the glory of no other than the very son of God and the two characteristics evident of His glory are grace and truth

and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

It could have been that John was recalling what he was taught at the feet of His father from Exodus 33:18 and 19 where Moses had asked God to show him His glory with the Lord answering in verse 19: "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you..." We don’t know for sure, but regardless, we see time and time again through Scripture that these two characteristics ring true of God’s nature.

God’s grace and His truth are primary characteristics of His glory. His grace shows his goodness and compassion to us as fallen sinners in need of a Savior. God’s grace—His unmerited favor—is shown time and time again throughout redemptive history. This is a grace that is pure and full. This is a grace that was extended to man through Christ so that we could come into a right relationship with God. This grace is a grace that is embodied in truth.

God’s glory not only shows a compassionate, gracious God, but a God whose glory is truth. His truth shows the perfection of His character—it is perfect righteousness that is the standard for His judgments. God’s truth tells us how to follow Christ and be like Him. This truth is revealed to us through God’s Word. John 17:17 says: Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. We can understand and come to know God’s glory through His truth. Christ coming in the flesh showed truth. He lived, taught, and modeled truth while he was here dwelling among His people

God’s glory shows an ultimate balance between the goodness, mercy and compassion of His grace and the perfect standard of his statutes and judgments in truth. As believers in Christ, we must seek and live according to that balance.

In the church today we have a problem with balance. There are those who speak about grace as some permissible way to allow sin to remain in the church. One man who has a wrong view of grace wrote: Grace lets us sin, because grace flows out of His love, and His love is freedom. We are free. That is not grace!!! Grace is being loving and compassionate to those who struggle with sin while showing them the unchangeable truths of God. Grace is guiding the sinner in ALL TRUTH!!! When we do this we truly are being gracious and truthful. When we do this, we truly are allowing God’s glory to shine through us and through the church. God’s glory is at stake in all we do. We must live for His glory-- 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us: Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

CONCLUSION

What is the true reason for the season? It is more than just a baby in a manger; it is more than gifts exchanged by an evergreen tree; it is more than kissing girls under the mistletoe. It is the incarnation of Jesus Christ. It is understanding that the King of Glory came to earth to be an example and die for the redemption of mankind. It is understanding that the King of Glory brought His Good News, the Gospel, for the salvation of all those who believe. It is understanding the importance of living out the Gospel as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Christian life is not about us—it is not about us being fulfilled—IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM. It is about His glory.

Christ coming in the flesh to earth to live as an example and to redeem mankind is truly the reason for the season.

Blogging Through James--James 1:14-16

2010-08-02T15:36:00.010-06:00

Whose fault is it anyway???

“Did the devil make me do it???”

James 1:14-16

14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

INTRODUCTION

We have studied trials and now we are studying temptations.

Dwight Pentecost explains the difference between trials and temptations in his book, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ: What is temptation? Seduction to evil, solicitation to wrong. It stands distinguished from trial thus: trial tests, seeks to discover the man's moral qualities or character; but temptation persuades to evil, deludes, that it may ruin. The one means to undeceive, the other to deceive. The one aims at the man's good, making him conscious of his true moral self; but the other at his evil, leading him more or less unconsciously into sin. God tries; Satan tempts.[i]

There is a big difference between trials and temptations. Trials seek to build the believer up in Christ while temptations seek to destroy the believer. Trials seek to grow a believer in Christ and temptations seek to stunt and kill a believer’s growth in Christ.

We saw in James 1:13 that God is not the source of temptation. So, What is the source of temptation? Some seek to play the blame game. Ted Haggard, the former head of the National Association of Evangelicals and pastor of a mega-church in Colorado Springs Said that the reason for yielding to the temptation of extra marital affairs with a man and the use of drugs was due to abuse in his childhood. Adam and Eve played the blame game when God confronted them regarding their disobedience. Adam blamed Eve in Genesis 3:12 by saying: "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." Eve, in turn, blamed the devil in Genesis 3:13 by saying: "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

We know that God is not the source of temptation, James 1:13 is clear on that. So what is the source of temptation? We want to look at what James tells us is the source of temptation in verses 14-16.

· Verse 14 gives us The Cause of Temptations

· Verse 15 gives us The Concept of Temptations

· Verse 16 gives us The Counsel Regarding Temptations

THE CAUSE—14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

We are the source of our temptations !!!

“The Devil didn’t make us do it”, even though the devil may assist in the attraction of sin, he ultimately does not make us commit the act. Yes, it is imperative that we resist him, James 4:7 says that we are to Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. But ultimately he does not have that sort of power over us, because we are believers--Believers in the one true God. Negative situations don’t make us do it and God certainly is not the cause. So what is the cause? It is us and our lusts. Isn’t it hard for us to come to terms with that? Let’s study this verse a bit further.

Each believer is tempted-- But each one is tempted Just as sure as trials will come, temptation will come. Again, we have a choice to make and the choice is whether or not we will yield to the temptation. There is no way around temptation—We do not live in a vacuum. We are a sinful people who have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb and unfortunately, We live in a sinful world. That’s just the way it is. Each of us is tempted and this struggle will go on in our lives until we get to heaven where there is no presence of sin.

So you may be asking: How are we tempted? We know it is us, but how does it happen? James says it happens when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Each of us is built with different interests and desires. Some like politics, others like cars, still others like gardening and the list goes on. None of those things in themselves are wrong until they become an obsessive craving.

What is lust? “Lust” comes from the Greek word Epithumia it refers to a deep strong driving desire or longing of any sort. Depending on its context this word can refer to good or bad desires. Desires in themselves are not sin however, when those desires take place outside of God’s intended plan or are obsessed about, they become bad desires. 1 John 2:16 tells us what feeds our desires— the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life. This speaks of obsessive cravings that are beyond the good desires that we should have. When our desires control us they carry us away into sin. My dad always told when I was doing something that I was real passionate about –“Don’t get carried away”. When our desires control us we are enticed into sin. Many want to equate lust just with bad sexual desires and especially in our culture, that is true, however, the lust that James is speaking of here is much more than that. He is speaking about any desire that becomes an obsessive craving. A desire that has left the parameters that God intended for it and has caused us to sin.

The terms carried away and enticed are hunting and fishing terms used during those times.

The Greek word for carried away-- ἐξέλκω--exelkō means to draw out; to metaphorically lure forth: in hunting and fishing as game is lured from its hiding place, so man by lure is allured from the safety of self-restraint to sin[ii]. This term was used more in hunting, to speak of a baited trap that was designed to attract an animal. Sometimes snares were used and sometimes food was put out with the hunter lying in wait ready to kill the animal. The idea of how a snare works finally made sense when a friend from church showed me how he uses them to trap coyotes. Once anything is trapped in that snare, there is no way out. The picture was finally cemented and made clear in my mind when 2 Timothy speaks of the snares of the devil.

The Greek word for Enticed—δελεάζω—deleazō means to bait, catch by a bait; metaphorically to allure, entice, deceive. This was a fishing term where the fisherman would entice the fish with attractive bait. Depending on how, what and where you are fishing, you will use different bait. Different bait attracts different fish. When we are solicited to do evil we are enticed by attractive bait. When our desires get away from us we are lured to do bad things—We are tempted. All of us are not lured by the same thing in the same way. Things that lure us and the ways that we are lured depend on our interests and desires and the reason this is a problem is because of sin.

Remember that James is speaking to believers here and he is emphasizing that even though we have been redeemed we struggle with the flesh. IT IS SO CRUCIAL THAT WE LET THE LORD BE AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES AND NOT OUR DESIRES. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 …If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. Someone must reign in our lives and someone will reign in our lives. If it is God who reigns in us, then we will not be lured into the trap of sin by our desires, instead, victory will come over temptation because we have denied ourselves and followed Christ. On the other hand if our desires reign in us, then we will yield to temptation. Verse 15 tells us how this happens: It gives us THE CONCEPT of what happens when we yield to the evil that is put in front of us.

THE CONCEPT—15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

When we give in to our desires there is a process that is put into motion. This process in many ways is likened to a baby being born. In my younger more immature days, I had a Bible Study in church and I called the study of this verse the ‘PREGNANT LADY’, needless to say my title did not get rave reviews but the concept rings true.

Bringing a child into the world begins with Conception-- Then when lust has conceived. When our desires get the best of us and when we are carried away and enticed to do evil by going too far with our desires an obsessive craving is conceived. No longer is that desire good. Instead of just admiring that 1972 Candy Apple Red Chevelle with Chrome mags, a Holly 4 barrel, 4 on the floor with a kicking pioneer stereo that sports a 100 amp per channel stereo and a JVC equalizer. You begin to want it, matter of fact you begin to crave it, no, you begin to covet it and figure out how you can adjust your budget for this $12,000 purchase. There is nothing you can think about except that car. You obsess about it to the point that you have to buy it. You know it isn’t the right thing to do. You know your wife is not gonna be happy about it, ‘cause you have already spoken to her about it and her answer was—FORGET ABOUT IT.

Unfortunately, the process has already been put into motion and THERE IS NO TURNING BACK. The birth is now inevitable— it gives birth to sin--there is no reverse button. You are beyond the point of no return because you have yielded to the temptation. When you yield to temptation, you forget about the things that are important to: Your family, your bills, your retirement and you buy this classic car. This car is not bad, matter of fact, it is beautiful; it is in great shape and it even is good transportation. But you cannot afford it and you do not need it and it most likely has caused financial problems because you have not planned for it. It simply was something to appease an obsessive desire. The harvest of this yielding to temptation is not far off…

What is reaped are the results of our yielding to temptation— and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. That beautiful car is still beautiful but the insurance is terribly high; the gas mileage is prohibitive; your wife’s anger is difficult to deal with; you have a hard time paying the bills and looking back you wish you never had given in to your fleshly desires.

The car story illustrates the point of the destructive nature of succumbing to temptation. Each of us can give examples how this has happened in our lives. If you are me, you can give multiple examples. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

It is not wrong to have desires until they become unhealthy by enticing and carrying us away. Once we give in it is too late, we have deceived ourselves into thinking that WE CAN DO THIS, when in reality WE CAN’T DO THIS. We have let our flesh be our master instead of the true master – Jesus Christ. If we are left to our desires and we let them reign, sin is accomplished and it brings forth death--this is not speaking of spiritual death. Please remember that this book is speaking to believers and we know that once we are saved we are always saved. It does mean that sometimes God decides to kill believers because of their sin like Ananias & Safira in Acts 5. It also means that believers will pay the consequences for their sin – This is inevitable!!! Believers even though they are forgiven and even though God forgives, still reap the consequences of sin. That is why James counsels us in verse 16 by saying: Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

THE COUNSEL—16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Can believers be deceived? Yes, believers can be deceived!!! Even with the best of intentions, believers can be deceived.

I want to give 3 tools that will help us to not be deceived and it all stems on living out the principles of God’s Word.

1. Read, Study and Meditate on Scripture

· It guides us: Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

· It keeps us from sin: Psalms 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

2. Delight in God

· Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

3. Seek first God’s Kingdom

· Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

CONCLUSION

So…who is dictating your life? Christ or self? If it is self, make it right with God now. If it is Christ, thank Him for the power He has given to you over temptation.

If you are not a believer and are solely living by your desires, there is a different and much better way. Turn your life to Christ today. You may be asking how can I do that? All you have to do is simply believe in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. You then may be asking what does that mean and how do I do it? There are 4 things that you must do:

Realize you are a sinner. We all have sinned and therefore we have been separated from God and fallen short of His Glory, because of our choice to sin, we deserve to be punished. This punishment is death!

Romans 3:23—For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

2. Recognize that the Son of God died on the cross for you and that without Christ you will pay the penalty of sin which is death!

Romans 6:23—For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Repent from your sin and old ways of thinking. The word "repent" literally means, "to change your mind”. So you need to be willing to turn away from sin and turn to God. This does not mean you have to stop sinning before God will accept you! It is rather a desire and willingness to turn away from sin and what is wrong. It is essential that you come to him as you are. Don't try "to clean up your life" before you come to God. Instead, receive Christ and allow Him to do the cleansing. Repentance is a response to what Christ does in you. He causes your mind to change which in turn causes your actions and your heart to change as well.

2 Corinthians 7:10—For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Notice it is "receiving" and "believing" in Christ that will make you a child of God; not "being good"! Salvation from eternal death is as easy as receiving Jesus Christ by faith. When you put your trust in Him and what He did for you on the cross, He will forgive all your sins, past, present and future!
Ephesians 2:8-9—For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

If you would like more information on knowing Christ email me at broadlandsbiblechurch@gmail.com . I would love nothing more than to show you how to come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!

TIM BERGEN

[i] The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, J.D. Pentecost, p. 99.

[ii] Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.

Looking at Truth

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Not that numbers mean anything but...

Here are this year's top articles (none of which were written this year) for LOOKING AT TRUTH.

THE OPRAH CULT and THE UNITY SCHOOL OF CHRISTIANITY--Tim Bergen

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THE MEANING OF THE WORD "WOMEN" IN 1 TIMOTHY 3:11--Tim Bergen

DR. PETER MASTERS' (Pastor of The Metropolitan Tabernacle) VIEW ON PIPER'S CHRISTIAN HEDONISM--Dr. Peter Masters

ROB BELL AND GENESIS?--Don Rawson

ROB BELL: "You are a living Eucharist."--Tim Bergen

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Not all are to be missionaries. But all are to tap into the joy of this great global cause of Christ.

There is a Global Gladness to Be Had

What Are We Saved For???

PICTURES OF FAITHFULNESS

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Parts 4-7

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 4

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 5

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 6

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 7

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 3

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 2

What Is Wrong with NON-Lordship Salvation? - Part 1

A BIBLICAL LOOK AT TONGUES

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WHY I AM A DISPENSATIONALIST by Paul J. Scharf

THE ELECTRUM by Dr. Kevin Bauder

All Mortal Vanities, BegoneIsaac Watts (1674–1748)

I WISH

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

The Importance of the Incarnation

The Purposes of the Incarnation

The Importance of the Principle of Incarnation

The Importance of the Implications of the Incarnation

CHRIST'S INCARNATION--The True Reason for the Season!

Blogging Through James--James 1:14-16

THE MEANING OF THE WORD "WOMEN" IN 1 TIMOTHY 3:11 --Tim Bergen

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Isaac Watts (1674–1748)