Candlelight Christian Fellowship
January 2007
Glory
to the Lord
This year I plan to write a series on current trends in the church. This
month I want to begin with an insight into the glorious grace of God.
When believers get to heaven we will declare, “You are worthy, O Lord,
to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your
will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)
We will declare, “You are worthy (for)…You were slain, and have
redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and
nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the
earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)
We will exclaim, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10)
We will worship saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.” (Revelation 7:12)
In the verses above we find an excellent example of the many expressions
and declarations we will make when we get to heaven, but there is an unstated
truth here revealing so much more. In the declaration of praise to God there is
a complete absence of praise for human merit and glory! All the glory belongs to
the Lord.
The Apostles warned us that there would be many false teachings
introduced to the church. Human inspired - incremental grace is one of the false
teachings we should be guarded against. Any teaching that moves people from the
truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and toward a human centered / human assisted
righteousness is forbidden by Scripture. Church history is replete with examples
of this error and the array of incidents range from the very extreme to the very
subtle.
Those who embrace a human assisted salvation find it difficult to fully
embrace the verses cited above. In their view, placing ALL the worth, blessing,
glory and honor upon the Lord for salvation is unbalanced. The thoughts
supporting their view are summed up in the concept that they participated with
the Lord, made efforts and to some degree or another earned a bit of God’s
favor by both actions and intentions.
By
Grace Through Faith Alone
When a person believes people cannot get to
heaven, by faith in Christ alone, but add to faith the requirement of making any
or every effort to live a life pleasing to the Lord, that person has
embraced a performance based / human assisted Christianity.
Those who by genuine saving faith in Christ, who
have nonetheless been touched by this doctrine, will get to heaven and discover
afresh that all their righteous deeds are as filthy rags. Those
things thought to be instrumental and worthy of reward will be lost; the works
themselves tried by fire at the judgment seat of Christ. In the light of God’s
presence they will discover that any “good” they believe to have done is
lost and only those things manifest by God’s working within remain. At this
revelation they will say… ALL thanksgiving, blessing, glory, honor and power
be unto the Lord. No credit to us at all!
The subtleties are endless. If you believe that baptism, participation at
the Lord’s Table (Communion), praying more, fasting more, serving more, even
reading the Bible more, will make you more righteous, holier or cause God’s
favor to rest upon you in a greater way, you are wrong! For it is while we were
yet sinners Christ died for us. Furthermore, it is while we are yet sinners we
are made righteous by grace through faith alone. It’s all about His work in
us, not about our work in Him.
Please understand, I am not suggesting we neglect Bible reading, prayer,
etc. I am simply showing you that doing these things will not make you holy.
These actions will naturally flow from a believer’s life - truly surrendered.
We are made holy by the finished work of Christ. We are made holy by grace
through faith alone. It’s not about us! It’s all about Him!
Here is a test. Do you feel condemnation when you forget or even neglect
to read the Bible? How about when you fail to spend enough time in prayer? Do
you ever feel that God is disappointed with you? Have you felt that you have let
God down? Do you feel the need to inventory every sin in your life and confess
them one by one in order to be forgiven? What if you forget one? If you can say
yes to any of these questions you have need again to understand the true Gospel
and see the awesomeness of our God. You need to purge out the leaven of error
and embrace the true Gospel of grace. It is God who paid the price for our sin.
It is by His work we are saved, forgiven, and made righteous. Remember, “For
He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 6:21)
Oh Lord,
“You are worthy… You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your
blood…” (Revelation 5:9-10)
Blessings
upon you all,
Pastor Paul
February 2007
Last month we started series addressing current
trends in the church. This month I want to address one of the fundamental truths
in the Bible that has been deconstructed and re-invented to distort the very
character of God.
I have chosen to address this subject as the
result of a growing trend toward an old error. This theological error paints God
as a dictator in the sky who’s aloof to the needs of the people He created.
Whole books have been written on opposing sides
of this doctrine. We certainly don’t have time, space or the desire to tackle
and sort through it all here. I simply want to address one thing this month. The
love of God in relation to limited atonement!
God is Sovereign and does as He pleases. However,
He has revealed Himself to us in the Person of Jesus Christ. We see Him
throughout Scripture and as Scripture declares - in His creation*. (*Romans
1:20) In order to understand the love of God and the salvation He offers, we
must understand the Lord Himself. God does nothing in contradiction to or
inconsistent with His nature. Soteriology (the study of salvation) is subject to
Theology (the study of God.)
Since the fall of Adam and Eve, mankind has been
cursed and laden with sin. The sin nature is passed down from generation to
generation. Every man, woman and child is responsible for their own sin and
worthy of death. There is not one person who can say they deserve eternal life.
If God had chosen, He could have damned every one
of us and we would have nothing to say about it. “But indeed, O man, who are
you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why
have you made me like this?’” (Romans 9:20) However, He chose to provide
Himself a ransom (paid the price) for the sins of the whole world. John taught,
“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but
also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) “For to this end we both labor
and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of
all men, especially of those who believe.” (1 Tim. 4:10) He did this that
we might live! He is the true and living God, the God of Love. He desires
to save.
For God So Loved…John
3
Jesus articulated the message of salvation in the
simplest form to Nicodemus. He said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in
the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever
believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14-15) This
reminder of Moses and the Children of Israel was an illustration Jesus used to
declare how men would be saved.
The Children of Israel are the chosen of God. He
said, “For you are a holy people unto the LORD your God: the LORD your God has
chosen you to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon
the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love upon you, nor choose you,
because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all
people: But because the LORD loved you…” (Deut 7:6-8)
In the wilderness, because of rebellion and sin,
the people of Israel were plagued with serpents that bit them causing sickness
and death. These serpents were used as God’s judgment upon them as a
consequence for their sin. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and place it
on a pole in the sight of Israel and all who looked upon it would be saved. The
Bronze serpent represented their sin and was symbolic of Jesus’ taking upon
Himself the sin of the whole world. All the Children of Israel had to do to be
saved from the plague was to trust the Lord’s command and look. None of the
Children of Israel plagued by the serpents were denied salvation.
Jesus illustration was a model of the salvation
provided in His work at Calvary. All sinners, sick and dying, may look to the
Lord and be saved. Jesus said. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believes on Him is not
condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)
Many in today’s “revival” of Reformation
theology say Jesus only died for those who are and will be saved – not the
whole world. However, as cited above, Jesus is “the Savior of all men,
especially of those who believe.” (1 Tim. 4:10) The Bible tells us that Jesus
even died for those who reject Him. Peter said there would be, “…false
teachers…who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the
Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” (2 Peter
2:1) Many say God has no desire to save the “world” and is therefore content
with the destruction of the wicked. However, the Bible says “…grace
was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,
which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all
things by Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8-9) Paul instructs, “Therefore I
exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in
authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
(1 Tim. 2:1-4)
No Surprise
Before creation, time, man, et al. God knew man would rebel and be lost.
So, He also, in eternity past, planned for our redemption and set in motion a
plan to save. Jesus, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
(Revelation 13:8) In Christ, salvation is offered to all. This is
the message Jesus communicated to Nicodemus in John 3. “For God…so
loved…the world…that whosoever… believes in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) It’s really that simple!
The Love of God
The Bible declares that God is love. This is a description of His nature.
“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is
love, and he who abides in love abides
in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16) God told Ezekiel to tell the people of
Israel, “‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the
death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn
from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’” (Eze.
33:11) These verses among many others describe the character of God and His
attitude toward those who are dying.
The same God who chose Israel has made provision for you as well.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31)
Blessings upon you all,
March 2007
The House God is
Building
Jesus said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hell
shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
A
few months ago I was sitting at the dinner table in a close friend’s home with
a couple who had come to visit from out of state. The six of us were all happily
enjoying the well prepared meal when all at once the visitor’s wife said,
“Boy, if this was my house I could really do something with it.” I was
shocked. How could a visiting guest even say such a thing? How insulting! Her
statement was a clear criticism of the home and décor. Greater still was the
criticism of the homeowner/decorator. Weeks later, I still wince at the memory
of that meal.
Thinking
back over that day provides me a practical illustration of the kind of criticism
many level against the Church.
Three Sources of
Criticism
There
are at least three sources from which criticism comes.
1) The Devil
2) The unbelieving world
3) Believers in the flesh.
The fact that the devil criticizes the work of the Lord is
obvious. The Bible says he is opposed to God and is the accuser of the brethren.
Unbelievers criticize the Church because they are in darkness and don’t
understand spiritual matters.
My
focus this month is criticism originating from believers.
No Denial…The Church
Has Problems
“Where no oxen are, the crib is clean.” (Proverbs 14:4)
Just
the other day someone said to me that they were looking forward to being with
Jesus in heaven, but not with the other Christians who would also be there.
Their attitude toward the Church was an echo of many other voices that are
raised in criticism of the house Jesus is building. No Christian will deny that
the Church has its problems. In fact, God recognizes this as well. He has given
us the epistles as corrective letters to aid in our development and maturity.
There are rebukes and calls for repentance throughout the New Testament. They
pre-assume problems and the need for change. However, premature criticism is an
assault against God and His work. Someone criticizing an artist may be making a
premature assessment. Every true believer is being matured by the Lord for the
purpose of bringing glory to His name. In each believer there are things God has
in mind for us that are yet to be completed. What He has begun - He will
complete. The Church is the building of God. It is the house made without hands.
Three Groups to
Distinguish
There
are at least three groups of people to identify when examining the “Church.”
They are, 1) professing Christians, 2) genuine Christians and 3) those people
the enemy sends in as a distraction - wolves. A shortsighted or blind approach
to this fact is the cause of many troubles.
Most
criticisms for the Church are developed as a result of the failure to
distinguish between these groups.
1)
Professing believers will be among us until the rapture. We are called to
minister to them in love, looking for their genuine surrender to the Lord. A
critical spirit toward professing believers will rarely bring them to
repentance. In fact, it is the goodness graciousness and kindness of God that
leads to repentance.
2)
Genuine believers will likewise be with us. They may be divided into groups as
well. There are mature and immature believers. There are obedient and
disobedient believers. There are leaders and there are students. Criticizing the
immature and developing believer will only bring discouragement. Constructive
criticism and rebuke belongs to the disobedient.
3)
The wolves must be discerned and removed.
Constructive Criticism
Those
who are mature in the faith, walking in obedience and called to leadership are
used by the Lord to offer support and discipline to the Church. They are mature
enough to understand the development process and trust the Lord in the
development of His people.
The
Bible says, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians
2:10)
“For
whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image
of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29)
“For
it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good
pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13)
It
is clear that God is at work creating, conforming and maturing His Church.
Criticism of the Church is criticism of God and His work. Every person tempted
to condemn and criticize the Church should take a moment to consider the object
of their dissatisfaction and re-think the judgment. The final assessment is the
Lord’s.
Blessings
upon you all,
April 2007
The
Foreknowledge of God
“All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give
account.” (Hebrews 4:13)
According to the Bible, God has all knowledge. He cannot learn because
there is nothing unknown to Him. The fact that God knows everything from before
creation is a source of comfort to some and a source of difficulty for others.
Known to God are all
His Works… (Acts 15:18)
It is awesome to see what God has done to reveal Himself to the world. He
is not only the Creator of all things, but is creation’s redeemer. God, who
exists outside of time, (and has existed from all eternity past,) knew the
consequences of creating man: our rebellion and need for redemption. He
therefore, in His foreknowledge and preordained plan, exercised in His creative
work the inclusion of the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. He is the
substitutionary offering for our sin and for its accompanying judgment.
According to the Bible, God knows the end from the beginning. It is
therefore necessary to understand that God did not create man to find that a
plan of redemption would be needed, but in fact planned redemption as part of
His creation. Nothing was an after-thought and nothing took Him by surprise. It
is therefore comforting to know that the plan from the beginning was to redeem
us unto Himself, a people for His good pleasure, and to whom He would bestow
grace and eternal life. Those He redeems cannot surprise Him. They can’t let
Him down or disappoint Him. Before saving us He knew everything we have done…
and all we are yet do. God did not and does not trick Himself into blindness or
ignorance about our past… or about our future. Knowing this, we understand
that He is pleased to save us…in spite of us. He will never “change His
mind” about us, about how He loves us, or about the salvation He provides. We
are secure in Him.
Based upon an understanding of God’s foreknowledge and preordained plan
Paul enthusiastically declares, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ: according as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His
grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches
of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:3-8)
What great comfort we have in the Lord. How awesome is His grace toward
us, and the security we have in Him. Praise the Lord who has blessed us with
every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Not Willing That Any Should Perish… (2 Peter 3:9)
At the other end of the spectrum is the fact that God, knowing all things
before time, has nonetheless created mankind, knowing also that many would
reject His gracious offer of salvation and be damned to an endless eternity
without Him. For many this provides a great deal of discomfort. God’s
sovereign act of creating man, knowing many would end up in an eternal hell, is
seen as unjust and unloving. However, creating men without the freedom to
respond to Him would provide a greater criticism. Those He created and appointed
to eternal life would be forced into a relationship with Him (as though that
would be a bad thing), and those He created for hell would be pre-appointed to
that destination without hope of eternal life.
The Question of Love
The above position forces us to ask many questions. Did God predestine
some people to an endless eternity in hell so that He might predestine others to
heaven? Why not just create those He predestines to heaven and leave the others
“uncreated?” Why would God create anyone whom He claims to love just to send
them to hell without hope of heaven? What kind of love creates only to destroy?
What kind of love desires to damn? The Bible clearly says God is “…not
willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2
Peter 3:9) Is that a play on words? Was Peter wrong in his declaration? Does God
pre-damn some to hell without remedy? Is God trying to trick us into believing
He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”
(1 Timothy 2:4) when in fact He doesn’t? Was Paul wrong?
The answers to these questions are obvious. God is love. It is His nature to
save. He is grieved over the sin of man and has therefore provided atonement for
sin. The sacrifice Jesus made is not just for those who are saved but was for
the sin of the whole world. “And He Himself (Jesus) is the propitiation for
our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) It
is those who refuse His offer of forgiveness who are damned.
Sola
Scriptura (The Scriptures Alone)
The only reliable answers to the questions we ask are found in the
Bible… in the Bible alone.
He
Draws All Men to Himself (John 12:32)
Jesus said, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all
men to Myself." (John 12:32) Earlier in John we find the Lord involved in a
discussion with Nicodemus about this very thing. He
taught that He would be lifted up (crucified) for the sins of the world and if
He were lifted up He would draw all
men to Himself. He said, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) The drawing
power of God through the person of the Holy Spirit is available to all men
everywhere as a result of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. And why?
Because He is not willing that any should perish.
Misstated
Foreknowledge
Some people believe God knows all things because He causes all things.
This belief is unbiblical. The Bible teaches us that God know all things - before time began. Some
people believe God must cause things in order to know them. This too is
error. Satan may “predict” future events and then attempt to bring about
their fulfillment but this is certainly not the way God acts upon or see’s
into the future. The future is as plain to God as the past. It is as if God
observes the universe from the outside, including past, present and future. He
is able to “see” it all at once. Were it any other way God would be limited.
If He were limited He wouldn’t be God. If God only know what He causes, then
not only is He limited but is responsible for every act man has done and will
do. He would therefore be responsible for the acts of men even when those acts
are evil. No rational person can attribute to God the atrocities of fallen man.
It is man who has chosen to reject the ways of the Lord; the resulting effects
are all around us. For this reason, Jesus died, to save us from sin and sins
consequences.
The summary of these things brings us to understand that the only true
and living God, who knows all things from before time began, desires all men to
be saved. Therefore, He draws us to Himself. He is not willing that any should
perish. So, before time began He planned for our redemption - in Christ. Those
who refuse His gracious offer are left to themselves and will spend eternity in
hell separated from the God who made them. It will be the fault of men who
refuse His grace and therefore suffer the consequences. All men deserve hell. It
is the appropriate consequence for our sin. However, God, in His great love, has
provided Himself a sacrifice for our sin, that we might inherit eternal life. In
His foreknowledge God new many would reject Him. However, He chose to allow this
that He might make His glory known to those who believe. Surrender to Christ
today.
Blessings upon you all,
Pastor
Paul D. Van Noy
There are no references in the Bible allowing believers to accept false
doctrine. Additionally, there are no instructions to accept false teachers.
However, to the contrary, we are commanded to expose and mark them. Identifying
false teaching is done so those deceived may escape deception. Reproof of false
teachers is done to promote repentance in them. The Bible clearly states: “Now
I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary
to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17) Peter
taught: “…there shall be false teachers among you, who…shall bring in
damnable heresies… and many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (2 Peter 2:1-2 excerpts)
In today’s “post-modern church” people are encouraged to discover
God and understand “truth” for themselves by experiential / inter-relational
methods. There is a trend toward toleration of error, and encouragement to
re-explore the “truth” outside of the scriptures. We are told to find our
own way. We are encouraged to re-think the “gospel” and many of the
fundamental doctrines held (and defended, at the expense of physical comfort and
even life itself) by Christians over the centuries. This “new” way of
“discovering God” flies in the face of all sound biblical interpretation.
It is true that those who have been in error, the cults, et al. and under
the sway of deception, should “re-think” what they believe. However, their
re-thinking must be by way of good Bible interpretation and practice.
Many of those “re-thinking” the gospel are those who have been taught
the truth and are now “re-thinking” by way of humanistic reason and foolish
practice.
Upon careful examination of this trend I have developed a list of
identifying “signs” to assist you in discernment.
Developing
Beliefs and Characteristics of the “post-modern church.”
• Redefining the Christian faith to accommodate the "post-modern" mind.
• Redefining the doctrine of hell - hell as not being literal.
• God's judgement interpreted as simply being embarrassed by your sin or an inability to gratify your desires.
• Reinterpreting the substitutionary work of Christ at Calvary.
• Questioning the inerrant authority of scripture.
• Seeing the bible as primarily a "story," or narrative for discussion.
• Ammilenial Theology: proclaiming the Kingdom of God as established on earth at the present time.
• Questions are esteemed higher than answers.
• Promoting spiritual disciplines: meditation, fasting, contemplative prayer, breath prayers, centering prayer, labyrinth prayer walks, guided imagery, Lectio Divina (listening with the heart), Ignatius Examen (Discovering God in daily life experiences), ritual praying, stations of the cross, etc. to enhance or achieve Godliness and sanctification.
• Promoting the mystical, the sensory and the experiential.
• Truth is relative to and determined by cultural influences or tradition.
• Reluctance to label homosexuality sin.
• Life experiences determine theology and orthodoxy.
• Language is oriented around self – feelings, opinions, and attitudes.
• Community, relationships and unity are highest priorities.
• Uncomfortable with historic christian orthodoxy as having an exclusive claim on truth.
• Toleration of ideas and theological positions that contradict solid biblical enterpretation.
•
Avoidance of verse-by-verse bible teaching. Topical teaching.
If a child is playing in the cupboard and ingests ammonia, bleach or some
other hazardous material we quickly respond with measures that rescue the child
from harm. If a family lay asleep in a burning home and we become aware of the
impending danger, we respond in an effort to save the lives of those threatened.
False teaching and false doctrine have the same (and worse) effect. It is poison
and may threaten the eternal destiny of those who are deceived by it.
Over the years I have illustrated Biblical interpretation as a “paint
by the numbers set.” If the picture the artist intends we paint is Jesus, and
color number 1 is blue, color number 2 is green, etc., it will be necessary to
paint by the numbers to correctly develop an accurate picture. If we choose to
paint the picture “our way” and neglect to follow the directions, the end
result is a picture that misrepresents the Lord. Herein lies the problem with
this post-modern trend. The end result will be heresy and apostasy.
How long will we allow this trend to continue before we speak up? How far
will we go in an effort to provide “unity” among those who call themselves
believers? What will be compromised? Will we be seduced by the spirit of Babylon
and give in to error at the cost of disobeying the Lord?
The Spirit of Babylon is in the world today. It embodies independence
(from the Lord), rebellion, self, pride and human focused unity. The Lord says,
“come out of her my people.”
“Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints.” (Jude 1:3)
Blessings
upon you all,
Pastor
Paul D. Van Noy
The Bible teaches that all people are by nature sinful, separated from
God and responsible for their own sin. Man, in and of himself, has nothing to
offer God in exchange for his soul. He will spend eternity in hell; separated
from God, should he reject the provisions offered him in Jesus Christ our
Savior.
Before the foundations of the world God planned for our redemption. Every
detail was considered and every benefit provided – in Christ. No one is beyond
the reach of our God, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all...” (1 Timothy
2:4-6) God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
In The Beginning
In the beginning, man was created by God, in His own image and likeness.
On the sixth day of the creation week, God looked at “everything” He had
made and said it was “very good.” (Genesis 1:31) “Then the LORD God took
the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God
commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the
day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” (Genesis 2:15-17) Some time
after the sixth day, Adam and his wife disobeyed the Lord. Eve was tempted by
Lucifer, ate from the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,” and gave the
fruit to her husband who ate it as well: committing sin. “So when the woman
saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to
her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6) At that time Adam and Eve
became aware of good and evil, became self-conscious, (realized that they were
naked,) were ashamed, put forth human effort to cover the shame of their
nakedness, and hid from the Lord. Their sin caused division between God and
themselves. The intimacy and fellowship they had enjoyed was disrupted, and
death was realized.
God had spoken to Adam and said, "Of every tree of the garden you
may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not
eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis
3:16-17) The consequences of their disobedience, would from that time forward
affect every man woman and child, result in universal sin and inspire the curse.
The book of Romans states, “…through one man sin entered the world,
and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men.” (Romans 5:12) God
has declared, “There is none righteous, no, not one…” (Romans 3:10) Paul
the apostle believed this to be true of himself as well as with all other men.
He wrote, "For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) The Greek
word translated "come short" is “hustereo” and is in
the present indicative tense. The present indicative indicates tense
something presently occurring. He is teaching that all men are not only sinners
but are presently falling short of the glory of God.
The
good news of the Scriptures is that sinful man, apart from any good he can
provide, may be made clean and presented holy in the presence of the Lord.
Fellowship can be restored and the curse of sin and death removed. Jesus Christ,
provides by grace through faith alone, all man lost in the garden. We are
blessed to receive eternal life in exchange for the death we suffer and deserve.
Imagine how you would feel if an act of evil was committed against
someone you love and there was no consequence. Imagine how you would feel if the
crime were observed by a person in authority who refused to require consequence
or restitution. Imagine how you would feel if the violator were then befriended
by the observer without restitution and remedy for the violation. This is the
situation for the Lord. A price has to be paid. Punishment has to be given.
Imagine if the violation caused death. The consequences are staggering.
As
Sinners we deserve God’s judgment. Like Adam, we have all violated God’s
righteous standard. The Bible explains that God’s
nature is holy and that He must judge sin. To forgive sin without consequences
would be an injustice. God cannot commit an injustice without violating His
holiness. He is therefore obligated to provide a consequence for sin. A payment
must be made.
God loves us so very much and is angered by that which causes pain and death. In His righteousness He is not only angry with that which causes pain and death but also with those who cause it. The Bible say’s, “God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Psalm 7:11) Furthermore, “The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.” (Psalm 11:5) Solomon wrote, “These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19) His anger is not just toward the look, the lying tongue, the hands that shed innocent blood, the heart that devises wicked plans, or the feet running to evil, but also toward he who is a false witness and he who sows discord among the brethren. The Scriptures declare, “The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers…The mountains quake before Him, the hills melt, and the earth heaves at His presence, yes, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him.” (Nahum 1:2-6)
Only one could endure the fierceness
of His anger. Only one could provide a refuge from God’s righteous fury.
Jesus! He Himself is our refuge. He took upon Himself the wrath we deserve, that
we might escape the wrath of God - in Him.
What
Can a Man Give in Exchange for His Soul?
Man, in and of himself has nothing to offer God in payment for his sin.
He should spend eternity in hell, separated from God.
As those continuously and presently falling short of God’s glory, we
need the righteousness only God can provide. As sinners, we are fully incapable
of offering any redemptive good to remove the penalty of our sin. Paul said,
“For I know that in me, (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells…”
(Romans 7:18) “There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:12) In
fact, all human “good” - designed to satisfy God’s righteous standard is
itself sin. Isaiah records, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our
righteous deeds are like filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6) Even our tears of sorrow
for sin and our self-driven attempts to “change” are unclean in the presence
of His holiness. There is only one who is clean. There is only one who is Holy.
There is only one who can make the sinner clean. Jesus! He Himself is our
righteousness. He took upon Himself our sin; that we may be made clean and holy
- in Him.
God has “appointed a day on which He will judge the world in
righteousness…” (Acts 17:31) The Scriptures declare that man has “…made
a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble
shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on the
crown of his head.” (Psalm 7:15-16) As sinful man this leaves us in a very
vulnerable position.
It is clear from the whole of Scripture that God is the only righteous
judge. In His righteous justice He must judge the world. Our only hope is in the
fact that Jesus suffered that judgment on our behalf. When we come to personally
experience the provisions He offers and recognize the pit from which we have
been lifted, then, and only then, will we truly appreciate His love and give Him
the praise He deserves.
God,
the Judge of the Righteous and the Wicked
Solomon, when musing about the affairs of life, declared in his heart,
"God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there
for every purpose and for every work." (Ecclesiastes 3:17) Why would God
judge the righteous? Furthermore, if all men are sinners then who is the
righteous He will judge?
There is only one time God judged the
righteous. There is only one man, whom as righteous, could be judged. “Jesus
Christ The Righteous.” (1 John 2:1) Why would God judge Jesus? For us, in our
place, for our sin! This is what we call the vicarious sufferings of Jesus.
Vicarious suffering is one person assuming liability for and suffering for
another – only occurring when the person assuming liability and the suffering
is not personally responsible. Jesus Christ, the only righteous, took our
penalty, in our place, for our sin. The just for the unjust! He Himself took
what we deserve upon Himself and died for us. Jesus – The Righteous, suffered
the judgment of God in our place. He is the only one who could. He is the only
one who was guiltless and could die vicariously. Otherwise He would have died
for His own sin and suffered as the wicked. But Jesus, the only righteous,
suffered and died for us, that we may find deliverance in Him. Only those – in
Him, are promised an escape from the wrath to come.
For
He Made Him Who Knew No Sin to be Sin for us that We Might Become the
Righteousness of God in Him
Those who recognize their sinful condition and need for a Savior are
given the opportunity to receive forgiveness of sins. John wrote, “If we
confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) The word “confess” here is “Homologeo”
and means “to acknowledge” and is in the “present subjunctive active
tense.” This references a continuous present action, and speaks as a
condition. “Forgive” and “cleanse” are both in the “aorist subjunctive
active tense.” This references a simple undefined action as opposed to
continuous or repeated. Thus, those who acknowledge their sinful condition are
promised two distinct actions: forgiveness of sins and cleansing from all
unrighteousness. As we live acknowledging our sinful needy condition (by faith
in Christ - alone,) we live forgiven. Jesus illustrated this in the story on the
Pharisee and the Publican. He said, “Two men went up to the temple to pray,
one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus
with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men; extortioners,
unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.’ ‘I fast twice a week; I
give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off,
would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying,
‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his
house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14)
John wrote, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that
you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation (one who makes repairs)
for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John
2:1-2) Paul wrote, “For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be
sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2
Corinthians 6:21)
The
Righteousness of God – in Him
The Bible calls the offer of salvation “the Gospel.” It is the
“good news” about all God has provided us - in Christ Jesus. Our sinfulness
is replaced by His righteousness: our lives in exchange for His. Paul said, “I
have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in
me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) “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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) By faith - in
Christ, alone!
We are completely forgiven of all sins and made the righteousness of God
– in Christ. How righteous? The righteousness of God, by faith alone, in
Christ alone! “And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all
principality and power.” (Colossians 2:10)
When Jesus suffered in our place for our sin He forever remedied the
problem of sin for those who put their faith in Him. “For by one offering he
hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (set apart unto Him).”
(Hebrews 10:14) “…then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless
deeds I will remember no more." (Hebrews 10:17)
Our dead and sin-laden lives are exchanged for the life of Christ by the
indwelling of the Spirit of God. God transforms our very nature and changes us
from within. This is the miracle of the new birth. We are, as the Bible puts it,
“born again:” “born from above.”
Some teach
that responding to this “good news” involves making every effort to live a
life pleasing to the Lord; “working” and “trying” to please God, make
good choices, and refuse the impulses of the flesh. Their focus is in their
energy, warring with the devil, fleshly habits and against the lure of the world
- always battling with little to no success; always with discouragement.
However, they believe that this effort is pleasing to the Lord and He therefore
“makes up the difference” for their weakness by an act of His grace. They
call this “salvation:” “peace with God.” However, it is far from
freedom, provides no peace and is certainly not the true Gospel.
As born again Christians we are instructed to surrender our lived to God.
As those born by the Spirit of God, we are made the righteousness of God in
Christ. We don’t spend our lives “working”
and “trying” to please the Lord. We surrender ourselves to His leadership
and rest in His holiness.
As
stated earlier, our human effort to “please the Lord” by “trying harder”
is opposed to His grace and power working in us. The Christian is called to
enter into the “Sabbath Rest” of a relationship with Jesus. We are called to
cease all striving to please the Lord and rest in His great love. We are
complete in Him. He will shape us, he will lead us. Our only response is
surrender.
“For
he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did
from His.” (Hebrews 4:10)
As
we mature in Christ we will be changed. We will grow in His likeness are
promised to arrive in His presence - complete in Him. “Being confident of this
very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the
day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
In
Christ, we are pleasing to God. We are called to a life of freedom and rest. You
are the righteousness of God - in Christ. You are complete - in Him. Therefore,
rest – in Him relax in His grace, and let Him change your life.
He
that is Born of God
“What
shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly
not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)
“Behold
what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called
children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know
Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what
we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we
shall see Him as He is. And
everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever
commits (goes on willfully practicing) sin also commits (goes on willfully
practicing) lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He (Jesus)
was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides
in Him does not (go on willfully practicing) sin. Whoever (goes on willfully
practicing) sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one
deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is
righteous. He who (goes on willfully practicing) sins is of the devil, for the
devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born
of God does not (go on willfully practicing) sin, for His seed remains in him;
and he cannot (go on willfully practicing) sin, because he has been born of God.
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. (1 John 3:1-10)
Will
God Yet Judge the World? (Romans 3:6)
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. (John 1:12)
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." (John 3:16-21)
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36)
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” (Romans 1:18-19)
“…the Lord Jesus Christ, …will
judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.” ( 2 Timothy
4:1)
Salvation is freely offered to all through the grace of God, by faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sinful man may be made clean and presented complete and holy in the
presence of the Lord. “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to
obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
Fellowship with God may be restored and the curse of sin and death
totally removed.
Jesus Christ provides, by grace through faith alone, all man lost. We are
blessed to receive eternal life in exchange for the death we deserve.
He has provided Himself an offering for sin.
Jesus Christ is God. He came to earth as man and suffered the penalty for
sin, making it possible for you and I to escape the wrath to come and receive
life and forgiveness of sin.
“And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who
hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let
him take the water of life freely. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
you all. Amen. (Revelation 22:17 & 21)
Blessings
to you all,
July 2007
Total
Depravity?
Most who hold to Calvinistic doctrine claim that man is completely
incapable of interaction with God, and cannot understand the truth of the
Gospel, without first being regenerated. They believe man is born in what they
call “total depravity.” They define this by illustration, and liken sinful
man to a “corpse” without any ability to see, hear, comprehend, or respond
to God in any way. However, this is not the Biblical picture. The doctrines
describing the nature of fallen man don’t liken him to a non-responsive
corpse, but as spiritually dead, i.e. laden with sin, and separated from the
life of, intimacy with, and fellowship of God. Man in his sinful condition is as
much a tri-part being, (body, soul and spirit) as he is when regenerated.
However, when dead in sin, he “lives” in a state of separation from the life
and manifold blessings of God.
Adam, the first man to be spiritually dead, is our Biblical example. No
sincere Bible student will suggest that the condition in which Adam existed
after the fall is any different than the state of all mankind prior to
regeneration. He was spiritually dead, in trespasses and sin. (Romans 5, 1 Cor.
15) Yet, in that condition Adam was ashamed, hid himself from the Lord, and even
communicated with Him when spoken to. Adam was not unresponsive but was a man
who experienced shame, self-consciousness, and broken fellowship with God. If he
were left in this condition, Adam would have no hope for remedy and would be
eternally separated from God. The Lord alone provided all Adam needed for
restoration.
Cain, who according to scripture was born in trespasses and sin, likewise
experienced interaction with God. Within the dialog Cain had with the Lord, he
chose to resist the instructions given and rebel against the opportunity God
presented to him. As a spiritually dead man, he consciously chose to defy the
Lord and refuse the blessings of obedience.
In fact, all mankind prior to the church age lived an un-regenerated
life. No one experienced being born again prior to the resurrection of Jesus.
However, the scriptures are filled with the history of men and women interacting
with God.
It is said that Paul taught “total depravity” in his letter to the
Corinthians when he stated, “the natural man does not receive the things of
the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14) However, this does not
suggest that the natural man has no knowledge of God, conscience, or spiritual
perception. Paul makes it perfectly clear that all men are responsible for their
own sin and rebellion against the truth God has revealed to everyone.
He taught that all men are without excuse before God, “because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it to them. For the invisible things of Him from the
creation of the world are clearly seen, being
understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead;
so that they are without excuse.”
(Romans 1:19-20 emphasis added)
In 1 Cor. 2:14 (above) Paul is writing to carnal Christians and is
illustratively rebuking them for their inability to understand the spiritual
truths, they (as regenerated persons) should have easily understood. Earlier in
the same chapter Paul said, “we speak wisdom among those who are mature.” (1 Cor. 2:6 emphasis
added) “the deep things of God.” (1 Cor. 2:10 emphasis added) Therefore, later he adds, “I, brethren, could not
speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I
fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to
receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal.” (1
Cor. 3:1-3a) Remember, he was speaking to Christians who had been regenerated.
(See 1 Cor. 1:1-3 where Paul writes, “…unto the church of God which is at
Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, … Grace be unto you, and
peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”)
It is true that the un-regenerated man does not receive the things of the
Spirit, “Because the carnal mind is enmity (hostile towards and in opposition)
against God; for it is not subject (under obedience) to the law of God, nor
indeed can be.” (Romans 8:7) Those who refuse to appropriately respond to the
conviction of the Holy Spirit, and the knowledge of God, cannot please God. Nor
can they understand the wisdom and deep things of the Spirit. These facts only
support the fact that God has revealed Himself to men, all men. Man’s
hostility toward, and opposition to God, evidences His existence.
Those who embrace Calvinism claim that God must regenerate man in order
to enable him to believe the Gospel. However, the Bible is replete with examples
of the progressive order. “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and you will be saved…’” (Acts 16:31) “In Him you also trusted, after
you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”
(Eph. 1:13 emphasis added)
Some say Paul taught regeneration prior to faith in Ephesians 2 when he
wrote, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He
loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with
Christ…” (Eph. 2:4-5) Paul is not declaring that God made
us alive prior to faith but is saying that because of His great mercy, He
loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sin. Remember, Paul was
writing to believers in Ephesus. He was reflectively reminding them of the
salvation God had provided them. The Ephesians were losing their first love
(Revelation 2:4) and Paul was kindling their love for the Lord.
Paul also explained God’s great love to the Romans when he declared
“…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) As it was with the Ephesians, the
focus was on the love of God for man, not regeneration prior to faith.
The Bible teaches that all people are by nature sinful and separated from God. We are responsible for our own sin. Man in and of himself has nothing to offer God in exchange for his soul, and will spend eternity in hell should he reject the provisions provided him in Jesus. Salvation is freely offered to all through the grace of God by faith alone in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Salvation is not granted by any human merit or
offering of good works. All sinful men are invited into life everlasting through
the love of God and the merciful work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” (Titus 2:11)
Paul D. Van Noy, Pastor
September 2007
Unconditional
Election?
In pasts months
we have studied about God’s omniscience and foreknowledge. Having developed
this, we now understand that “All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him
to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) We learned that according to the
Bible, God has all knowledge. He cannot learn because there is nothing unknown
to Him. The fact that God knows everything from before creation is a source of
great comfort for those who understand this great truth.
We now understand
that God knows the end from the beginning. Therefore we understand He did not
create man to find that a plan of redemption would later be needed, but in fact
planned redemption as part of His creation. Nothing was an after-thought and
nothing took Him by surprise. It is therefore comforting to know that the plan
from the beginning was to redeem us unto Himself, a people for His good
pleasure, and to whom He would bestow grace and eternal life.
Following the
study on foreknowledge we examined the doctrine of “Total Depravity.” This
study put the hopelessly lost condition of man in perspective. We now understand
that apart from God’s saving grace, we are without hope. We learned that all
people are by nature sinful and separated from God. We now understand that all
people are responsible for their own sin. We understand that man, in and of
himself, has nothing to offer God in exchange for his soul. He will spend
eternity in hell should he reject the provisions provided for him in Jesus. We
can now say, “Praise the Lord! Salvation is freely offered to all through the
grace of God, by faith alone, in our Lord Jesus Christ!”
Additionally, we
now understand that salvation is not granted by any human merit or offering of
good works. All sinful men are invited into life everlasting through the love of
God and the merciful work of our Lord Jesus Christ. We now know that “the
grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” (Titus
2:11) All we can do is surrender to God’s grace and celebrate the work of
regeneration provided us in Jesus Christ alone.
This brings
us to a simple clarification on the subject of election. Some have misunderstood
the doctrine and assumed that the teaching of election declares that God has
elected some men to salvation and intentionally damned others without offering
them any hope of everlasting life. This view is certainly not what the Bible
teaches.
Who
is the Elect
According to the Bible, Jesus is the elect of God. Additionally, there
are at least 5 distinguishable groups who have been called the elect. They are;
the elect angels – apparently those who remained faithful to the Lord, the
nation of Israel, the believing remnant of Israel – those from the nation of
Israel who were faithful to God, believers in the church age (The Church), and
those who come to Christ during (and who endure) the Tribulation Period. All
these groups were known to the Lord prior to creation and are called in
Scripture “the elect.”
It is impossible
for God to have “discovered” those He calls the elect because God cannot
learn and cannot be surprised. He knows all things from before the foundations
of the world. We therefore comfortably embrace promises and blessings that
plainly declare the doctrine of election as occurring in the eternal knowledge
of God before time began.
However, the
Bible does not teach that God is a respecter of persons, shows partiality, or
that He elects some to heaven and others to hell without offering the
opportunity to all men, everywhere, to repent and believe the good
news of the Gospel. (See Acts 17:30)
Some Difficult Passages
It is true
that there are some difficult passages that seem to offer support for the
opposing views, but a careful look at context and intended meaning clears up all
misunderstandings. For example: There is some confusion about God choosing Jacob
and rejecting Esau. However, it we study the entire account carefully we
discover that God is making known His desire to use sinful men, make His grace
known through and toward them, and that His focused dealings were with nations -
not individuals. Genesis 25:23 says, “And the LORD said to her (Rebecca):
"Two nations (Jacob and Esau) are in your womb, two peoples shall be
separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the
older shall serve the younger.”
Another difficult
passage is found in Romans 9:16. Paul said, “So then it is not of him who
wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” What Paul is making
clear is the simple fact that if God were not to show us mercy, none would be
saved. We could work all we want, will all we want, run all
we want…but if God had not chosen to save us…none would be saved.
Space limits a
thorough examination of subject texts but for the sake of clarity I will include
one more difficult passage. 2 Tim. 2:10 “Therefore I endure all things for the
sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which
is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” Many have assumed this to reflect a
view of those who are the elect and who were yet to be saved. However, a careful
examination of the Greek word “tugchano”, translated “obtain”
shows that it may appropriately mean, “to make sure, secure, enjoy or
refresh.” So this verse may appropriately read, “Therefore I endure all
things for the sake of the elect, that they also may be secure, enjoy,
and be refreshed in the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal
glory.” Biblical context clearly describes the hardship Paul was enduring for
the sake of the body of Christ. He references this is 2 Corinthians as well as
in Galatians.
It should be
noted that the nation of Israel, called the elect and chosen of God, exercised
rebellion toward the known will of God. Because of this rebellion, many of those
offered the blessing of eternal life perished in their sin. The angels who were
created in Heaven as sinless and “very good”, left their first estate and
were drawn into darkness by the great Dragon (Lucifer) and are without hope of
re-instatement to holiness. Adam and Eve, who were created in the image of God
and chosen to be the first sinless individuals, rebelled against the Lord and
forfeited their righteous condition. Both Adam and Eve suffered physical and
spiritual death as a result. God knew all this before creation. Nothing takes
Him by surprise. However, God nonetheless allowed these to resist instruction
and suffer the consequences.
First Reference
The first
reference to the elect in Scripture applies to Jesus alone. "Behold! My
Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put
My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.” (Isaiah
42:1)
The Believers
It is noteworthy to recognize that those who are believers in Christ are
the elect and chosen of God. This is clearly supported in Ephesians 1. Paul
says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He
chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by
Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the
praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the
Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6) Note that this was done before the foundations of
the world. One cannot avoid the fact that this act pre-supposes foreknowledge
– as it occurred before time began. Secondly, Paul goes on to say that the
chosen ones are those who trusted in Christ after they heard the truth of
the Gospel and believed. “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed
(past tense), you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians
1:13) It is therefore appropriate to suggest that you may trust the Lord –
even today, and be the chosen and elect of God as well. God draws all men to
Himself and desires all to be saved. Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up
from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)
God – No Respecter of
Persons
God is no respecter of persons. “Then Peter opened his mouth and said:
"In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.” (Acts 10:34) Paul
said, “For there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:11) James said,
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without
hypocrisy.” (James 3:17) Paul told Timothy, “I charge you before God and the
Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without
prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.” (1 Tim. 5:21) Pray tell, does God
ask us to do what He is unwilling to do?
Therefore we
conclude; God calls, chooses, and elects, according to His great foreknowledge,
through faith in Jesus. Put your faith in Jesus Christ today and enjoy the
blessing of being the elect of God, chosen in Him, before the foundations of the
world.
Blessings upon you all,
False Teachers?
“But there were also false prophets
among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you… And many will
follow their destructive ways…They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their
own deceptions while they feast with you… they speak great swelling words of
emptiness…”
(
Based upon popular trends, political correctness, and the work of some of the
nation’s most popular pastors and leaders; one would think there must be an
absence of the above mentioned false teachers Peter said would be in the Church
today. Every day we hear about getting along with those of opposing faiths. For
many this is motivated by desire for political gain, peace, or what I call
pseudo love.
In fact, those who identify a false gospel or false teacher are considered
divisive and judgmental. Some are told that their work will bring harm to the
body of Christ - both locally and abroad. Those sounding an alarm are seen as
arrogant and are rejected as being negative. It is clear that this trend to
embrace the “politically correct” methodology of the day has and will have a
serious effect on the Church.
This “state of the Church” forces me to ask a few simple questions. If Peter
said there would be false teachers in the Church, pray tell, where are they
today? Who can identify them and warn the others? Why would the word of God tell
us false teachers would be present in the Church if we are not called to - much
less allowed to - identify them? Why
would we need to warn the Church of this anyway? I believe it is time we address
these critical questions.
If Peter said there would be false
teachers in the Church, pray tell, where are they today?
There are false teachers in the church
today. Paul the Apostle said, “Also from
among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the
disciples after themselves.” (
Some say, “But there are good men and women out there who intend to do good who
are being called to task over their teaching.” Well said, however, even Peter
himself was called out by Paul when he was in error. “Now
when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to
be blamed… when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the
gospel…” (
If there are false teachers in the
Church who should identify them and warn the others?
In the early Church, we see that it was the elders of the Church who were
responsible to give correction and instruction through the word of God. Today we
are fortunate to have the Scriptures and to understand the message and meaning
of the letters written. We know that, “All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God
may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (
The elders of the church today are the ones who should provide reproof,
correction, and instruction in righteousness that men and women of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Every epistle in the New Testament was written to correct error in the Church.
Did Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude, forget that correcting others who were
in error was a failure to love the false teachers? Did they feel it was none of
their business to bring correction to the false teaching? Do we consider them
divisive for confronting error and holding fast to the truth? No! They boldly
addressed the error and even at times, named the offenders. Paul told Titus (an
elder) the standards by which other elders should be appointed. He said,
“For a bishop must…[hold] fast the
faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine,
both to exhort and convict those who contradict. For there are many
insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the
circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households,
teaching things which they ought not… One of them, a prophet of their own, said,
‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true.
Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving
heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth… and [are]
disqualified for every good work.” (
It is the elders in the local church, the local community, and throughout the
world who are called to the task of identifying error. However, it is mainly
those in the pulpits and publishing houses of our nation’s churches who are
promoting the error. Most of the best-selling Christian books of our day are
loaded with bad doctrine. Any who dare challenge the “popular authors of the
day” set themselves up as a target to be accused of disunity and are thus
scorned!
Why would the word of God tell us
false teachers would be present in the Church if we are not called to - much
less allowed to - identify them?
The answer is simple; we are called to
identify them. Jude wrote, “…contend
earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (
Why would we need to warn the Church
about false teachers and false teaching anyway?
First, every God-called pastor is told,
“take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His
own blood.” (
Secondly, it has been my experience that those who have embraced a false
teaching in one form or another have a lack of peace or outright fear in their
relationship with God. For example, if a believer is taught that they are sick
because they have a lack of faith, they begin to doubt their relationship with
God, God's love for them, or strive to work up faith insomuch as to get the
"healing" they desire from the Lord. This kind of error can be devastating and
painful to a believer. In this case, the onus is on us to teach the true
principles of the Bible concerning health and divine healing, teach trust in the
Sovereign God, and rest in His divine decision concerning when and where He
desires to heal.
The above illustration is only one of many. Some of the false teachings of the
day are outright heresy and must be identified. Were it not for those who
contended for the faith in days past, where would we be today? In my opinion, we
ought to be thanking God for those who have gone ahead of us, and for some who
have given their very lives in defense of the truth.
The way of peace.
So, as Peter declared, “There were also
false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among
you…" (
"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in
any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of
gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."
(
Blessings upon you all,
Pastor Paul