THEOLOGUE

Double Predestination?

2012-01-27T10:55:00.000-06:00

"Double predestination makes God out to be unjust, arbitrarily dispensing mercy to some and not to others. Certainly, human beings cannot compel God to be merciful, but this does not mean that he is arbitrary in his exercise of mercy (Romans 9:15). . . Moreover, God can appeal to obstinate people and be disappointed by their lack of response, in a way that would be inconsistent with his having hardened them himself (Romans 10:21)" (I. Howard Marshall, A Concise New Testament Theology, Downers Grove, Il.: InterVarsity Press, 2008) 127-28.

Calvinists teach the doctrine of double predestination. Supralapsarian Calvinists, often referred to as hyper-Calvinists, teach symmetrical double predestination, teaching that God predestines the elect to salvation and actively hardens the reprobate. Infralapsarian Calvinists, such as R.C. Sproul, teach that predestination is asymmetrical. That is to say, God predestines the elect and passively allows the reprobate to harden themselves. God simply passes over them.

John Calvin's teaching of double predestination is stated: "By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation . . ." (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3:21:5).

I. Howard Marshall asserts that double predestination makes God "unjust, arbitrarily dispensing mercy to some and not to others." Calvinists would reply that God owes no one mercy. He chooses to give justice to the reprobate for sins committed and mercy to His elect. The argument is that God is both just and merciful, as well as sovereign in His dealing with all men. All believers should agree that God is sovereign, merciful and just, however, the apostle Paul concludes in Romans 9-11 concerning God's attitude toward all people, both Jew and Gentile, that He is merciful toward all. "For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all" (Romans 11:32).

We come to the ultimate question concerning double predestination. Why does God choose to save some and harden or pass over others? The Calvinist can answer by saying it's simply the good pleasure of His sovereign will. Furthermore, He owes no one anything but justice, which means condemnation for our sins. All Bible students should agree that God is sovereign and just. However, He has stated His will in Holy Scripture. "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 Timothy 2:3-4).

What is Heaven Like?

2012-01-25T14:22:00.000-06:00

Billy Graham wrote, "I don't believe I have ever known a person (or at least a Christian) who did not want to know what Heaven is like - including me! This is not mere curiosity, however, like wondering about some place we have never visited. Instead we know that heaven is our final home - the place where we will be spending all eternity. Why wouldn't we want to know what Heaven will be like?" (Billy Graham, Nearing Home, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011) 170.

When we read the Bible, heaven is described in apocalyptic imagery such as gates of pearl and streets of gold. Jesus used the image of the Father's House (John 14:1-6). That's the same image David used in Psalm 23:6 - "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." While imagery is important to give us ideas of what heaven is like, the Bible teaches, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

(1) Heaven is a place of unconditional love forever. It is that kind of place because God is there forever, and "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16). The New Testament Greek word used to describe the essence of God's nature is agape. Indeed, it is love that is unconditional and everlasting. Every believer in Jesus Christ has been promised God's love forever. Death can never separate us from His love. The apostle Paul wrote, "For I am persuaded that neither death . . . shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

(2) Heaven is a place of joy unspeakable full of glory. One of the characteristics of God's Spirit is joy (Galatians 5:22). Heaven is a place of the fullness of God's presence. That is "joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8). It is "unspeakable" because there are not words which can adequately describe it. It is not temporary or partial but full of God's presence. In essence, God wants us to enjoy Him, and to enjoy Him forever. Our enjoyment is His "joy unspeakable."

(3) Heaven is a place of peace that passes all understanding. The apostle Paul described "the peace of God, which passes all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). We cannot comprehend a place where there is continuous peace. The world in which we now live is filled with conflict. Any place on this earth may become a place of discord and division bringing all manner of conflict. Not so in heaven because of the God of all peace.

(4) Heaven is a place where loved ones are reunited. As a pastor for decades, one of the questions asked of me many times: "Will we know our loved ones in heaven?" My answer, based upon Scripture and the promises of God, has always been the same: "Yes." Believers have sorrow and grief when our loved ones are taken away from us through death. We shall be "together with them" (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Billy Graham mentioned the hope of being reunited with his wife in heaven. He said, "I also look forward to that day because I will be reunited with Ruth, my beloved wife and best friend for almost sixty-four years, who went home in 2007 to be with the Lord she loved and served so faithfully. Although I rejoice that her struggles with weakness and pain have all come to an end, I still feel as if a part of me has been ripped out, and I miss her far more than I could have imagined" (Ibid., vii).

The Sovereignty of God

2012-01-23T16:58:00.001-06:00

"Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?" (Romans 9:21).

In ancient Israel, the potter maintained an important role as a craftsman. He made the vessels for daily use in the households. He sat at a potter's wheel, turning the wheel with one hand, he formed the pliable clay with his other hand, making each piece of pottery a certain size for a special purpose.

The potter became a familiar image for God as the Master potter. We are like clay in His hands. Our lives are completely at His disposal. The analogy of God as potter speaks of the sovereignty of God over all of creation. Have Thine Own Way Lord is an old hymn of the church that speaks of God as the potter. We hear these words in the hymn: "Have thine own way Lord. Have thine own way. Thou art the Potter; I am the clay. Mold me and make me, after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still."

(1) God is the potter in our lives through creation. The Bible declares, "It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves" (Psalm 100:3). The potter knew nothing of an assembly line production. Each vessel was individually hand crafted. Actually, no two vessels were exactly the same. Each one was the special work of the craftsman. While there were categories of vessels, there was a uniqueness about each one. We can all say to the potter with the words of the psalmist: "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well" (Psalm 139:14).

(2) God is the potter in our lives through Jesus Christ. The Gospel according to John tells seven miracles in the ministry of Jesus to reveal who He is. One of those miracles describes Jesus healing a blind man. Our Lord did something that may seem unusual to us. "He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay" (John 9:6). Then, Jesus told the blind man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. When the man obeyed, his eyes were opened. He could see! Jesus had revealed Himself as the potter in the new creation. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus Christ is revealed as the potter God of the Old Testament, incarnate in the New Testament.

(3) God is the potter who can make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor. This is what the apostle Paul taught in Romans 9:21. God's sovereignty is viewed in our lives. However, the same apostle also taught the responsibility of man. God's sovereignty and man's responsibility must both be considered, otherwise, our theology becomes unbalanced. It is not either/or, but, it is both/and. God's actions and our actions work concurrently. In Romans 9:21, the apostle Paul taught the sovereignty of God as potter. In 2 Timothy 2:20-21, the same apostle taught the responsibility of man to the potter.

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:20-21).

God Gives Us Choice

2012-01-20T23:03:00.000-06:00

God made people with the ability to make choices. Throughout the Bible, we read that people had choices. They could choose for God or against Him. Moses set "life and death, blessing and curse" before the people of Israel. He appealed to them, "therefore choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19). Years later, Joshua appealed to Israel, saying, "Choose this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:13). They could choose to serve the living God or idols. The theme of choice continues throughout the Scripture.

(1) Sin is a choice. Sin entered this world because of the choice of man. God could have prevented the original sin, but to do so, He would need to take the choice away from man. Man's sin was a wilful choice with full knowledge that he was disobeying the word of God's command. Also, the Lord forewarned man of the consequences of his sin. God is never responsible for our sin. He has given us both choice and responsibility for our choices.

(2) Repentance is a choice. The New Testament word repentance comes from two Greek words, meta and nous. The word meta means change, and the word nous means mind. Repentance is a change of mind. That involves choice. The only way that we can make things right with God is to change our minds about sin and our lifestyle.

In Luke 15, the prodigal son chose to leave his father's house to live in sin. His poor choice led to failure and a wasted inheritance. He repented. He chose to return to his father's house. He said, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you" (Luke 15:18). As he returned, his father chose to forgive and restore him. God our Father has chosen to forgive and restore us, as we choose to confess our sins and change the direction of our lives. God gives us choice.

(3) Faith is a choice. God gives us the ability to trust Him, that is to put faith in His word. Hebrews 11 is the great faith chapter in the Bible. It tells of many Old Testament characters who chose to believe God and act on His word. In the Hebrew mindset, faith was not merely an academic pursuit. It was more than hearing the word. It was also being doers of the word (James 1:22).

Throughout Scripture, Abraham is repeatedly an example of faith. So it is in Hebrews 11. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. He went out not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8). His faith was a choice that caused him to obey God, when he didn't know exactly where the Lord would lead him. Likewise, our relationship with God is a choice of faith.

Born Again

2012-01-19T00:00:00.003-06:00

Theologians refer to the new birth as regeneration, from the Greek word paliggenesia, meaning born again. Jesus said to a very religious man by the name of Nicodemus, "You must be born again" (John 3:7). Without being born again, no one can enter the kingdom of God. Nicodemus asked Jesus, "How can a man be born when he is old?" (John 3:4). The Bible teaches us how a man can be born again.

(1) We are born again through the Word of God. The message of the Bible is like seed in our hearts. "Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). This word of truth is implanted within us as we hear the gospel or read it in the Bible. Before there can be birth, there must be conception. The implanted word is able to conceive new life in our hearts leading to new birth. "Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:23).

(2) We are born again in the Son of God. The new birth is a creative act of Jesus Christ our Lord within our hearts. He who created all things (John 1:1-3), creates new life within us. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:10). Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is both the reception and the assurance of new birth. "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1). The faith to receive Christ comes as a gift through the word of God. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

(3) We are born again by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is the instrumental cause of new birth. He inspired the word of God, the message of the gospel according to Scripture. He exalts Christ and leads people to Him (John 16:7-11). The new birth is a spiritual birth produced by the Spirit of God. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6).

Eternal Death

2012-01-16T00:00:00.029-06:00

"The spiritual death culminates in eternal death, eternal separation from God, eternal ruin of the soul, unless one comes to know God: 'Them that know not God . . . shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and the glory of his might' (2 Thess. 1:8-9), (J. Clyde Turner, These Things We Believe, Nashville: Convention Press, 1956) 57.

The meaning of death, thanatou, as found in the Greek New Testament, is essentially separation. It is used in three different ways in the Bible:

(1) Spiritual Death. Those who don't know God, in a personal relationship through Christ, are considered spiritually dead, separated from a real relationship with God (Ephesians 2:1). It is illustrated in the parable of the Prodigal Son. When the rebellious son returned to his father's house, and confessed his unworthiness to still be the father's son, the father rejoiced and received him, saying,"For this my son was dead and is alive again" (Luke 15:24). He was separated from the father and now he has returned. They are reconciled and together. That's a beautiful picture of reconciliation with God our Father. We were spiritually dead, separated, and now we are alive in our relationship with the Father.

(2) Physical Death. This is yet another type of separation. It is separation of the soul from the body. "For as the soul without the body is dead" (James 2:26). We are absent from the body in physical death (2 Corinthians 5:8). The spirit of a person departs from the body. The apostle Paul faced his own death, saying, ". . . having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:23).

(3) Eternal Death. This is everlasting separation from God. It is separation from "the face of the Lord and the glory of his might" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). This is the judgment of those who wilfully reject the grace of God in Christ (Revelation 20:14-15). The separation is forever. Christ came that we might have abundant life (John 10:10). This is spiritual life, a quality of life in relationship with God. It is referred to as eternal life (John 17:3). It has been said, "He who is born twice must die only once." That is to say, he who is born of the flesh and the Spirit will only face physical death. It is also said, "He who is born only once must die twice." That is physical death followed by eternal death.

God is Love

2012-01-13T00:00:00.002-06:00

"Love may be defined as the self-imparting quality in the divine nature which leads God to seek the highest and the most complete possession of his creatures. Love in its highest form is a relation between intelligent, moral, and free beings. God's love to man seeks to awaken a responsive love of man to God. In its final form, love between God and man will mean their complete possession of each by the other" (E.Y. Mullins, The Christian Religion in Its Doctrinal Expression, Nashville: Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1917) 236.

In one paragraph, E.Y. Mullins described the heart of God revealed in the Bible. It is the greatest love story that this world has ever heard. Of all the attributes of God, love is the one which summarizes His very essence and divine nature. The Bible has been described as God's "love letter" to all mankind. The cross of Christ is the picture of God's love for sinners, and that includes all of us. The word in the Greek New Testament describing this love is agape. It has been defined as "unconditional love." In the Bible, God is described in one simple sentence: "God is love" (1 John 4:8).

God the Father is love. God's love for His children is seen in very practical and expressive ways in the Bible. Herschel Hobbs described the loving Father this way: "As our father, God is intimately acquainted with and associated with his children. . . . As father, God is concerned with our welfare (Matthew 6:25-34). As father, God invites us to pray to him (Matthew 6:5-15; Romans 8:15). As father, God punishes or corrects his children (Hebrews 12:5-11), but as father he forgives (Matthew 18:14; Luke 6:36) and comforts his children (2 Thessalonians 2:16). As father, God delights to give good gifts to his children" (Matthew 7:11; Romans 8:23b), (Herschel Hobbs, Fundamentals of Our Faith, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1960) 36.

God the Son is love. The revelation of God's love to man is evident in many ways throughout the Bible, but the full revelation of God's love to all people is witnessed at the cross of Christ. The everlasting good news is this: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . ." (John 3:16). His love is unconditional for us as sinners. It's not that God loves us if we do good. That's not the good in the good news. The good is God's love for us as sinners. He forgives us and takes our sins away through Christ crucified. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet, perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8).

God the Holy Spirit is love. The experience of God's love becomes real to us through the Holy Spirit. We may read in the Bible about God's love, or hear a sermon or song about God's love, without really experiencing God's love. However, when we hear the good news of God's love in Christ and believe, the Holy Spirit makes God's love a real experience in our lives. "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5). The very assurance of our relationship with God is His love in our hearts. It is the greatest evidence that God is at work in us (1 Corinthians 13:13). Love is the evidence, because God is love.

The Gift of the Spirit

2012-01-11T00:00:00.009-06:00

"Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

Billy Graham wrote these words about the gift of the Holy Spirit: "When we come to Jesus Christ and put our faith and trust in Him, God Himself comes to live within us. We may not feel any different; we may be unaware of His presence; we may even doubt if anything really happened to us. But it has. God now lives within us! He does this through His Holy Spirit" (Billy Graham, Nearing Home, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011) 154.

How can we really know that the Holy Spirit lives within us? There are three words which assure us that the Holy Spirit is within us. They are faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). The Holy Spirit makes Himself known to us through these three abiding gifts. The faith to trust in Christ is enabled by the Holy Spirit. We receive Him as Lord of our lives by faith. "No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3).

We know that the Holy Spirit lives in us through the gift of hope. Again, Billy Graham wrote: "We were not meant for this world alone. We were meant for Heaven, our final home. Heaven is our destiny, and Heaven is our joyous hope" (Ibid., 166). The Holy Spirit gives us hope in Christ that is steadfast and sure. It is a hope that an unbelieving world views as utter nonsense and foolishness. How can we explain such a hope to those who don't believe in Christ. Quite frankly, we can't. People must experience this hope in their hearts, and only the Holy Spirit can give it. It comes with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The gift of the Holy Spirit brings love divine into our lives. God's love must be more than reading and hearing about it. God wants us to experience His love, and when we receive God the Holy Spirit, we receive the gift of God's love. "And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5).

The Holy Spirit is the presence and power of God living in us through faith, hope, and love. This experience begins at regeneration, or new birth, and continues as we grow to mature in Christ. We grow in our faith, hope, and love for God and others. That process is referred to as sanctification in the New Testament. "Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him" (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, IV. C.).

Predestination Defined

2012-01-07T00:00:00.002-06:00

"Turn to your Bible and read for yourself in the only two chapters in which this word predestinate or predestinated is found. The first is Romans 8:29-30, the other chapter is Ephesians 1:5 and 11. You will note that there is no reference in these four verses to either heaven or hell but to Christ-likeness eventually. Nowhere are we told in scripture that God predestinated one man to be saved and another to be lost. Men are to be saved or lost eternally because of their attitude towards the Lord Jesus Christ. Predestination means that someday all the redeemed shall become just like the Lord Jesus" (H.A. Ironside).

H.A. Ironside's definition of predestination is simple, scriptural, practical and to the point. It maintains the responsibility of man to receive Christ. The purpose of predestination is to conform every believer to the likeness of Christ in the glorified state of salvation complete. In essence, we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2). John Calvin's definition of predestination is an obvious contrast. In this definition, Christ is not mentioned. It is not focused on the Son of God.

"By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others eternal damnation; and, accordingly as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestined to life or to death" (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3:21:5).

It is important to understand the meaning of the word "predestinate" from the New Testament Greek. The word is proorizo meaning "to mark out beforehand." God marked out a destiny for every believer beforehand. All who receive and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are predestined to be glorified into the likeness of His resurrection. "Beloved, now we are the children of God; and we know not what we shall be, but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).

Christ is the Predestined One in His death at the cross and glorious resurrection (Acts 2:23-24). The believer's predestination is in Christ alone. In Christ by faith, we become the body of Christ known as the church. We are members of His body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Our sure hope is predestined in Christ. As believers in Christ, our future is certain and our hope is not in vain.

Who are Evangelicals?

2012-01-03T21:52:00.002-06:00

Who are evangelicals? In the USA when we have elections, the pollsters and pundits talk about "the evangelical vote." How many television viewers understand who these people are? The word "Evangelical" comes from the Greek word "euangelion," meaning "the good news." It means gospel or good news, and the good news called gospel is about our Lord Jesus Christ. Evangelicals believe that Christ died for our sins and He is risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Evangelicals are defined not only by their faith in the gospel of Christ, but they are seen as a Protestant movement maintaining the inerrancy of Scripture in the autographs, believing in the sovereignty of the triune God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Evangelicals believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, to God's glory alone. Such a faith is based upon sola scriptura, Scripture alone.

There are many evangelical denominations in the USA. Southern Baptists are looked upon as the largest such denomination. The Baptist Faith and Message is the doctrinal statement of Southern Baptists. It begins with a clear statement on the inerrancy of Scripture.

"The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation"(Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, I. The Scriptures).

While there are basic beliefs that unite evangelicals across denominational lines, yet there is much diversity among evangelicals as well. For example, there are evangelicals who are Arminians, as well as Calvinists, and those who identify for neither. Likewise, while all evangelicals believe in the personal, visible return of Christ in glory, yet there are diverse views on the details of the second coming. Some evangelicals are premillennial, and others are amillennial. Other differences include views about local church government, separation of church and state, and differing views about Biblical interpretation in areas other than the basics of the evangelical faith. Nevertheless, the focus of unity is always upon Christ as taught in Holy Scripture.

Faith that Works

2012-01-01T00:00:00.006-06:00

"Some would see a contradiction between Paul's writings (cf. Romans 4:3) and James 2:20-26. But there is no conflict. Paul sees faith as the cause; Jame's words regard the effect. Paul says that one is saved by grace through faith apart from works. James says that one shows his faith by his works. Neither teaches salvation itself by works."(Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964) 97.

Two men were prayer partners. One man said, "I have prayed for God to do some things in my life, but nothing seems to be happening." The other one said, "Maybe nothing is happening, because God wants you to do something." Faith is not passive but active. Faith that simply talks and does nothing is dead faith. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26). Prayer should always include these words, "Lord, what would You have me to do?"

It is true that we are saved by grace through faith and not of works (Ephesians 2:8-10). However, verse ten goes on to say, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Someone has said, "Works are the fruit of salvation, not the root." God's work in us always begins by grace through faith. Works are the result, following a living faith.

It is important for believers under the everlasting covenant to understand that God works in us and through us what pleases Him. You may be assured that God will "make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you, what is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ" (Hebrews 13:20-21). That does not mean that we have no choice. However, God works through the desires of our hearts. "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

A living faith is like a hand moving within a glove. We see the glove and not the hand, but we know that the energy moving the glove comes from the hand. When God's hand of grace works faith in our lives, the glove works and moves. The glove without the hand is lifeless. So it is with our faith. The works of faith are the outward result of God working within us. Only then do we have a faith that works.

Millard Erickson summarizes a faith that works, saying, "Despite the common opinion that there is a tension between Paul and James, both make essentially the same point: that the genuineness of faith that leads to justification becomes apparent in the results that issue from it. If there are no good works, there has been no real faith nor justification" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2001) 321.

The Spirit of Grace

2011-12-29T00:00:00.005-06:00

"Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace" (Hebrews 10:29).

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of grace. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to apply saving grace to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. However, those who refuse to believe and receive Christ insult the Spirit of grace. On the other hand, those who believe in Christ receive the grace of God. Immediately upon believing, the Holy Spirit does three distinct works of grace in the lives of those receiving Christ.

Regenerated. The Spirit of grace is the agent of our new birth. Regeneration means to be born again or born from above. The new birth is from above, because the Holy Spirit comes from above to change our hearts. Faith in Christ and new birth occur simultaneously. It could be described two ways. When you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you are born again. Likewise, when you are born again, you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13).

Sealed. When a person trusts in Christ, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). This is the believer's guarantee of his future in Christ. What God began in the believer will continue until the Day of Christ when He returns (Philippians 1:6). This is the day of redemption, when the believer receives his glorified body fashioned like unto the resurrection of Christ (Ephesians 4:30; 1 John 3:2). Our future hope in Christ is not merely wishful thinking. It is guaranteed according to the promise of God in Holy Scripture and the work of the Spirit of grace in our hearts. He gives us hope in Christ that is steadfast and sure (1 Corinthians 13:13). It is the believer's blessed hope (Titus 2:13).

Baptized. All real believers in Christ are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). Water baptism is the outward symbol of the Holy Spirit baptizing us into Christ. Likewise, water baptism is our testimony to faith in the death, burial and resurrection in Christ (Romans 6:3-4). Ministers may baptize us in water, but only the Spirit of grace can baptize into the body of Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit unites all believers as one in Christ.

In summary, the Spirit of grace regenerates, seals, and baptizes believers into the body of Christ. "He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. . . . He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption" (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, C. God the Holy Spirit).

Is Jesus God?

2011-12-26T00:00:00.018-06:00

"We can have real knowledge of God. Jesus said, 'He who has seen me has seen the Father' (John 14:9). Whereas the prophets came bearing a message from God, Jesus was God. If we would know what the love of God, the holiness of God, the power of God are like, we need only look to Christ" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group, 2001) 221.

Jesus is God in flesh. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). "Flesh" refers to the humanity of Jesus. He was a real human being. He was tempted, yet without sin (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15). Therefore, He understands the temptations of all people. He suffered as a man facing the death of a cross, taking our sins, shame, guilt and judgment (Hebrews 2:9).

Jesus died in the flesh as He shed His blood for our sins at the cross, and He was raised from the dead in His glorified body. The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves His deity. He is risen from the dead and He is Lord. The word "Lord" is the well-known name for God in the Old Testament. Herschel Hobbs stated: "His resurrection proved his deity (Matt. 12:38-40; Rom. 1:4; cf. acts 2:23-24; 3:14-15; Phil. 2:5-11). Thus 'God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself' (2 Cor. 5:19). With Thomas we can say, 'My Lord and my God" (John 20:28), (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964) 35-36.

Jesus is God with us. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us" (Matthew 1:23). Only God could have performed the miracles which He did. Only God could raise the dead as He did. Only God could forgive sins as He did. His words and works proved His deity.

Jesus healed a man, and said that his sins were forgiven (Mark 2:1-5). Some unbelieving religious leaders were enraged that Jesus said a man's sins were forgiven. They said, "Who can forgive sins but God alone" (Mark 2:7). That's the point. He is God. Jesus healed the man to prove that He also had power to forgive sins (Mark 2:10-11). Once again, His words and works proved His deity.

Jesus is God in all power. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). Only the sovereign God could utter such words. He alone has all authority in heaven and earth. Not only do the words of Jesus reveal His deity, but He reveals the deity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus commanded them to make disciples of all nations, "baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Notice the baptism is in the name, singular and not plural. The One and only God has revealed Himself to us in Trinity, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Herschel Hobbs said, "God is one person (Deut. 6:4) who reveals himself in three manifestations as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is a personal Spirit (John 4:24). He has no material body, except in his incarnation in Jesus Christ, nor is he limited by or to matter" (Ibid., 14). Therefore, we can say about Jesus in the words of Thomas, "My Lord and my God."

Born of a Virgin

2011-12-21T00:00:00.006-06:00

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us" (Matthew 1:23).

Herschel Hobbs exposed the basis of unbelief in those who deny the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. "Until the rise of modern liberalism there was no question posed about the virgin birth except by those who were prejudiced against the deity of Christ and ignorant of the facts concerning his origin (cf. Matthew 13:55; John 6:42; 8:41; the Gnostics). Modern denials of the virgin birth are based on so-called rationalistic, scientific and historical grounds. Matthew Arnold brushed it aside by saying, 'I do not believe in the virgin birth of Christ because it involves a miracle, and miracles do not happen.' This statement is neither reason, science nor history" (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964) 33.

If Jesus was not born of a virgin then Scripture is unreliable and the witness of the Bible is not credible. Scripture testifies that the virgin Mary conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, the same Holy Spirit who inspired the writers of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:15-16). If the Bible cannot be authoritative in one part, why should we believe it in any part?

If we refuse to believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ because we simply don't believe in miracles, then we are also obligated to reject the resurrection of Christ. Our gospel of salvation is based on the resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The same Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit who caused the virgin Mary to conceive with the promised Messiah (Romans 1:4).

If we don't believe in the virgin birth, then we can't believe in the new birth. Both are works of the Spirit of the living God (Matthew 1:18; John 3:5-7). Simply stated, unbelief can never accept the power of God's Spirit. Those who believe in a closed universe, believe that there is no God who can intervene in the affairs of man. That is contrary to what the Bible teaches about God. "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).

God's Call to All

2011-12-18T00:00:00.017-06:00

I. Howard Marshall described the believer's calling and election according to the New Testament. He wrote: "Sometimes Paul refers to those who have believed and been saved as 'the elect' (Romans 8:33; 16:13; cf. Colossians 3:12; 2 Timothy 2:10; Titus 1:1). This language reflects God's deliberate choice to create people for himself and to deliver them from their sin. . . . God issues his call and the appropriate response by those to who it is made is faith. . . . God's calling is corporate, expressing both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 9:24). . . . He is also said to call specific individuals (Galatians 1:15). Paul does not say that God's calling makes the human response inevitable, or that the calling implies passing over of other people whom he has decided not to save" (I. Howard Marshall, A Concise New Testament Theology, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008) 172-73.

God calls all people to Himself through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Rest is a metaphor for salvation. It's not by our works but by God's grace that we are saved. We rest in God's work of salvation in Christ. The word Sabbath means rest. Jesus is our Sabbath rest.

The call of God to salvation is received by faith in Jesus Christ. Dr. Marshall stated that "the appropriate response by those to who it is made is faith." God calls all to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Matthew 9:13). That includes all of us for all have sinned (Romans 3:10; 3:23).

The call of God to salvation may be resisted and often is. A harsh warning is given to those who reject God's call of mercy. "Because I have called and you have refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, . . . I will mock when your terror comes" (Proverbs 1:24-26). God offers us a choice between His goodness that leads us to repentance and His severe judgment (Romans 2:4). "Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God" (Romans 11:22).

God calls us to be His children as one body in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). For this reason, Dr. Marshall could say, "God's calling is corporate, expressing both Jews and Gentiles." While the call comes to us individually through the gospel of Christ, it is a call to be a part of God's people. The word for church in the original Greek language is ekklesia. It means called out. We are called out of the darkness of our sin into the light of Christ (1 Peter 2:9-10). We are called to be church, that is God's people in Christ.

Endure to the End

2011-12-14T00:00:00.005-06:00

"All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation" (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, Article V).

No Christian is above temptation nor falling into sin. When that happens, true believers realize their need to confess their sins and receive fresh cleansing through Christ (1 John 1:7-9). If a true believer should persist in sin, God's discipline is administered (Hebrews 12:5-11). God will not allow His children to go without needed correction. This involves temporal judgments.

The true believer does not need to live in constant fear of losing his salvation in Christ. The God who saves us is the same God who keeps us that we may endure to the end. Every believer may testify: "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12).

Charles Spurgeon wrote: "Temporary Christians are no Christians. Only the believer who continues to believe will enter heaven. When a city has been captured in war, those who formerly possessed it seek to win it back again, but the king who captured it sends an army to live within the walls. He says to the captain, 'Take care of this city that I have conquered, and do not let the enemy take it again.' So, the Holy Spirit is the army of God within our redeemed humanity, and He will keep us to the end" (Charles Spurgeon, Holy Spirit Power, New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1996) 128.

True believers are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. The power of God is manifested through the Holy Spirit. The evidence is an abiding faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit works three abiding gifts in every child of God. They are faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). The true believer abides in faith as a gift of the Holy Spirit in order to endure to the end.

God Changes Our Hearts

2011-12-11T00:00:00.003-06:00

"Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace" (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, Article IV. A).

New birth is synonymous with a new heart changed by the grace of God in Christ. It is a creative act of the Spirit of the living God. It is often referred to as being born from above. To be born from below is to be born on earth of the flesh. To be born from above is to be born of the Spirit who comes from a above. This new birth is absolutely essential to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus said, "You must be born again" (John 3:7).

The new birth is a change of heart wrought only by the Holy Spirit. It is a work of God's grace accomplished only by the Spirit of the living God. Millard Erickson wrote: "New birth is a supernatural occurrence. It is not something which can be accomplished by human effort. Jesus made this clear in John 3:6. 'That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' It is also important to bear in mind that regeneration is especially the work of the Holy Spirit" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing, 2001) 312.

The Holy Spirit prepares man to receive the change of heart in new birth through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). The Spirit of God makes us aware of the sin in not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Man is enabled to respond to this conviction through repentance toward God, a change of mind involving a godly sorrow about sin, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith, as well as the change of heart, take place at the same time (John 1:12-13). Charles Ryrie affirms this truth, saying: "Of course, there can be no chronological order; both regeneration and faith have to occur at the same moment" (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1986) 376.

In both the Old and New Testaments man is saved by God changing hearts. In the Old Testament God says: "And I will give them a new heart to know me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God; so they shall return unto me with their whole heart" (Jeremiah 24:7). God changes our hearts.

Chosen in Christ

2011-12-07T13:45:00.001-06:00

God has chosen us to be adopted into His family through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3-5). Adoption is a word used only by the apostle Paul in the New Testament (Romans 8:15, 23, 9:4; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). Our word adoption comes from the Greek word huiothesia. It means to place in the position of a son. Paul used this word in relationship to two groups of people. First, the nation of Israel was chosen of God and adopted as His people. Secondly, believers in Jesus Christ are adopted into the family of God. As adopted sons, we are joint heirs with Christ, the only begotten Son of God. Thus we are chosen in Christ.

The apostle Paul uses adoption as an illustration of the believers relationship with God in Christ. Herschel Hobbs wrote: "Adoption was a common practice among the Romans. To legalize the event certain people had to be present: the owner (in the case of a slave) or natural father, the purchaser, the weigher of money, and no less than five witnesses. The adopted son severed all former relationships and his (adopted) father assumed his debts. In the eyes of the law, the adopted son became a new creature. He was born again into a new family. He received all the rights and privileges of a natural son, and he became with him a joint heir of his new father" (Herschel H. Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964) 100.

We can see how the illustration of salvation from the Roman adoption law provides rich images for our new relationship with God by faith in Christ. God chose us. He chose to adopt us through Christ. He chose us before we chose Him. When we came by faith to Christ, we were adopted into a new family, that is the family of God. We had a new Father who bought us with a price. We died to the old family relationship. We were born again into a new family. At that point we became joint heirs with Christ to our inheritance from God the Father. The Holy Spirit is the witness to our adoption in Christ.

Many illustrations are given in the New Testament to explain our new relationship with God as believers in Christ. The image of adoption gives us analogies to help us see the blessings of being chosen by God as His adopted children. Dr. Hobbs went on to describe it this way: "The words conversion, regeneration, new birth, and adoption point to the same experience. The New Testament uses a variety of terms to refer to a change so vital that no single word can adequately describe it."

God's Will to Save All

2011-12-05T00:00:00.024-06:00

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

The above verse clearly declares God's will to save all. God has commanded all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Those who perish outside of God's will are those who refuse to repent. The word repent means to have a change of mind that leads to a change of direction in a person's life. It's a change of mind toward God about our sin, and a change of direction in life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus said, "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5). The choice is ours. If we refuse to repent, then we reject God's good will for our lives and perish in our sins.

Even John Calvin admitted the obvious interpretation of 2 Peter 3:9. He wrote: "Not willing that any should perish. So wonderful is his love towards mankind that he would have them all to be saved, and is of his own self prepared to bestow salvation on the lost" (Calvin, Commentaries, ad loc. ). On these comments, we should all agree with Calvin and the clear meaning of 2 Peter 3:9.

After making his comments about God's will to save all, then Calvin wrote to justify his view of predestination. "But it may be asked, if God wishes none to perish, why is it that so many do perish? To this my answer is that no mention is here made of the hidden purpose of God, according to which the reprobate are doomed to their own ruin, but only of his own will as made known to us in the gospel. For God there stretches forth his hand without a difference to all, but lays hold only of those, to lead them to himself, whom he has chosen before the foundation of the world" (Calvin, Commentaries, 2 Peter 3:9).

John Calvin's comments on God's will to save all conflicts with his teaching that God's hidden purpose is to save only some. Another explanation provides an answer consistent with Scripture. God's will is to save all, but many reject His will, refusing to repent. God's purpose to save may be rejected by man. He gives us the choice. We see an example of this in the ministry of John the Baptist. He preached the message of repentance, but certain religious leaders refused to repent. They rejected the purpose of God in their lives. "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him" (Luke 7:30). The responsibility for not being saved is with man's decision and not God's will.

You may rest assured that God's will is to save you and every member of your family. It's His will to save all people everywhere. However, let us always remember that our responsibility is to repent and receive God's love and mercy in Christ (Acts 17:30; John 1:12). God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

In God's Presence

2011-12-02T00:00:00.004-06:00

"In Your presence is fullness of joy."

Psalm 16:11

It was late afternoon. Three children were playing in the house. They heard a car in the driveway. One child exclaimed loudly with joy, "Daddy's home. Daddy's home." They all jumped up and ran out the door to greet him. He hugged each one of them. They didn't want to turn him loose. You see, he had been away for days on a business trip. Excitement filled the house just because daddy was home. After he hugged his wife, the children gathered around him. Sure, he always brought them gifts. They received from his hand and hugged him again. The house came alive just because daddy was there. His presence changed everything. So it is with our heavenly Father. His presence in our lives always gives us joy, even fullness of joy.

Theologians teach us that God is omnipresent. That is to say, He is everywhere at the same time. The psalmist talks about the fullness of joy in God's presence as a special way He reveals Himself to His children. That revealed joy comes through the worship of God. One word translated worship in the English Bible comes from a Greek word meaning "to kiss toward." When I think of that expression, I imagine children gathered around daddy, as they express their love for him and receive his love. So it is when we worship our heavenly Father. We are loving Him and receiving His love.

We can go nowhere in this world where God's presence is absent. Millard Erickson wrote: "The point here is that nowhere within the creation is God inaccessible. Jeremiah quotes God as saying, 'Am I a God at hand . . . and not a God afar off?' (Jeremiah 23:23). The implication seems to be that being a God at hand does not preclude his being afar off as well. He fills the whole heaven and earth" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2001) 95.

The real evidence of God's presence is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This includes the joy of the Lord. Again, Erickson writes: "Of more importance, in many ways, than receiving certain gifts is the fruit of the Spirit. These virtues, in Paul's estimation, are the real evidence of the Spirit at work in Christians. Love, joy, and peace in an individuals life are the surest signs of a vital experience with the Spirit" (Ibid., 285). God's presence is made known to us through both the gifts and fruit of the Spirit. The abiding gifts of the Spirit are faith, hope and love (1 Cor. 13:13). The fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5:22). We notice that love is mentioned both as a gift and fruit of the Spirit. That's because God is love (1 John 4:8). The presence of God's love brings joy.

God wants us to enjoy Him, and let us enjoy Him forever. Joy comes not because we seek it, but because we seek Him. He loves us and He wants us to experience the joy of His love divine. The Spirit of God's love is poured into our hearts as we worship Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:24; Romans 5:5). Don't focus on the joy. Focus on the Father. The joy always flows from His presence.

Good News for All?

2011-11-30T00:00:00.035-06:00

"God's Word declares that the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believeth (Romans 1:16), is good tidings of great joy, not just to certain elect, but to all people (Luke 2:10). Sadly, the insistence that only a select group have been elected to salvation is not good tidings of great joy to all people! How can such a doctrine be biblical? (Dave Hunt, What Love Is This? Bend, Oregon: The Berean Call, 2004) 533.

Is the good news of Jesus Christ for all people? The Bible declares that it is. It is indeed "good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." It is good news because Jesus came to provide salvation for all people. God our Father desires the salvation of all people. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

Is the good news of Jesus Christ for all people? Yes, absolutely, because God sent His Son to die for the sins of all mankind. Jesus said, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32). This described His death for all of us at the cross (v. 33). Scripture makes it absolutely clear that Christ died for the sins of the whole world. "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world" (1 John 2:2). The propitiation is the atoning sacrifice of Christ for our sins that satisfies the justice and judgment of God. It's for the whole world!

Is the good news of Jesus Christ for all people? Certainly so, because our Lord Jesus commanded that this good news should be shared with everyone. "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). When people hear the good news, they have a choice to believe the gospel or not. Jesus said, "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16).

Is the good news of Jesus Christ for all people? Yes, because all people are invited to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved from sin, death, judgment and condemnation. Joy comes to those who believe and receive Christ. Joy is the fruit of the Spirit of Christ working in the lives of believers. It is God's will that all people everywhere experience His joy. "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. . . . And there was great joy in that city" (Acts 8:5, 8).

Is the good news of Jesus Christ for all people? Yes, because God loves all people everywhere. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . ." (John 3:16). God loves all of us, not because we have done anything to earn or deserve His love. He loves us because God is love (1 John 4:8). The good news is that God loves sinners! "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Good news for all? Yes! Good news for sinners is in Christ for all people.

When God Speaks

2011-11-26T12:41:00.001-06:00

Billy Graham said, "I have never heard the voice of the Lord audibly, but the Lord has spoken to me many times throughout my life. You might ask, 'How can someone recognize His voice?' The Bible says, 'Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice' (John 18:37). To recognize the voice of the Lord, we must belong to Him" (Billy Graham, Nearing Home, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011) 73-74.

Billy Graham made it clear that hearing God was not about hearing an audible voice for him. He has never heard the audible voice of God. Referring to the voice of God is most often a metaphorical expression of God communicating with us. He speaks to our hearts, which includes the mind, will and emotions. "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:15). God communicates today as He speaks to our hearts. God expresses his thoughts, desires and emotions to our hearts. Our relationship with God is heart to heart.

God speaks to our hearts through Holy Scripture. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God . . ." (2 Timothy 3:16). The word inspiration (Grk. theopneustos) means "God breathed." When we speak, we communicate words with our breath. Holy Scripture is God breathed. The Bible is God's communication with all people. Scripture speaks to our hearts the message of God, "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

How can we be sure that we are understanding the voice of the Lord? Billy Graham went on to say, "Likewise, if we are communicating with the Lord Jesus through prayer and meditating on His Word, our spirits will identify with His voice. Jesus said, 'My sheep hear My voice, and they follow Me' (John 10:27). The Lord would not expect us to hear His voice if He did not make it possible" (Ibid, 74-75).

We become the Lord's sheep when He changes our hearts through faith in Jesus Christ. Then, and only then, do we hear His voice and follow Him. God says, "Then I will give them a heart to know Me, and that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart" (Jeremiah 24:7). As Billy Graham said, "To recognize the voice of the Lord, we must belong to Him."

Premillennialism

2011-11-25T00:16:00.001-06:00

The twentieth chapter of Revelation speaks of the millennium. The word millennium comes from a Latin word, mille meaning a thousand, and annus meaning a year. Interpretation concerning this chapter and the millennium has been a battlefield for centuries among Bible students and theologians. The different views of the millennium point to vast differences in eschatology. It's not just about the thousand years, but it is about different theologies concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Premillennialism is the oldest view in church history. It teaches that Christ will return before an actual reign on earth of a thousand years. Some of the early church fathers believed in the earthly reign of Christ during the millennium. These included Justin Martyr (A.D. 100-167), Papias, whose writings appeared around A.D. 150, and Irenaeus (A.D. 130-202). Modern theologians who have this view include George R. Beasley-Murray, George Eldon Ladd and Millard Erickson.

Up until the time of Augustine in the fifth century, premillennialism was the uncontested view. Augustine's amillennial view may be found in his book, The City of God, Book XX. Amillennialism is a nonmillennial view. There is no actual reign of Christ on earth. The second coming is followed by a general resurrection and a general judgment of all mankind. Proponents of this view have included Ray Summers, H.H. Hobbs, C.H. Dodd and B.B. Warfield.

Postmillennialism is the third view, originating with Daniel Whitby (1638-1726). He taught that the millennium would be brought in through evangelism, preaching the gospel to all nations. Christ would return after the thousand year period of missions and evangelism. This view has been held by such church leaders as John Wesley, John Gill, Charles Spurgeon, Adam Clarke, Matthew Henry and B.H. Carroll.

Millard Erickson wrote, "Premillennialism was probably the dominant millennial view during the first three centuries of the church. . . . Premillennialists observe that here (Rev. 20:4-6) is evidence of a thousand-year period and two resurrections . . . Premillennialists insist on a literal and consistent interpretation of the passage" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Second Edition, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2001) 396. Regardless of your interpretation, all believers can agree that the Bible teaches the personal, physical and literal return of our Lord. Jesus is coming again.

What Baptists Believe

2011-11-23T00:00:00.006-06:00

Baptists believe as other evangelical Christians on the basic tenets of the faith. Baptist confessions of faith over the centuries have maintained faith in the authority and inspiration of the Bible, the virgin birth of Christ, the substitutionary atonement in the death of Christ for our sins, the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus, and the personal, visible, bodily return of Christ in power and glory.

There are Baptist distinctives that should be recognized. "Baptists emphasize the soul's competency before God, freedom in religion, and the priesthood of the believer. However, this emphasis should not be interpreted to mean that there is an absence of certain definite doctrines that Baptists believe, cherish, and with which they have been and are now closely identified" (The Baptist Faith and Message, 1963) 6.

The priesthood of the believer means that every believer in Christ is a priest under the High Priest, our Lord Jesus (1 Peter 2:5-10; Revelation 1:6, 5:10). The privilege of priesthood means that each believer confesses his sins to God, intercedes for others through Christ, and interprets the Scripture for himself under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-15). The believer priest has a responsibility to witness of God's grace in Christ to others (2 Corinthians 5:17-20).

Baptists believe in the autonomy of each local church. That means churches are self-governed without denominational control. Churches cooperate together in ministries and missions. Baptists believe in congregational government for each local church. This is in contrast to other denominations. Some are ruled by bishops, such as the Episcopal and Methodist churches. Others are ruled by elders, such as Presbyterian churches.

Baptists believe in the separation of church and state. This calls for a free church in a free state. Baptists believe that the state should not support one denominational church above others. Baptists have long been advocates of freedom of religion for all people. "The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference of the civil power" (The Baptist Faith and Message, 2000) 20.

God's Foresight

2011-11-20T13:36:00.001-06:00

The omniscience of God includes His foresight. He knows all things, the end from the beginning. He foresees the free acts of man. Nothing comes as a surprise to God. The word foresee is used in three different ways in the New Testament. First, God's foresight includes all people and things. Secondly, God speaks prophetically through Holy Scripture according to His foresight. Thirdly, God works through providence in our lives according to foresight.

The word foresee (Grk. proeidon) is used in the sense of seeing a person in the future. David had foreseen the Lord Jesus through a prophetic anointing. "Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke of the resurrection of the Christ" (Acts 2:30-31). The anointing of the Spirit of God allowed David to foresee the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Foresight in prophecy is an important validation of the inspiration of Holy Scripture. David was anointed to see in part what God foresees in all things. Jewish Rabbis used a common formula in asking, "What saith the Scriptures?" Holy Scripture was understood to speak as the voice of God foreseeing things to come.

God is not simply an innocent bystander in foreseeing the future. He is active and not passive. The providence of God is at work through all things. Foreseen (Grk. problepo) is the literal meaning of the word provide in the English language. God is able and willing to provide for His children in the future, because He foresees all things.

One of the most comforting doctrines to God's children is that our Father in heaven foresees and provides for our every need. Even on the day of judgment, Jesus will say to God's children, "Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34).

God's foresight is completely unlimited. He knows all who will be justified by faith in Jesus Christ. An example is given in Galatians 3:8. "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed."

Herschel Hobbs wrote: "Thus God's providence is related to his divine purpose in his control of the universe. It involves God's sovereignty as expressed in the physical and moral laws of the universe. But it respects man's freedom, else God would be responsible for evil. . . . The providence of God involves the race as well as individuals" (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964) 26-27.

Therefore, we can see the foresight of God in the prophecy of Scripture, as well as, the providence of God ruling over all. The same foresight includes nations and individuals. God foresees those who are saved and those who perish. God's foresight includes all people and things.

The New Birth

2011-11-18T00:00:00.004-06:00

"Regeneration is the miraculous transformation of the individual and implantation of spiritual energy. . . . The flesh (i.e., human effort) is not capable of effecting this transformation. Nor can this transformation even be comprehended by the human intellect. Jesus in fact likened this work of the Spirit to the blowing of the wind [John 3:8]" (Millard J. Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2001) 279.

The new birth, through the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, is a miraculous work of God in our lives. It may not be thought miraculous because it cannot be seen by the eyes of people. The results can be observed in terms of lifesyle. The person who has been born again is aware of a transformed mind (Romans 12:1-2). The mind is renewed to understand the written Word of God. Prior to regeneration, the natural man, unlike the spiritual man, cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:14-16). This change is often referred to in the Bible as repentance, from the word metanoia meaning change of mind.

The new birth is miraculous because it is beyond man's ability. Erickson properly refers to this inability as flesh or human effort. In this context, flesh refers to man's sinful nature separated from God's grace. "So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:8). Therefore, this work of God's grace in man must be initiated by the Spirit of God. Man's inability is overcome by God's preceding grace. This is experienced in the convicting work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). He convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment. The sin is not believing in Christ. The righteousness is that of Christ. The judgment is the defeat of the prince of this world through the death and resurrection of Christ.

The new birth is miraculous because it defies human explanation. It is the work of God's grace that we receive by faith alone. Nicodemus did not understand the new birth. He asked Jesus how a person could be born again (John 3:5-12). Jesus likened the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration to the wind. Man cannot control nor manipulate the wind. He cannot see the wind, but he can see and feel the results of the blowing wind. We can be assured of the regenrating work of God's Spirit in our lives by faith. We believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:15-18, 36). You could say that it's a miraculous gift of God received by faith. "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (1 John 5:1).

The new birth is miraculous because we become a new creation by God's Spirit. The apostle Paul put it this way: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). He further stated: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:10). God alone is our Creator in the natural world as well as the new birth.

Now, let us consider a summary statement about our new birth. "Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace" (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000).

Conversion Is a Choice

2011-11-16T00:00:00.001-06:00

Billy Graham stated, "The will is necessarily involved in conversion. People can pass through mental conflicts and emotional crises without being converted. Not until they exercise their prerogative of a free moral agent and will to be converted are they actually converted" (Billy Graham, World Aflame, Minneapolis: BGEA, 1967) p.134. Scripture teaches likewise that the will of man is involved in conversion. "Today if you will hear His voice harden not your hearts" (Hebrews 3:15). The obvious point is stated clearly. An unwillingness to hear God's truth leads to a hardened heart. God gives us a choice.

Man left to himself in his sinful state will never desire nor will to be converted. "There is none who understands. There is none who seeks after God" (Romans 3:10). God initiates a relationship with us. He calls us by His grace. The Holy Spirit convicts or convinces us of sin, judgment and righteousness (John 16:7-11). If that does not happen, then there is no conversion.

Grace precedes our conversion. This preceding grace prepares the heart to receive the good news of Christ. Until that happens, man in his sin has no desire for God nor to hear the word of God. A woman by the name of Lydia heard the apostle Paul preaching the gospel. "The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul" (Acts 16:14). That is preceding grace which comes before conversion.

God never forces the will of man to be converted. He works through the will. No violence is ever done to the will. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). The sequence to conversion is plain for all to see. He initiates the relationship. He speaks and knocks at the door. Nevertheless, we must open the door. Conversion is a choice.

Arminian Theology

2011-11-14T00:00:00.009-06:00

Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609) was a Calvinist at one time. He was a student of Beza, who was John Calvin's son-in-law. In a debate defending Calvinist views, he believed that his opponent was better able to defend the opposite views. This led him to reject some major points of Calvinism. He tried to modify certain Calvinist views so that "God might not be considered the author of sin, nor man an automaton in the hands of God" (Earl Cairns, Christianity Through the Centuries, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1954) 351.

Arminius taught that God by an eternal purpose determined to save through Christ, and the grace of the Holy Spirit, all who believe on the Lord Jesus. Believers must persevere in the faith through God's grace even to the end. Those who refuse to believe in Christ are left in their sin under the wrath of God (John 3:36).

Arminius further taught that "Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, died for all men and for every man, so that he obtained for them all, by his death on the cross, redemption and the forgiveness of sins; yet that no one actually enjoys this forgiveness of sins, except the believer, according to the word of the Gospel of John 3:16." Arminius focused upon First John 2:2 to prove his point: "And he (Christ) is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

Arminius continued to believe that man is unable "to think, will, nor do anything good" without the saving grace of God. Man must be born again through the Holy Spirit and renewed in his will and understanding. He recognized that sin was the reason for man's inability to please God. He quoted the words of Jesus: "Without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Arminius continued to uphold the Calvinist doctrine of total depravity. He was not Pelagian nor semi-Pelagian in his views.

Jacobus Arminius taught the prevenient grace of God. That is to say, man can only be saved if God initiates his salvation by grace. Prevenient grace precedes conversion. It is this grace that awakens man to his lost condition and need of Christ as his Savior. Thereafter conversion, the believer continues to be dependent on the grace of God in all things ascribed as good in his life. However, Arminius maintained that this grace is not irresistible. The Spirit of grace can be resisted by man (Acts 7:51; Hebrews 10:29).

Arminius did understand that certain passages taught the security of the believer (e.g., John 10:28). When it comes to such security, he taught that the grace of the Holy Spirit through the power of Christ "keeps them from falling, so that they, by no craft or power of Satan, can be misled nor plucked out of Christ's hands." However, when it came to the possibility of the believer turning away from the grace of Christ, he stated, "That must be more particularly determined out of the Holy Scripture, before we ourselves can teach it with the full persuasion of our minds" (Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom) 3:545-49.

Receiving Our Election

2011-11-11T00:00:00.003-06:00

"Election in Christ must be understood as the election of God's people. Only as members of that community do individuals share in the benefits of God's gracious choice" (Markus Barth, Ephesians, Garden City, N.Y. Doubleday, 1974) 108. Scripture teaches that our election unto salvation is in Christ, and Christ alone. He is the one chosen of God before the foundation of the world to be the sacrifice for our sins. Christ is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8). It was the purpose of God to save sinners through the cross of Jesus even before man committed the first sin (Acts 3:23). This could only be based upon the omniscience and foreknowledge of God (1 Peter 1:2).

Our election unto salvation is received in Christ, and Christ alone. Through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we become part of the body of Christ, the covenant people of God. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). As we receive Christ by faith, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1 Cor. 12:13). We have a new identity with God our Father. He sees us in Christ who is the elect One. Our election, therefore, is in Christ, and only in Christ.

Our election is with the church, all of God's redeemed people. Ekklesia is the word from the Greek New Testament translated church. It refers not to any denomination, rather, it literally means God's called out people. We have been called out of spiritual darkness into the light of the good news in Jesus Christ. "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). God calls us through the preaching of the gospel of Christ. Those who respond in repentance and faith are the called-out ones.

Our calling and election must be made sure. "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble" (2 Peter 1:10). This deals with the assurance of our salvation. Both salvation and assurance requires responsibility on our part. It does not stop with our responsibility to repent and believe in Christ. Our assurance requires that we "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). We are to add to our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, godliness and kindness (2 Peter 1:5-8). As we grow in Christ, we grow in the assurance of our faith. That is to say, our assurance of election is in Christ, and Christ alone.

"Election does not mean that God acts out of his own will to the neglect of man's will . . . It is no excuse for fatalism. Election is not mechanical. It involves God who is love and a man who is morally responsible. It never appears in the Bible as a violation of human will" (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964) 106. God's will is to save all who will come unto Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Believers receive their election to salvation in Christ who is the elect One.

What Calvinists Believe

2011-11-09T00:00:00.028-06:00

What Calvinists believe may be summarized from the five points of the Synod of Dort (1619). A popular acronym for the five points is "tulip." Each letter stands for one of the points. T is for total depravity. U is for unconditional election. L is for limited atonement. I is for irresistible grace. P is for perseverance of the saints.

Total depravity teaches that the fall of Adam brought all of humanity into a condition of sin. Man is unable to save himself. Many who are not Calvinists would agree with this point (Romans 3:10; 3:23). All mankind is in a state of spiritual death outside of Christ (Ephesians 2:1).

Unconditional election teaches that God chose only certain people to be saved before the world began. Their salvation is guaranteed by God's choice alone. It is unconditional, because it is not based upon anything that they could do. Those who are not chosen are simply left in their sins to perish. In essence, they are lost because God did not choose them.

Limited atonement teaches that Christ did not die to save all people. His death was designed to save only those whom God chose before the world began. These are the elect. All whom God chose, and Christ died for, shall be saved. Those who were not chosen cannot be saved, because Christ did not die for them.

Irresistible grace teaches that God makes the chosen ones willing to be saved. Their response to the call of God is certain, because God makes them willing. Those who cannot be saved are lost forever, because God chose not to make them willing.

Perseverance of the saints teaches that those whom God has chosen, for whom Christ died, are saved and can never be lost again. They are saved and persevere, because God chose them and not others. This is not to be confused with the doctrine of eternal security, taught by many who are not Calvinists. The basic reason for using the term eternal security is to not identify with those who believe in unconditional election, limited atonement and irresistible grace.

There are different groups among Calvinists. This includes moderate Calvinists and hyper-Calvinists. Moderate Calvinists are primarily those who do not accept the teaching of limited atonement. Often, they are referred to as four point Calvinists. Hyper-Calvinists believe all five points, but they do not believe in missions and evangelism.

Receiving the Holy Spirit

2011-11-07T00:00:00.006-06:00

Is it possible to be a Christian without receiving the Holy Spirit? The New Testament makes it clear that everyone who has received Christ as Lord and Savior has likewise received the Holy Spirit. When anyone believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit indwells every true believer in Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19). The New Testament declares that the person who does not have the Holy Spirit does not belong to Christ.

"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God abides in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" (Romans 8:9).

There are those who teach that one can be a Christian without receiving the Holy Spirit. They present their case from the book of Acts. Millard Erickson addresses this issue: "Acts covers a transitional period. It is my interpretation that these cases did involve people who were regenerated before they received the Holy Spirit. They were the last of the Old Testament believers. They were regenerate because they believed the Old Testament and feared God. . . . But when on Pentecost those who were already regenerate under the Old Testament system received Christ, they were filled with the Spirit. . . . Thereafter, regeneration and the baptism of the Spirit were simultaneous" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1992) 283-84.

How can a Christian know that he has received the Holy Spirit? The Spirit of God indwells every true Christian with three abiding gifts. "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). Each of these abiding gifts are intimately related to Jesus Christ. Saving faith is the gift which abides in Christ. Hope receives our glorified future in Christ. Love experiences the presence of Christ. These three abiding gifts provide assurance that the Spirit of Christ lives within us.

Jesus promised that all who believe in Him would receive the Holy Spirit. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:38-39). In Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost, the glorified Christ poured out the Holy Spirit upon all who believed. He kept His promise and continues to give the Holy Spirit to all believers.

Life's Greatest Decision

2011-11-04T00:00:00.002-05:00

Nearing Home is the title of Billy Graham's most recent book. In that book, he talks about life's greatest decision. He says, "The most important decision you will ever make is to give your life to Christ and become His follower. Don't wait until life's storms begin to batter you; then it may be too late. Open your heart and life to Him now. 'Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation' (2 Corinthians 6:2)." (Billy Graham, Nearing Home, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011) 139.

In the introduction to the book, he wrote, "I know it won't be long before God calls me home to Heaven. More than ever I look forward to that day - not just because of the wonder I know heaven holds in store for me and every believer, but because I know that finally all the burdens and sorrows that press down upon me at this stage of life will be over." He went on to say, "I also look forward to that day because I will be reunited with Ruth, my beloved wife and best friend for almost sixty-four years, who went home in 2007 to be with the Lord she loved and served so faithfully."

Billy Graham, as a world-renowned author and evangelist, has preached the good news of Jesus Christ to more people face-to-face than anyone in history. He has preached the Gospel message in 185 countries. Many of us have read his classic books, such as Revival in Our Time, Peace with God, World Aflame, Hope for the Troubled Heart, The Journey, and Storm Warning. God has used his life and ministry to change countless numbers of lives.

The living Christ, who has worked in the life of Billy Graham, is the same One who wants to work in our lives. It begins with life's greatest decision to commit our lives to Christ. The Holy Spirit works in our lives to draw us to Christ.

The work of the Spirit of Christ is revealed within us through faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). We come to God by faith in Jesus Christ. By faith, we know that Christ died for our sins. He was raised from the dead to justify us from all sin. Hope knows that this life is not the end. Heaven is our home. Resurrection and reunion come to us through the living Christ. Love is the greatest work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (Romans 5:5). We know that God loves us and proved it at the cross of Jesus (Romans 5:8). His love overflows from within us, that we may be able to love others.

Billy Graham wrote these final words, "For those who have received the most precious gift of Christ's redeeming blood . . . you have reason to look forward to the glories of Heaven, for you will be perfected, you will be joyful, you will once again be active, and right now you can be certain that you are nearing home." He's right. Life's greatest decision is to receive by faith God's greatest gift - Jesus Christ our Lord. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).

God's Plan for You

2011-11-02T00:00:00.015-05:00

Someone asked me, "Do you have a life verse?" Without hesitation, I could say, "Yes, my life verse is Jeremiah 1:5." Yet, this verse speaks to the life of all of God's children. The verse is more about God than us. It is about who we are in God's plan. Your life is no accident.

God said to Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). Before you were born, God knew you. This is more than knowing information about you. The word "knew" is a covenant word. God loved us and planned a personal relationship with His covenant children before we were born. Our salvation is no accident. He purposed to save us. For those who reject God's love and mercy, on the day of judgment, He says, "I never knew you, depart from me" (Matthew 7:23).

Before you were born, God sanctified you. Sanctified means God set you apart for a purpose. The purpose of God for Jeremiah was to be a prophet to the nations. I knew in my heart from childhood, that God wanted me to preach. My cousin told me, that she knew from childhood that God wanted her to be a nurse. How can we know? God puts in our hearts what He wants us to do (Acts 7:23).

Before we were born, God ordained a ministry for us, a work to do (Ephesians 2:10). He works in and through us for the praise of His glory (1 Corinthians 15:10; Philippians 2:13). Jeremiah was ordained by God as a prophet. He has different ministries for all His covenant children. We have divine appointments in life to fulfill His purpose. Our gifts and ministries are different (1 Corinthians 4:7).

You may not think that you have a life verse. That's fine, but as a child of God, you have a purpose in life. Your life is no accident. Listen to what God has put in your heart. You have a destiny in life, "doing the will of God from the heart" (Ephesians 6:6).

Anyone May Be Saved

2011-10-31T00:00:00.013-05:00

"Rather, we should live in light of the certainty that anyone may be saved if he or she will but repent and put faith in Christ" (J.I. Packer, Concise Theology, Tyndale House Publishers, 1993) 151.

The apostle Paul declared that anyone may be saved in Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The gospel is for anyone who will receive Jesus Christ as Lord (John 1:12; Romans 10:9). The promise of God is certain, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32).

What does it mean to be saved?

The word saved means to be delivered. The believer in Jesus Christ is delivered from sin, death and judgment. Those who are saved are delivered from the wages of sin which is death (Romans 6:23). Therefore, they receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The resurrection of Christ is God's declaration to the world that eternal life comes through His Son. The death of Christ at the cross was the sacrifice for our sins. In essence, He took our sin and judgment at the cross (Isaiah 53:4-6; Romans 5:8).

How does God save us?

The Scripture is clear that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation is receiving the gift of God in Christ. The Spirit of God convicts us of the sin of unbelief, not trusting in Christ alone to save us (John 16:8-9). Also, the Holy Spirit enables us to put faith in Christ our Lord. Saving faith is an abiding gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13). Faith in Christ is trusting in Him alone for our salvation.

Why would anyone not want to be saved?

Jesus answered that question. "And this is 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" (John 3:19-20). Man left in his condition of sin and spiritual darkness has no desire for the light of Christ. Only when he is awakened by the call of God through the good news of Christ, convinced by the Holy Spirit of his sin and judgment, does he respond to the light.

What happens to those who never want to be saved?

J.I. Packer wrote, "God gives them over to their sins (i.e., removes restraints on their doing the disobedient things they desire), this is itself the beginning of judgment. It is called 'hardening' (Romans 9:18; 11:25; cf. Ps. 81:12; Romans 1:24, 26, 28), and it inevitably leads to greater guilt" (Ibid, 151). As C.S. Lewis put it, the person who never wants to be saved is saying to God, "Go away and leave me alone." God finally says to that person, "You may have your wish." (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, New York: MacMillan, 1962) 127-28.

All of Grace

2011-10-28T00:00:00.019-05:00

While there are serious and deep divisions between Calvinist and Arminian theologies, there are probably more areas of agreement than most people realize. Dr. Robert Picirilli, dean and professor of Greek and New Testament at Free Will Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee, recognizes areas of agreement between classical Arminianism and Calvinism (Robert E. Picirilli, Grace, Faith and Free Will, Nashville: Randall House, 2002) 35-36.

Areas of Agreement:

God is sovereign.

God is creator and preserver of all that exists.

God is omniscient.

No force exists that is not subject to God and
cannot thwart His will.

God is the source of all good.

Man is created and wholly governed by God.

Man is fallen and thoroughly depraved.

Salvation is wholly the gracious work of God.

The last point should get the attention of many people. Dr. Picirilli went on to state, "Salvation is wholly the gracious work of God, thus yielding no credit or merit to man. There is no room for 'synergism' (the view that God and man work together to accomplish salvation)." The agreement here may be summarized by saying that the salvation of sinners is by grace alone. Sinful man has absolutely nothing to boast about but the wonderful grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Robert Picirilli's statement rejects any idea of Pelagianism or semi-Pelagianism. Those ancient heresies that don't seem to go away, failed to recognize the total depravity of man's sinful condition. Pelagianism taught that man could initiate a relationship with God. It was a synthesis of God's work and man's work. While semi-Pelagianism recognized God must initiate man's salvation, it went astray teaching that man must complete salvation through his works. These old heresies have continued to reappear in church history.

The apostle Paul made it clear that salvation in Jesus Christ is all of grace. Even those works in the believer that please God are graciously the works of God through us. "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Bondage of the Will?

2011-10-26T00:00:00.005-05:00

John Wesley was a staunch defender of classic Arminianism, yet he understood fully the bondage of the natural man's will. He knew without question, that the will of man, outside of the saving grace of God, would continue to resist and rebell against the goodness of God's mercy in Christ.

"Though he strive with all his might, he cannot conquer; sin is mightier than he. He would fain escape; but he is fast in prison, that he cannot get forth. . . . Such is the freedom of his will; free only to evil; free to drink iniquity like water; to wander farther and farther from the living God, and do more despite the Spirit of grace" (John Wesley, Wesley's Standard Sermons, London: Epworth Press, 1955-56) I:188-189.

Does man have a free will? Yes, in things concerning the natural world, he is free to make his own choices. Yet, when it comes to the things of God, as Wesley has said, "He is free only to evil." His corrupt heart simply cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (2 Corinthians 2:14). The corrupt heart of the natural man must be changed by the grace of God before he can see and understand the things of God (Jeremiah 17:9; 24:7).

Much of the time, when the Bible speaks of the heart of man, it is describing the inner man which includes the mind, will, and emotions. The will of man makes choices according to the nature of his heart. The heart which has not been transformed by God's grace is constantly bent upon rebellion against God.

Only God can change our hearts. The Spirit of grace brings conviction to the natural man (John 16:7-11). He convicts man of the sin of unbelief, not trusting in God and His Son Jesus Christ. Man may choose to continue resisting the Spirit of grace (Acts 7:51). Yet, when he yields to the gospel of Christ Jesus, through the Spirit of grace, his heart is changed. His mind is transformed (Romans 12:2). His will is set free to know God and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. His desires of the heart are changed. God works in him "both to will and do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). The bondage of his will is broken through the power of Jesus Christ.

Eternal Security

2011-10-24T00:00:00.011-05:00

Norman Geisler sets forth his case for the eternal security of the born again believer based upon God's faithfulness and the believer's covenant relationship with God. Someone may ask about apostasy or falling away from the faith. Geisler makes it clear that apostates have a profession of faith without having a possession of genuine saving faith.

"Philippians 1:6. 'Being confident of this, that he [God] who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.' Paul expresses confidence that the God who initiated the saving process in our lives will finish it. That is, all the regenerate will make it to heaven. God finishes what he starts. To deny this is a slur on the divine character" (Norman Geisler, 4 Views on Eternal Security, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002) 75.

"2 Thessalonians 2:3. Paul warns of a great apostasy from the faith, saying, 'Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion [apostasy] occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction' (cf. v.8). It appears from the context that apostasy leading to ultimate doom and destruction (hell) not only can but will occur. However, those who make up this group are not true believers from the beginning, for this deception will take place among 'those who are perishing. They perish 'because they refused to love the truth and be saved" (v. 10). (Ibid, 90).

"Matthew 7:22-23. Jesus says, 'Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' In spite of the profession of these people and even signs done in Jesus name, it is clear from these words 'I never knew you' that they were never saved" (Ibid, 88).

The Bible teaches both eternal security for those who are born again by true faith in Jesus Christ, as well as, the apostasy or falling away of those who make a profession of faith without truly believing in Christ with a saving faith. To be known of God is a covenant term (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 8:7-13). The everlasting covenant of God confirmed in Christ not only saves sinners, but likewise keeps them unto the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6; Jeremiah 32:40). This security is only for those who have experienced salvation by the grace of God through saving faith in Christ.

God Loves All People

2011-10-21T00:00:00.004-05:00

D.A. Carson wrote: "I argue, that both Arminians and Calvinists should rightly affirm that Christ died for all, in the sense that Christ's death was sufficient for all and that Scripture portrays God as inviting, commanding, and desiring the salvation of all, out of love. . . . Of course I tell the unconverted God loves them" (D.A.Carson, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2000) 77-78.

The title of D.A. Carson's book gets my attention: The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God. It is a difficult doctrine for him because he is a Calvinist, yet, he readily agrees with Armininians that Christ died for all people sufficient to save all. He also confesses that God loves all people, therefore, he can tell the unconverted that God loves them. Not all Calvinists can say such things.

God's love is based upon His essential nature. Simply stated, "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16). The good news is that God loves sinners, not because he approves our sins, but because He is love. He is also holy and just. Therefore, all sinners must be brought to justice. The judge in a modern courtroom may be a very loving person, but the same judge must uphold the law and and anounce the convicted criminal's just punishment. Justice must be served, otherwise he is an unjust judge. God our Judge is both righteous and just. Therefore, outside of the grace of God, all will receive their just condemnation.

God's love for us, even as sinners, provides a way for justice and mercy. It is found at the cross of Jesus. Christ took the judgment of our sins. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). The motivation on God's part is His love for us as sinners, and that includes all of us, for all have sinned (Romans 3:23). That love is proven at the cross. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

God's love for us as sinners is experienced in our hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit, as we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5). "When our hope is in God, it cannot be disappointed. When our hope is in the love of God, it can never be an illusion, for God loves us with an everlasting love backed by an everlasting power" (William Barclay, The New Daily Study Bible, Romans, Louisville: John Knox Press, 2002) 88. The Spirit of God is the power that still changes the lives of sinners. That's the gospel, the good news of God's love for all people.

Who Will God Save?

2011-10-19T00:00:00.019-05:00

Scripture makes it clear without question that God in Christ is the Savior of the world. "We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe" (1 Timothy 4:10). Greek scholar A.T. Robertson, commenting on this text, makes it clear that God is indeed the Savior of everyone. "Not that all men 'are saved' in the full sense, but God gives life (Cf. 1 Tim. 6:13) to all (Acts 17:28); while God is potentially Savior of all, He is actually Savior of believers. In this sense Jesus is the Savior of the World" (John 4:42), (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Concise Edition, Nashville: Holman Publishers, 2000) 531.

Dr. Robertson stated: "God is potentially Savior of all." That is to say, God offers Himself as Savior of all in Christ. He is full of mercy and compassion for all. He takes the divine initiative in reaching out to all of us as sinners, that we may be saved. "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people" (Romans 10:21). He reaches out to those who adamantly refuse to respond. He is potentially their Savior. Yet, they refuse His mercy and grace.

Dr. Robertson further stated: "He is actually Savior of believers." The offer of mercy only becomes a real experience in the life of a sinner, when he receives through faith. The promise of God is offered to all. "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). "Whoever" throws the door of mercy open to all. Those who believe call upon His name. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?" (Romans 10:14). Thus, He actually becomes the Savior of believers.

The only thing that shuts anyone out of knowing God as Savior in Christ is his own wilful unbelief. For that reason the Holy Spirit convicts all of the sin of unbelief. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin . . . of sin because they do not believe in Me" (John 16:8-9). Herschel Hobbs said, "Unbelief or 'no faith' in Jesus as Savior is regarded as the worst of sins" (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Convention Press, 1964) 97. It is "the worst of sins" because it rejects God in Christ as Savior.

There is no lack of desire on God's part to save all. "God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4). "Paul stated plainly that God desires all to be saved. This eternal desire springs from the heart of God. It is why God has provided a plan or arrangement of salvation. It is not an expression of the absolute decree of God, otherwise all would be already saved. Rather it is an expression of God's constant willing through appropriate means that all might come to the knowledge of the truth" (Thomas C. Oden, Interpretation, A Bible Commentary, Louisville: John Knox Press, 1989) 48. Therefore, the apostle Paul, knowing the heart of God, could declare God as the Savior of all.

Christ Died for You

2011-10-17T00:00:00.006-05:00

The death of Christ for our sins is for everyone. The grace of God for sinners is seen in the substitutionary death of Christ. Grace is unlimited at the cross of Jesus. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone" (Hebrews 2:9).

Greek scholar A.T. Robertson commented on the above verse, in particular, the words "that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone." Robertson wrote: "This phrase is purpose, not result. The author interprets and applies the language of the Psalm to Jesus and puts Christ's death 'instead of every man,' as the motive of the Cross. His death was in behalf of everyone, and was sufficient for all, efficient for some" (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Concise Edition, Nashville: Holman Publishers, 2000) 560.

The death of Christ for sinners is offered primarily toward God to satisfy divine holiness and justice. Jesus became the propitiation for sinners before God (1 John 2:2). It is the atoning sacrifice to satisfy the justice of God. Because God is holy, He cannot allow sin to go unpunished. In Christ at the cross, God can be both just and the justifier of all who believe. Holy love provided the sacrifice of Christ. God loves sinners (Romans 5:8). God is also holy and must judge sin (Isaiah 6:3). At the cross, God revealed both His love and justice.

God has provided a sacrifice for sin that is sufficient for all sinners. He tasted death for everyone. The expression to taste is a metaphor that means to experience. The invitation of the gospel is offered to all, because the atonement of Christ is sufficient for all. In a word, the atonement is unlimited in sufficiency. "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

The atonement of Christ is unlimited in its scope, but it is also limited in its application. It is applied only to those who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38-39; Acts 16:30-31). For this reason, A.T. Robertson could write that the sacrifice of Christ is both "sufficient for all, efficient for some." The one who refuses the gospel, that Christ died for our sins and was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), has no one to blame but himself for his own just condemnation. God's grace is sufficient for everyone. God's grace is offered to everyone.

God Living in You

2011-10-14T00:00:00.003-05:00

God lives in us as believers in Christ through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Christ enters our lives after trusting Christ upon hearing the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 1:13-14). F.F. Bruce stated: "Since it is the Spirit alone who brings people into living relation with Christ, there can be no such relation with Christ apart from the Spirit" (F.F. Bruce, Romans - An Introduction and Commentary, Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1963) 154-155. God lives in the believer through the Spirit of Christ, also known in the Bible as the Spirit of the living God (2 Corinthians 3:3).

Does God live in you? The Bible teaches that those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God may be assured that God abides in them (1 John 4:15). Many believers may be unaware that God actually lives in them. The apostle Paul was aware of this when he wrote 1 Corinthians 6:19. "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" Pneuma is the word in the Greek New Testament translated Spirit. The word could be translated air. The Holy Spirit is like the very air that we breathe. We cannot see Him with our eyes, but He is always there with us and in us.

How can we know that God lives in us? When God lives in us through the Holy Spirit, we experience three abiding gifts - faith, hope and love (1 Cor. 13:13). Our faith in Christ is born of the Spirit of God. Our hope of life everlasting in Christ is further evidence. The greatest evidence of God living in us is love. "God is love" (1 John 4:8). His love is poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). God abides in us through these three abiding gifts of the Spirit.

Because God abides in us, we come to certain sure conclusions. First, He is with us always, regardless of where we are or how we feel. He abides with us. Also, He has given us three sure ways of knowing that He abides in us - faith, hope and love. In addition, He wants us to be aware of His presence in us everyday, all the time. As a believer in Jesus Christ, God lives in you.

The Book of Revelation

2011-10-12T00:00:00.015-05:00

"I find Jesus wherever I look in the Bible. He is the heart of the entire Bible. He is the Rose of Sharon. He is the Lily Fair. If you read the Bible and you don't see Jesus, you need to reread. Indeed, Jesus is the hero of the Bible and especially the book of Revelation. . . . Sometimes people call this book 'Revelations.' It is not revelations. It is Revelation, singular. It is the revelation of One - the spotless, glorified Lamb, Jesus Christ" (Adrian Rogers, Unveiling the End Time in Our Time, Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 2004) 3.

The Bible reaches its fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament prophets pointed toward His coming. The New Testament apostles declared that He has come. The book of Revelation announces that He is coming again. History moves toward a goal, and that goal is the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Revelation is about the consummation of the ages in Christ.

"God in His own time and own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness" (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000). That's what the book of Revelation describes in apocalyptic language. It is a book about Christ revealed in power and great glory. It is a book about judgment. Everyone will give an account to God. Christ brings this world as we know it to its appropriate end.

The book of Revelation is often hard to understand. It is filled with images and metaphors from the Old Testament. There are more than four hundred references to the Old Testament in the book of Revelation. The most repeated image is that of the Lamb. That symbol reminds us of the Old Testament sacrificial system and points to the cross of Christ. The crucified One is alive for all to see. He is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Like the Lamb imagery, many symbols point to Christ. Difficulties in understanding the book of Revelation begin to fade as we interpret the text in the light of Christ. The Christocentric interpretation focuses upon the main Person and the main point of the entire book.

The book of Revelation is indeed about the revelation of One - Jesus Christ. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" are the first words of the book. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all" are the last words of the book. In between these words, the message is about the Word - Jesus Christ. As we reread the book of Revelation, let us not be distracted about side issues and miss the main issue - Christ. There are many strange and unusual interpretations to this book. Such fanciful systems all have one thing in common, they fail to focus upon the Revelation who is Jesus Christ.

Amillennialism

2011-10-10T00:00:00.004-05:00

Amillennialism teaches that there is no earthly reign of Christ after the second coming. The 1000 years in Revelation 20 is interpreted symbolically as the period between the first and second coming of Christ. This will be followed by a general resurrection and judgment at the time of Christ's return. This non-millennial eschatology was introduced to the church through the teaching of Augustine (354-430). It is an allegorical interpretation ignoring the grammatical context of Revelation 20.

Reformed theology maintains the amillennial view. This is seen in the teaching of B.B. Warfield (B.B. Warfield, Biblical Doctrines, New York: Oxford, 1929) 634-44. Also, John Calvin harshly debated against any view of an actual millennium on earth. He referred to such ideas as "fiction," "insult," "dream," and "intolerable blasphemy" (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology, Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1999) 521. Calvin's disdain for premillennialism is beyond question. To be a consistent Calvinist requires an amillennial theology.

Millard Erickson points to the problem of the amillennial interpretation of Revelation 20. "We note here that there are no biblical passages with which premillennialism cannot cope, or which it cannot adequately explain. We have seen on the other hand, that the reference to two resurrections (Revelation 20) gives amillennialists difficulty. Their explanations that we have here two types of resurrection or two spiritual resurrections strain the usual principle of hermeneutics" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2001) 400.

There is little doubt that the premillennial interpretation is on the side of the historical-grammatical view. Also, the interpretation is about far more passages than Revelation 20. It includes Luke 14:14; 20:35; John 5:29; 1 Corinthians 15:23; Philippians 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and Daniel 12:2, just to name a few. The teaching of Augustine and Calvin simply cannot settle these issues of interpretation. For the premillennialist, the kingdom of God has come in Christ, and the kingdom of God is coming in its fullness at the second coming, even on earth. That's the reason Jesus taught us to pray to the Father, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).

Predestined for Hell?

2011-10-05T00:00:00.013-05:00

"E.Y. Mullins, Herschel Hobbs and Adrian Rogers were the three pastor-theologians who served as the chairmen of the committees which created or revised the Baptist Faith and Message in 1925, 1963 and 2000. All three of these founding Confessors held views contrary to classical Calvinism. Mullins objected to the errors of Calvinists, whose doctrines are based on a 'false premise' about God's character, leading them to proceed 'by a rigid logic to their false conclusions.' Mullins concluded, 'God elects men to respond freely.' Hobbs decried the 'error that election relates to certain individuals, with some destined to salvation and others to damnation.' Rogers, a well-known opponent of 'wine and cheese' theology, wrote a pamplet aptly titled, Predestined for Hell? Absolutely Not" (Malcolm B. Yarnell III, The TULIP of Calvinism, SBC LIFE, April, 2006).

What does the word predestination mean? It is a translation of the Greek word proorizo. The verb form of the word is found six times in the New Testament. The King James Version translates it four times as predestinate. The American Standard Version translates it foreordain. Actually, our English word predestinate is derived from the Latin word praedestinare. The meaning is to destine beforehand. The Greek word actually means to determine beforehand. God determined beforehand to save sinners through our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ are predestined to be conformed to His likeness (Romans 8:29-30). This shall happen at the glorification of believers when Christ returns (1 John 3:2). We shall be like Him! It's not about being predestined to heaven or hell. It's about being predestined and conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ.

God predestines no one to hell, because He desires that all people should be saved. "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 Timothy 2:3-4). God's will of desire is clearly stated. God saves only those who willingly receive His love, grace, and mercy, through our Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Herschel Hobbs wrote: "Election and predestination does not mean that God acts out of his own will to the neglect of man's will. . . . It is no excuse for fatalism. Election is not mechanical. It involves a God who is love and a man who is morally responsible. It never appears in the Bible as a violation of human will" (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964) 106.

Teaching that some people are predestined for hell comes from the false teaching of double predestination. This false doctrine was condemned by the Second Council of Orange (A.D. 529). They spoke harshly against the error: "Not only do we not believe that some are predestined to evil by divine power, but if there are any who wish to believe such an enormity, we with great abhorence anathematise them" (S. J. Neuner, The Christian Faith: Doctrinal Documents, 5th edition, New York: Alba, sec. 1992). Although the false teaching has been condemned severely, it continues to reappear from time to time in church history.

Everlasting Punishment

2011-10-03T00:00:00.008-05:00

Jesus warned of everlasting punishment for those who reject His gift of everlasting life (Matthew 25:46; John 3:16). The apostle Paul likewise warned of this reality as everlasting destruction. "These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

A.T. Robertson commented on the above verse: "Destruction does not mean annihilation, but, as Paul proceeds to show, separation from the face of the Lord and separation from the glory of his might, for an eternity in the coming age, in contrast to this age" (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Concise Edition, Nashville: Holman Publishers, 2000) 518.

The teaching of everlasting punishment of those who adamantly refuse to repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ has never been popular and understandably so. It could never be popular with those who reject the love of God in Christ. It's certainly not popular with those who do not believe in the authority and integrity of Scripture. As a matter of fact, it is true but a burden to those who really believe God's Word. Jesus had more to say about hell and everlasting punishment than any other prophet or teacher.

Attempts have been made by scholars and teachers to downplay the unpopular teaching. One such attempt is known as conditional immortality, teaching that those who reject God and His grace shall be annihilated. However, the above statement by Greek scholar A.T. Robertson shows that annihilation is not a viable option in the Bible. Another attempt to escape the teaching of everlasting punishment is found in universalism. This idea teaches that God will finally save all people everywhere. However, there are too many Bible passages that plainly refute this old heresy. Probably the most popular attempt to downplay the teaching of everlasting punishment is to ignore it. Ministers and congregations may frequently do this, but it doesn't change the plain teaching in the Bible.

What should we do with this teaching of everlasting punishment? The best thing would be to follow the example of the apostle Paul. He testified, "I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh" (Romans 9:1-3). Paul was broken-hearted over those who had rejected Christ. It motivated him to pray, witness and continue his missionary journeys.

We have the privilege of announcing that salvation is offered to all people everywhere. The good news in Christ is for all who will believe. God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). The question is, are people willing to receive the good news of Christ? Will they accept God's love and mercy? God gives us choice, and with that choice comes responsibility, a responsibility with an eternal consequence. "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7).

Understand All Theology

2011-09-30T00:00:00.004-05:00

"The body of divinity to which I would pin and bind myself forever, God helping me, is not his system of divinity (John Gill's) or any other human treatise, but Christ Jesus, who is the sum and substance of the gospel; who is in himself all theology, the incarnation of every precious truth, the all glorious personal embodiment of the way, the truth, and the life" (Charles Spurgeon, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Pasadena TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1961) 1861:169.

Charles Spurgeon summarized the understanding of all theology in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. How can this be so? Simply because "God was in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:19). Jesus Christ is God in "the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person" (Hebrews 1:3). Christ is the key that unlocks the door to all theology. This is "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8).

The Bible teaches that Jesus our Lord is God in flesh. "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh" (1 Timothy 3:16). Thomas understood this when the risen Christ appeared unto him. He said to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28).

Christ is the key to understanding the Bible. Scripture finds fulfillment in Christ. The Old Testment prophets pointed toward His coming. The New Testament apostles declared that He has come. Jesus said, "All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me" (Luke 24:44). "Baptists are a people who profess a living faith. This faith is rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ who is 'the same yesterday, and today, and forever.' Therefore, the sole authority for faith and practice among Baptists is Jesus Christ whose will is revealed in the Holy Scriptures" (Baptist Faith and Message, 1963) 5.

John Gill was Spurgeon's predecessor as a pastor. Gill wrote a system of theology. Although Spurgeon paid respect to John Gill, yet his faith was not in a systematic theology nor a creed, but he maintained a living faith in the living Christ. His theology and preaching were focused upon Christ as the key to all theology, and the sum of all gospel preaching. It has been said that Spurgeon's books are still the most read of any preacher of all time. This is so because he preached not himself but Christ Jesus the Lord. Such preaching transcends time and culture simply because Christ is "the same yesterday, and today, and forever!" Understand all theology in Christ.

Faith and New Birth

2011-09-28T00:00:00.004-05:00

Charles Spurgeon encountered a false doctrine that taught a person was regenerated or born again before having repented and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. The sequence was new birth followed by repentance and faith rather than believing in Jesus Christ to be saved. Spurgeon preached, "If I am to preach faith to a man who is regenerated, then the man being regenerated is saved already, and it is an unnecessary and ridiculous thing for me to preach Christ to him, and bid him to believe in order to be saved when he is saved already, being regenerate" (C.H. Spurgeon Sermons, Pasadena, Texas: Pilgrim Publications, 1970) 532.

We believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved. To be saved is to be regenerate or born again. "What must I do to be saved? So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:30-31). Paul and Silas made it plain and simple to a man who wanted to be saved. They told him in one sentence how to be saved through Christ. Believing is receiving Christ (John 1:12). As we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, we are born again (John 1:13).

To believe in Christ is to trust Him to forgive our sins and save us from condemnation. Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13) that is received through hearing the word of God, which is the good news of Christ (Romans 10:17). The Holy Spirit enables us to believe the gospel of Christ, that He died for our sins according to the Scripture, and He was raised from the dead according to the Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). While the Holy Spirit enables faith, He does not believe for us. We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be regenerate or born again.

The importance of faith in Christ in order to be saved is emphasized repeatedly in Scripture. The Old Testament most often uses the word trust as a synonym for faith. The New Testament most often uses the word faith. Both the verb believe and the noun faith are used 492 times in the New Testament. That alone speaks loudly to tell us how important faith is in Christ. Without faith there is no salvation. Faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ has always been the only way of salvation. The Old Testament people of God were made right with God by faith. This is clear beyond question as we read the eleventh chapter of Hebrews.

"By grace are you saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). Faith takes us immediately from death unto life, from condemnation unto justification (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17), and from darkness unto light. Regeneration is the new life that we receive through new birth. As we exercise faith in the Word of God the new birth comes immediately. New Testament Greek scholar A.T. Robertson wrote, "Grace is God's part, faith is ours . . . the act of being saved by grace conditioned on faith on our part" (A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Concise Edition, Nashville: Holman, 2000) 472.

Therefore, the logical sequence is not new birth or regeneration followed by repentance and faith, but repentance and faith followed by new birth. Herschel Hobbs made it clear, "Regeneration is the work wrought by the Holy Spirit in the unbeliever's heart as a result of conviction, repentance, faith, and conversion . . . Regeneration is an act of God, not of man" (John 1:13), (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964) 98-99. Faith to be saved receives God's grace through regeneration or new birth.

Whosoever Believes

2011-09-26T00:00:00.011-05:00

Charles Spurgeon preached, "Sin is no barrier, and your guilt is no obstacle. Although as black as Satan or as deceptive as a fiend, whosoever believes will have every sin forgiven, will have every crime effaced, will have every iniquity blotted out, will be saved in the Lord Jesus Christ, and will stand in heaven safe and secure" (Charles H. Spurgeon, Holy Spirit Power, New Kensington, PA, Whitaker House, 1996) 25.

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is received with abundant blessings for whosoever believes. When a person believes on the Lord Jesus, he has assurance that all of his sins are forgiven. Not one sin is any longer held against him before the Judge of all mankind. That assurance is secured through the blood of Jesus at the cross. He died not for some of our sins but all. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).

Whosoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved (Acts 16:31). Faith is the evidence that we are delivered from the law of sin and death. The curse of our sins was laid upon Jesus crucified. He took our curse that we may receive His blessing. It is for whosoever believes. "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:13-14).

Whosoever believes has the security of heaven. Jesus said, "You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3). That is a word of security in the face of death, but everyone will not receive it. That word, however, is certain for whosoever believes.

Unbelief scoffs, saying, "That all sounds good, but who would believe it? There is no reason to believe such claims. It is utter nonsense." Faith says, "The promises of Christ are offered to all, but they are only real to whosoever believes."

Counterfeit Revival

2011-09-23T00:00:00.003-05:00

The Spirit of God moved in great power in America during the First Great Awakening. People were saved and lives and communities were changed by the grace of God. Preachers such as Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were used to turn the nation back to Christ. However, the Spirit was later quenched through false doctrine, unbiblical theology and fanatical groups. Iain Murray observed: "Without question, the rise of the fanatical element coincided with the decline of the spiritual power of the Awakening. Those who spoke most loudly of being led by the Spirit were the very persons responsible for quenching the Spirit's work" (Iain Murray, Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, reprint ed. 1992) 227.

Real revival is built upon sound doctrine and biblical theology. A woman said to her pastor, "I'm not interested in doctrine. My focus is on the Spirit of God." The pastor responded, "I'm glad that you seriously consider the Holy Spirit, but remember, the Spirit of God is interested in sound doctrine. That's the reason He inspired the apostles and prophets who wrote our Bible." The Spirit of God still speaks to us through the Bible. You can rest assured that He desires to lead us into all truth (John 14:16-17; 16:13).

Real revival glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14). The focus is upon Christ crucified and risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 2:2; 15:1-4). The apostle Paul knew that the power of God is released through the preaching of Christ and the cross. Real revival declares salvation in Christ through His glorious resurrection. Great revivals of the past have emphasized the forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7-9). Preaching Christ crucified is the power of God unto salvation (John 12:32; Romans 1:16). Proclaiming the resurrection of Christ saves all who truly believe (Romans 10:9-13). Counterfeit revival simply will not focus upon Christ and the everlasting gospel.

Real revival is a sovereign move of the Spirit of the living God. Like the wind that moves when and where it will, so the Spirit of God moves sovereignly (John 3:5-8). There is no doubt when He is moving in peoples lives. The evidence is most certain. It is the love of God changing lives to the glory of God. Love is the fruit and proof that God is at work, for God is love and the fruit of the Spirit is love (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22; 1 John 4:8). Where God's unconditional love (Grk: agape ) is at work, there is absolutely no doubt that real revival has come. Love brings peace with God and joy unspeakable full of God's glory. Real revival always brings glory to God.

Your Own Free Will

2011-09-21T00:00:00.003-05:00

"Jesus never compelled anybody to be saved. He has willed that he will not force men into heaven. He puts in the human heart the whole program of redemption on the voluntary principle and hangs the destinies of men on the pivot of their own free will" (L. R. Scarborough, How Jesus Won Men, Nashville: Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1926) 111.

To say that free will is involved in a person being saved in no way rules out the need for God to initiate our salvation through grace. Without God's grace, there is no salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, that grace is not irresistible (Acts 7:51; Hebrews 10:29). E.Y. Mullins defined the difference between free will and grace. "In his free act of accepting Christ and his salvation, man is self-determined" (E.Y. Mullins, The Christian Religion in its Doctrinal Expression, Valley Forge, PA; Judson Press, 1917) 334. Mullins goes on to explain that the grace of God is not irresistible as a "physical force."

The Bible teaches both the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. The Abstract of Principles of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary presents a biblical balance between sovereignty and free will. Article IV on Providence states: "God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and events, yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures." This is a concurrent biblical view. The sovereignty of God and the free will of man flow together.

Your own free will makes you responsible to God for choices in life. We are accountable to God and face our responsibility in judgment. Yet, God has provided a way to be delivered from the judgment and just condemnation for our sins at the cross of Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised from the dead for our justification (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). We are responsible for our choice to accept or reject the gospel of Christ. Enabled by the Spirit of grace, we may receive Christ and be saved (John 3:16; 16:7-11; Romans 10:9-13). We may also choose to spurn the Spirit of grace to our own just condemnation (Hebrews 10:29). Free will brings responsibility. "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 4:7).

God's Desire for All

2011-09-18T16:27:00.002-05:00

Scripture makes it clear that God desires everyone to be saved. To be saved is to be delivered from death, judgment and everlasting punishment. His desire sent His Son into the world to provide the one and only sacrifice that can save sinners, which includes all of us, because all have sinned (Romans 3:23). One passage of Scripture that makes God's desire understood beyond question is First Timothy 2:3-6.

"For this is good and acceptable to God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to 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, to be testified in due time" (First Timothy 2:3-6, NKJV).

In his commentary on First Timothy 2:3-7, Thomas C. Oden wrote: "Paul stated plainly that God desires all to be saved (vs. 4; 4:10; Titus 2:11; Ezekiel 18:23; John 3:16). This eternal desire springs from the heart of God. It is why God provided a plan or arrangement (oikonomia, literally economy) of salvation. It is not an expression of the absolute decree of God, otherwise all would be already saved. Rather, it is an expression of God's constant willing through appropriate means (given the fallenness of freedom, and not coercing the self-alienated will) that all might come to the knowledge of the truth (full, personal knowledge, experiencially realized and appropriated; 2 Timothy 2:25; Titus 1:1)" (Thomas C. Oden, Interpretation - First and Second Timothy and Titus, Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1989) 48.

Kenneth Wuest explains that God's desire in the above passage "marks a determinate purpose" in the Greek New Testament (K.S.Wuest, Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1973) 2:40. This is far more than a wishful thought on God's part. His determinate purpose to save sinners is unquestionably seen in the death of Christ for our sins (Acts 2:23-24). That eternal purpose provided "a ransom for all." The context makes clear without question that it is His desire for "all men to be saved." Many may try to explain away the obvious meaning of the passage to fit their own theological system, but the Bible speaks clearly in language that all can understand. "God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved," has spoken.

The application of this passage brings confidence and assurance about God's desire and determinate purpose to save us. To the preacher, it brings assurance that God desires to save every person to whom he declares the gospel of Jesus Christ. To the soul-winner, there is confidence that God desires to save each and everyone to whom he presents the gospel. To the church, there is evidence from God's word that He wants to save people through their ministry. To the people who need assurance of salvation, they must know that God's desire to save them is unquestionable. For individuals who hear the gospel and need to be saved, they must know that this gospel is for them.

The question may be asked, "If it is God's desire to save all people, why are so many not saved?" God does not save anyone against his will. God gives us a choice. He saves all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31). Believing is receiving Christ (John 1:11-12). "We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe" (First Timothy 4:10).

God Opens Hearts

2011-09-15T00:00:00.003-05:00

"The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul" (Acts 16:14). These words speak of Lydia, a woman who worshipped God but had not yet heard the gospel to believe in Christ. Arminians and Calvinists disagree over the interpretation of God opening her heart. To the Arminian, this was God's "prevenient grace" or grace that goes before conversion to prepare a person to hear the gospel and choose to accept or reject Christ. It may be identified with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. To the Calvinist, this was God's "efficacious grace" whereby He irresistibly called Lydia to Himself through the gospel of Christ. The disagreement is a vast difference. To the Arminian, it is the gospel call that may be resisted. To the Calvinist, it is an absolutely irresistible call to the elect only.

Robert Picirilli, an Arminian, states: "Theologically, this concept meets the need of the totally depraved sinner. As already acknowledged, the unregenerate person is totally unable to respond positively, by his natural will to the offer of salvation contained in the gospel. Pre-regenerating grace simply means that the Spirit of God overcomes that inability by a direct work on the heart, a work that is adequate to enable the unregenerate person to understand the truth of the gospel, to desire God, and to exercise saving faith" (Robert Picirilli, Grace, Faith, Free Will, Nashville: Randall House, 2002) 154.

Prevenient grace, that is pre-regenerating grace, opens the heart of man to hear and understand the gospel. It enables the person to say yes or no to the call of Christ. It works concurrently with man's will and choice. Jesus stands at the door of a person's life and knocks. That person must open the door to receive Christ (Revelation 3:20; John 1:12). "In every conversion the man is aware that he could have decided differently, could have refused the voice that called, could have spurned the offered pardon, could have persisted in unbelief and sin. But instead of using his freedom to refuse, he used it to consent. He answered to the electing grace of God, and there came regeneration, sanctification, salvation" (O.C.S. Wallace, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Sunday School Board, Southern Baptist Convention, 1913) 99.

Both Arminians and Calvinists agree that God must act upon the hearts of people to enable them to respond to the gospel message of salvation. Arminians believe that this work of God enables the person to overcome total depravity and respond to the good news of Christ. They could yield to God's grace or resist at that point. Calvinists believe that this is regeneration for the elect, which guarantees that they will repent and believe.

The book of Hebrews repeatedly warns people who have heard the gospel not to harden their hearts. "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Hebrews 3:7, 15; 4:7). When a person who has been convicted by the Spirit of God hears the gospel, he may choose to resist (Acts 7:51). He thereby insults the Spirit of grace in rejecting Christ (Hebrews 10:29).

Spiritual Warfare

2011-09-12T23:39:00.001-05:00

Every believer is in spiritual warfare whether he knows it or not, and likewise, whether he understands it or not. The apostle Paul wrote about every believer's spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:10-19; Colossians 1:13-18; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:7). Many believers may not know nor understand warfare in the Christian life. The Commission magazine of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention had an article speaking boldly about spiritual warfare. It reported two demonic deliverances, one in the Caribbean and the other in Malaysia. Leland Webb said, "Missionaries seldom share accounts like these with Baptists at home. One reason is that these reports fall outside the experience of most Christians in America" (Leland Webb, "Spiritual Warfare: Reports from the Front," The Commission, February-March, 1991) 30.

We can deny spiritual warfare simply because it doesn't appear to be a part of our Christian experience. Others may become too fascinated with the world of spiritual darkness, rather than putting the focus where it belongs, that is on the Lord Jesus Christ and the victory which we have in Him over all the powers of darkness (1 Corinthians 15:57). C.S. Lewis wrote: "There are two equal and opposite errors which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them" (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, New York: Macmillan, 1962) 3.

One of the most widespread areas of demonic involvement is worshipping false gods, rather than the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This world is filled with the worship of false gods, and that is called idolatry in the Bible. The apostle Paul warned of pagan worship when he wrote: "The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God" (1 Corinthians 10:20). George Eldon Ladd, in commenting on this passage, said: There is "a power connected with idols that resides in demons. To worship idols therefore means to sacrifice to demons" (George Eldon Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1974) 400.

In conclusion, every believer should remember two primary things about spiritual warfare. First, it is reality in the world where we live. Secondly, and most importantly, we have the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has defeated all powers of darkness through His death at the cross and His glorious resurrection (Colossians 1:13-18). Herschel Hobbs recognized the reality of spiritual warfare through Bible study. He wrote: "The Scriptures recognize the existence of both good and evil spirits. There is the Holy Spirit of God. Then there are the spirits of Satan. . . . Christian people should discern the spirits today so as not to be taken in by charlatans or false prophets. This may be done through prayer and an intelligent testing of their claims by the Word of God" (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Convention Press, 1964) 58-59.

God's Eternal Election

2011-09-10T00:00:00.002-05:00

The Bible doctrine of election has been an ongoing source of controversy among theologians for centuries. How could God choose some in Christ before the foundation of the world and yet give man a choice to accept or reject Christ? Most would agree that the Bible teaches both the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. How can man be responsible for choices in life when God has made choices about man in eternity? We must understand that man is bound by time while God lives in the eternal now. He knows all things immediately and simultaneously. Our knowledge is limited by time and space. He is omniscient, knowing the end from the beginning. We know in part and only in part. The eternal God knows all things now.

"God is not limited by time. With him there is no present, past and future, but one eternal now. He knows all things from the beginning. Thus God's election does not nullify man's freedom of choice. God knows what man's choice will be" (J. Clyde Turner, These Things We Believe, Nashville: Convention Press, 1956) 88.

God knows the names and exact number of all His elect. They are now justified and glorified in Christ as far as the eternal now of God is concerned (Romans 8:29-33). Yet, God desires all to come to repentance and none to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Such knowledge is beyond human comprehension. Yet, all who are elect in Christ must choose to repent and believe in Christ (Acts 2:38; 13:48). God turns none away who repent and believe. He desires all to come to Him. They are invited and commanded to come to Him (Acts 17:30).

"If God lives in the Eternal Now, then He has always had not just the knowledge of but experience with every individual. So there has never been a moment in eternity when God has not had the experience of every elect person being convicted, accepting God's completion of their faith, conversion, sanctification, glorification, and their praise and worship in the new heaven and the new earth . . . Conversely, God has always had the experience of the 'non-elect' - their rejection of the Spirit's conviction, their rejection of Him, their increasingly hardened heart, and their ultimate condemnation and their eternal judgment" (Richard Land, Whosoever Will, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2010) 57.

Our response to God's eternal election is two-fold. First, in humility we should consider the greatness of God in His omniscience and all of His attributes, as we worship Him who is past our knowledge. "How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33). Secondly, we should always remember our responsibility to obey God. We must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved (John 14:6; Acts 16:30-31). No one will be saved outside of repentance and faith in the mercy of God in Christ. We are responsible likewise to share the good news of God's love and grace through Christ. God's eternal election is the strongest reminder that our "labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Response to Calvinism

2011-09-06T18:05:00.001-05:00

John 3:16 Conference examines Calvinism
By Don Beehler
Nov 12, 2008

WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP)--The John 3:16 Conference, described by organizers as a biblical and theological assessment of and response to five-point Calvinism, was held Nov. 6-7 at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga. About 1,000 pastors and laypeople attended.

The conference was sponsored by Jerry Vines Ministries, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Luther Rice Seminary and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

TULIP is an acronym for the five points of Calvinism—total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and perseverance of the saints. Each point was addressed by individual speakers.

"I want to help our people understand the issue," Jerry Vines said in a phone interview prior to the conference. "I don't expect to change a whole lot of minds; my primary interest is to bring balance to the issue."

During the conference, Vines and other speakers emphasized that the event was intended to address theological issues and provide information rather than attack Calvinists. "I've never felt that disagreeing was attacking," Vines said, adding that he has many friends with different views.

Johnny Hunt, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, opened the conference with a message from Psalm 119 about praying and leading with the end in mind. "What you believe determines how you behave," he said.

Vines spoke next on John 3:16, a verse he described as the gospel in a nutshell. The verse indicates God's love is global, sacrificial, personal and eternal, he said.

"We will never exhaust the content and the meaning of John 3:16. Here is a simple Biblicism that tells us of the mind of God, the heart of God and the will of God."

Vines said that the Greek word for "whosoever," which occurs more than a thousand times in the New Testament, carries the idea of "anyone, anywhere, anytime. Whosoever believes in Him is John's normal way of describing saving faith."

He emphasized the importance of starting with an exegesis of scripture, working forward to find a biblical theology and then attempting to develop a systematic theology.

"What I'm after is what does God say in the Bible and let the chips fall where they may," he said.

"In Scripture God commands men to believe," Vines said, asserting that God would not command people to do what they cannot do.

T -- TOTAL DEPRAVITY

Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, addressed the issue of total depravity from Romans, saying that depravity means no one is right with God. Any good deed done is tainted with sinfulness, and there is no fear of God or ultimate peace in a person's heart. All of mankind fell in Adam and are affected by his sin.

"Does that mean we are born guilty before God?" Patterson asked. "I do not think that can be demonstrated from Scripture. We are born with a 'sin sickness,' a disease that makes it certain that we will sin and rebel against God." The Bible says people are condemned for their own sins, he said.

"Look at what dead men do," Patterson continued, citing Ephesians 2:1: "... You were dead in your trespasses and sin.' If you are dead, then you can't do anything to respond to God." Patterson pointed to verses 2-3, which says, "You walked according to the course of this world ... you once conducted yourself in the lusts of the flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind...."

"This is analogy, you are dead in trespasses and sin, and pressed too far, you will make it say more than it says," he stated.

"The atonement of Christ is God's way of saving the whole race, if the race would receive Him as Savior," Patterson said. Although sinners are unable to help themselves, lost men are able to "call out to God who can save you," he said.

U -- UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION

Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, spoke about the second point, unconditional election. Land provided a historical overview of Baptist beliefs on the topic and said election is consistent with the free agency of man; the question is how election is defined.

He also stressed the need to differentiate between God's corporate election of Israel and individual election, which he said is intertwined with and connected to God's foreknowledge.

Commenting on 1 Timothy 2:3-4, "... God our savior, who will have all men to be saved," Land said the Greek word for "will" is an earnest desire.

Reacting to Reformed commentaries that say "all" can't really mean "all men" because if God willed something it would have to happen, Land said, "I believe in a God who is so sovereign and so omniscient that He can break out of Calvin's box ... and He can choose to limit Himself and He can convict us and He can seek to bring us to conviction ... but He will not force us."

Understanding God's perspective of time and recognizing that He lives in what C.S. Lewis termed "the eternal now" should help Christians reconcile theological tensions. "All events are in the present for God," Land said.

L -- LIMITED ATONEMENT

David Allen, dean of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's School of Theology, challenged limited atonement quoting only Calvinist authors because "the best arguments against limited atonement come from Calvinist writers."

Allen named a long list of Calvinists, including John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards, who did not hold to limited atonement. Martin Luther and the early English reformers held to universal atonement, which means Christ bore the punishment due for the sins of all humanity.

"The debate is very much about the sufficiency of the atonement," Allen said. "In the high Calvinist position on limited atonement, Christ is only sufficient to save those for whom He suffered ... the non-elect according to that position are not savable, and the reason they are not savable is because Jesus didn't die for them ... they are left without a remedy for their sins."

Limited atonement has always been the minority view among Christians, even after the Reformation. The correct view, he said, is "all are savable but they must believe."

If "world" means the "elect" in John 3:16, "whosoever believes shall not perish leaves open the possibility that some of the elect might perish," Allen said. "That's a problem."

Any teaching that God doesn't love everyone, that God has no intent or desire to save everybody or that He didn't die for the sins of all humanity is contrary to Scripture and should be rejected, he stated.

"Limited atonement is built on a faulty exegetical foundation," Allen said, citing verses such as 2 Corinthians 5:15 and Romans 5:18. "... There is no statement in Scripture that says Jesus died only for the elect."

In his concluding remarks, Allen expressed concern about the effect of five-point Calvinism on preaching and evangelism. "Anything that makes the preacher hesitant to make the bold proclamation [of the Gospel] to all people is wrong," he said.

"Calvinism is not the Gospel," he said. "Should the Southern Baptist Convention move toward five-point Calvinism, such a move would be away from, and not toward, the Gospel."

I -- IRRESISTIBLE GRACE

Steve Lemke, provost of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, spoke about irresistible grace.

"Salvation is tied in some measure to our response," he said, citing several biblical examples of what he said were people resisting God. For example, in Acts 7:51 the Jewish men who stoned Stephen were said to be "always resisting the Holy Spirit."

Lemke said that while Calvinists don't deny people can resist the Holy Spirit in some situations, they believe the effectual call is irresistible.

"It doesn't seem to me that [the effectual call] helps in this particular situation, because the Jews after all were God's chosen people, they were under the covenant. If you have a covenant theology, then these people would seem to be among the elect ... it is precisely these divinely elected people who are resisting God."

Whether generalized or personalized, Jesus' teaching pattern seems to be inconsistent with irresistible grace, particularly in His lament over Jerusalem, he said. In Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34, where Jesus longed to gather His people as a hen gathers her chicks, Lemke said the Greek verb "to will" has an even sharper contrast, so Jesus is saying, "I willed but you were not willing."

In both examples, Lemke said, it is not just the current generation that is being addressed, but many generations.

In addition to the all-inclusive invitations of scripture, when people in the Bible ask, "What must I do to be saved?" Lemke said they are told to repent and believe.

He expressed concern that irresistible grace can lead to the denial of the necessity for conversion.

"Some Calvinists ... understand the effectual call to be grounded in double predestination and therefore conversion is unnecessary; it's under the covenant; it's infant baptism that is affirmed. Children [born into a Christian family] are seen as coming under the covenant of God...this is the position of the Synod of Dort, so if you say, 'I'm a five-point Calvinist,'... know what you're affirming."

Lemke also addressed the question as to whether a man is saved because he believes in Christ, or whether he believes in Christ because he's saved. He said that irresistible grace reverses the biblical order of salvation, so that regeneration precedes conversion.

He cited passages such as John 5:40, "You were unwilling to come to me so that you may have life"; John 20:31, "... by believing you may have life through His name"; and John 1:12, "But as many has received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, even them that believe on His name."

"The Bible does not say that by having life we might believe that Jesus is the Christ," he noted. "It says we believe in order that we might have life."

P -- PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Ken Keathley, dean of graduate studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, covered the fifth point, perseverance of the saints. Ironically, he said, many Arminians and Calvinists arrive at basically the same answer: Assurance is based on the evidence of sanctification in one's life.

While the Reformers taught that assurance is the essence of faith, the doctrines of the hidden will of God, limited atonement and temporary faith undermine this assurance, he said. Some argue that final justification is obtained by perseverance.

"Doesn't this come close to a works-based salvation?" he asked.

Keathley said the only basis for assurance is the objective work of Christ, and that saving faith perseveres or remains until the day when it gives way to sight.

"Any model that begins with Christ but ends with man is doomed to failure," he stated.

Charles Stanley, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta and founder of In Touch Ministries, closed the conference with a call for the church to fulfill its mission of evangelizing the world, noting that people are longing for the assurance that God is a God of love.

Stanley challenged the audience to obey God and leave the consequences to Him. "If you obey God, can you fail?" he asked.

"This is the first generation that has the capacity to get the Gospel to every single person on earth," he said. "Ask God, 'Lord, what do you want me to do?'"

Don Beehler is a writer based in Franklin, Tenn.

© Copyright 2011 Baptist Press

Knowing God's Will

2011-09-03T00:00:00.003-05:00

For many people, knowing God's will for their lives may seem like an impossible task. Perhaps, they are looking for God's will in all the wrong places. Scripture makes it clear that God works within people. "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). Billy Graham understood God's will for his life in his spirit. He said, "No sign in the heavens. No voice from above. But in my spirit, I knew. I had been called into the ministry. And I knew my answer was yes. From that night in 1938 on, my purpose and objectives in life were set. I knew I would be a preacher of the Gospel" (Billy Graham, Just As I Am, The Autobiography of Billy Graham, New York: HarperCollins, 1997) 63.

You may think, but that was Billy Graham. God would never work in me that way. According to Scripture, He works in every believer that way. The apostle Paul reminded the believers in the church at Philippi, "For it is God who works in you." Certainly, God does not call everyone to be an evangelist like Billy Graham, but He calls all believers to use their ministry gifts. Every believer has a ministry. What is yours? "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them" (Romans 12:6).

How can we know the gifts and calling of God in our lives? Like Billy Graham, we can know what God has put within us. What is your desire for ministry to others? What do you enjoy doing in ministry? How do people seek your help? What opportunities have opened for you? These questions will help you answer to the call of God's will on your life.

When Billy Graham knew God's will for his life, he said, "No sign in the heavens. No voice from above. But in my spirit, I knew." Often, people think God only speaks in a sensational way. Certainly, He did just that with the apostle Paul. He saw a sign in the heavens. He heard a voice from above. Most of us would understand that his experience was the exception and not the norm. God is not limited to sensational and dramatic approaches to us. His still small voice may speak to our hearts. We can know as Billy Graham did, through our spirit within.

The old man had been a preacher for decades. His grandson asked him, "How can I know what God wants me to do with my life?" Grandpa replied, "Well son, you will know in your knower." The young man looked puzzled, then he asked, "How will I know in my knower?" Grandpa said, "You'll just know." We can really know God's will for our lives. You will know that you know. Then, the decision must be made. Will you do what you really know God wants you to do?

Like Billy Graham, when you know God's will for your life, then your purpose and objectives are set. God has a purpose for our lives before we are born. Jeremiah is an example. He testified, "The LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). God spoke to Jeremiah as a prophet. His life was no accident. God had a purpose and plan for his life. God has a purpose and plan for the lives of all His children. Respond to what He has put within your spirit. Discover meaning and purpose in your life. It comes through knowing God's will and doing it.

Faith and Feelings

2011-08-31T00:00:00.004-05:00

W.T. Connor, who had a teaching career at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1910 until 1948, shared the story of his conversion experience. He wrote, "I was converted in an old-time, horrah, Methodist meeting. . . . My conviction of sin gradually deepened until it became a very definite and heavy load. . . . Finally, my load became so heavy, not knowing what else to do, I gave up. The expression 'gave up' expresses my experience better than any other that I can think of. When I gave up, my burden was removed but I did not have any ecstatic joy or feel like shouting or anything of the kind. I simply felt my burden was gone and I hardly knew what had happened. . . . Finally . . . it came to me that I was saved by putting my trust in Christ and not by any particular type of feeling that I had had" (W.T. Connor, "My Religious Experiences," unpublished manuscript. Copy in Webb Roberts Library, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas).

Faith and feelings are often experienced together. One of the classic examples would be John Wesley's conversion experience. It happened on the evening of May 24, 1738. He wrote, "I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt that I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation. An assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death" (The Journal of Rev. John Wesley, May 24, 1738). Obviously, Wesley was not saved because his heart "felt strangely warmed." He was saved by trusting in Christ, and Christ alone. "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation" (Ephesians 1:13).

Trusting feelings can be deceptive. Trusting Christ, and Christ alone, according to the gospel, is the way to assurance of salvation. Feelings often change. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). There is nothing wrong with feeling the joy of salvation, but when the initial joy subsides, trusting Christ is still steadfast and sure. Trusting Christ is based upon the truth of the gospel. The Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of truth, bears witness in our hearts to the truth of Christ. The gospel simply stated is the death of Christ for our sins and His glorious resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The everlasting gospel never changes. It is the solid rock upon which our faith stands, on Christ and Christ alone.

There was a time when W.T. Connor felt the heavy weight known as the guilt of sin. He also felt the load of his guilt taken away. He testified, "I hardly knew what had happened." The truth of Christ prevailed in his heart. He said, "Finally . . . it came to me that I was saved by putting my trust in Christ and not by any particular feeling that I had had." That was the assurance of his salvation, trusting in Christ. Long after the feeling was a past experience and only a memory, his trust in Christ was the reality of his salvation.

Those who search for assurance in their relationship with God through feelings are never completely satisfied. Feelings come and go. When they come, many people are sure of their salvation. When they are gone, doubt robs them of that very assurance. Basing our confidence and assurance of salvation on the gospel, according to the word of God, brings peace and security in Christ, yes, in Christ alone. Thank God for those times when we have known the heart-felt presence of God, but settle your assurance of salvation in the gospel of Christ, trusting in Christ alone.

Experiencing God

2011-08-27T00:00:00.007-05:00

E.Y. Mullins understood that the Christian faith must be more than an academic study. The Christian faith comes through a life-changing experience of the grace of God in Christ. Likewise, the believer who experiences a living faith needs to understand his faith through the study of God's Word, the Bible. The two go together and must not be separated. Mullins taught that the study of Christian experience "does not render theology less biblical, or less systematic, or less historical. The Bible is the greatest of all books of religious experience" (E.Y. Mullins, The Christian Religion in Its Doctrinal Expression, Valley Forge: Judson Press, reprinted ed. 1974) 3.

The primary experience which Mullins focused upon was the Christian's conversion experience. Becoming a Christian is more than accepting doctrinal propositions, it is a living faith in the living God. While doctrine is certainly important to the faith, yet that faith must know God through a personal experience in Christ.

"Christian experience must be given its proper place. We must seek to define and understand the spiritual experiences of Christians as subject to the operation of God's Spirit revealing Christ to them. The history of doctrine will aid in this, but we must make also a direct study of experience itself" (Ibid., 4).

Conversion experiences are not all the same. There is a wide variety. The conversion of the apostle Paul was sensational and overwhelming (Acts 9). He was blinded by the glory of God and heard the voice of the Lord Himself. Certainly, his experience was exceptional in his call to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. However, the conversion experience of a woman by the name of Lydia was in no way sensational (Acts 16). She gave attention to the voice of Paul as he declared the gospel of Christ. Something happened in her heart. She simply believed and was baptized. Both experiences were quite different, but each one was a real conversion experience. We should not doubt our salvation simply because our experience was not dramatic. It is about experiencing Christ through God's grace by faith.

The Christian life is an ongoing experience with God as our Father. We experience Him through prayer and worship. We experience Him through the Bible as the Word of God speaks to our hearts. The experience of God throughout the Christian life is the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We experience the Lord through faith, hope and love. These are the three abiding gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in every Christian (1 Corinthians 13:13). The Holy Spirit causes us to experience the love of God (Romans 5:5). He sustains our faith through all the experiences of life, as our faith is tried and tested. In the face of the disappointments of life, even in the face of death, He gives us hope in Christ which is steadfast and real.

It is important for every believer to understand how God works in our lives through His providence as well as in our hearts (Romans 8:28; Philippians 2:13). God is always at work around us. Yes, He is always at work within us. He is doing far more in and around us than we can understand. Bible doctrine gives us instruction on how God works in our lives. Or, as Mullins would say, "The history of doctrine will aid in this, but we must also make a direct study of experience itself."

Total Depravity

2011-08-24T00:00:00.003-05:00

"Depravity does not mean that all men are equally bad in their conduct, nor that there is not some good in the worst of men. It means that all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Thus man is lost from God (Luke 19:10). From the first Adam man receives his depraved nature. Through Christ, the second Adam, man may become a child of God (John 1:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22). [Herschel H. Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Convention Press, 1964].

The doctrine of total depravity means that sin has affected every area of our lives, including the body, mind, will and emotions. Let us consider the area of the mind and will. Left to ourselves, in the condition of depravity, we have no desire to seek God nor do we understand how. "There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God" (Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:11).

Both Calvinists as well as classic Arminians believe in total depravity of the natural man outside the grace of God. John Wesley is an example of a classic Arminian who believed firmly in total depravity. Wesley wrote:

"Though he strive with all his might, he cannot conquer: sin is mightier than he. He would fain escape, but he is so fast in prison that he cannot get forth. . . . Such is the freedom of his will, free only to evil, free to drink iniquity like water, to wander farther and farther from the living God, and do more depite the Spirit of grace" (John Wesley, Wesley's Standard Sermons, London: Epworth Press, 1955-56) Vol. 1:188-189.

The only solution to man's depravity is God's grace in Christ. How that grace is applied is a major difference between Arminians and Calvinists. The Calvinist solution is the irresistible grace of God for the elect only. God's grace is taught to overcome all resistance in man's heart. In essence, the elect are made willing by irresistible grace. However, classic Arminians believe the solution is in God's prevenient grace. This means God's grace prepares the heart and enables the will to choose Christ, but not irresistibly so. The Spirit of grace may be resisted and the gospel offer rejected (Acts 7:51; Hebrews 3:15, 10:29).

Arminians and Calvinists agree that only the Spirit of God can enable man to understand the truth of God. The Spirit of truth convinces people of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:7-11). "Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour and effects regeneration" (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000).

Calvinist-Arminian Unity

2011-08-20T00:00:00.003-05:00

Dwight L. Moody, a pastor from Chicago, was known worldwide for his evangelistic preaching. He was Arminian in his methods and message. His message was constant in "whosoever will may come." It was through his pulpit that John 3:16 was popularized above all other verses. Moody had an admiration for Charles Spurgeon, a Calvinist. When Moody visited England, Spurgeon invited him to preach in his pulpit. They had a respect for each other. Their unity was found in the centrality of preaching Christ.

The most admirable thing about Spurgeon's preaching was his constant focus on Jesus Christ. Every believer will not agree with his Calvinism, but every believer should heartily agree with his emphasis on the supremacy of Christ. Read the following words from Spurgeon's sermon on "Christ Lifted Up."

"Again, the theme of a minister should be Christ Jesus on opposition to mere doctrine. Some of my good brethren are always preaching doctrine. Well, they are right in so doing, but I would not care myself to have as the characteristic of my preaching, doctrine only. I would rather have it said, 'He dwells much upon the person of Christ, and seemed best pleased when he began to tell about the atonement and the sacrifice."

"Brethren, we should rather preach Christ than election. We love election, we love predestination, we love the great doctrines of God's word, but we had rather preach Christ than preach these. We desire to put Christ over the head of the doctrine. We make the doctrine the throne of Christ to sit on, but we dare not put Christ at the bottom, and we press him down, and overload him with the doctrines of his own word" (Charles Spurgeon, New Park Street Pulpit, Volume 3) 260.

Arminians and Calvinists have disagreed over the doctrines of election and predestination for centuries. I would venture to say that it is most likely to continue until time shall be no more. However, believers can agree above all other doctrines on the centrality of exalting Christ Jesus our Lord. He alone is our Savior and Lord. He alone is the way to the Father. Yes, He alone is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Our unity is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is both the source and the constant focus of our faith. Calvinist-Arminian unity is in Christ alone.

God Has No Favorites

2011-08-13T18:42:00.001-05:00

"She's the teacher's pet." Most of us have probably heard that statement at one time or another. It obviously means that a school teacher has a favorite student in the class. That implies that the favored student would get special attention and privilege. Not so with God. He has no favorites. "God shows personal favoritism to no man" (Galatians 2:6, NKJV).

We speak of Israel as God's chosen people, but what does that mean? God chose that nation through the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give us the Scriptures, the covenant promises and the Messiah, also known as Christ. They had a responsibility as a nation to be the light of God's mercy to all nations (Isaiah 42:6).

The prophet Jonah refused to see God's concern for people everywhere. When God called him to go to Ninevah to preach to Gentiles, he rebelled. You know the rest of the story. Jonah reluctantly went to that place to preach. The people repented and God had mercy upon them. Jonah didn't like it a bit. He pouted with God. The Lord showed that He has no favorites when it comes to His mercy. God's desire is that "He might have mercy upon all" (Romans 11:32). That's for Jew and Gentile, all nations, for God has no favorites.

The apostle Peter understood that God has no favorites when he entered the house of Cornelius to preach the gospel. The Jewish preacher went to the house of a Gentile with good news about Christ for all people everywhere. He said, "Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34). New Testament Greek scholar, A.T. Robertson, wrote: "It had been a difficult thing for Peter to grasp, but now the light has cleared away the fog. It was not until Peter had crossed the threshold of the house of Cornelius in the new environment and standpoint that he sees this new and great truth"(A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Concise Edition, Holman Publishers, 2000) 290.

Dr. J. Clyde Turner commented about Peter preaching in the house of a Gentile. He wrote: "It was hard for the Jews to accept this truth. They thought salvation was for the Jews alone. When Peter, under the power of the Holy Spirit, carried the gospel message to the home of Cornelius, it created something of a furor in the church at Jerusalem, which, at that time, was composed of Jewish Christians. But God is not a respecter of persons. He has no favorites among the nations. To some He has granted greater opportunities than to others, but greater opportunities always carry with them greater responsibilities" (J. Clyde Turner, These Things We Believe, Nashville: Convention Press, 1956) 87.

God loves you regardless of who you are or what you've done. You are not His favorite, because He has none. His love is toward all. His mercy is offered to all, even to you and me. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . ." (John 3:16). The world includes all nations of people everywhere. The world includes you. Believe in God's love and mercy. Receive His love for you through Jesus Christ. God has no favorites.

The Unpardonable Sin

2011-08-10T18:49:00.001-05:00

What is the unpardonable sin?

Jesus spoke of the unpardonable sin. He said, "Therefore I say unto you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come" (Matthew 12:31-32).

Why is blaspheming the Holy Spirit unpardonable?

The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts us of sin, judgment and righteousness, before our conversion. The sin is not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is rejecting the righteousness of God in Christ (John 16:7-11). Only the Holy Spirit can open our understanding to the need of conversion to Christ. The new birth or regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit, that we may be changed by the grace of God through the gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). If we insult the Spirit of grace, there is no salvation (Hebrews 10:29).

Dr. A.H. Strong gave this definition of the unpardonable sin: "The unpardonable sin is the knowing, wilful, persistent, contemptuous, malignant spurning of divine truth and grace, as manifested to the soul by the convincing and illuminating presence of the Holy Spirit" (A.H. Strong, Systematic Theology, p.350). Dr. Strong recognized in no uncertain terms that a person committing this sin does it wilfully and knowingly. It is the total, final and intentional rejection of the gospel of Christ, presented by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. It is inexcusable and unpardonable.

How can we be sure that we have not committed the unpardonable sin?

As a pastor, I have met a few people who were fearful that they had committed the unpardonable sin. I could assure them that if they had, they would not be worried about it. The believer in Jesus Christ should have assurance, according to Scripture, that he has not committed such a sin. Herschel Hobbs made this clear when he wrote: "Those who feel that they are guilty of this sin are not. A sense of sin is evidence that one is still responding to the Holy Spirit. The one who has no sense of sin should beware. It is impossible for a Christian to commit this sin, for he has already passed from death to life (John 3:18; 5:24; Romans 8:1-2)" (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Convention Press, 1964) 70.

What is Conversion?

2011-08-08T00:00:00.005-05:00

"Conversion is the individual turning to God. It consists of a negative and a positive element: repentance, that is, abandonment of sin, and faith, that is, acceptance of the promises and work of Christ . . . Jesus spoke specifically of conviction of sin, which is the prerequisite of repentance (John 16:8-11). Without the work of the Holy Spirit, there can be no conversion" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Baker: Grand Rapids, 2001) 279.

Conversion, or turning to God through Jesus Christ, is always initiated by the Holy Spirit. Left to ourselves, we would never turn to God (Romans 3:10-12). The Holy Spirit convicts us of one particular sin above all others, not believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, of sin, because they do not believe in me, of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you see me no more, of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged" (John 16:8-11).

Under the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, man is close to conversion. However, a person may be convicted by the Spirit of God without being converted. Herschel Hobbs wrote: "Conviction is not synonymous with salvation. Under conviction man will either reject Christ and plunge deeper into sin (John 13:26-30), or else he will receive Christ as his Savior (Luke 23:40-43). The man under conviction is not far from the kingdom of God" (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964) 96.

When a person submits to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, he is enabled to turn to God, that is to repent. The goodness of God leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). The same Spirit of God likewise enables us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Saving faith is an abiding gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 13:13). Conversion is man's response to the Holy Spirit working in his heart, through conviction, repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. That's the reason Millard Erickson could say, "Without the work of the Holy Spirit, there can be no conversion."

Calvinist or Arminian?

2011-08-04T13:49:00.001-05:00

While the centuries-old debate between Calvinists and Arminians continues, there are many Christians who are neither. E.Y. Mullins may be referred to as a moderate Calvinist, but much of his theology sounds Arminian. Many of his theological views would not be accepted by Calvinists. Other views that he held would not be acceptable to Arminians.

His views have had a profound influence on Southern Baptists over many decades. Mullins stated, "For example, Arminianism overlooked certain essential truths about God in its strong championship of human freedom. As against it, Calvinism ran to extremes in some of its conclusions in its very earnest desire to safeguard the truth of God's sovereignty. We are learning to discard both names and to adhere more closely to the Scriptures, while retaining the truth in both systems" (E.Y. Mullins, The Christian Religion in Its Doctrinal Expression, Valley Forge, Pa.: Judson Press, 1917) vii.

Dr. Mullins believed the Bible taught that the holy and loving God is sovereign. He understood that God is a sovereign Father rather than only sovereign omnipotence. "His sovereignty is holy and it is loving. It respects human freedom" (E.Y. Mullins, The Axioms of Religion, Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1908) 90. Mullins maintained that the most important Baptist principle was "soul competency" which means that each person is responsible to God for himself. All persons have a right to direct access with God. Mullins wrote, "To be responsible, the soul must be free" (Ibid., 150).

Charles Spurgeon, a Calvinist, spoke of John Wesley, an Arminian, with high respect. Spurgeon said, "The character of John Wesley stands beyond all imputation for self-sacrifice, zeal, holiness, and communion with God; he lived far above the ordinary level of common Christians, and was one of whom the world was not worthy" (Charles Spurgeon, C.H. Spurgeon's Autobiography, Vol. 1, Chapter 13, London: Banner of Truth, 1962). Such an attitutude should characterize all Christians concerning others, whether they are Calvinist, Arminian or neither.

While doctrinal disagreements will continue, our attitude of love for all, even those who disagree with us, is most important (1 Corinthians 13). Calvinists, Arminians, and those who are neither, are all believers who are members of the body of Christ. The apostle Paul understood that it is not enough to know the truth without love, "but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head - Christ" (Ephesians 4:15). Are you an Arminian or a Calvinist? It's really okay if you are neither. As a believer in Jesus Christ, it's still about loving God and loving each other.

The Spirit-Filled Life

2011-08-01T23:43:00.002-05:00

A.W. Tozer wrote, "Satan has opposed the doctrine of the Spirit-filled life about as bitterly as any doctrine there is. He has confused it, opposed it, surrounded it with false notions and fears. . . . The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people" (A.W. Tozer, How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit, Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, n.d.) 28.

Confusion about the Spirit-filled life includes thinking that one can be a Christian and not have the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul made it absolutely clear that this is not true. He wrote, "Now, if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Romans 8:9). Likewise, he made it clear that one may have the Holy Spirit as a believer in Christ without being filled with the Holy Spirit. He wrote a command for all Christians, ". . . be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). To be filled with the Spirit is to be yielded to the love and power of God (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:19).

There is also confusion about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Spirit. Evangelical theology teaches that everyone who is born again through the regeneration of the Spirit is likewise baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1 Cor. 12:13). Spirit baptism is the believer's entrance into the body of Christ. It is an event that happens only one time. However, there are many fillings. To be filled with the Spirit requires a continued yielding to the Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost the disciples were both baptized and filled with the Spirit (Acts 1:5; 2:4). They were baptized by the Spirit to become the body of Christ collectively. They were individually filled with the Spirit. No where in Scripture are we commanded to be baptized with the Spirit. We are commanded to be filled, and to keep on being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

There is confusion about how believers are filled with the Holy Spirit. Simply stated, we yield to the Spirit-filled life through prayer. "And when they had prayed . . . they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 4:31). The apostle Paul wrote his prayer for the Ephesian believers to be filled with God's Spirit (Ephesians 3:14-21). The words provide a model prayer to be filled with the Holy Spirit. ". . . to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God . . . according to the power that works in us" (Ephesians 3:19:20). Therefore, to be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with the power of God's love.

Confusion about the Spirit-filled life always results from separating this teaching from Christ. To be filled with the Spirit is to be filled with Christ. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). I. Howard Marshall put it this way: "Paul uses the verb 'fill' quite naturally of the way in which believers are filled with various qualities and benefits in his earlier letters (Romans 15:13-14; Phil. 1:11). Here, however, he speaks of the fullness of God in Christ (Col. 1:19; 2:9) and then of believers being filled in Christ, apparently with the same 'fullness'. In Ephesians, the goal is that believers be filled with the fullness of God and of Christ (Eph. 3:19; 4:13)" (I. Howard Marshall, A Concise New Testament Theology, Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2008) 144.

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to yield yourself to Jesus Christ as Lord through obedience and prayer. For that reason, A.W. Tozer could say, "The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people."

How to Please God

2011-07-28T19:36:00.001-05:00

Over the centuries, people have done many things to try and please God. Some of them have been strange and bizarre. Actually, there is only one way to please God according to the Bible, and that way is called faith. Faith may be defined as trust, confidence or reliance upon God. Many illustrations are given concerning faith. I like the simple illustration of sitting in a chair. When we sit down, we trust the chair with all our weight. We surrender ourselves to the chair with total reliance and confidence. So it is with God. He wants us to totally rely upon Him, to trust in Him with absolute confidence.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). The matter of faith cannot be overstressed in our relationship with God. We know God by faith and we walk with Him by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Herschel Hobbs wrote, "The vital place of faith in the Christian experience is seen in the fact that it appears (verb and noun) in the New Testament 492 times (Herschel Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville: Broadman Press, 1964) 96.

Chapter eleven of Hebrews gives a long list of people from the Old Testament who had faith in God. They pleased God with their faith. The way to God has not changed. No man can please God without faith. In the New Testament, the way is the same. It is by grace that we are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Preceding grace brings conviction upon our unbelief (John 16:8-11). The grace that leads us to change is called repentance. It's a change of mind and direction in our lives (Romans 2:4). As we yield to the Spirit of grace, God grants us the grace or gift of faith to trust Him.

One of the major obstacles to pleasing God is self-righteousness. Man may foolishly think that he can please God by his good works, but it's "not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:9). When we realize that we are helpless to do anything to earn God's favor, grace brings us the faith which alone pleases God. You see, it's by grace alone through faith alone that we please God.

Why Pray?

2011-07-26T19:55:00.001-05:00

Henry Blackaby wrote, "The motivating impulse of our praying should not primarily be what is on our heart but what is on God's. . . . Some Christian leaders teach that if we persist in our prayers, God will ultimately give us what we are asking. The tragedy is that often our persistency is in asking for the wrong thing. Were God to concede to our misguided prayers, the results could be disastrous" (Henry Blackaby, Hearing God's Voice, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2002) 116.

When we focus our prayers on God's heart, we are praying according to His will. We may rest assured that God's will is always good, acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2). Prayer is agreeing with God about the good things that He wants to do in our lives, according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Any prayer that misses the good will of God, and the purpose of God, falls short. The Bible calls that sin (Romans 3:23). Sin is defined as falling short of the glory of God. The Lord's Prayer leads us to focus on the glory of God. "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen" (Matthew 6:13).

How may we know God's heart according to His will? The Bible declares the will of God. The Word of God is the will of God. Make the Bible your prayer book. When we pray according to the promises and commands of Scripture, we can be sure that we are praying according to the will of God. That strengthens our faith in prayer. Faith comes from the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13). It comes through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Our faith becomes stronger as we know that we are standing on the promises of God.

Why pray? Because we want the will of God to be done in our lives, families, churches and world. Jesus taught us to focus on the will of God in our prayers. Our prayer to God is, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). In prayer, we surrender our will to God's will. That's the reason we pray, we want God's will to be done.

The Savior of All

2011-07-23T17:15:00.002-05:00

The Bible makes it certain that God desires the salvation of all people. The apostle Paul wrote, "God our Savior . . . wants all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4). Those who refuse to accept the plain teaching of the Bible would say, "Yes, but all does not mean all. It may mean all kinds of people or certain people from all nations, but not all people everywhere." Charles Spurgeon spoke to those who refused to accept the obvious teaching of the Bible: "All men,' say they - 'that is, some of all sorts of men,' as if the Lord could not have said, 'all sorts of men,' if he had meant that. The Holy Ghost by the apostle has written 'all men,' and unquestionably he means 'all men" (Iain Murray, Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism, Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1995) 150.

While we maintain from Scripture that God desires the salvation of all, yet the Bible certainly doesn't teach that all will be saved. Universalism teaches that all people without exception will be saved. To the contrary, the Bible teaches that only believers shall be saved (Acts 16:31). "For this we labor and strive, that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe" (1 Timothy 4:10). God has provided salvation for all who will believe and receive (John 1:11-12). Yet, those who refuse to believe the good news are without hope.

There are those who quote other verses of Scripture, maintaining that God desires to same only some. They try to force every verse of the Bible into a preconceived theology to explain away any possible inconsistency with their ironclad system. Charles Spurgeon responded to them: "I do not know how that squares with this . . . I would sooner a hundred times over appear to be inconsistent with myself than be inconsistent with the word of God" (Ibid, 154). The preacher's task is to explain the Scripture, not to explain it away.

Therefore, does God desire all to be saved? The Bible teaches that He does. Will all people be saved? No, all will not be saved, but not because of God's desire. It's because of their unbelief. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17). That salvation is offered to all in Christ, yet many refuse to believe. Unbelief rejects God's free offer of grace through Christ. The judgment of God divides forever those who believe from those who believe not. "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). The warning is plain to understand. The results are certain. The choice is clear. The Savior of all is "especially of those who believe."

Is Hell for Real?

2011-07-18T13:40:00.001-05:00

Joachim Jeremias, a New Testament Greek scholar, wrote the article on Gehenna in the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Gehenna is a New Testament Greek word translated hell. "Hades receives the unrighteous for the period between death and the resurrection, whereas Gehenna is the place of punishment assigned permanently at the last judgment" (Joachim Jeremias, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964-76) vol. 1, 657-58.

If anyone takes the Bible seriously, as well as the teaching of Jesus, the subject of hell cannot be ignored nor denied. The same Bible that teaches about heaven likewise warns of hell. The same Savior who taught the love of God likewise taught about the wrath of God (John 3:16, 36). Theologian Millard Erickson wrote, "We should also observe that God does not send anyone to hell. He desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). It is the choice of humans to experience the agony of hell. Their sin sends them there, and their rejection of the benefits of Christ's death prevents their escaping" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Theology, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2001) 414.

The atoning death of Jesus Christ is sufficient to save to the uttermost all who believe and receive Him as Lord and Savior (John 1:12; Acts 16:31). God's love and justice meet at the cross of Jesus. God proves His love for sinners through the death of His Son (Romans 5:8). God also proves His justice in punishing sin at the cross, even our sins. "He Himself (Christ Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world" (1 John 2:2). Propitiation (hilasmos) is an atoning sacrifice. The justice of God was satisfied in the death of His Son for us. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture" (1 Corinthians 15:3).

God invites everyone to trust the full atonement of Christ to take away all of our sins. Through the cross of Jesus, God is both just and the justifier of all who believe. He gives us the choice. C. S. Lewis taught that those who reject God's love and mercy are saying, "Go away and leave me alone." To the person who chooses to reject the gracious invitation, hell is like God saying, "You may have your wish" (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, New York: Macmillan, 1962) 127-28. God has given us the ability to choose. That means we are responsible for our choices, even the choice that is eternal.

Jesus Suffered for All

2011-07-14T21:55:00.003-05:00

There are many passages in the Bible which make it evident that Christ Jesus suffered for all when He died upon the cross. Even John Calvin himself admitted as much. "Our Lord Jesus suffered for all and there is neither great nor small who is not inexcusable today, for we can obtain salvation in Him. Unbelievers who turn away from Him and who deprive themselves of Him by their malice are today doubly culpable, for how will they excuse their ingratitude in not receiving the blessing in which they could share by faith" (John Calvin, Sermons on Isaiah's Prophecy of the Death and Passion of Christ, London: James Clark [1559] 1956) 141.

There is abundant evidence in Scripture concerning the atonement of Christ for the sins of all mankind. Some who refuse the obvious testimony of Holy Scripture write many volumes seeking to explain away the evident interpretation. Examples of Christ's atonement offered for the sins of all mankind are found in passages such as John 1:29; 3:16; 12:32; Romans 5:18-19; 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 4:10; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:2. On the authority of the Holy Bible, we may say to the chief of sinners as well as every sinner, that Christ Jesus died for your sins.

Scripture likewise teaches that Christ died for the sheep, the elect, as well as the church (John 10:11; Romans 8:33-34; Ephesians 5:25). So then, did Christ die only for the sheep? Did Christ die for the elect and no one else? Did Jesus suffer death for the church and not for the world? Scripture teaches that Christ died for the sheep, the elect, the church, as well as all mankind. "There is no statement in Scripture that says Jesus died only for the sins of the elect. Those who hold to limited atonement commit the negative inference fallacy when they infer from certain restricted statements in Scripture concerning the death of Christ that He died only for the sins of those so mentioned. High-Calvinists fail to address adequately the many verses in the New Testament that affirm universal atonement" (David L. Allen, Whosoever Will, Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2010) 93.

The Great Commission of Christ to the church and the task of evangelism requires that we preach the Gospel to all people everywhere. The Gospel declares that Jesus Christ died for our sins. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3). If we refuse to tell people that Christ died for their sins and was raised from the dead, then we have not preached the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Likewise, all people are commanded to repent and required to believe the Gospel (John 3:16; Acts 17:30). Those who refuse their responsibility face their own just condemnation. Jesus suffered for all, therefore all are commanded to repent and believe the Gospel.

Doubting God's Love

2011-07-12T14:27:00.001-05:00

A mother said to her preschool daughter, "Honey, you can't eat candy now. Supper is almost ready." The child began to cry and pout, then she said, "You don't love me. I want candy." Sometime we are that way with God. We may even pout with Him, if He doesn't give us everything that we want. God does love us, and He knows what is best for us. A preschool child may often not understand a parent's rules and discipline, but we also fail so many times to understand our heavenly Father's commandments and work in our lives.

Theologian Millard Erickson wrote, "God's love is an unselfish interest in us for our sake. It is agape not eros . . . He is concerned with our good for our own sake, not for what he can get out of us . . . The self-giving, unselfish quality of the divine love is seen in what God has done. God's love in sending his Son to die for us was not motivated by our prior love for him . . . This divine love not only took the initiative in creating the basis of salvation by sending Jesus Christ, but it also continuously seeks us out" (Millard Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2001)102-103.

A woman was a patient recovering from serious surgery. She said to her minister, "It would be easy to doubt God's love, when you suffer like I have." The minister understood and agreed. Then, he said, "But, when we consider how much more His Son suffered for us at the cross, His love is beyond doubt." Anytime we doubt God's love for us, let us remember Christ crucified. Greater love has no man than this. Doubting God's love is dismissed in the face of the crucified One.

If we ever doubt God's love, we may confess that doubt in prayer, asking God to help us understand His love at the cross. More than that, ask Him to fill your heart with His love. God's Spirit is able to fill our hearts with God's great love (Romans 5:5). It's one thing to hear about God's love, or read about it in the Bible. It's quite another thing to experience God's love in your heart. God's love overwhelms our doubt, through the love of Christ poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Hearing God Today

2011-07-07T15:28:00.001-05:00

Henry Blackaby wrote the book Hearing God's Voice. He stated, "We contend that God does speak to his people. However, people must be prepared to hear what he is saying. It is crucial that Christians clearly understand what God is communicating to them and know how to respond appropriately. The question, then, is not whether God speaks to his people, but how does he do so?"

How can we hear God today? There are three certain ways that God communicates with people today. While some people may testify to strange and unusual, mystical experiences, we need to understand the three ways that God seeks to communicate with all people everywhere.

First of all, God speaks to all through the written revelation we call the Bible. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Secondly, God speaks to us through His Son Jesus Christ. He is the full and final revelation of God. Christ is "the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person" (Hebrews 1:3). Christ reveals to us what God is like. Thirdly, God reveals Himself to us through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God works in our hearts that we may have a personal relationship with God. "However, when He the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13).

As we read the Bible seeking to know God, the same Spirit who inspired the Scripture is the same Holy Spirit working in our hearts. The Spirit of truth leads us to understand about Christ, that we may experience God today. "The Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to have faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit uses the Scripture to help us receive faith. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

We experience God today by faith. "But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). God communicates with us through the Bible, that we may have a faith relationship with Him. You may hear God today. "Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts" (Hebrews 3:15).

Yes - God Loves You

2011-07-06T07:40:00.007-05:00

A minister delivered a message that Sunday morning from the pulpit on the love of God for us. After the service a man shook his hand and said, "That sermon sounded great. As a matter of fact, it sounds too good to be true." The minister said, "It's too good to be true, but it's too good because God is good. His love is true." True love comes from God through His Son Jesus Christ.

A man said to his wife, "I'm not good enough to be a Christian." His wife replied, "God is good enough to make you a Christian." That's the good news of Christ. He loves us "while we were yet sinners" (Romans 5:8). Being a Christian is not about how good we are. It's about how good God is. It's about receiving God's goodness through Christ.

Some people may not believe God loves them simply because they have not experienced God's love. We experience God's love in four ways. First of all, we may experience God's love by reading His message of love to us in the Bible (John 3:16). Secondly, we may experience God's love when we understand that Jesus died for us as sinners (Romans 5:8). Thirdly, we may experience God's love through the Holy Spirit in our hearts (Romans 5:5). Finally, we may often experience God's love through others (Ephesians 5:25). Yes, God loves you.

God's love must be received by faith. Unbelief rejects the love of God. When the Holy Spirit works in a person's heart through the good news of Jesus Christ, the evidence is obvious. The Holy Spirit moves in the heart with three abiding gifts - faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Faith and love are inseparable. These three gifts work together. The greatest of these gifts is love, because God is love (1 John 4:8). When that happens, a person may say with confidence, "Yes, God loves me."

Jesus Loves All

2011-07-05T20:45:00.001-05:00

J. C. Ryle said it well: "I will give place to no one in maintaining that Jesus loves all mankind, came into the world for all, died for all, provided redemption sufficient for all, calls on all, invites all, commands all to repent and believe, and ought to be offered to all - freely, fully, unreservedly, directly, unconditionally without money and without price. If I did not hold this, I dare not get into a pulpit, and I should not understand how to preach the Gospel" (J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospel, 3:186).

J. C. Ryle simply maintains without compromise what Scripture makes clear. God loves all mankind and sent His Son to be the sacrifice for all sinners everywhere. Yes, all are sincerely invited to Christ. Most assuredly, the gift of eternal life in Christ is for all to receive. We have good news for all who will repent and believe in Christ. The apostle Paul summarizes the "all" passages in a few verses. "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. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Timothy 2:3-6).

Someone may ask, "If Jesus loves all and died for all, why are all not saved?" Jesus answered the question. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). A follow-up question may be asked, "Was God really wanting to save all?" Jesus answered that question as well. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (John 3:17).

J. C. Ryle boldly asserted, "If I did not hold this, I dare not get into a pulpit, and I should not understand how to preach the Gospel." He knew for sure that this gospel of Jesus Christ is really for all. So it was with the apostle Paul. He likewise maintained it, saying, "Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ" (Colossians 1:28). That truth has never changed, nor shall it change. Jesus loves all.

Filled with the Spirit

2011-07-02T15:19:00.002-05:00

". . . be filled with the Spirit."

Ephesians 5:18

A church member asked his pastor, "What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?" The pastor said, "All believers in Christ have received the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit does not mean that we get more of the Holy Spirit. It means the Holy Spirit gets more of us. We yield our entire lives to the Spirit of God." The pastor gave him a clear answer based on Bible teaching. The Bible teaches that believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit upon trusting in Christ (Ephesians 1:13). The Bible also teaches that believers are to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Dr. J. Clyde Turner, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Greensboro, North Carolina, 1910-1948, wrote, "One may be filled with the Holy Spirit. There is a difference in having the Holy Spirit and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Every Christian has the Holy Spirit: 'But if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His' (Romans 8:9). It is the coming of the Holy Spirit into his heart with regenerating power that makes one a Christian. However, one may have the Holy Spirit without being filled with the Holy Spirit. One may be a Christian without being a Spirit-filled Christian" (J. Clyde Turner, These Things We Believe, Nashville: Convention Press, 1956) p. 103.

Consider an illustration of being filled with the Spirit. Your home may have central air-conditioning. If so, there is a vent in every room to receive the air. However, you could close a vent and close a door to block the flow of air into a room. So it is with our lives. We may be believers in Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit, yet we have certain rooms in our lives closed to the Spirit of Christ. These rooms represent our unconfessed sins. The Holy Spirit wants to do more than live in us. He wants to fill every area of our lives.

As we confess our sins, as believers in Christ, we receive fresh cleansing (1 John 1:9). Then, our lives are yielded to God, to fill every area with the Holy Spirit. We present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice to be used for His will and glory (Romans 12:1-2). That means we are filled with the love, joy and peace of God (Galatians 5:22). Be filled with the Spirit.

God Will Help You

2011-07-01T11:23:00.001-05:00

A woman said to her friend, "I know that you have a lot of problems. Why don't we pray for the Lord's help in your life?" Her friend said, "Why would God want to help me? I've never done much for Him." The woman replied, "It's not about what we've done for Him. It's about what He has done for us. He has promised to help us." She opened her Bible and read a verse of Scripture to her friend. "So we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper" (Hebrews 13:6). She went on to explain to her friend, "If we take God at His Word, He will always help us."

God has given every believer many covenant promises of His help in the Bible. They are covenant promises, because God has sworn with an oath to help those who trust in Him. When people testify in court, they must take an oath to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth. God tells the truth, and nothing but the truth. His covenant word is His promise. His oath is the sure and steadfast word to all who believe. "God, who cannot lie, has promised" (Titus 1:2).

We need not plead nor beg God for help. Only believe. Trust His Word. Thank Him that He is helping you. Doubt prays, "O God, will You please help me. I beg of You. Why won't You help me?" Faith prays, "God, You have promised to help me as a believer. I trust Your Word. Thank You for helping me." While doubt may beg God for help, faith simply takes God at His Word. Our thanksgiving through prayer is the way to express our faith, that God is helping us. When you need help, the Helper is there. Trust Him. Believe Him. Thank Him.

Someone may say, "I'm not good enough for God to help me." None of us are. God's help in our lives is based on His goodness not ours. That's called grace in the Bible. Grace is often defined as the unmerited favor of God. Trusting in God's goodness, not our own, is the secret to receiving God's help. Anyone who has difficulty believing in the goodness of God needs a change of mind. That's called repentance. "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4). When you really believe in the goodness of God, then you can truly believe that He will help you.

In Christ Alone

2011-06-30T14:23:00.001-05:00

John Wesley recorded these words in his journal on May 24, 1738: "I was listening to a reading of Luther's preface to the Epistle of Romans. While he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt that I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation. An assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

The protestant reformers believed that salvation is in Christ, and Christ alone. Salvation does not come through our good works nor religious rituals. Christ Jesus is the Savior of sinners, mighty to save, and Christ alone. It is by faith alone in Christ alone that we receive salvation from the law of sin and death. And why does God save sinners in this manner? That it may be by grace, and grace alone. "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). And how can we be so sure that God saves sinners in Christ alone? We base our faith on Scripture alone.

John Wesley was not only saved in Christ alone, but he was sure. "An assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." It is wonderful to be saved and sure. God's children may doubt their salvation from time to time. The reason is obvious. When we take our attention away from Christ to our works, doubts may attack us. When we refocus on Christ alone, the gift of assurance is ours. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).

And why does God save sinners like us in Christ alone? He saves us in Christ alone that it may be to His glory alone (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). If we were saved by our works, we would certainly boast of what we had done. "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). We cannot boast of ourselves, but we glory in Christ alone. We glory in the cross of Christ, and receive the forgiveness of sins, as well as the gift of the righteousness of God in Christ alone.

Fellowship with God

2011-06-29T13:15:00.002-05:00

A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, emphasized the importance of believers having communion with the Holy Spirit. "The Holy Spirit is especially sensitive to the reception He finds in the human heart, never intruding as an unwelcome guest, but gladly entering every open door, and following up every invitation with His faithful love and power. How are we to cooperate with Him, and how may we grieve and hinder Him?" (A.B. Simpson, The Fourfold Gospel, Orlando, FL: Bridge-Logos, 2007) p.178.

The Bible clearly teaches that every believer receives the Holy Spirit upon believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. "Did you receive the Holy Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:2). The apostle Paul further states that each one of us receives the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. After we believe, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). In another passage, the apostle makes it clear that we cannot belong to Christ without the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).

A.B. Simpson was concerned about the way believers relate to the Holy Spirit. We should consider the Holy Spirit as a person. He is God the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God relates to us personally. He desires communion with us. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14). Communion comes from a Greek word (koinonia) which means fellowship. The Spirit of Christ desires daily fellowship with every believer.

We may sin against the Holy Spirit by resisting Him, as well as quenching and grieving Him (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). Those sins need to be confessed that the believer may find fresh cleansing (1 John 1:7-9). Then, we may yield our lives in every area for the Holy Spirit to work in us. He desires to teach us and guide us into all truth found in the Bible (John 16:13). He will assist us in our prayers (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit of God desires to fill our lives with love, joy and peace (Galatians 5:22-23). Communion with the Holy Spirit is fellowship with God.

God's Foreknowledge

2011-06-28T22:47:00.001-05:00

According to C.S. Lewis, God always sees things in the "Eternal Now" (The Best of C.S. Lewis, Washington, DC, Canon, 1974) p.375. Geoffrey Bromiley stated, "Past, present and future are all present to God" (G.W. Bromiley, The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House, 1984) p.320. Herschel Hobbs explained, "The foreknowledge of God is based upon his omniscience, or all knowledge. Since the Bible presents God as present at all times and all places contemporaneously in this universe, he knows all things simultaneously (H. H. Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville, Broadman, 1964) p.24.

The foreknowledge of God and the responsibility of man meet at the cross of Jesus. "Him being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified and put to death" (Acts 2:23). We see that the crucifixion of Christ was God's determined plan, according to His foreknowledge, yet at the same time, it was a sinful deed committed by the choice of men. The foreknowledge of God and the responsibility of man are not in conflict here, rather they are concurrent. God's will was done to save sinners, yet man is responsible for sinning against Christ.

The foreknowledge of God is the basis for biblical prophecy. One of the reasons to believe in the inspiration of Holy Scripture is the accuracy of Bible prophecy. This is seen so true in the crucifixion of Christ. Isaiah gives a vivid description of Christ crucified (Isaiah 53). The psalmist prophesied the death of Christ with much detail (Psalm 22). These prophecies were made centuries before we come to the cross of Jesus. Yet, the authors of Scripture were inspired by the God of all foreknowledge.

Our salvation in Christ is according to the foreknowledge of God. "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:2). All people are invited to Christ. Jesus commands that the gospel be preached to all people everywhere (Matthew 28:19-20). All people are commanded to repent, and God desires all to come to repentance (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9). Yet, God sees our salvation in the "Eternal Now." All are truly invited to come to Christ. All who genuinely repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved (Acts 16:30-31). God knows exactly who those people are. His foreknowledge is based upon His omniscience. Salvation in Christ includes the foreknowledge of God and the responsibility of man.

Who Does God Hate?

2011-06-27T19:50:00.001-05:00

Charles H. Spurgeon took a strong stand against hyper-Calvinism. He said, "Who has the arrogance to call himself a gospel minister, while he teaches that God hates some men infinitely and unchangeably for no reason whatever but simply because he chooses to do so. O my brethren! May the Lord save you from the charmer, and keep you ever deaf to the voice of error" (Iain H. Murray, Spurgeon v. Hyper-Calvinism, Carlisle, Pa. Banner of Truth, 1995) p. 156.

The child who has memorized John 3:16 has enough truth to expose the false doctrine that God hates some people. "For God so loved the world . . ." The Bible makes it clear that God loves sinners. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Who are these sinners that God loves? "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). God loves sinners, and that includes all of us.

God loves us as sinners, not because of anything good in us. We could never earn nor merit His great love for us in Christ. God loves us because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). It is the very essence of His nature. But we must also understand that God is holy. "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 6:3). Because God is holy, He hates sin. Because God is love, He loves sinners. The love and holiness of God meet at the cross of Jesus. There we see how much God hates sin. It must be judged and condemned. There also we see how much God loves sinners. Christ took our judgment and condemnation at the cross. He died in our place. Love so amazing, so divine, is at the cross of Jesus.

God desires that sinful man receive forgiveness, and experience His great love for us. By faith in Jesus Christ, we receive the forgiveness of all our sins (Romans 3:22-25; First John 1:7). All who come to God by faith in Jesus Christ experience the love of God in their hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit. "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:5).

How to Trust God

2011-06-26T20:19:00.001-05:00

A passenger is seated on an airplane. He is about to take a flight with a pilot he doesn't know, has never seen, and he is trusting his training and ability for a safe flight. Now that is an example of trust. God wants us to know how to trust Him. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). We trust in the name of the LORD. That's the covenant name for God. His covenant is written in the Bible for all to read. He makes sure and everlasting promises to all who will trust Him. For instance, He promises everlasting life to all who believe or trust in Him (John 3:16).

We trust God with our hearts. The Bible uses the word heart most often to describe the inner man. It is our mind, will and emotions. With our mind, we read the promises of God. Then, we are willing to trust God. There is a willing choice. God does not make us trust Him. Trust is a personal relationship. God deals with us as persons, choosing to trust the promises of His word.

To trust God means we do not lean on our own understanding. The greatest deterrent to trusting God is not understanding. But think of how many people turn the ignition of a car switch to start the engine of their automobile without understanding how it works. How many people turn on a light switch in a room without understanding much about electrical outlets? How many people consent to surgery without understanding how the doctor operates? Life is about trust, even trusting people without understanding their expertise. Why should we not trust in the LORD, maker of heaven and earth, even our Creator?

The inability of any person to trust God indicates a heart spiritually hardened (Hebrews 3:15). There must be a change of heart to trust the LORD. Only God can change our hearts, but we can call upon Him in prayer to do just that. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). Evidence of that change of heart is the ability to trust God, even when we don't understand. As we trust the LORD God, we are enabled to live by the word of God and receive the promises of God.

Salvation Free to All

2011-06-24T10:11:00.002-05:00

"We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel, that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith, and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth except his own inherent depravity and voluntary refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ, which refusal will subject him to an aggravated condemnation" (The New Hampshire Baptist Confession of Faith, 1833).

What is the Gospel? It is the good news of God for all people everywhere (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-47). The good news is that God sent His Son to die for our sins, and that Christ was raised from the dead according to the Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Faith receives the forgiveness of all sins and life everlasting through Jesus Christ our Lord. This good news is offered freely to all because it is the gift of God and not of works. "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

Why is "the greatest sinner on earth" condemned before God? For no other reason than "his own inherent depravity and voluntary refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ." Inherent depravity has to do with our sin nature. Sin has corrupted our mind, will and emotions. Our hearts are given to sin in rebellion against God. Only the Holy Spirit can convict us of our sin, in particular, the one sin of rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:8-11). He convicts us of that sin, as well as righteousness and judgment. Resisting and spurning the Spirit of grace brings us to "an aggravated condemnation" (Hebrews 10:29). "The greatest sinner on earth" could be saved from judgment and condemnation. He brings judgment upon himself in his "voluntary refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ."

What are the blessings made free to all by the Gospel? They include all spiritual blessings. "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" (Ephesians 1:3). Those blessings include the forgiveness of sins, the riches of His grace, wisdom from God, the guarantee of an eternal inheritance, and the promise of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:3-14). Those blessings are by grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone, even to "the greatest sinner on earth" (Ephesians 1:12-13).

God's Elect People

2011-06-22T19:02:00.001-05:00

"The purpose of the church is embodied in God's purpose of grace as seen in the doctrine of election. God elected a plan of salvation. He elected a people to proclaim this plan. This elected people is seen first in Israel (Exodus 19:1-8) and, second, in his churches (1 Peter 2:5-10). The fate of Israel (Matthew 21:28-45) serves as a warning to the churches (Revelation 3:14-16). God's eternal purpose is at once our greatest privilege and responsibility" (Herschel H. Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Nashville, Convention Press, 1964) p. 82.

Election is to responsibility. Unfortunately, many times Israel viewed their election as the people of God only to special privilege and not responsibility. Election means to be chosen by God. He chose the nation of Israel through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to become a missionary nation, showing the light of God's salvation to all nations. God's great commission to Israel is seen in Isaiah 42:6. "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand. I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles." We see this fulfilled in Israel through giving the covenants and Scripture, but most of all through the coming of Messiah, even Christ Jesus.

The prophet Jonah rebelled against God in his commission and call to preach to Gentiles. At first, he defiantly refused to go to Nineveh. Finally, he proclaimed to these Gentiles "salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9). The people heard him and repented. God had mercy upon them and spared a great city from judgment. Jonah became angry that God had mercy upon them and spared them (Jonah 4:9-11). After all, they were not members of God's elect nation. Likewise, may God spare us from a nationalism or exclusive attitude that makes us think God's mercy and grace is for a few and not for all.

Today, the church is an elect people of believing Jews and Gentiles to take the message of God's love and mercy to all people everywhere. Our commission is clear. Our responsibility is great. "We've a story to tell to the nations." Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). No one is excluded. All should hear of God's love and mercy.

Assurance of Salvation

2011-06-20T10:53:00.002-05:00

Dr. Kenneth Keathley, professor of Theology and dean of Graduate Studies, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina, wrote, "In his Church Dogmatics, Karl Barth demonstrated that the Reformers formulation for assurance stands upon an unstable platform. Beginning the search for certainty with the electing decree that is hidden in the secret will of God dooms the enterprise from the start. He argued that the Reformers erred when they attempted to develop a doctrine of assurance with a Christological beginning and an anthropological ending" (Kenneth D. Keathley, Whosoever Will, Perseverance and Assurance of the Saints, Broadman and Holman Publishing, 2010) p.174. Keathley concludes, "In the end assurance comes from depending on Christ alone" (Ibid, p. 187).

The believer's only lasting, confident assurance is in Christ alone. Through Scripture alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone is the source of our eternal assurance. The apostle Paul wrote, "The Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). Paul found his assurance of salvation in Christ. He testified, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12). Faith may be defined as commitment to Christ. Paul was persuaded that Christ had the ability to save him and keep him.

Salvation must be defined not as our work for Christ, but His work for us and in us. The grace of Christ initiates our salvation, What He begins, He is more than able to finish. "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). God the Father began this work of salvation in us through Christ our Lord. What He began in us He continues even to the final day, that is the day of Christ when He returns.

From time to time genuine believers may have disturbing doubts about their salvation. Such doubts are most often because we focus upon ourselves and not on Christ. Trusting in ourselves leaves room for all manner of doubt. Trusting in Christ, and Christ alone, is the place of victory over all of our doubts. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Christ is the assurance of our salvation.

Theology is Christ

2011-06-18T20:16:00.001-05:00

Karl Barth said, "The object of theology is, in fact, Jesus Christ. This means, however, that it is the history of the fulfillment of the covenant between God and man" (Evangelical Theology an Introduction, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1963) p. 202. Barth goes on to conclude, "If the object of theological knowledge is Jesus Christ, and, in him, perfect love, then Agape alone can be the dominant and formative prototype and principal of theology." The object of theology is indeed Jesus Christ, because in him alone we see the fulfillment of God's story, love and covenant.

It has been said that history is his-story. It is God's story of love for sinners. We notice that in the Bible, theology is most often presented through narrative. The storyline of the Bible is how God reveals himself to mankind. The Son of God is the final, ultimate and full revelation of God our Father. He is God's Word to man. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Jesus Christ is the full revelation of the Father's love for sinful man. The good news is that God loves sinners! He not only declares as much in Scripture, but it is demonstrated at the cross for the world to see (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). This agape is unconditional love revealed in Christ Jesus. E. Y. Mullins defined this love as "the self-imparting quality in the divine nature which leads God to seek the highest good and the most complete possession of his creatures." God's purpose in salvation is for people to experience his love in Christ, whereby each one may say, "Christ loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

Christ is the fulfillment of God's covenants with man. The covenant of law is fulfilled in the righteousness of Christ. The covenant with Abraham is fulfilled in the seed of Christ, who is the blessing to all nations. The covenant with David is fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ, and through the authority of the everlasting kingdom. The everlasting covenant is fulfilled in the blood of Jesus at the cross, and through the resurrection of the great Shepherd, Jesus our Lord (Hebrews 13:20-21).

God's story throughout salvation history moves with purpose toward the One who is the fulfillment of all. He reveals the fullness of God's love to people of all nations. "The object of theology is, in fact, Jesus Christ." Theology is Christ.

God's Love Rejected

2011-06-16T10:14:00.001-05:00

Jerry Walls wrote, "God's love can be declined but it cannot be defeated. The only meaningful sense in which God's love could be defeated would be if he ceased to love those who rejected him and his love turned into hate. But in my view he never stops loving those who reject him. Rather, his love shines all the brighter by remaining steadfast in the face of such rejection" (Jerry Walls, Perspectives on Election, B&H Publishers, 2006) p. 255.

God's great love for the world is revealed through Christ (John 3:16). Yet, this love is only received by those who believe. Faith receives the gift of God's love. While many receive the greatest gift of all, others obstinately choose to reject it. C.S. Lewis wrote, "I willingly believe that the damned are, in one sense, successful, rebels to the end; that the doors of hell are locked on the inside" (C.S. Lewis, The Problem with Pain, Macmillan, 1944) p. 115.

Love can be rejected because it is by nature relational. God certainly initiates the relationship but man must respond. The initiative is always with God. His love pursues us. "We love him because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). After Simon Peter had failed to be faithful to Jesus Christ, our Lord asked him only one question, and he asked him three times, "Do you love me?" (John 21:15-17). The Lord's love for us is beyond question. It is forever proven at the cross. He expects us to respond to his love in word and deed.

Those who receive God's love in Christ experience the reality in their hearts. The Holy Spirit makes the divine love a personal experience (Romans 5:5). The evidence of such an experience is a genuine love for God and others (1 John 4:7-8). The unconditional love of the Father defeats our tormenting fears (1 John 4:17-18). Likewise, this love gives us a confident assurance in our relationship with God (1 John 3:18-19).

Theology is Mystery

2011-06-14T00:00:00.002-05:00

The apostle Paul wrote about the deep things of God in Romans, chapters nine through eleven. He concluded that section of his letter with these words: "Oh, the depth of his riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out." (Romans 11:33). The apostle had received so much revelation from God, yet he readily admitted his limitations. There was just so far that he could go. So, he ends the chapter with worship and praise! "For of him and through him and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:36).

William Barclay commented about the final verses of Romans, chapter eleven, with these words: "In the end, everything must come down to a mystery that we cannot now understand but at the heart of which is love . . . God gave us minds, and it is our duty to use those minds to think to the very limit of human thought. But it is also true that there are times when that limit is reached, and all that is left is to accept and adore" (William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans, WJK, 1975) p. 182.

Humility requires us to admit the boundaries of our knowledge. The Bible describes many mysteries revealed, yet all mystery is not resolved because God's knowledge is beyond our ability to understand. We are grateful for what he has revealed to us through the prophets and apostles. Yet, those same men knew that their understanding had limitations as well. The apostle Paul admitted as much: "For we know in part and we prophesy in part" (1 Corinthians 13:9).

Even what we do understand about God through the Bible is to be attributed to his grace in our lives referred to as illumination. He has opened our eyes of understanding as he did those early disciples on the road to Emmaus. We confess that the Spirit of God is our teacher, guiding us through the Scripture, to understand the truth of Christ. We may sing these words as a prayer, "Spirit of God my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me."

Theology will not answer all of our questions because of our limitations to understand, but good theology will always lead us to worship the great I AM. Barclay spoke well about the limit that we reach, when he stated, "And all that is left is to accept and adore." That's the reason we must accept God by faith, ever trusting in his faithful love and mercy. That is why we are led to adore, that is to worship him, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Grace for All

2011-06-10T10:32:00.001-05:00

Martin Luther, the protestant reformer, wrote these words of commentary concerning John 1:29: "Don't you hear? There is nothing missing from the Lamb. He bears all the sins of the world from its inception; this implies that He also bears yours, and offers you grace" (Martin Luther, Lectures on Galatians-1535, Chapters 1-4, in Luther's Works; St. Louis, Concordia, 1963) 26:38. This statement, as well as others, makes it clear that Luther held a form of unlimited atonement. There is enough grace for all! The death of Jesus Christ opens the door of grace to all who will receive. John the Baptist proclaimed, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

Grace is God's unmerited favor for sinners through the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). It is the gift of God (Romans 6:23). Grace means that God's favor and forgiveness can never be earned by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is God's gift to be received by faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:16-17). It is available for all who will receive. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Jesus is referred to as the Lamb of God, because the Old Testament sacrificial system pointed toward Him. In the Passover, a lamb was slain for each family. The blood of the lamb was applied to the doorpost. The angel of death passed over the family where the blood was applied. Believers today may confess, "Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). This doctrine is often referred to as substitutionary atonement, meaning that Christ took our punishment at the cross. The apostle Paul explains it in 2 Corinthians 5:21. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." The Son of God took our sin upon Himself at the cross, that we may receive forgiveness of sin, and become the righteousness of God by faith in Christ.

Because the grace of God is for all today, through the atonement of Christ for the sin of the world, Martin Luther's words are as true today as they were centuries ago. "Don't you hear? There is nothing missing from the Lamb. He bears all the sins of the world from its inception; this implies that He also bears yours, and offers you grace."

Resisting God's Grace

2011-06-08T14:25:00.002-05:00

A. H. Strong explained, "The reason why others are not saved is because when the atonement comes to them and upon them, instead of consenting to be included in it, they reject it . . . They shut out the influences as a man closes his window-blind to shut out the beams of the sun" (Augustus H. Strong, Systematic Theology) p. 773. The Spirit of God's grace may be resisted, and when He is, the warning is severe. "Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will be thought worthy who have trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace" (Hebrews 10:29).

Notable examples of resisting God's grace are recorded in the Bible. In the days of Noah before the flood, God declared, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man" (Genesis 6:3). God's warnings were refused. His Spirit was resisted. Another example is found in the Book of Acts. Stephen, who became the first Christian martyr, spoke to those who rejected God's good news in Christ, "You always resist the Holy Spirit" (Acts 7:51). Also, the apostle Paul warned people not to vainly resist God's grace. "We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain" (2 Corinthians 6:1).

God's grace comes to us before our salvation to awaken us, convict us of unbelief and illumine our minds to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. Herschel H. Hobbs wrote, "This is the state of mind and heart whereby a lost person is brought to admit his sinful nature and practice. Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit . . . He brings him to see that he is a sinner and that the greatest sin is unbelief in Jesus" (Herschel H. Hobbs, What Baptists Believe, Broadman Press) p. 93. Speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not in Me" (John 16:8-9).

Resisting God's grace is rejecting God's salvation in Jesus Christ. Hobbs further states, "Conviction is not synonymous with salvation. Under conviction man will either reject Christ and plunge deeper into sin, or he will receive Christ as his Savior. The man under deep conviction of sin is not far from the kingdom of God. But he should beware of a continued rejection of Christ, for God says, 'My Spirit shall not always strive with man." That is resisting God's grace.

By Grace through Faith

2011-06-06T21:23:00.003-05:00

E.Y. Mullins stated, "Beyond doubt, faith is a condition of salvation. The question is whether it is also the ground of salvation. The Scriptures answer this question in the negative" (The Christian Religion in Its Doctrinal Expression, Judson Press, 1917) p. 343. Mullins understood that the foundation for salvation was the grace of God, and that beyond question. Yet, the condition for receiving God's saving grace is through faith.

God has always and only saved sinners by grace through faith. For example, we notice in the Bible that Noah was saved by grace through faith. "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:8). Noah received God's grace through faith. "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household" (Hebrews 11:7). This is the way of salvation in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

Henry Thiessen wrote, "It is not 'for' faith that we are justified, but 'by' faith. Faith is not the price of justification, but the means of appropriating it" (Lectures in Systematic Theology) p. 366. Faith does not earn nor merit salvation from God, it can only receive it. Grace is indeed the unmerited favor of God. Salvation is never earned, but by God's grace, it is received through faith.

The apostle Paul continually referred to Abraham as our example of salvation by grace through faith. "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed" (Galatians 3:8). That covenant promise God made to Abraham is fulfilled in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Old Testament believers looked forward to the coming of Messiah. We rejoice that He has come. "So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham" (Galatians 3:9). It always has been by grace through faith. Today, it's forever the same, by grace through faith.

Theology is Love

2011-06-03T14:47:00.005-05:00

Karl Barth said, "Theological work is a good work when it is permitted to be done in love. It is a good work only there (but nevertheless there with certainty) where it is really done in love. Therefore love alone counts. But it really counts. It builds up, as Paul consolingly wrote" (Evangelical Theology An Introduction, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1963) p. 196.

The essential nature of God is love. In a simple statement, the Bible says, and repeats these words, "God is love" (1 John 4:8,16). Theological works may be impressive to the mind in a sophisticated system, but without the focus upon love, it misses the mark of God's truth. Agape is the one word that best describes God out of thousands that would also be true. That Greek word speaks of God's unconditional love for sinful man that finds its ultimate revelation at the cross of Jesus (Romans 5:8).

Love must be the motivating factor of the theologian, pastor and every believer who would discover the revealed essence of God. If our Bible study or theological endeavors are motivated out of the pursuit of knowledge without love, it may provide a man-made system of theology, but it can never lead us to the One who is love.

May God deliver us from debates and arguments that are not motivated by love for others. Unloving theological controversies have brought confusion and discord among believers. God forbid that we would compromise the truth of Holy Scripture interpreted in the light of Jesus Christ, but may we always hold the truth in love. The apostle Paul wrote, ". . . but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head - Christ" (Ephesians 4:15).

Evangelical Theology

2011-05-15T14:23:00.002-05:00

Evangelical is a term that means good news. It is synonymous with the word gospel. The focus of evangelical theology is the good news of Jesus Christ. The good news is made known through preaching, teaching and personal evangelism. The evangel or good news is the message of evangelism. Jesus Christ is the good news!

The basis of evangelical theology is founded upon the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible as the Word of God. The doctrinal statement of the Evangelical Theological Society includes these words, "The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs." The original writings in the original languages were inspired of God. Most evangelicals believe in verbal plenary inspiration. That is to say, the words of the Bible are inspired of God, and the Bible is fully inspired (Matthew 5:18; 2 Timothy 3:16).

Evangelicals believe that God is sovereign as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God in flesh (John 1:14). He is fully human and fully divine. The triune God reveals himself to man in the Bible as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Evangelicals believe that man is corrupted by sin and cannot be saved outside of the grace of God in Christ Jesus. Adam's sin introduced corruption into the world and affects all subsequent generations (Romans 3:23; 5:12).

Evangelicals believe that Jesus Christ died as a substitute for sinners at the cross, and paid the price for sins sufficient to save all who repent and believe the gospel. Christ satisfied the justice of a holy God to reconcile sinners (2 Cor. 5:18-21).

Evangelicals believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:6). He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9) and he will return again personally and physically (Acts 1:11).

Evangelicals believe that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, good works follow salvation as a result of the Holy Spirit working in the believer's life (Ephesians 2:10). Through faith alone in Christ alone the believer is declared righteous before God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).