Thursday, September 22, 2011

Blessed Assurance?...Of course!

I am sharing an excerpt from a larger paper that I wrote on eternal security. I find this to be a very interesting topic that Christians have discussed for thousands of years...and won't settle anytime soon. So while I give an opinion on eternal security, whether you are a Calvinist or an Arminian doesn't really matter. If you are in Christ, if you believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that Romans 10:9-10 is true (..."If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved..."), then you are good to go- eternally secure in the Lord! So enjoy the excerpt below and let me know if you'd like the full paper and I'll get you a copy:

Can a true believer in Jesus Christ be assured beyond certainty that he is at once saved eternally, and at the same time unable to lose his salvation? That is the crux of the question with regards to eternal security. Eternal Security seeks to answer the questions “How can I be sure I am saved?” and “Am I eternally secure in my salvation?” (Pinson, p.7)

…From a high level perspective, Moderate Calvinism traces its beliefs back to John Calvin, same as the Classical Calvinist camp. The Moderate Calvinist (referred to as “MC” going forward) hold to the Five Petaled TULIP as well, but with some fairly significant changes.

The MC perspective of Total Depravity is that it is extensive, in a corruptive sense. While man is totally depraved, the image of God is never fully removed from man. Therefore, while man cannot initiate the receipt of salvation on their own, they can receive it as given by God. (Geisler, p. 65) Man is effaced in his God image, but not utterly removed from it.

The MC perspective of Unconditional Election is that it is “…unconditional from the standpoint of the giver, but conditional from the standpoint of the receiver.” (Geisler, p. 65) The gift is totally free, unconditional from God, but must be received through faith as initiated by God in man.
The MC perspective of the Limited Atonement is that it is not limited in “extant”, because Jesus did die for all. However it is limited in it’s “application” since it is only efficacious for those who believe. (Geisler, p. 66) This is an easy concept to grasp; Christ died for the world, His sacrifice is perfect and can atone for all sins, but His atoning work can only be effective for those who have faith and believe in Him.

The MC perspective of Irresistible Grace is that the calling of God, the Grace that God sends to man, is effective only on those that are willing and that believe. (Geisler, p. 66) So through belief one can accept the gift freely given through grace. The ability to believe, have faith, and receive the gift of salvation through grace is then an indication that once is elect and therefore eternally secure.

The last petal of the TULIP is the Perseverance of the Saints. For the MC, this means that a believer will persevere to the end. (Geisler, p. 67) Or as more commonly stated, once a believer is saved that believer will always be saved…eternally secure.

…One of the most powerful points of MC is the understanding of the difference between faith and faithfulness. So while faith is necessary as a condition of receiving the gift of salvation, remaining faithful in all instances is not an indication of the election of the believer. Faith is that belief in Jesus Christ which is the condition needed for man to accept the gift, faithfulness on the other hand is the execution of that faith. So while there are times when one may waiver in faithfulness, it is the assurance of the present faith in Jesus Christ that maintains the believer eternally secure; For while we cannot gain salvation by good works, we also cannot lose salvation by bad works. (Geisler, p. 82) This is different than the Classical Calvinist which asserts that wavering in one’s faith is an indication of false assurance of salvation (Geisler, p. 66) or an Arminian which would argue that wavering in one’s faithfulness could lead to the falling away of the believer. (Geisler, p. 68)

Multiple Biblical texts support the belief of a present assurance of salvation. To briefly touch on a couple supporting texts: Phil 1:6 in which Paul encourages the believers in Philippi that it was Christ that began in a good work in them and will carry it out to the end. This clearly is evidence of the present assurance of salvation and produces confidence in the heart of the believer. A believer can rest assured that his salvation will be carried out to the end by the One who started it, Jesus Christ. (Geisler, p. 79)

Jonah 2:9 clearly teaches that Salvation is of the Lord. If it is derived from the Lord it is clearly not derived from human will. We also see in the passage from Eccl that what the Lord does is eternal, then certainly salvation which is from the Lord will also be eternal.

Lastly, and what I believe to be most convincingly, is the passage from Timothy which teaches that God cannot deny himself. 2 Tim 2:13, “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” Here we clearly see that even when we are weak in faith, and though we may falter, God will remain firm in our salvation because he cannot deny himself. To lose our salvation God would have to deny himself. (Geisler, p. 81) This view of faithfulness vs. faith also seems to appropriate given the overall trajectory of scripture in which we see numerous individuals whose faith waivers and yet do not fall completely away: David, Abraham, Noah, John the Baptist, Peter and others. Though we may stumble, we lose the joy of our salvation as David laments in Psalm 51, but we cannot lose ultimate salvation because our faith in Jesus Christ is eternal since it is from our eternal God…

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior

One of the most common things associated with being a Christians is the symbol of the fish. We see it everywhere: cars, bookstores, its even the name of the popular Christian radio station on our area. But I wonder how many people actually know the meaning behind the symbol? Until recently I did not, and I think it is so fascinating that I just have to share. So here is a little blurb about "The Fish":

Among early Christian symbols, that of the fish ranks probably first in importance. While the use of the fish in pagan art as a purely decorative sign is ancient and constant, the earliest reference to the symbolic fish is made by Clement of Alexandria who recommends his followers to have their seals engraved with a dove or a fish. Clement did not give any reason for this recommendation, from which it may
be safely be inferred that the meaning of both symbols was unnecessary. Indeed, from lots of sources we know that the symbolic fish was familiar to Christians long before the Clement was born in 150 AD; in such Roman monuments as the Capella Greca and the Sacrament Chapels of the catacomb of St. Callistus, the fish was depicted as a symbol in the first decades of the second century. The symbol itself may have been suggested by the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes or on the shores after the Resurrection at the Sea of Galilee(John 21:9), but its popularity among Christians was due principally, it would seem, to the famous acrostic consisting of the initial letters of five Greek words forming the word for fish (Ichthys), which words briefly but clearly described the character of Christ and His claim to
the worship of believers:

"Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter", which means
"Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."


It is probable that this Christian formula originated in Alexandria, and was intended as a protest against the pagan apotheosis of the emperors; on a coin from Alexandria of the reign of Domitian (81-96) this emperor is styled Theou Yios (Son of God). The word Ichthys, then, as well as the representation of a fish, held for Christians a meaning of the highest significance; it was a brief profession of faith in the divinity of Christ, the Redeemer of mankind.

Believers in this mystic Ichthys were themselves : "little fishes", according to the well-known passage of Tertullian: "we, little fishes, after the image of our Ichthys, Jesus Christ, are born in the water". The association of the Ichthys with the Lord's Supper is strongly emphasized in the epitaph of Abercius, the second century Bishop of Hieropolis in Phrygia. During the Lord's Supper this idea is expressed repeatedly in the pictorial form; the food before the banqueters is usually bread and fish on two separate dishes. The peculiar significance attached to the fish in this relation is well brought out in such early drawings as the Fractio Panis scene in the
cemetery of St. Priscilla, and the fishes on the grass, in closest proximity to the baskets containing bread and wine, in the crypt of Lucina.

The fish symbol was not, however, represented exclusively with symbols
of Communion; quite frequently it is found associated with such other symbols as the dove, the anchor, and the monogram of Christ. The type of fish depicted calls for no special observation, save that, from the second century, the form of the dolphin was frequently employed. The reason for this particular selection is presumed to be the fact that, in popular culture of the time, the dolphin was regarded as friendly to man. Besides the Communion paintings of the catacombs a considerable number
of objects containing the fish-symbol are preserved in various European museums, one of the most interesting, because of the grouping of the fish with several other symbols, being a carved gem in the Kircherian Museum in Rome. On the left is a T-form anchor, with two fishes beneath the crossbar, while next in order are a T-form cross with a dove on the crossbar and a sheep at the foot, another T-cross as the mast of a ship, and the good shepherd carrying on His shoulders the strayed sheep. In
addition to these symbols the five letters of the word Ichthys are
distributed round the border.

So you see, the next time you see a bumper sticker of the fish I hope it will mean so much more to you: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.

Monday, September 5, 2011

You Just Never Know

Hebrews 13:2
2Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.


I heard one of the best testimonies from a young woman last evening that I have ever heard, and it got me to thinking, you just never know when or how you can affect somebody for Christ. Let me share what I mean. This young woman's story is sadly a common one that included a broken family, bad friends and relationships, etc. The turning point in her life was a change in school. She met some new friends that cared about her and invited her to youth group. Nothing big, nothing overt, she just simply said that they invited her to youth group on a Wednesday after school and she felt like, "Sure...why not?".

She went on to say that she never could have imagined what happened. She immediately was taken in by the youth group and the Youth Pastor in particular. The Youth Pastor understood his students, he was cool and kind, he related to her and her friends, he met her at the point where she was in her life and as she said, (to paraphrase) shattered her negative image of church. Fast forward a few years later and this young woman is saved, serving in her church, on fire for the Lord and a witness to all those around her. A true blessing!

I have been thinking about her story all evening in relation both to the passage above and to Jesus Christ and his example in the Gospels. As we think about Jesus in the Gospels, he shattered the image of what church was to people- he met people where they were, he dines with them in their homes, he attended their events, he spoke to them on their level, he lived as they lived. He drew people to him and imparted his love in a manner that was relational and understanding to them. No need for watering down, just a sincerity that showed brightly the love he had for the lost. That is Jesus, that is our model, the person that we should wisely follow in our walk (Eph 5:15-17).

And the passage from Hebrews has been with me all night. When this young woman walked into that church for the first time she was extended the hand of Christian love and hospitality. That church and that Youth Pastor did not know her. They did not know what her story was or where she came from. Yet they showed her the love of Jesus Christ, and "unawares" they helped to give her a new life in Jesus Christ. This is our call.

There is an old saying that goes like this, "You may be the only Bible a person may ever read." Think about that and the impact you may have on the lives of others. And the next time you have a chance to entertain and be hospitable to someone, remember...you just never know who that might be.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Didache Part 1: The Way of Life

The Didache
The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations.



Chapter 1. The Two Ways and the First Commandment. There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you. And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If someone strikes your right cheek, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect. If someone impresses you for one mile, go with him two. If someone takes your cloak, give him also your coat. If someone takes from you what is yours, ask it not back, for indeed you are not able. Give to every one who asks you, and ask it not back; for the Father wills that to all should be given of our own blessings (free gifts). Happy is he who gives according to the commandment, for he is guiltless. Woe to him who receives; for if one receives who has need, he is guiltless; but he who receives not having need shall pay the penalty, why he received and for what. And coming into confinement, he shall be examined concerning the things which he has done, and he shall not escape from there until he pays back the last penny. And also concerning this, it has been said, Let your alms sweat in your hands, until you know to whom you should give.

Comments and thoughts:
1. This teaching is totally grounded in scripture. There are many references to Jesus’ teachings. Here are some of the ones that I noted in my cursory observation:
a. Genesis 1
b. John 14:6
c. Deuteronomy 5
d. Mark 12:28-31
e. Matthew 5-7
f. Matthew 6:3-4

2. So starts the Didache, and quickly something very interesting jumps out to me. This was written as a manual or a guide with teachings to be followed by those who believe in Jesus Christ, and the manner of practice for the early church. This introductory chapter then is simple and to the point. There are two ways: one of life (which is found in Christ Jesus) and one of death (which is found in a life apart from Christ Jesus and expounded on later in the Didache). This is what is wonderful about the Christology of the early church: Their belief was simple, either you believe and follow the way of life which is Jesus Christ, or you follow the way of death- which is everything and anything else apart from Jesus Christ.



That said, once you accept the Way of Life then comes the cathetical instruction that leads a believer in this “Way”:
a. The Shema is used and taught as reinforcement (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength) is used
b. Teaching from the Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5-7) on love, alms, forgiveness, anxiety, etc. is reinforced as well
We can clearly see what position the early church took with regards to Jesus Christ and the Way: A simple and direct approach that clearly delineates the way of life as opposed to the way of death.



From current worldview perspective I would imagine this message would come as a shock to many people. We live in an increasingly syncretistic, post Christian culture. Secularism and pluralism make absolute statements, such as “There are two ways, one of life and one of death…”, difficult to believe for many modern believers. As the church however, we cannot run from this basic core belief; that is that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life and that NO ONE can go to the Father without Him (John 14:6). We need to embrace this basic truth with the full love that the Father had when he provided Jesus as an atoning sacrifice for us. We need to be bold and unashamed of the Gospel message as Paul was not ashamed in Rom 1:16. We need to take the “power of Salvation” and declare it clearly and boldly to a needy world. This was a clear and simple truth for the Church 2,000 years ago and it is no less clear today for those who believe. It is with concerted urgency that we should proclaim the Way of Life to those in our families and communities through both our words and deeds.