Theology 201 #4: Forfeiting Your Salvation

Jesus, in the parable of the sower, said, “Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away” (Luke 8:13).

Last month we considered how the Bible does not teach perseverance of the saints (once saved, always saved) as the Calvinists teach, but rather the Bible gives several promises assuring believers of their salvation. This month, I’d like us to consider three ways that a person can forfeit their salvation. Then next month we will consider three ways that we can know for a fact that we are saved.

The first way that a person can forfeit their salvation is through spiritual suicide. Spiritual suicide is a deliberate decision to stop believing in Christ and His saving work, thus renouncing the Christian faith. In Romans 8:35ff, the Apostle Paul lists several things that cannot separate us from the love of Christ but Paul never lists the individual believer themselves. We can make the decision to reject Christ after becoming saved (Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26-29).

Keith Drury said, “While God’s love is unconditional, my relationship with God is two-way. Love can be unilateral. A relationship, however, is bilateral. For instance, I could insist that nothing my wife could ever do would change my love—I love her unconditionally and irrevocably, yet a true relationship is two-way. What if she were to walk out on me, and run off with another man, totally rejecting me and everything I stood for? Would I still love her? Yes, I could love her, if my love were unconditional. But would we still have a relationship? That's another question.

A relationship is bilateral—"it takes two." Love can go one way, but a relationship is two-way. Relationships are ongoing dynamic sort of things which take two (at least partially) willing persons. Someone might argue that this immoral wife still had some legal standing with her husband, but most of us would admit that a pattern of continual and repeated purposeful acts of rebellion would end the two-way-ness of the relationship. My love might live on, but my marriage relationship would be dead. Relationships are not unilateral” (Christian Security, available from http://www.crivoice.org/security.html). Thus, with any relationship, one individual can make the freewill decision to walk away severing that relationship. 

The second way that a person can forfeit their salvation is through slow spiritual starvation. Jesus warns us of this danger. Sometimes, He says, the seed of the Word fell “on rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away” (Matt. 13:5-6). This represents “the man who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the Word, immediately he falls away” (13:20-21).

Faith must constantly be nurtured and nourished and exercised to become full-grown (Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21; 2 Peter 2:10-11). To this end God has provided us with spiritual disciplines such as those in Acts 2:42: the apostles’ teaching (discipleship), fellowship (modeled in NT church through consistent weekly church life: both corporately and small groups); “breaking of bread,” (or consistent and faithful participation in worship as seen in the Lord’s Supper); and “prayer.” These are the means by which faith is nourished; to neglect them allows faith to weaken or even to die.

Faithful participation in the spiritual disciplines, such as those mentioned above: worship, discipleship, fellowship (and service and evangelism), is a necessary means of extending roots of faith beyond, around, and beneath the rocky places of life, enabling them to anchor and nourish the Christian life. If we are not careful to extend these roots, spiritual starvation is the result.

The third way that a person can forfeit their salvation is through the strangulation of sin. If a Christian allows sin in their life to continue and flourish without fighting against them, they will sooner or later choke the life out of their faith (Mt. 13:7, 22). This is not talking about a Christian sinning one time; this is about practicing sin on a continual basis (1 John 3:1-24).

There are many Christians who excuse their struggles with sin by appealing to the grace of God. Yes, praise God that His grace is there for when we do sin, and every Christian struggles with sin at times (1 John 1:8). However, this does not give us license to merely excuse our actions. Scripture admonishes us to not take sin lightly. If one continues to live a life controlled by their sinful desires, they will most certainly revert back into a state of spiritual death. This is what the Apostle Paul spoke of in Romans 8:13 “For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” Peter warns those who have “escaped the defilements of the world” of the danger of again becoming “entangled in them” and being “overcome” (2 Peter 2:20). Continuing to sin after becoming a Christian is like opening the fort and inviting the enemy inside (portions from Jack Cottrell, The Faith Once for All, p. 381-382).

Regardless of whether you feel like you have committed spiritual suicide, slow spiritual starvation, or the strangulation of sin, forgiveness and restoration are possible. The story of the Prodigal Son shows this (Luke 15:11-32) and so does the fate of those Jewish branches on the olive tree that were broken off because of unbelief (Rom. 11:20-23). 

Furthermore, a believer cannot lose his or her salvation as one might lose their glasses. But by willful rebellion, there is the possibility of falling away, of shipwrecking of one’s faith. Thus, our salvation is much like the following illustration. Picture a father crossing a busy highway with a small child by his side holding his hand quite firmly. The father has good judgment and he is capable of shielding the child from any calamity and protecting him from any outside force harming him as they make their way across the highway. The one eventuality the father cannot prevent is the child being willful and wrenching himself free from his grasp, running off, and being struck by a vehicle. This is an adequate parable of what Paul means in Romans 8 which speaks of nothing separating us from God’s love. God has a firm loving grip on the believer, and no outside force can separate the believer from God and God’s love.

The Good News, then, is that one cannot lose or misplace one’s salvation or simply wander away by accident. Indeed, only by an enormous willful effort could one throw it away. Such is the loving grasp God has on His children (portions from Ben Witherington III. Paul’s Romans, p. 235). God allows us the freewill choice to receive His offer of salvation, and He likewise, gives us the freewill choice to walk away from Him! Thus, may we choose to remain in Christ!

In His service,

Matt

Elder’s Corner: Make the Most of Your New Year!

In Mark 5:1-20 NLT, we find the account of a man who was possessed by numerous demons. “This man lived among the tombs and could not be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to control him. All day long and throughout the night, he would wander among the tombs and in the hills, screaming and hitting himself with stones.

When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw Him. He ran to meet Jesus and fell down before Him. He gave a terrible scream, shrieking, “Why are You bothering me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God's sake don't torture me!” For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”

At this Jesus granted the demons’ request and sent them into a herd of pigs. Then the pigs ran down a steep hillside into a lake and drowned.

As Jesus was preparing to leave, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go, too. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.”

This is a story about a man whose life changed dramatically because he met Jesus. I also notice from the scripture that God's enemy, the devil and his agents recognize and must submit to His authority. I also see that Jesus has power over all the afflictions that man might ever encounter. Then I notice that the man who was healed wanted to tell everyone the great things that Jesus had done for him.

I hope I make the most of the New Year by telling about the really important things in life, “What Jesus has done for me.” And I hope you do too!

—Alan

Your Life’s Story #7: Strengthening the Will to Live Right

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Phil. 2:13).

A person’s will can be a powerful thing! So what is your will to live? What causes you to get up in the morning, and/or stay up late at night? Ravi Zacharias said, “The will is a strong but fragile part of every human life, and it matters in the rich weaving of your tapestry that is in the making” (The Grand Weaver, p. 114).

My grandmother Boughan was a strong Christian woman, who got cancer; the doctors gave her 6 months to live yet she lived for 6 years. She was determined to live and be a difference maker; she had a reason for living and the will to help motivate her. Thus, she had a strong will to live right: that is in a way that pleases God.

Josiah was a king who did just that. His grandfather Manasseh was one of the most immoral kings that the Southern Kingdom of Judah ever had. Similarly, Josiah’s father Amon was immoral. However, Josiah became king at only 8 years old and he was one of the best kings that the nation ever had. What made the difference? Josiah did four things that can help strengthen our will to live.

First, Josiah began with the end in mind. He witnessed what his father and grandfather had been like as kings and how it had not gone well for either of them, so he decided to change things. 2 Kings 22:2 tells us that he refused to turn to the right or to the left. He had a laser focus on the end which he desired, and his desires were lined up with God’s desires.

Second, Josiah, admitted his mistakes and sought to change them. When he learned God’s Word concerning idols, he owned the mistake/sin and cleaned house, removing the idols that were present in his kingdom.

Third, Josiah always sought to grow. Stephen Covey said, “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” Therefore, what is the destiny that you are going to reap based upon the thoughts that you are sowing? Is it pleasing to God?

And fourth, Josiah was determined to live his life for the Lord. “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did--with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses” (2 Kings 23:25). Our enemy the Devil has a plan to lead us away from living for the Lord. Thus, we must likewise have a plan to overcome his attacks; that requires great determination.

Therefore, I encourage you this New Year to strengthen your will to live right. Begin with the end in mind. Admit your mistakes and seek to change them. Always seek to grow. And be determined to live for the Lord. 

In His service,

      Matt

Theology 201 #3: Pick the Brighter Tulip (Part F)

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28).

A boy at the age of 9 years old accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. When the boy turns 18, he walks away from the faith that he has held for the last 9 years to a life of sin. Five years later he is found dead from a drug overdose. Will this man who loved Jesus Christ and served Him all the days of his youth go to heaven or hell? Ultimately this is God’s decision, but, what does the Bible say?

This brings us to the fifth point of dispute between Calvinism and Arminianism. As we have seen over the past several months, “Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility in the matter of salvation. Both systems can be summarized with five points” known as TULIP (for an overview of this topic please see http://eugenechristianchurch.blogspot.com/2018/05/theology-201-3-pick-brighter-tulip-part.html). This month we will examine the last point of disagreement: Perseverance of the Saints (Calvinism) vs. Promises to Saints (Arminianism). Often the Calvinistic side is referred to as “Once saved, always saved.” On the other hand, the Arminian side is thought to be teaching that a person can lose their salvation (although that terminology is very misleading). Really, at the heart of this debated point is simply this: does God promise eternal life to people who recant their decision to follow Christ?

There tends to be four arguments given that a person can never forfeit their salvation. However, the more that one studies these arguments and the Calvinist’s doctrine of perseverance of the saints in comparison with what Scripture has to say, more they realize it actually contradicts. It promises assurance, yet in reality, it actually delivers insecurity in one’s salvation.

The first argument given is “once in grace, always in grace.” The thought here is that if God has blessed you with saving grace then it is impossible to forfeit that. However, Paul’s response to this concept is to point to some members of the Galatian congregation that he knows “have fallen away from grace” (Gal. 5:4). Others explain it: I can only fall from a chair, if I am on a chair and I could only fall from grace, if I was in grace. Peter thinks of the conditionality of the covenants and cautions God’s people, “If you do these things, you will never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). If falling from grace is impossible, then why would Scripture give this warning? Therefore, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God” (Heb. 12:15).

The second argument given is “once a child, always a child.” The thought here is that if a person is a child of God, yes, they might have rebellious moments and seasons, yet they are still in the family. However, in the account of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), we see a clear picture of our relationship as Christians with our Heavenly Father. In this account, the loving father considered his son “dead,” meaning, the son was spiritually lost when he was away from home (Luke 15:24). The son had to return to the father (Luke 15:17-20), and the father had to restore him into the family (Luke 15:20-24). Therefore, the son, while away from the family was no longer considered to be a part of the family, as he was “dead,” aka, spiritually separated from the father.

The third argument given is “once in the book, always in the book.” The thought here is that if person’s name is recorded in the Book of Life, it can never be removed (Rev. 20:15; 21:27). However, the LORD told Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me I will blot out of My book” (Ex. 32:33). Jesus also stated that the promise of having one’s name written in the book of life is conditional. “He who overcomes…I will never blot out His name from the book of life (Rev. 3:5).

And the fourth argument given is “once in Christ, always in Christ.” However, John 15 speaks of Christians as branches in the vine and of God as the gardener, who, “cuts off every branch in Me (Jesus) that bears no fruit” (John 15:2). Jesus plainly states, “If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned” (John 15:6). This is the same vocabulary that is used of one who is sentenced to Hell (Matt. 13:30, 41-42; 25:46; Mark 9:43; John 6:37; Rev. 14:18).

At this point many Calvinists will say that those who lost or forfeited their salvation were never truly saved in the first place. But let’s consider what Scripture says. In Hebrews 6:4-8, certain people are listed who possessed five characteristics of someone who has been saved, yet they have fallen away:

First, they were “Enlightened” (Heb. 6:4). According to Scripture, only genuine believers can see the light for “the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving.” Thus, only believers are able to possess the knowledge and understanding of the Gospel (2 Cor. 4:4, 6; Matt. 13:19-21; Acts 26:18; Heb. 10:32).

Second, they “have tasted of the heavenly gift” (Heb. 6:4). The gift of salvation is only for genuine believers (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9). Jesus gives this “heavenly gift” only to those who come and ask Him for it (John 4:10).

Third, they “have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit” (Heb. 6:4). Only believers receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 12:13; Titus 3:5).

Fourth, they “have tasted the good word of God” (Heb. 6:5). The Word of God is tasted only by genuine believers (Psalm 34:8; 119:101-103; Jer. 15:16; Eph. 6:17; 1 Pet. 2:2-3).

Fifth, they “have tasted the powers of the age to come” (Heb. 6:5). Only genuine believers experience this power which raises a person from spiritual death (Eph. 2:5; Col, 2:12-13), in anticipation of the future redemptive resurrection of the body.

Additionally, Jesus, in the parable of the sower (Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23), gives a picture of people who have experienced genuine life receiving the Word of God. Yet in spite of this, Jesus tells us of some who did fall away (Matt. 13:20-22). Furthermore as Alger Fitch said, “It is difficult to understand why the Holy Spirit would give us 21 New Testament books to tell us how to abide faithfully in Christ and only the one book of Acts to tell us how to become Christians, if there were no possibility of falling. Why is there such a disproportionate ratio, if falling away is impossible?” (Pick The Brighter Tulip, p. 65.)

Therefore, at the outset, the once saved, always saved doctrine sounds very comforting. However, if we hold to it, even displaying characteristics of being a true believer (as listed above in Hebrews 6:4-8), we can never know for sure that we are indeed saved. Thus, the doctrine that was invented to give a person the sense of security actually offers none! 

Next month we will consider three ways that a person can forfeit their salvation, and how a person can know for a fact that they are saved according to the Bible. But for now, let’s briefly consider some of the promises that the Bible gives to those who are saved providing assurance of their salvation. Yet all of these promises are conditional based upon our freewill choice to remain in Christ.

·         “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you…” (1 Cor. 15:2).

·         “But now He (God) has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel” (Col. 1:22-23).

·         “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

·         “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

·         In John 10:27-28, Jesus talks about the people that God the Father has given to Him, and how “they will never perish; and no one will be able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” Yet who are these people? They are people who hear His voice and follow Him.

There are several other passages that speak of the promise of assurance of one’s salvation, yet they are conditional upon the person’s choice to be “in Christ” and to remain “in Him” (See John 15:2-7; Eph. 1:1-14). Thus, are you in Christ? Is He your Lord and Savior? Are you remaining in Him? If you are, God’s promises of eternal life will persevere you!

In His service,

Matt

Your Life’s Story #6: Spirituality Matters

“It is the most wonderful time of year.” The holidays can be that: spending time with those whom we love, vacation, and holiday cheer. Yet, is this all there is to Christmas being such a wonderful time of year? Is it just about family, food and exchanging gifts? I ask this because many are left empty at the end of the festivities, and others sink into depression due to absent family members.

 As one searches for the source of wonder, many turn to spirituality. Ravi Zacharias explains the significance of this reality: “First, we human beings are incurably religious. We long to worship and will even create our own objects to worship” (The Grand Weaver, pg. 95). Furthermore, Stanford University found that there is a positive relationship between religious inclination and one’s well-being. 56% of physicians believe spirituality influences health, and 80% of medical schools offer spiritual care courses. There is even a positive correlation between daily access to spiritual support and shorter hospital stays among cardiac patients. Additionally, religious or spiritual belief is a factor in overall mood elevation and reduction of depression (available from https://www.lifesharetech.com/spirituality-matters-with-age-part-1/).

But are the benefits of spirituality merely a placebo or false hope? That depends. You see, “It is imperative that we know whether the object we worship truly deserves our worship and actually has the characteristics we ascribe to it” (The Grand Weaver, pg. 95). Thus, while spirituality can have beneficial effects on our lives including making this season “the most wonderful time of the year,” one’s spirituality needs to be checked. What is the basis of our spirituality? As Ravi points out, “Spirituality does not give relevance to life; rather, truth gives relevance to spirituality. Your spirituality must be born of the truth and lived out in grace (The Grand Weaver, pg. 109). Yet what is truth? The Bible teaches that truth is embodied in a person whose birth we celebrate this time of year. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Yet, what if one chooses not to indulge themselves in the spiritual realm? Mortimer Adler, in an interview with Larry King pointed out that “there are more consequences for your life that follow from that one issue [God] than any other issue you can think of.”  More consequences for your life follow from what you believe or disbelieve about God. If you believe and trust in God, your beliefs, language, behavior, charitability, ethics, etc. all stem from it. You may not always live consistently with it, but your guilt and shame or fulfillment comes on how you think about God.

Therefore, is your spirituality grounded in false hope, or in the truth named Jesus? I encourage you to join us this Christmas season and discover or refresh how this Way, Truth and Life can bring wonder to your life the whole year through.

Merry Christmas,

      Matt

Your Life’s Story #5: Morality Matters

What once was black and white now has grayed lines, and blurry edges. I can hear you say, Matt, you’re over the hill and need to get your vision checked. Yes, you may be right. However, I am not speaking about my ability to see, but that of society’s ability to discern between right and wrong. You see, what once was very clear, has now developed some gray and blurry areas. For example, it was once believed that murder is wrong period. But 45 years ago, abortion (murder) was legalized, based on the definition of when human life begins. Thus, we can still wholeheartedly agree that murder is wrong, but some say that abortion is ok, others no.

How far will we allow the rules to be bent? In the past, slavery and atrocious acts to those individuals were accepted simply because they were considered sub-human. Likewise, Hitler convinced the German population that Jews and others sub-human to the degree that over 6 million were slaughtered. Hitler was angry, blamed the Jews for it and got away with murder. Literally.

The bottom line is that we are changing the rules for our benefit. But this change can bite. However, we may not realize the implications of this until we get bit. Several years ago when I worked as a foreman for a heating and cooling company, I was given the job of installing a gas fireplace in a new home. As an individual who has held a builder’s license, I quickly recognized that the fireplace chase was improperly built. There was about 4,000 lbs. of weight positioned directly above where I was to install the fireplace, and all of that weight was held by just a handful of nails. I recognized the gravity of the situation (pun intended). The builder was cutting corners to save time and money. It was situationally right for him, yet morally unethical. Would you have responded in the same way as the builder? Then again, what if you were on the other side of the coin? What if this was your house? Would you still say it was ok for the builder to cut corners?

Without a moral law-giving God, objective morality is not possible. Even atheist philosophers like J.L. Mackie have said that, “Moral properties were not likely to arise without a God to create them” (https://www.youtube. com/watch?=9txl6lA_z30).

While we may be ok with redefining basic moral issues like murder, rape, etc., when it becomes personal, things change. But at what point do we hit the point of no return? Instead of being lulled into the blurred edges and gray lines of subjective morality, I urge you to consider what Paul wrote in Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” It is our responsibility to recognize when the objective black and white is becoming subjective gray and blurry and to take society to the eye doctor’s for a check-up.

In His service,

   Matt

Theology 201 #3: Pick the Brighter Tulip (Part E)

Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).

I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more things that I realize that I no longer have the ability to do what I used to be able to. At the same time, there are things that I have never been able to do. When thinking in spiritual terms, there are also some things that a person is never able to do for themselves: we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is only something that God can do, for it is impossible with man (Matt. 19:26). However, are we able to respond by ourselves? Or do we need God to forcefully draw us to Himself before we can be saved. This is a topic of dispute related to the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate.

As we saw a few months ago, “Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility in the matter of salvation. Both systems can be summarized with five points” known as TULIP. This month we will examine the fourth point: Irresistible Grace (Calvinism) vs. Irrefutable Goodness (Arminianism). 

Irresistible grace refers to God supernaturally working through the Holy Spirit to draw people to Himself in such a way that will guarantee that they will respond in saving faith. This is sometimes known as “effectual calling” and “efficacious grace.” Simply put, irresistible grace refers to whatever God decrees to happen will inevitably come to pass, even the salvation of individuals (see https://www.gotquestions.org/irresistible-grace.html). This was John Calvin, the founder of Calvinism’s response as to why some people believe the Gospel and others do not.

Really, at the heart of this debate is the order of a person being born again (regeneration) and producing saving faith. Calvinist RC Sproul explains it in the following way. “Before a person can exercise saving faith, God must do something for them and in them, so that faith can be exercised.” Sproul also cited that the Greek word which gets translated as “draw” in John 6:44 refers to drawing water out of a well such as they would have done some 2,000 years ago. Thus, God’s drawing requires a mighty act of God on our hearts before we can be saved. He must draw us out before we can be saved (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loXh8PqrR3Y).

One of the most common passages that Calvinists point to is Ephesians 2:1. There Scripture teaches that prior to coming to Christ they are dead spiritually, and thus cannot respond. Therefore, God must enable them to respond, by bringing them to life and placing saving faith in them. However, are the dead not actually able to respond? While logically we would think that a dead person could not respond, we must examine how the Greek word that gets translated as dead is used elsewhere. In Luke 15:24 the father of the prodigal son said, “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.” Here the prodigal was called dead, referring to him living in rebellion. He was lost, yet able to return home on his own when he came to his senses. Thus, in this case it does not represent a total moral inability to respond.

“Likewise, in Romans 6:11, Paul also teaches the believers to count themselves “dead to sin.” A consistent Calvinist would have to interpret this to mean that believers are morally unable to sin when tempted. Of course, that is not the case. Paul is teaching that we are to separate ourselves from sin, in much the same way we were once separated by our sin from God. “Deadness” here connotes the idea of being separated, like the son was from his father, not the incapacitation of the will to respond to God’s appeal to be reconciled from our separation” (Soteriology 101, available from https://soteriology101.com/2018/04/13/born-dead/).

Another example comes from Revelation 3:1. There Jesus tells the church in Sardis, “...you are dead.” So in verse 2, Jesus tells the church, aka the people to “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die…” A careful examination of several other passages teach this idea as well, including the idea that God expects mankind to be able to respond by themselves. Not once in scripture does it teach that God is the one responsible for humbling us so that we would be “lifted up,” “raised up,” “exalted” or “made alive together with Him” (see Num. 21:8-9; Ps. 18:27; 147:6; Jer. 4:4; Ezek. 18:32; 33:11; Matt. 18:4; 23:12; Luke 18:14; John 6:40; 20:31; Rom. 7:9-10; 8:10; Eph. 1:13-14; Col. 2:11-13; James 1:14-15; 4:10; 1 Peter 1:5-6).

Even a careful examination of Lazarus’ death in John 11 reveals that the purpose for Jesus allowing him to die and then resurrecting him was to be a sign for those present that they may believe (John 11:14-15, 25-27, 40-42, 45). This proves that those who were present were able to have saving faith in Jesus by themselves to usher in God’s saving work on their hearts.

Scripture teaches that it was and is God’s will for all to be saved, and His invitation is given to all (Matt. 11:28; 23:37; John 12:32; Rom. 1:16; Titus 2:11; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). In this we see God’s irrefutable goodness going out to all people. Yet why is it that some people respond to the Gospel while others do not? Simply put, some freely choose to and others do not. Many resist God’s will by their own freewill choice (Neh. 9:30; Pro 1:22-27; Isa. 63:9-10; Acts 6:10; 7:51-55; Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19; Rev. 3:20). They desire their sins more than they desire the freedom from eternity in hell that the loving God continually offers to all people. (John 3:19-21; 12:43; Rom. 1:24-25). Meanwhile, others taste and see the Lord is good just as His Word says (Ps. 119:103; John 20:30-31; Acts 4:4; Rom. 10:17)

On a different note, the passages that Calvinists believe to be teaching irresistible grace, when examined in context, are actually teaching the opposite. A good example of this is John 5:21, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it.” Then down in verse 24, Jesus teaches who those are that He wishes and thereby receives eternal life. “I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” And the passage that I began with in John 6 that speaks of no one coming to Jesus unless the Father draws them speaks of raising them up on the last day, aka, spending eternity in heaven (John 6:39-40, 44, 54). In other words, that passage is not speaking of the church age that we are currently in. So while we place our faith in Him, it is He who will lift us up on that Day.

Regardless of how people respond to God’s irrefutable goodness in offering salvation to all who will receive Him, it is amazing to consider His grace. In the meantime, “God’s grace has done for us what we could never have done for ourselves. We are saved by that grace. But it is not an irresistible grace…The covenant of grace demands two consenting parties—God and you. In His grace, God has covenanted to save any who are willing. Are you willing?” (Alger Fitch, Pick the Brighter Tulip, p. 58). 

In His service,

     Matt

Elder’s Corner: The Asterisk “*” at the Bottom of the Page

I was reading a Biblical passage the other day and ran across an asterisk in the text.  At the bottom of the page it gave more information about the word that had been used in the sentence.  It was to further define and give more understanding to the reader of what was meant.  It is a helpful tool to create a complete understanding of the text.  I got to thinking “this is what it says” and “this is what it really means.” 

I began wondering if my life really represents “who I am” or if there should be an asterisk attached to my life to indicate who I really am.  Am I who I say I am or someone different?  I was thinking of some Biblical characters and other descriptions given about their lives.  David - “a man after God's own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14) and yet in Matthew 1:6 we are reminded of David's sin with Bathsheba.  It is a footnote to his life that he let sin interrupt his walk with God.  So I started thinking what things have I let interfere with my walk with the Lord.  I wish I could say that it was a very short list, but in reality, it is easy to let things take us away from the One who loves us most.  I hope the footnote at the bottom of your life might say:  “He was a person of prayer,” “He was generous,” “He had time for others,” “He cared about people,” “He read God's word and lived it out in his life.”  Or simply “No footnotes needed—he lives like who he says he is!” 
--Alan

Theology 201 #3: Pick the Brighter Tulip (Part D)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

It is one of the most famous and most beloved verses in the entire Bible. It is the message of the entire Bible summarized into just one verse, John 3:16. Christians almost universally accept the following about this amazing verse: “For God, the greatest source; so loved, the greatest heart; the world, the greatest extent; that He gave, the greatest sacrifice; His only begotten Son, the greatest gift; that whoever, the greatest invitation; believes in Him, the greatest terms; should not perish, the greatest deliverance; but, the greatest difference; have everlasting life, the greatest promise.” However, it might surprise you to know that this is one of the most controversial verses in the Bible!

There are at least six controversial elements in this beloved verse. First, who does “world” refer to:  all people or only a portion? Second, who are the “Whosoever”: just the people whom God has chosen or does this offer apply to anyone who would freely choose to believe? Third, does God love people differently? Or put another way, does God love some people more than others? Fourth, what does the word “Believe” mean in this verse? Fifth, what does it mean to perish? And sixth, what does Scripture mean when it says that Jesus is God’s one and only Son?

At least half of the controversial elements in this verse relate to the theological debate between Calvinism and Arminianism. As we saw a few months ago, “Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility in the matter of salvation. Both systems can be summarized with five points” known as TULIP (for an overview of this topic please see http://eugenechristianchurch.blogspot.com/2018/05/theology-201-3-pick-brighter-tulip-part.html).  

This month we will examine the third point: Limited Atonement (Calvinism) vs. Limitless Opportunity (Arminianism). Really, at the heart of this debated point is simply this: Did Jesus die for the entire world, meaning all the people who have ever and will ever live (Arminianism)? Or did He die only for the elect—those whom He chose to be saved (Calvinism)? When worded as such, the majority of people would agree with the Arminian view, as do I, and we at Eugene Christian Church. And I will go into length as to why we do with supporting passages. However, at the same time, we need to seek to understand things from the Calvinists’ perspective.

Several Scripture passages speak of the fact that Christ died specifically for His people (John 6:37-39; 10:11, 15; 17:9, 20; Acts 20:28; Rom. 5:8-10; 8:32-34; Eph. 5:25). Even still, there are tons of passages that speak of Jesus dying for the sins of every person, including non-believers (John 1:29; 3:16; 4:42; 10:9; 12:32; 17:12; Rom. 5:8; 14:15; 1 Cor. 15:22; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 19; 1 Tim. 2:4, 6; 4:10; Heb. 2:9; 10:29; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:14). Let’s consider 1 John 2:2 for example. Jesus “is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Jack Cottrell said, “Now, a large part of the world’s population are good, decent, kind, well-meaning, obedient human beings. You can probably name a few that you know! And we can see why Jesus would want to save them, by turning God’s wrath away from them by taking it on Himself. But John says – ‘the WHOLE WORLD!’ Jesus gave Himself as a propitiation (an atoning sacrifice to pay for the sins of others) the meanest, vilest persons you know! He died for every criminal in every prison in the world; He took on Himself the punishment due to the sins of Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Jack the Ripper, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un, Sadam Hussein, Joseph Stalin, & Osama bin Laden to name a few.

The Apostle Paul puts it like this: “Christ died for the ungodly! For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man, someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6-8 NASB). And as 1 John 2:2 says, ‘for the sins of the whole world’” (available fromhttp://jackcottrell.com/uncategorized/five-communion-meditations-on-1-john-21-2-number-four-christ-the-propitiation-for-the-world/).

Calvinists take these passages to mean that Jesus paid for the sins of sinners in general without implying that every single individual in the world will be saved (Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 597). However, Hebrews 2:9 states that Jesus “tasted death for everyone.” This speaks of the individuality of Jesus' death.  

At this point, Calvinists raise another objection. “If Jesus paid for the sins of the entire world, then what sins are non-believers going to be suffering eternally from?” (Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 597) While yes, it is true that Jesus did pay the penalty for the sins of even those who will end up in hell, every person must still respond to the atonement that Jesus provided. Thus, the atonement is not limited by God's intentions, but by man's response to it. Therefore, the God of the Bible offers limitless opportunities for people to receive Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, yet unfortunately only a few respond to it.

Now, on a different note, if one was to offer someone something they did not have, it would make them dishonest. Yet that is exactly the path that limited atonement actually takes. Most assuredly, this does not mean that the Calvinists believe that God is being dishonest, yet that is the natural implication of offering something that one does not have to offer.

Therefore, the only way that Calvinism and limited atonement can survive is by eisegesis; that is by adding to, or changing God’s Word. For example, to them, all doesn’t mean all, whosever doesn’t mean whosever, etc. So a good question for Calvinists is how can you even preach the Gospel to someone, telling them that Jesus died for their sins, but you don’t know if they are the elect? In other words, you are not sure if Christ died for them. In that you would have to lie to them. Thus, Calvinism is really more of a philosophy of man, rather than Biblical doctrine. Colossians 2:8 says, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

On the other hand, the Bible clearly teaches limitless opportunities to receive God’s mercy, forgiveness, and amazing grace. Alger Fitch rightly said, “In all covenants of God or man there are three entities: parties, terms, and promises. The New Covenant’s promises of forgiveness, justification, cleansing, pardon, etc., are God’s gracious offerings to those parties who will receive them. The opportunity is to be given to all—check the great commission—“all the world...all creation” (Mark 16:15). God loves all (John 3:16) and desires all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:4). Jesus paid the price for all (1 Tim. 2:6; 1 John 2:2). All that is lacking is for each human party to sign in and become a recipient of God’s grace.

To the most remote corner of earth, over full extension of time, unto the chief of sinners among men, the invitation is heralded, “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life (Rev. 22:17). Abundant mercy (1 Peter 1:3), abundant grace (Rom. 5:20), abundant life (John 10:10), and abundant peace (Ps. 72:7) await those who will receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Abundant joy (Phil. 1:26), abundant strength (Eph. 3:20), and abundant pleasure (Ps. 36:8) are just inside the open door of Christ’s kingdom….As to the atonement, our opportunity to be reconciled to God through Christ is not limited but limitless” (Pick the Brighter Tulip, pgs. 46, 48). 

In all of this, I cannot help but remember the old hymn, Are You Washed in the Blood?. “Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?...Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?...Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?...When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?... Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright…? Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin…There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean, Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!”

God’s amazing love has provide the limitless opportunities of this life to receive what Jesus did for you some 2,000 years ago on a hill called Calvary. So are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

In His service,

Matt

Food for Thought: Our Monthly Food Pantry

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (1 John 3:17)

Poverty is an issue that every generation must face. Jesus said that there will always be people in poverty (Matt. 26:11). However, this does not mean that we should turn a blind eye to them, or ignore them. Scripture commands us numerous times throughout the Bible to help the poor. Beyond that, it is heartbreaking to consider what some studies point out: some 20,000 children die per day as a result of living in extreme poverty. Yes, many of these kids are living in Third World Countries, however, poverty still exists in our country and our rural area as well.

The question that we must ask though is: how should we respond in such a way to make the greatest significance in overcoming poverty and its affects? Historically there have been primarily three responses. The first response is to simply do nothing. Yes, in many cases this is simply turning a blind eye to the issue dreaming that it will go away on its own. That is wishful thinking. Others have employed this method simply because they don’t know how to care for the poor.

Others still have employed this method, not because they don’t care but because they do. You could call this the tough love approach. It is the old adage, you made your bed; you get to sleep in it. It is their fault that they are in the struggle that they are, so it’s theirs to figure out how to get themselves out of it.

However, sometimes, it is not really their fault that they are in the mess that they are. Sometimes, their poverty is the result of no choice on their behalf. They got into an accident perhaps caused by a drunk driver, or got hurt at work, etc. Yet they get hurt. The medical bills stacked up, they struggled to work since they have been injured, and in a very short amount of time they are in a horrible financial situation. Now that might not be the exact scenario, yet the fact of the matter remains, sometimes people struggle with poverty not as a result of their own doing. Thus, it can be very difficult for them to get themselves out of it on their own. By-in-large, this response does not tend to be very effective in overcoming poverty and its affects.

A second response to poverty has been to offer handouts. This is perhaps the most widely used strategy of the three. This strategy can be very affective for meeting the immediate need. If someone is hungry, let’s feed them now. If someone is about to have their electric, or water shut off because they cannot afford to pay the bill, let’s give them what they need. Thus, this method has immediate positive results.

In the Bible we do find a few of examples of handouts being given. First, there are the widows who met certain criteria that the Apostle Paul listed in 1 Timothy 5:3-16. If the family can provide for widows (over 60 years old 1 Tim. 5:9), they should do so (1 Tim. 5:4, 7-8). If there is no family to provide, then such older widows may be supported by the church as long as they are godly women who are devoted to actively serving Christ in the local body of believers (1 Tim. 5:10; Luke 2:36-38). If they are living for pleasure, then the church has no responsibility for them (1 Tim. 5:6). Widows under the age of 60 were not to be given handouts, but are to marry and be devoted to their families for support, so that they do not give Satan an occasion for reproach (1 Tim. 5:11-15).

A second possible instance of handouts being given relates to believers meeting other believers’ needs (Acts 2:44-45; Rom. 15:25-29).

And third is a means of service evangelism. In this example, Tabitha, the Christian who was giving to the poor, made it very clear why she was doing what she was; and as a result, she was able to lead many to the Lord (Acts 9:36-42). Historically, Christians have built many schools, hospitals, and orphanages that have successfully been able to serve the community as Tabitha did, meeting the eternal need through meeting the temporary need. However, in none of these examples do we find the church acting as a welfare agency, supporting those who are not serving or who should be carrying their own load, or serving those outside of the church without them clearly understanding their greater need for spiritual food (see https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-16-caring-widows-1-timothy-53-16).

The third response to overcoming poverty is the hand-up method. This is the old Chinese proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” This method seeks to overcome the issue of poverty at its root cause, and has the most Scriptural support of the three.

During the days of the book of Ruth, a famine plagued the land, leading to a desperate economic climate (1:1). In the midst of these economic trials, Ruth faced additional challenges: Her husband and father-in-law died in a male dominated society (1:3-5). Her mother-in-law could not contribute to their economic wellbeing (1:22). They moved to a foreign land where Ruth knew few people (1:22). In essence, Ruth’s safety net crumbled beneath her feet — not unlike many in our cities who resort to holding signs on street corners.

It is important to note that the factors which caused Ruth’s poverty were beyond her control, yet regardless of how one finds themselves in that situation, God provides means for overcoming the issues. God commanded His people to provide ways in which the poor could work to overcome their poverty, gleaning. Yet what is gleaning? In the Old Testament, God commanded the farmers to not harvest the parameter of their crops, and anything that would have naturally been dropped as they were harvesting, was to be left there in the field. These portions of their harvest were fair game for the poor (Lev. 19:9-10). 

Basically, you could say that the poor had to work for their food. They had to come behind the harvesters, and harvest what was left. In this, the poor had to learn work ethic; if you don’t work, you don’t eat. Hum, did you know that the Apostle Paul said the exact same thing in the New Testament? 2 Thessalonians 3:10 NLT says, “…we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” This was not included in Scripture to come across as unloving, rather it was the most loving thing that could be said. It is about seeing past the immediate need to see the big picture problem, solving poverty both spiritually and physically.

In Ruth’s case, after finding a means of providing for herself and her mother-in-law Naomi, Ruth worked hard (2:2, 7) and maintained a good reputation (3:11) to make the most of her opportunity. Thus, Ruth’s deliverance from material poverty was due in large part to wise stewardship of what God gave her. But Ruth’s faithfulness would not have had an opportunity to express itself without someone else — Boaz. Boaz knew what God’s Word taught and put it into practice, helping the poor. He encouraged Ruth to continue gleaning on his property (2:8-9, 2:15-16), he protected Ruth when she was vulnerable (2:8-9), he honored her for her integrity (2:10b-11) and he self-consciously acted as a conduit of grace by pointing her to God as her Ultimate Provider (2:11b-13). And thus, in a matter of time, Ruth’s struggles with poverty were alleviated for good. That’s God’s design for overcoming poverty.

With an understanding of these things and a great love for those living in poverty in our area, some of the people who actively help with our food pantry have approached our church leadership seeking to make changes. How is it that we can offer a hand-up instead of a handout? And how can we seek to address every person’s greatest need, namely their eternal destiny? For physical food has only temporary results, but spiritual food has eternal results. The answer to these concerns bring us back to the source of all true wisdom, God’s Word. God’s Word contains the wisdom to overcome financial struggles. And it contains the words of life (John 6:68). Thus, we must get people into God’s Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to make a lasting impact on their lives.

Therefore, those who help the most with the food pantry have asked that we make church attendance a requirement for at least the Sunday of our food pantry; which from now on will be the third Sunday of the month. 

In His service,

       Matt

Elder’s Corner: Ouch

A few days ago I apparently got a splinter in the palm of my hand. I didn't even notice when, where, or how it happened. Today I woke up with pain, redness, and puss surrounding the splinter. I got out the needle, knife, tweezers, and antibiotic and went to work. In no time I had the splinter out, antibiotic applied and a Band-Aid to keep infection out. It was only a minor thing when it started but turned into a “hurt” because I left it untreated. It reminded me of what sometimes happens in people, churches, families, and workplaces, when something small can turn into a big “hurt.”

God's word is full of ways to interact with people to prevent these feelings from happening. Consider a few verses: Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” When you start seeing what other people endure (walk a mile in their shoes), you will be better able to understand what may cause a reaction in them. Jesus was perfect at seeing “hurting” people and ministering to those needs. We need to learn to see the world through His eyes.

Matthew 7:12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Jesus knew if we “love others the way we love ourselves”, the world would be a better place. He also knew we might sometimes hurt others, I think this is why His forgiveness to us, and ours to others is such an important practice for Christians. Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” This is why I have had to seek out brothers and sisters that I have wronged and apologize for my actions. This verse reminds us of our flaws and failures but mostly it reminds us of His grace.

So if you want to be restored to fellowship with a dear friend take this time to practice God's perfect forgiveness. Or you could just not do anything and let that wound continue until your hand is so festered and infected like mine was, that it can never be restored to usefulness. I hope you choose “love.”   

—Alan

Your Life’s Story #4: Your Life’s Calling

 “Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work…” (Jer. 1:5 NCV).

Why do you exist? What is your God given calling? Ravi Zacharias said, “We all seek success, eager to grab whatever we can along the way. Just look at the sections in our bookstores that promote resources about motivation and career selection, and you’ll find all the advice you need on how to find that specific purpose for which you are distinctly wired.. However, accomplishments and dream careers do not necessarily lead to happiness. Making it to number one really means knowing where God wants you to be and serving Him there with your best efforts. The goal then, is to find the threads God has in place for you and to follow His plan for you with excellence” (The Grand Weaver, pgs. 54-55).

Deep down inside of every person are the seeds of greatness, as we all have been made in the image of our Creator God. He formed us, each of us, uniquely for a special purpose. According to the Bible, there are five purposes for our lives: worship (Rom. 11:36), discipleship (Rom. 8:29), fellowship (Phil. 2:1-4), service (Eph. 2:10), and evangelism (2 Cor. 5:20). God’s special calling for our lives will relate to these five purposes and how He has uniquely shaped us to make a difference in our world.

As Christians, God has blessed us with Spiritual gifts. Everyone has a Heart for certain things and people. We all have God given Abilities and Personalities. And we all have gone through numerous Experiences to S.H.A.P.E. us into the person that God created us to be so that we might fulfill our God given calling. A calling is simply God’s shaping of your life to serve Him through serving others.

What spiritual gifts has God blessed you with? What do you have a heart for? Or asked another way, if you could spend the rest of your life doing one thing or fixing one problem in our world today, what would it be? What abilities has God given you? What is your personality type? And what life experiences, good and bad have you gone through? As you consider your S.H.A.P.E. in relation to your God given purposes, this will reveal your life’s calling.

It is only through fulfilling your life’s calling will you be able to find true joy, peace, satisfaction, and fulfillment in life. Thus, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on your own life. Pray diligently seeking God’s direction. And then respond. Often God’s assurance that we are headed in the right direction comes after we set out on the journey that you were created to live. So may God bless you as you answer your life’s calling!

In His service,

      Matt