Online - http://www.lexpbc.org/
Q: I have been studying Romans 3:22 for a number of weeks, off and on, trying to settle on an answer. I have not had any insight as of yet. My brother is a universalist and this is his crutch verse that all will be saved. The part of the verse is the two “all's” worded "...unto all and upon all them that believe:...". Your thoughts please.
A: The "But now" in the previous verse (v. 21) signals a contrast to those who attempt to be made righteous by keeping the law. It suggests that since Christ came and died, God has "manifested" (this is a key word) his way of making sinners righteous.
If you connect this verse with Rom 1:17, you will note that Paul understands the Gospel of Christ to be the means by which God "reveals" or "manifests" his way of making sinners righteous, i.e. through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. God's "revelation" was restricted to the Jewish people under the Old Covenant, "BUT NOW" it is opened up "UNTO ALL
AND UPON ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE, FOR THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE".
The former distinctions between Jew/Gentile are now obsolete. Since God has a people among the Gentiles as well as among the Jews, He has been pleased to make the revelation of redemption known to them as well. In this, the initial promise to Abraham that "In thee shall ALL THE NATIONS [note: not just his own natural descendants] be blessed" is fulfilled (cf. Rom. 4:2ff; Gal. 3).
In other words, the Abrahamic Covenant was intended to be international in scope. When one distinguishes between the FACT of redemption and the REVELATION or manifestation of redemption, as between the objective reality and the subjective awareness, it becomes clear why Paul finds it necessary to emphasize that the former class distinctions between people no longer, i.e.
since Christ, exist. All believers in Jesus Christ, not just Abraham's physical descendants, regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or gender, may rejoice in the good news that God has made His people righteous by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. So, the passage is not talking about the objective fact of eternal salvation, but the subjective manifestation of that fact in the gospel – a gospel that is available to “all”
God’s children, regardless of their ethnicity. It's not an easy passage, but it is important to grasp the central theme. I hope my ramblings help a little. God bless.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Misusing verse for their own purposes
The verse below has been used by those who claim “Christ died for all men—believers as well as those who reject him forever” by insisting that the verse indicates Christ died to buy (bought) everlasting life even for false prophets and teachers. Is that really what it means? Not so said Herman Hoeksema as he answered the question before going onto his reward.
Denying The Lord That Bought Them Question — From a reader in Jenison, Michigan I received the following question:"I have a problem understanding II Peter 2:1 in the light of sovereign election.
The text is: 'But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.' "It would seem that those who 'even deny the Lord that bought them . . .' cannot have been bought in the first place, since they are false teachers or hypocrites. Please explain."
Reply — My questioner is basically correct when he views his problem in the light of sovereign election. More specifically, of course, the question comes down to this: does this passage teach a falling away of the saints, that is, a falling away of those whom Christ bought by His atoning death? But basically it is a question of sovereign election: for Christ died for those given unto Him by sovereign election. Hence, ultimately the question becomes: can God's election be rendered ineffectual?
And my questioner recognizes that the latter is impossible, in the light of Scripture. Hence, how must this passage be explained? There are two possible explanations. 1) We may follow the rendering of the King James Version, and then, as my questioner suggests, the explanation lies in the fact that these false teachers are hypocrites. That is, they are outwardly and according to their profession members of the church. They are of those who profess with the mouth that the Lord bought them, that is, atoned for them. But in process of time they become manifest as false teachers, who then deny the very Lord Whom they once professed to be the Lord Who bought them. They never had been bought by the Lord: for as Canons V, 8 puts it, "the merit, intercession, and preservation of Christ cannot be rendered ineffectual." But they once professed to be Christians, to have been bought by the Lord; and later they deny by their heresies that very Lord. If we adopt this explanation, then the text says nothing as to the specific nature of their heresy, except that it is a denial of the Lord.
2) It is also possible to read the text as follows: ". . . even denying the-having-bought-them-Lord." Or: " . . . even denying that the Lord bought them." In that case, the text purposes to specify the extent of the damnable heresies of these false teachers. They even deny that the Lord bought them, deny the atonement. Then these false teachers are pictured as teaching a salvation by works, rather than by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Personally, I am inclined toward this interpretation for various reasons. But whatever explanation is adopted, it must certainly be emphasized that this passage does not teach a falling away of the saints, that is, of the elect.
--(the late, great) Herman Hoeksema, Protestant Reformed Christian Church
Denying The Lord That Bought Them Question — From a reader in Jenison, Michigan I received the following question:"I have a problem understanding II Peter 2:1 in the light of sovereign election.
The text is: 'But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.' "It would seem that those who 'even deny the Lord that bought them . . .' cannot have been bought in the first place, since they are false teachers or hypocrites. Please explain."
Reply — My questioner is basically correct when he views his problem in the light of sovereign election. More specifically, of course, the question comes down to this: does this passage teach a falling away of the saints, that is, a falling away of those whom Christ bought by His atoning death? But basically it is a question of sovereign election: for Christ died for those given unto Him by sovereign election. Hence, ultimately the question becomes: can God's election be rendered ineffectual?
And my questioner recognizes that the latter is impossible, in the light of Scripture. Hence, how must this passage be explained? There are two possible explanations. 1) We may follow the rendering of the King James Version, and then, as my questioner suggests, the explanation lies in the fact that these false teachers are hypocrites. That is, they are outwardly and according to their profession members of the church. They are of those who profess with the mouth that the Lord bought them, that is, atoned for them. But in process of time they become manifest as false teachers, who then deny the very Lord Whom they once professed to be the Lord Who bought them. They never had been bought by the Lord: for as Canons V, 8 puts it, "the merit, intercession, and preservation of Christ cannot be rendered ineffectual." But they once professed to be Christians, to have been bought by the Lord; and later they deny by their heresies that very Lord. If we adopt this explanation, then the text says nothing as to the specific nature of their heresy, except that it is a denial of the Lord.
2) It is also possible to read the text as follows: ". . . even denying the-having-bought-them-Lord." Or: " . . . even denying that the Lord bought them." In that case, the text purposes to specify the extent of the damnable heresies of these false teachers. They even deny that the Lord bought them, deny the atonement. Then these false teachers are pictured as teaching a salvation by works, rather than by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Personally, I am inclined toward this interpretation for various reasons. But whatever explanation is adopted, it must certainly be emphasized that this passage does not teach a falling away of the saints, that is, of the elect.
--(the late, great) Herman Hoeksema, Protestant Reformed Christian Church
Monday, July 27, 2009
Example of Christian legalism
The story below is an example of how some Christians can twist the concept of "perseverance" into using the ten commandments as a "rule of life" that appears to put them right back under the law after claiming to be saved by grace.
This is too often found among the reformed.
Paul teaches us that Christians who insist on requiring such "works" of the law as circumcision are denying the one saving work of Christ. "Behold, I Paul say unto you that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Galatians 5:2.
The Scottish folk in the story below don't believe they are saved by observing what they see as the "Christian Sabbath," however that observation has become so much a tradition that they are insisting everyone respect and observe it. They themselves have become so like the pharisees that any witness to Christ their Sabbath observance was supposed to be has failed miserably as they try to force it on others.
Scottish island's sacred Sunday under threat
July 18th, 2009 @ 11:38am
By BEN McCONVILLE Associated Press Writer
ULLAPOOL, Scotland (AP) - An unholy row has broken out over a ferry company's decision to sail on Sunday between a remote Scottish island and the mainland.
Residents on the Isle of Lewis who keep a strict Sabbath _ no television, no housework, no shopping _ are angry that the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry company is to start running services between Stornoway, the island's capital, and Ullapool on the Scottish mainland.
The company, known as CalMac, says it has no choice because not to run the service would potentially put it in breach of European laws on equality. Presbyterian residents on the predominantly Gaelic-speaking island say the service is threatening both their faith and their lifestyle.
"This is an affront to the wishes and religious beliefs of the people of the island and CalMac has run roughshod over us," said John Roberts, spokesman for the Lord's Day Observance Society.
"The Sunday ferry service is a direct threat to this way of life which stands for Christian beliefs, the Bible and the word of God. We'll end up with Sundays like they are in the rest of the U.K. or the U.S. where it is just, go to church on Sunday morning and the rest of the day is yours."....
On the Net:
CalMac, http://www.calmac.co.uk/lewis
Lochbroom Free Church, http://www.lochbroomfreechurch.co.uk/
This is too often found among the reformed.
Paul teaches us that Christians who insist on requiring such "works" of the law as circumcision are denying the one saving work of Christ. "Behold, I Paul say unto you that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Galatians 5:2.
The Scottish folk in the story below don't believe they are saved by observing what they see as the "Christian Sabbath," however that observation has become so much a tradition that they are insisting everyone respect and observe it. They themselves have become so like the pharisees that any witness to Christ their Sabbath observance was supposed to be has failed miserably as they try to force it on others.
Scottish island's sacred Sunday under threat
July 18th, 2009 @ 11:38am
By BEN McCONVILLE Associated Press Writer
ULLAPOOL, Scotland (AP) - An unholy row has broken out over a ferry company's decision to sail on Sunday between a remote Scottish island and the mainland.
Residents on the Isle of Lewis who keep a strict Sabbath _ no television, no housework, no shopping _ are angry that the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry company is to start running services between Stornoway, the island's capital, and Ullapool on the Scottish mainland.
The company, known as CalMac, says it has no choice because not to run the service would potentially put it in breach of European laws on equality. Presbyterian residents on the predominantly Gaelic-speaking island say the service is threatening both their faith and their lifestyle.
"This is an affront to the wishes and religious beliefs of the people of the island and CalMac has run roughshod over us," said John Roberts, spokesman for the Lord's Day Observance Society.
"The Sunday ferry service is a direct threat to this way of life which stands for Christian beliefs, the Bible and the word of God. We'll end up with Sundays like they are in the rest of the U.K. or the U.S. where it is just, go to church on Sunday morning and the rest of the day is yours."....
On the Net:
CalMac, http://www.calmac.co.uk/lewis
Lochbroom Free Church, http://www.lochbroomfreechurch.co.uk/
Friday, July 24, 2009
About predestination in the Bible -
an excerpt from "A Cry for Help" by C.C. Morris with the Primitive Baptist Church --absolute predestinarian. For full essay, go to http://www.the-remnant.com/articles.htm
"...Then, after floundering around in spiritual waters far too deep for him, the young writer finally cries out for help: "Where is it taught that God has predestinated anyone to hell? Or that He has predestinated all things good and evil that comes to pass?" At last, luckily for him, we can welcome the opportunity to help him.
As for his former question, "Where is it taught that God has predestinated anyone to hell?" We suggest he might start with 1 Peter 2.8: "...a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." While there, he might answer this: When did God appoint them to stumbling disobedience, if not by eternal predestination?
He might then try, "But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption (2 Peter 2.12)," and while there he should answer: When did God determine He would make them to be taken and destroyed? In time, or by eternal decree?
Next, he might try, "...there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 4)," and answ er: Is not being "before of old ordained to this condemnation" the same as being predestinated to hell?
And after that, he might try this text: "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2.11-12)." If he does, we'd like to hear his answer to this question: When did God determine He would send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie and all be damned? Lately? Or was it eternally predestinated?
And he might try these texts: "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated...Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth...Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour (Romans 9.13, 18, 21)?" Just exactly when did God determine He would hate Esau, harden Pharaoh, and make others vessels unto dishonour—was it in time, or in His eternal counsel and by His decree of predestination?
As for his latter question, "[Where is it taught] that He has predestinated all things good and evil that comes [sic] to pass?" (Since the young writer was so good to share his knowledge of the Greek with us, perhaps we can bear with his faulty English.)
May we suggest he might find an answer to this question in such passages as, "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good (Lamentations 3.37-38)?" "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? (Amos 3.6)" "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good...(Genesis 50.20)." "And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel (Ezekiel 14.9)." "The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly (Job 12.6)." "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things (Isaiah 45.7)." "The Lord hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil (Proverbs 16.4)."
The young Conditionalist might compare "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord (Proverbs 16.1)" with the Psalmist's prayer, "Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity...(Psalm 141.4)."
And he might compare "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Matthew 6.13)" with "Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matthew 4 .1)." By whose Spirit was Jesus led?
And he might ponder, "Remember the former things of old: for I am God and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure (Isaiah 46.9-10)." In his miasmatic meditations he might answer whether or not this text includes the evil things that were not yet done. It is important that he should answer this question, since God and Isaiah did not qualify that phrase with words like "good" or "evil."
Then, when he has done that, he might think upon this: "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand." Has the young Conditionalist considered that, by observing whatever comes to pass, one can see what God has eternally thought?
Before he is done with our help, the lucky young writer should address at least two more scriptures: "...For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back (Isaiah 14.24-27)?" And, "...being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1.11)." ...
"...Then, after floundering around in spiritual waters far too deep for him, the young writer finally cries out for help: "Where is it taught that God has predestinated anyone to hell? Or that He has predestinated all things good and evil that comes to pass?" At last, luckily for him, we can welcome the opportunity to help him.
As for his former question, "Where is it taught that God has predestinated anyone to hell?" We suggest he might start with 1 Peter 2.8: "...a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." While there, he might answer this: When did God appoint them to stumbling disobedience, if not by eternal predestination?
He might then try, "But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption (2 Peter 2.12)," and while there he should answer: When did God determine He would make them to be taken and destroyed? In time, or by eternal decree?
Next, he might try, "...there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 4)," and answ er: Is not being "before of old ordained to this condemnation" the same as being predestinated to hell?
And after that, he might try this text: "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2.11-12)." If he does, we'd like to hear his answer to this question: When did God determine He would send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie and all be damned? Lately? Or was it eternally predestinated?
And he might try these texts: "As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated...Therefore hath He mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will He hardeneth...Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour (Romans 9.13, 18, 21)?" Just exactly when did God determine He would hate Esau, harden Pharaoh, and make others vessels unto dishonour—was it in time, or in His eternal counsel and by His decree of predestination?
As for his latter question, "[Where is it taught] that He has predestinated all things good and evil that comes [sic] to pass?" (Since the young writer was so good to share his knowledge of the Greek with us, perhaps we can bear with his faulty English.)
May we suggest he might find an answer to this question in such passages as, "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good (Lamentations 3.37-38)?" "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? (Amos 3.6)" "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good...(Genesis 50.20)." "And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel (Ezekiel 14.9)." "The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly (Job 12.6)." "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things (Isaiah 45.7)." "The Lord hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil (Proverbs 16.4)."
The young Conditionalist might compare "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord (Proverbs 16.1)" with the Psalmist's prayer, "Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity...(Psalm 141.4)."
And he might compare "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Matthew 6.13)" with "Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matthew 4 .1)." By whose Spirit was Jesus led?
And he might ponder, "Remember the former things of old: for I am God and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure (Isaiah 46.9-10)." In his miasmatic meditations he might answer whether or not this text includes the evil things that were not yet done. It is important that he should answer this question, since God and Isaiah did not qualify that phrase with words like "good" or "evil."
Then, when he has done that, he might think upon this: "The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand." Has the young Conditionalist considered that, by observing whatever comes to pass, one can see what God has eternally thought?
Before he is done with our help, the lucky young writer should address at least two more scriptures: "...For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back (Isaiah 14.24-27)?" And, "...being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1.11)." ...
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
How then should we live?
From a chapter in "Pauline Dispensationalism" by Miles Stanford found at http://www.withchrist.org/
FURTHER POSITIONAL HISTORY -- Positionally freed from the Adamic life through my death unto sin in the Lord Jesus, the Father was at liberty to identify the essential me with His Son, and in His resurrection I was recreated alive unto the Father in Him. When He arose, as "the beginning of the [new] creation of God" (Rev. 3:14), I arose with Him in "newness of life"--a totally new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
When the Lord Jesus, now Head of the new creation, the Church, ascended to the right hand of His Father, He took me with Him. The Father, having re-created me in His Son, raised me up and made me sit together in heavenly places in Him. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). Abide above!
I was positionally separated by death via the Cross from the first Adam, to be recreated in union with the Last=2 0Adam in His resurrection and ascension. Old Adamic things positionally passed away in the death of Calvary. In my condition, they are (slowly) passing away as I grow spiritually. Actually, finally, they will totally and eternally pass away at my death or at the Rapture--whichever comes first. "Even so, come Lord Jesus"!
There I am in my glorious position, "hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). In the Lord Jesus, I am accepted in the Beloved, complete in Him, entirely sanctified in Him, perfect in Him. With that position, who can question his unconditional, eternal security?!
All of that, and much more, has been held in spiritual escrow for me ever since the One who is my Life ascended to the right hand of the Father. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).
All had to be completed positionally before a single Christian and the Church could come into being, because Christianity is founded upon and springs from the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. "And ye are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power" (Col. 2:10).
THE CONDITION FACTOR -- Born into the world in the life and image of the first Adam, I grew up a condemned sinner, "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1). In His foreordained time and purpose the Father called me, and by His grace and the Spirit's conviction of sin, I responded in unconditional faith--responsibly accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as my own Saviour.
At that moment the Holy Spirit, by His indweliing, brought me the life of the ascended Lord Jesus Christ to be my Christian life. Then and there I was placed in my position as a new creation in the Last Adam. Nevertheless, Adamic life and nature continued to indwell my body of mortal flesh.
In the Spirit's time I came to realize the positional truths in the Word concerning me--from Romans 5:12 on throughout Paul’s Church Epistles. I saw that I had judicially died unto sin at the Cross, crucified with the Lord Jesus (Gal. 2:20).
In time, and plenty of that, I learned via Romans Seven not to struggle against the fleshly life of Adam within, but to count by faith upon the positional truth of the finished work of the Cross. "For in that He died, He died unto sin once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to have died indeed unto sin, but to be alive unto God in Jesus C hrist our Lord" (Rom. 6:10,11).
As I reckon my new self positionally dead unto sin, the Holy Spirit progressively applies that finished position to my growing condition. I experience, step by step, the freedom from the power and reign of indwelling Adamic sin that was wrought on Calvary. My condition begins to conform to its source, my position in Christ.
Likewise, reckoning upon my position as "alive unto God in Christ Jesus," the Holy Spirit centers my heart and mind upon the One who is my Christian Life. As I behold Him by means of the Word, in personal fellowship and worship, the Spirit of Christ develops that completed life to manifest the "fruit of the Spirit." With ever increasing growth I am slowly conformed to the image of the Son.
"But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18)
(The following is specific to Mile's dispensational beliefs...)
At the Rapture I will receive my renewed body, like unto His glorious body. Then, and not until then, my body of mortal flesh will be instantly transformed into my spiritual body. The old Adamic man will finally be eradicated, and I will be in eternal condition what has been my position ever since my death and resurrection in Him at Calvary--yes, ever since my Father formed me in His heart in eternity past.
The question remains: what of these great liberating positional truths have you learned from the Church--whether it be through your local Bible church, or elsewhere?
From nearly fifty years of close observation, I would say that your chances are just about one in a thousand. If the leadership in the sound Church realized who and where they are in the glorified Lord Jesus Christ, would they stop at Romans 5:11, unable to really enter into Romans 5:12 and beyond? Would they be OT- and Synoptics-oriented, holding the Church to the earthly level of Israel and her law?
Would they substitute the synoptic "Gospel of the kingdom" for Paul's exclusive "glorious Gospel"? Would they subject members of the heavenly Body of the glorified Lord Jesus Christ to Israel's earthly New Covenant, or her Mosaic and Kingdom law system--that to which the Christian has died? "For through the Law I died to the Law, that I might live to God" (Gal. 2:19).
This is the present-day tragedy of the Church, settled in the great black hole between Romans 5:11, and 12.
"If [since] ye, then, be risen with Christ, seek those things above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set you affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:1-3).
FURTHER POSITIONAL HISTORY -- Positionally freed from the Adamic life through my death unto sin in the Lord Jesus, the Father was at liberty to identify the essential me with His Son, and in His resurrection I was recreated alive unto the Father in Him. When He arose, as "the beginning of the [new] creation of God" (Rev. 3:14), I arose with Him in "newness of life"--a totally new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
When the Lord Jesus, now Head of the new creation, the Church, ascended to the right hand of His Father, He took me with Him. The Father, having re-created me in His Son, raised me up and made me sit together in heavenly places in Him. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). Abide above!
I was positionally separated by death via the Cross from the first Adam, to be recreated in union with the Last=2 0Adam in His resurrection and ascension. Old Adamic things positionally passed away in the death of Calvary. In my condition, they are (slowly) passing away as I grow spiritually. Actually, finally, they will totally and eternally pass away at my death or at the Rapture--whichever comes first. "Even so, come Lord Jesus"!
There I am in my glorious position, "hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). In the Lord Jesus, I am accepted in the Beloved, complete in Him, entirely sanctified in Him, perfect in Him. With that position, who can question his unconditional, eternal security?!
All of that, and much more, has been held in spiritual escrow for me ever since the One who is my Life ascended to the right hand of the Father. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 1:3).
All had to be completed positionally before a single Christian and the Church could come into being, because Christianity is founded upon and springs from the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. "And ye are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power" (Col. 2:10).
THE CONDITION FACTOR -- Born into the world in the life and image of the first Adam, I grew up a condemned sinner, "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1). In His foreordained time and purpose the Father called me, and by His grace and the Spirit's conviction of sin, I responded in unconditional faith--responsibly accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as my own Saviour.
At that moment the Holy Spirit, by His indweliing, brought me the life of the ascended Lord Jesus Christ to be my Christian life. Then and there I was placed in my position as a new creation in the Last Adam. Nevertheless, Adamic life and nature continued to indwell my body of mortal flesh.
In the Spirit's time I came to realize the positional truths in the Word concerning me--from Romans 5:12 on throughout Paul’s Church Epistles. I saw that I had judicially died unto sin at the Cross, crucified with the Lord Jesus (Gal. 2:20).
In time, and plenty of that, I learned via Romans Seven not to struggle against the fleshly life of Adam within, but to count by faith upon the positional truth of the finished work of the Cross. "For in that He died, He died unto sin once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God. Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to have died indeed unto sin, but to be alive unto God in Jesus C hrist our Lord" (Rom. 6:10,11).
As I reckon my new self positionally dead unto sin, the Holy Spirit progressively applies that finished position to my growing condition. I experience, step by step, the freedom from the power and reign of indwelling Adamic sin that was wrought on Calvary. My condition begins to conform to its source, my position in Christ.
Likewise, reckoning upon my position as "alive unto God in Christ Jesus," the Holy Spirit centers my heart and mind upon the One who is my Christian Life. As I behold Him by means of the Word, in personal fellowship and worship, the Spirit of Christ develops that completed life to manifest the "fruit of the Spirit." With ever increasing growth I am slowly conformed to the image of the Son.
"But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18)
(The following is specific to Mile's dispensational beliefs...)
At the Rapture I will receive my renewed body, like unto His glorious body. Then, and not until then, my body of mortal flesh will be instantly transformed into my spiritual body. The old Adamic man will finally be eradicated, and I will be in eternal condition what has been my position ever since my death and resurrection in Him at Calvary--yes, ever since my Father formed me in His heart in eternity past.
The question remains: what of these great liberating positional truths have you learned from the Church--whether it be through your local Bible church, or elsewhere?
From nearly fifty years of close observation, I would say that your chances are just about one in a thousand. If the leadership in the sound Church realized who and where they are in the glorified Lord Jesus Christ, would they stop at Romans 5:11, unable to really enter into Romans 5:12 and beyond? Would they be OT- and Synoptics-oriented, holding the Church to the earthly level of Israel and her law?
Would they substitute the synoptic "Gospel of the kingdom" for Paul's exclusive "glorious Gospel"? Would they subject members of the heavenly Body of the glorified Lord Jesus Christ to Israel's earthly New Covenant, or her Mosaic and Kingdom law system--that to which the Christian has died? "For through the Law I died to the Law, that I might live to God" (Gal. 2:19).
This is the present-day tragedy of the Church, settled in the great black hole between Romans 5:11, and 12.
"If [since] ye, then, be risen with Christ, seek those things above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set you affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:1-3).
Monday, July 20, 2009
American Catholic split identified in NCR
While describing some of the aspects of the pope’s recent encyclical, John Allen Jr. with the National Catholic Reporter offered the following on what constitutes the current divide among Roman Catholics is America:
“…Statements of principle, however, often fail to account for the gap between what we say and what we do. In that sense, Caritas in Veritate amounts to a direct challenge to the sociology of American Catholicism.
"Both at the grass roots and among the chattering classes, the American church is often described as split between its pro-lifers and its peace-and-justice contingent. More accurately, it's divided between those who see Catholic teaching as a useful tool to support their partisan preferences, whatever they may be, and those for whom the faith comes first and secular politics second.
…. (As a footnote, if I had the authority to decree a reading assignment for every Catholic in America, it would be Bill Bishop's 2008 book The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart. His observations about broad trends in American society can be applied almost point-for-point to the internal life of the church.)
"Thus the question implicitly posed by Benedict's encyclical: Can the church in this country develop a new way of "breathing with both lungs," bringing its pro-life and peace-and-justice energies into greater alignment? Or are we fated to continue the present pattern of "Big Sort Catholicism"? ...
(Blogmaster's note:) We are headed for :"Big Sort Catholicism" that Allen didn't come near touching by identifying "pro-lifers vs. peace and justice contingent." The National Catholic Reporter, which clearly represents the so-called "peace and justice contingent," (cafeteria Catholics--pick and choose your doctrine) pulled out all the stops for Obama to insist that people can be proabortion and remain Roman Catholic. What baloney.
They don't want to know what the Bible says about abortion either. I side with the prolifers on this one (although I am no longer a Roman Catholic myself) and I know why the traditonal and sedevacanists Catholics are growing and will continue to grow. They realize that once you concede that murder is permissible at any level of life, it is permissible at all levels of life from infants to the elderly. Aside from belief in the true Gospel that Christ fully won (secured) the salvation of all who believe in him (which most Roman Catholics refuse to believe)...there is no issue more important than respect for life at all levels.
“…Statements of principle, however, often fail to account for the gap between what we say and what we do. In that sense, Caritas in Veritate amounts to a direct challenge to the sociology of American Catholicism.
"Both at the grass roots and among the chattering classes, the American church is often described as split between its pro-lifers and its peace-and-justice contingent. More accurately, it's divided between those who see Catholic teaching as a useful tool to support their partisan preferences, whatever they may be, and those for whom the faith comes first and secular politics second.
…. (As a footnote, if I had the authority to decree a reading assignment for every Catholic in America, it would be Bill Bishop's 2008 book The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing Us Apart. His observations about broad trends in American society can be applied almost point-for-point to the internal life of the church.)
"Thus the question implicitly posed by Benedict's encyclical: Can the church in this country develop a new way of "breathing with both lungs," bringing its pro-life and peace-and-justice energies into greater alignment? Or are we fated to continue the present pattern of "Big Sort Catholicism"? ...
(Blogmaster's note:) We are headed for :"Big Sort Catholicism" that Allen didn't come near touching by identifying "pro-lifers vs. peace and justice contingent." The National Catholic Reporter, which clearly represents the so-called "peace and justice contingent," (cafeteria Catholics--pick and choose your doctrine) pulled out all the stops for Obama to insist that people can be proabortion and remain Roman Catholic. What baloney.
They don't want to know what the Bible says about abortion either. I side with the prolifers on this one (although I am no longer a Roman Catholic myself) and I know why the traditonal and sedevacanists Catholics are growing and will continue to grow. They realize that once you concede that murder is permissible at any level of life, it is permissible at all levels of life from infants to the elderly. Aside from belief in the true Gospel that Christ fully won (secured) the salvation of all who believe in him (which most Roman Catholics refuse to believe)...there is no issue more important than respect for life at all levels.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
From today's first reading
I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing, says the LORD. Jeremiah 23:6
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