The Bible lays down guidelines for a Christian response to unjust governments.
Obey Its Laws under God
The first and foremost responsibility a Christian has to any government, just or unjust, democracy or monarchy, is to obey its laws (Romans 13:1, Titus 3:1). Peter wrote, "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men" (1 Peter 2:13, NIV). For "it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men" (v15). Civil disobedience is a bad testimony for a follower of Christ. Christians should be known as law-abiding citizens, not rebels. The best way to effect lasting change in an unjust government is by being a spiritual example, not by revolution. Only when it takes the place of God should we refuse to obey government, and even then we should not revolt against it.
Pray for Oppressive Governments
Paul urged Christians that "entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NASB). One of the most effective ways to change an unjust government is to pray for it. Prayer is the slender nerve by which the muscles of omnipotence are moved. God heard the cries of his oppressed people in times past (Exodus 2:23) and he will hear and answer them again today.
Work Peacefully and Legally to Change It
Politically, there was very little Christians could do to change the Roman government in the New Testament. That is not true for most Christians in the West today. We can not only pray for Caesar, but we can elect him. We can not only resist political evil, but we are free to do political good. And, as James said, "to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17, NASB). Therefore, to quote Paul, "as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10, NKJV). We should fight oppression in our government with the ballot, not the bullet. It should be resisted with good, not with guns.
Disobey Oppressive Commands
As was previously noted, Christians can do something else about oppressive commands - they can disobey them.* No human can compel us to disobey God. He is the highest authority, and his Word alone binds our conscience absolutely. This kind of biblical and courageous refusal to do evil will itself have a good effect on evil government. The kings of Babylon were significantly affected by the courageous disobedience of both Daniel and the three Hebrew children (Daniel 3, 6).
*We should legally protest unjust laws, but we should not disobey them. It is one thing for a government to allow others to do evil, but it is another thing for it to force an individual to do evil. Only in the latter case is civil disobedience justified.
Furthermore, there is a right way and a wrong way to disobey and oppressive government when it compels us to do evil. The biblical pattern is to refuse to obey its compulsive commands, but not to revolt against it.
Flee Oppressive Governments
Christians do not need to be passive targets of tyranny. We need not be dart boards for despots. When oppressed we should flee to freedom. The prophets fled from Jezebel (1 Kings 18), Israel fled from Egypt (Exodus 12), and even Jesus' family fled from Herod (Matthew 2). So while not using force against unjust governments, we should at least flee their force against us.
Patiently Endure Suffering
Admittedly, fleeing is not always possible, or successful. Sometimes Christians must suffer patiently for Christ's sake. Peter wrote, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation" (1 Peter 4:12-13, NASB). Sometimes we must simply suffer oppression for Christ, or even martyrdom. John said, "if anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go... This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints" (Revelation 13:10, NIV).
- Norman L. Geisler, Christian Ethics
Monday 28 April 2008
Friday 25 April 2008
a new heaven and a new earth
i've been exploring n.t. wright's "revisionist" theology since caleb first introduced it to me at new word alive, and i must say it makes perfect sense. while piper and wright are currently debating the future of justification (in a very gracious manner, i should add), i think they're simply seeing different sides of the same coin. from a third party perspective, reading/listening to the bishop of durham goes down well with the american fare served up by carson, piper and macarthur. now that's what you call a balanced diet.
in a nov 07 interview with trevin wax, wright makes a number of highly interesting remarks.
on penal substitution
So I come back to it and I say, as I understand Jesus and his mindset as he goes to the cross, I believe that he was aware as a deep vocational calling from the One he called Abba Father, that he had to be the one through whom the whole agenda of Isaiah 40-55 (which is a kingdom agenda) would come to pass.
Isaiah 53 (“pierced for our transgressions” and so on) is the means by which Isaiah 52:7-12 is accomplished. Isaiah 52:7-12 is about the defeat of evil, the return of YHWH to Zion and the exiles being set free. And the result of Isaiah 53 is the renewal of covenant in Isaiah 54 and the renewal of creation in Isaiah 55 and the invitation to the whole world to join in.
If you expound Isaiah 53 so that it isn’t about the kingdom, it isn’t about covenant renewal, it isn’t about the renewal of creation, then you have simply taken a little bit of Scripture to suit a scheme of your own, rather than the great Scriptural scheme. Jesus didn’t do that. You can see he’s got the whole agenda present to his mind.
So we have to understand the doctrine of penal substitution within the Scriptural framework, within which it makes sense, rather than within this very low grade thing that I’ve been a naughty boy, God wants to punish me, and for some reason, he punishes someone else, so phew! I’m alright. OK. For a five-year-old, that’s fine. That’ll maybe do it. But, actually let’s grow up! We’re not talking about five-year-olds here; we’re talking about grown men and women who ought to know better, to be honest.
on the resurrection
Let me put it like this. For many, many Christians, and I’ve heard these sermons down the years, the significance of the resurrection appears to be that there really is a life after death and that if you believe in Jesus you can go there too. Now that is simply not what the Easter narratives are about.
You’ve put it like this. In the New Testament outside the Gospels and the beginning of Acts, again and again, the fact of Jesus’ resurrection is closely linked to our own ultimate resurrection, which isn’t life after death – it’s life after life after death. Whatever life after death is, being with Christ which is far better, being in Paradise like the thief, etc, the many rooms where we go immediately… that is the temporary place. The ultimate life after life after death is the resurrection in God’s new world.
But then, in the Gospels you don’t get that yet. In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and the beginning of Acts, nobody is saying, “Jesus is raised from the dead! Therefore there is a life after death. Therefore we’re going there.” They say, “Jesus is raised from the dead… Therefore, he really is the Messiah… Therefore, he really is the Lord of the world… Therefore God’s new creation has begun… And therefore, we have a job to do!” It’s what John 20-21 are all about. It’s what Luke 24 is all about. It’s this astonishment. The stuff has happened! And that means, we’ve got to take this message out and make it happen out in the world.
It’s about new creation, in other words. It’s about Jesus’ bodily resurrection as the beginning of the recreation of the cosmos. That is so stunning!
The joke is, this has been in Scripture all these years. Why haven’t we seen it? The answer is, we really thought the only real story was how do you get to heaven?. Because that’s what the Sistine Chapel told us, and that’s what Dante told us, and that’s what even Bunyan (bless him) told us, and so we’ve forced the stories into our story.
Here’s the trick. Often people see doctrines as a checklist. Here are the following nineteen truths which you’ve got to believe to be a good sound Christian. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, and phew! There we are!… without realizing that actually doctrines mean what they mean within a Story, and it’s possible to check all the boxes, but to construct a different narrative which joins them up differently and thereby, even though you are affirming them, you are thereby falsifying what they mean in Scripture. No Christian tradition that I know is exempt from that, including my own.
what does it really mean to have our citizenship in heaven?
after reading the interview, Philippians 3:20-21 came to my mind and i was moved to look it up. the NIV is slightly misleading because it seems to suggest that we [on earth] eagerly await a Saviour [from heaven].
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." - Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)
if we are merely on earth and Christ is in heaven, how can we be in Christ? we can't.
in contrast, the ESV, NASB, NKJV and KJV all make it clear that from heaven (which is where we are) we eagerly await a Saviour. it is not we [on earth] who eagerly await a Saviour. rather, it is we [in heaven] who eagerly await a Saviour.
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." - Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV)
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." - Philippians 3:20-21 (NASB)
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." - Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." - Philippians 3:20-21 (KJV)
even as we remain on earth (that is, the first earth - which is expiring), we are in heaven (that is, the first heaven - which is expiring) because we are in Christ. to have our citizenship in heaven does not mean that we are only going to be united with Christ in the future. to have our citizenship in heaven means that we are already united with Christ in the present - and that this will continue into the future.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
note: the first heaven is expiring in the sense that our relationship with Christ in a fallen world is expiring. however, this does not mean that our relationship with Christ per se is expiring. indeed, our relationship with Christ per se never expires.
the first heaven is our relationship with Christ in a fallen world, and the new heaven is our relationship with Christ in a new world. to this end, the first heaven (corresponding to a fallen world) is expiring, giving way to the new heaven (corresponding to a new world).
*****
1. first creation
a) paradise
b) first heaven, first earth
c) man is good, but can do bad
2. fall
a) paradise lost
b) first heaven lost, first earth lost
c) man is bad and cannot do good
3. redemption
a) paradise redeemed (but expiring)
b) first heaven redeemed (but expiring), first earth redeemed (but expiring)
c) man is bad, but can do good in Christ
4. new creation
a) paradise renewed
b) new heaven, new earth
c) man is good in Christ and cannot do bad
Tuesday 22 April 2008
grace and faith
to pick up from where the doctrine of election left off, the dynamic of grace and faith mirrors the dynamic of divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
as divine sovereignty is irresistibly being proven right by human responsibility as history unfolds and the will of God from all eternity reveals itself in the present, through the choices we make, so the effecting of grace is irresistibly being proven right by the exercising of faith.
justification
God (from a divine perspective) effects saving grace on the elect and the elect (from a human perspective) exercise saving faith in God.
"Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring - not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all." - Romans 4:16 (NIV)
you say, how can God elect the unwilling? furthermore, how can God not elect the willing? in fact, this was one of my most stubborn philosophical objections to the doctrine of election. however, this turns out to be a straw man.
in the first place, we do not have free will to begin with. besides, God does not sovereignly elect based on how we freelywill choose. rather, we freely choose based on how God sovereignly elects. the elect will freely choose God and the un-elect will freely not choose God. accordingly, those who will freely choose God prove themselves to be the elect and those who will freely not choose God prove themselves to be the un-elect.
the unwilling elect and the willing un-elect simply do not exist!
sanctification
God (from a divine perspective) effects sustaining grace on the elect and the elect (from a human perspective) exercise sustaining faith in God.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
as we abide in Christ, God gives us the grace to overcome temptation by remaining faithful to Him.
the sin of commission
when we do not live by faith in what has already been revealed, we abuse the revelation of God's grace. the question is not why grace should increase all the more when there is sin. the question is why sin should increase all the more when there is grace (it shouldn't).
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" - Romans 6:1-2 (NIV)
"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." - Romans 6:15-18 (NIV)
the sin of omission
when we do not live by faith in what is yet to be revealed, we limit the revelation of God's grace. the question is not why God does not act to reveal His grace. the question is why we do not act to reveal His grace.
"Everything that does not come from faith is sin." - Romans 14:23b (NIV)
"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." - James 4:17 (NIV)
glorification
finally, God (from a divine perspective) effects sealing grace on the elect and the elect (from a human perspective) exercise sealing faith in God.
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)
saved by the Father. sustained in the Son. sealed with the Spirit.
Thank you O my Father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
Till Your work on earth is done
as divine sovereignty is irresistibly being proven right by human responsibility as history unfolds and the will of God from all eternity reveals itself in the present, through the choices we make, so the effecting of grace is irresistibly being proven right by the exercising of faith.
justification
God (from a divine perspective) effects saving grace on the elect and the elect (from a human perspective) exercise saving faith in God.
"Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring - not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all." - Romans 4:16 (NIV)
you say, how can God elect the unwilling? furthermore, how can God not elect the willing? in fact, this was one of my most stubborn philosophical objections to the doctrine of election. however, this turns out to be a straw man.
in the first place, we do not have free will to begin with. besides, God does not sovereignly elect based on how we freely
the unwilling elect and the willing un-elect simply do not exist!
sanctification
God (from a divine perspective) effects sustaining grace on the elect and the elect (from a human perspective) exercise sustaining faith in God.
"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
as we abide in Christ, God gives us the grace to overcome temptation by remaining faithful to Him.
the sin of commission
when we do not live by faith in what has already been revealed, we abuse the revelation of God's grace. the question is not why grace should increase all the more when there is sin. the question is why sin should increase all the more when there is grace (it shouldn't).
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" - Romans 6:1-2 (NIV)
"What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." - Romans 6:15-18 (NIV)
the sin of omission
when we do not live by faith in what is yet to be revealed, we limit the revelation of God's grace. the question is not why God does not act to reveal His grace. the question is why we do not act to reveal His grace.
"Everything that does not come from faith is sin." - Romans 14:23b (NIV)
"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." - James 4:17 (NIV)
glorification
finally, God (from a divine perspective) effects sealing grace on the elect and the elect (from a human perspective) exercise sealing faith in God.
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)
saved by the Father. sustained in the Son. sealed with the Spirit.
Thank you O my Father
For giving us Your Son
And leaving Your Spirit
Till Your work on earth is done
the start of summer term
up and running"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." - Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
Thursday 17 April 2008
the doctrine of election
*to caleb, for the theological input, and weijie, for the philosophical input. any mistakes are my own.*
this is just the beginning
to begin, calvin himself was not a calvinist (just as darwin himself was not a darwinist and marx himself was not a marxist). there is scope for debate over the extent to which calvin himself held to the calvinist formulation of "tulip" (total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and the perseverance of the saints).
moreover, calvin's theology is more than just the doctrine of election (the doctrine for which he is most famous for and the subject of this post). in fact, the doctrine of election is not even mentioned until near the end of the third volume of his institutes of the christian religion.
"Of the eternal election, by which God has predestinated some to salvation, and others to destruction." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Volume 3, Chapter 21)
having said that, to the best of my understanding i believe calvin himself would hold to the calvinist formulation of "unconditional election", and i would too - although the label is not the point (what Scripture says is). those of you who know me (even just by reading this blog) would know that i've never been a big fan of the doctrine of election. however, i've been convicted of its truth and what follows is an unapologetic attempt to defend it apologetically.
all roads lead to romans
Scripture is crystal clear on two things:
1. God is sovereign.
"What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden."
- Romans 9:14-18 (NIV)
2. Man has choice.
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.""
- Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)
this is intuitively contradictory. how can both (1) and (2) be true? if God is sovereign, then man has no choice. if man has choice, then God is not sovereign. but is this really the case?
chosen and free
the dynamic of divine sovereignty and human responsibility is not one in which divine sovereignty and human responsibility battle it out on the same plane and one somehow triumphs over the other.
a) to hold that divine sovereignty triumphs over human responsibility would be to hold that man has no choice because God is sovereign.
b) conversely, to hold that human responsibility triumphs over divine sovereignty would be to hold that God is not sovereign because man has choice.
c) finally, to hold that divine sovereignty and human responsibility triumph over each other in equal measure would be to hold that God is not sovereign and man has no choice.
rather, divine sovereignty is irresistibly being proven right by human responsibility as history unfolds and the will of God from all eternity reveals itself in the present, through the choices we make.
divine sovereignty and human responsibility do accord with each other, but not on the same plane. God is sovereign (from a divine perspective) and man has choice (from a human perspective).
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
this is Joseph referring to his brothers, but it could just as well be Jesus referring to Judas.
proving the will of God
the past is what the will of God for our lives was.
the present is what the will of God for our lives is.
the future is what the will of God for our lives will be.
the will of God as a way of life is about living in the present - not the past or the future, but the present. we come to know what the will of God for our lives is when - living in the present - we prove it (to ourselves, not to God) through the choices we make.
we are chosen because God knows what the future holds, and we are free to choose because we do not know what the future holds.
if you freely choose (from a human perspective) to serve like Judas, then you prove that you were sovereignly chosen (from a divine perspective) to serve like Judas.
"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled." - John 17:12 (NIV)
if you freely choose (from a human perspective) to serve like John, then you prove that you were sovereignly chosen (from a divine perspective) to serve like John.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." - John 15:16 (NIV)
"You will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John." - C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
the question is not why God only sovereignly chooses some. the question is why only some freely choose God.
"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:10-11 (NIV)
prayer and evangelism
far from undermining the basis for prayer and evangelism, the doctrine of election exhorts us to pray and evangelise according to the will of God. as we pray according to the will of God, our prayers will be answered according to the will of God. as we evangelise according to the will of God, our efforts will bear fruit according to the will of God.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." - Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)
faith and grace
faith is the means by which we receive the gift of God, which is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. to this end, the exercise of faith by the elect is part of proving (not changing) the will of God.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." - Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
furthermore, God gives us the grace to reign in Christ.
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)
faith and works
as mike reeves (the uccf theological advisor) contends, God does not elect us in and of ourselves. God elects us in Christ. we know that we are the elect in Christ if we remain in Christ.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." - John 15:1-8 (NIV)
"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." - 1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)
we know God by our faith, and we know that we know God by our works (which is really another way of saying that we know our faith by our works). this means that if there is faith, then there are works. this does not mean that if there are works, then there is faith. in other words, it is possible to have works without faith (dead works) but not faith without works (dead faith).
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" - Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV)
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." - James 2:14-26 (NIV)
in a nutshell
the problem
1. God is sovereign.
2. Man has choice.
3. It follows from (1) that man has no choice.
4. It follows from (2) that God is not sovereign.
5. Therefore, it follows from (1) and (2) that either God is not sovereign or man has no choice.
the solution
1. God is sovereign.
2. Man has choice.
3. It does not follow from (1) that man has no choice.
4. It does not follow from (2) that God is not sovereign.
5. Therefore, it does not follow from (1) and (2) that either God is not sovereign or man has no choice.
indeed, God is sovereign and man has choice. in the problem lies the solution!
all roads end in romans
far from assaulting our faith, the doctrine of election assures us of deliverance from the past, strength for the present and hope for the future.
deliverance from the past
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." - Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)
strength for the present
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." - Romans 8:28-30 (NIV)
hope for the future
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
how marvellous
how wonderful
and my song shall ever be
how marvellous
how wonderful
is my Saviour's love for me
this is just the beginningto begin, calvin himself was not a calvinist (just as darwin himself was not a darwinist and marx himself was not a marxist). there is scope for debate over the extent to which calvin himself held to the calvinist formulation of "tulip" (total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace and the perseverance of the saints).
moreover, calvin's theology is more than just the doctrine of election (the doctrine for which he is most famous for and the subject of this post). in fact, the doctrine of election is not even mentioned until near the end of the third volume of his institutes of the christian religion.
"Of the eternal election, by which God has predestinated some to salvation, and others to destruction." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Volume 3, Chapter 21)
having said that, to the best of my understanding i believe calvin himself would hold to the calvinist formulation of "unconditional election", and i would too - although the label is not the point (what Scripture says is). those of you who know me (even just by reading this blog) would know that i've never been a big fan of the doctrine of election. however, i've been convicted of its truth and what follows is an unapologetic attempt to defend it apologetically.
all roads lead to romans
Scripture is crystal clear on two things:
1. God is sovereign.
"What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden."
- Romans 9:14-18 (NIV)
2. Man has choice.
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.""
- Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)
this is intuitively contradictory. how can both (1) and (2) be true? if God is sovereign, then man has no choice. if man has choice, then God is not sovereign. but is this really the case?
chosen and free
the dynamic of divine sovereignty and human responsibility is not one in which divine sovereignty and human responsibility battle it out on the same plane and one somehow triumphs over the other.
a) to hold that divine sovereignty triumphs over human responsibility would be to hold that man has no choice because God is sovereign.
b) conversely, to hold that human responsibility triumphs over divine sovereignty would be to hold that God is not sovereign because man has choice.
c) finally, to hold that divine sovereignty and human responsibility triumph over each other in equal measure would be to hold that God is not sovereign and man has no choice.
rather, divine sovereignty is irresistibly being proven right by human responsibility as history unfolds and the will of God from all eternity reveals itself in the present, through the choices we make.
divine sovereignty and human responsibility do accord with each other, but not on the same plane. God is sovereign (from a divine perspective) and man has choice (from a human perspective).
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
this is Joseph referring to his brothers, but it could just as well be Jesus referring to Judas.
proving the will of God
the past is what the will of God for our lives was.
the present is what the will of God for our lives is.
the future is what the will of God for our lives will be.
the will of God as a way of life is about living in the present - not the past or the future, but the present. we come to know what the will of God for our lives is when - living in the present - we prove it (to ourselves, not to God) through the choices we make.
we are chosen because God knows what the future holds, and we are free to choose because we do not know what the future holds.
if you freely choose (from a human perspective) to serve like Judas, then you prove that you were sovereignly chosen (from a divine perspective) to serve like Judas.
"While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled." - John 17:12 (NIV)
if you freely choose (from a human perspective) to serve like John, then you prove that you were sovereignly chosen (from a divine perspective) to serve like John.
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." - John 15:16 (NIV)
"You will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John." - C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
the question is not why God only sovereignly chooses some. the question is why only some freely choose God.
"Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:10-11 (NIV)
prayer and evangelism
far from undermining the basis for prayer and evangelism, the doctrine of election exhorts us to pray and evangelise according to the will of God. as we pray according to the will of God, our prayers will be answered according to the will of God. as we evangelise according to the will of God, our efforts will bear fruit according to the will of God.
"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." - Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)
faith and grace
faith is the means by which we receive the gift of God, which is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. to this end, the exercise of faith by the elect is part of proving (not changing) the will of God.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." - Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
furthermore, God gives us the grace to reign in Christ.
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)
faith and works
as mike reeves (the uccf theological advisor) contends, God does not elect us in and of ourselves. God elects us in Christ. we know that we are the elect in Christ if we remain in Christ.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 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. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." - John 15:1-8 (NIV)
"We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." - 1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)
we know God by our faith, and we know that we know God by our works (which is really another way of saying that we know our faith by our works). this means that if there is faith, then there are works. this does not mean that if there are works, then there is faith. in other words, it is possible to have works without faith (dead works) but not faith without works (dead faith).
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" - Matthew 7:15-23 (NIV)
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." - James 2:14-26 (NIV)
in a nutshell
the problem
1. God is sovereign.
2. Man has choice.
3. It follows from (1) that man has no choice.
4. It follows from (2) that God is not sovereign.
5. Therefore, it follows from (1) and (2) that either God is not sovereign or man has no choice.
the solution
1. God is sovereign.
2. Man has choice.
3. It does not follow from (1) that man has no choice.
4. It does not follow from (2) that God is not sovereign.
5. Therefore, it does not follow from (1) and (2) that either God is not sovereign or man has no choice.
indeed, God is sovereign and man has choice. in the problem lies the solution!
all roads end in romans
far from assaulting our faith, the doctrine of election assures us of deliverance from the past, strength for the present and hope for the future.
deliverance from the past
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." - Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)
strength for the present
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." - Romans 8:28-30 (NIV)
hope for the future
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
how marvellous
how wonderful
and my song shall ever be
how marvellous
how wonderful
is my Saviour's love for me
Wednesday 16 April 2008
new word alive
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD."As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
- Isaiah 55:8-11 (NIV)
new word alive was absolutely amazing. from the teaching of don carson, john piper and terry virgo to the corporate worship led by stuart townend and soul survivor; from the array of afternoon seminars on offer to the after hours performances by keith & kristyn getty and phatfish, the conference centred on preaching Christ crucified and the power of the cross.
a call to spiritual reformation indeed.
rehab
like once mainline opening moves in chess which have since fallen out of favour with theoreticians, my views on various theological views are continually being rehabilitated through discussions with friends, reading/listening to sermons and ultimately, the work of the Holy Spirit.
may the Spirit of truth guide us into all truth.
*****
the whole KJV vs other "modern" translations of Scripture debate:
from a historical perspective, the KJV is the most accurate and uncorrupted set of Scripture which is available today. at the same time, i believe there is merit in using other "modern" translations of Scripture and we should not necessarily have to stop using them. as a casual observation, don carson uses the NIV, john piper the ESV and john macarthur the NASB.
while the KJV captures the meaning of certain verses (such as Hebrews 2:16) more clearly, other "modern" translations of Scripture capture the meaning of other verses more clearly - at least in the present day. on my part, i'm quite happy to continue using the NIV and refer to the KJV (or other "modern" translations of Scripture for that matter) as the need arises.
divine sovereignty and human responsibility:
after intense reflection, my view on predestination and free will has been refined, subtly but substantially. this warrants a post in itself, but suffice to say that i no longer hold that our free will is in accordance with the will of God. this is because we do not have free will to begin with. rather, our free choice is in accordance with the will of God.
renew
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
following 11 of the most convicting chapters in the whole of Scripture, this is one of the most electrifying exhortations in the whole of Scripture. at new word alive, Romans 12:1-8 was the last reading in the evening series on treasuring Christ.
living sacrifices, not dead works!
restart
i've come to the end of my travels for this Easter. having visited so many different nations, what strikes me is how so many different people are yet to hear the Gospel being preached to them.
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"" - Romans 10:14-15 (NIV)
my travels have also led me to think about where my home really is, where my treasures really are. when i'm out on the streets of europe, my home feels like my hostel. when i'm back in my hostel, my home feels like york. when i'm back in york, my home feels like singapore. after all, i am a citizen of singapore, having completed 1 year and 10 months of national service.
"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." - Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)
after all that has happened this Easter, summer term is just around the corner. back to more of the same, only different.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)
Wednesday 2 April 2008
lost in translation
i'm back from my backpacking trip (which was really good, by the way) to budapest, romania and rome - where english isn't always the first or even the second language - but that's not what this post is about. this post is about the Word of God itself; the KJV vs other "modern" translations of Scripture.i must admit that i was somewhat aware of the whole debate prior to this, although i didn't really make much of it. however, i came across the following publication by dr jeffrey khoo, academic dean of febc when i was randomly surfing the net this evening:
http://www.febc.edu.sg/assets/pdfs/febc_press/KJV%20Q&A.pdf
case in point (cited by dr jeffrey khoo)
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants." - Hebrews 2:14-16 (NIV)
"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham." - Hebrews 2:14-16 (NKJV)
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." - Hebrews 2:14-16 (KJV)
taking Hebrews 2:16 in the context of Hebrews 2:14-16, it is clearly referring to the incarnation of Jesus Christ in human flesh and blood. to this end, the KJV captures the meaning of the original text most effectively - at least in this particular instance.
while there's no need to declare war on other "modern" translations of Scripture or even necessarily stop using them, it would be fair to say that the KJV is the most accurate and uncorrupted set of Scripture which is available today.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
the question is not why use the KJV? the question is why not use the KJV?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)