For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting Himself for man.
- John Stott, The Cross of Christ
Wednesday 29 July 2009
Tuesday 28 July 2009
three kinds of will
Are You Confused Yet?
The "will of God" is one of the most confusing phrases in the Christian vocabulary. Sometimes we speak of all things happening according to God's will. Other times we talk about being obedient and doing the will of God. And still other times we talk about finding the will of God.
The confusion is due to our using the phrase "the will of God" in at least three different ways, typified in the previous three sentences. Two of these ways are clearly demonstrated in Scripture; the third is a little more complicated. So we'll start with the first two.
God Always Gets His Way
If we examine the Bible, we see that God's will has two sides to it. On the first side is God's will of decree. This refers to what God has ordained. Everything that comes to pass is according to God's sovereign decree. And all that He decrees will ultimately come to pass. God's will of decree cannot be thwarted. It is immutable and fixed.
God is sovereign over all things - nature and nations, animals and angels, spirits and Satan, wonderful people and wicked people, even disease and death. To steal a line from Augustine, "The will of God is the necessity of all things." In other words, what God wills, will happen, and what happens is according to God's will. That's what I mean by God's will of decree...
God Points Out The Way
The other side of the coin is God's will of desire. This refers to what God has commanded - what He desires from His creatures. If the will of decree is how things are, the will of desire is how things ought to be. I realise that I am not dealing with the massive question of how God can decree all that comes to pass while also holding us responsible for our actions. That's the old divine sovereignty and human responsibility question.
[i offer a middle knowledge perspective here.]
The Bible clearly affirms both. For example, God sent Babylon to punish Judah, but God also punished Babylon for acting wickedly against God's people (Jeremiah 25). Likewise, God planned the death of His Son and yet those who killed the Christ were called lawless men (Acts 2:23).
I believe there are theological categories that can help us reconcile divine sovereignty and human responsibility, but diving into these ideas would take us far beyond the scope of this short book. I am simply noting that God is sovereign, but He is not the author of sin. We are under His sovereignty, but we are not free from responsibility for our actions.
Both sides of God's will are in Scripture. God's will of decree - what He has predetermined from eternity past - cannot be thwarted. God's will of desire - the way He wants us to live - can be disregarded...
Does God Have A Specific Plan For Your Life?
There's a third way in which we sometimes speak of God's will. Most of the time what we really are looking for is God's will of direction.
We hear it in those questions we asked at the beginning of this chapter: What does God want me to do with my life? What job should I take? Where should I live? Those are the questions we ask when we seek God's will of direction. We want to know His individual, specific plan for the who, what, where, when, and how of our lives. We want to know His direction.
So here's the real heart of the matter: Does God have a secret will of direction that He expects us to figure out before we do anything? And the answer is no. Yes, God has a specific plan for our lives. And yes, we can be assured that He works things for our good in Christ Jesus. And yes, looking back we will often be able to trace God's hand in bringing us to where we are. But while we are free to ask God for wisdom, He does not burden us with the task of divining His will of direction for our lives ahead of time...
God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him.
We know God has a plan for our lives. That's wonderful. The problem is we think He's going to tell us the wonderful plan before it unfolds. We feel like we can know - and need to know - what God wants every step of the way. But such preoccupation with finding God's will, as well-intentioned as the desire may be, is more folly than freedom.
The better way is the biblical way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we're going.
- Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something
link: the will of God as a way of life (14 feb 08)
The "will of God" is one of the most confusing phrases in the Christian vocabulary. Sometimes we speak of all things happening according to God's will. Other times we talk about being obedient and doing the will of God. And still other times we talk about finding the will of God.
The confusion is due to our using the phrase "the will of God" in at least three different ways, typified in the previous three sentences. Two of these ways are clearly demonstrated in Scripture; the third is a little more complicated. So we'll start with the first two.
God Always Gets His Way
If we examine the Bible, we see that God's will has two sides to it. On the first side is God's will of decree. This refers to what God has ordained. Everything that comes to pass is according to God's sovereign decree. And all that He decrees will ultimately come to pass. God's will of decree cannot be thwarted. It is immutable and fixed.
God is sovereign over all things - nature and nations, animals and angels, spirits and Satan, wonderful people and wicked people, even disease and death. To steal a line from Augustine, "The will of God is the necessity of all things." In other words, what God wills, will happen, and what happens is according to God's will. That's what I mean by God's will of decree...
God Points Out The Way
The other side of the coin is God's will of desire. This refers to what God has commanded - what He desires from His creatures. If the will of decree is how things are, the will of desire is how things ought to be. I realise that I am not dealing with the massive question of how God can decree all that comes to pass while also holding us responsible for our actions. That's the old divine sovereignty and human responsibility question.
[i offer a middle knowledge perspective here.]
The Bible clearly affirms both. For example, God sent Babylon to punish Judah, but God also punished Babylon for acting wickedly against God's people (Jeremiah 25). Likewise, God planned the death of His Son and yet those who killed the Christ were called lawless men (Acts 2:23).
I believe there are theological categories that can help us reconcile divine sovereignty and human responsibility, but diving into these ideas would take us far beyond the scope of this short book. I am simply noting that God is sovereign, but He is not the author of sin. We are under His sovereignty, but we are not free from responsibility for our actions.
Both sides of God's will are in Scripture. God's will of decree - what He has predetermined from eternity past - cannot be thwarted. God's will of desire - the way He wants us to live - can be disregarded...
Does God Have A Specific Plan For Your Life?
There's a third way in which we sometimes speak of God's will. Most of the time what we really are looking for is God's will of direction.
We hear it in those questions we asked at the beginning of this chapter: What does God want me to do with my life? What job should I take? Where should I live? Those are the questions we ask when we seek God's will of direction. We want to know His individual, specific plan for the who, what, where, when, and how of our lives. We want to know His direction.
So here's the real heart of the matter: Does God have a secret will of direction that He expects us to figure out before we do anything? And the answer is no. Yes, God has a specific plan for our lives. And yes, we can be assured that He works things for our good in Christ Jesus. And yes, looking back we will often be able to trace God's hand in bringing us to where we are. But while we are free to ask God for wisdom, He does not burden us with the task of divining His will of direction for our lives ahead of time...
God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him.
We know God has a plan for our lives. That's wonderful. The problem is we think He's going to tell us the wonderful plan before it unfolds. We feel like we can know - and need to know - what God wants every step of the way. But such preoccupation with finding God's will, as well-intentioned as the desire may be, is more folly than freedom.
The better way is the biblical way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we're going.
- Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something
link: the will of God as a way of life (14 feb 08)
Monday 27 July 2009
give thanks
"Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 5:18-20 (NIV)
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Sunday 26 July 2009
suffering and the sovereignty of God
Gethsemane
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not was I will, but as you will."
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
- Matthew 26:36-46 (NIV)
1. Jesus suffered and died for our sins (v37-38).
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." - Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)
2. Jesus prayed for the grace to overcome temptation (v36, 40-41).
"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)
3. Jesus submitted Himself to the will of the Father (v39, 42).
"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)
if God was with Christ - indeed, if God was in Christ - in Gethsemane, how much more will He be with us in our suffering!
From heaven You came, helpless Babe
Entered our world, Your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King
There in the garden of tears
My heavy load He chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
'Yet not My will but Yours' He said
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King
Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King
So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone Him
Each other's needs to prefer
For it is Christ we're serving
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not was I will, but as you will."
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
- Matthew 26:36-46 (NIV)
1. Jesus suffered and died for our sins (v37-38).
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." - Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)
2. Jesus prayed for the grace to overcome temptation (v36, 40-41).
"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)
3. Jesus submitted Himself to the will of the Father (v39, 42).
"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)
if God was with Christ - indeed, if God was in Christ - in Gethsemane, how much more will He be with us in our suffering!
From heaven You came, helpless Babe
Entered our world, Your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King
There in the garden of tears
My heavy load He chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
'Yet not My will but Yours' He said
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King
Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King
So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone Him
Each other's needs to prefer
For it is Christ we're serving
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King
Saturday 25 July 2009
what does it mean to be sovereign?
God's sovereignty no more means that He is able to determine how we make our free choices, any more than His omnipotence means that He is able to create a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it.
[for the record, i believe that God is sovereign and unable to determine how we make our free choices, just as i believe that God is omnipotent and unable to create a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it.
His Omnipotence means power to do all that is intrinsically possible, not to do the intrinsically impossible. You may attribute miracles to Him, but not nonsense. This is no limit to His power. If you choose to say 'God can give a creature free will and at the same time withhold free will from it', you have not succeeded in saying anything about God: meaningless combinations of words do not suddenly acquire meaning simply because we prefix them with the two other words 'God can'.
It remains true that all things are possible with God: the intrinsic impossibilities are not things but nonentities. It is no more possible for God than for the weakest of His creatures to carry out both of two mutually exclusive alternatives; not because His power meets an obstacle, but because nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God.
- C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain]
even as God is sovereign, He does not determine how we make our free choices. otherwise, our free choices would no longer be free! however, He determines the circumstances under which we make our free choices.
imagine, for the sake of argument, that there are two possible worlds. in world 1, A freely chooses to be saved and B freely chooses not to be saved. in world 2, A freely chooses not to be saved and B freely chooses to be saved.
even as God is sovereign over world 1, He does not determine A's free choice to be saved or B's free choice not to be saved. A determines A's free choice to be saved and B determines B's free choice not to be saved.
even as God is sovereign over world 2, He does not determine A's free choice not to be saved and B's free choice to be saved. A determines A's free choice not to be saved and B determines B's free choice to be saved.
what God determines is which world He creates - that is, the world which gives Him the most glory. this is the best possible world (from His perspective and in His free knowledge). in this way, He determines the circumstances under which we make our free choices.
if God creates world 1 because it gives Him the most glory, B (who is saved in world 2 but not in world 1) cannot object that he would have freely chosen to be saved in world 2. the point is not that B would have freely chosen to be saved under different circumstances (even if that is true). the point is that B could have freely chosen to be saved in world 1, yet freely chose not to be saved in world 1.
if God creates world 2 because it gives Him the most glory, A (who is saved in world 1 but not in world 2) cannot object that he would have freely chosen to be saved in world 1. the point is not that A would have freely chosen to be saved under different circumstances (even if that is true). the point is that A could have freely chosen to be saved in world 2, yet freely chose not to be saved in world 2.
in other words, it is not the case that:
1. there is one possible world in which God determines how we make our free choices.
2. God creates the only possible world.
rather, it is the case that:
1. there are many possible worlds in which we make different free choices, depending on the different circumstances in different possible worlds.
2. God creates the best possible world (from His perspective and in His free knowledge).
for God to be sovereign is not for Him to be able to determine how we make our free choices, but for Him to be able to determine how our free choices work 'for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).
again, God determines how our free choices work 'for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV) by creating the best possible world (from His perspective and in His free knowledge).
[for the record, i believe that God is sovereign and unable to determine how we make our free choices, just as i believe that God is omnipotent and unable to create a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it.
His Omnipotence means power to do all that is intrinsically possible, not to do the intrinsically impossible. You may attribute miracles to Him, but not nonsense. This is no limit to His power. If you choose to say 'God can give a creature free will and at the same time withhold free will from it', you have not succeeded in saying anything about God: meaningless combinations of words do not suddenly acquire meaning simply because we prefix them with the two other words 'God can'.
It remains true that all things are possible with God: the intrinsic impossibilities are not things but nonentities. It is no more possible for God than for the weakest of His creatures to carry out both of two mutually exclusive alternatives; not because His power meets an obstacle, but because nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God.
- C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain]
even as God is sovereign, He does not determine how we make our free choices. otherwise, our free choices would no longer be free! however, He determines the circumstances under which we make our free choices.
imagine, for the sake of argument, that there are two possible worlds. in world 1, A freely chooses to be saved and B freely chooses not to be saved. in world 2, A freely chooses not to be saved and B freely chooses to be saved.
even as God is sovereign over world 1, He does not determine A's free choice to be saved or B's free choice not to be saved. A determines A's free choice to be saved and B determines B's free choice not to be saved.
even as God is sovereign over world 2, He does not determine A's free choice not to be saved and B's free choice to be saved. A determines A's free choice not to be saved and B determines B's free choice to be saved.
what God determines is which world He creates - that is, the world which gives Him the most glory. this is the best possible world (from His perspective and in His free knowledge). in this way, He determines the circumstances under which we make our free choices.
if God creates world 1 because it gives Him the most glory, B (who is saved in world 2 but not in world 1) cannot object that he would have freely chosen to be saved in world 2. the point is not that B would have freely chosen to be saved under different circumstances (even if that is true). the point is that B could have freely chosen to be saved in world 1, yet freely chose not to be saved in world 1.
if God creates world 2 because it gives Him the most glory, A (who is saved in world 1 but not in world 2) cannot object that he would have freely chosen to be saved in world 1. the point is not that A would have freely chosen to be saved under different circumstances (even if that is true). the point is that A could have freely chosen to be saved in world 2, yet freely chose not to be saved in world 2.
in other words, it is not the case that:
1. there is one possible world in which God determines how we make our free choices.
2. God creates the only possible world.
rather, it is the case that:
1. there are many possible worlds in which we make different free choices, depending on the different circumstances in different possible worlds.
2. God creates the best possible world (from His perspective and in His free knowledge).
for God to be sovereign is not for Him to be able to determine how we make our free choices, but for Him to be able to determine how our free choices work 'for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV).
again, God determines how our free choices work 'for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV) by creating the best possible world (from His perspective and in His free knowledge).
Friday 24 July 2009
what does it mean to be born again?
Even now, the new birth is not the emancipation of a supposedly truer inner self from the external reality of history and the body, but the pledge (arrobon) of the consummation for which the whole creation waits eagerly (Romans 8:18-25).
Unable to bring final liberation of humanity apart from leaving everything creaturely behind, Gnosticism loses the joy of the Christian gospel that leaves nothing behind but sin and death.
- Michael Horton, Christless Christianity
to be sure, this extract seeks to identify the pitfalls of gnosticism, not what it means to be born again. however, it is important to note that being born again is not a present event, but a future event.
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
- John 3:1-8 (NIV)
"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."" - 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 (NIV)
"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." - 1 Peter 1:23 (NIV)
to be born again is to enter/inherit the kingdom of God with a new body. in other words, to be born again is not to be converted in this life, but to be resurrected for the next!
*****
on a separate note, i have heard it argued (from a 5-point calvinist perspective) that since we cannot determine whether we are born, therefore we cannot determine whether we are born again. however, just because we cannot determine whether we are born does not mean that we cannot determine whether we are born again.
in fact, it is at least possible (and in my opinion more plausible) that precisely because we cannot determine whether we are born, therefore we can determine whether we are born again.
maybe we can determine whether we are born again. or maybe we cannot. all i'm saying is that the premise 'we cannot determine whether we are born' does not necessarily lead to the conclusion 'we cannot determine whether we are born again'.
Unable to bring final liberation of humanity apart from leaving everything creaturely behind, Gnosticism loses the joy of the Christian gospel that leaves nothing behind but sin and death.
- Michael Horton, Christless Christianity
to be sure, this extract seeks to identify the pitfalls of gnosticism, not what it means to be born again. however, it is important to note that being born again is not a present event, but a future event.
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
- John 3:1-8 (NIV)
"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."" - 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 (NIV)
"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." - 1 Peter 1:23 (NIV)
to be born again is to enter/inherit the kingdom of God with a new body. in other words, to be born again is not to be converted in this life, but to be resurrected for the next!
*****
on a separate note, i have heard it argued (from a 5-point calvinist perspective) that since we cannot determine whether we are born, therefore we cannot determine whether we are born again. however, just because we cannot determine whether we are born does not mean that we cannot determine whether we are born again.
in fact, it is at least possible (and in my opinion more plausible) that precisely because we cannot determine whether we are born, therefore we can determine whether we are born again.
maybe we can determine whether we are born again. or maybe we cannot. all i'm saying is that the premise 'we cannot determine whether we are born' does not necessarily lead to the conclusion 'we cannot determine whether we are born again'.
Thursday 23 July 2009
the covenant of grace
Once your faith is focused on what happens inside you instead of what happened outside you in history, it is easy to say that what you really need are good resources for private experience and moral improvement rather than any external Word. However weak and foolish in the eyes of the world, God's methods and structures, clearly prescribed in Scripture, are consistent with the message.
Preaching is not a bully pulpit for either our personal threats or helpful suggestions; it is a saving advent of Christ by his Spirit through his Word.
Baptism is not our act of commitment, based on our decision; it is God's act of commitment to us, based on his decision. God's claim always provokes rather than presupposes our commitment.
The Lord's Supper is not our remembering and rededicating but focuses on God's promise to give us his Son as our food and drink - certifying and ratifying our inclusion in the covenant of grace.
- Michael Horton, Christless Christianity
link: more on the covenant of grace (22 aug 09)
Preaching is not a bully pulpit for either our personal threats or helpful suggestions; it is a saving advent of Christ by his Spirit through his Word.
Baptism is not our act of commitment, based on our decision; it is God's act of commitment to us, based on his decision. God's claim always provokes rather than presupposes our commitment.
The Lord's Supper is not our remembering and rededicating but focuses on God's promise to give us his Son as our food and drink - certifying and ratifying our inclusion in the covenant of grace.
- Michael Horton, Christless Christianity
link: more on the covenant of grace (22 aug 09)
Wednesday 22 July 2009
more on open doors
if God closes a door, no one can open it. if God opens a door, no one can close it.
at the same time, an open door is a necessary but not sufficient condition for taking a particular path.
"Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia." - 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 (NIV)
it is possible to come across an open door without taking it, but it is not possible to take a particular path without coming across an open door which leads to it.
to take an example from day to day living, it is possible to have money without spending it, but it is not possible to spend money without having it.
links: open doors (18 apr 09), even more on open doors (15 aug 09)
at the same time, an open door is a necessary but not sufficient condition for taking a particular path.
"Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia." - 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 (NIV)
it is possible to come across an open door without taking it, but it is not possible to take a particular path without coming across an open door which leads to it.
to take an example from day to day living, it is possible to have money without spending it, but it is not possible to spend money without having it.
links: open doors (18 apr 09), even more on open doors (15 aug 09)
Tuesday 21 July 2009
the 3 Rs
And the crisis of human society, you know, we've talked for ages about money and sex and power and actually labelling those three areas of life like that is itself part of the problem.
Because when we're talking about money we really ought to be talking about resources; when we're talking about sex we really ought to be talking about relationships; when we're talking about power we really ought to be talking about responsibilities.
Resources, relationships, responsibilities - we have shrunk those things, classic post-Enlightenment stuff, into just money, just sex, just power.
- N. T. Wright, Jesus and Tomorrow's World (10 Jun 09)
Because when we're talking about money we really ought to be talking about resources; when we're talking about sex we really ought to be talking about relationships; when we're talking about power we really ought to be talking about responsibilities.
Resources, relationships, responsibilities - we have shrunk those things, classic post-Enlightenment stuff, into just money, just sex, just power.
- N. T. Wright, Jesus and Tomorrow's World (10 Jun 09)
Monday 20 July 2009
back in singapore
that the last day of my 2nd year at york (3 jul), the calvin anniversary conferences (5 to 9 jul), the keswick convention (11 to 17 jul) and my flight back to singapore (18 jul) all tie in so neatly with each other is not coincidence, but providence.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
i thank God for His providence over the past 2 weeks and i know that He will continue to provide.
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
- Lamentations 3:19-27 (NIV)
having gone straight from the calvin anniversary conferences to the keswick convention, it was interesting to experience the differences in music (psalms vs the gettys), liturgy (formal vs informal) and even theology (reformed vs broadly evangelical).
having said that, both conferences were Christ-centered and i benefitted from both of them. it was also a real blessing to travel with phil walker (geneva), weijie (geneva and keswick) and rachael (keswick) and have interesting conversations along the way.
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." - Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
i thank God for His providence over the past 2 weeks and i know that He will continue to provide.
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.
- Lamentations 3:19-27 (NIV)
having gone straight from the calvin anniversary conferences to the keswick convention, it was interesting to experience the differences in music (psalms vs the gettys), liturgy (formal vs informal) and even theology (reformed vs broadly evangelical).
having said that, both conferences were Christ-centered and i benefitted from both of them. it was also a real blessing to travel with phil walker (geneva), weijie (geneva and keswick) and rachael (keswick) and have interesting conversations along the way.
"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." - Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)
Friday 3 July 2009
travel plans
today is the last day of my 2nd year at york. looking back on the past 9 months, God has certainly met all my needs 'according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:19, NIV). not only so, but He has done immeasurably more than all i have asked or imagined.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
i'll be going to geneva (for the calvin anniversary conferences) from 4 to 12 jul and keswick (for the keswick convention) from 13 to 17 jul, before coming back to york for a night on 17 jul and flying home on 18 jul. i'll be back in singapore at 8.55pm on 19 jul.
"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."" - James 4:13-15 (NIV)
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
i'll be going to geneva (for the calvin anniversary conferences) from 4 to 12 jul and keswick (for the keswick convention) from 13 to 17 jul, before coming back to york for a night on 17 jul and flying home on 18 jul. i'll be back in singapore at 8.55pm on 19 jul.
"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."" - James 4:13-15 (NIV)
Thursday 2 July 2009
justification and relationships
"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit." - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NIV)
of course, in an ideal world, guys and girls would not defraud each other by giving each other false hope.
having said that, in a fallen world, which is more scandalous? not giving hope when we should be giving hope, or giving hope when we should not be giving hope?
for what it's worth, i think the latter is more scandalous. i would rather not be given hope when i should be given hope, than be given hope when i should not be given hope. equally, i would rather not give hope when i should be giving hope, than give hope when i should not be giving hope.
links: the justification debate (29 jun 09), thoughts on the justification debate (1 jul 09)
of course, in an ideal world, guys and girls would not defraud each other by giving each other false hope.
having said that, in a fallen world, which is more scandalous? not giving hope when we should be giving hope, or giving hope when we should not be giving hope?
for what it's worth, i think the latter is more scandalous. i would rather not be given hope when i should be given hope, than be given hope when i should not be given hope. equally, i would rather not give hope when i should be giving hope, than give hope when i should not be giving hope.
links: the justification debate (29 jun 09), thoughts on the justification debate (1 jul 09)
Wednesday 1 July 2009
thoughts on the justification debate
Which is more scandalous? The multitudes of Christians who think they need to earn their salvation by being good? Or the throng of Christians who think that holy living doesn't matter so long as they have prayed the sinner's prayer? Pastors' answers will largely indicate how they feel about the justification debate, even if they haven't fully read the newest books from two of the debate's main players: John Piper's The Future of Justification and N. T. Wright's Justification: God's Plan and Paul's Vision.
- Christianity Today
of course, in an ideal world, the gospel would be preached such that those who are saved have the assurance that they are saved, and those who are not saveddo not have the assurance that they are saved have the assurance that they are not saved.
having said that, in a fallen world, which is more scandalous? preaching the gospel such that those who are saved do not have the assurance that they are saved, or preaching the gospel such that those who are not saved have the assurance that they are saved?
for what it's worth, i think the latter is more scandalous. i would rather not give someone who is saved the assurance that he is saved, than give someone who is not saved the assurance that he is saved.
*****
which is more scandalous - declaring the innocent guilty, or declaring the guilty innocent? more precisely, which is more scandalous - declaring both an innocent man and a guilty man guilty, or declaring both an innocent man and a guilty man innocent?
links: the justification debate (29 jun 09), justification and relationships (2 jul 09)
- Christianity Today
of course, in an ideal world, the gospel would be preached such that those who are saved have the assurance that they are saved, and those who are not saved
having said that, in a fallen world, which is more scandalous? preaching the gospel such that those who are saved do not have the assurance that they are saved, or preaching the gospel such that those who are not saved have the assurance that they are saved?
for what it's worth, i think the latter is more scandalous. i would rather not give someone who is saved the assurance that he is saved, than give someone who is not saved the assurance that he is saved.
*****
which is more scandalous - declaring the innocent guilty, or declaring the guilty innocent? more precisely, which is more scandalous - declaring both an innocent man and a guilty man guilty, or declaring both an innocent man and a guilty man innocent?
links: the justification debate (29 jun 09), justification and relationships (2 jul 09)
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