Joy in Christendom

The Law and Sabbath Keeping

In many of my discussions where I stress a belief that the Law is good and should be the basis for all of life, I once in awhile run into a question that concerns the "harsh" penal code that is found in the Old Testament.  I received one such question recently, and it went something like "ok, if we are to model Old and New Testament Laws in all areas of life, then should we require the magistrate to put to death Sabbath breakers  (Ex 31:14, Num 15:32)?".  Assuming that the question was a geniuine one, it is a good question.

I did a little research into this and here's what Calvin and Rushdoony have to say about the matter:

While the Christian sabbath is inescapably and closely lined to the sabbath of Israel, there is still a very important difference.  Paul's words in Col 2:116-17 make clear that the old ordinance has undergone a radical change.  Calvin commented on the Col passage: 

'to judge means here to hold one to be guilty of a crime, or to impose a scruple of conscience, so that we are no longer free.  He says, therefore, that it is not in the power of men to make us subject to the observance of rites which Christ has by his death abolished, and exempts us from their yoke, that we may not allow ourselves to be fettered by the laws which they have imposed.  He tacitly however, places Christ in contrast with all mankind, lest any one should extol himself so daringly as to attempt to take away what he has been given him.  The reason why he frees Christians from the observance of them is, that they were shadows at a time when Christ was still, in a manner, absent.  For the contrast shadows, act like on who should judge of a man's appearance from his shadow, while in the mean time he had himself personally before his eyes.  For Christ is now manifested to us, and hence we enjoy him as being present.  The body, says he, is of Christ, that is IN Christ'

To return to Calvin's point, a law which once called for death invovled something very important and unusually good.  Christ is that great good, and our rest is Him.  

it gets even more interesting...

The point of difference between Israel's sabbath and the Christian sabbath is not only in the day but in the end of the old restrictions.  The first day of the week was a work-day in Palestine and also through the Roman Empire.  The church normally met on the evening of the first day, because the members worked during the day (Acts 20:7-12).... Obviously, if work on the Lord's day was sill illegal, the NT would have had much to say concerning it.  The old law was clearly altered here.  The duty NOW, as stated by Paul, was "not forsaking the assembling of oursleves together, as the manner of some is (Heb 10:25)" - R.J. Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law.

The Lord's Law is very freeing indeed. 

 

 

Legislating Morality

We hear this phrase a lot, and we most often hear it in a negative sense:  "well, you can't legislate morality".  This line of reasoning has confused me ever since I heard it from my 11th-grade American history teacher describing the attempts to outlaw alcohol in the earlier part of the 20th century. Broadening the topic a bit to the concept of Law, we must understand that all Law is "legislating morality" - it's, again, one of those inescapable categories. 

".. All law is enacted morality and presupposes a moral system, a moral law, and all morality presupposes a religion as its foundation.  Law rests on morality, and morality on religion.  Whenever and wherever you weaken the religious foundations of a country or people, you then weaken the morality also, and you take away the foundations of its law.  The result is the progressive collapse of law and order and the breakdown of society."

Furthermore,

"They tell us, as they strike down laws resting upon Biblical foundations, that morality cannot be legislated, but what they offer is not only legislated morality but salvation by law, and no Christian can accept this.  Wherever we look now, whether with respect to poverty, education, civil rights, human rights, peace, and all things else, we see laws passed designed to save man.  Supposedly, these laws are going to give us a society free of prejudice, ignorance, disease, poverty, crime, war, and all other things considered to be evil.  These legislative programs add up to one thing:  salvation by law." - J. Rushdoony, Law and Liberty

This is why humanists (atheists, agnostics, etc) will always be frustrated with consistent Christians, especially politically.  For laws grounded on the Bible do not attempt to save man or usher in Utopia (world peace, disease-free and poverty-free population, or other ideals).  The purpose of Law is to punish and restrain evil (Rom 13:1-4), and to protect life and property, and to provide justice for all people.  The Biblically-based Law does not seek to save, change or reform man.

Americans today are expecting too much from the law - we are expecting nothing short of salvation of man.  We will never succeed in building this tower of Babel.  The more we build, the more we will be frustrated, and the less we will realize justice and peace.  Only when we return to the Biblical foundations for Law will we see a return to Justice and Order under law.

Ps 127:1 - Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."

Where are the Biblically-Consistent Christians?

Westboro comes to East Lansing

Life often presents very "funny" (I don't mean "ha ha") and insane situations where the onlooker is often left wondering who's running the asylum.  The situation that is brewing here in East Lansing at the moment provides this sort of spectacle and it's coming to my back yard, literally.  The Westboro Baptist Church - WBC (a Christ-hating organization) decided to pay a visit and protest East Lansing High School (another Christ-hating organization) - the officials here in town are expecting a real brew-ha-ha. WBC is a cult uninterested in doing the work of the Lord or delivering the message of the Gospel.  This is also true of the East Lansing High School and most of those in the Community that oppose WBC; both ethical standards on which they judge each other is as arbitrary as the wind.

The following "letter" was given to me by one of our dear neighbors (of whom my family are very fond).  Even though they support this letter, and hate Westboro Baptist Church for their "hatemongering", I am driven to point out a few inconsistencies and fallacies that model a mindset and are exposed in this letter.  I'm only choosing this situation because I believe that it may draw out the Church's (Christ-honoring body at large) and Community's hidden idols and contradictions.

Here is the letter in full:

"The Greater Lansing Community stands unified in opposition to the message of hate brought to our community by the Westboro Church.  We know that as a community our strength lies in our diversity - religious, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, race, social, political and more.  This diversity is what creates a healthy thriving community.  And such communities foster and participate in a market place of ideas.

We understand that the diversity of our community also allows for a diversity of ideas and that is part of our strength.  This also means that we may not all agree on the best way to respond to WBC on Thursday.  We ask that each participant, in planning their role in the response to WBC, consider that Westboro is only able to fund these trips by sueing the people that respond to their provocations in confrontational or violent ways.  If you feel inspired to join our efforts please help the rest of us respond to their hate with more dignity than they are showing us and our youth.

We are appalled that Westboro Baptist Church has decided to direct its vitriol at the students of East Lansing High School.  Their hate stands in direct opposition to the values of our community and is an attempt to unfairly bully our students into silence.

It has been reported the WBC has targeted these youth because they have done that which we encourage as a community value - they've engaged in the civic dialog and expressed a view with which Westboror disagrees.  Instead of dialoging with the youth, and participating in the marketing place of ideas, Westboro has instead decided to attack, bully and harass our youth.  We stand with our youth and applaud this engagement by them.  We value participatory citizenship in which ideas are challenged through dialog over demagoguery and bullying.

Sadly, the WBC protest serves to remind us that bullying is not isolated to our school hallways, but permeates our culture.  We whole-hearted-ly reject bullying as the violence it is - to individuals, to groups and to community.

We believe the protest by WBC shows our elected officials in the legislature that is it past time for them to lead and take action against bullying.

The irony that WBC has come to divide us as a community, but has instead united us is not lost on this community.

Our faith leaders and community agree that the WBC does not reflect our understanding of a place of worship.  Houses of worship create, build, nurture and support community.  Despite our diverse views of God, we are united in our belief that God is a loving creator.

We stand in opposition to WBC's intrusion into our community.  At the same time, the tapestry of our community in all of its diversity are on full display, and demonstrates why the Greater Lansing Area in an amazing community in which to live, work and play."

It is astounding the number of logical fallacies, wrong-headed thinking and belligerence supported in this letter and I break out the letter, piece by piece to expose it.  Let's get started:

"The Greater Lansing Community stands unified in opposition to the message of hate brought to our community by the Westboro Church.  We know that as a community our strength lies in our diversity - religious, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, race, social, political and more.  This diversity is what creates a healthy thriving community.  And such communities foster and participate in a market place of ideas."

If we were totally diverse, and appreciated such diversity, then we would also appreciate any message of "hate".  However, this is not the case and an ethical standard based on mere human opinion and not on the Word of God is arbitrary.  Furthermore, I would need to see some proof that "diversity" creates a healthy, thriving community.  Ultimate diversity is an impossibility and as such is the very definition of chaos which seeks to destroy community.

"We understand that the diversity of our community also allows for a diversity of ideas and that is part of our strength.  This also means that we may not all agree on the best way to respond to WBC on Thursday.  We ask that each participant, in planning their role in the respond to WBC, consider that Westboro is only able to fund these trips by suing the people that respond to their provocations in confrontational or violent ways.  If you feel inspired to join our efforts please help the rest of us respond to their hate with more dignity than they are showing us and our youth."

Yes, the royal "we".  Since, I was not asked to participate in writing this letter, I am a bit confused as to the "we" here.  Self-anointed individuals should not presume to speak for the community, or so it would seem.  On the sheet of paper that contained this letter, there is no mention of the organization or group that put this letter together or passed it out.  It's funny how lock-step they assume the community to be and assume that everyone will be in an outrage over WBC.  That's very intolerant of them.  Also, it sounds like WBC funds their efforts in much the same way that the ACLU does, I wonder how many of my comrades in East Lansing are members of the ACLU.  Come to think of it, I wonder if the ACLU will come to aid the WBC in their efforts to protest - seems reasonable to me.

"We are appalled that Westboro Baptist Church has decided to direct its vitriol at the students of East Lansing High School.  Their hate stands in direct opposition to the values of our community and is an attempt to unfairly bully our your into silence."

Actually, I agree with most of this statement (as I would hate any outside organization doing this in my community), right up to the red-herring.  Don't see it?  We move from protesting to "bullying" almost effortlessly.  Then the rest of the letter falls downhill from here.

It has been reported the WBC has targeted these youth because they have done that which we encourage as a community value - they've engaged in the civic dialog and expressed a view with which WBC disagrees.  Instead of dialoging with the youth, and participating in the marketing place of ideas, Westboro has instead decided to attack, bully and harass our youth.  We stand with our youth and applaud this engagement by them.  We value participatory citizenship in which ideas are challenged through dialog over demagoguery and bullying.

Targeted by WBC?  Let's keep in mind that a student originally "targeted" the WBC.  The WBC is also engaging in "civic dialog", even though the anointed in community don't agree with the statements (I don't particularly agree with them either).  Attacking?  Protesting and picketing isn't attacking.  Unless a fist hits the cheek, no attack has been made; another red-herring.  So we have on the one side "engagement", the side with which the  "community" agrees, then you have the other side that "attacks, bullies and harasses".  I would expect this kind of tactic from Fox News, but not from my neighbors.

Sadly, the WBC protest serves to remind us that bulling is not isolated to our school hallways, but permeates our culture.  We whole-heartedly reject bullying as the violence it is - to individuals, to groups and to community.

We believe the protest by WBC shows our elected officials in the legislature that is it past time for them to lead and take action against bullying.

Ah, there it is.  The call for legislation.  Again a mindless attack on ethics and logic with so much apparent ease.  Just how would legislation to "ban" bullying actually be written?  Should it control the speech?  Yikes, that is scary.  Should it outlaw physical violence?  Well, it would seem that we already have laws on the books for that.  Apparently, these people are so angry at WBC, it has robbed them of their ability to think.  These are the kind of mindless thoughts that are all too typical of the output we've seen from the government school system.  Also, it really is in poor taste for these folks to use these children as mascots to further their political agenda.

How about bullying against the Christians, who if they don't pay for the schools' Christ-hating curriculum will have their property confiscated and persons thrown in jail.  If you want to talk about bullying, then let's start there.  I remember the bullying that occurred by the East Lansing High School when a tax-funded parade by the school that was so lewd as to be inappropriate for my children to watch.  But apparently, Christian parents aren't victims.  I don't state that to whine, but merely to point out, again, a very large contradiction - their ethical standard seems quite a bit arbitrary.

"Our faith leaders and community agree that the WBC does not reflect our understanding of a place of worship.  Houses of worship create, build, nurture and support community.  Despite our diverse views of God, we are united in our belief that God is a loving creator.

We stand in opposition to WBC's intrusion into our community.  At the same time, the tapestry of our community in all of its diversity are on full display, and demonstrates why the Greater Lansing Area in an amazing community in which to live, work and play"

It is true that the WBC is not a place of true Worship - only a Christ-honoring and exulting place of worship is a True place of worhsip.  But here we have the community telling the "church" what it should be, what it should look like, how it should act, what it should believe.  It would seem that the "separation of Church and State" is conveniently invoked when it serves certain purposes.  And then to claim that the Greater Lansing Area is an amazing community?  Folks, Lansing will be a great community when it bows the knee to the Risen King in all that it does, until then, keep the arbitrary ethical standards to yourself.

I'm all for protesting a pagan institution (I have many personal reasons in fact to do so), but any Christian doing such a protest needs to do so according to the Scriptures (as with everything else in life) and such an activity, especially to the World, has to be bathed in Grace and an appeal for them, in Love, to Repent and come and taste and see that the Lord is Good.  And I pray, that as Christians we begin to understand that any ethic not based on the Word of God is ultimately futile.

Does God Love Everybody? A Response to a Troubled Soul.

Friend,

I hope this letter finds you well.  I am writing this to you today as a response to the email that you sent a couple of days ago; I appreciate your patience in giving me some time to answer with scripture and careful thought.  As you have previously noted, all of our conversations do seem to run down to "God's Sovereignty", which is good because this is THE theme of the Scriptures.  Now, getting to your email.  Based on our recent conversation and the quotes in your message, here's what I believe to be your main points:

1. God is not sovereign over the wills of men, all men;  Especially in the area of "Salvation".  According to what you said, the Lord merely opens the way for those to freely (or not) choose Him.
2. Jesus died for all men, everyone who ever lived, who is living and who will ever live, even those in Hell;
3. Because some people do accept the Lord as Savior, and it is within every man to make such a decision, then there is some good born into all men.
4. God does love everyone, and you used 2 Peter 3:9 as a proof text.
5. I asked you if you had assurance that you would be with the Lord if you died tonight, and you hesitated, and ultimately said that you can't know that.  For this, you used Romans 2:16 and 2 Tim 4:1 to state that ALL judgements based on the good things man does weigh against the bad things man does at the end of History are done by Jesus and therefore no one can have assurance now or any other point in history.

In response to your points above, I will show that:

1. God is sovereign over all things.  Nothing comes to pass that wasn't ordained by God. 
2. Jesus did die for His children and only His children.  He did not come to save and "pave a way" for each and every individual.
3. Because the Lord on High is sovereign, He graciously converts our wicked hearts to hearts that willingly accept, and always accept His Son.
4. Because God is Sovereign and He elects those He loves to be His followers, He does not therefore love each and every person.
5. Finally, because God is Sovereign, He elects His Children, and provides His Children the way through the redeeming work of the Cross, His Children have FULL assurance based on this work and therefore have EVERY hope and confidence that we will remain in His Grace until Glory.

First, I'd like to establish the fact, from the Bible that God is indeed sovereign (all-powerful) and being sovereign, He is in control of all things.  There is no other doctrine or belief that so exalts God as this one does; His right to do all that He pleases.  All of the world is His (Ex 19:5) and therefore all souls are His to command (Ez 18:4). It is reasonable therefore to believe that he works ALL things after the Counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11).  I urge you Friend that you prayerfully and carefully read and study the following scriptures and consider their meanings for this IS the Word of God.  Consider then all of the uses of "Chosen", sovereignly selected by His choice (Isa 43:20, 1 Kings 3:8, Psa 89:3, 105:6, 106:5, Matt. 20:15, Matt 22:14, Mark 13:20, John 15:16, Acts 9:15, Acts 22:14, Acts 10:41, 1 Cor. 1:27, 2 Thess. 2:13, Eph. 1:4, James 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9, Rev. 17:14, Psalm 33:12, Rom 16:13, John 13:18, Deut. 7:6).  And then, there are all of the uses of the word "Elect".  The Election of God toward His Chosen people is a divine act of distinguishing Love, Sovereignty that is eternal, absolute, definite, irrevocable and personal.  Election communicates that by His divine Choice, God's predetermination of His Children are set apart as objects of mercy which become subjects of His Grace and are sanctified and prepared for Heaven (Matt. 24:22, Matt. 24:31, Luke 18:7, Rom. 8:33, 2 Tim. 2:10, Titus 1:1, Col 3:12, 1 Peter 1:2, Isa. 45:4, Isa. 65:9, 2 John 13, Rom. 9:11, Rom. 11:5, Rom 9:27, Rom. 11:7, 1 Thes. 1:4, 2 Peter 1:10, Rom. 11:28, Eph 1:9).

And like I keep stressing, there is no other doctrine that teaches the saved sinner to Love his Heavenly Father as this one does.  It is only those that have been made objects of His love, by HIS choice, can know REAL love and praise Him for it.  The saved sinner is then so encouraged to first Love his Savior and to consider is there any like our God?  Is there any other that the seraphims could say "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts" (Isa 6:3).  Saved sinners know that God is a GREAT God (2 Chron 2:5), to whom belongs righteousness (Ps 11:7), glory (John 17:5), Wisdom (Rom 11:13, Power (Ps 66:3), might (Eph 1:19), everlasting (Isa 40:28), forever (Deut 33:27), righteous in all His judgments (Rev 16:7), merciful (Jms 5:11), Love (Rom 8:39), patient (Rom 15:15), reserving the wicked for destruction (Job 21:30).

God's choice of particular and certain individuals unto salvation rests solely in His own sovereign will.  His choice of electing sinners is not based on anything good within these individuals (a choice, standing, etc).  God gives faith and repentance to each individual He elects.  Therefore those whom God sovereignly elects, through the Power of the Holy Spirit, come to a willing acceptance of Christ.  God's choice  is the ultimate cause of Salvation, not the sinners choice of Christ.  And until we realize this, we cannot be thankful to our Savior.  See Acts 11:18, Acts 13:48. Romans 9:10-21, Ephesians 1:4-11, Ephesians 2:4-10, Romans 8:29-30, Prov. 16:4, I Peter 2:8, Jude 4, II Peter 2:12, Rev. 17:17, Rev. 13:8, Luke 10:20, Phil. 4:3, Rom. 9:22, 23, Rom. 1:28, Rom. 2:5, II Thess. 2:11, Acts 13:4, John 12:39, 40, Matt. 25:41, John 9:39., Matt. 11:25, Luke 2:84.

Christ's redeeming work at the Cross and resurrection was intended for those who God chooses, a particular group of individuals - this work is powerful enough to ensure the salvation of His children.  For instance, In the Gospel of John, we see, repeatedly, that Jesus makes the distinction between those he came to save and those he didn't. 

"John 6:39: And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.  For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

The Father, though, did not give everyone to Jesus, meaning He did not merely provide a "way" to the Father for everyone because the Father does not love everyone.  Consider this passage: 

"John 10:26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Further on in John, we see that Jesus prays only for those that are given to him by the Father (not everyone).  Jesus prays to the Father because he knows that prayer that the Will of the Father is effectual (and not up to man's whims). 

"John 17:9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours."

Because of the fall, man is unable to come to a saving knowledge of the Gospel on his own.  As I said before, the sinner is dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and totally corrupt. His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil nature; therefore, he will not choose good over evil. Therefore, this dead and corrupt being must be made anew and regenerated by the Spirit.  The resulting Faith is not something that man contributes to his salvation but is the result of it.  An utter and total gift of God.  See Genesis 2:15-17, Psalm 51:5, Jeremiah 17:9, John 6:44, Romans 3:10-18, Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Ephesians 2:1-10, Gen. 2:17, Job 14:4, Ps. 51:5, Prov. 30:12, Jer. 13:23, Matt. 11:25, John 3:19, John 5:21, John 6:53, John 8:19, John 3:3, Acts 13:41, Rom. 3:10-12, Rom. 5:12, I Cor. 1:18, I Cor. 2:14, II Cor. 1:9, II Cor. 5:17, Eph. 2:1-3, Eph. 2:12.

This, at times, especially for those new to it is a hard truth.  It "feels" like God is playing the puppet-master and is unfair.  Before we jump to this conclusion, however, let me remind you that Scriptures say:

Ezekial 18:25-29 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

Romans 9:20-24   But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

Now on to your 2 Peter quote.  As I believe I have fully covered this question above, I will only mention here that it is important to remember the audience here in 2 Peter 3:9 that states "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."  Peter is speaking to the Church here and is evident within this verse in the use of the "you" and elsewhere in the book (See 2 Peter 1:1 and 2 Peter 3:11-14).  As I have shown above, the Lord truly does not wish and therefore does not allow ANY to perish that are his own (Praise be to God).  For what can the Lord "want" or wish that the Sovereign Holy King of the Universe not get?

Continuing, God therefore does not love everyone, as the Word states:

Psalms 5:5   The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers (notice it doesn't say work) of iniquity.

Psalms 7:11   God  a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.

Psalms 11:5   The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Ephesians 2:3   among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

But the Good news for those in Christ: 

Romans 8:1   There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:4 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

All that said, the Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has FULL assurance that the Lord will keep him until the end.  All who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given this faith are eternally saved.  They are ACTIVELY kept in the faith by His work, not by our works (but good works are a fruit of this inward work of the Spirit), by the power of the Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.  See John 6:35-40, John 6:44, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 8:35-39, Ephesians 1:13-14, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:12-13, Jude 24-25.

But there is exceedingly good news too.  Although the Lord doesn't love everyone, He graciously, fully, loves His children.  With this love, the Christ-follower has no fear of the final judgement.  As it says in 2 Corinthians, the Believer in Christ Jesus has no fear for the Final Judgment of Man.  2 Cor 5:10.  The Christian should be free from the fear of Judgment.  Although the natural man should GREATLY fear it, the Christian should be free from such fear.  It is the universal teaching of Scripture that  Christians are delivered from this fear of the Day of the Judgment.  See Hebrews 2:15, 2 Peter 3:12, Romans 8:15, 23-24, I Cor 1:30

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Romans 8:23-24 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.”

1 John 4:17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

Despite the Christian's unworthiness and all of their sins and filthy actions, they are Children of the High King.  The Father will NEVER reject his children. See I John 4:17.  Christians do not fear the Final Judgment, they instead rely solely on the finished work of Christ for them.  They cannot rely upon their own acts, for they are the cause of much misery and so woefully inadequate.  Thanks be to God for that.

See Rom 5:1, Phil 1:6, Jude 1:24

Phil 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:24 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you  blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

The Lord, His Character, Holiness and Sovereignty is something with which we must all grapple.  Some choose to ignore such things, but these truths are, at the end of the day, unavoidable.  It is the foundation of all knowledge and the basis of the Believer's Faith.  I pray, dear Friend, that the Lord would cause you to study these scriptures with a fleshy heart and that you would come to realize how understanding this infects and affects every area of life and ministry.

Your Friend,

David.

 

 

 

 

Are all Sins Equal?

I've been asked this question several times in the last two weeks by different people and in different situations.  My answers have been less than adequate, so I attempt to remedy that with this post. 

The question or statement, in question, goes something like "God views all sins equally".  To which, I have responded with "No, even though the tiniest sin falls short of His perfect Holiness and deserves wrath and judgement, it does not follow then that all sins are equal.  There are several things that I would like to add to that statement.  Here's a better answer:

1. Sins, or transgressions of the law are all heinous, as they fall short of His Holy code and offend, first and foremost God.  Sins are not "bad" because of what they produce in consequences, they are "bad" because they offend our King.
2. Some sins are more heinous then others, in and of themselves, and other sins are more egregious based on the context and the offender.
3. The sins that are more heinous in and of themselves are the sins of the "First Table" of the law.  See 1 Sam. 2:25.   Also, sins against the second table of the law are more heinous when they are carried out, verses only though of (even though both are sinful).  Finally, sins against the Gospel are more heinous than sins committed against the law. Matt. 11:20-24
4. Contextual Sins:  Sins from those in high places.  That is to say that sins from magistrates, pastors, governors, fathers, and the like are more grievous then the same sins committed from the people that they govern. 1 Kings 14:16, Micah 3:5, Rom. 2:23, 24. 
5. Secondly, sins that are committed in the "land of light" are more grievous to the Spirit, then sins committed in a place of darkness.  Isa. 26:10, Ps. 106:7, 2 Sam. 16:22
6. Thirdly, sins committed on the Sabbath are worse then sins committed on other days.  2 Chron. 28:22, Isa. 1:5.
7. The final contextual sin can be called the transgressions against knowledge, this means that willingly or knowingly commissions are worse than sins through ignorance.

I found the following helpful from the Westminster:

Q: Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
A: Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.

Scripture References:

Ezekiel 8:6. He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
Ezekiel 8:13. He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
Ezekiel 8:15. Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
1 John 5:16. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
Psalm 78:17. And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
Psalm 78:32. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
Psalm 78:56. Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies.
Psalm 19:13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Helpful Links
Question 83
More Detail on Question 83

The problem with the 'Social Gospel'...

... is that we don't do it!  For all of us who are automatically "turned off" by the phrase "social Gospel", we shouldn't be (for all of the neo-cons reading this brief article, stay with me).  Some hold to the belief that says wanting Biblical change in our culture, institutions, and families, is automatically suspect as a "secondary" concern (at best).  This theology teaches that all else besides "saving souls" is a distraction to what is truly important.  Remember, Jesus never said "come to me and escape or ignore the problems of this world".  So why do we act this way? 

Here are a few points to consider on this topic.  There is plenty of repentance in the modern Church to be had on this issue and keeping the following in mind will go along way to that end:

1. Jesus Christ and his accomplishment at Calvary is THE starting point of the Bible, but is NOT the ending point - the Christian quickly learns to love His law. Ps 119:47,97,113,127, and 159, Prv 6:23.
2. The Gospel does not just save the soul, it saves the entire person.  Matthew 7:16,20;
3. When the Gospel makes us new in Christ, we seek to transform everything according to the Scriptures;
4. Any "social" effort apart from the Scriptures is sin.  Our particular culture needs to repent of our schemes of redistribution of wealth and other legalized theft in the "name of the poor".
5. It is not wrong to be involved in activities (i.e. mercy ministries) that are not solely evangelistic. James 2:16;
6. If "social Gospel" means to apply the Scriptures to all of life (including helping the poor), then it is a worthy term.  If, on the other-hand, it is a means for unbiblical politics and other activities it is sin and completely unworthy of Christian attention.

Now, all that said, "making disciples" still requires regular Gospel-centered preaching and teaching.  For this is the true starting point of all social change.  A dead man can do nothing but a man who has a new heart in Christ can do many good things indeed.  We must be made alive in him to "walk in his statutes".

PS.  A great introductory article to this way of thinking is available here for further review.

Be Holy in all of your Conduct

I Peter 1:14-16: 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

I was struck, while listening to a sermon today, with the simplicity of this command.  It is simple, yet vast.  We as Christians, and especially Reformed people, can really complicate things - we come up with systems, arguments, diagrams, camps, labels, books (and books and books), 5 views of this and that, etc. etc. sometimes (see previous post on Kline) to escape the simple truths of Scripture.  Of course, every other "tradition" within Christendom does the same thing, but we, should know better.  So, when we set out to "be holy in all of our conduct" what does it mean?  Does "all" mean all?  really? 

Well, if all means all, then we are to conduct ourselves as Christians in the area of:

1. Church committees; Small groups;  Hymn and song selection? Qualifications of Elder;
2. Voting for political office;  Serving in political office; Law and statecraft;
3. Parenting; Family size;
4. Education;
5. Car and home repair;
6. Charity;
7. Pet grooming;
8. Business and entrepreneurship;
9. Wedding preparations and expenditures; Roles of women; Roles of Men;
10. Stewardship of our salaries;

Are we to be categorized as a people with the attitude of "don't tell me how to live my life!?".  Now, very few people come out and say this, but the attitude is there and we all harbor it - we fail to remember the greater reality before us.  Our attitude should then be "well that's interesting - let's search the scriptures together" rather than a "don't judge me" attitude. Isn't it wonderful that the Lord has fully equipped us for his good work and pleasure through the Word?  Isn't it a perfect reflection of His Grace that God has given us clear direction for all of life?  How great the Father's love for us that he gave us his Son so that we are free to follow him out of a heart of joy and gratitude?

Now, because a call to holiness can be so perverted - by the Health and Wealth crowd on the one side and the Ascetics on the other - in my estimation, there are some important things to keep in mind:

1. "Theology" is not just about pontificating on Hebrew grammar inflections, it has very real value, day-to-day practicality for us all in all ways and everything that we do.  Seeking wisdom is searching the Scriptures and is "doing" theology.  Anyone finding themselves saying that they "hate theology" then there is a real belief problem and should devote such an attitude to prayer.
2. Whenever a Church body decides to "focus on just the important aspects of Scripture" it is committing grave error.  Making disciples encompasses ALL of life and is a life-long process.  While some focus on certain aspects of said, it should never be a focus to the exclusion of all else.
3. Saying that the scriptures speak in every area, does not mean that every person will do and look the same.  For instance, this does not mean that every Christian household will listen to the same music, watch the same movies, or have the same number of children.  Generally speaking, however, it does mean that we will have the same attitudes about these areas, especially as our attitudes are more and more "infected" by his Holy Word.
4. A true hunger for holiness is a self-degrading journey; the more we look unto His holiness, the more we should realize that we are anything but. Legalism is any law but the Law of God and we all have a tendency to work out our salvation our own way.  Pray it never be.
5. The strength of our convictions in these matters should always, always grow from the rich soil of gratitude and thankfulness.  We are a people who have been set free and out of a heart that is grateful comes our desire to conform to His Holiness.

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. - Hebrews 13:20-22

The Sinai Covenant and the Klinean Cancer

Meredith Kline's Covenantal Theology (a.k.a. Klineanism) teaches that the Mosaic Covenant and everything associated with it including the Law (10 commandments) was a covenant of works or an era of "intrusion".  The implications of this understanding of the Scriptures are huge and I won't even scratch the surface in this tiny article.  Furthermore, the author of this stupid little blog post is so inadequate for the task it almost makes a mockery of the entire debate - but I press on in need and interest.

So, in this line of thinking, because this was an era (or dispensation, if you will) of intrusion, the ethical stipulations given under the Mosaic Covenant were therefore temporary.   The only problem with such a theology is that there is absolutely no support for it in the Scriptures.  The mental and exegetical gymnastics that one has to attempt to make sense of this interpretation are astounding.  To summarize this position, I provide the following 4 points:

1. Because Christ fulfilled the Sinai Covenant, (using Matthew 5:17-20 as a proof-text), He also, therefore abolishes the Law.  Here, we have Covenant = Law. 
2. The duties or requirements of a covenant are only obligatory on those who are party to the covenant.  I deal with this in further detail below.
3. Klineanism wrongly asserts that the entirety of Israel is typological (pointing to Christ and therefore completely removed in Christ).  This is how the modern Reformed Church gets to the idea that "whatever is not re-affirmed in the New Testament is automatically denied from the Old Testament." 
4. There is a tendency to pick and choose the laws and examples set forth in Israel to follow by using a complicated system of gears and pulleys rather than the clear teaching of the Word.

Remember, the Character of God does not change.  And his holy character is reflected in the Law (Lev 20:7-8) and by implying such a dramatic change between Old and New necessitates a different character, a different "god".

The Biblical Antidote for the Klinean Cancer is a clear understanding of Scripture. The Bible states that:

1. God did not view Israel's unique holiness as somehow disqualifying the nations from coming to Israel to hear the declaration of the law from Zion (Isa. 2:2-4).
2. All the earth should worship the Lord (Ps. 96:9)
3. the Lord reigns over all nations (Isa. 42:4, Ps. 47:8)
4. The whole earth is in some sense holy unto the Lord, and it is a disgrace for any people to violate the standards of holiness and sin against God (Prov. 14:34)
5. Both Jew and Gentile are under the requirements of the Law (Rom. 1:32; 2:12, 14-15, 17-23; 3:9, 19-20, 23)
6. The Lord writes the Law on His peoples' hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-33).  We must see, therefore, that the Lord repeals this which we do not.  All other conclusions are arbitrary.
7. The Nation of Israel was typological in many ways, but it does not follow that it was typological in ALL ways.  The Bible teaches that the Law does in fact apply to those outside of Old Testament Israel.  For example "Sodom, Nineveh, the expulsion of the Canaanites, David's intentions, Ezra's praise of Artaxerxes, Daniel's experience in Babylon, the prophetic rebukes of the nations, the wisdom literature, the "man of lawlessness," the testimony of Paul in court, Romans 13...The Mosaic law (by which all men are condemned, says Romans 1-3) was a model for all nations to follow (Deut. 4:6,8)." - Greg Bahnsen
8. The Klinean position is arbitrary in nature, the adherents tend to pick and choose what they'd like to keep form the Old Testament.  For instance are we really to assume that being just and fair in legal situations is out-of-date concept?  The ethics of justice are now to be old-fashioned and out of scope for the new testament believer?  The very holiness of God's Law makes it applicable to all people everywhere and is a common standard of justice for all nations.

We must first assume Continuity between the testaments, until there isn't.  God has final say on all things and therefore, only God himself can repeal His Word.

Matthew 5:17-20:  17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Old Covenant, New Covenant and the Law

The following questions were asked of my last post ("Evangelism in the Old Testament"), which are paraphrased to provide context:

"When you say that the Law applies to all people, everywhere and at all times, how do you define "Law" and would you say that different NT authors have differing definitions of Law.

Second, I'm still not seeing how a covenant made between national Israel and God at Sinai applies to non-national-Israelites today?"

My first response to the second question (just to keep you guessing) is another question, and that is:  how are we sure that there is any difference between Today and Yesterday and Israel and non-Israel.  The questioner is assuming something gigantic here and needs to be flushed out a bit.  The underlying assumption in the question is that there is a large difference between "now" and "then", and there are some large differences (thank the Lord), but we must let the Scriptures define what those would be. 

Sinai was not an era of "intrusion" rather it was the unfolding of Grace of God to His people. We KNOW that all scripture is God breathed and profitable, so our starting point must be that we should presume that Old Testament Laws continue to be morally binding until they are removed by later, God-breathed revelation.  We have no right to spurn Old Testament Law on our own opinions or whims.  Israel as a political entity has expired, along with its constitution and judicial laws.  However, the general equity of those laws is still very much required for all people and all rulers.  We must not add to Scriptures by including more in the discontinuity then allowed by divine revelation.

Now to the first question, how do the New Testament authors use the word "law" and what then does the Bible say that the role of the Law in the life of the modern believer?

In Romans, we read that the Law is Holy and good (Rom 7:12) and Paul quotes it often (I Cor 9, Eph 6).  We are to delight in the Law (Rom 7:22).  James declares that to follow the law is good (James 2:8-10) and we are then called to be doers of the Law (James 4:11-12).  Peter calls on believes to Holy living (I Peter) and John says that keeping the law is knowing God and Loving our fellow man (I John 2 and 5).  Therefore, the Law is good, binding and authoritative.

Then, also in the New Testament, we read that we died unto the law and are to live unto God (Galatians 2:9).  We are not under the law but under Grace (1 Cor 9:20, Romans 6:14) and in Romans 7, we read that we have been discharged from the law and in Ephesians 2:15, Christ has abolished the law of ordinances.

Now how to we bring these apparent contradictions in the use of the word "law"?  It all comes together in I Tim 1:8, for we read that the Law is Good, if a man uses it lawfully.  Therefore the Law is perverted when Man uses it for his own gains.  When this happens, it is evil and this is what is condemned in the New Testament - not the Law itself, but the evil perversions of Man in the name of God and His Law.

The ethical demands of the law reflect God's holy character and the law is of the Holy Spirit (Rom 7:14), those that are Spiritual love the Law, those that are walking in the flesh are at not subject to it and against it (Rom 8:4-7).  The Law is a "transcript of God's Character" and to be cherished by All Believers everywhere and in all times.

Evangelism in the Old Testament

The great themes of the Scriptures start in Genesis and end in Revelation; where we get in trouble, as a Church, is to start imposing separations and systems that just aren't there.  One way that we do this is by placing a great divide between the Old and New Testaments.  To not see great continuity between the Testaments one has to contort the scriptures to absurdity - thankfully most in Christendom aren't consistent enough to accomplish that, even though their stated positions do.  One such contortion is to read The Great Commission and Evangelism as a completely NEW, and thus unique, call to the Church.  However, Evangelism is not new, it has been a part of the plan since the beginning.  Here are some examples:  

• Israel being called to faith and repentance: Deut. 30:8; Josh. 24:15; Lev. 5:5; 16:29-31; Deut 10:16; Ezek. 18:30-31;
• Israel being called witness to their children: Deut. 6:7, 20-25;
• Israel being called to witness to their neighbors: Jer. 31:34;
• David's call to witness to the nations: Ps. 18:49;
• David's prayer that salvation would be known among all the nations: Ps. 67;
• David's confidence that all nations would be converted: Ps. 22:27;
• The missionary work of the prophets:  Isa. 2:2-4; 19:25; 40:5, 9; 42:6; 45:22; 49:6; 56:7; 66:19; Zech. 8:23; cf. Ps. 68:31; 85:92;

So, clearly, it is established that Evangelism was prescribed and practiced in the Old Testament; but what does that buy us?  It gets us several things:

1. The consistent Character of God.  Same God, same work, same destiny.  This means, then that there has always been one plan of redemption, no changes, and no accidents.
2. More proof that God's Word (and Law) applies to all people, in every time, everywhere.  There is a modern error afoot that teaches that all has been abrogated until reinstated in the New Testament.  This is a more "palatable" form of Dispensationalism and one that is counter-Scriptural.
3. It further lends proof to the idea that the New Testament is NOT a starting point, at least not in the same way it is held in the modern church.  Now, granted most people would never admit this but practically speaking, especially when they ask the question "where do you see that in the New Testament", they are implicitly relying on this fallacy.
4. Understanding the above would also lend one to the understanding that God is at work and His work is large and grand - what He started in Israel is now EXPANDING to all the nations, and that's exciting.
5. In tends to inoculate us against the error that makes "saving lost souls" the primary concern and over-individualizing all things Evangelical.

Personally, I find it incredibility reassuring that Kingdom growth has always been a part of the plan Israel the Church, and that I get to live in the "last days" on the other side of the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15 to witness His Kingdom expansion.  What a great time to be alive!!