The Crossless Gospel

The late Zane C. Hodges proposed this dilemma in his famous desert illustration:

Let me begin with a strange scenario. Try to imagine an unsaved person marooned on a tiny, uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He has never heard about Christianity in his life. One day a wave washes a fragment of paper up onto the beach. It is wet but still partly readable. On that paper are the words of John 6:43-47. But the only readable portions are: “Jesus, therefore, answered and said to them” (v. 43) and “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (v. 47). Now suppose that our unsaved man somehow becomes convinced that this person called Jesus can guarantee his eternal future since He promises everlasting life. In other words, he believes Jesus’ words in John 6:47. Is he saved?

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The Hound of Heaven

"The Hound of Heaven" was written by a young man named Francis Thompson over 100 years ago. “The Hound of Heaven” however, is still relevant. It was made into a movie. Songs have been written about the Hound of Heaven. There is a website: thehoundofheaven.com. Prominent Christian leaders and authors refer to the Hound of Heaven.

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Twenty-five Advanced Soteriological Questions

Question fifteen: Is salvation instantaneous or a process?

The word “salvation” comes from a Greek soteria which means deliverance, primarily spiritual deliverance. This salvation or spiritual deliverance has three tenses. We have been delivered from the condemnation of sin, we are being delivered from the control of sin, and we shall be delivered from the very circumstances of sin. I got tired of the p’s (penalty, power, and presence).

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Twenty-five Advanced Soteriological Questions

Question Fourteen: Does God’s Word teach Infant Baptism?

Covenant theologians like Robert Murray advocate the necessity and salvic merit to infant baptism. Robert L. Saucy points out "the difficulty involved in trying to distinguish the efficacy of baptism as it applies to adults and infants is noted by Reformed theologian John Murray. His attempt to maintain the same significance for both in the following quotation appears to contradict the clear biblical principle of salvation by faith.”[1]

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Twenty-five advanced Soteriological Questions

Question Thirteen: What was Jacob Arminius’ view of the atonement?

Jacob Arminius believed in unlimited atonement as the following quote reveals: Christ died for all men; that He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world; (1 John ii. 2;) that He took away the sin of the world; (John i. 29;) that He gave his flesh for the life of the world; (John vi. 51;) that Christ died even for that man who might be destroyed with the meat of another person; (Rom. xiv.15;) and that false teachers make merchandise even of those who deny the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction; (2 Pet. ii. 1, 3.)[1]

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Twenty-five advanced Soteriological Questions

Question twelve: What are the five articles of the Remonstrance?

In 1609, the Five Arminian Articles or the Remonstrance were written by the followers of Jacob Arminius “in opposition to those parts of the Belgic Confession of Faith and the Heidelberg Catechism which stressed what came to be known as the five points of Calvinism, which were later set forth at the Synod of Dort (1618-1619).[1]

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Twenty-five Advanced Soteriological Questions

Question ten is Who was Theodore Beza?

Theodore Beza 1519–1605 was John Calvin’s first student and Calvin’s successor for 46 years at Geneva after Calvin’s death in 1564. Shean Wright, biographer of Beza wrote: John Calvin was undoubtedly the father of Calvinism, but Beza very well may have been the first Calvinist. At the academy in Geneva, Beza assumed the role of the instructor of Greek and theology and pastor of a city church. Beza defended the Huguenots against persecution in France and debated against Lutherans in defense of Calvinism.

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Twenty-Five Advanced Soteriological Questions

The views of the Arminians set forth in the Remonstrance of 1610 were examined and rejected as heretical at a national Synod in Dort, meeting from 1618 to November 13, 1619. Not only did the Synod reject the Remonstrance position but it also set out to present the Calvinistic teaching in regard to the five matters called into question.

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Twenty-Five Advanced Soteriological Questions

Question eight deals with apocatastasis which is the view of universal salvation held to by Origen. One of the texts on which Origen based his view of apocatastasis was 1 Corinthians 15:28.

“The Son’s submission to the Father means perfect reintegration of all creation, so the sub-mission of his enemies to the Son means salvation of his subjects and reintegration of the lost....this submission will take place in certain ways and times and according to precise rules: the entire world will submit to the Father, not as a result of violence, nor by necessity that compels subjection, but thanks to words, reason, teaching, emulation of the best, good norms, and also threats, when deserved and apt . . . Providence operates in of each one, safeguarding the rational creatures’ free will”[1]

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Twenty-Five Advanced Soteriological Questions

This is question number six. What is Amyraldian theology?

Amyraldianism is sometimes referred to as three or four-point Calvinism. Dr. Bowman writes: In France, the controversy continued largely around Moise Amyraut (Moses Amyraldus) who taught at the Academy of Saumur and John Cameron who also taught for a short time at the same school. Both men did not believe in limited atonement. Amyraut became the theological father of four-point Calvinism . . . Such men as Charles C. Ryrie and John Walvoord could be classified as four-point Calvinists.[1] All five-point Calvinists inevitably foster to some degree a limitation upon kosmos references pertaining to the soteriological import. This limitation is usually shown by pointing out references (such as Luke 2:1; Jn. 1:10; 12:29; Acts 11:28; 19:27; 24:5; Rom. 1:8; Col. 1:6; Rev. 13:3, etc.) that cannot mean everyone within the world. Such limited redemptionists as Symington, Pink, Berkhof, and Shedd may be consulted. It must be conceded that such references as above, and others, could have such a limitation placed upon them.[2]

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Twenty-Five Advanced Soteriological Questions

B. B. Warfield in his book The Plan of Salvation identifies and exposes autosoterism: “All religions except the Christian are autosoteric... Pelagius, no mean systematizer, built up a complete autosoteric system...” Warfield quotes Pelagius: "I say," declares Pelagius, "that man is able to be without sin, and that he is able to keep the commandments of God." .... This was the first purely autosoteric scheme published in the Church, and it is thoroughly typical of all that has succeeded it from that day to this” (B. B. Warfield. quoted from Monergism https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/WarfieldPlan02.html).

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What is saving faith?

In 1505, Martin Luther (1483-1546) was traveling by foot when he was struck to the ground by lightning. He cried out, “Save me, St. Anne, I will become a monk.” Luther ended his training as a lawyer and became a monk in Erfurt. He slept on a steel cot to merit salvation by works. He confessed his sins to his priest for three and four hours every day. He would get his absolution only on the way back to remember a sin he forgot to confess and would fall back into despair.

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Perseverance versus Preservation

Advocates of the doctrine of perseverance teach that the believer must persevere to the end in holiness of character, love for God and the brethren, and belief in the doctrines of Scripture.

On the other hand, proponents of the doctrine of preservation teach that God keeps the believer saved even if he does not persevere to the end of his Christian life in holiness, love, and truth. Not enduring to the end is not normal for believers but there are examples in Scripture of believers who walked not with God at the end in holiness, love, and truth.

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Answers to Twenty-five Advanced Salvation Questions

This is question number four: What is sacerdotalism?

Martin Lloyd-Jones defined sacerdotalism as “the notion that there is inherent efficacy in the sacramental act itself.”[1] Grudem defines sacerdotalism as the Roman Catholic view “that there is a special priesthood of ordained people within the church who have a special authority or ability to extend God’s grace to people in the church.”[2] Theopedia describes sacerdotalism: Sacerdotalism (from the Latin sacerdos - priest) is the belief in a priestly system where the priest has been given the special authority to act as a spiritual mediator between God and mankind. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and high Anglican traditions are sacerdotal. Although the priests are not supposed to be seen as better or more godly than others, their role in the sacraments of the church gives them a special "mediatorial" role, as representatives of the Church (Christ's body on earth) and thus of Christ. This is especially noticeable in the Roman Catholic confession, mass, and last rites.[3]

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Answers to Twenty-Five Advanced Salvation Questions

Here is the third answer to an advanced salvation question

What is a biblical refutation of annihilationism?

Grudem writes “the idea that there will be eternal conscious punishment of unbelievers has been denied recently even by some evangelical theologians.” He then lists some of these evangelicals in a footnote: “See Philip E. Hughes, The True Image: The Origin and Destiny of Man in Christ (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989), pp. 405-407; David L. Edwards and John R. W. Stott, Essentials: A Liberal-Evangelical Dialogue (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1988, pp. 275-76; Clark Pinnock, “The Destruction of the Finally Impenitent,” CthRev 4 (Spring 1990), pp. 243-59).[1]

In addition to the arguments refuting universalism, Jesus’ statement in Matthew 25:46 disproves annihilationism: “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” The same Greek word aionios for eternal is used to describe both eternal punishment and eternal life. The annihilationists cannot have an eternal heaven without an eternal lake of fire.


            [1] Wayne Grudem. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994) 1148.

Answers to Twenty-Five Advanced Salvation Questions

Here is the second of twenty-five salvation questions answered:

2. What is Universalism?

            Charles Ryrie lists the verses that universalists use to support their view: John 12:32; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Philippians 2:11, and 1 Timothy 2:4.[1] These verses, however, can be shown not to teach universalism. In John 12:32, Jesus said he would “draw all men unto myself.” Jesus also mentions judgment on His rejecters in 12:48. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:22 promises that “in Christ shall all be made alive.” The promise is not to all but to all who are in Christ who will be resurrected in the first resurrection. John notes that there is a “first resurrection” and adds “Blessed and holy is he that has a part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no part” (Revelation 20:5-6). Paul in Philippians 2:11 does predict “that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” This is a future prophecy of all people including the unsaved bowing to the Lordship of Christ, but Paul does not promise that all unsaved are going to acknowledge Him as Savior. So many other Scriptures teach against second changes after death (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:11-15). 1 Timothy 2:4 like 2 Peter 3:8 expresses God’s desire or wish for all sinners to be saved not His determination that all unsaved will be saved. Another strong argument is the fate of the two human opponents of Christ: the antichrist and false prophet in Revelation. At Christ’s second coming, both are cast into “the lake of fire burning with brimstone” (19:20). One thousand years later after the millennium, Satan is “cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are” (20:10) and have been for 1000 years. Then John adds “and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

            [1] Charles Ryrie. Basic Theology (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 607.

 

Answers to Twenty-Five Advanced Salvation Quesions

Here is the first of twenty-five salvation questions answered:

1. What is Restorationism?

            Michael Horton stated that “the concept of universal restoration (apokatastasis) was taught by the ancient Gnostics.”[1] So Horton shows the similarity between restorationism and apokatastasis and universalism. Horton also calls apokatastasis and universal restoration inclusivism. Horton notes the conflicting views of Karl Barth on universal restoration. In one place in his Church Dogmatics, he writes “There is no one who does not participate in Christ in this turning to God... There is no one who is not raised and exalted with him to true humanity.” But for them, Barth insists, “The Church ought not to preach Apokatastasis.”[2]

            The difference between restorationism and universalism seems to be that restorationism emphasizes the restoration of even Satan and his demons. Horton refutes universal restoration. “Any notion of a final restoration of all spiritual beings, including Satan and his demonic forces, is dispelled by the clear teaching of Scripture that they will be destroyed.”[3] As argued under universalism, Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophets eternally perish according to Revelation 19:20 and 20:10. Origen, however, in his Apokatastasis also taught the restoration of Satan and his demons. So, it is difficult to find a clear distinction between restorationism and apokatastasis, and universalism.

            [1] Michael Horton. The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims On The Way (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011), 976.

            [2] Karl Barth. Church Dogmatics, vol 4. 2, (New York: The Tower Building, 2010), 27.

            [3] Michael Horton. The Christian Faith, 981.

The Original Creation and the New Creation

What was the raw material or the states of things when God began to create the original creation? The incomplete planet is described in Genesis 1:2 as useless or “without form” as a desert in Dt. 32:10 which is uninhabited. The earth was also lifeless. The planet at this stage was covered with darkness and water. So the planet in verse two was useless, lifeless, and covered in darkness. “Darkness” in Scripture does not always mean evil as here and in Psalm 104:19-24 where the darkness of night is seen as a blessing from God for which he is to be praised.

The planet at this stage is full of potential. How did God bring this raw material to its full potential? With this raw material, the great Potter formed the earth and then man out of the dust of the earth. First, the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and then God spoke his first creative words in Gen. 1:3 and day by day for six days God removed the incompleteness and deficiencies of earth.

Paul draws an analogy between the incomplete earth and the sinner before salvation in 2 Cor.4:3-6. The sinner before salvation was also useless, lifeless (Eph. 2:1), and in darkness (Eph. 4:18). But then “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). How did God do this work in the sinner’s life? The same as He did with the useless, lifeless, and in darkness planet. The Spirit of God moved on the sinner’s life (John 16:8) when God’s Word was spoken or preached (Rom. 10:17).

Paul himself, as Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9, is an illustration. Saul, on the road to Damascus, in his spiritual uselessness, lifelessness, and darkness, was struck to the ground by a light that was brighter than the noon day sun. That light was Jesus Christ the Son of God who was and is the Light of the world. As you and I witness the Word of God to unregenerate sinners, God’s Spirit will work at opening satanically blinded eyes so the Creator of the universe can once again create a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

Helen Keller was both blind and deaf. Her world was only darkness and touch. Anne Sullivan, who was partially blind most of her life, began to tutor Helen Keller when she was seven years old. Anne would spell words in the palm of Helen’s hand and let her touch that object. For example, Anne spelled d-o-l-l in Helen’s palm while Helen felt the doll Anne had given her. Anne spelled w-a-t-e-r in Helen’s palm while her other hand was under a water spicket. At that moment as Kevin J. Vanhoozer noted, “the mystery of language was revealed.” Helen Keller wrote in her autobiography: “I knew then that ‘w-a-t-e-r’ meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free’” (The Story of My Life. New York, 1988, 18). Vanhoozer observed, “Helen’s teacher, a miracle worker like the Holy Spirit, ministered the word and brought understanding” (First Theology: God, Scripture, and Hermeneutics. Downers Grove: IVP, 123).

 

 

 

 

Sealed by the Holy Spirit

Billy said to Jimmy, “My Dad has a list of names of men that he can wipe and your daddy’s name is first on it.” Jimmy went home and told he daddy, “Daddy, I have something to tell you. Billy’s dad has a list of names of men he can wipe and your name is first.” Jimmy’s dad went to see Billy’s dad and rolled up his sleeves. “Is it true you have a list of men you can wipe and my name is on it.” Billy’s dad responded, “That is right.” Jimmy’s dad replied, “You can’t do it and what are you going to do about it?”

Billy’s dad said, “Well, I guess I’ll just take your name off.”

Did you know, child of God, God has your name on a list, and He will never take it off? In Luke 10:40, Jesus said, “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” We call this the doctrine of eternal security and this blessed truth is the result of the sealing of the Holy Spirit. In John 10:28, Jesus gave a powerful promise of security:

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The Trinity's Part in Our Salvation: REDEMPTION by God the Son

Did Christ die for all people (unlimited atonement) or just believers, i.e., the elect (limited atonement)?

There Are At Least Four Different Views

1. Universalism: Believe that all people eventually will go to heaven.

Why is this view wrong? The following references refute this view (Lk.16; Rev. 20:11). Limited atonement people accuse unlimited atonement people of Universalism and quote Mt. 20:28 as proof. “For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and give his life a ransom for many.”

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