Defining Some "isms"

What is Atheism?

Atheism is the belief that God does not exist. In Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1 it says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God!’ “

Atheists also would have to believe in evolution since they do not believe God exists. There has to be a reason for the existence of the universe so the theory of evolution is their “drug” of choice. Atheism contradicts itself in that it does not believe in the existence of God, but they have enough “faith” to believe in another god – the god that is evolution. This of course is in direct violation of Exodus 20 verse 3 where Moses says, “You shall have no other gods before me.”

It is illogical for anyone to believe in evolution because it means we are believing in randomness, chance happenings for the causality of our universe. An effect always has to have a cause. The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:1 in the beginning God (the cause) created the heavens and the earth (the effect).

What is Theism?

Theism is the belief that a god exists. Here’s the catch though, a Theist is not necessarily a Christian. There are Theists in false religions also – like for instance Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons. The Jesus in those religions is not the Jesus of Holy Scripture. For an explanation of who they worship see my article on, “Do all roads lead to God?” http://gospelofrepentance.blogspot.com/2014/07/do-all-roads-lead-to-god.html.

We want to be Theists according to the Bible and nothing else.

What is Pantheism?

Pantheism is the belief that God is everything, and in everyone. In another words, God is a rock, a shoe, a dog, a tree, you get the idea. No doubt a misinterpretation of Psalm 139:7-8 has contributed to a Pantheistic worldview. These verses read, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in hell you are there.”  These verses do not mean that God is in everything. Rather they mean God is omnipresent – He is everywhere. God is not one with his creation, he is separate from his creation. Think it about logically, if God is his creation, then he had to create himself which of course is impossible. No being can self-create. A couple of huge problems is that (1) if God self-created himself, then he is not eternal – which means he had a beginning. Micah 5:2 makes reference to Jesus Christ as being everlasting so that means God is eternal, and self-existing, not self-creating. And (2) the other problem with God being one with his creation is that if one chooses to believe God is eternal, then the creation is eternal too which is unbiblical also. This view prohibits God from being the creator of the universe. Hinduism and Buddhism are religions that are Pantheistic and Polytheistic. They both have over 300 million gods in their system, and Hindus in particular main goal is to become one with their man deistic force – Brahman.

What is Monotheism?

Monotheism is a compound word. Mono means one or only, and Theism comes from the Greek Theos meaning God. Monotheism is the belief in one God, or that God is one. In Deuteronomy 6:4 we read, “Hear O Israel the Lord our God the Lord is one.” In James 2:19 we read, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble.” Contrary to the criticism of some that believe that Christians worship three gods due to God being triune, the Bible makes it clear that we serve one God manifested in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three are God; Co-equal, Co-eternal, and Co-powerful.

The Muslims also regard themselves as Monotheists. For they only worship Allah.

Monotheism is only viable if one is worshipping the one and only true God, the God of the Bible.

What is Polytheism?

Polytheism is the opposite of Monotheism. It is also a compound word. Poly meaning many, and once again Theism meaning God. A Polytheist is one who worships multiple gods. A cult called Baha’i Faith is a false religion that incorporates many belief systems into its worldview. A synonym for Polytheism would be Pluralism. The Bible condemns Polytheism. As a matter of fact, it was punishable by death.

In Deuteronomy 13:1-5 says, “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them’, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet of dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord Your God and fear him, and keep his commandments and obey his voice; you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So shall put away the evil from your midst.”

What is Fundamentalism?

Fundamentalism developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries because of the infiltration of liberalism entering the Church. Men from Princeton Theological Seminary were commissioned to write articles on the core doctrines of the Christian Faith. The result was they produced a twelve volume series titled, “The Fundamentals”. Reportedly over 300,000 copies were published and distributed for free to various church leaders.

The fundamentals doctrines of the Faith include, the Bible being the inspired Word of God – free from error. Jesus Christ being born of the Virgin Mary. The sinless life of Jesus Christ, his deity, his miracles, his crucifixion, burial and resurrection. His ascension, and return to earth to destroy his enemies, and set up his eternal earthly kingdom. Justification by faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone, and not by works.

When fundamentalism declined, it took on a derogatory character. Now a Fundamentalist is considered someone who is a legalistic extremist boycotting abortion clinics and telling women they cannot wear pants or makeup in Church or they are going to hell for being too worldly.

Fundamentalism was a positive force about 100 years ago that fought against the tolerance of liberalism – which is a view that is not a stickler for staunch Biblical truth, but rather a mixed bag of beliefs; a religious pluralism.

We as believers should endeavor to be classic Fundamentalists who were defenders of the faith like the Reformers were in Europe in fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Remember the eternal words of Jude 3b, “Contend earnestly for the faith once and for all delivered unto the saints.”

That is true and classic Fundamentalism.

Christ humbled, Christ Exalted

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and given him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

-          Philippians 2:5-11

Christ’s humiliation

When Jesus Christ came to earth as a man, we call that his humiliation. Why? Because he descended to earth to become like mankind without sin. Christ humility was not just his coming into the earth, but his entire life was one of humility.

In Matthew 11:28-30 we read, “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Notice Jesus never paraded or aggrandized himself. Jesus came to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28).

Even when Jesus represented himself as Messiah during Passion Week he humbly rode on a donkey on Palm Sunday. This was done to fulfill scripture, “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey. A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ “[1]

An extraordinary act of humble servitude is when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet during the Last Supper. He was showing them how they are to be humble servants and wash one another’s feet. Jesus led by example (John 13:3-17).

I see another of act humility was during Christ’s arrest. He declares that he could have prayed to the Father, and 12 legions of angels (around 72,000 of them) would have been dispatched at his disposal, but he relented so that scripture could be fulfilled.

Jesus ultimate humiliation, of course, was his crucifixion. This universal shattering act of God also was ultimate triumph. For through Christ shed blood, all those who truly believe they could be forgiven of their sins would be set free. Jesus had to die and shed his blood for it is the only way sins could be remitted (Hebrews 9:22).

Christ’s Exaltation

Oddly, Jesus declared he was glorified when Judas betrayed him (John 13:31b). Why would he declare he was glorified before the humiliation of the cross still ahead of him? I believe because scripture was unfolding just as it was written. Also, Jesus’ work on earth was nearly finished, and he would receive his pre-incarnate glory back with the Father once he was raised from the dead (John 17:5).

Jesus’ exaltation was evident when his disciples worshiped him prior to his ascension (Luke 24:52).

A tremendous expression of Christ’s deity is delivered by God the Father Himself when He calls his Son God. Hebrews 1:8-9 says, “Your throne O God is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. Therefore, God, Your God has anointed you the oil of gladness more than your companions.”

This lets us know that Jesus the Son of God is also God, the second one in the Holy Trinity or Godhead. If God the Father calls His Son God, it is foolish to debate the matter.

When Jesus is dying in agony on the cross, one of the thieves crucified with him says, “Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied to him, “This day (italics mine) you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Do we get the gravity of this affirmation by Jesus? To the majority of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ impending death, he is a common criminal, and insurrectionist, a blasphemer against Caesar who deserves to die. But to the thief on the cross he is the Lord who knows Jesus can save him. And you know what? Jesus grants the man eternal life in the darkest hour of both their lives; while they are both suffocating to death!

This account is one of the boldest affirmations of Christ’s deity. While he is suffering the most horrific death in human history, he is at the same placing his Holy Spirit into a dying man next to him! The thief unbeknownst to him is being resurrected spiritually by the God-Man. Remember while this is occurring Jesus has been made a curse for us and made sin by God because the weight of all mankind sins he is currently bearing (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13).

We will never be able to fully grasp this transcendent love for us. Praise God for it though!

This type of love blows my mind! How could a man love another man that complete unless one of them is God?

We read in John 20:28 where the disciple Thomas calls Jesus his Lord and his God. The Greeks words for Lord and God are Kurios and Theos. Kurios describes majestic titles of Jesus such as Master, Owner, Emperor, King. The Alpha and Omega.  The First and the Last. These describe his position. Theos describes his attributes such as The One True God, monism, self-existence, immutability, infinite knowledge, creative power, absolute holiness, et al.

So when we say Jesus is Lord and God, we are saying he is everything to us. He is life itself. The apostle John said in John 3:36 and in I John 5:12. “He that has the Son has life. He does not have the Son does not have life.

Jesus in his humiliation was misunderstood, mocked, despised, threatened, betrayed, arrested, beaten, spit upon, cursed and crucified.

Jesus in his exaltation was raised from the dead, worshipped, praised, loved, and ascended into heaven, is making intercession for his own, will destroy his enemies at the battle of Armageddon, will return to set up his eternal kingdom, throw Satan, the beast and false prophet along with all unrepentant sinners into the lake of fire to burn forever.

Jesus humiliation is over. Only his eternal glorification remains.

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[1] Originally prophesied in Zechariah 9:9

The Temptation of Jesus

The word temptation in the Greek language is peirasmos. The word has several meanings. It means trials with a beneficial purpose and effect. It means temptations divinely permitted or sent. It also means tests that can lead to sin do to our internal evil desires (or lusts).

I want to examine the temptation of Jesus by the devil in the wilderness.

First temptation - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry. Now when the tempter came to him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matt 4:1-3). But he answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’’ (Deuteronomy 8:3).

Do you see what the devil is trying to do here? He is attempting and tempting Jesus to get off his course, and abandon the will of God and seek physical satisfaction by eating. Yes Jesus was tired and hungry, and no doubt weakened having not eaten for forty days and nights. Yet the Lord was focused and used his best offensive weapon to defeat the enemy – the Word of God. Jesus told Satan, “It is written…”

But Satan is not done.

Second temptation – Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “’He will command his angels concerning you, and on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ “Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, You shall not put your Lord God to the test’ “(Matt 4:5-7).

Here we see the devil intensifies the temptation. How? By quoting scripture to convince Jesus to do what he is proposing – throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple-the southeast corner. Historians have said the drop from the pinnacle of the temple to the ground could have been as high as 450 feet which would led into the Kedron Valley. This is what the Jewish Historian Josephus (37-100 AD) said about the temple:

               

… and this cloister deserves to be mentioned better than any other under the sun; for while the valley was very deep, and its bottom could not be seen, if you looked from above into the depth, this further vastly high elevation of the cloister stood upon that height, insomuch, that if anyone looked down from the top of the battlements, or down both those heights, he would be giddy, while his sight could not reach to such an immense depth. (Ant. 15:412)

  

A couple of things we need to examine in this temptation. 1. By Satan tempting Jesus to hurl himself off the temple mount, what the devil is hoping is that Jesus would kill himself. That way he is rid of his most dreaded enemy, and the plan of God is defeated. 2. The devil uses scripture out of context. Why? Because he is the father of all false religious systems. The passage Satan uses is out Psalm 91. In context it reads, “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place – the Most High, who is my refuge, no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they shall bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:9-11).

The Psalmist is saying those who trust in the Lord will have the protection and refuge of God Almighty.

The devil misquoted the text of Psalm 91 to convince Jesus to presume on the power of God and throw himself off of the temple so that the angels could catch him lest he strike his foot on the rocks below. Satan butchered this text of scripture. But when people are unsuspecting, and cannot discern truth from error, you can make the Bible say whatever you want it to say to manipulate the gullible and naïve. False teachers like the devil do this every day. Know your Bible children of God!

We cannot play “Evil Knievel” with our lives and presume God will rescue us. That is putting God to the test which Jesus commanded Satan not to do. We are not to do it either. What the devil tempted Jesus to do would not have been an act of faith, but foolishness. Jesus knew that and again used the word of God to counter attack the enemy.

Third temptation – Again, the devil took him on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him shall only you shall serve’ “(Matt 4:8-10).

Here, Jesus defeats Satan again with the Word of God. Satan’s ego is now exposed as he wants Jesus to worship him instead of God. In exchange Satan would give Jesus the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Could we even imagine owning the entire world? Everywhere you set your foot would belong to you. That is untold power. That is what Satan had and notice Jesus didn’t deny Satan’s ownership.

The Bible says the devil is the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), and the ruler of this world system (John 12:31).

Also, the world is under his power (I John 5:19).

In Matthew 4:11 it says the devil left Jesus and angels ministered to him. In Luke 4:13 it says, “Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.”

When the devil has ended tempting us, he will leave, but rest assured he will return.

  

It is important to realize that the temptations Jesus experienced were orchestrated by the Spirit of God. Why? So Jesus could prove to the devil that he is God? Was it to prove that Jesus was superior to the devil? Was it to show us how to defeat the devil when we are attacked by him? Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit of God because Jesus was displaying his obedience and trust in the Father to preserve him in this initial temptation as a human being.

God was testing Jesus for his good and edification, whereas Satan was tempting Jesus to sin and his destruction.

How do we reconcile Jesus’ temptation by the devil and the text in James 1:13-14? Wasn’t Jesus tempted to do evil?

James 1:13-14 reads, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.

These verses here appear to contradict what we just discussed in Matthew 4, but they do not. Let me explain.

Remember the temptation of Jesus was unique in that Satan was tempting the sinless Son of God. As a reminder, Jesus temptation experience was planned by God. Every temptation Jesus experienced was without – meaning on the outside. Since he never had any internal lust, he couldn’t be drawn away by it unlike us who are sinful. Jesus has a divine nature, not a sinful one. We have no capacity to comprehend anyone like that. Now James is talking about mankind in particular, not “divinekind” (if one permits the expression). James is also discussing mankind being tempted by his own ungodly lust. The devil is not even in the picture here. Yes we know he is the tempter, but I believe James is specifically talking about being drawn away, and being tempted because of our own evil desires.

Regarding the devil tempting Jesus; yes he tempted Jesus to sin. We read the three temptations in Matthew 4. Jesus had to be tempted in his humanity. Why? So that he could feel what we feel.

Hebrews 4:15 speaking of the Lord Jesus says this, “We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

What are the all points?

·       

     The lust of the flesh – turn these stones into bread and satisfy your hunger. You have suffered enough Son of God.

·         The lust of the eyes –  I’ll give all of the kingdoms of the world and their glory if you worship me the devil said.  Satan wanted to be the Lord of his Lord. Just like in Isaiah 14 the devil still wanted to dethrone God.

·     The pride of life – Throw yourself off the temple since you are the Son of God.  Do something spectacular to gain fame from the crowds and a great following! God loves you and will protect you from all harm.  Bear in mind Jesus never performed a miracle for someone’s amusement. When he was on trial before King Herod, he hoped Jesus would perform a miracle for him but he did not (Luke 23:8).

These are the lying fiery darts the devil throws at the believer to get him or her off course to; discourage us in this warfare. Ultimately the devil wants to kill us just like he wanted to kill Jesus (John 10:10).

The devil lost to Jesus ultimately when he died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for mankind’s sins. Jesus ultimate humiliation was also his greatest triumph. He had given the devil a vicious blow to the head as described way back in Genesis 3:15. The devil has never recovered from this blow and is losing his grip as time marches on.

Jesus showed us in his temptation how to wage a perfect warfare against our enemy Satan. Each time Satan attacked Jesus he used the greatest of all weapons, the Word of God. This is what neutralizes the enemy’s attacks.

Ephesians 6:17b refers to the Sword of the Spirit as the Word of God. For the Roman soldier this blade was his only offensive weapon in battle. For the spiritual soldier the Word is our only weapon in battle and it is enough. Jesus showed us how to use it in his temptation, we can gain victory in battle with it too!

How do we get the devil off our back? What causes him to cower and hide for a season? Here’s our answer: “Submit yourselves to therefore God. Resist the devil and he will flee” (James 4:7).

Saints of God, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and wage a formidable warfare in the Spirit for “IT IS WRITTEN” is our battle cry.

Generational Curses

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, of that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a Jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those that hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love me and keep my commandments.”

-          Exodus 20:4-6

What does it mean when God through Moses said that he will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations? Does it mean the children may have to suffer for the sins of their fathers? Yes. But everyone is responsible for their own sin.

In the book of Ezekiel we read, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20).

The passage is clear. Everyone pays for their own sins. So, what about the generational curse that is described in Exodus 20? It seems to contradict Ezekiel 18. I believe the best way to understand the curse is to go back to the beginning with, Adam and Eve.

When Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God in the garden, that act of original sin was so systemic that it affected the entire universe. The result of that original sin brought the curse of death to man and the curse of the earth (Genesis 3:16-19).

The reverberating effects of the curse have affected mankind up until the present day. We suffer as a result of the disobedience of our original parents, and the sins we commit ourselves proving our sinful solidarity with them.

Similarly, in Exodus 20 notice what Moses says; God will visit (italics mine) the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those that hate me.   For those children that disobey the Lord like their fathers did before them, the curse will abide on them and their descendants for three and four generations. Now in the Bible a generation is around forty years. So for those who are worshipping false gods in the land of Israel, they could expect the curse to last for about 120-160 years.[i]

The wonderful contrast is that God would bless those that love him and keep his commandments (Exodus 20:6).

Also, understand that the curse being described here is not making reference to genetics. For instance, if a family has a history of battling diabetes or cancer, there may be a likelihood that some of their descendants may suffer with it because of a genetic predisposition, not because of a generational curse.

God did not assign every family with a specific generational curse.

There are those that believe that if their Father or Mother is a alcoholic, then they will become one. That is not always true. Being around someone that is always drunk may compel the children to despise it because of the damage it does to the person who’s always drunk, and to the family they are destroying. Some make the wise decision to have nothing to do with liquor. Being an alcoholic is not a result of a generational curse, nor is anyone predisposed to it. It is an individual choice one makes to escape the pain of their reality in the bottle. There are others that love to drink to get drunk on purpose.

How to reverse the curse of your soul

Jesus came to give all men life for those who are willing to repent of their sins and believe in his completed work on the cross. All believers are eternally blessed. There is absolutely no curse on God’s church. Now we are all still subject to the curse the Lord placed in the earth due to Adam’s sin-means death to all of creation, but for the person that is in Christ Jesus, there is everlasting blessings.

In Galatians 3:13 we read, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing may become upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Anyone who is not a Hebrew or Jew is a Gentile. Jesus Christ destroyed the curse when he died on the cross. When we believed in what he did, we received the blessing of eternal life through the Holy Spirit by faith. One cannot be blessed and cursed by God at the same time can they?

I asked this rhetorical question because either you are blessed by God or cursed by him. The ultimate cursing by God are those who die in sin. Jesus said to them, “Depart from me you cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt 7:23; 25:41).

We are not generationally cursed. Some may disagree because of the horrific things they have endured in their family, or someone they know has endured. It is true that some decisions we make can affect our children negatively, but they are not culpable for our sins. Neither are we responsible for the sins of our parents.

In Moses day, God declared that as long as people committed the sin of idolatry-worshipping false gods, it would incite the ire of God to the degree that he would remember the sins of those idolaters and punish them to the third and fourth generations because the descendants of the fathers perpetuated the same sin.

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[i] The generational curse amount is debatable. Some have said 30 years. Others have said

40 and 50 years make up a generation.

How do you know if you are among the elect?

 The noun form of the word elect comes the Greek eklogē which means a picking out, a selection. A synonym for the elect are the chosen. We read throughout scripture God choosing individuals for a certain purpose. For instance, the Bible says in Acts 9:15 that Paul (then Saul) is a chosen vessel of mine. In Paul writing to the Ephesians said the Saints were chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:11, 14).

Determining if you are elect or chosen of God may be to many an intimidating task, but it does not have to be. This should be a joyous exercise. Why? Because it causes all of us to take a genuine and hard look at our lives. We are compelled to carefully and soberly examine our lives to see if we are truly in the faith  (2 Cor 13:5).  Let’s run a litmus test.

1.      

Do you believe Jesus is God in the flesh?

In I John 4:2-3 we read, “Hereby you know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God (italics added for emphasis), and this is the spirit of the antichrist whereof you heard that it should come, and even now is already in the world.

To deny that Jesus ever came to the earth is most tragic. Why? 1. It denies the reality of the virgin birth. Jesus had to be born of a woman to take on flesh. 2. If He wasn’t born physically, He could not have preached the gospel, healed the sick, or raise the dead. He would not have been able to perform any miracles. 3. He could not have died on the cross and rose from the dead. So you see, it is absolutely imperative that Jesus took on humanity. To believe Jesus was real is a true mark that one is among the elect.

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.       Have you genuinely repented of sin?

What does genuine repentance look like? I will provide one example from scripture – the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus within himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I tithe of all that I possess.”  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not as much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles will be exalted (Luke 18: 9-14).

Jesus in this parable clearly explains it all. When one humbles himself before God, they will be lifted to heights unimaginable. There is nothing greater than salvation. Only humility, and brokenness of your sin will get you there. Like the tax collector, we need to beg desperately for the mercy of God. Arrogant, self-righteous people will never inherit God’s kingdom. The Bible says that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). James also says to, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

3.       Do you love this world and the things in it?

Jesus said, “What profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul (Matt 16:26)? In 1 John 2:15-17 we read, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever”.

When the apostle John is speaking about not loving the world, he is not talking about hating the planet. We should love the world in the sense that the universe is God’s creation, and it is an expression of God’s majesty, handiwork, and power. What John is referring to is that we cannot love this world’s system-its immoral ways, the material possessions, the wealth for all of it is passing away. Not loving this system is a proof that one is elect of God.

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.       Love for the children of God

In I John 3:10-15 we read, “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message you heard from the beginning, that we should love another, not as Cain who was of that wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Do not marvel, my brethren if the world hates you. We know we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

This is straight forward language by John. If one truly is regenerated, their lives are exhibited with 1. True love for God manifested in obedience to Him. 2. Love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. John also says that if one says they love God, and hates their brother, they are a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen (I John 4:20)?

Extraordinary statement! Our love for God is in direct connection to how we love one another. Want to know if you are really loving God? It’s easy – see how you are treating your brothers and sisters in Christ.

5.       Do you share the gospel of Jesus Christ?

A mark of the elect is their willingness to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ with others – for that is why we are here. Paul said, “Woe is me if I preach not the gospel” ( I Cor 9:16). We MUST share the good news of the Life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We must tell man that he is lost hopeless sinner headed for hell unless he repents and forsakes sin, and runs to Christ for his or her salvation. We must get the word out as often, and as earnestly as we can.

   

6.       Do you love God’s word and study it faithfully?

King David in Psalm 119:97 declared, “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day”.

Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved to God, worker who does not need to be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of truth.

Our appetite for the God’s word has to be insatiable. This is a lifelong process I realize, but our desire for God’s truth should grow every day. How can someone claim they are a child of God if they do not read the word of God? The word is our guide and our road map through life’s troubles. As the Psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Of course there are more marks of the elect, but hopefully this list will assure someone of their position in Christ. Please understand none of things mentioned above can occur without the aid of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, prior to God making us alive spiritually (John 3:3; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13), we can never respond positively to the gospel, repent and believe. Our salvation is all of God (Jonah 2:9). We did nothing to earn it for it is a gift (Eph 2:8,9).

In closing, election is absolutely pivotal – it describes how God chooses men and women into His kingdom. It is also essential for us to know we are among the elect. Only the word of God and secondly our conduct will provide our assurance.

Contradiction or Paradox?

Contradiction by definition: a statement or phrase whose parts are incongruent with one another; i.e. “that car is pretty ugly!” Well it cannot be both, it is either pretty or ugly.

Paradox by definition: Two ideas that on the surface oppose each other but with closer examination and some background of the matter being discussed discover the ideas deliver a congruent truth; i.e. “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

This verse on the surface is full of contradictions but it is not. First, Paul Is saying when Christ died we died; not literally, but spiritually. Paul is saying the old man he used to be prior to his conversion with Christ died. Remember the scripture says if any man is in Christ he is a new creation (italics added for emphasis). Old things are passed away, all things have been made new (2 Cor 5:21). Then Paul seems to contradict himself again when he says, “nevertheless I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me.” Well, which is it Paul? Are you living or is it Christ? Looking at this face value Paul seems to be confused but he is not. This is what he means. Both Paul and Christ are living together in this new life. Since Christ dwells inside of Paul by faith, Paul is declaring that his new life is now hidden in Jesus Christ. Whereas at first he was living for himself and his own desires, he now has surrendered his life over to God. In order for Paul or any believer to live the Christian life successfully, we MUST not do it on our own. We must identify with Christ in death and in life.                

Hopefully this explanation dispels the confusion in this verse. It is not a contradiction, but it is definitely a paradox. When Paul says he lives and yet not I, but Christ lives in him, he’s giving recognition and homage to the God who saved him. The power of God is now working in him so that he pleases God in this new walk.  We have to live our new life in our bodies, but simultaneously we have to sow to the Spirit by faith and depend on the Lord to see us through.

What about divine election and human responsibility, aren’t they mutually opposed?

This matter is always will deliver tension to us, but I am glad the tension is there. Let me explain. The idea that God chose some for salvation in eternity past is a wonderful thing. For if he didn’t, no one would ever get saved. With that being said, those who are chosen still have to respond positively to the call of the gospel, repent, believe and become saved. On the surface this may appear to be a contradiction – that is God choosing us and man choosing God for the same thing – salvation.  Many will say, “if God is choosing some for salvation then what is the point in preaching the gospel to them and them choosing the Lord? They are going to be saved no matter what right?”

That is a valid question. The fact of the matter is that those whom God has chosen in eternity past for salvation will be saved at the precise moment in time God determines, but they cannot receive that salvation without the gospel message being preached to them. The good Lord has supplied the means, and the ends to those means. What are they? The means is the preacher and the gospel  they must preach in order for God’s lost sheep to be found and brought into his fold (John 10:16).

The ends in question is the salvation of all the elect. So in the final analysis, God chooses man so that man can choose God. It is never the other way around. God makes His choice of man before time (Eph 1:4), whereas man chooses God in time. Once again, not a contradiction, but definitely a paradox. Divine election and human responsibility in redemption are parallel truths that work together.

Hopefully I have explained the tension between the two.

The Bible says God desires that all men are saved and that He is not willing that any should perish. Since that is the case, then why does God allow people to perish and not save everyone?

This is a very complex question that many can answer way better than I can. This I can say is that no one can completely answer this question. There will always be some ambiguity and mystery that we cannot resolve due to our limited knowledge of God. In I Timothy 2:4 it says God desires that all men be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth. In Ezekiel 33:11 it says that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked would turn from their way and live. Turn turn from your evil ways! For why should you die O house of Israel?

Once again, it appears to be dealing with a contradiction in God’s word and character. Since God is all powerful and can do whatever He wants, why doesn’t He just save everyone? That way He fulfills His own desires right? It is obvious that God loves all men, and wants them all to repent. That is why He commands that the gospel is preached to all men that hopefully they will believe and be saved. God desiring that all be saved is His will of desire. This will of God is disappointed by the disobedience of mankind This proves we have a free will. Another component of God’s will is what I heard someone call His will of disposition – that what pleases Him. Although God desires that all men be saved ultimately God will do what gives Him pleasure and what will most glorify Himself. This is where the tension between the will of man and of God I believe reach a fever pitch. Here is why. Man for some reason believes he has the right to tell God what He should do regarding His own creation. In the unregenerate eyes God is “obligated” to treat everyone the same way all the time. For in their mind that is what is fair; in others words, “God if you saved some, you should save all!” When God does not do this, man is angry with God. Why are they mad? Because God refuses to be imprisoned by man’s definition of fairness.

Not to treat everyone the same makes God a respecter of persons many would say. Yes God desires that all come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved, but if the Lord did that, He is unable to display His wrath against those who hate Him. God is also prohibited from executing His justice as well. He would not get a chance to punish His enemies which must be a higher desire than His will of desire to save all men. Yes it is true God does not take pleasure in the death of wicked. It causes God sorrow, but at the same time it is just, right and good that He punishes evil doers for the end result is He is magnified by doing so. Don’t we all rest easier when criminals are either incarcerated or executed for their crimes against humanity?

When it comes to men perishing and God not saving them, the blame can never be placed at God’s door step; it is man’s fault every time. If God is commanding all to repent, then He is wanting all to come, but most are unwilling to come, and thus sealing their own doom.

God is not desiring that any die. Jesus wept over Jerusalem when He desired they come to Him and they refused (Matt 23:38; Luke 19:41-44). Men are not saved and perish because they refuse to repent and believe the gospel. They will not believe that Jesus Christ is the only Way, Truth and Life (John 14:6). Man has been given clear knowledge of the truth of God through creation and beyond, but they have decided to suppress that truth in unrighteousness – they are without excuse (Romans 1:18-32). God must and will judge the wicked for their wickedness. Think about it logically, since Jesus is the only way to eternal life and peace, to refuse that blessing only leaves one alternative, God’s eternal judgment. These are the only choices man has ever had in this life.

God is not preventing anyone from coming to Him, but it is the nature of man to run away and rebel against God. Another way to look at all of this is God does not save all men because most men do not desire Biblical salvation. Why would God save someone who does not desire to be saved? Notice again what the scripture says in I Timothy 2:4, God desires all men to be saved. It does not say that men themselves desire to be saved. Salvation only becomes an issue when some hear someone else talks about how Jesus saved them and the glorious eternal peace of heaven. The wicked superficially desire that same salvation because they feel they are entitled to it; not because they realize they are an undeserving sinner and their need to repent. The wicked believe they deserve to go to heaven. Actually the opposite is true – we all deserve to go to hell.

Concluding, admittedly this last debate is hard to reconcile. Hopefully I treated it with some clarity. The reader must understand that we cannot answer adequately all the mysterious doctrines in the scripture. Lets quickly review: God desires to save all men, but does not save all because of man’s unbelief. Could God overcome man’s stubborn resistance? Yes.  Does He not have all power? Yes. Why doesn’t He? Though it may be God’s desire to save all men and for them not to perish, it apparently is not His ultimate desire. His ultimate desire is to glorify Himself. This mean as much as it gives God glory to save some, it also gives God glory to punish others. God does not rejoice in the destruction of the wicked, but it is good that He reserves the unrighteous for His holy wrath and judgment. 

Addendum 9/16/15 -  Two perspectives

When dealing with the matters of God’s election and His punishment (also called reprobation), we have two schools of thought. There is the Arminian view, and the Reformed (often referred to as the Calvinistic) view. The Arminian says that God desires to save all men, but does not because He values man’s will greater than His own. In other words, man gets to cast the deciding vote regarding his salvation or his reprobation. In the Reformed view, God desires to save all men, but God reserves the right to do what ultimately pleases Him and gives Him glory. The latter view is supported by scripture and the view the writer leans to (Romans 9; Ephesians 1:5,9).

Jesus said in Matthew 11:25-26, “I thank You Father, Lord of heaven and earth that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent (the religious leaders), and have revealed them to babes (the disciples). Even so Father for so it seemed good in Your sight (italics added).

Jesus is thanking God the Father because He has made known to babies the truth of the Messiah because it pleased the Lord to do so. Reiterating the point that God will ultimately will do what pleases Himself; to the praise of His glory.      

The Love of God. How does God love the world?

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever. Because He delights in mercy. He will have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of sea. You give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn to our fathers from days of old -             Micah 7:18-20

In the beginning of this chapter the prophet Micah is bemoaning the nation Israel’s sins (vs 1-7). He also goes on to declare to Israel’s enemies not to rejoice over her demise for she (Israel) will rise again ( vs 8-13). And finally God will forgive Israel for her iniquities because of His compassion and love toward His people, and also He will remember his covenant He made with their forefathers – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (vs 15-20).

The opening three verses describe the loving kindness of our God. This is God’s disposition toward everyone. God’s overarching attitudes are compassion (pity) and mercy (or non-justice, not giving us what we do deserve). My purpose in this article is to counter balance it with the previous article I wrote before it, “Does God hate anyone?”  We are far more comfortable saying God is love than saying God hates anything or anyone. However, man’s definition of the love of God is usually unbiblical. What I will hope to explain in this article is the love of God from a Biblical perspective.

Let me say that God’s love is clearly defined in scripture, however it contains layers or levels if you would. Let’s go over them.

1.       God’s unlimited love is extended to all men – What this means God extends common grace to all indiscriminately. Jesus said, He (the Father) makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends his rain on the just and the unjust (Matt 5:45b). This passage is clear. All men enjoy the beauty of the sunshine, and the rain. All men have the right to work, marry, raise and provide for their families, establish a career, vacation and leisure time, etc. This love every person experiences every day of their lives. This is what I would call God’s initial love for the world. Just as Jesus said, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16a).

2.       God’s love is manifested in His warnings to us – The Bible is replete with warnings from the Lord so that we can avoid His judgment. In Ezekiel 18:31-32 says, “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies”, says the Lord. “Therefore turn and live!”  Any good parent will warn their children if they are about to make a bad decision, or engage in bad behavior. Why? Because of your love for your children; it is for the child’s protection and safety.

The wisdom of Solomon says declares this, “Do not withhold correction from a child. For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod and save his soul from hell” (Proverbs 23:13-14). God’s loving discipline initially may hurt us, but ultimately it is for our good and health (Hebrews 12:5-11). This is God’s compassionate love for mankind – He pities His creation so He warns us of impending danger.

3.       God’s love is limited in degree – What this means is God does not love everyone equally. God is sovereign and it is up to Him how He chooses to love each person. The clearest illustration of this love would be described in God’s choosing of Jacob over Esau, His choosing of the nation Israel, and His choosing of the Church. I need to spend significant time in this area.

In Genesis 25 we read that Isaac’s wife Rebekah was pregnant with twins. When Rebekah inquired of the Lord why there was struggling going on in her body, this is what God said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples shall be separated from your body; one shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (Gen 25:23).

When the Lord says the older shall serve the younger, it is not saying that Esau himself served Jacob, but that the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) would be subservient to the descendants of Jacob or Israel [(the Israelites), (2 Samuel 8:13-14; I Kings 11:15-16)]. Why did God do this, have the Israelites greater than the Edomites? This was the plan of God before either child was born. God made a sovereign choice to love Jacob more than Esau.

In Malachi 1:1-4 we read, “I have loved you”, says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?” Was not Esau your brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and have laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.” Even though Edom has said, “We have been impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places, “ Thus says the Lord of hosts, “They may build, but I will throw down; they shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, and the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever”.

Understand the love/hate relationship God is describing here is the two nations, not the two men. God made an everlasting covenant with the nation Israel (Jeremiah 31). He never made a covenant with the Edomites. God also did not covenant with Israel because they were better than Edom. They certainly were not (Read Ezekiel 16 regarding Israel’s birth and unfaithfulness to God, along with God’s everlasting love for His chosen). God sovereignly chose to love them and make them His own.

In Deuteronomy 7:6-8a we read, “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God. The Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but, because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers…

This proves God is not a respecter of persons. He chose Israel as His own because it pleased Him to do so (Psalm 115:3).

In Romans 9:11-13 Paul is quoting Malachi 1:1-4. It reads, “The children not born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

Paul in comparing the two nations of Israel and Edom,  provides a perfect illustration of God’s love being limited in degree. God’s love for the nation Israel is unlimited in that they will last for eternity, whereas the Edomites no longer exist. If one follows the Edomites history carefully, you will discover that the Edomites (later called Idumeans) were totally destroyed in the first century A.D.; around the time when Rome sacked Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

As an aside, there are some that believe when Paul is talking about Jacob and Esau (the nations in particular), that Paul has chosen (or elected) Jacob for service only and not Esau. In other words, God is not talking about sovereign election unto salvation. The reason these individuals do not believe Paul is discussing salvation is because they do not like the doctrine of predestination; that is God choosing some for salvation before the foundation of the world while excluding others, reserving them for judgment which God has every right to do.

In the final analysis, God’s love is greater for His own than those who do not belong to Him; that is He loves His own to the max (John 13:1). God’s love for His enemies is quickly running out because of their refusal to repent.

4.       God’s loves the world by sending Jesus to die for mankind’s sins – Once again John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son. That whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not (italics mine) send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through might be saved”.

God sent Jesus to earth on a recovery mission – to gather His lost sheep from Israel and the Gentiles (John10:16). As I mentioned in the prior article, the supreme act of love ever demonstrated was the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for the atonement of mankind’s sins forever (John 15:13). Anyone who believes in this vicarious act; that means trust, rely on, and place their complete trust on what Jesus did, they would be saved from their sins – have them removed and no more counted against them. They would be from that point moving forward declared righteous in the sight of God (2 Cor 5:21).

Understand this love is available to anyone who desires it. Jesus said, “All those the Father has given to Me will come to Me, and those who come to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

Jesus also declared, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).

This is God’s invitational love is to all of mankind; so that they may hear the gospel, repent and believe and be saved.

In Summary

God’s love is varied and complete. First, God’s love is unlimited in length. It reaches to all people in the form of common grace. Second, His love is manifested to all in the form of warnings throughout scripture. Third, God’s love is limited in degree; He does not love all equally. He has temporary love for His enemies, but an everlasting salvific love for His own.  And fourth, His love is sacrificial in that He sent Jesus who was/is sinless and perfect to die for the sinful and non-perfect. 

What should be our response to God’s love? First, we need to repent and believe the gospel for this is God’s desire (1 Timothy 2:4). Second, Jesus said it perfectly, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love another as I have loved you, that you also love another” (John 13:33).

Third, we must tell others about His love since it has been shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5).

As I mentioned in the previous article, men cannot imprison God’s love to the exclusion of His other attributes. In other words, just because God is love does not mean he will not punish evil doers or chasten His children. These are expressions of God’s love as well but another dimension of it. We must not think of God’s love as just warm and fuzzy with harps playing in our ears; a love that overlooks sin.  God’s love forgives sins and at the same time punishes every sin. This puts God’s love on display and causes it to shine brighter when His love conquers evil.