Author: wisdomspout

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Why 3 Crosses?

Luke 23

Luke 23:

32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Stop for a moment, if you would, and consider this question. Why 3 crosses? Why would God allow the spectacle of his Son’s death, the greatest event in recorded history, to take place between the crosses of 2 other men? Why was Jesus Christ not lifted up alone as He suffered? Given the innocence of His soul, the uniqueness of His life, and the Holy paternity of Jesus, why would God will it that He be crucified with 2 men who (unlike Jesus) were guilty and deserving of their punishment according to the law? The answer to these questions can be found in the scriptural account of what took place between Christ and these 2 convicts on that mountain outside Jerusalem some 2000 years ago.

For the sake of argument, let us take Christ at His word (according to first-hand accounts given in the Scriptures by men who walked, talked, ate, and worked with Him) and accept that His death was the only means by which every person’s sentence of eternal death could be transformed into eternal life. This alone does not explain the need or reason for the 2 (and only 2) other men crucified alongside Christ. Even if we accept that salvation was accomplished through Christ’s death on the cross and forever sealed by his resurrection 3 days later, we are still left with the 2 men that fate (God) saw fit to place on either side of Christ. The fact that there were 2 convicts serving their sentences alongside Christ indicates dichotomy, an either-or situation; a “crossroads”, if you will. Aside from the number 2, additional clues that we have in regard to the significance of these 2 convicts are found in the similarities and distinctions that are drawn between these 2 men in the Scriptures (John 19; Luke 23, Mark 15, Matthew 27).

Similarities

  1. They were both condemned to death.
  2. They were both deserving (guilty as charged) of their sentence.
  3. They were both aware of who Christ claimed to be and were witnesses to his suffering and death. They both participated with the crowd in mocking and rejecting Christ.

Differences

  1. They were not together on 1 side, behind, or in front of Christ, but 1 on either side with Christ in the middle. (As described by in the above accounts.)
  2. Only 1 accepted his punishment as just. (Mark 15)
  3. Only 1 believed Christ’s punishment as unjust. (Mark 15)
  • Only 1 repented of his part in the mocking and rejection of Christ and voiced this change of heart to Christ by believing Christ was who He said he was (God’s son, the Messiah ) and requesting that Christ (as God’s Son) grant him forgiveness and a place in heaven (Christs’ future kingdom). (Mark 15)

It is important that we understand that we, as human beings, share in the above similarities. The Scriptures clearly state this:

  1. Condemnation: And it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27); for the wages of sin is death…(Romans 6:23);
  2. Guilt: …they are all under sin; As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one. (Romans 3:9,10); …and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)
  3. The Cause of Christ’s Suffering and Death: But he was wounded for our transgressions (crimes), he was bruised for our iniquities (sins): the chastisement (punishment) of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we hare healed. (Isaiah 5:10); Jesus our Lord…Who was delivered for our offences (crimes) and raised again for our justification (pardon). (Romans 5:25).

The other important information that we have in regard to identifying who (and /  or what) these 2 convicts symbolize is found in the Scriptural accounts of God’s position on man’s fate in the next life. Interestingly enough, the Scriptures clearly show that God describes only 2 fates for human beings in the next life

1. Eternal Damnation:

…and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth (stays) on him. (John 3:36)

 …this is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

Then shall he say unto them on the left hand (refers to those at the judgment who Christ does not recognize as His own), Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels…And these shall go away into everlasting punishment. (Matthew 23:41, 46)

…he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16)

2. Eternal Salvation:

     Verily, verily (Truly, truly) I say unto you, he that believeth on me shall     have everlasting life.   (John 6:47)

     For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn (damn) the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:17,18)

     And I saw a new heaven and a new earth…And the city had no need of the sun, nether of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb  (Jesus) is the light thereof…And there shall in no wise enter anything that defileth(pollutes)…but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.  (Revelation 21:1, 23, 27)

According to the facts we’ve encountered, reasoning and understanding allow us to draw these conclusions about who and what the 2 convicts represent:

There are only 2 kinds of people in this world.

There is only 1 meaningful difference between these 2 kinds of people, and that difference is where they stand in relationship to Christ and his death and resurrection.

There are only 2 positions that one can hold in regard to Christ and those 2 positions correspond to the 2 fates that await every person in the next life.

Eternal Salvation – Represented by the convict who:

  1. Accepted his guilt and turned his heart from disbelief to faith
  2. Confessed this change of heart in his own words and professed his belief directly to Jesus by asking to partake of the salvation Christ offered.

 Eternal Damnation – Represented by the convict who:

  1. Refused to be penitent and contrite concerning his state
  2. Refused to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the 1 and only source of redemption.

If we accept the metaphor shown by the 3 crosses, we arrive at a very personal and difficult question…

Which of these 2 convicts am I?

As human beings we, like the 2 convicts, hang upon the cross of mortality with a choice to make; the time we have been given to make this choice grows shorter with every hour, every minute, every second. Having heard the story of Jesus and knowing who (God’s Son) and what (the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world) He claimed to be, we must choose to receive or reject, accept or deny, to look upon Him with a heart of faith or to harden our hearts in disbelief. Choosing not to decide is still making a choice, a choice that we are only given so long to make. Would you follow the penitent convict’s example and admit your condition as a sinner in need of a savior? Would you believe upon the name of the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ, and would you confess your need and profess your faith to Him in your own words? If you will, He has promised to receive you and to speak for you before the Father at the last day – a promise He earned the right to offer and keep with His own life and blood, and with His resurrection. Will you not ask of Him? Can you not trust in Him? If not Him, then who? If not now, then when?

Consider these words, spoken by Jesus himself and recorded in the Scriptures by His disciple John (Chapters 6 & 14):

…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father but by me…and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Pilate sayeth unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?  (Matthew 27:22)This question that Pilate voiced in the judgment hall 2000 years ago rings out across the centuries that have passed. We each must answer for ourselves.  What will you do with Jesus Christ?    

If you would come to Him, simply follow the example of the penitent convict –

Confess your guilt before God and your need of a savior; believe with your heart that Jesus was who He said He was, and that He alone can provide salvation based on His blood shed for your transgressions, His having been crucified for your sins and raised for your justification.

Call to Christ (through prayer in your own words) your need and your desire to be pardoned through His sacrifice on the cross; voice to him your faith that He (through His resurrection) has the power to save and keep your immortal soul.

Remember, He has promised that He will receive all who choose to come to Him.

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The Unforgivable Sin

Mark 3:29

In the Scriptures, both Christ (Mark 3:29) and John the Apostle (1 John 5:16) spoke of a  “sin unto death” for which there was no forgiveness …Christ described this act as “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost” (Mark 3:29). This might seem vague at first, but upon further study one will come to understand that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God that communicates with man (1 John 3:19; 24). It is the Spirit of Truth and the voice of all that falls within that realm (Truth is not fact or the sum of facts, but something that exists beyond the realm of fact); it is a voice that speaks deep within our hearts and instructs the soul.  One might liken it to the tie that binds mother and child, man and nature…these are not facts that need to be proven, but things we “know” if we surrender to this voice, this Spirit that “bears witness” to that which is Holy and True. While understanding who the Holy Ghost is what He does explains part of what Christ meant, there still remains the issue of what exactly constitutes “blasphemy” against this Spirit…Paul, the apostle responsible for penning the bulk of Christian doctrine (under the divine inspiration of this same Spirit of Truth), sheds further light on what Christ was referring to. Looking into this further we find that what Christ was referring to was the essence of salvation.

Much like the popular TV game show Jeopardy, Christ’s statement concerning the unpardonable sin was an answer to something Paul would write later. Paul’s question was “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?“ (Hebrews 2:3). Christ’s answer was simple- we can’t. When a person is faced with the question of Christ – who He was (the Son of God) and what He did (offering Himself as the final sacrifice for human sin through His death on the cross and the promise of eternal life through His resurrection) – the Spirit of Truth, that voice deep within the heart will confirm the truth of Christ’s identity and our need for His salvation. To close your heart to this confirmation, to harden your heart against this conviction is to commit blasphemy against that Spirit that God has provided to every person regarding the question of Christ. 

There are only 2 choices offered to men regarding Christ: acceptance and rejection. This is symbolized by the two thieves crucified alongside Christ. These two men were identical except for their response to Christ’s suffering… one refused to believe and hardened his heart; the other simply opened his heart and asked for salvation, to which Christ replied “this day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” There are only two choices offered to men regarding the voice of Truth: belief or blasphemy. Christ said that “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). As in the fashion previously described, Paul further clarified what Christ meant when he wrote; “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10).    

With all the stress and bustle of modern day life it is all too easy to neglect the salvation Christ offers. We need to take the opportunity to contemplate the events that took place on that mountain outside Jerusalem some 2000 years ago and soften our hearts to that voice of Truth and believe that Christ was who he claimed to be. We need to, in own words, confess our sins in prayer to Him and ask to partake of the salvation He freely offers to us. While we may, as humans, be guilty of the most unspeakable cruelties and errors, it will not be for these sins that God the Father sentences any one of us to eternal damnation; it will be for the unforgivable sin of rejecting his Son and the sacrifice He willingly made for each of us on the cross.

In closing, allow me to echo Paul’s sentiment once again in regard to the immeasurable love of Christ and the unfathomable mercy available to us through the wonderful and terrible means that God provided for our justification: How can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

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5 Points Disproven: Simple Scriptural Refutations of Each of the Five Points of T.U.L.I.P. #2

Concise Refutations of Common Errors in Calvinism:

II. Total Depravity

As with the first letter / error that was discussed previously (L – Limited Atonement), and as is the case with every one of the Calvinistic positions represented  by T.U.L.I.P. , the Calvinistic notion of total depravity is, quite simply, a private interpretation regarding a biblical truth that stands in direct and clear contrast to what the scriptures teach on that subject. Much like the private interpretation of limited atonement that serves to help God out with His sovereignty and explain the conundrum of Christ dying for all and yet not all being saved, Calvinism takes the biblical truth of man’s sinfulness and twists it into something that scripture does not support. The Calvinist position is that man’s depravity is so complete that an unregenerate man cannot understand nor respond to God, not even in regard to what God commands that unregenerate and lost man to do in order to be regenerated. This feeds into the other Calvinistic positions, particularly in regard to unconditional election, irresistible grace.

Every point in T.U.L.I.P. is based on a scriptural precept that is in the biblical sense true – in this case, the Calvinist is in agreement with scripture about man’s natural condition (How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water? – Job 15:16; The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? – Jeremiah  17:9; But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. – 1 Cor. 4:16). The scriptures are as clear on man’s sinfulness as can be (Psalms 14:3, Psalms 53:3, Romans 3:23). The problem arises when one decides to mesh scripture on this topic via their own private interpretation rather than by comparing scripture with scripture. Man IS totally depraved, in the sense that even man’s “goodness” is not good, is corrupt and tainted. In such a state man is not capable of receiving or understanding the things of God. However, that same man in that same state is commanded by God to believe on Jesus Christ crucified for his sins and risen in order for God to work salvation upon him (He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. – Mark 16:16; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. – Romans 10:9). There is no justification in scripture for the idea that a lost man cannot believe on Jesus Christ unto salvation, in fact, the confrontation regarding sin and the sinner’s need is directed to lost men as a gift already provided them that they may and actually MUST receive as they are (But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8; And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. – Luke 5:31-32). The Calvinistic tenant that a man cannot respond to the gospel or to the conviction of the Holy Ghost UNTIL God has already saved that man is simply a fabrication that situates itself in contradiction of plain scripture.

In fairness, scripture does contain several examples of lost men who could not respond affirmatively to God’s word to them, these being most notably Pharaoh (Exodus 4-14 – in relation to Moses and the freeing of the Israelites) and corporate Israel in regard to their rejection of their Messiah (Isaiah 6, John 12:37-31). However, these examples are not simply run-of-the-mill lost men unable to respond affirmatively; they are both examples of people who had hardened their own hearts in decisiveness against God of their own volition and who were subsequently hardened by God Himself so as to ensure they could not respond. In fairness, many (though not all) Calvinist preachers and teachers rightly explain these examples in terms of “would not” eventually became “could not” by God’s own purpose and for God’s glory. However, what no Calvinist theologian seems able (maybe they cannot because they would not?) to do is to deal honestly with the fact that God views the average lost man as, though completely sinful and utterly without righteousness, able to come to Him when drawn by the preaching of the cross and the Holy Ghost who, among other tasks, works at large in the world convicting those who believe not towards the end of their believing on Jesus Christ (So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. – Jonah 3:5; Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. – John  3:18-20; How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14).

Is man in his own natural state totally sinful and without goodness before God? Yes. Does that prevent said sinful man from obeying the gospel and receiving God’s work of salvation upon him? Not according to the scriptures:

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. – John 12:31-32, 44-50.

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Can We Please God?

Through the combination of some remarks by Dr. Barry Awe (https://youtu.be/ZO-KyNX8kGA ) and a message by Brian Donovan (https://youtu.be/HVhiwcnU4_8 ) I was inspired to do a study on what scripture says regarding things that please God. That study (for me still ongoing) led to this brief post, summarizing a few things that scripture tells us. It is an awesome thing to contemplate, that sinful man can not only be reckoned righteous before God in Christ, by Christ, through Christ (and Christ alone), and it is even more miraculous in some ways that God can and does receive pleasure from what we do and do not do. If we desire to please Him, to “render back for all His benefits” towards us, the scripture gives some very clear information on simple things we can do towards that end. If we have already taken the first and all important step of receiving Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and risen for our justification as our savior, our only hope, our only trust then pleasing Him will be something we desire to do. For those who have not received His Son, that is where you need to start with pleasing Him. For those who have, I have listed ten passages that give us some clear commands on things please God when we do them:

  • Obedience to the Lord

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. – 1 Samuel 15:22

  • Praise and Thanksgiving to the Lord

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. – Psalm 69:30-31

  • Fearing and Trusting the Lord

The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. – Psalm 147:11

  • Dealing Truly

The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. – Proverbs 12:22

  • The Prayer of the Upright

The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. – Proverbs 15:8

  • Lovingkindness, Judgment, and Righteousness

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. – Jeremiah 9:24

  • Fruitfulness in Good Works and Knowledge of God

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; – Colossians 1:10

  • Obedience to Parents in the Lord

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. – Colossians 3:20

  • Faith

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. – Hebrews 11:6

  • Doing Good and Communicating

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. – Hebrews 13:16

These ten are but a tip of the iceberg as far as what scripture contains regarding what we can do to please our Lord, what He likes and delights in, – as well as what displeases Him. It is my hope that this short list will be helpful and may stoke a desire to know the Lord better by studying the scriptures and giving heed to what He has conveyed to us in them about Himself.

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What Do You REALLY Believe?

As the Christmas season comes and goes over a world that seems much different in 2021 than it did only a few short years ago, the devout and nominal Christians alike speak of hope, joy, and dispense words of honor commemorating the coming of God as a man some 2000+ years ago (2027 by my calculations to be precise, but that is not the focus of this conversation). Despite the usual (and appropriate) celebration of Christmas and the birth of Christ by those who identify with Christianity, a shadow of doubt crosses my mind as ponder WHY God came to earth as the man Jesus Christ. As I read what the scriptures say about the WHY of the man Jesus Christ and study my own heart regarding that while observing the conversation of my brethren in Christ, I am disturbed by what I find.

                The world has always been fairly tolerant of the idea of God as a baby, symbolizing salvation, hope, peace on earth and good will toward men – though occasionally a municipality or school district may raise objections to demonstrations of religion trespassing into boundaries of the state as it were. That Jesus is no threat to anyone’s sense of self and well-being. However, to the world and even MOST of Christianity itself, the conclusion of Jesus Christ shedding His own blood to save sinners who cannot on their own be good before God and right with Him, is a different matter. Most of Christianity attempts to straddle the fence of man’s depravity as clearly stated in the scriptures and advocates that some mix of Jesus and good decision making that every sinner is capable of is what it is all about and that what the scriptures actually say about Jesus Christ in relation to the individual person.

                It is a wonderful and marvelous thing for we who have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and risen for our justification to ponder how He came, the miraculous and yet meek circumstances of His birth and his full humanity, how that was necessary for our salvation. There is no denying the love demonstrated to us by God in the plan that culminated with the bloody death of His Son on the cross FOR OUR SINS, and in His triumphant victory from the tomb over sin and death. Yet, if we ourselves at some point, as unbelieving sinners, heard the gospel and turned from our sinful state of being without Christ to believing on Him unto salvation, if that is HOW we were born again and availed of the salvation provided by Jesus Christ, what about those who have not received Him? If we really believe what we say we believe, what God’s word says about our salvation – why, how, when, what- then how is it we passed a dozen, two dozen, fifty, a hundred people this December 24th of 2021 and wished them “Merry Christmas” without a thought of the fate that awaits them? A fate that any student of biblical prophecy will surmise is very likely to be sealed even sooner than it would be were those living now to fulfill their natural lifespan?

                There are two possible answers to this unpleasant question. The first is that we simply do not really believe what we say we believe. In that case, the rest of this short query is not worth anyone’s time and we should continue to focus our energy and time on other things, things like politics, COVID, liberty, social issues, the pursuit and securing of our own happiness…you know, traditional American virtues that lead to a pleasant, “full” life. If we really don’t believe what God says, ALL of what God says about us and His Son, then believing the parts we like and pretending God was wrong the parts we don’t is no big deal, we may as well continue as we were in our comfort and security, delusion or not we’ll not know until it is too late. But…

                If we really have been saved, really do believe what the scriptures say on this topic…then we MUST confess the world is no different this Christmas of 2021 than it has been for the last 2000 years. Covid, governmental overreach, politics, the economy, and everything else is not mentioned as being what WE should be focused on at all in the scriptures, in fact, a strong argument can be made citing Paul’s epistles and Jesus’ prophecies to His followers that those things are not our business at all. What is our business is the souls around us currently in a state of having rejected Jesus Christ (there is no middle ground as per scripture, if a person is aware of Jesus Christ crucified for their sins and has not come to Him in faith to receive that from Him they ARE facing eternity under the condemnation of having rejected Him). The lost souls around us MUST be the supreme focus of our lives, if we really believe what we say we believe. While there may be adjacent undertakings  that are worthy in the sense that they  are necessary supports for reaching these lost souls (learning the scriptures, prayer, related ministries, walking in the spirit, fellowship with the brethren) it can never be emphasized enough what the mission is. The mission has not changed since Christ gave “the great commission” a few years shy of 2000 years ago. 2021, 2020, Covid, “stolen” elections, and the like have not changed the world, as it for us, not the slightest bit…IF we really are who we say we are and IF we really believe what we say we believe.

Supporting Scriptures of Note:

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matt. 1:20-22)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:17-21)

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:44-48)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Rom. 3:23-26)

Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Rom. 8:34)

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? (Rom. 10:8-15)

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Cor. 1:17-21)

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Cor. 4:1-4)

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Cor. 15:3)

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess. 2:10-12)

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15)

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What is Faith?

Faith is arguably THE paramount construct within Christianity; yet is remains an elusive concept that is often bastardized within Christian realms and by (gasp) professing Christians. Just scroll your way around Facebook, peruse YouTube, or even do some old-fashioned channel flipping and you will invariably find a professing Christian “authority” pontificating about faith in a manner that portrays faith in a way that does not match with what scripture teaches on the topic. There are many manifestations of  what might be termed falsified faith. From “word of faith” gurus urging you to “name it and claim it” to “faith” healers whose basis of identifying faith is shrouded in dubious miracles and exaggerated episodes of tongues and “holy” laughter, there is no shortage of flavors when it comes to faith. That being the case, rather than dealing with that which is NOT biblical faith, let us take a few moments  to remind ourselves of what constitutes biblical faith, without which it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

                Faith as far as scripture discusses it, in the starkest terms, is simply believing what God said and doing accordingly with no other confirmation sought after or needed. At times, the scriptures make it clear that faith will require a conscious choice to believe and obey God DESPITE observable evidence that would seem to make what God said impossible. To be sure, there is a definition of faith which would allow for the many false versions of it that are taught and practiced within Christianity and in many other disciplines to exist comfortably – but that is not BIBLICAL faith as God sets it forth in His word. People exercise faith all the time and for many purposes, but the difference between true faith as portrayed in the scriptures and all other sorts of faith is found by examining the source or cause of what one is believing. If one is believing what God said in His word and acting accordingly, that is biblical faith; if one believes anything or anyone else and acts accordingly that is faith of a non-biblical sort.

                The scriptures hold up examples to us of biblical faith in various passages, perhaps the most well-known is the “hall of faith” found in Hebrews 11, which also provides God’s definition of faith in verse 1:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The above definition may be applied and practiced in regard to most any “things” that we choose; however, with regard to biblical faith which pleases God and which He honors the “things” of focus are His words, His promises. We see this precept clearly as the author of Hebrews goes on to list persons such as Abraham, Deborah, David, and others and what they accomplished, which without exception is a list of accomplishments pertaining to these persons believing and living as a reality God’s word to them based simply on what God told them.

For each one of us, biblical faith is the key to any sort of relationship with God. The gift of His Son crucified for our sins and risen (which is God’s grace towards us) is applied to us through faith in the same:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God gave us His word regarding His Son regarding our salvation; if we do not believe what He said and do accordingly, we have no part in Him. Once we have received part in Him (by grace through faith), it remains through faith in His word that we maintain that relationship and grow in Him, as is discussed in James 2. As we come to Christ and as we go on in Christ, faith, of the biblical kind, is indeed paramount in our walk with Him. Do we really believe what God’s word says? If so, we ought be living accordingly.

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5 Points Disproven: Simple Scriptural Refutations of Each of the Five Points of T.U.L.I.P.

Concise Refutations of Common Errors in Calvinism:

I. Limited Atonement?

A thorough and complete study of Calvinistic doctrine is beyond the scope and intent of this blog; however, given the obfuscation of clear bible truths that Calvinism creates, it is a topic worth discussing. In actuality, there is much truth to be found within the doctrines derived from Calvin and some of the other reformers, however, there IS error as well when said doctrines are held up to and compared with the standard of God’s word, which most Calvinists will agree to as being THE final authority on all matters of faith and practice. In some ways Calvinism’s errors can be seen as errors of wrong explanation and mischaracterization based on failure to rightly divide scripture as commanded. Approached in this manner, an in depth study of why Calvinists (and I will be using that term as reference to full  “five point” adherents, – also described as “hyper” Calvinists) believe as they do is not necessary. Calvinism, with its 5 main points indicated with the acronym “T.U.L.I.P.” (T = Total Depravity, U = Unconditional Election, L = Limited Atonement, I = Irresistible Grace, P = Perseverance of the Saints), provides a framework with which we can simply compare the doctrinal conclusions they very firmly proclaim against what scripture says about these very topics and show, quite simply and easily via scripture, that Calvinism is a system that twists key scriptural terms and truths.

The most stark and detrimental departure from what scripture plainly says is in regard to the atonement provided by Christ for sinners, so I will deal with the “L” first. Calvinism holds that atonement for sin was not provided for every individual sinner by Jesus Christ and His work upon the cross, but rather that only those sinners that God had predetermined would be saved were covered by that atonement. This stems from the Calvinistic position that God is sovereign and therefore His will cannot be thwarted. In Calvinism, a God who sent His Son to save everyone is a failure UNLESS everyone ends up being saved by what His Son provided. To be sure, God IS sovereign and His will CANNOT be thwarted (thankfully, it cannot be thwarted even by doctrines devised by men to help God out with maintaining His sovereignty, which Calvinism can be seen as often seeking to do). I have no private interpretation of my own to pit against that posited by Calvinism…however, what I do have is plain scripture that, as written and with no interpreting needed, thoroughly refutes the idea that only the sins of those who God knew would be saved were atoned for on the cross by Jesus Christ.

There are scores of passages within scripture that indicate that what Jesus Christ provided on the cross was for everyone, for all sinners and for all sins and several that in no uncertain terms plainly state this. Many passages contain statements such as “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever…” (John 3:16) and “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe” (1 Tim. 4:10).  While it should be obvious from passages such as these that the atonement was not limited (was provided to “the world”, to “all men”) but rather is being conditionally applied (to those who “believe”), God goes even further and in one passage His Spirit unequivocally refutes the Calvinistic position on the atonement being provided only for those who God pre-chose (“the elect”):

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. – 1 John 2:1-2

                John 2:2 makes perfectly clear that Jesus Christ was the propitiation (payment) for ALL sins of ALL (the “whole”) world. The Calvinist has many tricks, both in English and Greek, with which he will tell you that “all” does not really mean “all” and “world” does not really mean “world”…however, anyone with elementary school reading comprehension skills can see that 1 John 2:2 precludes that private interpretation in itself, clearly comparing the world against the segment of the world that has believed and then plainly stating that Jesus provided atonement not only for the sins of those who believe on Him but for everyone else as well. Additionally, when we compare scripture with scripture, we see John is simply referencing what we have already been told numerous times…Jesus bled and died for all sinners and all sins BUT God will only apply that atonement  to those sinners who believe on His Son for it. It really is that simple…it is what God said:

Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be castout. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die. – John 12:31-33

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  –Romans 5:6-9

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. – Acts 10:43

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2:13

                Having established, by simply consulting God’s word as written, that all sins were atoned for by Christ, and having further established that some yet do not obtain salvation despite Christ having died for their sins, we are perfectly situated move on to the next deformed petal of Calvin’s “TULIP” – “U” (Unconditional Election).

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Can God Not Know?

In the Light of His Word: Pondering God’s Omniscience

The scriptures provide a vast supply of information on who God is and what He is like. Often this area if study is discussed under makeshift parameters such as “the attributes of God”, the “personhood of God”, or in explorations of God’s “nature”.  One of the attributes that scripture conveys as a key part of God being God is His omniscience, which is His being all-knowing. This can be a difficult concept for we finitehuman beings who must exert ourselves (some more than others) to retain finite amounts of knowledge over comparatively short periods of time. How can someone know everything always all the time? Yet scripture most certainly declares this to be an attribute of God. Which leads to a question that might seem blasphemous to some and superfluous to others; can God choose to not know something? Can an all-knowing God not know something if He wishes to not know it?

As we read commentaries and listen to teaching and preaching that attempt to render deeper understanding of God’s attributes, particularly in relation to His dealings with man, we often hear limitations placed upon God in certain regards. For example, one will not have to search far and wide to come across teachers employing summary statements such as “God CANNOT look upon sin”, “God CANNOT lie”, “God CANNOT have fellowship with sin”, etc. Some of these are based upon plain statements in scripture (e.g. God the Holy Spirit plainly stating something about Himself, such as found in Titus 1:2  -“…which God, that cannot lie…”) and some are based on peripheral statements that seem to indicate God being unable in a particular regard. However, even with the example of lying, which is arguably the clearest “inability” of God expressed in scripture, Titus 1:2 does not stand alone on this, that is in its statement that God “cannot lie”. In Numbers 23:19 and 1 Samuel 15:9 we are given additional information on God’s inability to lie, being told in Numbers 23:19 that “God is not a man that He should lie…or that He should repent” and in 1 Samuel 15:9 again that God “does not lie or change his mind for he is not a man that he should change his mind”. An honest assessment (which would include a review of additional passages – to name but a few – in Genesis, Exodus, 1 Kings, Psalms, Daniel, 1 Thessalonians that we do not have time to get into in this study) of what scripture reveals on this paints a picture that is more accurately conveyed as God being unwilling to stoop to lying when speaking for Himself as true. In short, it is not a chink in the armor of God’s all-powerful nature – something He is UNABLE to do; rather, to the contrary, it is a testament to His unlimited power in that He maintains the ability by will to be true when He says He will be no matter what external circumstances might seem to make that IMPOSSIBLE for God based on His other attributes (Holiness, Omniscience, Love, Justice, etc).

Thus we arrive back at the original query: is the all-knowing God ABLE to not know something? If God is ABLE to not know a thing, is He willing to cease knowing? In what instance or sense might He do so if indeed able and willing? The most pertinent (perhaps crucial would be the better term) issue in regard to God’s ability and willingness to forget as far as we are concerned would be in relation to our sinfulness.  Looking at a few passages dealing with God’s omniscience as He employs it rather than as He possesses it might be an encouraging warm-up exercise to engage in briefly, prior to assessing what scripture says about the broken relationship between God and ourselves due to our sin. As we look to scripture for examples of God being able and willing to suspend His knowing in accordance with His purposes, a few interesting accounts are worth consideration.

Most bible students are familiar with the scenario of Job. The story of Job is centered on a man whom God points out to Satan as being pleasing to God and “righteous”, to which Satan replies by asserting that if God removes His blessings and protection from Job and evil befalls Job then Job will turn against God and curse God to his face (Job 1:11). God accepts Satan’s challenge and gives Satan leave to afflict Job. What we have here in Job is the omniscient God who states elsewhere that He knows “the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10) and “none resists His will” (Romans 9:19) acting as if He doesn’t know how this will play out. In the beginning of the story, God even asks Satan where he is coming from after Satan arrives in heaven (Job 1:7, 2:2), AS IF God doesn’t know where Satan has been and what he has been doing. Satan answers, AS IF God doesn’t already know. It goes on in like manner from there.  What we have in Job is a demonstration that, despite the very plain truth conveyed in scripture regarding God being all knowing all the time for all time (omniscience), there is at least a situational possibility that God may act AS IF He does not already know. 

A similar situation in found in the account of Abraham being tested with the command to sacrifice his son Isaac, which is not only given as a narrative in Genesis 22 but commented on further by the Holy Spirit in Romans 4, Hebrews 11, and James 2. God, knowing the end from the beginning, would have known what Abraham’s response would be, yet God says to Abraham after Abraham obeyed God and was about to slay Isaac, in Genesis 22:12 “…now I know that thou fearest God , seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.” Abraham appears to have been given an opportunity by God wherein God allowed Abraham to demonstrate his faith which results in a benefit for Abraham. While God in His omniscience knew the end from the beginning with respect to Abraham and Job, the fact is that neither Abraham nor Job themselves were privy to any of what God was doing behind the scenes – God acted AS IF He didn’t know one way or the other so that Abraham and Job could, in the end, be benefited by their testing.

The examples of Abraham and Job, among many others, demonstrate something that is crucial to the possibility of any of us having any sort of a relationship with God. The most profound instance of God acting AS IF He doesn’t know something that is found in scripture occurs in regard to sin. While we may, and must, believe – placing faith in God’s word to us – that because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross nearly 2000 years ago God now views we sinful men as without sin, how often do we stop and consider the impossibility that God has overcome in so doing? God, knowing every thought any one of us has ever had, every deed, every secret, has promised to treat us AS IF none of that were true based on the sufficiency of the blood of Jesus Christ shed on our behalf. Not only has God chosen to forget our sins, He has promised to know us as something we are not – as perfectly righteous as was His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. As stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

God, for our benefit, did something by His Son Jesus Christ, that only an all knowing (omniscient) AND all powerful (sovereign) God could do. To put it as He Himself does via Paul in Romans 4:17, God made things that “are not as though they were”.  In this statement we have confirmation that God, both omniscient and sovereign, can will that which is not to be and likewise will that which is to be not – and all the while not departing from His perfect truth in the accomplishing of these things. It would do us good to meditate on these things, and to appreciate, through his wonderful word, the mercy and grace shown to us by our omniscient and sovereign God, manifested in Jesus Christ.

wisdomspout-November 2021

(all scripture references KJV unless otherwise noted)