Friday, September 12, 2008
Basic Theology
Why is our security in Christ a big deal? Because Jesus is calling us to take big risks in following Him! He wants us to know that we belong to Him and can never be condemned so that we can serve Him without any fear. So what is there for us who leave everything to follow Him? Great reward! Read Matt.19: 27-30 and I Cor.3:10-15 and consider all the passages that mention "crowns" for the faithful disciple. Remember that Heaven or Eternal Life is a free gift not a reward! John 5:24, Ephesians 2:8-9 All believers go to heaven but not all believers will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" The word "crown" in Greek is Stephanos which can also mean wreath. Just as the winners of Roman chariot races came up to receive a laural wreath from the Emperor we will stand at the Bema (a raised platform) seat of Christ (II Cor.5:10) and receive crowns which are earned rewards for faithful service. Please look at the five different Crowns you may receive in these passages: "Joy" I Thess.2:19; "Righteousness: II Timothy 4:8; "Life" James 1:12; "Glory" I Peter 5:4; "Imperishable" I Cor.9:25. Only Christ will wear the Royal Crown (Diadem) but you can wear these crowns (Stephanos) and when we receive them we will cast them at the feet of Jesus and worship Him! Its all about Him, trusting and serving Him! Revelation 4:10-11; Revelation 5:12-14 Wow! Casting Crowns is Biblical! pastor, Bill
Friday, September 5, 2008
Basic Theology
The fact that we are secure in Christ and cannot lose salvation does not mean we have a free pass to sin. Romans 6 makes that plain. The practical benefit to believers is that we can climb higher in our journey of spiritual growth without fear of falling , much like a climber who is secured by a safety rope. Yes, we all sin as believers. John explains that we have immediate cleansing through the blood of Christ if we confess our sins. I John 1:7-9 But what about deliberate serious sin and no confession of it? If we cannot lose salvation then what can we lose? God will gently discipline us when we stray but He will allow severe loss if we persist to the point of rebellion! Was Jonah saved? Of course he was! But look at what God allowed to happen! When we rebel against the known will of God we lose fellowship with God, fellowship with other believers, and a sense of inner peace. We also lose opportunities to serve Christ and the future rewards He promises. We can even lose assurance of our salvation. True believers might "feel" lost because they are "grieving the Spirit of God". Finally God may take us home early! Yes! That is what is called the "sin unto death". I John 5:16-17; I Cor.11:30 where "sleep" means death! So let me ask you, "Don't we have a good reason to press on to maturity? Hebrews 6:1 We have both strong encouragement and strong warning to "live out our salvation" in fear and trembling. We are bought with a price! We are not our own! God saved us for a purpose and that is to glorify Him! I Cor.6:19 For those who insist that we can lose salvation I would ask, "What can you possibly accomplish for God by your own merits?" John 15:5 But through Christ we can do all things! Phil.4:13 Next time we will discuss "Rewards". Even though every thing good we do is by His power and grace God promises rewards for those who love Him! Hebrews 11:6 See you next time! Bill
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Basic Theology
Last week we talked about "imputed righteousness" which is one of the results of trusting Christ as Savior. What this means is that in Christ we have a new standing before God which is total righteousness. God's own righteousness is credited to our account! Have you ever checked your bank account when you have an automatic draft from your employer? Like magic your full paycheck has been credited to your account! Have you checked your spiritual account lately? According to Romans 4:1-5 and 4:22, 5:17-19 all believers have God's own righteousness credited to their accounts. This is the only way we can have fellowship with God and the only basis by which anyone goes to heaven! And of course this is all made possible by Jesus who shed His blood in our place. Now we must establish the doctrine of "security" which flows naturally out of the firm foundation of trusting Christ. Those that believe that a true believer can lose salvation cite passages that speak about obedience in discipleship and not about salvation at all. While there are numerous scriptures that teach security the central passage is Romans 8:29-39 where Paul lists 4 reasons why a born again believer can never lose salvation. The first is found in v.30 which says that ALL who are justified (saved), will also be glorified! The second is found in v.32 in which Paul argues that because God already gave His best, His Son, He will certainly complete all His promises. The third reason is that Christ Himself defends us against any and every charge against us! v.33-34 along with Hebrews 7:25 and I John 2:1 make this a solid case.Finally the love of God will never let us, His dear children, go! Read those final verses v.35-39 which list every thing including our own selves. God's love is so strong that nothing in all creation can ever separate us from Him. Since all of these promises depend on God's faithfulness we are absolutely secure in Him.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Basic Theology
Last week we shared about the meaning of the Atonement (Jesus' death). Because Jesus died as our Substitute we have a completed salvation. Jesus said, "It is finished." John 19:30 Also check out the phrase "Once for all" in Hebrews 7:27, 9:26, 10:10. The result for the believer is called Justification which means God declares us to be righteous. This is the same as a guilty sinner standing before God and hearing, "Not Guilty by reason that My Son took you punishment!" But there is more! The means of Justification is that God adds His own righteousness to us. We exchanged our rags for His righteousness. (Isaiah 64:6- II Corinthians 5:21) Whenever you see the phrase "in Christ" it means that we are prefect before God because of our new position. Now we are called to live out that life of Christ as we obey God with help from the Holy Spirit.But we must never boast because it is "...by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption..." Hallelujah! It is His life working in us!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Basic Theology
Last week we ended a brief discussion of the Trinity and the Deity of Christ. Before we discuss Salvation itself let's consider the meaning of the death of Christ. There are several "theories" of what the Atonement means. However, their is only one that is supported by scripture. Jesus died in our place as our Substitute taking the full punishment for our sins that we justly deserved. Biblical support includes: Mark 10:45 Says that Jesus died as a ransom "for" the many. The Greek word "ANTI" always means "in place of" or "instead of". The sacrifice of Isaac in Gen. 22 depicts Substitution as well as the Law of Moses in Leviticus 16. The apostle Paul's theology is in complete harmony as found in Romans 5 and II Cor.5:21. Liberal mainline churches weaken this truth by attributing "moral example" instead of Substitution as the meaning of the Atonement. This does not mean people need to understand theology before they can trust Christ for salvation but the motivation to present the Gospel with conviction is certainly compromised if a preacher rejects Substitutionary Atonement. The Roman Catholic view makes the R.C. Church itself the mediator of salvation through graces received from their sacraments. The Bible tells us plainly that Jesus Himself is the only Mediator between God and man. I Timothy 2:5. So before we even discuss the Gospel of Salvation we must understand the important root meaning of why Jesus put Himself in our place and poured out His life so that we might be forgiven and become the Righteousness of God in Him! II Cor.5:21
Friday, August 15, 2008
Basic Theology
Now that you have learned about Worldviews let's look at some of basic theology that forms a Biblical Worldview. Last time we touched briefly on the Triune nature of God. The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. The Bible and Christ Himself taught this important truth. All cults like J.W.'s and Mormons deny the deity of Christ and therefore the Trinity is denied as well. Any group which denies or distorts the Trinity is a cult, period! This would include all "word-faith" teachers like T.D. Jakes and Joel Osteen and the Oneness Pentecostal groups. Remember cults fool true believers who are untaught but their doctrines are false. Much can be said about the importance of this doctrine but here are some key scriptures for you: Matt.28:19; Matt.3:16-17; II Cor.13:14 all contain the Three divine Persons. The deity of the Holy Spirit is found in Acts 5:3-4 and the Deity of Christ is found in numerous texts but note these: Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3-8; I John 5:20; Titus 2:13 and check out what Jesus said in John 8:24 and compare it to Isaiah 43:10-11. Whenever Jesus says, "I Am", He is claiming to be Jehovah God!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Basic Theology
Before we start a new topic I would like to give you a reading list for further study on Worldviews. "Seven Men That Rule the World From the Grave" by David Breese, "Slouching Towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline" by Robert Bork, "Original Intent: The Courts, the Constitution, and Religion" David Barton, "Mind Siege" Tim LaHaye, "Kingdoms in Conflict" Charles Colson, "What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?" D.James Kennedy, "Understanding the Times: The Religious Worldviews of Our Day and the Search for Truth" David Noebel, "Inside American Education: The Decline, the Deception, the Dogmas" Thomas Sowell. If you will read even three of these books you will have a real grasp of what is really going on in our society. Remember, only 9% of Christians have a Biblical Worldview! Now lets begin a survey of basic theology. Please e-mail any questions or comments so I can address them. For today I wish only to make a brief statement about the Trinity. This vital truth is biblical and clearly taught yet misunderstood. The reason for that is because it is a Paradox! Most of but not all doctrines in the Bible conform to human logic. A Paradox is an apparent contradiction yet true. There are no human illustrations that really do justice to explaining the Triune nature of God. However I will give you one Hebrew word that can help. The word can be found in Deuteronomy 6:4 which reads: "Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!" The Hebrew word for "one" is "echad". It happens to be the PLURAL form and refers to a complex oneness or UNITY! For instance, if you wanted to say "one" grape in Hebrew you would use "yachid". But if you wanted to say "one" cluster of grapes you would use ECHAD! So the very verse which traditional Jews use to proclaim the "ONE" true God really means that God is way more than we can comprehend! And that is exactly why the Eternal God, Jesus Christ, humbled Himself and became a man so that we could understand the nature of God. JOHN 1:18 PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
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