Theology Club: Can I lose Salvation?

To answer the question regarding a Christian’s assurance of salvation, one must ask himself, “Can God change His mind?”  The act of salvation is the work of God.  Man cannot choose salvation, but is rather called by God (Eph. 1:11-14).  As a result, we must ask if God can change His mind and call someone “out” of eternity with Him.  Furthermore, throughout all of Paul’s writings, he argues that salvation is not an act of man but an act of God.  Man cannot resist the call of God or earn salvation by himself.  God will have mercy on those He chooses and will harden those He chooses to harden (Rom 9:14-21).   As a result, I believe that when a person truly enters into a saving relationship with Christ, they are eternally secure because the decision is made by the unchanging, all-powerful, and secure Creator of the universe.

I do believe that a Christian can have assurance of salvation based on three evidences.  First, Scripture is clear that the work of the Holy Spirit is a testimony of one’s salvation.  For the believer, the Holy Spirit testifies, intercedes, and convicts (Rom 8:16-27).  The Spirit writes the law of God on the heart of man and serves as the strongest evidence of salvation.  Second, I believe that assurance of salvation grows in correspondence with an individual’s personal walk with Christ.  The more time one spends in any relationship, the more secure they become.  This is also true in one’s relationship with the creator. (1Jn 5:1-4).  Finally, I believe that when one has the spirit indwelling in their hearts and they are continually growing in their relationship with Christ, fruit will be evident in their life.  Such fruit will provide evidence that one has remained in Christ and should give the Christian assurance that their salvation is secure (Jn 15:1-17).

Theology Club: Salvation

The salvation of man is the pardoning of man’s sin by the direct act of God.  As a result of the fall (Gen 3), man has been totally depraved through the imputed sin of Adam  (Rom 5:12).  In addition, all men commit personal sin, which also separates them from God (Rom 3:23).  Alone, man is hopeless to restore a relationship with God.  Man needs a Savior.

In order for one to attain salvation, he must first understand the work of Christ.  The Son of God became sin for man, died, and rose again (Rom. 5:8, Rom 10:9-10).  Jesus Christ became the perfect sacrifice for all mankind, and salvation is given when one puts his faith in Christ. (1 Cor. 15:22, Eph 2:5-9)  If man repents from evil ways and turns to Christ in faith he will be saved.  Man does not need to work to earn salvation.  He need only trust that Christ is sufficient.

The results of salvation are numerous.  Man receives the forgiveness of sins, a restored relationship with God, the empowering of the Holy Spirit, and eternal life.  Salvation gives man purpose for life and hope for the future.

Theology Club: Man

The uniqueness of man in creation is evident in many ways.  Mankind is superior to all other earthly creations in the areas of physical, mental, relational and functional abilities.  However, the image of God in mankind is not only found in our physical attributes, but also in the non-physical attributes as well.  The physical attributes of man that are made in the image of God are the body and the many intricate details it possesses.  The non-physical attributes of man that are made in the image of God are the mind, spirit, heart, will, conscience, and soul.

In Genesis 1:26-27 and 5:1, Scripture records the creation man in the image or likeness of God.  This reflection of God can be found in the spirit of man because God Himself is Spirit  (Jn 4:24).  The non-material component of man is further seen in the personality, morality, conscience, and immortality of man (Eph. 4:24, 2 Cor 4:2, Rom 3:20, 5:14,21). 

Though man possesses some of the characteristics of God, it is important to note that man remains quite limited when compared to the creator God.  Man is in no way equal with deity (1 Tim. 6:16).

In Genesis 3, Scripture records the fall of man.  We see both Adam and Eve challenging God’s authority as they willingly choose to disobey their Creator, by eating the fruit  from the tree of knowledge.  Their rebellious behavior is similar to that of Satan, and like Satan, they too paid a price for their disobedience. 

The ramifications of the fall had a tremendous effect not only on Adam but on all of mankind.  In Romans 5, we see that the sin of Adam has been passed to every human (5:12).  The sin of Adam effects every aspect of man and is evident in man’s relationship with God, self, and other men. 

From the moment of the fall, man’s relationship with God has been broken.  The primary result of the fall was the physical and spiritual death of man.  Physically, all of mankind will die and cease to exist on the earth (Gen. 3:19,  Heb. 9:27).  Spiritually,  mankind will experience separation from God their Creator, and eternal death (Rev 20:14-15, 21:8).  Sin has caused a deep hatred between man and God (Hosea 9:15, Ex 20:5) and brought guilt upon man (Rom 3:23).  Ultimately, man’s sin must be punished by the just Creator (Gal, 6:7-8). 

The greatest need of mankind; therefore, is a pardon for his sin.  Man is dirty, alone, and dying without God.  His greatest need is to be made clean again through Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:4-10).  Man needs to accept the saving gift of Christ in order to pass from death to life (Eph 5:24).  To accept or reject the saving work of Christ is the most important decision in any individual’s life.  All men have sinned and fallen short of God’s standards (Rom. 3:23).  The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), but, the gift of God is eternal life through the death of Jesus Christ (Rom 5:8). 

Theology Club: Angels, Satan

I believe in angels.  Even though Scripture is not crystal clear on this topic, there is still enough information for one to acquire some understanding about the doctrine of angels. Angels are eternal creatures created to carry out the will of God (Ps 148:2-5, Col. 1:6).  From Scripture, we see that angels hold a position higher than man but lower than Christ (Heb.1:8-2:9).  Angels posses superhuman knowledge, but nevertheless, are intellectually limited (Mt 24:36, 1 Peter 1:12).

The functions of angels are numerous.  Some angels are worshipers like the angels recorded in Isaiah’s vision (Job 38:7).  These angels are usually found in the presence of God and express His glory (Rev. 4-5, Heb 1:6, Ps 103:20).  Other angels are messengers who carry a word from God to man (Num 22:3, Luke 1:13-20, Acts 10:3-7).  Still other angels minister as servants to believers.  Such ministry includes protecting believers from harm, (Acts 5:19) and rejoicing in the conversion of man (Lk 15:30).  Finally, some angels have been used to carry out the judgment of God (2 Kings 19:35).  In Genesis 18-19 two angels are found bringing destruction and judgment to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. 

In the future, angels will be involved in the second coming of Christ.  Jesus will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call to gather all believers (Mt. 24:31).  The elect will join Christ at His return to earth (Mt 25:31).  Finally, angels will help identify true believers by separating the “wheat from the weeds” (Mt. 13:39-42).

I believe in the existence of Satan.  According to Scripture, Satan is the ruler of the world and the chief of all demons (Jn 12:31,Lk 11:15).  Satan was one of God’s angels, a spiritual creature created by God and known for his wisdom and beauty  (Col.  1:16-17, Ez.  28:11-19).  Nevertheless, in an attempt to be greater than God, Satan sinned and rebelled against his Creator.  As a result, he was cast out of heaven and currently exists on earth (Ez 28:15, Is. 14:12-14). 

Presently, Satan is the great deceiver.  He is a clever and knowledgeable being seeking to disrupt God’s plan by deceiving and destroying mankind.  Like the snake in the garden of Eden, Satan takes on the appearance of truth, only to lead individuals away from God (Gen. 3:5).  Satan uses the glitter of this world to blind the minds and hearts of man to the truth of the God’s word (2 Cor 4:4, 1 Jn 2:15). 

In the future Satan will receive a just reward for his actions.  Scripture states that during the millennium, Satan will be thrown into the bottomless pit (Rev. 20 2-3).  After a thousand years of captivity, he will be released for a short time, but eventually caught and thrown into the lake of fire for eternity (Rev.  20: 4-10).

Theology Club: God

I believe in one God that exists in three equal beings:  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the core beliefs of Christianity.  One’s understanding of God will shape his view of Christ and ultimately influence the way he worships the Master.  In order to explain my personal view of the Trinity I will support the oneness, threeness, and three-in-oneness of God.

 The unique oneness of God is found throughout all of Scripture.  In Deuteronomy 6:4 Moses expresses God’s love and oneness to Jews in exile.  In Exodus 20:2 God tells Moses that He is the one true God and states that there is no other gods before (except) Him.  Furthermore, God’s oneness is evident in the second commandment where God expresses his disapproval of idol worship (v4-6).  Finally, throughout the entire New Testament, the idea of God’s oneness is expressed consistently as in James 2:19, 1 Cor. 8:4-6, 1 Tim, 2:5-6. 

In addition to the unique oneness of God’s nature, it is also Biblically apparent that God exists in three distinct beings.  God the Father is found in Genesis 3:8 looking for Adam and Eve.  He is the creative, powerful being in Genesis 1:1; the one who breathes life into Adam’s nostrils (Gen.2:7).  God the Son, Jesus Christ, is also found in Scripture.  In the Old Testament, some have debated that Christ is the Angel of the Lord found in Genesis 16:7, Zechariah 1:12, and Exodus 3:2-6.  However, most recognize God the Son as the Messiah of the New Testament, the savior of the world (Phil. 2:5-11).  Finally,  God the Holy Spirit is found in both the Old and New Testaments (Gen. 1:2, Ps 51:11, Jn 16:8-11).

I believe God the Father (1 Cor. 3:8), Son (Heb 1), and Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4) are all individual persons who make up one all-powerful God.  All three were present at the baptism of Christ (Luke 3:21-22) and Christ commanded His disciples to baptize in the name of all three (Mt 28:18-19).  Even Paul links the three in his benediction to the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 13:14).  Throughout Scripture it is apparent that our God, the God, is three-in-one.

2.  I believe that Jesus Christ is the second part of the Trinity, the Son of God (Jn 1, Mt 1:23, Phil. 2).  Jesus has existed eternally, but took human likeness in order to save mankind (1 Tim 1:15, Rom 5).  Jesus Christ was entirely God and entirely man.  He came to earth to pay the penalty of human sin and presently ministers at the right hand of God.

The deity of Christ is supported thoughout all of Scripture.  In the Old Testament, many prophecies such as Isaiah 7:14 told of a coming Messiah.  Such prophecies were fulfilled in Christ as recorded in the gospels (Mt 1:23, Lk 1:31).  The deity of Christ is also supported by the epistles (Phil. 2, Col. 2:9), confirmed by John the Baptist (Jn 1:34), and confirmed by God the Father (Mt 3:16-17).   Even Christ regarded himself as God by the way the forgave sins and handled the Sabbath (Mk 2:5, 2:27-28).  From Scripture it is clear that Jesus Christ is the Lord.

The humanity of Jesus is also supported in Scripture.  Jesus was born from a woman, lived in a human body, and grew just like every man (Gal 4:4, Lk.2:52).  He felt fatigue while traveling (Jn 4:6), as well as hunger and thirst (Mt 4:2, Jn 19:28).  Finally, Christ experienced pain to the point of death when He died on the cross (Jn 19:34).  From Scripture it is clear that while Jesus Christ is the Lord, He was also completely human.  I believe that the union of humanity and deity did not limit the power of Christ as Lord, but rather added human qualities to Jesus, the all powerful God of creation.  Both human and divine natures were present in Christ the God-Man (1 Tim 2:5). 

The death of Christ is the axis of Christianity.  The purpose of Jesus’ death was to provide a substitutional sacrifice for the sin of all humankind (Is 53:6, Jn 1:29).  Since the fall of Man in Genesis 3, humankind had been living in a broken relationship with God (Eph. 2:1).  However, the sacrifice of Christ paid the penalty for the sin of all (Rev 5:9, Lk 19:10, Heb. 9:12-14).  Man is no longer a slave to sin.  Instead, he is a true servant of the Master (1 Cor 6:19-20).  Through the blood of Christ we are reconciled with God (2 Cor 5:18-19)

Currently, Jesus ministers by ruling from the right hand of God the Father (Heb 1:3, Col. 1:18, Is 9:7)  He is the head of the church (Rom 8:34, Rev 2) and the advocate for believers (1Jn 2:1-2).  Jesus is still building as the one time carpenter preparing a place for all believers (Jn 14:2).  Finally, Christ promised to return with authority to take His people home (Phil. 2:10-11).

I believe the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity.  The Holy Spirit is a co-equal part of the Godhead and is also completely God (Mt 3:16, Jn 14:16, Acts 10:38).  In Scripture, we see that the Holy Spirit possesses both the attributes and the actions of God.  For example, the Holy Spirit is viewed as omniscient (1 Cor. 2:10-11), all powerful (Lk 1:35), and eternal (Heb. 9:14).  Furthermore, the Bible records the Spirit acting as God in creation (Gen. 1:2), in prophecy (2 Pt 1:21), and in judgment (Acts 5:3-4). 

Currently, the Spirit ministers to both the world in general and to the believer.  In general, the Spirit convicts the world of guilt, righteousness, and judgment (Jn 16:8).  However, to the believer, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is much more extensive.  Throughout the New Testament, the Holy Spirit plays an active role in the lives of the early believers.  In the same way the Holy Spirit ministered in the early church, I believe that the Spirit currently ministers through the regeneration (Titus 3:5), indwelling (Jn14:17), baptism (1 Cor. 12:3), and sealing (2 Cor 1:22) of the modern day believer (2 Cor 1:22).  The process of renewing, connecting, uniting, and owning the believer to Christ is the work of the “Counselor” Jesus mentioned in John 14:6.  The Holy Spirit intercedes in the prayers of believers (Rom 8:26-27), illuminates Scripture, opens the minds and hearts of believers (Jn 14:26), and is active in the process of sanctification of the believer (Rom. 8:2-14).

In addition to working in the lives of individual believers, the Spirit plays an active role in the church.  In 1 Corinthians 12:7,11 it is clear that the Holy Spirit is the giver of Spiritual gifts.  In this way, the Spirit equips the church for the ministry of Christ.  However, it is important to note that the purpose of such miraculous gifts is to glorify Christ (1 Cor. 12:3) and unite the church body (1 Cor. 12:1).  We must remember that above all else, love is the greatest gift we can share as a body (1 Cor 13).

90 Days: Exodus 15:19-28:43

·      Sometimes the Lord wants us to be thirsty (Exodus 15)

·      The lack of blessing in our lives does not mean that God is not here (Exodus 16)

·      Thank the Lord for providing for your needs (Exodus 16)

·      What are you hungry for? (Exodus 16)

·      We are all dependent on Him sometimes we just don’t realize it (Exodus 16)

·      Rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 16)

·      If we gather too much for ourselves it will rot (Exodus 16)

·      After God has done so much why do we test him still? (Exodus 17)

·      Strength comes from the Lord (Exodus 17)

·      Tell others about what the Lord has done.  Share your story. (Exodus 18)

·      Remember who the hero is. (Exodus 18)

·      Share the load, Share the responsibility (Exodus 18)

·      Leaders: Teach them the decrees and laws; show them the way to live. (Exodus 18)

·      Surround yourself with men who fear God, trustworthy men, who hate dishonest gain. (Exodus 18)

·      The whole earth is His. (Exodus 19)

·      Holiness creates distance from sin.  (Exodus 19)

·      Sin keeps us away from God.  It creates fear. (Exodus 20).

·      Be just and gracious with others (Exodus 21)

·      Stand up against injustice in the world (Exodus 21)

·      Do not mistreat and alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.  Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.  If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.  (Exodus 22:21-23)

·      Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.  (Exodus 23)

·      Give the Lord your best in every way. (Exodus 24-28)

Theology Club: Scripture

I am starting a new thread on insights called “theology club.”  These are the some of my most personal thoughts on Scripture, Humankind, God, and Ministry.  I hope like always  that these writings will spark thought, dialogue and even greater insights from those who wrestle with these writings.  Mike

I believe that Scripture is the inspired Word of God.  Scripture is not the product of man’s mere thoughts, but the supernatural revelation of God (2 Peter 1:21).  I believe that God chose human authors to record His revelation.  God’s plan, therefore, provided a rich diversity of literary styles while maintaining unity in doctrine.  All Scripture was breathed by God and recorded by human authors who were supernaturally selected and inspired to write the very words they recorded (2 Tim 3:16). 

In the original autographs, I believe that Scripture is completely infallible.  The truthfulness of Scripture is assured by Christ’s claim that calls the Word the truth (Jn 17:17).  The very nature of God is truth and therefore it is safe to assume that the Word He authored must also be true (Rom. 3:4). 

Though we do not have the original autographs, I believe the issue of inspiration applies to the copies of Scripture we have today.  Through many studies of manuscripts, it has been noted that the copies we have today are amazingly accurate.  As a result, we too have an accurate account of God’s word (1Thess.2:13).

The Bible is my spiritual map for life and ministry.  Through the instruction of Scripture, I continually strive to keep myself pure as I read, meditate, and apply the Bible to my life (Ps 119:9).  Scripture challenges me daily to become more Christ-like as I strive to model my life after the Master. 

           

In ministry, the Bible is the authority in everything I do.  The Bible is a useful tool for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16).  The Word of God allows me to teach and speak with the authority of God.  The Bible is the foundational tool for ministry.  It is the Word of God which has the power to transform lives (Heb. 4:12).

In order to determine the origin of Scripture one must first look at the evidence.  Just as evidence is considered by a juror in a court of law, so we can decide rationally whether or not the Bible is the word of God by studying the evidence.  In my studies I have found many pieces of evidence which support God’s authorship of Scripture. These can be summarized in the following four arguments:

First, the Bible is the Word of God because it claims to be the Word of God.  In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul writes that all Scripture is God breathed.  In 2 Peter 1:21, we learn that prophecy did not come about from man but was the spoken Word of God through human lips.  Piles of other passages support the claim that Scripture is the written word of God, such as 2 Peter 3:15 1 Thess. 2:13, Hebrews 1:1-2.

Second, the Bible is the Word of God because Christ claims the Bible is the Word of God.  Throughout the gospels, Jesus often quotes the Old Testament to support His claims and actions (Mt 5: 17, Jn 10:35, 17:17).  For example, in Matthew 4:4, Jesus quoted Deut. 8:3 when He faced temptation.  The value Christ placed on Scripture is far greater than the value He placed on any other literature.  Christ acknowledged Scripture as the powerful Word of God which He has come to fulfill (Mt 5:17).

Third, the Bible is the Word of God because of the vast number of fulfilled prophecies and the unified nature of the text.  Fulfillment of prophecy is one of the most unique characteristics of Scripture.  It is most easily seen in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ (Mk 7: 6).  For example, the virgin birth of Christ was predicted thousands of years earlier through the prophet Isaiah (Is 7:14, Mt 1:18).  The virgin birth, together with a multitude of other examples throughout Scripture, prove the supernatural authorship of the Bible and provide a unity in a text which was written over thousands of years.  The Bible is a clearly unified group of texts which has been authored and protected by God (1 Peter 1:23, Mt 5:18).

Finally, the Bible is the Word of God because of the supernatural impact it has on its readers.  No other book changes lives like the Bible (Heb. 4:12).  Within Scripture are the principles for living a complete and fulfilling life.  The Word of God provides wisdom, knowledge and guidance for those who believe (1 Thess. 4:13).  It is the powerful and everlasting guidebook for all mankind (Mk 13:31, 1Pet. 1:23).