The saving work of Christ is a mystery that can never be fully explained or understood by the human finite mind. It is something that theologians have tried to simplify and explain for centuries. The sheer thought that the God of the universe would make a way to redeem, let along want to redeem, a rebellious human race that has turned their backs on their creator over and over again is beyond comprehension. And not only initiate the redemption, but continue the process by which human beings become “new creations” in Christ just adds to the mystery. But herein lays the incomprehensible love and grace of this great God. So, to answer this question we must formulate our answers based upon two concepts: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and The Doctrine of Salvation and the Christian Life.
So, we begin our journey by looking at the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the person of the Trinity through which God works to initiate the process of salvation, to continue the process of salvation, and to complete the process of salvation after death in the lives of people. As Gordon D. Kaufman expresses, “God’s Spirit is to be understood as his actual presence to his creatures in every situation, whether they consciously feel it or not. Thus, God is immanently at work in men’s lives, even before they are conscious of him or begin to respond with faith,...” So, the process of man becoming a “new creation in Christ” is one that is fueled and driven by God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s presence is seen from the beginning of time in the Old Testament through the ministry of Jesus in the New Testament and his manifestation in the Book of Acts. Even so, he is present in this day and time doing the work of God through the people of God by empowering, purifying, revealing, and unifying. He is involved in the process of salvation through conversion (starting salvation), through sanctification (continuing salvation), through equipping, through intercession, and through assurance (class notes). We see him in every aspect from beginning to end.
Which leads us to our second concept in exploring our question of becoming “new creations in Christ:” The Doctrine of Salvation and the Christian Life. Salvation is the effect of the Holy Spirit’s application of the work of Christ to the life of the believer (class notes). So, one can clearly see that the Doctrine of Salvation and the Christian Life is directly tied to the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit for without the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men there would be no realization of the need for God.
Speaking of the Doctrine of Salvation and the Christian Life, herein lays the process by which one becomes a “new creation in Christ.” This is seen through “The Order of Salvation” or the “ordo salutis.” Throughout the centuries there has been much debate between Reformed and Arminian theologians about how the process of salvation is initiated, carried out, and completed. We see Reformed theology expressed through John Calvin’s TULIP stressing the sovereignty of God, and we see Arminian theology which stresses the human freedom of choice. Kaufman’s explanation of salvation is that “salvation in the Christian view is nothing else than living as free though finite creatures under God; or, to say the same thing in other words, it is loving God and fellows; or, in yet another image, it is living in the kingdom of God.” When looking at salvation and the Christian life, whether taking a Reformed view or an Arminian view, one has to admit that the whole process is all initiated by God. “The Atonement wrought by Jesus Christ is the focus of revelation, the inner truth of the Gospel addressed to our sin-burdened and sin-poisoned race. In all the glory of His mediatorial character and in all the fullness of His mediatorial work Christ is the center and core of Christian doctrine.” The focus then of salvation and the Christian life should be that of Christ and the process of becoming “new creations in Christ” that is laid out in the Scripture. That “God does not love us because Christ died for us, but that Christ died for us because God loves us, and his sacrifice is an expression of this love” is a clear and focused statement of what becoming “new creations in Christ” is all about.
So, what does it mean to say that “if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation?” It means that we have experienced regeneration through the process of salvation that was initiated by God through the Holy Spirit and is continued throughout our lives until the day Christ returns or until our death. It means that we have experienced a new birth in our lives through Christ or been “born again” as Christ explained to Nicodemus. It means that we are no longer slaves to the sin of this world, but our old life of sin has been buried and we have been made new through the power of Jesus Christ. It can be summed up best by saying that “salvation is not merely a cure for sin but the redemption of the entire sinner. The work of salvation that God has begun in all true believers will be fulfilled in the resurrection of our bodies and the completion of God’s redemptive plan-a plan that includes past, present, and future.”
Enjoy the Journey,
Brett
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Who Is God and How Do We Know Him?
The search for God has been a journey on which human beings have been since the beginning of time. Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, we have been trying to discover who God is and how to know him. How do we figure out God, the creator of the universe, and have a relationship with him that is real, genuine, and life changing? In looking at this question, it requires us to formulate our answer based on two concepts: The Doctrine of God and The Doctrine of Revelation.
So, we begin our journey by first exploring who is God? When we look at who God is we see that it is not an easy question to answer. Because God has so many infinite attributes and characteristics, it is hard to narrow it down to a certain amount. In doing so, we tend to minimize the concept of who God is and how powerful he is. Without minimizing God in his infiniteness, to answer this part of the question we must look at how God has revealed himself through the Holy Scriptures, our own faith, and our personal experience of who God has been to us in our own lives and our relationship with him.
So, what does the Bible have to say about who God is? The concept of who God is begins with the Trinity. “The distinctive Christian description of God is Trinity. The one God has revealed himself to be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (class notes) This description of God “is one of mysterious grandeur, which defies the comprehension of every finite mind, and must be received as true on the authority of the Bible.” In looking at the Holy Scriptures, we see endless statements of who God is. In Exodus 20:3, 5, he gives a clear statement about him being the one and only God. In Psalms 47:7, his reign and sovereignty over the earth is proclaimed. In Revelation 4:8, his holiness and eternal nature is proclaimed. All these Scriptures and countless others speak to who God is. God shows us through his Holy Word that he is Spirit, he is a Person, he is personal, he is infinite, he is one God, and he is absolute. He is the God who has revealed himself through the Scriptures.
In looking at our own faith and searching for a summary statement of who God is, The Baptist Faith and Message adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 gives the greatest all inclusive statement. It covers the infiniteness of God’s characteristics from his personality to his perfection revealing to us that he is the holy God who sits on high and reigns, but he is also the personal God who is involved in our daily lives. As E.Y. Mullins expresses, God is “the supreme personal Spirit; perfect in all his attributes; who is the source, support, and end of the universe.” He is holy and powerful enough to rule the universe, yet he is personal enough that he cares about what goes on in our daily lives. He is the God who we see in power and glory in the Old and New Testament, but loves us enough that he sent his son to die so that we can have relationship with him.
In looking at our personal experience of who God has been to us in our own lives and our relationship with him, we develop a more personal concept of God which combines how we understand God through the Holy Scriptures and our own personal faith because it is based upon who God has revealed himself to be through those two avenues. While who God is isn’t changed by man’s personal experience or opinions, the foundations we find in Scripture and through our faith help us to draw closer to him and to relate to him in a more personal way.
Which leads us to the second part of our question how do we know God? First, we need to make clear that knowing God is our most privileged opportunity, and there is no higher honor. The way we know God and discover who he is, comes through him revealing himself to us. This revelation comes in two forms: general revelation and special revelation. All of humanity has access to general revelation. David says in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.” So, humanity in general can see God in the world around them; but to truly know God takes special revelation through which God has revealed himself to people throughout history in the Old and New Testament and now happens only through Jesus Christ revealing himself to us through the Holy Scriptures. As Mullins says, “Revelation is an event in the soul, an act of man’s whole nature in response to God’s self disclosure.” God reveals himself to us through the Bible by the power of the Holy Spirit and the result of that revelation is salvation and a relationship with him. To truly know God, general revelation is not enough. Because even though we can know about God through general revelation, it takes the special revelation of God through Jesus Christ his son and his Holy Word to reach past our sin marred minds and show us who God truly is.
In conclusion, God is so infinite and great that he cannot be fully known. We can see through the Scriptures and our faith some of who he is, but not all. Even though God cannot be fully known, he reveals to us who he truly is and through our relationship with him and that revelation we discover more and more everyday that he loves us and desires for us to know him.
Enjoy the Journey,
Brett
So, we begin our journey by first exploring who is God? When we look at who God is we see that it is not an easy question to answer. Because God has so many infinite attributes and characteristics, it is hard to narrow it down to a certain amount. In doing so, we tend to minimize the concept of who God is and how powerful he is. Without minimizing God in his infiniteness, to answer this part of the question we must look at how God has revealed himself through the Holy Scriptures, our own faith, and our personal experience of who God has been to us in our own lives and our relationship with him.
So, what does the Bible have to say about who God is? The concept of who God is begins with the Trinity. “The distinctive Christian description of God is Trinity. The one God has revealed himself to be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (class notes) This description of God “is one of mysterious grandeur, which defies the comprehension of every finite mind, and must be received as true on the authority of the Bible.” In looking at the Holy Scriptures, we see endless statements of who God is. In Exodus 20:3, 5, he gives a clear statement about him being the one and only God. In Psalms 47:7, his reign and sovereignty over the earth is proclaimed. In Revelation 4:8, his holiness and eternal nature is proclaimed. All these Scriptures and countless others speak to who God is. God shows us through his Holy Word that he is Spirit, he is a Person, he is personal, he is infinite, he is one God, and he is absolute. He is the God who has revealed himself through the Scriptures.
In looking at our own faith and searching for a summary statement of who God is, The Baptist Faith and Message adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 gives the greatest all inclusive statement. It covers the infiniteness of God’s characteristics from his personality to his perfection revealing to us that he is the holy God who sits on high and reigns, but he is also the personal God who is involved in our daily lives. As E.Y. Mullins expresses, God is “the supreme personal Spirit; perfect in all his attributes; who is the source, support, and end of the universe.” He is holy and powerful enough to rule the universe, yet he is personal enough that he cares about what goes on in our daily lives. He is the God who we see in power and glory in the Old and New Testament, but loves us enough that he sent his son to die so that we can have relationship with him.
In looking at our personal experience of who God has been to us in our own lives and our relationship with him, we develop a more personal concept of God which combines how we understand God through the Holy Scriptures and our own personal faith because it is based upon who God has revealed himself to be through those two avenues. While who God is isn’t changed by man’s personal experience or opinions, the foundations we find in Scripture and through our faith help us to draw closer to him and to relate to him in a more personal way.
Which leads us to the second part of our question how do we know God? First, we need to make clear that knowing God is our most privileged opportunity, and there is no higher honor. The way we know God and discover who he is, comes through him revealing himself to us. This revelation comes in two forms: general revelation and special revelation. All of humanity has access to general revelation. David says in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.” So, humanity in general can see God in the world around them; but to truly know God takes special revelation through which God has revealed himself to people throughout history in the Old and New Testament and now happens only through Jesus Christ revealing himself to us through the Holy Scriptures. As Mullins says, “Revelation is an event in the soul, an act of man’s whole nature in response to God’s self disclosure.” God reveals himself to us through the Bible by the power of the Holy Spirit and the result of that revelation is salvation and a relationship with him. To truly know God, general revelation is not enough. Because even though we can know about God through general revelation, it takes the special revelation of God through Jesus Christ his son and his Holy Word to reach past our sin marred minds and show us who God truly is.
In conclusion, God is so infinite and great that he cannot be fully known. We can see through the Scriptures and our faith some of who he is, but not all. Even though God cannot be fully known, he reveals to us who he truly is and through our relationship with him and that revelation we discover more and more everyday that he loves us and desires for us to know him.
Enjoy the Journey,
Brett
What does it mean to say that in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself?
Since the beginning of time, man has been trying to save himself from himself and has failed miserably in the attempt. Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden, we as humans have been trying to get back to that state of perfection and knowledge that once existed in the heart of man. How do we get beyond our own depravity? How do we rise above the failed state in which we live? How do we get back to the Garden? How do we become reconciled with the God that created us and desires relationship with us? In looking at these questions, it requires us to formulate our answers based upon one concept: The Work of Christ. In dealing with the work of Christ, we must first look at who we are and the sin state that we are in as humans. Then, we must find the ultimate and final answer in who Jesus is and what He has done and is doing for us.
So, we begin our journey by first looking at who we are as humans and the hopeless state of sin in which we exist. From the beginning of life every human being is born as a fallen creature with the tendency towards sin and depravity. Romans 3:23 says, “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” As humans, we come into this world with the nature of sin and being drawn towards the things that are in opposition to God and a relationship with Him. But it is in that depravity that one finds their need for reconciliation with the God that created them and loves them.
In the life of every human we see that “from the first moment of our lives, human beings are dependent creatures. Just as we are dependent on God for the physical necessities of life, we are also spiritually helpless.” It is in that state of spiritual helplessness that every human being finds themselves, and it is in that same state that Christ becomes the reconciliation between mankind and God. In Romans 5:8, it says that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Was there any other way for God to reconcile mankind to Himself? Grudem says that “once God, in His love, decided to save human beings, then several passages in Scripture indicate that there was no other way for God to do this than through the death of His Son.” D.M. Baillie says that “the crucifixion of Jesus set men thinking more than anything else that has ever happened in the life of the human race.” When one looks at this horrific event that changed the course of history; and has the potential to change the lives of all humanity, “it makes them think of the redeeming love of God. Not simply of the love of Jesus, but of the love of God.” So one can see that because of the depravity of mankind, it was necessary for Christ to be the sacrifice that reconciled God and man once and for all.
Which leads us to the second question that must be answered concerning the Work of Christ: Who is Jesus and what has He done and is continuing to do for us? Because of the depravity of mankind and the holiness of God, a sacrifice was required. This sacrifice was to temporarily atone for the sins of the people therefore having to be repeated on a regular basis to appease the wrath of a Holy God. For a depraved human race to be completely and permanently reconciled to a Holy God there must be a sacrifice that would satisfy permanently. This sacrifice would only come through the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Scripture points to the reason for this sacrifice in John 3:16. The love of God is an evident reason for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, “but the justice of God also required that God find a way that the penalty due to us for our sins would be paid (for He could not accept us into fellowship with Himself unless the penalty was paid).” D.M. Baillie says that “In discoursing of the love that was shown in the Cross of Christ the New Testament is never able to stop short of tracing it up-stream to the eternal love of God dealing sacrificially with the sins of the world.”
Not only is there the sacrifice that Jesus made upon the cross, but the atonement for the sins of mankind also include “the work Christ did in His life to earn our salvation.” Not only was there the pain of the sacrifice on the cross that Christ endured, but according to Grudem “Christ had to live a life of perfect obedience to God in order to earn righteousness for us.” Christ’s life of obedience to God the Father sets the example for us and lays the foundation for the faith we have in Jesus Christ.
Included in what Christ has done for us beyond his obedience and death is His resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection was not one like the others recorded in the Bible. Jesus’ resurrection was one that set Him apart from any other person in human history.
So, what is the result of the Work of Christ and what He has done? The result is in what He is doing in reconciliation through the salvation of a human race who cannot save themselves, and the sanctification of those saved is “the progressive work of the Holy Spirit by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes and moves into Christian maturity.” This is the Work of Christ.
Enjoy the Journey,
Brett
So, we begin our journey by first looking at who we are as humans and the hopeless state of sin in which we exist. From the beginning of life every human being is born as a fallen creature with the tendency towards sin and depravity. Romans 3:23 says, “...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” As humans, we come into this world with the nature of sin and being drawn towards the things that are in opposition to God and a relationship with Him. But it is in that depravity that one finds their need for reconciliation with the God that created them and loves them.
In the life of every human we see that “from the first moment of our lives, human beings are dependent creatures. Just as we are dependent on God for the physical necessities of life, we are also spiritually helpless.” It is in that state of spiritual helplessness that every human being finds themselves, and it is in that same state that Christ becomes the reconciliation between mankind and God. In Romans 5:8, it says that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Was there any other way for God to reconcile mankind to Himself? Grudem says that “once God, in His love, decided to save human beings, then several passages in Scripture indicate that there was no other way for God to do this than through the death of His Son.” D.M. Baillie says that “the crucifixion of Jesus set men thinking more than anything else that has ever happened in the life of the human race.” When one looks at this horrific event that changed the course of history; and has the potential to change the lives of all humanity, “it makes them think of the redeeming love of God. Not simply of the love of Jesus, but of the love of God.” So one can see that because of the depravity of mankind, it was necessary for Christ to be the sacrifice that reconciled God and man once and for all.
Which leads us to the second question that must be answered concerning the Work of Christ: Who is Jesus and what has He done and is continuing to do for us? Because of the depravity of mankind and the holiness of God, a sacrifice was required. This sacrifice was to temporarily atone for the sins of the people therefore having to be repeated on a regular basis to appease the wrath of a Holy God. For a depraved human race to be completely and permanently reconciled to a Holy God there must be a sacrifice that would satisfy permanently. This sacrifice would only come through the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Scripture points to the reason for this sacrifice in John 3:16. The love of God is an evident reason for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, “but the justice of God also required that God find a way that the penalty due to us for our sins would be paid (for He could not accept us into fellowship with Himself unless the penalty was paid).” D.M. Baillie says that “In discoursing of the love that was shown in the Cross of Christ the New Testament is never able to stop short of tracing it up-stream to the eternal love of God dealing sacrificially with the sins of the world.”
Not only is there the sacrifice that Jesus made upon the cross, but the atonement for the sins of mankind also include “the work Christ did in His life to earn our salvation.” Not only was there the pain of the sacrifice on the cross that Christ endured, but according to Grudem “Christ had to live a life of perfect obedience to God in order to earn righteousness for us.” Christ’s life of obedience to God the Father sets the example for us and lays the foundation for the faith we have in Jesus Christ.
Included in what Christ has done for us beyond his obedience and death is His resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection was not one like the others recorded in the Bible. Jesus’ resurrection was one that set Him apart from any other person in human history.
So, what is the result of the Work of Christ and what He has done? The result is in what He is doing in reconciliation through the salvation of a human race who cannot save themselves, and the sanctification of those saved is “the progressive work of the Holy Spirit by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes and moves into Christian maturity.” This is the Work of Christ.
Enjoy the Journey,
Brett
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