3/27/14

From Brad Bromling, D.Min. .... Wrong Must Be Explained

Wrong Must Be Explained

by  Brad Bromling, D.Min.

Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally killed their mother and father. The evidence is plain; no one denies it. So, why is it so hard to find them guilty? Their defense attorneys argued persuasively that the brothers endured a nightmarish childhood of sexual and physical abuse, and that they were thus acting out of a kind of insanity that excuses them from first-degree murder charges. The arguments on both sides reduce to the same basic premise: wrong was committed.
The prosecution accused the brothers of murder and appealed to the public’s sense that murder is evil. Likewise the brothers, in claiming they had been mistreated, appealed to a society that abhors child abuse. This was not a matter of arbitrary human laws being violated, it went much deeper. It was a matter of “right and wrong”—a concept that is universal and unique to humanity.
No matter where people are found, they recognize that some things are wrong. Although human groups differ on what they prohibit, they all censor something. C.S. Lewis articulated this point well:
Think of a country where people were admired for running away in battle, or where a man felt proud of double-crossing all the people who had been kindest to him. You might just as well try to imagine a country where two and two made five. Men have differed as regards what people you ought to be unselfish to—whether it was only your own family, or your fellow countrymen, or everyone. But they have always agreed that you ought not to put yourself first. Selfishness has never been admired. Men have differed as to whether you should have one wife or four. But they have always agreed that you must not simply have any woman you liked (1952, p. 5).
This also is personal. When I look inside myself, I find this moral sense that I did not invent. I can find no explanation for it in the world—it must derive from beyond that realm. If there is nothing but matter in the Universe, and matter is the only eternal reality—then how do you explain this moral sense in humanity? Did it arise from rocks, trees, or animals? No, this moral sense is one of the clearest and most personal reminders that there is a God.

REFERENCE

Lewis, C.S. (1952), Mere Christianity (New York: Macmillan).

From Jim McGuiggan... We need to stop this!

We need to stop this!

The term "elect" (chosen) is not used in scripture as an umbrella term to cover all the saved of all the ages. It always has specific addressees. Just as surely as it would be a mistake to take "chosen" in OT texts and apply them to NT Christians (unless we have textual grounds for doing so) so it's a mistake to take "chosen" when addressed to Christians and say it refers to all the saved people of all the ages. The NT elect are not the OT elect nor are they the saved of all the ages.

The elect in the NT are Christians—those who have been called by the gospel to faith in Jesus. We have no textual grounds for taking the term (for example in Ephesians 1) and saying the chosen ones in that text are the people of all the ages since Adam. NT elect are called by the proclamation of the gospel about Jesus. The work of Jesus Christ embraces people of all the ages but within that work there is a peculiar group of people who have been chosen to be the "body of Christ". Abraham is "saved", of course, but he is not part of the NT elect. Melchizedek is "saved", of course, but he is not part of the NT elect. Moses is "saved", of course, but he's not part of the NT elect, "the body of Christ". Moses was not a Christian! Abraham was not a Christian and Melchizedek was not a Christian. They're embraced in the universal work of God and are saved, certainly (Hebrews 12:18-24), but their place is not in the peculiar people (the NT elect) who serve a purpose no other saved people served or can serve!

You only have to look at the texts to see the error of using NT "elect" passages for all the saved of all the ages. The Thessalonians are chosen by the gospel about Jesus and belief of that gospel (2 Thessalonians 13-14). The Ephesians were called by the gospel of truth about Jesus (Ephesians 1:3-14, esp. 13) and so on. For some of us it suits our theological purposes to make "elect" equivalent to "saved" but we have no textual grounds for doing this. It's perfectly legitimate to do systematic theology but that must only be done based on actual texts.

God purposed the coming of "the last Adam" before the world began; in fact, the creation was brought about with the immortal Adam in mind (Colossians 1:15-16) and God purposed and brought into being the NT elect who would not only enjoy life in Jesus but would function in the world as "the body of Christ," the new humanity of the risen Lord; the extension (so the speak) of Jesus' incarnation.

To take the NT doctrine of the Church and make all the texts relate to all the saved of all the ages is to take leave of the actual texts we're dealing with.

Understand that the work of Jesus affects all the ages and the entire human family but within that universal work of God in Jesus there are specific moves and acts of God to bring about his eternal purpose. Two of them are the OT elect and the NT elect. These are not to be confused though they are intimately related. The NT elect are not to be confused with the entire number of all the "saved".

Find a text that speaks of the elect in the NT and you find people who are elect through the gospel of Jesus Christ. That means we can't place Moses or Hannah or Samuel or Ruth in the NT elect. The NT elect arrive on the scene only when Jesus arrives and they are the creation of God via the gospel that makes them into the image of Jesus and they live out the truth that Jesus is the returning Lord of All.

We need to stop treating NT texts about "election" as if they related to "all the saved of all the ages". "Saved" and "elect" are not co-extensive. Click here for a little more.


©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.

From Gary... This is a different spin on this. Never heard it put like this before- will have to think about it...

From Mark Copeland... Exhortations To Manifest Love (Hebrews 13:1-3)

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

                 Exhortations To Manifest Love (13:1-3)

INTRODUCTION

1. When we began our study, we noted that "The Epistle To The
   Hebrews"...
   a  Began like an "essay" - cf. He 1:1-2
   b. Progressed like a "sermon" - cf. He 2:1-4
   c. Ended like a "letter"
   -- With the final chapter, we see the tone of the epistle taking on
      the characteristics of a personal correspondence

2. As with many epistles in the New Testament, this letter ends with
   various exhortations...
   a. The first regarding the objects of their love - He 13:1-3
   b. Here we find the author practicing what he preaches; seeking to
      stimulate love and good works - cf. He 10:24

[As Christians, toward whom should we manifest our love?  Certainly
toward all men, even our enemies (Lk 6:32,35); but in the text our
attention is focused upon manifesting love first...]

I. TOWARD BRETHREN (1)

   A. THE IMPORTANCE OF BROTHERLY LOVE...
      1. It is a mark of true discipleship - Jn 13:35
      2. It is an indication of true spiritual life - 1Jn 3:14

   B. THE HEBREWS HAD MANIFESTED BROTHERLY LOVE...
      1. Note the text says their love was to "continue"
      2. They had demonstrated brotherly love in the past...
         a. In their ministry to God and His saints - He 6:10
         b. Even in their service to the author - He 10:32-34

   C. THE NEED FOR BROTHERLY LOVE NEVER DIMINISHES...
      1. Just as Paul wrote...
         a. For the Thessalonians to excel in their love - 1Th 4:9-10
         b. For the Philippians to abound in their love - Php 1:9
      2. Just as Peter wrote that our love should abound - 2Pe 1:7
      -- Even now, the author of Hebrews says "Let brotherly love
         continue"!

[No matter how much we may have manifested love towards one another as
brethren in the past, it is imperative that such love continues!

Equally imperative is the manifestation of love...]

II. TOWARD STRANGERS (2)

   A. THIS IS A CALL FOR "HOSPITALITY"...
      1. The Greek word is philoxenia {fil-ox-en-ee'-ah}
         a. Lit., a love of strangers
         b. It involved receiving a stranger (sojourner) into one's
            home as an honored guest and to provide the guest with
            food, shelter, and protection (Holman BD)
      2. In many ancient cultures, hospitality was a solemn duty
         a. It was regarded as a sacred obligation by the ancient
            Greeks and Romans, one that was approved by Zeus, the god
            and protector of strangers
         b. The Egyptians claimed it as a meritorious deed in life
         c. For the Bedouins, it was an expression of righteousness
            (Holman BD)
         d. "Hospitality is one form of worship" (Jewish Proverb)
      3. In the early church, it was an important ministry...
         a. Christians were often displaced by persecution; public inns
            were scarce, costly, and sometimes dangerous
         b. Traveling evangelists were to be supported through
            hospitality - 3Jn 5-8
      4. Thus hospitality was to be manifested by...
         a. Those men who would serve as elders (bishops) - 1Ti 3:2;
            Tit 1:8
         b. Those widows who would be "taken into the number" - 1Ti 5:9-10
         c. All Christians - Ro 12:13; 1Pe 4:9

   B. A REASON TO PRACTICE HOSPITALITY...
      1. "for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."
         a. The example of Abraham - Gen 18:1-8
         b. The example of Lot - Gen 19:1-3
      2. The point is not that we should expect angels to literally
         come our way
         a. Though some we entertain may serve as His "messengers"
            ("angel" means "messenger") in a providential sense
         b. The key idea is that "You never know what hospitality might
            bring" (Lightfoot)
            1) One often receives unexpected benefits from his or her
               guests
            2) There is always the "blessedness" of giving - Ac 20:35

[The physical need for hospitality today may not be as great as it was
in ancient times, but the spiritual need (e.g., the strengthening of
spiritual ties) is just as important.  Therefore we need to "be
hospitable to one another without grumbling" (1Pe 4:9).

The manifestation of our love should also extend...]

III. TOWARD PRISONERS AND THE PERSECUTED (3)

   A. A CALL TO REMEMBER THEM...
      1. Christians were often persecuted and imprisoned for their
         faith
         a. Prior to his conversion, Paul often led the assault - Ac 8:3; 26:9-11
         b. Later, he himself was a prisoner - Php 1:12-18; Col 4:18
      2. The Hebrews had already shown their love toward such prisoners
         - He 10:32-34
      3. To remember and visit Christians in prison was an act of
         devotion to Christ Himself - Mt 25:35-40
      4. Their provisions for the prisoners would be a "sweet-smelling
         sacrifice", well-pleasing to God - cf. Php 4:18
      5. They could also remember them in their prayers - Ac 12:5;
         Ep 6:18-20

   B. THEIR LOVING REMEMBRANCE WAS TO BE INFLUENCED...
      1. By their sense of fellowship in their brethren's suffering
         a. "as if chained with them;"
         b. The Lord intended such connection between the members of
            His Body ("if one member suffers, all the members suffer
            with it") - 1Co 12:26
      2. By their awareness of their own vulnerability
         a. "since you yourselves are in the body also"
         b. They would not be immune to persecution themselves,
            therefore they should be sensitive to the sufferings of
            others

CONCLUSION

1. In providing a "new and living way", it is true that Jesus made
   possible a close relationship between man and God - cf. He 10:19-22

2. But the purity we experience through obeying the truth...
   a. Is not just that we may have fellowship with God
   b. But also that we may have fellowship with each other in sincerity
      and love! - cf. 1Pe 1:22-23

3. Thus it naturally follows that as we draw near to God, we should
   also draw near to one another; this we do when we manifest love...
   a. Toward brethren (1)
   b. Toward strangers (2)
   c. Toward prisoners and the persecuted (3)

May we all be diligent to heed the exhortation to...

                    "Let brotherly love continue"!

xecutable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... The passage of time and God


This morning I had a pleasant surprise; a phone call from my good friend Harry Shepherd. The Apologetics press post I made yesterday made him think of the origin of the universe and a conversation we had about it, almost a decade ago. Imagine, thinking about a 1/2 hour conversation for ten years??? Well, time and the big bang theory seem to be inexorably linked together in my thinking- along with distance. And so we come to this picture. A view of a bus or trolley car from both the inside and outside as well (at the same time) as it speeds towards its destination.   Well, I know that time changes for me depending upon circumstances (remember as a kid, when the summers seemed to last forever, or when you are driving along and hit a patch of ice and start sssllliiidddiiinnnggg...), but what about God????


2 Peter, Chapter 3

8 But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 



When it comes to God- throw your rule book out the window; HE is just so far above us that sometimes when I try to understand everything about HIM, I get a headache!!!  Yet, this I know- verse nine above is true!!!  And am I glad that it is!!!!!!  However you understand the formation of everything, include God, because HE has included YOU among his creations. Puts a different spin on things, doesn't it???