CampOnThis: The Law and the Gospel
…and The Threefold Use of the Law by Sproul/Calvin

It is only fair that I comment on the good and the bad coming from my blogroll. Being that most of my comments on Steve Camp’s blog entries are good, I figured I would post on when I disagree as well (in the interest of fairness/balance). This is one of those cases. I do not believe Christians today are bound by the law.

Now obviously a big factor here is what is meant when we say the law. To make it simple, let me just say that the law, as we know it in the Old Testament, is not applicable to Christians today.

I realize this is a bummer for the churches that love to teach on tithing, I realize this is a bummer for those that love to recite the 10 commandments every Sunday, and I realize this is a bummer for anyone who likes to use a list of rules/commandments as a “rulebook” of sorts to measure a Christian. However, none of those reasons warrant a departure from Grace or breaking up of the law to suit our needs.

The freedom from the law (in Christ) we have does not give us a “license to sin” either. The law still serves a purpose, it just isn’t binding.

In addition, this is not to throw out all the other applications and meanings of “the law” or commandments that have been given to us (they must be looked at in context and application though).

So though all things are lawful for me as a Christian, not all things are beneficial (helpful or build up).

AMDG

JOLLYBLOGGER: Is Satan Bound?

Below is a comment I composed for the above blog entry. I decided to use a trackback instead of posting a mile long comment on David’s blog. Please disregard the references to making a blog entry here as I just cut and paste and didn’t bother revising to remove those references.

When I get time I will try to make a blog entry on the subject but let me respond to what was directed at me.

First off, let me state that my comments are never meant to be malicious (this is directed to David Wayne). In fact, I read your blog regularly and link to it from my blog. Now, I stand by my statement that saying Satan is bound right now in some sort of figurative/metaphysical way is a stretch to say the least. In addition, I am perplexed that you stated I am “way off base”, after all we are discussing eschatoloty. How am I way off base here? I definitely must have missed something if the amillennial position has somehow become the strongest eschatological view Scripturally.

Now on to the things mentioned because I am still not seeing it.

Matthew 12:25-29 ISV He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. (26) So if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How, then, can his kingdom stand? (27) If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own followers drive them out? That is why they will be your judges! (28) But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. (29) How can someone go into a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man? Then he can ransack his house.

Where is this saying that Satan is bound? In context, I don’t see the binding of Satan even remotely relating to the above Scripture.

John 12:31-33 ISV Now is the time for the judgment of this world to begin. Now will the ruler of this world be thrown out. (32) As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.” (33) He said this to indicate the kind of death he was about to die.

I suppose I can see where someone could try to use this verse to say Satan is no longer in the world. However, we have plenty of Scripture contrary to that, written after this particular book (i.e. 1 John 5:19). We must interpret Scripture by Scripture.

Colossians 2:13-17 ISV Even when you were dead because of your offenses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with him when he forgave us all of our offenses, (14) having erased the charges that were brought against us with their decrees that were hostile to us. He took those charges away when he nailed them to the cross. (15) And when he had disarmed the rulers and the authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in the cross. (16) Therefore, let no one judge you in matters of food and drink or with respect to a festival, a new moon, or a Sabbath day. (17) These are a shadow of the things to come, but the reality belongs to Christ.

Once again, I am not seeing a specific reference here to Satan being bound. Even if Satan was “disarmed”, that is not the same as being bound, thrown into the bottomless pit, and sealed up.

Hebrews 2:14 ISV Therefore, since the children have flesh and blood, he himself also shared the same things, so that by his death he might destroy the one who has the power of death (that is, the devil)
1 John 3:8 ISV The person who practices sin belongs to the evil one, because the devil has been sinning since the beginning. The reason that the Son of God was revealed was to destroy the works of the devil.

Are you really trying to use these two verses to say that Satan has already been destroyed? Read a few chapters further into 1 John and you will see…

1 John 5:19 ISV We know that we are from God and that the whole world lies under the control of the evil one.

In addition, if Satan was already destroyed why would he need to be destroyed again later on in Revelation?

So, I by no means think I am “way off base” on my statement that taking a position that Satan has been tied up, thrown into the abyss (locked up and sealed) is a “stretch”.

This is only a short response…even so, I feel it may be too long for a comment so I apologize. When I get some time perhaps I will make a blog entry on the subject matter.

Oh, and BTW, I am not stating that I am firmly grounded in my eschatological view, however, I like to have strong Scriptural support when taking certain positions on issues/doctrine and the amillennial view of eschatology doesn’t fall into that category (I am not sure any of the views do, hence such debate on the subject). I liked some of the comments David and BlackCalvinist made on the subject in a previous post.

AMDG

Wayne at Better Bibles Blog has posted some instructions on how to enable trackbacks on your blog. This is for those of you who are using a lame “trackback-less” service such as blogger.com (I realize some may be stuck using them).

I am posting this because, working in the tech world, I have always been one to push the use of good technology.

I have already written about the annoyance of blogger.com not having trackback capabilities so no need to go in depth there.

On a side note, Tim Challies is having a drawing, so click the link to enter (it is free). Use my referral ID to give me an extra entry. My referral ID is 80608.

P.S. If any Christian bloggers happen to run an edifying (at my discretion) blog, I may be willing to host your blog at little or no cost on WordPress (which happens to be the best IMO). The available subdomains are on Christianos.org (i.e. yourblogname.christianos.org or www.christianos.org/yourblogname).

AMDG

Phil Johnson at PyroManiac posts on labels.

Labels are an easy way to sum up a position or teaching/doctrine and I typically don’t have a problem using them. However, labels can easily get away from you (i.e. divisions within divisions and sub-divisions of those divisions, etc etc…). The subjective nature of some labels can cause problems as well. So though labels can be used to save time, they can also become counter productive.

Bobby at Mixed BAG posts two good articles on the Atonement. You can read those here and here.

I have been meaning to post on this subject but, as always, the time I have to post has been extremely limited. I did post some thoughts (comments) on his entries though.

David Wayne at JollyBlogger posts on reformed eschatology.

There is some good discussion taking place in the comments section of the above post. I think I can sum up my current position by using some of the comments already made there.

David Wayne - As a result my eschatalogy is pretty much limited to “Christ will return to judge the living and the dead.”

BlackCalvinist - In any case, I never make eschatology a major issue anymore….as long as you’re not a full preterist (then you’re a heretic and an unbeliever, IMO) or one of the rabid dispy folks (i.e. - Peter and Paul Lalonde, John Hagee and others).

Steve Camp at CampOnThis posts on how Paul confronted a pagan culture - preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Steve is notorious for posting lists of things. Fortunately, those lists usually include Scripture and/or may be almost entirely composed of Scripture.

That’s it for now.

AMDG

I was going to make a blog entry regarding Christianity and movies and lo and behold I run across an entry from Tim Challies on the subject. My post was actually going to be on viewing movies with a Christian worldview (I will still post on that).

You can read what Tim has to say on the subject here, with a follow-up entry he made here.

I would like to add my name to the list of people that disagree with Tim on this subject (to an extent).

I suppose I find myself torn on this subject. I could easily see myself taking a stand that Christians should not partake in anything secular. However, I often wonder how possible that is for all Christians to adhere to. I mean how many Christians can say they live remotely similar to even the apostles, much less Jesus. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we shouldn’t attempt to live our lives as Christ did. I am not saying that we shouldn’t follow His commandments and instruction. I am just asking the questions.

I believe that you can’t just arbitrarily decide what you will partake in on a secular level and what you won’t. That is a recipe for hypocracy. So some Christians may preach/write all day long about not watching secular movies…but I ask, where does it begin and where does it end (what does secularism encompass)?

Do you buy goods made by secular companies?
Do you read secular newspapers or publications?
Do you visit secular websites?
Do you buy anything secular?
Do you partake in anything secular?
Do you listen to secular music?
What makes music “secular”? (lyrics only?)
Where do you draw the line?
Who is the judge on what one can partake in (on a secular level) and what one cannot partake in?

Now, as Christians we are quick to say Scripture is the judge…and that is truth. However, that means 99% of Christians are falling short in this area. In addition, 99.9% of Christians arbitrarily decide for themselves what they can and cannot partake in (on a secular level).

On the other side of the coin…
As Christians, all things are lawful but not all things are helpful. I have to agree with what someone else wrote in one of the posts above that how mature you are as a Christian is a big factor in relation to this subject. Another big factor is who it effects. For example, I am pretty much anti- Harry Potter anything. However, I don’t have a problem with a mature Christian reading such material. On the other hand, if they are “eating it up” in front of young children, I have a problem with it.

I believe the Lord uses men and women in all walks of life and all types of jobs to accomplish His work. I know that it is basically impossible for all Christians to completely separate themselves from culture/secularism and the world.

So the issue leaves me torn. I do know that I have a Biblical worldview and everything I view/read is filtered through that Biblical worldview. I attempt to evaluate everything in light of the Scripture. I can confidently say that for me personally I have no problems watching movies at any level (obviously some I don’t care to watch, period). However, I am responsible for more than just myself (i.e. my wife and children) and I always need to keep that in mind because it has a major impact on what I do. Similarly, we need to think about how our actions affect our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Another factor to consider is who you are “supporting” when you buy certain goods/services and/or participate in certain events/activities? Where is your money going?

So, though I can see where Tim is coming from (notice I said “to an extent” above), what I disagree with is his arbitrary (inconsistent) application.

1 Corinthians 6:12
Romans 14:1
Romans 14:5
1 Corinthians 8:12
Romans 14:21

Now, on to what I was originally going to post about. I recently watched a secular movie and I couldn’t help but think one thing throughout the entire movie. It seems that the world’s goal in movie making, book writing, etc, etc… is to destroy (or go against) the Biblical worldview (I realize there are exceptions, I am speaking in general). The diverse nature of this attack is interesting as well. Sometimes the attack is so obscure that the Christian viewer may not even notice it. Other times it may be shrouded with an appeal to man’s intellect (the flesh). With film, television, books, music, and everything else peppered with such subliminal attacks it is no wonder that many Christians use human logic (the flesh) to interpret Scripture and doctrine. It is no wonder many Christians have a hard time understanding certain Biblical truths. The world has logic on a pedestal and attacks the Biblical worldview on a daily basis (and many Christians are buying into it).

As Christians, we must mold our logic to the Scripture (not the other way around) and we must learn to filter everything through a Biblical worldview.

AMDG