Christendom Blogosis

don’t be scared to state the truth

BA — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:38:45 +0000

I’ve been watching a conversation unfold between a few people on facebook and I had to comment. I actually commented quite a few times there but withheld continuous commenting in favor of blogging about it. Things get buried and lost on facebook.

The conversation had to do with the age old “Is God in control” argument…actually it degraded to that as it does many times with the people involved. In addition, as other people commented, I witnessed an older Christian (over 40) pressure a younger Christian (under 18) into answering the question, “Does God control the millions of abortions every year ?.” it took a while for the answer and additional “emotional” elements were thrown in about hacking up millions of babies, etc etc… The younger Christian eventually answered that God does not control Satan, He just allows him to work in this world and people have free will (paraphrased, see full quote at bottom of post)

I really hated to see that answer but I will admit when I was a young Christian my answer would have been the same and maybe even worse…that Satan did things that God couldn’t prevent. (this is not a post about age, merely young Christian vs older Christian, keyword being Christian).

If I want to be extremely technical, I actually don’t have a big problem with the answer as it contains true statements (people have free will, Satan does what he wants in the “world”, etc etc…), however, in light of the context (is God in control) I have a huge problem with it.

Now to the point of this post…it almost seemed as if the younger Christian was scared to come out and say the full truth…God is in complete control aka God is sovereign over everything. Many people are scared to make such a statement because if they did people would conclude that God is responsible for evil acts, people aren’t responsible for their own actions, etc etc…

The truth of the matter is, Paul made the statement without any concerns about the implications. In fact, when the Romans proceeded to ask the hard questions about men not being responsible if God is in control, Paul was even kind enough to answer their question. So for all those scared to state what the scripture teaches about God’s complete sovereignty because of the implications and/or assumptions that may ensue….don’t be! The scripture is on your side.

“And not only that, but also when Rebekah became pregnant by Isaac our forefather(for though they had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand, not from works but from the One who calls) she was told: The older will serve the younger.As it is written: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated. What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not! For He tells Moses: I will show mercy to whom I show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it does not depend on human will or effort, but on God who shows mercy. For the Scripture tells Pharaoh: For this reason I raised you up: so that I may display My power in you, and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth. So then, He shows mercy to whom He wills, and He hardens whom He wills. You will say to me, therefore, “Why then does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?” But who are you—anyone who talks back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” Or has the potter no right over His clay, to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?” (

9:1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, [1] my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, [2] but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea,

“Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’
and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”
26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

27 And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel [3] be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, 28 for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” 29 And as Isaiah predicted,

“If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring,
we would have been like Sodom
and become like Gomorrah.”

30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness [4] did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written,

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 9:3 Or brothers and sisters
[2] 9:16 Greek not of him who wills or runs
[3] 9:27 Or children of Israel
[4] 9:31 Greek a law of righteousness

', 'Romans 9', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Romans+9');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Romans+9" >Romans 9: 10–21 HCSB)

Full quote from young Christian referenced above:
“God does not control Satan…He allows Satan to work in this world. Satan encourages abortions…People have free will…and make bad decisions. People that have had abortions can be forgiven if they repent. God, however, is in control of the Universe. He is in control of my life. I turn my life over to Him and I try not to listen to Satan. Mostly I fail…but if I did not believe that the God who created the Universe could do anything He wanted, what would be the purpose?”

P.S. I have written many blog posts that layout my views on such things as free will and the sovereignty of God so you are free to go back and read those if you are looking for such things.

back to the split

Administrator — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:16:21 +0000

ok, the new community website is nearly ready for launch

once we launch it, this blog will be back to just pantokrator.org (the christianos.org redirect will be removed)

the new community site will allow members to have their own blog as well as participate in the forums…stay tuned…

overhaul

Administrator — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:49:59 +0000

new website coming soon!

Logos Giveaway

BA — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:44:30 +0000

Logos is doing a pretty nice giveway. Check it out.

http://www.biblestudymagazine.com/driscoll/

From their webpage:

Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!

A Few Documents for Your Consideration

Jeff — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:15:24 +0000

What kind of king? What kind of kingdom? (part 1) Read Matthew 11:1-14; 12

Jeff — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:40:59 +0000

This is an amazing part of the Gospel. We really need to let the “Gospel commands” from the sermon of

5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons [1] of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother [2] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults [3] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell [4] of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. [5]

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. [6]

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, [7] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, [8] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. [9]
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done, [10]
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread, [11]
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. [12]

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust [13] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. [14]

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [15] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy [16] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (ESV)

Footnotes

[1] 5:9 Greek huioi; see preface
[2] 5:22 Some manuscripts insert without cause
[3] 5:22 Greek says Raca to (a term of abuse)
[4] 5:22 Greek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30
[5] 5:26 Greek kodrantes, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day’s wage for a laborer)
[6] 5:37 Or the evil one
[7] 5:40 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
[8] 5:47 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
[9] 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence
[10] 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done
[11] 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
[12] 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen
[13] 6:19 Or worm; also verse 20
[14] 6:24 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions
[15] 6:27 Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
[16] 7:13 Some manuscripts For the way is wide and easy

', 'Matthew 5-7', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Matthew+5-7');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Matthew+5-7" >Matthew 5-7 sink in to us in a way that will very organically match up now with what Jesus is giving us as the definitive answer to: “what kind of king? what kind of kingdom?”
It will be very important toward the end of this section that you and I are able to answer with a “yes” as the other disciples do when Jesus asks them, “Have you understood all these things?”
“What kind of king?” and “What kind of kingdom?” are questions of much more than mere theoretical interest for John the Baptist. As we consider the movement from one window into John’s life-and-death circumstances, to the next of these windows, they form the perfect book ends for all the material in these chapters. With both John’s appeal and his plight our understanding of this King and His kingdom is reinforced.

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers [1] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (ESV)
Footnotes
[1] 11:5 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
', 'Mat 11:2-6', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mat+11%3A2-6');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mat+11%3A2-6" >Mat 11:2-6
Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Then we have material on a King who reigns in a new spirit and a motivation without defect. A Spirit and motivation of perfect loyalty to God. A Spirit and motivation fitted to the person wholly dependent on one Sufficiency. A king who reigns in his Kingdom under His father and over His subjects through the sheer obedience of faith. Wholly content with His Father, and with no guile for any creature, He reigns in His hidden kingdom, hidden in a mixed response to His life and teaching. Patiently, purposefully, and with the good pleasure found in the fellowship of God and man, He reigns all the way to the great judgment when the good creation will be wholly submitted to the good creator.

10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. (ESV)
', 'Mat 14:10-13', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mat+14%3A10-13');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mat+14%3A10-13" >Mat 14:10-13a
[Herod] sent and had John beheaded in the prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus. Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself…;.

Read this section of Matthew again to understand and stand under this King and this Kingdom. Blessed is he who is not offended.

Why play around? You can have revolution, improvement, or change. But “the Resolution of all things” is at hand in the Kingdom of God.

Jeff — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:54:04 +0000

The very best that this age has to offer will only leave creation groaning more passionately for the perfect.

The cost of discipleship should not dissuade us. Jesus said, “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved(

22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (ESV)

', 'Mat 10:22', 'http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mat+10%3A22');" onmouseout="domTip_clearTip('false')" href="http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mat+10%3A22" >Mat 10:22).

If we have read about the great tension in the cosmos in places like the book of Isaiah or the sad-yet-hopeful “national anthem of Israel” given through Moses by the LORD in Deuteronomy 32 then we know that we are joining into that which generations of prophets have looked forward to. We, disciples of Jesus Messiah, are participating in “The Resolution of All Things!”

Many of us are now reading Matthew chapter 13 to better understand the nature of this Messiah’s Rescue…this Christ’s Kingdom…this Way to “The Resolution of All Things”.