Jeremy has an interesting post on the historicity of the idea that the Bible is inerrant.
Now I’ve always thought the biblical authors would be shocked at any suggestion that there were errors in any genuinely divinely-inspired scripture. I think there are reasons for thinking this in the various parts of the canon. But Jesus and the authors of the epistles very clearly saw the psalms as authoritative in a way that they would base arguments on particular words.
What makes encountering God so different from encountering your favorite professional athlete or the president of the United States?It’s that God is holy, and no one in His creation is.
From Bryan Loritts’ God on Paper
I’ve had a change of mind on a particular “doctrine” issue in the past few weeks. I’ve always believed in the Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS) doctrine. I was taught, and Scriptures seemed to agree, that once you give your life to Christ, it’s His forever. When you receive the gift of eternal life, you have it forever, regardless. It’s a little more complicated than that of course, because that didn’t mean that salvation gave a license to sin whenever. But I’ve recently realized that view is inaccurate.
It’s always annoying to find that something you’ve believed and taught for years is wrong, isn’t it?
I still won’t say that you can “lose” your salvation. But I do think you can give it back or throw it away.
This all came about from a discussion that happened in my small group a week ago, and we’ve all continued to discuss it trying to find answers. My original response to the discussion can be found here.
As the discussion progressed, I delved deeper into Scripture and what it means. Ultimately, the point that I was trying to make was that what matters is what’s in your heart. God’s pretty clear that we aren’t saved based on what we do, and it doesn’t make sense that retaining that salvation would be if the very act of salvation wasn’t.
In all of my reading on the topic, I found these verses:
Hebrews 6:1-6:
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
I’m not sure how I missed these verses for all of these years. Falling away and then trying to repent again is as if you’re trying to crucify Christ again. Brings new meaning to these verses in Matthew:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Makes you think, doesn’t it? Is it possible for someone who believes in OSAS to be saved, fall away, and then come back to God thinking that they are saved and right with God even though they aren’t?
I have to say, I don’t think so. I think there’s a big difference between the person who falls back into sin, knowing it’s wrong and feeling guilty about it, and the person who completely turns away from God and declares that there is no God.
If God’s looking at the heart (which is what I believe He does), then the first person will not have truly fallen away the way the second person did.
Or maybe I’m just wishful thinking.
Either way, a significant shift has occured in my own way of thinking.
Trackposted to Dumb Ox News, Renaissance Blogger, third world county, and Conservative Cat, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
1. Two significant statements.
a. The toxicity of this heart is so potent that when God wants to judge a man, all He has to do is turn that man over to his own heart.
I don’t like this. Doesn’t mean it isn’t true though. My heart is so sinful, that if left to my own devices, I would eventually destroy myself. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
b. A refusal to acknowledge our authority’s right to rule is a rejection of God’s ways and an evidence that our corrupt nature is ruling our lives at the moment.
God instituted authority for a reason. Not accepting that is rejecting God’s way.
2. The Bible teaches that the flesh deceives man–that is, it conceals truth. Page 40 lists eight truths from God that Satan wishes to conceal from man. Write out the ones that are most “concealed” from you in your day to day activities.
He has promised His grace for every trial and challenge of life.
He loves me and skillfully orders my ways for my ultimate good and His ultimate glory.
Other truths that I don’t think I struggle with:
3. Because our heart is so destructive, instead of demanding our own way, what should we be begging God to do?
Never to let us have our own way.
4. The text says that once Adam and Eve fell, God immediately reinforced His structure of authority. Why did God set up the accountability of the home, civil authority, and the church?
To restrain our nature of going our own way. If it isn’t restrained, it will destroy itself and everything around it.
5. Explain this statement from page 44: The same pride in a man that demands the right to make its own decisions will pollute every decision that man makes.
Because that pride causes you to make decisions that aren’t wise.
Memory Verse: Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
1. Two significant statments.
a. The natural man is a sinner because and only because he challenges God’s selfhood in relation to his own. In all else he may willingly accept the sovereignty of God; in his own life he rejects it.
Time and time again I find the truth of this statement. I constantly want God to be right and in control of everything but me.
b. Total depravity does not mean than an individual man is as wicked as is possible but that his fundamental crookedness has penetrated his total being.
2. If you do not seem to be experiencing the warfare of your flesh against God, what two possible reasons are discussed for that lack of struggle?
Going along with it and not feeling its pull OR it is craftily deceiving you by its silence
3. Charles Williams gave several “modern ideas about sin” that, of course, do not fit the biblical view of man. What are some other modern views of man that are used to explain his nature?
Economic disadvantage, immaturity, normal part of life, physical disease, mental problems, figment of imagination
4. What does the term “total depravity” mean?
See above.
5. If, as the Bible says, you are totally depraved and, therefore, every faculty of your understanding, will, affections, and conscience has been corrupted, what kinds of cautions should you take when making decisions and when relating to other people?
Definitely pray. Seek God first. Seek the wise thing to do.
6. Since man is totally depraved, what is wrong with the modern idea that man’s solutions are going to come from “looking within”?
You can’t look to the problem to find the solution.
1. Two significant statements.
a. Paul, in this passage, is describing the heart of unbelievers, but this is also a portrait of every believer’s sinful tendency–a tendency that is not exterminated at salvation.
This is huge. Especially this week. Too many people think that Christians are supposed to be perfect. Even some Christians think this! But that’s not true. When you become a Christian, you have the power to overcome your sinful nature, but it isn’t a magical POOF! and it’s gone.
b. Our biggest problem is a heart that wants its own way in opposition to God’s way.
Remember the BK commercial, “Have it your way”? We’re programmed to think that our way is always the best way, but it’s usually in direct opposition to God’s way.
2. What tendencies of your own heart do you find described in Romans 3:10-18? If none are readily apparant to you, look up the explanations of some of the phrases in a good study Bible or commentary.
Tongues practice deceit and mouths full of bitterness.
3. Complete the quote of Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. from page 34: “The Devil did not tempt Adam and Eve to steal, to lie, to kill, to commit adultery; he tempted them to live independently from God.
4. Complete the quote of C.S. Lewis from page 34: “Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms.”
1. Two significant statements.
a. Any sin that any sinner ever committed, every sinner under proper provocation could commit.
That’s a tough one. It’s hard to believe that we all have the ability (not necessarily the desire) to commit heinous things. But we do. It’s innate in us.
b. When we begin to see the human heart as God has been seeing it all along, we are stunned that He would want to redeem the likes of us.
It’s true. When I look at my own heart and see how rebellious it is–how it wants to do its own thing and not follow anyone but itself–then I do have to wonder why on earth God would want to redeem someone like me.
2. What are some excuses parents give for teenage rebellion when they do not have a biblical view of the human heart?
hormones, low self-esteem, immaturity
3. What is “accountability,” and what does God intend to accomplish through it?
The constant watchfulness and enforcement behind every effective discipleship effort. God uses it to stimulate change and keep a person from destroying himself and others while he learns to walk in the Spirit.
4. What do you know about a man’s view of the human heart when he says, “I can’t believe God would damn anyone to hell”?
It’s definitely not a biblical view. It’s a view that believes that man is basically “good” and deserves to go to heaven.
5. Why do believers not have an accurate view of the strength of the evil within when they are “rowing downstream with the current” of their heart?
Because when you’re going with the flow you can’t feel the pull of it against you. It’s only when you turn from it and go in the opposite direction that you feel the strength.
So I’m 4 days behind on posting these. It’s been a crazy week! I’ll post all 4 days today, but as separate posts so that you don’t have to read an uber long post. 
a. To save us completely, Christ must reverse the bent of our nature; He must plant a new principle within us so that subsequent conduct will spring out of a desire to promote the honor of God and the good of our fellow man.
b. One cannot hold a Scriptural view of God and the plan of salvation without having a Scriptural idea of sin.
I love that second one. It’s so true though. Until you really realize what we’ve been saved from, we can’t see God for who He is.
2. According to the three opening paragraphs of this chapter, what are some of the characteristics of the “indwelling principle of sin” that corrupts every part of us?
dethroning God, make life work apart from God, going your own way
3. Explain why the text warns readers on page 26: Don’t stop reading at the end of this chapter. What might cause a reader to be discouraged after reading this chapter?
It shows how heinous and worthless we are without Christ. It seems hopeless. And most folks don’t want to believe that our nature really is that bad.
4. What did the Puritan writer John Owen mean by this statement on page 27: “Upon this one hinge the whole course of our lives will turn”?
Recognizing the sin and changing based on it will change the course of your life.
5. Why does Paul open his Epistle to the Romans with three chapters on the sinful nature of man before he discusses salvation in chapters 4-5 and before he presents God’s plan for sanctification in chapters 6-8?
You have to get lost before you can get saved. In other words, you have to realize you need a Savior before you’ll accept one.
Memory verse: Proverbs 14:12
This is a long one because I got behind in posting. I’m combining the last three days into one post. Read it, or don’t read it. It’s a lot to take in, I know.
Day 3
1. Two significant statements and why.
a. [Sanctification is] the process whereby the Spirit of God takes the Word of God and changes us to become like the Son of God.
This spoke to me because it’s such a simple and clear definition. The goal of Christianity is to become as like Christ as possible – this sentence tells us how.
b. Failure to cooperate with God in these responsibilities in the power of the Spirit accounts for every failure in Christian living.
Wow. Talk about not sugar coating anything. It’s so easy to shift blame to the things around us, but Berg is very clear that we are responsible for our own failures.
2. Check below which of the three elements of biblical change you are most prone to leave out of your attemptss to change something in your life.
___ Mortification of the flesh (restraining my flesh through the Spirit’s enablement)
_X_ Meditation on the Word (renewing my mind through the Spirit’s illumination)
___ Manifestation of Christlikeness (revealing Christ in my life through the Spirit’s fruit)
3. Explain this statement from the text: Sanctification has been designed by God to be a cooperative venture between God and us.
There’s joint responsibility for me to change. It’s not all God’s job. It’s not all my job. It’s our job.
4. Before you began this study, what would have been your definition of “discipleship”?
Teaching/leading by example new believers.
5. According to the text, what is the definition of “discipleship”?
Helping another believer make biblical change towards Christlikeness.
6. Paul was a “spiritual parent” to the church in Thessalonica. He and his colaborers exhibited certain personal characteristics (described in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12) that made this church want to follow them. List them below.
bold, honest, humility, gentle, affectionate, exhorting, encouraging
This one definitely has more self-reflection in it, and was a lot harder to complete.
a. Our Lord did not come to this planet, live a perfect life, and become a worthy atonement for the sins of the world so that those who become His children can merely be well adjusted, live morally upright lives, and enjoy personal happiness and success. He died to redeem us from the penalty and power of a sinful heart that keeps up from being the useful servants of the living God.
b. A truly humble servant of God will be well adjusted, will have a morally sensitive conscience, and will enjoy the blessedness of life with God–but these are byproducts of godliness, not primary goals for the Christian life.
These two statements are one paragraph in the book. This paragraph resonates with me more than anything else I’ve read in it. It speaks to the nature and character of Christ. It speaks to the character of those who follow Christ.
2. Describe a time when you tried to change something in your life without the Holy Spirit’s help and describe the resulting miserable defeat.
Stopping my addiction to porn. I was too ashamed to take it to God, and I repeatedly failed at victory. It wasn’t until I could call on God’s power that the chains disappeared.
3. All biblical change is aimed at helping us become more like Jesus Christ–a humble servant. List two unbiblical goals for change that you may have experienced in your own life or that you may have seen in the lives of others.
a. A wife giving in to her husband without question in order to keep him happy and the household in peace.
b. Giving the right answers and saying the right things just to be liked and not risk being looked on unfavorably.
4. What does Romans 8:14 mean when it says that God’s children are “led by the Spirit of God”?
Those who yield to the power of God in their lives.
5. Complete this sentence from the text: The filling of the Spirit refers to
the supernatural work of the Spirit within a believer whereby that believer is enabled or empowered to become like Christ (sanctification) and become useful to Christ (service).
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