Category Archives: FAQ

Question: Was King Saul a believer?

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Was King Saul a believer?

There are many who question whether King Saul was a believer.  They have to, not because of Scripture, but because their theology demands it.  Their theology says that if a person continues in sin, then he really was not a believer.  Saul would be a good example, because after David’s killing of Goliath and the ensuing jealousy, King Saul purposefully and intentionally spent years chasing after that rascal David to kill him.  How could Saul possibly be a believer and want that?  After all, Saul died a miserable death at the attack of the Philistines.  Certainly, he had to be an unbeliever!  That is not true, because that is not what Scripture teaches.

In 1 Samuel 10, there are nine clear indications that Saul was a believer.  This is the passage in question,

·         Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: “Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over His inheritance1?
·         2 “When you have departed from me today, you will find two men by Rachel’s tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say to you,`The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And now your father has ceased caring about the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, “What shall I do about my son?”‘
·         3 “Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.
·         4 “And they will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall receive from their hands.
·         5 “After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying.
·         6 “Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
·         7 “And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you.
·         8 “You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do.”
·         9 So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.
·         10 When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
·         11 And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
·         12 Then a man from there answered and said, “But who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”(1 Sam. 10:1-12)

In the beginning of the chapter ten, Samuel, a judge in Israel, had been commanded by God to anoint Saul as commander over His people. The Lord had told Samuel, “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to me.” (1 Sam. 9:16) This does not say that Saul was a believer, but he was chosen by God as the first king of Israel. As Samuel stood with Saul, he took the flask and anointed Saul as commander over Israel (1 Sam. 10:1).  Let us note nine reasons why Saul was clearly a believer.

First, Samuel tells precisely what Saul will do as he is joined with a group of prophets from Israel (1 Sam. 10:3-5). These prophets were not just coincidently connecting with Saul.  They were on a mission from God prophesying from the Lord.  That would be absurd if Saul was an unbeliever, because an unbeliever cannot understand the things of God (1 Cor. 2:14).  There would be no reason for any connection from any further messages from God.  If he were an unbeliever, he would be anointed and then he would do his own works and ignore any messages from God.

Secondly, God’s Spirit came upon Saul, “Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you and you will prophesy with them…” (1 Sam. 10:6a). The Spirit of God does not come upon unbelievers to do God’s work. However, God’s Spirit will convict the unbelieving world (John 16:8-11) and judge the world, but not come upon the unbeliever for prophesying.

Thirdly, Saul was turned into another man, “…and be turned into another man.”(1 Sam. 10:6b) This is the transformation process of regeneration.  Paul uses the term, “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). 

Fourthly, God was with him, “And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you.” (1 Sam. 10:7) This is a clear sign that Saul had trusted in God’s provision and God was with him to lead the people.

Fifthly, Samuel offered burnt and peace offerings for and on behalf of Saul, “You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings.” (1 Sam. 10:8a) There is absolutely no reason to offering sacrifices for or on behalf of an unbeliever.  God is concerned with the heart.  After the heart is right, then sacrifices are made to honor the Lord.

Sixthly, God gave Saul another heart, “So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.” (1 Sam. 10:9)  Changing of the heart is a clear sign that Saul was a believer and the signs that came to pass affirm God’s blessing on Saul at that time.

Seventhly, God’s Spirit came upon Saul a second time, “…then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.” (1 Sam. 10:10) In the Jewish Age, the Spirit did not indwell the believer, but did endue the believer for special purposes (In the Church Age, the Spirit indwells all believers {Rom. 8:9}). The special enduement allowed Saul to prophesy for the Lord.

Eighthly, the people recognized God’s ministry through Saul, “…when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Sam. 10:11)  There was evidence that was witnessed by other prophets of God as being from God.  God may have spoken through a donkey and He can use any mouthpiece He wants, but the prophets recognized a transformation in Saul.

Ninthly, a proverb was named after Saul, “Then a man from there answered and said, “But who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (1 Sam. 10:12)  In other words, the father (or the source) is the same source as the rest of the prophets of God.  Saul is from the Lord.  He is a believer.

Someone may be able to pick apart one or more of these reasons.  When you put them together, there is clear evidence that Saul was a believer in the Lord.

Now why is Saul questioned?  He is questioned about being a believer, because his actions are not “fitting” of that of a believer.  Really? See the article on the believer’s Downward Spiral.1 People who question if Saul was a believer never seem to provide a good answer to the question, “How many sins can I commit, before I need to question whether I’m a believer?”  A believer can act just like an unbeliever as Paul warns in Ephesians 4:17.  That is why the Lord disciplines His children, because they sin and refuse to repent (Heb. 12:5-6). 

 

1Check this link to read about the believer’s Downward Spiral: http://renewingtruth.blogspot.com/2013/06/question-how-sinful-can-believer-get.html

Question: What ingredients are necessary for spiritual growth?

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What ingredients are necessary for spiritual growth?

Everyone wants to grow in life.  We look at human babies and do everything we can to encourage them to grow up and not remain infantile in their actions.  The growth process is long and often arduous, but the joy of maturity and wisdom is something everyone rejoices over. As a child grows up and becomes a parent, the cycle repeat itself and a new generation is born.

God designed us to grow spiritually also.  There is one focus in growth. Peter commanded, “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Pet. 3:18)  What does that look like?

This article will focus on the ingredients for growth, not the stages of growth.1 There are three ingredients for growth. The first ingredient is the Word of God.  The Bible is the sustenance we need for growth. Jesus said, “It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.‘” (Matt. 4:4) The Word of God is to spiritual growth as bread is to physical growth. Peter declared that we should long for the milk of the Word as babes, “…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…” (1 Pet. 2:2)  Why should we long for it? “The Word of God is living and powerful” (Heb. 4:12). David wrote,

  • 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
  • 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
  • 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
  • 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psa 19:7-10)

Jesus said very plainly, “Sanctify them in truth, Your Word is truth.” John 17:7

In fact, the Word of God is tested, pure and sufficient,

  • 5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
  • 6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Pro. 30:5-6)

If you hide God’s Word in your heart, you will not sin against the Lord, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! (Ps. 119:11)  Yes, the first ingredient for spiritual growth is God’s Word.

            The second ingredient for spiritual growth is God’s Spirit. God’s Spirit is necessary to guide us into the meaning and application of God’s Word. John wrote, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” (John 16:13) That is He will teach and guide us in how to live it out.

            Without God’s Spirit we would not be able to understand God’s Word.  Paul addressed the immature Corinthian church saying,

  • 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
  • 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
  • 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  (1 Cor. 2:12-14) 

This is not referring to new revelation, but the illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit.  It is the Spirit’s work to enlighten what is darkened by sin.  It is the Spirit that sheds light on God’s Word, so we can understand God, know Him and enter into an intimate relationship with Him.

In fact it is the illuminating ministry of the Spirit that is necessary to understand the depth of Scripture as Paul prays,

  • 18 the eyes of your understanding1 being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
  • 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (Eph. 1:18-19)

For it is the Spirit of the Lord who removes the darkness and gives us liberty in the light,

  • 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
  • 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
  • 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
  • 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Cor 3:14-17)

The second ingredient for spiritual growth is the Holy Spirit.

The third ingredient for spiritual growth is your faith.  Faith is your choice to depend on the Lord rather than yourself.  Faith is trusting in God’s will rather than your own.  Paul said, “…for whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Rom. 14:23) The writer to Hebrews described faith, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) Faith is knowing that Jesus is God’s plan for salvation and the Savior of the world.  It is agreeing that Jesus is your Substitute, who paid the penalty for your sin on the cross.  And faith is trusting in Jesus as the only Savior and means of salvation. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Faith is necessary for salvation, but it is also necessary for sanctification, that is everyday living. Paul wrote, “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” (Col. 2:6) In fact, it must be a moment by moment faith that rests in the Lord’s working in your life.  The writer to the Hebrews pictures this moment by moment faith-rest in Jesus as He diligently works through us. 

  • Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
  • 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
  • 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
  • 11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. (Heb 4:1,2,10-11)

Our faith keeps us from working and allows Him to work.  It is interesting that Paul describes his labor.  Paul writes, “To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Col 1:29) Notice, Paul’s “work” is according to God’s working, which works, so that it is no longer Paul who works. 

When I trust in His plan by faith to implement His Wordby means of His Spirit, I will grow spiritually. A future article will reveal what happens if one of the ingredients is missing.

Question: Who is Jesus?

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Who is Jesus?

There is one Person in the world around which everything revolves.  His birthday is the dividing point for most of the world calendars (although the Gregorian calendar is off by about four years from human error).  History is recorded as B.C. and A.D.  The letters B.C. stand for “Before Christ” and A.D. stands for Anno Domini, which is the Latin for “The Year of our Lord.”           

There have been thousands of lives seeking to curse the name of Jesus and thousands who have been converted trying to prove the existence of or the resurrection of Jesus.  Who is Jesus?  He is either a liar, lunatic, or He is Lord.  There are no other perspectives.

Is He a Liar?  Maybe what He said was not true.  Maybe when He said, ““I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” (John 14:6) He was not really sincere or truthful.  How can someone say there is no other way to God except through Him?  You would have to either have a very high view of yourself, or you could be lying. Maybe the stories He told were not true, or some of them were a stretch of the truth. 

When the Chief Priests and Scribes deceitfully sent spies to find a means by which to accuse Him, they said, ““Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:” (Luke 20:21) Their hypocrisy was obvious to anyone who was objectively watching and listening.

Jesus made an issue of His truthfulness.  He contrasted His own character especially related to the enemy,

  • 40 “But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.
  • 41 “You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father– God.”
  • 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
  • 43 “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
  • 44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
  • 45 “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
  • 46 “Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? (John 8:40-46)

The issue was plainly made by Jesus in his conversation with Pilate,

  • 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
  • 38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. (John 18:37-38)

You have to make the decision. Either Jesus was telling the truth, or He was the best liar in history and has deceived more than any other person on record. There is another possibility.

Was Jesus a Lunatic? The term lunatic refers to someone who is “mentally ill,” deranged, foolish, unpredictable, or even dangerous.  It is often used in jest as in a friendly jab, but very insulting in any other context.  The word comes from the Latin, which means “of the moon,” that is, one whose mind is up on the moon. Was Jesus a Lunatic?

Who, in their right mind, would say, “”I and My Father are one.”(John 10:30) He is declaring He is equal with God!  There are many in institutions and insane asylums that have made claims like that.  Someone might wonder about Jesus’ comment, “I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” (John 8:18) Do you trust someone who says He bears witness of Himself and the Father does also?

A lunatic often makes bizarre comments.  Some of Jesus’ comments were seemingly outlandish. For example, He said, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21) What kind of lunacy is that? Or how about when Jesus said,

  • 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
  • 20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” (John 2:19-20)

Only a lunatic would say something like that, wouldn’t he?

            Yet we would have to be honest enough to look at the things Jesus had done. What kind of works characterized His life.  Jesus said, “”If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.” (John 15:24) Jesus did miraculous works that no one else did, and all could have seen His works, but many rejected them.  What is one work that He did that produced harm?  Was Jesus a Lunatic?

            Was Jesus a Liar or a Lunatic? If Jesus was not a Liar, on the order of being the greatest deceiver of all time, or He was a not Lunatic and fooled millions of people who perished through martyrdom at the hands of a fool, then what was He?  There is only one other option. He had to be whom He said He was, the Lord of all.

            It is interesting that the word “Lord” occurs 7773 times in Scripture. There is something about that name beyond any other name.  Was Jesus Lord? When Thomas saw the resurrection of Jesus and touched the nail prints, he said, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) Jesus accepted the title Lord and admonished those who did not obey Him, “But why do you call Me`Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) Peter called Jesus Lord and asked if he should build a tabernacle to Him. (Matt. 17:4)  When John and Peter were out fishing after the crucifixion and they saw the Lord, John said, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7) The Apostle Paul declared that Jesus was Lord, “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9) And one day all will declare Him Lord,

  • 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
  • 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:10-11)

Scripture is clear on this subject.  It gives unmistakable evidence that declares Jesus is Lord. That leaves you a choice.  If Jesus was a Liar or Lunatic, you could easily pass Him by and continue searching for a better option.  However, because Scripture is clear, you have to make a choice.  Will you trust in Jesus as your Savior because of what He did on the cross for you?  C.S. Lewis makes an excellent comment regarding the choices about Jesus,

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. (Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis)

            Whatever, you do, do not fall into the trap of calling Him Lord and then not follow through with Him in life.  Do not get involved in church, or serve Him in great works and not humbly submit your life to Him.  Do not fool yourself that your good works are anything He will accept. Jesus was very clear,

  • 21 “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.
  • 22 “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?’
  • 23 “And then I will declare to them,`I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matt. 7:21-23)

           Finally, John was very clear regarding your choice, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” (John 1:12)

 

 

 

Question: What is Prevenient Grace?

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What is Prevenient Grace?

The word “prevenient” is no longer used today, but is common when discussing theology.  Prevenient is an archaic Latin term that simply means “to go before.”  It refers to the grace of God that precedes a person making a decision for salvation.  However, depending on the theological background of the person, the word can have different meanings.

Most people holding to the Reformed point of view will use the term Prevenient Grace to be the grace of God that goes before God’s work in a person’s life to regenerate and “give faith for salvation.” It will be used as a synonym for “Irresistible Grace,” that is, the grace of God that is irresistible by an elect person to believe.  In this sense, it is often equated with Effectual Grace, that is, the grace of God that is effectual to bring the elect person to the point of salvation.

Most people holding to the Arminian point of view will use the term Prevenient Grace as that which deals with the effects of the fall so that a person can choose to come to Christ or not.  It also can be a synonym for Effectual Grace, but used in a different manner in Reformed Theology.

Catholic doctrine would see Prevenient Grace as “assisting grace,” which assists those who are in the process of believing in Jesus and completing the work necessary for salvation.

Similar to Prevenient Grace is Common Grace, which is the grace of God that is common to all men. It is common, because it is for all mankind, not just those who might be elect as in Reformed Theology. Common grace is undeserved blessings extended to all mankind regarding God’s creative order, the restraint of sin from totally destroying man and man’s universal awareness of right and wrong.  Basically, the word is used according to the theology from which it is described.  It will mean slightly different things based on a person’s presuppositions.

I look at Prevenient Grace as the work of God prior to salvation.  It is unmerited favor that is not deserved and cannot be earned.  God made a universal call to man. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) Jesus was in prayer to the Father and He was also just talking to the multitudes about the sinners of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. The disciples of John the Baptist had been sent to ask Jesus if He was the coming One and Jesus turned and spoke to the multitudes about the greatness of John the Baptist and to consider their own lives.  As he rebuked the rejection of God’s light to Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, He went into prayer to the Father.  From that prayer, He invited all to come to Him.

When Peter gave the first message in the Church Age, he invited everyone to Christ. He said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) Peter was talking to Jewish people who had assembled in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks, which came to be known as Pentecost. Peter was not distinguishing between elect or nonelect.

Additionally, when Paul was in prison, singing with Silas, the Philippian jailer realized the potency of the moment, and humbly approached Paul,

  • 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
  • 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Act 16:30-31)

Paul made the invitation to a complete stranger. It was the call of God.  God does not desire than any should perish, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9) That is why the Holy Spirit convicts the entire world of sin,

  • 8 “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
  • 9 “of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
  • 10 “of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;
  • 11 “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11)

In that call and in that conviction, the grace of God works to ensure the certain futurition of God’s decree. The tension between the sovereign decree of God and freewill is the antinomy (literally the incompatibility) that holds us humbly submissive to the will of God.

We could not choose for God, if He did not work His grace in us.  We could not have a relationship with Him, if we had not chosen to accept what He had done.  No one believes apart from His grace (common and prevenient). No one could choose for God apart from His work of calling and conviction. No one is saved if God did not take our nonmeritorious faith and enter us into union with Christ. And God’s grace can be spurned as men suppress the truth in unrighteousness and are therefore without excuse (Rom. 1:18-20).  In that antinomy are the sovereign work of God and the free will of man in harmony.

Question: Does John say a Christian can enter the Sin unto Death?

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Does John say a Christian can enter the Sin unto Death?

A previous article looked at how James wrote how a Christian could be in the Sin unto Death.1 This article addresses John’s first epistle and how John clearly demonstrates that a believer can be in the Sin unto Death. 

The Gospel of John was written to the world to explain how a person would believe in Jesus and have life in His name (John 20:30-31).  Each of the three epistles of John have a separate purpose.  The first epistle was written to believers regarding the credibility of Jesus as the Christ.  It was written in a time when Gnosticism had taken hold and was drastically influencing the church.  Consequently, John wrote how Jesus was seen, looked upon and touched (1 John 1:1).  The Gnostics believed that Jesus just seemed to be a man, but was really just an aeon as a lower level being from God.  Gnostics taught that He was neither God, nor fully man, but was some kind of spirit being. If that were the case, He could not be the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29), He could not satisfy the righteous requirements of God (1 John 2:2), nor could He be the mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5).

Because some people approach 1 John with their theology fixed, they do mental gymnastics to make sense of the letter.  IF people would take the natural, literal, historical and grammatical approach to understanding the meaning of the epistle, the interpretation becomes quite easy.  A key verse in the letter is found in 1 John 2:29.  John writes, “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.”(1 John 2:29)  If the person knows that Jesus is righteous and believers do, because that is part of what makes a person a believer – Jesus is the righteous One- then the one who practices righteousness is born of Him. What about the person who does not practice righteousness, i.e. the one who sins.  Whether the sin is one time or lasts for a few days or weeks, at that point the person is not practicing righteousness. When a person is not practicing righteousness, he is not “born of Him.” In other words, he reveals he is not acting like he is a believer.  When a person is living a spirit-controlled life, then he reveals He has the spirit living through himself and reveals he is “born of Jesus.”

First John is a book of fellowship, not declaring the difference between a believer and an unbeliever.  John makes this clear in the beginning, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) The key is fellowship, not salvation. 

So when John writes in 1 John 5:16, he is writing about a Christian who is out of fellowship with God. In fact, he is in the last stage of the Downward Spiral called the Sin unto Death.  John writes,

  • 16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. (1 John 5:16)
People stumble over this verse for two reasons. First, they cannot comprehend how a believer could continue in sin, but that is primarily because they have been taught a theology that does not allow continuous sin in a believer, so they impose that theology on the text.  Secondly, they do not understand the difference between the two words for “ask” and “pray” in the verse.

John writes, like Paul (Gal. 6:1), that if anyone sees a brother sinning a sin, he has some responsibility.  First, note that John calls this person a brother.  He’s not talking about a physical blood brother or a person from the neighborhood. He is talking about a spiritual believer and is called a brother. Secondly, note that brother is “sinning a sin.”  This is not a one time sin, he is “sinning a sin” (present active participle).  In other words it is on-going.  It may be several days, or weeks, or months.  It has to be quite some time, because you observe this is the behavior, not just a one time action. Thirdly, he is sinning a sin, “which does not lead to death.” In this case, he is sinning, but he is not in the final stage of the Downward Spiral.  He could be in the first or second step.  Or he could be in the fourth or fifth step of the Downward Spiral.  The fact is he is not in the stage called the Sin unto Death.2 He may be worried about not paying his bills and is struggling because he wants to provide for his children.  He may have “borrowed” some time from his work, because he was late.  In either case, even though they are both sins, he is still going to church and is somewhat open to the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit.

If a person is in this case, the observing believer should ask God on behalf of this brother.  The word for “ask” (aiteo-) is a Greek word that denotes asking with a humble awareness of authority.  The believer is to humbly ask God for mercy for his brother, recognizing that God may or may not grant his petition.  The Apostle Paul describes this in his letter to Timothy,

  • 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
  • 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
  • 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Tim. 2:24-26)
God may or may not grant repentance, but John directs the observing believer humbly to approach God and ask. John says that God will give life to the brother.  This is not eternal life, this is operational Christian way of life, for fellowship with God.  When the person repents, confesses his sin and depends once again on the power of the Holy Spirit, then the sinning brother is restored to fellowship life and can serve the Lord. Again, John clarifies that this is for sin, not leading to death or the Sin unto Death.

However, as John says, “There is a sin leading to death.”  This is the Sin unto Death.  John is not talking about unbelievers here.  John wrote the gospel of John so that the sinning world would respond to the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit and believe in the name of Jesus (John 16:8-11; 20:30-31). John is writing about believers who have descended the Downward Spiral and are in the holding stage called the Sin unto Death. John says, “I do not say that he should pray about that.”  The word for “pray” here is the Greek word ero-tao-, which means “to pray or ask between two equals.”  This is similar to the first word for pray, but that word aiteo- was pray or ask someone on a different authority level.  This word ero-tao- refers to praying or asking a person who is a peer.  John says, “DO NOT approach God as a peer.”  God may or may not grant the request (2 Tim. 2:24-26). When you approach God, do it with fear and intrepidation on behalf of the sinning brother.  Do not add insult to injury by approaching God like He is your buddy.  He is holy, righteous and just.  He deserves all the honor, respect, reverence and fear a person can muster.  Do not approach God casually when you observe a brother who is in the Sin unto Death.

Does John say a Christian can enter the Sin unto Death? Yes.  He teaches a believer can be in the Sin unto Death and he should be helped or turned back to the truth, just as James said should happen,

  • 19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,
  • 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (Jam. 5:19-20)

What does Paul say about a believer in the Sin unto Death?  That is for the next article.

 

1See the previously posted article on the Downward Spiral: http://renewingtruth.blogspot.com/2013/06/question-what-is-downward-spiral.html

2See the following link for a description of the believer’s Downward Spiral: http://renewingtruth.blogspot.com/2013/06/question-how-sinful-can-believer-get.html 

Question: Did James say a believer could be in the Sin unto Death?

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Did James say a believer could be in the Sin unto Death?

It seems incredible that a believer could even be considered in the Sin unto Death,1because a believer should be pursuing God’s righteousness and seeking to please the Lord in thought, words and actions.  Yet, as seen in the Downward Spiral articles, a believer can continue in sin, even though he is still God’s child and going to heaven.  James is one author that supports the view that a believer can enter the Sin unto Death.

The book of James is written to Jewish believers, who are in the dispersion (Jam. 1:1).  Fifteen times, he calls his audience, “brethren.”  James was written at a time when there were no church buildings. Christians were not kindly treated or respected.  They were considered part of a new cult and ostracized by the mainstream population.

James gives a very practical letter on how to live with a divine perspective. At the end of the letter, James gave a call of hope for those who might stray from the truth of godly living.  James exhorted believers not to trust in their riches (Jam. 5:1-6), to have patience with each other as they waited for the return of the Lord (Jam. 5:7-11), if they were suffering or struggling, to come together for support (Jam. 5:12-15) and to pray together as they worked through conflict (Jam. 5:16-18).  Finally, at the end of his letter he gave these words,

  • 19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,
  • 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (Jam. 5:19-20)
Let us look at these verses.

            This is a passage regarding believers who have strayed from the truth and have entered the Sin unto Death. First, he is talking to “brethren.”  They are again affirmed as believers. Secondly, James highlights a believer who has strayed from the truth, “…if anyone among you wanders from the truth…”He is referring to a believer from among them and that believer has strayed from the truth of the faith they have believed. The word “strayed” comes from a word (planao-) from which we get planet, because the ancient people thought the planets wandered across the sky. Thirdly, “someone” refers to another believer who cares and is willing to risk rejection by being a part of the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 6:1).  That person comes alongside and guides him to repent (turn him back). At this point confession of sin and restoration of fellowship is assumed.

            Now in verse twenty, James summarizes the blessing the spirit-controlled believer is to the wandering, but now repentant believer, who has been delivered from the Sin unto Death.  James highlights these godly actions.  First, James exhorts believers to affirm the godly actions of the believer who was willing to restore the wandering, “let him know.”  It’s a big deal to restore a believer to the truth, but it is a believer’s responsibility. Secondly, the believer is called “a sinner,” because that is the description of his life at that point.  He is living according to sin, rather than according to the Spirit. It is a similar exhortation that Paul gives to those who are spirit-controlled in their godly actions toward a brother who has crossed the obvious line of sin, but is being restored.  This is not referring to an unbeliever in this case for the reasons stated above (words gain their meaning from context more than their simple definition). Thirdly, the godly believer has “saved his soul from death,” which phrase must be examined.

            Words have basic meanings.  The word “saved” has a basic meaning of “deliverance.”  When a person is saved, he is delivered from condemnation.  When it refers to the believer who is “saved” from worldly viewpoint and living, it refers to the sanctification process and deliverance from self-control to spirit-control in life. Paul states, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18; cf. 2 Cor. 2:15).  Paul said he was “being saved” (present passive participle) as an on going process which God was working in his life. Paul was talking about sanctification, not positional salvation.

In the same way, the word “death” has a basic meaning of “separation.” There are actually nine different meanings of death in Scripture, depending on the context.  For example, it can refer to physical death (Gen. 24:67), or spiritual death (Gen. 2:17), or divinely operational death (Jam. 2:17). The context determines the meaning of the word.

            When James says that the spiritual believer “will save a soul from death,” he is referring to deliverance from the Sin unto Death.  The believer is already saved and so cannot be spiritually saved again.  That wandering believer is also in the Sin unto Death, the condition where he is facing the misery of a life of sin before he is taken out of earthly living and enters into the heavenly realm.  The godly believer will deliver that person from the final stage of the Sin unto Death. The godly believer also “covers a multitude of sins.”

            When a person is in the Sin unto Death, he is living a life of sin in carnality.  When that person is delivered from carnality, the person is restored to fellowship with God and spirit-controlled living, rather than sin-controlled living.  Hence, the multitude of sins is discontinued (covered).

            Does James teach a believer can enter the Sin unto Death? Yes.  James not only teaches a believer can enter that stage, but can be delivered from that by a godly believer who is willing to risk coming alongside the scoffer.  May God grant us mercy and love as we might be willing to help a believer return to the truth of God’s word in one area of life or in many areas of life.

 

1There are three articles posted on the Downward Spiral.  One summarizes the Downward Spiral: http://renewingtruth.blogspot.com/2013/06/question-what-is-downward-spiral.html

The second records the Downward Spiral for the unbeliever: http://renewingtruth.blogspot.com/2013/06/question-how-sinful-can-unbeliever-get.html

And the third records the Downward Spiral of the believer: http://renewingtruth.blogspot.com/2013/06/question-how-sinful-can-believer-get.html

Question: What is the Downward Spiral of the unbeliever?

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            Everyone knows an unbeliever can be sinful.  There are unbelievers like Hitler who are responsible for the murders of millions.  There are far more civilized unbelievers like Madalyn Murray O’hare, who may have not hurt anyone physically, but have spiritually deceived thousands with the American Atheists organization she founded.  Why is this even important?  It’s important to understand the downward spiral of an unbeliever and understand the spiritual bridge that needs to be built in order to share the gospel.  Continue reading →

Question: What is the Downward Spiral?

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What is the Downward Spiral?

The Downward Spiral is a practical, theological concept that is important for every believer.  It describes the stages a person descends away from God as he chooses sin instead of faith.  The Downward Spiral is a pattern the Apostle Paul describes in two passages of Scripture; one for the unbeliever and one for the believer.

            Whenever a person acts independently of the Lord, he begins the Downward Spiral.  As he continues to seek understanding, purpose and contentment apart from God, he will continue down the spiral until he gets to the stage called the Sin unto Death.  At this point, the person stays in the Sin unto Death, until God takes him home in grace to be in heaven (the believer) or removes him from earth to torments until the Great White Throne judgment (the unbeliever).

            There are seven steps of the Downward Spiral and they follow the acrostic NEBISCOS (this is no reflection on the food manufacturing company – Nabisco). Each of the letters in the word NEBISCOS refer to a step in the Downward Spiral,

N – Negative Volition

E – Emptiness of the Soul

B – Blackout of the Soul

I – Induced Ignorance

S – Separation from God

C – Callousness of the Soul

O – Occupation with Evil

S – Sin unto Death

I do not consider the final stage of Sin unto Death as a step, but as the holding pattern for the person who is living his life in rejection of God’s plan, purpose and will.

            The Downward Spiral is explained in two passages: Romans 1:20-23 and Ephesians 4:17-19.  Romans 1:20-32 is the passage used to explain the Downward Spiral for the unbeliever,

·         20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
·         21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
·         22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
·         23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man– and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
·         24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
·         25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
·         26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
·         27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
·         28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
·         29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
·         30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
·         31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
·         32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.  (Rom 1:20-32)

Ephesians 4:17-19 is the passage used to explain the Downward Spiral for the believer,

·         17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
·         18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
·         19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (Eph. 4:17-19)

The next two articles, posts to this blog, will describe each of these passages related to the Downward Spiral and how both passages describe the exact same steps, even though one is for the unbeliever and one is for the believer.  Can a believer descend same Downward Spiral as the unbeliever?  Yes he can and you can refer to that post. to understand more.

Question: What does it take to restore fellowship with God after sin?

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What does it take to restore fellowship with God after sin?

            Every person sins in life.  It is a reality of life that unbelievers live in sin.  Paul writes regarding the condition of the unbeliever,

·         And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
·         2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
·         3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (Eph. 2:1-3)

Paul describes the unbeliever, who walks “according to the course of this world, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.”  In other words, the unbeliever does nothing but sin, because he is independent from God and does not trust God for anything.

A believer also sins, because he still has a sin nature. Every believer inherits a sin nature at birth passed down from his father (Rom. 5:12). The believer, like Paul, wants to do the right thing, but doesn’t, and the things he doesn’t want to do, he does anyway (Rom. 7:15).  Even after salvation, the sin nature within still seeks to control the believer.  He will have that sin nature until he dies. Therefore, he will continue to sin in time.  When he does, what does he do? Let us be specific in the mechanics of restoring fellowship.

            First, awareness of sin will come from the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8-11). The whole world has guilt because of sin.1  Paul writes, “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Rom. 3:19) The world may not respond to its guilt, but it is guilty.  The world suppresses the truth in unrighteousness (Rom. 1:18). The world of unbelievers rejects the truth and becomes callused before the Holy Spirit’s convicting ministry because their foolish hearts were darkened (Rom. 1:21-22).God is holy and sin makes us guilty before holy God regardless of how we feel.

The same is true for the believer.The Holy Spirit convicts the believer of sin.  That conviction produces guilt in the heart of the believer. For example, Paul writes, “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 11:27)  The “whoever” includes any believer who approaches the communion table with sin in his life and he does not deal with it in a godly way. That person is guilty.  In fact, James records for us the standard of life and the horrendous predicament of what sin does to his relationship with the Lord. James writes, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (Jam. 2:10)  James is writing to believers who did not take sin seriously.  He clearly states that even if a believer keeps all of God’s Word and he sins in one way, it is as if he is guilty of the whole thing.  He still has eternal life (John 17:3).  He is still God’s child (John 1:12), but he has objective guilt and fellowship with God is broken.

Secondly, the believer will turn to God in repentance from His sin (cf. 1 Thes. 1:9).  That turning is called repentance. Paul writes,

  • 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
  • 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
  • 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. (2 Cor. 7:9-11)

The godly sorrow is from the objective guilt.  It is God’s real reason He designed feelings in humanity.  God designed the feelings to draw us closer to Himself.  Feelings are like the red lights on the car dashboard.  The light tells you something is urgently wrong and you need to act quickly before more trouble develops.  Those feelings cause godly sorrow, which God designed to produce repentance.

            Repentance comes from a word (metanoia) meaning “change of thinking.”  Repentance means you change your thinking about God and begin to pursue Him, instead of the independence of sin.  Note the clear actions in 2 Corinthians 7:11 (above) that result from true repentance in life.2

            Thirdly, restoration of fellowship requires confession. John tells the believer to confess his sins to the Father.  John writes, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9) We would not know our sin, unless the Holy Spirit convicted us. We would not confess if we did not change our thinking through repentance. God wants us to confess the sin.  The word for confess (homologeo) means “say the same thing.”  God wants us to say the same thing He says about sin.  He wants us to agree with Him that we did not live by faith, that we did not depend on Him and that we did not humbly submit to His will. We do that by acknowledging that what we did (like get angry or cheat on a test) is sin against God.

When we confess (acknowledge that we sinned), then He promises to forgive us from the sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  The “all unrighteousness” is the reality that we are not even aware of all of our sin, but God, in His mercy, does not overload us with guilt.  He merely makes us aware of sin that we have learned about at our point of spiritual growth in life.  When we confess, He forgives and cleanses.

Fourthly, depend on His control of your life.  Paul writes, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.”  (Eph. 5:18)  Although, the believer is always indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9), the only way a believer is filled with the Spirit is when he has confessed his sins and he is humbly choosing to be dependent on the Holy Spirit’s control of his life and he does what is pleasing to the Father.  Jesus said, “”For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 6:38)  Paul writes, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (2 Cor. 5:9)

Fifthly, press on in His power. God wants every believer to live in the same resurrection power that Jesus lives in now.  That can only be done in a pure and holy life dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit under the rulership of Jesus Christ.  Paul states it well,

  • 18 the eyes of your understanding  being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
  • 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
  • 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (Eph. 1:18-20)
This may seem complicated, but it all can happen simultaneously through confession of sin.  I have broken it down, just like teaching a person how to get behind the steering wheel of a car and the steps of learning how to drive.  In the beginning, it seems like a lot of steps, but eventually, it becomes natural. Sometimes everything is complicated to children and children only want things simple. 

Growing believers want to learn the spiritual life and will think through Scripture until they can clearly understand.  They will wrestle with the text, but not wrangle with believers.  They will humbly learn, rather than get huffy that someone had a different view from them.  May you be blessed as you grow in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!
 

1There is a difference between objective and subjective guilt.  Objective guilt is that awareness of doing wrong before God. It is true guilt.  It comes from the conviction of the Holy Spirit of sin against holy God.  Subjective guilt is the feelings that something is wrong, but there is not awareness of what it is.  It may be feeling bad because of being caught doing wrong (caught with the hand in the cookie jar).  This is the subjective guilt that Judas felt after betraying the Lord Jesus.  He “felt” guilty (which included the fact of objective guilt), and his feelings overcame him and he took his life rather than repent before the Lord (Matt. 27:3-5). There is also the assembly of feelings, because of lost opportunity. This is what Esau felt when he realized his lost opportunity for the blessing that would have been his (Heb. 12:16-17).  Objective guilt is dealt with through repentance, confession and dependency on the Lord.

2There will be an article on the “Results of Repentance” in a few short days on this blog.