"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29:29 NASB
Often I hear people in the context of discussing GOD's sovereignty and man's will, claim that the way the two fit together and how they relate is a mystery. To this I say, "Rubbish!" Before I go further I must say that I am not here making the case for either a reformed or arminian perspective on GOD's sovereignty and mans will. I freely admit that I am reformed and believe that is the only biblical and consistent view of GOD's sovereignty and mans will. What I am saying is that those who say that we really can't know the truth on some subjects in Scripture is wrong, sinful, and holding a mean view of God communicating with us.
To support this claim I quote Deuteronomy 29:29(see above) and 1 Corinthians 2:10 NASB "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God." We find the biblical text stating that the things God has revealed to us by His spirit in His word. If he has revealed these things to us then does it not follow that we can know what he has revealed? If not then what is the point of divine revelation? In other places in the Bible we find where GOD speaks of giving us(His people) a mind and heart to understand, ears to hear, and eyes to see.
To deny that we can understand EVERYTHING in the divine text is silly, pernicious, and dangerous. If we are not able to understand the things God has revealed to us on things like eschatology, mode of baptism, the relationship between GOD's sovereignty and mans will, then what makes us think that we can understand the Gospel? In saying that there are things revealed in Scripture that we just can't know people start down the slippery slope of what I would call scriptural agnosticism. I believe that by denying you can understand what is revealed in GOD's word you make a path for people to become emergent postmodernists or to go Roman Catholic. Neither of these directions is some place we want anyone to go, because of the heresies present in those places.
I am not damning people who say such things to hell, but I am trying to uphold GOD's glory and LOVINGLY rebuke those who say we can't understand everything in Scripture or slap the mystery label onto hard truths.
In Christ, Aaron
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
GOD's Justice
Atheist Sam Harris and Christian William Lane Craig recently had a debate on, "Is good from God?". Dealing with whether or not God was necessary for there to be real, objective, morality. I do believe that God is necessary for objective morality. During the debate Sam Harris brought up the idea of hell and tried to use that against Dr. Craig's position by saying that if God is truly good then He can't throw people in hell and remain good.
However Mr. Harris misses the point. People are not thrown in hell for no reason. People are thrown in hell because they are in rebellion against a just God. Because God is just, he punishes ALL sin. This justice is not bad, it is right, good, and proper. For example, say a man killed his wife, but the judge let him go without any penalty. You and I would not like that, it would not be right, you and I believe that evil should be punished. Now think how good God would be if he did not demand payment to be made for our sins. He would no longer be good, he would be evil.
Now how then can any of us be forgiven for our sins if God must carry out justice on our sins, if those sins need to be paid for? The answer is Jesus Christ, he came from the Father full of grace and truth, he died on a cross to pay for the sins of sinners, on the third day he rose again, leading captives to sin out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Christ became sin for His people so that His people would not taste the death(punishment) due to all who sin. He became our substitute, that is how we can be forgiven(justified) before a holy and righteous God.
However Mr. Harris misses the point. People are not thrown in hell for no reason. People are thrown in hell because they are in rebellion against a just God. Because God is just, he punishes ALL sin. This justice is not bad, it is right, good, and proper. For example, say a man killed his wife, but the judge let him go without any penalty. You and I would not like that, it would not be right, you and I believe that evil should be punished. Now think how good God would be if he did not demand payment to be made for our sins. He would no longer be good, he would be evil.
Now how then can any of us be forgiven for our sins if God must carry out justice on our sins, if those sins need to be paid for? The answer is Jesus Christ, he came from the Father full of grace and truth, he died on a cross to pay for the sins of sinners, on the third day he rose again, leading captives to sin out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Christ became sin for His people so that His people would not taste the death(punishment) due to all who sin. He became our substitute, that is how we can be forgiven(justified) before a holy and righteous God.
Monday, January 31, 2011
I opened my email today and noticed that a viewer had asked when I was coming back. To be honest I had forgotten about this blog and I apologize, I'll make posts more frequently from now on. I would like to post one of my favorites scripture passages and provide some commentary. The passage is Lamentations 3:1-32
1 I am the man who has seen affliction
by the rod of the LORD’s wrath.
2 He has driven me away and made me walk
in darkness rather than light;
3 indeed, he has turned his hand against me
again and again, all day long.
4 He has made my skin and my flesh grow old
and has broken my bones.
5 He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness and hardship.
6 He has made me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
he has weighed me down with chains.
8 Even when I call out or cry for help,
he shuts out my prayer.
9 He has barred my way with blocks of stone;
he has made my paths crooked.
10 Like a bear lying in wait,
like a lion in hiding,
11 he dragged me from the path and mangled me
and left me without help.
12 He drew his bow
and made me the target for his arrows.
13 He pierced my heart
with arrows from his quiver.
14 I became the laughingstock of all my people;
they mock me in song all day long.
15 He has filled me with bitter herbs
and given me gall to drink.
16 He has broken my teeth with gravel;
he has trampled me in the dust.
17 I have been deprived of peace;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, “My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the LORD.”
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
This is one of my most favorite passages because it reveals the great hope that there is in God, though He causes us to suffer, though He sometimes hides from us, and though He does not answer our prayer. As we hear in places such as 1 Peter 4, Romans 8, and here we find that God is not a careless vine dresser. He does not do anything if it will be spiritually detrimental to us, His people. I cannot express how lovely this passage is, I take great joy in that God is sovereign over our afflictions. I love that it is He who causes us to suffer, not someone else, there is so much hope in this. And too top it all off we have God being gracious to us, "Though he brings grief, he will show compassion..."
1 I am the man who has seen affliction
by the rod of the LORD’s wrath.
2 He has driven me away and made me walk
in darkness rather than light;
3 indeed, he has turned his hand against me
again and again, all day long.
4 He has made my skin and my flesh grow old
and has broken my bones.
5 He has besieged me and surrounded me
with bitterness and hardship.
6 He has made me dwell in darkness
like those long dead.
7 He has walled me in so I cannot escape;
he has weighed me down with chains.
8 Even when I call out or cry for help,
he shuts out my prayer.
9 He has barred my way with blocks of stone;
he has made my paths crooked.
10 Like a bear lying in wait,
like a lion in hiding,
11 he dragged me from the path and mangled me
and left me without help.
12 He drew his bow
and made me the target for his arrows.
13 He pierced my heart
with arrows from his quiver.
14 I became the laughingstock of all my people;
they mock me in song all day long.
15 He has filled me with bitter herbs
and given me gall to drink.
16 He has broken my teeth with gravel;
he has trampled me in the dust.
17 I have been deprived of peace;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
18 So I say, “My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the LORD.”
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the LORD has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
31 For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
This is one of my most favorite passages because it reveals the great hope that there is in God, though He causes us to suffer, though He sometimes hides from us, and though He does not answer our prayer. As we hear in places such as 1 Peter 4, Romans 8, and here we find that God is not a careless vine dresser. He does not do anything if it will be spiritually detrimental to us, His people. I cannot express how lovely this passage is, I take great joy in that God is sovereign over our afflictions. I love that it is He who causes us to suffer, not someone else, there is so much hope in this. And too top it all off we have God being gracious to us, "Though he brings grief, he will show compassion..."
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