Question #1:
Dear Bob,
I went to a funeral today for my neighbour and I was wondering ...
Why wouldn't a person want to be saved? Now that I myself am saved, I
cannot understand why it took me so long! I can't even relate to the old
me! It seems so natural to have faith now!
Why would anyone want to reject God's wonderful free gift?
Since finding out about Unitarianism and the Moonies, I have been almost
terrified of losing my faith/Salvation. I realise how much deception is
about abroad and I find it so disturbing.
Why wouldn't being without Jesus forever terrify people?
In Jesus,
Response #1:
Hope you made it back home OK and are not suffering too badly in the
heat.
You have nothing whatsoever to worry about in terms of salvation. Have
confidence that you belong to the Lord and that you are doing your level
best to walk closely to Him. Apostasy is what comes to those who
"believed for a while, but in time of trouble" they fall away (Lk.8:15).
You have survived much "trouble" already and it has merely
strengthened your faith.
As to the "why?", one could equally ask why the devil, the most
privileged individual in the universe, saw fit to rebel against God and
tried to overthrow Him. The Bible tells us the answer to that one: pride
(Is.14:12-15; Ezek.28:12-19). Arrogance is at the foundation of all
rebellion against the Lord, and refusing salvation is just one aspect of
that. The devil was #1 among creatures but that was not enough. He
wanted to be #1 over God as well. That is crazy! But arrogance corrupts the
heart like nothing else.
One would indeed think that in the face of unavoidable death, everyone
would grasp eagerly at the prospect of eternal life especially since
it is not onerous at all to receive it: "The word is near you, in your
mouth and in your heart" (Rom.10:8). But in fact, unbelievers who reject
the gospel are far more likely to warm up to religions which require
difficult things from them "to be saved" because that way THEY get to
"do something". And it is all about "THEM", not God. Arrogance again.
Just as Satan wanted a kosmos without God wherein he ruled
supreme, so every unbeliever in his/her heart of hearts doesn't want
anything to do with God. He/she doesn't want to be told what to do by
anyone, least of all the Almighty. THEY want to determine what is right
and wrong and what it takes to be saved, etc., etc. They would all be
happy enough to have eternal life . . . just as long as they don't have
to worship God or have anything to do with Him, just as long as they get
to set all the ground rules, just as long as THEY, in the manner of the
devil, get to play God.
For all such, attending to lies and giving in to arrogance leads to a
hardening of the heart to the point where the truth is totally obscured
and the pressure of death and its consequences can be ignored and denied
respectively. Without that ability, these types would probably not be
able to make their eternal choice with uncoerced free will. After all,
anyone seeing God face to face and being prevented from perishing
could not help but worship and obey Him. So He veils Himself except
through the truth of the gospel for those who want to know Him (and
unlimited truth available thereafter for all who do respond). All others
are given this life to demonstrate what is truly in their hearts, but
after that they get what they want deep down: an eternal existence
without God . . . in the lake of fire.
Blessedly, WE are looking forward to Christ's return, the resurrection,
our eternal reward, New Jerusalem, and the privilege of worshiping the
Lord we love so much in perfect unison with all our brothers and sisters
in His Church who likewise prefer Him and His truth to all else, even
unto death. That is the way to eternal life.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
p.s., plenty about all of this in BB 4B:
Soteriology
Question #2:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
Today in our Bible Study my wife and I looked at John 3:16, one of the
very familiar scripture verses for many people. In that verse it says:
"whoever believes in Him shall not perish"
I looked up the Greek word in Strongs concordance, which I don't really
think is that good and it says this for the word "perish": ἀπόληται,
apolētai. The definition they provide is: to destroy, destroy
utterly".
The German Bible my wife uses says: "die an ihn glauben, nich veloren
werden".
I think that the word "Lost" would have been a better translation
instead of "perish" .
I looked at 27 translations and 24 of them have "Perish" and the other
three have "lost". Is the word "perish" in the Greek correct or "lost"
more relative. This is what Jesus said: 10For the Son of Man came to
seek and to save the lost."
The word "begotten" used in this verse is also troublesome, but You and
I have already discussed that.
Thanks always for your great help.
May you be blessed in abundance with His grace and love.
Your friend,
Response #2:
The word in all of these cases is the same one, the one you found in
Strong's (apollumi). However, it makes a big difference what form
this verb is in. In the active voice, it means to destroy; in the
passive voice, it means to be destroyed. But there is also a "middle" in
Greek and, in the second aorist, a "quasi-passive". So in between
destroying and being destroyed, "lost" is not a bad translation as
long as one understands what that means: i.e., not saved, destined for
the lake of fire. So "perish" is also not bad. The Latin translation of
Luke 19:10 has not "lost" but "to make safe that which had perished"
(since what we have there is actually the perfect participle of
apollumi).
How's your health?
Keeping you and your family in my prayers, my friend!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #3:
Robert can I be saved by saying believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved over and over again through the day and through the night?
Response #3:
You only have to say it / believe it in your heart once to become a believer which I suspect you already are (or you wouldn't be concerned about it at all).
But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 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. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
Romans 10:8-11 NKJV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #4:
Robert I don't have the holy spirit in me and I'm frightened
Response #4:
How do you KNOW you don't? The Spirit is invisible as is His ministry.
Question #5:
Robert I don't have peace or joy or the fruit of the Holt spirit or any battle with the flesh and the spirit that is the reason I don't have the holy spirit living in me.
Response #5:
These things are not automatic. They only come with spiritual
growth.
My R/x is spiritual growth and lots of it (I would recommend starting
with the Peter
series at the link).
Question #6:
Robert the holy spirit is to be living in me when I believe in him and he is not; please don't give up on me; do you have the holy spirit living in you? I have no peace or joy keep praying that the Lord will save me and again; please don't give up on me/ please ask the Lord not to give up on me and save me.
Response #6:
Peace and joy and all of the other manifestations of the Holy Spirit
and His ministries to us are not automatic. They develop and grow as a
believer grows in the truth and develops his/her relationship with Jesus
Christ. Believers are indeed given a "honeymoon", so to speak,
immediately after believing, but the joy of being saved is only
perpetuated if said believer commits to spiritual growth. Sadly, in our
Laodicean day, very few churches teach new believers even the basics of
Christian doctrine, so that there are many who are in your situation,
that is, being saved but not "feeling it". We only "feel it" when we
"know it" through faith in the truth, and we only get the truth through
good Bible teaching, consistently heeded and believed.
So there is no way you can "know" that you do NOT have the Spirit.
However, you certainly CAN know if you are a believer in Jesus Christ or
not. And if you are a believer, then you most assuredly DO have the
Spirit as all believers do (Rom.8:9). That is true whether or not you
are "feeling it" at any given moment. The Christian life is not about
"feeling" but faith. And as we grow in faith and truth, our emotions
will come along for the ride eventually.
If you want peace and joy, that comes not merely from praying but from
spiritual growth. To be able to have peace in spite of the troubles of
this life and be joyful in the midst of suffering requires
prodigious spiritual growth. That is achieved through daily persistence
in accessing good, solid, orthodox Bible teaching, believing it, and
applying it to your daily walk.
So I encourage you to begin making use of this ministry to grow in a
serious way. That will result in what you desire. Prayer is wonderful,
but if we pray for food, for example, and are not willing to work for
it, using the talents and opportunities the Lord provides, we should not
be surprised if we go hungry. The benefits of spiritual growth, of which
peace and joy are a part, work the same way.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #7:
Robert can you send me more information on joy and peace and more and why does not the spirit witness to me telling me I am a child of God; why is there no battle going on between the flesh and the spirit. I'm not trying to be smart about it I just want to find the true answers about these things.
Response #7:
First, apologies for the delay. I do the email postings on Saturday (to
provide readers with an alternative "Sunday fare" of teaching which they
won't be getting in church), and so don't have time to get to emails
that come in Friday late until Sunday late.
As to your question, what makes you think that the Spirit is not
witnessing to you? The Spirit's witness is not deafening like a wind
storm it is a "still, small voice" (1Ki.19:12). The Spirit witnesses
to us, guides us, by speaking to our consciences, to our hearts, through
reminding us of the truth we have heard AND believed. But if we are not
listening to the truth, if we are not believing the truth, if we are not
setting ourselves to hear that "still, small voice", then we won't. In
my observation and experience, it doesn't take much of a positive turn
of heart to begin receiving the Spirit's encouragement but it does
take SOMETHING; we don't get anywhere by sitting around waiting for it.
As to "no battle", that is not what I'm seeing. If there were no battle,
you would never have contacted me in the first place and wouldn't be
continuing with this conversation.
(16) But I tell you, walk in the Spirit and you will not carry out what the flesh lusts for. (17) For what the flesh lusts for is contrary to the Spirit's will, and the Spirit is opposed to what the flesh lusts for. Since these are diametrically opposed to each other in this way, what you are doing is not what you yourself choose.
Galatians 5:16-25
Notice the command here: walk in the Spirit! If you are not doing that,
then of course the flesh will be winning the struggle. You have to fight
back through the Spirit . . . which means fighting back through the
truth, learning it, believing it, applying it in faith and confidence
that if you DO fight, the Spirit will help you. But if we sit there like
bumps on a log, nothing good will happen. If you want the Spirit's help,
then accept in faith that He is in you and take pains to listen to His
gentle whispers.
Here's a link on your question:
"Joy and
Peace".
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #8:
Robert I believe that I have committed the unpardable sin; would you pray to God for me and to forgive me for it?
Response #8:
The "unpardonable sin" is the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ; that is,
being an unbeliever. If you believe in Jesus Christ, no matter what
fault you find with yourself, you have NOT committed that sin. That is
the sin of being an unbeliever, the sin of rejecting the testimony of
the Spirit about Jesus Christ (Mk.3:28-30, esp. v.30;
see the link), the
only sin for which Christ could not die because He "cannot deny Himself"
(2Tim.2:13).
Plenty of believers go on a long prodigal son journey away from the
Lord, getting into real spiritual trouble, but are still believers deep
down. In my estimation, that is your situation. About the worst thing
you could do to yourself is, instead of determining to return as the
prodigal did, instead to sit out there in that far country eating carob
pods with the pigs. There is no need for that. God is not requiring you
to punish yourself like that. Like the good father in that parable, the
Father is waiting and yearning for your return and He is ready to
restore you as that father did.
What is needed is a commitment to spiritual growth. As you begin to
recover, everything will look brighter day by day. But you DO have to
make the effort to return, just like the prodigal.
Here's a link you should read:
An Extended
Conversation on the 'Unpardonable' Sin
As to forgiveness, scripture tells us unequivocally that we are forgiven
whenever we confess whatever we have done:
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Psalm 32:5 NKJV
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1st John 1:9 NKJV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #9:
Robert I don't even know if I am a believer; would you be able to call me on Tuesday the time here is 8:05 pm please let me know.
Response #9:
I don't do telephone counseling; only email answers to believers'
questions.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you are a believer; if you do not
believe in Jesus Christ, you are not a believer.
As our Lord Himself said . . .
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 3:18 NKJV
Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Then you are a believer.
If not . . .
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!"
Acts 16:31
In Him,
Bob L.
p.s., signing off for the evening.
Question #10:
Robert I was listing to your message on Romans 5; you said that if you don't have the holy spirit you are none of his; that ie what Romans 8:9 says; and I don't have the holy spirit; I'm 64; can you please pray that the holy spirit works in my heart and when I'm listing to you on tape I hear you with my physical ear; I don't hear with inward hearing in the heart; can you pray for me for this as well so I can understand spiritually?
Response #10:
You've been listening to the MP3 files at Ichthys? If so, that's great (please
check out the re-mastered ones
at the link)! But
since you said "tape" (nothing from me on tape), I would like to make sure that
you are actually referring to something you heard from me and not someone else
(I haven't done a series on Romans).
For one thing, I feel I would have been more likely to say that if you ARE a
believer then you DO have the Holy Spirit (rather than putting the issue in
negative terms).
Because I reiterate, if you DO believe in Jesus Christ, then you DO have the
Holy Spirit (Rom.8:9).
How can you possibly say "I don't have the Holy Spirit"? How would you know
that? What is your litmus test for that? You told me that you are not feeling
joy and peace. That is true of many Christians since few Christians today are
committed to the hard work of spiritual growth which brings peace and joy and
many other blessings.
It doesn't happen without hard work. It doesn't happen without a fight. The same
way you were saved (by believing the truth) is the same way you have to advance
spiritually (Phil.3:16; Col.2:6-7). However, being saved took only an instant;
growing to spiritual maturity is a long, hard slog of daily Bible reading,
prayer, and, very important, accessing good Bible teaching (of which there is
precious little around in these late innings of Laodicea) AND believing it AND
applying it consistently to your life. If you do these things, you will give the
Holy Spirit something to work with because He works through the truth you have
believed in your heart when you are responding to that truth correctly. Having
the Spirit does NOT overrule your free will. Making choices for or against God
is the whole reason we are here in this world the whole reason this world
exists. The world is the great threshing floor wherein what we truly desire is
being tested, to see if we want the Lord in the first place, and how much in the
second after being saved.
There is nothing more important than spiritual growth. If you want to know more
about the Spirit and the mechanics of these things, please see
BB 5: Pneumatology: the biblical study of the Holy
Spirit (at the link).
About the worst thing you could do is "have great faith" that you do NOT have
the Spirit when you probably do (since you are probably saved), and that you are
NOT saved when you probably are (or else you wouldn't be concerned about your
salvation).
Better to get cracking than to lie around inactive in despair and let the
opportunity to grow and win the rewards the Lord wants you to win slip away.
We're not down here forever.
Keeping you in my prayers.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #11:
Robert I do believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I read of him in the bible; it is not in my heart; can you please pray that the holy spirit would put it in my heart and that God would take away my hardened and calloused ears and my heart; I heard you in you tube; I have a frightened heart and had it for about 6 to 7 years; please pray that God would cast it away.
Response #11:
First of all, I've never put anything on YouTube so I don't know to
whom you were listening (n.b., since time of writing some MP3s on
the new Hebrews series have been posted there).
Second, you said, " I do believe in the Lord Jesus Christ". Compare that
to this:
". . . whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16 NIV
As I said, believers believe; unbelievers do not believe. If you
believe, you are a believer.
I understand you don't FEEL like it. But the Christian life is NOT about
"feelings". That is a mistake many if not most Christians in Laodicea
are making.
If you do want to FEEL better, it's not a matter of a simple prayer
salvation is, but spiritual growth takes time and effort.
Have a little faith and start the process. I recommend beginning with
the Peter series (at the link); I do NOT recommend "Smorgasbording"
around the internet until you find someone who will stoke your fears
(and lighten your wallet).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #12:
Pastor Robert would you pray that God would regenerate me and cause his holy spirit to work in my inner deepest part of my inner heart? I'm 64 I need to be born again by the holy spirit of God.
Response #12:
I am praying for you, but as a believer you HAVE been born again, born
from above, and you DO have the Holy Spirit.
I guarantee you that the Spirit is working on you / with you that is
no doubt why we are having this conversation.
The thing is, at this point it is not incumbent upon YOU to have some
faith and to begin the process of spiritual growth. It's no good waiting
around for some "experience". What you need is to start spending time
taking in the Word of God. There are no easy fixes.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #13:
Doc, the devil is often referred to in many circles as "The Root Of All Evil". is this true though? I mean, he technically committed the first evil act right? and he's behind most of the evil going on in the world today. Is he really the ultimate source of evil though?
Response #13:
Our Lord said . . .
"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."
John 8:44 NKJV
But I've never heard of what you write here. 1st Timothy 6:10 says that
"the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" or more literally
"all bad things". "Evil" in the Bible is usually the Greek or Hebrew
word "bad". The connotations of the English word "evil" which suggest
something worse than "bad" are later developments and not really
biblical. If it's bad in God's eyes, we may call it evil, and understand
that evil means "bad in God's eyes", the only opinion which counts.
But the English word "evil" may suggest some notions which don't have
any biblical standing. The biblical distinction is between "good" and
"bad" as in "the tree of knowing [the difference between] good and
bad" in the garden of Eden.
The devil is "bad" and everything he does is "bad", and he is "the evil
one" in scripture (that is a different word, poneros, meaning
"base" and "vile". He is "a liar from the beginning and the father of
it" and his arrogance, "I WILL" (Is.14:13ff.) is at the root of his
rebellion from God but we don't want to invest him with some sort of
malevolent honor he doesn't deserve as if "evil" were some sort of
special pixie dust (the opposite of what the RC's think about when they
use the word "grace"). We stay away from what is bad and we cleave unto
what is good. Amen?
Please read part 1 of Satanic rebellion for
the details (at the link).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Hello
You mention in the link that God has different punishments for different
people who committed the same sin. Wouldn't that make God show
favouritism?
Also in the bible it says that a person who knowingly does wrong, God
will no longer the good they did. With such a person who repents,
however long before they do is there still hope they can through hard
work grow again fast and receive the same rewards they could have?
Response #14:
To take these in reverse order, re: "in the bible it says that a person
who knowingly does wrong, God will no longer [remember] the good they
did", are you referring to Ezekiel 18:24? If so, that is talking about
apostasy. Only believers are saved; for those who turn away from the
Lord to the point of putting their faith to death, nothing positive they
may have done before losing faith will matter (see the link).
As to "God has different punishments for different people who committed
the same sin", I can't ever remember putting things that way (what
"link" are you referring to?).
I do think it is true that every single instance of sin is different
from every other. There is "lying", for example, and there is "lying".
Should God punish a person who says, "You look nice" in response to a
direct question (even though that person might not really think so but
is just trying to be polite) the same way He punishes someone who lies
on the witness stand and sends an innocent person to the gas chamber out
of malice against said individual, e.g.? That doesn't seem just to me
(no human system of justice I know of works that way, that is, not
taking all the relevant facts into consideration). One thing we can say
is that God is absolutely just and that everything He does He does in
complete knowledge of every single fact and circumstances beyond what we
could ever imagine and put it all into the perfect plan in eternity
past, dealing with everyone always in complete faithfulness.
To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
Psalm 18:25-27 NIV
In addition to being absolutely just (see
the link), scripture is also clear that there is absolutely no
favoritism with God (see
the link), so we can be completely sure that we are getting a "fair
shake" from Him whatever happens. That can take faith to understand (as
Job lost sight of this principle but Abraham held onto it in very trying
circumstances for both), but it is the absolute truth.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Are you a trinitarian?
Thanks
Response #15:
Good to make your acquaintance.
If you mean, do I accept that Jesus Christ is God as well as a true
human being (since the incarnation), of course! That is what the Bible
teaches everywhere.
Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. Thomas said to him, My Lord and my God! Then Jesus told him, Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
John 20:27-29 NIV
See also these links:
The Essence of God and Deity of Christ
Where does the Bible teach that Jesus is God?
Christology Questions VIII: The Deity, Humanity and Life of Christ
Explaining and Defending the Trinity and the Person of Christ
In Jesus our dear Savior, "my Lord and my God".
Bob Luginbill
Question #16:
Thanks Doc...I've seriously considered doing things I'm pretty sure no
believer can do and remain a believer. [omitted]
If you truly think I'm apostate, tell me. I still try to believe in
everything about Jesus and the Bible, but it's like I'm being
ultra-forced into all manner of vile false belief constantly. Also if I
actually did do something like that I would absolutely never forgive
myself; in fact I always quickly remember that such things would just
objectively be an awful idea regardless; not only would they be almost
certain to obliterate my life irrevocably, they're just objectively
horrific and near irredeemable acts, and anyone with a shred of
conscience will be repulsed at the mere suggestion, which I am once I
remember this...I'm sorry for telling you this, I just am very worried
that someday my rage will get the better of me and I'll actually go
through with some of this.
In short, I'm a very, very angry man, and sometimes I get too angry not
only for my own good, but even those around me could be in danger if I
don't come back to my senses; how do I fix this before something bad
does happen to someone?
Response #16:
I read this in scripture:
"Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come."
Matthew 12:32 NKJV
The ONLY sin that is not forgiven on confession to the Lord is that of
not believing in Him (that is what "speaking against the Spirit" who is
making the gospel clear to one's heart means). And why would someone who
doesn't believe in Him confess to Him anyway?
Apostates are those who have abandoned their faith in Jesus and no
longer want anything to do with Him. They are not believers who are
struggling with sin and personal issues.
Spiritual growth is the answer to all these latter issues. We learn how
to say "no!" to all that is bad (1Tim.2:12) and start embracing all that
is good (Rom.12:9). That is not an overnight process, but just as a seed
planted springs up almost before one knows it into a great tree, so
with spiritual growth . . . if you apply a mustard seed's worth of
faith.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #17:
Thank you for taking time off on your usual ministry day to help. I know you're usually very busy this day of the week, and that's why you don't usually respond to emails today...So Doc, I'm very worried that someday I will fall away from the Faith, you probably guessed this already from all the "am I apostate?" messages. I do have brief moments where I get mad at God, misguided as that anger is, to the point where I want nothing to do with Jesus anymore...He always reminds me of the Truth though, why only He could ever be worthy of praise and glory, and that's usually enough to immediately bring me back, even if that's not enough, a reminder that without Him, there would be no such thing as good or truth is enough to correct me. How do I stop getting angry at God for the bad things in the world?
Response #17:
You're very welcome, my friend.
At the risk of repeating myself, spiritual growth is the answer to all
our personal "ticks". Some people have a short temper. I have known a
few. Like all other manifestations of the sin nature, the Spirit will
help us resist that if we are following His lead. And how do we get
better at listening to the Spirit and doing what He guides us to do?
Through taking in more of the truth and believing it and making it a
habit to apply it. The truth believed in our hearts is the Spirit's
fulcrum, so to speak. The more we have, the more solidly we believe it
and the more consistently we think about it, the more likely we are to
be able to avail ourselves of the Spirit's help.
All of "this" however, is always about choice. So again, determine to
choose what is good and reject what is bad. Those choices are why we
are down here on earth in the first place.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #18:
Hello Mr. Luginbill,
I wanted to thank you for your online ministry; I stumbled across it
during a Google search, and am grateful to have found the resources you
offer.
Have a blessed day in the Lord!
Response #18:
Good to make your acquaintance.
Thanks for your encouraging words do feel free to write any time.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #19:
Hey Dr. Luginbill,
I was just wondering if you could pray that my head could be as clear as
possible so I can get as much spiritual growth in as possible. I've been
having a lot of motivation and energy recently but it has been difficult
to sit down and just get it done for various reasons. For many months
now each week has been a little better than the last, and I just ask
that you could pray for the process to be expedited even more.
Thanks
In our Lord,
Response #19:
I do pray for you daily, my friend, and I will add this to the list.
Consistency in study is always difficult, so you're not alone. But if we
put "first things first", it will get done. So keep your focus on "the
things above" (Col.3:1-2), and remember that your work in the Lord is
not pointless (1Cor.15:58), and that soon enough you will be standing
before Him, receiving your evaluation (Rom.14:10). That ought to be
sufficient motivation for anyone (2Cor.5:10-11).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #20:
I thought about it more, and yes there are times when I am reading or listening to a lesson/sermon and when they say something wrong, I am aware because other verses that contradict their interpretation come to my mind. Is that what you mean by spiritual maturity?
Response #20:
Spiritually mature believers certainly should have a firm grasp of basic
biblical doctrinal principles (essentially, everything contained in the
"Basics" series at Ichthys). Those in
most churches out there today probably don't understand 10% of what is in that
series, and much of what the churches themselves teach is generally wrong to
some degree or another, sometimes heretically wrong.
In terms of what spiritual maturity "is", however, there is a lot more to it.
It's the difference between a toddler and someone who's just turned 21 big
differences in every way in the physical realm which reflect equally big
differences between believers in those separate statuses in the spiritual realm.
That growth comparison is one of the main analogies the Bible uses to express
our drawing closer to Jesus Christ through the truth:
(11) Christ Himself appointed some of us apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers (12) in order to prepare all of His holy people for their own ministry work, that the entire body of Christ might thus be built up, (13) until we all reach that unifying [goal] of belief in and full-knowledge of the Son of God, that each of us might be a perfect person, that is, that we might attain to that standard of maturity of the fullness of Christ; (14) that we may no longer be immature, swept off-course and carried headlong by every breeze of so-called teaching that emanates from the trickery of men in their readiness to do anything to cunningly work their deceit, (15) but rather that we may, by embracing the truth in love, grow up in all respects with Christ, who is the head of the Church, as our model. (16) In this way, the entire body of the Church, fit and joined together by Him through the sinews He powerfully supplies to each and every part, works out its own growth for the building up of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16
For more on all this, please see BB 6A: Peripateology,
especially "Spiritual
growth analogies".
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #21:
Well I do have stronger faith now, and I do understand the Bible more
and can better put it into practice. So that is there. And I am slowly
working through Bible study, though the honest thing to say is that I
don't give it as much time and many days as other things.
Anyway I was still thinking that that is the sore point, that when I
listen in Sunday School/main service, I am expected to just believe
their take for the most part. Whereas, if I go to an academic lecture on
Ancient Greek, even if I don't agree but also did not say out loud to
the person sitting next to me that I didn't agree with a part of it (or
wasn't 100% sold), that expectation that I am to 'just believe' what the
speaker said is not there. That isn't just in my head right?
Also I just realized I am currently working through the Bible Basics
portion so there is that.
At least now I have a response when people ask if I go to church/why
not-that I have a hard time finding good Bible teaching, and even that
aside, I don't like the atmosphere of being required to just believe and
accept the speaker's interpretation. I have found it is not a good
experience for anyone when you disagree too much in this particular kind
of group. But mostly the first thing.
Honestly some professors really are so willing to nicely discuss
disagreements with you even though they do know so much, and some really
enjoy it! Like you (well I don't know if you enjoy it lol). I like to
hear different perspectives. I know there are some that don't like the
pushback and may have a bit of an ego, but it just doesn't seem to be to
the same degree. It is just weird because the
you-have-to-believe-the-Bible-teacher, I am not sure if it is an
argument from authority or what. But if it is, what are their
qualifications? Their education. Signs and wonders. Or something. But
many of them are proud of that they have very little education and are
open about that. Anyway sorry to keep going.
Response #21:
Re: "Well I do have stronger faith now, and I do understand the Bible
more and can better put it into practice." Good for you! I know it's
true from our correspondence a result of spiritual growth.
No worries. This is the sort of thing which can stick in anyone's craw.
It's another mark of maturity that it DOES bother you when you hear
something "not right" that claims to be "Bible teaching".
It's a long understood principle that no student can advance past the
learning of his/her teacher (except by learning from a more learned
teacher). That is important to remember in Laodicea when so many
unqualified and not even gifted by the Spirit individuals have taken
upon themselves the mantle of "teacher".
This is why it is so difficult for a believer who wants to advance
spiritually to do so by means of going to a local church, since so few
nationwide are teaching any sort of truth in the volume and orthodoxy
necessary to grow. And this is why it is so difficult for a believer who
has managed to grow through accessing this or another good teaching
ministry to find any place to fellowship: most likely they will be
served up pabulum. Baby food, as mentioned, may be good for babies, but
it's not to the taste of anyone who has been weaned onto genuinely solid
biblical food. Having to sit there and "eat it" for the sake of
fellowship ought to annoy anyone. And most of us in that situation can't
take it and actually shouldn't.
So if we find ourselves in the wrong place, we need to keep looking for
a good place. And if we've found a good place, well, they don't grow on
trees these days (see
the link).
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
Matthew 7:15-20 NIV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #22:
Hi Bob again,
I was just mulling something over and wondering if unbelievers can love?
The reason I ask is the Bible says that God is love. That would suggest
logically that if you don't have God, they you don't have love. Paul
says "If I have not love" but is that not a reference to God then? So
the sounding gong and the clanging cymbal are all actions done in the
flesh and not in the Spirit of God. These actions would be motivated for
self aggrandisement (for the belly) rather than for the glory of God. If
we seek the glorification of God then we truly love God and if we love
God we are of the Spirit and then can love others. That is why we need
to love God first as this is responding with faith to the Spirit's
witness of Him. So is loving God first an act of faith? I realise also
that whenever we don't put God first, that is idolatry and so we won't
be walking in the Spirit so there won't be the fruit of the Spirit
(love) but fruit of the flesh (sin).
So when we walk in the Spirit we will be walking in love as God is love.
So if all the things that Paul mentions were done in love then they
would be done in the Spirit. So love is the evidence of the Spirit, the
fruit.
So back to the original question. Can unbelievers love? The Bible tell
us God is love and then also tells us what love is. This description of
what love is is the same as the fruit of the Spirit.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it
is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is
not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight
in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
This is a complete overlap isn't it. It's interesting that love is
mentioned as being separate in Galatians and yet in 1st Corinthians it
is stated as being synonymous if not epitomising patience and kindness.
It does make me wonder why it is dealt with separately in Galatians. How
can love not be patient and kind? If it isn't patient and kind then it
isn't love is it?
So it is only by loving God, which is responding by faith to the
Spirit's witness that we can love others. That would suggest that
unbelievers not only do not love God but they do not love anyone else
either. We can see this in the world. There is a great deal of talk of
love but very little evidence of it.
In the Bible it also says that anyone who says they love God but hates
their brother is a liar. So that would mean the true fruit of the love
of God is obedience to His Spirit which leads us to love our brother. So
the person who doesn't love their brother is lying about loving God.
Loving God is obedience to His will through following the Spirit's lead.
If we love Him, we obey the Spirit when it leads us to love our brother.
So again, this suggests that only the Spirit can lead us to love and as
unbelievers do not have the Spirit then they do not have love, indeed
cannot love.
I've heard of such a thing as 'common grace'. Is this Biblical? Common
grace may account for unbelievers experiencing love but not love made
perfect in God.
Can unbelievers love?
In Him,
Response #22:
I'm not sure what is meant by "common grace". Grace is God's favor, His
goodwill. Everyone has that by virtue of being given "life and breath
and everything else" (Acts 17:25), because everything comes from Him
(cf. Acts 14:17). We believers grow in that grace as we draw
closer to Him through the truth (Jas.4:6-8).
Unbelievers do not love God. If they did, they would turn to Him.
Believers do love God, but that love, like all love, is relative and can
grow (or shrink), just like faith and hope (these three virtues often go
together and grow or decline together).
In terms of "love" as in "love, love, love", and "all you need is love",
human beings, unbelievers mostly, write so many songs, and works of
literature about "love" and spend so much of their waking time and
energy concerned about "love" directly or indirectly that it would
be hard
to argue unbelievers do not love. They do love, on a personal level, but
"so what?" What is the value or depth or import of that love? Even if a
parent loves his/her child enough to die for them (some do), that
doesn't get them anything in the end. It doesn't provide salvation for
them or the beloved. In my experience and observation, pledging "undying
love" is a whole lot easier to do than to come anywhere close to
sustaining even minimal love during this short life. Human beings
generally tend to be long on emotion and very short on character. That
ought to be much more true of unbelievers than believers, but immature
believers, of which Laodicea is full, are often not much better, and
sometimes worse.
In my opinion, observation and experience, character and consistency are
far better and far more valuable than personal love and emotion. Better
someone who is stodgy but determined "to do" if they say "I do!" than
someone who is head over heels romantic . . . temporarily.
Unbelievers and believers are capable of both. But in the end,
everything down here is dust, whether done with honor or flippancy. Only
what we have done in the Spirit for the Lord and His Church are going to
last.
Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Matthew 22:36-40 NIV
And if we really do love the Lord, then we will heed His words.
"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.
Luke 6:45-49 NIV
In Jesus,
Bob L.