Question #1:
Hi Bob,
I wanted to ask you about the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' spiritual death.
I understand Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac - the role of the Father and the
meaning of the communion memorial - the role of the Son, but I'm struggling to
understand Jesus offering up His human body "through the eternal spirit."
"the Spirit's mediation was necessary for that judgment to take place."
"the Spirit made it possible for the Father to judge sin in Jesus' body, and for
Christ's human body to be judged in spite of His divinity" (Heb. 9:14)
I can't seem to grasp this one. I don't even really know how to ask the question
- I think maybe why was the Spirit's mediation necessary?
Thanks for your help.
In Jesus
Response #1:
The mechanics of our Lord's bearing of the sins of the world are only hinted at in scripture. We know He died for them all; we know that fire (Ex.3:2ff.) and blood symbolize His sacrifice; we know that He literally "bore our sins in His body on the tree"; we know that He was "made sin for us" (2Cor.5:21) and judged in our place (1Pet.2:24). And we conclude that the magnitude of His sacrifice is beyond what we can comprehend in this world – which is why we are not given more. This aspect you ask about, the Spirit's role, is also one which we can only approach obliquely. All I have been able to learn about this is summed up in the operative paragraph you read in BB 4A:
The Spirit, with Christ before the cross and returning after His spiritual death for sin, would seem to have been the member instrumental in making the sacrifice possible. That is to say, Jesus offered up His human body “through the eternal Spirit”. The Father acted as judge, carrying out the sentence of death on His own beloved Son (as symbolized by Abraham and Isaac), but the Spirit's mediation was necessary for that judgment to take place – just as the Father is our Lord's Father, yet the Spirit's role in Jesus' conception is key (Matt.1:18; 1:20; Lk.1:35; cf. Jn.1:14). And just as it was only through the Spirit that our Lord Jesus could become a human being as well as God, being made the human Son of the Father, so also at the cross only through the Spirit was it possible for Christ's human body to be judged by the Father in spite of Jesus' divinity (the two natures being in hypostatic union through the Spirit; see section I.5.e above). Thus the Spirit's pivotal connection with the human body of Christ – at its conception, sacrifice, and also resurrection (Rom.1:4; 1Pet.3:18) – is clear. Scripture does not come any closer than this to explaining the mechanics of a process that in many respects is beyond our ken. What we can say is that the Spirit made it possible for the Father to judge sin in Jesus' body, and for Christ's human body to be judged in spite of His divinity (Heb.9:14). This required facilitation and restraint (both key characteristics of the Spirit's other known ministries), facilitation in making the sacrifice and the judgment possible, and restraint in preventing the complications of Christ's deity, perfect humanity and union between the two from making the sacrifice and judgment impossible.(119) To use a rather rough analogy, just as steel cannot be forged without an anvil to support it, so the Spirit was the “anvil” on which our Lord's human body was hammered to purge away the sins of the world. For Jesus to stay physically alive long enough to be punished for every human sin ever committed required supernatural intervention.
. . . . . Christ, who offered Himself . . . . . through the eternal Spirit . . . . .
Hebrews 9:14b
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #2:
Hi Bob,
The paragraph you gave me from BB4A is the
one I've been reading over and over again but with your help I'm good
with it now. I think I've been trying to work out the 'mechanics' which
are only hinted at in scripture. I thought I was missing something but I
realise now that I'm not. There's only so much we can understand about
this from what we've been given (or even not given) and it's all that we
need to know for now.
Also, whenever I read about the "blood of Christ" now I automatically
think - His spiritual death - not literal blood. I think there are LOTS
of Christians out there who don't realise this. They think of Him dying
physically for us as in bleeding to death and not that He died
spiritually for us and then exhaled His human spirit after He had been
judged for the sins of the world. Years ago I used to believe He bled to
death because I was never taught anything different and I didn't check
it out for myself.
I read something recently where a pastor taught this correctly (the same
as you) and some Christians were calling him a false teacher. They
weren't accepting that Christ's blood was a symbol in scripture and not
literal blood. That He didn't bleed to death etc. Christ's blood was
extremely important to them but it seemed they hadn't checked it out
properly with scripture as we're supposed to. If a Christian has not
been taught this correctly or they are not believing the precise truth
of it could this be dangerous for them as far as their salvation is
concerned? It's so important.
In our dear Lord Jesus
Response #2:
I figured that was the case, so I'm happy to hear that you are OK with
the explanation. This is one of many subjects in the Bible where those
of us who are hungry for the truth would like more details, but you are
right to accept that there are reasons, good ones, why we only have what
we have. And it's not as if there isn't plenty more to learn across the
board.
You are correct that this is a point where probably most Christians are
confused. The church-visible is split between the unbelievers (who don't
care at all), the believers who are too lukewarm to care too much and
leave it to the theologians, and the theologians who are mostly
unbelievers who just like arguing over words. It really does ring true
what you said about the pastor who taught the truth. The real problem
here is not just this one point, critically important though it is, but
the teaching of the truth at all. People in most churches do not want to
be taught the truth. If they did, they would not be in "that church".
That's why I always advise prospective pastors to be very careful about
taking on a church, any church. Even "good churches" tend to become
social clubs after the founding generation of truth-seekers dies out.
I'm of two minds about the salvation question. Those who believe in
Jesus Christ are saved; those who don't aren't. It's probably possible
to understand and believe very little else (and even much else which is
not true) and still be saved. On the other hand, that is a terribly
vulnerable place to be, spiritually speaking, because one little minor
tremor and the rotten structure can easily collapse. Given that the
Tribulation is so close, I think that very few of these lukewarm types
are going to be able to remain in that status. Either they will fall
away (as one third will), or be forced to get cracking spiritually in
frantic "crash course" manner. For those of us who have prepared ahead
of time, helping in this is likely to be our major contribution during
that difficult time.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #3:
Mar 2:9
“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?
This seems an interesting observation, as our Lord asks not what is easier to do, but what is easier to say – do you think that an interpretation according to which Jesus adopts the view of His audience could be correct here?
Response #3:
Our Lord is making the point that the human way of looking at these things is entirely backwards. Still today in Christendom this point is mostly true. Few Christians even seem to have the foggiest notion of what our Lord did in dying for our sins, paying the entire price for each of them which the justice of God demanded. Dying for just one of this fellows sins was worth more than that universe. So of course it was far easier to heal him than to say his sins were forgiven – looked at from God's point of view rather than the near-blind human point of view. The only reason that Jesus had this authority to heal was because He was bound to die for the sins of the world.
Question #4:
In one of the links you gave me you wrote, "It also bears remembering in
this regard that we who believe in this age have the Holy Spirit
indwelling us, and for those of us who are pursuing a relationship with
Him, the indwelling of the Father and the Son as well (Jn.14:23)."
Thanks a bunch, in Jesus
Response #4:
I'm always happy to hear from you and field your questions, my friend.
We know that we are in Jesus Christ and that He is in us (see the link:
"Union with Christ").
John 14:23 tells us that the Father too will "make His dwelling with us"
in the case of all "who . . . obey my teaching". As to whether this
applies to all who are saved, those who have obeyed the Word to accept
Jesus as Savior, or is restricted to those walking in the light, I would
say the former based on what 1st John 1:3-7 says about our fellowship
with "the Father and the Son" etc. I will say, however, that I have a
hard time imagining a Christian who would be asking this question of
him/herself who was not at the same time striving to "walk in the
light".
And keeping you and your family and your health in my prayers.
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Hello--I hope you are well. I have a question about 2 Timothy 2:15 and
the part about "dividing the word of truth." From what I read, it is
actually something like "cutting straight the word of truth" in the
original Greek. Is that a Greek idiom? Anyway, there is a lady on CARM--she
is not a Mormon, but is rather deep into Christian mysticism--who thinks
that it is incorrect, even though she doesn't know Greek. When I told
her that it means to handle accurately the word of truth, she wrote that
that is what it means to me. I told her that was incorrect; that that is
what it actually means in the originally Greek. She did say I have a
"valid point" but I don't understand what else she wrote, about Plato:
"Of course the term comes from Greek, since the Greeks
provided via Plato the method of Diaeresis which resulted in theological
exegesis as we know it today. That is a valid point you raised, about
the Greek though, which I feel points well to my lack of enthusiasm for
the method and the term when applied to Scripture."
She thinks most English translations of the Bible are "dodgy" so she
seems to interpret it the way she wants to. She wrote the following
BEFORE I corrected her about what "rightfully dividing the word of
truth" meant:
"actually i wondered why anyone would divide His
Word...and I pondered. His Word is a person. His Words are scripture,
What He said to Us... His Words and He are identical, yet translations
are not identical to Him or to His Word or to each other... and are not
in that sense, the Word, Which is not a translation. I think that this
started when I was reading people argue about faith and about sola
scriptura another forum. Arguing if scripture was what was our only way
or if Faith. I would say Faith in Him, and Faith in His Words... if in
fact a soul could even find His Words anymore, since the translations
are so dodgy. Dividing is of course what satan did at the fall,
separating Adam from God. Getting in between adam and God and causing
Adam to enter into the world of Death, leaving God's realm (life).
However, I am not sure what other way to take that term dividing except
as Platonic diaeresis... which is basically the way of exegesis of Plato
and aristotle which was given to the medievals. And i think the
reformation would have or wanted to battle Against that? ......why,
since why would God's word be divided? "
See what I mean? Nearly incomprehensible. But I don't know what she
means about Plato and Aristotle and diaeresis. I figured you would know
since Classics is your specialty. And so is Greek.
Thanks again.
Response #5:
This has zero to do with Plato (the word has nothing to do with diairesis). The word used in 2 Timothy 2:15 is orthotomeo; it is not a common word, and certainly not the normal word for "divide", even in the Bible (as far as I know it only occurs once in the LXX besides this passage and nowhere else). But the two elements are common so it's clear enough what it means. What we have here is a building analogy. Paul calls Timothy and all pastors "workmen" in this verse, and it is that context that we are told to "cut the Word straight" – like a good carpenter making a cabinet, or a stone mason doing a good job:
Be zealous to present yourself to God [as one] approved [in what you do], a workman who does not need to be ashamed, [like a skillful carpenter] "cutting straight" (orthotomeo) the Word of truth.
2nd Timothy 2:15
Yours in our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #6:
Thanks. This lady has a Ph.D in philosophy, or so she says. I am not
sure what diairesis is, though I looked it up. I presume the "dividing"
definition has nothing to do with that, either. But it seems to be an
interesting idiom.
God bless!
Response #6:
The word 'diairesis' occurs in the Bible . . . at 1st Corinthians
12:4-6 but NOT at 2 Timothy 2:15; dieresis (spelled a bit differently)
also comes into English, meaning the two dots (looks like an umlaut)
occurring over a diphthong to tell readers not to make one sound but
two, that is, telling us to "divide" the diphthong and not run it
together (e.g., showing here that that the word 'naïve' is a two
not a one syllable word).
There are words in the NT which mean "division" in a bad sense (such as
schisma, 'schism' at 1Cor.11:18), but neither of the words we've
been considering here are used in the NT in a pejorative way. And that's
not what we have at 2 Timothy 2:15.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #7:
Hi Bob,
Sorry to bother you again. There are a million and one things I would
like to ask you and I'm sure everyone else who emails you feels the
same. The more I read and study and learn, the more questions there are!
The big question on my lips, I'm almost afraid to say out loud. As you
know I was brought up in the Catholic Church. Many Catholics are now
agreeing that the current Pope is guilty of many heresies and they blame
this apostate trajectory on Vatican ll, the Modernist phase of the
church. They tend to say that the last three popes went off the page but
things were mostly good before then.
My difficult question is that was Catholicism ever not heretical? So
many of the symbols and practices are pagan in origin. There is no
scriptural command to worship Mary or pray to the saints and we are told
not to call any man "father" and to confess our sins to our Father in
heaven with Jesus as our high priest.
Obviously I cannot ask you what does God think of the Catholic Church
and I'm sure you'll agree with me that there will be many real believers
in the church who are saved.
Was the Catholic Church ever what Jesus intended?
Temples were destroyed and we know that if the third temple is built
then it will be desecrated by the antichrist. That tells me everything I
need to know about what God thinks of temples made by the hands of men.
When you talk to Catholics they really believe it is the only God
ordained religion and that there is no salvation outside it. Isn't it
ironic that I wasn't a true believer when I was in the church?
They don't seem to realise that God can and will take lamps from lamp
stands and that there is no church too big for this to happen to.
Tyndale was spurred on to translate the Bible when a Bishop told him
that the Pope's word was more important to him than God's Word!
The more I read the bible the more I see the folly of man and the
hubris. Time and time again, man has failed to do what God has asked,
man always thinking he had a better way.
Is this not what the Catholic Church has not only become but always ever
was thus? Man's design on how to follow Jesus, not Jesus'.
How did things get so wrong? I'd be interested in studying the progress
of the early church until it became Catholic.
Now I am learning more, it is frustrating to see where the church
visible has gone so far in error but it also makes me feel so blessed to
be studying the Word in earnest and to have found you and your ministry!
I cannot imagine where I would be without Ichthys! It would be a very
different story than the one I am telling now so I am very grateful for
all you have given me; friendship, fellowship, building up, spiritual
growth, the list of things I have to thank you for goes on and on!
"People will be hungry and not for bread.." I can see that verse coming
alive before my eyes! People church hopping or falling away completely
while others are starving for the Word of God while the majority go
along blissfully unaware of what is round the corner..
What a time to be alive in!
In Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father,
In Him,
Response #7:
I'll do my best to answer these emails, but my knowledge and experience
of the RC church is limited and not based upon ever having been
indoctrinated myself. For one thing, based on knowing many RC
individuals over the course of my life, many of whom are fine and
upstanding people, I have always assumed that many of them were saved
through not believing what the church taught, merely being badly
confused by all of its false teaching. However, to a person, all the
refugees I've corresponded with over the years have affirmed to me just
what you say here, namely, that they were not saved in that "church",
and that in their opinion it's not possible to be "in" and saved,
because the religion is a religion of works to its very core, and anyone
who somehow did put full faith in Jesus Christ, trusting entirely in the
grace of God and not the rites/works/teachings of that religion, would
have gotten out of it ASAP – as they did and as you did.
In terms of history, the book of Revelation in its first two chapters
outlines roughly the history of the Church (as opposed to the church
visible). From this we can say that organized Christianity (represented
in the main by the RC and Orthodox churches) began going astray from the
beginning, but it was only in
the era of Sardis (1162 to 1522; see the link) that it became
completely dead. The "history of the church" as Rome today proclaims it
bears no relation to reality. There were no "popes" at all before ca.
the seventh century. For many centuries now, however, we can safely say
that the RC church has had nothing whatsoever to do with the truth;
quite the opposite. So personally I'm no more concerned with what Rome
is doing than with what the Imams in Iran are doing.
Your email bespeaks a genuine Christian who is surfacing from all lies
and being freed from all past burdens – and I rejoice in that!
How did things go so wrong? The devil has a lot to do with that. And we
don't need to be surprised. Take any independent Protestant church which
was set up by founders who really loved and sought the truth. If it
survives, several generations later it is almost always the case that it
has become a place of rote and rite and spiritual torpor. That is the
way of things whenever human beings try to "organize". God has His own
organization: THE Church of Jesus Christ. It consists of all who are
genuinely born again, born from above. It can't be recognized by
buildings or man-made organization or creeds or constitutions. But God
surely knows who are His (2Tim.2:19).
Keep up the good work! Your enthusiasm for the Word and the truth is a
tonic for me and a witness as well.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #8:
Hi Bob,
The main aspect of Catholicism that has shocked me whilst coming out
(other than Mary worship) is that Catholics are persuaded to not read
the Bible. The strange thing about this is that when you confront a
Catholic about this, they are in denial just as they are in denial about
Mary and Saint worship. For me this is the most glaring evidence of a
cult: an indoctrinated false doctrine that adherents deny when quizzed
about it. When this is brought to the light, most people quickly realise
that to be forbidden to read the Word of God is ridiculous and yet there
it is.
What is most pernicious about this false doctrine is that it is sown
discreetly as a form of brain washing. At my Catholic school I was never
emphatically told not to read the bible but there was an implication
that there was an amount of danger involved in reading it whilst
unsupervised by the church as though it were a grenade with the pin
pulled out. At my first communion I was given a "Good News" bible which
only contained the New Testament. There was no encouragement to read it
and although there was Religious Education at school which utilised this
Bible, there was an uneasy feeling about reading it alone. My family
have expressed fear about reading the Bible, especially the KJV/
Protestant Bible. They will deny their own reactions even while it is
happening but in more honest moments they will admit that Catholicism
has made them feel uneasy round the Bible!
When you ask Catholics about this they will staunchly deny it but I know
this as a fact being brought up as a Catholic myself. I don't know the
specifics of this doctrine and when it was taught and how but I
definitely picked up this doctrine as reading the Bible for the first
time for me felt like an act of open rebellion to the Catholic Church!
We shouldn't be surprised by this sneaky stealth false doctrine as it
was recently suggested that a personal relationship with Jesus is
harmful and dangerous!
I was reading an article by a Catholic paper that denied that Catholics
were forbidden from reading a Bible but admitted that Catholics rarely
do read scripture. They said that Catholics remain babies in faith and
never get beyond the milk which is spoonfed from the "mother" church. My
argument is that this is not the parishioners fault but a deliberate
influence from Rome itself! The Vatican wants Catholics to remain babies
who are dependent on the church for scraps of faith, they almost mandate
that Catholics stay ignorant and Biblically illiterate. At the same time
they will deny this fiercely and "gaslight" anyone who points out this
fact.
The more and more I think about it the more I realise it is a cult. I
lost my trust in God because of this cult (although my faith was never
fully extinguished as I have never been an atheist) and so at times I
feel an anger towards the Vatican. What it has done to me, my family and
countless families all over the world not to mention all the children
who have been abused. What a rotten tree it is. I try not to be
embittered about it.
I realise that the longer you stay in this cult the more likely you will
either be in so much erring false doctrine that you become lukewarm and
worldly, you become fully immersed to this cult and you will hate the
truth of Holy Scripture or your faith will be shipwrecked entirely.
What is sad is that the Vatican operate a scorched earth policy in that
people would rather shipwreck their own faith than be seen to be a
"heretical" Protestant who is basically anyone who says they are a
Christian but not Catholic.
I worry that my family will never embrace the truth but yo-yo between
Catholic dogma and worldly secularism. I myself once thought there was
only the choice between one or another for a Catholic.
It's all such a maddening and sorry affair!
In Him,
Response #8:
Thanks for this.
You are definitely not "crazy"; every ex-RC I've ever spoken with says
similar things. Your insight into anti-Bible reading bias and
manipulation is priceless. It's something I've long suspected and it's
not as if an outsider can be dogmatic about the fact of this bias since
it's not "official" (even though of course in days of yore it most
certainly WAS official – and could get you burned at the stake).
People who are comfortable with their "religion" are always very
difficult to reach. That is also true, by the way, of Protestants,
whether they are happy with ritual-heavy churches, or social-action
heavy churches, or emotional "gung-ho" / "rah-rah" churches. But in all
cases, God is more than capable of getting the attention of anyone who
is at their core open to response to the truth. Our job is to pray for
the ones we love and know of in these messes, and to be there if and
when they come to us for godly guidance.
Keeping you in my prayers daily, my friend.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #9:
Hey Dr. Luginbill,
I was just going over old emails to see what book you recommended me
that I haven't got yet. I just realized you sent me a link to an open
domain one and I never responding like I meant: I really appreciate the
open domain books.
To be honest, at times I feel it is all a mountain I can't get through
(or over). The ICHTHYS material and the Bible, and etc. What is your
secret for doing so much may I ask?
Happy Easter
Response #9:
For those of us who have "chosen the better part" (Lk.10:41-42), there
is no end of how "wide and long and high and deep" is the love of
Christ, the love for Christ, and the wonderful truths He's stored up for
those who love Him.
What's the secret? Just fight your best fight today . . . and keep doing
that every "today". One day you'll turn around and be amazed at what the
Spirit has done. The Spirit is the "secret", and He's an open one for
all who respond to the truth.
He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.
Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
Mark 4:26-29 NIV
We will in the end reap a bountiful harvest, if only we persevere.
Let us not become weary in doing good ["good" in God's eyes], for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 NIV
Your friend in Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #10:
One last update for this semester (probably):
I got sick recently and it's got me under the weather. I've really been
struggling a lot to put myself to the tasks at hand, and not being able
to exercise off the stress (due to being sick) isn't helping. The todo
list is a mile long, and I've only got a couple days now. I'm trying to
kick myself into gear, but it's difficult. It's irrational, but that
doesn't make it any easier to suck it up and work. I'm trying to go one
step at a time, so the current goal is to survive all my
responsibilities and imminent deadlines and then deal with the stuff
after that after.
I hope both of you are doing better than my state!
In Him
Response #10:
I think we've all been in situations where the time, energy and
resources we have did not seem to be at all sufficient to the problems
and tasks we faced. At such times, trusting the Lord is the key. Do your
job; trust Him that what you are in fact able to do will be sufficient.
Take it one day at a time and one task at a time. You have given
testimony to the fact that you feel His presence more palpably at such
times. Rely on Him and His Spirit to get you through.
Shield up; spear leveled; up that hill. And keep fighting the fight!
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
Keeping you in my prayers on this, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #11:
I find it hard reconcile the gospel of john especially chapter 20 and the details elaborated in there, their seems to be some inconsistency with other witness testimonies from other gospels. For example Luke 24:1-10 compared with the gospel John 20:1-4.
Response #11:
These sorts of questions have exercised commentators for generations. The
technical genre which tries to reconcile gospel (or other) narratives is called
the "Harmony". The best one I know of is the one by
Thomas and Gundry.
However, I have spent a great deal of time on this issue of the resurrection
chronology and can assure you that the gospels all sync perfectly, when they are
correctly understood. You will find that at the link: in
BB 4A: "The Chronology of the Resurrection".
In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #12:
Bob,
Yeah, I thought not having the faculty listed at Biola was unusual also.
I used to see Rosscup back also in the 90s at ETS. Yes, I candidated in
Montana. Good thing for us it didn't work out; that really nice town
called Libby had major issues with mine particles from the local gold
mine that were poisoning the people, especially children.
Now about nausea, the nausea does come to me but usually when I visit a
church and I do not do that anymore.
By the way, I am revising
my Basic Series, mostly adding some things. I also have a better
drawing and recording set-up. I have not really made many teaching
changes from what I thought back then, if you know what I mean.
I think one of the more challenging sections I want to add to the series
is the local church. That I have learned some things about but did not
include it in the original series.
I curious with what you will come up with in your
Ecclesiology Basics if you live long
enough to do it. Just thinking about it without going into detail here.
It is hard to explain since I have not completely thought it out or
studied it yet. But it seems that the local church has devolved into
what it is today for a good reason. And I am referring to even the best
of churches.
Many have tried to return the church to its early principles and I am
not referring to the signs and wonders period but after that, like
getting the people involved with their spiritual gifts and serving, for
example, but that doesn't seem to working either.
We have both know that teaching the word is clearly central to the
church. But what else do the people do besides sit there and listen and
hopefully apply the truth? Just some thoughts.
Take care my friend
In Christ,
Response #12:
Just posted the Q/A on John's gospel yesterday, so now the main push for
this summer will be Eccelsiology [posted
now at the link].
I saw a show about Libby – it's apparently truly awful there. God
certainly protected you on that one.
I certainly agree on "church". 95% of what has been happening in
"churches" for many years is all about tradition and experimentation,
both divorced from anything in the Bible. I think it probably would take
a lot of discipline and personal commitment on the part of a group of
Christians to meet with the primary idea of spiritual growth. And now
that virtually everyone has a false idea of what "church" should be,
keeping that virus out of the system would probably only be possible for
the first founders while the group is small. Sooner or later, the
newcomers will want a building and an organ and a choir and robes and,
and, and . . . . until the church is "successful" (read: no longer
concerned with spiritual growth but only with what other churches are
doing too). Blessedly, we don't have to worry about that. In
BB 6B, I only have to delineate what is
actually in scripture about all this (and point out flaws with present
approaches – and that's not exactly hard). Anyway, I sure hope to have
it done this summer. We'll see [posted at the
link].
What do people do besides listen and apply? I think that if you had a
group of several dozen truly interested believers who were listening to
you do what you do on the internet only doing it live, they would be
beyond blessed to have that. If some of them wanted to go out to Denny's
afterwards, I wouldn't have any problem with that. If they wanted to put
on a Christmas pageant for "outreach", I would have a problem with that.
Your pal in Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #13:
Bob,
I am in agreement on all you say on the church also. What I at getting
at is this. It seems that all we can do now is basically have a bible
study and an occasional communion--maybe a couple of hymns. That is the
old Berachah pattern and unless I find something different in Scripture,
I am fine with that. I believe most all people add to that is not
necessary or just nonsense.
It really comes down to what people want to do with what they learn and
how they apply it, doesn't it? I am well aware of the misuses of the
Berachah model and how many copycat churches took on a cultlike
atmosphere and very authoritarian pastor with some deviant views. But
that is their problem and I feel for the congregation who knows no
better.
Anyway, just thinking on it and using you for a backboard. Rebound.
Your old pard in Christ,
Response #13:
Indeed – the Berachah model is the only one I know of that is anywhere
close to the mark. Clearly, it has a lot to do with why the Col. had so
much success in advancing with the Word – or was a result of that.
Either way, the two go together hand in glove. All the other "stuff"
clearly doesn't occur in scripture and seems to me to be "stuff" people
do 1) because we've always done it that way, 2) because it leads to
numbers, contributions, bigger buildings and all that razzmatazz – which
has nothing to do with spiritual growth and actually makes it much more
less likely if not impossible, and/or 3) they don't know what else to
do, not being interested in doing the hard work of studying, teaching,
learning, believing and applying; and of course 4) they find it "fun" –
so much for "giving up childish things".
I have a number of prospective pastor-teachers who are studying under
Ichthys. It will be interesting to see where they end up. They all
appreciate from what they've learned that there is no safe
denominational track and that the traditional paradigm is deeply flawed.
Some of them are doing things on the internet, some face to face in
small groups, some still hashing it out. Meanwhile, I'm doing what I'm
doing – and happy about it – and you're doing what you're doing – and
happy about it I'm hearing. We'll let the Lord sort the rest of it out.
It is sad that the Col.'s ministry didn't result in more men/churches
doing things the right way. Sign of the times. We just have to be
satisfied with carrying the torch as best we can ourselves.
Your pal in Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Hi Bob,
[omitted]
I completely get what you mean about the jogging as well. It always
seems much harder to build up your fitness and so easy to lose it. This
isn't a Bible question! I just wanted to encourage you to keep gently
plugging away at it and keep listening to what your body is telling you.
I understand where you're coming from and I think it's great that you
can do what you're doing now. I'm still not completely where I want to
be yet and I'll always be careful about the exercise I do when I'm even
further along. I've never given up hope that the Lord will help me to
get there.
Your friend in Jesus
Response #14:
Thanks for the great report! I hope and pray you'll be able to handle
the extra work. Six weeks or so of it?
I certainly concur that how we balance things is a big part of "all
this" down here. The widow who put in the "least coin" was adjudged by
our Lord to have given more than all the rest, so those who have big
commitments and yet still manage to do what He wants us to do are
certainly to be commended for it – and certainly will be on that great
day of days (same principle is seen in Matt.25:19-30 – which parable
also demonstrates that "not having much" or "not having as much" is no
excuse to do nothing). Doesn't make it easy though. Even our Lord got
tired (e.g., Jn.4:6), but it never stopped Him from doing the Father's
will perfectly (e.g., Jn.4:32).
You're fighting a great fight! And you're encouraging me in the process
– along with all who witness you. That's ministry too.
Your friend in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #15:
[problems with neighbor details omitted]
Response #15:
Hope you are doing well out there in the warm west.
I try never to weigh in on matters of application like this. We are all
called to make judgment calls on matters great and small where scripture
has nothing direct and specific to say, making use of the general
principles of scripture under the guidance of the Spirit. Since everyone
of us is different and at a different spiritual place, and since every
"application situation" is different, even if there may be outward
similarities, it's really only the Christian on the firing line who has
any chance to see clearly what's right.
These sorts of things can be annoying and are always a test of patience,
whatever a person decides to do or not to do. And different things push
different people's button's to greater or lesser degrees. On the one
hand we want to be patient and loving and kind and long-suffering. On
the other hand there is a limit to what almost anyone is going to put up
with . . . or should. Hitting the middle course is never easy. If
something like this can be weathered without undue animosity and without
any permanent damage, then those are surely pluses.
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend!
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the enormity of the whole scheme of
things in this dimension. How everyone is born into sin, how so few
accept Jesus and walk with Him, how most will end up in a horrible
nightmare of judgment that will never end. Sometimes I feel like I will
overload with the thought of these things.
Even before I came to Christ as a youth I said almost out loud, "this is
such a dark, dangerous world - I wish I had someone to walk with me
through it and hold me with a strong hand". That is not what most men
do; most do the braggish, tough, I-can-handle-it approach. But I knew
that all it took was a slight shift in a timeline, a small perturbation
in the elements and even the most macho could be whisked into eternity
with out so much as a blink of an eye. However, little did I know at
that time that Jesus Christ was just the One to hold my hand through
this life, as I have seen. He is the one I, in ignorance, was asking
for!
Early in my walk the idea of having to endure to the end daunted me,
filling me with anxiety. I am the kind that has trouble rejoicing in
anything until I have seen the final outcome, until the fat lady sings.
That is just how I am constructed. If I don't know 100 percent the
outcome, how can I have full assurance, considering the ghastly results
of failure of faith? I do trust in the Lord day by day and keep a good
grip on my faith. Please pray that I could really rejoice in the Lord
like it says in the Scripture.
I check your site weekly as new subjects are brought to the forefront.
Some are over my head, then I just go to Youtube and study supercell
thunderstorms, tornadoes and other nerdy things. But I have often been
encouraged by your answering emails that come in to you on your site.
Thank you for all the work you do! And God bless you richly.
In Jesus,
Response #16:
I'm glad to hear that things are going better. As to the future, the
hardness and blindness of the world truly is amazing, in a very
appalling way of course. But that is the purpose of this life: for
everyone to make their choices. And we all make them daily. For those
who have embraced safety in Jesus Christ, the question is just how much
we do love Him and just how much we are willing to respond to Him to
grow, advance and serve Him through ministry while we are here. I have
no doubts about your spiritual safety. It would take abandoning Him in
complete loss of faith to lose salvation (that is what
apostasy is; link). Of course we can all do better. Given that the
Tribulation is not that far off, more rather than less in terms of
spiritual preparation is always a good idea. Like most people, I'm not a
glutton for inconvenience, trouble, bother or discomfort. Tests like the
one you just had are God's way of letting us take our spiritual
temperature so we can make adjustments if necessary.
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
And thanks for the encouraging words!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #17:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
I have been reading a book titled "Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus"
and in this book the author, who is a fulfilled Jew or Messianic Jew
writes the following:
"What happens to Jews who do not believe in Jesus - especially those who
never heard about Him? What happened to my wonderful Jewish grandmother
who never hurt anyone in her entire life? Is she in hell?"
My first reaction was to refer to John 1:9 and John 3:7.
He also says: "I will be the first to say that the New Testament does
not explicitly address the issue of what happens to those who never
heard the message of forgiveness of sins through Jesus, but of this much
we can be sure: God is both a compassionate and righteous Judge, His
standards are high, and if we reject His ordained means of atonement, we
are in trouble".
This author has a PHD in Old Testament and Semitic Languages.
The beginning statement was such that I just want to discard the book.
To me, it sounds like he is saying that for Jewish people, there is a
different way to eternal life. The New Testament that I have read does
indeed address what happens to those who reject Jesus as The Savior and
Lord in:
John 3:36.
If we are depending on our own effort to keep the commandments, then we
are indeed in trouble, by using that as a means of Salvation.
Is not the teaching of being Born Again addressed in the Old Testament
many times as well? From what I have read, the answer is yes. The
prophets preached it many times, although they did not use the exact
same wording.
Is there a different way of salvation for the Jewish people than for
Gentiles; I don't think so..
My contention is: According to John 1:9, everyone has been enlightened
by The True Light Jesus Christ/ Is it God's fault that the Jewish people
rejected Him. I don't think so.
No Jew can blame the Rabbis ? for not telling them, for they are
deliberately deceiving their people, and have rejected the only Way of
salvation.
It is very unfortunate.
I am of the persuasion that everyone ever born will sometime in their
life hear of Jesus, Jews included.
Any comments you would have are appreciated.
Response #17:
You are absolutely right, my friend. Anyone in the history of the world who had an iota's worth of interest in being saved has always been provided what was needed for salvation. God is not responsible to provide the pearls of the gospel to those who He knows will merely trample them underfoot. But there is this difference: the Old Testament is as you note replete with the message of eternal life through trusting in God and His Substitute for sin. So Jews who reject the gospel are doubly culpable. Also, I grew up in a mostly Jewish neighborhood from kindergarten onward and have known many Jewish people in my life. I never met one whom I would adjudge as "never having heard of Jesus Christ". That is virtually impossible for anyone nowadays in the west (you'd have to be a pygmy or member of some lost aboriginal tribe to really "never have heard"); how much more less likely is it for Jewish people who are generally more educated and intelligent than the average person. Links:
What is the Eternal Future of those who Lived before Christ?
Are Those Who Have Never Heard the Gospel Lost?
Your friend in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #18:
Good morning,
In Luke 12:45...
"But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and
drink, and to be drunken;..."
...is the servant whom the master returns to find drinking and sleeping
representing believers who have apostatized, or believers sinning (but
not fallen away yet)?
Thank you!
Response #18:
This is a difficult one . . . to pin down one way or another when we are
talking about individuals. What we can say is that no one is going to go
to hell who is not an unbeliever; but we can also see from this parable
that acting just like an unbeliever is very dangerous. Clearly, being
cut in two and having one's place put with unbelievers is scary. If the
person in question has not apostatized, this would mean the sin unto
death; only if the person has apostatized would there be condemnation.
It's hard to tell here probably because it's hard to tell the difference
also here in this world when we are talking about believers who have
gone astray. Only the Lord knows whether or not a spark of faith still
smolders, but it's clearly a problem to be in a state where to the world
a person looks the same either way. Losing one's reward and being taken
out of this life in a most painful way is a horrible thing to
contemplate – even if it doesn't result in loss of salvation.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #19:
Hello Bob,
I have a question, was the prodigal son someone who was already saved,
backslid, and then repented, or was he someone who was never saved and
therefore his return being his finding salvation?
Hope you're doing well.
God bless,
Response #19:
Good to hear from you.
The former: the prodigal son gives the pattern of a believer who goes
far from the Lord but comes back. It's GOOD to come back – because, like
the father in the parable, the Father is happy to have us back.
Links:
Prodigal Son I;
Prodigal Son II;
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #20:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
In John 14 verse 28, Jesus says: "for the Father is greater than I".
I understand that He is expressing that the Father is greater than His
humanity. People I have met in my life needed to be reminded that Jesus
is 100 percent human and 100 percent God at the same time and that He
emptied Himself of His Godly powers and came as a human.
I know that there are probably many false doctrines that have been
developed over what Jesus said, but what is your biblical opinion on
this.
Would appreciate your insight especially to know that what I think is
correct.
Thanks so much again for your help.
God is so good to us.
Your friend,
Response #20:
The translation is correct, and so is your analysis. I don't like the
word "emptied", primarily because it can suggest to some that divinity
can somehow change which it never does of course. Our Lord accepted a
self-imposed limitation on the use of His divine powers to aid His
humanity during the incarnation so that His experience might be just as
ours is yet "without sin" (Heb.4:15); this was necessary for Him to be
the perfect sacrifice and so that He might be sacrificed for us
(Heb.2:9). This is called the doctrine of kenosis (and this root does
usually mean "to make empty" which is the reason for the misleading
translations). Here is where I write about the details: in
BB 4A: "the hypostatic union and kenosis".
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #21:
Dear Prof. Luginbill,
First of all thank you very much for your effort in trying to teach the Word of
God in the best possible way and thanks for your studies. It’s a shame it’s not
easy to find such an in-depth and serious Bible teaching in Italy where I live
and was born.
I’ve started a new path, thanks also to our friend, and have been trying to take
steps into growing and maturing in the Truth of God and learning how to do His
will.
I would like to ask you the following question (sorry if it’s “basic” - if you
have already answered it, could you please send me the link?):
Has Jesus less authority than God?
Jesus said in Matthew 20:23:
«Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right
or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have
been prepared by my Father.”»
And then in Mark 13:32:
«“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor
the Son, but only the Father.»
Also, in several passages of the Scriptures He calls himself “Son of Man” (Mark
2:28, Matthew 13:37, Luke 17:30, etc.), why not “Son of God”?
Nonetheless, in John 10:30 Jesus says that He and God “are one” and “the Father
is in me and I in the Father” (10:38).
When we pray, then, should we pray Jesus or the Father?
My question is actually three-fold. I hope you will have some time to answer
these questions.
God bless you,
Response #21:
Very good to make your acquaintance, and thanks for your encouraging words. I'm
happy to hear about your determination to move forward spiritually to the glory
of the Lord.
On Matthew 20:23 and Mark 13:32 etc., there are many such things in the gospels,
and they are all explained by the fact that our Lord,
who is God and coequal with the Father and the Spirit (see the link), has,
in His humanity, subordinated Himself to the Father in order to carry out the
plan of God for salvation (Phil.2:5-8). During the first advent, therefore, our
Lord is clearly not making use of His deity to aid Him in His mission. That was
essential in order for His human experience to be genuine – and therefore for
His sacrifice to be acceptable (cf. Heb.2:10-15). In theology, this is called
"the doctrine of kenosis" (please see the link).
In terms of prayer, while that is in scripture usually directed towards "God"
(which in the New Testament usually means "the Father" by default), we do have
this verse as well:
"If you ask Me anything in my name, I will do it."
John 14:14 ESV
So I personally find
no biblical
mandate for not praying to the Lord Jesus Christ (see the link).
Yours in our dear Lord and Savior.
Bob Luginbill
Question #22:
Dear Robert,
Would it be a to strong a deduction to say that Jesus had "Nullified"
the Law and Temple practices by His statements; a) John2:19 "Destroy
this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." He specifically
referred to His body, which is to be the new temple made without hands
(Mark 14:58). Meaning that the old system (Law & Temple) have become
obsolete (Mark 13:2), b) the destruction of the temple that occured in
AD 70, the practical fulfilment of jesus's statement of destroying the
temple and all that goes with it.
Jesus's prophetic words that the Cross would be the means to bring to an
end the Law and the Temple practices, which then was materialized in AD
70. The resurrection of our Savior would then authenticate His words.
In Christ,
Response #22:
Our Lord was referring to His resurrection, not the literal temple (see
the link), and this prophecy was fulfilled on the Sunday morning
following His crucifixion. But it is an interesting application that He
is the reality behind the Law and that He does call His body a "temple"
(cf. 1Cor.6:19). And it certainly is true that the second temple was
soon destroyed, and that there was no legitimacy in sacrificing there
once His sacrifice on the cross became a reality (cf. the book of
Hebrews).
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #23:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
In Bible study session today the following question was raised by one of
the students:
Did Jesus have the (ability) to sin?
I explained the best I could which included the following:
1. Jesus did not have a [sin nature] because He was conceived by the
Holy Spirit and not a human being.
2. Jesus had a free will.
3. Adam & Eve had no [sin nature] in the Garden of Eden [before their
disobedience]. They also had a free will, as indicated by their choice.
4. Satan had a free will but sinned against God with Pride.
5. All the created Angels had a free will, but [some] chose to follow
Satan in his rebellion against God.
This individual at the onset of the discussion, insisted that because
Jesus had a free will, based on Scripture, He too had a [sin nature],
but later recanted that and said, "well He had the [ability] to sin
based on the fact that He was tempted by Satan, and that if He had no
[ability] to sin, then why was He tempted by Satan if indeed He could
never sin?
I quoted the Scripture "He who knew no sin was made sin for us". But
they were not convinced that Jesus was without the [ability] to sin.
So, I satisfied to the Scriptural proof by explaining that Jesus was
"Conceived by the Holy Spirit" and had no [sin nature].
I did my best to explain what the [sin nature] is, but they were not
convinced yet. They still insisted that Jesus had the [ability] to sin,
because He had a free will to choose. He chose to overcome the world.
Need your help on the answer that I can give which is substantiated by
the Scriptures.
Thanks always for your great help,
Some of the questions I get are real thought provoking and keep me on my
toes, so to speak.
I have reviewed the question that this person asked and what they
believe.
Here is what I found in God's Word.
1. Col. 2:9 explicitly states "The fulness of Deity dwells in bodily
form in Jesus". Just one verse of Scriptures debunks the idea that Jesus
could have sinned if He wanted to.
2. If He was not capable of sinning, how could He truly be able to
'sympathize with our weaknesses' (Hebrews 4:15)? If He could not sin,
what was the point of the temptation?"
Ans:
Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted, but He does not know what it
is like to sin.
This does not prevent Him from assisting us. We are tempted with sins
that are common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Hebrews 2:18
" 18For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He
is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."
He was tempted in order to know what we as humans go through. (God knows
everything) even what it is like to be tempted as expressed in the above
scripture.
2 Corinthians 5:21
" 21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin[sin offering] on our behalf,
so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
What are your thoughts about my brief answers?
Thanks so much,
Your friend,
Response #23:
This is an excellent response!
The people you're teaching are blessed to have you, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #24:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
Here is some good news regarding the statement on my previous email
where in Bible Study this person believed that Jesus was "capable of
sin".
I sent the teaching of your on the subject of "Kenosis and the
Hypostatic Union".
The student reviewed these studies and discussed them with her friends
and after prayer and the moving of the Holy Spirit on her, revealed the
truth.
She no longer believes that Jesus had "the ability" to sin. Praise God.
I tried my best previously to teach her that she was in error. I prayed
that God would help her to see the truth of her beliefs and He did.
I give God the Glory, Great things He has done, and credit to you for
your help and teachings not only for the student, but for me.
You really don't know how many lives you are touching.
It is all because of God's anointing and help that we are able to
understand.
Blessings to you, and continued grace for you.
Your friend,
Response #24:
Excellent news, my friend! I'm happy to be of help in the process, but
you are the one who's been doing the hard work for the Lord. Good for
you!
It's always a blessing when people come to the truth in all points,
great or small. And rare enough too that it's worthy of praise and
thanksgiving each time.
I'm thankful for you, my friend!
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #25:
Robert,
I had a discussion with a colleague of mine in regards to 1 Tim. 2:5.
The deduction is that Christ as mediator, holds a lesser position and
that all acts of worship, prayers, acts of ministry and..... is done
with Father.
This, however was a disturbing thought for me. My interpretation is that
Christ fulfills an absolute salvation need on our behalf without losing
His divine Person as God (John 1:1). How could one better explain the
‘mediator’ position in relation to John 14:6.
A further observation is that this person has a Hebraic root connect.
In Christ,
Response #25:
You are absolutely correct, my friend.
As God and before taking on humanity, Christ could not yet be our
Mediator, because God cannot pay the price for sins; nor could a mere
human being endure dying for a single sin. Only One who was human (so as
to have a body wherein to bear sins) and God (so as not to be destroyed
in bearing them) could mediate the sin problem and reconcile thereby
mankind to God. Links:
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.