I Was Arminian and Did Not Know It

I did not realize until recently how self-glorifying the infant stage of my Christian life was.  Let me start by quoting some phrases and sentences I used often soon after Christ revealed my sin and my need for His mercy.

"When did you bow your knee to Christ?"

"When did you give your life to Jesus?"

"Turn from your sins and look to Christ and you will be saved."

"My life changed when I gave my heart to Jesus."

"Pray this prayer with me and God will save you."

I dare not say that any of those statements inherently are unbiblical.  In fact, the third statement can be properly supported by Acts 2:38.  However, I will say that they are closer bedfellows to free-will and human choice salvation than the biblical truth of salvation being wholly and solely the loving foreknowledge and sovereign grace of our Lord Jesus to save sinners by His good pleasure and for His glory.

The thought I am hoping to incite you to consider is this:  How often do we in our daily testimony and witness unknowingly (and maybe even knowingly) point to our work as the source of salvation rather than point the sinner to Christ and incite them to beg our gracious Lord for mercy.

"Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." - 1Pe 2:10

In my next post, I am going to ask the question, "What is our testimony: Our walk or His steps?"

Saved But Not a Superhero

"Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." [Psa 51:12-13]

     When a new believer understands the Gospel and bows their sinful knee to Christ then is brought into the fellowship of the body, what do we expect out of them?

     I wonder if we are unfairly expecting them to be forced into a particular mold.  Some seem to have certain expectations of new believers such as evangelizing to their friends, inviting family and friends to church and/or bible study and to get "plugged in".  While those desires imposed on the new believer are good for their usefulness in God's work, I think we forget that being saved does not mean we become superheroes.

     Other than a revelation of Christ to the changed heart of a humble sinner along with a newfound zeal, we don't suddenly gain new characteristics when we are brought to the Savior.   Those who were shy aren't suddenly extroverted in fellowship and may find it difficult to invite friends.  Those who were undisciplined and/or untaught in general study and reading won't immediately (or even ever) become habitual readers of the Word.  If they were unreliable and irresponsible, don't expect them to suddenly be a model of usefullness in ministry.  Other than a new inward man, the outward man before our revelation is basically cognate with the outward man after.

     Ask yourself and answer (I hope) honestly, "Am I really that different from before the Spirit revealed my sin and my Savior to me?"  God does sanctify us so that we can put off the old self and conforms us to the image of His Son.  However, consider this: Don't we still struggle with some of the same sins (though the efficacy may be less) as when we were unregenerate sinners?

     As for some of our characterics, they usually remain the same.  If you were shy before, you're probably still shy now and find it difficult to socialize even with Christians.  If you struggled with studying and reading for more than a few minutes, that's likely still difficult.  If you were difficult to make friends with, you're likely to struggle with the same even today.  If you were quick to speak, I'm sure that bugs you even more now.  If you were often late and irresponsible, you're probably still the same way.

Why then as new believers, do we experience a period of time when weaknesses seem to be overcome for a short period?

I offer this thought:  What we perceive as a new outward man is the result of the newfound zeal for Christ and His people that new believers experience when the hope of their salvation is revealed to them.  Let us not burden new believers with fitted molds, carnal expectations or self-centered progress cards.  These are yolks they should not bear.  Rather let us help to keep afresh and renew their zeal with the continual feast of the revelation of Christ through the preaching, teaching of and fellowship in His Word.

Christ was Plan B???

I attended the memorial service at a Catholic church this week for a former co-worker who was well respected in our company.  I was flabbergasted when the Catholic priest made statements amounting to the belief that Christ's death on the cross was Plan B.  He stated that our relationship with God is improved by loving one another.  Since we could not do this perfectly, God sent His own Son to die on the cross for us to show true love.  Effectively, Christ was Plan B because we failed to do what "we were called to do" - to love one another.

Having been blessed to hear and understand the true gospel, I know that God's sovereign plan of salvation for His people was foreknown before the foundation of the world[Rom 8:29, Eph 1:4].  It was not a response to our failure but rather a plan to fulfill His promises for our good and His glory [2Cor 1:20-22].  God had intended for His Son to be glorified after the counsel of His own will.  Before I had a name, He had already called me.  It was not my voice that called out to Him that saved me but the voice of His Son who cried, "It is finished!"  I am merely a sinner saved by His grace and mercy.

Christ was not Plan B.  He wasn't even Plan A.  His work to glorify the Father was the only plan, passion and purpose of God.

One step away from idolatry and apostasy

In speaking with some friends a few days ago, I made a comment that seemed to surprise them.

"We should consider that we can easily preach a false gospel and mislead others without knowing it."

Friends, let's not fool ourselves into thinking that stumbling is unlikely to happen just because we are at a good church where the Gospel is preached or because we have been educated at a Christ-centered seminary or because we have the protection of godly brothers and sisters around.  Wisdom and strength is not your protection from apostasy.  If it were not for the grace of God on our lives, we would surely stumble.

You may respond, "I may stumble for a short period but a true believer would not stumble for long."

I ask you to consider the lives of a few kings who started well and worshipped God but took a drastic turn and did not recover before God graciously ended their lives to take them up to Himself - Uzziah (2Chr 26), Solomon and Jehoshaphat (2Chr 20).

Complacency can easily enter into our thinking.  Be vigilant and watchful not merely of the battles outside the camp but especially those within ourselves.  Why else would Paul exhort Timothy to take heed of himself and his doctrine?  (1Tim 4:16)  Was it not because Paul himself knew the danger of complacency?  Paul understood that it is only the grace of God that keeps us on the narrow path while being one stumbling step away from idolatry and apostasy.