American Gospel: Jesus Did it All

How does this account for the Holy Spirit, for Gods mercy? for the calling of the “non-Jews” and the clear admonishment to pray for the lost, reach out to the lost, If God determines their fate, what do we have a great commission at all?

This leads to a loveless and general laziness in the application of Godliness and growth in holiness. Why try if we are pre-determined to be saved?

Unconditional Election; God chooses some, because he wills, no action or goodness on our part has anything to do with it. (What about the command to seek the Lord) If you forsake your ways God will pardon.

If man has no choice, why are we called to go disciple, to reach out, to pray for the lost, what send Jonah to Nineveh...

Determinism: What it might look like in our lives:

Fatalism; God already knows, so why should I pray, try, hope...it becomes a kind of intellectual dishonesty, adn becomes what is called antinomianism 2 Cor 6:

Limited Atonement: Only some are saved, Jesus did not die for all people, but only for those who have responded to him. If it was for “all, then all would have responded” Since “all men” have clearly not responded then it cannot be for “all” but only for the elect...

Perseverance of the Saints. As a result of the above, IF you are “one of the all” then there is no way you can fall” God has chosen and there is nothing you can do to “change Gods mind”

Once Saved Always Saved: This is a logical outgrowth of their understanding of determinism. God being Almighty must determine all things. Once determined, they must come to pass or God is not God, not Sovereign, not all knowing...

It’s kind of a backward look. They begin with a premise and work all the doctrines back that creates logical and other fallacies.

How does this look in real life?

1: It emphasizes true lostness and separation from God, and the wrath of God, which is real and fearful thing.

2: Ironically because of their view of Gods determinism, there is no emphasis on regeneration, holiness and what we would call increasing spiritual maturity.

“Being Saved” is the only goal and God has “saved Me” and that can never change so…Ill do my best but “It is what it is”

ISBE (Antinomianism)

The Epistle of James provides a further NT corrective to any such misconception of the Christian faith. James would appear to have been confronting a popular abuse, perhaps current in gentile Christian circles (as Sieffert conjectures), which laid such exaggerated emphasis upon faith in the scheme of salvation that a certain indifference to morality was inadvertently encouraged. James’s stress on “the perfect law of liberty” (1:25) and “the royal law” of love (2:8), combined with his recognition that works must necessarily evidence the reality of faith, completes Paul’s protest against the unwarranted preference of any antinomian charge against Christianity. Positive warnings about the insidious nature of the heresy are found in 2 Cor. 6:14–18; 12:21

2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV84

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

2 Corinthians 12:21 NIV84

I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

Minimizes human choice and the will of man, essentially we become “objects” of wrath. But this is a phrase, not a reality, I am not an object any more that God is a “concept” It diminishes personhood, human dignity and above all human agency and responsibility.

Sin is clearly a choice we make. If it were not God could not command us to “stop sinning” 1 Cor 15:34 “Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.”

Holiness is a driver of human salvation, We are everywhere commanded to live holy lives.

2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV84

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Hebrews 12:14 NIV84

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Also missing from this discussion is the call to discipleship and evangelism. The euangelion of Christ. If it is only some a select few, then it is not good news at all. God is preferential, biased, selective...

This gospel is TOO SMALL.

“THE GOSPEL IS SHARED EXCLUSIVELY AS IT PERTAINS TO THE CROSS AND SET FORTH AS PRIMARILY A TRANSACTION THAT TOOK PLACE UPON THE DEATH OF CHRIST TO BE EXPERIENCED AS A SINGLE MOMENT IN TIME (GETTING SAVED/BECOMING A CHRISTIAN ETC)

TO BELIEVE IN IT, OR TO EXERCISE FAITH TRIGGERS THE TRANSACTION THUS FULFILLING THE GOSPEL. WHAT MAKES THIS TRICKY IS THAT THERE IS A TRANSACTION INVOLVED IN THE GOSPEL THAT ALLOWS US TO EXPERIENCE GODS GOOD NEWS, BUT THERE IS MORE TO THIS GOSPEL” -DARREL BOCK-

Calvinism

TULIP

Jer 17:9

Ephesians 2:1-10

Depraved, unfit for doing anything good

Does this square of the nature of mankind?

God who is rich in mercy, shows mercy to the object's of his wrath.

Election with out “conditions” God does it all...mankind is unable to respond, and therefore not accountable for responding, unless God “quickens” the heart (repentance?) Then no-one can be saved.

Sin is also a choice, God gives us over. Reduces the idea of Human Choice:

Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

Lets Look at Romans 1: The “gospel of justification” begins and ends here...

Romans 1:18–24 (NIV84)

Romans 1:18–24 NIV84

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

God reveals, we choose, God gives over. I would say that in Romans 1, God is respecting our human agency

God reveals and shows, clearly expect humans to choose, God asks us to choose this day whom we will serve...would God ask us to choose if we were incapable of choice?

Choice is commanded: Choose this day whom you will

Deut 30:19-20 “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Romans 4:1–6 (NIV84)

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Abraham’s faith was credited to him. He worked for it, but did not earn it, it was still a gift from God.

What they get right:

• Focus on the cross and the power of God

• Great scholarship in general, lots of books and materials come out of this branch of the faith

• Deep teaching on the cross and sin.

• Talk about the wrath and judgment of God.

• God’s wrath is an extension of his love. The ferocity of his love is like a parent that senses danger for a child.

Some Challenges:

Reduces the power and glory of Mankind

Created in the image of God, made to be divine. Clinical and detached from our will and creative possibilities.

So much emphasis on Sovereignty of God, that man is alleviated from real responsibility. There is a fatalism, all men who are to be saved will be saved, so what can I do?

Jonah had to go, he knew they would not change (in his mind) but God knew something he did not know)

Dramatically over-simplifies the process of salvation

Severely limits the role of apprenticeship to Christ

Reduces or emphasizes the need for personal effort to “attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”

It is a joint effort between God and humans. We are both human and divine, Jesus was both human and divine, God respects and adores flesh, gives man will, creative powers. A Low view of Mankind

Salvation is a joint-venture between a God has has done everything and given everything for us to be with him eternally. Yet respects and values out volition, our will, our freedom to allow us to choose to choose him.

He gives us the HS, the church, the scripture, one another, a conscience…all of creation as tools to help us to see him, choose him, want him, desire him...

It is not PRE-DETERMINED, BUT IT IS PRE-DESTINED. GOD CREATED US FOR A DESTINY WITH HIM, BUT HEW WILL NOT CHOOSE IT FOR US, AND MUCH LESS WILL HE CONDEMN OTHERS WITHOUT THEIR OWN MORAL CHOICES AND DECISIONS.

“Consumers of Jesus Merit rather than disciples of Jesus way”

Ephesians 4:1 NIV84

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

The Big Four of Calvinism

Total Depravity: Hopelessly lost and without even the ability to see God

Removes Human Agency and Responsibility

How does this account foe the Holy Spirit, for Gods mercy? for the calling of the “non-Jews” and the clear admonishamt to pray for the lost, reach out to the lost, If God determines their fate, what do we have a great commission at all.

This leads to a loveless and general laziness in the application of Godliness and growth in holiness. Why try if we are pre-determined to be saved.

If man has no choice, why are we called to go disciple, to reach out, to pray for the lost, what send Jonah to Ninevah...

Determinism: What it might look like in our lives: Fatalism; God already knows, so why should I pray, try, hope...it becomes a kind of intellectual dishonesty, adn becomes what is called anti nomianism 2 Cor 6:

Perseverance of the Saints. As a result of the above, IF you are “one of the all” then there is no way you can fall” God has chosen and there is nothing you can do to “change Gods mind”

How does this look in real life:

1: It emphasizes true lostness and separation from God, and the wrath of God, which is real and fearful thing.

Jeremiah 17:9....I the LORD

Romans 3:23-24

Romans 6:23

Ephesians 2:1 “made us alive when we were dead”

minimizes human choice and the will of man, essentially we become “objects” of wrath. But this is a phrase, not a reality, I am not an object any more that God is a “concept” It diminished personhood, human dignity and above all human agency and responsibility. Sin is clearly a choice we make. If it were not God could not command us to “stop sinning”

Holiness is a driver of human salvation, We are everywhere commanded to live holy lives.

Also missing from this discussion is the call to discipleship and evangelism. the euangelion of Christ. If it is only some a select few, then it is not good news at all. God is preferential, biassed, selective...

God is Holy, Perfect and Just

He is filled with both Love and Wrath

We are Morally guilty before God due to sin

Gods demand for righteousness must be kept

We cannot possibly do it.

Jesus did it for me

Hallelujah

Penal substitutionary atonement (paying my price)

imputed righteousness (Jesus holiness transferred onto and into me)

Justification by faith alone (nothing works based is required of me)

Justification: Jesus has merit, he has earned, by dying for me I am ‘declared righteous’ in Gods eyes, by sheer grace, (once covered by the blood)

Part of the good news is that God makes us new, we do this WITH God. god is not the watch maker.

This gospel is TOO SMALL.

Ephesians 4:1 NIV84

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

What it gets right:

Focus on the cross and the power of God

Great scholarship in general, lots of books and materials come out of this branch of the faith

Deep teaching on the cross and sin.

Talk about the wrath and judgment of God.

God’s wrath is an extension of his love. The ferocity of his love is like a parent that senses danger for a child.

Teaching of Jesus rarely casts this kind of shadow

Jesus was very into good works and doing what God required.

End of the sermon on the mount… Jesus did it all for me. Low view of the need for human righteousness or dealing with sin.

Almost no talk of discipleship to Christ or outreach adn impact for Christ. Everyones fate is determined, so lets just be glad we are the “chose ones” and pray for others best we can.

Following Jesus is something I do, I commit to

Ephesians 4:11 NIV84

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

Where do I find “Calvinism” In my life?

Regressive discipleship; I dont have to do much, Jesus died and took my place.

Spiritual fatalism: god knows it all, he knows what everyones path is so I don’t have to engage and reach out, speak up, be an example.

“let my light shine” and thats all I need to do.

Over-dependence on “faith” without a sense of obligation;

Fear of being “saved by works”. Though Jesu clearly indicates that works are necessary for salvation, as does James 2:14-23

faith acts, it always acts, and is completed in action.

Romans 4:1-6 Abe was expected to act, but the righteousness was credited to him, not given to him. he was given it, he did not earn it. That did not mean he could do nothing.