~~~
The Gospel Story as told by R. Scott Clark
The article, "This Christian Life," originally appeared in Valiant for Truth, Westminster Seminary California's blog, on January 25, 2011.
"...At the beginning, God walked in the garden with Adam and told him a story. He told him how He had created everything from nothing by His powerful Word. He told Adam how He had created him from the earth and how Adam had it within his power to experience more than his present life in the garden; that there was before him a consummate, glorious existence of intimate, perfect, and endless fellowship with God and man; if only he would pass one test..."
Read, enjoy, and appreciate the article here. http://wscal.edu/blog/entry/this-christian-life
3 comments:
Well, Trish won't post my latest reply to you on her blog, so I'll put it here:
But that doesn't mean that they can do nothing at all. They can avail themselves of the means that God usually uses in drawing people to Himself and opening their hearts: reading the scriptures, church, prayer, listening to the witness of Christians.
Would they even do any of those things in the first place unless their hearts were already "opened"?
I think you're trying to have it both ways: Blaming people for sinning (even though we're not responsible for having this "sin nature" in the first place) without having to give up your doctrinal belief that only your "God" can actually bring people to him.
Upon reading what your wrote here:
Appealing to having come into the world possessing a sinful nature does not absolve us from culpability. We also came into the world with a conscience. (Romans 2:15-16).
Yep. That seems to be the case. It is not our fault that we were born with that "sin nature" in the first place. Your god could have stopped that right at the beginning, as I said.
Instead, your "God" took the most inefficient way to save people that one can imagine. Allow the sin nature to spread throughout all of humanity instead of nipping it in the bud with the first two people and starting over, then when "Jesus" was born, instead of announcing to the entire world, via angels, that event, he waits for over a thousand years for missionaries to do it, and in the meantime, all those in the "new world" go to hell, with their consciences not helping them one bit, since they didn't know how to "save" themselves.
Again, odd for a being who allegedly wants that no one should perish, but that all should have everlasting life.
Reynold said...
Well, Trish won't post my latest reply to you on her blog, so I'll put it here:
Hello Reynold.
Thank you for visiting my blog. I now see that Trish has now posted your reply on her comment page. Since they went to Israel she has only made a few posts of Facebook. I think they will be there for a couple more days.
Would they even do any of those things in the first place unless their hearts were already "opened"?
Sure they would, and many have. There are those who are sensible of their own guiltiness, have heard that they will have to give an account on the day of judgment, and that they might find an answer to their dilema at a church service, etc. Still, their heart is not yet opened to receive Christ savingly until the Spirit of God regenerates them. An example can be seen in Nicodemas. John 3:1-8 &ff.
I think you're trying to have it both ways: Blaming people for sinning (even though we're not responsible for having this "sin nature" in the first place) without having to give up your doctrinal belief that only your "God" can actually bring people to him.
It is not a matter of my trying to have it both ways. We believe that the Bible teaches both the sovereignty of God in salvation, and man's responsibility. I will list some salient passages if you like, but you probably are aware of them.
The BIG question that people often ask, having acknowledged that the Bible does indeed teach both, is, "How do these two teaching jive?" My answer is, "I don't know." But my inability to figure it out doesn't change the fact that the Bible does teach both things, man's responsibility and God's sovereignty. God as an eternal being, and operating from the foundation of an eternal decree, His ways may just be beyond the capacity of us finite creatures to comprehend.
"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
"For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" (Romans 11:33-34 ESV)
It is not our fault that we were born with that "sin nature" in the first place. Your god could have stopped that right at the beginning, as I said.
Instead, your "God" took the most inefficient way to save people that one can imagine. Allow the sin nature to spread throughout all of humanity instead of nipping it in the bud with the first two people and starting over, then when "Jesus" was born, instead of announcing to the entire world, via angels, that event, he waits for over a thousand years for missionaries to do it, and in the meantime, all those in the "new world" go to hell, with their consciences not helping them one bit, since they didn't know how to "save" themselves.
Part 2
Well Reynold, I am not worried that the people in remote regions of the world have been dealt with unjustly at the hand of God. He has revealed enough about Himself in His Word to trust that "the God of all the earth will indeed do right." He who sees the intimate details of people's thoughts and intentions, besides understanding the limits of their circumstances will deal fairly with them. Rich Buhler once said, "I think that we will be bowled over by how fair God has been to us when it is shown to us at the judgment."
But Reynold, you are not out of earshot from the proclaimation of the law to convict you, and the Gospel to save you.
Again, odd for a being who allegedly wants that no one should perish, but that all should have everlasting life.
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:1-6)
The passage that you alluded to gives me 1-) Confidence to pray for your salvation, and 2-) boldness in assuring you that if you come to this mediator ("who gave himself a ransom for all") acknowledging your sins and guilt, trusting in his sacrifice on behalf of sinners, you will certainly be forgiven and granted eternal life because of the blood of his cross.
Craig
Post a Comment