Calvinism's Assurance Ministry

When I was a full-fledged Calvinist, volunteering my time in an online apologetic website by proofreading and helping in the chatroom, I was often having to assure other Calvinists of their salvation. The first thing I would remind them was how much they hate their sin as a sign of their faith. This pattern was repeated over and over many times.

For awhile, I thought because of this I should go into Nouthetic Counseling. People would turn to me, seeking assurance. Then I was awakened to the truth of Limited Atonement.

If Jesus died only for a few people, then the natural question to ask is, "Did He die for me?" Being unable to look at Jesus on the cross saying, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do," as universal atonement, one had to look elsewhere. So, you start examining your own inward thoughts. What a way to plummet to the depths of despair!

The human heart is so wicked we cannot even know our own hearts, let alone the heart of another person. It is better to trust in the words of Jesus than it is to look within ourselves. Jesus is God, and He never lies. Scripture says He died for the whole world. His death, burial, and resurrection was generous to the point of saving all if one receives this free gift.

Calvinists, stop looking within for faith and trust in Jesus' finished work on the cross.

Mystery of Jesus' Two Natures

The Chalcedon Creed says this about Jesus Christ's two natures: one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union.

This creed confirms that the God-Man, Jesus Christ, died on the cross. Both of his natures died. How do Christians explain that God died? We don't, nor can we, it just is.

Some will separate Jesus' two natures, pretending that God is mutable, saying only Jesus' body died on the cross. In doing so, they break with traditional and orthodox Christian teaching.

This is one of the things that helped me to leave Calvinism. Calvinists do teach the separation of Jesus' two natures. They try to deny Nestorian heresy with one hand; yet teach it with the other hand. Ask and watch the jig begin.

God is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Amen.

Here is my first post regarding Nestorianism, if you want to read a bit more.

Name Change

Welcome to One Sheep Ponders, the new name of this blog. It was time for a name change, as God has seen fit to open my eyes to the theology of the cross. No longer do I see God as one who goads those who belong to Him. He is Father. He is my Father. Father loves and cares for me. Is He your Father?

God is also triune. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Praise Him.

Feast of Booths

"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. You shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." ~Leviticus 23:39-43 ESV

The last and most important holiday in the Jewish Calendar is Succoth, or Feast of Booths. It follows Yom Kippur, or The Day of Atonement. During the Feast of Booths native Israelites are commanded to dwell in tents, or booths, for seven days as a reminder of their exodus from Egypt.

Christians have been brought out of Egypt; the Egyptian bondage of sin and death. We now have eternal life in Jesus Christ who redeemed us from our bondage. It is Christ's finished work on the cross, His atonement, His Yom Kippur, that frees us from this curse that we bear. Like the Feast of Booths we can celebrate in the complete forgiveness of our sin by our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Treasure in a Field

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Matthew 13:44 (ESV)

There are at least two ways to look at this parable: through the lens of the law, or through the lens of the gospel. No doubt, I have heard it explained more often through the lens of the law.

The Law: We are the man, and we have to at least be willing to sell everything to gain the great treasure, which is the kingdom of heaven hidden in a field. If you don't actually sell everything, you have to at least be willing to sell everything to gain the treasure.

The Gospel: The man is Jesus. He is the only person who has ever, throughout history, given up everything to redeem us. Jesus is the only one who buys the whole field, the world, in order to gain the treasure, which is us.

Anytime you hear "do", it is the law accusing us. In the first interpretation, the focus is on us. Do any of us give up everything to gain heaven? That interpretation accuses us of not selling everything.

Whenever you hear "Jesus did it", it is the gospel. We are passive in action; Jesus is the one doing. In the Gospel interpretation, Jesus joyfully buys the world in order to gain His treasure.

Know you are loved and hear the grace of the gospel!

Idolatry

It is the believer that is in the know who reads the latest books by reformed authors, so goes the thinking among many Calvinists and Sovereign Gracers. You must read the proper authors, the best books, listen to other Calvinist or Sovereign Grace teachers only. And then only those that have the highest ranking.

Tulip-believing folks will often spout names such as Sproul, Edwards, Spurgeon, White, and the unforgettable Puritans. These are the names that impress; similar to shopaholics preferring high end labels on their clothing tags. While this list is certainly a list of Christians, it is also a form of idolatry. "I am reading the latest book by (insert name of approved author)." That is to be properly followed by comments of approval from others.

God will tear down idols.

When I realized that my precious reformed systematic theology was an idol, I felt like the rug had been pulled out from beneath me. I was lost. "Where do I turn for guidance?" was my concern. I experienced this sense of loss and grieving for quite awhile. It was disheartening. I wanted to return to my beloved systematic, yet I knew God is a jealous God and would not allow me to return.

I turned to God and Scripture. That is where my heart lies. My goal now is to have faith in the promises of God.

Did God Really Say............

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Peter 2:1 NIV

After watching many discussions on this controversial verse, God has revealed to me that some interpretations deny exactly what scripture says. One group of people that often changes scripture's meaning is the Calvinists. Let me show you how it is accomplished with this passage.

Someone will ask about 2 Peter 2:1, and wonder if the Lord bought these false teachers, then it means Christ's atonement is for the whole world? A Calvinist will immediately reply, "No! We must look to see who Peter was writing to!" And when we do that, we see that this epistle is addressed generally, to those who have received faith; and to God's elect.

When we turn to 2 Peter 1 and see that this epistle is generally addressed to "those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:" Even all the way back in 1 Peter 1, this epistle is addressed to many: "To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,"

Despite the general salutation in both 1 and 2 Peter, Calvinists will force their theology onto 2 Peter 2:1 and say that it refers to the Jews being brought out from Egypt; and that "bought" should read "brought". What?! By doing this, they are doing the same thing that the serpent did in Eden by asking, "Did God really say....?"

When one depersonalizes Scripture in this manner, it can mean that nothing applies to us. Or does it mean some of it applies to us, but not other parts? If the epistles of Peter are not for us today, then we should rip them out of our bibles.

We are to allow Scripture to wash over our minds and hearts, not keep it at arm's length by contextualizing our way away from it. When reading scripture, if it says "you" it means the reader or hearer. Do not deny that it is speaking to you.