A Two-Sided Seal - 2 Timothy 2:19

  

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
- 2 Timothy 2:19

    The Gospel is replete with dualities, from the very concepts of good and evil to the idea that there is bad news (the state of fallen humanity) and Good News (salvation through faith in Jesus Christ). So the two-sided seal God’s “solid foundation” simply states that God knows His own, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” (John 10:14) and that they, in turn, will depart from their sinfulness. “Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.” - Psalm 37:27-28.
    This solid foundational seal had its origin before the beginning of the world when God specifically selected those who He would elect to save. The flip side of the seal is the ongoing sanctification of true believers. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling . . .” - Philippians 2:12. This is not to say that we add a thing to Christ’s work on the cross. Our salvation has indeed been secured. Our command is merely to bear the fruit of our redemption. “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” - Matthew 7:20. While Jesus was referring to false prophets in His metaphor, the allusion to the fruit we all are to bear is obvious. I cannot recall the number of “nominal Christians” I have met who were only known to be Christians because they said they were Christians. The “fruit” they displayed wasn’t fit for worms! “Carnal Christians,” they call themselves.
    I found it best to often simply walk away. The antagonism invoked by even a gentle word of rebuke was not worth the confrontation, especially in front of new believers. I wrestled with the idea that I had not done my duty; after all, was I not charged to correct them? “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” - 1 Timothy 5:20.
    The conflicting commands regarding the correction of a fellow Christian often brought me a sense of confusion and frustration. Seeking assurance, I found our title verse and took heart, understanding that “the Lord knows those who are His.” There will be no fooling or deceiving God. He knows who are His and He is aware of the tares which grow in His fields of gold. Regardless of what a man may say, God knows! “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” - Hebrews 4:13.
    Bolstering Paul’s words to the elected saints was his admonishment to depart from iniquity. The words of Christ come to my mind - “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” - Matt 6:24. One of the central tenets of Christ’s discourse in the Sermon on the Mount, He emphasizes that serving (obeying) God must replace our carnal attachment to the world. Departing from iniquity exemplifies serving and obeying God.
    We who are the elect can find rest in the doctrinally solid foundation of God’s perfect knowledge of those who are His. May we all live a life that glorifies our heavenly father.

Any Other Gospel? - 1 John 2:19

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. -  1 John 2:19
              

    As a Confessional (i.e. Reformed Christian) the bulwark of my faith rests on the reliable veracity of the Bible. It is clearly the final arbiter when I weigh out suppositions regarding the doctrinal beliefs of others who call themselves “Christians.” As you can imagine it brings me into some challenging exchanges from time to time. “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” - Acts 17:11.
    It has always been that we must consider, even debate, issues regarding the proper interpretation of Scripture. It has divided the Reformed Church from the Roman Church from the Eastern Orthodox Church. It divides denominations! But there cannot be two or more interpretations of the words that our Holy God has inspired! “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” - 1 Corinthians 14:33.
    Erudite exegesis is absolutely necessary for the truthful interpretations which we hold as essential to salvific doctrines. Wrong interpretations result in the presentation of what Paul referred to as “any other gospel.” In fact, it was an issue of such gravity that he mentioned it twice in a paragraph - “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” - Galatians 1:8-9.
    I find that most contemporary non-Reformed Christian churches tend to try to soften the edges of the gospel, sometimes even avoiding the harder sayings of Scripture altogether. What it translates into is what Paul referred to as “another gospel!” After careful exegesis, we weigh what others say with what Holy Scripture says, and when the two diverge we can truly know that they “were not of us.” And as John says, they diverged from rightly interpreted Scripture to teach another gospel so that it would be made manifest to us that they are not of us. They are not truly Sola Scriptura Christians. They want to reinvent and reinterpret the Bible in spite of the fact that we are forbidden to do so.
    The Old Testament certainly proscribes the alteration of the Scriptures - “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” - Deuteronomy 4:2. And again,  “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” - Deuteronomy 12:32. In this book, Deuteronomy, Moses was explaining the law to the Israelites; It was simply that important!
    And what of Christ’s own words warning us to abstain from altering the Holy Scriptures in any way? “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” - Revelation 2218-19.
    Let us always pray for the Holy Spirit’s illumination when interpreting our Bibles, allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture, rather than allowing “other agendas” to exegete and define what God has truly revealed to us.

Not One Drop Wasted - John 10:14-15

I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. - John 10:14-15

    There have been many a disagreement over the years regarding the Biblical doctrine of Limited or Definite Atonement. And in no way am I suggesting that I can finally put the objections to this doctrine to rest. However, it is my earnest belief that Holy Scripture does, in fact, do so. “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” - John 17:9. Did Jesus Christ Himself just say that He does not pray for the world but for those His Father had given Him?
    First, Scripture is replete with references to the “many” Jesus speaks about and it never refers to “all” as in every last human being that ever lived! In common parlance it is often heard, “See to it that everyone gets something to eat.” Did the speaker actually mean “everyone?” Or were they merely referring to those within a defined parameter of consideration? The glaringly obvious intent of the statement needs no further clarification.
    Secondly. When we speak about “the power of the cross,” or “the power of Christ’s precious blood,” we are speaking of the power to atone for sin. “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” - Matthew 26:28. Again, Jesus emphatically states that He shed His own blood “for many . . . for the remission of sins.” He never states that His blood was shed for all the people in the world, but for many!
    What we see then is not an inference or subtle implication but the boldly efficacious power of Christ’s death on the cross to save sinners; not all sinners but those God “elected” from before time who are called by the Holy Spirit’s effective call to regeneration and faith in Christ Jesus. And clearly, not all who hear the call of the gospel respond in faith. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” - Matthew 22:14. From this alone, we can see that those who remain unregenerate and unresponsive to the Holy Spirit’s call remain in their hardened state in spite of Christ’s death upon the cross. To suggest that Christ died for all sinners, all people, flies in the very face of every Biblical word on the value of Christ’s blood! To deny the reality of hell is to deny the doctrine of atonement.
     If Jesus’ death was to atone for all mankind’s sin what happens to those who die unrepentant in their sin? Salvation? No, not one drop of Christ’s precious blood was wasted. The atonement was 100% effective for all those who come to belief and faith in Jesus. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16. For those who refuse, despite all the Biblical mandates, to have faith in Jesus Christ, the harsh reality of eternity in hell awaits them.
    Let us continue to share the gospel of salvation with those around us so that those chosen will respond to the effectual call of the Holy Spirit and the saving sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.