7 Proofs Our Salvation is Eternally Secure - 3

3. God is righteous in saving us

Psalm 89:14 says: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.”

God’s throne is immovable and unshakable because the foundation of His throne is His righteousness*. His love motivated Him to save us from eternal judgment. But God’s righteousness is the base of His salvation. 

Many fear God’s righteousness and associate it with His wrath. His righteousness is indeed a fearful thing. Because God is righteous, He cannot tolerate or overlook sin; He’s bound to judge all unrighteousness. But God’s righteousness is also the base of our salvation, which is truly wonderful. 

Let’s see how this is so. Romans 6:23 says: “The wages of sin is death.” This means that all who sin must die. A righteous God has no other choice but to judge sinners and assign them their wages: eternal death. But the Lord Jesus came and bore the judgment of death for sinners on the cross. God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice as the full payment for our sins. Just as in a court of law, a judge can’t require a debt to be paid twice, God is bound by His righteousness to honor the price Christ paid for us. So if God wants His throne to stand, He must act in accordance with His righteousness. Since Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by dying in our place, God’s righteousness won’t allow Him to demand further payment from us. This means our salvation is secured by God’s righteousness; He can’t take it away from us. Praise Him for His righteousness! Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://blog.biblesforamerica.org/eternal-security-verses/                                                                                               *Righteous: Morally upright; without guilt or sin. (American Heritage Dictionary)

7 Proofs Our Salvation is Eternally Secure - 2

2. God’s love for us is eternal

 

Jeremiah 31:3 says: “I have loved you with an eternal love.”

 

This verse says God loves us with a love that’s eternal. That means His love is unchanging. Human love can be fickle, but God’s love never changes; it doesn’t depend on what we do. God loves us eternally.  His love is unconditional.  Do you understand what that means? He doesn’t just know us; He knows us intimately.  He knows the motivation of our heart. Scripture says He has the very hairs on our head numbered. ^{(Luke 12:7)}

There is nothing in this world that could keep God from loving us. No matter what we do, He never STOPS loving us. Do you understand how long an eternity is? It’s defined as “time with no beginning or end.”  It is the time after death which goes on forever without end. Why would God say He loved us with an “eternal” love if we weren’t going to be with Him IN eternity? I understand that “talk is cheap”, but not so with Almighty God. Whatever He says He absolutely and unequivocally means without question. Eternity is an uncharted amount of time. I would think it would be incalculable. I mean, by what standard would you measure it? It isn’t possible. THAT is why we are considered “eternally secure”.  

The only way this isn’t true is in the unregenerate mind, the mind of one who refuses to accept the existence of an all-powerful Spirit-being. Do so at your own peril. That’s certainly not any kind of threat. It’s just to say are you really willing to throw away your soul based on personal discrepancies that haunt the deepest recesses of your mind? You better be sure, my friend, because your eternity is at stake. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://blog.biblesforamerica.org/eternal-security-verses/

7 Proofs Our Salvation is Eternally Secure - 1

1. Our salvation was initiated by God

Ephesians 1:4 says: “Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before Him in love.”

God chose us before we were born, even before the universe was created. Then, when the time was right for us to be saved, He called us. Do you think that God would choose us so long ago, send His Son to die for us, wait for us to be born, and then call and save us, only to abandon us after we’re finally saved? No, He would not. God is the One who initiated our salvation before the foundation of the world and carried it out.

The Bible says God foreknew everything that would transpire in the world that He created from the beginning of time. It says that our election is sure and that it has been predetermined regarding who shall be redeemed and who will not. Man still has a free will, and God has NEVER wanted anyone to go to hell, however, it is not God’s choice, but rather man’s as to whether they will accept His gracious offer of salvation. God cannot predetermine man’s decision making process because THAT would circumvent the whole idea of a person having a free will. 

It tends to confound logic, but thru research, the above is what I’ve come up. I have always been a believer in the fact that we are NOT told in scripture that we must “understand” all that scripture teaches, just that we are to trust the Lord and follow His teachings. Someday we may understand the meaning of certain mysteries, but we may also NOT ever understand. That is unimportant. We must trust God and follow wherever He leads us.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://blog.biblesforamerica.org/eternal-security-verses/

 

Deconstructionism ...

... is it a valid way to interpret the Bible?

Deconstructionism is basically a theory of textual criticism or interpretation that denies there is any single correct meaning or interpretation of a passage or text. At the heart of the deconstructionist theory of interpretation are two primary ideas. First is the idea that no passage or text can possibly convey a single reliable, consistent, and coherent message to everyone who reads or hears it. The second is that the author who wrote the text is less responsible for the piece’s content than are the impersonal forces of culture such as language and the author’s unconscious ideology. Therefore the very basic tenets of deconstructionism are contrary to the clear teaching of the Bible that absolute truth does exist, and we can indeed know it (Deuteronomy 32:4; Isaiah 65:16; John 1:17–18; John 14:6; John 15:26–27; Galatians 2:5).

The deconstructionist approach to interpreting the Bible comes out of postmodernism and is therefore simply another denial of the existence of absolute truth, which is one of the most serious logical fallacies anyone can commit. The denial of absolute truth is a logical fallacy because it is a self-contradictory statement. No one can rationally deny absolute truth because to do so one is forced to state an absolute—which is what he is saying does not exist. When someone claims that there is no such thing as absolute truth, ask him, “Are you absolutely sure of that?” If he says, “Yes,” then he has made a statement contradictory to his very premise.

Like other philosophies that come out of the postmodernism, deconstructionism celebrates human autonomy and determines truth by the intellect of man. Therefore, according to the postmodern thinker, all truth is relative and there is no such thing as absolute truth. At the heart of postmodernism and deconstructionist thought is pride. The deconstructionist thinks that he can discover a personal or social motivation behind what Scripture says and therefore can determine what is “really being said.”The result is a subjective interpretation of the passage in question. Instead of accepting what the Bible actually says, the deconstructionist is arrogant enough to think he can determine the motive behind what was written and come up with the “real” or “hidden” meaning of the text. However, if one were to take deconstructionism to its logical conclusion, then the findings of the deconstructionist would themselves have to be deconstructed to determine what the deconstructionist “really” said. The endless circular reasoning is self-defeating. When one thinks about how fundamentally flawed this type of thinking is, one is reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:19, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, ‘He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness.’”

The deconstructionist does not study the Bible in order to find out the meaning intended by the writer but to attempt to discern the cultural and social motives behind what was written. The deconstructionist is only limited in his interpretation of a passage by his own imagination. To the deconstructionist there is no right or wrong interpretation, and the meaning of the text becomes whatever the reader wants it to be. One might imagine what would happen if legal documents such as wills and deeds were read this way. This approach to Scripture fails to recognize the fundamental truth that the Bible is God’s objective communication to mankind and that the meaning of the passages comes from God.

Instead of spending time debating deconstructionism or other postmodern theories, we should concentrate on exalting Christ and emphasizing the sufficiency and authority of the Scriptures. Romans 1:21–22 sums up most postmodern thinkers who hold to such theories as deconstructionism: “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.”

This concludes our look into Deconstructionism. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What is deconstruction? Part 3

What does it mean when people say they are deconstructing their faith?

To say, “Deconstruction means choosing easier beliefs” is an oversimplification. And yet deconstruction almost always means adopting views palatable to the unbelieving world. All too conveniently, it means moving away from positions on sexuality, gender, salvation, sin, hell, and other issues not embraced by popular culture. The vast majority who claim to be deconstructing move with the flow of their surrounding culture, not against it. This movement demands “safe space” to ask difficult questions. Yet, ironically, modern deconstruction often settles for easy, comfortable answers. Or it simply chooses which aspects of faith to retain based on personal preference.

While deconstruction implies openness in theory, it most often manifests as an “escape clause” when it comes time to justify one’s new or “progressing” views. Ironically, those who reject Christian culture for not engaging questions can themselves be deeply evasive when asked to do that very thing. It’s easy to ask hard questions. Complex mysteries can be posed in just a few words. Answering those questions, however, takes time and effort. Simply listing complications or nitpicking is not the same as sincerely assessing ideas. Identifying oneself as “in deconstruction” can become an easy excuse for never taking a position but merely rejecting something one dislikes.

There’s a natural tendency to feel “smart” or superior when pointing out the flaws in someone else’s views. When one forgets that the questioning process is meant to go both ways, it can feel like an attack. When challenged to explain their views, deconstructionists often complain they are “not being allowed a safe space” to pose questions. As noted, there absolutely are circumstances where Christian communities unreasonably slam the door on doubters. Yet merely being asked, “Why do you think that’s true?” or “What makes that a better option?” is a part of any sincere line of questioning.

Three counterexamples provide guidelines on how Christians can respond to sharp questions or doubts about faith. These are Nicodemus, Thomas, and the early church. Nicodemus came to ask Jesus about faith (John 3:1–2), and Jesus gave Him answers. These answers were honest, even if not entirely what Nicodemus might have wanted to hear (John 3:3–15). They were certainly not the answers Nicodemus’ culture would have preferred. Jesus’ responses often challenged the assumptions of those who sought Him out (John 4:22–24; Luke 18:22–23).

When Thomas doubted Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus took the gracious step of providing more attention, time, and evidence than anyone reasonably needed (John 20:24–28). Believers should sympathize with those struggling under doubts and be ready to go that extra mile when they can (Matthew 5:41–42). Jesus didn’t merely applaud Thomas for being skeptical; He graciously dealt with the skepticism.

While being respectful of doubters, the church needs to hold its ground on principles that are truly clear or fundamental to faith. That means insisting on truths even if they are controversial to the world at large. The book of Acts records the early church making reasonable concessions to Jewish believers. The church did not compromise cornerstone teachings in the face of intense pressure to do just that (Acts 15). While accepting the need to consider culture when communicating (1 Corinthians 9:20–23), those early believers also refused to accept false teaching for the sake of popularity (Acts 5:29).

Christians need to lovingly engage questions from seekers and doubters. That might mean simply admitting “I don’t know” and offering to look for an answer together. Not all challenges to faith come from a point of antagonism. Some come in the form of curiosity. Some come in the form of skepticism. Some come with intense personal pain and complicated histories. For those reasons, believers should provide “safe space” for others to express concerns and doubts (Romans 12:18; 14:13). Those who “fall away,” even when lovingly treated, don’t reflect a weakness in the truth of Christianity (1 John 2:19). No one should replace sincere seeking with the attitudes connected to the modern deconstruction movement. 

Next we’ll take another look at Deconstructionism, only this article will look at the way they interpret scripture. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

What is deconstruction? Part 2

What does it mean when people say they are deconstructing their faith?

Too often, churches and church members act like social clubs, while failing to wrestle with difficult questions about faith. Believing we have established every answer beyond all doubt reflects a natural desire for control. That impulse is not biblical. In fact, it’s what led groups like the Pharisees to claim they could define “honoring the Sabbath” down to how many steps a man could take. Refusal to accept some level of trust in the face of uncertainty is more than a form of legalism (Mark 7:8–9); it’s antithetical to the very concept of faith (Mark 9:24; Hebrews 12:1).

Rather than allowing room for sincere doubt and questions, some Christian communities reject anything more than superficial curiosity. That may extend to carelessly labelling those with doubts as unbelievers or troublemakers. This lends weight to those who falsely claim that valid answers are only found outside the church. Faith communities may obsess over teachings that are secondary or even superficial. They may cement cultural and political preferences into their view of Christianity. Those errors also feed the false narrative driving much of the modern deconstruction movement.

Some deconstruct in response to deeply personal pain. Those who have been neglected, rejected, or even abused within a church context struggle to separate unbiblical traumas from legitimate teachings of Scripture. Failures and betrayals from Christian leaders create heartache and embarrassment. Pain felt by those we love becomes pain in our own lives. Some respond to these struggles by jettisoning doctrines or beliefs; this is partly an attempt to distance themselves from the stigma of another person’s actions.

Such failures of the modern church can and should be corrected. However, what is now called “deconstruction” reflects long-established and innate principles. There will always be those whose connection to faith is superficial (Matthew 7:21). Others have understanding fragile enough to fail under strain (Hebrews 3:12). Jesus’ parable of the Sower includes two groups who demonstrate a response to truth, only to be overcome by worldly pressure or persecution (Matthew 13:20–22). Paul knew people often succumb to attractive lies (2 Timothy 4:3–4). Paul witnessed close friends yielding to popular trends (2 Timothy 4:10). Even Christ saw people walk away because they did not want to accept His message (John 6:65–66).

Next time we will continue our look at deconstruction; until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

What is deconstruction? Part 1

What does it mean when people say they are deconstructing their faith?

“Deconstruction” is the heading most recently applied to the process of questioning, doubting, and ultimately rejecting aspects of Christian faith. This is an application of deconstructionism, an approach that claims to disassemble beliefs or ideas while assuming their meanings are inherently subjective. Both the trend and its title reflect backlash against the unfortunate habit within some religious circles to downplay deep questions and ignore those who hold them. To openly investigate the nuances of belief, even changing one’s convictions, is a biblical concept. In practice, though, “deconstruction” almost always acts as a polite cover for “demolition.” Modern “deconstruction” usually means replacing uncomfortable tenets with culturally or personally popular ideas.

A fundamental belief in biblical Christianity is that of man’s limited understanding compared to God’s unlimited understanding. Scripture often draws this contrast explicitly (Isaiah 55:8–9; Job 38:1–4; John 6:45–46). Scripture also teaches this truth indirectly, noting how sincere Christians often come to different conclusions (Romans 14:1–5; 1 Corinthians 10:28–32). The Bible says we can be stubborn and interpret His will wrongly (John 5:39–40). This does not mean everything is subject to opinion (1 Corinthians 3:10–14; 15:3–8); rather, it means everything should be open to sincere questions (Matthew 7:7–8). Deconstruction claims to explore such issues, though its ultimate motivation is often not to understand, but to undermine.

Scripture commands each person to scrutinize his or her faith. This includes fact-checking (Acts 17:11), thoughtful preparation (1 Peter 3:15), reasonable skepticism (1 John 4:1), cooperation with others (Proverbs 27:17), multiple perspectives (Proverbs 15:22), and an appreciation for all God has shown in His creation (Romans 1:18–20; Psalm 19:1). Scripture often depicts people crying out with doubtful complaints and frustrations (Psalm 73:2–3; Habakkuk 1:2–4). Those who examine what they believe and why they believe it, assessing those views for truth, are following a biblical mandate (2 Corinthians 13:5). Yet this is not what the modern deconstruction movement does.

Next time we will continue our look at deconstruction; until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

We’re Truly a Blessed Nation

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.”- Psalm 33:12a

            The people of His inheritance is Israel, however, because of their rejection of Christ, the door was opened for gentiles to receive God’s grace and mercy. This great country of ours was founded on such principles. Sadly, the influence of Satan has permeated much of our landscape. Being given a free will to choose allows us to do as we please. The positive side of that is that when we choose to serve God we do so willingly without coercion. We don’t have to follow the ways of God, but we can. The United States of America was and is great because its’ people as a whole are great. There are still millions of Americans who love this country and believe strongly in God. 

            This nation had been on a path of destruction. Poor decisions and poor leadership took us there. For us to rise up as one nation under God again it will take the commitment of believers to pray each day for our nation. Freedom is not, nor was it ever free. It was bought with a price. Let us not be reckless, but strong in the face of adversity. May God’s perfect will be done for our great nation. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

Key Facts About Eternity

(1) Everyone will exist eternally either in heaven or hell (Daniel 12:2,3; Matthew 25:46; John 5:28; Revelation 20:14,15).

 

(2) Everyone has only one life in which to determine their destiny (Hebrews 9:27).

 

(3) Heaven or hell is determined by whether a person believes (puts their trust) in Christ alone to save them (John 3:16, 36, etc.).

 

Key Passages About Hell

 

(1) Hell was designed originally for Satan and his demons (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

 

(2) Hell will also punish the sin of those who reject Christ (Matthew 13:41,50; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8).

 

(3) Hell is conscious torment.

Matthew 13:50 “furnace of fire…weeping and gnashing of teeth”

Mark 9:48 “where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched”

Revelation 14:10 “he will be tormented with fire and brimstone”

 

(4) Hell is eternal and irreversible.

 

Revelation 14:11 “the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever and they have no rest day and night”

Revelation 20:14 “This is the second death, the lake of fire”

Revelation 20:15 “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire”

 

Please consider these things before you blow off God.

            Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

Hearing IS Believing

So, if seeing is not believing, how can I believe in God? One of the wonderful things about God is that he never leaves us in the dark. He doesn’t just tell us where to go but also how to get there. And the same is true for faith. Consistently throughout the bible, God teaches us that seeing is not believing: Hearing is believing. This is what Paul says: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17). You could not get a more unambiguous verse about how to believe in God. God tells us plainly: Faith comes from hearing!

When we struggle with our faith, we can often forget that God instructs us in how to believe in him. And He teaches us that real faith comes from hearing the words of Christ. This doesn’t mean that all who hear will believe. Many heard Jesus’ words and still rejected him. But this is how the Holy Spirit brings people to faith and maintains our faith: Not by seeing Christ, but by hearing the words of Christ.

In John 4, we see a contrast between those who hear and those who see. An entire Samaritan village come to faith in Jesus, and they explain to the Samarian woman how this happened: “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42).

Not one miracle is recorded while Jesus stayed in that village. And yet they believed in him when they heard the words of Christ for themselves. Hearing is believing. Contrast this with the Jewish village that Jesus visits next. An official begs Jesus to heal his son, and Jesus rebukes them: “Unless you people see signs and wonders … you will never believe”. (John 4:48). The Jewish town would not believe without seeing. But the Samaritans show us that faith comes through hearing. The organ of faith is not the eye, but the ears.

 

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed

 

Jesus offers an incredible promise at the end of John’s gospel: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:21)

Do we really believe that? It is so easy to think that if I could just see God, that would solve all my problems. But it won’t. It won’t actually help you to believe in him. But hearing the word of Christ will. When we struggle to believe, we need to look to the bible and not to the heavens. Immediately after Jesus’ words to Thomas, John explains that He wrote this gospel “…so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” 

The gospel is what God has given us to believe. This is so liberating because you have the gospel. You don’t need look anywhere else. You don’t need anything more. You can believe in God without seeing him. Faith comes through hearing. And those who hear and believe will be blessed.

This concludes our look at Tom Habib’s article of how to believe in God when we cannot see Him. I hope you enjoyed these 3 posts as much as I did. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

This is a Part 3 of a 3 part series taken from an article written by Tom Habib for the Bible Coalition. Tom is a lectures on the New Testament and Greek at Moore Theological College.

Seeing is NOT Believing

First, we need to dispel the myth that seeing is believing. It isn’t and it never has been. The evidence for this is found in the people who did see Jesus. Many people have said to me before, “If I could just see Jesus I would believe in him.” In my braver moments I reply, “No you wouldn’t—if you saw Jesus, you would kill him!” Because that’s what people did. Thousands of people witnessed Jesus perform miracles that were impossible for a mortal man. And yet it was those same crowds that cried out for his crucifixion. Seeing is not believing: just look at those who saw Jesus and did not believe.

Jesus demonstrates this himself in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man descends into hell and pleads with Father Abraham to let him go back and warn his brothers, so that they will not end up there,

Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
‘No, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
He said to them, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ (Luke 16:29-31)

In this parable, Jesus makes clear that someone could witness the resurrection and still not believe. Why? Because seeing is not believing. But this raises a question. If seeing is not believing—then what is the real reason why people don’t believe in God? And Jesus tells us: people don’t believe because they simply don’t want to believe.

In John 7, Jesus’ brothers urge him to “show himself to the world”. They thought that if people just saw Jesus—and in particular his miracles—they would believe and follow him. This is what we often think as well. But Jesus rebukes them: “the world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.” (John 7:7)

Jesus knows that the world will not accept him, and He knows that it has nothing to do with whether they see him and his miracles or not. The real reason that the world will not believe in Jesus is that it hates Jesus. If Jesus were to sing to the world’s tune, it would believe in him in a second. But because Jesus testifies that their works are evil, they hate him. And that is the real reason why they don’t believe in him. They don’t want to.

Later in the same chapter Jesus challenges the religious leaders with this truth: “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” (John 7:16-17)

The person who wants to do God’s will believes in Jesus. The person who wants to live their own way won’t. And this is exactly what we see in the rest of the chapter. The Pharisees’ rejection of Jesus is shown to be completely unfounded. Even one of their own, Nicodemus, thinks they are being unfair. Despite all the evidence, they refuse to believe simply because they don’t want to believe. Their unbelief is not based on reason but rebellion. They want to live life their own way.

And this is true for our world today. You could see Jesus every day of your life and still not believe in him. The Pharisees didn’t. Jesus’ own brothers didn’t. Isn’t the real reason people don’t believe in Jesus simply because they don’t want to?

The final part is coming with the next post. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

This is a Part 2 of a 3 part series taken from an article written by Tom Habib for the Bible Coalition. Tom is a lectures on the New Testament and Greek at Moore Theological College.

How Can I Believe in God if I Can’t See Him?

            Like Thomas in the Bible, we tend to think that seeing is believing. Thomas insists, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25). We are often the same.

We live in a skeptical and cynical age. Few people tell the truth and fewer expect the truth to be told. Facebook is Fake News. Politicians lie. Everyone has an agenda. Truth simply doesn’t matter. And so, we are skeptical. Cynical. It’s hard to believe anything unless it’s staring us straight in the face. And in a culture like this—how could I possibly believe in a God I can’t see. He just sounds made up. 

Our worldview doesn’t help, either. Most of us have grown up with materialism: the belief that nothing exists beyond the material world; that we live in a closed universe; that all reality is found within the four walls of the material realm and that anything outside of it is simply make-believe. This is the air we breathe. So how can we believe in an invisible God who is Spirit? We can’t see him—how can he be real?

We think seeing is believing—just like Thomas. But we’re also very different than Thomas. Because Thomas did get to see. He saw Jesus’ hands and feet. He touched Jesus’ side. He believed because he saw. But we can’t do that. None of us get to see Jesus today. I’m happy for Thomas that he believes when he sees—but how does that help me? How can I believe when I can’t see?

The apostle John was well aware of this dilemma when he wrote his gospel. He was writing to believers who never got to see what he saw. He was asking his first readers to do what we must do today—to believe without seeing. It sounds impossible. And so, John includes what Jesus says to Thomas after he believes: Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (John 20:29)

What an incredible statement. Not only does Jesus make it clear that you can believe without seeing, but that you are blessed if you do! This seems so foreign from our expectations and experience and yet Jesus says that it’s true. Jesus promises us that we can believe without seeing. And He’s right. 

In the next post we’ll see why. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

This is a Part 1 of a 3 part series taken from an article written by Tom Habib for the Bible Coalition. Tom is a lectures on the New Testament and Greek at Moore Theological College.

What Does Theodicy Mean in Christianity?

Does the Bible Give a Definite Answer to Theodicy?

 

God’s only answer to Job is the same one we see throughout scripture: God’s ways are not ours. Even Jesus prayed for God to remove suffering, but only if it was God’s will. His prayer is the ultimate example of how we should respond to trials and suffering. Jesus asked for the suffering to be removed if it was his Father’s will, but he was willing to obey whatever the Father asked of him (Matthew 26:39-42).

 

What Are Some Practical Things We Can Learn from Theodicy?

 

We can learn many things from the concept of theodicy, such as the character of God and the purpose of pain and suffering. Here are a few things we can learn:

 

1. God is infinite, and we are finite, so there are some things we will never understand here on earth. Isaiah 55:8 tell us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (KNJV). He also works on a different schedule than we do. Second Peter 3:8-9 tell us that God’s timeline differs from ours. A thousand years is like a day to him, but He does not forget. He is long-suffering in allowing people to repent before He brings down judgment

2. Faith by nature requires us to trust God even when we don’t understand. First Corinthians 13:12 tells us that “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

3. Suffering brings us closer to God and is a source of transformation. Paul and the other apostles all suffered for Christ. On the day Paul surrendered to Christ, God sent Ananias a message, warning that Paul would suffer many things in Jesus’ name (Acts 9:16).

4. Never dismiss someone else’s suffering. As Christians, we are called to support our brothers, sisters, and non-believers, through prayer and a listening ear. Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep”(NKJV). It does not say to offer explanations or criticism.

5. We shouldn’t waste time in vain arguments. First Peter 6:5, Paul tells Timothy to stay away from proud people who like to argue over useless questions and cause strife in the church.

6. We should make the best use of the time we have. Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us that we should “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (NKJV).

There are some things in this world we will probably never understand this side of Heaven, but our faith is built on trust in God and not on what we can see. While we should diligently study the scriptures and prayer, we shouldn’t allow debates and philosophies to distract us from God’s assignments. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate teacher; we should follow His leadership in everything.

                  This finishes our study. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/theodicy.html#google_vignette

What Does Theodicy Mean in Christianity?

What Are Some Places Where the Bible Talks about Theodicy?

While the term theodicy is not found in the Bible, examples can be found throughout the Scriptures, especially in the Psalms. David often cried out to God about injustice and suffering, such as in Psalm 94:3: “Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?”

Habakkuk also asked the question of how long. He could have been living in today’s time when he penned the following verses: “The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.” (Habakkuk 1:1-4 NKJV)

However, the best example is found in the book of Job. God declared Job righteous yet allowed him to suffer physically and emotionally. If that wasn’t enough, Job’s supposed friends urged him to confess his sins, and his wife told him to curse God and die. Job asked God why 14 times, but instead, God answered him with a description of who God is. Job repented in ashes and vindicated God, saying:

“You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (Job 42:3 NKJV)

 

What Are Christianity’s Major Approaches to Theodicy?

 

There are many approaches to this topic, but according to Dr. Mitchell, some of the more common ones are as follows:

1 - The Free Will approach states that God wanted us to love Him of our own choice, allowing us to choose not to; therefore, evil is the unfortunate result of human free will.

2 - The Soul Making approach sees suffering as a means of growth and improvement, purifying our souls through trials.

3 - The Great Design approach focuses on how God uses all things to work together for a greater good, even if we can’t see it.

4 - The Eschatological Hope approach approaches the problem of evil and suffering as only present for a finite period, but justice will rein in the future.

5 - The Theology of the Cross approach looks at Christ’s suffering on the cross as not only the atonement for sin but also the victory over and judgment upon evil.

6 - The Faith and Trust approach affirms the basic truth that we must have faith that God is good and in control, so He is to be trusted even during trials.

                  Next time we will continue our look at Theodicy as it relates to Christianity. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/theodicy.html#google_vignette

What Does Theodicy Mean in Christianity?

Theodicy is a big word with an important idea: where is God when bad things happen? Rather than ignoring this question, Christianity faces it, but with answers you may not expect.

 

How long must I suffer? 

How long will You allow this evil? 

How long, God?

In a world of natural disasters, wars, and violence, we all look for someone or something to blame. Usually, this falls at God’s feet. How can a good God allow such evil to continue or even exist? It is a question for the ages and the subject of theodicy—which is a big word for a complex issue. We will all face trials and suffering in this world, but a deeper understanding of the term theodicy and its implications can help us look at the issue from a different perspective.

 

What Does the Word Theodicy Mean?

The term theodicy combines the Greek words theos (God) and dikaios (justification). It is an attempt to justify or vindicate God for the existence of evil. Theodicy was first used in 1710 by Gottfried Leibniz in his book Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man and the Origin of Evil. The problem of evil and suffering has been debated for centuries. It is the subject of great literature, such as The Divine Comedy by Dante, Paradise Lost by John Milton), Candide by Voltaire), and Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. In Christian circles, one of the best-known discussions is by C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain. Lewis proposes that pain and suffering are not evil but the way God draws us closer to Himself:

 

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

 

Dr. Mitchell of Dallas Baptist University gives three key approaches to theodicy as follows: the logical problem, the evidential problem, and the existential problem.

 

The logical (deductive) argument states that God exists, and is good, all-knowing, and all-powerful, so how can a good being allow evil to exist?

 

The evidential approach argues that a good God would not allow so much unjustified evil that appears to have no good purpose, as evidence shows to exist in large amounts in the world.

 

The existential approach is the personal argument of, “Why am I suffering?”

 

Next time we will continue our look at Theodicy as it relates to Christianity. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/theodicy.html#google_vignette

What is a Theodicy?

Back to the beginning

 

Looking at these ideas, then, we can see that Epicurus’ version of the problem of evil suffers from a fatal flaw. This can be summed up in one simple statement: the “God” Epicurus criticizes is not the God of the Bible. In other words, Epicurus’ criticism only works against the deities of Greek polytheism* and in the context of a polytheistic view of reality.

 

The Christian can respond to Epicurus as follows:

 

1 - Is God willing to prevent evil, but unable to? Then he is not omnipotent. God is willing to limit evil and has acted to do just that. So, He is still omnipotent.

2 - Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. God is able, but not willing, to abolish our free will. So, He is still omnibenevolent.

3 - Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? God has acted to defeat evil. Evil comes simply when we fall short of His will.

4 - Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? God is not willing to prevent our free will. Your disapproval does not make Him any less God.

 

And, to the more pop-culture-friendly Lex Luthor, Christianity can respond as follows:

 

“If God is all powerful, he cannot be all good. And if he’s all good, then he cannot be all powerful.” God can be all-powerful and choose not to act according to your preferences. When you say, “all good,” what you really mean is “doing things my way”; and when you say, “all powerful,” what you really mean is “capable of making us simultaneously free and robotic,” which is gibberish. An all-powerful, all-good God can allow evil in order to obtain the greater, eternal good.

Human beings will always struggle with the problem of evil. Theodicy is not an attempt to make God appear as palatable as possible. In fact, the opposite is true. A truly rational theodicy has to begin with the admission that our dislike of something does not make it false. The question is not whether God is compatible with our personal preferences. The problem of evil is simply the debate over whether or not God is logically possible. Theodicy, taking all logic and evidence together, clearly says He is—whether we like Him or not.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

*Polytheism - the belief in or worship of more than one god.

What is a Theodicy?

So why allow evil?

Logic says that God does not have to create evil in order for there to be evil. Logic says that God does not have to conform to our moral preferences in order to be perfectly good. So, then, how can a person rationalize the existence of evil in a way that’s relevant to our own experience?

The first point that must be realized is that God is consistent in His “allowance” of our free will and the natural function of His creation. As it turns out, it’s the fact that God is consistent in His moral behaviors that greatly aggravates the skeptic. This is because God’s consistency runs counter to our human preferences: we’d rather God bend or break the rules to suit our own selfish preferences.

For example, God is consistent in allowing human beings a broad use of free will. This includes allowing people the freedom to reject His will and spurn His commands. This can result in consequences for those who choose to disobey. At the same time, much of the suffering of man on earth is due to the decisions of other people. There, again, God is being consistent in allowing humanity the freedom to act.

This is really nothing more than a re-phrasing of the earlier argument about allowing the potential for evil, because, without it, there is no potential for good. The same natural laws that allow us to build skyscrapers and develop medicines can be abused to make bombs and illicit drugs. They are the same laws that produce earthquakes and hurricanes. Too often, we make choices knowing the risks involved or with a deliberate intent to misuse creation and then blame God when those potential problems materialize.

The second point to make is that God is not motionless, silent, and inactive in the face of evil. Here, again, is a point where the critic becomes inconsistent. The same voices who attempt to say, “God is not doing enough to stop evil” are almost always the same ones who object when God does anything to stop evil. The incidents most often pointed to by critics of the Bible as evidence of God’s supposed immorality (such as the destruction of Sodom) were times when God explicitly stated that His actions were a response to malevolence. They were His means of stopping and preventing more evil.

The same critic who cries, “God does nothing about evil,” is all too often the same person calling God immoral for His actions in the flood. Or against the Amalekites. Or at Jericho. God has already taken steps to neutralize and counter evil. Saying He does “nothing” is simply untrue. Complaining that He does “too much” to stop evil is all well and good, but that makes theodicy irrelevant and the problem of evil moot.

The third point is that we have a limited perspective. This is not a very persuasive argument, especially for someone hostile to the idea of God. But, logically, it has to be said that the God under examination is supposed to be omniscient, omnipotent, eternal, and omnipresent. We, of course, are not. We often hear employers, military personnel, parents, doctors, and others reminding us that there are things happening “behind the scenes” that we simply cannot understand. Our inability to understand certain decisions is not hard evidence that those decisions are wrong. It means nothing more than that we have an incomplete understanding.

Finally, one has to take all criticisms of evil in the entire context of Christian teaching. If this life were all there is, then the problem of evil would be a much bigger problem. However, according to the Bible, this is not the only life we are going to live. A person can reject that belief, but he cannot criticize the God of the Bible and His morality as if the afterlife were not an intrinsic part of Christian moral understanding. Christians believe that all wrongs—every single one—will be reckoned with, someday. They believe that God is acting to restrain evil now, just as He has in the past. The Bible makes it clear that the struggles we experience now are not the purpose for which we exist, nor do they define our value. Instead, there is a point to the suffering and a plan that involves making all wrongs right. 

Next, we finish up our look at what a Theodicy is and how evil relates to God. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org