Theological Reality Dose II

Someone might ask me if I consider myself saved. I would say that I am confident that I am being saved and I would heartily echo Paul's words in Romans "we are closer to salvation today than when we first believed." Also in Romans 8 Paul says that "Hope saves us, but hope that is realized is not hope" implying that however tangible the things of God are to us in this present day, they point to the reality of the promise of salvation which has been secured for us by the Christ. In Romans 5 Paul says that "having been justified...we exult in the hope of the glory of God." That is salvation! Immediately he adds that "we rejoice in our tribulations because they bring perseverance which produces proven character which produces (here it is again) hope." So the hope that propels us toward our future salvation is strengthened by our 'proven character,' or you might say our good works. Faith and hope then are strengthened in an environment of righteous living. So I can't be justified by my works but I might be saved by works if that is the only medium for the establishment and growth of true faith. Did James say something like this?

A Dose of Theological Reality

Charles Ladd in his A Theology of the New Testament says “Salvation is primarily an eschatological gift.”(73) Today the church's paradigm for salvation assumes that salvation is primarily a present gift. This is a dangerous confusion. In our service Sunday the scripture passage read during the service was from 1 Peter. As this passage was read I was impressed again just how the NT writers held to the belief that their salvation was significantly a future event where we would 'obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven.' (v1:4) We are 'born again' now, but 'to a living hope' (v1:3) 'protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.' (v1:5) the 'proof of (our) faith...may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the (future) revelation of Jesus Christ;' (v1:7) 'obtaining as the outcome of (the process/proving of) your faith the (future) salvation of your souls' (v1:9).

And given the futureness of our salvation we are challenged to 'obey Jesus Christ' because 'we are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit' (v1:1,2) 'As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy"' (v1:14-16) And 'if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth.' (v1:17) We are to 'long for the pure milk of the word, that by it (we) may grow in respect to salvation, (having) tasted the kindness of the Lord.' (2:2,3)

These passages in 1 Peter are not at all unique in the NT. We all need to examine our thinking on this subject and take care to not assume we are in a position that the very Apostles refused to claim for themselves.

The Feminization of the Body

I have recently heard pastors / teachers warning of the feminization of the body. I think the reason that the church loses the men is because the leadership / clergy sustain a flawed system that classifies most men as no more than women; able to grow a beard, among other things, but given no voice in the worship of the church. We, along with the women, also must go home with our questions / opinions unheard after sitting thru a lecture by a supposed expert. The early church worship was very similar to that of the synagogue. Over time, every adult male had the opportunity to share from the scripture (1 Cor 14:29). In this structure the gifts flowed very naturally among 1st century Christians. In my opinion the Catholic Church perverted the worship service giving their clergy / priesthood preeminence. The reformers, those paragons of the truth, did not reinstitute that fellowship, perhaps clinging to the idea of the clergy while rejecting the idea of the priesthood. You want men to be involved in the fight? You want men to struggle with the ideas and issues of the faith? Then stop the lecturing, find some other venue in which to teach and inform (lecture if you must) and give back to the body the Sabbath / Lord’s day to do the work of the ministry (Eph 4)!! I challenge you to give that some thought.