I already knew (I am a Master Prophet) that there would be some miscommunication. That is due to the limited space, the “thoughts behind my comments” (as Q would say) and just the lack of being able to think of every angle or exception that would be raised.
In summary, what I was attempting to convey is this. We must always look back to the Cross as our only static and objective measure of our position in Christ Jesus. I want to ensure that I convey that. What I was not saying is that “there will be no evident fruit and works that proceed the work of grace in the life of the believer”. I personally believe that there are two separate but 100% guaranteed works that Christ accomplishes. 1. Justification. 2. Regeneration. I will not get into the Order of Salvation in this post, but I will focus on the latter.
Regeneration promises us two things. It is the work of the Spirit that gives us the new nature and that new nature guarantees us that what God began in saving us He will continue in sanctifying us. What I mean is this. As a believer (with some minor exceptions such as premature death, or mental capacity) God promises us a work of grace that will conform us to the image of Christ Jesus. As someone used Ephesians 2:10 rightfully we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Not only that the Spirit that resides in us will bear fruit (how much, when, and which ones could be up for debate and makes examining them as an evidence of salvation is what I am arguing against).
Because I am convicted by the tenets of New Covenant Theology, I believe that in the Church the promise of the FULLNESS of the New Covenant including the promises of the New Heart is in operation in the Church today. The writer of Hebrews says this:
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah,
9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant,
and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and I will remember their sins no more.”13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away
I hate to include all of the verses but we have to understand that the writer of the book of Hebrews (ultimately the Holy Spirit) was convinced that the Old Covenant was fully vanished (or obsolete) and the New Covenant is in full operation for those who have placed faith in Christ or better expressed the Church.
We have to understand that though the Old Covenant did have some graciousness in it, by the mere fact that God communicated with sinful man Paul calls it a “ministry of death” and earlier in Chapter 8 of Hebrews the writer says “it has better promises and is a better covenant”. Whats the difference in the two? The first places the law outside of man with no power to obey it. It is a deathly ministry. Paul says in Romans 7 “the commandments came and I died”. He goes on to say “I don’t have the ability to carry it out”.
However in the New Covenant the promises of the ability to carry it out becomes a reality. Paul says in Romans 6 “we have died to sin” and “been freed from the power of sin and death”. This freedom is a reality and a new disposition against sin. Do I carry it out? The answer is no and that is why Paul commands us in Ephesians 4 to “put on the new man”, and “don’t grieve the Spirit” both of these imply that there are times when I will not put on the new man and that I will grieve the Spirit of God. However we can no longer say as Paul says as an Old Covenant believer “I don’t have the ability”.
So I say all of that to clarify this. The TRUE believer will bear fruit, will do good works and will grow and mature given some exceptions. Why? Paul gives us another promise and work of God in Romans 8:29:
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
So I am not advocating antinomianism nor am I advocating a faith the produces lip service. I am advocating a faith that is real genuine but however can only truly be measured by looking at face of God in Christ “the author and finisher of our faith”. I am wanting to prevent a method today that seems to throw grenades in friendly populated areas in order to snuff out a couple of enemy soldiers. That would unwise in military tactics and that would be unwise in the body of Christ. We must be careful not to shake the faith, even if temporary, those little ones. We must be careful to safeguard their assurance not shake up the false professor. Christ will set the goats on one side and the sheep in the other. That is not our job. But again I believe in the fullness of the New Covenant one promise being that of a new heart pre-wired to love God and His commands and the ability to walk it out. Our God is faithful not only to save but also to sanctify and this promise every believer will see. God bless and sorry for any confusion.
I am in compliance with this word brother. I think we really have been saying the same things but not quite understanding the others view point. God has done it all and will do it all. We just comply.
Here is a selection from a Leroy Garrett article:
What makes otherwise good neighbors and excellent people engage in such childish shenanigans? The answer is quite simple. They are operating on false premises. They have been led to believe that the way to please God is to mistreat His other children. Their way to demonstrate loyalty to God is by acting despicably toward others who also profess to love Him. Actually, the very opposite is the case. Fortunately those who have begun to think for themselves and are divesting themselves of the “herd mentality” are fast outgrowing such behavior. They no longer confuse the “law of the pack” with the “love of the flock.” Such development is on an ever-ascending scale. The more who get their eyes opened the fewer there will be who prefer to walk in the shadows. Let me detail briefly some of the wrong concepts which have governed us.
1. Fellowship is conditioned upon agreement. It is not requisite for agreement but the very opposite. We are not in the fellowship because we agree but because we are in the fellowship we strive to come into agreement. Every commandment to be one, to speak the same things, and to see things alike was given to those who were already in the fellowship. Not one was given to bring men into it. Faith in Jesus is essential to fellowship.
2. Conformity in knowledge is essential to working together in Jesus and uniformity of opinion is necessary to our walking together in the Spirit. The apostolic teaching is that knowledge puffs up while love builds up (1 Cor. 8:1). The entire fourteenth chapter of Romans was written to tell us how to get along with brethren with whom we differ.
3. Recognition of the relationship with one in Christ means approval of every idea he espouses. We need to remember that tolerance is not the endorsement of any thing that is wrong, but the endurance of one who thinks it is right. Jesus did not receive us because we were right on everything and will not reject us because we are mistaken about some things. If one is right about Jesus he can be wrong about a lot of other things and still be saved; if he is wrong about Jesus, he can be right about everything else and still be lost.
4. A false teacher is a mistaken brother who expresses his notions. The term “false teacher” is found but once in the sacred scriptures (2 Peter 2:1). He is scripturally identified as one who “through covetousness shall with feigned words make merchandise of others.” The idea conveyed by “pseudo” is that of falsity, misleading or lying, and doing so knowingly. But one can be honestly mistaken and most people who are branded as “false teachers” are. They are not deliberately lying and one is not condoning a lie when he recognizes as a brother one who states his opinion or deduction.
5. Because disciples are to judge the world we are entitled to act as a judiciary to condemn every other believer who disagrees with us about any doctrinal matter. No so. The fact is that Jesus teaches that we shall be judged with the judgment with which we judge others. If we demand that another understand everything just as we do then we shall have to understand everything just as Jesus does. We will be laid beside Him to be measured by the same yardstick we have used upon others. There will thus be no chance for any of us.
So it is no wonder that we are a jittery people and that we bluster about our righteousness to cover up our fears. Let us try to cultivate the one virtue which fulfills the whole law. Every commandment is taken care of by the one precept to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Unfortunately, we have not become known as a particularly compassionate, understanding and forgiving people toward each other, but it is not too late to undo our mistakes.
Bro. Lionel,
This post has my full support. This is the proper view of everything that we have been discussing. Every believer must realize that the evidence, fruit, conditions, attributes, etc. of salvation are not aims, goals, or requirements but rather they are promises of God to those who believe. All praise and glory to His name, not to our efforts!
O.K. The Hurricane is past and my electricity just came back on-now back to Lionel’s blog!
You guys have been busy.
I have not had time to read all of the posts under “caveman” so if this point has already been made, please disregard.
1 Corinthians 1:23 We preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles Foolishness.
This covers all humanity; Jews cannot accept a crucified savior and Gentiles view the cross of Christ as foolishness.
So the gospel is impossible to believe unless we either as Jew or Gentile are given a new heart.
The book of Acts calls this being granted repentance unto salvation. It is granted to and given to those who will inherit salvation as a gift from God.
The gospel is both impossible to believe for those who have not been granted repentance unto salvation and easy to believe for those who have been granted repentance unto salvation and then given a new heart.
I like this as a definition of a believer:
Philippians 3:3 For we are the true circumcision who: 1) worship in the Spirit of God 2) glory in Jesus 3) and put no confidence in the flesh.
I love that definition Hutch.
The quote from Leroy Garrett is insightful and helpful.
i second the sentiments of that post by garrett. luke 6:31
This was an insightful post. I agree with what’s being said here. Lionel, I love you bro, but after last night’s game, I have to say this to you and all those who hate: How bout them Cowboys?!! Grace and peace
Karsten Miller
How about slippery hands! My Lions and Wolverines are a disgrace to everything called football and I am ashamed to speak of them! However Go Blue and Go Lions!!!!!