Is Providence Downplayed?

I can remember reading early American literature of the Puritan era where they wrote of  Providence  (a term not found in Scripture, but biblical, nevertheless). The Federalist Papers and the Declaration of Independence mention it also. Ben Franklin said, "The longer I live the more I see that God governs in the affairs of men." Lincoln referred to Providence, and not just as rhetoric--he believed in it. Today a lot of people think this is just some town in Rhode Island.

Actually, Providence is "God's answer to happenstance," as Charles Colson puts it. When you realize there is no such thing as chance (it's merely a mathematical probability),  luck (which is dumb), fortune (it's blind), or fate (which is impersonal). (As R. C. Sproul describes it.) There's no such thing as coincidence; God governs over all things great and small. Prov. 16:33 talks about even the throw of the dice is in God's control. God is no onlooker or spectator, but is actively involved in ruling everything. According to R. C. Sproul, there isn't even one "maverick molecule" in the universe.

Naturalism says everything is ruled by independent iron-clad laws that can't be broken. The mistakes in thinking are Deism (that God doesn't interfere), Pantheism (that God is nature), and the Epicurean notion of chance and the Stoic notion of fate. Providence actually refers to God's government of the universe, concurrence (working together) of secondary and primary causes, and preservation of nature. Theologians have written volumes expounding on these aspects of Providence. The issue is God's sovereignty, plain and simple.

Arminians want to believe that God's will is not always done, and that in our "free will" we can frustrate or thwart God making things happen--that He doesn't ordain to be. Up with man and down with God, so to speak. They think that God was frustrated and had to change His plans when Satan sinned, as if that was not in God's plan. If God was unable to keep evil out of the Universe in the first place (according to Arminians), what makes them think that He can keep it out in eternity--what if one of us goes bad? You see, God could have kept Adam from sinning and also kept his will intact; however, it was in His decreed or secret will to have Adam fall and then to redeem the elect of the race.

Arminians don't understand how God can cause us to do something willingly (cf. Phil. 2:13). Indeed, He makes the unwilling willing (cf. Jer. 20:7).  , because He is the potter and we are the clay (cf. Isa. 64:8). He melts the hardest heart and makes the heart of stone into a heart of flesh (cf. Jer. 24:7). Arminians don't understand that God decreed the crucifixion down to the minutest detail and every sinful act included without interfering (i.e. using an outside force to force him to do something) with anybody's own will. Arminians don't understand that God is the causa prima or first cause and man is only the causa secunda or secondary cause.

We are moral agents who have the power of willing choice and responsibility for what we do. Jesus said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing." Acts 17:28 says, "In Him we live and move and have our being." Eph. 1:11 says, "He accomplishes all things according to the counsel of His will." "I will accomplish all My good pleasure," He says in Isa. 46:`10. God does as He pleases in heaven and on earth (Ps. 135:6); that's one of the perks of being God. The poem, Invictus, by William Ernest Henley, talks about man being the "captain" of his fate. ("I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps", says Jer. 10:23; cf. Prov. 20:24; 16:9.) But actually, Christ is the captain of our destiny.

The Arminian doesn't see how God can ordain us to do evil without being stained by it--he limits God's omnipotence. God doesn't do evil, but uses evil (yes, he uses Satan as His servant) for His glory and purpose. Ps. 76:10 says, "He makes the wrath of men to praise Him...." Joseph said that his brothers meant him harm, but God meant it for good (Gen. 50:20; 45:5).

If God can ordain the crucifixion, it stands to reason that He can ordain all events. If God ordained one sin,  He can't be holy according to their way of thinking (Acts 2:23; 4:28 refer to the crucifixion). No one can thwart Him or say to Him "What are you doing?" (see Job 9:12; Dan. 4:35).   "No one can resist His will" (Rom. 9:19). Either God rules or man rules, there is no middle ground or neutral position. We live in an age of luck and of denying God's ultimate control over His creation.

Jonathan Edwards said that he likes to "ascribe absolute sovereignty" to God. God is in control of the nations (Psalms 22:28). ("The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as rivers of water, He turns it whithersoever he will.") He sets up one and down another--all the nations are a drop in the bucket to Him. ("I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil"--Is. 45:7.)  John Wesley read the newspaper daily "to see how God is doing in the world." God doesn't have "Plan B." He knows the future because He is in control of it; not just because He has foresight or a crystal ball, as it were.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Prosperity Doctrine Caveat

Everyone is talking about the "name-it-and-claim-it" teaching or the "health-wealth-and-prosperity" doctrine. The seeker-sensitive churches are well aware that this draws a crowd. The "church of what's happening now" is telling people just what they want to hear. False prophets in the Bible did the same thing--they prophesied what the people wanted to hear; they tickled their ears. True prophets were known for making people uncomfortable. Evangelism has become a marketing scheme and a promotional effort. Charismatic and entrepreneurial preachers (who don't have any exegetical skills) are gaining a following of themselves, not the Lord. I know this from personal experience where I was a "fan" of the teacher. Jesus never made it easy to become a disciple, he never toned down is requirements and made it more palatable--he wanted self-denial and the willingness to carry a cross. Beware of "easy-believism" that doesn't require bowing to the Lordship of Christ in repentance and faith.

I'm not saying that God doesn't prosper Christians: Far from it--"God delights in the prosperity of His servant." The problem is that Satan masquerades as an angel of light and is a sheep in wolves clothing. Just being able to prophesy or preach (some are really just great speakers or storytellers or comedians) doesn't mean it has the Lord's blessing, but God can still use him for His purposes. (Some will say, "Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name?") I am not vilifying or casting a slur on any certain preachers--whom I would rather call motivational speakers--but a word to the wise is sufficient.

Some of them are saying, "Ask not what you can do for God, but what God can do for you!" (Does that sound familiar?) People are seeking the benefits, not the Benefactor. God never said that money, fame, prosperity, or success was the reward--He is the reward. "The Lord is my portion..." (Lam. 3:24) See also Ps. 73:26. ("I am thy great and precious reward.") God looks at the motive--are you looking for money or for Him? Seek and you shall find, but you must search with all your heart (Jer. 29:13). Are we just to turn in our "spiritual lottery ticket?" Are the poor Christians in North Korean concentration camps just guilty of being Christians, or of not turning in their ticket? It is a higher calling to be a martyr than to be a millionaire, for instance. Prosperity is becoming the goal, not maturity in Christ. The mark of the believer is becoming wealthy, not the love of the brethren. (John 13:35 says they shall know the disciples by their love.)

The ironic thing is that God does prosper us--sometimes in ways we don't expect, though. Whatever you find to do, he can make you good at it. Brother Lawrence was a faithful cook in a monastery and practiced the presence of God, not wondering what blessing God had in store for him. There is saving faith and temporal faith. Temporal faith can be trusting God for a new job, for instance. Some ask, "If God is going to bless people, why not me?" The rain falls on the just and the unjust--God's principles work for the wicked as well. God's so-called common grace extends to all His creatures. The point is, what is your motive. Scripture says to "seek first the kingdom of God...." If you want God you will get success, etc. and if you want that you won't get it.

The covenant of Abraham still is in effect and we can claim many promises in the Bible. "Be it done unto you according to your faith" (Matt. 9:29). Remember: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." And "Do not love the world, neither the things of the world...." (Ps. 73:25-26 says, "For who have I in heaven but You, and earth has nothing I desire besides You...the Lord is my portion.") A wise man has said that our wealth doesn't consist in the abundance of our possessions, but in the fewness of our wants. "Store up treasures in Heaven...." Some seem to imply that if you're not prosperous in their estimate, there must be some sin in your life or you don't have enough faith. That may be true for some, but it is not always true, so you cannot judge. Where does it say, "You shall know them by their possessions"?


The truly spiritual man is content with what he has according to Phil 4:11 and David says in Ps. 23: "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want...." We are to be "anxious for nothing...." Paul says that if he has food, clothing, and shelter he will be content. The order is to "Delight yourself in the Lord" or to be a Christian "hedonist" (according to John Piper), then God will give you the desires of your heart; however, those desires change as you grow in Christ. Paul said, "Whatever I had counted as profit, I now consider as loss...knowing Christ...." We don't get any promise to get all our "felt" needs, but only our legitimate needs, as God sees them. We are merely stewards of what God gives us, our time, talents, money, resources, and friends. Scripture says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Greed is one of the seven d/e/a/d/l/y sins. It is not wrong to want something good, but it must be on God's terms. He demands tithing, lordship, repentance, spiritual growth, among other things. Tithing is not a legal requirement for salvation, (note that tithing in itself to bend God's will doesn't work, for God loves a cheerful giver according to 2 Cor. 9:7), or sanctification, but a principle of God's economy to be blessed by God. The secret to being blessed is to bless. "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). The mature Christian is so busy being a steward of what God has blessed him with and counting his blessing that he doesn't worry about being prosperous or wealthy. We should see God's blessing as having purpose of His glory. "...That you may have an abundance for every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8).


There are several promises and passages in Holy Writ that deal with this. God has a lot to say about the subject. Mal. 3:10 says that we should "test" God with tithing and He will meet all our needs and more! Ps. 84:11 says, "...no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless." 1 Tim. 6:17 says, "He has given us all things for our enjoyment." I like Jer. 29:11 the best: "For I know the plans that I have for you, says the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future." Josh. 1:8 is classic: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart form your mouth...Then [note the condition] you will be prosperous and successful." "Delight yourself in the Lord [make God your highest joy], and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Ps. 37:5). Deut. 8:18 is widely read: "For remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth." (Never give yourself credit for your prosperity , thinking it was a fluke, or just think you're lucky!) "...And I will heal My people and bring them abundant peace and security." By the way, where is your security? Matt. 6:33 says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

Prosperity and success per se are no sign of God's favor or approval. One of the oldest questions in the Bible is, "Why do the wicked prosper?" (see Ps. 73) There is a right church for every believer, depending on where he is at spiritually. You don't have to go to a prosperity-teaching church for God to prosper you. I do not wish to judge any preacher's ministry, but only to make manifest the issues involved. "The rich and poor have this in common--God is the maker of them both." Some wise man has said that for every 100 people who can handle poverty, only one can handle prosperity. The point is this: You have to define success and prosperity, because they may vary from person to person. Success to one person may be being a good dishwasher or waiter--to another a good doctor or preacher. Success is really finding God's calling on our lives and enjoying it. Mother Teresa said, "God doesn't call us to success, but to faithfulness."

Success is up to Him, our part is faith. God tests all of us, and we must learn to rejoice in the Lord always, regardless (Hab. 3:18 says even if the trees don't blossom, we should rejoice--as long as we have the Lord we have not lost all.) The commission of the church is to spread the gospel and to edify the saints, not to make an empire. I don't believe we have to take vows of poverty like Catholic priests do, but we should be modest and not flaunt our wealth either. One of the churches in Revelation was poor and Paul collected offerings from a poor church to help out the poor brethren in Jerusalem--they gave out of their poverty--but first, they give of themselves.

Christ, though He was rich, become poor, that you through His poverty might become rich (but he isn't necessarily talking about money). I feel sorry for the rich man who is not rich towards God. "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Good advice: Earn as much as you can, save as much as you can, give away as much as you can. Hebrews 11 tells of the heroes of the faith that didn't receive the promise, but the world wasn't worthy of them, nevertheless.

True success as a ministry is not measured in clout, prosperity, wealth, politics, numbers, or any other worldly idea, but in its adherence to the truth and faithfulness. Many so-called preachers are highly popular in the eyes of the world, but Jesus says, "Woe unto you when all men speak highly of you" (Luke 6:26). Doesn't Sun Myung Moon, of the Unification Church cult have one of the largest churches in the world?--case in point! "To mock the poor is to insult God," says Proverbs and to imply that everyone should be rich is mocking in my opinion. God has chosen the poor in this life to be rich in faith.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Powers Of Discernment/Judgment

When a preacher claims to be pronouncing prophetic utterances and exercising his discernment to insult the parishioners, I think he is out of line and is really judging. Actually, it could be the preacher's fault and not the congregation's that they are not saying "amen" enough to his satisfaction and encouragement. I believe in the power of discernment to notice people's eye's rolling, people falling asleep, people chattering, or sighing, but not to the extent of telling whether a person is "in the Spirit," as John would term it. Some people are less demonstrative and more stoic or phlegmatic. I can see how a Pentecostal preacher might react to a Baptist or Presbyterian congregation.

The hireling has no care for the flock and is only concerned with making an impression; the wolf in sheep's clothing scatters the flock and does not feed it. Good storytelling, anecdotes, jokes, and witty sayings are no substitute for the exegesis of the Word. The pastor of the church is responsible for the content of what the guest preacher says and should show discernment and not just "amen" everything.

God gives us all discernment and it grows with maturity, but we do not have a license to judge (and I mean insult) our (especially another pastor's) congregation. One has to ask, "Who do you think you are?" The Scripture says in Prov. 16:21 that "the wise in heart shall be called discerning." Chuck Swindoll says that the power of discernment is the ability to read between the lines. It is the power to perceive spiritual truth, not the ability to judge or read minds.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Preachers With Visions

Some preachers unashamedly go on and on in great detail about visions, (Col 2:18 ESV warns against this) thinking this is some sort of credential or approbation of God to their testimony. We don't need visions to tell us what to believe, but should "rely on the Word."

I think of Thomas asking to see Jesus, and being told, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believed." Seeing a vision is not something to be sought after. I know we live in the last days, and Joel prophesies that young men shall see visions, but I don't think that this is a promotion per se, and shouldn't necessarily be shared--what on earth is their motive, except to perhaps exalting themselves. This is not the norm, and to talk about visions can be very discouraging for those who have to rely on simple faith.

There is a great possibility of being led astray by false mysticism and the deceived. Visions are not edifying and the Bible never says to preach visions, but to preach the Word. Preachers should be expositors, exegetes (doing exegesis or explanation/analysis of the text), encouragers, or modern-day prophets (having a vital message for our day) who are in tune with the Word, and not only with their own spirit and personal experiences.

Let's not forget Sun Myung Moon of the Unification Church of South Korea who claims to have live conversations with Christ. This is dangerous territory and I think any preacher who feels led to share a vision should do it in a humble way so as not to seem to be exalting himself or making it seem normal. One has to wonder about the motive for sharing his vision. Paul was very humble and hesitated to share his vision. If one wants to boast, he should boast that he knows the Lord (Jer. 9:24). When the Scripture says in Prov. 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish..." it does not mean we're supposed to have visions, but be visionaries.   Soli Deo Gloria!

I think Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Church expounds on this theme.

The Trinity's Value

A sure sign of a cult is that it denies the Trinity and hence the deity of Christ. Tertullian first used the term "Trinity" in the third century, but the doctrine was really defended by Athanasius in the fourth century, who was called the Father of Orthodoxy. The term is not found in Scripture, but neither is Providence, Incarnation, or Deity of Christ. There are two main heresies: modalism, which says that God merely expresses Himself in three ways, like a person being at once a husband, employee, and son simultaneously (the Oneness Pentecostals take this stand); and tritheism, which says the three together are God.

The orthodox position is that God is three persons (the tripersonality), each person is fully God, there is one God. This is not a contradiction, but a paradox beyond our comprehension. To say that God is three persons and God is one person is a contradiction. It is better to think of God not one person, but as being personal. Personalities cannot exist in isolation and neither can love, and God is love. "God in three persons blessed Trinity" goes the hymn. God is trinitarian, manifesting a "three-in-oneness" of personality.

We are uni-personal, but God is tri-personal. This is the "tri-unity" of God that we cannot fathom and must accept by faith. The Trinity is a unity--this should not be hard to understand because three Christians can be "one in the Spirit." There are many "trinities" in nature: water is known as a liquid, ice, and steam; yet it is still the same molecule and each is just as much water as the other.

When we say there is one God we are saying one essence. Each person is coexistent, coeternal, and coequal; however, the Father is exalted and the Son is subordinate. Subordination does not mean inferiority, just like a wife being subordinate to her husband does not mean inferiority. The members of the "Godhead" (a term found in Rom. 1) have definitive roles in salvation, for instance. The Father originated and purposed and planned it; the Son fulfilled and carried it out and implemented it; while the Holy Spirit applies it. It is said that things are "out of" the Father, "through" the Son, and "in" the Spirit. There is an economy of roles in the Godhead. Creation is assigned to the Father, redemption to the Son, and sanctification to the Spirit. God the Father is our Father, Christ is our intercessor, and the Spirit is our Paraclete and Dynamo. Jesus was the "Angel of the Lord" in the Old Testament and his appearances are known as Christophanies. Jesus is our go-between and we are empowered by the Spirit to have fellowship with the Trinity.

All of the divine attributes of God are attributed to the Son and to the Spirit and they are equally "persons" of one substance or essence. The varied roles of the Trinity stress their individual personalities. However, though the Spirit is different from the Son, there is no "unChristlikeness" in the Spirit's character.

Humans could not be known as a personality in isolation from other humans in much the same way God has to be known through three persons. Multiple persons are necessary for love and personality. The Son proceeds from the Father and is begotten of the Father, but not made or created. If the Son were created, as Arius suggested, then it would be idolatry to worship Him and He couldn't redeem us as the God-man. All analogies that illustrate the Trinity fall short, but they give us an idea of the possibility of trinitarian thought.

There are several Scriptures that mention the Trinity specifically, though you could prove it the roundabout way of proving that there is one God and that each member is also God. Isa. 48:16 mentions all members of the Trinity. The baptism of Jesus mentions all three members. The benediction of 2 Cor. 13:14 puts all members in juxtaposition. Think of the baptismal formula of the "name" (singular) of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). "I am the Lord, there is no other, besides Me, there is no God" (Isa. 45:5). Each member is fully God, not one-third God--but there is no disharmony or disunity in the Godhead. Note the "plural" name of God as Elohim and in the Shema (Deut. 6:4) "the Lord is one ("Echad" one as in a cluster).

Illustrations abound: In the church, we have many members, yet one body; husband and wife are one in body, mind, and spirit in God's eyes. There is one Being, yet three personalities; just like it is possible for a mentally ill person to have multiple personalities. Each person in the Godhead relates to the others as "Him," "Me," "You," or "Us." The example in Genesis One of creation is not the plural of majesty like a king would talk, and it is not God speaking to angels, but the members of the Trinity talking to each other and speaking for each other: "Let Us make man in Our image...."

The Son is called that because that is His relationship to the Father and shows a filial fellowship and understanding. A son is not inferior to his father (subordination is not inferiority), but equal in natural endowments in essence.  Actually, the Son is called "God" by the Father in Heb. 1. Jesus was 'calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God"--and for that, they wanted to stone Him. Once you realize that Jesus is God in the flesh, it is not a very big leap to understand that the Holy Spirit is also God.

You cannot be a Christian unless you recognize the deity of Christ (2 John 9). Jehovah's Witnesses see Jesus as the first created being and not as the Creator of the universe. They see Him as "a god" not as "God." As "a son of God" not as "the Son of God." God cannot be anything else, truth is not always easy to understand. No one can fully comprehend the divine essence of the Trinity, because the finite cannot grasp the infinite. If anyone does not abide in the doctrine of Christ, he does not have the Father; it's just as simple as that (see 2 John 9).  Soli Deo Gloria!

Seeking God?

God's Word promises that all who do indeed seek God "earnestly" will find Him. "Ask, and it will be given to you, seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matt. 7:7). "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). However, it also says, "Seek the Lord while He may be found..." (Isaiah 55:6a). "He that comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). So God does promise to reward the sincere seeker and not the mere trifler.

Some say that they are glad so many people are "seeking God" as they read the best-seller The Shack, but the Word says, "There is none who seeks God" ( Rom. 3:11b). Martin Luther says, "To say: man does not seek God is to say: man cannot seek God." They are seeking the benefits, not the Benefactor. They are in reality running away from God and hiding from Him like Adam in the garden. Isaiah 65:1b says, "I was found by those who didn't seek Me." "The search for God begins at salvation, it doesn't end at salvation," according to R. C. Sproul. Seeking God is the main business of the Christian's life, says Jonathan Edwards.

The reward is not money, fame, fortune, prosperity, or anything material, but God Himself--He is the reward. "I am thy great and precious reward," said God to Abraham (cf. Ps. 73:26). Some people think that sincerity impresses God and that He rewards all who are sincere in their religiosity. God is no man's debtor and seeks out those whom He wills and chose in eternity past. We get none of the glory or credit, not even the bragging rights to say we sought God-we cannot pat ourselves on the back at all. You have to be sincere, but that in itself does not obligate God. Many a Muslim is sincere and fanatical to boot. God owes no man and is obliged to save no man, but all is grace. Soli Deo Gloria!

Living Relationship With Christ

In regards to having a relationship with Christ, I would like to explain a few things. This is a cliche that isn't in the Bible. Walking with God is and fellowship with Christ is, though. When we are born again we have a positional relationship with Christ of course that doesn't change (We are "in Christ" as the Bible says, which means we are justified once and for all), but to maintain our "walk" we need to have no unconfessed or unjudged sin in our lives that God convicts us of. We need to trust and obey, doing nothing that we couldn't invite Him to do with us.

When we present the gospel we are not presenting a formula or a prefabricated prayer to say to become a Christian, but a person to respond to and to get to know. Christianity is the only religion that one can have personal knowledge (we can know Him, but not comprehend Him, since He is infinite and we are finite) of God, and God knows and loves us personally. Islam, of course, is impersonal and fatalistic. Islam means "submission" and Kismet is an impersonal fate. They think God is too great to know them individually, but au contraire! It's not that we know God, but that He knows us, that's vital though (Gal. 4:9). "But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God...."

I am asked, "How is your prayer life?" and it is something I pray that God will improve. I don't need more books to inspire me to pray, because I know the basic doctrines--I just need to discipline myself and take the time to "practice the presence of God" as Bro. Lawrence talked about (He can be with us in the most mundane, humdrum activities). Take time to be holy! Time spent in prayer is time well invested. It fortifies us spiritually. Someone wise has said, "Satan laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when he sees the weakest saint on his knees!" I don't know how, but there's power when we get on our knees, according to the song.

God's usual way of speaking to us is through His Word, but our communion with Him can be jeopardized by bad relationships with fellow Christians. No one can say he is an island and that it doesn't matter what kind of relationships he has with people. Even broken fellowship with one's spouse can hinder prayer. So let's strive to be in fellowship with God and our fellow believers. In seeking God we find that the reward is not material things, but God Himself ("I am thy exceeding great reward" Gen. 15:1).   Soli Deo Gloria!

What About Repentance?

First, let me define the term. It comes from the Greek metanoia which means to "think after," "after-thought," or to "change one's mind." Actually, it means to do a 180-degree turn or to do an about-face in military parlance. It is repudiating and renouncing sin; not doing it partway. It is not mere emotionalism but involves the mind or intellect, the will, and the emotions. It is the gift of God and is a fruit of saving faith, not a condition for salvation; Reformed theologians do not believe we can do anything to prepare ourselves for salvation, because we are depraved people who cannot do anything meritorious. A DEAD man can do nothing! This U-turn, aboutface, or turnaround is a radical change of heart, mind, and will. It is not a one-time event but is progressive and one is never through repenting as far as God sees it--it is progressive. It is not remorse, self-condemnation, regret, or feeling sorry, for Judas had these--it must be accompanied by saving faith. It is more than eating humble pie--it is coming clean with God and owning up to our sin.   Surrender to the lordship of Christ is implied and there can be no real repentance without it-- there must be submitted to the Lord's will and absolute surrender.

John the Baptist heralded Christ's coming with the message, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." This is also the first message Christ proclaimed. Repentance is a recurring motif in the Scriptures. "Unless you repent, you shall likewise perish," Christ warned. Ezek. 18:30 says, "Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin." "And the times of ignorance God winked at, but now commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). "Repent, and be baptized every one of you...for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). Many see repentance as the prerequisite of salvation and the starting point. We must see our sin, our need, and then Christ can fill that need. Faith and repentance are linked in Acts 20:21, which mentions "repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ."

 It is clear that repentance is a mandate. It is in the imperative case and everyone has to do it. Some say that the righteous have no need of repentance, but they are righteous because they have already repented or demonstrated saving faith. Spurious repentance or pseudo-repentance is like a child that just wants to be good enough not to be whipped (being sorry about the consequence not that he offended someone).

The Roman Catholic Bible (Vulgate) translates "repentance" as "doing penance." They view it as a meritorious work and externalize it, and not as the gracious work of God in a person's heart. We do works fit for repentance, but repentance is an attitude that God grants us. "If perchance God may grant them repentance..." (2 Tim. 2:25). Acts 5:31 and 11:18 talk of God "granting repentance." There is no genuine repentance without saving faith, and likewise, no saving faith without genuine repentance according to Billy Graham; for they are complementary and go hand in hand. Repentance is the flip side of the coin of faith.

One must either have believing repentance or penitent faith, so to speak, as John Piper and Wayne Grudem phrase it. True repentance manifests itself in works that are appropriate (bringing forth fruit worthy of repentance), and I don't mean doing so many "Hail Mary's" or "Our Father's."  Restitution or reconciliation is often called for, but to be sure we must see our sin as God sees it and that it is an offense against His holiness. (Confession means to "say the same thing as.")

Many preachers today do not preach repentance because it is such a killjoy word, and they want to tickle the ears of the church members. People listen to what their itching ears want to hear, and this is unpopular. Without repentance, there is no salvation, but God grants repentance in His grace. False repentance is attrition or simply regret. Contrition is when we are truly sorry and don't intend to do it again. Judas was sorry and Esau was sorry, but they found no repentance. Whereas Peter was truly sorry for having denied the Lord and did find repentance and a change of heart, and thus forgiveness and restoration. Peter sincerely believed in the Lord--that is the difference. He believed the Lord could forgive him and never despaired.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Is Faith A Gift Or A Meritorious Work?

This is an issue that separates Arminian and Reformed theologians. If you believe faith is a work, then you are saved by works.  But we are saved by grace:  "Not by works of righteousness which we have done," (cf. Titus 3:5).   If you believe faith is a gift, then you are saved by the grace of God. Titus 3:7 says we are "justified by grace." Faith is not something we conjure up, but it is bestowed on us through the preaching of the Word. "Faith comes by hearing and by hearing of the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17).
Regeneration actually precedes faith according to John Piper and John Orr.  NB:  If we could believe prior to or without regeneration, what good is regeneration?  The fact is that God quickens faith in us.  The Spirit is like the wind that blows where it wills. "For by grace are you saved by faith, and that (the complete deal) not of yourselves, it is the gift of God..." (Eph. 2:8-9).

We don't psyche ourselves up for faith, and we don't catch it like an illness from others, we don't conjure it up--it comes directly from the Holy Spirit who quickens faith within us. He overcomes our hardened heart and reluctance to believe. God has the ability to cause us to do something willingly in His omnipotence. Rome, on the other hand, has made faith into a meritorious work and denies that there is any such "gift."

Some pertinent verses are as follows:

"For you have believed through grace..." (Acts 18:27). "...To those who have obtained like precious faith..." (2 Pet. 1:1). "For it has been granted unto you ... to believe in Him..." (Phil. 1:29). "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ HAS BEEN born of God..." (1 John 5:1 ESV, emphasis mine; (2 Thess 2:13) says "sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.'   Nota bene  HAS BEEN means this is the past tense indicating that regeneration precedes faith. "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him..." (John 6:29). "God ... opened the door of faith to the Gentiles..." (Acts 14:27). "God opened Lydia's heart to pay attention to Paul..." (Acts 16:14). "What do you have that you didn't receive?"  (1 Cor. 4:7).

Faith is our act (God doesn't have faith--He doesn't believe for us!), but it is God's work in us. Soli Deo Gloria. God gets all the glory, and we have nothing to boast of. It isn't our virtue nor our wisdom, but God's. God is no man's debtor and isn't obligated to save anyone, or salvation would be justice, not grace.  It is grace that He saves anyone. God works all things "according to the pleasure of His will." "We are the clay, He is the potter" (See Isaiah 64:8).  Soli Deo Gloria!

Simple, But Not Ignorant Faith

God wants us to have simple faith, but not simplistic, childlike, but not childish.

Some say we should keep our walk as simple as possible. But the mature Christian has developed a taste for the Word and doesn't balk at the deep things of God's Word. Augustine has said, we believe in order to understand, and our faith is enhanced as we gain a better understanding. Our faith is growing and living like Peter says, "Grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Being negative to knowledge per se is not an option, the reason the Jews went into captivity was lack of knowledge ("For this reason, My people go into exile, because they have no knowledge," says Isa. 5:13.) We can have a simple walk with the Lord and know him in a deeper communion. Ignorance is not bliss, as they say, but knowledge and confidence are like Siamese twins that are linked together, says Charles Swindoll. "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free," says John 8:32.

Eccles. 12 says "Much study is weary to the flesh." Well, it's not weary to the spirit, especially if God is in it according to Phil. 4:13, which says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Make sure were just not slothful with our minds--love God with all your mind. "Of making many books there is no end." We need scholars, though everyone is not cut out to be one so that we don't have to start out at square one and rediscover the Trinity, the rapture, the deity of Christ, or Providence.

Everyone isn't intellectual, but some are and they shouldn't be treated with contempt and become "anti-intellectual."  We are commanded to study to show ourselves approved. The commandment to love God with all our "heart, soul, and mind" is appropriate, and we should not have lazy minds. "Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord" (Hos. 6:3).  "For I desire the knowledge of God more than burnt offering" (Hos. 6:6).

Paul says he'd rather have us not ignorant in Rom. 1:13. When it says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good," it means that learning about God makes us thirsty for more and makes us want to turn it into a knowledge of God. "Now that you have tasted that the Lord is good...." God equates ignorance with foolish men and knowledge with wise men. (Ignorance in the Bible comes from the same Latin root word as an ignoramus and agnostic, from the Greek, means the same thing.)   Soli Deo Gloria!