A Boomer in the Pew

The Doctrine of Adoption - Membership in God's Family

Father and Son sculpture from Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo, Norway.

When I was in college, in the mid-seventies, I had the opportunity to spend thirty days in Europe each year.  As I begin to prepare for this post, and give some thought to what image I would like to present, this sculpture popped into my mind. 

I can recall standing in front of this Vigeland sculpture and feeling a wave of emotion swell over me.  If I had to describe my feelings, in one word, when I contemplate this sculpture, to me it would be.....longing.

Here on earth I feel a sense of loss from this sculpture and thinking of eternity I feel a deep sense of longing.

Our next journey, in the text of Dr. Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, is with the Doctrine of Adoption.  The Bible tells us that we are adopted into God's family and become sons of God.

So far, in our journey to understand God's redemptive plan, we have started with the concept of Common Grace, then to Election, the Gospel Call, the Effectual Call,  Regeneration,   Saving Faith,  Repentance,and  Justification.

Let's now turn our attention to the subject of the Doctrine of Adoption.  Please read on...

Justification: A Mind Blowing, Intelligence Warping, Tear Generating, Praise Inducing, Simply Incredible Gift from God!

Today I am continuing my journey in the ordo salutis (order of salvation) using Dr. Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology" as my guide.

Today we come to the discussion and understanding of Justification.  This is such an incredibly important doctrine to understand that I thought that I should attach to it an example of great emotion and pain to drive the glorious point home.

Sadly, there are women in America who have chosen to have an abortion at some time in their life, and then later experience incredible guilt and deep pain over their decision.  How can God ever forgive them for taking the life of their unborn child?  This question causes gut wrenching, hopeless sobbing for many women in this world.

So too, we all have sins, in our closets,  that we feel deep shame for.  Can God forgive those sins?  What is our standing with God on these issues?

Justification, though not without contemporary controversy, is one of the greatest gifts of God to us as His children.  God's message to this woman, if she is truly a Christian, is that not only are you forgiven, my dear child, but you are righteous in my sight.

Did  you hear that!  Forgiven and righteous in the eyes of God!  For this woman, and all of us who sin, this is simply an amazing, mind blowing proclamation.  This is such an incredible statement that my mind staggers to take it in. 

I must confess to you that the more I begin to understand the character of God two things happen to me:

1. I am completely overwhelmed and grateful.
2. I am deeply sorrowed that most people haven't read the Bible to get to know God's heart.  So many people go through life deceived and ignorant of His character which is literally right in front of them.

My prayer, for those of you who know me and trust me, is that you will take some time to read my words and that they will hopefully drive you to crack the pages of your Bible.

Please allow me to explain the incredible gift of Justification...

What is Repentance and is it Important for Today's Christian?

"St. Peter in Penitence" c 1605 by El Greco

Welcome back to another installment in our series on the Doctrine of the Application of Redemption (from Dr. Wayne Grudem's textbook on Systematic Theology).

Here we find ourselves discussing the topic of conversion.  It seems that "conversion" has two elements.  That of "saving faith" (placing your trust in Jesus Christ) and repentance.  I covered the topic of saving faith here.  In this post we will turn our attention to the topic of repentance. 

It seems that postmodern America doesn't put the word repentance on its top ten list of things to do during the week.  In fact, I suspect if you asked 100 Christians about repentance, it would fall in that category of things that we don't like to talk about.  You could put this word in the same basket as hell, sin, and born again.

The problem is that repentance was the first word out of Jesus mouth when he started his preaching ministry.   Here is the record according to Matthew 4:12-17:

"When He heard that John had been arrested, He withdrew into Galilee.  He left Nazareth behind and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.  This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:  Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the sea road, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles!  The people who live in darkness have seen a great light, and for those living in the shadowland of death, light has dawned.  From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!"

As I have mentioned, and come to learn, it is wrong for us to cherry pick through the Bible and pick out those things that appeal to our sensibilities.  I believe that every single word of the Bible is "God breathed".    It seems to me that Jesus chose this particular word to begin His ministry for a reason. 

Lets find out, together, just what repentance is and how it plays into the conversion process.  Please read on...

 

What is Saving Faith?

"St Peter Repentant" c 1823-25, by Francisco de Goya Y Lucientes.

Today I continue in our series on the Doctrine of the Application of Redemption (from Dr. Wayne Grudem's textbook on Systematic Theology).

So far on the path to redemption we have discovered common grace, election, the gospel call, the effective call which leads to regeneration (born again) and today we will explore the topic of conversion.  Just what is saving faith? 

It seems to me that this is perhaps one of the most tender moments in the process, as this is our response to all that God has done for us leading up to this moment.  This is the moment at which we must either accept or reject all that we have learned on this journey to this point.

Even though this is something that I did many years ago, my response, to this day, remains a very special and integral part of who I am.

Lets explore our response to God's grace...

Regeneration - What does it mean to be born again?

I was scratching my head wondering what image I could use to communicate the topic of regeneration (being "born again").  I settled on this photograph that I took about a year ago, here in Scottsdale, Arizona.

So far in our series on the Doctrine of the Application of Redemption (from Dr. Wayne Grudem's textbook on Systematic Theology), we learned that mankind, from the fall, was sentenced to death.  But God postponed that death sentence with His Common Grace to all so that some might be saved.  We further learned that God, from eternity past, has already chosen those who would be called His elect, yet in contrast and mystery also gives us the responsibility to respond to His gospel call.  The elect of God, upon hearing the gospel proclaimed receive God's "effective call" which is actually a personal invitation from God the Father into an eternal relationship with Him.

Our response to that call produces repentance of sin and asking God to come into our lives and gives us eternal life.  That moment in time is what theologians call regeneration.  Properly defined, regeneration is:  a secret act of God in which he imparts new spiritual life to us.

This photograph visually demonstrates that through the thorns placed upon the head of Christ, and through his death on the cross and placing our belief and faith in Him, is indeed found regeneration.  Just beyond those thorns.  He invites us to come into the light out of the darkness. 

Who among us wouldn't desire that God the Father, in the most personal way, regenerate our lives in such a way that we can experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Who can deny the tremendous desire to have all pain and tears removed and to spend eternity in heaven?

The bible calls it being "born again".  Theologians call it regeneration.  Lets explore this secret act of God in our lives...

Does God Literally and Personally and Individually Call Us to Himself?

No man or woman can watch this video and not be deeply moved.  God has written His moral code on the hearts of everyone.  When we see true love in action (clearly displayed in this video), it cuts through the hardness of our hearts to that deep place where the image of God resides and creates in us a longing to respond to Him.  I don't know about you,  but the display of love in this video melts me.  Feel it inside?  What is that?  Why are we so deeply moved at the sight of mind bending, sacrificial love?

I Heard God's "Effective Call" on a Sunday School Bus

When I was a child I was raised in a little village called Middleville, Michigan.  Middleville was predominantly an agricultural town but also a bedroom community for neighboring Grand Rapids, Michigan, which lay eighteen miles down the road.

Each summer our local Baptist church would hold Vacation Bible School and mom saw this as an opportunity for some peace and quiet.  I am certain that she also wanted me to get to know the things of God but I am also sure she relished the peace and quiet while I was gone.

This little Baptist church holds a fond place in my heart.  First of all, I would guess that it was built in the late 1800's or perhaps very early 1900's.  It was a small white structure with a big white steeple in the front.  I don't recall exactly what it looked like, but this would be my best guess.  When you walked in the front door, there was a long rope hanging from the bell tower and we would get to ring the bell after Sunday services.  The other thing I remember were creaky wooden floors leading you to the rock hard oak pews.

It was in this little church, back in the early 60's that God placed His "effectual call" on my life.  The song leader, Hosea Humphrey, asked those of us in the sanctuary that morning if we would like to accept Jesus into our hearts.  Those who did walked out into the old church bus, for some privacy,  and our encounter with eternity began.   I can vividly remember sitting in that bus.  Mr. Humphrey stood at the front of the bus, there were about 10 other kids in the bus with me, and together we accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour. 

This post concerns the doctrine of The Effective Call.  This post will ultimately be part of a larger collection of posts on "The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption" from Dr. Wayne Grudem's textbook on Systematic Theology.

Please join me as I explore "The Gospel Call and Effective Calling"...

The Mind Warping Doctrine of Predestination (Election and Reprobation)

"The Adoration of the Trinity" c 1511 by Albrecht Durer.

This post will serve as a landing page for my four articles on the subject of predestination (election and reprobation) taken from Dr. Wayne Grudem's textbook Systematic Theology.

The doctrine of election and reprobation was a difficult one to wrap my mind around.  This doctrine has been a particularly challenging for Christians to comprehend since the Holy Spirit penned them centuries ago.

I hope that you will take the time to read all that the scriptures teach on this subject.  Many dive in the waters of this doctrine and immediately run for the shores claiming that this teaching of the Bible isn't fair.

I came to this doctrine appalled and now stand in humble thankfulness that I am one God's chosen.

Dig in.  Run the race of this doctrine and share with me your thoughts at the end.

Here are the four posts on this subject:

• Does God Predestine Some People to Hell?
• Shedding Some Tears about the idea of Predestination (Election and Reprobation)
• God you like me, you really, really like me!
• Did God Predestine my Grandfather to Hell?
  

Did God Predestine my Grandfather to Hell?

"The Fall of the Rebel Angels" c 1516, by Pieter the Elder Bruegel.

This post is the forth in a series on the question of Predestination (Election and Reprobation).  This series will ultimately be part of a larger collection of posts on "The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption" from Dr. Wayne Grudem's textbook on Systematic Theology.

Many of the things of God are a challenge for us in our fallen state.  How can we, with our finite minds, understand the things of God and His infinite wisdom? 

The painting to the left is an excellent example of mind warping teachings.  I have never seen an angel.  I have never talked to an angel and as far as I know, an angel has never talked to me.

However, in spite of my experience, the Bible teaches that there are indeed angels.  It gives names to some of the angels, describes different types of angels,  and even describes fallen and elect angels. 

As I study this painting by Bruegel, I once again am reminded that there are simply things that I must take on faith.

God you like me, you really, really like me!

"King David in Prayer" c 1635, by Pieter de Grebber.

This post is the third in a series on the question of Predestination (Election and Reprobation).  This series will ultimately be part of a larger collection of posts on "The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption" from Dr. Wayne Grudem's textbook on Systematic Theology.

In yesterday's post, we examined what the New Testament has to say regarding the Doctrine of Election (Predestination).  The result of that careful look found that clearly God ordained beforehand those who would be saved. 

At the end of the post, in light of that clear revelation, I asked a few very difficult questions that would likely come to the minds of any serious student of this subject.

For the moment, I am going to table further discussion of my questions as Dr.  Grudem's text wants us to look at another issue first.  That is, how does the New Testament present the teaching of election?  I also mentioned yesterday that the other thought that comes to mind is that if this is true, how lucky and thankful should I be that God chose me to be one of His elect?

So for now, let us leave the questions about the unsaved on the table for later discussion and today focus our intentions on those who are saved.  How has the Holy Spirit presented, through the New Testament, the doctrine of election for those who believe?