Theology? Ain't Nobody Got Time For That!

Over the weekend I saw numerous reports of the death of Myles Munroe. At first I thought they were talking about this guy:

...which is odd, since I thought he died before the 138th episode spectacular, but I digress. Myles Munroe was a prosperity shill and heretic extraordinaire; your soul would probably have been in better hands with the incompetent Simpsons psychiatrist.

One of the clips making the rounds in the wake of Munroe's death puts the heretical focus of his prosperity teaching on full display:



Pure evil. This is prosperity teaching showing its true wickedness: Christ is at best a bit player in your quest for kingdom authority and blessing. Reprehensible.

Now that we have that out there, let me ask: just how different is that from the ministry philosophy of many churches in America today? This isn't an issue just in the extreme fringe that comprises 99.44% of Charismania; a (milder?) form of this problem hits even ostensibly orthodox churches all around us.

Preaching about "felt needs" at the expense of doctrine. The Willow Creek model of saccharine bare-minimum (aiming down to the lowest denominator, and often overshooting) sermons on Sunday, withholding any imitation of doctrine for mid-week services for the super-spiritual. The Saddleback model wherein everything is about you finding your special purpose, where somehow the book of Daniel is about dieting.

Youth ministries where scripture, if taught at all, takes a backseat to games and fluff messages 'to help them get through school this week'. Churches that never preach anything but how to have a better life - better friendships, a better marriage, doing better at work, better sex, better sleep, better breathing, better fitness, better whatever.

If I remember correctly, I was once told not to bother teaching about the doctrine of providence because people don't care about that, they just want to know how they're going to make it through the week.

So yeah, this Munroe character was a reprehensible heretic, and his idea that we shouldn't tell people about Christ and the cross is poison from the deepest pits of hell. But don't be fooled into thinking he was alone, or that his heresy died with him. That same wicked attitude permeates the church all around us.

So What's Your Answer?

In part one, we looked at the numerous blessings that Jesus secured for his people through his death and resurrection.

Part two looked at the tremendous chain of rhetorical questions Paul asked at the apex of his greatest gospel presentation.

Now in part three, I want to issue a simple request. Romans 8:32 asks: He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? In immediate context, "all things" refers to the blessings from 8:28 (that God orders the entire universe so that all things work for the ultimate benefit of his people) to 8:39 (that nothing can ever separate Christ's people from his love). In the broader Biblical context, "all things" includes all the blessings of part one - all the myriad graces Jesus promises for his people. If Jesus died for you, "all things" are surely yours.

But there are numerous Christians, notably Arminians and Amyraldians, who completely disagree with this interpretation. They assert that there are many - the vast majority - for whom Christ died, yet who will not receive "all things", or any of these blessings. I believe Paul is asking this rhetorically, stating that the notion of Christ dying for someone who will not be redeemed/glorified is utterly inconceivable. These brothers, on the other hand, would assert that the question is not rhetorical, and that there must be an answer. They assert that the notion is not inconceivable, but the normal course of things for the vast majority of humanity.

So my request is to Arminians, Amyraldians, TU?IPs, and the like. I have a few questions for you, if you wouldn't mind explaining your position.

1) How do you answer Paul's question?
2) Do you think the other questions in this chain also have answers, or is this the only non-rhetorical in the chain?
3) If it's the only non-rhetorical, how did you come to that determination? If it's not - if the others also have non-zero answers, how would you answer them - who can be against us, who can charge God's elect, who is to condemn, and what can separate us from the love of Christ?

There ya go. Have at it.

What Did Jesus Do?

Part one of three.

Today I want to look at the question, what did Jesus do on the cross? The simple Sunday School answer is, "He died for our sins". But what does that mean, exactly? I want to examine what Jesus actually accomplished on the cross. Not what he made potentially available to us, but what he fully brought about for us. What did he set out to do, and what effect does the cross (and resurrection) have for us?

First, what was his intent in going to the cross? He came to save sinners, pay our ransom, purify us, deliver us from the world, make us holy, redeem us from lawlessness, prepare us for good works, bring us into grace, and bring us to God.

Luke 19:10: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

1 Tim 1:15: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Mat 20:28: even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many

Gal 1:4: who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father

Eph 5:25-27: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Titus 2:14: who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Rom 5:2: Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

1 Peter 3:18: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit

So that's what Jesus intended to do. Did he do it? Let's look at what Jesus actually accomplished. Not just what he made possible, but what his death and resurrection guarantees by itself.

By his death, Jesus reconciled us to God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life (Rom 5:10). All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Cor. 5:18-19). For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility (Eph. 2:14-16).

By his death, Jesus justified us, redeemed us, provided full payment for our sins. He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption (Heb 9:12). Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree" (Gal 3:13). He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Pet 2:24). [F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Rom 3:23-25). [I]n whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Col 1:14).

By his death, Jesus obtained for us every blessing, including sanctification/purification/ cleansing of sin, and faith. How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Heb 9:14). But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7). He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Heb 1:3). So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. (Heb 13:12). For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake (Phil 1:29). Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Eph 1:3). He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Rom 8:32). See also Eph 5:25-27.

By his death, Jesus brought about our adoption as sons by God. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Gal 4:4-5)

By his death, Jesus eternally guarantees all these blessings for us. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (Heb 9:15). [W]ho is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:14).

By his death, Jesus has made us perfect forever. Hebrews 10:14 - For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

By his death, Jesus guarantees his intercession on our behalf. See John 14:2-3; Heb. 9:11-12, 24-25; 1 John 2:1-2; John 11:42; John 17:9, 24; and especially Romans 8:33-34 - Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

By his death, Jesus bought us. Acts 20:28 - Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Rev 5:9-10 - And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."

By his death Jesus sanctifies, purges sin, redeems from wrath and curse and guilt, brings peace and reconciliation with God, gives life and immortality, bears iniquities and heals diseases. See Heb 9:12-14, Heb 1:3, Heb 9:26, 1 Pet 2:24 (and Isa 53:5-12), Gal 3:13, Col 1:21-22, Eph 2:13-16, Rom 5:6-11, Rom 8:32-34, Rev 5:9-10, Daniel 9:24, John 6:33, John 10:28, 2 Tim 1:10.

Jesus died as an exchange for us. He took our sin and bore our wrath (Eph 2:3, Jn 3:36), and we receive his righteousness. See 2 Cor 5:21.

His death cleanses and sanctifies. Hebrews 9:13-14, Romans 6:5-6, 1 Cor 1:30.

His death brought redemption. 1 Peter 1:18-19, Eph 1:7, 1 Tim 2:6.

His death destroyed the powers of our enemies. Heb. 2:14, Col. 2:15, 1 Jn. 3:8.

His death and resurrection is the ultimate guarantee of all God's promises. 2 Cor 1:20 - For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

So that's a brief summary of all that Jesus accomplished through his death and resurrection. Ponder that and worship.