Post by MoGrace2U on Oct 3, 2009 10:11:40 GMT -5
One of the patterns that is revealed in scripture over and over again is that of promise, warning, instruction and example. And the NT holds to that same pattern too.
When we look to the warning and promises given to the 7 churches in the context of the soon appearance of Christ, I see a corporate and individual picture as well as historic example.
In Hebrews 5 & 6 we have an interesting admonition about growing in our spiritual understanding of the things of God so that we might go on to maturity, discernment of good and evil, and receive the blessing of bearing the righteous fruit of God. The contrast which is also a bit of a warning, is that to not grow in spiritual truth is to remain a babe who must continually drink the sacramental milk truth of the gospel lest he fall away back into legalism, the world and sin because of his carnality. (See Isa 55:10; Luke 8:5+; 2 Cor 9:10)
It is not too hard to see the historical picture of the infant church that held on to the visible elements of the gospel, but in their carnality turned the sacraments into relics & idols. This is the babe who Christianized the Jewish religion but who held to its own pagan superstitions in order to build its own kingdom 'for' God - and its palaces for itself to live in. Which theme is to have an earthly kingdom - not that reflects the glory of God in the earth, but that which is esteemed by men. And that to take a gain from the people to profit themselves. This is the essence of idolatry of which such covetousness for power, fame and earthly glory is symptom & result of a religious yet carnal understanding. What surprise is it to find the Catholics involved in the Inquisition, or the later Crusaders take up the sword 'for the gospel'? Or that the visible church itself became the persecutors of men in their 'service' for God?
The Reformers who saw the errors of the Papacy, turned to scripture to recover the truth and give the sacraments back their spiritual significance and put a stop to their abuses. But they really didn't recover themselves from the idea that a better religion was what men need. Augustine's City of God was also Calvin's vision. And now because of his influence, men add degrees to their names, thinking that right doctrine is the key to the kingdom.
So we can see that God permits more light when men walk by faith, but light is withheld when they turn back to worldly goals. And this would seem to be a similar pattern we saw given to Israel who year after year repeated the elements of the OC as they waited for Messiah to come. Historically the Church is no different who holds the visible testimony of Christ for the things the apostles have given which concern His birth, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension. But that milk listed in Heb 6:1-2 also includes the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment. And these are also the things which still are being debated in our day.
We are not even settled on what the death Adam brought into this world entails, but at least we are moving beyond the carnal understanding which comes by sight, into the realm which only faith can receive more light.
Israel who turned her visible elements into relics worshipped those things and became idolatrous. The Church in her own carnality faces the same danger. This is how the cross became a crucifix one hangs on a wall thinking that is where their blessing comes from. It is also how the doctrine of infant baptism developed thinking it confers grace, or how tithing is the guarantee of financial blessings. None of which is the channel for grace which can bring forth the fruit of God.
My point here is to note that Preterism faces the same danger the Creedalists have fallen into who thinks their authority stems from having the right doctrinal understanding and trusting in that to protect them from eternal judgment; when it is apparent they still lack light in the things they have accepted from their own carnality. When earthly things become the focus, that is the first clue one is not yet perfected. The other is when thorns and thistles spring up and defile the body with strife and contention. This is where we see that God has not permitted more light which has kept eschatology a mystery all those years. Because like the Jews, the Church also took the good things God had given to her and used them to serve herself.
Calvin for all the light he was given, when tested to prove his faith, made the wrong choice. And he is thus responsible for the current hersey hunting mentality of the creedalists he spawned who follow his same example. And that is what keeps their understanding darkened in the things they have yet to learn. While the torch has been passed to men of lesser stature who are willing to submit to the word to seek the glory of Christ. But the warning remains to them as well, not to take those things they have received and do evil with them.
Having a right understanding of eschatology is not going to bring in a guarantee that no judgment will be faced if we turn to do the same things as those who stand as examples. The 7 churches of Asia are given for our admonition - and the historical Church testifies to their errors - and blessings when they repented. There is never any time that men can cease to be humble, lest they become subverted and fall away - but God will keep a faithful remnant - whether we ourselves remain part of it or not.
Preterism needs to eventually move beyond the day of visitation and our hope in resurrection and focus on what this eternal judgment is all about. Because right now they seem to think they have found the doctrinal key to insure it will not come upon them either. But Heb 6:8 still stands as a warning to all, not to think too highly of ourselves for the light that we have been given. For there is nothing we have received that has not been given to us. What we then do, will reveal much more than the right things we say.
Israel's hope of glory was to be raised from the dead, but at that time they faced the judgment. We are that same Israel and if we forget what happened to her, where will that leave us if we neglect this great salvation we have received?
God is no respector of persons, He will judge His people.
When we look to the warning and promises given to the 7 churches in the context of the soon appearance of Christ, I see a corporate and individual picture as well as historic example.
In Hebrews 5 & 6 we have an interesting admonition about growing in our spiritual understanding of the things of God so that we might go on to maturity, discernment of good and evil, and receive the blessing of bearing the righteous fruit of God. The contrast which is also a bit of a warning, is that to not grow in spiritual truth is to remain a babe who must continually drink the sacramental milk truth of the gospel lest he fall away back into legalism, the world and sin because of his carnality. (See Isa 55:10; Luke 8:5+; 2 Cor 9:10)
It is not too hard to see the historical picture of the infant church that held on to the visible elements of the gospel, but in their carnality turned the sacraments into relics & idols. This is the babe who Christianized the Jewish religion but who held to its own pagan superstitions in order to build its own kingdom 'for' God - and its palaces for itself to live in. Which theme is to have an earthly kingdom - not that reflects the glory of God in the earth, but that which is esteemed by men. And that to take a gain from the people to profit themselves. This is the essence of idolatry of which such covetousness for power, fame and earthly glory is symptom & result of a religious yet carnal understanding. What surprise is it to find the Catholics involved in the Inquisition, or the later Crusaders take up the sword 'for the gospel'? Or that the visible church itself became the persecutors of men in their 'service' for God?
The Reformers who saw the errors of the Papacy, turned to scripture to recover the truth and give the sacraments back their spiritual significance and put a stop to their abuses. But they really didn't recover themselves from the idea that a better religion was what men need. Augustine's City of God was also Calvin's vision. And now because of his influence, men add degrees to their names, thinking that right doctrine is the key to the kingdom.
So we can see that God permits more light when men walk by faith, but light is withheld when they turn back to worldly goals. And this would seem to be a similar pattern we saw given to Israel who year after year repeated the elements of the OC as they waited for Messiah to come. Historically the Church is no different who holds the visible testimony of Christ for the things the apostles have given which concern His birth, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension. But that milk listed in Heb 6:1-2 also includes the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment. And these are also the things which still are being debated in our day.
We are not even settled on what the death Adam brought into this world entails, but at least we are moving beyond the carnal understanding which comes by sight, into the realm which only faith can receive more light.
Israel who turned her visible elements into relics worshipped those things and became idolatrous. The Church in her own carnality faces the same danger. This is how the cross became a crucifix one hangs on a wall thinking that is where their blessing comes from. It is also how the doctrine of infant baptism developed thinking it confers grace, or how tithing is the guarantee of financial blessings. None of which is the channel for grace which can bring forth the fruit of God.
My point here is to note that Preterism faces the same danger the Creedalists have fallen into who thinks their authority stems from having the right doctrinal understanding and trusting in that to protect them from eternal judgment; when it is apparent they still lack light in the things they have accepted from their own carnality. When earthly things become the focus, that is the first clue one is not yet perfected. The other is when thorns and thistles spring up and defile the body with strife and contention. This is where we see that God has not permitted more light which has kept eschatology a mystery all those years. Because like the Jews, the Church also took the good things God had given to her and used them to serve herself.
Calvin for all the light he was given, when tested to prove his faith, made the wrong choice. And he is thus responsible for the current hersey hunting mentality of the creedalists he spawned who follow his same example. And that is what keeps their understanding darkened in the things they have yet to learn. While the torch has been passed to men of lesser stature who are willing to submit to the word to seek the glory of Christ. But the warning remains to them as well, not to take those things they have received and do evil with them.
Having a right understanding of eschatology is not going to bring in a guarantee that no judgment will be faced if we turn to do the same things as those who stand as examples. The 7 churches of Asia are given for our admonition - and the historical Church testifies to their errors - and blessings when they repented. There is never any time that men can cease to be humble, lest they become subverted and fall away - but God will keep a faithful remnant - whether we ourselves remain part of it or not.
Preterism needs to eventually move beyond the day of visitation and our hope in resurrection and focus on what this eternal judgment is all about. Because right now they seem to think they have found the doctrinal key to insure it will not come upon them either. But Heb 6:8 still stands as a warning to all, not to think too highly of ourselves for the light that we have been given. For there is nothing we have received that has not been given to us. What we then do, will reveal much more than the right things we say.
Israel's hope of glory was to be raised from the dead, but at that time they faced the judgment. We are that same Israel and if we forget what happened to her, where will that leave us if we neglect this great salvation we have received?
God is no respector of persons, He will judge His people.