What's Christianity All About?

In days gone by, most people living in Australia would have produced a reasonably good off-the-cuff answer to this question.

But in our present, multi-cultural, increasingly atheistic nation, there are many people for whom this question would draw a blank.
Additionally, as a consequence of the behaviour and commentary of some people who identify as Christian, others who might claim to know the answer could be well off the mark.

So how would we answer?
And if the question was raised in casual conversation, how would we answer in less than the 30 seconds we might be expected to give a response?
 
I would like to give all Christians reading this post a challenge.
Firstly, let's be sure we have a Biblically based idea of what Christianity is all about.
Then try to write an answer to this question that could be spoken, at normal casual conversation speed, in less than 5 minutes.
Then review, edit and re-write the answer so that it could be spoken in less than 2 minutes.
Then review it again and re-write it so that it could be said, conversationally, in less than 30 seconds.
Then memorise and practise it and be ready to use it whenever God produces the opportunity.

If the question is raised in casual conversation keep in mind that our answer, as well as being accurate, needs to be interesting enough to prompt our questioner to keep the conversation going in that direction.

I would love to see some 30 second answers posted in the Comments section below (as an anonymous commenter if you would prefer that).

By the way, I have started my 30 second response with ... "It's all about being a follower of God's Son, Jesus Christ ... "

Blessings, Barry

Response to Universal Reconciliation Opposition - Part 9

This is the ninth in a mini-series of posts responding to the arguments offered by Dr Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Dr Arnold) against God's plan to eventually reconcile and save all His creation.

His arguments against Universal Reconciliation (UR) are offered under five headings, the second of which is b. The Fixed State of the Unbelieving Dead. (see a previous post "Opposition to Universal Reconciliation" here)

Under the b. The Fixed State of the Unbelieving Dead heading Dr Arnold claims that the unbelieving dead are seen in a fixed state that cannot be altered and then quotes numerous texts from the New Testament hoping to illustrate his assertion.

(i) The Matthew texts and (ii) The Rich Man and Lazarus parable from Luke's gospel were discussed in two previous posts.

(iii) Two texts from John's gospel which announce that Jews not believing in the Messiah will die in their sins.
Dr Arnold says these verses state that unless one believes, he will die in his sins and there is no possibility of belief after dying in sin.

John 8 : 21 and 24 [NET]

Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will look for me but will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.”
"Thus I told you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

As usual, Jesus was talking with the Jews about the Messianic Kingdom and their need to believe He was the Messiah for them to join Him in it.
And, of course, this conversation occurred before Jesus had died for the sins of the world.
So instead of being able to come with Him, they would remain and die in their sins.

I agree with Dr Arnold's "that unless one believes, he will die in his sins", but where does he get "and there is no possibility of belief after dying in sin" from?
Because of Dr Arnold's prior belief, he reads into these texts the impossibility of belief any time after death.
An unbeliever who dies in their sin will certainly not see the Messianic Kingdom Age, agreed, but there is much more of God's plan to follow that Age for the unbelieving remainder of His creation, including the removal of death.

For Christ will be King until he has defeated all his enemies, including the last enemy—death. This too must be defeated and ended.
[1 Cor 15 : 25 - 26  TLB]

We have discussed this eventuality in previous posts, so I'll try not to repeat too much here.
However, let's look at what Jesus said to the crowds about "counting the cost of completing the course".

Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it?
If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish.
Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’
[Luke 14 : 28 - 30  MSG]

This was Jesus' advice to those who might be considering discipleship.
Surely it is the same advice that God would follow Himself.
Whatever God is planning, surely He would have previously counted its cost, and would be "well-advised" to complete (so passers-by would not poke fun at Him) - wouldn't He?

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds.
And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!
He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans He took such delight in making.
He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
[Ephesians 1 : 7 - 10  MSG]

Clearly, unlike those in the Advance Party serving Christ in the Messianic Kingdom, others don't have to believe anything during this age to benefit from God's eventual plan of salvation when it is completed at the end of the ages!

So, yes, unbelievers (Jews and Gentiles) will die in their sin (not knowing their sin has been taken care of) and miss the Kingdom Age.
But God has provided for everyone (Jew and Gentile alike) beyond that age through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

If salvation is such a done deal for all, where does faith/belief fit in?
I mentioned this in Part 3 here to refresh your thoughts on this question.

Note: I have written about the Advance Party on several occasions including here
and on the website here under "Believers" in the main menu.

Blessings, Barry

What MUST Be

While away on holiday and doing some fun-reading, I was intrigued by the number of times some of our little, yet powerful, English words occurred in the Scriptures. The words that got me thinking were "must" and "so".

Today's post discusses "must". (I might discuss "so" in a future one)
The word "must" is a frequent translation of the Greek word "dei" in most English versions of the New Testament, although sometimes it is translated as
is necessary,
is needful,
is required,
is binding,
depending on the context and flow of the English sentence that contains it

For example, in Matthew 16 : 21, it is used twice to show what was required of Jesus.

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. [NIV]

Another example:

He (Jesus) said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
[Luke 24 : 44  NIV]

A verse that many use to show that Jesus in the only means of salvation for mankind is Acts 4 : 12.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. [NIV]

This verse clearly demonstrates God's exclusive means of salvation (Jesus), but what is the must part of the verse saying?

Is it not saying that the salvation of mankind is necessary, is a required outcome of the mission of Jesus, is binding on Jesus to achieve?

Wow! An exclusive process producing an inclusive result!
One person produces salvation for all people!
Reminds me of Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 15.

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
[1 Cor 15 : 22  NIV]

Paul uses "must" quite often himself.

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 53  NIV]

Seems like Paul is describing an eventual outcome which God has bound himself to achieve, which is a consistent follow-on from the previous verses 25 and 26.

For he (Jesus) must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. [NIV]

However, before we get that far we are bound to appear before the judgement seat of Christ.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 10  NIV]

All rewards must be given and anything inappropriate for the next stage of the journey must be removed. (read 1 Corinthians 3 : 11 - 15 for details)

The must verses are so plentiful and demonstrate how God has bound himself to his plan to redeem his whole creation. And, of course, because he is sovereign, all powerful, he must fully accomplish that plan.

Blessings, Barry