That would be "Replacement Theology."
Posted on 09/02/2004 5:19:24 AM PDT by sheltonmac
Eariler this month John MacArthur was ejected from Bible Broadcasting Network for teaching what they call "Election/Hyper-Calvinism" which they claim has brought much confusion to their listeners. The network asserts that there is no human answer to the sovereignty of God and the "free will of man". Both, they claim, are clear biblical teachings but beyond our human comprehension. Their evidence is to claim that for every verse which says, "God chose" there is one that says, "Whosoever will may come".
While it is universally agreed among Christians that "whosoever will may come" is Scriptural truth, yet this text does not imply that the man without the Spirit has the desire and moral ability to take heed to these words. To clarify what I mean, consider that God holds us responsible to perfectly obey such things as the Ten Commandments ... but we all know that this does not imply that fallen man has the moral capacity to do so. Likewise, we all know that if God left men to their free wills, apart from grace, then there would be no hope for anyone. This is because no one is naturally willing to submit themselves to the humbling terms of the gospel. Leaving people to themselves is actually the greatest judgment which God Himself can, in this present life, inflict upon a man because man cannot save himself (see Rom 1 where God gives people over to what they want). God could, of course, justly judge all of humanity by withholding such grace, but what should amaze us is that, in spite of their rebellious obstinance, He still sets His affection on a vast number that no man may number and brings them to saving faith (but not because they naturally had some moral insight that others did not). BBN's rejection of MacArthur's teaching on God's sovereignty in salvation is based on their dispensational position (soteriologically) which they claim "rightly divides the word of truth". While it is true that MacArthur is also a Dispensationalist with regard to eschatology, he rejects any and all "dispensational" soteriological innovations, holding to classic Reformed (i.e., Calvinistic, not "covenantal") soteriology.
But before BBN goes around calling John MacArthur names such as "hypercalvinist", they should take the time to really learn what the word means. Hypercalvinism is a real danger, I would agree, but MacArthur's teaching is not even close to it. BBN appears to be using the terms "hypercalvinist" and "Calvinist" interchangeably which is a most regrettable historical inaccuracy. (To learn more about hypercalvinism click here). It is an insult to say that those who are teaching that God chooses us, are hypercalvinists since the fact that God saves us by GRACE ALONE, is plainly taught in Scripture. We can contribute nothing to the price of our salvation. In the man-centered theology of the radio network one could consistently pray "thank you God that I made better use of your grace than my neighbor." This is boasting and the reason for much moralistic arrogance among modern-day Christians over unbelievers. We often begin to think God saved us because of something we did better -- and thus something unbelievers didn't have the wherewithal or moral impulse to do (believe) - rather than give glory to God alone for every aspect of who we are. The Text asserts,"By the grace of God I am what I am" In missing this, we make the same mistake of ancient Israel as God's warning in Deut 9 shows:
4 "Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you. 5 "It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 6 "Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people.
God saved us because he was merciful to us. He gave us the new birth unto faith but not because of our faith. God set aside Abraham as His own, not because He saw something good in Him. God set his covenant love on him and promised he and his descendants blessing. The reason was in God Himself (Eph 1, 4, 5). Abraham believed, yes, but even that was by God's graciousness, not because his flesh naturally had more excellent and worthy thoughts about God than his neighbor. Are men and women naturally willing to submit to the humbling terms of the gospel?. Can a person naturally have spiritual understanding apart from a work of the Holy Spirit? Why do some people submit to the gospel and not others? If it isn't because God sovereignly chose some then you must look to the flesh and moral capacity of some over others.
The BBN is obviously woefully confused about grace. Listeners may indeed be confused about MacArthur's teaching about election because, from the start, they have been erroneously taught synergism from their church traditions and their own radio station (rather than Scripture). What a tragedy that they are willing to embrace an inconsistent theology which ultimately brings glory to man. But man, of himself, is not capable by reason or strength alone to produce faith, apart from the grace of regeneration. To assume that man can choose apart from an effectual work of the Holy Spirit in him is to give to much credit to those who do choose God, as if they did it apart from grace. These dispensationalists will answer "but God did give grace." Yeah? Then why do some make use of it and not others?... That is my question.
The dispensational reason for some having faith and not others comes from within man himself. Of course, along with them we agree that the Scripture teaches, "whosoever will may come ..." All Christians believe this. But have they forgotten, men love darkness and hate the light and WILL NOT COME INTO THE LIGHT (John 3:19, 20). That means man's affections are for the darkness. He does not naturally love God and does not understand spiritual things without illumination, spiritual eyes and circumcised ears (1 Cor 2:14). Jesus said the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit..."the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive..." (John 14:17) When Peter admitted that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus said to Him, "Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you but my Father in Heaven." Likewise. "No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." The Scriptures further teach to believers, "knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction" (1 thess 1 :4, 5) Does the Bible teach that we cannot understand God's sovereignty in our salvation? Such is a man invented doctrine. We agree that it is a mystery to ask why He chooses anyone, rather than none, and we glorify God that He would have mercy on miserable broken sinners like us, but it is no mystery that He does, in fact, choose us, and not we him (John 15:16). Yes we must have faith in Christ, but even the desire for faith is a work of God's grace (Phil 1:29, 2 Tim 2:25, Eph 2:8).
Jesus plainly teaches the same:
"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes." (John 5:21)
"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." (Matt 11:27)
""All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. ...It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life... "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." (John 6:37, 63-65)
When the Scripture says "come to me" it is equivalent to "believe in him" IN other words no one can believe in Jesus unless it has been granted of the Father...further vs. 37 says that "ALL THE FATHER GIVES TO CHRIST WILL COME TO HIM." This isn't hypercalvinism but is the plain text of Scripture and those fighting against it, while they may be brothers, are kicking against the goads. We agree man is responsible for his sin and for choosing God. The problem is that no one is naturally willing to come to Christ (Rom 3:11, 12; 1 Cor 2:14, ROM 8:7). God is merciful still. Part of the work of Christ was the redemptive blessing of delivering men from their unregenerate state (Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 1:3). To say that we have the power to believe, apart from the work of Christ "is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect," as John Owen once said.
The action taken to remove MacArthur from the station for preaching a biblical doctrine is an ominous development. Let us pray the Lord open the eyes of our dispensational brothers who are bringing confusing and inconsistent theology into the Church. Let us be patient and gentle as we speak with them about this ... for our life demonstrates the grace of God just as much as the truth.
With this in mind, I would encourage you to go to the Website of the Bible Broadcasting Network to write them that they would reconsider their unbiblical stance on election and their overly harsh reaction to John MacArthur.
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No, that would be utter nonsense. Saying that there is a subset of A is not the same as saying that non-A is A. Basic logic.
No, after hundreds of years of clearly nationalistic promises, many still unfulfilled, we'd need some explanation and some examples as to how the circle got squared. There isn't any, because it never happened.
Otherwise, you might be interested in a little cult called Religious Science (Science of Mind). They're all about explaining how Bible words don't really mean what we think they mean, and finding esoteric meanings. "Christ" means God-consciousness within every man; "prayer" is affirming truth; and on and on.
If you really love decoder-ring eisegesis, you'd love them.
Dan
And you know that, exactly how?
dont let the popcorn gifs get to you - theyre meant tongue in cheek (no pun intended)
So they just coincidentally appear right before serious baiting starts happening...RIIIIIIGHT!
and I may seem po'd today - but I have lousy days just like everyone else
Translated: everybody needs to cut me slack while I indulge in one of my besetting sins.... Sorry you're having a bad day, but don't take it out on anyone else.
I did not come to this discussion with a "chip on my shoulder". You made a charge against the entire GRPL, and that means you made a charge against me. Fobbing it off by saying "It's just my opinion and I'm entitled to it" doesn't cut it. Either back up what you say, or apologize for saying something you either can't or won't back up. Either way, don't p*** down my back and tell me it's raining.
If you really love decoder-ring eisegesis, you'd love them.
Been there already. They are first cousins to the Word of Faith cult. In the final analysis, there is little difference between the two. Both evolved out of the Theosophy movement of the 19th century.
Btw, I don't make any claim that Dispensationalism is heresy or anything close to it.
Presumably, you mean that our purpose is to Glorify God. What was our purpose beforehand - Filler? Placeholder? Comic relief?
That is not what Paul is saying. What Paul is saying is that it is those who are of faith who are Israel, not those born an Israelite in the flesh.
Romans 9
6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called."[2] 8That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Hmmmm, wormfood? LOL
Acts 13
47For so the Lord has commanded us:
"I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth."'[1]
48Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
******************************************
Care to give an interpretation of that passage, especially the bolded part?
You're only partially right. The answer is more like; "God looked down the corridors of time and saw everything I would do and then developed a plan for my life. Then I decided to screw the whole thing up with my free will and now I can ask God to fix the boo-boos."
That would be "Replacement Theology."
As to the first, right, like I said: elect Israelites are a subset. The remnant.
As to the second, sure: those sovereignly chosen by God in eternity past savingly believed the Gospel.
Dan
Address it to Paul, he said it, but YOU know much better than the lowly Apostle Paul, now don't you.
Romans 9
6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called."[2] 8That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Better straighten Paul out.
But then, to Paul, as with the Church, there is no "replacement", for Israel has always, and always will be comprised of the Elect, whether OT or NT with a continuity from the "sons of God" in Genesis, to the "sons of God" in the NT, all are saved by Grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
A subset? There are only two kinds of people in the world---the sons of God and the sons of wrath.
I agree there is a remnant of the fleshly seed of Abraham within the Elect, but they are not a "subset", but are members of the congregation of the Lord.
As to the second, sure: those sovereignly chosen by God in eternity past savingly believed the Gospel.
Would that be purely God's choosing without cooperation by man? Just trying to understand your position, ok.
No, as I said above: Paul says (as Isaiah says) that within the nation of Israel is an elect remnant (subset).
Yes, the Bible teaches that God sovereignly chooses some to salvation. Anything else is not election; it is cosigning.
Dan
I gotcha now. Thanks for the clarifications.
You need to pump ya brakes and check your attitude.
I'm a proud 5-Point Calvinist, and many here can vouch for my bona fides.
Now, BibChr is correct in saying that the elect of Israel are indeed a subset. All who come to saving faith in Christ are the elect, whether Jew or Gentile.
Be careful not to error by using the Church to replace Israel. The Father isn't through with them, yet.
I choose "C."
Fascinating. I'll have to ask our kids about this one. They're pros.
This might be interesting. If all actions have a specific reaction within the person, then perhaps it's true we cannot escape our "fate" and we become what we have always been.
I'll get back to you on this. I'd love to be surprised and actually find a video game I liked outside of Pool.
According to the NT, all the promises have been fulfilled in Christ.
Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. (Luke 24:27)There are no promsies to national Israel that have not been or are not now being fulfilled in the person of Christ and the salvation He brings to all men, including Jews. There is not one verse in the NT which indicates future fulfillment of OT promises to national Israel. On the other hand there are numerous verses which point to Christ as the fulfillment of such promises.Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. (Gal. 3:16)
You must read the OT in the light of the NT or you will always get it wrong.
Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar - the LORD of hosts is his name: 36 "If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever." 37 Thus says the LORD: "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the LORD."
(Jeremiah 31:35-37)
-- then I honestly don't know how we can say that we ANY certain word from God on ANY subject.
Dan
By the grace of the Holy Ghost and Scripture, we can understand this and go on.
after my sister in laws recent miscarriage - in which she held the first trimester baby in her hands as it died - My wife and I were blessed to have to opportunity to witness to them - so yes - Ive had the experience in dealing with it closely as of late
That said _ we accept Gods will and by no means attempt to "understand" exactly why He has done such a thing or allowed such a thing to happen - Sure He knows when how and why - but any similarity ends there - Im content not knowing - and the only understanding that occurs is that #1 its all for His glory - and #2 - His plan is not entirely evident to me...........yet
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