“”A prince, while he is a little child, is presumably as willful and as ignorant as other little children. Sometimes he may be very obedient and teachable and affectionate, and then he is happy and approved. At other times he may be unruly, self-willed, and disobedient, and then he is unhappy, and perhaps is chastised—but he is just as much a prince on the one day as on the other. It may be hoped that, as time goes on, he will learn to bring himself into willing and affectionate subjection to every right way, and then he will be more princely, but not more really a prince. He was born a prince” (C.I.Scofield, Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth).”
Where is that in the Bible?
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A prince, while he is a little child, is presumably as willful and as ignorant as other little children. Sometimes he may be very obedient and teachable and affectionate, and then he is happy and approved. At other times he may be unruly, self-willed, and disobedient, and then he is unhappy, and perhaps is chastised—but he is just as much a prince on the one day as on the other..i> Where is that in the Bible? You perhaps purposely failed to failed to provide the context, which is about the believers positional status versus his practical reality at the time, but that God will make the latter into the former, though i would add as long as one is a true believer, dying in faith. The student will be able to add largely to this list of comparative passages showing that the Scripture makes a clear distinction between the standing and state of the believer. It will be seen that he is not under probation to see if he is worthy of an inconceivably exalted position, but, beginning with the confession of his utter unworthiness, receives the position wholly as the result of Christ's work. Positionally he is "perfected forever" (Heb. 10: 14), but looking within, at his state, he must say, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect" (Phil. 3:12). - http://www.biblebelievers.com/scofield/scofield_rightly08.html Thus let me show you where this is shown. In which we see practical sinners, who are sometimes teachable and affectionate, and then he is happy and approved, and at other times he may be unruly, self-willed, and disobedient, and then he is unhappy, and perhaps is chastised. And in any case he fails of the absolute holiness needed to be with God. But positionally he is just as much a prince on the one day as on the other, being washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. And thus the appeal to realize the positional status one has in order to live it out. Under grace the souls is purified by faith, (Acts 15:9) and given the justify righteousness he could never earn even under the holy Law, and which is the basis for his acceptance with the almighty. But true faith is an obedient faith, and and God works in this life to effect growth in grace toward maturity. And once he dies in faith (and thus the exhortations to do so, and warnings against departing from the living God: Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 3:9,12,14; 10:38) this will be realized. If this seems strange to a RC, it is because the salvation system of Rome is contrary to the NT, as it holds that the act of sprinkling even a morally incognizant infant, even by an unbelievers, renders the subject formally justified based on interior goodness ("infused charity") so they could enter glory that moment. However, since this is based on one's own holiness, then the subject must usually end the salvation process by becoming good enough thru the torments of Rome's purgatory (even rejected by the EOs) to enter Heaven. |
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Practical |
Positional |
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As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? (1 Corinthians 3:4) For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2) And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:13) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (Ephesians 4:22) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1) Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (2 Corinthians 5:6) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (2 Corinthians 5:4)
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But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5) Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2) ...but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1) Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:8) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:32) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2) |
I didn't say it came from Scripture, did I? Mr. Scofield was a righteous and Biblically oriented follower of Christ, but he never claimed to be writing Scripture. Rather, he puts forth a principle which IS taught in Scripture and which refutes those false religions that say a person must do good works in order to be saved. Instead, we are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ by the grace of God who grants salvation to us through faith and NOT by our works. It is why Scofield could say that those who are born of God through faith:
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:14,15)
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12,13)
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26)
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" (Galatians 4:4-6)
When we are born again into the family of God, we are "adopted" and become heirs and joint-heirs with Christ. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit as the earnest of our inheritance and, though we may sometimes not act like children of the Most High God, we still are...we were BORN as His children and He will never cast us out or lose us. It is an assurance that comes when true faith is allowed to take root and flourish in our hearts.