This tiny, little book has been sitting in my "finished it" pile for a while now and I have been waking up in the middle of the night thinking "I need to write about part two of that". I really should be doing other things today but it's raining outside, which always helps me procrastinate!!
So, I summarized what Dr. Piper had to say about Question #1 (Will anyone experience eternal conscious torment under God's wrath?) and Question #2 (Is the work of Christ necessary for salvation?) in my post in March. Now we tackle the last, and most prominent, of the three questions - is conscious faith in Jesus necessary for salvation? This is the crux of Christianity as a whole and I feel like just mentioning the main points does the topic an injustice but I don't want to rewrite the entire latter half of the book!! Apologies in advance for the holes I may create in choosing the points that had the most impact for me.
Part one of Dr. Piper's answer to the question is "The Mystery of Christ and the Times of Ignorance". Many people ask if it is possible for someone who is a devout follower of another religion to receive salvation by the God they see through nature. "So great was the significance of [the Son of God coming into the world] that the focus of saving faith was, from that time on, made to center on Jesus Christ alone. So fully does Christ sum up all the revelation of God and all the hopes of God's people that it would henceforth be a dishonor to him should saving faith repose on anyone but him" (p. 63). He says "the gospel is not the revelation that the nations already belong to God. The gospel is the instrument for bringing the nations into this equal status of salvation" (p. 65). Dr. Piper then goes into an in-depth examination of Romans 16:25-27, explaining why the message of salvation was not meant to be spread to the nations before the incarnation of Christ. "God means for his Son to be the center of worship as the nations receive the word of reconciliation. For this reason...the preaching of Christ is the means appointed by God for the ingathering of the nations" (p. 66) . Next he discusses the "times of ignorance" mentioned in Acts 17:30 and explains that "one cannot truly esteem what one knows nothing about" (p. 70). There are also some questions in regard to God "overlooking" these times of ignorance but Dr. Piper states clearly and emphatically that "men on their own, by their own wisdom (religion!), will never truly know God. An extraordinary, special work of God would be required to bring people to a true and saving knowledge of God, namely, the preaching of Christ crucified" (p. 73). For those who feel that it may be 'unfair' for God to let nations walk in their own ways, Dr. Piper says "There is a divine wisdom in the timing of God's deliverances from darkness. We should humble ourselves to see it, rather than presume to know better how God should deal with a rebellious world" (p. 75). So, with the coming of Christ it changed the focus of saving faith and put Jesus at the center of all God's work in salvation. "Apart from a knowledge of him, none who has the ability to know will be saved" (p. 77).
Part two of the answer to this most important of questions focuses on "The Case of Cornelius". Acts 10 tells Cornelius' story and some theologians have wondered if he was saved before Peter preached Christ to him. John Piper believes that he was not. He uses Acts 10:43 as a defense of this and states "devoutness and works of righteousness and religious sincerity do not solve the problem of sin. The only hope is to believe on Jesus" (p. 83). The question is also raised about what is meant when the Bible says that God finds some people "acceptable" (Acts 10:35). The answer given is "the meaning probably lies somewhere between [God-fearing people who do good and people who are acceptable candidates for evangelism] - between being saved and being a touch-able, loveable human candidate for evangelism" (p. 87). "So the fear of God that is acceptable to God in verse 35 is a true sense that there is a holy God, that we have to meet him some day as desperate sinners, that we cannot save ourselves and need to know God's way of salvation, and that we pray for it day and night and seek to act on the light we have" (p. 89). "Therefore, Cornelius does not represent persons who are saved without hearing and believing the gospel; rather, he illustrates God's intention to take out a people for his name from "every nation" through the sending of gospel messengers across cultural boundaries which had once been taboo" (p. 90).
Part three is the argument that there is "No Other Name under Heaven". Acts 4:12 is presented as a crucial text in answering whether those who have never heard of Jesus can be saved. "The point of saying, "There is no other name," is that we are saved by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus. Calling on his name is our entrance into fellowship with God. If one is saved by Jesus incognito, one does not speak of being saved by his name" (p. 94). Dr. Piper then goes into a wonderful exposition of Romans 9:30-10:21, explaining how "Jesus is the goal and climax of Old Testament teaching, and therefore Jesus now stands as Mediator between man and Yahweh as the object of saving faith" (p. 97). The questions of Romans 10:14-15 are addressed and explained and shown to support the concept that there cannot be salvation without hearing the gospel of Jesus first. In summation of this part of the question, Dr. Piper says "But when Christ came, all faith narrowed in its focus to him alone as the One who purchased and guaranteed all the hopes of the people of God. From the time of Christ onward, God wills to honor Christ by making him the sole focus of saving faith. Therefore, people must call upon him and believe in him and hear him and be sent messengers with 'the Word of Christ'" (p. 105).
The final point of the major question is "The Missionary Task as Seen by Paul and John". Here he discusses the ministries of Paul and John. "A new day has come with Jesus, the Christ. The people of God are being rebuilt in such a way that they will no longer fail in their task of reaching the nations. In this new day, God will not suffer his people to neglect their mission indefinitely; he will no longer allow the nations to go their own way. He is establishing a church, 'that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord.' And he will now gather in all those among the nations who are called by his name! It is his new work! All those who are predestined will be called (Rom. 8:30). All those who are foreordained to eternal life will believe (Acts 13:48). All those who are ransomed will be gathered from every people under heaven (Rev. 5:9). God himself is the chief agent in this new movement, and he will take out a people for his name among the nations (Acts 15:14)" (p. 112). Warning: this chapter might make you want to be one of those privileged believers who are 'sent out' to preach the Gospel!!
In conclusion, Dr. John Piper states "I have written this little book to convince our minds and strengthen our hearts to do the loving thing, namely, to spread to all peoples the good news of God's work in Jesus to rescue sinners (1 Tim. 1:15; Luke 5:32; Mark 10:45) and someday renew the world (Rom. 8:20-23; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev. 21:1-4)" (p. 118). So, yes, there is an eternal hell to be rescued from. Yes, the death and resurrection of Christ is essential for that rescue and yes, people need to hear this good news and believe it in order to be rescued. Little book, yes, but the biggest, most important truth that any of us can ever know!!
When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ...To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. - Ephesians 3:4, 8-9
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. - Acts 17:30-31
To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. - Acts 10:43
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved - Acts 4:12
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" - Romans 10:13-15
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. - 1 Timothy 1:15
God is precise Rev 22:18-19 no one must add to or take away from the words of the book of Revelation : It is a woman Rev 12 that delivers the true word John1:1, Rev 12:5, Rev 12:13 who restores Acts 3:21 all things to the world before Christ’s return. This woman exposes the lies of Satan who has deceived the whole world Rev 12:9. This woman creates a new thing in the earth by fulfilling God's promise to Eve Gen 3:15, Jer 31:22, Isa 14:16. Moses and Elijah are together with the word Matt 17:3 they all three are in this one woman. She is like unto Moses Num 12:3. She was raised up Acts 3:22 from the Laodicean church that becomes lukewarm because they refused to hear her Rev 3:14-17. She is bold like Elijah Matt 17:11, Luke 1:17. As Elijah was alone declaring the true God to the people so also her witness alone turns the hearts of the fathers to the children Mal 4:5-6 to prepare a people for the Lords return before the great and dreadful day of the Lord Matt 17:3, Luke 9:30. Those who will not hear Acts 3:23 the true word of God she now deliveres to the world free of charge, as a witness, at the heel of time from the wilderness Rev 12:6 will not be allowed inside the walls of God’s coming kingdom from heaven Rev 21. This true testimony of the true value of the blood of the Lamb delivers the truth that not one child of God will be put in a hell fire no matter what their sins. It never entered the heart or mind of God to ever do such a thing Jer 7:31, Jer 19:5. God created evil Isa 45:7 to teach his children the knowledge of good and evil Rom 8:7, Gen 3:22 so that at their resurrection they become a god Matt 22:29-30, Ps 82:6. Prove all things. You cannot rightly judge this unless you read all that has been written by this woman first Pro 18:13. http://minigoodtale.blogspot.com Check out the bruising of Satan and the reason for all of mankind’s sufferings.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Val, for taking the time to send me a comment with so much Scriptural support. I did take the time to look up every reference. I fear though that there is some proof-texting happening, especially in regard to Jer 7:31, 19:5 and Matt. 22:29-30, Psalm 82:6. I'm not sure what theologian has supported your point of view but please feel free to direct me toward their writings. I briefly looked at the website you recommended and I will certainly be keeping the woman who wrote this in my prayers. Very, very concerning theology!! I would encourage you to read the post I put up in March about the first half of Dr. Piper's book. Better even, get your hands on the book and read it yourself.
ReplyDeleteFor something a bit more "fun", check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDLCN8GwBHE&feature=share
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and your passion.