God Decides 2008!- How Should We Respond?

October 20, 2008

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. . . . In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” -Ephesians 1.3-6, 11-12

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion . . . . May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” -1 Peter 1.1a, 3-5

Now that we have waded through the theological waters of how the Bible presents the doctrine of election, it is time for us to address what was my initial impetus in starting this conversation in the first place, that being the question of how should this make us respond?

Looking back we see that what we have said is that God does have a group of people who he has set apart which are called the elect, that that election was based purely on God’s unmerited grace and not on anything that the elect did to earn it, that all of whom are numbered among the elect will be saved, and that none apart from the elect will be saved.

It is after the exposition of all of this where the main cry inevitably comes out, in some sarcastic tone by some smirking know-it-all, asking, “So you think you are elect?” Well, yes, I do. And if you are saved then I think you are elect too! But, should my conviction that I am among the elect lead me to the conclusion which has been implied, namely that I must be something on a stick if God chose me? Absolutely not!

Read Ephesians chapter 1. What does Paul say? Yes, we have returned time and again to see that he says that the elect were chosen “before the foundation of the world” and “predestined” to salvation, but what does he say the response should be? “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ . . . . In love he predestined us . . . to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (vv.3-6). This whole passage, while being a great theological treatise on the doctrine of election, is almost a thank you note, a groveling show of gratitude and unworthiness for a gift which has been given.

Read 1 Peter 1.1-5. What does Peter say? He opens by addressing himself to “the elect exiles.” And then what does he say to them, before anything else? “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again” (v.3a). Again, gratitude and humility. In fact, the humility is amplified as you continue reading, as Peter lists off regeneration, adoption, and perseverance, all of which he declares as being handled solely by the Godhead and not by us. Peter’s high view of election is aligned with a high view of God’s sovereignty and low view of man’s ability, in one coherent theology of dependence on God.

This is the attitude we should take. Yes, as I said, I believe that I am among the elect. That is because I believe that I have been saved by God through the blood of Christ and it is my conviction that that salvation is given to all and only the elect. And my response to that can be no more inward looking than Peter or Paul’s. It is not of my own doing, not a thing, nothing at all, for which I have been chosen. It is solely by the grace of God that he would “caus[e me] to be born again,” though I was “dead” and “by nature [a child] of wrath” (1 Peter 1.3, Ephesians 2.1, 3). Election, instead of being a doctrine of arrogance as is often portrayed (and sometimes even carried out), can only be properly handled as a doctrine of grace, of wholly unmerited mercy, and of humility.

Yes, I believe that I am elect, and believing that way gives me all the more reason to think lowly of myself as I raise up glory to the blessed God of my salvation!

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Posted by Todd Burus

God Decides 2008!- What Happens to the Elect?

October 2, 2008

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” -Ephesians 1.3-5

Building upon the conclusion that we made last time, that there is some group of people set apart by God as “the elect,” it is now time that we delve into the question of what happens to the elect?, i.e. if they are elect then elect to what? Is this just a name or does it imply something more?

There are many places I think we can look for this, and so the first place I would like to take on is the opening passage of 1 Peter. Here is what it says:

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion . . . . Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1.1a, 3-5)

This passage begins with Peter making the salutations and naming the people to whom he wishes to address with this letter, namely “the elect exiles of the dispersion.” So, this group which Peter is talking to is a group of the elect. And what does he say to them? He immediately goes into an exposition of the mercies of God who “caused us to be born again” and who is “guard[ing] [us] through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Then, it would appear that, whoever these elect are, one thing Peter associates with them is a shared redemption and salvation through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Without pushing it too far, I think that we may make the assumption that Peter believes at least these members of the elect to be saved. However, I feel that if we look further we can see that Scripture gives argument to the fact that all of the elect are saved.

Before that, however, I want to point out another portion of the elect who we are told have received salvation, and they most assuredly separate from the group Peter is addressing. This passage is found in Paul’s epistle to the Romans and occurs in a section where he is addressing the question of whether all of the Jews have been lost with the coming of Christ. Paul speaks saying, “at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace” (v.5) and then continues to answer the question: “What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened” (v.7). Here again we find an apostle referring to a gathering of the elect, all of whom have “obtained” salvation.

This leads us to an earlier portion of Paul’s Roman letter, chapter 8 to be exact, where I believe the solid evidence is that proves once for all that this elect, a group of people we have already shown is set apart specifically by God, is a gathering of people who are all saved (or to be saved, but that argument comes later):

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (vv.28-30)

This predestined, which is another naming for the elect, are such that they have been called, justified, and glorified. Now, without getting into too much theology of what all of this means, we can at least say for sure that justification is the act by which we are counted righteous, innocent, before God, and thus are cleared to stand in his presence, which is essentially the essence of salvation (see Revelation 21 for our final relation to God). Thus, all those predestined, those elect, are also all justified, saved.

Of course, if this is not convincing enough for one, look a few verses farther to verse 33 which says, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” This verse, again speaking to the issue of justification which is central to salvation, says (or implies in the context) that no one is capable of accusing the elect for they are justified by God and there is none more powerful than him who could sway his decision elsewise. Once more, the salvation of all the elect is upheld.

Therefore, to conclude this question, we find first that there is a group of people who are set apart by God known as the elect, and second, that these elect are sure to be saved. In the next question we must take up the inquiry of whether the elect, all of whom are saved, are thus the elect because knowledge of their impending salvation was held by God, or if their salvation was effected because they were first chosen as the elect; or, as I will phrase it, which came first, salvation or election?

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Posted by Todd Burus

The Emergent Invitation to War- What Post-Modernism Does to Christianity

August 7, 2008

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” -1 Peter 3.13-16

I first became a fan of Natan Sharansky after reading his widely acclaimed book The Case for Democracy in early 2005. The unashamed way in which he spoke right to the heart of the matter of fear and freedom in our societies greatly influenced my outlook on the practices of governments around the world. Thus, when he released his most recent book, Defending Identity, I knew that I would eventually want to read it, regardless of the subject matter. However, when I began reading the reviews I saw that this was a book I would be interested in even if Mr. Sharansky had not been the author.

Why is that? Because, in this book which focuses mostly on the need for strong identities to coincide with strong democracies, I saw a deeper message pertaining to the struggle between strong identities and strong Christianity going on within the Church in our present emerging culture. Go onto any emergent blog, read any emergent book (say the upcoming Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell for example), or engage any emergent thinkers in your congregation, and you will see this idea of a strong Christian identity being the cause of great travesties throughout the world and a drive to neutralize that identity and try to appeal on a broader range of issues which seem more agreeable to more people and thus promoting more “peace”. This all comes from the “perfectly compelling” syllogism of post-modernism, namely: identity causes conflict; conflict is evil; therefore, identity is evil. It is this false argument which I believe leads emergent Christianity down many a dangerous path in its theology and application, and it is that which Sharansky’s book, when read with a properly discerning eye, argues wholly against.

Below are a couple of quotes which I found particularly striking. In reading them, try and cast the ideas of war and totalitarian forces into the mold of religious conflict and Satan, and see for yourself if you can find the parallels which I was drawn to:

“Post-identity (post-modernism) weakens identity to decrease tensions between people, but doing so leads to vulnerability, threats, blackmail, and ultimately to an inability to defend against aggression. That is why post-identity is an invitation to war.” (Natan Sharansky, Discovering Identity, p.205

“People are willing to make sacrifices when the choice is clear, when they know what is right and what is wrong. yet, if nothing is right, if no value judgments can be made, then nothing is wrong. Post-identity has created a world in which there is no right. But if there is no right, why fight?” (ibid., pp.100-101)

“It should be obvious that wagging a struggle against totalitarian forces first requires moral clarity. Unless you recognize evil, you cannot begin to fight it. But this is where the champions of post-identity have done the greatest damage.” (ibid., p.221)

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Posted by Todd Burus

Are You Too Good For Your Home?- A Question About Where Christians Should Long For

April 22, 2008

“For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” -Philippians 3:18-21

“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” -Hebrews 13:14

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” -Hebrews 11:13-16

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” -John 15:18-1

“We are not going somewhere else at the end of time, because this world is our home. And our home is good. One of the most tragic things ever to happen to the gospel was the emergence of the message that Jesus takes us somewhere else if we believe in him.” -Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis p.171

One of the mega-themes that you will observe if you read Rob Bell’s Velvet Elvis is this pervasive idea that the Christian should not be awaiting a life in heaven, but instead they should embrace that heaven is coming here and is something we can bring ourselves. At one point he says, “Jesus’ desire for his followers is that they live in such a way that they bring heaven to earth (p.148).” Again, in another place, “As we live this life , in harmony with God’s intentions for us, the life of heaven becomes more and more present in our lives. Heaven comes to earth (p.147).” In Bell’s theology, the goal of a Christian’s life is to bring heaven instead of hell to earth. This is nice, and comforting, and uplifting, … and completely unbiblical!

In other places we see Bell say things like “this world is our home.” Yet, Christ himself says to the disciples, and then forevermore to us, “you are not of the world”! So, only one person can be right, Bell or Jesus? Hmuh… I pick Jesus.

The problem with this view of us bringing heaven to earth is not that heaven is not coming to earth, and this is really the point where Bell and his ilk are so smarmy. In Revelation 21:1-3, the Apostle John records for us what will happen after the final judgment:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”

So, in the end there will be a new Jerusalem which will descend from heaven, to this terrestrial sphere, and in that city God will dwell with us! This is the fulfillment of Hebrews 11:13-16 above which says “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” Bell knows this. He knows, and even cites in his book, that the final revelation is of the new Jerusalem coming to earth. However, he then uses this acknowledgment of the truth to advance his nice warm, fuzzy lies.

Yes, the new Jerusalem is coming. And how shall it come? According to Velvet Elvis, it shall come because Jesus’ followers “live in such a way that they bring heaven to earth.” Maybe you want to object that this is just a euphemism . However, if you want to make that objection I challenge you to actually read the book and see if Bell is just being cute when he says this. I am fairly convinced that in Bell’s book he is advancing the claim that good living is the driving force which brings heaven (or the new Jerusalem) to earth.

But, contrast that with Revelation 19 and 20 which depict a great battle where Satan is chained and then defeated forever, and the Great Judgment where all are ultimately judged. All of this happens BEFORE the new Jerusalem comes down to us. And yes, I understand that Revelation is a hairy book, full of symbolism, but there is not an interpretation in existence that doesn’t recognize Jesus as the Rider on the White Horse who defeats Satan or that thinks the final judgment has already come. Therefore, if none of this has happened yet, and if the old heaven and old earth pass away following this, then wouldn’t it be a waste for us to “bring heaven to earth” now when God is just going to throw it in the garbage at the end of time?

Honestly, this can get very speculative and unwieldy real fast, but the real issue is this: are we supposed to embrace this world because it is “our home” or should we accept the fact that we are “sojourners and exiles” (1 Peter 2:11) on this earth and we are awaiting our return to where our true citizenship is, that being heaven? I believe Bell wants us to embrace this world because he denies that it is a wicked and corrupt world, and because he thinks that we are any less wicked and corrupt to be able to change it.  Bell loves this world and creation, not unlike the fools in Romans 1:22-23.

However, if we truly respond to the Holy Spirit’s call on our lives, then we must acknowledge that we have been called out of this world, acknowledge that we have become “strangers and exiles” on the earth, acknowledge that on this earth there is “no lasting city”, and trust that God has prepared for us a city where he will dwell with us for eternity without end! That is our home!

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Posted by Todd Burus

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 7; 1 Peter 1:20-21

February 24, 2008

“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” - 1 Peter 1:20-21

This week we will be looking at the above text and analyzing what it says to us about Jesus, what it says about God, and how these things work together to say something about us as the elect exiles. I found this text to be truly rewarding and I hope that through studying along with it that God may speak to you in the same way about His wonderful workings and carefully woven plan which was instituted to allow us to be redeemed from our fallen state and to be glorified with Him for all eternity in heaven.

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 7 notes

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 7 audio

This Bible study is being produced with a group of guys in Lexington, KY, my hometown, in mind, but is suitable for anyone to follow. The content of examples used will generally be directed at a male audience, however there is nothing in this which will keep women from being able to learn as well. If you come across this study and have any questions about the content of the message or about anything in general, please don’t hesitate to post or shoot me an email.

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Posted by Todd Burus

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 6; 1 Peter 1:17-19

February 10, 2008

“And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” - 1 Peter 1:17-19

This week we focus on what it means to fear God. Is this a fear of being struck by lightening for letting a swear word slip in traffic, or is it something more? And, if we fear God, how should this manifest itself in our lives? The doctrine of fearing God is a much maligned idea these days where we try to counteract a wrathful, vengeful God in favor of a kind, pacifist, vegan God. However, hopefully in our study of this passage in 1 Peter we will see that the fear of the Lord is a crucial point to accept in living the obedient Christian life.

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 6 notes

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 6 audio

This Bible study is being produced with a group of guys in Lexington, KY, my hometown, in mind, but is suitable for anyone to follow. The content of examples used will generally be directed at a male audience, however there is nothing in this which will keep women from being able to learn as well. If you come across this study and have any questions about the content of the message or about anything in general, please don’t hesitate to post or shoot me an email.

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Posted by Todd Burus

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 5; 1 Peter 1:13-16

February 1, 2008

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written. ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ ” - 1 Peter 1:13-16

In the fifth part of our study through the book of 1 Peter we encounter two commands from Peter to the believer: to hope and to be holy. Through this study we examine what it means to do those things and how it is that God would have for us to fulfill these commands. God’s word is not silent, it is not indifferent to us, even as believers, and as such we need to know what it commands of us on a daily basis and what provisions God has laid out for us to be found in good standing of these commands.

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 5 notes

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 5 audio

This Bible study is being produced with a group of guys in Lexington, KY, my hometown, in mind, but is suitable for anyone to follow. The content of examples used will generally be directed at a male audience, however there is nothing in this which will keep women from being able to learn as well. If you come across this study and have any questions about the content of the message or about anything in general, please don’t hesitate to post or shoot me an email.

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Posted by Todd Burus

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 4; 1 Peter 1:10-12

January 25, 2008

“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” - 1 Peter 1:10-12

This weeks Bible study focus on verses 10 through 12 of 1 Peter chapter 1, a passage in scripture where Peter talks with the Christians about how they now have a knowledge with was both desired and unattained by the prophets and the angels, that knowledge being the knowledge of salvation and God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Thus, in this we discuss that we should be thankful for the granting of this knowledge as well as why this knowledge is worthwhile to be thankful for. It is truly an awesome thing to think that in our little Bible we have the full plan for how to be redeemed to the God of all creation. Enjoy!

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 4 notes

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 4 audio

This Bible study is being produced with a group of guys in Lexington, KY, my hometown, in mind, but is suitable for anyone to follow. The content of examples used will generally be directed at a male audience, however there is nothing in this which will keep women from being able to learn as well. If you come across this study and have any questions about the content of the message or about anything in general, please don’t hesitate to post or shoot me an email.

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Posted by Todd Burus

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 3; 1 Peter 1:6-9

January 16, 2008

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” - 1 Peter 1:6-9

This is the third part of our journey through the book of 1 Peter. I really enjoyed this weeks passage and was truly moved by what Peter is saying to us here. The two major themes that I draw out of this text are for us to rejoice and to hope, and Peter herein gives us direction on why and how to do these two things as we further push to be conformed into Christ’s image.

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 3 notes

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 3 audio

This Bible study is being produced with a group of guys in Lexington, KY, my hometown, in mind, but is suitable for anyone to follow. The content of examples used will generally be directed at a male audience, however there is nothing in this which will keep women from being able to learn as well. If you come across this study and have any questions about the content of the message or about anything in general, please don’t hesitate to post or shoot me an email.

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Posted by Todd Burus

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 2; 1 Peter 1:3-5

January 9, 2008

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” - 1 Peter 1:3-5

Here is the second part in our study through the book of 1 Peter. I found this text to be so rich in it truths about the nature of God and His actions in the life of those He calls. The realities of this verse really touch to the core of God’s saving grace and our hope as the elect. I pray that this scripture will touch you in a way that makes you truly say “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!”

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 2 notes

1 Peter Bible Study, Part 2 audio

This Bible study is being produced with a group of guys in Lexington, KY, my hometown, in mind, but are suitable for anyone to follow. The content of examples used will generally be directed at a male audience, however there is nothing in this which will keep women from being able to learn as well. If you come across this study and have any questions about the content of the message or about anything in general, please don’t hesitate to post or shoot me an email.

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Posted by Todd Burus

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