Letter to an Atheist

Common logic concludes that God exists, but it's incapable of knowing Him. Our five senses can detect intelligent design, but “knowing” God personally involves our spiritual intuitive nature. If we view the world only through the five senses we become our own god, isolated, narcissistic and confined to meaningless relativity. True understanding is a state of the heart, not an achievement of the mind. Atheists and agnostics cannot perceive the obvious because anger and fear sabotage their heart.

Humans receive information from three “voices.” Physical sensation is the voice of the body. Reasoning is the voice of the mind. Intuition is the voice of the human spirit, and it's defined as “direct perception of truth or fact independent of any reasoning process; immediate apprehension... pure, untaught, noninferential knowledge.” 
 

If your logic processes data only from the five physical senses and disregards conscience and intuition you will remain imprisoned in spiritual darkness, creating God in your own marred image. God is not illogical, but our logic is restricted by the scope of our vision and the condition of our heart.

Even empirical science cannot escape intuition. Physicians, selected from the best and most balanced minds are in a continual state of disagreement over medicine, because pure unbiased objectivity is a myth. Einstein understood this. It wasn't detached logic that led him to deep scientific discoveries, they were birthed from subjective experience. “A new idea comes suddenly and in a rather intuitive way. That means it is not reached by conscious logical conclusions.” (Albert Einstein) If that's true of science, how much truer is it of God.

Love, evil, goodness, beauty, perfection, consciousness, impressions of immortality and our ability to have this discussion, confound “objectivity” because such abstractions reveal a reality beyond mere physiology. If you don't sense a sublime inner longing for God it's because your logic has become a fortress to avoid some fear. When we've been offended by the counterfeit, we instinctively fear the truth. What are you afraid of and why are you so angry? If your beliefs are based on what seems reasonable to your five senses you've been seduced. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25)

Faith is often misunderstood as an intellectual leap in the dark. But biblical faith is anything but darkness. Faith is a noun, not some capricious leap in the dark initiated by imagination. It's supernatural light with actual existence that transcends space and time. It supersedes emotions and enlightens reason. Faith is not an abstraction, but it's defined as “substance” and “evidence” (Hebrews 11:1) This incomparable knowledge is not natural to humans but is imparted by God. (2 Thess 3:2) It is a gift found only in Jesus Christ, through whom “All things were created …and in Him all things consist.” (1 Tim 1:14; 2 Tim 1:13; Eph 2:8; Col 1:16-17)

Believing is our mental response to faith. Trusting is our emotional response to faith. Without this divine gift, our natural ability to believe and trust will automatically revert to some futile false security, like our notoriously devious minds. 

Einstein interpreted his intuitive experience by logic, but he could never impart it to anyone. He could only offer dead equations. Christians have a similar dilemma. Words are meaningless symbols until you know the reality behind them. Therefore, I will not waste time trying to convince you that Christ is the only Truth, the only Way, and the only source of Life, because it cannot be done. 

I couldn't trust the Bible or anyone's story, and I know you can't either. Nevertheless, in spite of my flaws, like millions from every culture, I too have experienced the literal presence of Jesus Christ and the impact was so sensational that it was like awakening from a dream. Now that I'm awake I can understand the illusion of the dream. That experience has continued to unfold within me confirming the Bible, and transforming my life.

This is not about intellectual suicide, it's about true enlightenment and satisfaction. It's available to anyone who treasures truth and is willing to admit their own brokenness and spiritual bankruptcy. Pride is the only thing that God's grace cannot penetrate, and atheism is pride's most arrogant fantasy.

Copyright 2012 by Hayden Humphrey

FALSE GRACE

I have been rather naive about the false grace teaching that has infected the church for centuries. I'd assumed that salvation by grace alone, and not by works was so obvious and fundamental that it was not worthy of debate. I'd also assumed that walking the narrow path of purity was clear and irrefutable. However, I'm seeing a disturbing trend that views separation from the world and conformity the the Holy Spirit as dead legalism.

Many Christians, including myself, abhor the hypocrisy of legalism. But if we react to it out of hurt and anger we risk becoming the very pharisee we despise. Legalism elevates doctrine above love, and without God's supernatural love, any doctrine is legalistic regardless of its accuracy or cultural relevance. This reaction to "hypocrisy" and "bigotry" breeds moral compromise masquerading as liberty, and a doctrine of grace that's an impotent religious icon. Sadly, legalism has become a condemning buzz word for denying the flesh.

"For certain men... have slipped in unnoticed...who change the grace of God into a license for immorality." (Jude 4) If false grace crept into the church "unnoticed" then it must have been camouflaged in truth. It's politically correct to tolerate distortions of grace, but such compromise originates in hell and maligns the very foundation of Christ's doctrine, which is repentance. (Heb 6:1) Such error may seem innocent, but it ultimately leads to defeat. Simply inviting Jesus into your heart without true repentance violates scripture and imperils souls.

Grace is required for salvation (Eph 5:5, 8) but it's also true that "Unless you repent you will perish." (Lk 13:3,5) Repentance is to turn away from sin. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, not merely believes. (Lk 15:7, 10) Jesus began his ministry with a universal call to repentance. "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." The great commission of the church is to preach "repentance and remission of sins..." (Lk 24:47) Without this foundation of repentance, Christ's victory will elude you.

God's grace is neither forgiveness nor an insurance policy to cover sin. Grace is not some mystical revelation that nullifies our obligation to pursue death to self. Leniency toward sin under the pretense of justice and mercy is also not grace, it's self-righteousness.

Grace is the multifaceted influence of God's presence in us. Grace is not merely a doctrine, it's literally Jesus Christ (Jn 1:17) Paul didn't say "I know what I believe," he said "I know whom I have believed." (2 Tim 1:12) It's all about God's presence, and His unmerited favor enables us to abide in His presence. (Jn 15:6-7) Grace is supernatural endowment to overcome sin, and it's released through humility, faith and diligence.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” (Titus 2:11-12) True grace teaches and enables us to walk the narrow path of self denial

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Rom 6:14) That's not a loophole for irresponsibility, it's an affirmation that grace has liberated us from the law, so we can choose to let God reign in us. Grace imparts holiness and righteousness into our re-born spirit, but the heart needs a progressive transformation and the body a resurrection before we are complete in God. Being led by the Holy Spirit is the definition of a true child of God, and “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Rom 8:13-14)

Grace and free will are not mutually exclusive, they're mutually essential. Just as faith without works is dead, likewise grace without repentance is fruitless. (Rom 6:10-18) “Therefore let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb 12:1)

It's folly to assume that grace is irresistible, and mental assent is all that's required to receive it. Beware of the leaven of Calvinism. The bible clearly warns that we can “fail the grace of God,” (Heb 12:15) receive it “in vain,” (2 Cor 6:1) “fall from grace,” (Gal 5:4) and “pervert grace.”(Jude 4)

The new testament actually lists more commandments than the old, and dismissing them as legalism will not exempt you from obedience. It's hazardous to fear legalism more than God. Without grace our works are independent and futile, but grace without obedience is also futile. (Heb 12:28; Jn 15:5) Where sin abounds, grace much more abounds . . .not to excuse sin but to empower us to conquer it!

James defines this marriage of grace and works: “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. . . "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4)

Those verses may seem like pious religiosity, but such mandates are legalistic only if you attempt them without drawing near to God. Anguish and brokenness over our spiritual bankruptcy is the portal to amazing grace!

This is not about sinless perfection or self righteousness. It's simply a call to humility and purity, so the Lord can have full access to us. If you embark on the narrow path, Satan will accuse you of cultural irrelevancy, whispering “Did God really say?” And well meaning friends may label you as legalistic and super spiritual. But, “Do not let anyone deceive you, He who does what is right is righteous. . . Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God.” (1 Jn 3:7-10) LOVE epitomizes “what is right,” and only a pure heart can authentically express it. (1 Jn 2:15-10)

The biblical remedy for self-condemnation is not a doctrine of grace or “looking to the cross,” it's growing in love, (1 Jn 18-23) which is the purpose of repentance. “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart.” (1 Tim 1:5) A pure heart can do nothing to earn salvation or increase God's love, but it pleases God because it positions us to receive his transforming grace. Repentance can be sincere while it's still weak and fragile, and God is pleased from the moment we haltingly set our hearts to fully obey. Every time we choose love over evil the Lord is delighted because he knows the eternal result, “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself.” (1 Jn 3:3)

Therefore, “Be diligent to present yourself approved of God. . . rightly dividing the word of truth. . . The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal . . "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Tim 2:15-19) Amazingly the seal of authentic doctrine is to “depart from iniquity.” Think about that. If your doctrine of grace is not founded on repentance from sin it does not have God's seal of approval.

Copyright 2011 by Hayden Humphrey

What's the Deal with HELL?

The severity of hell is becoming increasingly contested among Christians, inflamed by the recent bestseller “Love Wins,” which foolishly asserts that hell is temporary and all humanity will be saved.

Hell is a discernible certainty that Jesus mentioned often and to minimize it violates the very foundation of Christianity. “Eternal judgment” is an indelible basic principal of Christ, and the phrase won't bow to linguistic nuance.(Heb 6:1-2) The original definition of eternal (aionois) is “without beginning and end, never to cease, everlasting,” while judgment (krima) is defined as “eternal punishment, everlasting doom, and condemnation.”

Hell's best kept secret is not just its stealth and anonymity, but the fact that it has eternal jurisdiction over every soul who rejects Light. Jesus exposed the dark secret that the majority of humanity will go to hell. When asked, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Lk 13:23) "Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction . . . narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Mt 7:13-14)

This orthodox narration of hell is so horrific that we cannot emotionally or intellectually accept it. The thought of millions consigned to eternal torment and unimaginable anguish, transcends all language. Hell is beyond comprehension, and we vastly underestimate it. As heaven surpasses our wildest dreams and longings, hell likewise is infinitely worse than our most terrifying fears and fantasies.

Not only is this hideous reality a common thread interwoven throughout the Bible, but every generation has numerous witnesses who were taken into hell or heaven and returned with astonishing riveting testimony verifying the Bible. http://spiritlessons.com/The account of the rich man in hell and Lazarus in paradise was an actual experience, not a parable, and it's clear from the text that the man was in hell by his own choice, not predestination or injustice. (Lk 16:19-31)

If we view God through the prism of our wounds, warped self-image or an imperfect church, we will one day awaken in hell, with brutally shocking clarity, knowing that we chose anger over Life. Jesus said, “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.” (Jn 3:36) Those piercing words are intended to awaken us from our naive religious stupor. Can you really hear Jesus' words? Can you accept them? Can you risk misunderstanding them? Nothing in life is more important!

THE ILLUSION OF COMMON SENSE

The eternal intolerable torture of hell seems absurd because our reasoning is limited to the scope of our vision."Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born, again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," (Jn 3:3) neither can he see the kingdom of hell. Man's arrogant illusion of “self-sufficiency” has blinded him to reality. (1 Cor 2:14)

Jesus said, “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (or hellish things) (Jn 3:12) Many were offended into disbelief when Jesus said the earth is in spiritual darkness, controlled by the evil one, and all humanity is depraved, desperately wicked, and must be saved from eternal damnation.

Of course the salient question is, “How can a perfect loving God allow eternal damnation? Which begs the question, “How can a created being like me outrageously presume to judge God?” “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! ...O man, who are you to reply against God?” (Rom 9:14,20) God turns my questions back to me. “Who are you?” Our darkened hearts have exalted man and trivialized the majesty and fear of God.

There's a great gulf between beholding the Truth and our anemic attempts to explain it. Philosophical explanations of hell leave you empty, but the Holy Spirit provides assurance and resolution. (See 1 Cor 3:18) “Until I entered into the holy place, then I understood their final destiny,” said the psalmist of the condemned. (Ps 73:13)

I'm not trying to evade the dilemma of hell. But, our knowledge of God is probably comparable to fetus and it's mother. That doesn't invalidate the precious insight we have, but it's only “a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge.” (1 Cor 13:12) Paul humbly concluded, “How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.” God's judgments and ways are beyond our earthly grasp, but his heart and love are clearly seen in Jesus.

What version of hell would you require before you would serve and worship God? The reality is, if you must base your trust in God on what seems reasonable, then you don't know him. “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.” (Pro 14:12; 16:25) He invites us to simply “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” If we humble ourselves and seek God, we will perceive his goodness and fairness, even in this broken dark world, and “...shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.” (See Ps 107)

THE ILLUSION OF FAIRNESS

“The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God,”(1 Cor 3:19) therefore, our common idea of God's fairness is foolishness.

Not only is God love, but he is also defined as “just.” (De 32:4; Ne 9:33) “Justice and judgment are the foundation of His throne.” (Ps 89:14) All creation was designed to operate by a love so perfect that evil must be vanquished for the sake of love. Love and evil are mutually exclusive, therefore, God's justice must be satisfied for love to reign on earth.

Justice was satisfied in Jesus Christ, and it's only in him that we are immune to the wrath of God's justice. (Rom 5:9) In spite of the staggering mystery of hell, there is an eternally safe refuge that is perfect love. All God's blessings of love, joy, peace, abundance, creativity and satisfaction are found only in Jesus Christ. (Eph 1:3) Everything outside of him is lies, perversion and death.

You may be annoyed by my dogmatic biblical stance, wondering how I can be so obstinately sure. Please don't base your eternal destiny on my conclusions, because knowledge of the holy is not transferable. Accept nothing less than first hand empirical knowledge. (Rom 15:18) Like millions over the centuries, and from every culture, I too have literally encountered the risen Christ, and all who know him can testify that God is good and fair beyond our wildest dreams!

Job, the prototype believer, didn't receive a single answer to his desperate questions about evil, but after one encounter with God they were no longer relevant. Thirty seven chapters of deep theological discourse could not satisfy Job's intellectual anguish. But God's visitation changed everything: “Are you going to discredit my justice and condemn me so you can say you are right?” (Job 40:80) In other words, “Are you going to accuse me of being unfair?” Job humbly admitted, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:3)

Jesus is the answer in space and time to all philosophical questions. Jesus is the Word. He is wisdom and understanding. Jesus is the “revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.” Theology has no part in him, he is Truth. “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.” (Pro 28:5) Seek him, not just answers about him.

THE BOTTOM LINE

I know this: God is good, gentle, kind, merciful and eternally loving, yet I cannot grasp the depth of such love, neither can I define his holiness. I know that in God there is no evil or darkness, only holiness and life, that free will is the risk of love, and one taste of His love confirms the risk was worth it! I also know that God's justice can be expressed in terrifying wrath, and that my intellect cannot fathom it. Furthermore, I know that God is the ultimate judge, and the judge is not responsible for a criminal's behavior. The problem is that the penalty seems insanely severe!

I have found only one extra-biblical argument that slightly consoles me regarding hell. It's C.S. Lewis' stunning observation in “The Problem of Pain:” “No more pain is felt when a million suffer than when one suffers. . .There is no such thing as a sum of suffering, for no one suffers it. When we have reached the maximum that a single person can suffer, we have, no doubt reached something very horrible, but we have reached all the suffering there ever can be in the entire universe. The addition of a million fellow suffers adds no pain.”

There is no sum total of hell's misery because every soul suffers alone. On earth all humans are interconnected, causing our joys and sorrows to impact others. “For in him we live and move and have our being.”(Act 17:28) But, in hell where God is absent, there is no interconnection, only infinite isolation, while in heaven God's presence unifies every soul into a perfect loving family.

This concept tempers the awful magnitude of hell, but no answer can really placate me this side of heaven. Ultimately, only the unspeakable joy of the Holy Spirit can dispel our sorrow and wipe away every tear.

Jesus said, “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light.” (Jn 3:19) Condemnation in the original Greek means “separation.” Deliberately rejecting light, either the brilliance of the gospel or the veiled light of our conscience, is to choose separation from God. By rejecting God's gift of light, love, peace and life, we automatically become darkness, hatred, turmoil and death, yet our soul can never be annihilated because its essence is divinely breathed.

The bottom line is this: All human existence can be reduced to one inescapable law, and two unalterable realities, the law of sowing and reaping, and the eternal realms of heaven and hell. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Gal 6:7-8) It's universal, inviolable and impartial. If I sow to my corrupt self (darkness) I will lose my life. If I sow to Jesus Christ (the Light) I will save my life. There are only two options; “the law of the spirit of life in Christ,” or the “law of sin and death.” Which law will you embrace? The choice is entirely yours. Indecision is a choice.

Copyright 2011 by Hayden Humphrey

ETERNAL SECURITY

Every Christian yearns for a sense of security and assurance before God, and a palpable confidence that they are bound for heaven. This is a legitimate need and God in his mercy has provided a supernatural hope, so secure it's called the “anchor of our soul.” (Heb 6:19)  In Christ we have access to unprecedented “everlasting consolation and firm hope through grace.” (2 Thess 2:16) This assurance of salvation is so vital that we are virtually “saved by hope.” (Rom 8:24)

However, we must understand that eternal security is not simply a download of information, but it's a fruit of faith and perseverance. (Heb 6:9-12) If your security is based on false information, it will not sustain you, and inevitably your insecurity will be tragically exposed.

Many naively embrace “unconditional eternal security,” an accessory to Calvinism, declaring once saved always saved, without qualification. It's a dangerous assumption blatantly contradicting scripture and elevating theology above the presence of Jesus.

It's often quoted with great pomp that God has magnified His word above his name. (Ps 138:2) That's a great truth, but He hasn't placed His word or name above His presence. The Bible represents Him, but it's not Him. Because the pharisees idolized the law, they failed to recognized the Living Word as He stood in their very midst. (Jn 5:39) No where are we told to worship the Bible, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life...yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (Jn 5:39-40)  Eternal security is found in His presence, not an iconic doctrine.

Nevertheless, doctrine is important because true doctrine leads to God's presence, the only source of faith, love and hope. (1 Tim 1:14) To the extent that our thoughts (doctrine) conform to Jesus who is truth, peace and assurance will be released. “To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Rom 8:6) Renewing our minds with sound doctrine, positions our hearts to receive the Holy Spirit's affirmation and hope. (Rom 12:2) (Jas 4:8)

TRUTH is the initial and most intimate piece of our armor (Gal 6:14) and it delivers us from the satanic strongholds that subvert true eternal security. The deception of “once saved always saved,” began in the garden as the serpent hissed “You will not surely die,”(Gen 3:4) dismissing the eternal truth that “the wages of sin is death,” a sobering reality which includes unrepentant believers.

THE BRUTAL REALITY

Didn't Jesus warn that “Every branch in Me that bears not fruit he takes away. . (and) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned?”(Jn 15:2-6) Didn't Paul mourn weeping, that “many” earthly minded brethren face eternal destruction because they disregard the crucified life? (Phil 3:17-19) If we don't live a life of repentance toward God, walking in the Light, we will not survive the approaching tsunami of darkness, and our very salvation will be in jeopardy.

I don't want to promote fear above love, or make sin the focus. But sensitivity to sin is absolutely foundational, because it awakens the fear of God, propelling us into the arms of Jesus. (Gal 3:24) The salient fact is, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. (Ps 110:10 Pro 9:10) The Western church lacks wisdom and knowledge and it's foundation is crumbling because there's a famine of the fear of God. “Behold therefore the goodness of God, and the severity of God: on them which fell, severity, but toward you goodness. IF you continue in His goodness: otherwise you shall be cut off.” (Rom 11:22) How long will we ignore the obvious?

The flesh perceives the fear of God as bondage, but to our re-born spirit it's attractive, liberating and protective. (Ps 19:19; 34:9) It was said of Jesus that “The fear of the Lord was his treasure.” (Isa 33:6) How much more do we need it? We must have both the fear of God and the love of God to be properly motivated. However, if we fixate on sin and fearing God, our walk becomes a religious burdensome duty. The love of God is our goal. The great commandment is to love him, not fear him.

The parable of the ten virgins speaks explicitly to us. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” (Mat 25:1) But when the long awaited hour came, those who were unprepared faced Jesus' shocking and traumatic rejection, “I never knew you,” exposing their presumed security in God's kingdom.

Prior to that desperate hour they all had oil in their lamps. The oil is the Holy Spirit, which leads us to conclude the foolish virgins were believers. “The foolish said unto the wise, Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out." (Mat 25:8) If their lamps were flickering and “going out,” then they still had a measure of the Holy Spirit and were therefore partakers of grace.

Did they lose their salvation? Who can say for sure? But why risk losing your soul for a liberal more palatable interpretation? God is not mocked. What we sow we reap, and corrupt sowing can send a Christian to hell. Jesus' basic instructions to his disciples are full of dire warnings about sin, and they are remarkably clear and disturbing.

The Bible warns that pretentious self-serving Christians are in danger of hearing “depart from me, you that work iniquity.”(Mt 7:22) Jesus said that if you (believer) don't deal with your anger you are “in danger of hell fire.” (Mat 5:22) John echos to the church: “If you hate your brother, you are a murderer,” and will go to hell. (1 Jn 3:15) If Christians refuse to forgive they tragically forfeit heaven. (Mat 6:15) Failure to deal harshly with pornographic thoughts places us at risk of being “cast into hell,” a warning you're unlikely to hear at the next mens' gathering. (Mat 5:29-30; Mk 9:43-47) Selfish love, despising a child, denying the Lord and a cold heart, are all mentioned by Jesus as paths to hell for unrepentant believers. And can we ignore those infamous passages in Hebrews that brazenly dismantle illusions about unconditional eternal security? (Heb 5,6,12)

How can we take such warnings lightly? Was Peter deceived when he posed the astounding question: “If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?” (1 Pet 4:18) How could Paul, a stellar Christian, even think that he could be rejected as a “castaway” if the possibility didn't exist? (1 Cor 9:27)

How can you assume that since you are called you're automatically chosen, when Jesus said otherwise? (Mat 22:14) Didn't he make it clear that “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Mat 7:14) If you think all of this is too harsh and narrow what do you base it on. . .the Bible, or a church that boasts “I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing?”

To rely on predestination or the belief that you are exceptional is arrogance, and to presume that grace will endlessly tolerate and nullify your conscious sins is delusional. (Rom 6:15)

What's normal Christianity? The old testament defines normal as: “He who has clean hands and a pure heart. Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol.”(Ps 24) and the new testament adds, it's “Love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.” (1 Tim 1:5) The countless Biblical warnings are not to terrify and immobilize us, but to awaken us to stark reality. The goal is a pure and holy heart “without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14)

The American church wants all the blessings without purity. They want protection and prosperity without love and separation from the world. But lawlessness will soon abound, and many will fall away as self-preservation replaces love.(Mat 24:12) Those old testament judgments were “Written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor 10)

All this “negativity” may cause you to cry out like the disciples, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus responds, “With men, impossible, but not in the presence of God, for all things are possible in the presence of God.” (Mk 10:27 Weust) In his presence sin is vanquished and eternal security is assured. Yes, choosing the narrow path costs everything, but one tiny glimpse of the prize and the cost becomes irrelevant, and one terrorizing peek into hell and no risk is worth a second thought.

This is not about sinless perfection or self righteousness. It's simply a call to humility and purity, so the Lord can have full access to us. If you embark on the narrow path, Satan will accuse you of cultural irrelevancy, whispering “Did God really say?” And well meaning friends may label you as legalistic and super spiritual. But, “Do not let anyone deceive you, He who does what is right is righteous. . . Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God.” (1 Jn 3:7-10) LOVE epitomizes “what is right,” and only a pure heart can authentically express it. (1 Jn 2:15-10)

HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS!

God doesn't expect us to attain sinless perfection in this life. “If any man says he has no sin he is deceived.” (1 Jn 1:8) Even though your spirit is pure and cannot sin, (1 Jn 3:9) your soul needs a transformation and your body needs a resurrection.

We have an idealistic impression of “perfection.” When Jesus called us to “be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect,”(Mat 5:48) he wasn't referring to some heavenly venue of unmitigated holiness. The Greek word for perfection simply means “fully grown or mature” We are “perfect” when we achieve the purpose for which we were created, but our eternal security is not dependent upon our perfection!

Knowing that we are pleasing to God is the key to eternal security. And we can please him right now. As we embrace what God imparts to us, we will know that “We are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. . . Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." (1 Jn 3:18-22)

Our heart condemns us for our chronic failure to please God, and in anguish we cry, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom 7:24) But note, 1st John was not written just to mature “fathers,” but it also includes “little children” and “young men,” (1 Jn 2:12-14) therefore, pleasing God is not about maturity or perfect behavior.

We know that “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” (Heb 11:6) But what does that mean? The psalmist elaborates: “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” (Ps 147:11) That's faith encapsulated and that's how we please God! Any believer regardless of spiritual age can fear God and trust in his love. It's that simple! That's all He requires. Those two motivations are the key to eternal security.

In the mirror of the God's Word, we tend to identify ourselves by our sins. But if we fear God and trust in his love, our sins will be forgotten, and like David, God will joyfully define us as ones “after mine own heart.” (Act 13:22) (1 Ki 3:6) The heart is the arena of God's pleasure, the avenue of His love, the seat of man's fulfillment, “and every man that has this hope in him purifies himself." (1 Jn 3:3)

It's intriguing that self-condemnation can be resolved by the simple phrase, “God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” (1 Jn 3:20) The answer to our heart's vexing duplicity is not “how” but “Who.” Pleasing God is not a formula, it's a communion.

AMAZING MERCY

God tenderly considers our frailties. “For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him . . . As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” (Ps 103)

God feels the unique struggles of every heart, and his mercy is intimately personalized. He is utterly fair and just. God knows our feeble attempts to love and overcome sin, and he's compassionately aware of our frustrations, motives and intentions. Repentance can be sincere while it's still weak and fragile, and God is pleased from the moment we haltingly set our hearts to fully obey. Every time we choose righteousness over evil the Lord is delighted. Even though David was disqualified from building the temple, God amazingly said “You did well that it was in your heart.” (1 Ki 8:17-18)

Because God is just, his expectations of a spiritual toddler are vastly different than for a mature adult. Incremental accountability is a vital yet rarely acknowledged Biblical theme. For most believers it's an expression of great mercy, but to those entrusted with much revelation and authority its a sobering liability. “The one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Lk 12:48)

Because of God's progressive revelation, he overlooked spiritual ignorance in past dispensations, (Acts 17:30) but where Jesus appeared, accountability increased. (Mat 11:21-24) “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (Jas 4:17) Those who die as infants go to heaven because they are not morally liable, (Deut 1:39; 2 Sam 12:23) while on the other hand, ministers of the gospel will be judged with great severity. (Jas 3:1) The thief on the cross went directly to paradise, yet refusal to finish the long race will abort your destiny. (Heb 3:6,14; 6:6) Moses, a man of legendary meekness and unusual authority, paid dearly for one outburst of anger, and Ananias and Sapphira, recipients of extraordinary grace, (Acts 4:33) were struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit. Accountability for the light at our disposal is serious. Rejecting truth is the most dangerous thing we can do. That's why Jesus warned, “This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light.” (Jn 3:19)

Thankfully, God vastly prefers mercy over judgment. His everlasting mercy is the matrix of salvation. It's the goodness that leads to repentance! David said, “Your gentleness (mercy) has made me great.” (2 Sam 22:36) Mercy, not fear, is what humbles us. When sin entices, boldly flee to the Father and obtain mercy which attracts invincible grace. (Heb 4:16)

LOVE IS THE KEY

The new testament meaning of “perfection” is not a legalistic sanctimonious act. The context is LOVE (Mat 43:48) which has been defined as “unconquerable benevolence and good will, constantly seeking the highest good of all people.” (W. Barclay) All the Bible's commands and warnings can be reduced to love.(Gal 5:14) Augustine said, “Love God and do what you like,” reflecting Paul's radical summation, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient.” (1 Cor 6:12: 10:23) That's not a license to abuse grace, it's a declaration of freedom from religious bureaucracy so we can truly love.

Our sins are effectively anti-love, poisoning all relationships. We are not isolated islands. There is a mystical interconnectedness between all believers, expressed in Jesus' prolific use of plural pronouns. (Mt 6:9-13) Assurance of salvation is dependent upon loving the body of Christ. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.” (1 Jn 3:14) To marginalize and disdain other Christians is failure to discern the body of Christ, and it opens the door to damnation. (1 Cor 11:29-30)

The Bible reveals that we are spiritually insecure because we have not been “made perfect in love.” (1 Jn 4:18) But, if you've allowed God to access your heart he is perfecting love in you, which is a fruit of the Spirit, not the flesh. “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,” as our trials yield patience, which evolve into an experience of God's faithfulness, which activates hope (assurance of salvation). (Rom 5:1-9) Discovering God in our trials matures love, enabling us to declare “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” (2 Tim 1:12)

Your eternal security is found in “Him who is able to keep you from falling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”(Jude 1:24) God is passionately able to keep you from falling, but he won't coerce or violate your free will. Our part is simply to, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands . . . purify your hearts.” (Jas 4:8) and offer him the sacrifice of praise. (Heb 13:15)

“Now the God of peace . . . make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Heb 13:20-21) It's comforting to know that “It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13)  By communicating, entrust your life to Jesus Christ daily, and assurance of eternal security will dawn in your heart, and supernatural hope and joy will sustain you!

Copyright 2011 by Hayden Humphrey

PREDESTINATION

Since the Bible describes Christians in terms such as “elect,” “called,” “predestined” or “foreordained,” it could be concluded that free will does not determine our eternal state. God, therefore, must have predetermined some people for salvation, while others he deliberately consigned to damnation. Such thinking is a tenant of Calvinism, derived from the 16^th century reformer John Calvin. I believe it's a distortion of scripture and incompatible with the clearly revealed character of God. The erroneous teaching of Calvinism is a classic case of a false premise polluting every conclusion derived from it, resulting in glaring contradictions, glibly attributed to the “mystery of God's sovereignty.”

This is not an innocuous theological debate, because wrong thinking is a stronghold that obstructs the supernatural love of Christ, the goal of all doctrine. Many have since diluted Calvin's teachings, but the leaven of religious bondage and elitism remains. Its promotion of eternal security has infected churches with fatalism, impotence and compromise. It's noteworthy that Calvin's attempt to establish the kingdom of God in Geneva produced horrific fascist oppression. Check it out.

Doctrinal discussions often evoke pride, and “Pride only breeds quarrels,” (Prov 13:10) Therefore, if contention arises in our hearts over doctrine, our discernment is distorted, because pride aborts faith, and without faith we cannot perceive truth. It's “through faith that we understand.” (Heb 11:3)

Predestination is a quest into the mind of God, which we tend to approach in blind conceit, creating God in our own idolatrous image. We can't even understand physiology or economics, how then can we possibly comprehend the unsearchable heart of God? Only a fool would be dogmatic about God's secret thoughts and intents. My pet cats know, love and trust me, but their relationship with me is shallow and insensible, and they haven't a clue as to who I really am or what makes me tick. Aren't we almost as clueless about God?

Nevertheless, God has chosen to bypass our intellectual defects, revealing certain mysteries to those who have “ears to hear and eyes to see.” In spite of our partial and superficial understanding, the Bible implies that sound doctrine is attainable.(1 Tim 1:10; 2 Tim 4:3; Tit 1:9) “He that knows God hears us. . . hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 Jn 4:6) Knowing God personally, not facts about Him, keeps us from doctrinal instability.(Eph 4:13-14) We are to be witnesses of God, which requires first-hand knowledge, not second-hand indoctrination. Reasoning without spiritual insight is darkness. (1 Cor 2:14; Rom 8:7)

Calvinist writings unrealistically assume that intellectual objectivity is the key to Bible interpretation. However, pure unbiased objectivity is a myth. “The things of the Spirit of God . . .are spiritually discerned,” (1 Cor 2:14) “because the carnal mind is enmity against God.” (Rom 8:7) If no one can authentically say “Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit,” (1 Cor 12:3) and “flesh and blood” cannot discern Christ, (Mt 16:17) how then can we possibly interpret scripture with just our egocentric minds?

If your security is dependent upon how well you grasp a doctrine, your intellect has become an idol. A doctrine cannot save you. Paul didn't say “I know what I believe,” he said, “I know whom I have believed.” (2 Tim 1:12) Jesus wasn't a theologian, he was truth incarnate, and only his Spirit can enlighten you. (Gal 1:12; Eph 3:3) Thankfully it's not limited to smart people.

FOREKNOWLEDGE

Jesus, Paul and Peter all spoke of predestination, and amazingly all three restricted it to “foreknowledge.” Apparently they were trying to preempt an approaching deception. “Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not.”(Jn 6:64) Paul revealed that whom God “foreknew, He also predestined ...” (Rom 8:29) And Peter mentioned the “elect according to the foreknowledge of God.” (1 Pet 1:2)

“For those God foreknew he also predestined. . . And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Rom 8:29-30) Notice, this Biblical sequence of salvation begins with foreknowledge. If foreknowledge precedes predestination we must conclude that free will, not God's decree, is the pivotal factor. Why else would the Holy Spirit use that term? God simply foreknows everyone's ultimate choice, he doesn't pre-select some for an unalterable involuntary destiny. Limiting predestination and election to foreknowledge is profoundly revealing.

The eternal realm is foreign to our natural mind, but the Bible draws us into eternity because that's where ultimate truth resides.(2 Cor 4:18) Being seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph 2:6) is not allegory, but a transcendent reality. The indwelling Holy Spirit transports us into the timelessness of Calvary where “I am crucified with Christ” and by His “stripes you were healed.” God dwells in eternity where your choices are already known. If the past and future are a present reality, then from earth's perspective, your future has effectively been predetermined (predestined) . . . but only by free will.

FREE WILL

Moral free will may be philosophically disturbing, yet it is an obvious sacred reality. Since the garden, man's innate ability to embrace or reject salvation has been so self-evident that only gross spiritual blindness could misunderstand it. If we have no moral free will, why did God blame Adam for his sin? God didn't download Adam's response, it was clearly Adams choice. (Rom 4:14; 1 Cor 15:21)

The Bible declares a remarkable seven times that “God is no respecter of persons.” (2 Sam 14:14, Job 34:19, Acts 10:34, Rom 2:11, Gal 2:6, Eph 6:9, Col 3:25) He is never partial, political or biased in his dealings with us, but is utterly fair. This blatantly contradicts Calvinism, where God fiendishly designs some for rejection and others for acceptance, an idea that's not only unscriptural, but violates our most sublime longings and intuitions of God.

“The Lord is . . .not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” (2 Pet 3:9) and he “will have all men to be saved.” (1 Tim 2:4) It's clear and irrefutable that God does not will for anyone to go to hell. What kind of schizophrenic god would create people for hell, declare it as “good,” and then weep over their demise? (Gen 1:31) (Lk 19:41)

God's ordained will is not always fulfilled. Jesus made it clear, “It is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” (Mt 18:14) Yet, children do perish contrary to God's will. Jesus cried out over Jerusalem, “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!” (Lk 13:34) God “would,” but Jerusalem “would not.” I can only conclude that man's will is not always bound by God's loving intentions.

Evidently Abraham, the father of faith, was not a Calvinist even after he died. When the rich man in hell pleaded with Abraham to rescue him, Abraham didn't mention predestination, but rather told him he was in hell because of his lifestyle.(Lk 16:19-31) In other words, his choices led him to hell. If salvation excludes man's will, why warn anyone (Ez 3:18) and why pray “Thy will be done?”

In the most potent terms, the Lord declares, “I call heaven and earth to record this day, I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life.” (Deut 30:19) Is there any question? The fruit of our free will is either life or death. The responsibility for our final state depends upon our choosing.

Free will is so fundamental that it’s included in the Bible’s final summation. “And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” (Rev 22:17) “Whosoever” means anyone without exception. “The free gift came upon all men unto justification.” (Rom 5:18)

No one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him, (Jn 6:44) but foreknowledge is part of that equation. The question is, does the drawing of God guarantee the outcome? Does free will cease after you respond? Love and forced compliance are contradictory.

“IRRESISTIBLE” GRACE

Calvinism's false assumptions lead to absurd and convoluted theology such as, man is so depraved that he cannot respond to the gospel, therefore God appoints certain ones to eternal life, which they can't resist, while others are categorically damned. This approach to salvation has all the imponderable qualities of a Zen riddle which says “The unsaved have no access to saving faith because such faith is a gift that only believers possess.” To an unbeliever that is a hopeless verdict, violating God's edict that, “first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions . . . be made for all human beings,” because he “desires all humanity to be saved.” (1 Tim 2:1-4 CJB)

Saving faith is indeed an unearned gift that only believers have. (Eph 2:8) However, Calvinists strangely conclude that non-believers are powerless to position themselves to receive that gift.

Jesus says that if you simply keep my commandments I “...will manifest (reveal) myself to you.” (Jn 14:21) You cannot be born again if you have no revelation, but according to Jesus, if you begin to align your thoughts and actions with Him, you will have that life changing revelation. Referring to spiritual blindness, the Bible promises that “whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Cor 3:16) In other words, repentance can precede saving faith. “Draw near to God and he will draw to you.” (Jas 4:8) You cannot save yourself, but you can position yourself in such a way that God draws near to you. It's called repentance.

There are many examples of repentance preceding believing. When religious pretenders saw publicans and harlots responding to God, Jesus rebuked the hypocrites saying, “Even after you saw this, you did not repent, that you might believe.” (Mat 21:32) Jesus began his ministry with, “Repent and believe...”(Mk 1:15) When the Bible lists our foundational beliefs, repentance is the very first, then followed by faith. (Heb 6:1) Repentance is also mentioned as preceding conversion (Act 3:19) and receiving the Holy Spirit.( Act 2:38)

Calvinism says grace is irresistible for those who are called. If that's true, how can many be called yet few chosen? (Mt 22:14) If grace is irresistible, how can those who were once partakers lose grace? The Bible says you can receive grace “in vain,” (2 Cor 6:1) “fall from grace,” (Gal 5:4) “fail the grace of God (Heb 12:15) and “pervert grace.” (Jude 1:4) How could Paul, of all people, think he could be rejected as a “castaway,” if the possibility didn't exist? (1 Cor 9:27) In the great falling away, what are they falling away from,(2 Thes 2:3) and why all those sobering warnings implicating hell for renegade believers? (Mat 5:22; 5:29-30; 6:15; Gal 5:20-21; 1 Jn 3:15)

The fundamentals of Christianity are not complicated. There is a refreshing simplicity in Christ, (2 Cor 11:3) but our darkened hearts distort plain Bible truths. Child-like simplicity is found in the Spirit, but the carnal mind's desperate attempt to find security in a doctrine offers only nagging discord and bizarre interpretations.

ROMANS CHAPTER NINE

A quick reading of Romans chapter nine may leave you with the sinking feeling that we are mere pawns in some cosmic battle, with no say in our eternal destiny. We're told of God's pre-election of Isaac, and how He loved Jacob and hated Esau. We see God making vessels of honor and dishonor, and hardening Pharaoh's heart to demonstrate his power. What are we to conclude from this?

Keep in mind that chapter nine is predicated upon predestination “according to foreknowledge,”(Rom 8) and it concludes with yet another universal free will declaration . . . “whosoever believes in Him shall not be ashamed.” (Rom 9:33)

A closer look reveals that Romans nine is not about salvation, it only addresses calling in this life. Salvation is available to all who will respond, but God's earthly role (calling) for us is God's exclusive prerogative. This chapter is about the historical calling of a nation and certain individuals, but no where does it mention their eternal destiny. This is an important distinction because it reconciles Romans nine with the rest of scripture.

I can only conclude that God's calling and election are based on foreknowledge. This would explain why God could order the slaughter of thousands of “innocents” in the old testament. When He hardened hearts, withheld mercy and endured vessels of wrath, it was with foreknowledge of there eternal state. In the last days when He sends “strong delusions” it will be to those whose ultimate rejection of God is foreknown.

GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

Calvinism's concept of Divine sovereignty appears to be a euphemism for tyranny, and a theological icon excusing man's accountability. Of course God's ultimate plan shall be accomplished, yet nevertheless, we each have the freedom to reject Him and by default choose evil.

Sovereignty is mans' term describing a Biblical truth. The closest word in Hebrew is often translated “Almighty,” which means “all powerful or impregnable.” It does not imply despotic micro management, but rather suggests ultimate justice and accountability for violating God's law of sowing and reaping. Man retains his free will, but God has the last word. Webster defines sovereign as “one who possess the highest authority without control.”

The enemy relentlessly seeks to neutralize our will by oppression, depression, fear and wrong thinking through false doctrines like Calvinism. When you’re tempted to succumb to passivity or fatalism remember “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Mat 11:12) Don’t allow satan to haunt you with the fear that you may not be one of God’s chosen. Instead, be aggressively proactive and choose God! He’s waiting and will never turn away an honest seeker. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” That is one outcome that is guaranteed! The eternal consequences of exercising your free will are profoundly serious.

The paradox is this: Salvation is all God, and yet it's also all man. Grace and free will are not mutually exclusive, they are mutually dependent. Those who will be saved are special objects of God’s grace even in their ignorance and rebellion, because their ultimate choice has already been consummated in eternity.

To probe beyond what is apparent would be foolish. We are told to avoid foolish questions because they are unprofitable and vain. (Tit 3:9) Even Peter said that some of the New Testament was difficult to understand.” (2 Pet 3:16) Only two aspects of predestination are clear to me. It is limited by foreknowledge, and from our perspective the outcome is not guaranteed. All else is conjecture and speculation.

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“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” (Heb 3:12-14)

Copyright 2011 by Hayden Humphrey