Christianity and Certainty

Dr. Dan Hayden serves as the Director of Ministries at Sola Scriptura in Orlando Florida. He has a daily radio feature, A Word from the Word, and has served as both pastor and seminary professor. His task was exploring the centrality of absolutes to Biblical Christianity.

He stated that there is no wisdom in uncertainty, and then began making some observations, such as the immense popularity of the Harry Potter series, to show us that the things of God have been marginalized by the culture. Moralism and feel good ideology without absolutes and any real foundation lead to the implied death of God in the society filled with humanism. This of course doesn’t change the truth, it only points out the problem.

The issue is truth, and the postmodern culture is 1) committed to relativism – no fact is true in all times and all places, and 2) committed to syncretism – the blending of elements from various faiths into a new form of spirituality.

The culture is not anti spirituality, they are highly spiritual, but orthodoxy has become “flexodoxy”.

Dr. Hayden took us to 2 Timothy 3 & 4, and dove into the original Greek to uncover some depth for us.

2 Timothy 3:1

This know
Present tense – continuous action
Imperative mood – very important

In the last days
Generally – the whole church age
Specifically – the end of the age

Perilous times
(Gr.) chalepoi – dangerous, difficult to endure
Illustration: Matthew 8:28 uses same word, the NASB renders it exceedingly fierce. In other words, this time would be like living among maniacs.

Godliness and Gospel – the world sees Christ through us

Chapters 3 & 4 are an inverted parallel, or chiasm, as it is called.

Chapter 3 / Chapter 4

The Culture
Last Days Culture (vs. 1-9) / Last Days Conflict (vs.9-18)

The Connection - authenticity
The Power of Godliness (vs.10-13) / Purpose of Godliness (vs.5-8)

The Core
Focus on the Word of God (vs.14-17) / Importance of Sound Doctrine (vs.1-4)

The Last Days Culture - Perilous Times caused by a lack of character

15 negative characteristics in these verses

Lovers of self – philautos – humanism

Lovers of money – philarguros – secularism

Lovers of pleasures – philedonai – existentialism (hedonism)

Form without power (vs.5)
Gender confusion (vs.6-7)
Religious confusion (vs.8-9)

More than lovers of God – philotheos

Parallels with 1 John 2:16

The Power of Godliness - example of Paul's life (vs.10-11)

The connection between God’s Word and ungodly culture is God’s people living godly lives.

Authenticity is:

Service – not lovers of self

Sacrifice – not lovers of money

Suffering – not lovers of pleasure

Persecution of the godly (vs.12)

Deception of the ungodly (vs.13)

A willingness to suffer for righteousness whatever the cost

Keep the Focus - Holy Scripture

The Gospel of Christ = The Power of God to change lives

Stick with the Word (vs.14)
“continue” – (Gr.) meno – dwell, abide, stay steady
“learned” – (Gr.) manthano – to learn, find out
“assured” – (Gr.) pistoo – to assure, become certain

Stand for the Truth (vs.15)
Into salvation
Through faith
In Christ Jesus
This is wisdom

Study the Scriptures (vs.16-17)
Profit
Teaching (truth) / Training (maturity)
Correcting (positive) / Exposing (negative)

Hear the Word of God, see what you’ve done wrong, make it right and live it out in Christ.

Scripture is the Foundation for Truth, the basis of all certainty

You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free – Jesus

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

The Current Dilemma

Chris Pixley, Pastor of Grace Bible Church, the host for the Brandon Biblical Theology Conference, was the speaker for session 1. Chris set the table for the upcoming speakers and topics by bringing the idea of the postmodern mindset back to its roots.

Postmodern thought puts forth the idea that says truth is not actually knowable, or certain, or clear. This can be traced all the way back to the Garden of Eden and chapter 3 of Genesis, where Satan asked Eve, "hath God said?" This of course was a challenge leveled at God's Word. The "Truth War" as it may be called, all began as an assault on God's Word, and we should not be surprised that it continues today, although we are often surprised at the manifestations it takes.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 shows us that truth is paramount in the mind of God, and we are to be doing spiritual warfare, which is a war for truth.

The assaults on God’s Word have changed forms in the last 50 years. It used to be that the idea of biblical inerrancy was on the front lines. Although that is still a battle line, the fire has died down a bit. This will be discussed in a later session.

The next battle line drawn surrounded the idea of the sufficiency of the Bible. Charismatics and others who valued experience over propositional revelation stoked the fires. Again, the battle still rages, and we are still reeling at this level, but the battleground has a new front line in the Truth War. Sufficiency will be addressed at a later session.

Now, instead of inerrancy, sufficiency, or even the authority of scripture being the front burner issue, now it is the clarity of scripture that is being fought for with passion. Can we really know what the scriptures are saying with any real certainty? This topic will be further explored during the later sessions, but for now, Pastor Pixley laid a foundation for us.

In regards to this He took us to 2 Peter 1:1-21, specifically focusing in on verses 16-21. He made two main points.

1) Certainty is built upon historical witness

2) Certainty is embedded in divine revelation

When verse 19 says that we have the prophetic word made more sure, Peter isn’t saying that the experience of Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration makes God’s Word more sure, he is saying, and the Greek grammar bears witness to this, that the Word of God is a more sure word than even that experience they had.

The Bible is indeed the very word of God; it is clear, understandable, and sufficient for all of life and practice. The matters of the soul are to be studied and satisfied with God’s Word as found in the pages of scripture, it is what we need and all we need for sanctification, for teaching, correction, and edification. Stay tuned as we explore the next few sessions together from this wonderful conference. Pray that I may give edifying summaries.

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Brandon Conference Highlights

The third annual Brandon Biblical Theology Conference winds up today, October 13. We will be posting some notes and highlights as we are able. It has been an informative and inspiring time in the Lord, and we will endeavor to give you some of the abundant fruit from it. Stay tuned...

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Session 8 –Todd Murray

DON’T SKIP THIS POST!!!!!!!

Todd has been pastor for music and worship at the Bible Church of Little Rock, AK, since 1983. He is a theologian in his own right. Music is in his tool bag, but it is just that, a tool, a means, not an end. He led each session with songs of praise and wonder. He used John Newton hymns with new arrangements to deliver a powerful time of adoration of our Triune God. It was more than I can blog here, but I have one suggestion: GET HIS STUFF! I will be, for sure.

In this final session he talked and performed in song the idea that we can give worship angels cannot, that is to say, we can speak of Jesus Christ dying for our personal sin. He used Habakkuk 3 to explain that even when faced with calamity, we should still worship, as we see the character of God, not the circumstance of man.

As a quick aside, he addressed the worship wars by saying that it is usually about peoples’ problems and preferences, not substance. The real question should be, “what kind of worship does God like?”

Hebrews 13:10-16

2 sacrifices every believer must bring if they want to worship acceptably to God

Hebrews theme – Christ is superior – don’t back away from this

The believers this was originally written to were being tempted to compromise, and the writer is pressing the point of Jesus’ singular superiority.

Vs.10-14 – motivation for sacrifice – Christ sanctifying work
15a – manner of bringing sacrifices
15b-16a – sacrifices themselves
16b – result

Not how but who to worship – we value things instinctively

MOTIVES FOR BRINGING SACRIFICES

Motive #1 – Christ’s Work

Vs.10 – we can eat what they in the Tabernacle could not; we participate
11-12 – Jesus prefigured in the types

Psalm 103 – forgiveness is #1 motivation

Worship should be triggered by truth not by feelings
Music is a dangerous tool, we are often keyed by it instead of Christ’s sacrifice, and we need to be triggered by gratitude

Motive #2 – Christ’s Worth

Vs.13-14 –
Hebrews 11:24-27 – leave all else behind for the eternal
Acts 5:40-41 – more compromise = less joy in worship / More reproach = more joy in worship

(JD – Think about this carefully, the more you stand up for Christ, the more persecution you will suffer, and the more you will need to lean on God, and look for deliverance, and appreciate the release of worship, and you are valuing God above that which you are losing, respect, prestige, position, wealth, power, health, friends, jobs, and whatever else – Christ is superior)

Todd Murray – “If you are happy here (on earth), your worship will be lame.”

Joy in worship – sharing reproach of Christ means you consider Him better than other things

(JD – BTW – this section was the highlight of the conference for me – my wife was with me, and she was in agreement about what Todd was saying, my blogging words do not do this justice as to how he illustrated these things.)


MANNER OF BRINGING SACRIFICES

15a – through Christ

Not through the rituals of the OT, on the merits of Christ alone

Look for the attitude of casualness – “I have something good to offer” – NO.

Come with the idea of bankruptcy to bring

Continually – without interruption – convicts us immediately
We talk about what we admire, or worship


THE TWO SACRIFICES

15b-16a –
So broad it covers all of life

Thankful words
In OT they brought first fruits, now we take the sickle and give a harvest of thanks
Treasure Christ
Do you have to work up a “happy face”?

Thankful deeds
Broadens and elevates this to more than thank yous, to doing deeds and sharing (faithful service)

Titus 2 / Ephesians 2:10

It is all worship – don’t compartmentalize

Romans 1:9 – preaching
Serve in spirit; the word for serve is the same Greek word for worship
John MacArthur – expository exaltation – preaching as worship

Romans 12:1-2 – service = worship

Romans 14:13 – issues dealt with in love is worship – loving those whom disagree with us on secondary issues is worship

Romans 15:16 – evangelism is worship

2 Timothy 4:6 – dying is worship

Philippians 2:17 / 4:18 – giving is worship


RESULT OF SACRIFICES

16b – God is pleased, if you bring both

Yes, singing is worship, but elevate the other things, they have just as much value, not more value, but also not less value than the most beautiful music ever

Erase the lines

Both words and deeds

“Don’t neglect to do good and share” means “do not fear man”

Live full tilt for Christ – the fellowship of sufferings brings the most intense joy in worship

Finally, I truly enjoyed this session, and this entire conference. Thank you to Phil Johnson(our friendly Pyromaniac), Pastor Chris Pixley, and Dr. Robert Reymond, the wonderful church volunteers whom made us feel right at home, and to the new friends I met, as well as those whom I only knew through the blogging world. May God be glorified as we continue on in our worship of the Triune One.

Session 7 – Johnson III

This was Phil Johnson’s last address to the conference, and it was a good one….

Phil was to talk of the Trinity in glorification. He mentioned that the same factors of the Trinity involved in salvation and sanctification applied to glorification.

Glorification is the instantaneous completion of sanctification, the culmination of eternal security / perseverance of the saints.

Philippians 1:6 – sums up all of salvation, it settles definitively the guarantee of salvation.

Phil intimated that his first theological struggle was with the doctrine of eternal security. His friends said it was dangerous to even think of such a thing as ES. He grew up in Tulsa, Ok, home of charismania and an Arminian stronghold. He saw John 5:24 and thought, “if you can lose it, how is it eternal?”

The pastor that baptized him prayed with him and quoted Romans 11:29. Phil then asked his pastor if one could lose their salvation. The pastor said “no”. He spent his first year as a Christian pondering ES, going through texts such as Romans 8:1 / Jude 24 / Philippians 1:6. Phil began to see the truth about ES, and that is how he was drawn to the other doctrines of grace. At the time he was Arminian (or Armenian as he used to call it) on the other 4 points. He realized texts like John 10:27-28 / 1 Timothy 1:12 / Hebrews 7:25 / Ephesians 2:10 were pointing to this being truth. He is convinced that Romans 8:30 teaches that salvation is all of God, and it is what separates us from all other religions. In Philippians 1:6 we see that God finishes what He starts.

3 Reasons We Can Know We Are Secure

1. God began the work in you

He initiates – John 6:44, 65 / Romans 8:7 / Ephesians 1:4
God looked for Adam after he sinned
John 15:16 / 1 John 4:19 – He chooses first

The context of Philippians 1:6
In vs.5, it is about salvation, not giving to Paul or building the church – Acts 14:27
Acts 16:7-12ff. – Philippi – vs.14, God opened her heart, God orchestrated it all, our faith is the result of His work

Philippians 1:29 – saving faith itself is supernatural, real faith endures because it comes from God – Hebrews 11 / Mark 9:24 / Luke 17:5 – pray to God


2. God is still at work in you

Philippians 2:13 / 1 John 2:19 / 1 Peter 1:5 – true believers do not completely or finally fall away from Christ, yet we still sin – David, Peter, Lot (2 Peter 2:7-8) – preservation is God’s work – Jeremiah 32:40 / Psalm 125:1-2 / 2 Corinthians 3:5


3. God will complete the work in you

Romans 8:29-30 – glorified is in the past tense – Numbers 23:19 / Philippians 3:20-21 / 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 /1 John 3:2

Practical application

Comfort and encouragement

Some feel it might lead to carelessness, but it ought to do the exact opposite

Spurgeon – No rickety gospel, God is in control, not waiting to see if we will choose Him

For unbelievers

Salvation is all God’s work
You cannot atone for your own sin
You cannot will to reform,
Even if you could it isn’t enough, your inside is corrupt
Hebrews 7:25– Christ can / John 7:37 / Revelation 22:17

Session 6 – Dr. Reymond II

Dr. Reymond’s topic was the Trinity in sanctification, but he wanted to give some background first.

What is the Doctrine of the Trinity?

Calvin – God’s special mark of distinction

Christians of first five centuries creedalized from its conviction that Jesus is very God and the Holy Spirit is a distinct person.

Heresy brought us to crystallize in Nicea 325, 381, Ephesus 431 (anti-Nestorian), Chalcedon 451

1. One God eternally immutably indivisible – monotheism – to reject this = tritheism

2. Father, Son and Spirit each distinct (not separate) persons – all share all attributes, yet each has distinct properties the other two don’t have – to reject this = modalism
Father – Paternity – ungenerated
Son – eternally generated
Spirit – proceeds from Father and Son
Internal order
PCUSA – blasphemy

3. Father, Son, Spirit each fully and equally God – to reject this = subordinationism

Why do we believe it?

The Bible teaches it – 20 texts (and bonus material)

Isaiah 48:16 / Isaiah 61:1 / Isaiah 63:9-10 / Zechariah 2:1-10 / Matthew 28:19 / Mark 1:10-11 (synoptic parallels, synoptic = look alike gospels) / John 14:16-26 / John 15:26 / John 16:7-15 / Romans 8:1-11 (abba = father, abba is not “daddy”) / 1 Corinthians 12:3-6 / 2 Corinthians 13:14 / Galatians 4:4-6 / Ephesians 1:3-14 / Ephesians 2:18 / Ephesians 4:4-6 / 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 / Titus 3:4-6 / 1 Peter 1:2 / Jude 20-21

We are not restricted to “all in one verse” texts; other texts show evidence of the Trinity by showing the deity of Jesus and/or the distinct personhood of the Holy Spirit.

THERE IS MASSIVE EVIDENCE

Jesus called Theos (God) – John 20:28 / Acts 20:28 / Romans 9:5 / Titus 2:13 / Hebrews 1:8 / 2 Peter 2:1 / 1 John 5:20 – others

Calvin – unless we grasp these we exclude the true God in our minds

Robert Reymond – Trinity is what separates God from idols

Value of Trinity

Vital tenet – it keeps us from idolatry, if we have no Trinity we worship an idol, if you don’t worship God as Triune you worship a false God

Brings biblical doctrine of Soteriology into clear focus

TRINITY IN SANCTIFICATION

You do not sanctify yourself, Jesus still working to accomplish redemption, but also applies redemption through Word and Spirit – Romans 8:5-6, 13 / John 17:17 / Ephesians 1:3

Definitive sanctification

John Murray quote

Sanctification is a process but it is also once for all

Acts 20:32 – sanctified is in the perfect tense, passive participle, action in past effects continue on – Acts 26:18 / 1 Corinthians 1:2
1 Corinthians 6:11 – aorist indicative, action is punctilliar, at a point
Ephesians 5:25-26 – having cleansed – Galatians 2:19-20
Romans 6:2,17-18,20-22 – have been freed

Romans 7:4-6 – we were in the flesh
Romans 7:1-6 – died ending the process of penalty (Enron executive died no longer can be tried)

The law is like a husband that cannot love, only convict, but it makes us desire more
Second husband, grace, can plant seed, bring forth harvest
When Christ died, you died

Decisive breach in the Christian – What is the ground of this?
Just as justification is Christ’s righteousness to us, it is spiritual union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection – union with Christ is the fountain of all spiritual blessing
All Christians are in union with Christ. To the degree that we reckon this to be true (take it seriously), we will experience practical sanctification
Union with Christ: the breach is not just positional but real, existential reality, death to sin in an actual experience – see the “in Christ” statements – as real as an umbilical cord

The Father’s will is your sanctification – definitive and also progressive
Romans 8:13 – continually
Colossians 3:5 – union with Christ means you must

3 fold pattern of the sanctified life
Holy character
His holy will
Christ’s holy life

Agents and Instruments

Progress not dependent on our own efforts

Father – Word
Spirit – death to the flesh
Christ – one thing to next growth

Not passive though, consciously engaged
Philippians 2:12-13
Not doing to the exclusion of willing
Not willing to the exclusion of doing
2 Peter 1 – be diligent

Means of growth

Preaching
Studying the Word
Ordinances
Prayer
Fellowship

Robert Reymond – “death is the greatest means of grace” – to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)

Pastors, people need to see you walking in holiness

Robert Murray McCheyne – holiness walk the most important thing we can teach

It comes from God, so train yourself to be godly

Session 5 – Q & A

Q: Is there a satisfactory analogy for the Trinity?

Phil Johnson (PJ) – all fall short
Chris Pixley (CP) – look at John Frame’s “triads” as hints, but incomplete
Robert Reymond (RR) – concurs with other two

Q: Trinity and the New Perspective on Paul (NPP)?

PJ – eats at sola fide, close tie to Judaizers doctrine
RR – see his Defending the Faith book

Q: Trinity and trichotomy?

RR – not a trichotomist
PJ – not a trichotomist, like question #1, the image of God in man is moral, not tripartite

Q: Whom do we pray to?

RR – we may pray to any, but bear in mind that we would normally pray to the Father

Q: Does Arminianism lessen Adoption doctrine?

PJ – no covenant in eternity past, so in a sense yes
RR – Charles Finney is not a heretic, he is an arch-heretic (said with strong passion)
CP – neglects Christ’s work in obedience to the Father

Q: What is some of the subtle language of anti-Trinitarians?

CP – Jakes = manifestations
PJ – craftily avoids, look at doctrinal statement for ambiguity

Q: Millennium workings?

RR – Romans 4:13 – heirs of Holy Land, which is the whole world (I may have this wrong - JD)

Q: Spirit’s workings in heaven?

All agreed it will be about union and worship

Q: How to make Trinity understandable for kids?

RR – basics, one God, eternally indivisible and immutable, 3 distinct persons, each fully God
PJ – circle diagram
CP – Conference poster has a sovereign (a coin) design on it representing Trinity

Q: In heaven will we see all three?

CP – “see” is not how we think it is, only Jesus is physical, so only Him perhaps, but a mystery

Q: Patripassianism (Father suffer on the Cross also?) / Sense of “why hast thou forsaken me”?

PJ – refer to his article on impassibility (no, because the Father cannot suffer)
RR – not ontologically forsaken, it is as to role

Q: Do both Son and Spirit indwell?

RR – yes, both

Q: Holy Spirit in judgment (John 16)?

PJ – this passage is talking abut the Spirit’s convicting ministry

Q: Was HS there or not before Jesus went away?

PJ – something new happened, OT saints were regenerate though
RR – about language, HS doesn’t come and go, this is about uniquely manifesting Himself
OT saints saved exactly same way, but with not as much info
Romans 8:9 – he is not a dispensationalist, not new, but always
CP – spatial relation, not in a place, this is about Jesus telling them they were not left alone

Q: Any OT knowledge or clue about Trinity?

RR – always among all people there exists broad knowledge differences, from the hillbilly to John Calvin, during any time this has been so, some know something, and some know more. Men like David and Isaiah had advanced knowledge.
PJ – we understand what they knew in part, John 8 (Abraham), Job (spoke of redeemer and resurrection), Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9, they lacked clarity

Q: Trinity and morality; morality can only be shown in relationships, so is morality a defense of the Trinity?

PJ – yes, as in love

Q: HS guidance in evangelism?

PJ – no personal revelation though scriptural enlightenment, one message for evangelism, not different for each one
George Whitfield, Cotton Mather, announced prophecies that didn’t come to pass
CP – more in corporate terms
RR – the issue is “HOW”, study of scripture, impulses, urges to pray for particular people

Q: How to begin with those who deny Trinity, or say it was invented?

CP – Beisner book given at conference
RR – The fact that the councils were to confront error, not invent doctrine, denial is started by denial of Jesus’ deity
PJ – Study original sources, these heretics caused us to clarify

Q: See Him as He is?

PJ – see my 2 Corinthians 3:18 sermon

Q: Witnessing? Pentecostal Manifestations?

CP – some Charismatics have said that we have neglected the Holy Spirit, but when the Holy Spirit is properly understood the focus is on Christ, of course we don’t want cold formalism, but some have swung the pendulum too far
RR – J.I. Packer has said the HS is the shy person of the Godhead

Session 4 - Phil Johnson Part Deux

This session was to be about the Trinity in salvation. Phil chose as his text Galatians 4:1-7. He stated that redemption is all about the Trinity. It was not invented as a doctrine in the fourth century; what was already understood among the orthodox community was codified so as to combat errors. This passage affirms the eternal existence, deity and distinction of each member.

A right understanding of this passage of scripture hinges on a correct understanding of the Trinity. The Incarnation ripped the veil off the mystery of the Godhead.

Phil decided that it was proper to give some background of the letter to the Galatian churches so as to set this up. The Judaizers had come and posited that keeping the law was an advanced form of Christianity. What they were doing, however, was to lead away from Christ and to what sinners must do to make themselves acceptable to God. Galatians 2 / Acts 15 – the Judaizers were perhaps even representing the Jerusalem church, but they were teaching the Gentiles Pharisaical ideas.

Phil gave a brief summary of Galatians. In chapters one and two Paul defended his apostolic credentials. He states that all the other disciples recognized his authority. In 2:16 he starts his doctrinal defense of justification by faith. In chapter three, Paul points out that even in the OT it was justification by faith alone, in verses 6 and 17, even before the law. This is parallel to Romans 4. In fact, in verses 22-23, we see God putting us under a guardian, in a sense, to make sure his elect would get to where He had them going, to faith.

In verse 24 of chapter three, we see the purpose of the law, to set the moral standard too high to meet. This keeps Jesus in His role as redeemer, and points to the exceeding sinfulness of sin. In verse 28, Phil said that Paul was pointing us to the fact that we are all now spiritually equal with Abraham as being an heir. This verse is not talking about our roes being changed, however.

This leads us to chapter 4, Paul’s whole culmination and defense against the Judaizers. Paul’s approach in his letters is always doctrine, then practice. Paul was summing up and saying the doctrine of the Judaizers was anti Christian. They affirmed a bunch of good things, but the addition of circumcision ruined it all. They were saying that, “Christians must live in accordance with the law”. It was not that circumcision was sinful in itself, but that it was taught to be a must.

J. Gresham Machen said the modern view sees the Judaizers error as slight, but it is not slight at all. The liberals of his day were doing the same things.

The process according to Paul was
1. Belief
2. Justification
3. Keeping the law

The Judaizers, modern and ancient, said this, in effect
1. Belief
2. Keeping the law
3. Justification

It seems as if Paul was the only one to understand and articulate this clearly. Paul says that Christ is greater than Judaism, and that going back to Judaism is going back under the guardian, going back to elementary school.

Being an heir we stand on equal ground with Abraham, but there is much more; we are heirs with Christ! The full enjoyment of our inheritance is not for children. Children are under authority; they are told what to do. The advent of Christ was our appointed time for adulthood. Christianity is advanced Judaism, nor vice versa. We have a more exalted privilege, and adult privilege. The law was elementary, but faith in Christ brings adulthood.

Paul was writing to Gentiles about the Hebrews and the law, but he includes them in the discussion. In chapter four, verse three, the “elements” Paul refers to are religions in general, he is telling the Gentiles that they are also adopted. The law is the same as paganism in the sense of following it without faith in Christ is futile.

What does this have to do with the Trinity? The Trinity revealed is the biggest difference between the OPT and the NT, it is the most prominent, distinct difference. Ask a Jew; their biggest problem with Christianity is the Trinity specifically, or the deity of Christ, which brings the same idea.

This passage shows the three persons of the Trinity working together since eternity to affect our salvation. Phil gives three points here.

Redeemed by Christ

Christ is our substitute in every conceivable sense (Galatians 3:13 / 2 Corinthians 5:21). We benefit from His action as of we did it.

Adopted by the Father

Vs.5 – We have a share in Christ’s inheritance. We are elevated to full adult privilege, we are truly coming into it, and to go back is unbelief.

Indwelt by the Spirit

Vs.6 – We take this too lightly – not only are we united with Christ, but we become the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:17,19).

We cannot begin to fathom this…

Session 3 – Robert Reymond

I must start by making a confession and observation. I had not heard Dr. Reymond speak before, but as this large man grasped the top of the pulpit, pulling himself up the steps to the platform, he turned and looked out at the people, and I understood in that moment what the word gravitas means in a more full way. He looked soberly at the audience and stretched his arms to either side of the podium. He then prayed that he would say only those things God meant to be heard, and that we would be granted those special ears that Jesus talked about, ears to hear, and that we would apply what was said, and consider the consequence of what was to be said.

Dr. Reymond began by saying that this, the Trinity, is the most neglected doctrine as far as the pulpit is concerned. During his entire ministry, he has never heard of even one sermon devoted entirely or specifically to the Trinity (JD – I was shocked to hear that). He then gave an outline:

1. Triune God creates material universe
2. Triune God creates man
3. Why a Triune God creating all this is important

1 – In Six Literal Days

Genesis 1:1 – well ordered
Psalm 19:1 – continually and intensely
Hebrews 11:3 – out of nothing
Psalm 33:6,9
Psalm 8
1 Corinthians 8:6

Son and Spirit co-agents
Son – John 1:1-3 / 1 Corinthians 8:6 / Colossians 1:16-17 / Hebrews 1:2-3
Spirit – Genesis 1:2 / Job 26:13, 33:4 / Psalm 104:30

Even though He spoke the world into existence, even this is not a display of His infinite power; in other words, nothing shows the full display of His power, creation was more than easy. God was not exhausted in the least. Job speaks of this being the outer fringe of His power, a faint whisper of His might. Habakkuk says His power is hidden, even in creation. Creation actually conceals more than it reveals. Dr. Reymond gave quotes by O. Palmer Robertson and Steven Charnock to corroborate this.

As a matter of gaining perspective on the vastness of the universe, imagine if our sun was a ping-pong ball. In this scale the earth would be 1/100th of an inch across, and the sun 10 ft. away. Pluto would be 120 yards away, Alpha Centauri would be 500 miles away, and the Andromeda galaxy would be 350 million miles away from the sun. From our perspective the universe is huge but still only a display, a tiny display of His power. This universe, to us immense, is actually concealing more than revealing His power; it is a dim shadow of His infinitude.

The universe had a beginning, creation was not one fiat but a progression of decrees, “and God said”. We place creation of man in day six of this framework. The idea of creation “ex nihilo”, or out of nothing, is unique in ancient culture. Gordon Clark – it was a Hebraic concept spread by Christianity, which had never been considered before.

2 – 7 Ways Creation Of Man Is Unique

1. Last major event of creation, the climax of creation activity
2. Unique engagement, God’s counsel in man’s creation. Instead of “and God said”, the distinctive was “let us make”
3. Nature of man’s endowment, “after our likeness”.
4. Invested with dominion – not on parity, but vice regent of the world
5. Breath of Life (Genesis 2:7) – more than physical life
· Job 32:8 – spiritual comprehension
· Proverbs 20:27 – conscience
6. Capacity of rational speech and scientific investigation
7. God’s covenant with man (Hosea 6) / Romans 5 – Adam as Federal Head

3 – Importance Of Creation

Denial of creation events leads to moral chaos, we are losing our children

When Dr. Reymond was a professor at Covenant Seminary, he was having dinner with Frances Schaffer and other colleagues, ironically, at a place called “the flaming pit” (this was one of several times we laughed during the sessions with Dr Reymond). Schaffer was going to speak at Yale for the Intervarsity Fellowship there. He was asked and asked others about what to teach and preach. Considering the apostasy of the university, someone suggested John 3:16. That wouldn’t do, said Schaffer, he decided on Genesis 1. He said they need to know who they are and whom they are responsible to, and that then John 3:16 would mean something to them.

D.A. Carson – Athens Revisited – 25 years ago (more now, of course – JD) people in America knew more about God, now atheists go strictly after the Christian God, not others. We used to evangelize with talk of sin and grace, but the New American Christian cannot do this, we have lost a generation.

5 reasons we now need to give more info and effort today in evangelism (in America)

1. Immigration, people with no Christian background, religious diversity in world
2. Naturalism, existentialism, mysticism, humanism taught in public schools
3. Internet, average person now his own authority in everything
4. Courts stop religious instruction
5. Evangelical church blindness and lack of counter measures and Christian warriors

Homogenization with the world – Dr. Reymond mentioned a novel by Tom Wolfe, where a woman with a godly upbringing lost her way, which he used to illustrate that the universities are completely corrupt.

Dr. Reymond then went on to discuss the intelligent design movement, mentioning Michael Behe and his book “Darwin’s Black Box”, and the conversion to Deism of Anthony Flew, famous former atheist, who said ID made him a believer in something, a designer, not chance.

Most children and adults today, however, believe in atheism, at least practically. They believe in an impersonal beginning of time and chance. Even then, what Calvin called the ‘sense of deity”, the seed of religion in man cannot be totally suppressed.

Dr. Reymond spoke of Carl Sagan and other scientists who go against their own first law, making a leap of absurdity by asserting that something can come out of nothing. The maxim, “out of nothing, nothing comes” is denied in their practice, showing the futility of evolution and atheism. Everything, at bottom in this system, leads to the conclusion that nothing produced everything. Absolutely preposterous, says Dr. Reymond. Chance is only a concept, and a concept cannot create a material world.

The Triune God created by giving us the universe, the Scriptures, the Incarnation, and saving faith by the agency of the Holy Spirit.

If everything is just energy then we have no moral basis and no meaning. The Triune God gives us rational answers, personal significance, and morals.

Session 2 - Phil Johnson

Phil began by discussing the situation in the PCUSA, which points out the necessity for a right understanding of this doctrine of the Trinity.

He then went to discuss the fact that Muslims, Jews and Christians do not worship the same God, that as Christians, we worship a Triune God, the One true God.

The OT was not explicitly Trinitarian, so how do we bridge the gap between the OT and NT economy? We must understand that Moses had a veil on his face, and was also veiled himself; he had to hide in the cleft of the rock, as it were. Even Moses did not have the more full revelation that we in NT economy have today. It is a major aspect that we have a more clear revelation, however, even in the OT much points to the Trinity, with types and mysteries. Jesus was there in the OT, He said as much Himself in John 5:39,46, John 8:56, and Luke 24:27.

Psalm 2 – A Hymn of the Trinity

This psalm reveals the focus of the OT and the entire Bible –
John 5:39, 46 / John 8:56 / Luke 24:27

Quoted several times in NT in reference to Christ – Acts 4:25 / Revelation 2:27

This psalm in its immediate sense was celebrating the establishment of David’s throne in Jerusalem, but the language goes well beyond and before David’s day

19 Psalms that are called “messianic” that is, they allude to Jesus, this is the first one

Vs. 2 of this Psalm – “anointed” in Hebrew (Messiah), Greek (Christ)

4 stanzas – 3 verses each
Vs. 1-3 – voice of the World
Vs. 4-6 – voice of the Father
Vs. 7-9 – voice of the Son
Vs. 10-12 – voice of the Spirit

Battle of the Ages from God’s perspective
In this psalm we see the entire gospel message encapsulated
We see God’s sovereignty, man’s depravity, and the enemy’s futility
The message is that He will triumph and set Christ on the throne

Vs. 1-3 – Voice of Defiance – the World
Contempt for God’s authority

Vain thing – irrationality recalls Romans 1:21

Why should someone who doesn’t believe in God spend so much time arguing against Him?

The whole world of unbelief is in every sinner’s heart – Romans 3:10-19

Unbelief often masks itself as piety but it will always show itself in rage against the Truth of God

Acts 4:25 quotes vs. 1-2 – primary fulfillment is in the crucifixion of Christ

Luke 23:12 – unlikely allies – Romans governors and Herods were not friends at all, but they all conspired against Christ, not for political reasons, but spiritual ones.

Same today, we would try and cast off God’s rule, and the result is fornication, adultery, abortion, euthanasia, etc., and this again parallels Romans – 1:24-32.

If we think of the world too much we think we are losing, but we must remember, it isn’t WE who need’s to establish Christ and God’s kingdom, God has had this planned out all along.

Vs. 4-6 – Voice of Derision – the Father
God laughs, mocks / world is raging, but God is laughing, all attempts to overthrow Him are ridiculous Psalm 115:3

They try and intimidate (God’s people), but God is not intimidated, he doesn’t try and intimidate back, He is confident, a laugh of scorn, temple of Dagon (1 Samuel 5), Daniel 4:33 (Nebuchadnezzar), Moses and plagues representing and mocking the Egyptian gods

He is displeased but not vexed, He will vex them

Thomas Allen – how must His frowns be if His smiles are so terrible?

Spurgeon – God’s anointed is appointed and will not be disappointed

He will use their own rebellion to serve His own purposes

Vs. 7-9 – Voice of Devotion – the Son
Son is devoted to the Father’s word, will, and work

7 – Not suggesting a beginning but a clue as to eternal relationship
The decree was in eternity past – Hebrews 1:8-12 / John 5:18
John 3:16 – always begotten
John 15:26 – always proceeding
Anthropomorphic – language picture we can understand

8 – the same heathen become the inheritance – Acts 15:14
To do this it will cost His life – John 15:10 – God’s will, His command was that the Son die

9 – Christ’s work is to enforce God’s authority – Revelation 2:26-27
Divine decree in eternity past that Son would sit on the throne
Believers will reign on the throne they opposed

Vs. 10-12 – Voice of Decision – the Spirit
Not clearly identified, but indicative of the Holy Spirit’s wooing and pointing to Christ

Closes with special invitation
10 – intellect
11 – will
12 – heart
Appeal to full surrender

We know this is the Holy Spirit because while the call is to all, not all will hear.

Grace – blessed are they that trust
Kiss – significant – among equals

This is the condescension of God to us, heathen, to elevate us to the throne, and God’s plan is being performed to perfection.

This was an outstanding presentation, and in all candor, very much in line with our church, as I have been teaching through Romans 1, and we are at the end of the chapter, so when Phil linked Psalm 2 to Romans 1, I decided to tell him that I would be using this outline for my message on Sunday. He graciously consented to let me “use” it, and, when coupled with my unique understanding of our congregation, and with much prayer and some careful addition, it brought a fuller understanding of the Trinity, our Romans texts, and application for today to our church. Thank you Phil for this timely and timeless message. Well done, indeed.

Next up, Dr. Robert Reymond…. don’t miss it!

Session 1 - Chris Pixley

First off, I want to say that I appreciate the wonderful conference that Grace Bible Church is putting on. First class all the way. Second, I am tired as all get out and as I said yesterday, I am no Tim Challies, although I have an even greater respect for him now.

I will be posting these one session at a time, perhaps one day at a time, so seven or eight sessions, seven or eight days, perhaps.

Oh BTW, I got mistaken for Phil Johnson today, LOL! Of course when I told Phil this he countered by saying I looked like a chef in my avatar picture....Darlene was nicer than I can put words to...Everyone was helpful, friendly, and ready to worship our Triune God. Overall, the first day was inspiring, informative, and well, fun! These outlines are not enough to capture it all, but I hope they help a little...

Here is the essence of Chris' message:

1) Why a Biblical Theology Conference? A desire to have a biblically based theology, rekindle interest, remind us of the practicality of doctrine. Chris gave quotes by Al Mohler and David Wells to back up the idea that we are losing our biblical fidelity and theological rigor, with disastrous results. He used 1 Timothy 4:1+ / Titus 1:9, Titus 2 to drive the point home: Nothing has a more practical benefit than learning to apply doctrine to life.

2) Why do a conference on the Trinity? Nothing more foundational - The Trinity gives Christianity its uniqueness. Herman Bavnick - it is the throbbing heart of our study; all error is rooted in a wrong understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. VanTil - everything depends on this sort of God, a Triune God.

5 reasons to study the Doctrine of the Trinity

1) It helps us to understand the nature of knowledge itself

To "know" in the Bible is more than grasping bare facts, but it is not less

Faith, obedience, and submission is knowledge in its fullest sense

Trinity involved in self-revelation

Father - Hebrews 1

Son - Hebrews 1:3 / John 1:18

Spirit - 1 Corinthians 2 / 2 Peter 1:21

A robust understanding of the Trinity helps us to harmonize the truth mankind has suppressed (Romans 1:18+)

2) It is essential to frame up a proper understanding of the world in which we live

Worldview - through the doctrine of the Trinity we begin to make sense of the world

Creation - Genesis 1 / 1 Corinthians 8 / Colossians 1

History - Joshua 24:12 all the way to Philippians 2

Relationships - ontological - same essence / economical - submission in role

John shows Jesus always doing the Father's will, the Spirit always pointing to Jesus

3) Gives us a more fully orbed appreciation of our salvation

Here we see, and ought to see, the doctrine of the Trinity most clearly

Ephesians 1:1-5 - Father's role
Ephesians 1:7+ - Son's role
Ephesians 1:13 - Spirit's role

Titus 3:5-6

Not only in justification but also sanctification

Father - Ephesians 2:10
Son - Colossians 2:6
Spirit - John 17:17 - Chris says we see the Spirit here implicitly because Christ just spent the last three chapters talking of Him, and of Him as the Spirit of Truth, and now He asks the Father to sanctify them through said Truth, being the Spirit Himself. Excellent point, Chris!

Not only sanctification, but preservation

Father - Jude 24

Son - Colossians 1:22

Spirit - Ephesians 1:13-14

4) Apologetics and Evangelism are built upon the doctrine of Trinity

Defending and propagating the faith

Uniqueness of Trinity

Early church councils, errors

JW, Mormon, Modalist, Muslim

True, false religion identified

Isaiah 53 - Father crushes Son

Romans 3:26

5) The heart and soul of Biblical worship

John 4: Samaritans ignored rest of OT, used only Pentateuch (1st five books)
Jews - more info but cold orthodoxy

We need right info right affections to worship correctly.

Chris did not want to steal the other men's thunder, but provide an outline of where we are going in this conference, and I believe it was well done. Thank you Chris...

These outlines I give are admittedly going to be too rough for most, but the good news is that the CD's of each session are going to be available, more info on that later...

God bless you all...