Part 2: Who is "I AM?"

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:18

I often hear said that "Jesus never claimed to be God". While in a very limited and literal sense, Jesus didn't use that exact phrase to describe Himself, between the above actions that the Jews were complaining of were understood in their time and context as laying claims to being "equal" with God - Yet there is non other. There is none like God. 

"I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he* you will die in your sins." John 8:24

(*of note - in the original language, there is no personal pronoun “he” there. Rendering literally “believe that I am”.) 

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58

Compare this direct statement by Jesus to Exodus 3:14

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’.”

Or in John 10:30-33, when Jesus said “I and the Father are one", The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.

Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?”
The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

To lay any claim to being God or equal TO God would be a brazen sin - Yet Jesus is commended for the claim.

Jesus identified Himself with the name/title of "I Am", which is one of the most powerful names God revealed of Himself.

Who is This Jesus (The Deity of Christ) Part 1

Among the great theological debates that rage regarding Jesus and who He is, the greatest is whether or not Jesus IS God. There are some who would profess Jesus to be something less than fully God. They claim faith, yet in “who” are they believing? This short piece is designed simply to answer this incredible question - “Is Jesus God?” Further, to briefly answer the question of “why is this so important?”

Simply put, only the pure, holy, and completely uncorrupted by sin blood could possibly atone for sin. The blood of countless animals and birds never paid the sin debt for Israel. Only the pure, spotless Lamb could pay that sin debt.

And who but God is totally pure and righteous?

To that end, I am going to post a series of entries that deal with Scripture passages that, when taken all together, present a beautiful picture of the real Jesus, who is fully God.

Some say that Jesus never claimed to be God. Others rely on creative translation of selected verses to shore up their claim that Jesus is not God (or Yahweh/Jehovah). Yet a simple review of the Bible reveals a pattern that cannot be dismissed, a pattern that clearly makes the case for Jesus Christ as God.

Over the next few days, I plan to post a series of passages and a bit of comment on each in an effort to stitch together the greater picture of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who IS the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is worthy of all praise and worship. My challenge to the reader - read them, ponder on them, and pray about it, particularly as you accumulate these passages, who is Jesus?

We begin with one of the most clear, yet still controversial passages pointing to the deity of Jesus Christ.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

Now, some like to move the comma, or add the word “a” based on the lack of a "definite article", yet the original language gives NO convincing reason to do either. In fact, there are several examples elsewhere that do not create controversy where there is a lack of a definite article. Yet the preponderance of Christian history and understanding agrees that the reference to "the Word" is a reference to Jesus as having the same quality as God the Father.

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3

What we see here, is that the reference back to “The Word” here is clearly identifying Jesus as the Creator of all, which in the Old Testament is 100% identified as God/Jehovah.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:3

And to further reinforce this idea, let us thing a bit about one of the most powerful names God used in the Old Testament to reveal Himself - "I Am". This will be the subject of Episode 2 in this series. 

Miracles From Heaven - a Review

A couple of months ago, I received an invitation to view an advanced screening of Miracles From Heaven in Little Rock.  Having not been familiar with the movie or its source (supposedly a true story), I was interested to at least investigate. What I discovered was that this movie was produced by the same folks that produced the film version of Heave Is For Real. This immediately kick-started the critic in me.  But, despite there being other suspect personalities, particularly of the Word Of Faith and hyper-spiritualist camp (most notably, T.D. Jakes), I was willing to at least "suffer through" the film for the sake of honesty.

So along comes yesterday eveing.  I took my elder daughter, Anna along as back-up.  We arrived a bit early, and found that Columbia/Sony really is pulling out the stops to promote this "Christian Faith-based film" (the reps' own words).  Not only were baggies with poster, pen, and other material (including the ubiquitous comment card and church sponsorship/promotion request), but they handed out pretty t-shirts!

On to the film:

Based on what is billed as a true story, the film retells the story of Annabelle Beam and her journey through a terminal diagnosis and what is considered a miraculous healing.  Annabelle (or Anna), middle daughter three Beam children is a vibrant youngster full of energy and life (and faith) when she get sick.  After weeks of ongoing vomiting, a swelling abdomen, many visits to the ER, and various specialists, receiving diagnosis varying from bacteria and viruses to lactose intolerance, mom gets desperate and finally pushes an ER doctor into digging deeper.  What they finally find is that she has a motility disorder. Basically her digestive tract is not receiving the signals from the brain and thus are essentailly shut down.  Young Anna is referred to the only pediatric Doctor specializing in this disorder (as yet incurable).  But this doctor in Boston (the Beams live in Texas) has a 9 month waiting list and Anna doesn't appear to have that long.  In desperation, Mrs. Beam takes Anna to Boston without an appointment, makes a desperate plea to the receptionist, but apparently comes up short. At dinner, they meet Angela, a waitress (played by Queen Latifa), who befriends them.  They have an adventure touring Boston with Angela as their tour guide, beginning a friendship that serves as a great help in the ongoing struggle. Sure enough,my he Pediatrician's office gets Anna in the next day and after a series of tests, the specific diagnosis is confirmed, and is the worst- the disorder might be manageable (the experimental medication has serious possible side effects and is not covered by insurance), and it only provides some quality of life, not a cure.

Things improve a bit for little Anna until she goes into serious relapse and in her faith actually says she wants to die so she can be go to Heaven where she won't hurt any more.

Anna is stabilized enough to go home to Texas.  Her older sister talks her into climbing the massive old cottonwood tree in their yard. An accident happens, with Anna falling 30ft.  A dramatic rescue ensues, Anna is rushed the the hospital where they find not only that she is nearly unscathed, but they find over the course of the next few days, her digestive disorder is gone.

Now- on to the nitty gritty-

This film is family-friendly from the point of the lack of violence, adult content, language, etc.

There is a great deal of positive in the film, with my personal favorite being the overall family dynamic where the parents and children have a very loving and self-sacrificing relationship. The film also does portray the very real battle people of faith have with the hardships that life throws at us (in the case of the Beam family thisnwoukdninclude not only Anna's sickness, but a new start-up business and serious financial issues made worse by the care costs for Anna).

But there is plenty of reasons to not endorse this film.  The film depicts several unscriptural theological concepts, including g out-of-body experience, trips to Heaven and direct verbal visits with God "in Heaven"). Even more concerning was a briefly mentioned, but blatantly-heretical moment (reinforced by the emotion of the scene) that implied everyone gets to Heaven "in their time".

I found it rather interesting that the Beam's church pastor was depicted (I'm sure unintentionally) as rather shallow in his preaching, and it even results in some church members making some off-handed judgments against the Beams (which contributes to Christy Beam "losing faith"), and thus withdrawing from church attendance.

The producers of this film are well-acquainted with tugging at heart strings, and you will likely need most of a box of tissues by the end.  What I found particularly interesting (and encouraging) was that my 11 year-old daughter easily identified the questionable theology, and herself expressed concern over the universalist statement.  I must say I am very proud of my own Anna!

Long story short, I am not going to discount the apparent fact that the main character was a very sick young lady, who was out of options, and who, after a terrifying fall, went into "spontaneous remission". For that matter, I have no issue with the assertion that life is a miracle, or that God works out small "miracles" all around us every day.  I firmly believe that God is still in the healing business. But when you ad I what a child "saw" and her supposed conversation with God in Heaven as as factual as any other observable fact, throwing in magic butterflies and out-of-body experiences and a promotion of universalism, I just cannot recommend the film. I will say, Martin Hendedson did an admirable job portraying Kevin Beam. Jennifer Garner at times was believable as Anna's mom, Christy Beam.  The young ladies playing Anna's sisters were adorable. Queen Latifa's character, Angela, is immediately like able, even if not very plausible. The other fun character is the pediatrician Dr. Nurko (played by Engenio Derbez).

You CALVINIST!

I have been called many things in my life!  Sometimes those names have been honest errors in saying my real name.  But more often than not, the names I have been called have been meant to be derogatory in nature.  One name with such meaning I have been called is "fundamentalist" - and while some might consider that an insult, I take it in a rather positive way - because that would imply that the one calling me that term sees me as someone who sticks to his Bible and is unmoving.  I think that is a good place to be!

But I have been called another term that is also (when coming from some) meant as a very negative term.  This word will mean little to most people, but it carries a train-full of connotation for many others, particularly in my own associational work.  That term is 

"CALVINIST"

I have no plans of launching into a full-blown theology lesson on the meaning of the term.  I do want to touch on a few aspects though, that the reader of this blog might at least be able to understand the reason this term could be taken as an insult.

"Calvinism" is based on the teachings of the forefather of what we know today as Presbyterianism.  John Calvin was a preacher and minister of the Reformation in the 16th Century.  He was a somewhat controversial figure of his time, and likely even more so today!  When you hear the term "Reformed" or "Reformed Theology" today, it is an implication that someone or a church holds to a greater or lesser extent to the theology espoused by John Calvin.  One might even hear the theology explained by means of the acronym "TULIP".  What many who casually throw these terms around actually have a view that is far more extreme than Calvin himself espoused, this is still the easiest means to grasping what his theological system consists of:

Total Depravity of Man - the view that mankind is sinful by nature.  Another term used would be "Total Inability", meaning a man cannot redeem himself - because of the corruption of sin.

Unconditional Election - the view that god does not base his election on anything He sees in an individual, without any consideration of merit.

Limited Atonement - Jesus died for the elect.  Though Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient for all, it was not "efficacious" for all.

Irresistible Grace - When God calls his elect to salvation, they cannot resist. 

Perseverance of the Saints - You cannot lose your salvation.  Because the Father has elected, the Son has redeemed, and the Holy Spirit has applied salvation, those who are truly saved are eternally secure.

I remember a series of articles in the Independent Baptist publication Sword of the Lord that decried all things pertaining to "Calvinism" and "TULIP" as evil and a abomination, yet as the writer took each of the "petals" of TULIP, he ended up defending several of the points!  Indeed, most conservative Baptists believe in at least two of these "points of Calvinism", and many (whether they admit it or not) actually believe 3 or even 4 points!  

I believe that the debate regarding Calvinism (or Reformed Theology), particularly among Baptists today, is more of a distraction than a genuine issue worthy of the volumes written, conferences held, arguments and debates engaged, and damage done.  And I believe that the pain and trouble is more the result of perception and misunderstandings (because of the limits of the human mind, or simply out of preconceived ideas and taught hate), than genuine differences of opinion.

I will say this - I have found myself very interested in this subject for quite some time.  The more I have read, study God's Word, pray about it, and discuss it, the more interested I have become.  Systematic Theology was one of my favorite seminary classes, in no small part, due to the subject of at atonement/salvation and how it comes about.  I have found myself vacillating in my heart, trying to reconcile the concept of God's total and perfect sovereignty, with the picture of mankind's free will as pictured in the Bible.  Then, some time ago, the Lord gave me an incredible peace.  In fact, I have referred to this "place" in my life, this calm and comfort on this subject as "my peaceful place".

I believe the first, and likely biggest, obstacle to that "peaceful place" for most is that we try to view everything from a human point of view.  Lest we forget, the Bible was given by God, through men.  God gave us all we need to understand what we need to understand (need to know basis).  The Bible is sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  So within God's Word, we can find all the answers we need to any theological question we might have a need an answer to.

God is Sovereign.  I have found very few professing Christians who would argue that.  God is in control  NOTHING happens, good or bad, outside of God's divine and sovereign will.  Nothing.  Even the fall in the Garden of Eden happened as a part of God's Will.  That in no way makes God the author of Sin or evil.  It simply means that, within the perfect plan of God, this had to happen that ultimately God would be glorified.  The garden event proved that God is not just a great puppetmaster.  But how does this play into the "Calvinist" moniker?

It all goes back to God's point of view.  God is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and so much more.  He is not restrained by place or time - and thus yesterday, today, tomorrow, the 6 days of Creation, and the end of this earth - and indeed all of eternity, is "present tense" for God.  We cannot really grasp the infinite with our finite minds.  But this is a necessary starting point.

Then we bring in the "TULIP" and begin to dissect them, from the viewpoint of God who is beyond time and place, and who is sovereign:

Total Depravity - which does not mean people are incapable of good acts/deeds.  It simply means we are incapable of pleasing God.  Humanity, even the most vile, still was made in the image of God - and because of that, we can "do good".  But we are, from birth, incapable of redeeming ourselves before the eyes of a perfect and sinless God.  God said "Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).  God is perfect, therefore He has every right to demand perfection.  The amazing thing is - while we are incapable of being perfect, He provided the means to be counted as righteous, through His Son Jesus Christ!  This point is the least disagreeable to most Baptists and biblical Christians/evangelicals in general.  There is no salvation without Jesus Christ!

Unconditional Election - another point that, when viewed from God's perspective, is hard to argue with.  Romans 9:11 points out God's election in the line of Abraham to continue His plan - electing them for the purpose before their birth.  Romans 9:15 is the most direct statement of all regarding God's election of people. 

On the flip-side of this point is a concept called "double-predestination".  This was not something contrived by John Calvin, but by some who followed his theology to an extreme (most often referred to as "Hyper-Calvinists" or "Super-Calvinists" who take God's election to the extreme to say that God specifically creates people both to be saved, and to be condemned.  Unfortunately, this is a stretch (at best) of scripture, and at worst - is putting words in God's mouth.  Yes, God "elects"/predestines - not based on any merit He sees, but according to His will.  But scripture also says that "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Peter 3:9).

The question then begs - how can one reconcile God doing all the choosing, with what the Bible also depicts as mankind being held accountable for his decisions?  How can the Bible, which clearly shows freedom of will (God ALLOWED Adam to fall - Adam CHOSE sin and rebellion, God didn't force him, or even tempt him - though God did use the fall)?  This is likely one of the factors that I have had to search for "peace" on the most.  But again, I also fully trust that the Bible is 100% reliable -the very Word of God.  If the Bible describes both human responsibility and free will, as well as God's total sovereignty (ponder and pray about John 6:44 - that clearly says no-one can come to Jesus unless the Father calls them), then I just have to believe that God works His perfect will, using man's freedom to choose, just as He used Adam's sin and fall to His will.  Another way of looking at it - I have yet to find anyone from any educational level who can explain how Jesus Christ could be fully God and Fully man, yet that is what the New Testament describes.  This is a fact (known as the hypostatic union).  We just have to have faith that it is so.

God chooses us.  Why?  We cannot guess.  Yes, He knew us before the foundation of the world.  And He orders the paths of our lives to bring us to the point of His will, knowing how we will "decide" in each case.

Limited Atonement - which is likely the most controversial of all the "5 points of Calvinism", again is not so complicated in my mind (though I have some strong differences of opinions with Calvinists).  Staunch Calvinists would say "Jesus died for the elect only", and would mean that at face value.  They dismiss the biblical terms such as "for the sins of the world" or "taking on the sins of the world".  While they would be accurate in using context and language to defend that these really meant "from all nations", I believe this is too narrow (even if in the final product, it might very well be the result).  Jesus death is sufficient to redeem each and every soul that comes to saving faith.  Period.  His love is sufficient.  Were every human being from all time come to saving faith, Jesus' blood would have been sufficient.  Likewise, if only one soul every came to salvation, His blood would still have been exactly right.  Because of God's foreknowledge and election, Jesus' shed blood covers all who would believe.  Scripture just as clearly says that many will never believe and will be sentenced to everlasting destruction and torment in Hell and the Lake of Fire.  Jesus Blood did not redeem them (though it most certainly would have been sufficient had they trusted).

Indeed - many say that this point, Limited Atonement", is an obstacle to an evangelism - like selling property you don't have right to sell.  I counter that with - we do not know who will and who will not be born-again.  We just have the command to GO!  And if we have the heart of Christ, we too will seek to warn all, sharing what Christ did to make salvation available.  It is up to the Holy Spirit to convict and change their heart.  I do not have the right to withhold the Gospel form anyone!

Irresistible Grace - I will admit, my view on this point is based as much or more on my own personal experience than on any other source (including the Bible). Some verses that help to paint a picture of this point would include Philippians 2:12-13, Romans 9:16, John 6:28-29, Acts 13:48, John 1:12-13.  But while these passages are somewhat convincing, long before I ever read them in context of salvation, I grasped this concept.  In my own testimony - that very moment on that February afternoon, when all at once, I was absolutely filled with the knowledge that I was lost.  I knew without a doubt that I was guilty - regardless of how much I had hoped the divine scales of righteousness would tip in my favor - I knew that, were I to die - I would spend eternity in Hell separated from God. But the conviction didn't end there.  While I can look back through the lens of my salvation at previous times I had experienced conviction, this one time - I didn't have a "yes or no" question before my.  I could only see one option - and that was to completely trust Jesus, begging Him to forgive me, and to help me turn from sin in my life (repentance).  I honestly (and it is still so incredibly vivid today) could see no other option than "YES LORD!"   I had no choice.  Yes, some would argue that I still could have said no.  But I really could not even fathom in that moment anything but crying to to Jesus!

But ultimately, the fact remains - regardless of one's position on any of these points - God knows who will and who will not be saved.  Regardless of your view on how God elects or on what he "predestinates", without a doubt, all who will be saved, will be saved!  How God brings that about is His business, but I know that He has chosen the "folly (or foolishness) of preaching" (1 Corinthians 1:21).

And finally - we come to the last "point" of Calvinism - Perseverance of the Saints.  This is another of those seemingly clear realities of scripture. John 10:27-28 is among my favorite passages in the Bible, where Jesus clearly said not only that His sheep hear His voice, but that no one will snatch them out of His hand!  No-one!  Philippians 1:6 says that  it is God who has begun and WILL complete that "good work" in us.  Fundamentally - you cannot lose something you never had in the first place.  Unfortunately, over the last century+, we have seen a massive flow of "decisions" that were little more than emotional response to emotional questions.  There were no outward signs, no genuine repentance, and no live change.  Scripture says that all of these are evidences of salvation.  But even then, we can manually bring temporary change in our lives that can be false signs.  But the genuine, born-again believer has the Holy Spirit as a permanent resident in our hearts.  We may grieve Him at times, and there is "sin unto death" that can result in God removing us before we do further harm.  But clearly, the Bible says we cannot lose salvation.

So - am I a "Calvinist"?  No.  I am a Christian.  I am not like the Corinthians who Paul admonished for identifying with the preacher instead of with Christ.  But lets be honest.  I believe that God is sovereign, and in His will and plan, He elects, he directs our paths, He does the saving (I am completely unable to save myself), He does the keeping (in the palm of Christ's hand), He convicted me by His Spirit in a way that gave me no other alternative than to trust Him.  And I firmly believe that Christ's payment on the Cross of Calvary was sufficient for any and all who have, do, and will believe on Him for eternal life.  We are all held accountable for what we do with Jesus.  And somehow, in God's perfect and sovereign will, He saved me, and I believe He will save you too if you will listen to His voice (remember what Jesus said!).

Anything beyond that - particularly the "HOW" - I am not God and I cannot begin to fully grasp.

I may be accused of trying to "ride the fence".  I don't see it that way.  I firmly believe the illustration that one of my seminary professors used in discussing theology - He described theology is a pendulum.  It swings form extreme to the opposite extreme.  The truth is somewhere in the middle, and just maybe God is the only one who fully grasps the big picture.  I just know in whom I have trusted.  And the desire of my heart is to tell others of Jesus' saving work on the cross.  Jesus said "repent and believe the Gospel".  That is the message we are to proclaim to all.  And let God save who He will save.