Opportunity after Death?

Q. Does the following passage mean those who died in sin before Christ also had a chance to receive salvation when Christ preached to them after He died?

• 1 Peter 3:19-21 After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. Only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water. And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not removing dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.

1. No. First, who are the “imprisoned spirits”? Some link this to:
2. Eph 4:8-9 Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and gave gifts to men.” (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?

They proposed that after His death but before His bodily resurrection, He descended into Hades and preached to the OT saints waiting there for His resurrection, then led these “captives” and ascended on high. However, the text clearly stated that the imprisoned spirits were those who were disobedient in the days of Noah, not OT saints, nor anyone who died in sin before Christ.

Others link them to:

• Gen 6:1-5 Now, it came about when men began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful. And they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever because he also is flesh. Nevertheless, his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
• 2 Pet 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;
• Jude 1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,

They proposed that the imprisoned spirits were either fallen angels (“sons of God”) who did not keep their own domain and took human wives (“daughters of men”) or the spirits of wicked men who did evil continually. Either way, they cannot be generalized to mean all who died in sin before Christ.

Secondly, the Greek word for “made proclamation” is “kēryssō,” to proclaim after the manner of a herald, not “euangelizō,” to bring good news. There is no need to assume the Lord preached the gospel to them. It could be to announce judgment or condemnation.

Third, the Bible clearly teaches that there are no second chances after death to receive salvation:

• Heb 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
• Lk 16:26 And besides all this, between us there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ There is no crossing from Abraham’s bosom to Hades or vice versa.
• Rev 20:12, 15 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. … And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
• 2 Co 6:2 for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—

Each person will be judged according to their deeds after their death. All opportunities to repent and be saved are in this life. There is no second chance to cross over after death.

Blank Cheque Answers to Prayer?

Q So the bottom line is we don’t know whether God will answer unless we ask and try. If that is the case, why does Jesus say in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”?

• Always know the context when interpreting any Bible passage. Here, the Lord was addressing His disciples, not the crowd. Who can be His disciples? In the Lord’s own words:
• Lk 14:26-27 If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and comes after Me cannot be My disciple.
• Lk 14:33 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his possessions.

So, Mk 11:24 was not a blank cheque to the multitudes to grant them whatever they ask for, but to dedicated followers who have given up everything to follow Jesus. These won’t ask for riches, wealth, honor, the life of those who hate them, or long life (2 Chron 1:11).

Nor does Mk 11:24 override God’s will on prayers for healing. Paul was a top-notch disciple and certainly had faith. However, God’s higher purpose was to teach His grace is sufficient for any weakness, so Paul’s prayer for the thorn in the flesh to be removed was not granted. We need to know the “who” when asking questions on “what” and “why.”

Q. So, we are not Jesus’ disciples because we haven’t given up everything?

• Discipleship is a matter of degree. Let me quote from Vines’ Expository Dictionary of NT Words: literally, “a learner” (from manthano, “to learn,” from root math–, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor), in contrast to didaskalos, “a teacher;” hence it denotes “one who follows one’s teaching,” as the “disciples” of John, Mat 9:14; of the Pharisees, Mat 22:16; of Moses, John 9:28; it is used of the “disciples” of Jesus:

(a) in a broad sense, of Jews who became His adherents, John 6:66; Luk 6:17, some being secretly so, John 19:38;

(b) of the Twelve Apostles, Mat 10:1; Luk 22:11;

(c) of all who manifest that they are His “disciples” by abiding in His Word,

• John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are disciples of Mine;
• John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.”
• John 15:8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

(d) in the Acts of those who believed upon Him and confessed Him, John 6:1, 2, 7; 14:20, 22, 28; 15:10; 19:1.

“Disciples” were not only pupils but adherents, hence spoken of as imitators of their teacher; cp. John 8:31; 15:8.

We continue in His word, love one another, and bear fruit, so we are His disciples. But how much? Some do it better than others:

• Mt 10:24-25a A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher and the slave like his master.

The more we become like the Lord, the better. How good a disciple are we? We know how well or poorly we are doing, but only God’s evaluation counts. No quantitative self-assessment is given in the Bible to satisfy our curiosity.

Mustard Seed Faith

Q. “Jesus replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it will obey you.’” —Lk 17:6

According to the passage, it would seem the amount of faith one has does not really matter. Even if small, God will still respond. But we often ask for people to be healed, yet it does not happen. Is it because we have no faith at all? Perhaps one may say this is not God’s will. But if it is God’s will, it would be done anyway. Why, then, do we need faith in that case?

1. Many assume that “the greater the faith, the better the result.” That is, the “quantity” of faith determines the outcome. But according to Lk 17:6, it is not the quantity but the “quality” of the faith that is important.

Let me give you an illustration. You can have great faith walking on thin ice. It cracks, and you fall into freezing water. Or you can have little faith walking on thick ice that holds you up. The amount of your faith is not the deciding factor; the object of your faith, in this case, the strength of the ice, is. In prayer, the quantity of faith depends on the person praying. The quality depends on who grants the request, in this instance, God. The individual may/will fail. God never fails.

A mustard seed is tiny. But it is whole and can grow. Other passages also teach that it is quality that counts, e.g.:

• Mt 17:20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible to you.
• Mt 21:21 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.
• Mk 11:23 “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.

Regarding prayers for healing that did not happen, sometimes it is because we doubt (Mt 21:21, Mk 11:23). Sometimes it is simply not God’s will. For example, David inquired of God for his child, and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground. Then, on the seventh day, the child died (2 Sam 12:16, 18a). Paul prayed that the thorn in the flesh might leave him, but it was denied: “Concerning this, I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He had said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Co 12:8-9a)

If it is God’s will, why do we still need faith? Because faith is the channel through which God’s grace flows! Go back to the example of walking on ice. The ice is thick enough and strong enough to uphold the man walking on it. But if the individual does not exercise his little faith to walk across, he will never find out. So, faith is needed to experience God’s grace. The issue is, “Is faith present or not?” If there is faith, however little, the person can walk across safely, even if he is trembling. Without faith, he will not dare venture across and stay stuck; he will never know the love and power of God. Period.

Voice in the Wilderness

Q. Why does Isaiah 40:3 (NIV) say, “A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God’ while all in the gospel books, it says: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”  (Matthew 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4, John 1:23)

Does wilderness refer to where John the Baptist was speaking, or does it refer to where he should prepare the way for the Lord? Is the NIV translation wrong? The NASB1995 version says, “A voice is calling, Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.”

Translators are divided into how they should treat “in the wilderness.” Does it describe the location to prepare the way, or where the voice was calling? The following versions are some examples.

Where to prepare the way	Where was the voice calling
ESV: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.	NKJV: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.
NASB: The voice of one calling out, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.	GW: A voice cries out in the desert: “Clear a way for the Lord. Make a straight highway in the wilderness for our God.
NIV: A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.	LEB: A voice is calling in the wilderness, “Clear the way of Yahweh! Make a highway smooth in the desert for our God!

Those who favor the former base their opinion on the Hebrew accents, which link “wilderness” to “the way.” A second reason is Hebrew parallelism, where “in the wilderness prepare the way” parallel “make straight a highway in the desert.” Those who favor the latter base their choice on the Septuagint (LXX, the translation of the Hebrew OT into Greek), which links wilderness to “the voice.” Which is correct? Based on their rationale alone, the argument is stronger for the former. However, as you pointed out, all four Gospels link wilderness to “the voice crying”:

• Mt 3:3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’”
• Mk 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’”
• Lk 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.
• Jn 1:23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

Apparently, the evangelists saw something more in Isa 40:3 than “in the wilderness prepare the way.” Some suggested that they see John the Baptist, the Lord’s herald, as not preparing a physical highway, but a figurative way amid barren hearts lacking interest in spiritual matters. While the LXX translation was not inspired, the four gospels were inspired by the Holy Spirit. So both ways of translating Isa 40:3 are valid. Neither the NIV nor the NKJV is wrong.

Receiving the Holy Spirit

Q. In Acts 8:12-17, why is it that when Philip baptized the people, it was only with water, but when John and Peter laid their hands on them, they received the Holy Spirit? Don’t we receive the Holy Spirit when we believe? Is this a one-off event only to mark the opening of the gospel door to the Gentiles through Peter and John?

Is Philip in Acts 8:5 Philip the apostle, or the evangelist, one of the seven deacons to care for the poor, or is it the same person? Also, is the Philip in Acts 8:26 the same Philip? Did the Ethiopian he baptized receive the Holy Spirit?

Yes, the NT norm is that we receive the Holy Spirit when we believe. In fact, if a person does not have the Holy Spirit, he (she) is not a true believer:

• Rom 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

The Holy Spirit baptized us into one body – the body of Christ:

• 1 Co 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

But Acts 8:12-17 stated that the people believed, yet they did not receive the Holy Spirit until Peter and John laid hands on them:

• Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
• Acts 8:15-16 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.

Why? Some claimed that the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon the Samaritans because their faith was faulty, just as the faith of Simon the magician was faulty:

• Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, …
• Acts 8:21-22 You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

However, while the text indicated the wickedness of Simon’s heart, it said nothing about the Samaritans. All it said was that they believed the good news about God’s kingdom and Jesus Christ and were baptized. It is unreasonable to assume what was true of Simon was also true of the whole group. There is simply no evidence that their faith was faulty.

Acts 8:12-17 is the only time the receiving of the Spirit was delayed sometime after the people believed. There is no other similar incident in the NT. So it is a one-off event. It is not a “normal” conversion as it records a transitional period during which the gospel spread from the Jews, then to Samaritans, and then to Gentiles:

• Acts 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea (to Jews) and Samaria (to Samaritans), and even to the remotest part of the earth (to Gentiles).”
• Acts 8:5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them.

The Jews looked down on Samaritans as “mixed-breed”:

• Jn 4:9 Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Had the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit upon conversion like the Jews, they would be looked upon with suspicion. Someone with authority representing the early church needs to be present as a witness to testify that their receiving the Holy Spirit was genuine. In this case, the witnesses were Peter and John (Acts 8:14).

Why Peter? Because the Lord gave him the keys to the kingdom of heaven:

• Mt 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Peter was the one who opened the doors of God’s kingdom to all three groups:

• Jews – Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
• Samaritans – Acts 8:17 Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
• Gentiles – Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening (Cornelius’ household) to the message.

Concerning your other questions:

Philip in Acts 8:5 is Philip the evangelist, one of the seven in Acts 6:5. It is not Philip the apostle because:

• Acts 8:1 Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

The apostle Philip stayed in Jerusalem, and is different from Philip the evangelist who went to Samaria and witnessed to the Ethiopian in Acts 8:26 ff.

The text did not explicitly say the Ethiopian eunuch received the Holy Spirit:

• Acts 8:36-37 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

However, based on my previous argument that the delay in receiving the Spirit in 8:12-17 was due to postponing until Peter and John were present as witnesses. Peter officially opened the door of the kingdom of heaven to Samaritans, so I believe the eunuch received the Spirit.

TULIP (Part 2 of Predestination)

(Continued from last post)

Is Calvinism biblical? Even though Calvinism consists of more than the five points of TULIP, I will limit my comments to them only. My approach is to cite what Calvinism and its opponent Arminianism assert about each point and their biblical evidence, then decide which side has better support.

Calvinism	Arminianism
Total Depravity or Inability. Because of Adam’s fall, man is unable of himself to believe the gospel. Gen 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.Jer 17:9 The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?Rom 3:10-12 As it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one. There is none who understands. There is none who seeks God. All have turned aside. Together they have become useless. There is none who does good. There is not even one.”	Total. Some Arminians believe in total depravity. Partial Depravity or Free Will and Human Ability. Other Arminians believe although human nature was corrupted by the fall, man’s free will enabled by common or prevenient grace can respond to the gospel. Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.Jn 5:40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.Rom 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
Assessment. The Calvinist passages support the idea that man is totally (in all aspects of life) depraved – in his heart, mind, and body. The Arminian passages indicate that sinners with prevenient (preceding) grace can choose to believe or reject. While prevenient grace is a possible cause, Arminians did not offer any proof of such grace. This is supposedly given by God to open the minds of the unbelieving blinded by Satan so that they might see the light of the gospel (2 Co 4:4). It is an unproven theory. I, therefore, accept Total Depravity.
Unconditional Election. God elects individuals to be saved based entirely on His will, not on any condition in the individual. Rom 8:29-30 See above.Rom 9:11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,Eph 1:4-5 See above.Eph 1:11 See above.	Conditional Election. God elects individuals to be saved based on His foreknowledge of who will believe in Christ. Rom 8:29 See above.Rom 11:2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?1 Pet 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
Assessment. Both sides cite Rom 8:29, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined,” but interpret “foreknew” differently. Calvinists take “foreknew” to mean “love beforehand,” so that God’s choosing the elect is indeed according to the kind intention of His will. Arminians interpret “foreknew” literally, thus making God’s choice dependent on His knowledge beforehand of who will believe in Jesus. Essentially man’s freedom directed God’s sovereignty, and His election becomes rubber-stamping man’s choosing to believe. This is not what the biblical data showed. I, therefore, accept Unconditional Election.
Limited Atonement or Particular Redemption. Jesus died only for the elect, not all humanity. Mt 1:21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.Jn 10:11 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.Jn 17:9 I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours;Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.Rom 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,	Unlimited Atonement or General Redemption. Jesus died for all mankind, not just those He chose. Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world,Rom 11:32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.2 Co 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died, and He died for all so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.1 Tim 2:3-6 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.1 Tim 4:10 For it is for this we labor and strive because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
Assessment. Both sides have valid evidence supporting their position: Calvinist: The sheep and the church are the elect, which indicates particular redemption. Arminians: To all, for all, and all men indicate the world, supporting general redemption. Since not all men are saved, Arminians reconcile this by concluding that while Jesus died for all men, His atonement becomes effective only for those who believe. My position is that since God is love (1 Jn 4:8), it is contrary to His nature to love only some but not others, leaving those He passed over to perish. 2 Tim 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. I, therefore, accept Unlimited Atonement.
Irresistible Grace or Effectual Calling. The Holy Spirit extends to the elect an inward call that inevitably draws them to salvation. Jn 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.Jn 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.Jn 10:16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd.	Resistible Grace. God calls all to repent and be saved, but man’s free will can resist and reject God’s free offer. Mt 23:37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.Acts 7:51 You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.2 Thes 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit;
Assessment. Irresistible means it will produce the desired result; it does not mean by force. The Calvinists’ “all” and “no one” indicates that the elect receiving God’s call will inevitably come to Christ. The Arminians’ “unwilling” and “always resisting” show that men can resist the Holy Spirit. Scholars reconcile this by concluding that the outward call to all men can be resisted, but the inward call to the elect will be effective. I accept Irresistible Grace.
Perseverance of the Saints or Eternal Security. All chosen by God are preserved by Him and will persevere to the end. They are eternally secure. Jn 10:27-29 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.Rom 8:29-30 See aboveEph 1:3-14	Able to Fall from Grace. There is security in Christ based on continued faithfulness, but man can apostatize and lose their salvation. Mt 5:13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.Jn 15:6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.Heb 6:6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.Heb 6:8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.
Assessment. Calvinists assert that the sheep (the elect) will never perish. They will be glorified. Arminians are divided, with some holding that believers are eternally secure in Christ. Others claim that it is possible to make a shipwreck of one’s faith (1 Tim 1:19) and lose his salvation. My position is that man did not gain salvation by his works or faith; so salvation is not his to lose, as no one, including himself, can snatch him out of Christ’s or the Father’s hand. We are sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit of promise (Eph 1:13) and have eternal security. I accept the Perseverance of the Saints.

In summary, I hold four of the five points of TULIP. I do not subscribe to Limited Atonement as I believe it denies God’s nature of love. Many believe the five points stand together as a system, and to reject one is to reject all. My concern is to be biblical – to be true to Scripture as far as I understand. To be labeled as Calvinistic or otherwise does not concern me; to be Christ’s disciple does. You do not have to accept my position as each one of us will give an account of himself to God (Rom 14:12).

Predestination (Part 1 of 2)

Q. Some evangelicals criticize Calvin’s TULIP, especially predestination. What is your opinion?

Predestination usually evokes a lot of heated debate whenever it is discussed. Often the objections involve whether Calvinism is biblical. There are other criticisms, but I will restrict myself to this major one. We will first examine what the Bible says about predestination, then examine each of TULIP’s five points.

The word “predestined” translates the Greek verb proorizō, which occurs six times in the NT:

• Acts 4:28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
• Romans 8:29-30 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
• 1 Corinthians 2:7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
• Ephesians 1:4-5 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
• Ephesians 1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

To predestine literally means to “determine or decide beforehand; foreordain.” Note the following:

• Who – God is the One who predestines, not man.
• What – He chose and predestined some to be adopted as sons. He also predestined them to be conformed to Christ’s image.
• When – God predestined the elect before the foundation of the world,  before the ages. There was no man around then.
• Why – He predestined according to His purpose, His will. Man does not play a part in this pre-determination.
• How – He predestined through Christ His Son.

So what the Bible says is, “God, before the foundation of the world, before the ages, chose and pre-determined that the elect will be adopted to be His sons and be conformed to the image of Christ, according to His purpose and His will.” There are other deductions from these verses, but that is the summary. We know there are other passages on predestination without the actual word appearing in them. However, I will reference them only as needed in this short post.

(To be continued)

Pre-nuptial Agreement?

Q. I have a question on financial issues in the case of re-marriage. So hypothetically speaking, I, a Christian widower, met a Christian widow. Both of us have adult children and are financially independent. Suppose we decide to get married. My question is this. The assets I have were jointly earned by my first wife and me. It was her desire, and mine as well, that whatever assets are left when I pass away, I want them to go to our children and grandchildren. The only way I can think of to make this happen is to have a pre-nuptial agreement, and I think the other woman would probably want to do the same thing. However, having a prenup doesn’t feel right, for it gives a sense of distrust. I believe that one must put this down in writing so there will not be misunderstandings or confusion, as later on there will be other people involved. So, is it OK to have a prenup?

There are no pre-nuptial agreements, or prenups, in the Bible, but there are biblical principles on marriage that apply here. A prenup is an agreement entered into by a couple before marriage that sets out how assets will be divided if they divorce. In essence, it is a business contract between partners. Typically the more wealthy partner asks for a prenup to protect his (her) assets in case the poorer partner marries him (her) for money. While prenups are quite common among the rich and the famous, they show a lack of trust in the partner, hence a legal document to protect oneself. But a fundamental question is, “if you don’t trust your partner with your money, how can you entrust your life/health to your mate?”

Biblically, marriage is a covenant, not a contract, between husband and wife:

• Mt 19:4-6 And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
• Rom 7:2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband.
• 1 Co 7:39 A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

God’s design for marriage is one man-one woman, one husband-one wife, one union-one flesh, and one marriage for life. Marriage is dissolved only when one partner dies, after which the surviving spouse is released and free to remarry. Since covenants are unconditional, permanent pledges made for the other’s benefit, a prenup in anticipation of a divorce is inconsistent with a biblical marriage. Why plan for getting your “fair” share when you divorce, when the two of you should be working together to make your marriage great?

From your preamble, you are planning to leave your assets to your offspring when you pass away, not when you divorce. I assume your future wife would want to leave her assets to her offspring too. One solution is to set up two trusts. The first will hold the bulk of your assets for the benefit of your children and grandchildren. The second holds most of her assets with her offspring as beneficiaries. I say “bulk” because, presumably, both you and your future mate would want the surviving partner to be adequately provided for until the second partner dies. I suggest that rather than talk about a prenup, you two should share and come to a mutually agreeable arrangement. Then incorporate that arrangement in your respective wills. That would be a more productive conversation than a prenup which shows mistrust, as you rightly pointed out. Hope this helps.

Reformed Baptists?

Q. Do you feel there is any conflict about being a “Reformed Baptist”? There seems to be confusion about “Reformed” being both theology and denomination.

Whether there is any conflict depends on which issue you are talking about.

Let us start by knowing what a Reformed Baptist is. Reformed Baptists were called “Particular Baptists” in Britain in the 16^th-17^th centuries. They were “Particular” because they believed that Jesus died for a particular people, the elect, as opposed to “General Baptists,” who believed that Jesus died for all. In other words, Particular Baptists believed in “limited atonement,” and their soteriology is Calvinistic. In contrast, General Baptists were Arminian in their understanding of salvation.

Next, what is a Reformed Church? Reformed churches are those churches that emerged from the Protestant Reformation and followed Calvinistic theology. Their doctrines of grace are summarized by the acronym TULIP, which stands for:

• T – Total Depravity,
• U – Unconditional Election,
• L – Limited Atonement,
• I – Irresistible Grace, and
• P – Perseverance of the Saints.

Since both are Calvinistic, there is no conflict between “Reformed Baptist” versus “Reformed” in their soteriology (doctrine of salvation). But there are conflicts in their ecclesiology (doctrine of the church). Let us look at two issues.

1. Church Polity

Reformed Baptist churches follow the congregational form of church governance. In congregational churches, the final authority in decision-making rests with the congregation. The congregation can elect officeholders (pastors, elders, deacons) to make day-to-day operating decisions. However, major decisions (such as large capital expenditures, taking on debt, and hiring and firing a pastor) must be decided at a congregational meeting of her members. They also believe in the autonomy of the local church.  Thus they are independent of any centralized denominational government.

Reformed churches, on the other hand, follow the presbyterian form of governance. Decision-making authority rests with a body of elders or presbyters, not the congregation. If the church belongs to a denomination, e.g., Presbyterian, the local elders’ board answers to a higher board of elders called a synod, which consists of representative elders from each member church. The final authority rests with the General Assembly, which is made up of representatives from each synod. Hence, the presbyterian form is hierarchical, though authority is not concentrated in one individual but a plurality of elders. Local churches are not autonomous but must follow the decisions of the General Assembly.

2. Baptism

Reformed Baptists, as Baptists, practice believers’ or credo baptism. Only those Christians who can provide a credible profession of faith are eligible for baptism. In addition, they consider the proper biblical mode of baptism to be by immersion, representing the death, burial, and resurrection with Christ (Rom 6:4).

In contrast, Reformed churches practice infant or paedo baptism in addition to adult believers’ baptism. This is based on their understanding that infants born in a Christian family are part of the New covenant. As the sign of the Old covenant (circumcision) is put on infants, the sign of the New covenant (baptism) is practiced on infants too. The difference is in the mode. Instead of cutting the body, it is pouring or sprinkling water on the child’s head. There is no need for a credible profession of faith.

So, while Reformed Baptists and Reformed churches have compatible soteriology, they are incompatible in their practices and do not merge together in a single denomination.

Do We Recognize Each Other in Heaven?

Q. I attended a funeral service for an 86-year-old lady who is a Christian. During the service, their children said they wished to meet their mom in Heaven soon. This raised a question in my mind. The question is: do we recognize each other in Heaven? For example, will that lady recognize her children in Heaven when they meet again?

There is no direct statement in the Bible to that effect, but lots of indirect evidence points to the conclusion that we will recognize each other in Heaven. For us to recognize each other, we must retain our identity and have the memory to recall it as the same person. Let us take a look at some cases in the Bible:

• Saul and the medium at Endor (1 Sam 28:3-19). Saul asked the medium to conjure up Samuel. When the woman brought up a divine being, Saul knew it was Samuel (v 14) and asked him what he should do (v 15).

• David and his infant son (2 Sam 12:13-23). The Lord struck David and Bathsheba’s son with illness (v 15) because of his adultery and murder of Uriah, and the child died. Initially, David fasted and wept to plead with God. But after the child’s death, David worshipped and stopped fasting because he knew he could not bring the child back, but he will go to him (v 23). The Lord has taken away David’s sin (v 13), so he knew he would not be banished to hell. He expected to see and recognize his son in Heaven.

• Jesus’ Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-8, Mk 9:2-8, Lk 9:28-36). Jesustook Peter, James, and John up a high mountain and was transfigured before them. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus (Mt 17:3). Moses lived at least 1391-1271 BC, some historians suggesting even earlier. Elijah was born about 900 BC and taken up to Heaven. There was no way that the disciples could have seen them, yet Peter recognized who they were without Jesus introducing them. We may recognize people intuitively in Heaven.

• The rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31). In Hades, the rich man lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus (v 23) with him. All the individuals retained their identities and communicated with each other. Abraham reminded the rich man of his former life; he even remembered his five brothers. Since there is recognition in Hades, and Heaven is incomparably better, there is recognition in Heaven.

• Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances (Jn 20:19-29). Jesus appeared to His disciples for the first time on Easter Sunday (v 19) without Thomas, then again eight days later with Thomas (v 26). Both times they recognized Him.

• Paul’s consolation to the Thessalonians (1 Thes 4:13-18). Paul comforted the Thessalonians that when the Lord returns there will be a resurrection of those who have fallen asleep (died) in Christ (v 15). This will be followed by the rapture of those alive in Christ (v 17), to be always with the Lord. These would not be words of comfort for those who have lost loved ones if we will not recognize each other in Heaven.

There are other passages, but these give us sufficient evidence to believe that we will know each other in Heaven.