In a recent dialog with another believer, I was endeavoring to prove the bible's position that the gospel is not a well-meant offer of salvation to all of humanity. In that conversation I made the following statement:
"I think that an intriguing question to ask is - if everyone in Christendom today is constantly speaking of “gospel offers,” why is it that the bible never once uses the term “offer” with respect to the gospel message?" (teth)
While that statement is true so far as the nature of the gospel message is concerned, it is important to recognize that the gospel message is not devoid of the concept of an offering. We must be very, very clear regarding the nature of that offering, if we are to avoid confusion and thereby ground God's people in the truth regarding their eternal salvation. While the gospel is not offering eternal life to all of humanity, it none-the-less teaches us about an offering that was made - one that saved God's people from eternal condemnation. That offering is NOT the offering of eternal salvation to all of humanity in the form of the gospel for acceptance or rejection as most in Christendom assert, but rather, the "one offering" of Christ's blood to the Father that "perfected forever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14) That is what the bible teaches about the offering which brought us eternal salvation.
Knowing that truth prevents the encroachment of a thousand bad doctrines that seem to be closing in upon us from all sides in this Laodicean age. Moreover, because the bible teaches us that, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:" (Isaiah 53:11) we can find rest in knowing that Christ's one offering got the job done for his covenant people (Matthew 11:28, Matthew 1:21). And if God's satisfied with that offering, shouldn't all of God's people be?
No comments:
Post a Comment