Theological Issues Trinity International University © John Stevenson, 2009 Class 2

Reflection Papers “How are we to Live in the Kingdom of God today?”

How is this Question impacted by the following issues? Abortion? Divorce and Remarriage? Engagement in politics? What other issues arose in your paper?

What is the Role of the Church in the Kingdom of God?

© 1989 “We believe both the conservative and liberal church, the so-called private and public church, are basically accommodationist (that is, Constantinian) in their social ethic. Both assume wrongly that the American church’s primary social task is to underwrite American democracy.” (Pg 32).

© 1989 “We believe both the conservative and liberal church, the so-called private and public church, are basically accommodationist (that is, Constantinian) in their social ethic. Both assume wrongly that the American church’s primary social task is to underwrite American democracy.” (Pg 32). What does this mean?

What is “accommodationist” or “Constantinian”? In light of your written assignments, what do you think of this chapter? How should the church relate to politics? To social issues? © 1989

“The cross is a sign of what happens when one takes God’s account of reality more seriously than Caesar’s. The cross stands as God’s (and our) eternal no to the powers of death, as well as God’s eternal yes to humanity, God’s remarkable determination not to leave us to our own devices.” (Pg 47).

Prayer in Public Schools Abortion versus Right to Life Gay Marriage Equal Rights

Pope John Paul “War is never just another means that one can choose to employ for settling differences between nations” and reiterated that “war cannot be decided upon... except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions.”  Address on January 13, 2003

Can one be a Christian and, at the same time, a patriot to his country?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Founding member of the Confessing Church in Germany Helped Jews to escape to Switzerland Was arrested in plot to assassinate Hitler Executed

Dietrich Bonhoeffer “To endure the cross is not tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ.”

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 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.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 2:18-19 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

Dispensational Easy-Believism Once a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, they will be saved no matter whether or not they continue to believe. Arminian Theology A person might come to Christ and be saved and then, because of sin or unbelief, might lose that salvation and be lost.

Dispensational Easy-Believism Once a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, they will be saved no matter whether or not they continue to believe. Reformed Theology Arminian Theology It is possible for one to experience a faith for a time that is not saving faith. Such a one often falls away after a time. A person might come to Christ and be saved and then, because of sin or unbelief, might lose that salvation and be lost.

Dispensational Easy-Believism Reads the parable of the sower and believes that only the first one is lost while the others merely suffer “loss of rewards.” Reformed Theology Arminian Theology The parable of the sower pictures some who initially experience a measure of spiritual growth, but who ultimately fall away and are not saved. The parable of the sower tells of some who were initially saved but who lost their salvation because they did not endure.

Dispensational Easy-Believism Once saved, always saved; no matter what. Reformed Theology Arminian Theology The perseverance of God’s elect is guaranteed by the work of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is a matter of enduring to the end.

Hebrews 6:4-6 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 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.

Enlightened Tasted heavenly gift Partaker of the Holy Spirit Tasted the Word of God Powers of the ages to come

Falls away (seeks to approach God on the basis of the Old Testament Sacrifices Enlightened Tasted heavenly gift Partaker of the Holy Spirit Tasted the Word of God Powers of the ages to come

Falls away (seeks to approach God on the basis of the Old Testament Sacrifices Impossible to renew them again to repentance

Hebrews 10:26-27 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

Has a knowledge of the truth… No longer remains a sacrifice for sins …but goes on sinning…

Roman Catholic Church Perseverance is dependant upon the uncertain obedience of man. Lutheran Arminian Reformed View of Perseverance Perseverance is dependant upon the man’s continued faith. Perseverance is dependant upon the will of men to believe. Perseverance is dependant upon God.

The Bible on Perseverance A Confident Expectation: For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). A Dependence upon God’s Faithfulness: But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

The Bible on Perseverance A Dependence upon God’s Power: Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy (Jude 1:24).

RegenerationFaith

Arminian View Regeneration comes as a result of a person believing the Gospel. Reformed View Regeneration takes place as a work of God and, as a result of this new life, the person believes the Gospel.

The phrase translated “is born of God” is in the perfect tense in the Greek text. …whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1a) Whoever believes in the present that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God in the past with the result that they have this life.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Matthew 12:31-32 Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.