Rebecca Stark is the author of The Good Portion: Godthe second title in The Good Portion series.

The Good Portion: God explores what Scripture teaches about God in hopes that readers will see his perfection, worth, magnificence, and beauty as they study his triune nature, infinite attributes, and wondrous works. 

                     

Thursday
Mar012007

Now It Comes Out

In the comments of Monday’s post on the Baptist Board discussion I was participating in, I mentioned that
[w]hat really bothers me about the system being put forward in that thread is that it makes God unjust. People don’t go to hell because God has just grounds for sending them there. After all, according to this theory, justice has been satisfied on behalf of every person
After I wrote that, I felt a little bit guilty, because although I could see that logically, this is where the so-called system was leading, it hadn’t actually been said yet. Well, now it has. From the proponent the view under discussion:
Justice can condemn, but one can be condemned apart from any concept of justice as well. God has satisfied justice through His own sacrifice on our behalf. However, that is not the only way someone can be condemned, as the Bible clearly shows.
Well, yes, one can be condemned apart from any concept of justice, if the judge is an unjust judge.
 
By the way, this isn’t typical universal atonement (You know, the unlimited side of the unlimited vs. limited atonement discussion!), which has God’s justice satisfied potentially on behalf of every person, but only actually satisfied on condition of faith. Here’s a short summary of the usual version of universal atonement, taken from this comparison chart.
Christ’s redeeming work made it possible for everyone to be saved but did not actually secure the salvation of anyone. Although Christ died for all men and for every man, only those who believe on Him are saved. His death enabled God to pardon sinners on the condition that they believe, but it did not actually put away anyone’s sins. Christ’s redemption becomes effective only if man chooses to accept it.
Notice that universal atonement does not “actually put away anyone’s sins”, except as a person comes to faith. In that way, universal atonement does not have God condemning people who have no crimes counted against them. Neither does limited atonement, which has Christ’s redeeming work putting away only the sins of his people. Limited vs. unlimited atonement is not the real issue here.
 
Update, March 1: No blogging today because I’m still working hard at this BB discussion. Leslie (see comments) took the time to read through the whole thing. As she says, there’s some convoluted thinking there. One example: In response to my statement that God can’t condemn someone without just cause, we have this:
I’m sorry, but God can do what He wants.
 
I know a lot of people question the value of these sorts of discussions. I think that if you have the stomach for this sort of thing, and a rather thick skin, you can learn a lot from participating. At the very least, you’ll solidify what you already know. When someone comes up with some rather novel idea, as in the case in this discussion, all the better, because you can’t rely entirely on the apologetic work that others have done. When you have to develop the arguments yourself, you know what you know. However, it’s not for everyone, and it can be time consuming, which is why I began blogging and mostly gave up discussion boards. Blogging takes so much less time!
Wednesday
Feb282007

Children's Poetry: Wrapping Up With Emily

The last two contributions to Children’s Poetry Month are poems by Emily Dickinson, so I’ll join in and contribute one from this hauntingly mysterious poet, too.

 
I’ll entertain guesses as to what March’s theme will be. Except from Pam, who already knows.

Wednesday
Feb282007

How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God?

Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest favor with God the Father,[1] with all fulness of joy,[2] glory,[3] and power over all things in heaven and earth;[4] and doth gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies; furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces,[5] and maketh intercession for them.[6]
  1. Phil. 2:9
    Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name …
  2. Acts 2:28
    You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.
    Psa. 16:11
    You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
  3. John 17:5
    And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
  4. Eph. 1:22
    And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church … .
    I Peter 3:22
    … who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
  5. Eph. 4:10-12
    He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ … .
    Psa. 110:1
    The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
  6. Rom. 8:34
    Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Question 54, Westminster Larger Catechism