1 Corinthians 3 and Works Burned Up By Fire

1 Corinthians 3 and Works Burned Up By Fire

We are having an interesting conversation about faith, works, and salvation on 'The Rest of the Old, Old Story" blog. The conversation actually includes the 2 earlier posts on that blog as well, and is related to the 2 posts before those too, even though I didn't comment on them. I hope that's not too confusing, but the last five posts are related, ending so far with the link above.

Exchanged Life Discipleship blog: The Love of God That Overcomes Condemnation: Part 4 of 5

Here is part 4 of Eddie's series on the love of God. Very, very good.

Exchanged Life Discipleship blog:

Here is a new post on my husband's blog called "The Love of God That Overcomes Condemnation: Part 1 of 5".

37 Seconds Well Used...: "and now...it is your block of wood."

Here's a good post on John Cullimore's blog called "37 seconds well used...".

You Have Not Yet Resisted Unto Bloodshed, Striving Against Sin

In the sidebar of my blog I have an 'about me' section in which I wrote "I struggle every day with impatience and irritability." I was thinking the other day about that and remembered the verse that says "You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin." I realized that I am not 'struggling' with irritability," I am just living with it, and sometimes getting discouraged with myself because of it. I need to really strive against it, but I can't do it on my own power. I need the Holy Spirit's grace and strength, as well as the 'cloud of witnesses' which includes the saints that struggle alongside me every day. I need them to pray for me and help me and encourage me, and I can do the same for them. I also need to remember James 4:6-10:
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:


“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”


7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

So I need to remember to humble myself and submit to God, and then He will give me grace to resist the devil; and to mourn and repent of my sins and then I will be forgiven and lifted up.
Here is the passage from Hebrews I was quoting from:

Hebrews 12
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:


“ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Donald Whitney and Spiritual Disciplines: Spirituality Without Boundaries, by Bob DeWaay

Here is another article by Bob DeWaay on spiritual disciplines: 'Donald Whitney and Spiritual Disciplines: Spirituality Without Boundaries.'

Following is the introduction to the article:

In 1971, when I was a new Christian and in Bible College, I had the desire to be the best possible Christian. And while the Holy Spirit imparts to all Christians a desire for holiness (an obvious good thing), potential pitfalls that can lead us off course and harm us always exist. I have shared my story before in CIC but it is pertinent to the topic of this article. My desire to be an exceptional Christian led me to pietism, which led me to a Christian community where I worked on practicing holiness in a communal setting. In that community we tried any practice that anyone claimed would bring us closer to God. Sadly, my desire to be closer to God led me away from the truth because I was not committed to the principle of scripture alone. That brings me to our topic.

Many people concerned about Donald Whitney's endorsement of Richard Foster and Dallas Willard (two popular evangelical mystics) have asked me to review his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.1 These people have wondered how someone who claims to be Reformed2 in theology and teaches at a seminary known for Reformed theology could endorse Foster and Willard. They also wondered if Whitney's own teaching contains Foster's and Willard's same errors. This article is my answer to these requests.

Before I begin my critique, I want to place before you the areas where Whitney and I agree. Whitney has the gospel right and explains it (Whitney: 28).3 He is correct that it is the Holy Spirit who imparts a desire for holiness and does so for all Christians. He is correct that the purpose of sanctification is to conform us to the image of Christ. Some of the practices he endorses are valid means of grace (such as the Word of God and prayer). He cites in valid ways many orthodox teachers from church history. He understands that evangelism includes the call to repent and believe and that sharing the gospel constitutes "success" even if people refuse to listen (Whitney: 103). I appreciated his emphasis on the need to study the Bible in a scholarly way in his chapter about learning. And his thesis that we ought to make holiness a priority and take action to that end is a valid implication of his theme verse: "Discipline yourself for the purpose of "godliness" (1Timothy 4:7b). But I disagree with the manner in which Whitney uses Paul's athletic metaphor in his applications. Paul implies neither asceticism nor sanctification by human effort.4

Had Whitney's book been written when I was in Bible College, it would have proven toxic to me. I would have eaten up his ideas and embarked on a plan to put into practice everything he teaches. In fact, taken as a whole, the errors I pursued as a young Christian would be the most practical way to implement Whitney's approach to holiness: join a Christian commune or a monastery. I am very concerned that Whitney will harm young Christians who wish to be the best Christians they can be, just as I was. Because it contains the true gospel and begins with a respect for the scriptures, I believe Whitney's book to be even more seductive than were the teachers I was reading—like Watchman Nee. Ordinary life does not lend itself to the high level practice of asceticism, pietism, and mysticism.

The problems with Whitney's book are these: serious category errors, a lack of boundaries, failure to understand the means of grace, pragmatism, the endorsement of false teachers such as Richard Foster and Dallas Willard without caveat, and his own toned-down version of mysticism. I shall proceed to show what I mean by interacting with his ideas.

The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines: A Critique of Dallas Willard and The Spirit of the Disciplines by Bob DeWaay

Here is an article by Bob DeWaay called 'The Dangers of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines: A Critique of Dallas Willard and The Spirit of the Disciplines.'
Following is the introduction to the article:

Practices called “spiritual disciplines” that are deemed necessary for “spiritual formation” have entered evangelicalism. Recent encounters with this teaching narrated to me by friends caused me to investigate these practices. The first experience involved my friend and co-worker Ryan Habbena who went back to seminary to finish his masters degree. Here is his experience in his own words:

I recently took a seminary course on the book of Luke. It was a summer intensive and was one of only two classes being offered at the time. About midway through the week, while the class was steeped in trying to discern the intent and significance of the book of Luke, we began to hear the echoes of mystic chanting coming through the walls. As it turned out, the other class being offered was parked right next to ours. The paper thin walls were carrying the choruses of a class exploring the life and teachings of Catholic mystic Henry Nouwen. We proceeded, trying to concentrate on studying the Scriptures while tuning out the chants that were carrying on next door. Perhaps what was more unsettling though is the class studying Nouwen was chock full, while there were plenty of empty seats next door for anyone wanting to learn about the inspired book of Luke.1
How can this be? A Baptist seminary was favorably studying the teachings of this Catholic mystic whose own biographers describe as having had emotional problems and homosexual inclinations.2 Soon after talking to Ryan, I met a lady who attends a Christian college. As part of her study program she was required to take a course on spiritual formation at her college. Spiritual formation in her class also concerned the study of Roman Catholic mystics and the search for techniques to help those who implement them feel closer to God. This study also explored “spiritual disciplines” which promised to make those who practiced them more Christ-like. After she finished the class she shared her textbooks with me. This article will focus on the claims of one of these text books, The Spirit of the Disciplines, by Dallas Willard.3 In our study we shall see that those promoting spiritual disciplines in courses of study called “spiritual formation” make claims that are unbiblical and dangerous.

Understanding Regeneration/Salvation Part Two of Two

Here is part two of my husband's study on regeneration.

Understanding Regeneration/Salvation Part 1 of 2: Exchanged Life Discipleship

Here is a great post on my husband's blog called 'Understanding Regeneration/Salvation Part 1 of 2'.

The Lonely Christian-A Short Story: John Cullimore on "And now...it is your block of wood."

Here's a thought-provoking short story I read on a blog I found recently. I can relate to it; I'm tired of being alone. Lone Christianity is an oxymoron; we're not meant to be alone; we're meant to be many members of one body. In my own strength I can't do anything, but in Christ I can do all things. The body of Christ (the church) is meant to love each other and help each other, even in all our many failures and faults, to abide in Christ. I'm afraid to open up and be so vulnerable and transparent; to let people see my weakness. Lord, I ask that Your perfect love would cast out fear.

The Lonely Christian-A Short Story

UPDATE:
I have some reservations about the ideas in the story, after thinking about it and discussing it with my husband. I want so much for the 'togetherness' aspect of the story to be true that I ignored a few danger signals that were mentioned in the story. I'll come back later and go into those things more specifically.
UPDATE TWO:
Some of the things that my husband and I both noticed in the story are:
1. The story seemed to say that salvation comes from coming to the body of Christ and being united to it, rather than coming to Christ Himself.
2. The story seemed to say that talking about Jesus isn't important.
3. The story seemed to say that standing alone on doctrine is wrong. Sometimes it is necessary to stand alone.
I need to say that the other blog posts I have read by this author do not give these same ideas so far. I wonder if he realizes that he has conveyed these ideas in this story. I will update again as I find out more.
UPDATE THREE: I think the comments under the story post on John's blog will help clarify the author's meaning in the story. He has answered some of my husband's concerns, and it seems we may have misunderstood some things. It seems the original meaning I got from it was what the author intended: That the church is the body of Christ and it's members are to be united in Him and be in close relationship to each other, with each member playing a vital part to help the others so the body can function rightly.

Wherever the Body Is

Here is a collection of related passages about the church as the body of Christ, with it's members waiting together on the Lord and helping each other to be strong in the Lord. We are the eagles, and we're strong when we are united together under our Head, who is Jesus Christ.

“Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” Luke 17:37
But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Romans 12:5

Living Waters

John 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
John 7:37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Jeremiah 2: 13 “ For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water."
Jeremiah 17:
13 O LORD, the hope of Israel,
All who forsake You shall be ashamed.


“ Those who depart from Me
Shall be written in the earth,
Because they have forsaken the LORD,
The fountain of living waters.”

Zechariah 14:Thus the LORD my God will come,
And all the saints with You.
6 It shall come to pass in that day
That there will be no light;
The lights will diminish.
7 It shall be one day
Which is known to the LORD—
Neither day nor night.
But at evening time it shall happen
That it will be light.
8 And in that day it shall be
That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,
Half of them toward the eastern sea
And half of them toward the western sea;
In both summer and winter it shall occur.
9 And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be—

“ The LORD is one,”
And His name one.

Revelation 7:13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

The Necessity of Forgiveness: Exchanged Life Discipleship Blog

Here's a post my husband wrote on his discipleship blog, called 'The Necessity of Forgiveness.'

New Covenant Living: Blasting A Hole Through The Black Cloud

New Covenant Living: Blasting A Hole Through The Black Cloud

Thoughts of Francis Turretin: Calvin and the Perpetual Virginity (?) of Mary ... plus the Real Francis Turretin

Thoughts of Francis Turretin: Calvin and the Perpetual Virginity (?) of Mary ... plus the Real Francis Turretin

The Church and the Work: The Rest of the Old Old Story/Paul Pavao

The Church and the Work

This post by Shammah (Paul Pavao) was from an email sent to me as part of a conversation about the way the body of Christ should work and why it doesn't often work the way it should in most congregations. As Shammah said, I think the main reason is fear. Fear stems from pride which is the greatest sin. The opposite of these sinful emotions is love and humility. The word of God says 'The truth shall set you free' and 'Perfect love casts out fear.' We can only be set free from our sinful fear by the truth of God's word and the power of His spirit working in us. We can only love God and each other by that truth and power as well. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit work in each believer and each congregation to unite us into the Body of Christ.
The Lord has been stirring up alot of things in me that need to be dealt with from the past; there were issues in my marriage that had changed for the better but I recently realized I had not dealt with the feelings and effects from those earlier times. This has all come together with the realization that the church as a whole is failing to function as a body united by one Spirit, loving one another unconditionally, even as we know each other in all our faults and failures. The Body (church) has to work together with the Word of God (who is Christ Himself revealed in Scripture) and the Holy Spirit (who is in us) in order to function as Jesus intended. My failures can be healed and my gifts can be used only as I allow myself to be vulnerable within the church that God has put me and my family in. My extreme introversion makes me one of those who fails the most at this, but it also gives God the glory when He makes His strength perfect in me. To God be the glory!

Ahead and Behind: on Drunken Mystic blog

Here is a new post by Britt Mooney called 'Ahead and Behind.'