Bible Question:
Dr. Norman Geisler, in the CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL, Vol. 28 No. 06 2005 page 29 has a list of essential Christian Doctrines. In paragraf three Dr Geisler has a list of "It is not necessary, however to believe in." "Christ's virgin birth,...Christ's bodily ascension...Christ's present service, or...Christ's second coming and final judgement as a condition for obtaining a right standing with God (justification)." What is your reaction? Do you agree or not agree with Dr. Geisler. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND WITHOUT SCRIPTUAL EVIDENCE BACKING YOUR OPINION. |
Bible Answer: Geisler writes: It is not necessary, however to believe in... "Christ's virgin birth,...Christ's bodily ascension...Christ's present service, or...Christ's second coming and final judgement as a condition for obtaining a right standing with God (justification)." Perhaps the key words here are "not necessary to believe in" these things "as a CONDITION for obtaining a right standing with God (justification). It would be difficult, if not impossible, for me to agree or disagree if I don't know what Dr. Geisler meant. I cannot know for sure what he meant unless and until I read it in context. Could he be saying that belief in these doctrines is not a prerequisite to salvation? Does he mean that one does not have to know and believe every doctrine in the Bible BEFORE one can be saved? I.e., that a person can be saved without first knowing about the doctrines Geisler lists? The following quote will, I hope, explain what I mean. Here the example is the Trinity. 'The fact that there is one God who is a Trinity is clearly essential to Christian orthodoxy, but there is no scriptural statement stating that to believe in the Trinity is necessary for salvation. However, that does not mean that denial of the Trinity is acceptable. A person can be saved without knowing about the Trinity. But, since the Trinity is a biblical truth, and the believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit who bears witness of truth, a true Christian will not openly denounce the Trinity once he has been taught it from scripture...' (www.carm.org/church/apostacy.htm). Likewise, perhaps Geisler meant that a person can be saved without knowing about the virgin birth. But, since the virgin birth is a biblical truth, a true Christian will not openly denounce the virgin birth once he has been taught it from scripture. Grace to you, Kalos |