Bible Question:
Hello Saints, I have continually been trying to teach my son some biblical truth, and he became interested in a church, so I looked up what their belief system was and this is what I found, and I do not think it is biblically accurate. What do you think? I do not want to say that they are teaching wrong and then find out I am the one mistaken, but I want my son to walk in the truth. Now, contained within the statement of church beliefs is this: "Someday, our Messiah will come back to Earth to redeem all those that are His, those that have been grafted into the commonwealth of Israel (Rom 11, Eph 2). Then He will reign from the New Jerusalem for 1000 years (1 Thes 3:13, Rev 20:4). After that period, God will raise up the rest of the dead, and the entire Earth will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:5)." I am seeing that these verses are being taken out of context, and are not accurately used as prooftext in the proper place, because my belief is that Jesus has been given power over death and hades Matt 27:52 relates, "and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life." This to me is saying that the dead in Christ will be raised on two different events? Also, the part about the whole world being judged at the Great White Throne, I do not think that Christians will face judgment at the Throne, but later, at the Bema seat judgment. Am I correct in this? Along the same line, the church statement says, "•What was destroyed at the cross, in fact, was the power of sin and the penalty thereof over all of mankind." Now, I do not want to get picky here, but the power of sin is not taken away for all of mankind, or there would be no justice, I would think. Am I correct, or am I in the wrong in this? I have been working too hard ately to have as much time to study and research as I used to, so your help is greatly appreciated |
Bible Answer: Hi, sonofmom... You are doing some great research! I am quite encouraged by your post! Our Lord tells us that we will be judged -- condemned or justified -- by what we say (Matthew 12:36-37). Who we are is always made manifest by what we speak (Matthew 12:34). Thus what we say exposes to others who we are and what we believe. You are wise to examine the church closely (cf Zechariah 8:16). Furthermore, it is good that the church at least attempts to present some explanation of their beliefs in written form -- most will hardly dare to take explicit stands on the what they believe. Indeed, it is for this very reason that they have attempted to express their doctrinal position. It helps you to look closely at them and understand who they are. It helps them to teach and preach consistently with that message. I am a full subscriptionist of the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. By my admission of that to you it helps you examine me. You will find that the more carefully churches hold to explicit statements of doctrine, the more certain you will be about who they are. It also allows their members to join with them in unity of faith and consistent practice. Now, relative to your question on the destruction of the power of sin, I find reason to believe that this is a fairly well stated affirmation of Scripture relative to the question of sin. Through the cross, the penalty of sin making dead men alive (Ephesians 2:1-9; Romans 5:12-19), furthermore when we were once slaves of sin (John 8:34) He emancipated us (Romans 6:17-18). He has gifted us with everything we need to pursue righteousness (2 Peter 1:3). With this we have the blessed hope (confident expectation) that we shall one day be like Him (1 John 3:2). These truths keep us pushing forward in our pursuit of holiness (1 John 1:3). Sin still is a hurtful thing, it has consequents, it is something we struggle with, but that struggle is in itself evidence of our God working in us. Keep checking churches, ma'am! Study what they say. Listen to what they preach. Keep exposing those things to the light of the Scripture, our final and absolute authority. Meanwhile, we will be praying for you and your son, ma'am. In Him, Doc |