|
(continued from previous page)
some future "millennium" when He
will "rule with a rod of iron;" and some even have Him
forcing obedience so all will be saved. (A "works"
regime, at the point of a gun.) This is ridiculously
inconsistent with their present concepts of love and grace. The
truth is, if Christ is now Priest, He is also now King — and
He is now both. A further truth is, we must not interpret Christ
as Priest in such a way as to negate Christ as King.
 Now
kingship says "rule." If we would benefit by the
kingship of the Savior we must submit to His rule, be obedient
to His laws. "Grace and works are mutually exclusive"
ONLY in a context that identifies "works" as a seeking
for freedom from guilt on the basis of perfect obedience.
This in no wise negates law, the necessity for obedience, nor
the propriety of gospel preachers telling sinners what they must
do in order to be saved. We should emphasize that our King is
merciful — that He Himself has died that we might be
"forgiven" — but offering and ruler are not
"exclusive." They are beautifully blended in God's
plan of redemption for free-moral-agent creatures. (And make no
mistake about it — this free-will. character of man is key to
the age-long furor over all such matters in theology.)
The
Augustine-Pelagius controversy (early 5th. century) and its
aftermath produced generations of theologians who regard man as
incapable of doing anything truly good. Even his
"faith" is "a gift of God" bestowed rather
than gendered by evidence. In controversy, they seem to think
only of the sacrificial role of Christ and conveniently forget
"conditions of salvation" for, in their
| |
minds, this could only refer to man as
the means of saving himself. "Earned"
"Merited " ad the like, freely from their pens. When
our brethren pick up such terminology in order to emphasize the
priestly and sacrificial role of our Lord they seem to forget
all they have known about Christ as King: "all authority is
given — go, preach, baptizing" (Matt. 28:18-f). The
denominationalists have an excuse (?). Individuals are
"elect" to be saved by an unconditional bestowal of
"grace." But what excuse (?) have our brethren??
When
the whole truth of God is put into one package — all
scriptures considered — we must reckon with man as capable of
choice, and God as no respecter of persons. All have sinned, and
we cannot be pronounced justified on our own merit. Forgiveness
is made available, upon e merit o Christ; but it will only be
enjoyed by those who put their trust in Him — and that
involves obeying Him to the very best of their ability, denying
"self."
The
"roles" of Christ beautifully fit this situation. When
Philip went to Samaria, he "preached Christ"(Acts
8:5); but this included the "kingdom of God" (rule),
"the name of Jesus Christ" (means, or power), and
"baptism" (message). Prophet, Priest, and King — all
necessary if we are to be saved through Jesus Christ. With
wondrous love and mercy God gave His Son for all mankind
"while we were yet sinners." His absolute sovereignty
is vindicated in final judgment where those who strove to serve
Him will be blessed, and the rebellious condemned.
[Previous
Article] [Next
Article]
|
