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Disclaimer - This blog and its content are provided only as information and are intended for visitors 18 and older. No content on the website should be taken as advice or recommendation to any personal or institutional situation. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily either shared or endorsed by Teleios. Both the blog and the contents are subject to change at any time without notice. Although I endeavor to ensure that the blog and the content are current and accurate, it may contain errors. I do not represent that the blog or the content is current, accurate or complete, or appropriate for your specific requirements. I do not accept any liability from any person for the blog, the content or any other information (or the use of such information) I provide. I do not have a seminary degree, but I have trained myself in the scriptures to teach and provide this information. For any specific question, I suggest you contact experts in that field and or do your own research into the scriptures.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

The Christian Life - Part 2

Welcome back to my blog. We are in a series covering the Christian life. We spoke last time about the three sanctifications which delineate our Christian experiences:

· Salvation - Our legal sanctification by the blood of Christ by faith (Romans 3:21-26)

· The Christian life - We seek to become sanctified in our actions and thoughts as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16)

· Heaven - Christ takes us to our eternal home when our bodies will be sanctified (1 Corinthians 15:50 ff)

Importantly, when one sanctification is complete and we progress to the next, we cannot return to the prior sanctified state. This helps us know that we have eternal security and confidence in our relationship with God (please see the last blog for a review of this important lesson).

Goals

For this current blog then let us talk about scriptural based goals for Christian living and the tools God provides by which we can accomplish them.

· Be holy as God is holy - We should strive to develop godly characteristics in our life (1 Peter 1:16)

· Live a life of faith – God is pleased by our faith, not guilt and legalism (Romans 14:23; Colossians 2:6)

· Serve God with your entire life – In accomplishing this goal we have great freedom to live by faith within the broad bounds of the New Testament epistles’ commands (Romans 12:1-2)

Tools for leading the Christian life

What has God given us to accomplish these goals?

The Bible – We are to accept God’s word as a true guide for our lives (1 Thessalonians 1:6). In Paul’s informative prayer in Colossians 1:9-14, he indicates the importance of approaching our Christian life in a knowledgeable way (verse 9). Accordingly, to act correctly (verse 10) we first must know how to think. We do this first by knowing God’s Word, especially the epistles in the New Testament (Romans to Revelation 3). This is the section meant specifically to provide directions for the church age. How do we know the importance of the New Testament epistles in our lives? There is a process by which it developed:

· God the Father - All truth began with God and was given to His Son to give to man (John 14:24; John 17:14).

Jesus Christ – He came and spoke to us, as recorded in the gospels, so people would believe in Him as Messiah. Upon the rejection of His message (Matthew 12), He taught the disciples about the coming age (Matthew 13-18; Matthew 24-25; John 14-17), later confirmed by the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 12:2-4; Colossians 1:25; Ephesians 3:3).
The Apostles – Christ tasked the apostles to teach God’s truth to the church (Matthew 28:19-20, sometimes called “apostolic authority”. It was the listener’s duty to obey what they heard from the apostles, not yet having the written scriptures. Importantly, the authority of the Bible itself is established not just by direct statements that claim it is scripture (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Peter 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16) but also by verses which indicate the authority of the apostles (2 Thessalonians 3:4-6; Colossians 1:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:14). To them God gave the charge to teach His truth and later to write the epistles, because they were taught by Christ Himself.
Second generation Christians – These believers received the word from the apostles and taught new believers under their authority (e.g., 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:24).
The biblical canon – The true Word of God was written down as epistles with guidance by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). These letters were circulated probably in the early church period when apparently an informal canon of scriptures was formed. A generally accepted canon existed in the 2nd century (1). The New Testament in its current form was finalized at the Synod of Hippo in 393 AD. The late date of finalization occurred probably due to Christians could not openly meet until Constantine legalized Christianity after he became the Roman emperor in 313 AD.
Biblical authority for the Christian life – The Bible speaks of accepting God’s word and using it as a basis for our lives (2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 6:17; 2 Peter 3:16). Consequently, through scripture, we gain not only the knowledge of the will of God and the benefits of the Spirit but also a healthy mind (1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:7).

Far from being restrictive, the Bible liberates us by teaching us wisdom and truth … with very few commands! It allows us to live a life of faith without being deceived by damaging practices in the world (1 Timothy 4:4-5). The Bible is our guidebook for life. As we live it in faith we prove God’s working within us with the accompanying joy of seeing Him bring fruit into our lives (Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 5:9).

What great truths! What a privilege to know God through His word and to live a life that is holy and pleasing to Him.

Please join us again next time as we continue to examine the tools we have for the Christian life. We will discuss God’s power!

William C. Stewart, MD

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Wednesday, October 11, 2023

The Christian Life - Part 1

The Foundation

The term Christian life roughly refers to how we live as a believer. Our Christian life is vital to gain and know the fruit of the Holy Spirit, derived from obedience, as well as to serve our Savior who saved us (Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 2:12; Romans 12:1-2).

Importantly, two preconditions exist to enjoy the Christian life. If you are unsure If you meet these conditions, please review Chapters 1-3 of Know the Bible on the Teleios website.

The preconditions: Salvation and assurance

Being saved by grace, having received the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection to new life (Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 3:21-26; Romans 10:9).

Security of salvation, as we can only adequately live a fruitful Christian life when we are confident of our salvation (1 Peter 1:4-5, Romans 8:28-39).

If a person does not believe In Christ to salvation, they do not have the understanding or capacity to live the Christian life (Romans 3:10-18). Further, if we are not convinced that God keeps our salvation then we will not have the confidence to life as a Christian and serve God.

Based on these two foundations, how the does the Bible tell us to live the Christian life?

Progressing from Salvation to live the Christian life (Hebrew 6:1-2).

How do we then mature in our faith after salvation?

o Three sanctifications – Critical to understanding the Christian life are the three different sanctifications. These are defined in the Dallas Theological Seminary doctrinal statement and are very useful. Sanctification as a term is defined by our setting apart as holy to God.

Ø First or past sanctification – This is legal holiness based on our forgiveness of sins by Christ’s death in the cross through faith. We are created new beings in Christ who can serve him (Romans 6:2-11; Titus 3:5).

Ø Second or present sanctification – This describes our actions, by which we become holy as we live a life of faith and obedient in our service to God throughout our lifetime (Romans 6-12-16; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Peter 1:4-10).

Ø Third or future sanctification – This is the change in our bodies at the rapture that become holy; completing the sanctification process (1 Corinthians 15:1-49).

o Importantly, the three sanctifications are separate in implementation and do not mix.

Ø Transition from first to second sanctification – When Christ was resurrected to new life He then ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father (Hebrews 8:1). This action signified that His glorious work in bringing salvation to man was finished. His sacrifice was sufficient for all sins for all time and did not need to be repeated (Hebrews 10:10-19). His sacrificial work being complete, Christ now heads continuously the church and helps believers in their Christian life.

Likewise, as Christians when we believed on salvation and received forgiveness (Romans 3:23-26) it is once for all time. We also were resurrected to new life and sit at the right hand of God the Father with Christ (Ephesians 2:4-9). Consequently, our work of being saved is finished. We now serve Christ continuously through the church (second sanctification). We do not need to revisit our first sanctification.

So as Christ was resurrected to new life we also are resurrected to new life through Him (Romans 6:2-9). As Christ’s saving work was finished on the cross, so our process to salvation was finished at conversion. As new regenerated person we are now able and free to serve Him, unburdened with insecurities over the security of our salvation or if God may not accept us for some sin (Romans 6:11-16).

Ø Transition from the 2nd to the 3rd sanctification – When Christ comes again in the clouds to take His church home our bodies will be changed instantaneously to a heavenly body (1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:49-54). This completes our sanctification.

So, by definition, in the Christian life we have progressed from the first to the second sanctification. It is based upon the fact that you have been saved by grace through the blood of Christ with your sins forgiven. In addition, we have been given the positions of being placed in God's family, found innocent by the blood of Christ, sealed and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. These unalterable promises and being changed into a new person provide a security to salvation and confidence in our relationship with God.

Therefore, we move forward in the Christian life serving God with confidence and joy.

Join us next time as we further describe this wonderful process of God bearing fruit in our life and our service to Him.

William C. Stewart, MD

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Wednesday, October 4, 2023

The Trinity - Part 3

Hypostatic Union

This important theological concept is a second term, in addition to the Trinity, that is not mentioned in scripture. However, the concept is broadly described and is based in the New Testament describing Jesus Christ as being both God and man.

Christian orthodoxy accordingly teaches that Christ is both all man and all God, joined together, being of one essence but two distinct wills. This is called the hypostatic union. The word hypostatic comes from the Greek word ὑπόστασις (Hupostasis) and is defined by Thayer in part as ‘substance, real being, the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing’.

Important verses indicating the existence of the hypostatic union are the following:

Christ as God and man:

Christ is God - Psalms 45:6; Psalm 110:1; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 5:20; John 1:1,34; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:1-3

Christ is man - 1 Timothy 2:5: 1 John 4:2; 2 John 1:7; Romans 5:15

Titles:

Son of God (equal to God) - John 5:18; John 19:7; Matthew 26:63-64

Son of man (the representative man) - There are numerous references to Christ calling Himself son of man in the gospels as it was his favorite reference to Himself - Matthew 16:27-28; John 1:51; John 6:62

Development of the concept

In the first 300 years after Christ, Christianity was illegal in the Roman Empire. Only after the edict of Milan, issued in 313 by Constantine, the first Christian emperor, did Christianity became recognized by the empire. At that time Christian leaders finally were able to congregate to discuss difficult theological issues generated during the first few centuries of Christian history.

These discussions occurred, most importantly, at the first seven ecumenical councils of the church between 325 and 787 AD. The first council was in Nicaea and confirmed Christ is God and of one substance with the Father; being Himself both fully God and man. This theology was stated in the Nicene Creed often repeated still, or it's derivative, in churches today.

However, following the confirmation of Christ’s deity and humanity the issue arose over the manner both these natures interacted within Christ. Therefore, the 3rd, 4th and 5th ecumenical councils dealt primarily with this issue and created statements over Christ and His deity and humanity.

The ecumenical councils examined three basic concepts of the union of Christ’s deity and humanity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_seven_ecumenical_councils):

One essence, one will - This hypothesis was proposed by the Oriental churches represented today by Armenian, Syrian, and Egyptian Coptic fellowships. They claimed that Christ was of one essence and one will, shared between his humanity and deity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monophysitism

Two essences and wills - This theory was proposed by the Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople from 428 to 431, as a reaction to the Oriental churches’ theology. It indicated that Christ was of two distinct essences and possessed two disparate wills. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestorianism

One essence and two wills - This was championed by the church councils and indicated that Christ humanity and deity were composed of one essence but there were two distinct wills.

In summary, it is key for a Christian to understand that Christ was both fully man and fully God. This union shows the importance of the virgin birth when Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and so was born of man but also is God.

Christ had to be God to provide a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the Father’s justice in demanding the payment for our sins. In contrast, Christ also had to be man, to take our deserved punishment on the cross, so that we could be forgiven and saved by faith.

Thanks for joining us! Come back next week as we begin an exciting discussion about Christian life.

William C. Stewart, MD

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