A gracEmail subscriber wrote: "How could God be disappointed in human beings, since he knew everything before the foundations of the earth?" * * * As happens dozens of times each week, I responded directly to her. "I do not know," I stated. "The subject of God’s knowledge of things in advance makes my head swim!" She wrote back: "Oh wow! This is a new possible way of thinking for me! Thank you for your kind response, your honesty and your ministry." I pass on this private correspondence, not because of its complimentary comments about me, but because the fact that this … [Read more...]
AFRAID OF GOD?
A brother writes that "the God of the Old Testament does fierce and horrible things to people, and this makes me pretty nervous. I know that perfect love casts out fear. But I understand that I show my love by my obedience and that leaves me scared again." * * * The New Testament also exhorts us to contemplate "the goodness and the severity of God" (Rom. 11:22), and it warns us that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God" (Heb. 10:31). However, from Genesis to Revelation, God reveals himself as indescribably gracious and generous to the person who … [Read more...]
THE ANSWER IS GOD
A gracEmail subscriber writes, "I am studying philosophy in my university courses and wonder whether it is safe for me to do so as a Christian. Some of my Christian friends in science programs wonder the same thing." * * * In about 1971, I had the good fortune to study briefly under Francis Schaeffer, whose books, lectures and Swiss retreat, L'Abri ("the shelter"), have blessed so very many. Dr. Schaeffer continually stressed that all truth is God's truth. Since God made everything that exists, he noted, nothing exists anywhere that God has not made. Therefore any genuine … [Read more...]
THE DIVINE NAME YHWH
Genesis 4:26 says that in the days of Adam's grandson Enosh, men "began to call upon the name of the LORD" (Hebrew: YHWH). Yet centuries later God reveals himself to Moses as YHWH and states that he was not known by that name to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. A gracEmail subscriber asks whether Moses inserted the name YHWH in writing Genesis after the fact or whether his ancient ancestors also used that name of God. * * * For the Hebrew people and their Mesopotamian neighbors, a name was more than a label. It often described or defined the essence of the person named. Israel's … [Read more...]
GOD’S COVENANT NAME
One gracEmail subscriber has heard that God's name is "Jehovah" and that we should always use that specific name. Another subscriber asks how "Jehovah" could possibly be the correct name of God, since the Hebrew alphabet contains no letter "j." * * * God identified himself to Moses as YHWH or YHVH (Ex. 6:2-4), which the Jews call "The Name" or "The Sacred Four Letters" (Greek: Tetragrammaton). Long before the birth of Jesus, the Jews stopped pronouncing this actual name lest they speak it in vain. When they read the Bible and came to "YHWH" they would say the Hebrew word … [Read more...]
‘CALL TO ARMS’ CALLS FOR DISCRETION
A pastor has issued a "call to arms" to his denomination, concerned that some of his brethren are non-trinitarian in theology and that others who are trinitarian are not militant enough in purging the denominational ranks. Although I do not belong to that denomination, the pastor sent me a copy of his "call to arms," The following was my response. * * *Zeal for biblical truth is entirely commendable, when properly proportionate to the gospel centrality of that truth, and when zeal is clothed in love. Zealotry for human tradition, on the other hand, is never good. We must urge, for example, … [Read more...]
TRINITY AND SALVATION
Someone asks whether it is necessary to say that God is a Trinity, one God in three persons, in order to be saved. * * *Evidently not, since the New Testament Scriptures never use the word "Trinity" or the expression "three persons." However, Scripture says much indeed concerning the nature and identity of Jesus Christ, who is the divine Word-made-flesh. lt also speaks of the Holy Spirit in personal terms. Whatever Scripture clearly affirms regarding what Christians traditionally refer to as "trinitarian" doctrine, we should be eager to affirm. But God nowhere requires us … [Read more...]
TRINITY A MYSTERY
A gracEmail concerning God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit provoked a cross-section of responses. One reader pointed to Old Testament references she regarded as trinitarian. Another subscriber remarked that he has "never seen a trinitarian who can explain the nature of God." A third correspondent expressed appreciation for what he considered the "clear, practical, and biblical" exposition set out here. And a fourth confided that she was uncomfortable with the doctrine of the Trinity and probably would be barred from joining the congregation she attends if church officials knew of her … [Read more...]
ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS
A missionary writes from Brazil, "A lady who studied with me had trouble accepting God in three persons. How do you see the doctrine of the Trinity?" * * *From first to last in Scripture, God reveals himself as the One and only true God, beside whom there is no other (Deut. 6:5; Isa. 43:10; James 2:19). Jesus was a strict monotheist, as all faithful Jews since Abraham have been. Yet Jesus claimed a unique oneness with the Father (John 14:8-11; 17:3-5, 20-23) -- a claim that would be quite blasphemous were it not true (Matt. 26:63-65). Before leaving the earth, Jesus also promised to … [Read more...]
ORIGIN OF RACES
A gracEmail reader in Ohio asks whether the Bible explains the origins of racial and color differences among humankind. * * * People in all nations share an original ancestor -- we all are from one blood (Acts 17:26). Because God created us, we are his "offspring" by nature, made for fellowship with him -- and with each other. Because sin has radically altered and distorted the human condition, reconciliation and ultimate fellowship are enjoyed only by divine grace, as we become children of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:13-16; Gal. 3:26-29). The author of … [Read more...]
