All posts by bobmccollough

The Trinity & the Penal Satisfaction Theory of the Atonement

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The Trinity & the Penal Satisfaction Theory of the Atonement

The relation that exists between a particular aspect of the Trinitarian teachings of classical Christianity and a particular theory regarding the atonement of the cross (a theory which is now widely assumed to be the only acceptable version of the atonement) was initially perceived by this writer while doing research on the subject of the popular teaching of Unconditional Eternal Security (a.k.a. Once Saved Always Saved). The connection that exists between the atonement of the cross and intra-Trinitarian relations became evident because of how Unconditional Eternal Security advocates would very often attempt to support their arguments by appealing to the atonement of the cross. They commonly assert that all of our sins have been paid for (past, present, and future) and can never be charged back to our account because God’s wrath has been satisfied—Jesus took the punishment from God that we deserved.

Like Charles Stanley (president of the S.B.C. 1984-1986), advocates of Unconditional Eternal Security often assert that holding to a position of Conditional Security is tantamount to denying the finished atoning work of Christ.[1] However, not only can it be proven that Unconditional Eternal Security advocates depart from the earliest, most universally held consensus of Christian teaching on the subject of salvation security, but in their desperate efforts to defend their doctrine by appealing to and arguing from the Penal Satisfaction theory of the atonement, they only reveal how inconsistent this concept of the atonement is with a well-established key element of Trinitarian doctrine—the inseparability of the three divine persons.[2] Continue reading The Trinity & the Penal Satisfaction Theory of the Atonement →

All Sins of the Same Degree? Levels of Punishment & Reward?

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ARE ALL SINS OF THE SAME DEGREE BEFORE GOD?

Protestants often make the assertion that there is no such thing as “big” sins and “little” sins, or else they will say something similar to dogmatically declare that all sin is the same in God’s sight.[1] And admittedly, there are some Scriptures that could be brought forward and interpreted in such as way to give support such an idea[2], but what does the overwhelming majority of the evidence show concerning such an assertion? While it is true that the Christian tradition (including the Old and New Testament) clearly speaks of a general state of sin or the general condition of being sinful (i.e., living/walking according to the flesh or being carnally minded in contrast to living/walking according to the Spirit or being spiritually minded[3]), the evidence also clearly reveals distinctions within that general state or condition showing that there are differences regarding not only quantity of sins, but also quality of sin(s). In John 19:11, it is recorded that Jesus spoke the following words to Pilate:

“You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Looking at the statement above that was spoken by Jesus Christ, one would think that it would be fairly easy for His followers to accept the notion that there truly is such a thing as a greater sin—because in making this statement to Pilate, Jesus Christ Himself unambiguously used the language of comparison[4] when speaking of sin. But because Jesus’ professed followers are often inclined to dismiss the very words of the Author and Finisher of their faith (not to mention the plain, ordinary rules of grammar[5]) while preferring and holding tightly to the Reformed Protestant platitudes that they have been indoctrinated with, please consider the remainder of the evidence contained in this document, especially the Scriptures listed below that are accepted by all Christians as being part of the canon. Continue reading All Sins of the Same Degree? Levels of Punishment & Reward? →

Nailing Jelly to the Wall

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Recently, while having a conversation with my Church History/Historical Theology professor about the changes in theology that Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430) either brought into or caused to become far more widespread in the church, I expressed the idea that we need to examine and carefully consider what the church believed on various articles of belief prior to the time of Augustine, because the basic contents of the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3), and “the rule of faith” were formed and delivered to the early church before Augustine had even been born. My professor responded by saying that the problem with such an idea is that defining exactly what the “rule of truth” or “rule of faith” consisted of in the church of the first three centuries was like trying to nail jelly to the wall—meaning that it was no easy task, or that it was something very difficult or something next to impossible to accomplish. And while I believe there is some truth to what he said (because the rule of truth was variously stated depending on both who the writer and what the circumstance was), I also believe that there is still a great deal of value in our knowing what the most universal consensus was in the church of the first three centuries on how to understand or interpret the Scriptures as a whole and especially the various passages on which there are so many different and even contradictory interpretations floating around within Christianity today.

Continue reading Nailing Jelly to the Wall →

Salvation and the “Sacramental Ordinances” of Baptism & Communion

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Salvation and the “Sacramental Ordinances” of Baptism & Communion

A large portion (if not the majority) of “evangelical,” Bible-believing Protestants view both baptism and communion as simply being “ordinances[1]” of the church, rather than “sacraments[2]” of the church. In other words, many (if not most) Evangelicals would hold that both baptism and communion are merely symbolic acts that have been commanded by God to be practiced by the church, but that they do not have any real effect upon the soul. Some of them may even say that anyone who believes that baptism and communion are more than just “a sign” are superstitious Christians who have fallen into the “error” of sacramentalism. But my concern is that those who say such things have fallen into an error of their own: their error being that they have adopted elements of an early heresy called Gnosticism[3]. Continue reading Salvation and the “Sacramental Ordinances” of Baptism & Communion →

Annihilationism

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“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [Gehenna].”—Matt 10:28

The verse given above (along with other verses like it) has been used to support the idea of annihilationism—that is, the idea that instead of suffering in eternal torment (albeit in varying degrees), people who miss heaven will simply be snuffed out. This teaching is not part of the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. The traditional concept of hell is the one that was held to by the vast overwhelming majority of the early Christians. Could so many Christians, living so close in time to the Apostles, have missed it on this point? It is extremely unlikely! Continue reading Annihilationism →

Liars Beware

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Liars Beware

I once heard a preacher say, “Don’t be surprised when the lost act like the lost.” In other words, disciples of Christ should just expect those who have no desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus to live according to the pattern of this world. But amongst those who profess to follow Jesus, we should expect to see a desire to live a life pleasing to God—a life where we take God’s word seriously and surrender ourselves to pursuing the goal of being progressively conformed to the character or image of Jesus Christ.

But the sad reality is that, often times it happens that I meet lost people who are more honest and have more integrity than so many of the professing Christians that I know. We should not be surprised when lost people lie, cheat, and steal. But when professing Christians regularly, willingly, deliberately, and with forethought, do the very same thing while making light of it or even joking about it—we have got a problem. Continue reading Liars Beware →