Table of Contents

Introduction
Totally Forgiven vs Behavior Matters - Part 1
Totally Forgiven vs Behavior Matters - Part 2
The Book of Life and the Books
The Book of Life (incomplete)
Sodom
No Condemnation, but...

Sodom

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The episodes about Sodom in Genesis (13.10-13; ch 14; ch 18-19) have some interesting theological aspects.

In chapter 13 Lot separates from Abram and goes and pitches his tents near Sodom. At the end of Chapter 13, God tells Abram that He was going to give him all the land he could see, which includes the land where Lot settled.

Chapter 14 is a chapter of judgment and grace. In 14 the kings of Mesopotamia come and attacks the cities of the Valley of Siddim, which includes Sodom, and carries off plunder and captives. Lot and his family are among the captives. Even though the term judgment is not used, we are told in 13.13 that "the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord." Judgment can be assumed.

When Abraham finds out that Lot has been captured, he gathers a tiny army and goes off to rescue Lot's family. However, Abraham extends grace, and rescues not only Lot and his family, but all of the captives and recovers the plunder. (foreshadows Isa 49.6) Both Melchizedek (14.18-20) and Abraham (14.22-24) make it clear to the king of Sodom, that it was by God's power that Sodom was rescued. And it is also by grace that Sodom is allowed to keep their goods.

In chapter 18 God visits Abraham, and tells him that the "outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great," so he needs to go down and check it out. The reason for telling Abraham is because
"Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him." Gen 18:18-19 Since Abraham is to be a blessing for all nations and since Abraham is just, God gives Abraham an opportunity to be a blessing to Sodom and Gomorrah, and request mercy for them. So what follows is the well known story of Abraham bargaining with God to spare the city if only ten righteous men can be found. Since Abraham is just, he does not negotiate for fewer than ten righteous men, tacitly admitting that if Sodom is wicked, it needs to be destroyed.

When the two angels and the Lord arrived in Abraham's camp at the beginning of chapter 18, Abraham extends to them the height of hospitality--a tender calf, fresh baked bread, and water their feet. In contrast when the angels arrive in Sodom in chapter 19, only the foreigner, Lot, offers them hospitality. The citizens of Sodom demand gang rape. Because only one righteous man was found in Sodom, God destroyed it, but he saved the one righteous man and his family. But even in His judgment, God extended mercy. Because of Lot's request, God spared Zoar, when He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and the other cities of the plain. He left a remnant of that nation. Gen 19.21-24 Again this is a story of judgment and mercy.

The question needs to be raised: by what standard did God judge Sodom and Gomorrah? By what standard did he use to determine that there were not ten righteous men in Sodom and Gomorrah?

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Matt 25:31-40

God sent the people of Sodom hungry and thirsty strangers, and observed how they were treated.

No Condemnation, but ...

Paul says:

Rom 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, NIV

Does this mean that Christians, those who have been saved, will not face judgment of any kind from God? Does this mean that God no longer sees the sins of those covered by the blood of Jesus? If so, how does the following verses fit in?

Matt 7:1-2 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. RSV

James 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. NIV

1 Cor 11:31-32 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. NIV

Apparently Christians are still subject to judgment, God's evaluation of their actions and possible disapproval.

How do we reconcile Rom 8.1 with the latter verses? There is much I do not understand, but here are a few keys. First of all there is a difference in terms. I In Rom 8.1, the Greek word for "condemnation" is katakrima. In Matt 7.2, the word for "judgment" is krima. There is a difference in degree between katakrima and krima and between condemnation and judgment. For those in Christ Jesus, whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, there is no terminal judgment with a sentence of the fiery lake (Rev 12.15), and there is no separation from God.

Another key is a difference in purpose. The purpose of condemnation is to render punishment for laws broken. It is to separate unholy people from a holy God. The purpose of judgment of God's children is correction, to remove unholy behavior from holy people. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" Heb 12:7, NIV

This, of course, brings up additional questions: When are we judged? Are we judged for everything we do? What are the consequences of being judged? When do these consequences occur?

The Book of Life (incomplete)

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In continuation of my January thread, I would like to look at the phrase "book of life". Here are all the verses containing the phrase "book of life".

Ps 69:28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. NIV

Phil 4:3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. NIV

Rev 3:55 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life , but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.NIV

Rev 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast — all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. NIV

Rev 17:8 ...The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come. NIV

Rev 20:12 ...Another book was opened, which is the book of life... NIV

Rev 20:15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life , he was thrown into the lake of fire. NIV

Rev 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter [the New Jerusalem], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. NIV

Here are some other verses with similar phrasing:

Luke 10:20 "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." NIV

Dan 12:1-2 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people — everyone whose name is found written in the book — will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. NIV

Who are those whose names are written in the book of life? The scriptures don't really tell us, but they do give us examples: "the righteous", Psalms, "these women...Clement...[Paul's] fellow workers", Philippians; "he who overcomes", Rev; those who are not doers of "what is shameful or deceitful", Rev; the apostles, Luke; and Daniel's people, Daniel.

(to be continued)

The Book of Life and the Books

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In Revelation we read:

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life . The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life , he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20:11-15 NIV

This is a very interesting passage because there appear to be judgments taking place with two different standards being applied. In verse 12, "books were opened," and then, "Another book was opened, which is the book of life." The "books" and the "book of life" are different, and are used differently. The books are used to judge everyone by what they do. This passage does not say what the consequence of that judgment will be.

The book of life is also used to judge people, but the standard is different. The only thing in the book of life are names. If one's name is not in the book, they are thrown into the lake of fire. Presumably those whose names are in the book of life remain to participate in the new heaven and the new earth which are described in chapter 21 which follows immediately.

Totally Forgiven vs Behavior Matters - Part 2

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This is a continuation of "Totally Forgiven" And "Behavior Matters" Part 1 posted on 1/14/2007.

Both position holders--the Grace Group and the Behavior Bunch have similar weaknesses in their respective positions.

1. They both disregard verses that they don't like, forgetting that the Holy Spirit inspired the whole Bible.
   
2. They both tend to be self centered. They focus on how "I" can get to Heaven.
3. Both positions are both law oriented rather than God oriented. Both are interested in figuring out the theological system rather than relating to God.

The approach that I am trying to follow in my life is like this:

1. God loves me and has claimed me as His son. He has an eternal commitment to me.
   
2. Jesus paid for all my sins.
3. I still sin by harming God's other children and by messing up God's creation and plans. We have to deal with that.
4. Since God loves me, I am trying to love Him and live a life pleasing to Him.
5. God, being infinite, is quite complicated, and His Word is quite complicated. However, the more I get to know God, the better I understand His Word. I don't have to understand it all in order for Him to do the right thing.

Totally Forgiven vs Behavior Matters - Part 1

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Christians tend to fall into one of two groups--the Grace Group and the Behavior Bunch. Both groups have their favorite Scriptures which they use to to define their position.

The Grace Group likes verses like:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3.16 WEB

...for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast Eph 2.8-9 WEB

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; Rom 3:21-22 NASB

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8.1 NIV

The tendency of those in the Grace Group is to conclude: God is merciful, and Jesus has completely paid for all my sins, both past and future, thus there are no consequences for my behavior.

The Behavior Bunch likes verses like:

You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith. James 2.24 WEB

There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. Rom 2:8-11 NIV

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done Matt 16:27 NIV

For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph 5:5 NIV

The tendency of those in the Behavior Bunch is to conclude: God is just, and Jesus is my judge, thus I need to learn all the laws in the NT and obey them, or else I will go to Hell.

Introduction

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The purpose of this blog is to share with you my wrestling with Scripture, the Word of God. At the beginning I will focus on tensions in the revealed Word between apparent opposites or contradictions in the Word, and my take on these subjects. Comments from readers are always welcome. This will give you an opportunity to get glimpse of what I think about and consider important.

For the time being I am only publicizing this address to my immediate family. But this is a website and any can look in if they can find it.

I tend to be a slow writer. Be patient with me. I may have an idea, and start to write on it, but take several weeks to say what I intend to say.

God bless you.