Nothing Wrong With Religion

I've been asked plenty about the video above. Here are my observations:

There is nothing wrong with religion, per se, but there IS something wrong with the use of the word, as used in this video. Religion as defined by our contemporary "Christian" culture is, "man working his way up to God". The problem with this definition, is that it is no where used in any dictionary. It might sound cool to tell your non-Christian friends that you "hate religion". But the reality of the matter, is that there is a "religion that is pure and undefiled before God, The Father" (James 1:27-ESV). Some argue that it is a matter of semantics, but, I believe that semantics is important. What words mean, have meant, are important in our use of them today. Others say that he qualifies his statement, but no where do we see a qualification in this video. "Jesus hates religion", the gentleman keeps repeating in his spoken-word, but no where in scripture do we see such a statement. What I think he means, and this is where I can appreciate the video, is that Jesus hates hypocrisy (surely, that is true). But, we cannot simply take words and turn them upside down. Art form (when it is Christian), no matter what it is (e.g., music), ought to carefully use words and not strip them from their historical meaning. Don't we rage in anger when people use the word "Christian" for something that is false and in contradiction to what Christianity has historically meant? Then is it not hypocritical for us to take the word religion and do the same?
The Christian church has historically used the word religion in a positive light (The classic work of John Calvin comes to mind, or Jonathan Edwards's treatise on true religion). I, and others, will continue to do the same. 

Thoughts On The Love Of God And Luther

This is not an easy subject by any means. We are far too accustomed to view God in, almost exclusive, terms of His love than any other attribute. We exacerbate the problem even more when we filter God's other attributes in light of a human definition of "love." The kind of "love" that is sentimental, demanded to be lavished on all people equally the same, and has to be about us and not God. A type of love that, well, doesn't give give me reason to bow before God in fear, worship, praise, love, thanksgiving and it certainly doesn't give me any comfort because, in some sense, He must love me (in however way you wish to explain it).

A love that that is divorced and not understood in light of God's absolute holiness (not vice versa) is not the love that God has expressed and revealed in His written Word and incarnation. Even a simple reflection of John  3:16 expresses this idea. Yet we've even managed to turn that verse into pure sentimentality even though God's holiness is evident in the verse and surrounding passages. To "perish," "be condemned already," "judgement," and "wrath" (v.31) are all expressions of God's righteousness and justice which are manifestations of His holiness. But we have so humanized the "love" of God that even unbelievers are no longer surprised that God would love sinners. Quite the contrary. They are so continually told that "Jesus loves you" or "God loves you" that they now demand that a loving God will never condemn them and they need not fear Him.

When I was a new Christian I attempted to share the Gospel with a very vocal God hating gentleman. My approach was to soften him up and hammer home on the "love" of God. I vividly remember the account. We were both walking back to our cells after a lengthy discussion on Christianity. His cell door was next to mine and as we were walking in closing our doors I looked to him and said, " Jaime, Jesus loves you." He responded with a very smug and confident look and replied "I know." That was it. No surprise, amazement or shock that an absolute holy God that hates evil would love a sinner that has committed such evil. There as no I want to hear more about this. Just utter confidence that God loved him and that is all that mattered. Even as he was standing in hatred of God.

He was not struggling as Luther (and most others before the last couple of centuries) did. That Luther feared and was tormented by the thought of God's holiness and the judgment that awaited sinners. He, in fact, hated God before his conversion because He believed that God demanded justice and righteousness, flowing from His holiness, that he fell far, far short of. He tried his best to attain it through his own life and efforts. The more he tried the more he failed and hated the righteousness of God until he came to the phrase "the just shall live by faith" and in his own words recounts his conversion:

Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God, and said, "As if, indeed, it is not enough, that miserable sinners, eternally lost through original sin, are crushed by every kind of calamity by the law of the decalogue, without having God add pain to pain by the gospel and also by the gospel threatening us with his righteousness and wrath!" Thus I raged with a fierce and troubled conscience. Nevertheless, I beat importunately upon Paul at that place, most ardently desiring to know what St. Paul wanted.

 At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, namely, "In it the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, 'He who through faith is righteous shall live.'" There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous lives by a gift of God, namely by faith. And this is the meaning: the righteousness of God is revealed by the gospel, namely, the passive righteousness with which merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates. There a totally other face of the entire Scripture showed itself to me. Thereupon I ran through the Scripture from memory. I also fount in other terms an analogy, as, the work of God, that is what God does in us, the power of God, with which he makes us wise, the strenght of God, the salvation of God, the glory of God.*

Why was Luther such a godly and Christ loving man? Precisely because he understood what grace is. That an infinitely holy God, whom Luther deserved (and everyone else) His righteous fury, would be merciful to him and set his love and affections upon him, not by virtue of Luther's worth, but out of God's own will, pleasure and for God's own glory. That God would crush His own Son and raise Him from the grave to reconcile sinners to Him, was for Luther, the greatest expression of God's love.

Note what is lacking in Luther's conversion. The modern idea that all he needed to hear is a verbal, sappy, sentimental expression of how much Jesus "loved" him wouldn't, and couldn't, have helped anyone let alone Luther. I believe to the contrary, that if he were to have had someone come up to him during his great distress and say, "Don't worry Martin, Jesus loves you," Luther would have flung a candle at him instead of the devil. What Luther needed to know was how God's righteousness and glory could be maintained in the justification of sinners. He learned through the reading of the Holy Writ that Christ, at the cross, took his sins (Luther's) upon His (Christ's) shoulders and imputed (transferred to his account) His righteousness. Luther, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, was able to comprehend that the cross was about the glory of God first and foremost and yet His love for sinners was on display for His own glory. That is why he could later say that the cross is "where wrath and mercy meet."

Luther knew both biblical truths:

You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel. “For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another" (Is 48:8–11).

You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities. “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (Is 43:24–25 emphasis mine).


And:


For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God"(Ro 5:7–9).

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" 

(Ro 3:21–26).

The Most High must be holy, holy, holy before you can grasp His love of sinners. I cannot and will not proclaim Christ to Christians and non Christians apart from emphasizing His holiness. For if one wants to understand the depth of God's love for rebels then they must come to terms with his holiness. I make no apologies for it.

Be on the look out for more to come on this subject.

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando


* Quote taken from this website

Run To Read This, As If It Were News About Piper And Warren

Do I have your attention? Yes? Good. I could have labeled this post, something along the lines of "Piper and Warren To Write A Book Together" (which is deceitful, thus the reason I didn't do it), and I'm sure the views would of shown an exceedingly proportional increase when compared to something like this (though, I bet that this one will receive an equally outstanding number of views when compared with the former link). What is my point here? Is it to defend Piper's and Warren's affiliation? No. Simply, it is a demonstration of something that I myself am guilty of. Sometimes I find myself looking for "easy reads", instead of looking for something like this. Why is it that I rather spend my time reading about Mixed Martial Arts entering churches, or the newest provocative statement Driscoll made, instead of entering into an in depth study of God's word? I think because its easier to critique Driscoll, Piper, or the wrongs of others, rather than getting serious about things that matter. Entering in this new year, I have resolved to be more serious about loosing up the theological knots in my theology. I have resolved to quit wasting unnecessary time, looking at the speck in my brother's eye, and ignoring the log in my own. I hope that you will do the same.

Humbly, awretchsaved

Weekly Dose Of Lloyd-Jones

Let us just remind ourselves that surely the purpose of the biblical revelation of God’s holiness is to teach us how to approach Him. It is not mere theoretical knowledge that we are asked to try to grasp with our understandings. Its purpose is very practical. In the words of the author of the epistle to the Hebrews, we are to approach God ‘with reverence and godly fear’ (Heb. 12:28). He is always to be approached in that way, wherever you are; when you are alone in a room, or when you are meeting as a family to pray, or when you are in a public service, God is always God and He is always to be approached ‘with reverence and godly fear’. No such expression as ‘Dear God’, for example, is to be found in the Scriptures.*

Soli  Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

*Lloyd-Jones, D. M. (1996). God the Father, God the Son (71). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

That We May Know He Is The Lord

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you, and have not walked in my statutes or obeyed my rules, and have not even acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around you, therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, even I, am against you. And I will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations. And because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again.Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers. And I will execute judgments on you, and any of you who survive I will scatter to all the winds. Therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will withdraw. My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity. A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; a third part shall fall by the sword all around you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will unsheathe the sword after them. 

 “Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy myself. And they shall know that I am the LORD—that I have spoken in my jealousy—when I spend my fury upon them (Eze 5:7–13).

A very hard truth for all people, Christians and non-Christians, is that God does every thing He does for His own glory. When God acts in the world He does so for His own name sake, pleasure, plans and purposes. It really is about God's glory. It matters not that when God acts upon His creatures whether it be for judgment or blessing. He does so that we know He is the Lord. The Creator demands glory and recognition from His created subjects.

Of course this is all strange to the ears of modern man. We are accustomed to thinking, being taught and hearing that it is all about us. That message comes explicitly or implicitly but surely it is the common sentiment of man. The popular idea is that sinners (if some are even willing to admit that much) are so lovable  or valuable that God must have acted upon them to show them mercy and love through Christ. The idea that "I'm someone worth dying for" is popular.

However, much it is espoused, it is grossly wrong. God needs nothing outside of Himself. The triunity of the Godhead is self-sustaining and self- sufficient. He needs nothing and no one. He is perfectly satisfied in Himself. One may then ask why did He create man? A simple question that has a simple but often rejected answer. He did so out of His will and for His own glory (Eph. 1:3-13, Ro. 9:14-29). Now, I suppose one can try to get "really deep" and ask why God created the angels. Same answer. Out of His own will and for His own praise and glory. They are ever testifying to the greatness of God. You can change the question all you wish but the answer will always be the same. God acts for His own glory and that we may know He is the Lord.  Here some pour soul will say that is narcissism. Sorry, only created sinful beings are narcissistic; since God is not like man He is without sin and evil. Actually to make the blessing and mercy of God, in the salvation of man, to be about our worth and value is a form of narcissism.

Whatever God does in creation is so that we may know that He is the Lord. That we may fear, honor, glorify, love, revere, worship, obey, submit and proclaim His glory. Even in acts of judgement. As I have been reading Ezekiel there is one phrase that stands out over and over again. It is, "And they shall know that I am the LORD."  When God acts it is that we may know He is the Lord is there is no other. Time and again the Lord sends Ezekiel to warn and pronounce impending calamities upon idolatrous Israel and the pagan nations that persecuted them. The message is often sever and graphic, judgment that ends with the phrase "And you shall know that I am the LORD." Observe: Wherever you dwell, the cities shall be waste and the high places ruined, so that your altars will be waste and ruined, your idols broken and destroyed, your incense altars cut down, and your works wiped out. And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD (Eze 6:5–7).


We can attempt to blunt the force of this proclamation from the Lord by saying that He "allowed" this calamity. But that is not what the Lord says in the texts. God is the one acting and not allowing. Of course He may use secondary means like people, nations and nature but He is still the one bringing such events about so that we may know He is the Lord. Our God is a consuming fire. His special revelation (the Bible) about Himself is very clear on this point, "Now the end is upon you, and I will send my anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations. And my eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity, but I will punish you for your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the LORD (Eze 7:2–4). As you read that text ask yourself these questions. Who is acting? Who's is on the receiving end of the action(s) and what is the purpose of the action(s)?

How about the mercy and grace of God? Why does He act merciful and gracious? Let's be more specific. Who is the cross primarily about?The cross is about God. It is about the glory of God. Still more specifically about the glory of God in the salvation of His people- those whom He set His love and affections on before He ever created them. It is put this way in Romans 3:21-26:

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

When we look to the cross of Christ of course we should see the love of God towards sinners. But it must not just be that. For only thinking the cross of Christ in terms of God's love for sinners has led to much of the narcissism, in Christianity, that is rampant. We must see the glory of God there. We must meditate on the fact that it pleased the Father crush the Son (Is. 53: 10-12). If I can put it in a biblical phrase it would be what the Lord declared- that we would know He is the Lord. Both forensically and experientially. When we look to the cross we see, as Luther, put it "where wrath and mercy meet." It is where God is glorified.

Perhaps we should ask ourselves what the Lord Christ thought of His own death and resurrection? Here we are not left to theological speculation. For we find in the Lord's high priestly prayer His own thoughts on the subject:

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them (Jn 17:1–10)

I usually don't quote this much Scripture because if readers have little patience for anything, sadly, it is reading large quotes of God's Word. However, on this topic I find it necessary. Please note how many times the word glory and it's related words (glorified, glorify e.t.c.) are found in this short passage. I have counted six times in the span of 10 verses that the glory of God is mentioned. In the Christ the Son, the Father and the glory of Christ in the elect. The Lord was emphasizing a point here. The glory of God. Also note the basis for all the talk of glory. Christ starts His prayer by saying "Father, he Hour has come." Which is clearly a reference to His cross. The Lord well understood His death to be about God. The glory of God. It is so that all may know He is the LORD. Some to their eternal perdition and others to their eternal joy in Christ.

Finally, if one cannot think of the cross of Christ in terms of God's glory, then chances are that individual has some narcissistic leanings. We must always remember that God always acts so that we may know He is the LORD.

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

Before You Argue With Me, Please...

Please admit that you are arguing with me. Contrary to popular understanding, arguing is not bad. It is not wrong. Quite the opposite it is a good thing. My theological growth can be contributed to the great arguments from godly men that have persuaded me (biblically) to abandon, not only, un-biblical views but dangerous ones, too. A simple definition of the word argue should reinforce the idea that arguing is not bad in itself. Merrian-Webster's Dictionary defines argue as follows:

1

: to give evidence of : indicate <the facts argue his innocence>

2

: to consider the pros and cons of : discuss <argue an issue>

3

: to prove or try to prove by giving reasons : maintain<asking for a chance to argue his case>

4

: to persuade by giving reasons : induce <couldn't argue her out of going>

I tire of Christians telling me that we should not argue especially as they're arguing with me. Of course what they mean is shouting, screaming or the obnoxious form of argumentation. Just pause for a moment, though, and try to imagine Paul doing this- "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete" (2 Co 10:5–6) and this- "Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience"(2 Co 5:11)- without any form of argumentation.

With that out of the way let's now come to some basic rules for arguing. Here's an extremely helpful one- know your own position. This is very beneficial since it communicates to your opponent that you have spent the necessary time and energy in the Word of God as well as using the minds of the godly men that God has gifted to the church. I cannot recall how many times I've been in discussions with fellow Christians that do not really know their own position. They understand that so and so holds to it (usually their favorite preacher or theologian) or perhaps they just grew up hearing a position continually repeated enough times that they just adopt it without studying it in depth. When they hear me or someone else arguing a position that opposes theirs, they immediately react on impulse, get frustrated and wind up showing they do not comprehend the very position they are trying to defend. They cannot explain it. They must use someone else to present their position for them.

What typically happens at this point is simply quoting so and so or saying so and so says (insert theological position). Of course there is absolutely nothing wrong quoting someone else because they can articulate a position better. The problem arises when one does not test that persons understanding of Scripture themselves to see if he can draw a line from point A to point Z and not just state his conclusions. In other words can they handle the whole of the Bible as a unit rather than a few pocket of passages? Can they rightly handle the texts of Scripture so that it does not do injustice to the rest of the Holy Writ. Because if it does then someone has made it fit into their preconceived theological construct.

If I can break it down further into a sentence it would be this: If your opponent is in a theological disagreement with you and can explain your position better than you can, that is not good for you nor the discussion.

It would be extremely helpful if you knew your opponents position. Far too often I have encountered people that seem to be arguing against me but do not understand what I believe. They have been told by their pastor or favorite preacher/theologian what I believe but that person does not understand my position either. As an amillennialist and covenant theologian I get this all the time. Especially from dispensationalists. An example of this is, recently, when discussing the kingdom or covenant theology, dispensataionalists immediately have directed my attention to John MacArthur's "Why Every Calvinist Should Be A Premillennialist" message (or someone else). Any amillennialist and covenant theologian that listens to that message immediately sees the gross misrepresentation and horrendous misunderstanding of our position.

Sadly, many Christians learn about their opponents viewpoint  from the those that are against it. If you are going to engage in arguing against my position (strongly), please seek to honestly learn what I actually believe. Read books, listen to messages to honestly learn. No one is saying that you have to abandon your position to adopt the other but it is the right thing to do when you learn your opponents position fairly and accurately from them. Disagree all you want but demonstrate for them that you've taken the time to sincerely learn and can object from a proper understanding of their position and interact with exegesis of Scripture. Otherwise we're spending more time going backwards rather than forward. Too much time is wasted clearing up the false understanding of a position.

I learned this the hard way. I grew tired of the Reformed Christians saying that I did not understand their position. So I decided to read them for myself. Of course my intentions were dishonest because I only wanted to refute them and say that I read them for myself. However, in the process I noted that what I was taught about them from others was not accurate at all. Not only that but I saw how they not only handled my proof texts to demonstrate my faulty understanding of them but were able to present their own, that I and others had to dance around, that fit perfectly in harmony with the whole of Scripture.

This brings me to a very brief point. Handle the Word of God in discussions. If a verse is presented to you against your position, please do not avoid interacting with it and jump to your own proof text and simply say "Scripture interprets Scripture" as if your passage trumps the one presented to you. You must be able to explain both and demonstrate that they are in harmony with one another.

Finally, if you cannot accomplish any of these basic principals then you should avoid entering any theological discussion. Sit back learn, study, listen, ask but by all means inform yourself.

Of course there are some people you just shouldn't argue with:

"If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet" (Pr 29:9).

Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando

Responding to Apostasy

Recently, on Facebook, a once firm Reformed Christian has publicly announced his apostasy. He has denied the faith and turned to atheism. His basis for it is that Christianity is illogical. Ironically he came to this understanding through reading a well known Christian apologist Vincent Cheung. The topic of study- logic.

This has shaken up and angered my circle of "friends." The anger, slander, ridiculing and mocking of the man is baffling. Sure I understand that many unbelievers will use his de-conversion "testimony" as more fuel for their hatred and opposition to Christ but the reactions I'm observing have more to do with the fact that many knew him on Facebook well and feel personally betrayed. It seems, to me, that it has become personal rather than from a genuine concern for the Christian faith. Let me say that insulting the man does not bring honor to Christ nor does it show that one really cares about the state of his soul. Some "friend" we are if we make the situation out to be more about us than the honor and glory of Christ and the concern for unrepentant sinners.

Some (not all) of the responses to him only confirm what has been said before- that the greatest threat to Christianity comes from within it, from those purporting to be Christians and are not; those Christians that behave in an immature manner. The whole situation should grieve us more than anything else. For we know that his apostasy reveals that he never was a Christian and therefore his soul is in jeopardy of damnation. Is that not why we proclaim the glorious Gospel in the first place? Is it not because we know that when a person is outside of Christ they are His enemies and will be consumed by just judgment in the lake of fire? Is it not because we understand that apart from the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, the natural man can never understand the peril of his soul for all eternity without resting in Christ; therefore they will never flee to Christ? And if they do not come to Christ they never will know the greatness, joy, goodness, love, comfort, hope, rest, and glory of God without repentance from sin and faith in Christ and Him crucified. It is only the Holy Spirit that can make such sinners (this includes all believers) understand such truth.

If we know such things and are moved to preach Christ why then are Christians responding to him in, what seems to be, hatred? The main emotion from us should be grief and sadness. I believe a little compassion is in order. Please do not retort that compassion at such a moment is to condone his apostasy. In fact we should be praying that this is only a temporary moment of doubt and not final apostasy. And do not drag me to Galatians where Paul calls the the brethren there "idiots" for putting up with and pondering a "different gospel." Nor to the situation with Paul publicly rebuking Peter. The situations may have some similarities but are different and the adjectives and nouns used to refer to this gentleman are not synonymous.

We would admit that a denial of the existence of God is sheer idiocy and foolish. In fact that is what Scripture says (Ps. 14:1). We can be harsh and compassionate. But harshness without compassion, in such a moment, is not beneficial.

With that tangent aside I now come to some of my own thoughts upon hearing of this gentleman's denial of the faith. First, it only brings home the truth of Scripure:

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father (1 Jn 2:19–24).

Apostasy is real. We were warned about it. It should not shake our faith in Christ. Our faith is not in other people's conversions but in Christ Jesus the Son of God. Ironically, apostasy strengthens my faith in God. It proves that His Word is true and that every thing comes to pass as He declared.

It also proves that no amount of study without the aid of the Holy Spirit can bring a person into the presence of God. Apostasy proves to show that salvation through faith in Christ is a supernatural event. It lies in the gracious and sovereign hand of God. It lies outside of the power of humanity. That is to say no study of God can convert the human soul. It can only be used as a means. One can lock themselves in a room for days upon days and study logic, reason, philosophy, theology, doctrine and so on. Yet at the end of the day, it lies solely in the will of God to reveal Himself to any sinner, just as He declared:

But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, 

                 “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, 

      nor the heart of man imagined, 

                  what God has prepared for those who love him”— 

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ (1 Co 2:7–16).

This is why it is important to not only continually share the Gospel with unbelievers, even though they may know it and even proclaim it, and even with ourselves on a daily basis. It can be so easy to get caught up in how much we can figure out and explain about God through the study of doctrine and theology but forget that knowledge does not save, Christ does.That is not to say that one can come to Christ apart from knowledge but rather the knowledge itself does not save. All study of God (even that is limited since He is far beyond all comprehension) should lead closer to Him; not away from Him.

As the above passage states, one cannot think themselves to God. God must first act upon the sinner. No amount of the study of logic, or it's use, can bring one before the throne of glory. Antony Flew is a classic example. A renowned atheist that attempted to use "logic" (rather the illogical understanding of it) and science to disprove the existence of God and who came to a "logical" understanding that a god must exist; therefore he became a deist. Sadly, he died apart from Christ. It seems for all his use of "logic" it could not take him to Christ.

What a clear demonstration that the illogical understanding of "logic" or it's proper use cannot bring one to the feet of Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can. He may use the study of "logic" but only He can internalize the message of the cross of Christ. Salvation, as the Word of God declares, is of the Lord (Jonah 1:9). Salvation comes only from God. "Logic" does not lead one to Christ, the Holy Spirit does.  Perhaps, now we can see why the Apostle Paul declares to the Corinthians:

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Co 2:1–5).

My brethren, apostasy does not shake my faith. For I am ever fixed and gazed upon Christ the Lord of glory, crucified and risen, ascended to the right hand of the Father. Soli Deo Gloria!

For His Glory,
Fernando