One of the most critical issues facing missions today—and the church in general—is our understanding of the supremacy of God. If God is supreme above all creation, then the magnification of His glory is the greatest end, the greatest goal that can possibly be sought or achieved.
It seems almost contradictory, but an increasing number of missionaries are sent out who believe that every individual will be saved at the final judgment. If that were true, then the missionary endeavor has no spiritual purpose, and missionaries merely go out to better the lives of others socially. Other missionaries believe that hell will eventually lead to the annihilation of sinners—these sinners would simply cease to exist.
Are these issues to die on a hill over, or should they be swept under the rug in the name of Christian liberty?
Shortly, these are issues to die on a hill over. These are mountainous issues, and nothing less. Why are these such big issues?
First, these two theological positions (i.e. Universalism and Annihilationism) are unbiblical, that is, they flatly contradict the plain statements of Scripture. To adopt these positions as one’s own requires standing firmly against the clear statements of Scripture. In Acts 4:12 we read that, other than Christ, “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” See also John 14:6, 1 Cor. 6:9-11, Eph. 5:5-6. Jesus clearly contrasts eternal life with eternal punishment in Matthew 25:46, telling those who are punished in this way to, “Depart…, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). The same idea is present in 2 Thes. 1:9 and Rev. 14:9-11. Teaching these errors, then, requires one to stand against the Word of God.
Second, God’s glory is intimately tied to the justice of eternal punishment in such a way that to deny that punishment is eternal and conscious is to defame God. God punishes sin because He is good and sin is bad; sin is so bad that sinners deserve to be eternally censured and condemned…and tormented. Every human understands this—everyone expects and desires that evil doers will be punished, except when it comes to our own case. No one would say that a guilty serial killer should be set free (except maybe the serial killer himself). When someone sins against us, we want to see them adequately punished. This is called judicial sentiment. Normally, it is only when we see that we ourselves are the guilty ones that we believe mercy is in order. When others sin, we want them punished—when we sin, we expect mercy. The point is, everyone recognizes that sin should be punished and wants that to happen. This is a reflection of the character of God, but God punishes sin with perfect wrath and impeccable justice. He recognizes the true severity of sin, that even sin committed in time is guilty of infinite punishment because it is committed against the infinite God. If God were less than infinite and perfect, sin might require less than infinite punishment. But God is perfect and infinite—and good—so to sin against Him is to be guilty of eternal treason. Therefore, God, in His goodness, does what is right and punishes sin, thereby magnifying Himself and displaying His goodness (Is. 5:15-16, Rev. 19:1-3).
Third, and finally, this is an issue to die on a hill over because Jesus died on a hill over it. To say that salvation is possible apart from Christ is to say that He suffered for nothing. “If righteousness comes through the Law,” or, for that matter, through any other means but Christ, “then Christ died needlessly” (Gal. 2:21). The same is true if hell is not eternal: the sufferings of Christ were less than infinite, and not that important. The point is—salvation is by grace. If sinners can save themselves or others, the grace of Christ is unnecessary, and His office as Priest and Sacrifice is unnecessary. If hell is not infinite, then Christ’s gracious work as the Substitute for believers was not infinite, and even if it was great, it would not have been necessary for God to take human flesh in order to die. Salvation is by Christ alone because Christ alone could bear the full wrath of God and exhaust it in His own infinite person and live again, thereby providing gracious salvation for those who believe in Him. Jesus had to die for sinners to be delivered from the wrath of God, and for them to be brought to God as His children—there was no other way. To say that there is another way greatly demeans God and attempts to throw water on the flame of His glory.
It is only when we understand the full, biblical glory of God that we will appreciate His supremacy and the greatness of His grace. When we do see His glory clearly, we will know that Christ alone is the appointed means for bringing cleansing from sin, and that, otherwise, sin must be punished forever in hell with unspeakable torment. God’s glory demands no less, and no more.
--Dean of Admissions
No comments:
Post a Comment