Sinners v Saints

Sinners v Saints

Photo: Facebook, winter

Re: Mark 2 16-17 - 11 14 22 from You Tube, below

Pastor Courson is generally right here. 

Philosophically, I will however, opine that there are certainly some sinners, outside of the salvation of Jesus Christ, that know they are sinners. They would not believe that they are saints. For example, an organized crime, killer and thug.

I would also opine that within the salvation of Jesus Christ, there are some that downplay their sinfulness, too much. They are regenerate (Titus 3, John 3, 1 Peter 1), but fail to really embrace the depth of his/her sinful nature, consciousness, desires, will, acts/actions.

But again, Pastor Courson is basically right here. I will add that theologically, those in Jesus Christ are saved by grace (alone) through faith (alone) in the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ (alone).

Ephesians 2 from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [l]this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:8 (l) this salvation

The Apostle Paul states that the righteousness of God has been revealed (Romans 1). The atoning and resurrection, gospel work of Jesus Christ applied, provides salvation and legal justification by grace through faith (alone). In particular, within Reformed theology, Romans reasons that those in Jesus Christ, receive God's righteousness. The righteousness of Jesus Christ, infinite God and perfect man. 

Human good works and the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament law could not guarantee human righteousness and therefore could not justify (Romans 4). Abraham too was justified as righteous by faith, not works. (Romans 4). Those in Jesus Christ receive the imputed righteousness (Romans 1-2, 3) of Jesus Christ and therefore are legally justified by God. This is instead of facing God's wrath and through Christ's death on the cross, human sin is atoned for. This leads to everlasting life and a sanctification (setting apart in holiness) (Romans 6-8) of the sinful human nature toward the perfect human nature of Jesus Christ. To be completed at resurrection (1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 20-22). 

Salvation (justification, sanctification, my add) is by grace through faith, not works, and human beings can do nothing to merit God's acceptance. Sanctification (6-8) is to increase obedience in the Lord. (263). Sin should be diminished, not promoted. 

Romans 6: 22 

English Standard Version (ESV)

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

New American Standard Bible 

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 

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There are two kinds of people

The regenerate (Sinners/Saints saved)

The non-regenerate (Sinners unsaved)

I opine that those lacking the mental capacity to embrace sin, are not embracing the sinful deeds of Revelation 20 (NASB). For deceased children and those who are persons that are mentally deficient, it can be deduced that since they do not arrive at a reasonably competent point of consciously rejecting God, and reasonable understanding of the punishment for this rebellion, they may be regenerated by God and included within the culminated Kingdom of God after death. I would view this as reasonable speculation. Biblically persons appear to be judged for sins, which result from a sinful nature, and not for the sinful nature itself. 

In Revelation 20:12, those persons who are thrown into the lake of fire are judged for their deeds, and therefore persons are judged for deeds and not nature. Although the nature must be perfect through the eventual resurrected state (1 Corinthians 15). Mounce states here that no one is so important to be immune from judgment, and no one is so unimportant to make judgment inappropriate. Mounce (1990: 365). A non-regenerated child or mentally deficient person would still have a corrupt nature unacceptable for God’s presence, but I speculate that a certain mental capacity is required to be everlastingly punished for sinful deeds.

   

BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1976) The Letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press. 

BRUCE, F.F. (1987) Romans, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CAIRD, GEORGE B. (1977) Paul's Letters from Prison Paperback, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

COLLINS, G.N.M. (1996) ‘Infant Salvation’, in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.   

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

DUNNETT, WALTER M. (2001) Exploring The New Testament, Wheaton, Crossway Books. 

FEE, GORDON D. (1987) The First Epistle To The Corinthians, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

FOULKES, FRANCIS (1989) Ephesians, Grand Rapids, Inter-Varsity Press.

GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press. 

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HARPUR, GEORGE (1986) Ephesians in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

MARSH, PAUL, W. (1986) ‘1 Corinthians’, in F.F. Bruce, (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.

NUTE, ALAN G. (1986) in 'Titus', The International Bible Commentary, F.F. Bruce, General Editor, Grand Rapids, Zondervan/Marshall Pickering. 

SHORT, STEPHEN S. (1986) ‘Mark’, in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.

Job: Non-exhaustive on Zoom Bible Study VI: God wills all things

Job: Non-exhaustive on Zoom Bible Study VI

Photo: Lapland Finland, Take Me To Travel, Facebook

Preface

Work is pleased with my task completion, but as it is mainly training on the computer in the back office, my eyes are tired.

I did attend the online, Zoom, Job class week.

I am in full agreement with the professor, that God wills all things. My example, referenced text below.

Job 38: 1-40: 2

Clines explains that Yahweh (God, my add), displays his divine wisdom and omnipotence (all powerful, my add). (545). This is to have Job 'leave off his attempt to understand what is happening to him.' (345). Clines opines that God wants Job to reconsider what he already knows about the world God has made. (345).

New American Standard Bible: NASB

Job 40: 2

40 Then the Lord said to Job, 2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? 

Let him who rebukes God [l]give an answer.” 

[l] Job 40:2 Lit answer it

Philosophical theology & Philosophy of Religion

Human beings are in this present realm, finite and sinful.

God is infinite, eternal and omnipotent. God’s biblical, sovereign, providential control over his creation from Genesis to Revelation, and particularly within the book  of Job, demonstrates that God does will all things, whether directly willing or allowing, It could also be stated that God wills all things within divine perfect will or permissible will. This can also be reasoned in a parallel way within premises and conclusions via theistic, philosophy of religion. Reasoning God as the first and primary cause of all things, while allowing for secondary causes within compatibilism (God's sovereignty is compatible with the limited free will, via nature, of secondary, contingent, rational beings). God as first and primary cause, is necessary/of necessity.

Blackburn writes that a proposition is necessary, if it could not have been false.(257). Admittedly, someone can and will always disagree with any provided proposition. But, I agree with the definition here from secular, British, philosopher Blackburn. Further he writes that the necessary, what is of necessity, is true is all possible worlds. (257).

It could be reasoned contingent beings do not have to exist. Contingent beings 'could have failed to exist'. They 'must be caused to exist by some another being'. Quinn (1996: 609). If God’s plans for humanity are contingent, because he could have done otherwise, the fact these contingent plans come from a necessary being would still have them supersede the plans and needs of the contingent.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press. 

BRUCE, F.F. (1986) ‘Revelation’, in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/ Zondervan. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1540)(1973) Romans and Thessalonians, Translated by Ross Mackenzie, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

CALVIN, JOHN (1550)(1978) Concerning Scandals, Translated by John W. Fraser, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1552)(1995) Acts, Translated by Watermark, Nottingham, Crossway Books.  

CALVIN, JOHN (1553)(1952) Job, Translated by Leroy Nixon, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.  

CALVIN, JOHN (1554)(1965) Genesis, Translated by John King, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust.

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) Job, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) Proverbs, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

DUNNETT, WALTER M. (2001) Exploring The New Testament, Wheaton, Crossway Books.

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003) What Does God Know and When Does He Know It?, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

FEE, GORDON D. AND DOUGLAS STUART (1982) How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEE, GORDON (1987) The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, in David Basinger and Randall Basinger (eds.), Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (2001) No One Like Him, John S. Feinberg (gen.ed.), Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books. 

GRIFFIN, DAVID RAY (1976) God, Power, and Evil, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.   

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HUGHES, PHILIP, EDGCUMBE (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

QUINN, PHILIP L. (1996) 'Philosophy of Religion' , in Robert Audi (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Briefly reflecting on Philosopher Blackburn & The Golden Rule

Briefly reflecting on Philosopher Blackburn & The Golden Rule

Photo: Simple Things In Life, October 20 2022 

I came across this issue recently...

Blackburn

British philosopher, Simon Blackburn explains that the golden rule is 'Any form of the dictum, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." 'In some form this is found in almost all religions and ethical systems.' (160).

'The rule is sometimes parodied as. 'Do unto others as you have them do unto themselves.' (160). This example is very similar (at least) to forms of the Platinum Rule. 

Platinum rule/Religions Wiki 

Cited:

'The platinum rule is the ethical principle to "Do unto others as they themselves would have done unto them" and coined by Milton Bennett in 1979. (1).' From Milton J. Bennett, Overcoming the Golden Rule: Sympathy and Empathy, 1979. 'It emphasizes the importance of empathy with other people.' 

The philosopher Karl Popper stated it without calling it by this name: "doing unto others, wherever reasonable, as they want to be done by (2)."' 

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Theology

The New Testament ethic:

Jesus Christ within the great commandment (Mathew 22, Mark 12, Luke 10), mentions that the second commandment is to love all persons as neighbours as one loves self. The first commandment to love of God with the fullness in mind and spirit. This is the God of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Some 'gospel' light can be shed even to those outside of the Christian Community.

Further from the New Testament...

Galatians 5: 14-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 

14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

John 13 from the Gospel of John:

John 13:34-35

New American Standard Bible (NASB) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

I John 4:20 the Epistle 

New American Standard Bible (NASB) 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 

A gospel approach requires the highest, divinely inspired, values of love and truth in human approaches to both God and humanity. The New Testament ethic is its own perspective, within the Christian worldview, whether it is philosophically and theologically referred to as a form of the Golden Rule or not, and with the similarities and differences with other variants of the Golden Rule.

BENNETT J, MILTON (1979) Overcoming the Golden Rule: Sympathy and Empathy In: Nimmo, D., Ed., Communication Yearbook 3, International Communication Association, Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, NJ, 406-422.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

COAD, F. ROY (1986) 'Galatians' in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville. 

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

FRANKE, JOHN R. (2005) The Character of Theology, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

ORR, R.W. (1986) 'The Letters of John' in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

POPPER, KARL (1971) The Open Society and Its Enemies, Vol. 2: The Hide of Prophecy, Princeton, Princeton University Press; 5th Rev ed. edition.

The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy,Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.

Job: Non-exhaustive on Zoom Bible Study V: Arbitrator/Mediator

Job: Non-exhaustive on Zoom Bible Study V

Photo: I-80 in Wyoming is known as the Highway to Heaven, Facebook

From tonite

Job 9: 32-33

32 For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him— That we may go to [a]court together! 33 There is no arbitrator between us, Who can place his hand upon us both. 

Footnotes a Job 9:32 Lit judgment Who can place his hand upon us both. New American Standard Bible (NASB).

I agree with my friend, the Job professor, (paraphrased with my theological emphasis) that this is a Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) allusion to Jesus Christ, God the Son, the God Man. This is Jesus Christ as mediator to humanity through his applied gospel, atoning work and resurrection for believers. The professor notes that Job's desire is less theological and more practical justice.

The professor noted Hebrews.

My references 

Hebrews 9:15

For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. New American Standard Bible (NASB). 

Hebrews 8:6 

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. New American Standard Bible (NASB). 

Hebrews 12:24 

...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. New American Standard Bible (NASB). 

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Clines views Job here, and his answer to Bildad, somewhat differently...

'...God is not a man (32), that there is no one in a position above God to arbitrate and settle the dispute he has with God about his vindication.' (528).

 'It is not a mediator between himself and God he wants (cf. AV 'a daysman') (Authorized Version, my add), but someone who can impose his will upon God.' (528). 

Realizing that such as hope is in vain, why does he not give in with good grace and resolve to put a brave face on his suffering and smile (27)? Because as soon as one suffering is past, another takes its place....' (528).

Clines is stating that Job is not charging God with injustice in general (528). Instead, Job seeks personal vindication from his present suffering. (528). On this point, in agreement in a sense with the Zoom professor, that Job's desire for an arbitrator is more for practical justice than theological.

It would be quite speculative to reason Job was theologically, via divine revelation, foreshadowing the future gospel work of Jesus Christ as mediator. However, Job's documented words from the author of Job, in regards to an arbitrator between God and humanity, do indeed practically, from a human perspective, foreshadow the gospel work of Jesus Christ.

BOICE, JAMES, MONTGOMERY (1981) Foundations of the Christian Faith, Downers Grove, IVP Press

BRUCE, F.F. (1986) ‘Revelation’, in F.F. Bruce (gen.ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/ Zondervan. 

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) Job, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan. 

CLINES, DAVID J. A. (1986) Proverbs, The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

DUNNETT, WALTER M. (2001) Exploring The New Testament, Wheaton, Crossway Books.

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

FEE, GORDON D. AND DOUGLAS STUART (1982) How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEE, GORDON (1987) The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. 

GUNDRY, ROBERT (1981) A Survey of the New Testament, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

HUGHES, PHILIP, EDGCUMBE (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.