DURING THIS SEASON, as we are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is also a good time to reflect upon our blessings - and to reflect upon our Christian walk during the past year. We can reflect upon those times when we were strong in our Christian faith - and we can reflect upon those times when, in moments of weakness or stress, Satan's demonic spirits were gleefully working to convince us that God had given up on us.
It is a good time to remind ourselves that we will continue to be harassed by our sin nature as long as we are in these mortal bodies. With that thought in mind, let me revisit a blog that I posted on the TimesDaily Religion Forum, in my Facebook Notes, and in my Friends Ministry eNewsletter in February 2014. It is titled "Three Influences In Our Christian Lives And Churches!"
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It is a good time to remind ourselves that we will continue to be harassed by our sin nature as long as we are in these mortal bodies. With that thought in mind, let me revisit a blog that I posted on the TimesDaily Religion Forum, in my Facebook Notes, and in my Friends Ministry eNewsletter in February 2014. It is titled "Three Influences In Our Christian Lives And Churches!"
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A while back, a Friend in Alabama wrote to me with questions which I believe virtually all of us have asked, at least to ourselves, since we became Christian believers. At times, when problems occur and it seems our world becomes too heavy to bear - don't we all have some degree of doubt creep into our hearts? Not necessarily doubting God or Jesus Christ; but doubting ourselves? This is why, even though I began this writing to respond only to that Friend, I believe these questions are so insightful and so universal among Christian believers - that I want to share these thoughts with all my Friends.
My Friend wrote to me:
First, let me apologize for taking so long to respond. Two reasons for the delay. First, I have been a wee bit under the weather, physically and spiritually, for the past few weeks, also facing worldly interference, and have not accomplished very much in the writing department. Second, most often I can write an article or response fairly quickly. But, I feel that a personal request such as yours deserves more than just a knee-jerk response. So, if you will forgive my delayed response, I will move on and attempt to give you my best Biblical response.
Actually, I believe what happens, especially for Christian believers, is that all three influences you mentioned are affecting our lives. Before we became Christian believers - Satan had no real incentive to attack us, for as ruler of this world (Ephesians 2:2, John 13:31, 16:11), we already belonged to him. Some folks get upset when I say this; but if we do not belong to God, as His children (John 1:12) - we, by default belong to Satan, for he is the ruler of this world at this time (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2).
Satan's influence:
Some years ago, I read a satirical story about Satan and his demonic angels/spirits at their annual convention, discussing how to proceed in their mission to destroy Christianity. Satan tells them, "Don't worry about those in the bars and night clubs. We already have them. You should spend your time with Christians, in Christian homes, and in Christian churches - causing dissension and instilling doubt in them."
Although that story is fictional satire, there is so much truth in it. I have a good Friend living in another state who is a Christian believer. He and I have been in worship services and Bible studies together for at least 25 years. I know he is a Christian believer. But last year a pastor in a Bible study he attends asked him, "Are you sure you are a believer? Are you sure you are saved?" And, this began to make him doubt himself. Even though I am sure this pastor had good intentions, I believe Satan's demonic spirits caused him to instill this doubt in my Friend.
I am convinced that Satan's greatest efforts are done inside our churches. Otherwise, why would we have so many different denominations? And even within a given denomination, why so many different teachings? In the Baptist family alone - there are hundreds of Baptist denominations. We have Southern Baptist, General Baptist, American Baptist, Reform Baptist, Conservative Baptist, Independent Baptist, Cooperative Baptist. etc. - hundreds of Baptist denominations. Put that together with all the other split denominations and the number is mind boggling.
Why many denominations?
Why do we have so many different denominations? Dissension within the ranks leads some to split from a fellowship. Then people have split from those new fellowships, and so on, and on, and on, over the years - some forming non-denominational fellowships, others actually forming new denominations.
What is this dissension which divides the family of God? It could be differences in methods of worship, it could be differences in choices of worship music or the desire for no music in worship, it could be differences in styles of church leadership. But, most often, it comes from differences in Scripture interpretation and how one views the Bible.
Let me give an example. Personally, I can never be a Calvinist, for I do not believe I can find the Calvinist teaching of Predestination in Scripture. I can never be an Arminian, for I cannot find their teaching that a true believer can lose his salvation in Scripture. So, where do I stand? Somewhere in the middle between those two extremes. If one wants to apply labels, what Christian label (if such should even exist) can I wear? Someone has come up with a new theology term: Calminianism.
For me personally, I know that I was saved by grace through faith, plus nothing else. This is affirmed in Ephesians 2:8-9. But, even here the water gets muddy. In the past year I have become familiar with the Free Grace Movement which, at times, seemed to fit me pretty well. But, when I have asked anyone in that movement to explain what exactly is meant by "Free Grace" - the silence has been deafening.
In my own digging, to the best of my knowledge, they believe that we are saved by faith alone. Okay, I buy that. However, they deny that "repentance" plays any part in our salvation. Other groups, denominations, or movements declare we are saved by faith alone, but say we should "repent and be saved." Repentance? Yes, or no? Faith without repentance? Yes, or no? Or, is this only splitting hairs?
Faith without repentance?
Once again, my personal view is that repentance is not an act of work, but is an attitude. When we seek Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the first thing we do is to start emptying our minds and hearts of worldly desires - and start filling them with eternal desires. In other words, "our attitude" toward worldly desires lessens and "our attitude" toward spiritual and eternal desires grows.
When I fell in love with my wife and we married, my desire was only for her - not other women, no matter how attractive they might appear. That was my change in "attitude" - heart attitude and mental attitude - desiring my wife over all other women of the world. When Jesus Christ became my Lord and Savior, I did the same. Spiritually and mentally I did a 180 degree "attitude" turn toward Jesus Christ. To me that is repentance.
And, that is something one must do if he/she is to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That is something which has to happen when one is saved. Okay, we can split hairs - and say, "I was saved first - and then a few seconds later I changed my attitude, i.e., repented" But can one really change their attitude toward Jesus Christ and even want to be saved - if that attitude toward Christ has not first changed? Would I have wanted to marry my wife if my desire to love her had not come first? I see the attitude change and receiving Jesus Christ as one action, leading to eternal life.
The original Christian church:
The Christian faith began on the Day of Pentecost 33 AD with one Christian church, i.e., one fellowship with 120 members - those 120 who had waited and prayed for ten days in the Upper Room as Jesus instructed them when He ascended back into heaven (Acts 1:1-11). Then, the Holy Spirit came upon them on that Day of Pentecost 33 AD, and they were the first Christians, the first people to be eternally indwelled and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30). Later that same day, and in the following few days, that number grew to over 5000 believers - and they were all unified.
That first Christian church, within a week of the Day of Pentecost, was over 5000 believers and they were unified, "devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . and had all things in common."
What went wrong?
Satan's demonic spirits, working through Judaizers and others who wanted to kill this new sect, which they called the "way" - imbedded themselves into the first Christian church and later its daughter churches, spreading dissension. And, over the millennia, many splits have occurred. Yet, just because those splits over doctrine have occurred - does this mean that all those who split away are not saved? No.
No, for although many believers and churches split over non-essential Christian doctrines, teachings, and practices - most retain the essential Christian beliefs which define a Christian believer and a Christian fellowship.
Christian fellowships began to believe and teach differing Biblical understandings, i.e., interpretations of non-essential Christian teachings and beliefs - those Scripture passages which teach us, encourages us - but do not affect our salvation. An example would be fellowships disagreeing over methods of baptism, or disagreeing over worship music, or those who differ on prophetic eschatological teachings. We can agree to disagree on such issues and still be the family of God.
Yet, there are other churches which have gone to the extreme, denying the deity of Christ, or denying the Trinity, or denying the Bible, or all of the above - and have become cult churches.
Consequently, where first we had the Day of Pentecost church which was built upon a unified Holy Spirit foundation and people within that church knew they had eternal life in Christ - dissension eventually began to wear at the unity and groups began to split off.
Some became convinced they could lose their salvation (Arminianism). And others began to believe that, before the Creation, God chose just a small number of people, the Elect, and only those will be saved - while all the rest, the Reprobate, will spend eternity in hell without ever having a chance to believe and be saved (Calvinism).
And, we have all sort of beliefs within these parenthetical extremes. Yet, all of us who still hold to the essential Christian beliefs are in the family of God and are saved. Even if some do not know it.
Compromise raises its head!
Some church fellowships hold to a more liberal theology which seeks to find a compromise with the world, science, and society. To accomplish this compromise, they began to view God's Bible as merely a book of symbolism, allegories, and myths. Their view is that the Bible is only meant to be a good book, a guideline for Christian living - but, NOT God's Written Word to be read, understood, and followed literally.
Among those in these liberal theology fellowships are some who refuse to believe the prophecies found in the Bible, even though one third of the Bible is prophecy.
Yet, these folks, and their churches, are still Christian if they believe and teach the basic or essential Christian teachings: (1) The Bible is God's inspired and Written Word - (2) God is a Triune God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, all equally God, all equally sharing the same attributes of deity - (3) Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is preexisting deity - (4) the Gospel, that Christ who is God incarnate, died on the cross, resurrected, and ascended into heaven that we might choose to have eternal life in Him, that His resurrection assures our resurrection - (5) that we are saved by grace through faith, and - (6) heaven and hell are real places and are the only two eternal destinations for all mankind.
People and churches who believe and teach these essential Christian beliefs, regardless of their denomination, are our Christian brothers and sisters and will join us in heaven. Many will most likely be shocked when we are all raptured. But they will be with us in the Rapture.
God allows trials and tribulations:
Back to my Friend's original question: Yes, God does allow us to go through trials and tribulations in this life. Just as fire makes iron into steel; tribulations make Christians stronger.
Paul explains Christian tribulation very well in Romans:
For me, the blessed hope (which comes through tribulation, perseverance, and proven character) is knowing that Jesus Christ will come again to take His church out of this world (the Rapture) and that, at His Second Coming in glory, He will establish His Millennial Kingdom on earth. During that 1000 year kingdom, He will rule the earth, the perfect theocracy, in glory and justice as He prepares us to follow Him into eternity.
How would you define the Christian hope? As the following excerpt explains, Christian hope is part of the foundation of our Christian faith. You might want to read this full article for more thoughts on our blessed hope:
Random acts of misfortune and experience that all humans must endure on the earth?
You betcha! When the creation fell due to Adam's act of disobedience, sin and death entered all the creation. Death entered in two forms: spiritual death and physical death. Spiritual death, separation from God, happened to Adam immediately and is inherited by all his descendants at birth. Physical death was pronounced, but physical death began, not as immediate death, but as a process of deterioration.
Because of our sin nature inherited from Adam, the moment we are born we inherit his sin nature, and we begin the process of physical death. In our youth, too often we tend to ignore the concept of spiritual and physical death. Hey, we are young, healthy, and enjoying life. What more do we need? Yet, as we age, we tend to recognize the spiritual separation from God, that we really do need Him. That is the beginning of our spiritual healing. For some this spiritual healing happens early in life; for others it is often much later. For me, it happened when I was fifty years old.
And, as we get older, we begin to notice the physical process of deterioration more acutely. What we could do physically at age 20 - becomes a wee bit more difficult at age 40. And, to some degree it is downhill from there.
But, praise God, when we do become spiritually healed as Christian believers - we have His promise of physical perfection also. However, that physical perfection comes later, at the Rapture.
This Scripture verse is full of assurance for Christian believers. First, it tells us that, as believers, we are "children of God" - we are members of His Family! Wow! Imagine that, we have been adopted into the Family of God the Creator!
And, second, when Jesus Christ appears again, when He comes to Rapture His church out of this world - we will be like Him.
Basically, that Scripture verse highlights the process of our salvation. When we, by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, believe and receive Him as Lord and Savior - things happen.
What happens in salvation?
First, at the moment we, by grace through faith, believe and receive Christ - we ARE saved; we have Justification and Regeneration.
Justification is our legal pardon:
In other words, Justification is when God legally declares the sinner just, forgiven, and eternally secure in Christ Jesus. Some like to explain Justification as being "just as if I had never sinned." In other words, God declares us "not guilty" - not because of our own merit, but based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (John 19:30).
Regeneration is a "rebirth" - to be "born again" - as we see in John 3:3. To be "born again" differs from our first birth when we were conceived and born in sin. The new birth, the regeneration, is a spiritual birth whereby we have been made alive in a spiritual sense. Our spiritual connection to God, which we lost when Adam fell, is now reestablished. We now have a direct prayer line into the throne room of God, where no prayer goes unnoticed, nor unanswered.
Sanctification is the next phase of our salvation. Sanctification is a process which begins the moment we are saved via that one time event of justification and regeneration - and sanctification continues throughout this mortal life. When we are first saved, we are "babes in Christ" - typically having very little Biblical and spiritual knowledge. As "babes in Christ" we take our first steps toward maturity when we join in fellowship with other believers, worship with them, study God's Word with them. That spiritual growth, sanctification, continues and accelerates as we begin to attend regular Bible studies and Sunday School classes where we learn and grow in our knowledge of God's Word. Sanctification is a lifetime process.
Basically, to be sanctified means to be "set apart." At our physical birth we are "set apart" for our earthly parents, in their care. We began as "babes" and begin to learn, first to walk, then talk, and to love. Throughout our lives our education continues, as we build our worldly knowledge.
The same happens at our spiritual birth. We are "set apart" for God, in His care. Typically, we begin as "babes in Christ" and through fellowship, worship, Bible study, etc., we begin to grow in our knowledge of God and His Word - and that education, sanctification, continues throughout our mortal life.
That is sanctification: We are born-again, then we begin to stretch our spiritual muscles causing them to grow and mature. All this is aimed toward our future glorification.
And then comes the Rapture!
Glorification is the third step in our salvation. When we are saved, Justified and Regenerated, we begin our life of Sanctification. When we die, or are Raptured, we will take that final step in our salvation, Glorification - when we will receive our glorified bodies and become like Jesus Christ, glorified and immortal:
We will not be deity. But we will have a glorified, immortal body like His. And we will be in heaven with Him.
Shortly after the Rapture, the seven year Tribulation will begin. This is a time of "refiner's fire" (Malachi 3:3 nkjv) for the nation Israel. This is the time when God will redeem His remnant of Israel, His chosen people. Although the Tribulation is set aside as a time of purification for the nation Israel, many Gentiles will also be saved during that horrible seven years. Revelation 7:9 tells us that ". . . a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes. . ." These are the Tribulation saints, those who believed in Christ during the Tribulation and were martyred for their faith. The number too great to count.
The church, the worldwide body of Christian believers, will be in heaven during the seven year Tribulation. A number of things happen during that seven years. First, when we are raptured we receive our glorified immortal bodies - for mortal flesh cannot enter heaven (1 Corinthians 15:50). We will be changed in the twinkling of an eye from our perishable mortal flesh and given our glorified immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).
Next will come the Believers' Judgment (Bema Seat Judgment) when all believers will stand before Christ in judgment; not a judgment of punishment - but a judgment of rewards, or lack of rewards, depending upon what we have done in the name of Christ during our mortal lives (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Yet, our greatest reward is that we are in heaven at that time, we already are experiencing eternal life in Christ.
Another very important aspect of the Believers' Judgment (one that is most often overlooked) is that the church, the Bride of Christ, will finally receive our own robes of righteousness. From the time we are Justified, i.e., saved, we are covered by the righteousness of Christ (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:21-22, Philippians 3:8-9). At the Believers' Judgment we are told of the Bride of Christ: "It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Revelation 19:8).
The Bride of Christ now has her wedding gown, "fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." Now the Bride of Christ can stand before God the Father in her own robe of righteousness, her Wedding Gown. She is ready for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9).
The Wedding Feast of the Lamb is the final act left to be accomplished in heaven during the seven year Tribulation. Then Christ will return to earth with His bride and His army of Old Testament saints, Tribulation saints, and His angelic army - to establish His 1000 year Millennial Kingdom on earth.
After His 1000 Millennial Reign on earth, those non-believers who died still denying Christ and who have been waiting in Hades/Torment (Luke 16:19-31, specifically verse 23) will be resurrected into their immortal bodies (Revelation 20:5) to stand before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment. This will be a judgment of punishment. There will be no rewards at this judgment seat.
Even though the condemned will be able to see their many sins written in the books of judgment, the only reason that each is standing in this judgment of condemnation - is because they died still denying Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He died to offer them life. They refused His gift of eternal life. And with that final act of defiance, have condemned themselves to eternal destruction, hell.
In closing, let me refresh the question which brought us to this point: "According to your understanding of Scripture, to what extent do you think these trials are: (1) an attack from Satan or (2) God trying to build my faith or, (3) random acts of misfortune and experience that all humans must endure on the earth?"
We can only conclude that all three comprise what Paul had in mind when he wrote that through our tribulations, perseverance, character, and hope - we exult in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-8).
I want to thank my Friend for asking his question. For through thinking, studying, and meditating upon how to answer his question, I have learned so much myself.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
My Friend wrote to me:
Bill, I respect your Bible knowledge, and I know you can direct me to some helpful Scriptures. For 10 years I turned my back on God and His teachings. But I finally came to my senses in 2009, and with God's help turned my life back in the right direction. It was interesting that, after this happened, my entire life seemed to be turned upside down with multiple challenges at every turn, which might cause a person to give up and become bitter. I have not given up.
According to your understanding of Scripture, to what extent do you think these trials are: (1) an attack from Satan or (2) God trying to build my faith or, (3) random acts of misfortune and experience that all humans must endure on the earth? I welcome your wisdom in this matter. Thank you so much for your time.
First, let me apologize for taking so long to respond. Two reasons for the delay. First, I have been a wee bit under the weather, physically and spiritually, for the past few weeks, also facing worldly interference, and have not accomplished very much in the writing department. Second, most often I can write an article or response fairly quickly. But, I feel that a personal request such as yours deserves more than just a knee-jerk response. So, if you will forgive my delayed response, I will move on and attempt to give you my best Biblical response.
Actually, I believe what happens, especially for Christian believers, is that all three influences you mentioned are affecting our lives. Before we became Christian believers - Satan had no real incentive to attack us, for as ruler of this world (Ephesians 2:2, John 13:31, 16:11), we already belonged to him. Some folks get upset when I say this; but if we do not belong to God, as His children (John 1:12) - we, by default belong to Satan, for he is the ruler of this world at this time (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2).
Satan's influence:
Some years ago, I read a satirical story about Satan and his demonic angels/spirits at their annual convention, discussing how to proceed in their mission to destroy Christianity. Satan tells them, "Don't worry about those in the bars and night clubs. We already have them. You should spend your time with Christians, in Christian homes, and in Christian churches - causing dissension and instilling doubt in them."
Although that story is fictional satire, there is so much truth in it. I have a good Friend living in another state who is a Christian believer. He and I have been in worship services and Bible studies together for at least 25 years. I know he is a Christian believer. But last year a pastor in a Bible study he attends asked him, "Are you sure you are a believer? Are you sure you are saved?" And, this began to make him doubt himself. Even though I am sure this pastor had good intentions, I believe Satan's demonic spirits caused him to instill this doubt in my Friend.
I am convinced that Satan's greatest efforts are done inside our churches. Otherwise, why would we have so many different denominations? And even within a given denomination, why so many different teachings? In the Baptist family alone - there are hundreds of Baptist denominations. We have Southern Baptist, General Baptist, American Baptist, Reform Baptist, Conservative Baptist, Independent Baptist, Cooperative Baptist. etc. - hundreds of Baptist denominations. Put that together with all the other split denominations and the number is mind boggling.
Why many denominations?
Why do we have so many different denominations? Dissension within the ranks leads some to split from a fellowship. Then people have split from those new fellowships, and so on, and on, and on, over the years - some forming non-denominational fellowships, others actually forming new denominations.
What is this dissension which divides the family of God? It could be differences in methods of worship, it could be differences in choices of worship music or the desire for no music in worship, it could be differences in styles of church leadership. But, most often, it comes from differences in Scripture interpretation and how one views the Bible.
Let me give an example. Personally, I can never be a Calvinist, for I do not believe I can find the Calvinist teaching of Predestination in Scripture. I can never be an Arminian, for I cannot find their teaching that a true believer can lose his salvation in Scripture. So, where do I stand? Somewhere in the middle between those two extremes. If one wants to apply labels, what Christian label (if such should even exist) can I wear? Someone has come up with a new theology term: Calminianism.
"The term 'Calminianism' is a combination of the terms 'Calvinism' and 'Arminianism.' It is a term that has been invented to describe the many different viewpoints that fall somewhere between full Calvinism and full Arminianism." (http://www.blogos.org/gotquestions/calminianism.html)
For me personally, I know that I was saved by grace through faith, plus nothing else. This is affirmed in Ephesians 2:8-9. But, even here the water gets muddy. In the past year I have become familiar with the Free Grace Movement which, at times, seemed to fit me pretty well. But, when I have asked anyone in that movement to explain what exactly is meant by "Free Grace" - the silence has been deafening.
In my own digging, to the best of my knowledge, they believe that we are saved by faith alone. Okay, I buy that. However, they deny that "repentance" plays any part in our salvation. Other groups, denominations, or movements declare we are saved by faith alone, but say we should "repent and be saved." Repentance? Yes, or no? Faith without repentance? Yes, or no? Or, is this only splitting hairs?
Faith without repentance?
Once again, my personal view is that repentance is not an act of work, but is an attitude. When we seek Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the first thing we do is to start emptying our minds and hearts of worldly desires - and start filling them with eternal desires. In other words, "our attitude" toward worldly desires lessens and "our attitude" toward spiritual and eternal desires grows.
When I fell in love with my wife and we married, my desire was only for her - not other women, no matter how attractive they might appear. That was my change in "attitude" - heart attitude and mental attitude - desiring my wife over all other women of the world. When Jesus Christ became my Lord and Savior, I did the same. Spiritually and mentally I did a 180 degree "attitude" turn toward Jesus Christ. To me that is repentance.
And, that is something one must do if he/she is to follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That is something which has to happen when one is saved. Okay, we can split hairs - and say, "I was saved first - and then a few seconds later I changed my attitude, i.e., repented" But can one really change their attitude toward Jesus Christ and even want to be saved - if that attitude toward Christ has not first changed? Would I have wanted to marry my wife if my desire to love her had not come first? I see the attitude change and receiving Jesus Christ as one action, leading to eternal life.
The original Christian church:
The Christian faith began on the Day of Pentecost 33 AD with one Christian church, i.e., one fellowship with 120 members - those 120 who had waited and prayed for ten days in the Upper Room as Jesus instructed them when He ascended back into heaven (Acts 1:1-11). Then, the Holy Spirit came upon them on that Day of Pentecost 33 AD, and they were the first Christians, the first people to be eternally indwelled and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30). Later that same day, and in the following few days, that number grew to over 5000 believers - and they were all unified.
Acts 2:41-44, "So then, those who had received his (Peter's) word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common."
Acts 4:1-4, "As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand."
That first Christian church, within a week of the Day of Pentecost, was over 5000 believers and they were unified, "devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . and had all things in common."
What went wrong?
Satan's demonic spirits, working through Judaizers and others who wanted to kill this new sect, which they called the "way" - imbedded themselves into the first Christian church and later its daughter churches, spreading dissension. And, over the millennia, many splits have occurred. Yet, just because those splits over doctrine have occurred - does this mean that all those who split away are not saved? No.
No, for although many believers and churches split over non-essential Christian doctrines, teachings, and practices - most retain the essential Christian beliefs which define a Christian believer and a Christian fellowship.
Christian fellowships began to believe and teach differing Biblical understandings, i.e., interpretations of non-essential Christian teachings and beliefs - those Scripture passages which teach us, encourages us - but do not affect our salvation. An example would be fellowships disagreeing over methods of baptism, or disagreeing over worship music, or those who differ on prophetic eschatological teachings. We can agree to disagree on such issues and still be the family of God.
Yet, there are other churches which have gone to the extreme, denying the deity of Christ, or denying the Trinity, or denying the Bible, or all of the above - and have become cult churches.
Consequently, where first we had the Day of Pentecost church which was built upon a unified Holy Spirit foundation and people within that church knew they had eternal life in Christ - dissension eventually began to wear at the unity and groups began to split off.
Some became convinced they could lose their salvation (Arminianism). And others began to believe that, before the Creation, God chose just a small number of people, the Elect, and only those will be saved - while all the rest, the Reprobate, will spend eternity in hell without ever having a chance to believe and be saved (Calvinism).
And, we have all sort of beliefs within these parenthetical extremes. Yet, all of us who still hold to the essential Christian beliefs are in the family of God and are saved. Even if some do not know it.
Compromise raises its head!
Some church fellowships hold to a more liberal theology which seeks to find a compromise with the world, science, and society. To accomplish this compromise, they began to view God's Bible as merely a book of symbolism, allegories, and myths. Their view is that the Bible is only meant to be a good book, a guideline for Christian living - but, NOT God's Written Word to be read, understood, and followed literally.
Among those in these liberal theology fellowships are some who refuse to believe the prophecies found in the Bible, even though one third of the Bible is prophecy.
Yet, these folks, and their churches, are still Christian if they believe and teach the basic or essential Christian teachings: (1) The Bible is God's inspired and Written Word - (2) God is a Triune God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, all equally God, all equally sharing the same attributes of deity - (3) Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is preexisting deity - (4) the Gospel, that Christ who is God incarnate, died on the cross, resurrected, and ascended into heaven that we might choose to have eternal life in Him, that His resurrection assures our resurrection - (5) that we are saved by grace through faith, and - (6) heaven and hell are real places and are the only two eternal destinations for all mankind.
People and churches who believe and teach these essential Christian beliefs, regardless of their denomination, are our Christian brothers and sisters and will join us in heaven. Many will most likely be shocked when we are all raptured. But they will be with us in the Rapture.
God allows trials and tribulations:
Back to my Friend's original question: Yes, God does allow us to go through trials and tribulations in this life. Just as fire makes iron into steel; tribulations make Christians stronger.
Why are there times when God seems silent/absent in a believer's life?
http://www.gotquestions.org/God-silent-absent.html
In our walk as born-again believers, it may seem that God is silent, but God is never silent. What looks like silence and inactivity to us is God allowing us the opportunity to listen to "the still small voice" and to see the provisions that He has made for us by faith. God is involved in every area of a believer's life - the very hairs on our heads are numbered (Mark 10:30; Luke 12:7). However, there are times when we have to walk in obedience to the light that God has given us, before He sheds more light on our path. Because in this age of grace God speaks to us through His Word (the Bible).
Therefore, when God seems silent to us as born-again believers, it may mean that we have stopped listening to His voice, we have allowed the cares of this world to plug our spiritual ears, or we have neglected His Word. God does not speak to us today in signs, wonders, fire, or wind. His Spirit speaks to us through the Word, and in that Word we have the "words of life."
Paul explains Christian tribulation very well in Romans:
Romans 5:1-6, 8, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. . . (8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
For me, the blessed hope (which comes through tribulation, perseverance, and proven character) is knowing that Jesus Christ will come again to take His church out of this world (the Rapture) and that, at His Second Coming in glory, He will establish His Millennial Kingdom on earth. During that 1000 year kingdom, He will rule the earth, the perfect theocracy, in glory and justice as He prepares us to follow Him into eternity.
How would you define the Christian hope? As the following excerpt explains, Christian hope is part of the foundation of our Christian faith. You might want to read this full article for more thoughts on our blessed hope:
Question: "What is the Christian's hope?"
http://www.gotquestions.org/hope-Bible.html
Answer: Most people understand hope as wishful thinking, as in "I hope something will happen." This is not what the Bible means by hope. The biblical definition of hope is "confident expectation." Hope is a firm assurance regarding things that are unclear and unknown (Romans 8:24-25; Hebrews 11:1, 7). Hope is a fundamental component of the life of the righteous (Proverbs 23:18).
Random acts of misfortune and experience that all humans must endure on the earth?
You betcha! When the creation fell due to Adam's act of disobedience, sin and death entered all the creation. Death entered in two forms: spiritual death and physical death. Spiritual death, separation from God, happened to Adam immediately and is inherited by all his descendants at birth. Physical death was pronounced, but physical death began, not as immediate death, but as a process of deterioration.
Because of our sin nature inherited from Adam, the moment we are born we inherit his sin nature, and we begin the process of physical death. In our youth, too often we tend to ignore the concept of spiritual and physical death. Hey, we are young, healthy, and enjoying life. What more do we need? Yet, as we age, we tend to recognize the spiritual separation from God, that we really do need Him. That is the beginning of our spiritual healing. For some this spiritual healing happens early in life; for others it is often much later. For me, it happened when I was fifty years old.
And, as we get older, we begin to notice the physical process of deterioration more acutely. What we could do physically at age 20 - becomes a wee bit more difficult at age 40. And, to some degree it is downhill from there.
But, praise God, when we do become spiritually healed as Christian believers - we have His promise of physical perfection also. However, that physical perfection comes later, at the Rapture.
1 John 3:2, "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is."
This Scripture verse is full of assurance for Christian believers. First, it tells us that, as believers, we are "children of God" - we are members of His Family! Wow! Imagine that, we have been adopted into the Family of God the Creator!
And, second, when Jesus Christ appears again, when He comes to Rapture His church out of this world - we will be like Him.
Basically, that Scripture verse highlights the process of our salvation. When we, by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, believe and receive Him as Lord and Savior - things happen.
What happens in salvation?
First, at the moment we, by grace through faith, believe and receive Christ - we ARE saved; we have Justification and Regeneration.
Justification is our legal pardon:
"Justification is the act of God in which the sinner, hitherto condemned on account of his sin, upon condition of faith in Christ, is forgiven and received into the divine favor" ("Christian Doctrine," Walter T. Conner, B.D., Ph.D. D.D., late Professor of Systematic Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, page 207).
In other words, Justification is when God legally declares the sinner just, forgiven, and eternally secure in Christ Jesus. Some like to explain Justification as being "just as if I had never sinned." In other words, God declares us "not guilty" - not because of our own merit, but based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (John 19:30).
Regeneration is a "rebirth" - to be "born again" - as we see in John 3:3. To be "born again" differs from our first birth when we were conceived and born in sin. The new birth, the regeneration, is a spiritual birth whereby we have been made alive in a spiritual sense. Our spiritual connection to God, which we lost when Adam fell, is now reestablished. We now have a direct prayer line into the throne room of God, where no prayer goes unnoticed, nor unanswered.
Sanctification is the next phase of our salvation. Sanctification is a process which begins the moment we are saved via that one time event of justification and regeneration - and sanctification continues throughout this mortal life. When we are first saved, we are "babes in Christ" - typically having very little Biblical and spiritual knowledge. As "babes in Christ" we take our first steps toward maturity when we join in fellowship with other believers, worship with them, study God's Word with them. That spiritual growth, sanctification, continues and accelerates as we begin to attend regular Bible studies and Sunday School classes where we learn and grow in our knowledge of God's Word. Sanctification is a lifetime process.
Basically, to be sanctified means to be "set apart." At our physical birth we are "set apart" for our earthly parents, in their care. We began as "babes" and begin to learn, first to walk, then talk, and to love. Throughout our lives our education continues, as we build our worldly knowledge.
The same happens at our spiritual birth. We are "set apart" for God, in His care. Typically, we begin as "babes in Christ" and through fellowship, worship, Bible study, etc., we begin to grow in our knowledge of God and His Word - and that education, sanctification, continues throughout our mortal life.
That is sanctification: We are born-again, then we begin to stretch our spiritual muscles causing them to grow and mature. All this is aimed toward our future glorification.
And then comes the Rapture!
Glorification is the third step in our salvation. When we are saved, Justified and Regenerated, we begin our life of Sanctification. When we die, or are Raptured, we will take that final step in our salvation, Glorification - when we will receive our glorified bodies and become like Jesus Christ, glorified and immortal:
1 John 3:2, "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is."
We will not be deity. But we will have a glorified, immortal body like His. And we will be in heaven with Him.
Shortly after the Rapture, the seven year Tribulation will begin. This is a time of "refiner's fire" (Malachi 3:3 nkjv) for the nation Israel. This is the time when God will redeem His remnant of Israel, His chosen people. Although the Tribulation is set aside as a time of purification for the nation Israel, many Gentiles will also be saved during that horrible seven years. Revelation 7:9 tells us that ". . . a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes. . ." These are the Tribulation saints, those who believed in Christ during the Tribulation and were martyred for their faith. The number too great to count.
The church, the worldwide body of Christian believers, will be in heaven during the seven year Tribulation. A number of things happen during that seven years. First, when we are raptured we receive our glorified immortal bodies - for mortal flesh cannot enter heaven (1 Corinthians 15:50). We will be changed in the twinkling of an eye from our perishable mortal flesh and given our glorified immortal bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).
Next will come the Believers' Judgment (Bema Seat Judgment) when all believers will stand before Christ in judgment; not a judgment of punishment - but a judgment of rewards, or lack of rewards, depending upon what we have done in the name of Christ during our mortal lives (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Yet, our greatest reward is that we are in heaven at that time, we already are experiencing eternal life in Christ.
Another very important aspect of the Believers' Judgment (one that is most often overlooked) is that the church, the Bride of Christ, will finally receive our own robes of righteousness. From the time we are Justified, i.e., saved, we are covered by the righteousness of Christ (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:21-22, Philippians 3:8-9). At the Believers' Judgment we are told of the Bride of Christ: "It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" (Revelation 19:8).
The Bride of Christ now has her wedding gown, "fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." Now the Bride of Christ can stand before God the Father in her own robe of righteousness, her Wedding Gown. She is ready for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9).
The Wedding Feast of the Lamb is the final act left to be accomplished in heaven during the seven year Tribulation. Then Christ will return to earth with His bride and His army of Old Testament saints, Tribulation saints, and His angelic army - to establish His 1000 year Millennial Kingdom on earth.
After His 1000 Millennial Reign on earth, those non-believers who died still denying Christ and who have been waiting in Hades/Torment (Luke 16:19-31, specifically verse 23) will be resurrected into their immortal bodies (Revelation 20:5) to stand before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment. This will be a judgment of punishment. There will be no rewards at this judgment seat.
Even though the condemned will be able to see their many sins written in the books of judgment, the only reason that each is standing in this judgment of condemnation - is because they died still denying Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He died to offer them life. They refused His gift of eternal life. And with that final act of defiance, have condemned themselves to eternal destruction, hell.
In closing, let me refresh the question which brought us to this point: "According to your understanding of Scripture, to what extent do you think these trials are: (1) an attack from Satan or (2) God trying to build my faith or, (3) random acts of misfortune and experience that all humans must endure on the earth?"
We can only conclude that all three comprise what Paul had in mind when he wrote that through our tribulations, perseverance, character, and hope - we exult in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-8).
I want to thank my Friend for asking his question. For through thinking, studying, and meditating upon how to answer his question, I have learned so much myself.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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