Steaver,
bmerr here. I'd like to adress this post:
First, Rom 8:1 has a couple of qualifications for having no condemnation, the first of which is to be "in Christ", as Mr. Mitchell pointed out. This is one who has by faith, obeyed the gospel by believing in Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 16:16), repenting of sins (Acts 17:30), and being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), thus becoming a Christian.
The second of the qualifications for being under no condemnation is to "...walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit".
The implication here is clear: the one in Christ, the Christian, who chooses to walk after the flesh is under condemnation, unless and until he repents and asks forgiveness.
Is it possible for a Christian to lie? to commit fornication? to steal? to be overcome by the cares of this world? to leave his first love? Indeed, it is possible for a Christian to fall into any of these sins. The Bible warns about such because it is possible.
If a Christian dies while unrepentant and unforgiven of these, or any sin, as a result of walking after the flesh, then they are under condemnation, and will be lost.
My other objection to Mr. Mitchell's comments is his misuse of 1 Cor 3:10-15.
Beginning in v. 5, Paul sets the work of the Christian minister in perspective. Notice the distinction between "we" and "ye" in v. 9,
"For we [Paul + Apollos] are labourers together with God: ye [Corinthians] are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."
In v. 10, Paul presents himself as a wise masterbuilder , an apostle, who has laid the foundation of Christ. He cautions every man to take heed how he builds on the foundation of Christ.
In v. 12, different building materials are listed, some precious and durable, some common and fragile. Let us remember that Christians are "lively stones...built up a spiritual house" (1 Pet 2:5). It is the Lord that adds us to His church (Acts 2:47).
In v. 13, Paul tells us that "Every man's work will be made manifest...and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."
Now watch this carefully.
1 Cor 9:1 reads,
"Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?"
Eph 2:19-22: "Now therefore ye are no more stangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy themple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an holy habitation of God through the Spirit."
Phil 2:16: "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
1 Thes 3:5: "For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
The work that will be tested by fire is not our good works or bad works, it is Christians themselves. Those who make it their life's work to preach and teach the gospel will receive a reward if the people they converted to Christ endure in faithfulness to Christ, waking after the Spirit, in the light.
If, on the other hand, their converts walk after the flesh, in darkness, and are judged accordingly, they will suffer loss, though they themselves will be saved.
This passage does not teach OSAS. In fact, it teaches quite the opposite. Though I respect Mr. Mitchell for the time and effort he has put into his education, I'm going to have to disagree with him on this one.
In Christ,
bmerr
bmerr here. I'd like to adress this post:
This learned man, who certainly has labored long and hard to get all those degrees, has missed some things that I find pretty obvious.Originally by steaver:
That every one may receive the things done in his body. That is, be rewarded for the deeds done in this life whether it be good or bad. While it is true that for the Christian there is "no condemnation" (Rom. 8:1), it is not correct to assume that God will not hold him responsible for the deeds done in the body. Paul has already explicated this truth in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.
Daniel R. Mitchell, Th.D. Former Professor of Theology, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary; Retired B.A., Washington Bible College; Th.M., Capital Bible Seminary; S.T.M., Dallas Theological Seminary; Th.D., Dallas Theological Seminary.
First, Rom 8:1 has a couple of qualifications for having no condemnation, the first of which is to be "in Christ", as Mr. Mitchell pointed out. This is one who has by faith, obeyed the gospel by believing in Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 16:16), repenting of sins (Acts 17:30), and being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), thus becoming a Christian.
The second of the qualifications for being under no condemnation is to "...walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit".
The implication here is clear: the one in Christ, the Christian, who chooses to walk after the flesh is under condemnation, unless and until he repents and asks forgiveness.
Is it possible for a Christian to lie? to commit fornication? to steal? to be overcome by the cares of this world? to leave his first love? Indeed, it is possible for a Christian to fall into any of these sins. The Bible warns about such because it is possible.
If a Christian dies while unrepentant and unforgiven of these, or any sin, as a result of walking after the flesh, then they are under condemnation, and will be lost.
My other objection to Mr. Mitchell's comments is his misuse of 1 Cor 3:10-15.
Beginning in v. 5, Paul sets the work of the Christian minister in perspective. Notice the distinction between "we" and "ye" in v. 9,
"For we [Paul + Apollos] are labourers together with God: ye [Corinthians] are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."
In v. 10, Paul presents himself as a wise masterbuilder , an apostle, who has laid the foundation of Christ. He cautions every man to take heed how he builds on the foundation of Christ.
In v. 12, different building materials are listed, some precious and durable, some common and fragile. Let us remember that Christians are "lively stones...built up a spiritual house" (1 Pet 2:5). It is the Lord that adds us to His church (Acts 2:47).
In v. 13, Paul tells us that "Every man's work will be made manifest...and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."
Now watch this carefully.
1 Cor 9:1 reads,
"Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?"
Eph 2:19-22: "Now therefore ye are no more stangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy themple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an holy habitation of God through the Spirit."
Phil 2:16: "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
1 Thes 3:5: "For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
The work that will be tested by fire is not our good works or bad works, it is Christians themselves. Those who make it their life's work to preach and teach the gospel will receive a reward if the people they converted to Christ endure in faithfulness to Christ, waking after the Spirit, in the light.
If, on the other hand, their converts walk after the flesh, in darkness, and are judged accordingly, they will suffer loss, though they themselves will be saved.
This passage does not teach OSAS. In fact, it teaches quite the opposite. Though I respect Mr. Mitchell for the time and effort he has put into his education, I'm going to have to disagree with him on this one.
In Christ,
bmerr