Guy: Just wanted you to know the Monday morning Men's Study was awesome! From the discussion, I left with a couple questions and I would appreciate your insight.
1) Part of the discussion was regarding an assignment of an 11 year old's testimony. As you can imagine, his testimony was quite simplistic: his parents are Christian and he attends church regularly. At the age of 5 he asked God in his heart. What is the age of accountability? Is salvation possible without repentance? At age 5 does a child know what the concept of repentance is? An example: he hits his sister and then says he's sorry because he gets in trouble from his parents. Shortly after apologizing, he hits his sister again. This cycle continues.
2) God is omnipresent - someone in the group suggested because God created everything and is in all places, He is also part of hell (sheol). I know when the rapture happens Christ will descend in to hell to gather His remnant, but is God part of hell? What are your thoughts?
3) Salvation is based on faith alone, in Christ alone. Someone in the group said salvation is not possible without repentance. Isn't the repentance created when the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart and begins the sanctification process? Please provide clarity.
4) We all backslide and fall short of the mark due to our sin nature. Is it possible to fall from the grace of God and therefore lose your salvation?
I thank you in advance for the clarification you provide to each of the aforementioned questions.
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Great questions. The question of repentance can be viewed two ways, as an event, or as a process. Granted, when we come to understand Christ is Lord and understand the meaning of Grace and salvation, we then experience what some might describe as being Born Again. I frankly believe we were Born Again far sooner. The Bible says no one comes to the Father unless the Father draws him. This spiritual awakening (the drawing) can happen long before a person experiences and understands who God is and what He has done for Him. What appears to be accepting Christ as your Lord and savior is in actuality the culmination of a work the Holy Spirit started sometime before.
Repentance is a change in direction. But because of our sin nature and our inability to be perfect, it is a struggle. Sometimes it is described as meaning we totally and completely stop a specific sin. And while that might be true of some sins, it is virtually impossible for others. For instance, some men will struggle with lust their entire life. It is not the struggle that is the problem, it is giving into it that causes the sin. When we become aware of our sin and our desire is when God can work to grow us and cleanse us. It is not sin the specific sin that God is concerned about. It is our response to it.
In the case of you and and your wife, there have been many times you have gone to the brink of total and complete rebellion against God. But then, when confronted with your rebellion and your hardened heart, you have pulled back and obeyed God, even though every bone in your body has cried out to not do this. That to me is evidence you are a believer. If you were NOT, then you would then go ahead and totally rebel. Consequences would not be an issue for you.
Read about the P in TULIP - The Perseverance of the Saints. Google it and you will find some good teaching on how faithful God is even when we are weak and afraid.
Remember, our Monday group has both schools of thought in it - the Reformed and the Armenian schools. Those who believe God saves but not without our help, also believe you can lose your salvation if you fail to persevere. This is an insidious doctrine in my opinion, because it limits the power of God. It weakens the strength of our relationship with God and it causes one to live in fear. It says God is NOT the first cause but that God is a reactor to us. If it is truly Christ alone - then you can be confident He is the first cause and is NOT surprised by anything that happens in your life. If it is Christ alone, you can be bold in your walk. You can stand strong in the face of disaster. You can know regardless of your circumstances God is in control.
Your wife says with her mouth what her heart does not believe. She says by Grace Alone - but then takes total and complete control and is willing to rebel against God to her detriment. To her credit, she too has pulled back from the brink when confronted. But then goes on from there as if God has no power in her life. I have seen it repeatedly in both of you. But you have evidenced far less of it recently. As you know, I have warned you to NOT fall back into your old ways - which is to harden your heart against your repentance.
There is NO AGE of accountability in the Bible as far as I can see. I confessed my love for God at age 8. I had eyes to see and ears to hear. But I did not really understand or have the courage and conviction of that until I was 33. I did not accept the Lordship of Christ until I was 41. Was I a Christian when I was 8? I believe so. But I did not live like one until much later, when I started to read the word of God and have the truth of scripture poured into my heart and mind on a regular basis.
Repentance is when you are convicted of a truth and then act upon it, volitionally, It is part of the sanctification process. God is working on you bit by bit, day by day. It takes time to grow a mighty oak tree. A lot of storms come through and these storms try to bend the branches and rip them off. But over time, if the roots go deep enough, the tree will survive. Your roots are the work of what you are doing today. Coming to Church regularly, going to Bible Study, fellowshipping with the saints, praying, meditating, asking these questions. These are all strengthening the root system of the mighty oak God is building in your life. Keep watering it.
If you have theological questions and would like to have them answered. Please submit them for review. May the Peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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