Jason Bourne wrote:
James
Have you read Stephen Robinson's book Believing Christ? If not you should. You will find his thoughts echo yours some what.
Last night I looked up a BYU Devotional speech he gave in the early Ninties with the same title that refered to some of the same topics of his book no doubt. This is not anything like what John Pontius was writing about but Stephen Robinson has the same objective to own spiritual credits and apply them successfully.
His rationale is a successful mind adjustment that a person can willfully engage to bring balance to their lives. It admits a better posture before the Lord that we are not saving ourselves with Church Perfection. But it remains only a mental realization that adjusts a person's perspective and allies with the greatness of Christ as a given.
Someone honest in heart would not assume the grace of Jesus Christ. He would seek to come unto the Lord as if he had no right at all until Christ bestowed that in recieving his broken heart and contrite spirit covenant forged in the depths of humility where you approach God and cry out for mercy, that his grace might come upon you.
Robinson's mistake is to take the atonement of Christ as if already applied, as if it were a failed recognition that only needs to be acknowledged to become effective. This is the same GOD FROM A BOX that fundamental Christians wield and set their hearts upon.
Some fella, a TV Evangelist gave out to a rock concert size crowd that since the Lord was gracious to Hezikiah and gave him an abundant repreive from death therefore God will be abundant to everyone in the audience and that they can expect the same. The people eat this up and would probably come back with twice as many people next week to hear such good news. Why? Everything God has ever done somehow applies to them.
Why? Just because some sayer has the pompousity to say it. And a Halleluia! Praise God! Jesus Saves. So we are all saved just accept it. Praise God, Halleluia!
Inconcievable's good friend who is a Youth Minister takes this same line and runs with it with all his heart aflame. Praise God! Thank you Jesus. Praise God! These kind of mind games people play with God are spiritual hysterics insisting they are in control and God is just a fauset they own to open unto themselves in whatever amount they please. This is not the science of redemption that has proven itselve down throughout all time in the lives of the saints of the ages. It will collapes under its own weight of heady highmindedness that is just as Pharasitical as those who were certain that they were the chosen of God in Ancient Israel. They were certain because they applied it to themselves in their own way and following after their own conciet.
If the consistent hallmarks represented in all scripture are not present then the science is flawed and people should be honest enough to admit a false construct. How dearly and firmly people set their hearts upon delusional religion will manifest in how violently and hatefully they will resist correction. They might even seek to crucify the Lord of Light just to prove to themselves how right they are.