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 PASTORS LETTER - Which One Comes First?
Hello
once again from Community Christian Fellowship, I was looking
at some research the other day regarding Trinitarian Theology
as interpreted by T.F. Torrance regarding the way it relates to
the theory of Relativity, which was expressed through the ideas
of Albert Einstein. Now, before you put the paper down or go to
another screen on your computer, I am NOT going to go into the
details; I'm still "chewing" on them myself.
But
there was one idea that I think we can all get a
"grip" on. One writer stated that whenever Torrance
was asked when he was "saved" his answer was something
like, "a little over 2000 years ago when Jesus died on the
cross". His point was, all are saved, but that doesn't
mean all WILL be saved. So, what's the deal? Well when you
think about it, Trinitarian theology implies that Jesus died
for all who have ever, will ever and are presently living. And,
at some point they will have a chance to accept the salvation
that God has already granted them through the grace of Jesus
Christ.
If you
think about it, that's a little different from what we may have
heard in the past. We've heard something that sounds like,
"unless you choose to accept Jesus Christ as your savior,
you will NEVER be saved". There is a big difference
between the two. You see, the last way suggest that it is
within our power to be saved, and when we FINALLY get our
"act together" and "wise up," then God will
graciously extend that very special gift of salvation. But he
can't do it until WE make the right choice. This implies that
there is literally something that we can DO to be saved. Jesus
made that clear by saying without Him we can do nothing in John
15.
But
the first way of thinking implies that God is the one who has
already saved us through our Lord Jesus. Salvation is a GIFT,
there is nothing we can do to EARN it. But, we can choose to accept
the gift that is already offered us. You may say, Mark, what's
the difference, it's just "wording". Not really. God
has unconditionally entered into our reality of the created
world in Jesus. As a result, ALL of creation, as we perceive it
through our five senses, has been reconciled with God and is
"groaning" as it awaits its miraculous change into
the NEW heaven and earth. There is NOTHING that we could do to
bring that to reality, only God can do that. We have been given
the opportunity to live forever in that reality, God has given
it to us before we even begin to realize we need it.
For more on Trinitarian Theology...
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