Tried With Fire

The Son Who Learned Obedience: A Theological Case Against the Eternal Submission of the Son by D. Glenn Butner, Jr., Pickwick Publications, 2018, 223 pages. While the Trinity Debate of 2016 may have cooled down, the question still remains, "Is the Son eternally submissive to the Father?" The short answer is, "No." But if one word will not suffice, read this book. The Son Who Learned Obedience makes a strong case against the eternal functional subordination of the Son (EFS) by addressing: - Why the Trinity falls under the category of systematic theology rather than simple proof-texting. - Pro-Nicene teaching on the Trinity vs. the pro-EFS position. - Inseparable operations. - Does Jesus have one will or two? - How does EFS impact and undermine the doctrine of substitutionary atonement? - What effect does EFS on the doctrine of God? - Is 1 Cor. 15:28 an air-tight case for EFS? As a lay person who followed the Trinity debate closely, I was already on ...

I do believe and hold and rejoice in that precious Truth—that our standing before God, when we have believed in Jesus—depends no more upon our frames, and our feelings, than the sun itself in its native glory depends upon the clouds and darkness that are here below. The same—the same in all its splendor, the same undimmed, as full of Glory, as full of majesty, the righteousness and blood of Christ abides; and we, standing before God in Him—not in ourselves—are always complete in Him—always accepted in the Beloved; never more so, never less so. “Strong meat this,” says one. Be it strong— nothing short of this will ever satisfy the tried Christian in the hour when sin rolls over his head! If any man can make a bad use of the Doctrine of the real Substitution of Christ, and the standing of Christ’s people in Christ’s place every day—if any man can make a licentious use of that, his damnation is just; he has no part nor lot in this matter! But I know this—I am not to be restrai...

This statement (among many) really bothered me in Robert Schuller's interview: "And I'll tell you what God thinks of you: if you were the only person that didn't have this wonderful relationship with him, why he would take his son and crucify him as your saviour." I was thinking about Schuller's statement because we've all heard, "If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would die for you because He loves you that much." On first hearing, it doesn't sound all that wrong to our 21st century self-esteem indoctrinated ears. Maybe what bugs me is that it is only half of the truth. Maybe the whole truth is "If you were the only person on earth, your sin would still need to be atoned before a holy God. Yes, God loves you but He is still just and holy. Yes, the cross is a demonstration of the love of God , but it is also a demonstration of His holiness and how much He hates sin." Just thinking out loud. In writing.

I have been thinking about the role of the Trinity in the atonement. Part of it is from listening to Mission Accomplished and High Priest by Shai Linne. Part of it is reading Leviticus and Hebrews with the parallel of the high priest and Jesus, our Great High Priest. Part of it is the whole Shack craze which appears to be muddying the doctrine of the Trinity, promoting Patripassianism, and denying substitutionary atonement. Interestingly, Patripassianism and Sabellianism/Modalism were brought up in a recent Sunday school class on early heresies in church history. So nothing is really new under the sun. I was always taught the Trinity but I feel very ignorant about the implications of the doctrine to the rest of Christianity. For example, if you believe that the Father suffered on the cross, than who was atonement being made to? This confuses what the atonement really is. So having an accurate Biblical view of the Trinity can be a safeguard against other errors. A mental picture I ha...

This album has been at the top of my play list. It's not easy listening. In fact, I find myself mentally flinching at some of the lyrics. Not because any of the lyrics are offensive but that the lyrics are so honest . Shai Linne does not mince words in describing the total depravity of man. Any thoughts that people are basically good get demolished by In Adam All Die . He doesn't mince words about the brutality of the cross, physically as well as Christ being made the sin bearer. I naturally want to shy away from such things. In fact, I haven't seen Mel Gibson's Passion of Christ for that very reason. It is an offense and offends our 21st century civilized sensibilities. It's no wonder that so-called theologians want to strip the cross of it's real meaning - the penal substitutionary atonement of our Savior. Through My Eyes captures the fear and agony of the thief on the cross. I think this is the hardest song for me to listen to. Perhaps because it ...

that I would be listening to Christian rap music. Not your typical listening material for a 40-something, homeschooling mom. I also admit that rap is not a genre that I would naturally be drawn to. But I had read about a brother named Shai Linne here and here . Also, my curiosity was piqued about anyone who would write a rap about Charles Spurgeon. Well last night, a brother and sister graciously gave us a copy of Shai Linne's The Atonement . We listened to some of it and were stunned by what we heard. After we listened to Were You There , I wanted to cry and repent for my lack of love for Christ in the face of all that He has done. There are songs about the cross that express some of the horror of the event that secured our salvation. Yes, the brutality of the crucifixion is portrayed but the cruelty is greater because the spotless Son of God willing endured God's wrath to bring glory to the Father and secure my redemption. Some of these songs are not easy to listen to bec...

Because Easter is tomorrow, many folks in the blogsphere are posting hymns and scripture relating to Christ's death on the cross and resurrection. It has been very edifying for me to meditate on Christ's death and atoning work. The flip side is that there are people who take on the name of "Christian" and don't believe in the penal substitutionary death of Christ at all. That boggles my mind, and I can't wrap my brain around that one. This may be completely obvious, but I wonder if the belief that man is inherently and totally sinful goes hand in hand with believing that God is a just and holy God. It seems you can't have one without the other. If God is just, holy, and righteous as well as loving, He would not be God if He did not demand punishment for sin. He is the judge. He is the standard maker and that standard has been violated. In that case and given His absolute perfection, there is no question that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of G...

You who have had your seasons of conflict, will confess that it was not at Olivet that you ever found comfort, not on the hill of Sinai, nor on Tabor; but Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha have been a means of comfort to you. The bitter herbs of Gethsemane have often taken away the bitters of your life; the scourge of Gabbatha has often scourged away your cares, and the groans of Calvary yields us comfort rare and rich. We never should have known Christ's love in all its heights and depths if He had not died; nor could we guess the Father's deep affection if He had not given His Son to die. The common mercies we enjoy all sing of love, just as the sea-shell, when we put it to our ears, whispers of the deep sea whence it came; but if we desire to hear the ocean itself, we must not look at every-day blessings, but at the transactions of the crucifixion. He who would know love, let him retire to Calvary and see the Man of sorrows die. - Morning devotion, April 10- C.H. Spurgeon M...