Terminology Tuesday: Exemplarism

*The belief that Jesus’ life and ministry is primarily an example to humans of how to live uprightly before God rather than a means of providing something that humans cannot gain on their own. Many opponents of Exemplarism argue that the theory assumes that humans in their sinful condition have the ability to conform to the character and life of Jesus.

God Bless
Brian Mason

**Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 49

Pope Francis Said What?

I was reading an article today from the Huffington Post and it was Pope Francis saying that “Atheists Who Do Good Are Redeemed, Not Just Catholics.” Referring to a recent sermon, everyone is saved. This is one step away from universalism but two steps into heresy!

By “Good” according to Roman Catholic dogma, he is speaking of “Good Works”. “Works” based Salvation is not biblical. Not to mention that not believing in God is obviously not biblical. Even Satan believes in God and we know where he and his fallen angels are heading at Judgment Day and it certainly will not be heaven! James 2:19 (NASB)

19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.

This kind of ridiculous statement makes me wonder what Stalin’s role will be in Heaven? Maybe he will be heading up the tea and social club for young anarchists and God-Haters? Maybe he did “good” in the eyes of his regime? But what does the actual Holy Bible say about this nonsense? As a Christian I go by the Word, not by perpetrated lies.

Again a reminder to anyone that wants to die on the hill of works based Salvation read Galatians 2: 16 (NASB95):

16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

It is actual grace, a gift from God that is necessary for salvation. It is a faith, a faith in Christ’s work on the cross so that we are justified by faith alone in Christ’s work alone. Read Romans 4: 5-6:

5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Just read the book of Galatians and see if the Pope’s ear-tickling words of nonsense weighs up to the truth of God? Beware of false teachings. Matthew 24:24 (NASB95)

24 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

I ask fellow believers of Jesus and His Word to pray that the Holy Spirit comes over the Roman Catholic “Pope Followers” to see the true Gospel. Maybe a statement as stupid as this one by Pope Francis may pry open the eyelids of truth and reason.

God Bless

Brian Mason

Terminology Tuesday: Postmodernism

Postmodernism can be a very frustrating thing to deal with if someone is seeking the truth. A very common stance for the postmodernist is to say “if you think it is true, it is true for you and not necessarily true for me”. To the person of this belief there can be no wrong, and this is a dangerous position to take. Previous taboo beliefs and practices are given the same authority as traditional values and norms, often to the point of relegation to the recent. Now to the definition;

*The view used to designate a variety of intellectual and cultural developments in late-twentieth-century Western society. The postmodern ethos is characterized by a rejection of modernist values and a mistrust of the supposedly universal rational principles developed in the Enlightenment era. Post-moderns generally embrace pluralism and place value in the diversity of worldviews and religions that characterizes contemporary society.

God Bless
Brian Mason

*Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 93