I often read John MacArthur's daily devotionals as a way to keep myself in the Word. (Someday, I hope to create a daily devotional feature on our site.) Although Pastor MacArthur doesn't fully see the kingdom, he is a brilliant Bible scholar (glory to God) and I always find his writing to be edifying.
Sometimes, however, I come across an explanation that gives me pause. And so it was with this passage from today. Pastor MacArthur writes:
Many who profess to love Christ seem intolerant of His Word. Often they fall into spiritual complacency and surround themselves with teachers who tell them exactly what they want to hear. If they can't find a comfortable message, they drift from church to church or simply abandon it altogether.
Such people have exchanged conviction for comfort, and need to examine themselves to see if they are genuine believers (2 Cor. 13:5).
The emphasis is mine. Pastor MacArthur seems to be inviting people to doubt their salvation. Pastor Whipple always taught the opposite, so I checked the reference to see what Paul actually wrote. Here it is, from the NASB:
I remember Pastor Whipple teaching that the epistles are always addressed to believers. That makes sense because the apostles were writing to the members of churches they had founded, aka their fellow believers in Christ. So this verse would seem to support Pastor MacArthur's interpretation.Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?
I don't recall if Pastor Whipple ever taught on this specific verse. If he did and you remember what he said, or if you have an interpretation based on scripture and the kingdom truths, I invite you to join the conversation by posting a comment. Let's reason together.
Written by Jordan
Hi Jordan,
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to the Lamp and Light website. What a wonderful site this will be where Gary Whipple's teachings can live on.
Our small group in Jacksonville had the great pleasure of sitting under his teaching for about 3 years at the end of his ministry. We learned so much from him and he taught us to be Berians. What a wonderful time that was.
This is a Scripture that can surely give pause but Whipple did speak of this Scripture and I do recall his teaching. In this Scripture Paul speaks of "the faith" which is a specific faith which (contextually) is "the faith" unto the salvation of the soul. Of course there is that faith which a new believer has when he received spirit salvation but "the faith" in this context is "the faith" that we have concerning our soul salvation; the faith we have in the Word of the Kingdom and our inheritance.
If you don't know about the salvation of the soul then this Scripture can be misinterpreted.
Thanks, Jordan! Good "pause"!!
Hi Jordan, I agree with Martha. If we do not rightly divide the Word we can get spirit salvation and soul salvation mixed up. That's where we will get bad doctrine. Though I believe John MacArthur is a great teacher, he misses the salvation of the soul. The faith we need is the faith to run the race toward the prize. It's a continual faith which comes from the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ in our lives. We are to examine ourselves every day to make sure we are living by faith. Only those who are found faithful at the Judgement Seat of Christ will gain the inheritance. He was not talking about our initial salvation when we accept Christ as our Saviour. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHey Jordan, It's me Andy Balogh. I know you already know the answer to your curious query ... So I will just make some "key points" to support the answer.
ReplyDelete1.) The faith required to receive the salvation of the spirit is past-tense and requires a one-time hearing of God's call and cannot be lost
2.) The salvation of the soul requires the daily renewing of one's mind via continual purification through confession of sin and washing with the water of the Word (which in turn produces our faith)
3.) The main focus of this scripture is to remind these Christians (who understood the kingdom truths) to consider who they were in God's plan and count the costs at risk if they failed the test and lost their souls (reward) at the judgment seat of Christ.
4.) The words in the verse say "Christ was in you" (the great mystery which is second-tense salvation) ... and not "you in Christ" (first tense salvation)
These are all key factual points Pastor Gary Whipple taught us that John McArthur has not seen. In turn his teachings about salvation are in error - which is very dangerous when considering spirit salvation was finished on the cross at calvary and does not require work on our part in any way.
* Remember what happened to Moses on top of Mount Nebo!!!
I support your intention on bringing out these kind of questions to the blog. Other Christians can learn a great deal just through blogging.
And it's good to see faithful Christians responding and giving their support on this forum
God bless all of you for your input. I know Pastor Gary is joyfully proud
Well said, everyone. Andy is right that I have an answer, but I wanted to stimulate conversation and I had genuinely forgotten Pastor Whipple's exact teaching. Thank you for sharing. If anyone can provide a tape reference, I will link to that audio sermon when we publish it.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, my approach was to question the interpretation, something I always do when I find an apparent "contradiction." I went to the Diaglott and found a different translation. It reads: "Try yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves. Or do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is among you? -- except you are without proof."
Wow. Big difference. The NASB translation would cause a reader to doubt his salvation. Again, it reads: "Jesus Christ is in you, UNLESS indeed you fail the test." The reader must immediately think: What test? Is it possible I would fail it, and that Jesus isn't in me?
But the translation closer the original Greek reads: "Jesus Christ is among you ... EXCEPT you are without proof." That's totally different. It's a statement of certainty followed by an admonition -- Paul basically saying, 'Jesus is in you but you aren't showing it.' Or in our language, 'You are spirit saved but your soul salvation is in question.'
In the next verse, Paul adds: "But I hope that you will know that we are not without proof." I read this as, 'I hope you know about the example we are setting, one you should be following.' Or in our language again, 'Our soul salvation is evident.' In a way, it ties in with James 2:18: "Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Hey Jordon, the girls are correct above, but I would like to add to this for a better clarification for those not knowing the deeper trues of God. First we need to recognize that Paul is giving a warning to the church. The church is made up of BELEIVERS, not the lost. We have to keep it in context. Paul says to examine yourselves to see if you are IN THE FAITH, not do you have the faith or are you of the faith, then test yourselves. A lost man does not have an inkling of how to examine himself as far as having a relationship with Christ, he does not belong to Him. Having something & experiencing that same thing is different. You could have a car in your driveway that belongs to you, but if you never drive it, you cannot experience what it is all about, even though you own it. Paul is telling them (us) to look at their Christian walk to see if it reflects Christ walk and see if it passes the test. Then he tells them: do you not realize that Jesus Christ IS IN YOU". Sounds like he knows they are saved. Where it says "do you not recognize" the word is (epiginōskō} and it means "to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly". Anytime "epi" is in front of a world, it puts an emphasis to that word as to rest upon it or in it. Paul is saying that you should be completely at rest in your walk, IF you have allowed Christ to be the center of it.
ReplyDeleteHe is speaking of having confidence in you walk, not your salvation, for you did anything to receive your salvation gift, nor can you do anything to keep it. It was FREE. Then at the end, he says, see if you fail the test. Here he is saying, if you do not act like Christ, you better examine your relationship with Him, to see if you will be qualified to receive the inheritance at the judgment seat. Read 1Corinthians 3:11-15 to see what happens if your works are burned up or if they remain.
I also want to thank you again for the work you both have put in to this. You my friend’s are storing up your rewards in Heaven. Have a Christ filled day.
Bob & Roxann Porter
Hi Jordan,
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to share like this and reflect upon the teaching of God's Word that Gary gave us. Thank you SO much for bringing this up!!! Keeps us thinking and searching! It a good thing, says Martha.