The Triune God

One of the chief obstacles to understanding the triune God of love is the modern change in the notion of person. In the language of the fathers, person (persona, ύποστασις) means independent, individual subsistence. In modern times, however, there is the additional quality of self-consciousness, which is entirely lacking in ancient usage. If we are to continue using the notion of person in relation to God, we must be careful to realize that no implication of self-consciousness is present in its theological expression. There are not three self-conscious personalities in God but one divine self-consciousness confirmed in God's threefold being. There are not three separate wills in God but one will. There are not three minds in God but one mind. One divine energy pervades the three modes of being or persons. . . . There are not three personalities in God, there are are three "persons." One self-identical nature or essence exists in three individual persons.

Paul C. McGlasson, Invitation to Dogmatic Theology

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Since the force of this will act is so great that in satisfying us with its own gratification it takes the place of the deed, it follows that it will be punished in place of the deed. It is sheer folly to say, "I willed, but I did not act." Rather you should complete the act, since you will it; or you should not will it at all, since you are not going to complete it. Actually, you condemn yourself by the confession of your conscience, for if you desired a thing that was good you would have tried to carry it through to completion; if, on the other hand, you fail to carry it through to completion because it is evil, you ought not even to desire it. Whatever position you take, guilt holds you fast, for you have either willed what is evil, or you have failed to accomplish what is good.

Tertullian, On Penitence

Foolish to Disbelieve God's Providence

Those who disbelieve in the reins of providence and are foolish enough to maintain that the universe, consisting of heavens and earth, for all its ordered arrangement, is without a guiding hand, seem to me to resemble a man sitting in a ship traversing the sea who watches the pilot take the tillers and move the rudders as required, bearing now right and now left, and directing his ship into ports of call.

Now that man would be a manifest liar, obviously resisting the truth, if he said that there was no helmsman at the poop, that the vessel had no rudders, that it was not directed by the movement of the tillers, but that it was carried along automatically, that it overcame the force of the waves on its own, that it struggled of itself with the impact of the winds, and that it was in no need of help of sailors or of a helmsman to issue orders for the common good to the crew.

Theodoret of Cyrus, On Divine Providence, Discourse 2

Independence Day

Another Independence Day is here, and I was thinking about the true freedom in Christ.

What is he free from?
Rom 6:6-7
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

Is he indeed free?
Rom 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

What is he free for?
Rom 6:22
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

What is he not free to do and not do?
Gal 5:1
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

What should be his conduct?
1 Pet 2:16
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

I am privileged to live in a society where Christ can be openly acknowledged. However, this is neither my country nor my home.

Phil 3:20-21
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

That yet awaits.

True Happiness

The highest degree of happiness is, not to sin; the second, to acknowledge our sins. In the former, innocence flows pure and unstained to preserve us; in the latter, there comes a medicine to heal us.

Cyprian of Carthage, Epistle 56, to Cornelius

Flood of '08

We have endured the flood of 2008 and lived to tell about it. One of the most endearing aspects of this calamity was the volunteerism demonstrated by the community. Unlike Katrina victims with their hands out, Cedar Rapidians worked to clean and restore.

I am not getting cozy with the "brotherhood of man" thing or the "spirit of midwestern America." This is most likely because Linn County is quite conservative (as a county, we supported Alan Keyes in a Republican caucus). I firmly believe this is because of the high percentage of Bible-believing, God-fearing people. Humanitarianism and philanthropy only go so far; it is the gospel that teaches sacrifice.

Busy, busy

No, I haven't forgotten this blog. There are too many things happening at once. I could easily fill it with quotes from my constant reading, but that would not help me to rightly divide and teach God's word. Have patience, please.

Compassion of Christ

Do you wish then to know in what manner the Word of God, who was again the Son of God, as He was of old the Word, communicated His revelations to the blessed prophets in former times? Well, as the Word shows His compassion and His denial of all respect of persons by all the saints, He enlightens them and adapts them to that which is advantageous for us, like a skillful physician, understanding the weakness of men. And the ignorant He loves to teach, and the erring He turns again to His own true way. And by those who live by faith, He is easily found; and to those of pure eye and holy heart, who desire to knock at the door, He opens immediately. For He casts away none of His servants as unworthy of the divine mysteries. He does not esteem the rich man more highly then the poor, nor does He despise the poor man for his poverty. He does not disdain the barbarian, nor does He set the eunuch aside as no man. He does not hate the female on account of the woman's act of disobedience in the beginning, nor does He reject the male on account of the man's transgression. But He seeks all, and desires to save all, wishing to make all the children of God, and calling all the saints unto one perfect man. For there is also one Son (or Servant) of God, by whom we too, receiving the regeneration through the Holy Spirit, desire to come all unto one perfect and heavenly man.

Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist

Theology of Numbers: God's Community

There are many attributes of God which draw our praise and lead to worship. One that has little chance to make such an impact is community. Within the Triune Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have a perfect relationship and interaction--having done so and will do so for all eternity. With this in view, we should expect to find in Scripture God working in such a way that promotes community with himself as not just a participant but the central figure.

The building of community runs through Numbers in various ways. From the encampment organization at Sinai to the encampment in the Trans-Jordan, God works within his elect to build a united body working together for the common good which is found only in him. The Lord did his work in predominately three ways which are expanded below.

Organized around the Tent of Meeting. God is organized and orderly as seen by reading the opening chapters of Genesis. The physical world was brought together step by step with intricate design to maintain life and ultimately to glorify the Creator. By placing himself at the center, the Lord focuses the attention of his people so that they are forced to have others in the line-of-sight when looking on him. In addition, each does his part according to God's order and arrangement to the benefit of all.

There is a goal. We are not speaking here of God's goals, of course, but those of his people. Looking back at this book we see and remember that the ultimate prize was a promised flowing with milk and honey. Israel forgot that during the wandering. We might be tempted to excuse the people when recounting what they had to endure: lack of water, discontent with the food, internal conflict (chap. 12-14), and external raids (21:1-25:5). Any of these singly could best a dedicated group, and each did just that to Israel for a season. The people forgot that it had been enabled from the very beginning of the journey through God's empowerment to not only endure the desert but to enter victoriously into Canaan (chap. 32). In retrospect, Israel's cardinal sin was to reject the promised rest (14:1-38, Cf. Heb. 4).

Revelation during the journey. The Lord had delivered through Moses several laws in the books Exodus and Leviticus. The revelation during the wandering was basically elaboration or explanation of what had been given at Sinai. In addition, different transmission methods were used in teaching. Several examples are given in canonical order.

The Ark of the Covenant (10:33) The ark was a reminder of God's dwelling place with men having promised to dwell above the mercy seat. God, through the Levites carrying the ark, led the procession as sovereign and went ahead to find a resting place for his people.

Judgment and blessing (11:1-23, 31-35) In a relatively short span of time, the people complained about their circumstances and the lack of variety in diet. God does not want a complaining people, so he first sent the judgement of fire but followed with the continued grace of manna and the bounty of quail, following with a great plague to deal with those who stirred up the people.

Holy Spirit (11:24-30) The elders were appointed to be Moses' assistants. The Holy Spirit came upon and endowed them with authority. Later he enabled Balaam to speak the word of God (24:2-9). God both qualified and equipped these men for the job.

Opposition of Aaron and Miriam (12:6-8) Miriam was the eldest of the siblings and watched over Moses when he was placed in the Nile waters. Aaron, the middle child, had been anointed as high priest. Their familial acquaintance clouded their perspective and place. Though Moses was youngest, he communed face-to-face with God. Each had their respective roles and enablement in God's dealing with the people, and he alone had the right of choice.

Spying out the land (13-14) The Lord had promised Israel that the land was theirs for the taking. The spies brought back proof of the goodness of the land, yet the balked at any idea to trust God and enter. Because of this, God condemns the entire generation to die in the wilderness. Yet after the judgement is passed, he renews his promise to the nation (15:1) though it be delayed.

Degrees of sin (15) The punishment is to be equal to the sin. For the Sabbath-breaker, the judgment was just in that he had sinned with premeditation (or in arrogance) which deserved death. The unintentional sin could be covered with the appropriate sacrifice, because there was no evil design but an accidental infringement.

Levitical leadership (16-17) In similar fashion to the family power struggle earlier, Korah determined that he had as much right to the priesthood as Aaron. He was backed by Dathan, Abiram, and On from the tribe of Reuben in an attempt to influence via the right of the firstborn. God reconfirms Aaron's priestly work and position through the budding of the almond branch on his staff.

Priests, Levites, and offerings (18-19) The Lord recapitulates the law surrounding the Levitical priesthood and sacrifices along with instuction of how they are to be supported.

Moses' sin (20) Moses got so tired of those complaining, rebellious people that he hit the rock when he should have spoken to it. We know that Moses received punishment, and he accused the people of that in the first four chapters of Deuteronomy, saying, “I could not go in because of you.” It almost sounds petulant, but Moses laid the finger right where the blame lay. The people tried and tired him.

Guard against Heresy

And my advice to my readers is to adopt a similar expedient [as Ulysses], viz., either on account of their infirmity to smear their ears with wax, and sail through the tenets of the heretics, not even listening to [doctrines] that are easily capable of enticing them into pleasure, like the luscious lay of the Sirens, or, by binding one's self to the cross of Christ, hearkening with fidelity, not to be distracted, inasmuch as he has reposed his trust in Him to whom before this he has been firmly knit, and to continue steadfastly.

Hippolytus, The Refutation of All Heresies, Book VII