It is my belief that a better understanding of the ordo salutis will shed light on much error that consumes the Church today, and will, at the same time, expose error in this so-called ‘post-modern’ era.

I look forward, both to writing and exalting the grace and glory of God in this endeavor.

The first part planned for publication is on the doctrine of election. I trust you will join us in the discussion and may we all be blessed in the process.

“A friend once told me that all our problems in life stem from our failure to apply the gospel. This means we can’t really move forward unless we learn more thoroughly the gospel’s content and how to apply it to all of life. Real change does not and cannot come independently of the gospel, which is the good news that even though we’re more defective and lost than we ever dared hope, because Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again for sinners like you and me. God intends this reality to mold and shape us at every point and in every way. it should define the way we think, feel, and live.”

My goodness. A plethora of dangers in one paragraph. The Apostle Paul would no doubt take issue, to say the least, with such thinking. Paul refers to the gospel as a foundation and encourages believers everywhere to go on to maturity (Hebrews 6:1).

Tchividjian, however, seems to desire that all believers ignore the imperatives of Scripture and camp on the gospel alone. What of instruction in sound doctrine (Titus 1:9)?

Tullian declares we, that is, Christians, are “as defective and lost than we ever dared imagined.” Are Christians dead in their sins, sir? What of the new birth, Tullian? Were we not once lost but now we are found? Does the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit accomplish nothing? Does change not come from the renewing of the mind according to Scripture? Is this a denial of the new birth in favor of ‘the gospel outside of us’?

New Calvinism, indeed. Antinomianism, is more like it.

When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  – Matthew 5:1-3 (NASB)

On that day when God incarnate sat down on a mountain to address His creatures, He taught them, and when He had finished, they were astonished. There was no pre-sermon instructions on how to listen, much less interpret what was about to be said in ‘the gospel context’. It was simply God teaching man on important matters; the fundamental, ageless principles regarding conduct in life while one treads the earth. It was a sermon for them, and us as well (Matthew 5:17-18).

In a sense, we can all go “back to the mountain” and be instructed by God Himself. Sadly, much of the Church has expressed little desire to do so, for the cost would perhaps be too great. We see this in light of how dominant heresies such as dispensationalism are held so dearly within the professing Church. We see it most alarmingly in the so called New Calvinism movement which is, without question in my opinion, one of the most dangerous movements of modern times.

To allow Scripture to interpret Scripture and to understand the clear communications of God to man in their plain sense meaning in which they were written is asking a great deal of those who have built their libraries – or careers – on man-made imaginations.

If there is a purpose or goal to this column, it is simply this: to encourage you to rely on Scripture in its plain sense reading, allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture. There will no doubt be a variety of subjects covered.

In that clearly communicated Word of God His people have been promised a salvation. Our Lord Jesus accomplished the necessary work to purchase that salvation. By God’s gift of faith to us, we gain the title it. What is left but to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, obedient to the Words imperatives and instructions in righteous living – zealous for good works, and doing them to secure final possession of our great salvation.

I trust and pray that in some small way, this column may be somewhat of a blessing to you.