Gospel Tabernacle: Activating God's People

Have you ever been told to do seemingly two different things at the same time? How about “Just forget about it” and “you really need to pray” offered as advice at the very same time by the same person? Scripture at times, at least on the surface, appear to direct us in opposite ways; I would call this divine tension. Some quick examples of this divine tension would be the relationship between judgment and grace, God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, and the question of security of salvation for the believer.

Let’s briefly take up the latter example. What does the Bible say about the security of salvation? Is once saved always saved or can you loose your salvation? These questions have divided people and churches unfortunately. Both sides have scripture references to support their stance. Especially at times like this it is very important to accurately interpret scripture and not remove it from its context. By pulling out a single verse we can make Holy Scripture say just about anything we want it to say. The Bible however does seem to support both ideas in some form or fashion:

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession-to the praise of his glory. Eph 1:13-14

Compare with:

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Col 1:21-23

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. Heb 3:12-14

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil 2:12

During our Sunday worship services and life groups we are currently in a series of teachings called “Personal Wholeness” dealing with overcoming strongholds in our lives. Each week a different false belief or fear is diagnosed and treated with God’s word. Within the biblical answer to overcoming the specific stronghold there appears to be a divine tension that we will deal with in the subsequent installments. Next up “The Fear of Failure/ The Performance Trap” (Faith vs. Works)…