Like a chestnut tree

After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet.For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. (vv. 8-14)

The writer of the Book of Hebrews has similar understandings to Paul. Calvin believed that Paul wrote it. The Book does not contain the ideas that support the Covenant Theology (CT), the Active Obedience of Christ (AOC) or salvation by works. However, those who do not have understanding always misinterpret God’s words and preach wrong messages to others. In my opinion, Paul believed that there was no such thing as righteousness by works from the beginning. He mentions of Abraham who was born before the law and was known for his faith. Theologians and ministers argue with Paul and say that there is the covenant of Adam that required perfect obedience to God’s command. They say that Adam came before Abraham, thus Adam is superior. They are trying to take us back to Egypt.

This chapter explains to us that Christ, who is the eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice according to the Father’s will. The conditional covenants were only shadow of the real covenant. The law was given for us to know we can achieve nothing starting from Adam and Eve.

I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Because of Adam’s sin, we all are born dead. This does not mean that Adam could do anything in his pre-fall status. He wanted to become like God by disobeying His command. We do not find Christ in Adam or Eve. It is absurd to say that Adam had the Holy Spirit or was a friend of God.

Because the Son of God redeemed His people by His blood, the saints are united with God. Christ is the head of the church, the new creation. We must pay attention to the reason behind sinning, not just the sinful action(s). It is the person that determines the action/work. Therefore, person comes before action. It is easy to concentrate on the fact that Christ paid for my sins. It is more important to know Who Christ is.

When I first came across the CT and the AOC, I thought the theories had significant errors in relation to the doctrine of Trinity, God’s providence, and the hypostatic union of Christ’s two natures. It is impossible to explain these crucial doctrines in writings for everyone to understand. Only those with the Holy Spirit can understand them through the words of God.

The enemies of God always deny Sola Gratia. They may appear to preach on justification by faith. But many of them hold the strange doctrines. They deny justification by faith at the end and put all their hope in the law. They all shrink back to destruction.

Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? (vv. 28-29)

For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (vv. 13-14)

And almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (v. 22)

For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year by year with blood that is not his own. (vv. 24-25)

When one learns about God and reads the Bible, it is easy to conclude that the Savior came because Adam and his descendants sinned. This is one side of the gospel. Like a coin with two sides, the other side of the gospel explains our adoption as the children of God and the coming kingdom, which had been planned before creation.

This chapter continues to explain why Christ, the Son of God, is the only mediator and the eternal High Priest of the new covenant, the Covenant of Grace. For many of us, it is hard to grasp why the Covenant Theology (CT) and the Active Obedience of Christ (AOC) are erroneous. The theories focus on only one side of the coin. When a coin has engravings on one side only, it is not used as money. It must be destroyed.

As we read the NT, we find that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law did not accept Christ as the Son of God. They focused on God’s wrath on those who disobeyed Him. They thought they were the children of God, but Christ simply denied them. Theologians and ministers explain that God is loving BUT also just. This idea of God’s justness is tied to the law. People think that righteousness comes from keeping the law. But there is only one kind of righteousness. God is the source of righteousness. Only God is righteous. This righteousness is above the law because God is not judged by His own law. Unless we are united with Him, we are not righteous. God’s loving-kindness and justness do not contradict to each other.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. (Galatians 5:18)

Once someone asked, “Why didn’t God create another innocent human like Adam to be the ultimate sacrifice?” Indeed, God could do that because nothing is impossible for Him. I don’t know how theology has gone so wrong. Even those who have been born in a Christian family do not know why Christ had to come as a man. It is not that God made the law impossible to keep, and it requires the Son of God. The law (or God’s command in Adam’s case) was never given for us to gain righteousness. People often think Christ exists for us, not us for Christ. Christ shed His own blood to redeem His people from bondage. The saints do not merely need forgiveness of sins and/or the eternal life. The saints are made for the Son and the kingdom. The Son must become the head of the church. The church must become like the Son.

For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes of the righteousness that is based on the Law, that the person who performs them will live by them. But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL GO UP INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:4-10)

Since many believe that the law gives righteousness and that Christ had to keep the law for righteousness, they will be judged by the law at the end. True righteousness that comes from faith is based on our union with Christ.

When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear. (v.13)

The problem I have with the Covenant Theology (CT) is that the theory focuses on the Covenant of Works, not the Covenant of Grace. The CT focuses on the continuity of God’s covenant from Adam. Therefore, Christ becomes inferior to Adam. I have been trying to raise the issues that the CT has. The CT is supported by the Reformed (modified) idea of the Anselm’s Active Obedience of Christ (AOC). Anselm did not believe in the divine election and reprobation before creation. He thought people were not totally depraved. The consequence of the bad theories is salvation by works. Most Christians are going back to Egypt.

Chapter 8 tells us that the old covenant with Israel was only shadow. All covenants before the new covenant are shadow. All unconditional covenants are in line with the new covenant, the Covenant of Grace. Hence, the blessings promised by God remain in Christ. But all conditional covenants became obsolete under the new covenant. The conditional covenants taught us that there is nothing a man can do to achieve the status of a saint. They exist for the Covenant of Grace.

Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things by the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.” (vv. 4-5)

It seems that many ministers and theologians think that the tabernacle of Moses still continues. Therefore, the law is emphasized as a way to gain the eternal life. They say that Christ kept the law for us. But then we are still obligated to keep the law for life if our life depends on the law. The AOC appeared because of anitnomiansism. Hence, the CT is called Federalism.

God had already planned what the kingdom would look like before creation. The tabernacle was only a shadow. The true tabernacle cannot be built by men.

Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. Our fathers in turn received it, and they also brought it in with Joshua upon dispossessing the nations that God drove out from our fathers, until the time of David. David found favor in God’s sight, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob.But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says:

‘Heaven is My throne,
And the earth is the footstool of My feet;
What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,
‘Or what place is there for My rest?
Was it not My hand that made all these things?’

(Acts 7:44-50)

So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? (v.11)

All covenants exist for the new covenant. The old (conditional) covenant existed for us to seek Christ. The writer of the Book of Hebrews tells us that the new covenant has always been the only eternal covenant because God required faith from the Israelite from the start (Hebrews 3:19). Apostle Paul connects faith with Abraham in Galatians 3, who existed before the Mosaic law. Similarly, the writer connects Christ’s priesthood with Melchizedek, not the Levitical priesthood.

Previously, I mentioned that the writer is building up the argument towards chapter 11. What God has always wanted from His people is faith. However, faith is not a condition which people can meet from their own initiatives. It is the gift from God. Therefore, we can only conclude that God has decided who to save or not before creation. Faith requires the knowledge of God and love for Him. Christ has always been the head of the new creation. Adam had no chance of becoming our head. Adam could not achieve anything by keeping God’s command. As a slave, he was required to obey God but he rebelled because he wanted to become like God. Christ, on the other hand, has never been a slave. He has always been faithful and true.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. (Revelation 19;11)

The orthodox understanding of the covenants is written in Galatians 4. The saints are not under the conditional covenant but the new and eternal covenant. The law (or God’s command in Adam’s case) was never given for us to gain the eternal life.

For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better hope, through which we come near to God. (vv. 18-19)

As the eternal High Priest, Christ makes sure we follow His footsteps and helps us to overcome temptations. It is not by keeping the law the saints maintain life in the coming kingdom. We are the children of God because we are united with Christ. Christ’s death is connected to our union with Christ.

Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore, He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (vv. 24-25)

God gave us the Holy Spirit as the seal of the sonship because He saved us through Christ.

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

The Latin word Laps means fall. Supra means before while infra means after. I think that the whole argument is about whether God is just or unjust entirely from people’s point of view. Most theologians think that both Supralapsarianism (SL) and Infralapsarianism (IL) can be right because we do not know what really happened. The theories concentrate on one’s salvation. Our focus should always be the kingdom. Some say that the Canons of Dort supports IL. But the Synod of Dort did not conclude which one was right. Even if the Synod supported IL, that does not mean it is absolutely true. I suspect that the Protestant church started to become like the Roman Catholic church from the 17^th century because it became a religion of the majority. Then theology started to focus on people, not God. The consequence is the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) where the Covenant of Work appeared. Although TULIP came as a result of the Synod of Dort, one must be careful when understanding it. Some say that Calvin and Zwingli supported SL while Luther supported IL. Others say that Calvin supported IL.

A few years ago, I had a chance to raise my concerns regarding the Covenant Theology and the Active Obedience of Christ to a few Reformed ministers. Strangely they all thought I was talking about Supra/Infralapsarianism. I searched what they meant. I still cannot grasp what the issue is exactly because there are different explanations. I think it is better not to engage in a debate for the sake of a debate. However, I think there is a reason why God wanted me to study them. And the reason may be that these theories are meaningless and even harmful. I think both SL and IL must be removed. I think there is no need to anything other than what Ephesians 1:3-6 says.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

I find it strange that theologians focus on the fall related to these two theories. I think the issues are the misunderstanding of the double predestination and Adam in the garden of Eden before the fall. I could not find how the theories have started. I am guessing that it is the devil’s attempt to confuse us so that we would deny predestination.

I heard Bullinger had the issue of understanding the double predestination because he though it was unfair that God had actively chosen some to be the reprobate. I believe Calvin explained to him why the double predestination was right. I am not entirely sure if this has something to do with the debate. But I feel that the debate is about the double predestination.

I read that both theories accept predestination. But I do not think IL supports predestination written in Ephesians 1:3-6. “Before the foundation of the world” means before Adam’s fall. We know that God has divided the human race into two before He created all things. Therefore, if God has chosen the elect before the foundation of the world, the reprobate are also chosen before creation. I am very confused why most ministers and theologians support IL. And most of them say SL is not wrong either. I find this very strange. I think they cannot really prove that SL is wrong. The understandings of God in SL and IL are different. I still do not like the fact that the theories focus on the fall, when God already decreed the fall before creation. The whole debate may be from the misunderstanding of Total Depravity and Adam before the fall. I suspect that these ministers and theologians support the Covenant Theology and the Active Obedience of Christ, which I believe God hates.

When the order is concerned, I think SL is close to truth. It is true that God had determined to divide the human race into two – the elect and the reprobate before creation. We understand that God made the plans to make the kingdom before creation. God already decided how He would make the kingdom before creation. Whether the election is before or after the fall of Adam, we need to understand that Adam’s action did not bring a change in the plan. God did not rely on “if” when He made the plan. We believe that Adam fell according to God’s plan. Not that God tempted him, the devil who was created by God and corrupted himself tempted Adam. But it was inevitable that the devil tempted Adam because of what he is. And it was inevitable that Eve and Adam ate the forbidden fruit. God does not take any responsibility for the fall. Everything went, goes, and will go as God had planned before creation. It is clear that the Bible says that God chose the elect before creation.

The verses in Ephesians 1:3-6, I believe, are often quoted by people who follow IL. They must have a different way of interpreting them. Those who follow IL think that God is portrayed as unjust if He had determined the end of the reprobate before Adam sinned. They think that the human race was sinless before Adam sinned. They think God had to wait until Adam sinned so that He would not condemn the reprobate who have not yet sinned. But we must understand that God already decreed the fall of Adam before creation. Even if God had determined who would be the elect and the reprobate before creation, it does not make God unjust because the human race except Adam and Eve did not exist then. All of us came after the fall. Our destiny was planned before creation because God already decreed us to be born from Adam, the fallen man. We were not some sort of beings before creation. Even if so, we cannot know. Then we are going beyond what is written in the Bible. If the debate concerns the detailed plans of God before creation, we must not spend time on discussing them.

My question is whether the IL supporters believe that Adam could have been the head of the church if he had kept God’s command. God made everything for the Son and through Him. Anyone who thinks Adam could have been our head has no understanding. I wonder if this debate is also related to people’s idea of Adam’s freewill in the garden of Eden. The WCF shows us that the theologians believe that Adam could get the eternal life for himself and his descendants by keeping God’s command. Adam was not as awesome and great as ministers and theologians want to believe. He was a mere slave made from the dust. If the fall had made God act, the one who caused it had the power over God. I do not think God would allow anyone to do that. The WCF indicates us that Adam could have been the head of the church if he obeyed. The Covenant theologians believe that Adam had the probation period. But it is evident God let Adam tempted beyond he could overcome. I believe Adam was tempted because there was a lesson to learn. That lesson is Adam is nothing without Christ. Adam’s fall is contrary to what the apostle says to the saints who are redeemed by Christ:

No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

We must remember that God had the specific purpose of creating everything, that is the kingdom. Before creation, God decided to build His kingdom, which is His people. He decided to train them to become like Him. Everything was carefully planned for the kingdom. God did not choose people by foreknowledge. God shut up everyone under sin. But God chose some people to be saved and makes them into His children. I am not talking about the order. God already predestined the elect and the reprobate before creation and planned how they would be divided. As the builder, He carefully planned what He would build before He started working. The Father made everything for the Son, and the church is made as the bride for the Son. The Bible tells us that God does not want to save anyone outside His chosen people. Other people except the elect people are made to end up in eternal damnation. This does not make God unjust because He Himself is the definition of just. We see that God has a very specific purpose for this kingdom, which we do not know fully.

And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; and keep on looking, but do not gain knowledge.’ “Make the hearts of this people insensitive, their ears dull, And their eyes blind, So that they will not see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed.” (Isaiah 6:9-10)

And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. (Matthew 13:10-11)

There is no doubt that God is just and is full of mercy and love towards His people. We can only conclude that Adam’s fall was for the church’s growth. We do not talk about God from the reprobate’s point of view. From their view, God is unjust, unmerciful, unfaithful, and unloving. For us, the fall was a way to teach us about God. The New Testament emphasizes the importance of suffering as a way of training. This suffering is given by God, not self-inflicted suffering.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. (1 Peter 4:12-19)

The reprobate exist as a way to train the elect just like the devil. The saints know that we are worthless and sinful. We truly understand what is like being separated from God because of the fall. Our merciful God has chosen us before creation to become the kingdom. We know we were no better than those reprobates before the Holy Spirit came. The original sin or our sins no longer make us stay separated from God. By total grace, we have become to know God and do His will by the Holy Spirit. We suffer because the reprobate hate us and God. They have killed our brothers and sisters who hold the testimony of Jesus Christ. God wants to receive praises and worship from His children and the Son. God does not accept the reprobate.

I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. (Psalm 22:22)

I can only conclude that the focus of the debate is wrong. Theologians and ministers have their own image of God. They think God needs to prove Himself to be just before all mankind. He simply does not need to. The elect will understand Him as the Son does. The reprobate will always judge God according to their own standards. Some say Calvin supported IL. Others say he supported SL. Some say the WCF supports SL. There is so much confusion because the whole debate is focused on the fall. The words of God do not focus on the fall but God and His kingdom. I conclude that both theories are speculative. They must be removed.

Those who support IL think that God cannot be the Creator of evil. I’ve mentioned this before. If God did not create evil, then evil exists by itself. With this logic, the devil exists by itself like God. Then the devil is equal with God. We all know this is wrong. The devil and his followers (the reprobate) are a necessary tool to train God’s chosen people. Their eternal damnation will teach the saints about the end of those who hate God eternally. The apostles and the prophets repeatedly told that we must resist evil. We put our hope in Christ because He overcame the world.

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7)

These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Many Christians concentrate on the fact that God is just. Their idea of justness does not accept that God had determined everything before creation. They think that the double predestination makes God merciless. But God is full of love and mercy in the eyes of the elect because He makes even our disobedience a lesson for us. We all love new-born babies. But we would not love them if they remained as babies twenty years after. Babies must grow. If parents lock them up to maintain their innocence, they will never be able to have a conversation with them. They will never understand their parents. They are no better than pets.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

I may have written briefly about this before. But I will repeat it since it is important. When I was in the Reformed church, I attended the ladies’ Bible study session. One day we talked about the unforgivable sin. A lady insisted that leaving the church was the unforgivable sin. I said that was not true. The unforgivable sin is blaspheming against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28–29; Matthew 12:31–32; Luke 12:10). She looked puzzled. Later she asked one of the elders if her understanding was right. I happened to be there, so I said it again that it was not true. It appeared that she had been taught that leaving the church or a church was the unforgivable sin. I do not know how people are taught from youth in the Reformed denominations. A visible church is where people learn about God. A church cannot save a person or make him/her maintain salvation. A church is a group of people who believe in God. If anyone wants to know about God, he/she is welcomed. But a church cannot save one. The key of David is given to Christ. And the invisible church united with Christ uses the key according to God’s will. She uses the key because Christ has received the authority.

What Hebrews 6:4-6 tells us is how the reprobates receive the second death. The reason why the reprobates in churches are punished eternally is written here. This is not applied to the saints because they repent when God rebukes them. From verse 9 to 20, the writer encourages the saints in contrary to those who will not be forgiven. Just as our Lord says, good trees bear good fruit. The irresistible grace is applied to the saints.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. (Matthew 7:18)

I assume that many people in churches, especially in the Reformed denominations, are taught that they will lose salvation if they stop belonging to their church or a church. I think their understanding of the “true church” is crooked. The true church mentioned in the Belgic Confessions is a functioning church contrary to the Roman Catholic church. There is only one true church, that is the invisible church. She is the bride of Christ.

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, full of the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very valuable stone, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper. (Revelation 21:9-11)

The reprobates include the false believers and the unbelievers. The false believers will be condemned because their repentance was false, and they keep on sinning against God. Because of their deeds, even the unbelievers laugh at God. When they sin and the church authorities find out, they pretend to have repented before the elders but keep on sinning. They never leave their church. Not only that, but they also promote false teachings. What the devil wants is to take us back to slavery. So, these evil people try very hard to promote immoralities within churches and support heresies. To misguide others, they pretend to live a morally good life. They also speak ill of the elects.

Those who follow the CT and the AOC think that people will pursue immoralities without the doctrines. Because they believe that God is morally just, all God wants from us is to obey all His commands perfectly. Even though some live a moral life and receives much praise from fellow Christians, they will not enter the kingdom if their understandings of God and the gospel are wrong. They can argue that they have done good works for God. But God will call them evildoers. The reprobates deny 100% grace. When the Holy Spirit comes, it is inevitable to recognize how worthless I am. There is nothing good in me. Some of the reprobates may look like they have understood God’s grace. But they pursue immoralities and mock God by telling lies.

Theologians and ministers say, “We are born totally depraved.” And yet, the most of them speak highly of Anselm or Aquinas. Both Anselm and Aquinas relied on human reasoning to develop their theories. They did not believe that grace is total grace. They mixed what is right with wrong. I seriously doubt that the theologian is a reborn Christian. A true Christian is one who delights in reading God’s words. If you think you have lost that first joy of knowing God, think of Christ’s warning to the church of Ephesus. The warning is for both the elects and the reprobates. But the elects always listen and do what God wants them to do. The reprobates don’t and the warning remains so that they will be punished eternally.

But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. (Revelation 2:4-5)

In the days of His humanity, He offered up both prayers and pleas with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His devout behavior. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, being designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:7-10)

Has anyone read the writings of Anselm, Aquinas, or Arminius? They wrote about God’s mercy and love. They also talked about faith and grace. Most people will find their writings sophisticated and pleasant. One may argue that their writings are beneficial although not perfect. We must remember this one truth. These three men did not believe that God’s grace was total. God has shown me in my dream that many people are going to the land of Egypt, the land of the dead, with pomp and pride in an enormous white cruise ship. Many people are going back to slavery. What they wrote and taught people is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. Concerning Christ’s righteousness imputed to us, anyone with the right mind would not dare to borrow ideas from these three men. Does anyone in a Reformed church read the writings of Arminius and borrow ideas from him? If anyone does, he/she will be considered as a heretic. Likewise, Anselm who denies the total depravity of mankind cannot teach us anything. Borrowing ideas from him was a big mistake.

It is clear that the writer of the Book of Hebrews considers obedience as faith as we read Hebrews 3:19. I believe that Hebrews 5:7-10 is often quoted by the Covenant theologians because those verses appear to see Christ strictly as a man. However, these verses are written to emphasize Christ as the unique High Priest, who became like us and has perfected faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). The Book of Hebrews is well-known for its emphasis on faith in chapter 11. Christ’s suffering is not separate from the saints. The saints also suffer from holding the testimony of Jesus. As the prophets in the OT were killed by the lawbreakers (who called themselves law-keepers), the saints go through the same suffering because we are also prophets. Christ as the forerunner and the head of the church suffered for us to become children of God and to endure tests and temptations. The earth is our training ground.

Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12:1-2)

The writer of the Book of Hebrews develops the argument that faith is what God wants. It is clear that he does not say that the perfect keeping of the law is the way to gain righteousness. Even if Adam kept God’s command, he remains as a slave.

For the CT and the AOC to be true, Christ should have been a Levitical priest. They believe that Christ had to keep the law perfectly to be righteous under the law because the law was given to the Israelites. However, the verse 10 tells us that Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Christ suffered for the ungodly so that we become the children of God and follow the footsteps of Christ. Although we live the life of Romans 7, God will teach, rebuke, and encourage us through His words. Following Christ is about suffering for truths. This is testified by the apostles throughout the NT. Romans 3:13-18 tells us that those without faith are like the Pharisees and the teachers of the law just as written in Matthew 23.

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them. And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people. But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:1-12)

For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. (Galatians 2:18)

We must remember that God did not give Adam a choice in the garden of Eden. Adam did not have the eternal life or had to work to gain it. Some people think Adam had the eternal life in the garden of Eden. Although there was the Tree of Life in the garden, I doubt that Adam (and Eve) had eaten its fruit. The reason lies in their pride. If the fruit of the Tree of Life did not look desirable, their pride likely has prevented them from eating it. On the contrary, the forbidden fruit looked desirable.

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6)

I believe the fruit of the Tree of Life did not look desirable to them. Similarly, the first Tabernacle was beautiful inside, but the outside was not attractive (See Exodus 26), which is the symbol of Christ.

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of dry ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we would look at Him, Nor an appearance that we would take pleasure in Him. (Isiah 53:2)

The eternal life is connected to the knowledge of God (John 17:3). The knowledge of God is not something a person can learn from reading many books or from reasoning. God hates human philosophies. Human reasoning does not lead to God although Anselm believed so. The knowledge is gained only by uniting with Christ by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the knowledge is in the words of God. Yet only those with the Holy Spirit can understand them.

You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. (John 5:39-40)

People focus so much on sin that they think Adam could have gained the eternal life by works because he was born sinless. Some admit that Adam or any man could have kept the command. But they still believe that obedience to the law is righteousness. Their ideas distort the gospel. If we say that God is just and try to explain every event according to that truth, we see only one side of Him. God’s justness is found in His love and mercy. But only the saints can understand God’s attributes. False Christians and unbelievers can only speculate on God’s attributes. Christ represents the Father because not only He redeemed His people by His blood but also has judged and will judge the world. Therefore, Christ becoming a man serves both purposes. The saints eagerly wait for the second coming of Christ because He will separate us from the disobedient people who think they know God.

For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. (John 5:26-27)

God has and will give the authority to judge to the new creation. As the Son judges, we will also judge. However, we do not judge according to flesh.

Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? (1 Corinthians 6:3)

You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. (John 8:15)

Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must answer. (vv. 11-13)

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need. (vv. 14-16)

The apostles rebuked and encouraged the saints so that we walk in truth (2 John 1:4). When they rebuked, they did not mean that a saint could lose salvation. When they encouraged, they did not promote lawlessness.

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)

It is easy to think that verse 11 talks about disobedience to the law. I think the disobedience here refers to unbelief because of what chapter 3 tells us.

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith. (v. 2)

And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:19)

When reading the New Testament, we must understand that rebukes and encouragements by the apostles are not for the reprobate. What I mean is that the apostles are not trying to explain how to get saved or to maintain salvation. Those who are in Christ know what is right or wrong by the words of God because the Holy Spirit teaches us. However, there are much more reprobates in this world, so they try to take away our assurance of salvation. It is God’s will that the church defends herself from all the attacks by the devil and his followers. Therefore, what the saints have confessed together can be our guides. For example, the three Ecumenical Creeds and the Reformed doctrines can help us to know what is right. However, they have limits. Ever since the church was born, she has not stopped growing. What the Reformers have left out, we must fill.

One of the key attributes of God that the Reformers emphasized was that God is just. Because God is just, he cannot let the sinners go unpunished. I think this is only one side of a coin. With this theory, one understands that Christ is separate from the Father. So, people end up thinking that the Father is wrathful while Christ is merciful. The strong trend of worshiping ‘Jesus’ in the Protestant churches is not unrelated to this theory. We must not forget that we know the Father only through Jesus Christ. Christ came to make us one with Himself and the Father as we read John 17.

As I’ve mentioned before, the Reformation focused on explaining how one is saved. It did not talk much about God’s will in making the kingdom even before the foundation of the world. People often worship the man, Jesus. And I think it is evil that ministers and theologians preach that Christ kept the law perfectly as a man. It is evil because we are worshiping a man called Jesus, not the Son of God. Even though they admit that Christ is the Son of God, their theory does not explain why Christ is from eternity. With their theory, people ask, “Why didn’t God create a sinless man and send to the earth for us?” Some even ask, “Does Christ disappear in the coming kingdom since His work is done?” Surprisingly, this question was asked by an elder of the Reformed church I went to. Theologians and ministers consider Christ only as a tool to get saved.

If we read the writings of Anselm, Aquinas, Owen, or any pagan philosophers, we may think they are not entirely wrong. Some may find their writings refreshing and intellectual. But we must think carefully what their hypotheses are. Anselm and Aquinas consider that God’s grace is not 100%. They reject the absolute grace of God. Therefore, anyone who borrows ideas from them ends up rejecting TULIP. Owen appears to hold TULIP, but I think his main interest was in politics. He wanted to gain support from people and rule people. I can only conclude that he believed that anyone could be saved if they could be persuaded. He himself was persuaded after listening to a preacher when he doubted his salvation. This tradition is continued till now. Ministers have to go training in how to speak elaborately and persuasively in front of people.

My hypothesis is that God does not change and has a full control of everything. This hypothesis is from reading the Bible and also from my experiences. I believe that God had already made the plan what the end of the world would be like even before He created everything. With the hypothesis, the Son must be from eternity, which the Bible testifies. His being did not come as the consequence of Adam’s disobedience. And the Book of Revelation guides us how to interpret the OT.

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give water to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life, without cost. (Revelation 21:5-6)

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)

Hebrews chapter 4 does not speak anything contrary to my beliefs. When God rested on the seventh day, it indicated the Sabbath rest for the people of God that is coming.

For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And Godrested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this passage, “They certainly shall not enter My rest.” Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, (vv. 4-6)

For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (vv. 8-9)

Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27-28)

These passages tell us that God had already planned Christ to be the Lord of Sabbath even before Adam rebelled.

The writer urges us to be diligent to enter that rest (v.7, 11) not because our efforts can earn salvation. It is natural for the saints to uphold God’s will with eagerness because we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). And we encourage one another till we enter that rest. God’s will is the kingdom, making mere creatures in His image into His children. Christ completely eradicated our chance to fall again on the cross by making us God’s children. This does not mean that God tolerates our sinful nature as we are but He continuously rebukes, encourages, and teaches us to become like the Son. And He has given us His Spirit so that we do not fall into temptations.

No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Father wants us to worship and love His Son. The church is the bride of Christ. Christ is the head of the new creation. But the Son’s work is not from Himself. We must not forget that the Father does everything for the Son.

The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” (Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44)

I can go on explaining why the CT and the AOC contradict to Hebrews chapter 4, but I am trying not to repeat myself. The problems with the CT or the AOC are that theologians and ministers keep changing words and make people confused. The CT has been criticized by many within the Reformed church. When the hypotheses are wrong, the words of God cannot support them. They end up fighting against the Bible. Consequently, people with wrong hypotheses keep changing words to fit them into the words of God. The CT and the AOC ultimately lead us to salvation by works including men-initiated faith. They need to get their understanding of Adam right. They need to understand Christ right. Anselm believed that people had the freewill to choose to believe in God. Remember that both Anselm and Aquinas did not believe 100% grace.

Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later; but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the boast of our hope. (Hebrews 3:5-6)

Hebrews chapter 3 continues to explain the supremacy of the Son of God. From verse 7 to 11, the author quoted Psalm 95.

For forty years I was disgusted with that generation, and said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways. Therefore I swore in My anger, ‘They certainly shall not enter My rest.’ (Psalm 95:10-11)

Theologians and ministers claim that God was angry at all human because they, from Adam, did not obey His command(s). They say that God is just so He cannot but punish them. They say that God is satisfied only with the perfect keeping of the law. But as we read Psalm 95 and other parts of the Bible, disobedience itself is not the main issue. God is angry at people because of their heart and lack of knowledge of God. Their disobedience was only the reflection of their heart. Therefore, Christ came to solve the heart issue as promised in the new covenant. This heart issue Adam also had because he could not resist the temptation.

“For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and follow My ordinances. (Ezekiel 36:25-27)

It is not that God made the first human immature by mistake. God planned everything before creation and made Adam from dust. But the saints are reborn from heaven through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Can a creature, even Adam, know God by works? Can a man love or have faith in God by works? Could Adam maintain his innocence by works? The answer is simply no. Theologians and ministers preach that Adam knew and loved God. But how could he not overcome the temptation when Christ could?

The new covenant is not just about making people obey God. Obedience is the result of being reborn and being united with the Son. The Son knows, understands, believes, and loves God. Our salvation is not only about being washed of our sins and gaining eternal life. Our salvation is about becoming the children of God. Our salvation is about becoming the kingdom of God, where God will dwell with us forever. We will see God face to face. We are His children.

God is just because He will punish all those who refuse God’s mercy and do not believe in the Son.

Kiss the Son, that He not be angry and you perish on the way, For His wrath may be kindled quickly. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2:12)

Those who do not know God do not understand what He says. Christ is knowledge of God (the Word) and the mediator of the new covenant. Hebrews chapter 3 tells us that all perish because of unbelief. It is not that God used different measures to decide who is just or unjust in the OT and the NT. Faith did not come because works had failed. The same rule was and is applied to all people even Adam.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.” (Romans 1:17)

Abraham was considered righteous by God because of his faith (see Galatians 3).

For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THE THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.” Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH.” However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “THE PERSON WHO PERFORMS THEM WILL LIVE BY THEM.” (Galatians 3:10-12)

Whenever God made a conditional covenant with a party, both blessing and cursing were given. And people always failed under a conditional covenant. Not that God made them fail, they failed because of their unbelief.

The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

Theologians and ministers claim that Adam was before Abraham, and therefore Adam’s covenant is superior to Christ’s covenant. I see that they are only trying to take us back to the conditional covenant, the covenant of the slave woman. It is clear that Adam did not have faith in God. He was made upright and innocent, but he did not know God as the Son does. Without the knowledge of God, there is neither faith nor love. That knowledge cannot be gained by works. There have been numerous people who tried to know about God by reading many books but failed. Without the Holy Spirit, one always misinterprets the words of God. With crooked knowledge, there is no true faith.

And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? And so we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. (vv. 18-19)

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. (John 14:1)

John clearly tells us that the antichrists are those who do not believe that Christ came as the Son of God. True faith requires true knowledge of God. If we say we believe in Christ and yet, deny He is God-man, our faith is not true.

I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar except the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2: 21-23)

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now it is already in the world.  (1 John 4:2-3)

In the previous post, I mentioned that the Active Obedience of Christ (AOC) rejects the Limited Atonement. It appears that Anselm acknowledged people are justified by faith but believed that God chose people by His foreknowledge. It means God chose people by knowing who would believe. And the church history tells us that it is a heretical (Arminian) idea that has been condemned already. Basically, Anselm’s ideas are different from TULIP. I am no theologian and I hope that more people will look into Anselm’s influence in the Reformed theology. However, I would not recommend everyone to read his writings unless the task is given by God because it is easy to be engulfed by false knowledge.

But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the originator of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BROTHERS, IN THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.” And again, “I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.” And again, “BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.” (Hebrews 2:9-13)

People in the Reformed churches receive an early education on Christian doctrines. One of the core doctrines is TULIP. I think there is a tendency that they interpret the Bible using TULIP, rather than understand TULIP through the words of God. In their youth, they learn TULIP by hearing someone’s interpretation of it. Hence, they read the Bible with limited (or even crooked) knowledge of a man or men. I do not disagree what TULIP explains. But it is better NOT to interpret the Bible by wearing the glasses called TULIP. Those people worship the Reformers and their ministers as if having a different idea from them is a heresy. The Reformation was not without limitations. For example, it is true that all people are born totally depraved. Because of Adam’s sin, all people are dead to sin. But my understanding of Total Depravity does not lead to worshiping or admiring Adam before the fall. Total depravity should not lead us to the embellished fictional life of Adam.

Here is a typical misunderstanding Adam in the garden of Eden and our life in Christ.

“Why, methinks there are no more joyous words under heaven than these under some aspects, certainly none more solemn out of hell under others. “Prepare to meet thy God.” These words may have sounded through the green alleys of Paradise, and have caused no discord there. Blending with the sweet song of new created birds, these notes would have but given emphasis to the harmony. Often from the mossy couch whereon he reclined in the happy life of his innocence and bliss, the great sire of men would be aroused by this holy summons. When the sun first scattered the shades of darkness, and began to gild the tops of the snow-clad hills with morning light, Adam was awakened by the birds amid the groves of Eden, whose earliest song his heart interpreted, as meaning, “Awake, O wondrous man, and prepare to meet thy God.” Then climbing some verdant hill from whence he looked down upon the landscape, all aglow with glory and with God, Adam would in holy rapture meet his God, and in lowly reverence would speak with him as a man speaketh with his friend. Then, too, at eventide the dewdrops as they fell, each one would say to that blest man, “Prepare to meet thy God.” The lengthened shadows would silently give forth the selfsame message, and peradventure it is no imagination, angels would alight upon lawns besprent with lilies, and pause where Adam stood pruning the growth of some too luxuriant vine, and would with courteous speech remind him that the day’s work was over, for the sun was descending to the western sea, and it was time for the favoured creature to have audience with his God. The faintest intimation would suffice for our first parent, for the crown of Paradise to him was the presence of the Lord God; and Eden’s rivers, though they flowed over sands of gold, had no river in them equal to the stream whereby the spirit of Adam was gladdened when he had communion with the Most High, for then he drank from that river of the water of life which floweth from underneath the throne of the Great Supreme. Unfallen man had no greater joy than walking with God. It was heaven on earth to meet in converse tender and sublime with the great Father of Spirits. No marriage bells ever rang out a sweeter or more joyous melody than these glad words as they were heard amid the myrtle bowers and palm groves of Eden by our first parents in the heyday of their innocence, “Prepare to meet your G-od.” Then, when Jehovah walked in the garden in the cool of the day, he had no need to say aloud, “Adam, where art thou?” for his happy creature whom he had made to have dominion over all the works of his hands was waiting for him as a child waiteth for his father when the day’s work is done, watching to hear his father’s footfall, and to see his father’s face. Oh, yes! those were words in fullest harmony with Eden’s joys, “Prepare to meet thy God.” But, brethren, weep not over those withered glories as those who are without hope, for the words have something of a paradisaical sound to those who have been begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

These are the words of Spurgeon, a Baptist preacher. Many people enjoy listening to his sermons. But there is a serious misunderstanding of Christ if anyone thinks Christ came only to achieve what Adam had failed. People often consider that Eden, the heaven, and the kingdom are the same. They are not the same. The garden of Eden was a testing ground. God made it for a purpose.

I know people in the Reformed and the Presbyterian denomination call people in the Baptist denomination as brothers or sisters. But I believe that the theory on the covenants first came about because of the false belief concerning the infant baptism that the Anabaptists held in the early days of the Reformation. The Anabaptists were condemned. Some people say that the Anabaptist and the Baptist are different. But they have the same issue with understanding the covenants. Like the Congregational church, they wrote the Covenant of Works and the Active and the Passive Obedience of Christ in their confession (The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith). What we call the Reformed or the Presbyterian denomination actually follow the errors of the Baptist and the Congregational church. The differences are not just in the ideas concerning the infant baptism or the civil government. The orthodox church should believe that Adam was immature and was a mere slave who did not know God’s business.

Hebrews chapter 2 tells us that Christ became lower than the angels when He became a human. And the reason why Christ became a man was to redeem His brothers.

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. (vv. 14-15)

Christ calls His people brethren as written in Psalm 22:22. Hebrews chapter 2 explains who are Christ’s “brethren”.

For clearly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendants of Abraham. (v.16)

Many Christians think that Christ became a man to save all people. It sounds very convincing if we see Christ only as a man. But Christ was not just a man, but God-man. He came to save those who are chosen to be like Him. He came to save those chosen by God before creation.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Therefore, the descendants of Abraham are not the Israelites but the chosen people of God who receive faith as a gift.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE NAMED.” That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. (Romans 9:6-8)

I emphasize this truth because I do not think the CT or the AOC supports the Limited Atonement. Earlier I’ve explained the CT only leads to universal salvation. And the AOC also leads to salvation of all mankind because the theologians see Christ only as a man by separating His two natures. If Christ had to keep the law as a man to satisfy God, the righteousness He gained (whether for Himself and/or the church) must be available to all mankind. Because Adam sinned and all mankind became corrupt, Christ as the second Adam should save all people. Again, this is a misinterpretation of Romans 5. The Bible teaches that some are saved, and others not. Therefore, for this theory to be true, one inevitably has to deny the doctrine of predestination. If Christ had saved all mankind, and yet, some are damned eternally as written in the Book of Revelation, it means that salvation is up to one’s will. And grace becomes no longer irresistible. And this theory leads to denial of the divine election before creation (see Ephesians 1:4-5). This theory makes God powerless. Related to this issue, we may need to look into the differences between Supralapsarianism and Infralapsarianism. It is believed that the early Reformers like Calvin and Zwingli had the ideas of Supralapsarianism. However, the Reformers later moved to Infralapsarianism. I hope to talk more about this some other time.

Christ did not become a man to save all mankind. Christ came for those who are chosen by grace and are set apart to be made into the kingdom. These people receive the Holy Spirit and become united with God. The saints become like Christ, who is God-man. That has been the Father’s will all along. Therefore, only Christ, the Son of God from eternity, could redeem His people by becoming a man.  Christ is only for those chosen by grace.

For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. (John 17:14-19)

My question has always been: How do the saints not fall like Adam again? The Covenant theologians think that the saints do not fall because of perfect keeping of the law in the coming kingdom. My answer to that question is that we become like Christ. And because we are children of God, God will discipline us when we make errors. Even though He disciplines us, God will never let us die (fall) again. Our righteousness is not from our works, but from God’s good will (righteousness).

When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind, but My favor shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from you. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-16)

But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. (Matthew 3:15)