THE DANGERS OF REFORMED THEOLOGY (Pt. 4)

by George Zeller

 

1.      THE DANGER OF TEACHING THAT CHRIST DIED ONLY FOR THE ELECT.

 

2.      THE DANGER OF TEACHING THAT REGENERATION PRECEDES FAITH.

 

3.   THE DANGER OF TEACHING THAT FAITH IS THE GIFT OF GOD.

 

4.   THE DANGER OF ADDING ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS TO SAVING FAITH.

 

5.   THE DANGER OF TEACHING THAT THE BELIEVER DOES NOT POSSESS AN OLD NATURE.

 

6.      THE DANGER OF DENYING THE LITERAL THOUSAND-YEAR KING-DOM.

 

7.      THE DANGER OF COVENANT THEOLOGY.

 

8.      THE DANGER OF PUTTING BELIEVERS UNDER THE LAW.

 

9.      THE DANGER OF NEGLECTING THE HEAVENLY MINISTRY.

 

Some in the Reformed tradition tend to over-emphasize the earthly life and ministry of Christ and to de-emphasize His heavenly life and ministry.  For example, they often teach that the Sermon on the Mount is the “Magna Carta" of Christian living.  John MacArthur is typical of this approach when he insists that the Sermon on the Mount's "primary message is for Christians" and must be considered" "truth for today."²¹

 

We fully recognize the value of "all Scripture" (2 Tim. 3: 16).  Certainly the Gospels are profitable to us and of immense value to the believing heart.  The Sermon on the Mount is rich with truth and applications and lessons for the child of God.  But to find God's revelation which was directly given to the CHURCH, we must go to the Epistles, not to the Gospels.  May we not neglect the very books which were given to the churches.  It is there that we find our heavenly Lord, ascended and glorified and seated, and we find ourselves seated with Him there.

 

Carefully consider the words of Paul:

 

"Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more" (2 Cor. 5: 16).

 

The Epistles were given, not so that we would know Christ after the flesh, but so we would know our Great High Priest, who having finished His perfect work on the cross, is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

 

If you take a trip through the New Testament beginning with Acts, continuing through all the Epistles and ending with Revelation, you will find the following:

 

·      183 verses speak of Christ's death.

 

·      97 verses speak of Christ's resurrection.

 

·      162 verses speak of Christ's heavenly life and ministry.

 

·      203 verses speak of Christ's return (as King, as Judge, etc.).

 

NOTE: ONLY 8 PASSAGES SPEAK OF HIS EARTHLY LIFE AND MINISTRY!

 

These eight passages are as follows:

 

1)      Acts 20:35, where Paul mentions one of the sayings of Christ.

 

2)      Acts 2:22, which speaks of our Lord's earthly ministry and miracles.

 

3)      Acts 10:38, which summarizes His earthly ministry.

 

4)      1 Timothy 3:16, where the life and witness of the Lord Jesus forms a pattern for the life and witness of the church.²²

 

5)      1 Timothy 6:13, which speaks of Christ before Pilate prior to His death.

 

6)      2 Peter 1:15-18, which speaks of the transfiguration (which was really a preview of the kingdom and could be listed under the category of the Second Coming).

 

7)      Hebrews 4:15, which speaks of Christ having been tempted (see also 2: 18), yet without sin. But the emphasis of the passage is upon His High Priestly ministry.

 

8)      Hebrews 5:7, speaking of His agony in the garden prior to His death.²³

 

Thus, in the New Testament Epistles the great emphasis is upon the heavenly life and ministry of our exalted Lord, the Head of the church, the Life of the body, the Vine of the branches.  Indeed God has given us an entire book, one of the longest Epistles (Hebrews), which has as its main theme our Lord's present ministry in heaven on our behalf.

 

May we never forget that our Lord Jesus is on the resurrection side of the cross.  He is risen, ascended, glorified and exalted.  A careful and prayerful reading of John chapter 17 shows that the great emphasis of this prayer is upon our Lord in heaven ("I have finished the work;" "I am no more in the world;" "I come to Thee").

 

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2).

 

 

10.     THE DANGER OF NEGLECTING THE HEAVENLY POSITION.

 

The early pioneer dispensationalists (Darby, Kelly, Mackintosh, etc.) were thrilled because of their position in Christ.  Though walking on earth, they saw themselves as seated in heaven.  They understood their high, heavenly, upward calling. They understood their IDENTIFICATION with Christ, not only in His death and resurrection, but also in His ascension and present session.  While most Reformed men encourage us to "keep looking up," the dispensationalist who is aware of His exalted position has a better word: "KEEP LOOKING DOWN"²⁴  Why?  "For ye died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). May we not lose perspective!

 

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).  "For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20).  "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high [upward] calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3: 14).  "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" (Heb. 3:1).

 

We find no such statements ever made in the Gospels.  We find no such statements in the Sermon on the Mount.  We find no such statements ever made to the Israelites in Old Testament times. God is doing a marvelous and unique thing in this present age!

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

In spite of its many strong points, Reformed Theology errs in some very crucial areas.  Its extreme Calvinism forces it to have a gospel only for the elect.  Its deadly legalism permeates its entire teaching on the Christian life and sanctification.  Add to this its confused teaching with regard to the true nature of the Church, the Covenants, the future of Israel, the Millennial Kingdom, the nature of saving faith, the exalted position of believers, etc., and you have a system of theology that is seriously crippled and defective. With an open Bible and with a poor and contrite heart and with an attitude of trembling before the written Word of God, may we continue in those things which are fitting for sound doctrine! ¢

 

Footnotes:

 

²¹  This last quote by Alva J. McClain is taken from his book Law and Grace, p. 51-52.  This book in its entirety is highly recommended.  It is published by BMH Books, Winona Lake, IN  46590.

 

²²  See my paper on The Mystery of Godliness.

 

²³  Another possible reference might be Hebrews 12:3.  If the reader is aware of any other passage which speaks of His earthly life and ministry which I have omitted, let me know.

 

²⁴  Slogan sent to me from Miles Stanford.