Simple Lesson from Paul and James
Last update: 2024, February 16
God’s way and wisdom are both profound and beyond us, yet simple enough and accessible to those who humbly seek to understand and listen. Through His use of parables, metaphors, imagery, and analogies (cf. John 3:12; 2 Peter 1:3), God provides clues and insights that make it easier for people like myself to grasp the overarching message. As the apostle Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 10:6-11, “Now these things become our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted… Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition…”
The Old Testament is filled with lessons and examples for our instruction and growth. As John notes in 20:30-31, “truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe…” The same can be said for the Old Testament, where numerous events were not recorded for us but were documented elsewhere and not included in the Bible (cf. Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18; 1 Kings 11:41). A prime example is Solomon, who spoke 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32), but only less than a 1,000 were written down (based on a quick online search as I personally haven’t counted). This does not imply that our current collection of Scripture is incomplete or that there are missing books in the Bible.
According to 2 Peter 1:3, God has given us everything necessary for life and godliness. Do not go searching for missing books or you’ll invite in unclean spirits. God in His wisdom has written down what’s necessary for us (cf. 2 Timothy 2:14-18). Nothing included or excluded was an accident. For this reason, I hold the Scripture in high regard, as it represents the profound wisdom of God that surpasses all other knowledge (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Solomon’s life serves as a notable example of how we should organize our own lives (Nehemiah 13:23-27). Paul says something similar about his life, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)
Those with eyes to see will quickly realize that Peter and Judas are there to teach us the truth about Eternal Security. By carefully studying Peter and Judas sincerely and with an open heart, you’ll have a much better understanding compared to those that fail to see the bigger picture (Peter and Judas). The same can be said with the Atonement.
The Day of Atonement was a Copy of Christ’s Atonement
It is common to think of the Old Testament ritual as providing the model that Jesus' priesthood subsequently copied and fulfilled. But Hebrews sees things differently. The Old Testament ritual of the high priest moving through the tabernacle—with its various rooms and furniture, especially the Holy of Holies and the ark with the mercy seat—is not the model but the copy (Heb. 8:5).
Christ has made a way into heaven; that is the reality. Hebrews has much to say about this. Jesus "went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is … not a part of this creation" (Heb. 9:11, NIV). "With His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all" (Heb. 9:12). In fact, Jesus now ministers in the heavenly tabernacle (Heb. 8:2).[1]
What this means is that if we want to have a biblical understanding of Christ’s Atonement, we must familiar ourselves with the book of Leviticus. Going there, you won’t be hearing “All means all” or “He died for the whole world!” Believing the Bible is one thing, thinking and reasoning biblically is another. Unfortunately, many individuals today do not engage in biblical thinking and reasoning. Instead, they often rely on the wisdom of man and emotional responses, particularly when it comes to Reformed Soteriology.
Saying all that just to make this point—the simple lesson from Paul and James: God puts forth Paul and James to teach us how to handle His words. Regardless of the theological system you adhere to, you will inevitably encounter challenging passages, concepts that are difficult to understand, or seemingly contradictory ideas (2 Peter 3:16). Since the Scripture is of divine origin, it should be approached with great care and studied diligently. God Almighty often communicates in ways that appear complex or contradictory to outsiders and onlookers. This is done to make us ponder and to think deeply about His truth. It is in the process of considering both sides that the Lord gives us understanding (2 Timothy 2:7). The unfaithful will either walk away (cf. John 6:65-66) or twist the Scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16).
Do not for one second assume that your theological system is void of difficulties and or nuances. People in general tend to think that Reformed Soteriology is unbiblical because when critiquing it, only one perspective is presented, and thus, the audience only sees Paul or James without considering the whole picture. In showing X and try to prove why Calvinism is wrong, Y isn’t shown or taken into consideration. The task of taking both into consideration is very often left to the individual listeners or readers! This is why you have to dig for the truth yourself if you want to stand firm and immovable.
“We can hold a correct view of truth only by daring to believe everything God has said about himself.” —A.W. Tozer
“There is no point in hiding each other’s problem texts. I am not allowed to pick and choose any more than I allow it to others. If I cannot make texts harmonize, I try to let them both stand until someone wiser than I can (even if I must wait for God’s final enlightenment in heaven).” —John Piper (Spectacular Sins)
An honest and open debate or discussion is crucial, as it enables us to identify our own blind spots, inconsistencies, and challenging texts. Since Reformed Soteriology has faced criticism from various denominations for centuries, reformed theologians have carefully considered these theological complexities and have worked them out. As I mentioned earlier, no theological system is devoid of difficulties, but Reformed Soteriology is the most consistent and faithful to the biblical texts because it accounts for both Paul and James, X and Y, as well as God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility.
One last thing to consider is that when you encounter the arguments people launch against Reformed Soteriology, they often overlook the fact that a similar argument can easily be launched back, revealing their inconsistencies. This is why you rarely hear the “Attacker’s” perspective on the matter. Most of them only wish for you to believe that Reformed Soteriology is unbiblical by not representing it accurately and biblically. If you begin to dissect the Attacker’s own theological system, you will likely find holes and inconsistencies. With Reformed Soteriology, we are confident because we engage with it daily.