Sermon Tone Analysis

Alêtheia Christian Fellowship ~~ November 11, 2007

~~ Antinomy ~~

 

þAntinomy = ajntino>mov, against - law

 

Paradox = para>doxov, along side of - seem~/think =     incredible, i.e. not expected.

þEpimenides of Crete poem at tomb of Zeus:

 

       “They fashioned a tomb for thee, O holy and high                    one— The *Cretans, always liars, evil beasts, lazy                   gluttons*! (Titus 1:12) But thou art not dead: thou                  livest and abidest forever, *For in thee we live and                move and have our being*.”

(Acts 17:28)

 

*       Titus 1:12 ~~* One of themselves, a prophet of their own,     said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”

*       Acts 17:28 ~~* for in Him we live and move and have our      being, as even some of your own poets have said (Mars     Hill)

 

*Theological use* = even though the word can mean a real or only apparent contradiction the theological use is usually something only seemingly contradictory

 

þAntinomy = ajntino>mov, against - law

 

*Immanuel Kant* = a conflict between the products of reason (noumena) and of experience (phenomena)

 

Interesting items~/# and dull items~/#, *nothing can be dull*.

Grandfather’s *old axe*, 3 new heads and four new handles.

*Philosophical use* = an apparent or real opposition, contradiction, conflict, or contrast.

þ*Theological use* = only an apparent conflict due to the limitation of man and~/or the purposes of God.

Antinomy over judging

 

       The highest form of law is Biblical declarations.

1- Laws cannot be contradictory in any way – it only               seems that way to our finite mind.

2- Serve as a tension to hold us in the middle

                   

                    a) We don’t like hanging in the middle and                                  working things out – we want rules!

b) The more fear, the more control, the further                       we move towards an end and then defend it.

3- We cannot know entirely, but we can know some.

þGod’s sovereignty against human choice is an                            antinomy.

1- God is King and controls everything

 

             2- Man has free will and will be held responsible for                 his choices.

a) God’s judging requires man’s responsibility

 

                    b) We have varying degrees of responsibility for                            the things that happen, but we have full                                   responsibility for our reaction to those things.

c) God’s sovereignty has nothing to do with                                  man’s perception of choice.

d) Free will could not counteract God’s                                         sovereignty.

Some see free will at the expense of God’s sovereignty

 

       Some see exactly the opposite

 

             Some see choice as limited to a few options

 

                    Some see that God already knows in the door                           analogy

 

                           Some see the illusion of free will

 

þThe truth is more than any of these; God controls everything and allows free will at the same time because He’s big enough to accomplish it even though we can barely conceive of the possibility.

Human cell = Smallest living thing – we have 50-100 trillion cells, made up of 46 Chromosomes of continuous     DNA each with many genes.

DNA made up of proteins,        which are made of amino acids

 

       That’s why it’s an antinomy.

*Pelagius* (pë-‘lā-jē-ës, 350-420), taught that the human will, tempered in good deeds and rigorous asceticism, was sufficient to live a sinless life.

He told his followers that right action on the part of human beings was all that was necessary for salvation.

To him, the grace of God was only an added advantage; helpful, but in no way essential.

Pelagius disbelieved in original sin, but said that Adam had condemned humankind through bad example, and that Christ’s good example offered humanity a path to salvation, not through sacrifice, but through instruction of the will.

*Semi-Pelagianism* teaches that it is necessary for humans to make the first step toward God and then God will complete salvation.

Since humans are in a 50~/50, deal with God humans are responsible for continued relationship and sanctification.

In a practical sense humans are responsible period.

"To many, total abstinence is easier than perfect moderation."

Augustine, who fought Arians (Jesus created), Donatists (Diocletian unforgiveness), Manichaeans (Gnostic Universalists) and Pelagians.

*Arminianism*, due to the influence of John Wesley, is perhaps most prominent in the Methodist movement.

Humans are naturally unable to make any effort towards salvation, which is by grace alone and God allows his grace to be resisted by those unwilling to believe and salvation can be lost, as continued salvation is conditional upon continued faith.

Denominations leaning in the /Arminian/ direction include *Methodists*, (human) *Free Will Baptists*, *General *(atonement)* Baptists*, *Churches of Christ*, *Disciples of Christ*, *Church of the Nazarene*, *Seventh-day Adventists*, *Pentecostals*, and *Charismatics*.

Denominations leaning in the /Calvinist/ direction are *Particular *(atonement)* Baptists*, *Reformed *(theology)* Baptists*, *Presbyterians*, and (UCC) *Congregationalists*.

* *

*Anglicans* allow both views

 

The majority of *Southern Baptists* are Arminianist with an exception allowing for a doctrine of eternal security.

The majority of *Lutherans* hold to a third view of salvation and election that was taught by Philip Melanchthon.

þAntinomy over world

 

       God created through Jesus

       God loves

       Satan owns

       Come out

       Be a light in

 

þSo, back to the antinomy over *judging* – the Bible teaches us to examine~/judge our self, fellow believers, church leadership, the world around us and even God Himself.

 

1 Co 11.31

But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.

 

1 Co 5.12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders?

Do you not judge those who are within the church?

Mt 7.15&16 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16“You will know them by their fruits.

Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

 

1 John 4.1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2Co 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Mal 3:10“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.

Ps 9:8 And *He will judge the world* in righteousness;

He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.

Mt 7.1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.”

Ro 14.4 Who are you to judge the servant of another?

To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Ro 14.13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

 

1 Co 5.12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders?

Do you not judge those who are within the church?

Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

 

1 Corinthians 4:1-7 ~~ 4So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.

2Now it is required that those who have been *given a trust must prove faithful*.

3I *care very little* if I am *judged by you or by any human court*; indeed, *I do not even judge myself*.

4My *conscience is clear*, but that does not make me *innocent*.

It is the *Lord who judges* me.

5Therefore judge nothing before the *appointed time*; *wait* till the Lord comes.

He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.

At that time each will receive his praise from God. 6Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “*Do not go beyond what is written*.”

Then you will not take *pride* in one man over against another.

7For who makes you different from anyone else?

What do you have that you did not receive?

And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

The key can be found in Jesus’ words about being both *innocent and shrewd*.

þ*Matthew 10:16 ~~* “Behold (ijdou>), I send (ajposte>llw) you out as sheep (pro>baton) in the midst of wolves (lu>kov); so be shrewd (fro>nimov *= wise*)as serpents (o]fiv) and innocent (ajke>raiov *= pure~/unmixed*) as doves (peristera>).

Repent

Cannot be a Christian through osmosis you must choose Jesus.