Being Church: Missionally Shaped

Many inkwells have been spilt when it comes to writing commentaries on the passage of John 3:16. To put four theologians in a room together and discuss the exegetical and theological analysis on this passage alone, one would conclude seven different responses. It seems, when evaluated thoroughly, there are two basic theological circles, which ultimately seek to hermeneutically respond to this passage of scripture. Largely because of their exegetical predecessors, these theological circles have shaped the minds of many individuals and build supporters that will build upon the doctrines that have been ingrained in them. The individuals spoken of here, in this context, are Charles G. Finney and B.B. Warfield. These two great theological minds are divided on how this passage should be interpreted. This paper will compare Charles Finney’s “God’s Love for a Sinning World” and B.B. Warfield’s “God’s Immeasurable Love.” Secondly, this paper will respond biblically and critically with each in respects to its translation from the Greek New Testament. Finally, this paper would conclude with a formative response to the position best fitting the text and makes the most logical analysis of the passage respectively.

God’s Love for a Sinning World:

‘The Oberlin Evangelist’ was the official publication of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio and published bi-weekly between the years of 1839-1862. Charles Finny, as the President of Oberlin College, made it a point to write his lectures, sermons, letters and articles in this publication to intrigue the minds of his student body. “God’s Love for a Sinning World” was written in ‘The Oberlin Evangelist’ on June 22, 1853.

Finney asserts in his opening statement, “Sin is the most expensive thing in the universe… Pardoned or unpardoned… Pardoned, the cost falls chiefly on the great atoning substitute; unpardoned, it must fall on the head of the guilty sinner.” Finney wastes no time in getting to the focal point of the issue and asserts the violation of sin in respects to the law of YHWH. Laying this significant foundation, Finney then states the resulting factor of the necessary vicar, Jesus Christ, who makes Himself a voluntary offering. Finney drives this point asserting, “It began with the Infinite Father. He made the first great donation… and having given him first, He freely gives all else that the exigencies of the case can require.” His declaration is a bold indication that it was of God’s predestinate foreknowledge and authority that unashamedly and freely gave His Son into the hands of flesh and sin and through this act of God’s willingness, freely gives all people an ability reverse the sentence of damnation and eternal hell and have the capability to be reinstated fully into the presence of God. Finney continues building upon this notion stating the “short method” of excommunicating humanity as God had done to certain angels who have “kept not their first estate” but “changed his course” as so to allow humanity to be brought “back to obedience and heaven.” Therefore, as Finney write, “God so love the world.”

Switching his focus, Finney then deals with “the elect.” He allegorically asserts a parable of a man and a will from God to “the elect.” Finney states, “No living man can claim under such a will, and none the better though these elect.” He further states, “If the atone were made in this way, no living man would have any valid reason for believing himself one of the elect, prior to his reception of the gospel. Hence he would have no authority to believe and receive its blessings by faith. In fact the atonement must be wholly void—on this supposition—unless a special revelation is made to the persons for whom it is intended.” Finney sees the elect as a group of people, chosen to receive an abundance of riches given to an heir or descendent of a deceased relative who, written on a will, is given ownership of possessions left behind or invested. The only problem with this, which is expressed by Finney himself, is that the term “elect” does not expressively name a people group, which, Finney says, would make the will null and void. Limited atonement is not seen in Finney’s theology and responds that since humanity stems from Adam, therefore humanity is entitled to receive God’s will as members of “the world.” In this, Finney states, “Beyond a question it was love and regard for the highest good of the universe that lead him to sacrifice his own beloved Son.”

Changing the focus from the elect to the nature of God’s love, which Finney states is “so wonderful and so peculiar in its character,” he states, in nine points, the reason God did not save all the world by this nature but allow His son to be executed. The basics of these nine points are centered on the love of God the Father and the “intended meaning” of this love the Father shows. Stating clearly that this love is not just an emotional feeling, some kind of anthropomorphic feeling alone rather it includes “a blend the deepest compassion.” Finney also states from the perspective of Christ, “He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” In this, Christ died for the brethren; an interesting thought that assumes Christ had to make a decision to die and chose his execution. Not because God had a foreknowledge of salvation history which ultimately, the Bible teaches and asserts throughout its pages. Finney continues saying that the love of God is zealous, a most self-denying one, universal and a patient one. Being that “God never frets- is never impatient. His love is so deep and so great that he is always patient.” Finding this to be such an interesting statement solely because it almost takes away the fear of the Lord from the people of God. It is the fear of the Lord that is required for our salvation to be sure (Philippians 2:12). It is with this fear and trembling Paul speaks of, one is able to have confidence in their salvation. That is, if one takes such statements from Paul seriously, which seems to be the underlining reason why many “Christians” fall away from the faith. Finney’s final statement within these nine points is that God has a jealous love. This love, unlike humanity’s understanding of jealously, is rooted in a desire to “promote each other’s true interests.”

Finney then moves to a few remarks, which give insight to the above points made. He states, “The Bible teaches that sinners may forfeit their birthright and put themselves beyond the reach of mercy;” stating the Jews killed Jesus of Nazareth. To entertain such a bombastic statement would to be to forget crucifixion was a Roman practice and only allowed to be preformed by the Roman Guard of the Courts. Putting Finney’s statement aside, he asserts the possibility of not accepting grace from God.

Finney ends is positional sermon stating that, “So the door of salvation is opened always—fastened open, and no man can shut it—not the Pope, even, nor the devil, nor any angel from heaven or from hell. There it stands, all swung back and the passage wide open for every sinner of our race to enter if he will.” He continues saying, “Finally God wants volunteers to help on this great work. God has given himself, and given his Son, and send his Spirit; — but more laborers still are needed; and what will you give?” Finney ends fully supporting the view of unlimited atonement and believes that any one person is able to “volunteer” for the ministry of God or, has the ability to throw away his/her birthright and allow someone else to take his or her place. Finney is not the only one who holds such beliefs as many have come after him to pick up the baton and run further, creating other doctrines and theology from Finney’s and other’s like him.

God’s Immeasurable Love:

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield was born near Lexington, Kentucky, in 1851. Unlike his younger brothers, who memorize the Shorter Catechism at the age of six, B.B. Warfield’s interests were in the area of science. After graduating with high honors from the College of New Jersey, B.B. Warfield wrote to his parents, that he was to enter into ministry training at Princeton University. After three years of study, he furthered his study at Leipzig. After this time, he became a professor of New Testament at Western Seminary in Pennsylvania. His last 33 years, he continued to teach as the professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology at Princeton until the date of his death in February 1921.

His writings included a variety of areas of Theology, which have been published in journals and used to this day as cited works in a variety of higher educational thesis. One of his thesis, “God’s Immeasurable Love,” is a positional essay on the interpretation of John 3:16. As one will quickly see within the contextual authorship of Warfield’s paper, it greatly contrasts the writing of Charles Finney; almost a 360 direction.

Warfield’s assertion truly starts with the statement, “but the ‘world’ that he love enough, after giving his Son for it, powerfully to move upon with his quickening Spirit and graciously to lead into the offered salvation. This is the “world” of God’s elect. It was these whom God loved before the foundation of the world with a love beyond all expression…” The “elect” would then be essentially a remnant of the world population, which God the Father calls, the elect. The elect here also does not mean solely on the Jewish population. The Gentile population (from every tongue, tribe and nation) would have a remnant that would be included into the “world.” Warfield rewrites John 3:16 then to read this way, “And the declaration that God so loved the world—not Israel exclusively, but the world-that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever-from every nation, not from the Jews merely-should believe on him should have eternal life.” This is a profound statement, asserting that the world does not include every living person on the world rather, a remnant not solely from a Jewish heritage, are chosen by God to receive eternal life. It brings thoughts of worry and concern to those who are “saved” if they are apart of this election of God’s saving grace. This is where the verse from Philippians 2:12 is able to make restitution to the worry that is set in. It is God who gives a Spirit of fear and trembling to those whom God has drawn into His presence. Salvation is made sure through the atoning work of Christ.

Warfield then breaks down the John 3:16 Text. Picking three of the most important words from this Scripture, Warfield chooses “God,” “loved,” “the world.” He states that it is this God that loves. Though this statement at first does not strike a spark of amazement, Warfield states, “It is enough for us that a God without emotional life would be a God without all that lends its highest dignity to personal spirit whose very being is movement, and that is as much as to say no God at all. And it is more than enough for us that our text assures us that God loves, nay, that he is Love.” Warfield takes his understanding of 1 Corinthians 13 and applies that “love” within the text of John 3:16. It is that “love” that is spoken here in this passage and that love that saves.

Warfield fights with the statement that God loved the world due to the fact, as he asserts, “There is nothing in it that can attract God’s love-nay, that can justify the love of any good man.” Being that there is so much evil within the world and God calls us to not love the world because we are not of the world; that we are set apart from the world and set above the world to enjoy the Kingdom of God for eternity. God then sent his Son to do either one of two things. Either Christ was sent to this earth to judge the world, and the sin, which filled the earth or, he desired to save the world. Warfield writes in his sermon, “You will perceive that what we have here then is, in effect, but John’s way of saying what Paul says when he tells us that “God commended his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).” For the same reason God, in His righteousness chose Israel over any other nation, it was because God loved them because He, Himself is love. There is nothing about us, either fleshly or spiritually, God loves outside of his own Spirit that dwells in us. Rather it is because he loves us because He is love. It shoots down the pride and ego of the world and humbles humanity to realize God loves because He is love; that if He did not love, He would not be God because God is love. Love is the agent that He uses to draw those whom He has “elected” to Himself.

Continuing his argument within the context of this love God shows, Warfield states, “It would be possible to believer that such a love as this terminates equally and with the same intent upon each and every man who is in “the world,” only if we may at the same time believe that it works out its end completely and with full effect on each and every man.” Warfield brings up a great point that needs to be evaluated seriously. Taking just a moment to consider this point, it can be asserted that Warfield states that God loves everything that he created. Throughout Scripture, God hated mankind and wondered why He had even created them in the first place. He brought about a flood that destroyed every living creature in the sea and on the earth except eight people who were kept safe in the protection of the Lord Almighty in an ark that would float for forty days and nights. He also stated that He loved Jacob and hated Esau. God hates sin and he hates Satan who is determined to destroy what He had made “very good” and pervert it into evil. To say that God loves the “whole world” equally, would assume God loves these things as much as He loves those whom He has chosen to be His children and heirs of His eternal Kingdom.

Finally Warfield builds his argument of “the world.” He states, “… They are themselves “the world”—not the world as it is in its sin, lying in the evil one, but the world in its promise and potency of renewed life.” God is saving the world by a process, which involves recreating humanity. Revelation speaks of a new heaven and a new earth. It also says that humanity will be newly clothed in white and given new bodies. The Hebrew word, barah, refers simply to making something out of nothing. It is this word here that the Scriptures use in reference to what it is; the Holy Spirit does through humanity when it dwells within a member of the body of Christ. It is God that writes the names of those whom He has chosen in the Lamb’s book of life and ushers the remnant of His people into the glory of eternity.

The Exegetical Conclusion:

Could it be possible that the original language of the New Testament could give any form of credit to either Charles Finney’s positional sermon or B.B. Warfield’s? The Greek text does in fact seem to push the position of B.B. Warfield in favor over the sermon of Finney. When searching the Greek for any exegetical insight, The Greek word “ινα,” which normally refers to the English phrase “so that,” refers more to the English phrase “in order that.” This significantly changes the translation of John 3:16 to, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him should not perish but should have eternal life.” It is a little thing in respects to the passage but nonetheless is important for understanding the meaning of the text and how one should assess the passage. Another thought is the word “believes.” This word is placed in the present tense form not only in the English but also in the Greek. From a Greek foundational study, a present tense word, such as “believes,” also carries with it, a continual feel; a continuous action of belief. This note of interest slides the balance in favor of B.B. Warfield who provides clear and distinctive assertion to an on-going focus of believing.

The main issue lays within the context of the passage and the meaning of what the author of the verse, who seems to be aimed more at John writing than Jesus speaking, desired its meaning to assert. It is quite hard for one to truly grasp either one without studying the word and within the context of the passage, separate what the passage says and what humanity reads into the passage. Within in all humanity there lays presuppositions to every theological and exegetical thought under the sun. The position that best fits the passage of John 3:16 the best would be B.B. Warfield. He expresses many underlining issues and exegetes the text fully and concise, giving thorough explanation in the respects of context and Scriptural continuity. It is within this sermon; B.B. Warfield seems to give hope to those who are of God. He also shifts the glory from humanity back to God who, in all circumstances, deserves to receive the glory and honor and praise He is due for bringing about salvation for the world. The world, which has been predetermined from the beginning of time and is given the greatest blessing of God the Father in its fullness; eternal forgiveness and acceptance into God’s eternal presence. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him should not perish but should have eternal life.

On Sunday nights, my family and I have been watching “The Big Give.” People are given different sums of money to give to those who are in need of different types of blessings. Each show has convinced me more and more that there are those out there who want to give and oftentimes don’t simply because they are not sure how to give or even what the needs in their community are. The more I thought about this show and what they do, the more I have been personally challenged with a “Big Give” of my own.

I have been challenged to figure out how I can aid in meeting a need for a very special family in my church community. This family truly gives of themselves in almost every way possible. They are the Hiestand family and they have a very unique story:

For the past year and a half or so, Todd and his wife, Melanie had been pursuing a formal adoption of a young child from Guatemala. The long process for this family has taken them on a rollercoaster of emotions of every kind you could think of. The greatest praise to report is that they have brought this young child home from Guatemala to be their son. Mason Carlos Hiestand has brought an unspeakable joy to our church community with his arrival and his beautiful smile.

With such a great praise, there is also a great prayer request. Adoption is not cheap. In the case of the adopting of Masion from Guatemala the cost is no different. The adoption process has cost 25,000.00. By God’s grace, many families and individuals who have heard their story have given generously to their need but there is still a great amount of this financial burden to be paid – 13,000.00 to be exact. Todd and Melanie believe that God is their provider and believe that God is going to help them financially in paying this debt off. Still, the need exists for them to pay it off. In doing so, a large weight of worry and stress will fall from their shoulders and they will be able to move on as a family in serving God and others. As I have already said, this has become a great challenge to me, as I have personally befriended this family and have come to know and love them as brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Todd and Melanie have not asked for a “financial blessing” from our church. You see, Todd is our lead pastor and does not want to place any form of burden on our congregation. In talking with Todd, he said that if there were those who wanted to figure out ways to help meet this need, he and his wife would accept our generosity and support but he did not want it to come from the pulpit – I completely respect that.

With that, I am asking for your help in a couple of ways:

1. Pray for the Hiestand Family: Todd, Melanie, Cole, and Mason. That God would continue to bring them closer together as a family bonded by the love of God.

2. I am asking for those of you who read this site to provide unique ideas in ways we as a community of believers can help in supporting Todd and Melanie with this financial need.

3. Finally, please pray about supporting Todd and Melanie in their efforts to dissolve their adoption debt. Every little bit helps. Any gift large or small, is a blessing and will be greatly appreciated.  If you are interested in giving to this need, please let me know through email in how I can contact you personally.  Thank you in advance for your generous support!

Thank you so much for your prayers. Thank you for your heart. Thank you for your support. God bless you all as you continue to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is truly worthy of all our praise. Amen.

One thing I love about going to Philadelphia to serve the homeless is you don’t know what God is going to do while you are there. Some nights, you might meet 30 people who are looking for sandwiches and coffee while nights like tonight, you might only meet five people – and that is okay. That was our experience tonight. We a small group, we traveled to Philadelphia to serve the homeless. Somehow, I ended up being the only guy in the group. I don’t have a problem with that at all but I would have to say that was the first time that has ever happened. What I like about having a smaller group is that it causes us to bond together a little more. When we have a ton of people, we are often scatterbrained and unfocused at times, creating more chaos than we want.

As we arrived at Love Park, there were only three guys there, all whom we had never seen before. But, for some apparent reason, they knew us and somehow knew we were coming with coffee and a bunch of paper brown bag lunches. One of the guys I met there was Bill. He said the main reason we have not seen him before was due to his hospital appointments. He apparently has diabetes and has needed several appointments lately because of certain medical issues that surround his current needs. With him, Jim and another guy talked amongst themselves about the weather and the election. Bill is looking to move back to Florida and be a cutter (painter person type job). They apparently pay great money down there and were only up here for a short spell to enjoy the city life. He had grown tired of it though and was ready to go back to Florida within the next couple of weeks.

We asked these guys where we should go, having at least another 15 lunches in our bags and two hot containers of coffee to share. They said to go over near the Subway and see if anyone was over there. Most people wouldn’t be they said, because of the incidents that have occurred over the past couple of weeks of people getting jumped or even killed in the subways. We went over there anyway to see if anyone was downstairs and would like something to eat.

When we went downstairs, we saw an older man in a wheelchair, going through a McDonalds logo trashcan. As we offered him something to eat, thinking he was looking for food, he just looked up at us and said, “Not hungry man – I am looking for something to go to the bathroom in. See they locked the doors to the bathroom and I need to do my thing – Know what I am saying?” I did. Unfortunately, we were not prepared to help this man out and he went on his way, looking through the other trashcans for something to “do his thing in.” Seeing that there was really no one downstairs, we decided to walk a couple of blocks over to the library. Looking at our watches though, it was 9:00 and thought instead that we would take another route to our car and pass out lunches to those we saw on our way back.

One man was talking to himself as he passed us. He was a taller man with gray hair. Seeing that he was homeless, we handed him a lunch and he just smiled, showing us he had no teeth to speak of. We continued walking. About another fifty feet later, we saw a ridiculously huge rat run from a trashcan, across the walkway in front of us, into a pile of bushes. That was not the first time I had seen such a thing. Nevertheless, it freaked me out – I am not a rodent fan at all.

As we were almost to our car, we saw a woman named Susie who was visibly tired of her day’s journey. As we offered her some food and coffee, three business people walked by and watched us as we gave her something to eat and drink. I do not know what they said to one another as they walked by us, but I could sense that they thought we were doing something wrong. But, trying to avoid any eye contact with Susie or us, they quickly walked past us to their cars and drove away. Susie was so thankful for such a simple act of love, that she gave us a hug and wished our family’s health and joy. That was the best thing anyone could have said. It was truly a beautiful expression.

Over the past several months, I have been going to the city to hang out with the homeless. I don’t know why I keep going back. The more I go, the more I feel compelled to go again to minister to these people who have been deemed “the untouchables” of our city. I love them though – all of them. And they need someone to love them – so I go and do what I can to be Jesus to them. Hopefully it means something to them as much as it does to me. It is truly an awesome blessing and joy.

I have not written in a week.  Every once in a while, I think it is important to not do something (fast from something) and so I decided to take some time off from writing.  I am back though.  God has been showing me some things in His Word that I am excited to share with you all.  In the next two weeks, I will be sharing these thoughts.  Today though, I will write on our service at The Well like normal.

This is a familiar passage most of us have read again and again.  It is the story of a Jewish man who is called to share the good news to the Gentiles.  This might not seem like a big deal to you or I but to a Jewish person, this was a ridiculous request and calling.  A Jewish person would have never talked to a Gentile.  They were scum and were not apart of the culture.  They were to be separate from everyone.  God gave this man a vision though – he was to preach the good news to these Gentile people.

So – when three men came to invite Peter to go, he went with them to a tanner’s house and began to share the good news.  While he was still speaking (which seems to happen a lot), the Holy Spirit falls upon the people in the house and they all begin speaking in tongues.  This was not what Peter was expecting to see.

What was Peter to do?  The Holy Spirit had fallen – could he prevent them from being baptized now that the Holy Spirit had fallen?  No.  So Peter baptized the Gentile people.

What does this mean for everyone concerned?  It means the Gospel has been opened more.  It means there is and should never be a division among the people concerning the Gospel of Jesus again.  It means that anyone is able to receive the truth of God’s Word.  This is a great promise we call can enjoy – Jew and Gentile alike.  There is no distinction.  This is the beautiful picture of the Gospel we can share in together.  How awesome is that?