What is the gospel? The gospel is good news.
Do you want to know what good news is? Well here’s some:
I just got word five hours ago that I passed my Thesis! (I got a B).
Which means…I passed all my classes!
In othe words, I just finished 20th grade! (Slow at math? 6 for grade school + 2 for Jr.High + 4 for high school + 4 for Bachelors + 4 for Masters = 20 years of school; i.e., 20th grade. … 21 if you count Kindergarten … 22 if you count pre-K. Yikes. No wonder I’m not up for a Doctorate.)
Anyway, the point is…I’m DONE!!!!!!
I’m so done, I won’t even be walking in the graduation ceremony on May 10. Instead, I’m going to spend that day with my family (they’ve barely seen me for three years!) at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival eating food, laughing, watching Dr. Kaboom, and talking more with Lance.
P.S. I’ll have more to say about my seminary experience after I officially graduate. Stay tuned.
Congratulations Jeremy. I take it from your previous post about Lance that you still hold to the FG view of faith/eternal life. If so, I’m glad you do. The reason I’m inquiring is because most people who follow the Social Science approach to the NT are spreading the same hopeless message of “losing” eternal life. They argue that pistis/pisteuo should be understood in the context of the client-patron relationship of the 1st century, turning God into a patron who’ll rip eternal life from your hands if you stop believing. I think you know that John 6:35-40 shows you can’t place God in the box of a 1st century patron. I think it’s great that you’ll be spending more time with Lance. It’s more important than the ceremony. I just hope you still preach the freeness of eternal life. Is this a fair inquiry on my part?
Doesn’t shame at the Judgment Seat still translate into loss of rewards?
Congratulations Jeremy on a job well done!!!
Praying for you and your wonderful family!!!
In Jesus’ love,
Diane
🙂
Danny,
Yes, I absolutely still hold to and teach the freeness of eternal life, as well as eternal security. Did something I write cause you to think that maybe I didn’t? I sure hope not!
Thanks for the encouragement about Lance. I hope I can continue this friendship with him, as well as begin to make more friends like him. For far too long, I have spent all my time studying and teaching about evangelism, and not enough time actually doing it.
Regarding the loss of rewards at the Judgment Seat, it seems that first century Christians would not have thought at all about such things. They wanted honor, not rewards. Someone could be rich and without honor, just as someone could be poor and honorable.
Certainly, many passages teach that rewards will be given, but this is only because doing so was a way to honor someone who deserved it.
But here is the real question: in the time when Jesus came, the primary social value was honor. People were motivated by honor. So this is what Jesus (and his followers) used to motivate people to follow him. Today, we are not motivated as much by honor, but by wealth. If Jesus were walking earth today teaching, would He still teach about honor (showing that striving for honor is better than striving for wealth), OR would He use the primary social value of today, and teach us to strive for eternal wealth?
Out of curiosity, where are you writing from?
Diane,
Thanks for the comment. You have been a great source of encouragement these past three years. Thank you!
Congrats, Jeremy. Time for a deep breath? Hurry now before the summer heat hits and the ozone makes you cough! I’m praying you find the right place – right where God puts you.
Blessings,
Missy