Introduction: Recently I heard a man use the phrase ‘kindergarten theology’ in a rather negative way. I don’t like the phrase except if used in the way that the healthy faith of a kindergarten child is good but needs to mature. If it is said relative to an older person there are, at least two issues to consider – has the person been taught well or is the individual mentally restricted or lazy – both teachers and individuals have responsibilities, the one to teach appropriately the other to respond and even to think! As you read these three passages think, ‘How does God speak, what does He say?’.
Deut 8: 2-8: And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. 7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, – How do God’s ‘words’ come to people’s ears, to their understanding? Through scripture only (Sola Scriptura)? (Romans 1: 18-20) Does God ‘speak’ through Creation, conscience, dreams, or other ways? Very definitely this passage says that if listened to there will be a result ‘So you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him.‘
Matt 4: 1-4: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – By quoting the passage from Deuteronomy it is certain that Jesus’ teaching didn’t replace the Old Testament commands.
Eph 2: 1-10 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Comment:– v1-3 Clearly states what the situation is for people for whom God doesn’t work a change – they are dead to God relationship wise! v4-7 Highlights what God’s Grace has done through Christ, because of some previous response by the readers. The big question is, ‘What is the response through which God has worked His Grace’? v8-10 are Paul’s (G0d’s?) explanation as to how it all works! 1. Red words clearly state that Salvation is a gift of God’s Grace entered into by Faith. 2. Brown words clearly state that isn’t our achievement or by works! 3. Blue words clearly show whether or not believers should be good or evil! To answer the question above – My summary of the day would be that Sola Scriptura clearly teaches that Fide Sola is correct but that this leads us so that we should live by Sola Scriptura – We become right with God by His Grace through Faith in order that, reconciled to God, we should to His glory be good people! Not ‘saved by faith and works’ but ‘saved by faith to good works’!
2 Corinthians 5: 20 – Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Prayer: Thank for Your gift of Grace, my Father, Almighty God!