The Unholy Trinity I. Introduction A. We often speak of the "crisis of faith" in our times 1. More people than ever in the United States 2. And yet church attendance and participation either constant or declining! 3. We often speak of circumstances where people have entirely lost faith, are atheists, entirely opposed to Christians and the faith B. Such people do exist-- but they are in the minority 1. Statistics show that maybe 2-9% of the population is atheist 2. Others may believe in God but have some hostile feelings toward Christianity and/or Christians-- yet such not more than 20% of the population, maximum! C. Other statistics show the prevalence of belief in America 1. About 82% or so of Americans believe in Jesus; only slightly fewer (78%) accept the premise that Jesus was raised from the dead 2. So what about these people? 3. No doubt a good percentage are part of some denominational organization, active in assembling 4. Yet many others believe without being active in any church D. What's going on? How can so many profess belief in Jesus without coming to a full understanding of the truth and what it requires? E. Many reasons involved, but one of them involves what we will call the "unholy trinity" F. What is the "Unholy Trinity"? 1. The unholy trinity is the combination of three doctrines that are perceived by people that helps explain the greater prevalence of belief than true faith 2. Doctrine #1: faith only 3. Doctrine #2: ecumenism 4. Doctrine #3: once saved, always saved G. Let us consider the components of the unholy trinity and their result, individually and cumulatively II. Faith Only A. Origins 1. "Faith only" comes out as a distortion of Paul's doctrine of justification by faith during the Reformation 2. Paul: all people sinful, by their own efforts or merits not able to be justified, able to atone themselves for their sins (cf. Romans 1-3) 3. Yet whereas Paul understood that belief in Jesus demands obedience in faith (Romans 1:5, 2:5-11, 6:1-23), his concept of justification by faith over-extended to become justification by faith alone 4. Over-reaction by Luther, Calvin et al to works-based salvation schemes of the Roman Catholicism of the day 5. In "faith only," man unable to do anything in regards to salvation; God provides the means of salvation in Jesus, provides the faith to be saved, provides the growth through the Spirit, etc. 6. Flatly contradicted by Acts 2:36-38, Romans 6:1-23, 1 Peter 1:22, etc. B. Modern Teachings 1. Protestant, Evangelical preachers teach in churches, on the television and Internet, etc., that all people need to do to be saved is to believe that Jesus is the Christ 2. Most provide a suggested prayer-- the "sinner's prayer"-- that allows "converts" to "accept Jesus into their hearts" 3. Such people are taught that God did everything and they are thus not responsible for anything 4. While righteous living-- avoiding sin, clinging to the good-- is suggested and strongly encouraged, there is no imperative, since demands for obedience would be adding "works" to salvation C. Implications 1. This "cheap grace" is very enticing and seductive! 2. All you need to do is believe, say a quick prayer, and it is yours-- no strings attached! 3. It also stands as a disincentive to true growth and discipleship since there is no mandate or imperative for growth and change 4. Many have contact with this through television or conversations with others or past church experience-- they feel no need to go to church or to have anything to do with religion since they believe and that, as they have been taught, is all they need to do D. Therefore, if all you need to do is believe, why bother with anything else in Christianity? III. Ecumenism A. Origins 1. Ecumenism has two main strands-- overall ecumenism and Evangelical ecumenism 2. Since the "Second Great Awakening" in the middle of the nineteenth century, many of the Evangelical groups made uneasy peace with each other 3. The particular disagreements between Methodists, Baptists, Holiness churches, and such like remained, but the groups would not condemn each other, even as most remained uncomfortable with Catholicism and mainline Protestant groups 4. Around 1910 the impulse for other denominations to attempt to either work out differences or to find common ground led to ecumenical meetings 5. Ecumenism has never been about a restoration to the truth of the Gospel as revealed in the New Testament; instead, distinctive doctrines are relegated to perceived "matters of liberty" while emphasis is placed on matters of agreement, now deemed the "essentials" 6. Too bad that the list of "essentials" versus "liberty" was not established by Biblical precedent (Romans 14:17, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Galatians 1:6-9) B. Modern Teachings 1. While there remain some voices that make stands for doctrinal truth, most "Christian" denominations have embraced ecumenism 2. Differences between denominational groups are minimized; the "Baptist church" versus the "Methodist church" or the "Lutheran church" is reckoned like the "church in Corinth" or the "church in Rome" or the "church in Jerusalem" 3. Anyone who resists ecumenism is considered divisive, working against unity in the faith 4. Conversion efforts are, on the whole, entirely devoted to those not part of any "Christian" organization; it is considered bad form to proselytize members of other denominations C. Implications 1. While ecumenism has led to greater "acceptance" and "tolerance" for members of churches of Christ, it also negates the call for restoration of the New Testament church and the importance of following the true Gospel 2. While many believers would never understand the word ecumenism or the ecumenical movement, they will tell you that "all Christians are the same" 3. Since "everyone is the same," doctrinal differences do not really matter 4. Therefore, we have doctrinal relativism to a degree-- you have your doctrines, I have my doctrines, and we can "agree to disagree" 5. Thus, according to ecumenism, there is no real need to come to a shared understanding of the truth-- each denomination has its unique "contribution" to the "greater church," and so each has its "value" D. If all churches are the same, what need is there to explore New Testament Christianity? IV. Once Saved, Always Saved A. Origins 1. An offshoot of faith only 2. As "once saved, always saved" advocates say, if you did nothing to obtain salvation, there is nothing that you can do to lose it 3. Specifically a permutation of Calvinism-- the final piece of the Calvinist system is that God will maintain His saints and that they cannot fall away 4. In Calvinism, there are some who prove to have never been redeemed, and thus fall away 5. In nineteenth century preaching, concepts like unconditional election, irresistible grace, and limited atonement did not work well-- all but excised 6. Thus, once saved, always saved-- if you believe, and accept Jesus into your heart, you are saved no matter what 7. A theologically half-baked argument with faulty premises-- the problem is evident whenever you corner someone about a Christian who is in gross sin 8. Flatly denied by Hebrews 3:12-14, 6:4-6, 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:20-22, and many other passages 9. Granted, "if saved, barely saved" no better of a doctrine-- believers can have assurance in their standing before God if they continue to seek Jesus' path (1 John 1:5-5:21) B. Modern Teachings 1. Another prevalent doctrine of Evangelical preachers, heard in churches and in media 2. They will say that the believer cannot be separated from God's love and that believers are saved no matter what may come 3. Some take it to ridiculous extremes-- agnostics and atheists who have rejected Jesus but who believed when younger will still be saved! C. Implications 1. A doctrine perhaps even more seductive and comforting than faith only! 2. A powerful drug: no matter what happens, no matter what you do, you're saved 3. It remains another powerful disincentive to growth in faith or even concern about truth 4. Why bother being moral if you're saved no matter what? 5. Literally having one's cake and eating it too: one can be just like the world, not really giving anything up, and still be saved 6. People often hear this message from churches, preachers, friends, or media-- since they believe in Jesus, live in a "Christian nation," God's new chosen nation, America, they feel fine and are saved no matter what! D. Why bother investing any effort into faith, religion, or Christ if you are saved no matter what? V. The Implications of the Unholy Trinity A. As bad as each element of the unholy trinity is, when put together, it is truly a Satanic design against humanity! B. No matter what argument we may produce, one or more of the ugly heads of the unholy trinity rear forth! C. If we proclaim the need to obey Jesus and to do His will to be saved, we will hear about faith only in response D. If we emphasize the specific truths of the New Testament about the nature of the New Testament church, and how any other organization is unauthorized, we are told that all Christians are the same, thanks to ecumenism E. If we try to address the eternal consequences of our actions and our faith, people proclaim "once saved, always saved" in response F. Ultimately, the Gospel of Jesus Christ remains unheeded because it represents an entirely different paradigm-- and one fraught with more difficulty and uncertainty-- than what the unholy trinity proclaims! 1. Emphasis on obedience and baptism is strange to the ears of those who have heard about faith only and once saved, always saved 2. Distinctives in doctrine are strange to ecumenical ears 3. Why one church is better than another church, why it is so important to follow God's word, why we must conform to the image of Christ, why our salvation is at stake when it comes to what we believe and teach and do-- all foreign to those believing faith only, ecumenism, and once saved, always saved 4. It is a lot easier to believe that all Christians are the same, all we need to do is believe, and we are saved no matter what-- much easier, more comforting, less controversial G. Thus the god of this world has blinded millions to the reality of their condition (2 Corinthians 4:4)! 1. Faith only does not save, never has, never will (James 2:14-26) 2. Paul's warnings to the Galatians and Corinthians and John's to the churches of Asia are nonsensical if "all churches are the same" and if "we are all the same" (Galatians, 2 Corinthians, Revelation 2-3) 3. Far too many believing in once saved, always saved are going to learn too late that faith alone was not enough-- they had to be doing the will of the Father also (Matthew 7:21-23)! VI. Conclusion A. Perhaps the reason why so many profess belief yet are not part of the true faith is more clear now B. The satanically designed unholy trinity does well at blinding their eyes and making their hearts deaf to truth! 1. Why obey if faith alone is sufficient? 2. Why care about doctrine if we are all the same? 3. Why worry about Christianity if once you're saved, you're saved no matter what? C. The truth is harder but ultimately all that can save D. Let us stand firm for God's truth, proclaim His true Gospel to all, and strive to conform to the image of the Son! E. Invitation/songbook