DOGMATISM: THE SIN OF ARROGANCE

Every born again Christian is in the process of becoming Christ-like through the work of the Holy Spirit (Phil. 1:6). I doubt that any would disagree, but when it comes to accepting that I, myself, have yet to arrive, now that is another matter. James wrote about how easy it is to forget our own imperfections while, at the same time, we insist on correcting others (James 1:18-26). Although I have been saved for forty years, perhaps the greatest thing I have learned is that I am still learning. What I was dogmatic about yesterday, has sometimes been wrong. Having had to "eat my words" has humbled me, and yet, I am afraid I am still prone to believing I am the one with all the answers. What a fool! How does God tolerate my arrogance?

Every Christian would agree that God knows everything about us, but it appears that not every Christian is aware that he does not know everything about God (1 John 3:2). I will be the first to admit that I do not understand the Trinity. I believe it, but I don't understand it. I do not understand why God loves everyone enough to die for them, knowing full well that most will reject His offer of forgiveness. I do not understand why God loves me; I have accepted Christ and yet I am so far from being Christ-like that I don't even love me! I cannot wait for the day when I actually am Christ-like and really know God even as I am known by Him!

Another doctrine that I do not understand is that Jesus was fully human, and yet, He was also fully Divine. It appears from Philippians 2:5-8 that Jesus "changed forms." He had been in the form of God, but He chose to take on the form of man. The text suggests that He was equal with God, but He "took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (v. 2:7). I am fully aware of the doctrine of the hypostatic union, but I certainly don't understand it. How can the Eternal die? Why did He not know the answer to His disciple's question (Mark 13:32)? Why did He pray? Why did He say to His Father, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" I can certainly guess, but I really don't know these answers.

There is a lot more about my Lord that I don't understand, than there is that I do know about Him. I do believe that Jesus was, is, and always will be God, and I also believe that as long as I am studying to show myself approved of God, He is pleased with me. At this stage in my understanding of God, I believe that when the sky turned dark, the earth quaked, and the veil was torn from top to bottom, my Lord and Savior was separated from the Father because of my sin. And being separated, He cried out trying to understand why, for the first and only time, He felt He was alone. It was at that point that I believe He said, "I thirst." My question to you is, Was He thirsting for water, or was He thirsting for righteousness? As long as He had my sin on Him, He was unrighteous. Jesus had taught that those lacking righteousness are blessed when they thirst for it (Matthew 5:6). I don't know when it was that He was "decontaminated" of my sin, but I believe the Resurrection proves He once again was the righteous, holy, perfect Son of Almighty God.

You will notice I used the phrase "I believe" many times in writing this. In the context where it is found above, it means "I think something is true, but I am not one hundred percent sure I am right." However, when I say, "I believe in Jesus Christ as my Creator, Savior, and Lord," I am one hundred percent sure that I am a child of God! John wrote, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (v. 3:16). In that sense, "I believe" means I have totally trusted in Jesus Christ. Thank you God for the faith to believe (Eph. 2:8-9)!