Karl Barth (1886-1968) was arguably the most influential theological
thinker of the twentieth century. In "The Absurdity of Unbelief," Jeffrey D.
Johnson wrote that, according to Barth, faith in Christ is somehow independent
of His words and teachings:
- It is not faith in a document [the Bible] but faith in a living person that saves. It is the moment that we believe through the power of the Holy Spirit that the life, death, and resurrection of Christ effectually means something to us. Thus, according to Barth, knowledge of God comes by experiencing a personal relationship with Christ Jesus through faith.
Yes, salvation has to begin with the work of the Spirit. However, this is
not a work that takes place independent of the Word of God, as Paul had
written:
- How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15 NIV)
Emerging from theological liberalism and skepticism about the complete
inspiration of the Bible, Barth wrongly attempted to separate God from His Word,
as many today do.
Instead, if we have faith in God, we have faith in Him through what He has
revealed in His Word. We do not have the liberty to recreate God according to
our own philosophy or proclivities. Paul regarded those who present a different
gospel as “accused” (Galatians 1:9). However, to abide by the Gospel of the
Scriptures is to be blessed:
- “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him...If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.” (John 14:21, 23-24 ESV)
Likewise, to rebel against God is to rebel against His Word, as the Prophet
Samuel charged the disobedient King Saul:
- “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king." (1 Samuel 15:23)
Consequently, to honor God is to honor His Word, the Truth of God. The two
cannot be separated. To illustrate this point further, God reprimanded King
David, following his sins of adultery and murder, claiming that when he despised
His Word, David simultaneously despised God:
- “Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.”(2 Samuel 12:9-10)
While we can love our wives in many ways - cooking a meal, buying a gift,
taking her out, or by cleaning the house - there is only one way that we can
love God, and that is by keeping His Word. This truth permeates the entire Bible
like salt dissolved in soup:
- “These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life...These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:1-2, 6-7)
Therefore, the consequences of degrading or disregarding His Word are
always serious:
- “Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.” (Deuteronomy 6:3)
It is through faith in the words of the Gospel He communicated to us
through the Bible that we are saved. Therefore, to reject this Word is to reject
God and His salvation; to receive it is to be saved:
- “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)
To love God is to obey His words. Scripture offers no
alternatives.
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