Wednesday: Theology From “Above” or From “Below”
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 25th of December 2024
Read John 4:46-54. What problem brought the official to Jesus, and what was the real underlying issue here?
This man came to Jesus, the Light of the world, but he had made up his mind to believe only if Jesus healed his child. We could say this man’s theology was a “theology from below.” Theology from below sets rules and standards for God and His Word. Human ideas, as flawed and as limited and as subjective as they are, become the final authority on how people interpret the Word of God. What a dangerous trap to fall into!
Image © The Classic Bible Art Collection – Formerly Standard Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Theology “from above,” in contrast, responds by faith, with belief in God and His Word first (John 4:48; John 6:14-15; 2 Timothy 3:16). When the Bible is accepted by faith, it becomes its own interpreter. The worldview of Scripture, rather than the philosophy of the age, is the guide to understanding and interpreting Scripture. Human views must be subjected and subservient to the Word of God, and not the other way around.
We must believe the words of Scripture if we are to believe the words of Jesus (John 5:46-47). “ ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed’ ” (John 8:31, NKJV). If we doubt God’s Word, His Word cannot abide in us (John 5:38). “ ‘He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak’ ” (John 12:48-49, NKJV).
To hear God’s Word is more than a passive intake of information. It means also to do God’s will. And this is the active response to hearing the Word. “ ‘If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority’ ” (John 7:17, NKJV).
And this hearing, and doing, of God’s Word is an expression of love for 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’ ” (John 14:23, NKJV).
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What is the relationship between our love for Jesus and obedience? Why is any kind of “obedience” not based on love in danger of being legalism? |
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Sometimes Seventh-day Adventists are obedient because we want to go to heaven and receive eternal life. And in many respects that is the same sort of theology that the nobleman displayed. I call it cargo-cult Christianity. We are in it to get something out of it. Now I am not saying that we should not have that hope, but our Christianity should grow beyond just wanting that hope fulfilled into the practical reality of the present.
If we can jump out of the Gospel of John to Matthew we find that his Gospel mentions, "The Kindom of Heaven" about 30 times. Many of those citations come with the extension, "The Kingdom of Heaven is as hand." That does not sound like future fulfillment. It is here now, and part of our responsibility is to share that kingdom now.
That brings me back to the memories of my friend Paul Rankin, whom I mentioned yesterday. We discussed the Kingdom of Heaven many times while we were waiting for birds to come and perform for our cameras. It wasn't just a point of discussion; Paul put the "Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" into practice with his work on healthy living and in the community through the ADRA Op Shop. His idea of the kingdom was to be part of it happening in the present.
If we believe we are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven now, we must act like citizens now and make a difference in the lives of those around us now.
By this shall all men know ...
What is theology? How does the “correct” theology enhance one's spirituality? Are there examples in the Bible with right and wrong theologies? What was their outcomes?
At its rudimentary understanding, theology is an attempt to learn or study about, His nature, how He relates with what He created, human experiences and beliefs. This attempt is critical because it will influence one’s views, responses, behaviour, actions and importantly about life itself. This is not a mere academic or intellectual endeavour but should be a sincere search have a personal relationship with the One who created life. We the Seventh Day Adventists affirm that our foundational source of our theology is the Bible and the Bible only. Any other materials or resources are only attempting to throw some little light to the main source, the Bible. Our Fundamental Beliefs captures the essence of our theology as Seventh Day Adventists (SDA). In a broad spectrum these fundamental beliefs make an attempt to highlight God, mankind, salvation, Christian living and the time of the end. There are several Bible texts which captures biblical theology (2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 1:1-5, John 14:6, Romans 1:16-17, Matthew 22:37-40 and Isaiah 55:8-9).
Does it really matter what kind of theology one subscribes to? Yes, it does! One’s understanding about who is God, creation, source of life, sin, the state of the dead, truth, etc, will enhance a person’s spirituality. Spirituality is not simply about religious beliefs but the conviction to have a personal connection with something outside self which brings real meaning to life. Unless one understands the source of life, one cannot ascribe its meaning. Correct theology is very foundational in the following aspects of one’s life:
1.Setting of priorities – Matthew 6:33
2.Value system (ethical behaviour) – Romans 12:2
3.Enhance spiritual growth – one’s prayer life, worship, bible study, obedience (Colossians 1:9-10)
4.Faith – having the right understanding of who God is, will promotes one’s faith. Particularly knowing that God is faithful (Thessalonians 3:3, Deuteronomy 32:40
5.Relationship with God – how can one have a relationship with a God whom you do not know? (Romans 10:14-15)
In the Bible, Abraham is an example of one who had the right (correct) theology. He trusted God because he knew who God was. Abraham obeyed and trusted God’s promises. He knew God as a faithful God. Abraham was fully convicted of the nature of God because he had a personal relationship with Him (Genesis 15:6). On the other hand, the Children of Israel had a wrong theology when they made a golden calf to represent God who carried them from Egypt as on the eagles’ wings. Idolatry is false theology.
Theology should impact our way of life. How we relate with our fellow human beings. How we treat nature (environment). Our hope beyond the grave. Even so, how we face the challenges of this life.
"Sometimes Seventh-day Adventists are obedient because we want to go to heaven and receive eternal life." Yes that is obedience based on, "we are in it by what we can get out of it."
I believe though that a desire to go to heaven is a start in our relationship. You notice that Jesus healed the nobleman's son in spite to his belief based on action by Christ. Maybe Christ knew something that we did not know, or at least He saw a potential for redemption. Be that as it may, that was the noblemans starting in a believing relationship with Christ, I do believe. It was a start in his growing into Christ.
Steps to Christ says:
Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, "Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee." This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ. Steps to Christ 70.1
Yes we step out of a self relationship and into a loving relationship with our eyes on Christ and as we draw our eyes to a constant gaze on Christ of what He does, and has done for all mankind, our focus grows into a relationship, not of we are in it for what we can get out of it, rather a relationship of consecration to Christ and others. This is the process of growing into Christ. The song says. Give me Jesus, you can have all this world, just give me Jesus. A daily growing in Christ. We now become the Seventh-day-Adventist that Maurice and the lesion is pointing us to be.
There is nothing wrong with being heaven bound with a burning desire to have eternal life. Fixing our eyes on the mark is what helps us grow in Christ. What is the mark, the gift of salvation, the gift of eternal life, found in Jesus Christ our Lord.
I think we're being a bit hard on the Roman. There were many "messiahs" in Israel during this time period. Should each one have been believed just because they said they were THE messiah? The miracles Jesus performed were to demonstrate his "God powers" and to differentiate himself from all of the others who claimed to be THE Messiah.
"I believe, help my unbelief."
According to 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." This affirms the divine authority and transformative power of Scripture. However, for this truth to be truly effective in a person's life, it must be embraced through faith and lived out in love.
Jesus emphasized the foundation of this transformative faith when He taught His disciples the greatest of all commandments: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" - Matthew 22:37-40.
By prioritizing love for God and others, we align our lives with the essence of Scripture, allowing its teachings to shape us for righteousness and good works. Jesus came into the world to show us the Love the Father has for His children. It is this Love which is to become the foundation of all our communication with our heavenly Father and our fellow man - John 14:23.
Thank you all for the comments.
I am looking for a further meaning of the discussed terms "below" and "above" in the words of Jesus (John 8:23).
Jesus said to Nicodemus: "No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man" (John 3:13). Jesus is alluding to the book of Daniel, where the Son of man is above in heaven (Daniel 7:13-14). Elija was taken into heaven by a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11). Henoch was taken up into heaven by God himself (Genesis 5:24). But no one of them ascended into heaven as Jesus did. His ascension is his unique way to the right hand of the Father, above. Jesus is from above. Only he, who has descended from heaven, is able to ascend unto the throne of God, the Father (John 3:13).
This underlines the uniquness of his ascension after his death on the cross and resurrection. His descension has not the purpose to destroy the world, but to save it from sin by faith in him (John 3:16-17).
Below is this world, fallen into sin, ruled by the prince of this world, condemned and judged by the cross and ultimately cast out and condemned as the murder of the Son of God (John 12:31-32). The co-operators at the cross are ambraced by the grace of God in Christ Jesus, when at Pentecost, confronted with the fact that they had crucified their Messiah, they repented, were baptised and became members of the first christian church. Even the apostel Paul later was converted, as we know. There is grace and salvation from the world below. Hope was never crucified at the cross. The resurrection of Christ and his ascension into heaven above is the foundation of our hope. The gospel of John leaves us with this insight.
Winfried Stolpmann