Imagine that theologians, similar in their thinking to modern theologians, had been present at critical moments in biblical history. Suppose that these imaginary theologians had intervened in those stories. Consider how each story might have changed.
A Different Story for Jericho
Suppose Israelite theologians got hold of God’s plan to capture Jericho. Their faith in God’s power is absolute. They knew that God could see the genuine faith in their hearts. They honestly felt that marching around the wall could be misinterpreted as human “works.” Besides, God emphatically stated that He had already given Jericho to them (Joshua 6:2). Any action on their part would “add” to His work and could lead to human pride. With such sincere reasoning, they refused to march around Jericho. Instead, they prayed intensely for seven days. What do you think? In that scenario, would the walls have come down “by faith”?
For the inspired account of Jericho, see Joshua 6. For this course’s discussion about Nineveh, see Lesson “Early Insights from Successes”, Topic “Think about the First Conquest in Canaan”.
A Different Story for Ninevah
Suppose, after Jonah’s preaching, Nineveh’s theologians intervened. They learned that Yahweh was “a gracious God and merciful” (Jonah 4:2). They trusted God. They repented in their hearts. But deeds of repentance? That concept bothered them. The theologians taught that such deeds would grow eventually, as a “fruit” of justification, but that any reform would be impossible before salvation. Moreover, they forbade active reform, lest human “works” cancel out the work of grace. Instead of reforming, the Ninevites praised God for having saved them. Would such sincerity have stirred God’s compassion to spare Nineveh?
For the inspired account of Nineveh, see Jonah 3. For this course’s discussion about Nineveh, see Lesson “Early Insights from Successes”, Topic “Think about Gentile Successes”.
A Different Story for Naaman
Naaman thinks carefully—perhaps too carefully—about Elisha’s command to dip in the Jordan. Naaman reasons (as he did at first in the true story) that such a command is unworthy. His entourage includes a theologian who argues, “Immersion in water is unworthy of the God who can do the impossible without earthly means! It is also unworthy of you, Naaman, as a true believer in God’s power.” Besides, Naaman’s spiritual mind detects a very unspiritual element here. What could be less spiritually relevant than muddy river water? What could be more arbitrary than requiring seven baths? Naaman knows that God already sees pure, trusting faith in his heart. Any outward act now would amount to confidence in the flesh. So Naaman returns home, intensifying his trust and his prayers to Yahweh. Does Naaman receive his healing?
For the inspired account of Naaman, see 2 Kings 5. For this course’s discussion about Naaman, see Lesson “Early Insights from Successes”, Topic “Think about Naaman”.
A Different Story for Saul
As a theologian, Saul considered Ananias’ command for Saul to be baptized (Acts 22:16). Saul trusted God’s ability to see his contrite heart. He trusted Christ’s blood to remove sin. Saul, until recently a Pharisee, realized that activity could amount to human achievement. In fact, the more Saul thought, the more he became convinced that justification is by faith alone. Nothing humans do should be “added” to the finished work of the cross. In this view, any human action would be a return to legalism. Besides, God had already selected Saul to be a special witness (Acts 22:15), and God could not reverse His election. With such sincere reasoning Saul refused to be baptized. Instead he chose to return to his activity of the past three days. His calling on the Lord took the form of an invitation: “Jesus, come into my heart and forgive all my sins.” Does God, in answer to this prayer, wash away Saul’s sins?
Another Different Story for Saul
Saul, though a Jew, had been raised in the Gentile city of Tarsus. While Saul had grown up to be a leading Pharisee, he found certain gems of wisdom in that city’s Greek philosophy. After meeting Jesus on the Damascus road, Saul became more spiritually minded. Considering Ananias’ command about baptism, Saul realized that it ran counter to common sense. As the Greeks knew, the body has no real value. God is Spirit. His divine image is best reflected in man’s inner person. As the law and the prophets confirm, God looks, not at outward appearance, but at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God can see and accept the heart’s response before baptism, or even without it. Besides, any action involving the human body must be external, and therefore an outward shell, a mere ritual. Divine Spirit needs no earthly ritual for His spiritual work of justification! With such reasoning Saul calls himself a Christian—a very spiritual Christian—without receiving baptism. Does God accept his conversion and the resulting kind of Christianity?
For the inspired account of Saul’s conversion, see Acts 9, 22 and 26. This course’s discussion is found in Lesson “Divine Initiative and Human Response”, Topic “When Paul Was Saul”.