Now
I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to
come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some
fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a
debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to
unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to
you who are in Rome also. (Romans 01:13-15, NKJV).
Theology
is the study of God and the things pertaining to God. There are
several “kinds”.
There
is Liberation Theology, which is more economic than spiritual, more
anti-capitalist than pro-gospel, and which originated largely in
socialist/communist environments.
Rather
than espousing (declaring) the pure and simple gospel of salvation by
grace alone through faith alone (which was the battle cry of Martin
Luther in the late 1500's that ignited the Protestant Revolution),
proponents (those in favor) of this man-centered philosophy speak of
more and larger human government to ensure equitable distribution of
wealth and goods.
Instead
of relying on a regenerated human spirit and a recreated human heart
brought about through faith in Christ that gives cheerfully and
voluntarily to the poor and needy, it trusts in human institutions
and human laws. While its soul may be in the right place, Liberation
Theology's focus is worldly rather than heavenly, and its enemy is
human wealth rather than Satan and sin.
Then
there is Prosperity Theology, a direct byproduct of the Word-Faith
Movement, and almost the opposite of the previous school of thought.
It also has a works-economic-oriented emphasis, with more than a
little “Create Your Own Reality” mysticism thrown in.
Adherents
of (literally, those who are “stuck in”) this system, appear to
believe that God is a kind of cosmic genie, who is obligated to grant
your wishes (they call them”prayers”) if you rub his bottle in
just the right way. They replace the fabled brass lamp with the
spoken word, and fervent visualization in prayer for rubbing the
bottle.
Both
of these theologies stray widely from the only authoritative source
for information about God, His Word, and both substitute human
thinking for divine revelation, though neither would admit to these
fatal errors.
In
contrast, the Apostle Paul taught and wrote about Debtor Theology, a
label which I have coined to encapsulate the repeated logical
structure of his epistles, which first recount what God has done for
helpless sinners, and then our loving, willing, and gratitude-driven
response.
All
of Paul's writings follow this same outline.
Romans,
for instance spends eleven chapters on what God has done in
justifying us by faith, and the last four on our natural, logical,
and almost reflexive response. Galatians, Ephesians, and Philippians
are divided in half by a similar roadmap.
The
essence of Debtor Theology is this, we owe God all that we are for
creating us and saving us through His Son, and should owe no one else
anything but love.
Both
debts are incalculable and un-payable, meaning that what is owed is
so vast that no amount or value could ever be assigned, and no
payment on our part could ever satisfy the obligation.
Think
about that for a second. How much is eternal life in Heaven - where
there is no pain, sorrow or death - worth? How much is the pardon
from eternal punishment worth? In one sense we know the cost that was
paid for both, the death of God the Son on the Cross in our place,
but we were not the payers.
It
really boils down to how much is an immortal human soul worth?
Jesus
answered that question this way:
“For
what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his
own soul? “Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark
8:36, 37, NKJV).
In this context, “soul”
represents all that we are: alive; created in God's image; willful;
intelligent; self-aware; communicative; with body, mind and spirit.
In modern terms, we are
“priceless”, which is saying the same thing, that there is no
value that can be assigned that would adequately “pay” for our
existence.
Therefore, since we owe
that priceless existence to God, we are debtors to Him forever.
And since every other
soul is equally precious in His sight, because of our debt to Him, we
owe everyone else the obligation to love them as He does, and to
preach the gospel of salvation.
Finally, know this: debt
is akin to slavery. In reality, we are all slaves, either of sin and
death, or of God and life.
As Jesus said, “Most
assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”
(John 8:34, NKJV).
Jesus paid our slave
price, our ransom, on the Cross, and thus made us His slaves, as Paul
declares later in Romans:
But
God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed
from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And
having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
[Now] having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God,
you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
(Romans 6:17, 18, 22, NKJV).
As
our Owner, He has set us free from the condemnation we are all under
and given us eternal life. We are His. We have been bought with a
price.
We
are forever in His debt, and that is a very good thing indeed.
Love,
Dad
