#9 The Truth requires you to believe a falsehood?

Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and God is the Truth. We are commanded to believe.

And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 3:23)

A person who trust in Christ, believes Christ died for him.

So if Christ didn’t die for someone, the Truth requires that person to believe a falsehood (ie that Christ died for him).

Comments

TheoJunkie said…
Dan,

Of course, Christ truly died for EVERYONE who does believe. So, the commandment does not require the person to believe a falsehood.

I get this image of opening a refrigerator door. Whenever you open the refrigerator door, the light is on. The analogous commandment might be, "believe that when you open the fridge, the light will shine on you." What does it matter whether the light is on or off if the door is closed? Who will care? But even if it is off while many pass by the fridge... if anyone opens the door, the light shines on them without exception.

As an aside.. note that Christ is Lord of everyone.. every knee will bow, like it or not. John doesn't quite say that the commandment is to believe that Christ died for you... eh?
November 17, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Godismyjudge said…
Dear TJ,

My argument is that the reprobate, not the elect that are required to believe a falsehood. Even if the falsehood is never “uncovered”, we still have the very odd situation where the Truth is requiring belief in a falsehood.

As for believing that Christ died for you, I agree that John doesn’t explicitly state “you have to believe that Christ died for you”. But such a belief is enclosed under entailment.

P1: You have to believe the Gospel
P2: The Gospel states that Christ died for your sins
C1: therefore, you have to believe that Christ died for your sins

Christ be with you,
Dan
November 17, 2007 at 9:06 PM
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