Please enjoy this preview content from the August 2023 edition of Truth Magazine!

Certainty and Uncertainty

By Mark Mayberry

Synopsis: Brother Sean Cavender tragically lost his life in a car accident in Athens, AL, on Thursday evening (July 20th) after attending and participating in the 2023 Truth Lectures. He delivered a distinctive and powerful message on the kingdom of God that very morning. His devotion to the gospel and untimely passing remind us of the certainties and uncertainties of life. 

Introduction

Can we have confidence in God’s promises? Can we be certain regarding our own salvation?

Calvinistic theology leads to opposite extremes: (1) overconfidence in our spiritual standing, based upon the erroneous doctrine of “once saved, always saved,” and (2) uncertainty regarding one’s status, leading one to question, “How can I know if I am truly one of God’s elect?”

In contrast, the Scriptures offer clarity on this subject. Divine grace is extended to all men, but the promise of salvation belongs to those who trust and obey.

Calling Abram from Ur of the Chaldees, God gave the patriarch three great promises (Gen. 12:1-3). Subsequently, the Lord reassured Abraham of His protection and provision: “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; your reward shall be very great” (Gen. 15:1).

In the ensuing discussion, God stated that the seed promise would be fulfilled, not through Eliezer of Damascus, but through Abram’s own offspring. After He reaffirmed the land and nation promise, Abram asked, “O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?”

The Lord instructed him to sacrifice a heifer, female goat, and a ram (all three years old), along with a turtledove and a young pigeon. God said to Abram,

Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete" (Gen. 15:13-16).

Finally, the Lord provided a sign: “It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces” (Gen. 15:17).

Abram/Abraham’s faith was reflected in his actions:

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:8-10).

In this lesson, let us note the difference between certainty and uncertainty. Certainty signifies a “firm conviction that something is the case” or “the quality of being reliably true.” Uncertainty describes “the state of being uncertain,” i.e., meaning that we are not able to rely upon the veracity of someone or something. It is used of a person who is “not completely confident or sure of something” (Oxford’s English Dictionary).

Certainty in Perceiving the Truth

People can perceive the truth. This is true of those who possess good and honest hearts, as well as those who focus upon the truths under consideration and are not distracted by side issues. As an illustration of these points, let us consider Peter on Pentecost, and Paul before the Council.

Peter on Pentecost

On the day of Pentecost, Peter concluded his sermon by saying, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). Three thousand responded in obedience to Peter’s message, which was based upon a triad of truths: (1) confirming miracles, (2) fulfilled prophecy, and (3) credible eyewitness testimony.

Faith provides assurance and conviction: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).

Faith is essential: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

Spiritual blessings flow from a deeply rooted faith and a dedicated commitment to divine revelation:

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32).

Paul before the Council

Returning to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey, Paul was seized in the temple. A Roman centurion rescued Paul from the mob, and subsequently brought him before the Jewish Sanhedrin, “wishing to know for certain why he (i.e., Paul) had been accused by the Jews” (Acts 22:30).

By considering Paul’s words before the Council, and their reaction, one can clearly discern that the apostle was innocent, and at least half the assembly agreed, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” (Acts 23:9). Although few from the Pharisaic party possessed “good and honest hearts,” yet on this occasion, Paul framed the discussion in a manner that forced them to agree with the central truths under consideration (Acts 22:30-23:11).

Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!”

As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

And there occurred a great uproar; and some of the scribes of the Pharisaic party stood up and began to argue heatedly, saying, “We find nothing wrong with this man; suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”

Certainty in Seeing through Pretense

If people are observant, they can see through pretense. This is illustrated by two pagan kings in the Old Testament and the final admonition of Simon Peter.

The Example of Abimelech

Abimelech, king of the Philistines, was able to perceive the falseness of Isaac’s words by his actions (Gen. 26:6-11, esp. vv. 8-9).

So Isaac lived in Gerar. When the men of the place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he was afraid to say, “my wife,” thinking, “the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, for she is beautiful.” It came about, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out through a window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah. Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Behold, certainly she is your wife! How then did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” And Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘I might die on account of her.’” Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” So Abimelech charged all the people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death” (Gen. 26:6-11).

The Example of Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Chaldeans, was able to see the duplicity of his magicians by their reaction to his commandment (Dan. 2:1-11, esp. vv. 8-9).

Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. Then the king gave orders to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. The king said to them, “I had a dream and my spirit is anxious to understand the dream.” Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic: “O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” The king replied to the Chaldeans, “The command from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be made a rubbish heap.”But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and a reward and great honor; therefore declare to me the dream and its interpretation." They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” The king replied, “I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm, that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is only one decree for you. For you have agreed together to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the situation is changed; therefore tell me the dream, that I may know that you can declare to me its interpretation.” The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean.”Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh" (Dan. 2:1-11).

The Admonition of Peter

In like manner, if we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, we can avoid being led astray by the error of unprincipled men (2 Pet. 3:14-18).

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (2 Pet. 3:14-18).

The Uncertainty of Riches

We must not trust in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

The Greek word adēlotēs, occurring only here and translated “uncertainty,” is a compound of the alpha prefix [which negates the word/concept to which it is attached] and dēlos [which refers to that which is “clear, evident”] (Thomas, 83).

In contrast with the aforementioned adēlotēs (a negative form that communicates “uncertainty”), the root dēlos (occurring three times) identifies things that are “clear to the understanding” (BDAG). Consider each of these in reverse order of appearance:

The first occurrence involves Peter. While Jesus was being tried before Caiaphas, Simon Peter was sitting in the courtyard. A servant girl approached him, saying, “You were with Jesus the Galilean,” but he denied it. After exiting the gateway, another said, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Peter denied it with an oath. Nevertheless, Peter’s speech clearly identified him as a Galilean: “A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away’” (Matt. 26:73). In other words, they were certain that Peter was from Galilee (and thus was counted among the disciples) because of his Galilean accent.

The second occurrence involves the impotence of the law:

Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH” (Gal. 3:11).

The third occurrence involves the extent of Christ’s authority:

For He (i.e., God the Father) has put all things in subjection under His (i.e., Jesus Christ’s) feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him (1 Cor. 15:27).

So, from this short divergence into the Greek, we recognize that some things are certain and self-evident.

When it comes to riches, which can be a blessing if properly employed, but a curse if coveted after—may we be discerning. Instead of fixing our hope on uncertain riches or earthly attainment, let us emphasize the importance of a proper spiritual diet coupled with spiritual exercise, while we fix our hope on the living God (1 Tim. 4:6-10, esp. v. 10).

In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers (1 Tim. 4:6-10).

The Uncertainty of Time

Let us also recognize the uncertainty of time: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (Prov. 27:1).

Instead of wandering aimlessly through life, let us be good stewards—making the most of each opportunity. Yet, we must recognize that our future plans are contingent upon God’s overarching purpose:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil (Jas. 4:13-16).

Ponder the meditations of David, as recorded in Psalm 39, as he reflects upon the vanity of life:

I said, “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent, I refrained even from good, and my sorrow grew worse. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: "LORD, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah (vv. 1-5).

Surely every man walks about as a phantom; surely they make an uproar for nothing; he amasses riches and does not know who will gather them (v. 6).

And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the foolish. I have become mute, I do not open my mouth, because it is You who have done it. Remove Your plague from me; because of the opposition of Your hand I am perishing. With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity; You consume as a moth what is precious to him; surely every man is a mere breath. Selah (vv. 7-11).

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner like all my fathers. Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may smile again before I depart and am no more (vv. 12-13).

The Uncertainty of Some Preaching

In contrast with pure gospel preaching, which sounds forth as a clarion (Isa. 58:1), many today are making uncertain sounds.

Cry loudly, do not hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins (Isa. 58:1).

In this regard, consider Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians regarding the proper use of spiritual gifts, while noting the parallel application of these principles for today (1 Cor. 14:1-12, esp. vv. 7-9).

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church (1 Cor. 14:1-12).

Paul rebukes the Corinthians for various misconceptions and abuses of spiritual gifts. They were manifesting a proudly competitive spirit: “My gift of tongue speaking is better than your gift of prophecy!” Their exercise of gifts was generating confusion: Everyone was yammering at the same time. Those gifted with the ability to speak in tongues were doing so without an interpreter being present. Bedlam abounded. The purpose of such gifts involved the revelation and confirmation of the word. Absent an interpreter, tongue speaking might have been a display of divine power, but offered no edification:

Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? (1 Cor. 14:7-8).

The Greek word adēlos is here used of a bugle that makes an “indistinct sound.” Arndt says it pertains to “(1) not being readily apparent, not clear, latent, unseen (Luke 11:44); (2) not being clearly defined, indistinct of a trumpet that gives out an indistinct sound, so that the signal cannot be recognized” (1 Cor 14:8) (BDAG, 19).

Its only other occurrence is in Jesus’s denunciation of the Pharisees. Instead of helping maintain the purity of God’s people, the religious hierarchy of first century Judaism was a source of corruption. They were like concealed tombs, over which people might walk and unknowingly become ceremonially unclean.

Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places. Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it (Luke 11:43-44).

In contrast, consider the clarity and confidence of faithful gospel preaching.

Sean Cavender spoke on the “Kingdom of God” on Thursday morning at the 2023 Truth Lectures in Athens, AL. Tragically, he was taken from us approximately twelve hours later. In his last sermon, Sean sounded forth the truth distinctively. Here are my notes from his lesson:

Those who have been affected by Calvinistic thinking affirm that Abraham did nothing in Romans 4. However, such is not the case. Abraham believed and obeyed God.

Sean pointed out that even some denominational writers are coming to recognize this point. He quoted from Salvation by Allegiance Alone, by Matthew W. Bates:

Furthermore, if we were to determine that in appropriate salvation-oriented contexts in the New Testament, pistis most likely means faithfulness, or fidelity, or allegiance, then might not pistis by its very definition include concrete acts that are inseparable from allegiance? In other words, we might come to discover that faith and works are not mutually exclusive after all (Bates, 22).

Sean concluded this point by citing Romans 1:5, which refers to the obedience of faith—i.e., “concrete acts” as described by Bates. Faith is something that we “do,” i.e., it is our personal active response to God’s goodness and grace.

[Our Lord] was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake (Rom. 1:4-5).

Additionally, Sean emphasized that we must also recognize Christ’s authority. He has the right to speak, and we are obligated to hear and heed. Submitting to Christ’s authority is an element of our faith. The attitude of the Roman centurion in Matthew 8 reflected a proper view of Christ’s authority, which Jesus Himself said evidences his “great faith” (Matt. 8:8-10).

Bible authority is established in one of three ways: Direct Statements/Commands, Approved Examples, and Necessary Inference. Many object by saying that CENI is a human construct designed to achieve an engineered outcome. However, in all areas of life, we speak, learn, and communicate in these three ways.

While Sean was in college, pursuing a journalism degree, one of his professors stated: "We learn from reports (i.e., prepared statements of facts), judgments (examples, charts, polls, tests, etc.), and inferences (i.e., the concluding that come from reports and judgments). This is not reverse engineering, but rather, this is how human communication occurs.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have noted the difference between certainty and uncertainty. We can know the truth. We can identify error. We can have a genuine hope. We should speak with clarity and conviction.

Can we have confidence in God’s promises? Absolutely! Reminding Israel of God’s faithfulness, Moses exhorted them of the need for obedience:

Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them (Deut. 7:9-11).

Paul expressed similar confidence in addressing the Corinthian church. Despite their deficiencies, if they would continue their spiritual journey from sin to sanctification, God would confirm them in the end:

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Cor. 1:4-9).

Can we have confidence regarding our own salvation? That depends. By diligently growing in the “Christian graces” and putting them into practice, we make our calling and election sure:

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you (2 Pet. 1:5-11).

Sources

Bates, Matthew W. Salvation by Allegiance Alone: Rethinking Faith, Works and the Gospel of Jesus the King. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2017.

Author-Bio

Mark Mayberry serves as Editor of Truth Magazine. He has labored with the Adoue Street church of Christ in Alvin, TX, since 1998, where he serves as the evangelist and an elder. The church website is https://www.ascoc.org/. His website is https://markmayberry.org/. He can be reached at mark@truthpublications.com.