TEBOW AND THE TRUTH

For the past four years, fans of college football have been fascinated with Tim Tebow, the quarterback for the University of Florida. One reason for this is his unashamed profession of his religious convictions. Written on the eyeblack that he wears in each game is a Scripture reference. His moral life, by all accounts, is exemplary. He is a very nice and articulate young man, who comes from a very close knit family. He is involved in regular mission trips overseas, and assists in helping those who are in need.

In most of the articles that have been written about Tim Tebow, all of the above has been mentioned. By contrast, none of the press has inquired about his religious beliefs. A quick internet search, however, reveals a website titled “Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association” (www.btea.org) Bob Tebow is Tim’s dad, and is the founder of the organization that bears his name. Bob’s family, including Tim, is included in “About Us.” One page in particular is of special interest: “What We Believe.”

The Tebows affirm ten points on the page; the first six (addressing the inerrancy of Scripture, the nature and triunity of God, the works of God, the person of Christ, and the person of the Holy Spirit) generally express what the Scriptures teach. “The Work of The Holy Spirit” section seems to imply some kind of semi-direct operation, though vaguely worded. However, points eight, nine, and ten—addressing salvation, the doctrine of the church, and the doctrine of things to be—teach grave error. Concerning salvation, the Tebows believe that it is “by grace alone…through faith alone…in Christ alone.” They further affirm, “We believe that at the point in time a man places his faith in the Lord Jesus, he is born again.” Under “The Doctrine of the Church” the Tebows claim that baptism has “absolutely no value for justification.”

A careful examination shows that the New Testament absolutely contradicts what the Tebows believe about what one must do to be saved. To claim that it is “by grace alone…through faith alone” is an oxymoron. If true, it is either all of one thing or it is all of the other. Ephesians 2: 8-9, however, indicates that salvation is by grace through faith: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Romans 5:1-2 is also clear: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

This may seem to be an irrelevant point, but it is not. The gift of salvation is given by God’s grace, and is accepted through man’s faith. Thus, it is neither “by grace alone” or “though faith alone.” The kind of faith that saves man is an obedient faith. Romans 6:17-18 is crucial: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Notice: one is not made free from sin until after he has “obeyed from the heart.” This parallels what the Hebrews writer asserts in Hebrews 5:8-9: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” Contrary to the Tebows, obedience to the Gospel is essential.

Connected with this is the role of baptism. The Tebows affirm that baptism is not essential; again, the New Testament teaches otherwise. John 3:5 makes clear what our Lord believed concerning the role of baptism. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The “water” Jesus refers to is not the amniotic fluid of childbirth; it is the same substance John mentions in John 2, when our Lord turned the “water” into wine. Mark 16:16 is even clearer: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Both Paul and Peter believed that baptism is essential; in Paul’s own account of his conversion, he quotes Ananias in Acts 22:16: “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” In Acts 2:38, Peter urged those at Pentecost to be baptized: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Concerning salvation, will we believe the Tebows or the Truth?

The Tebows also believe in the “once saved, always saved” doctrine: “There will be none lost who were once saved; no man can lose his justification…We believe in the total eternal security of the believer.” To this, the New Testament gives no support at all. Writing to the churches of Galatia, Paul gives this warning: “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace…For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” (Gal. 5:4, 6-7). Additionally, John states, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:1-2). Peter is even more emphatic:

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire (2 Pt. 2:20-22).

Again, shall we believe the Tebows or the Truth?

Perhaps the most egregious example of error on the Tebows’ website is the entire section, “The Doctrine of Things To Be.” The four-paragraph statement pushes full-blown premillennialism, incorporating the “rapture” theory and a literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth, as well as a final Antichrist and a literal battle of Armageddon.

Nowhere in the New Testament can one find the term “rapture,” or the theory itself. The entire system of premillennialism contradicts what Paul affirms in 1 Corinthians 15:24: “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.” Notice: at the end, Jesus will deliver the kingdom back to the father, not set it up. John makes it clear who “antichrist” is: “He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son” (1 Jn. 2:22). Nowhere in Revelation does John refer to “antichrist.”

John was a part of the kingdom when he wrote Revelation: “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ…” (Rev. 1:9). Jesus cannot reign on David’s throne on earth in Jerusalem, because of what Jeremiah 22:30 affirms concerning Coniah (Jechoniah). “Thus saith the Lord, write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.” Matthew 1:11-12 indicates that Jechoniah is included in Jesus’ bloodline.

At the end of time, both the living and the dead will be raised: “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:1). Jesus tells us when the good and the bad will be raised. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (Jn. 5:28-29). Will we believe the Tebows or the Truth?

The reason we call attention to all of this is because there are many young people (and older ones, as well) who are holding up Tim Tebow as a wonderful example of a follower of Jesus. While his moral life is exemplary, and his character is good, what his family teaches and promotes is simply wrong. All Christians need to be aware of this and hold to what is true and right, no matter who says otherwise.