DENNY'S CHRISTIAN WRITINGS

THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH/THE FIRST RESURRECTION

2012-01-27T21:28:00.000-05:00

First let's read God's holy, inerrant, and infallible word, Mark 13:24-27:
24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

In the Old Testament, the word “elect” occurs four times and each time it refers to Israel.

In the New Testament, the word elect or election occurs nineteen times and in seventeen instances it refers to believers in Christ, in one case it refers to certain angels, and one time it refers to Jesus; but it never refers to the nation Israel. To prove that the word “elect” refers to Christians and not the nation Israel let’s read Romans 11:7, What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Here we see that Paul makes a crystal clear distinction between Israel and the elect.

Furthermore, Peter makes it clear that the word “elect” refers to Christian believers in 2 Peter 1:10, Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: What Peter is obviously referring to here is that believers in Christ should make their calling and election sure; to check-up on your salvation. Peter is not saying, “Make sure your parents are Israelites,” that would be ridiculous.

Also, we find in Colossians 3:11, 12 where it says:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; We see there is neither Greek nor Jew, that “Christ is all, and in all,” meaning that in these two verses the word elect refers to Greek or Jewish believers in Christ, but not unbelieving Israel.

Additionally, in 1 Timothy 5:21 we see:
21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. We see here that the word elect can also refer to particular angels.

And finally, in 1 Peter 2:6 we see the word elect used in reference to Jesus:
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Jesus, the chief cornerstone, is “elect” of God.

It is important to understand that the New Testament meaning of the word “elect” refers to believers in Christ and it never means Christ-rejecting Israelites, who have been blinded, as we read in Romans 11:7. The inerrant, infallible word of God has given the word “elect” its true definition.

Next we shall see that it is supremely important to understand the Bible’s own definition of the word “elect.” Prior to the 19^th/20th century the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture was not popular, most people believed the rapture would be post-tribulational. It was not until certain 19th /20th century philosophers took the Old Testament meaning of the word “elect” and misapplied it, out of context, to certain verses in the New Testament that the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture gained popularity.

A pre-tribulation rapture would make the rapture imminent and that makes the rapture event an anxiously awaited occasion. Thus it became popular and preachers expounding this view, John Nelson Darby, Harry Ironside, John Walvoord, Charles C. Ryrie, and especially popularized by Cyrus I. Schofield http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._I._Scofield in his footnoted Schofield Bible, likewise became popular.

Matthew 24:31 says, And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other…likewise, Mark 13:27, referring to the same event says, And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. If you think these two verses refer to the rapture you are correct! Notice that this latter verse says “from…earth to…heaven.”

To make Matthew 24:31 and Mark 13:17 not apply to the rapture of Christians it was necessary for these 19th/20th century philosophers to make the word “elect” in these two verses refer only to the Old Testament definition of the word “elect.” These 19/20^th century philosophers said that these verses referred to a supernatural ingathering of living Jewish people to the old location of the land of Israel, particularly Jerusalem, because there was no state of Israel, and there were few Jewish people living in that area.

However, since May 14, 1948 there has been a State of Israel and forty-three percent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_population of the world’s Jews live there. Consequently, there is no need for a supernatural ingathering of Israelites from the four corners of the Earth. So now we conclusively see that Matthew 24:31, And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other…and Mark 13:27, And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven…are actually referring to the rapture of all believers, including the Old Testament elect (not blinded Christ-rejecting New Testament Jews) and the New Testament elect. Obviously, many of these elect have already physically died but they will receive a new body.

“Day of the Lord,” what does this expression mean? This expression occurs 20 times in the Old Testament, specifically, Isaiah 2:12, 13:6, 13:9; Jeremiah 46:10; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1, 2:11, 2:31, 3:14; Amos 5:18, again 5:18, 5:20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7, 1:14, again 1:14, Zechariah 14:1, and finally Malachi 4:5.

This is a time of great woe to God’s enemies. In order to prove that this expression explicitly means that great day when God pours out His wrath upon His enemies, only two of those instances are shown below, but please check all the above references.

Isaiah 13:9-11, Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Jeremiah 46:10, For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates

In the King James Authorized New Testament, the expression “day of the Lord” occurs four times: 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; and 2 Peter 3:10. They all have the same meaning as in the Old Testament, the day God pours out His wrath upon His enemies.

The expression “day of Christ” occurs three times. Philippians 1:10; Philippians 2:16; and 2 Thessalonians 2:2. There are some people who believe that this expression, “day of Christ,” refers to the rapture of the church, while others say that it and “the day of the Lord” mean the same thing. In a way, they are both correct, as we shall see.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, It is widely accepted that “gathering together unto Him” refers to the rapture.

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first:and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; “A falling away” in the Greek means: (NT:646 apostasia; “apostasy”). If the “day of Christ” means the rapture, then the rapture cannot come until that man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, commonly known as the anti-Christ.

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. This happens in the middle of the tribulation period according to Daniel 9:27. As anyone can plainly see, the rapture can be no sooner than the middle of the tribulation and possibly after the tribulation. This is what the Bible says. Incidentally, Daniel 9:27 also says that he…the anti-Christ…will confirm the (Abrahamic) covenant with many for one week, so whomever that powerful person is that makes this confirmation with Israel for seven years can be identified as the anti-Christ by discerning Christians at the time of the execution of that agreement.

Paul is reassuring the Thessalonica Christians that they had not missed the rapture. They have been going through so much persecution that they thought they had missed it. To reassure them, Paul teaches them there are two things that must be fulfilled before the rapture can take place, therefore the rapture is not yet imminent for them. Specifically, there must first be an apostasy and the man of sin must be revealed! The rapture cannot be imminent until after this apostasy and the man of sin is revealed.

There has been apostasy since the beginning of time, so the apostasy Paul is referring to must be so obvious that these Thessalonians would certainly recognize it, just as they would recognize the man of sin at his revealing. These events will be so noticeable that these Thessalonians cannot help but recognize that these are the events Paul is referring to.

We had always liked the idea that the coming of Christ for us could be at any moment. Every time we had a tough situation we would think, “Beam me up, Lord!” No one wants to die, therefore, the thought that the rapture would be imminent was comforting. Of course no one knows the day or the hour of the Lord’s return. Nevertheless, going through the tribulation period will not be all bad, believers already have the seal of the Holy Spirit and therefore God’s protection, according to God’s will of course. Ephesians 1:13-14 makes this clear,
13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Our redemption will be complete at the rapture. We are the “purchased possession,” purchased by Christ with His blood.

We also see in Ephesians 4:30 that we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Also, Acts 2:17-20 says:
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: We will be empowered! It will be wonderful!

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: By this verse we see that the day of the Lord, when God pours out his wrath, comes after the tribulation period.

Let’s examine another of the references to the day of the Lord. Joel 2:31, The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

We have observed that the day of the Lord means the day God pours out His wrath upon His enemies…but we see here that before this can happen the sun must be darkened and the moon turned into blood. When is the sun darkened and the moon turned to blood?

Matthew 24:29, Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: After the tribulation of those days. According to Revelation 7:14 this is after great tribulation, therefore, it is after the entire seven years are finished. When reading a verse of the Bible it should be taken literally, and only literally, unless it absolutely cannot be taken literally. For example, the above verse says, “and the stars shall fall from heaven,” stars literally falling from heaven to the Earth would instantly consume the Earth. Therefore, we should look for a figurative meaning for the word “stars,” and we find that the Bible refers to angels as stars, including fallen angels, in Judges 5:20, Job 38:7, Isaiah 14:13, and Daniel 8:10. But when the Bible says that Daniel was put into a den of lions, they were literal, genuine, feline lions!

Furthermore, as to the question: when is the sun darkened and the moon turned to blood? Mark 13:24, But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, After that tribulation…this cannot be at the mid-point because Revelation 7:14, indicates that some who were raptured came out of great tribulation.

Revelation 6:12, And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; So here the Day of the Lord comes after the tribulation period. This means that God’s wrath will not be poured out at anytime during the tribulation period.

Now we see that the sun is darkened and the moon becomes as blood after the Lamb opens the sixth seal. God may pour out His wrath upon His enemies at any time after this, but as seen above, according to Joel 2:31, not before this. At what point in time is this? Well, let’s read all of Revelation chapter six.

Revelation 6:1-11
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. This begins the tribulation period, the seventieth week of Daniel.

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Who could give this kind of power? God could give His permission! For an example of this see Job chapter 1, especially verse 12 and chapter 2. Who might be this rider? The Man of sin!

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. This is definitely the tribulation period.

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Notice that we have the tribulation period up until the sixth seal. The last day of the tribulation is the last day of this age, or era, the last day of the seventy weeks of Daniel. We see in John 6:39, 40, 44, 54 that the rapture is on the “last day,” and the last day is the last day of this age, the last day of Daniel’s seventy weeks. We see that after the sixth seal is opened there is a great earthquake, the sun is darkened, and the moon becomes as blood. The tribulation period has thus ended (see Matthew 24:29 and Mark 13:24) and this initiates the Day of the Lord and a new age, or era, begins.

Let’s consider a few things about the Day of the Lord. This is a time period that immediately follows the tribulation, and it is at least three and one half years long. We have heard much about the Tribulation Period but little has been said about the Day Of The Lord. The day of Christ is when the rapture happens, it is within the day of the Lord and it probably occurs in the first twenty-four hours, read I Corinthians 5:5.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. It is commonly thought that this expression of the Day of the Lord refers to the rapture. While the rapture is within the Day of the Lord this expression means much more than just the rapture.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. This day will not overtake a Christian as a thief in the night because we will be expecting it, furthermore, we will be raptured out at the very beginning of this time period.

2 Peter 3:10

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Often philosophers say that “a thief in the night” is in reference to the rapture, but this verse clearly says it is in reference to the Day of the Lord.

Well, what happens next?
Revelation 6:13-17
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

After the opening of the sixth seal it isn’t the tribulation period anymore, and that initiates the day of God’s wrath upon His enemies. At verse 12, when the sixth seal is opened, the tribulation period ends and the Day of the Lord begins. Up until verse 12 the Antichrist has been hitting the ball but beginning in verse 12 the Lamb of God steps up to the plate.

Chapter six of Revelation is like an outline of events that happen during and immediately after the tribulation period.

When is the rapture? Mark 13:24-27 says:

24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

Again, when is the rapture? Matthew 24:29 says:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet (This is the last trump of this age, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. See 1 Corinthians 15:52), and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. The rapture takes place in this instant. Saints still living on Earth are now caught up to heaven. Deceased saints’ souls and their spirits in heaven (from one end of heaven to the other) are reunited with their resurrected (but now glorified) physical bodies. In the twinkling of an eye we are caught up to be with the Lord and our redemption is now complete. This is after the tribulation! Remember the word elect in the above verse means Jewish and Gentile saints of all the ages, but not present day unbelieving Israelites who reject Jesus.

This is what the Holy Bible says, not some man. This is clearly what God says in this His written word. If anyone says these verses do not say that the first resurrection is after the tribulation then he is clearly twisting God’s Holy word. Do not change what God has clearly stated! 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

According to the Bible, the rapture is clearly after the tribulation period. Does this change the way of salvation? No, absolutely not. Should one teach that the rapture is post-tribulation? Yes, because it is the truth.

Continuing on now in chapter seven:
Revelation 7
1 And after these things (this means these events are chronologically after the events in chapter 6.) I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. These servants are on the Earth.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. These are the 144,000 chosen servants of God, on Earth, who here receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They must be sealed so that they will be protected from God’s wrath. No one else will be protected. These are Jewish people who had not accepted Jesus as their savior before the rapture, otherwise they would now be in heaven. They are now in the era of the day of the Lord. There are no other believers on Earth at this time, but perhaps there will be some later (see Matthew 25:31-41).

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne (in heaven), and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; These are the people of chapter 6:9-11 who died during the great tribulation (see verse 14 in this same chapter). The rapture has now already happened so they have their glorified bodies and stand before the throne of God in heaven.

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Note: They came out of great tribulation and then they went up to heaven in the rapture, the first resurrection. This verse precludes a mid-tribulation rapture.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. They have just come out of great tribulation where they suffered extreme heat, famine, and probably a water shortage.

17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation 8

1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. (Remember, the entire tribulation period is over; we’re now in the time era of the “day of the Lord,” and events are occurring in chronological order.)

2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. Based on verse 13 below, these angels sound their trumpets in chronological order.

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. Notice that the angels sound in heaven but the results are on the earth.

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. This is God pouring out His wrath upon His enemies.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

Revelation 9

This is still the “Day of the Lord,” and the following events described are occurring in chronological order.

1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. The use of the word “star” here means angel since it is referred to as “him.”

2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. Remember, this is God pouring out His wrath upon His enemies.

6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.

9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 10

The following is a spiritual scene during the day of the Lord.

1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: That there should be time no longer does not mean that there should be no more time dimension; see Revelation 11:3, 11:9, 12:6, 13:5, 15:8, 19:1, 20:2, 20:4, 22:2. Apparently, according to the next verse, “time no more” refers to God’s plan for the culmination of the Day of the Lord, the mystery of God.

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. See Chapter 11:15.

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

Revelation 11

The following is simultaneous with previous chapters in the day of the Lord.

1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. Forty-two months equals three and one half years.

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses , and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. One thousand two hundred and sixty (1,260) days equals three and one half years according to the Jewish 360 day year. Remember this is the day of the Lord, after the tribulation period!

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. God of the earth…Satan.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These two have supernatural power.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. No rain for 3 ½ years! This will have a colossal impact on the earth. See http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/2010/04/theogenic-global-warming.html .

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, (at the end of the three and one half years) the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Our Lord was crucified at Jerusalem. The inhabitants of Sodom were Sodomites and Egypt in the Bible pictures the world, therefore, Jerusalem at this time must not be what it should be, but the book of Ezekiel seems to indicate that Jerusalem is the place meant here. Also read Isaiah 1:9-10 for the same type description.

9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. It’s about time the Jewish remnant in Jerusalem decided to give God the glory! But thank God they finally woke up and can see. They’re no longer blinded, Ref. Romans chapter 11.

14 The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. That the third woe comes quickly means soon after the second woe is over.

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. The seventh angel sounded; refer back to 10:7. At this point God has finished pouring out His wrath upon His enemies and they are all destroyed.

16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 12

Next we have an overview of events and this is not chronological with the previous chapters. In this chapter John describes a spiritual view that he sees in heaven, which is a spiritual view of Earthly events.

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman (Israel) clothed with the sun, and the moon (Israel, the light bearer, the sun and moon) under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (For the twelve tribes of Israel)

2 And she being with child (Jesus) cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.

3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars (followers of Satan…demonic angels) of heaven, and did cast them to the earth (they could come and go in heaven, see Job 1:6): and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child (Satan wanted to kill Jesus) as soon as it (Jesus) was born.

5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. (Jesus’ ascension)

6 And the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place (thought by many to be Petra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra , a natural fortress city just across the border from Israel, just inside Jordan.) prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. (Three and one half years according to the Jewish year.)

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (They were evicted and banned from heaven, never to return.)

10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. “Loved not their lives unto the death,” means they allowed themselves to be killed rather than deny Christ and take the mark of the beast.

12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (Israel) which brought forth the man child (Jesus).

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place (Possibly Petra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra ), where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. This is a restatement of verse six.

15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The remnant spoken of here are Jews who are no longer blinded and now believe in Jesus.

Revelation 13

This chapter is not chronological with any of the foregoing chapters. It apparently begins at the beginning of the day of the Lord.

1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? Note the contrast with Chapter 6 verse 17.

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. Three and one half years, apparently the duration of the day of the Lord.

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns

like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Revelation 14

This chapter is a scene in heaven. It is not chronological with other chapters.

1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. See chapter 7 verse 4.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. They’re not on earth anymore.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. They have now been redeemed.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. Refer back to verse 13. This is the judgment of nations mentioned in Matthew 25:31-46. These are the righteous.

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. This is the judgment of nations continued. These are the unrighteous. The scene in this verse continues through the end of the chapter and is illustrated again in 19:18 from a different perspective.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. This is the end of God’s enemies except for Satan himself.

19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. See 19:17-18 and Joel 3:13-15.

Revelation 15

This chapter is yet another scene in heaven, not on earth.

1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Revelation 16

1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

3 And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.

4 And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

7 And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief (like a thief in the night). Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Revelation 17

1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:

5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 11:8 suggests that Jerusalem has become so spiritually corrupt that it is no different from Sodom and Egypt. A whore and a sodomite are two of the abominations mentioned in Deuteronomy 23:17. The remnant that was in Jerusalem has now escaped to the place God has prepared for them so anyone remaining in sinful Jerusalem is extremely worldly, sinful, and with a decided homosexual tolerance.

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.

10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. There has been much speculation on who or what is this whore. But given God’s own description, evidently this is Jerusalem. After the Jewish remnant has escaped, the city becomes extremely sinful and although steeped in the anti-Christ’s doctrine the forces of Satan so hate the city that they destroy it.

17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth. As already noted, as strange as it seems, this appears to be Jerusalem.

Revelation 18

1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon (Jerusalem?) the great is fallen (past tense), is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. This is a repeat of chapter 14 verse 8.

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,

10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Revelation 19

The first 18 verses are of heavenly scenes; starting with verse 19 the scenes are earthly.

1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. “His servants,” had their blood shed at the hand of the great whore. Could these be the 144 thousand of chapter 14:1-5 and 7:3,4? It would appear so.

3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. This and the following verses are the conclusion of 14:17-20.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. The remnant here refers to the remaining unbelievers.

Why We Should Protect The Jews.

2011-02-01T16:11:00.011-05:00

Eighty percent of all the U.N. General Assembly resolutions criticizing nations for human-rights violations are aimed at Israel. There are over 120 nations who sign on as sponsors/co-sponsors of these resolutions and they are the usual Islamic Arab, African, and Asian countries, but increasingly, because of oil interests, and growing anti-semitism other nations have joined in the mob-rule voting against Israel. It now appears that the U.S. is the only friend that Israel has, but with our current President even we appear to be indifferent to the tenuous situation in Israel. Don’t take my word regarding the consequences; let’s see what Jesus has to say about this situation.

Matthew 25:31-46

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: Quite obviously, this is at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom.

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King (Jesus) say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. This is after the Tribulation Period and after the the day of the Lord, and the judgment here is for the nations existing at that time. It does not include the raptured saints, since they will already have glorified bodies and be with the Lord.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Jesus was Jewish, His brethren in this case are the Jews. During the Tribulation Period and the day of the Lord it will seem as if the entire world is against the Jews, those who help the Jews will be the sheep and they will enter into the Millennial Kingdom. But the goats…

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. This means, “Since you were not for my brethren, you were against me.” Woe unto those goat nations who side against Israel for they will suffer eternal damnation!

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

If you are for the Jews, let your Federal elected officials know it.

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

Church Bulletin Sayings

2011-01-27T14:17:00.027-05:00

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

On the way home from church one Sunday little Jason cried all the way home. Finally his dad asked what was wrong. Jason replied, “The preacher said he wanted us kids brought up in a Christian home, and I want to stay with you guys.”

A chapter a day keeps the Devil away.

When you're on your knees you can't stumble.

God always puts omnipotence back of His commands, and we can do anything we ought to do. ~Dr. Bob Jones, Sr.

The Bible says that Christians are “living stones.” But some long-faced church members look more like tombstones.

What makes the Dead Sea dead? Because it is all the time receiving but never giving out. Why is it that many Christians are cold? Because they are all the time receiving but never giving out. ~D.L. Moody

So live that when people speak evil of you, no one will believe it.

There are three crowds in every church: those who don’t know what’s happening, those who wonder what’s happening, and those who make things happen.

The house of many mansions requires reservations in advance.

*A village pastor, who had a weakness for trout, preached against fishing on Sunday. The next day one of his members presented him with a fine string of fish and said hesitantly, “I guess I ought to tell you, Parson, that those trout were caught on Sunday.”
*The minister gazed appreciatively at the speckled trout, and said piously, “The fish aren’t to blame for that.”

Those who complain about the way the ball bounces are often the ones who dropped it.

Having common enemies is a poor basis for fellowship. ~ Curtis Hutson

If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

Junk is something you’ve kept for years and throw away three days before you need it.

Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.

Without Christmas there would be no Easter.

Good marriages are not the result of finding the right person but being the right person.

People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

*A pastor always used the phrase, “It could be worse,” when some calamity would come his way.
*One day a friend said to him, “I have something to tell you, and you won’t be able to use your favorite phrase. I dreamed last night that I died and went to hell.”
*“It could be worse,” said the preacher.
*“How could it be worse?”
*“It could be true.”

When you bury the hatchet, make sure it’s not in your neighbor’s head.

It’s impossible to make wisdom hereditary.

We aren’t sinners because we sin, we sin because we’re sinners.

One time Billy Sunday was asked what he did to get people to come to church. He answered, “I set myself on fire. Then the people come to watch me burn.”

Come next Sunday morning and watch our Pastor set himself on fire! It’ll be cool!

*Note: We regret that the immolation scheduled for today (see last week’s bulletin) has been canceled by the pastor due to his lack of interest. He has promised, however, that if you come next week his belly will be full of fire.

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Look forward to some success, not backward at some failure.

Grace is God giving himself for us; Lordship is us giving ourselves to Him.

A person who is temperamental is 50% temper and 50% mental.

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever hate.

A Sunday School teacher said, “Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.” One of her youngsters said. “My mom looked back and turned into a telephone pole.”

Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

People who are green with envy are ripe for trouble.

Unsolicited advice is a form of criticism.

If you're too open-minded, your brains will fall out.

Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.

Truth’s most becoming garment is simplicity. ~ Dr. Bob Jones, Sr.

What do you have when you have 20 people and 20 different opinions? A Baptist Preacher’s Fellowship.

The trouble with some of us is that we’ve been inoculated with small doses of Christianity, which keep us from catching the real thing.

Turn to The Bread of Life! Or be toast!

Going to a church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

The Bible can be read through in 60 hours. ~ G. Campbell Morgan

Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them.

Feelings come and feelings go
And feelings are deceiving,
My trust is in the Word of God,
None else is worth believing.
~ Martin Luther

A person who can’t stand the smell of sheep dung probably ought not be a shepherd. ~ John Browning.

We shouldn’t go by our feelings, but we should have feelings as we go.
~ Lige Ledbetter

The Bible is a love letter from God, but to many it is an unopened letter.

A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep its eyes on the spot where the crack was.

*While waiting to catch an airplane, a friend asked a man if he knew for sure that he was going to heaven. He answered, “I hope so.”
*My friend said, “Oh, you’re just going ‘space available.’ You ought to get a reserved seat.”

No dying man has ever said, “I’m sorry I was a Christian.”

Love means giving.

A day hemmed in prayer never comes unraveled.

No man is high born until he is born from on high. - Dr. Bob Jones Sr.

It’s axiomatic that when a preacher prepares a message aimed at a particular person, the Devil will keep that person out of church that day.

Synonym: a word you can use when you can’t spell the other one.

Q: What do you call someone whose opinion differs from your own?
A: A radical.

*An argumentive person asked a preacher, “What is a miracle? Give me an example.”
*The preacher turned him around and gave him a good swift kick in the seat of the pants. “Did you feel that?”
*“Yes, I sure did!”
*“Well, it would have been a miracle if you hadn’t!”

For thirty pieces of silver Judas sold himself, not Christ.

Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson: you find the present tense, and the past perfect.

We cannot avoid growing old, but we can avoid growing cold.

Dear God: The Preacher's sermon sure hit home with a lot of people this morning. You should have been there.

Faith is the ability to not panic.

He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

The most important things in your home are the people.

Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.

It’s hard to be humble when you believe you’re a child of the King!

When a man has not a good reason for doing a thing, he has one good reason for letting it alone. ~Sir Walter Scott

Since God is our Father and we’re His children, we’re all brothers and sisters and our family tree is the cross.

Many people believe that admitting a fault means they no longer have to correct it.

Self always wants to be crowned, but God says it must be crucified.

My besetting sin is exaggeration. In fact I’ve cried a bucket of tears over it!

Age is mind over matter; if you don’t mind, it don’t matter!

To stay youthful, stay useful.

The heart that loves is always young.

The measure of a man’s greatness is not how many men serve him, but how many people he serves.

God will lower the gate of warning, sound the bell, flash the red lights, but He won’t keep you from crossing the tracks.

What a big difference there is between giving advice and lending a helping hand!

A good rule; give God the first part of every day, the first day of every week, and the first part of your income.

Church sign: Free trip to heaven. Info inside.

Prayer: Don't give God instructions - just report for duty!

A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

Exercise daily - walk with the Lord.

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

Salvation: best bargain in town.

Now is the time to invest in eternity.

A pessimist is one who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a casket.

I like the optimist who fell out the window on the twentieth story and was heard to say as he passed the second floor, “Safe so far!”

Man's way leads to a hopeless end - God's way leads to an endless hope.

We don't change God's message - His message changes us.

Plan ahead -- It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

Give Satan an inch & he'll be a ruler.

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited -until you try to sit in their pew.

It’s a paradox that most people who make a fuss about Bible versions don’t read it anyway.

I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?

When you’re flat on your back, you look up.

The chances are about 10 to 1 that when someone slaps you on the back, he wants you to cough up something.

Open-minded or empty-headed; it depends on whether you’re defining yourself or someone else.

When in doubt...faith it!

Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.

ATTENTION: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.

If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

We can never evangelize the world until the evangelized become evangelists.

Prejudice is a time-saver. It enables you to form opinions without bothering to get the facts.

John 20:29...blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

2 Corinthians 4:18, While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. ~Antoine De Saint Exupery

Be ye fishers of men. You catch ‘em - He'll clean ‘em.

God grades on the cross, not the curve.

Don't put a question mark where God put a period.

What the world really needs is one more hymn: “I Did It Thy Way.”

The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time. ~Abraham Lincoln

*One Sunday morning a lady said to the pastor, “I did not like your sermon this morning.”
*To which he replied, “Neither did the Devil. Classify yourself and come back next Sunday.”

Give God what's right - not what's left.

If God is your Copilot - swap seats!

As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.

God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

Be careful of the words you say,
To keep them soft and sweet;
You never know from day to day
Which ones you’ll have to eat!

Church signs:
*Let us take you to our leader.
*Come early if you want a back seat.

“The Passion of Christ,” you’ve seen the movie, now read the book.

Peace and freedom never come at bargain prices.

Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Don't let your worries get the best of you, remember,
Moses started out as a basket case!

The phrase that is guaranteed to wake up an audience: "…and in conclusion…"

This bulletin was typed by the seek-and-ye-shall-find method.

Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.

Character is not made in a crisis - it is only exhibited.

When you get wrinkled with care and worry, it’s time to get a faith lift.

Our generation has seen television go from infancy to adultery.

Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.

For a Christian, life is not divided into the secular and the sacred. To him all ground is holy ground, every bush a burning bush, every place a temple of worship. (There is no difference between what is sacred and what is secular, it is all sacred.)
-Dr. Bob Jones Sr.-

Justice is getting what you deserve.
Mercy is not getting what you deserve.
Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

A plateau is a high form of flattery.

Brains and beauty are nature’s gifts; character is your own achievement.

The Bible is the only book who’s Author is always present when one reads it.

God never does for His children what His children can do for themselves.

The best ability is dependability. -Dr. Bob Jones Sr.-

Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?

If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor!

Why do I have to swear on the Bible in court when the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in the courthouse?

Blessed is he who has learned to admire, but not envy; to follow but not imitate; to praise, but not flatter; to lead, but not manipulate.

Your strength is seen in what you stand for; your weakness in what you fall for.

Paul and Silas were accused of turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6). God doesn’t turn the world upside down: He turns it right side up.

You’re stuck with your debt if ye can't budge it.

When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.

A bicycle can't stand up on its own because it is two tired.

Some people refuse to come forward in church until escorted by pallbearers.

The man who has not been to church for thirty years is usually the one who says that modern preaching is behind the times.

What the church needs more than anything else is fewer people telling the church what it needs more than anything else.

To ease another’s heartache is to forget one’s own. ~Abraham Lincoln

To realize the worth of the anchor we need to feel the storm.

The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.

A lot of money is tainted - It taint yours and it taint mine.

Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.

Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

As long as you are something, God is not everything; but when you are nothing, Christ is all.

The man who looks back, sooner or later goes back.

If ye don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.

College is an institution, which a lady attends to gain her MRS degree.

Epitaph on an atheist’s tombstone: All dressed up and no place to go.

By perseverance the snail reached the ark. ~Spurgeon

To the timid and hesitating, everything is impossible because it seems so. ~Sir Walter Scott

He had a photographic memory that was never developed.

Impossible is a word found only in the dictionary of fools. ~Napoleon Bonaparte

When we start thinking defeat, too often the Devil has the victory already.

There is no tragedy as tragic as combining high mentality with low morality. ~Dr. Bob Jones Sr.

College is a place where non-conformists conform to the prevailing standard of non-conformity.

When I got up this morning I discovered that someone had stolen all my stuff and replaced them all with exact duplicates. ~Steven Wright

Experience is a good teacher, but a hard one. She gives the test first and the lesson afterward.

You don’t have to be listed in “Who’s Who” to know what’s what.

Christians never meet for the last time.

A person never gets too busy to attend his own funeral.

Faith will not make the sun rise sooner, but it will make the night seem shorter.

He had a photographic memory that was never developed.

Prosperity begets friends; adversity reveals them.

We are on the wrong track when we think of friendship as something to get instead of something to give.

When it comes to giving, God sees the heart, not the hand; the giver, not the gift.

When it comes to giving, some people will stop at nothing.

When God gives to you, He never has any less; He still has just as much. God is infinite; when He gives us a part of Himself, He’s still infinite.

The door to the room of success swings on the hinges of opposition. ~Dr. Bob Jones Sr.

Be careful playing devil’s advocate, you might become the real thing.

If you aim at nothing, you’re sure to hit it.

The trouble with an opportunity is that it’s more recognizable going than it is coming.

Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.

Some people fail to recognize opportunity because it usually comes to them dressed up in overalls and looks like work.

Blessed is the man who expects nothing for he will never be disappointed.

The pessimist says, “If I don’t try, I can’t fail.” The optimist says, “If I don’t try I can’t win.”

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden couldn’t complain about how much better it was in the good old days.

Have you heard about the dial-A-Prayer service for atheists? You call a number and nobody answers.

Live your life so that when you die the preacher won’t have to lie.

To make a long story short, don't tell it.

God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

What the Foxes said to Samson: If you go ahead and set our tails on fire, remember us in a book of martyrs.

What one egg said to another; Don’t get unequally yolked to a bad egg.

One nice thing about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.

You should never say "no" to a gift from a child.

No matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

We gain the strength of the temptation we resist.

You can find the shortest sermon on a thousand traffic signs: Keep right!

It wasn’t the fruit on the tree that caused all the trouble; it was the pair on the ground.

Welfare rolls are made from our dough.

A family altar would alter many a family.

The sermon that you like the most is not likely to be the one that will do you the most good.

Many people treat God like a spare tire; they only think of him in an emergency.

Scripture forbids polygamy: no man can serve two masters.

The proof of a real preacher is when his congregation goes away not saying “What a lovely sermon” but, “I will obey God.”

When did the cock crow when everyone in the world heard him? On Noah’s ark!

God’s will never contradicts His word. ~ Dr. Curtis Hutson

A clean Bible means a lean soul. ~ D.L. Moody

It took more than nails to hold Jesus to the cross. The bonds of love held Him there. ~ Rolla O. Swisher

No amount of riches can atone for poverty of character.

Whatever you dislike in another person, be sure to correct in yourself.

What you love and what you hate, reveal what you are. ~ Dr. Bob Jones, Sr.

Don’t blame the rule if you don’t measure up.

God has given us the privilege of making the choices of life, but He sets the consequences. ~R.J. Little

The most dangerous place to be on a Sunday morning is the road between a late-running Christian and his church.

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

The wisest man’s description of a wise man is found in Proverbs 11:30, “He that winneth souls is wise.”

Learn from the turtle-it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

It’s all right to sit on your pity pot every now and then. Just be sure you flush when you are done.

The woods would be silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.

Confessing your sins is no substitute for forsaking them.

If a hypocrite is between you and heaven, then he’s closer to heaven than you are.

The best mathematical equation I’ve ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

Do the math. Count your blessings.

Yard-by-yard is mighty hard, but inch-by-inch is a cinch.

People always see the bad side. Nobody ever puts up a sign that says, “NICE DOG.”

A pastor needs the head of a scholar, the heart of a child, and the hide of a rhinoceros.

It is dangerous when our yearning capacity exceeds our earning capacity.

Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut save you thirty cents?

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

Sunday School lessons are like babies: easy to conceive but hard to deliver.

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

Did The Church Replace Israel?

2010-08-08T15:20:00.013-04:00

Did the Church replace Israel as God’s chosen people? Is the Church present-day Israel? No. Israel is Israel. The Church is the Church, just like America is America…at least it was the last time I checked.

When we say the “Church” who are we talking about? The “Church” is the worldwide body of believers of all ages, some of whom sleep in the ground. This is the Church of God…which consists of people whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. There is another definition of "church," that “local church” on the other side of town, or the one you attend. There was a local church in Corinth, there was one in Thessalonica, one in Ephesus, one in Philippi, and so on. There are several “local churches” in your town but these are not the type of church I'm referring to here.

In some denominations there is a false doctrine called Replacement Theology, (also called Supersessionism), which means that the Church has replaced (or superceded) Israel as God’s Chosen People. Attention, the Church has not replaced Israel!

Replacement Theology has not only led millions of Christians astray over the years but it has encouraged persecution of Jews through the centuries, including the Holocaust.

God has neither rejected nor replaced Israel and the Jewish people. His covenant with them is unconditional and non-transferable. God’s covenants and promises were never based on Israel’s good behavior, but were based on God’s faithfulness toward His people. Although the Jewish people have suffered the consequences of breaking God’s Laws, as we all do, they have not been replaced or rejected. Romans chapter eleven makes this quite clear.

When Jesus came to Earth, did he establish a new religion? Did he do away with the old Jewish religion? Matthew 5:17, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Note: The expression, “the law” refers to the first five books of the Old Testament (the Torah in Hebrew or the Pentateuch in Greek), and “The Prophets” refers to the last seventeen books of the Old Testament (five major and twelve minor).

No. Jesus did not establish a new religion, but He did fulfill it! To fulfill means to: 1. accomplish, achieve, complete, realize. 2. execute, discharge, observe. 3. meet, answer, fill, comply with. 4. end, terminate, conclude.

Romans 10:4, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

If a man were to complete a painting…as he applied that last stroke of the brush he would be completing it. The painting would be finished. The painting would be ended, but not destroyed. Now we have a new painting, but not a new religion; not a new God.

When Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets He did not destroy them but He did end the idea that a man could become righteous simply by obeying the Law. The story of God does not end with the Old Testament, as the Jews would have us believe, but the story of God is eternal, and goes on and is never ending. In the New Testament we have the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy.

In Jesus’ day, the truth that God had given to Israel had evolved from the Faith of God into the Jewish religion, Judaism. It had become a religious system of strict do’s and don’ts; shalt’s and shalt nots. If a person violated one of these strict rules the religious police would haul him before the Sanhedrin where he would be judged and then beaten. The Sanhedrin had evolved into powerful, self-serving, rich, upper-class politicians. (See my blog posting, What Does the Term “Jew” Mean?)

God commissioned Israel to witness to the Gentiles, but they refused to witness to the “gentile dogs,” and the record of Jonah is a good example of that. Should we witness to the Jews? Yes.

Genesis 12:1-3, Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. All families!

Genesis 22:16-18 (Abraham again), And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. All the nations!

Genesis 28:13-14 (Jacob...Israel), And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. All the families!

Isaiah 42:6, I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; Light of the Gentiles.

Isaiah 49:6, And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Light to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:44-47, And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy (note), and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. The light of the Gentiles!

Romans chapter eleven would never have been written if the Church had replaced Israel.
Romans 11:1-11:36, I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (The remnant refers to believing Jews. The election of grace refers to all believers, Christians; this includes the remnant, believing Jews.

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election (all believers including the believing remnant) hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded (See Romans 9:6)

8(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompence unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. (this is a quotation from Psalms 69:22-23)

11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? (for some yes; for believers, no.) God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. (See Acts 13:45)

12 Now if the fall of them (Jews) be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: (because…)

14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation (To copy the Gentiles) them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. (Save some of them? Through Paul’s ministry God might save some of them.)

15 For if the casting away of them (Them = Israel, non-believing Jews, throughout the rest of this chapter) be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy (the firstfruit here is Jesus and the lump is Israel): and if the root be holy, so are the branches (the root here is God and the branches are the rest of the tree, which is Israel).

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree (believing gentiles), wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root (God) and fatness (blessings) of the olive tree (Israel);

18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, (remember…) thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. The church is not Israel and Israel is not the church.

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23 And they also, if they (Israel) abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.

24 For if thou (believing gentiles) wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these (Israel), which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (the fulness of the Gentiles refers to the end of the ‘times of the Gentiles’ at the end of the tribulation period, when God returns to dealing with national Israel.)

26 And so all Israel shall be saved (see Romans 9:6): as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they (Israel) are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they (believers) are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30 For as ye (believing gentiles) in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their (Jews) unbelief:

31 Even so have these (Jews) also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. (Gentiles should try to witness to them.)

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all (the rest of the world).

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?

35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

FAITH IS NOT A WORK

2010-06-21T20:58:00.000-04:00

Faith (dictionary definition)

noun (Not a verb. If it were a verb it would imply work.)

1.confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability.

2.belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.

3.belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims.

4.belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.

5.a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith.

6.the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.: Failure to appear would be breaking faith.

7.the observance of an obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.: He was the only one who proved his faith during our recent troubles.

8.Christian Theology: the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.

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Luke 7:44-50

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Thy faith…note that this was not faith that Jesus had, but it was faith that she had. Did her faith save her? Yes, Jesus says so. But use common sense, does this mean that she saved herself? No, of course not, it means that Jesus saved her because she had faith in Him.

Luke 18:35-42

35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Whose faith saved this man? Was it Jesus faith? Jesus said: thy faith hath saved thee. Because it was the man’s faith that saved him, did the man save himself? No, of course not.

Luke 23:35-44

35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Did this man have faith? Yes, he had faith in Jesus, otherwise he would not have said Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Note that he was saved in the manner of Old Testament saints. When saved people die today they do not go to paradise first…they go to heaven immediately. This man was saved because he had faith in Jesus. He wasn't saved because he belonged to the First Baptist Church, or the Methodist Church, or any other church. He didn't belong to any local church.

Heb 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. "Without faith..." whose faith is this referring to? Our faith.

1 Thess 1:2-3
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
Work of faith…does this mean that faith is a work? No, this means work done because you have faith.

1 Thess 3:10
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
Perfect that which is lacking in your faith? See faith definition #3.

Ephesians 2:8-9, says:
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We are saved by God, because of His grace toward us. It is by His grace through our faith. It is our faith in Jesus Christ, but some people would have us believe that it is not our faith but that it is Jesus’ faith. Now, it is true that Jesus was faithful to do that which He came to Earth to do, that is to die on the cross for our sins. But we must have faith in Him, we must trust in Him. Because of verse nine, above, nothing pertaining to our salvation can be by any work on our part, so some people erroneously say it is the faith of Jesus, and they cite:
1 Thessalonians 5:24,
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

To understand the context in this verse it is necessary to read the preceeding verse,
verse 23, And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is faithful to do what? He is faithful to sanctify you wholly and preserve you blameless. See faith definition #7.

1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Jesus was faithful to do what He came here to do, that is to die on the cross for our sins. He is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Everyone has faith of some kind. My dog is faithful to me, I am faithful to my dog, but this is not the faith that Ephesians 2:8-9 refers to.

Ephesians 2:8, says:
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith… It is God’s grace but our faith. We must trust in the finished work of Christ. We must make a choice, to have faith in Jesus or to reject faith in Him. Jesus doesn't make this choice for us.

The faith that is essential is the kind that we find in Acts 26:18 where Jesus said:
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Our faith that is in Jesus. See faith definition #1 and #8.

According to the dictionary:
WORK

Etymology: Middle English werk, work, from Old English werc, weorc; akin to Old High German werc work, Greek ergon

Function: noun, verb, adjective.

1. activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something: a. sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result, b. the labor, task, or duty that is one's accustomed means of livelihood, c. a specific task, duty, function, or assignment often being a part or phase of some larger activity.

2. a. energy expended by natural phenomena, b. the result of such energy - sand dunes are the work of sea and wind, c. the transference of energy that is produced by the motion at the point of application of a force and is measured by multiplying the force and the displacement of its point of application in the line of action.

3. a. force applied multiplied by distance an object is moved equals work b. force, applied in pounds x distance moved, in feet = work, expressed in foot pounds.

The word faith does not measure up to the dictionary definition of work. No energy is transferred, therefore, faith is not a work. Faith is a belief that a person holds. Yes: one believes, or no: one does not believe. It’s analogous to, “Do you like chocolate or not? Yes or No.” It requires no sustained physical or mental effort. No work takes place.

The book of James makes it abundantly clear that faith is not a work. People are in error when they cling desperately to the idea that faith is a work.

James 2:14 says, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”

James 2:17-18, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

Obviously, according to the word of God, faith is not a work. The point James is trying to make here is that good works are evidence that a person has faith, but faith by itself without works is not proof that a person has faith. Do you like chocolate? If you chew up and swallow a pound of chocolate every day this is work and it is evidential proof that you do like chocolate.

2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

If the Lord is not willing that any should perish then why would He not give everyone faith? The fact is that God gives us the ability to have faith but He does not give us faith handed out to us on a silver platter. God wants us to choose to have faith in Christ of our own free will. God doesn’t force faith upon us. It’s our choice to make, to believe in Him or to reject Him.

According to God’s word we are not saved by any work on our part. Since some men believe that faith is a work these people, therefore, grasp at straws to claim that Ephesians 2: 8-9 means it is Jesus that provides the faith…that God the Father provides the grace and God the Son provides the faith. This is in agreement with Calvinistic views. Wouldn’t this be another gospel?

Did you choose to believe in Christ or did some unseen power force you to believe, as the Calvinists would have you believe? God doesn’t force us to believe in Him. We choose to believe in Jesus of our own free will.

When God permits us to make our own choices He is not giving up any of His sovereignty. God, of His own permissive will, gives us permission, to make our own choices. Do you believe in Him or not? It’s your choice. Faith is not a work.

Romans 12:3, For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

“…dealt to every man the measure of faith.” This does not mean that God forces faith upon us, this means that God has given every man the ability to have faith in Him. God has not forbidden some people to have faith in Him.

In Romans 3:3, with reference to unbelieving Jews, For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? In this instance the expression ‘…faith of God…’ doesn’t mean faith given by God, it means the Faith of God, like The Jewish Faith, or The Christian Faith. See definition #5. Those people who claim that Ephesians 2:8 means ‘Jesus faith’ like to point to this verse as proof that Jesus provides the faith we need to be saved. But one can see that this is simply a case of those people twisting scripture to fit their own private interpretation.

Can a person be saved in a church that is different from your own? Yes. A church never saved anyone. Only Jesus can save. A person can be saved in the middle of the Sahara Desert, he doesn’t have to be in a church. The thief on the cross wasn’t in any church, in fact he was mostly surrounded by unbelievers. For a person to be saved he must have faith in Jesus. That is, to believe that we’re sinners and that we cannot save ourselves, but that Jesus died on the cross as our substitute and then arose from the grave three days later. We’re not saved by what we know, we’re saved by who we know. Do you know Jesus? We don’t have to hold a PhD in Theology to be saved, we just have to know Jesus.

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com

THEOGENIC GLOBAL WARMING

2010-04-05T22:39:00.011-04:00

Chapter one THE SCIENCE

So-called anthropogenic global warming as promoted by liberal left leaning politicians is an evil hoax being perpetrated for the covert purpose of controlling the people of the world. The perpetrators intend to tax wealthy countries into poverty and control poor countries by donating to them token payments for their loyalty. Global warming is being presented as a worldwide catastrophe endangering the very existence of life. The truth is that it is not presently happening; furthermore, mankind will never be the cause of global warming. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/8284223/Himalayan-glaciers-not-melting-because-of-climate-change-report-finds.html

All the hyperbole about climate change is not so much about global warming or cooling as it is about centralization of the global economy and usurpation of national sovereignty by supranational governing entities, such as the United Nations. One could say it is about the creation of a one-world government.

After usurping the banking, investment, insurance and auto industries and attempting to nationalize our health care, the present administration will be redoubling its efforts to enact CO2 legislation in order to control the industrial sector of our economy.

Most of our atmosphere consists of nitrogen (78 percent by volume) and oxygen (21 percent by volume), while greenhouse gasses, primarily in the form of water vapor, comprise the remaining one percent (that is 1 %) of air. Nevertheless, if it were not for the greenhouse gasses the mean temperature of earth’s climate might be as much as 40C degrees lower, according to one website.

When it comes to our ability to control global climate, the fact is we probably have less control than a butterfly has in a tornado.

Theogenic instead of anthropogenic global warming will occur, but man will not cause it, and all the carbon credits in the world won’t help in the least. It will be caused by increased solar energy emanating from the sun and subsequent increased water vapor in the atmosphere, and there is no way of preventing it, unless Al Gore can control the sun. Maybe it has already started! Check what just happened to the sun on the first of August 2010: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/13dec_globaleruption/

The global warming phenomenon will be a two-stage process. The initial stage will be a catastrophic atmospheric apocalypse but the final stage will be wonderful. Early in the initial stage when this occurs people will complain that it is unbearably hot, especially if this coincides with summer. If it occurs during the fall, it will be spring in the opposite hemisphere and people in both hemispheres will complain about the unbearable heat. In the initial stage there will be much suffering.

As the initial process continues, the suffering will progressively get worse and the liberal politicians will deceitfully harangue, “We told you so. Quickly, give us your money so we can stop it.” People will be ordered to park all privately owned vehicles that get less than 35 miles per gallon. Airline flights will be prioritized and only people with a compelling reason will be allowed to fly. Gasoline cost will triple when the carbon credits are factored in. But global warming won’t be the result of anything man does and there is nothing man can do to stop it.

When we think of water we tend to think of liquid water such as we drink, however, water can exist in three forms:
Solid (ice).
Liquid.
Gaseous (vapor).
All three forms are H2O.

Polar ice will begin melting and water on the Earth’s surface will begin evaporating, and the earth will suffer a severe drought much like the dust bowl of the 1930’s in the western U.S. The rate of evaporation will depend upon the relative humidity, which in turn depends on the temperature. During this early step in the first stage the relative humidity will not get high enough for the gaseous H2O to condense into rain.

Solar radiation will upset the Earth’s core and cause a violent earthquake; and combined with the blowing dust, the landmasses, as we know them, will be changed. Because of the dust storms the sun and moon will barely be seen and the stars will fade from view.
http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/21/scientists-a-solar-storm-could-have-the-power-of-katrina/

Today’s atmosphere consists of:
78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% argon (an inert gas)
0.038% carbon dioxide
1-4% water vapor (H2O) (I don’t know why this percentage is given as variable, it shouldn’t be since the Earth is a balanced ecosystem, but I copied these numbers from a website. Besides, most people know you can’t have more than 100 percent.)

The molecular weights, or masses, of the above atmospheric gases, rounded off to the nearest whole number, copied from a website are:
Nitrogen – 28
Oxygen – 32
Argon - 40
Carbon dioxide (CO2) – 44
Water vapor (H2O) – 18
Air – 29

From the above weights one may see that gaseous water is much lighter than the other atmospheric constituents, therefore, this evaporated H2O will rise fairly rapidly away from the Earth’s surface. Today the atmospheric temperature decreases 2 degrees Celsius (3.5 degrees Fahrenheit) for every one thousand feet of increase in altitude. At the present time water vapor rises until the temperature drops to its saturation point and then the vapor condenses into microscopic liquid water droplets known as clouds. These microscopic cloud particles do not freeze until reaching extreme sub-zero temperatures unless they first encounter a solid particle upon which they condense into large drops of water or hail.

The water vapor will rise from the lakes, rivers, and oceans. The heat will cause violent dust storms. Rivers will dry up. Water vapor cannot form into rain or hail unless it has a nucleus, such as a dust particle, onto which to form. The pure water vapor and clouds in the freezing upper atmosphere will condense onto the airborne dust particles forming hail, which being heavier will fall toward the Earth but the rising air currents will carry the smaller hailstones back up, in a continuous churning process. There they will merge with other hailstones until they become heavy enough to finally fall to the earth, causing death to many creatures struck by these massive hailstones.

Water will continue to evaporate because of the rising heat and the altitude at which the water vapor reaches saturation will progressively become higher and higher. Because of continuing earthquakes, windstorms, and volcanic eruptions there will be dust particles providing the nucleus for hail. The volcanic eruptions will be more severe than Mt. Pinatubo (which erupted in 1991, the dust shade of which caused the Earth’s worldwide temperature to drop .5 degrees Celsius)

The water, which evaporates from the landmasses, will cause a severe drought leading to drinking water shortages; food and potable water will probably be rationed by the government, and hoarding will likely be made unlawful.

Eventually the temperature will stop rising and the altitude at which the water vapor reaches saturation will stabilize at some very high altitude. The water vapor will be concentrated in the upper altitudes. These clouds will form a greenhouse blanket over the entire Earth, sheltering the Earth from the direct rays of the sun. This blanket of clouds will cause the Earth to be heated evenly, and there will be no more storms because the solar rays will no longer directly strike the Earth’s surface, eliminating thermal air currents; the only air movement will be that which is associated with the rotation of the Earth. Because of this blanket of greenhouse gas, sufficient heat will be encapsulated to prevent another ice age or nuclear type winter.

In the second and final stage of global warming, a state of equilibrium will be reached where, protected by the cloud cover, the Earth’s surface temperature will stabilize, the air will be nearly saturated and once again water condensation will equal evaporation.

The temperature at the poles will vary only a few degrees from the temperature at the equator. There will be no more rain or hail because there will finally be no more dust particles, onto which to form rain or hail. Instead the Earth will be irrigated by water vapor condensing onto vegetation as dew, and a mist that will condense during the slightly cooler air of the night, thus liberally watering the Earth. Temperature variation from summer to winter will be insignificant.

Because of the enormous mass of water in the atmosphere, the atmospheric pressure at sea level will be more than double the 14.7 psi, which is now standard. Using the model of the atmosphere advanced by Joseph C. Dillow’ in his book, THE WATERS ABOVE: EARTH’S PRE-FLOOD VAPOR CANOPY, in which he proposes the hypothesis that it was possible for the pre-flood atmosphere to entrain the equivalent of forty feet of liquid water, which would increase the sea level atmospheric pressure to 2.18 times today’s 14.7 psi at sea level, resulting in a new sea level barometric pressure of 32 psi. This increased atmospheric pressure will result in a hyperbaric chamber effect where there will be no illnesses, and wounds will heal rapidly. This will permit mankind to live to be over 900 years of age. With each breath a person will inhale twice as much oxygen than is possible today, and fatigue from normal physical work will be unknown.

Horizontal visibility may be reduced due to haze. Jet propulsion, as we know it, may be discontinued because of the increased fuel consumption at the necessarily lower altitudes flown. Today’s internal combustion engines would develop twice as much horsepower but fuel consumption would also double. Calibrated airspeeds flown would be significantly slower even if the horsepower were maintained at double the original rated power.

Of course today’s engines will not be strong enough to withstand twice as much power so they will have to be throttled back. In fact oil refineries will probably no longer exist making any discussion of transportation, as we know it, meaningless. On the other hand, man-powered flight may truly be practical, with no more effort than riding a bicycle today! http://images.gizmag.com/hero/1525_02.jpg

There will be no more seasons, as we presently know them. Crops may be planted and harvested without regard to the time of year. The former deserts will be moist. At the present time large areas of the Earth are uninhabitable deserts or frozen wastelands; after global warming these areas will be prime land in which to settle.

Global warming is coming and the transformation period will be quite traumatic, but after it stabilizes the overall result will be very good. Welcome to the Kingdom of Heaven!

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Chapter two ATMOSPHERIC WOES REVEALED

If you are wondering why the sun’s energy will increase, well wonder no more!

1 Peter 1:7 (all Bible verses below are King James Version)

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Gold is refined by fire, but this also seems to indicate that men’s faith here on Earth will have been tried by fire when the Lord returns.

2 Peter 3:6-7

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: The sinful pre-flood world perished in the flood.

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. As the flood destroyed the sinful pre-flood world, so shall the sinful post-rapture world be destroyed by fire when God pours out His wrath upon His enemies.

2 Peter 3:10-13

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. When the Christ haters least expect it God will pour out His wrath and there will be global warming such as the world has never experienced.

Revelation 6:12-17

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; The sun and moon will be mostly obscured due to dust in the atmosphere.

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. “Stars of heaven” can be one of two things, Angels, or a meteorite shower, but not literal stars because a star is a sun.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. “Heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together” probably means it cannot be seen due to dust in the atmosphere caused by high winds and dry earth. “Every mountain and island moved,” due to the earthquake. Perhaps the plate tectonics phenomenon will reverse course.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Revelation 7:14-16

14 These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. These are Chistians who have gone through the suffering of the tribulation period and are now in heaven.
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. They are finally relieved of their terrible suffering from the severe famine, drought, and blistering heat of the sun during the last half of the tribulation period.

17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelation 8:7-13

7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. “Hail and fire mingled with blood” probably refers to massive hailstones able to kill men and animals which explains the mingling with blood. The trees and grass will be extremely dry from the drought so that they easily catch fire from any source of ignition, such as lightning.

8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; “Mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea” probably a volcano like Mauna Loa on Hawaii’s Big Island. Mauna Loa is presently the world’s largest active volcano and it spews dust and flowing lava into the ocean when it erupts. The heat and earthquake will have upset the earth’s equilibrium so that it will cause a catastrophic volcanic eruption.

9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. Possibly caused by tsunamis, a series of catastrophic ocean waves generated by ocean floor movements, which may be caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides beneath the ocean; and/or an asteroid striking the ocean.

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; A large meteorite burning as it falls through the atmosphere where it breaks up into smaller chunks which fall over a wide area.

11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. The star may possibly be a sulfuric meteorite or something similar.

12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. Volcanic dust combined with blowing dust will block the sky.

13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! What happens following this is chronologically later.

Woe, woe, woe to the inhabiters of the earth…because this will be a horrible time of excruciating pain and agony! BUT WAIT! Christians, those who have placed their trust and belief in Jesus, will not be here! They will be with Jesus in heaven! If you want to avoid this time of pain and suffering be sure that you are a Christian. See my blog posting: HOW TO KNOW YOU WOULD GO TO HEAVEN

Revelation 11:3-6

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. Note: they shall prophesy 1,260 days, which is three and one half years according to the Jewish year.

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. “…that it rain not in the days of their prophecy…” Thus it will not rain for three and one half years!

Revelation 16:8-12

8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. “…upon the sun…and…scorch men with fire.” The sun’s rays will further increase in intensity.

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. Heat from the sun, and heat from increased water vapor (a greenhouse gas).

10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, That kingdom is full of spiritual darkness and possibly darkness caused by dust in the atmosphere as in 6:12 above.

11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. At this time it has not rained for perhaps more than three years so the Euphrates, as well as other rivers, will have dried up.

Revelation 16:17-21

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.

18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. Voices, thunders, a great earthquake…such as has never been. Bail out! Bail out! Now! You don't want to be here! Click this link: HOW TO KNOW YOU WOULD GO TO HEAVEN

19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. This event is chronologically later than 6:14.

21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. This event is chronologically later than 8:7.

After all this chaos…

Isaiah 65:17

17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. The Earth will achieve a new equilibrium and calm will be restored, but it will be a new environment. It will truly be new. The temperature at the poles will vary only a few degrees from the temperature at the equator. There will be no more rain or hail because there will finally be no more dust particles onto which to form rain or hail. Instead the Earth will be irrigated by water vapor condensing onto vegetation and a mist, which condenses during the slightly cooler air of the night, thus liberally watering the Earth. Temperature variation from summer to winter will be insignificant.

Isaiah 65:20-22

20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. If a person who dies at one hundred years of age is considered a child, then what will be the normal life expectancy of a person?

21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. The increased atmospheric pressure will permit mankind to live to be over 900 years of age. With each breath a person will inhale twice as much oxygen than is possible today, and fatigue from normal physical work will be unknown.

Isaiah 65:25

25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 11:6-9

6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

The Earth will achieve a new equilibrium and calm will be restored, but it will be a new environment, and it will have a new King. The Kingdom of Heaven will be ruled by a King from heaven. JESUS.

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

TRINITY OIL

2009-12-25T21:20:00.000-05:00

When sewing machines were a newly developed device they were lubricated with lubricating oil. But with time the oil dried out and it formed thick gummy deposits on the machine that gummed up the parts so they would stop working. Then they had to be taken apart and cleaned, but the machines had gotten a little rusted and didn't want to come apart, so they had to use penetrating oil to get them to come apart. To clean the thick gummy deposits off the parts they had to use cleaning-solvent to clean off the gum.

Some smart man decided to mix some lubricating oil, with some penetrating oil, and some cleaning-solvent, and he called it sewing machine oil. Now all a person needs is sewing machine oil. It is made up of three components but you can't separate the component parts, it is all sewing machine oil. It is 3-in-one oil, like God is a three-in-one God.

THE WORD LORD

2009-12-25T20:43:00.000-05:00

The word “Lord” is an interesting word. It means one’s superior, master, nobleman, one of a superior class, a person of power. In America, since this is supposedly a classless society, this word is nearly always used to indicate God. However, in Britain, which has a caste system, this word is nearly always used to indicate a person of the upper class and seldom is used to refer to God because today most people in Britain claim to be atheists.

Jesus is our Lord. He is our Sovereign. At Christmastime we often think of Jesus as a little babe in a manger as we smilingly stand looking down at Him, but we should remember that even when He was a baby in a manger He was still our Lord. Matthew 2:11 says, And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him... Our position should not be looking down as we stand over Him, but we should be bowing below Him, prostrate if necessary.

Here in America, Christ denying politically correct unbelievers listen to liberal politicians who say that we should say “Happy Holidays” in order to avoid offending voters of non-Christian faiths, but in doing this they offend the Lord, who is the all powerful King of kings! Woe unto these people who deny Him honor.

When Jesus returns at the end of the tribulation period He will come in full power and glory! He will not come as a weak, meek, mild mannered baby. He will come as THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS! Everyone who sees Him will fall prostrate at His feet. No one will fail to recognize His Lordship. No one will dare say “Happy Holidays!”

DO DOGS GO TO HEAVEN?

2009-03-28T00:33:00.002-04:00

This is a question every dog lover ponders. When a beloved pet dies, children especially are anxious to know the answer to this question.

A friend of mine was sleepily driving our church van, picking up children one Sunday when a little girl who was a regular attendee asked him, “Do dogs go to heaven when they die?”

A loaded question, innocently asked. Equally innocently he yawned and answered, “No, Honey, dogs don’t go to heaven.”

“I hate you! My dog just died,” she bawled, “I’m never going to your church again!”

That woke him up. “Oh! Well, uh...you see…uh, I don’t know…uh, let’s ask the pastor!”

If someone asks if dogs go to heaven the first thing one can immediately and truthfully answer is, “Dogs don’t go to hell.”

Genesis 1:25, And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. God saw that it was good, and everything that is good is bound to be in heaven. Heaven will surely be Edenic. We know that according to Revelation 19:14 horses will be in heaven and in Revelation 22:2 at least one of the trees that was in the garden of Eden will be in there.

We quite correctly consult the Bible to get an authoritative answer to this important question, but the Bible was not written for the sake of dogs, it was given for man’s sake. When God speaks to a dog He must speak in dog-talk. The Bible does not directly address this issue except as it pertains to man.

Let’s see what the Bible does say regarding animals and plants. Romans 8: 19,20, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature (including dogs) was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.” In Genesis God said cursed is the ground for thy sake. Note that the Earth (including dogs) was not cursed for anything that the Earth (or dogs) had done. Continuing in verses 21 and 22, “Because the creature (including dogs) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation (including dogs) groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Since the curse all of creation has had to continually keep regenerating itself through a cycle of death and rebirth. Before the curse there was no death so regeneration was unnecessary, and sometime after we receive the manifestation of sons of God, the Earth will be as it was before the fall of man and your pets and flowers living at that time will live forever. I believe it’s quite clear that some dogs will be in heaven.

Dogs are not guilty of sin, therefore they are not sinners like mankind so they do not need to be saved from hell. Some dogs will be in heaven, but will your dog be in heaven?

Matthew 21:21-22 says: "Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

The most important consideration is: Will you be in heaven? If you want to make sure that your dog makes it to heaven then you must first make sure that you are there. If your dog is not there, remember, all you have to do is ask and he will then be there. Read my blog post: HOW TO KNOW YOU WOULD GO TO HEAVEN

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/2008/12/children-of-god-what-bible-says.html

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

LOVE

2008-12-27T15:47:00.001-05:00

There are three words in the Greek language for love. Eros, which refers to sexual desire. Really the word eros doesn't mean love in a strictly technical sense but refers only to a basic animal instinct to copulate. The expression "make love" is a misnomer since it 's not love, it may be "making whoopee," but it's certainly not love. The word eros is not found in the Bible.

The second Greek word for love is phileo. This refers to friendship as one friend to another, brotherly love, the brotherhood of mankind, love of an object or thing. If we say we like someone or a group of people in a friendly way this would be an example of phileo love. Phileo type love is mentioned only a few times in the New Testament.

The third Greek word for love is agape. This is similar to phileo love but is of a more intense character. To the people for whom we have agape love we would use the words dear, beloved and we would be affectionate and charitable to these people. The love most often mentioned in the Bible is agape love.

Agape love has a spiritual characteristic. It is not based on sight, unlike carnal love, but is based on how we feel in our heart. We are to love God whom we have not seen.

Agape love's main characteristic is giving. It is no mistake that in the New Testament the word agape is often translated charity. If the Bible says that loving is the same as giving then by God's definition that's exactly what it is. The characteristic opposite to agape love is demanding. It's giving versus demanding. If a person gives of himself then he is a loving person. Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” And that's just what Jesus did for us, "...Christ died FOR us," according to Romans 5:8. Jesus gave! Jesus is a life giver! Amen? He gave his life and in so doing gave us life.

We should spend less effort looking for love and more effort being someone others can love. The love of God is unconditional. He didn't say, “if we do such and such He would love us,” Many people do not understand this and try to lay burdens on us. The fact is that God hates sin but He loves sinners. God loves us so much that even though we were at enmity with Him He gave His precious son Jesus to die for us.

Some people are not capable of loving because they can't bring themselves to give. They say, “I'm not giving away anything because I need everything I've got.” These people are often described as self-centered, demanding, selfish, and unfeeling. They are often starving for love, but what they don't understand is “if ya wanna git, ya gotta give!” If you want to be loved you’ve got to be lovable. A lovable person is a giving person. Giving is like “gifting,” giving something just because you want to, not because you owe the person. It's just that simple. This does not mean that if you give out a little love you have a right to demand a payback!

To receive is nice, but it is better to give. Receiving is not the same as loving. Giving is loving. Except in the case, for example, when someone wants to give us something, instead of refusing the gift, we accept the gift rather than deny that person the blessing of giving.

Love is characterized by giving of one's time as well as one's possessions. If a woman demands that her husband love her, then she is wasting her breath because if he loves her he will freely give his love. But if he goes through the motions just because she demands it, then she is not really the recipient of his love anyway. She, on the other hand, is not a loving person either, for if she loved him she would just give him her love with no strings attached.

It is tragic that so many people don't even know the meaning of love. Most people confuse physical attraction, the erotic drive to have sex, with love. It's understandable that so many people would be confused considering the proliferation of music that bally-hoos sex as true love. Physical attraction by itself is not love. A man may be physically attracted to a prostitute but he's not going to give her anything, he's going to pay for it. And he may get something he doesn't want. Remember that she didn't give it to him ... he paid for it. Physical attraction to the opposite sex is something we will always feel as long as we have these fleshly bodies. Oh yes, it is important that there be a physical attraction, but there must also be a growing desire to give all that one has to the other person.

Too many people are driven by peer pressure to have a good-looking boy or girlfriend, or husband or wife. Then they think of their mate as a possession and what their mate can do for them instead of what they can do for their mate. For example, "I want to marry a rich man." Or, "I want to marry a good-looking chick so I can be the envy of all my friends." Or what about this, "I know he's a jerk... but he's got a nice car."

"In THE PRINCE, a book written in the seventeenth century, the author Nicolo Machiavelli, from whom we get the word "Machiavellian," posed the question, "Is it better to be loved or feared?" Wrongly, his answer was that it is better to be feared. My question is, "Is it better to be married to a beautiful woman who sort of likes you but isn't sure if she loves you, or is it better to be married to someone who looks only so-so but who loves you completely without reservation?" My answer is that it is better to be loved completely without reservation than to be married to someone who only sort of likes you, no matter what either of them looks like. It is better to be loved than to be respected, feared, envied, esteemed, or famous.

After marriage many people say, "Now you're mine." But the truth is that we never own someone. We can never say, "You're mine." We can only say, "I'm yours. I give myself to you." But if someone gives himself or herself to you, you still don't own them.

If you're married to a person who doesn't love you, that person may be attracted to some person other than yourself. Your fear of their infidelity will make your life miserable. To prevent that person from being unfaithful to you, you will feel that you must control them. The method employed in controlling the other person may involve physical or mental abuse. Physical abuse involves violence or the threat of violence. When you use violence any hope of happiness for either of you will disappear. Now you're demanding, not loving. You may be able to force a person to remain faithful, but you cannot force a person to love you. The more you try to force them to love you, the more they will hate you.

Mental abuse takes many forms of manipulation, and mind games, but commonly it involves inferences that the other person would be helpless without you. This leads to feelings of low self-esteem and subsequent unhappiness. We're supposed to make our loved ones happy, not unhappy!

Love means giving. If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was. This is what Jesus did with us. He gave his life FOR us by dying on the cross FOR us. This set us free from the law of sin and death, if we accept Him and what He did FOR us. He didn't claim us as his possessions, He set us free. We can do anything we want. We don't have to give our lives to him. We don't owe Jesus anything. But if we love him, we will come to Jesus and surrender all.

THE HERESY OF CALVINISM

2008-12-27T12:48:00.004-05:00

John Calvin (1509-1564) was one of the chief leaders of the Protestant Reformation. His followers say that Calvin's brilliant mind, powerful preaching, many books and large correspondence, and capacity for organization and administration made him a dominant figure of the Reformation. His detractors say that he had his dissenters burned at the stake.

What Calvinists believe:

Although many people attribute the acronym TULIP to John Calvin, he wasn’t the one who developed it. But it does accurately reflect his theology. The term TULIP is actually an acronym of the five points of Calvinism. It provides a person a quick understanding of the core beliefs of this doctrine. Listed below are the five parts of the TULIP.

T Total Depravity

U Unconditional Election

L Limited Atonement

I Irresistible Grace

P Perseverance of the saints

Calvinist Doctrine As Explained By A Calvinist:

Total Depravity:

When man fell, sin permeated his entire being. This fall was so complete that man had no desire for God and righteousness. Man is so totally enslaved by sin that he can only choose evil; he cannot choose good. He is incapable of choosing God and His salvation. Man is totally blind and deaf to the gospel. Apart from a supernatural intervention from God, the gospel message absolutely has no effect on a person. This is why Total Depravity has also been called “Total Inability.” Sin saturates every part of man's personality. This includes his thinking, emotions, and will. Total depravity does not mean he is necessarily intensely sinful, it only means that sin has encompassed his entire being.

Unconditional Election:

Unconditional Election is the doctrine that states that God has chosen who will get saved and who will be damned for eternity. Those not chosen to go to heaven are thus condemned to hell according to the doctrine of reprobation. This selection is not based upon the condition of the person’s heart or any of his merits. A person’s humility, love of God, and desire for righteousness are not part of this selection. God has elected some for glory and others for damnation. This election is based solely upon the counsel of His own will. His selection of the elect was done long before the universe was ever created.

Limited Atonement:

God limited His atonement to only those who are elect. When Jesus died on the cross, He did not die for the sins of the whole world; God limited His atonement to only those who are the elect. Christ died to atone for the sins of specific sinners. Calvinists say, “It is obvious that God did not atone for all men, because not all men are saved.”

Irresistible Grace:

The grace that God offers to the elect cannot be refused. God puts into the hearts of the elect an irresistible desire to turn to Him and accept His salvation. This implanted desire is so overpowering that it cannot be resisted or refused. This irresistible desire insures that everyone who has been elected will go to Heaven. None of the elect will ever go to Hell. The Calvinist says “What a comfort it is to know that the gospel of Christ will penetrate our hard, sinful hearts and wondrously save us through the gracious inward call of the Holy Spirit!” The Calvinist will also say, “This doctrine is a great comfort to the Christian who is witnessing; he knows that he will always be successful. When he is witnessing to a person, he has the assurance that if God wants that person to be saved, he will be saved.”

Perseverance of the Saints:

Since God has determined who will get saved and they cannot resist His call, they are unconditionally and eternally secure in that election. Therefore, those who have been chosen to be saved will always stay saved. They cannot resist or lose their salvation. There are no exceptions to the rule. Since there was nothing a person could do to get saved in the first place, there is nothing he can do to lose his salvation. The elect will always do right, if a person sins after he is saved then he was never saved in the first place.

***

Continuing on: A Calvinist would say: A main premise of Calvinism is God’s sovereignty and His complete control over everything. This means nothing happens in the world that is outside of God’s control. Another premise of Calvinism is that God, in His sovereignty, has arbitrarily decided who will go to Heaven and who will go to Hell. God pre-determined (predestined according to Calvinistic definition) the eternal state of each person. Those who were chosen (elected) to go to Heaven are called the elect, and those who were chosen to go to Hell are called reprobates. Calvinists are generally not strong supporters of missionaries.

Calvinistic Election and Predestination is the belief that God has chosen to send certain people to Heaven and the remainder to Hell. This selection, which was made long before the universe was created, was not based on any qualities of the person being selected. It was not based on the person’s heart or their future love for God. It was not based on God’s foreknowledge of who will eventually choose to accept Him as their Savior. (Some Calvinists do take the equally odious view that God based His election on who He foreknew would love Him. This may sound good but this, then, puts God in the devilish position of creating souls that He knew He would cast into the lake of fire.) It was not based on their future humility and repentance. This selection was purely random and arbitrary.

Nobody has a say in the matter. The person selected to go to Hell literally has no hope. Although he may desire to go to Heaven and is seeking deliverance, he has no chance of salvation. Even the person selected to go to Heaven has no say in the matter, he is forced to “love” God. This belief system is called Calvinism, Reformed Theology, the Doctrines of Grace, or Election and Predestination.

Calvinism today is often called Hyper-Calvinism, while other somewhat less harsh views are simply called plain Calvinism. It is important to note that Calvinism and Hyper-Calvinism are the same thing! Any theological system less than this is not Calvinism. According to Calvinistic theology, Christ did not die for everyone. He only died to pay for the sins of the elect. Since the person has no say in his eternal state, there is nothing he can do to gain or lose his salvation. As a result, the pre-elected person has “eternal security.”

But What About Calvinism? The truth:

Total depravity…reject total depravity. Natural man is depraved but not totally depraved. “There is none righteous, no, not one.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood.” These and other verses prove that they are depraved. If one says, “Send B-52’s to Iraq and nuke’em,” it would prove that he is swift to shed blood. But if some preacher tells him the gospel and with the wooing of the Holy Spirit he accepts the good news and believes in his heart that Christ died for his sins, then he was not totally depraved. If an unsaved person, such as the “Good Samaritan,” does a good deed this proves that he was not totally depraved. To be condemned a person only needs to be a little depraved. If a person were totally depraved he would eagerly commit rape, murder, plunder and break every other law. Since the “fall” man is totally lost, not totally depraved, but has no power to save himself. Calvinists say that man is so totally depraved that he is incapable of choosing Christ so God must choose for him. But the Bible says that man must believe. Man must choose to believe of his own free will.

Unconditional election…reject this because there are only four groups in the Bible spoken of as God’s elect: the angels, Israel, believing Israel, and Jesus. We are not angels, neither are we Israel, nor believing Israel, so the only way we can be elect is to be in Jesus. If we were “unconditionally elect” why then should we be obedient? Why then should we be submissive? Why then should we be repentant? We are elect only if we are part of the Elect One, Jesus. To be in the Elect One we must repent, that is, to turn away from our rejection of Christ and believe with our heart and confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus. Note that our saying the sinner’s prayer does not save us, that would make salvation a work, something that we do, but if we say it and believe it, GOD saves us, according to His Holy word.

Limited atonement…reject this because God is not a respecter of persons, we are all created equal in His eyes. Jesus death on the cross was efficacious for everyone. Unfortunately not everyone avails himself of this atonement. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” To believe in limited atonement would mean believing that God limits His love to just certain people, instead of whosoever. Finally, 1 John 2:22 says, "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." ...also for the sins of the whole world! That's everyone! He died for everyone!

Irresistible grace…reject this because God’s grace is offered to whosoever and obviously some people do resist His grace.

Perseverance of the saints…reject this. First, it should be rejected because as the Calvinists mean it, it depends upon the principles of the first four points. Calvinists say, God chose to save the elect, so, God makes them persevere. That God makes them do right; that if they don’t do right then they were never saved in the first place. Obviously everyone sins. Nowhere, however, does anyone say how many sins or how heinous of a sin can a person commit before he is deemed to have never been saved in the first place. This is like saying a person can lose his salvation. This system is not eternal security for whosoever believeth. John 3:16 affirms eternal security, but it does not mean that a person will never again sin.

***

Arminianism is named after the Dutch college professor James Harmensen, a.k.a. Jacob Arminius (1560-1609). Arminianism is often called the opposite of Calvinism. While Calvinism represents the extreme view of one aspect of Christianity, Arminianism represents an extreme opposite view of the same aspect of Christianity. Both extremes are equally odious. However, one should note that Calvinism and Arminianism are not completely opposite of each other. They do, however, oppose each other on some issues and this has led some to assume that if you are not a Calvinist, you must be an Arminian.

Although there are some Christians who adhere fully to Calvinism or Arminianism, most don’t. Most Christians have a hard time accepting all of the doctrines associated with either of these two views. If you were to ask them if they were a Calvinist or an Arminian, they would say that they are neither, but are somewhere in-between. Some call themselves Cal-Minians. Some will say they are a three, or a four point Calvinist. Many people call themselves Calvinists simply because they know they are not Arminians. They figure if they are not Arminian then they must be Calvinist.

Calvinism is fraught with clichés. Most people who believe in the philosophy of Calvin vigorously deny that they are Calvinists. Instead they say that they believe in the Doctrines of Grace, or that they embrace Reformation Theology. Sometimes Calvinism is called Election and Predestination. These are clichés that simply mean Calvinism. People do not wish to be identified as a Calvinist because the term immediately causes red flags to be raised.

People react, “Calvin? Isn’t he the guy that had people burned at the stake?”

“Calvinism? Isn’t that a controversial viewpoint?”

Or, “I don’t think any Bible doctrine should be named after a man.”

Calvinists trick the unsuspecting by saying, “But who could be against the Doctrines of Grace?” But the truth is that there is but one Doctrine of Grace, and that is God’s unmerited favor toward us.

Or they say, “Yes, Reformed Theology, you don’t believe that old Catholic stuff do you?” Or, “This is the traditional Baptist view.”

God is sovereign. This means no one, or being, is above God. Does God have to answer to anyone? Yes, he has to answer to himself. Therefore, God will always act in a manner that is consistent with His character. For example, God cannot lie. (Heb 6:18; Tit 1:2) God will not sin. Job 34:12, Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. It is inconsistent with God’s character for Him to choose some people for heaven and condemn others to hell before they have even had the opportunity to live.

When the Calvinists say that God is sovereign, they mean that nothing happens by chance, that God absolutely controls everything that happens. But if this were true it would mean that God is causing babies to be aborted at a horrendous rate. It would mean that God is causing children to be abused. It would mean that God causes sin. Calvinists say that God is causing all these things to happen, but because it is God that is the cause, it isn’t sin. They say God can do anything He wants to because He’s sovereign. How can anyone who has actually read the Bible honestly believe this heresy?

Why did Calvinistic doctrines gain so much appeal 400 years ago? There are three basic reasons. First, the Reformation brought every doctrine under scrutiny and possible reinterpretation. Second, the culture of the Reformers was the upper class and that greatly influenced the formation of the Reformers' new doctrines. Third, there was no separation of the church and state in those days.

The Reformation brought about a large number of changes in Christendom. The Bible was now in the language of the, so-called, common man. Up to this point only church leaders had access to the Bible. But now educated common men could read the Bible. These men were necessarily the upper class owing to the fact that the lower classes were still illiterate, and therefore, couldn't read the Bible. You didn’t have to be a church leader or royalty, nevertheless, you did have to read. Which meant you had to be in the wealthy upper class.

Although it would be nice to say that cultural pressure has not influenced Christian theology, it has. When the Reformers were creating their doctrinal stance, the social culture of the 1500's was fertile ground for the doctrine of Calvinism. The feeling of superiority that was inherent in the upper class Reformers biased their thinking. The upper class felt that they were naturally predestined to go to heaven, while the lower classes were obviously condemned heathens.

Europe, of course, had its royal families who were in a special class all their own because they ruled by divine authority. They had a tremendous feeling of inherent superiority. Although we take equality for granted, the concept was quite foreign to them. The existence of privileged classes was just an accepted fact of life. The superiors lived in excessive abundance while the inferiors lived in deplorable conditions.

Since people were used to the idea that God made special classes here on Earth, the teaching that He would make a special class for salvation didn’t raise any doubts among those who could only believe what they had been told, since they couldn’t read. It actually fit in quite well with the scheme of things. The people promoting this doctrine felt that they were part of the elect. Since they weren’t the ones going to Hell, the idea of Calvinistic Election and Predestination didn’t seem too unfair.

If the feeling of superiority inherent in the upper class, which the Reformers were a part of, had not been a factor, and if the lower classes had been able to read, the Calvinistic teaching of Election and Predestination back then would probably have been quickly rejected. As it was, however, the majority of the people had to believe what they were told, since they couldn’t read for themselves.

While on the subject of classes, some people will deny it but within many supposedly good churches we have classes of Christians. Many of the clergy believe they are in a special class that is superior to the laity. They haughtily view the Election and Predestination teaching they received in their college Systematic Theology course as a mystical teaching that must be kept only among the mature Christians because it is too difficult for the lower class Christians (those who sit in the pews and listen) to handle. The truth is that even Christians with only a little knowledge reject Calvinism.

Interestingly, the reformation started because a priest named Martin Luther read Romans 1:17, “…the just shall live by faith” and he realized that the Roman Catholic Church was leading its flock down a path of destruction. They were teaching a works type of salvation, as opposed to God’s plan that a person is saved by simply having faith in God. But, if the Calvinistic doctrine of Election and Predestination were true, people under Roman Catholicism would have been getting saved all along anyway and the Reformation wouldn’t have even been necessary!

The president of the Synod of Dort erroneously said, “The scriptures must be interpreted according to the catechisms and confessions.” Friends, scripture must be compared and understood in accordance with other scriptures, not with man’s preconceived notions. The Calvinist, Fancois Wendel, acknowledges of Calvin, “Truth compels us to admit frankly that, despite all his fidelity to the Bible, he seems to have been searching the Scriptures more frequently for text to support a doctrine accepted in advance, than to derive doctrine from the Scriptures.” (Wendel, Calvin: Origins and Development of His Religious Thoughts, p. 359)

Since there was no separation of church and state, church doctrines had enormous political overtones. Winners had losers burned at the stake. Henry the VIII broke away from the Catholic Pope not because he favored reformation, he broke away because he wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon. King James I of England (of AV 1611 fame) claimed that he was the head of the Church, so he became an anti-Calvinist Anglican because Calvinists insisted that no temporal ruler could be the head of the church. Parliament at the time was anti-King, therefore they were sided with the Calvinistic Puritans. The Calvinistic Parliament won out for the time and the Calvinistic Westminster Confession was thus written. Later the Anglican King gained the upper hand. So the losing Calvinistic Puritans, facing persecution chartered the Mayflower and immigrated to America.

Colonial Americans were against everything the King was for. He was Arminian, so they were Calvinists. Obviously for political reasons, Benjamin Franklin wrote the Philadelphia Confession of Faith in 1742 which is a copy of the Calvinistic, Westminster Confession.

The Puritan immigrants on the Mayflower were upper class, having the funds for provisions and passage. They arrived at Plymouth Rock off the coast of what is now Massachusetts and settled in New England. Anyone who dared disagree with their Calvinistic stance was declared to be a witch or warlock and suffered the penalty thereof.

Since children tend to acquire and maintain the same religious views as their parents, if American Colonials had not been Calvinistic that view would not be so widespread in America today.

The popularity Election and Predestination gained during the reformation is still felt today. It has been handed down from generation to generation. Many Christians say, “I can’t understand how Calvinism ties in with the salvation that we hear preached, but since so many denominations and popular preachers teach it, there must be some truth to it.” Even though it appears to contradict the rest of the Bible they assume that it must be one of those “hidden mysteries.”

For example, the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a well-known, highly respected preacher. He said, "Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else… I thank God that He early taught me the gospel, and I have been so perfectly satisfied with it, that I do not want to know any other… I learned the doctrines of grace in a single instant. Born, as all of us are by nature, an Arminian…

Spurgeon also said, "Did not God Himself appoint our parents, native place, and friends? Could He not have caused me to be born with the skin of the Hottentot, brought forth by a filthy mother who would nurse me in her "kraal," and teach me to bow down to Pagan gods, quite as easily as to have given me a pious mother, who would each morning and night bend her knee in prayer on my behalf?" One can see the attitude of superiority here. To be fair to Spurgeon, in later life he repudiated Calvinism and claimed to be a Biblicist.

Another well-known and respected preacher was the late Dr. J. Vernon McGee, but he was a Presbyterian, and a person must take his Calvinistic bias into consideration when reading his works.

The word theology means: the study of God. Most seminaries have a course called Systematic Theology, but it is not a course in theology, it is a course in philosophy! John Calvin was not a theologian, he was a philosopher! John Calvin espoused his philosophy of religion. Colossians 2:8 says, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” If one wants to study theology he should study it in the Bible, it tells us about God.

Psalm 118:8 says, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” Those people who claim to love God should read the Bible, listen to the Holy Spirit speak to their hearts, and seriously think for themselves, don’t let some self-serving man tell you what to believe. Reject this man-made heresy variously known as Calvinism, the Doctrines of Grace, or Reformed Theology. Pastors must tell the truth! People should reject the leading of their pastor if he is spreading heresy.

Did God foreknow who would accept Christ, repent and accept by faith the gift of eternal life? Yes, possibly. And with His foreknowledge condemn others to hell? No. People are neither saved nor condemned by God’s foreknowledge, but by God according to their faith.

The shed blood of Christ Jesus is sufficient to atone for all the sins of all mankind. Hebrews 10:10 says, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Once for all, means once for all men and once for all sins. This does not mean that all men get saved, because men must, of their own free will accept Christ, that is, believe in Him, to put one’s trust in Him. When one believes in Him, by that act he repents of his rejection of Christ and is no more at enmity with God.

The process of salvation is like this: All mankind is born with a deathly illness and will die because of that sickness. But when Jesus died for us He left behind a big batch of medicine. That medicine can cure anyone who takes it. The only catch is that you’ve got to actually take it, and if you refuse to take your medicine you will go ahead and die. Some people refuse to take their medicine. They say, “That medicine won’t work,” so they die. You’ve got to believe it works. If you want to live you’ve got to take Jesus’ medicine (His blood atonement). Now, Jesus didn’t make this medicine effective for just a few people, when He formulated that medicine it became effective for everyone who takes it.

“It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Why preach if God has already chosen who will be saved? Do the elect believe, or, are believers the elect?

If it were determined beforehand that a certain man would not accept Christ and was therefore condemned to hell before being born, that man would have a legitimate complaint when he stands before God at the Great White Throne Judgment and accuses God, “Why are you judging me now? You prejudged me before the foundations of the world! I never had a free will. I might have accepted You if You had not already decided that you were not going to save me. I never had a chance.”

ONE HUNDRED verses which disprove the validity of Calvinism:

Matthew 25:41 says, “Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and His angels.” Here we find Hell was created for the fallen angels and not for man. It seems that if Calvinistic Election and Predestination were true, Hell would have been prepared for mankind from the beginning.

The following verses prove that God doesn’t have favorites, nor does He have different classes of people. He does not predetermine, or prejudge some people to go to heaven and others to go to hell. God does not discriminate; we are all equal in His eyes.

Acts 10:34, Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.

2 Sam 14:14, For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

Chr 19:7, Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

Rom 2:11, For there is no respect of persons with God.

Eph 6:9, And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

1 Pet 1:17, And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Salvation is offered to ALL men:

1 Timothy 4:10, For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1 Timothy 2:3,4, For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:6, Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

1 Timothy 2:1, I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1 Timothy 2:4, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:6, Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

2 Cor. 5:15, And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Acts 17:30, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Isaiah 45:22, Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

John 12:32, And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Luke 2:10, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Matthew 11:28, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Romans 8:32, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Romans 3:22, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Titus 2:11, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Salvation is offered to WHOSOEVER believes:

1 John 2:23, Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

John 11:26, And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 3:15, That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 4:14, But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 6:54, Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Luke 12:8, Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

Luke 9:24, For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Mark 16:16, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mark 3:35, For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

Mark 8:35, For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

Matthew 10:32, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 16:25, For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

1 John 4:15, Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.Romans 10:11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

I Jn 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Acts 10:43, To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 2:21, And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Joel 2:32, And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Romans 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Salvation is offered to ANYONE:

Revelation 3:20, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

John 6:51, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 7:37, In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

John 8:51, Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Salvation is offered to the WORLD:

1 John 2:2, And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:14, And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

2 Cor. 5:19, To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

John 1:29, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:17, For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 4:42, And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Salvation is offered to EVERY person:

Hebrews 2:9, But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

John 1:9, That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 6:40, And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Salvation is offered to he who BELIEVETH:

Mark 9:23, Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

Mark 16:16, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

John 3:15-16, That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:18, He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:40, And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:47, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 11:25-26, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Rom 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 3:26, To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Rom 4:5, But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Rom 10:4, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.Rom 10:10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I Jn 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

Miscellaneous verses showing anyone can accept the gospel:

1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Peter 2:6, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Ezekiel 34:16, I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment.(NAS)

Isaiah 28:16, Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone {for} the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes {in it} will not be disturbed. (NAS)

John 11:25, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 6:35, And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:47, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 6:58, This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

Luke 19:10, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.Luke 5:32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 1:15, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Matthew 18:14, Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Revelation 22:17, And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Romans 5:6, For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 9:33, As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

John 1:12, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 10:9, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 11:25, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 3:18, He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:36, He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, andbelieveth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 6:56, He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

John 7:38, He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

John 8:12, Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

1 Cor. 15:34, Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Ten verses that appear to prove the doctrine of Calvinism:

Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” Answer: Sometimes we forget that God chose to save the fallen human race, but not the fallen angels. Some angels, too, have rebelled against God, but it appears He has made no provision to redeem them (I Peter 1:12). Yes, God chose us to be saved. He didn’t have to, but He chose to make salvation available to the human race. Before the beginning of time God knew we were going to sin and He knew Jesus was going to have to die on the cross to provide us salvation. God had/has a plan (Revelation 13:8 and 1 Peter 1:20).

Ephesians 1:5, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” Answer: The word predestination is not found in the bible. The word predestinated is found and it has nothing to do with a destination. It means, “pre-destined.” God’s plan for mankind was conceived before the universe was created, and is our pre-destiny. We are predestinated to receive the adoption of sons. It is our destiny to obtain an inheritance from God and to be joint-heirs with Christ. We are predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Ephesians 1:11, In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: See above.

I Peter 1:2, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Answer: This says we are elect according to the foreknowledge of God, however, we are not elect because of the foreknowledge of God. We are elect because of the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. II Thessalonians 2:13.

Romans 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Answer: It is God’s foreordained plan from before the universe was created that those who placed their trust in Christ would be conformed to the image of His Son.

Romans 8:30, Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Answer: See Ephesians 1:5 comment on Predestination above.

John 17:9, I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. Answer: This is Jesus’ prayer for the apostles. This is proven by the context, especially 17:12. In 17:20 He begins His prayer for all believers.

Hebrews 4:3, For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Answer: It has always been God’s plan that we should enter into God’s rest.

Revelation 17:8The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. Answer: Two books. One is the Book of Life, wherein every person’s name was written from the foundation of the world and from which a person’s name could be blotted out for lack of faith. The other book is the Lambs Book of Life wherein a person’s name is written when he gets saved.Ps. 69:28; Rev. 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27.

2 Thessalonians 2:13, But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Answer: From the beginning, according to His plan, He chose to save anyone who would believe in him, not condemn them.

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

CONDITIONAL SECURITY REFUTED

2008-12-26T22:40:00.000-05:00

A book has been written called, The Believer’s Conditional Security, By Daniel D. Corner. My pastor returned home one day to find a bag hanging on his doorknob containing two of these books. There was no note or other indication of who had left them. Each book contains 25 chapters, 801 pages, 13 appendices, and weighs over two pounds in the paperback edition!

My pastor, Larry Kimmell, handed me one of the books and said, “I’ve looked this book over and I don’t agree with him, but I don’t have time to study it and refute it, so here, you read it and write a refutation.” As he handed it to me I almost dropped it, it was so heavy.

My first thought was, “If you don’t agree with it, I don’t want to read it!” I noted that it was 801 pages. Quite frankly, I didn’t want to read it. I let it sit on a shelf at home for a couple of weeks before reluctantly starting to read it. I immediately learned that I didn’t agree with it either and I anticipated that I would find reading it to be quite a chore. As I read, however, I found the book to be challenging. Some of the points the author brings up are based on Bible verses that I’d studied, and I believe rightly divided, years ago, but my understanding had gotten fuzzy since then. When confronted with his arguments I often found myself saying to myself, “Uh, uh, I gotta re-read that in my Bible so I can get the full context.”

One thing that made the study difficult was that the author quotes from the KJV; or NKJV; or NIV; or NASB; or NRSV; the Amplified Bible, Old Testament; the Amplified New Testament; or Young’s Literal Translation; or The Literal Translation of the Bible by Jay P. Green; or The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest…whew! That’s ten different versions! The version he would quote was the so-called “better version,” which seemed to support his argument in each particular instance. I constantly had to re-read from the KJV to truly comprehend what he was quoting.

The author cites the names of people in his references and I think that is good. Whether it casts the person in a good light or bad, one should name names.

On page eight Mr. Corner says:

“The Believers Conditional Security maintains that we are saved by grace, salvation is a gift, eternal life comes instantly the moment we truly believe on Jesus for salvation, and righteousness is imputed by our faith in Christ.”

That’s great! I believe that too! But then he denies all of the above on every succeeding page. Particularly he denies that we get eternal life the moment we believe. He says that we get initial salvation the instant we believe and final salvation when we die, if we have no unconfessed sin, or told a lie, or committed murder, or committed sexual immorality.

He says that you can lose your salvation. Well, if you could lose your salvation then you didn’t have eternal life in the first place. But he says that, “…eternal life comes instantly the moment we truly believe…” Well which is it, eternal life or temporal life? If you can lose it, it doesn’t sound eternal to me. Getting eternal life the instant we’re saved sounds like unconditional security to me.

In essence his argument is that we only become a candidate for eternal life the moment we get saved.

In chapter two Mr. Corner recognizes that some people make a distinction between eternal security and perseverance of the saints. He quotes three Baptists who do make a distinction between the two doctrines. After that though, he quotes seven Calvinists who say that they are the same thing. Then he says:

“This is the perspective from which this book is written, that is, the doctrine of eternal security, the perseverance of the saints, or Once Saved Always Saved, all mean the same thing.”

This being the case then the whole book is based on an erroneous premise, because they are not the same thing.

The book refers to Once Saved Always Saved as OSAS. The author says that OSAS and the Calvinistic doctrine called Perseverance of the Saints are the same and it can be traced back through John Calvin to Augustine of Hippo. This is true with regard to Calvin's philosophy called Perseverance of the Saints. But truly, the doctrine of Etenal Security, OSAS as Mr. Corner calls it, can be traced back to God through the Bible.

Next, Mr. Corner devotes an entire chapter to Calvin’s dark side. Calvin certainly had a dark side, but the inference is that anyone who believes in the OSAS doctrine is a Calvinist. Dr. Curtis Hutson, Dr. Laurence Vance, Pastor Larry Kimmell, and thousands of others reject all five points of Calvinism, but we all believe once saved always saved, what we call the doctrine of eternal security. Therefore, the entire Chapter has no need to even be in his book.

Chapter four, the next chapter is totally devoted to the travesty of the Synod of Dort. This chapter would be interesting if the subject of the book were about Calvinism or Arminianism, but since the subject is eternal security, this chapter doesn’t belong in the book either. Mr. Corner makes it clear that he is an Arminian, which is no surprise. In fact Mr. Corner is so extreme in his Arminianism that he sounds like he’s preaching Pelagianism. Arminianism today is simply a version of Pelagianism, sometimes called Semi-Pelagianism.

Pelagius, ca. 354-420 AD, was a contemporary of Augustine. Actually, Pelagius presented his philosophy at Rome and Augustine was assigned to play the Devil’s Advocate and come up with an opposing philosophy. Curiously, Augustine’s philosophy was so convincing that Pelagianism nearly died out but Augustine’s philosophy thrived.

Pelagius taught that the human will, tempered in good deeds and rigorous asceticism, was sufficient to live a sinless life. He told his followers that right action on the part of human beings was all that was necessary for salvation. To him, the grace of God was only an added advantage; helpful, but in no way essential. Pelagius disbelieved in original sin, but said that Adam had condemned mankind through bad example, and that Christ’s good example offered us a path to salvation, not through His sacrifice, but through instruction of the will. Jerome emerged as one of the chief critics of Pelagianism, because according to Jerome, Pelagius' view essentially denied the work of the Messiah; Pelagius personally prefered “teacher” or “master” to any epithet implying divine power.

Arminians, erroneously, like to say that Jesus was a great teacher because he taught people how to live so that they might attain eternal life; that this was the purpose of Jesus’ life, not his death.

In chapter five Mr. Corner introduces the idea of initial salvation and final salvation. He says, “initial salvation refers to the moment in time when a person extends a trusting-submitting faith in Jesus Christ for his personal salvation and thereby instantly receives the gift of salvation.

”Then he says, “final salvation simply refers to entering the kingdom of God, which only occurs for those who die physically in a righteous state or are in such a spiritual state when the Lord returns.” This makes salvation a two stage process.

Initial-salvation and final-salvation are non-Biblical terms and concepts which man has invented. Without them Mr. Corner would have a difficult time with his argument.

I notice that the author never mentions the expression, “born again.” If a person gets saved the moment he believes then he would get born again of the Holy Spirit at that time. This is the way it happened on pentecost. If a person could subsequently get unsaved, he’d have to get unborn also. He’d have to go from being a child of God to somehow not being a child of God. Or would he be an unsaved child of God?

Right away the reader discovers that Mr. Corner has mixed up sanctification and salvation, and he doesn’t understand that it is Jesus Christ who does the sanctifying, not us with our good works. We should endeavor to be Christ-like and do good works. However, we are not sanctified by our good works or clean living. To sanctify means: to make holy, that is, to separate from the world and consecrate to God. Is it possible to have eternal salvation and not be sanctified? Of course not. Eternal salvation and eternal sanctification go together, one mandates the other.

If sanctification required any effort on our part then salvation would be by our good works. If sanctification required effort by us then salvation would not be through the shed blood of Jesus! Anyone who denies that salvation is through the blood of the Only Begotten Son of God, who sacrificed His life to atone for our sins, is headed for hellfire. If we could be good enough to save ourselves then Jesus wouldn’t have needed to die on the cross.

There are a lot of goody-two-shoes, holier than thou, self-righteous, Pharisaical so-called Christians who are going to burn in hell because they say that Jesus was just a good teacher.

Heb 10:29, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Oh-oh! Don’t say that Jesus was just a good teacher! Don’t say that the sanctification by Jesus is insufficient.

Next Mr. Corner mentions what he calls some awkward passages on eternal life, meaning: awkward to those who believe Once Saved Always Saved: Daniel 12:2, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” This verse is referring the end of the tribulation period, specifically regarding the bodies of Jews who have been martyred or otherwise died during this time. Neither the church nor this age of grace is in view here. This is during the time when God is again dealing with the nation Israel.

Another verse which he says is awkward is Matthew 25:46: “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” Jesus is referring to the same event mentioned above in Daniel 12:2. This is the end of the tribulation period and is regarding those who have died during this time. This is just prior to the Millenneum, which is referred to as the Kingdom of Heaven in the Gospel of Matthew. Again neither the church nor this present age of grace is in view here. Mr. Corner must have missed the Sunday School class when they talked about this. The author frequently fails to recognize the distinction between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God.

The author likes to quote the following verses as proof that if you sin after you have been saved you will lose your salvation.

Revelation 21:7-8, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” He that overcometh… is he that gets saved. You can’t be His son unless you’re born again.

But the fearful, and unbelieving…etc. These are the unsaved. The author tries to make the point that if you’ve committed any of these sins after you get saved then you will have your part in the lake of fire. Anyone who says that he never commits sin is a liar. The author and his teaching results in a lot of people who have no assurance of their salvation, after all, how many sins can you commit before you’ve lost it. Can Mr. Corner honestly say that he has never sinned after he got saved? No he can’t. We have a lot of Holier-Than-Thou, self-righteous, Pharisees who say that they don’t sin, they just make mistakes. Sin is sin, not a mistake!

Mr. Corner essentially says that after you are saved, if you sin again, that sin is not covered by the blood of Christ. He says that the only sins that are forgiven are those that you committed before you were saved. He says that according to 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He says that we must confess that sin and God will then forgive you of that sin. Well, what if while you were crossing a street you had an adulterous thought and you were immediately run over by a truck. According to Mr. Corner’s thinking you would be forever condemned even though were normally a paragon of virtue.

People sin so often, what about those times when a person sins and forgets one of them when he confesses? Or what about those sins that are committed and the person didn’t even recognize that he had sinned? They’re unwittingly condemned and don’t even know it, according to Mr. Corner’s book.

What condemns a person? Sin. James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Just one little white lie and you’re toast. But that’s not all, we inherit from our parents, and we inherit sin from Adam through our parents. We’re not sinners because we sin, we sin because we’re sinners. We are born sinners. So even if we could live our lives without ever having told even one little white lie, our soul would still die. It is impossible to make it into heaven except by giving up on our self efforts and placing ourselves in God’s hands.

Mr. Corner says on pages 130-131 that I John 1:9 doesn’t apply to the unsaved, only to the saved. This is just the opposite of reality. For a person to get saved he must first understand what sin is. Next he must see that he is a sinner. Then he has to recognize that there is a penalty for sin. Next he must see that there is only one way for him to escape the penalty for sin, by confessing saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to take him to heaven. It’s all stated in Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

By the time a person gets saved it’s impossible for him to remember, or even recognize, each and every sin he has committed. The point is that he must acknowledge to God that he knows that he is guilty of sin and deserves to go to hell. If justice were served we would all go to hell getting what we deserve. Because of God’s mercy the children of God don’t get what they deserve. Because of God’s grace His children get what they don’t deserve.

A person who is a born again child of God but who has been out of fellowship for a long time cannot remember all of the sins he has committed since he got out of fellowship. According to Mr. Corner he would have to remember each and every one of them so as to confess each of them in order to get saved again. If I thought that I had to remember and confess each and every sin and do it continuously in order to maintain my state of holiness then I’d just quit because I know that it’s impossible.

A Christian should endeavor to avoid sin and to be as Christ-like as possible, but these efforts on our part are not what sanctify us. Hebrews 10:10 says, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Here the Bible says we are sanctified once through the body of Christ, and if the Bible is true then we cannot be progressively sanctified. According to what God says we are sanctified how many times? Hold up one finger. Just before Jesus died He said, “…it is finished.”

We should avoid sin and live clean lives, but some unsaved individuals live cleaner, more sin free lives than some saints. Does this mean these unsaved people are sanctified? No.

The Progressive Sanctification theory says that the moment when we believe in Jesus our sins committed up until that time are forgiven, but when we sin again we need to be sanctified again by praying and asking forgiveness as stated in I John 1: 9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” But this is what an unsaved person must do. If Progressive Sanctification were true it would mean that Jesus would have to get back up on the cross and die for us again every time we sin. But the fact is that we are sanctified once for all. Sin does not make us unsanctified, but it will break our fellowship with our Father.

The book of I John is, of course, written to Christians, but chapter one is a soul-winning message for Christians to pass along to the unsaved. The words “little children, beloved, and brethren” appear eighteen times in the short little book of I John, but they do not appear at all in chapter one. This is because these terms do not apply to the unsaved. The point is that verse nine in chapter one does not apply to people who have had all their sins past, present, and future already forgiven.

The moment that we believe in Christ, we have forgiveness for all our sins; past, present, and future. All my sins were committed in the future when Christ atoned for them.

I Jn 2:12, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.”

Eph 1:7, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

Col 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

Col 2:13, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” If God has forgiven those of us who have been born again, for all our sins past, present, and future, why would we continue to ask for forgiveness, unless we really don’t believe what God says in the Bible?

Some people have the foolish notion that they can commit a sin then just tell God they’re sorry and that makes everything all right. That’s what the believers in Progressive Sanctification say. But, to restore fellowship with God it takes more than just confessing it and saying you’re sorry, it takes repentance. Repentance means to not only change your mind about what you are doing, but to also turn away from it. If a man is shacking up with a woman, simply saying, “I’m sorry God,” just won’t do. It requires that you get out of that sinful situation. But this will only restore fellowship; the man’s sanctification was never taken away.

Heb 13:12, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” Who might sanctify the people? Jesus! With His blood! We do not and cannot sanctify ourselves.

Heb 2:11, “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” He that sanctifieth…that’s Jesus! Note the word sanctified, it is past tense.

Heb 10:10, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” We are sanctified, present tense.

Heb 10:14, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Are sanctified…present tense! Are presently sanctified, not are being sanctified. We are sanctified for how long? “…for ever,” that’s what the Bible says! If we’re sanctified for-ever then we have no need to ever be re-sanctified.

Rom 15:16, “That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” In this case “being sanctified” is the past perfect tense, which means that it is already accomplished, we are already sanctified.

1 Cor 1:2, “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” Are sanctified…present tense.

1 Cor 6:11, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” Are sanctified…present sense.

II Th 2:13, “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” Sanctification of the Spirit, according to John F. Walvoord ThD., means sanctification by the Spirit.

1 Pet 1:2, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” Sanctification of, or by, the Spirit.

1 Pet 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” We are told here to be holy, to be Christ-like, but is anyone really Christ-like? Not in this life in the flesh. But we are holy in God’s eyes if we have accepted Christ as our Savior; trusted in Him and what He has already done for us.

We should endeavor to be holy as Christ is holy, but Romans 3:12-18 is still in the Bible, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” None of us are holy, or sanctified, because of our own efforts, nor can we be.

Heb 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Holiness has the same root meaning as sanctification. We should endeavor to be holy, to be Christ-like, to live sanctified lives, but we have seen that we cannot attain the holiness that our just God requires. That’s why Jesus had to die for us. We cannot see the Lord unless we accept the sanctification which He has provided for us, and reject self-sanctification.

Heb 10:29, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Oh my! How angry God must be if we count the blood of Christ an unholy thing and endeavor to sanctify ourselves through our own self-righteousness.

Rom 6:22, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” We have our fruit unto holiness. And “the end.”

2 Cor 7:1, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Yes, let us cleanse ourselves by accepting the pure white robes that God provides. The sanctification that counts is provided by what Christ did by dying as our substitute.

We cannot cleanse ourselves as God requires, Isa 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” If all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, then we cannot get sanctified except by the one sanctification that Jesus has already provided. As we have seen however, we should make a genuine effort to live consecrated lives.

Through a proper repentant and loving attitude we may progressively become more Christ-like but we will never become more sanctified. Don’t fall for Satan’s Progressive Sanctification heresy.

Now, let’s examine Romans 3:22-27:

"22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:" (We’re all the same, we all sin.)

"23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Note: the saved as well as the lost have sinned)

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”

If we could keep ourselves saved by living righteously we would have cause to boast.We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, whether we’re saved or unsaved. This is why we need a Savior. This is why Jesus had to shed his blood for us. Because we are incapable of saving ourselves.

Romans 8:12-13 says:

"12.Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13.For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."

This sounds like if you mortify the deeds of the flesh, this is what will save you. Unfortunately, many preachers will read this, and then preach that we should shun evil and do good works and that this is how we mortify the deeds of the flesh. Thus he promotes the work of self-righteousness; works for salvation. But what this is saying is that you will know you are saved if you mortify the deeds of the flesh.

Verse 12 says that we are debtors…to whom? The verse says, “not to the flesh.” We are debtors to Jesus Christ.

Verse 13, above, says that if ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds… ah…it’s through the Spirit that we mortify the deeds of the flesh, not through the efforts of our own self-righteousness. This word “Spirit” begins with a capital “S,” therefore, the Spirit through which we are to mortify the deeds of the flesh is the Holy Spirit, and He is God. In other words, we are to mortify the deeds of the flesh by repenting of our rejection of Christ and by accepting Christ, through faith. We mortify the deeds of the flesh by getting saved, and we know that we are saved when we mortify the deeds of the flesh. That’s what this verse is saying!

The Holy Scriptures support this view also in James 2:18, "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." Our works only show that we are saved.

I am not saying that we should not shun evil or not do good works. We should shun evil and we should do good works. I’m just saying that these two verses say that the only way to mortify the deeds of the flesh is by faith in the finished work of Christ Jesus. We are not saved by our own efforts, through our works of self-righteousness. We mortify the deeds of the flesh through the Spirit! The following verses say that we should shun evil and walk in the Spirit after we’re saved…if we love Jesus.

Gal 5:16-24

"16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (The honest Christian will see himself here, in his own eyes. But God sees us through His eyes and He sees the righteousness of Christ in us.)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (…have crucified…past tense…through the indwelling Spirit.) (This describes all Christians in God’s eyes. Note: it’s His eyes that count!)

When Jesus shed His blood on the cross he atoned for all of my sins. Unlike the thief on the cross, all of my sins (past, present, and future) are already atoned. All of my sins were already atoned before I was ever born. To get the benefit of this gift all one has to do is accept it. That’s all the thief on the cross had to do, but then he (unlike me) had to go to Paradise and await his redemption after Jesus atoned for his sins. All of redemption is not yet complete but that is another subject.

Old Testament saints, before Christ had died for them, were sanctified. 2 Chronicles 30:17, "For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD." Sanctified means they were set apart unto God. This does not mean that they were saved.

When you go to the grocery store, you pick up items and place them into your grocery cart. You have now sanctified these items for your own use, but, since you have not paid for them, they are not actually yours yet. You call them “yours,” but legally they are not yours until you pay for them. Let’s say that you reach the cashier but then discover that you’ve left your money in your car. The cashier understands your predicament and tells you to park “your” cart “over here” and then you can go get your money. When you come back inside the store and you pay for the items, then you may redeem your groceries, to take them home and do with them as you wish.

The groceries are like the Old Testament saints; and the shopping cart is like paradise, where those deceased saints were kept. They were “His,” even though they had not been paid for. He couldn’t redeem them and take them “home” to heaven until He had actually paid for them on the cross. Then they were justified, Romans 3:24, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"

Galations 3:23, "But before faith came, we were kept under the law" (Paul is speaking to Jews who were keeping the Old Testament laws.), shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 4:4-5, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5. To redeem them that were under the law (the Old Testament Jews *), that we might receive the adoption of sons."*Note: This redemption includes New Testament saints as well.

A few Old Testament saints had the Holy Spirit come upon them, at certain times, to empower them for the fulfillment of God’s divine purpose. For example: Judges 6:34, "But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered after him." But, nowhere in the Old Testament does it indicate that anyone was born of the Holy Spirit, or was indwelt by the Holy Spirit, however, note that in John 3:3, "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." The point is, that the Old Testament saints did become born again, but that they could not have been so until after Christ Jesus had purchased their redemption on the Cross.

Also note that if the Old Testament saints had been born again during the Old Testament period, Jesus would not have been "… the firstborn among many brethren." Rom 8:29. So, no one was saved or born again until Jesus died, an atonement for our sin.

Mr. Corner should remember, when determining the meaning to be applied to a word or passage, one should consider:

1. The context within the verse, then the chapter, then the context of the book, followed by the context of other books by the same author, then the New or Old Testament in which it is found.

2. Who is speaking,

3. To whom is it being spoken. Is it Israel, Old Testament Jew, unbelieving Jew, New Testament born again Jew, Gentile, born again Gentile, local church, or the church universal.

On page 93, to support his view he quotes Matthew 18:3, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

He then states, “Clearly then, in the light of all the cited material, after initial salvation a Christian’s entrance into the kingdom of God can be negated.” The kingdom of God? Matthew 18:3 clearly says the kingdom of heaven!

They are not the same thing! The kingdom of heaven is the Earth during the millennial time, ruled over by Jesus Christ, the son of David when He occupies the throne of David in Jerusalem. According to Luke 1:32,33, when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to God’s Son, he told her that Jesus would reign over the house of Jacob. The book of Matthew portrays Christ Jesus as the King of the Jews, it is specifically written to Jews, although we all gain enlightenment from it, it pertains to Jews. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” The kingdom of heaven will be on the Earth, during the millennial period, and will include some unsaved people.

The Kingdom of God is everywhere, His Kingdom cannot be limited, and is populated only by God’s children. God Himself is our King and we are His subjects. Our Father is our King, so we are princes.

Mr. Corner seems to have an obsession with sexual immorality, since he mentions it nearly every time he mentions sin. But that should be expected since Pelagius believed that even marital intercourse was sinful.

The author devotes the entirety of chapter fourteen to the book of Hebrews. Unfortunately, he asserts that the book of Hebrews was written simply to Christians. True, it was written to Christians but Mr. Corner seems to have intentionally neglected to recognize that these were Jews who had accepted Jesus as the Messiah. The book is named Hebrews for a reason, it was written to Hebrew Christians. One of the primary factors in studying a book of the Bible is to first determine to whom was it written, because this will help one to understand the context. Mr. Corner seems to intentionally point the reader away from the fact that these were Jews.

Paul had to correct the Christians at Galatia because some Christian Jews were teaching that they had to keep the law as well as have faith in Christ. Also, they were saying that the gentile Christians had to be circumcised too and keep the rituals of the law in order to be saved. Twenty or thirty years later a similar problem arose primarily among the Christian Jews who were confused regarding the keeping of the law versus faith in the finished work of Christ. For centuries, from childhood it had been pounded into them that they had to keep the law, including the ceremonial law to be sanctified. But this new way, simply having faith in Jesus Christ seemed too easy. Jesus said…ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. We Christians today sometimes think, in error, that we’ve got to do something because just believing in Christ is too easy.

To correct this tendency to slide back into the old system of depending on their own works in keeping the law, the writer to the Hebrews appealed to them by progressing from the things they knew to the things they didn’t fully know; from the familiar to the unfamiliar. He said, although God spoke to the fathers by the prophets, He has now spoken by His Son.

Then to convince the Hebrews that Jesus is preeminent, he shows them that He is superior to the angels. Next he shows that Jesus is superior to Moses, a man highly revered by all Jews. He is relating what they have known since childhood to this new relationship that they have to God. You see, this is not a conversion to a new religion for these Jews, it is a fulfillment of the same old religion.

These are Jews who have accepted Jesus as their Messiah, but some of them have slidden back into the old idea that they have to be sanctified by their sacrifices and keeping of the law. Maybe they have fallen under the teaching of the same teachers as the Galatians, or perhaps they’re influenced by some of their relatives who are unbelievers. They are under persecution because of their faith in Jesus and this makes it tempting to neglect one’s zeal. This is the context of the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 3:6 says, “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” The word “if” and “end” makes it sound to us as if a person could lose his salvation. How do I know if you are saved or not? If you hold fast unto the end I can have confidence that you are saved. How can you be sure you are in the house (family) of God? If you hold fast to the end, you can have confidence. How can anyone have confidence that he was truly saved in the first place? If he holds fast to the end. This is not referring to loss of salvation, this is referring to the confidence that you really had salvation in the first place.

Hebrews 3:14 says, “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end:” Again, this is talking about confidence in our salvation. Read the above verse again, only this time put the emphasis on the word “are,” instead of on the word “made.” “Are,” means something that is already done, not something that “will be” done when you die.

If, after making a profession of faith, a person lives just like he did before, then no one has confidence in that person’s salvation. The individual himself probably doubts his salvation. Doubt is not the opposite of faith, though many think that it is. Doubt is an integral part of faith. Unbelief is the opposite of faith. Every believer wants to have faith without wavering, but when we sin we ask ourselves if we are really a partaker of Christ, because we know that if we really were faithful we wouldn’t sin. Then we have doubt, which drives us to hold on ever tighter to Christ Jesus, because we see that it is only through Him that we have any hope of salvation. An unbeliever never doubts his salvation; he never questions whether he is saved, because he thinks it is all a myth. Only believers have doubts. Doubting is questioning, “Am I really a partaker of Christ?” By holding fast until the end we can confidently answer, “Yes!”

What if a person does not hold fast his confidence unto the end? Is he unsaved? A person who adheres to Mr. Corner’s point of view would certainly not have much confidence. Was that person ever really saved in the first place? Possibly. Some are wheat and some are tares, only God knows the difference.

Now let’s examine a few verses which Mr. Corner calls “highly controversial.” Hebrews 6:4-9 say:

“4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.”

Those who are born again have eternal life and that cannot be taken away. If they should fall away, that is, they slide back into keeping the law for sanctification, they cannot be saved again because if they did they would have to put Jesus to an open shame and crucify Him again. Jesus has already been crucified and has gone on to be with the Father in heaven, so it is impossible to crucify Him again. But it isn’t necessary to crucify Christ again because they never lost their salvation, even though they fell away from their Christian practice. Those who fell back into their practice of observing the law are “nigh unto cursing…But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you,” (better than cursing) because you are still saved!

Mr. Corner also says that Hebrews 10:26-31 are highly controversial. To get the whole context we must look at Hebrews 10:14-38:

"14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Hey! If He doesn’t remember our sins and iniquities, why would we have to ask for forgiveness? We don’t have to if we have been saved, that’s the point. This is written to Christian Jews.

"18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." Our sins are remitted, therefore we don’t need anymore offering, even if we slide back into the old practices.

"19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."Here the author of the book of Hebrews is relating the old covenant with the new.

"23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;" (for he is faithful that promised;)

"24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Like many Christians today, these early Christians were being ridiculed and afflicted because of their spiritual fervor, so some of them quit going to church.

"26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, " Right! There is no more sacrifice because none is needed! Even if we sin willfully! We ought not to sin willfully or otherwise, but when we do sin no more sacrifice is required. The sacrifice of Christ is all sufficient.

"27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries." The adversaries are those who ridicule and persecute the sons of God, and those who twist the truth.

"28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" Woe unto those false teachers of that day and to those of today.

"30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used." These early Christian Jews have been under persecution.

"34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward." Here’s that word, confidence, again.

"36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Lord, I need patience and I want it right now!

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

"38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. The non-believing Jews drew back into the Jewish traditions, away from Jesus.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Those who draw back into perdition are those Jews who have heard about Jesus but reject him and go back to the old ways without ever believing. But the writer of the book of Hebrews was not writing to unbelieving Jews, he was writing to saved Jews.

There is a lot more I could say in refuting Mr. Corner’s heretical views but frankly it’s getting boring.

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

THE CHILDREN OF GOD, WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS

2008-12-26T19:49:00.002-05:00

God says in Exodus 20:3, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Colossians 1:18 says, "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” And Colossians 2:9 says, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

I Corinthians 11:3 says, “...the head of every man is Christ...” We are not equal with Christ, Jesus is our superior! He is our Lord! Colossians 3:1 says, “... Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Christ is, and always will be, preeminent! We're not His equal!

Revelation 4:10,11 says, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Does this sound like we are equal? No!

Never forgetting the above, let us go on to study what God furthermore says regarding our relationship.

And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...” Genesis 1:26. Who was God speaking to? He was evidently talking to someone who was just like Him. There were no men present. There may have been angels present, but since they are creatures, not creators, God would not have been speaking to them.

God is a triune (tri-une) God. A three-in-one person. God exists as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. So God was speaking to Himself. Is God really a three-in-one person? I John 5:7 says, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

Since Adam was created in the image of God, in His likeness, so man was likewise created as a triune person. A three-in-one person consisting of a soul, which is analogous to God the Father; a body, which is analogous to God the Son; and a Spirit, which is analogous to God the Holy Spirit.

Are born-again believers really triune persons? Definitely! Paul, in I Thessalonians 5:23 says, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body...”

In Genesis 1:27 it says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” So we see that Eve was also created as a triune person.

Adam was the figure of Christ, as we see in Romans 5:14, “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”

In Genesis 2:17 God gave Adam only one rule, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

Now Lucifer, that serpent Satan, was envious of Adam and Eve. Lucifer had been the premier created being until God created Adam. Ezekiel 28:12-17 says, “...Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, 0 covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness...”

We see in Isaiah 14:13,14 that Lucifer said, “...I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

But when God created Adam like the most High, in His very likeness as a triune person, as a son of God, Lucifer had been surpassed as the pinnacle of God's created beings. Lucifer thought that if he could cause Adam and Eve to die then he would, by default, be restored to his premier position.

In Genesis 3:4 Satan said to Eve, “...Ye shall not surely die:” And 3:6 says, “...she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” In that day Adam and Eve died spiritually and began a process of dying physically.

They were no longer triune persons; they had become diune (di-une) (two-in-one) persons having a soul and body but no spirit, so they were not like God anymore. They had changed into a different kind of being; therefore, Adam was no longer in the image of God. To again be in the image of God, he needed a new spirit to replace the one that had died. He needed to be born again spiritually.

After Adam sinned, we read in Genesis 5:3, “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:” Notice that Seth was not in the image of God but was in the image of Adam, a diune person.

We read that the Jews wanted to kill Jesus because He called God His father, John 5:17,18 says, “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

Again, in John 10:33, “The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.” Search the scriptures, and you will find that throughout the Old Testament period (except for one very interesting verse which we will examine later), mankind, the offspring of Adam, was never ... no not even one time ... not ever ... not even the children of Israel ... were referred to as the children of God, and He never called them His children. Furthermore, In the Old Testament God is never referred to as the father of any man.

They could not legitimately call God "Father." Before Christ was crucified, Old Testament saints had not yet been saved, although they were safe in paradise. John 3:13, Jesus says, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” They could not have been saved until Christ saved them by dying on the cross for them. Only after Jesus had died for them were they born of the Holy Spirit and redeemed from paradise, then taken to heaven.

Romans 8:9 says, “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” In Old Testament times they were referred to as the children of Israel, the children of Judah, the children of Benjamin, and so forth. It would have been blasphemy for anyone in Old Testament times to call God "Father." This would have put them on a level equal to God. This was the sin of Satan.

The Jews wanted to kill Jesus because He called God His father. But you see, Jesus literally is the Son of God. His father is not Joseph, a descendant of Adam, who was a diune person, but His Father is God who is a triune person. So Jesus was born a triune person, because He is God who is a triune person, He can legitimately call God, "Father." It should be no wonder that some Christians today would say that we are not literally God's children, the Jews said the same of Jesus.

Jesus said to us in John 3:3-7, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In other words, Jesus is telling us that after we are born physically to our earthly parents, we must be born spiritually, that is, we must be begotten of the Holy Spirit. This would make us a triune person and God would be our Father. Also note that Old Testament saints couldn't go to heaven until Jesus gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The following verse says, “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?”

Clearly Nicodemus did not understand that Jesus was referring to a birth of a spirit within the man. Next, “Jesus answered, 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.” Before a man can be born again, obviously, he must be born in the flesh. Then he must be born of the Holy Spirit. Again, note that it is impossible for Old Testament saints to have been saved without being born of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus confirms this in verse six, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Note that the first "spirit" is capitalized indicating that this is the Holy Spirit, but the second "spirit" is not capitalized indicating that it is our own spirit. Meaning that which is begotten of the Holy Spirit is spirit too.

I Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” This says we are born again not by man's seed, but by God's seed.

I Peter 1:3, “…our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again…” Begotten again.

Acts 17:29 says, “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God...” The use of the word offspring precludes the idea that we are adopted, as the word adoption is used today.

Also, I John 5:1 says, “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” We are literally born of God, not adopted. Today “adoptive parents” do not say that the child was born of them. It is unlikely that they said it in Jesus' day either.

John 1:12,13 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” This doesn’t say that believers are born of men but adopted by God, it says that we are born of God!

James 1:18 says, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits, of his creatures.” Praise God our Father, who literally begat us! He didn't adopt us like children are done today.

After the curse God told Eve, “in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children.” God’s children are not born in the same cursed, sorrowful way that mankind’s children are.

And Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” The many brethren are we who are born again. The firstborn, of course, is Jesus Himself. Notice that we are, or will be, conformed to the image of His Son.

Again, Colossians 3:10 says, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” Renewed in knowledge like God! This must be pertaining to a future condition for a saved person because at the present time no one remotely approaches the knowledge of God.

Also II Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” We are changed into the image of God by the Sprit of the Lord.

II Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” When a person gets born again he becomes a triune person. We become a new creature, in the image of God, a child of God. Our relationship to God went from being like apples and oranges to being like apples and apples.

Note: we are spiritually born-again, begat, a new creature…we have a spirit, which we did not have before. This is not a spirit that was dragged out of the torment of hell and is now revived.

II Peter 1:4, “...That by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature...” That we might have a divine nature? Yes! That's what it says!

We also read that we are righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Notice that it says, “after God,” this means like God, in His image.

And Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you ...” Note two words, begotten and inheritance.

Romans chapter eight is a great chapter, but let's read only verses 16,17, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Glorified together with whom? The one we suffer with, Jesus. Being joint-heirs with Christ should seem blasphemous to anyone who would say that we are not literally the children of God. Note, however, that it would indeed be blasphemy for an unsaved person, one who has not put his complete trust in Jesus, to call himself a child of God. Recognize that although we are joint-heirs this does not necessarily mean that we are equal heirs.

Continuing this idea in Galatians 4:1-5, “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Now one must understand that this expression, “the adoption of sons,” refers to an ancient Roman custom wherein a biological son was declared by his biological father to have full authority as an heir over the father's domain.

The word adoption today has a different meaning than it had in Paul's time. Today we think of a childless couple who go to an agency and after much frustration of waiting and jumping through hoops they finally are given a child which was physically born of some stranger, and has inheritance rights no different from a child actually born to the adoptive couple.

But the adoption of sons Paul is talking about is in reference to an actual biological son who has been under the tutoring and admonition of servants, to whom the son had to be obedient, but he is now fully grown and matured and the servants must now obey the orders of the son, for he now has all the authority of the father. At the rapture, when we receive our glorified bodies, we will receive the adoption of sons. We will have authority as a son of God within our Father’s domain. We don’t have that kind of authority now, although we are children of our heavenly Father.

At this present time, we who are children of God are no different from an unsaved person, as far as physical appearance is concerned. Praise God, its “For by Grace are ye saved through faith ... not of works...” (Ephesians 2:8,9). Some unsaved people are more moral than many Christians. Furthermore, sometimes we see a Christian who is such a blatant sinner that the legalists doubt his salvation, though he is lord of all. But someday we will receive the adoption of sons and then all will see that we are sons (children) of God!

Ephesians 1:5 says, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” It was God's plan before the foundations of the world that we should come into this adoption of children (sons). Then verse 7 says, “in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…" Our souls have been redeemed. Verse 11 says, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” Then in verses 13 and 14, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” All that was purchased with the blood of Christ has not yet been redeemed. Specifically, our bodies have not yet been redeemed.

Romans 8: 19,20, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature {the Greek word used here is ktisis which is also translated ‘creation,’ instead of creature, elsewhere} was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.” In Genesis God said cursed is the ground for thy sake. Note that the Earth was not cursed for anything that the Earth had done. Continuing in verses 21 and 22, “Because the creature {creation} itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Since the curse all of creation has had to continually keep regenerating itself through a cycle of death and rebirth. Before the curse there was no death so regeneration was unnecessary, and sometime after we receive the manifestation of sons of God, the Earth will be as it was before the fall of man and your pets and flowers living at that time will live forever.

Continuing on in Romans 8:23, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” When our bodies are redeemed from the grave at the rapture we will receive the adoption of sons. Our vile bodies will be changed into glorified bodies and at that time our redemption will be complete. At the end of the thousand year reign of Christ on Earth, when the last saved person receives his glorified body, all redemption will be complete.

Why do we have to wait for the adoption of sons? Why doesn't God just give us our glorified bodies the instant we get saved? Well you see if that were the case then everyone would visually see it happen and they would say, “Hey! I want that!” Romans 8:24 says, “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” We are saved by grace through faith, but if we could visually see it happening to others it wouldn't require any faith. And Hebrews 11: 6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

I John 3:1,2, “Behold, what manner of love the Father bath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Although we are the sons of God we do not appear as we shall be, but when He appears we shall be like Him.

When God has a child what is it? In Psalm 82:1-6 God said, “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods (His children) How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course (Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.). I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.”

“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” You can't make it any plainer than that! This is the only place in the entire Old Testament where anyone is referred to as the children of God.

Jesus quotes this in John 10:34, “Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?” Who says we are gods? Notice that Jesus says, “I said...” So we have it from no lesser authority than Jesus Himself.

Jesus goes on in the next two verses, “If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?” Here Jesus is defending Himself against the charge of blasphemy by quoting Psalm 82:6. Because of the quoted verse above, anyone who is a child of God can call himself a god and it would not be blasphemy. Anyone who would say that Psalm 82:6 means anything else would be accusing Jesus of twisting scripture to suit His own private interpretation.

The next verse in Psalm 82, verse 7 says, “But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.”

Even if Adam had been able to get born again spiritually, and once again been a child of God in His image, because of Adam's sin and the penalty thereof, the process of dying physically would have continued. Today we can get born again spiritually, and become triune children of God; but we still die physically. Romans 8:10 says, “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

We inherit sin and its penalty from our forefathers all the way back to Adam. Romans 5:12 says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” We have inherited sin in our physical bodies, so our physical bodies die. So, although we are children of God, as Psalm 82:7 says, we “shall die like men.”

But when we got born of the Holy Spirit, God became our Father! The same Father that raised up Jesus from the dead! He is also our Father! He will raise our bodies up from the dead in the same way He raised His Son Jesus up from the dead. Praise God! Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Philippians 3:20,21, “...the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body...” When will we receive this glorified Christ-like body? At the rapture of the church according to I Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

God said the above, but He also said that which follows regarding our relationship, so take heed. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Also in Revelation 22:8,9, “And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”

There is and always will be, only one LORD God, who is sovereign, THE LORD and THE Most High! Only one Jehovah, only one King of Kings and Lord of Lords, only one I AM, only one El Shaddai, only one heavenly Father! Only one Christ! Only one Comforter! Ad infinitum...

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...” In this verse and in others, Jesus is referred to as the only begotten Son of God. If we are also begotten children of God, there would appear to be a conflict in the scriptures, but we know there is no disharmony in the Holy Scriptures. The expression “only begotten” is the Greek word "monogenes" and it refers to His uniqueness. Jesus is unique in His revelation of the Father, His mediation of salvation, His sinlessness, His authority to forgive sin, His unbroken communion with the Father, and His preeminence, to name a few. In Hebrews 11:17 we also see Isaac referred to as the only begotten son of Abraham, but we know that Abraham also had another son named Ishmael, and later other sons as well, but Isaac was unique.

Genesis 1:21, 24,25, says, “And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

When a horse has a child, what is it? A colt!When a cow has a child, what is it? A calf!When a cat has a child, what is it? A pup? No! It's a kitten!When God has a child, what is it!

Bom again believers refer to each other as brother or sister, because God is our Father and we are His children. Humans don't have pigs, or dogs, or monkeys, or any other inferior creatures in their family. Would God have any inferior beings in His family?

In the Bible the phrase "Kingdom of God" occurs seventy two times and only in the New Testament. To have a kingdom there must be a king and there must be subjects. The children of God are the subjects in the Kingdom of God, and God Himself is the King. I Timothy 6:15 says, “...the blessed and only potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;” And Psalm 95:3 says, "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods." No one is equal to the King, and no one is higher than the King. We are all beneath the King. But He wouldn't have much of a Kingdom if all of His subjects were not after His kind. Can you imagine the Queen of England having as subjects only a bunch of monkeys?

Now this is just a question ... if you have a part of something that is infinite, is your part only finite? Is the original still infinite?

When God has a child, what is it? Is God omnipotent? God didn't have to call us His children; He could have called us His chosen people or any of several other titles according to His choosing. Since we are His children what does this make us? This is not committing the sin of Satan, who said that he would be like the Most High. God did not create Satan in His image. Only born-again believers are in the image of God.

But! At this present time we do not have the authority of the Father, but are under tutors and governors until the time appointed for us. We grow and mature somewhat, but as long as we are not Spirit controlled we can have no authority from the Father. This makes sense too. If I had the authority of the Father I would immediately use my superior knowledge to know which stock to buy and thus become rich. Then I'd snap my fingers and SHAZAM! That person who had so persecuted me would be in deep trouble with the Internal Revenue Service! No, it just wouldn't do... I'm not yet fully controlled by the Holy Spirit. Though I may not be a baby any longer I'm still just a child. But some day...when the Lord will return... “and it doth not appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him...”

People who read this may wish to know who wrote it. People should not judge this work by who compiled it, but rather by its message only. It's not my message. I am nobody. Nevertheless, for those who may wish to shoot the messenger, I am:

Dennis Harmon
E-mail: daharm0n@aol.com (Note, the 0 in Harm0n is the number zero)

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

SELECTING A PASTOR

2008-11-30T21:09:00.000-05:00

All conflicts in a church involve the pastor, either as the root of the problem, or as the resolver of the problem, or as the mediator of a problem between two groups.

The relationship between a pastor and the congregation is much like the relationship between a man and his wife. When a new pastor is elected there is a honeymoon period, which lasts from six to eighteen months, when everything seems great. Early during this time people brag about how much they like their new pastor, they take him and his family out to eat or invite them into their homes. They lavish them with praise and give him gifts on his birthday, wedding anniversary, and pastoral anniversary. They send him cards telling him how happy they are to have him as their pastor, and encourage him to take care of his health.

During the early stages of the honeymoon period people are operating in an unreal world because they really don’t know him and they are projecting into the new pastor all the qualities they would like for him to have. Perhaps without realizing it, some people are endeavoring to woo the pastor into their camp, or simply trying to curry favor and get on his “good” side. An ideal pastor will be aware of these things and will be a good friend but will maintain a balance and seek to eliminate “camps.” But the pastor is only human, not deity, and usually the people fail to realize this. Everyone is wearing a giddy smiley face.

Later on in the honeymoon period people notice that the pastor has feet made of clay like everyone else and that perhaps he doesn’t have all the qualities that they had thought at first. Though no one has voiced any discontent, some people are starting to have second thoughts. The camp that threw out…oops…I mean… affected the former pastor’s resignation, are feeling their power base eroding.

As time goes on most of the people, being made of flesh will have varying degrees of discontent. Those who seek to have the preeminence will be crouched waiting to pounce upon the pastor at the first instance of “wrongdoing.” It may be as simple as the pastor taking it upon himself to order pencils with the church’s name imprinted, without having taken it before the whole church to vote on it. Or perhaps someone saw the church van parked at McDonald’s, and this is allegedly a misuse of the church van. The complaints will buzz around the telephone circuits until the next business meeting. Then the “Diotrophes” camp will pounce. In view of this, why on Earth would anyone want to be a pastor? A wise old preacher said, "If you don't like the smell of sheep dung then you ought not to be a shepherd."

Do pastors have mid-life crises? Are they human?! Yes, of course! Occasionally a pastor will fall victim to temptation just the same as any of the rest of us. When this happens many people will have their faith crushed, not realizing that they had deified the pastor and had been worshipping him instead of the Lord. Some people will never believe that their pastor is guilty of any wrongdoing so they abandon their church and follow their pastor and worship him wherever he goes.

Never put your complete trust in any man! The Lord will never let you down, but sooner or later a man will always let you down. Remember this!

Rarely does a pastor stay at one church long enough to retire. Retirement from a church should be the norm. Why is it that we harangue marital divorce but not much is said about the church-pastor divorce rate? A man should only be the pastor of one church. If a man resigns his position as a pastor should he be barred from ever pastoring another church? A man may be the associate pastor of a church, but when he becomes the pastor of any church he should stay married to that church until he retires.

Now having said all this about church-pastor divorce, let’s look at the real world. Matthew 19:8, “He saith unto them, Moses (the first five books of the Old Testament) because of the hardness of your hearts suffered (allowed) you to put away your wives: but from the beginning (before the fall of man) it was not so.” There are times, because of the hardness of the people’s hearts, that a divorce is necessary. For example, if the pastor insists that adultery is not sin then he will draw the church into sin. For you to maintain your separation from sin then the church must separate itself from that pastor. On the other hand, if a pastor repeatedly preaches against some sin that the people would rather continue committing, then the people will vote him out. A divorce under these circumstances is unavoidable.

If you have a pastor with whom you are not content, go speak to him first. Do not call around and get a consensus from the other members first. Matthew 18:15 says, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Galations 6:1-3 says, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” If he doesn’t repent of the situation, that you alone are aware of, then you should take it before the church.

However, if you’re discontented simply because of his preaching or the song service, don’t accuse the pastor, it is you that have the problem. Do not call around to others sowing discord. If you don’t like the preacher's style or the singing, and you want a change, then you should attend the services at some other church where you do like the preaching and singing. Romans 16:17 gives a warning, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions...” And Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six things doth the LORD hate:… he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Do not be a Diotrophes! III John 9-10, “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” Make sure you are not a Diotrophes! Keep your divorce rate down.

Another thing that causes a high church-pastor divorce rate in some churches, is a church constitution that requires the pastor to stand an annual vote-of-confidence. Most such constitutions require unrealistically high vote percentages. A vote-of-confidence is good under two conditions: 1. The percentage vote must be only fifty percent and; 2. Each of the church officers must stand similar votes of confidence at the same time. Seek to work out your differences with the pastor, keep your divorce rate down!

The idea that a pastor may outgrow his church and thus move up to a bigger and better church is not scriptural. Another thing, after he retires, the members will be running to the retired pastor to get his opinion on everything the new pastor says. The retired pastor should warn the people not to do this and sharply rebuke those who do; otherwise, the pastor emeritus should join a different church.

Eventually, because of retirement or because of resignation, a new pastor must be searched out. Notice that I said searched out, I did not say called. God does the calling. All saints are called, but we all have different “callings.” I Corinthians chapter 12 speaks of the fact that we all have different callings but one body. Not everyone is called to be a pastor, but we are all called.

Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” Some are called to be pastors while some are called to be carpenters and others are called to be truck drivers. For a Christian it is a calling, there is no difference between the secular and the sacred. For a Christian it is all sacred. So when you drive that truck do it with the same Christian dedication that you would expect of your pastor in his calling.

When you search out a new pastor, step one is in I Timothy 2:1, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” Pray and ask God to send the right man, the man that God wants there, not necessarily the man that you want there. Ask God to help you in your search.

The second step is similar. I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”

Get the word out that you’re looking for a pastor. The best references are recommendations from other people, especially other pastors. Call all the pastors you know, and have your other members call their contacts.

Contact the placement services for reputable Christian Colleges if you want a novice. Occasionally, a man right out of Bible College will make a good pastor, but this is the exception, not the rule. Sometimes a church will want a man right out of Bible College on the grounds that he will be cheap. Sometimes this will work out, but, have you ever heard the expression, “You get what you pay for?” If money to pay the pastor is a problem, remember, no good pastoral candidate will be motivated by money, rather a good man will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. So will the church also…if it is any good.

A good source is men who have until now been associate pastors and are now seeking a senior pastorate. When reviewing resumes check the man’s “divorce rate” from previous churches, he may have a problem. Bear in mind that all potential candidates will be checking your church’s “divorce rate” too. A heavy turnover of pastors indicates that there is a problem in the church. This makes it hard to get a good man, so it behooves a church to not be hasty in getting rid of pastors.

After you have received a number of resumes, select a few promising looking ones and call around checking their references. The potential candidate will give you some references, call them and expect to get glowing recommendations, but then ask these references for the names of his former deacons. Calls to them may reveal problems.

One would not consider marrying a person that they had only just met once or twice, the same is true when choosing a pastor. Narrow the list to only one man. Then pray, that this will be the man that God wants for your pastor. You should have him come and preach for you for a full week, at least seven preaching services. You give him the preaching topics* that you want to hear him preach when you telephone him to come and candidate. Pray that this is the man that God wants to be your pastor!

When he comes have him stay at various members houses so that many will get to know him more personally. Have a carry-in dinner after one of the services. After seven services you should know him well enough to vote on him. Do not hear any other man before you vote on this candidate. The process should not become a beauty contest where you have several candidates come and preach and then you vote on the prettiest one. Rely on God!

The Bible gives the qualifications for a pastor. I Timothy 3:1-7 says,
1. This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5. (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6. Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

The book of Titus, summarized, says that a pastor should be:
1. Blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
2. As the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
3. A lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
4. Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
5. Speak the things which become sound doctrine: Not an heretick.
6. Sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. Sober minded.
7. Good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8. Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9. Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity
10. Subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
11. Speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
12. Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law.

*PREACHING TOPICS
One message on sin.
One message on eschatology.
One evangelistic message.
One message on church government.
One message on the errors of Calvinism.
One message on your church’s statement of faith.
One message on love.

Keep your divorce rate down!

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

SUCCESS IS CONTENTMENT AS YOU ARE

2008-11-30T16:52:00.000-05:00

In school our teachers taught us to never be satisfied with what we are but that we should always strive to climb to the next rung up the ladder. This has resulted in many people feeling like failures.

As we grow older we often look at the apparent successes of those we went to school with and feel like we don’t measure up to our peers. Some went on to achieve high position and wealth. We compare our lives with them and we feel like failures. They have their big houses and fancy cars.

But a Christian should have other measures of success. As their successes, they should claim love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, and souls they have led to Christ. If you don’t have these you are not 100% successful, but if you have them you are successful.

Luke 12:15, And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Philippeans 4:12, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Hebews 13:5, Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1 Timothy 6:6, But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:8, And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

1 Timothy 6:10, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Corinthians 13:2-3, And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

TITHES – DO WE PAY OR GIVE THEM?

2008-11-27T23:30:00.000-05:00

Matthew 23:23, says, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” …pay tithe…

Notice that Jesus is talking to the scribes and Pharisees; therefore, this is before He became the propitiation for our sins, thus ushering in this age of grace. Everyone then was still subject to the Old Testament Law of Moses. These people still had to pay their tithe. Hebrews 7:5 says, “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:” They had to pay their tithe.

Today we are not under the law but we are under grace. Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” We are not under the law, but under grace.

We do not have to pay for our salvation, we do not have to pay to come to church, and there is no tax or other fee placed on us by our church or our religion. Today we give our tithe, if we feel so inclined, because we love Jesus. Today we give whatever amount we wish, but the example set by God in the law was ten percent, the tithe. So we give our tithe as a gift to God and any offering over our tithe is also a gift.

Some un-churched people think that we all have to pay to come to church. They won’t come because they don’t want to pay. God is not pleased if we give money because we think we are being forced to pay it like taxes. God is pleased when we give it as a gift because we love Him. This is a matter of conviction, one shouldn’t put money in the collection plate because one thinks he is obligated and must pay…put it in the collection plate if you really and truly want to give it to God. A good preacher friend of mine once told me, “When God has your money, you’re His.” We give back to Him 10 percent of the 100 percent that He has already given to us.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 says, "6. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." You might as well keep your money if you're paying it. Note the words "give" and "giver." Give it cheerfully, not grudgingly.

From experience, I truly believe that I can get along better on 90 percent of my income with God’s blessing on it than I can on 100 percent without God’s blessing.

We should all give ten percent of our income, our tithe, to God in the offering plate. As God’s stewards the church uses this money to meet financial obligations, such as paying the pastor. This is also the example that God set under the law. No part of a person’s tithe should be designated by the donor, for a certain use or fund. However, offerings over and above the tithe may be so designated and visitors to one’s church may designate offerings for a particular use.

I am aware of at least one pastor who improperly designates his tithe to go to himself and thus he gives nothing to God since he gets it all back…AND it’s tax deductible! He may be fooling the Internal Revenue Service but he is not fooling God!

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

DO CHRISTIANS HAVE DOUBTS?

2008-10-25T23:34:00.001-04:00

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Matthew 21:21-22 says:
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

How many of you have tested God and said to a ‘mountain’ “Be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea.” All of you, right? Be honest. Did your ‘mountain’ move? No. And you said to God, “But I did everything Lord. I believed You would move that mountain and You didn’t do it.” From this springs doubts regarding the very existence of God. Everyone has doubts from time to time. The flesh is weak. We will always have some doubts as long as we have these bodies of flesh.

Doubt:
1. To be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
2. To be uncertain about something; be undecided in opinion or belief.
3. A feeling of uncertainty about the truth, reality, or nature of something.

So we see that doubt means uncertainty, it does not mean unbelief. There is a vast difference between having doubts about something that you do believe, and unbelief. So we see that doubt means uncertainty, it does not mean unbelief. An unbeliever never doubts, he doesn't believe so why should he have doubts? He never doubts about something he doesn't believe anyway.

Do you fret over doubts as to whether Allah is really a God? No, you don’t harbor doubts about Allah because you don’t believe in Allah. But you do believe in Jehovah; you only harbor doubts over the One you believe in.

When we pray and ask God to do something and it then comes to pass, we say, “WOW!” Why do we say ‘wow?’ Because we had doubts.

To say that you never have doubts is like saying that you never sin. Some individuals may see doubt as the opposite of faith, but doubt is not the opposite of faith, unbelief is the opposite of faith. Doubt brings into question something in which we do believe. The term “to doubt” can also mean “to question.”

In Luke 3:19-20, we read that John the Baptist was shut up in prison:
19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

Later, in Luke 7:19-22 we read that while John the Baptist was shut up in prison he sent some of his disciples asking:
19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

Did John the Baptist question whether Jesus was the Messiah? Indeed he was in imminent danger, and he had nagging doubts.

Next we see in Matthew 14:27-31 where Peter saw Jesus walking on the water and was afraid:
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Did Peter doubt that Jesus would save him from sinking into the water? He took his eyes off Jesus and saw the circumstances and he was afraid, because he had doubts. Jesus said that Peter doubted.

How did "Doubting Thomas" come to be remembered by that expression? John 20:24-29 says:
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Thomas was one of the apostles! Surely he would not have any doubts? Ah…but we see that he did.

If we can’t physically see something then we have doubts about it. Nevertheless, we can’t see sub-atomic particles but we believe they are real because physicists simply say they exist, we don’t question this science. Why? Because if we find out that they really don’t exist…so what? But upon Jesus hinges our eternal life, so we worry about whether Jesus is real. A Christian should never worry, it shows a weak faith, but we do sometimes worry. Lord, please help us in our faith. Help us to keep our eyes off the circumstances and upon You. Amen

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

HOW TO KNOW YOU WOULD GO TO HEAVEN

2008-10-21T20:20:00.003-04:00

Page 1
If you were to die right now do you know for sure that you would go to heaven?
Yes. – Turn to page 3.
No. – Turn to page 2.

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Page 2
According to the Bible you can know that you would go to heaven. 1John 5:13 says,
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

The question you may now be asking is, “How do I get this eternal life?”

Turn to page 4.

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Page 3
On what do you base your “yes” answer? If you’re basing your answer on “because I have placed my complete trust in Jesus and what he did on the cross for me, plus nothing else,” that is a good answer. But if you’re basing your “yes” answer on things that you do: I don’t sin, I go to church, I’ve been baptized, or, I belong to such and such church, or “me and Jesus have got our own thing going,” or any other reason than - Jesus plus nothing else - you aren’t going to make it to heaven.

Turn back to page 2.

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Page 4
In the beginning, God put Adam in the garden of Eden. God gave Adam only one rule, Genesis 2:17 says,
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Did Adam eat that fruit?

Turn to page 5.

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Page 5
Genesis 3:6, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

When we break God’s law it is called sin. Adam’s sin that day caused him to die spiritually that day and he began a process of dying physically which resulted in his physical death.

We inherit from our parents. Since we all descended from Adam we inherit Adam’s sin. Therefore, because of Adam we are all born sinners. Do you see that we’re born sinners?

I see. – Turn to page 6.
That doesn’t make me a sinner, I don’t sin. – Turn to page 7.

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Page 6
We must understand that even if we think we’re pretty good, we’re still sinners, nevertheless.
Romans 3:10 says, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

None of us are righteous. No, not one of us.

Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

This means that I have sinned, the preacher has sinned, the Pope has sinned, and you my friend have sinned. Indeed, we have all sinned, according to the Bible. Have you ever told a lie? That’s sin.

It’s easy to sin; it’s hard to not sin.

I have never sinned. – Turn to page 8.
Okay, I admit that I’m a sinner. – Turn to page 9.

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Page 7
Romans 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Here we see two things, first, death passed upon all men (through one man, Adam), and second, even if we didn’t inherit sin from Adam, we all have sinned.

Now do you see that you are a sinner?

Sure, I sin. – Turn back to page 6.
I don’t make it a practice to sin. – Turn to page 8.

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Page 8
I John 1:8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

God through His written word, the Bible, says that we do sin.

Turn to page 9.

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Page 9
There is a penalty for sin. The penalty is death.

Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The first part of this verse says the wages (that’s what we get for what we did) of sin is death. We admit that we are all sinners; therefore we all should die. What kind of death is being referred to here?

To see, let’s turn to page 10.

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Page10
Revelation 20:14, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The second death! You mean we’ve got two of them? Yes! This is the death for sinners. It’s called Eternal Death.

But…

Turn to page 11.

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Page 11
In the first part of Romans 6:23 we saw that the wages of sin is Eternal Death, but the second part of this verse is what we want to focus on now.

Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ah…the gift of God is eternal life. Eternal life means everlasting life without end. No Eternal Death in the Lake of Fire. What does one have to do to get a gift?

Nothing. – Turn to page 13.
Be good – Turn to page 12.

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Page 12
At Christmas time we tell children to “be good or you won’t get any presents.” But do they behave after that? Well, for about two minutes, then they’re back to fighting, screaming and climbing the curtains, like all kids. Do we go ahead and give them presents anyway? Yes. Why? Because they were good? No. We give them the presents because we love them. If they had to be good to get a gift then it wouldn’t be a gift anymore, but it would be wages that they’ve earned.

So you see, God gives us eternal life as a gift, because He loves us. Not because we’re good. We don’t get eternal life because of anything we do. Jesus did it all by dying on the cross for us, in our place.

Turn to page 14.

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Page 13
Nothing! That’s right! God gives us the gift of eternal life because He loves us.
If we had to be good or do some other good work, then it wouldn’t have been a gift; it would be wages that we’ve earned. Jesus did all the work when He paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. He died in our place! As our substitute!

Do you see?

Yes, I see. – turn to page 14.
No, you don’t get anything for nothing. – Turn back to page 12.

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Page 14
So you see, eternal life is not something we can earn. If we could earn eternal life in heaven then Jesus wouldn’t have needed to die as our substitute on the cross.

Turn to page 15.

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Page 15
Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

…while we were yet sinners (and therefore we deserved to go to hell), Christ died for us (in our place).

If you pumped $5.00 worth of gas into your car and then discovered that you’d left your wallet at home, you’d be in a jam with the man at the gas station! But if I saw that you didn’t have any money and I said to the man at the gas station, “As a gift, I want to pay his debt,” and then I paid the man for your gas. How much money would you owe the man for gas?

$5.00 – Turn to page 16.
Nothing. - Turn to page 17.

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Page 16
You wouldn’t owe the man anything because I paid it for you. You wouldn’t owe me anything either because I said it was a gift. You might think I’m peculiar to pay for your gas and not expect anything in return but someday maybe I’ll be in a jam and someone will return the favor. Jesus died for us and it was a free gift from Him. We don’t owe Him for this gift. It is free. Maybe someday you can do something for Him, but you don’t have to. Whatever you do for Him will be because you want to.

Turn to page 17.

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Page 17
You would owe the man nothing. You wouldn’t owe me anything either because I gave it as a gift. That’s what Jesus did for us. We owed the wages of sin, but Jesus paid the debt for us by dying on the cross for us as our substitute. Jesus is the only person who could have paid your sin debt. I couldn’t. Your mother couldn’t. Only someone who had never inherited sin and has never personally sinned, and therefore not already condemned, could die as your substitute.

The gift of eternal life is available to everyone, free. But you must accept this gift. It is possible to refuse it. Sometimes a person should refuse a gift, like when a gift is offered to a girl but there are strings attached.

The choice is yours:
Eternal life – yes - turn to page 18.
Eternal life –No- Eternal Death – yes Turn to page 19.

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Page 18
Romans 10:9, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
…Saved from what? The second death. If you don’t experience Eternal Death, what do you have? Eternal life!
…if thou shalt confess with thy mouth…this means, to say out loud, to publicly proclaim, that you believe in the Lord Jesus.
…that God hath raised Him from the dead…you all know the Easter story, how Jesus was crucified and died on the cross then placed into a tomb, but three days later He arose from the tomb alive! You must believe this.
…and believe in thy heart…the heart? I thought the heart was just a blood pumper. This means that you are putting all your trust in what you believe.

Turn to page 20 for an illustration.

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Page 19
Revelation 21:8, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

To have all these sins paid for and receive eternal life, turn back to page 18.

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Page 20
There was a man out West that stretched a rope across a deep canyon. Then the man walked across that deep canyon on the rope. Then he turned around and walked back. Then the man took a wheelbarrow from which he’d removed the front tire, and pushed it across the deep canyon on the rope. When he got to the other side he turned around and pushed it back. Quite a crowd had gathered around. The man asked them, “How many of you believe I can put a man in this wheelbarrow and push him across and back?”

A man in the front of the crowd was shaking his head affirmatively so he asked him, “You sir! Would you get into the wheelbarrow?” The man wouldn’t get into the wheelbarrow although with his head he believed the man could safely do it. He believed with his head, but he didn’t believe with his heart.

Turn to page 21.

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Page 21
As we just read, to receive eternal life you must confess out loud that you believe in the Lord Jesus. I suggest you pray this prayer:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I admit I’m a sinner. I believe that you died for me and arose from the grave to be my Savior. I am trusting you to forgive my sin and save me. From this moment on I am fully depending on you to take me to heaven. Thank you for paying for my sins and saving me. Amen.”

You do not save yourself by saying this prayer. But if you prayed this prayer and meant what you said, then God saved you.

According to the Bible, the Word of God, if you died right now, would you go to heaven?

Yes – go to page 22.
No – go to page 23.

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Page 22
Yes! You will indeed go to heaven! If you really meant it!

I John 5:13, These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Next you should inform a local Bible believing, Christ honoring pastor that you have prayed this prayer and that you would like to be baptized. Baptism isn’t required for you to be saved, you’re already saved, but it is an outward show of an inward change, identifying yourself with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus.

You have been born-again this day. Born of the Holy Spirit. Remember this date, it is your spiritual birthday!

Turn to page 24

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Page 23
You answered no, you would not go to heaven. To be saved you must believe. If you were serious when you prayed that prayer, then you must believe that God keeps his promises, no matter how bad of a sinner you are.

If you now believe that you would go to heaven then go back to page 22.
If you still don’t believe that you would go to heaven then go back to page 6.

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Page 24
Please cut and paste this posting into an email and send it to all your friends or at least send this link to your friends: http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-know-you-would-go-to-heaven.html I do claim copyright protection on this posting but I do give everyone permission to freely copy this post and to distribute the printed material to any and all. May God bless your evangelistic efforts.

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

ENVY AND JEALOUSY ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE TERMS

2008-09-01T13:13:00.000-04:00

Envy: sinful lusting after something which belongs to someone else. Covetousness.

Jealousy: righteous indignation toward someone who lusts after something that is yours.

Often we misuse these two words. We use envy when we really mean jealous and we say jealous when we really mean envy. These two words are not interchangeable. To envy is to commit sin; to be jealous is righteous.

A biblical example of envy is found in I Kings chapter 21 where King Ahab lusted after the vineyard of Naboth. King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, plotted and had Naboth killed so that Ahab could take the vineyard. 1 Kings 21:5-7 says,

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?

6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.

7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

You see, envy is the same as covetousness. The tenth commandment reads thusly: Exodus 20:17, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

Jealousy is what you feel when someone makes a pass at your spouse. A biblical example of the proper use of the term "jealousy" is found in Exodus 34:13-15:

13 But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:

14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

15 Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods , and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;

Take heed, a frequent misuse of the word Jealous is when a person will grill his marriage partner thusly: "Where have you been?" "Who were you with?" "Who did you see?" Additionally, the person will make false accusations: "Don't lie to me!" "Give me the car keys, you cheater!" "It doesn't take that long to go to the beauty shop!" "Had to get prettied up for your boyfriend didn't you!"

Then the accused spouse will accuse him of being jealous, but this is not jealousy, this is insecurity. If the accused marriage partner has a history of infidelity then the insecurity may be justified, but frequently the insecurity is simply based on unfounded suspicion. This insecurity may be caused by the accuser having witnessed the infidelity of others close to him and maybe even his own infidelities.

This type of insecurity sometimes responds well to pastoral counseling, but if there is physical abuse because of imagined infidelity then this is a serious mental condition that usually does not respond to any kind of counseling.

http://dennyschristianwritings.blogspot.com/

WE ARE WHAT WE ARE BECAUSE OF THE CHOICES WE MAKE

2008-07-15T16:01:00.000-04:00

Did you choose, of your own free will, to marry your wife, or did her dad hold a shotgun to you?

Did your wife choose to marry you? Your wife became Mrs. So-and-so because she chose to marry you. So you see, we are what we are because of the choices we make.

Galations 6:7-8 says:

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

We are what we are because of the choices we make.

We attribute three “Omni’s” to God:

God is Omnipotent…all-powerful.

God is Omniscient…all-knowing.

God is Omnipresent…god is always present with a person. There is never a place you can go where God cannot hear you when you call out to Him.

Some people believe that God is in complete control, meaning that nothing happens that was not meant to be, that nothing happens outside of God’s control. But there is a problem with this belief…sin happens, and we know that in Job 34:12, it says, Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. Therefore, we know that God does not cause sin to happen. But sin does happen, and if God doesn’t make it happen then He must not be controlling everything.

Obviously God does control some things but not control other things. When God permits us to make our own choices He is not giving up any of His sovereignty. God, of His own permissive will, gives us permission, to make our own choices.

WILL

Definition: Wishing, desiring, or choosing especially in reference to the will of God. In the gospels, primarily in John, Jesus is said to be acting not according to His own will, but according to the will of the heavenly Father (John 5:30; 6:38). Indeed, doing the will of the Father is Jesus' nourishment (John 4:34), and Jesus does nothing apart from the Father's will (John 5:19). Luke confirms this when he quotes Jesus' statement in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from Me, nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42).
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

God has an explicit will and a permissive will. An example of God’s explicit will is found in Acts 9:1-6,

9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

In these verses it is obvious that Paul did not at this time choose to become an apostle of Jesus Christ. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christian believers. We have proof that Paul was an apostle by God’s explicit will in Ephesians 1:1, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Another example of God’s explicit will is found in Jeremiah 1:4-5.

4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me (Jeremiah), saying,

5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

It is by God’s permissive will that we do most of the things we do. Some of the things we do are obviously contrary to what God wants us to do, like when we sin. But when we make our own choices we are doing what He has given us the power to do. He may not like our choices but, nevertheless, He wants us to make our own choices.

Some people disagree with me and say that God is in complete control and that everything that happens is God’s will. But then we wouldn’t be guilty of sin, God would be.

You chose to marry your wife. God didn’t hold a shotgun to you.

Did you choose to believe in Christ or did some unseen power force you to believe, as the Calvinists would have you believe? You chose to believe in Jesus of your own free will.

Believe it or not, there are some Baptists who believe that God is in complete control and that you have no control over choosing to believe in Christ, that it was God’s explicit will that you accept Christ and that you had nothing to do with it. If God completely controlled each person’s actions then we would all be like angels, always doing right, like robots.

We are what we are because of the choices we make. God created mankind with a free will; free to choose as we wish. Adam, of his own free will, chose to sin; God didn’t force him to eat that fruit. Neither did Satan.

There are a few Baptists that call themselves Freewill Baptists, but they carry free will to an extreme. They are not like us. They are followers of an early church reformer named Jacob Arminius, so they are called Arminians. They believe in works for salvation among other errors.

If God doesn’t force us to sin…then who does make us commit sin? Satan, the Devil? No. Several years ago there was a black comedian on television, named Flip Wilson. He had a skit where he often would say, “The Devil made me do it!” Oftentimes we blame our sinning on the Devil. “It’s not my fault, the Devil made me do it!” Satan will tempt us, but the decision to sin is a choice we ourselves make. We have the Holy Spirit speaking into one ear and Satan speaking into the other. Which one do we choose to obey?

A grandfather had two dogs he kept in separate pens. He explained to his grandson,

“I have to keep these two dogs in separate pens, otherwise they would fight till one would finish off the other.”

“Which one would win the fight, Grandpa?”

“The one I feed the most.” He replied.

The grandpa continued, “I also have two dogs battling within my heart. One is the FLESH, it is filled with envy, hatred, murders, and wrath. The other is the SPIRIT, it is filled with love, joy, peace, and goodness.”

“Which one will win the fight, Grandpa?”

“The one I feed the most.”

God wants us to choose right. If we see sin God wants us to say, “I won’t even look at it!” Then turn our eyes away. He wants us to resist sin. It is God’s will that we choose to do right, of our own free will. Not because we have to, but because we want to.

Sometime before the Civil War, a good man went to a slave auction. While there he saw a young slave being sold after trying to escape. So out of compassion the good man bought the slave and then had a lawyer prepare a certificate of freedom, which he gave to the black man. The good man then went about his business but he noticed the Negro was following him every place he went, so the good man told the Negro, “I purchased you and I have now set you free. You are a free man. You may go anywhere you wish. You don’t have to stay with me.”

But the young Negro said, “I know, Massuh, but I want to stay with you.”

It’s that way with us…Jesus bought us and set us free from bondage to sin and then He set us free indeed. We may choose to stay with Jesus or we may choose to go our own way.

John 8:36 says, If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

We don’t belong to Jesus because He bought us…because He set us free indeed…we belong to Jesus because we gave ourselves to Him.

I sometimes hear a person say, "We belong to Jesus because He bought us with His own precious blood." No! That's not why we belong to Jesus! Yes, He did purchase our redemption with His own precious blood when He paid our sin-debt. He purchased us out of slavery to sin. He was acting as our kinsman-redeemer according to Leviticus 25:47-49. Now, He could have said that we had to pay Him back, but He didn't...after He purchased our redemption He set us free indeed. He didn't purchase our redemption because He wanted us to be His slave, He did it because He loves us. We're His brethren, not His slaves. We, who are His, belong to Him because we gave ourselves to Him. If you didn't give yourself to Jesus then you are not His.

Exodus 21:2-6
2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:

6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

It’s this way with us…Jesus bought us, then set us free…but we said “I love my Master, I will not go out free.” In this way we gave ourselves to Jesus, thus we will serve Him…for how long? Forever.

1 Corinthians 7:23 says, Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Yes, Jesus paid a great price for us when he bought us out of bondage to sin…before He set us free.

John 8:32, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Galations 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

God purchased us from bondage to sin, but then He set us free.

God doesn’t force us to choose to believe in Him. He doesn’t force us to love Him. He set us free. It’s like that saying, “If you love something turn it loose, if it comes back to you…its yours; if it doesn’t…it never was.”

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