Why would someone who has been released from slavery be willing to place themselves back into bondage? I do not know anyone who has been a slave (physically), but I would imagine that if I were to approach a person who had been a slave and request that he put on my chains and serve me, that he would do one of two, or possibly both things: he would (1) fight in resistance and/or (2) flee from me. He would see my request as an attack on his freedom and personhood and would absolutely not give in as long as he could resist or flee.
I believe this is a fair illustration of temptation. We tend to think of temptation as things we wish to do in our flesh and because we feel some enjoyment while we do it, we give in to it. The problem with this view of temptation is that we do not wish to do these things and there is no enjoyment in it for a Christian. Temptation is an attack- see Job, Christ, Paul, Peter, Joseph, David, I could go on naming men in the Bible who were tempted to sin, rebel against the Will of God not because they wished to do so, but because they were spiritually attacked. The ones that sinned/rebelled gave up their freedom and personhood. They placed themselves back into the very bondage from which they were freed.
One huge problem we face today is a watered-down presentation of the gospel followed by repeating a scripted prayer and trusting in that prayer to save us. Then we tell those who repeat our script to go read the Bible, and IF not WHEN they read scripture, especially the accounts of people receiving forgiveness from Christ, they do not recite a prayer but are told to go and sin no more, Acts and the epistles say repent and be saved.
Furthermore the pattern I see is:
Admission- recognizing and admitting that you are a sinner, a rebel against God and falling short of His standard.
Confession- (not the same as admission) calling your sin sin
Repentance-(this is the part we love to leave out) changing your attitude concerning sin. You no longer wish to engage in such behavior, have such thoughts and call upon HIS strength to resist because He is limitless in power and we would fail without Him because the old slavemaster is stronger than we and desires to ruin us.
Only after these comes forgiveness by grace through faith.
So because the church building is packed with people who believe with all their hearts that they are saved since they repeated a prayer, have placed their faith in a prayer and are not saved.
Once we fail to see temptation as an attack we let down our guard, kind of like letting someone who is on the no-fly list on an trans-continental flight . We fail to see the threat and soon fall under the advance of the enemy who wishes to destroy us.
We are Freed
Filed under Uncategorized
The Counter-Culture Church
My wife and I have just finished watching the video series by Francis Schaeffer called How Should We Then Live and we have realized that many Christians today, ourselves included, are guilty of going along with the philosophy that the world gives us. We are concerned with our personal peace and affluence more than using what we have in compassion for our neighbor and our brother.
Yet there are others who do use their resources for the good of others, but they do so in order to receive glory themselves, the glory that rightfully belongs to Christ.
In addition the church is called to change the world by making disciples of all people, but the opposite has occurred the church has been made a disciple of the world and has been drastically changed from what it is intended to be. We have adopted a self-centered theology that has changed our thoughts which changed our hearts which in turn changed our actions and speech.
It is time that we come to grips with our failure and place ourselves under the authority of the Bible and live as the Bible says.
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What Is The Church Fighting for Today
Just a quick word concerning the Good fight. Most of the fighting done by “Christians” today seems to center around the King James Bible being the ONLY Word of God and styles of worship music to be sang in church. Now since I believe in liberty, I have to say that everyone is entitled to His/her own opinion, so long as their opinion is scriptural.
As far as I can tell, Scripture does not demand any particular translation. Also if the KJ onlys saw the real KJ Bible they would not be able to read it because the script is radically different from that of today, not to mention the English language itself has changed- that is definitions of the words used. So in essence isn’t the KJV in a foreign language to most people?
Also which revision is inspired as there have been changes and some scribal errors still need to be corrected? If the KJV is the reinspired Word then I am greatly disappointed and dismayed.
Now I can move on to musical styles of worship. The first thing we need to recognize is that people are not the audience of worship. When a particular musical piece is played in church, the taste of the individuals should matter less than the heart of the music, maybe not at all! If the song is scripturally sound (as many old hymns are not) then the church not only could, but should sing it in worship of our Father and our Savior. Why is it so important that there be certain instrument played and the exclusion of others? At one time all the instruments played today were new, only the voice was the original.
These fights are troublesome for me because they are hindering the Good Fight. The church is so busy fighting for these “special interests”, that many of us are not proclaiming the Gospel, baptizing (submerging) and making disciples. We are not living godly lifestyles, we are giving up and becoming no different from the world.
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Faith Only Works Where There is a Promise
Lately, I have been talking to a few people concerning the “power” of prayer then I caught a snippet of a radio show talking about the same thing, so I figured this was a popular topic for discussion.
In reality, there is no “power” in prayer. The power is that of God to keep His promises that He has made. We have all been promised something at some time in our lives only to be let down for one reason or another. We were let down because we had FAITH that the person could and would follow through with their promise. The difference is that God, by His own nature HAS to fulfill his promises. But many of us do not know what God has promised, so we believe that we can pray for whatever we wish (name-and-claim) and God is obligated to do as we desire because we had the faith to ask. The problem is that line of thinking makes us sovereign and God under our authority.
For anyone hostile to my point of view:
1. He has promised to supply every need we have. The Bible says: “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. That’s Phillipians 4:19. Now notice, God has obligated Himself only to the extent of our needs. That would include food, clothing, shelter, companionship, love, and salvation thru Jesus Christ. It would not include the multiplicity of luxuries that we have come to think of as needs.
2. God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us. (II Corinthians 12:9). in fact, He has made provision for our salvation by His grace through faith. Read Ephesians 2:8. It is through an obedient faith that we have access into the grace of God according to Romans 5:2.
3. God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. Instead, He assures us that a way of escape will be provided. This promise is recorded in I Corinthians 10:13. Jude wrote: “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present your faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude v 24). Darius, King of the Medes, said to Daniel, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee” (Daniel 6:16). He did deliver Daniel from the den of lions.
4. God has promised us victory over death. He first resurrected Jesus by way of assuring our resurrection. Peter said: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (I Corinthians 15:3,4). Later on he adds: “but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:57).
5. God has promised that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28). It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised it, and He will deliver.
6. God has promised that those who believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins will be saved. (Read Mark 16:16 and Acts 2:38).
7. God has promised His people eternal life (John 10:27,28). In closing, let me appeal to you to live so that the promises of God will be yours
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My Doctrinal Statement
I. Bible
A. It is complete in sixty-six books
I believe the sixty-six books of the Bible given to us by the Holy
Spirit and accepted by the early church and apostles constitute the
complete canon of Scripture.
The extent of the Old Testament canon–which was completed by 435
B.C.–was affirmed by Jesus Himself (Mat 5:17-18). And the New
Testament, though not personally validated by Jesus, was through the
testimony of His apostles, their authorized companions, and the
early church (ex. 2Pe 3:15-16).
B. It is divine revelation, verbally inspired, and infallible in the
original manuscripts
The Bible is objective, divine revelation (l Cor 2:13; 1Th 2:13),
verbally inspired in every word and part (plenary) (2Ti 3:16),
infallible, and absolutely inerrant in the original manuscripts.
The Bible was written through the process of dual authorship. The Holy
Spirit so superintended the human authors that, through their
individual personalities and different styles of writing, they
composed and recorded God’s Word to man (2Pe 1:20-21).
C. It is sufficient for life and godliness
The Bible is the only infallible rule of faith and practice, being fully
sufficient to address every human need and all that pertains to life
and godliness. (Psa 19:7-8, 119:1- 11; Isa 8:20; Mat 5:18; 24:35; Joh
10:35; 17:17; 2Ti 3:15-17; Heb 4:12; 2Pe 1:3, 20-21).
D. Its interpretation and authority:
Though there may be several applications of any given passage of Scripture,
I believe there is but one true contextual and/or prophetic
interpretation. The precise meaning is to be found as one diligently
applies the literal, grammatical-historical method of interpretation
under the leading of the Holy Spirit (Joh 7:17; 16:12-15; 1 Co
2:7-15; 1 Jo 2:20).
Accordingly, I believe that the opening chapters of Genesis present creation in
six literal days (Gen 1:1-31; Exo, 31:17).
I believe it is the responsibility of all believers to give themselves
to the diligent study of the Word of God in order to be able to
ascertain the true intent and meaning of the Scripture, recognizing
that proper, accurate application is binding and fully authoritative
on all generations (Deu 29:29). The truth of Scripture always stands
in judgment of men; never do men stand in judgment of it.
II. Theology Proper
A. He exists and is the only true God
The Scriptures, nor God Himself ever attempt to prove His existence.
Rather, it is accepted as a truth known by all men which leave them
without excuse (Rom 1:18-20).
God throughout the Bible proclaims Himself as the only true God that men
must worship and obey (Isa 45:5-7; 1Co 8:4).
B. He is spirit in nature, perfect in all His attributes
God exists as Spirit in nature, having no bodily form (Joh 4:24).
He is perfect in all His attributes, possessing each of them in harmony
and without compromise to the others.
The following is a list of some of those attributes:
Sovereignty
(1Ch 29:11-12; Dan 4:35; Psa 50:10-12, 115:3, 119:91b, 135:6; Isa
43:13)
Immutability
(Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8)
Infinity
and Eternality (Immortality) (1Ki 8:27; 1Ti 6:16)
Omnipotence
(Jer 32:17)
Omnipresence
(Psa 139:7-12)
Omniscience
(Psa 139:1-6)
Holiness
(Lev 11:44; Psa 22:3, 99:5; Isa 6:1-3; 1Pe 1:15-16)
Love
(1Jo 4:8)
Goodness
(Psa 25:8, 34:8; ex. Mat 5:43-48, 19:17; Act 14:17)
Righteousness
(Justice) (Gen 18:25; Deu 32:4; Psa 50:6; Isa 30:18b)
Mercy
(Compassionate) (Psa 111:4b)
Wrath
(Deu 32:39-41)
C. He is one in essence, yet existing as three persons
God is one in essence, yet eternally existing in the three persons of:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deu 6:4; Mat 3:16-17, 28:19; 2Co
13:14).
III. Christ
A. He is fully God and fully man
Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity and therefore possesses
all the divine excellencies, being equal, and co-eternal with the
Father and the Holy Spirit (Joh 5:18, 10:30, 14:9; Col 2:9; Heb
1:3).
During His incarnation Christ condescended to the place of a creature and
took on Himself the full nature and existence of man while never
divesting Himself of His divine essence and attributes. He
surrendered only the prerogatives of deity but nothing of the divine
essence, either in degree or kind (Phi 2:5-8; Col. 2:9).
Jesus Christ therefore represents the fullness of humanity and deity in
indivisible oneness (Mic 5:2; Joh 14:9-10; Col 2:9; Heb 2:14-17; 1Jo
4:2).
Additionally, I believe Jesus Christ was virgin born as fulfillment of divine
prophecy (Isa 7:14; Mat 1:23,25; Luk 1:26-35).
B. He is the divine creator and sustains all things
God the Father created all things according to His own will, through His
Son, Jesus Christ, by whom, and for whom, all things continue in
existence and in operation (Joh 1:3,10; Col 1:15-17; Heb 1:2).
C. He has accomplished the salvation of the elect
Jesus Christ accomplished the salvation of the elect through His
sacrificial death on the cross. His death was voluntary, vicarious,
penal, substitutionary, propitiatory, and redemptive (Isa 53:4-6;
Joh 10:15; Rom 3:24-25, 5:8; Heb 9:28; 1Pe 2:24).
On the basis of the efficacy of His death, the believing sinner is freed
from the punishment, the penalty, the power, and (one day), the very
presence of sin and that he is declared righteous, given eternal
life, and adopted into the family of God (Rom 3:25, 5:8- 9; 2Co
5:14-15; 1Pe 2:24, 3:18).
The proof that Christ did indeed accomplish salvation (and subsequently
justification for the believing sinner) is seen in His literal,
physical resurrection from the dead. (Mat 28:6; Luk 24:38-39; Act
2:30-32; Rom 4:25).
Jesus’ bodily resurrection is also the guarantee of a future resurrection
life for all believers (Joh 5:26-29, 6:39, 14:19; Rom 1:4, 6:5-10;
1Co 15:20, 23; 1Th 4:13-16).
D. He is the only mediator between God and men
Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man (1Ti 2:5); and
therefore the only one through whom men must seek salvation (Joh
14:6; Act 4:12).
E. He is the head of the Church and judge of the world
Jesus Christ is the head of the Church (His body) (Eph 1:22, 5:23; Col
1:18), functioning in heaven as her eternal prophet, priest and king
(Joh 6:14, 18:36-37; Acts 3:22-26; 1Ti 6:14-15; Heb 3:1, 5:1-10,
7:1-8:2; Rev 19:16). One day He will return and receive the Church
unto Himself (Act 1:6-11; 1Th 4:16-17).
Jesus Christ is also the One through whom God will judge all mankind, both
the saved at the Bema seat for rewards or loss of reward and unsaved
in every generation, at the Great White Throne Judgment (Mat
25:31-46; Joh 5:22-23; Rev 20:11-15).
IV. Holy Spirit
A. He is fully God and the third member of the Trinity
The Holy Spirit is the divine third person of the Trinity, eternal,
underived, possessing all the attributes of personality and deity
including intellect (1Co 2:10-13), emotions (Eph 4:30), will (1Co
12:11), eternality (Heb 9:14), omnipresence (Psa 139:7- 10),
ommscience (Isa 40:13-31) and truthfulness (Joh 16:13).
In all the divine attributes He is equal with the Father and the Son
(Mat 28:19; Act 5:3-4, 28:25-26; 1Co 12:4-6; 2Co 13:14; Jer 31:31-34
together with Heb 10:15-17).
B. He is responsible for applying Christ’s work
The Holy Spirit is the divine agent responsible for applying Christ’s
work to the lives of those for whom He died through the washing of
regeneration (Joh 3:5-7, 6:63; Rom 8:9; 2Co 3:6; Tit 3:5).
Note: During Pentecost (and the beginning of the Church), the Holy Spirit
sometimes manifested Himself in the lives of people through a form
of “ baptism in tongues”. This however, was a temporary sign
used to reveal God’s plan of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles
(Acts 1:5, 2:4, 10:44-45 cf. 11:15-18). I do not believe this
baptism still takes place today as part of the Spirit’s work in
regeneration.
The Holy Spirit is also responsible for the following other tasks:
-Building the Church and empowering believers for service (Act 1:8, 4:31; 1Co
2:4, 12:7-13; Eph 2:21-22; 1Th 1:5)
-Convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment (Joh 16:8-11)
-Teaching/Leading believers in the Truth (Luk 12:12; Joh 14:26, 16:13; 1Co 2:10- 13)
-Glorifying Christ and the Father (Joh 16:14-15)
-Giving assurance to believers and transforming them into the image of Christ
(Rom 8:16; 2Co 3:18; Eph 1:13; 1 Jo 3:24)
Additionally, the Holy Spirit was sovereignly involved in: the Creation (Gen 1:2);
the incarnation of Christ (Mat 1:18); the writing of the Bible (2Pe
1:19-21).
V. Angels and Demons
A. They are created beings
Angels are created spirit beings and are therefore not to be worshipped.
Although they are a higher order of creation than man, they cannot
procreate and have been created to obey and worship God and to
render service to those inheriting salvation (Psa 103:20- 21, 148:2;
Neh 9:6; Mat 22:30; Luk 2:9-14; Heb 1:6-7, 14, 2:6-7; Rev 5:11-13,
19:10, 22:9).
B. There exists both holy and fallen angels
God created His angels holy and good as He did the rest of His creation
(Gen 1:31). However, a number of them fell into sin and rebellion
against Him thus creating a new group of fallen and condemned angels
(2Pe 2:4; Jud 6).
Satan, the chief of these fallen angels, as a created being is eternally
subject to the sovereignty of God (Job 1:6-12, 2:1-6). He incurred
the judgment of God by rebelling against his Creator (Isa 14:12-17;
Eze 28:11-19), by taking one third of all the created angels with
him in his fall (Rev 12:4), and by tempting and enticing Eve to sin
in which Adam followed, thereby relegating the entire human race to
ruin and misery (Gen 3:1-15; Rom 3:16-17, 5:12).
These fallen angels (including Satan) are the open and declared enemies of
God and man (Isa 14:13-14; Mat 4:1-11; Rev 12:9, 17). Having been
defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Joh
12:30-31), they, being unredeemable, shall be eternally punished in
the lake of fire (Isa 14:12-17; Eze 28:11-19; Mat 25:41; Rev 20:10).
VI. Man
A. He was created in the image and likeness of God
Man was directly and immediately created by God bearing His image and
likeness.
And there are three main ways in which man reflects this:
1. by his dominion over creation.
Man was created to have dominion over all of God’s animal kingdom and
earthly creation. And it is his responsibility to subdue and rule
over it as God has commanded (Gen 1:28, 9:2; Psa 8:4-8).
2. by his state of original righteousness (which is no longer true but can be restored).
Man was originally created in a state of complete moral righteousness,
yet because of sin has lost this aspect of God’s image. It can
however, be restored through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ
(Gen 1:31; Ecc 7:29; Rom 3:21-24; 1Co 1:2; 2Co 5:21).
3. because he is a spiritual and rational being.
Man was created in spiritual and physical perfection, with a rational
nature consisting of a conscience, intelligence, volition, self
determination, and moral responsibility to God (Gen 2:7, 15-25;
Pro 20:27; Ecc 12:7; Rom 1:18-32, 2:4-8, 8:16; 2Co 5:10).
B. He was created to glorify and obey God
God created man to glorify and obey Him, and in this way enjoy His
fellowship and accomplish His good purpose in the world (Isa 43:7;
Rom 11:36; Col 1:16; Rev 4:11).
C. He suffers from the effects of sin, death and spiritual inability
Due to Adam’s volitional, self-determined disobedience to God and His
commands, man (which includes the entire human race) has suffered
the lost of his innocence, incurred the penalty of spiritual and
physical death, become subject to the wrath of God. As a result, man
has no recuperative powers that enable him to recover himself, and
thus he is hopelessly lost. Man will never seek after God on his own
(Rom 3:10-11), he is enslaved to sin (Joh 8:34; Rom 6:17), spiritual
things are complete foolishness to him (1Co 1:18, 2:14), his heart
is deceitful and desperately sick (Jer 17:9) and will only do evil
continually (Gen 6:5, 8:21).
D. Adam was the federal head of the human race
Adam, as the first man, represented the federal head of the entire
human race. And therefore, upon his fall into sin, his guilt was
justly imputed to every man, and a nature corrupted by his sin has
been transmitted to all men of all ages, Jesus Christ being the only
exception (Rom 5:18-19).
All men are thus sinners by nature, by choice, and by divine declaration
(Psa 14:1- 3; Ecc 7:29; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:9-18, 23, 5:10-12). Although
man is radically and pervasively depraved, he, by the common grace
of God, does not always fulfill his full potential to sin (ex. Gen
20:6).
VII. Sin
Definition: Sin is any failure to conform to the law of God in act, attitude or
nature. It is:
“…lawlessness.”
(1Jo 3:4)
“…(falling)
short of the glory of God…” (Rom 3:23)
A. It is the free, volitional choice of men and angels
Sin is the free, volitional choice of men and angels against God and
therefore is carried out according to their own desires and wills
(Gen 3:1-6; Ecc 7:29; Rom 1:18-32).
Scripture shows a direct correlation between our lack of knowledge (concerning
God) and sin (1Co 15:34).
Additionally, it is important to note, sin always finds its origin in the creature
(men and angels) and never God. God cannot sin nor can He tempt
others to sin (Jam 1:13-15).
B. It is irrational in nature
Sin is by nature, irrational and therefore makes fools of all who persist
in its ways regardless of how wise they–at one time– may have
been.(ex. 1Kings 11:1-10 -King Solomon; Psa 14:1; Pro 10:23, 14:7-8,
16).
C. It is hated by God and produces divine judgment and death
God hates sin and all those who continue in sin (Psa 5:4-5, 11:5, 45:7).
The Scriptures say that even their prayers are an abomination and
therefore not regarded by Him (Psa 66:18; Pro 28:9). As it concerns
those who continue in sin and disobedience, God has prepared a day
when He will judge sin and punish all those not found possessing
faith in Jesus Christ. They will (according to Scripture), be cast
into the eternal flames of Hell, which is the second death (Exo
34:7; Job 10:14; Nah 1:3; Mat 25:31-46; Rom 6:23, 8:3; 2Th 1:8-9;
Rev 20:11-15).
D. It is inherited by all men at conception
Sin is inherited by all men as the result of their connection to Adam as
their federal head (Rom 5:12-18). As such the following three things
are true from the moment of our conception:
1. We are considered guilty before God (imputation) (Rom 5:12, 18-19).
2. We are sinful by nature and are inclined toward sinful actions and
attitudes (original sin) (Gen 6:5, 8:21; Psa 51:5, 58:3; Jer
13:23; Joh 2:24-25; Eph 2:3; Rom 7:18).
3. We are unable to exercise faith and therefore cannot please God in
anything we do. (Heb 11:6; Rom 8:8, 14:23).
VIII. Salvation
A. Salvation Only Through Christ
Because of the universal death through sin, no one
can enter the kingdom of God unless born again; and that no degree
of reformation however great, no attainments in morality however
high, no culture however attractive, no baptism or other ordinance
however administered, can help the sinner to take even one step
toward heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life
implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word, is absolutely
essential to salvation, and only those thus saved are sons of God.
I believe, also, that our redemption has been accomplished solely by
the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin and was
made a curse for us, dying in our room and stead; and that no
repentance, no feeling, no faith, no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to
the rules and regulations of any church, nor all the churches that
have existed since the days of the Apostles can add in the very
least degree to the value of the blood, or to the merit of the
finished work wrought for us by Him who united in His person true
and proper deity with perfect and sinless humanity (Lev. 17:11;
Isa. 64:6; Matt. 26:28; John 3:7–18; Rom. 5:6–9; 2 Cor. 5:21;
Gal. 3:13; 6:15; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 3:4–9; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; 1
Pet. 1:18–19, 23).
I believe that the new birth of the believer comes only through faith in Christ and
that repentance is a vital part of believing, and is in no way, in
itself, a separate and independent condition of salvation; nor are
any other acts, such as confession, baptism, prayer, or faithful
service, to be added to believing as a condition of salvation (John
1:12; 3:16, 18, 36; 5:24; 6:29; Acts 13:39; 16:31; Rom. 1:16–17;
3:22, 26; 4:5; 10:4; Gal. 3:22).
B. The Extent of Salvation
When an unregenerate person exercises that faith in Christ which is
illustrated and described as such in the New Testament, he passes
immediately out of spiritual death into spiritual life, and from
the old creation into the new; being justified from all things,
accepted before the Father according as Christ His Son is accepted,
loved as Christ is loved, having his place and portion as linked to
Him and one with Him forever. Though the saved one may have
occasion to grow in the realization of his blessings and to know a
fuller measure of divine power through the yielding of his life
more fully to God, he is, as soon as he is saved, in possession of
every spiritual blessing and absolutely complete in Christ, and is
therefore in no way required by God to seek a so-called “second
blessing,” or a “second work of grace” (John 5:24; 17:23; Acts
13:39; Rom. 5:1; 1 Cor. 3:21–23; Eph. 1:3; Col. 2:10; 1 John
4:17; 5:11–12).
C. Sanctification
Sanctification, which is a setting-apart unto God, is threefold: It is already
complete for every saved person because his position toward God is
the same as Christ’s position. Since the believer is in Christ,
he is set apart unto God in the measure in which Christ is set
apart unto God. However, that he retains his sin nature, which
cannot be eradicated in this life. Therefore, while the standing of
the Christian in Christ is perfect, his present state is no more
perfect than his experience in daily life. There is, therefore, a
progressive sanctification wherein the Christian is to “grow in
grace,” and to “be changed” by the unhindered power of the
Spirit. I believe also that the child of God will yet be fully
sanctified in his state as he is now sanctified in his standing in
Christ when he shall see his Lord and shall be “like Him” (John
17:17; 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Eph. 4:24; 5:25–27; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb.
10:10, 14; 12:10).
D. Eternal Security
Because of the eternal purpose of God toward the objects of His love, because of His
freedom to exercise grace toward the meritless on the ground of the
propitiatory blood of Christ, because of the very nature of the
divine gift of eternal life, because of the present and unending
intercession and advocacy of Christ in heaven, because of the
immutability of the unchangeable covenants of God, because of the
regenerating, abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of
all who are saved, all true believers everywhere, once saved shall
be kept saved forever. However, God is a holy and righteous Father
and that, since He cannot overlook the sin of His children, He will,
when they persistently sin, chasten them and correct them in
infinite love; but having undertaken to save them and keep them
forever, apart from all human merit, He, who cannot fail, will in
the end present every one of them faultless before the presence of
His glory and conformed to the image of His Son (John 5:24; 10:28;
13:1; 14:16–17; 17:11; Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 6:19; Heb. 7:25; 1 John
2:1–2; 5:13; Jude 24).
E. Assurance
It is the privilege, not only of some, but of all who are born again by the Spirit through
faith in Christ as revealed in the Scriptures, to be assured of
their salvation from the very day they take Him to be their Savior
and that this assurance is not founded upon any fancied discovery
of their own worthiness or fitness, but wholly upon the testimony
of God in His written Word, exciting within His children love,
gratitude, and obedience (Luke 10:20; 22:32; 2 Cor. 5:1, 6–8; 2
Tim. 1:12; Heb. 10:22; 1 John 5:13).
IX. Church
A. The Church, A Unity of Believers
All who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God are members of the
church which is the body and bride of Christ, which began at
Pentecost and is completely distinct from Israel. Its members are
constituted as such regardless of membership or nonmembership in
the organized churches of earth. I believe that by the same Spirit
all believers in this age are baptized into, and thus become, one
body that is Christ’s, whether Jews or Gentiles, and having
become members one of another, are under solemn duty to keep the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, rising above all sectarian
differences, and loving one another with a pure heart fervently
(Matt. 16:16–18; Acts 2:42–47; Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 12:12–27;
Eph. 1:20–23; 4:3–10; Col. 3:14–15).
B. The Ordinances
Water baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only ordinances of the church and
that they are a scriptural means of testimony for the church in
this age (Matt.28:19; Luke 22:19–20; Acts 10:47–48; 16:32–33;
18:7–8; 1 Cor. 11:26).
C. The Christian Walk
We are called with a holy calling, to walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit, and so to live in the power of the indwelling Spirit that
we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But the flesh with its
fallen, Adamic nature, which in this life is never eradicated,
being with us to the end of our earthly pilgrimage, needs to be
kept by the Spirit constantly in subjection to Christ, or it will
surely manifest its presence in our lives to the dishonor of our
Lord (Rom. 6:11–13; 8:2, 4, 12–13; Gal. 5:16–23; Eph. 4:22–24;
Col. 2:1–10; 1 Pet. 1:14–16; 1 John 1:4–7; 3:5–9).
D. The Christian’s Service
Divine, enabling gifts for service
are bestowed by the Spirit upon all who are saved. While there is a
diversity of gifts, each believer is energized by the same Spirit,
and each is called to his own divinely appointed service as the
Spirit may will. In the apostolic church there were certain gifted
men—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—who
were appointed by God for the perfecting of the saints unto their
work of the ministry. I believe also that today some men are
especially called of God to be evangelists, pastors and teachers,
and that it is to the fulfilling of His will and to His eternal
glory that these shall be sustained and encouraged in their service
for God (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:4–11; Eph. 4:11).
I believe that, wholly apart from
salvation benefits which are bestowed equally upon all who believe,
rewards are promised according to the faithfulness of each believer
in his service for his Lord, and that these rewards will be
bestowed at the judgment seat of Christ after He comes to receive
His own to Himself (1 Cor. 3:9–15; 9:18–27; 2 Cor. 5:10).
E. The Great Commission
It is the explicit message of our
Lord Jesus Christ to those whom He has saved that they are sent
forth by Him into the world even as He was sent forth of His Father
into the world. We believe that, after they are saved, they are
divinely reckoned to be related to this world as strangers and
pilgrims, ambassadors and witnesses, and that their primary purpose
in life should be to make Christ known to the whole world (Matt.
28:18–19; Mark 16:15; John 17:18; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:18–20; 1
Pet. 1:17; 2:11). X. Last Things
A. The Rapture
According to the Word of God, the next great event
in the fulfillment of prophecy will be the coming of the Lord in
the air to receive to Himself into heaven both His own who are
alive and remain unto His coming, and also all who have fallen
asleep in Jesus, and that this event is the blessed hope set before
us in the Scripture, and for this we should be constantly looking
(John 14:1–3; 1 Cor. 15:51–52; Phil. 3:20; 1 Thess. 4:13– 18;
Titus 2:11–14).
B. The Tribulation
The translation of the church will be followed by
the fulfillment of Israel’s seventieth week (Dan. 9:27; Rev.
6:1–19:21) during which the church, the body of Christ, will be
in heaven. The whole period of Israel’s seventieth week will be a
time of judgment on the whole earth, at the end of which the times
of the Gentiles will be brought to a close. The latter half of this
period will be the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7), which our
Lord called the great tribulation (Matt. 24:15–21). We believe
that universal righteousness will not be realized previous to the
second coming of Christ, but that the world is day by day ripening
for judgment and that the age will end with a fearful apostasy.
C. The Second Coming of Christ
The period of great tribulation in the earth will
be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth as
He went, in person on the clouds of heaven, and with power and
great glory to introduce the millennial age, to bind Satan and place
him in the abyss, to lift the curse which now rests upon the whole
creation, to restore Israel to her own land and to give her the
realization of God’s covenant promises, and to bring the whole
world to the knowledge of God (Deut. 30:1–10; Isa. 11:9; Ezek.
37:21–28; Matt. 24:15–25:46; Acts 15:16–17; Rom. 8:19–23;
11:25–27; 1 Tim. 4:1–3; 2 Tim. 3:1–5; Rev. 20:1–3).
D. The Eternal State
At death the spirits and souls of those who have
trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass immediately
into His presence and there remain bliss until the resurrection of
the glorified body when Christ comes for His own, whereupon soul and
body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in glory; but
the spirits and souls of the unbelieving remain after death
conscious of condemnation and in misery until the final judgment of
the great white throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and
body reunited shall be cast into the lake of fire to be punished
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and
from the glory of His power (Luke 16:19–26; 23:42; 2 Cor. 5:8;
Phil. 1:23; 2 Thess. 1:7–9; Jude 6–7; Rev. 20:11–15).
Filed under Doctrine
Levitical Offerings
1. In regard to the theme of the Levitical Offerings, the offering was to be spotless and without blemish. That would make the offering very valuable to the offerer. It was always an animal which had been domesticated and raised by men. Wild animals were never used as offerings. Even grain offerings had to be prepared according to specifications.
2. The offerings tell us about the Holiness of God and that Man because of a sin nature, or sinful actions must make a sacrifice in order to approach God. But man is given a method by God so that man can benefit from fellowship with Him and He can be properly worshiped.
3.
1. The Burnt Offering.
This referred to the fact that the entire offering was burned and “ascended to God.”
It was the foundational offering which allowed men to come into the presence of the Lord. For this reason, Leviticus 1:3 says that a man makes this offering “that he may be accepted before the Lord” and verse 4 adds that “it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf.”
A life was offered upon the altar.
It was to be completely burnt upon the altar. This showed that man’s duty to God was not in the mere giving up of a portion, but in the entire surrender of ALL.
Depending upon the financial status of the one making the offering, it could be comprised of a bull, a lamb, or a dove.
2. The Grain Offering.
It did NOT involve the taking of a life. Instead, it was made up of flour, oil, and incense.
It looked to the time at creation when God had given to man “every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed” (Genesis 1:29).
Honey was forbidden; instead frankincense was used. (leaven was also forbidden)
It was to be seasoned with salt.
3. Peace Offering.
Everyone ate a portion of the peace offering (Offerer, the Lord, the priest, even the priest’s children).
In the Burnt Offering and the Grain Offering, the Lord and the Priest had a portion, but not the one making the offering.
4. Sin Offering.
The first three offerings were offered as acts of worship. This offering is made for atonement for sin.
The first three offerings were burnt upon the altar in the compound of the Tabernacle. This offering is burnt on the bare earth outside the camp.
5. Guilt Offering.
This offering is the only one which is NOT described as a soothing aroma (even the Sin Offering is so described in Leviticus 4:31).
This offering is closely aligned to the sin offering; and yet there are a few subtle differences.
While the sins which call for the Sin Offering are only mentioned in a general sense, there are a number of specific offenses which mandate a Guilt Offering.
A part of the Guilt Offering includes a financial recompense to the party that was wronged (6:5). Thus, the Guilt Offering included the principle of restitution.
Offering
Purpose
God’s Portion
Priest’s Portion
Burnt Offering (1:1-17).
Worship toward God.
Described as a soothing aroma to the Lord.
All that is burned.
Skins (7:8).
Grain Offering (2:1-16).
All except when it is first fruits.
Remainder (6:16-18).
Peace Offering (3:1-17).
All that is burned.
Breast & right shoulder (7:31-32).
Sin Offering (4:1-5:13).
Sacrifice for Sin.
Fat burned outside the camp.
Only eaten by the priest if it has not entered the Tabernacle (6:30).
Guilt Offering (5:14-6:7).
Fat, kidneys & liver.
Eaten by males in priest’s family.
Filed under Sermon Starters
Biblical Gift of Tongues
What is Biblical Gift of Tongues?
The word translated “unknown tongues” in the New Testament is the one word “glossa.” It means a language. It would clear up a lot of misunderstanding if the Greek word was translated “language.” In Elizabethan English the word “tongue” was used for the word language. The italicized word “unknown” is inserted in our English Bibles to clarify that the language was not a learned one. The biblical gift of language was a special gift given to Jews to in which Jews spoke the Gospel and declared that Jesus was the Messiah to other Jews. The three legitimate times when the gift of speaking the Gospel in an unlearned language occurred there were Jews who but received the gift and also Jews were present to hear the message. In the case of the Corinthians we must understand that this was a mixed church of Jews and Gentiles. Further the practice was being misused and Paul’s discourse in 1 Corinthians 12-14 was an admonishment and instruction to correct their error.
God states “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) The foundational truth in God’s word is that nothing is done is secret nor is God’s word mystical and in any way hidden. God inspired Peter to write, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20) God’s word is His revelation to men and it is given to edify and build up the believer. Never is it presented as being hidden or given to anyone in an exclusive way. Those who were present on the day of Pentecost and in the two other accounts in the Book of Acts heard plainly God’s truth in their own language.
In 1 Corinthians 14:22 Paul plainly states what was biblical tongues. “So that tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but prophecy, not to unbelievers, but to those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 14:22) The statement cannot be clearer that the biblical sign gift of tongues was not given as a sign to believers, but to unbelievers. Tongues therefore was a sign gift to the lost Jews. If God intended tongues to be a prayer language as the modern Charismatic movement teaches why did He not inspire Paul to include this in the definition? Let us be very clear about this, God gave the sign gifts, one of which was the ability to speak the Gospel in an unlearned language, NOT to believers, BUT to UNBELIEVERS. If the modern tongues speaker is going to follow God’s word, then he or she must conclude that praying in tongues was not what God intended it to be. Nor should they accept that tongues was a sign gift to believers that they had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. No gift was to be used for one’s personal edification, but to be used to enlighten others. In 1 Corinthians 12:8f the passages shows each of the spiritual gifts given were to benefit others.
Modern anthropologists have for many years studied the modern tongues phenomena and found it present in many different religions and cultures around the world. They found that not only do some Christians practice modern tongues, so do cults, churches and groups teaching false doctrine and many pagan religions. Dr. Shelia A. Womack, found similarities between that modern speaking in tongues, the Tourette Syndrome. The Tourette syndrome (TS) is an inherited disorder of the nervous system, characterized by a variable expression of unwanted movements and noises. These anthropologists and linguists have recorded and studied extensively modern tongue speaking. They report that not once have they found that what the tongues speaker was speaking was any language. They further have found the phenomena is the same in all the groups, Christians, and non Christians alike. Certainly, a Christian would have to admit that God would not be giving the gift of tongues to unbelievers and pagans. What these researched heard and identified was simply vowels spoken without relation to an actual word. It is gibberish sounds similar to what children make before the learn to speak a language. Their conclusion is that it appears to be psychologically induced phenomena and quark of the mind.
Linguists Eugene A. Nida, in the 1960′s in his studies provided detailed reasons why modern glossolalia could not be a human language. Further W. A. Wolfram in his studies concluded in 1966 that glossolalia did not have the basic elements of human language. Goodman concludes that “when all features of glossolalia were taken into consideration- that is, the segmental structure (such as sounds, syllables, phrases) and its suprasegmental elements (namely, rhythm, accent, and especially overall intonation)– she concluded that there is no distinction in glossolalia between Christians and the followers of non-Christian (pagan) religions. The “association between trance and glossolalia is now accepted by many researchers as a correct assumption,” writes Goodman in the Encyclopedia of Religion (1987). Goodman also concludes that glossolalia “is, actually, a learned behavior, learned either unawarely or, sometimes consciously.” Others have previously pointed out that direct instruction is given on how to “speak in tongues,” ie. how to engage in glossolalia.”
In the New Testament, as with all miracles, tongues came instantly to the one’s whom God had chosen to receive the gift. Today, most times the person who speaks in modern tongues have been coached or taught the phenomena. The congregation is told that they need to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and if they do they will speak in tongues. However, Paul said all do not speak in tongues.(1 Cor. 12:29-31) There the Bible refutes this false idea. Every person when they are saved by God’s grace is given the Baptism of the Holy Spirit which is the indwelling of Holy Spirit which gives the believer the Spirit of Christ. All believers receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit when they are saved and if a person does not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit God says they are not saved. (Romans 8:9) Everyone who speaks in modern tongues has been falsely taught that it is a valid gift of God today and that they can receive it. Some begin to practice the gift privately outside a church service, but they already believed in modern tongues before they experienced it.
Clearly, some people are more susceptible that others to having a what can be referred to as a psychological experience. For example some people are easily hypnotized and others are not susceptible to suggestion. Some people are more emotional than others, which means that some control can their emotions in a greater way than others. A crowd of people can be stimulated or emotionally whipped up. It can be easily observed at rock music concerts, sports events, and rallies of all sorts. Rhythmic music, singing, and/or chanting can have a great influence on people and strongly effect their emotions. Some preachers preach in a rhythmic style and can captivate their audience. All these common experiences show that people can be stimulated mentally to act in unusual ways.
This high emotional state is nearly always present when people began to speak in modern tongues for the first time and afterward in their emotional “worship” services and practice of modern tongues. People are susceptible to suggestion with stimulates a mental response. When the person is having stimulating emotional experience, whatever the source, it often produces a pleasant feeling. Scientists tell us that the body releases endorphins and other chemicals that are natural pain killers, and they gives one a natural “high” or pleasant feeling.
For many this pleasant feeling is interpreted as authenticating the phenomena is coming from God. The tongues speaker could defend his or her conclusion saying that they are a Christian and thus the experience must be coming from God. However, the cult member or non Christian could offer the same argument. The only way to establish that something is from God is to compare it to God’s word. Philippians 4:4-9 can give us a true incite into what God says we are to experience:
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
The passage says we are to “rejoice in the Lord” and immediately as if anticipating this be misunderstood, God says…”let your moderation be known to all men.” In simple terms it says to rejoice, but let your rejoicing be gentile, suitable and seemingly. That is in sharp contrast to the practices of the tongues speaking churches in which there is little or no moderation, and plainly the opposite of what this passage says is done.
Further God says “to be careful for nothing” meaning being anxious, but in prayer and supplication (seeking) let your request be know to the Lord. Then God says….we will experience true lasting peace that comes from God and is greater than our understanding. The emotional experience lasts only temporarily, but God’s true peace is long lasting and sustaining. He then explains what we are to mediate and think on and concludes by saying these things are what bring the biblical peace of God.
Modern tongues speakers legitimately believe they have received a special gift from God. Most are very sincere and their tongues speaking is not feigned. The tongues experience is highly emotional and produces a pleasant feeling in the participant. This emotional feeling makes tongues speaking highly desirable. However, science has proven that modern tongues is not a language, but rather a learned psychological phenomena in which the brain produces random vocal sounds which is accompanied by a pleasant feeling. What the modern Christian tongues speaker does is the exactly what tongues speakers in pagan religions are doing. The conclusion must be that what people are experiencing is not from God, but some not fully understood physiological action of the brain.
An examination shows that what the modern tongues movement is doing does not, in any way, compare with the New Testament record. Further there is no biblical support for tongues being a special prayer language and Paul rebuked the practice. Modern tongues speaking is a pleasurable experience that is falsely thought to be a spirit gift from God.
Filed under Doctrine
