In the Beginning

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

1) Christian belief: The universe had a beginning.
Atheist belief: The universe had a beginning.

2) Christian belief: God is eternal, self-existent with the power of being in and of himself.
Atheist belief: There is no God.

3) Christian belief: God created the heavens and the earth. In short he created the universe and everything in it from nothing. Human beings have discovered that the universe is unbelievably large and amazingly complex with an order that points to God as the designer.
Atheist belief: An incredibly dense and small point of singularity of matter/energy exploded into a vast orderly universe of billions of galaxies with billions of stars in each galaxy. This big bang beginning is as far as the atheists will go back. They have no answer for where the matter/energy that exploded came from.

4) Christian belief: God created plant, animal, and human life on the earth.
Atheist belief: Life began on earth from non-life in the form of a one-cell animal. By accident this one cell animal reproduced. By accident this one cell animal evolved gradually to all the plants and animals that are on planet earth today. From non-intelligence, intelligence began in animal life, but not in plant life.

5) Christian belief: God sustains and is sovereign over the universe and nothing can happen apart from his will. Life on earth is sustained by his power.
Atheist belief: It is by accident that all of the many scientific laws of physics, chemistry, etc. that are needed for life on earth came to pass and continue to operate.

The belief that intelligent design is the cause for the orderly and complex universe that we live in is mocked and ridiculed in the United States by our universities and media. Scientists and journalist that even dare to consider investigating the possibility of intelligent design are discounted, shunned, and in many cases either fired or denied tenure. There is movie coming to theaters on April 18th by Ben Stein by the title of: Expelled, No Intelligence Allowed that addresses the tactics of what can be called the Church of Darwin. I recommend this movie, as I understand it will expose the intolerant tactics that are threatening free speech in America in many areas including intelligent design.

Berean-Stein Bares.

I never did like the Berenstain Bears. It was too repetitive, and they always made the father bear look like a fool. Not my kind of kids book.

But I do like the word play.

First, This (http://www.expelledthemovie.com/) looks to be a promising movie. Check out the extended trailer.

Second, how many times have you heard that the term "Christian" literally means "little Christ". I have heard that in too many sermons to count, and read it on too many places to remember. So I was a bit shocked this morning as I was looking at the Greek word Christianos and trying to see where and how this meant "little Christ".

After some checking, it seems that Martin Luther actually coined the phrase, and it is by no means a literal translation. The ending -ianos came into the Greek through the Latin practice of appending an -ianus to the name of someone somebody else was following, in order to identify a follower. We do the same sort of thing today with endings such as -ite (Hodge-ite, Ryrie-ite, etc.). Thus the label "Christian" - which was originally derogatory - simply means someone who is devoted to Christ.

As one who has regurgitated (rather uncritically) this myth myself, perhaps not here, but certainly somewhere - I repent in dust and ashes.

Indecent Exposure

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
(Hebrews 4:13 – ESV)

What are you exposing yourself to? What are you allowing into your eyes, your ears, your mind, and your heart? I am not talking about unavoidable things. We all get exposed to images and ideas and iniquity that we would rather never encounter, but it is going to happen at times. I am also not talking about isolating yourself from all of culture in order to avoid these unpleasant events. No, what I am talking about are those things you allow as a regular course.

Do you spend a lot of time wondering if we are allowed to do this or that certain thing? Conversely, do you care at all? I think the answer to many of these type of questions could be solved by first asking ourselves some other important questions. What do you allow to fill your time? What is the background music in the soundtrack of your life? How much time are you allowing the things of God to be impressed upon you? The Word of God is powerful, but if your frequency is overrun with other, worldly things, then all you will hear is a clouded mix.

Many people talk of wanting to change but they say it is too hard to do. They look for some magic formula, or expect God to just bail them out of working at it. They also overlook this whole idea of slowly changing, and slowly sliding back. So some think it is too hard to change. If this is you, I want to tell you the truth. The reason it seems so hard is because your heart is so hard. Your heart has become so hardened because of what you have let in.

Ever have someone say to you that they don’t have time for this or that? Well we all know what this means. Sometimes, it has nothing to do with having no time but it is actually about not wanting to use our time in that way. What they mean, and if you want to be direct what you would say is that you won’t make time for this or that. What are you “making time” for?

The things you expose yourself to do indeed have an effect on you. Now this is true for many areas, but lets take images, for one example. If you say that they don’t have an effect on you, well, then why do you expose yourself to them? As you can see, it is not about the fact that they have an effect, that cannot be denied, it is whether or not they have a lasting effect, that is the real question, isn’t it?

Well, not completely. It is also about cumulative effect, and setting patterns of behavior for yourself as well. Since we know for sure that doing something over time is creating habits, it IS a habit, and multiplied images bring multiple chances for long term retention, then the only excuse you might have is to say that you will not be affected long term, that you can withdraw yourself from this behavior if it gets too much. But saying that in light of the other, undeniable evidence is playing games with your mind, your heart, and with God.

Even if we were to hypothetically admit that exposure creates no long-term effect, however preposterous that may be, we still have a major problem because it would still be, as long as you keep doing it, an ongoing effect. One exposure, one image may not stay with you, but it leads to a chain of events, multiple exposures, and this leads to an ongoing problem. How can you say exposure has no long-term effect when you keep exposing yourself to it?

A.W. Tozer said, “Every one of us is the sum of what we secretly admire, what we think about and what we would like to do most if we become free to do what we wanted to do.” Think about that. If money, jail time, conscience, family, friends, and God were not constraints, would you spend your time following Christ, learning of Him? Be honest, because the way you truthfully answer this question will reveal to you a lot about where you are in your walk with God. What do you want to be exposed to when you have the opportunity? What is lighting your fire, and where is the light going out?

Many want to be allowed to expose themselves to all sorts of things, anything except the Word of God, and they harden their hearts so as to not feel the sting of the Sword of the Spirit. Their consciences are seared and their minds are cleared from the transforming power of the Word and they are instead filled with all sorts of distraction, deception, and destruction. Nevertheless, they are exposed, we all are exposed before the Mighty, Living Word of God, Jesus Christ Himself, and His Word is His Sword in His hand. Christ will either be our physician or our executioner. If His Word is not the instrument of our life, it will be the instrument of our death, if not the instrument of our justification, then the instrument of our judgment.

The Gospel

The Gospel - Spurgeon

This little piece was taken from a Spurgeon sermon entitled "The Resurection of Our Lord Jesus" delivered April 9, 1882...

"Three or four plain facts constitute the gospel, even as Paul puts it in the fifteenth chapter of his first Epistle 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.”

Upon the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus our salvation hinges."

Yet More of Spurgeon On Assurance

" Has Jesus saved me? I dare not speak with any hesitation here; I KNOW He has. His Word is true, therefore I AM saved. My evidence that I am saved does not lie in the fact that I preach, or that I do this or that. All my hope lies in this, that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. I am a sinner, I trust Him, then he came to save me, and I am saved; I live habitually in the enjoyment of this blessed fact, and it is long since I have doubted the truth of it, for I have His own Word to sustain my faith."

Taken from C.H.Spurgeon Autobiography: Volume 1 "The Early Years" pages 93-94

Spurgeon on Assurance

"The Holy Spirit, who enabled me to believe, gave me peace through believing. I felt as sure that I was forgiven as before I felt sure of condemnation. I had been certain of my condemnation because the Word of God declared it, and my conscience bore witness to it, but when the Lord justified me, I was equally certain by the same witness. The Word of the Lord in scripture saith, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned," and my conscience bore witness that I believed, and that God in pardoning me was just. Thus I had the witness of the Holy Spirit and also my own conscience, and these two agreed in one."

Taken From C.H.Spurgeon Autobiography: Vol.1 "The Early Years" page 92

In this same paragraph Spurgeon goes on to put down the teachings of a certain Dr. Johnson who held to the idea that no man could have assurance of faith. Spurgeon said that such a man was no reliable judge of theology. He added that Dr. Johnson should have studied his Bible a little more, and have a little more enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, then he too would have come to know his own pardon.I whole heartedly agree!I am sick of these super-spiritual people, who claim to be Calvinist, running around Christendom claiming that no man can have assurance. What a lie!

Christ-Likeness

by Mark Pierson

Lately Ive been considering some things. I've seen some groups within Evangelicalism almost suggest that the Justification of man is the be-all and end-all for God's plans this side of the Eternal State. But I see that the Bible teaches otherwise. God has plans, plans that reveal His glory in and through the lives of those whom He saves; yes, plans that are worked out on THIS side of the grave.

Let's consider some scripture.

In the Parable of the sower, as recorded in Mark 4, we see that what is sowed is the word; yes that same "implanted word" that we are to receive with meekness in James 1:21. As we see in Mark 4:8 the seed that fell on good ground yielded a crop that sprang up, some 30, some 60, some 100.

Question: what is that which is yielded in this crop? I believe it to be the fruit of the Spirit, mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23. In short the crop is Christ-likeness in varying degrees in individual Christians.

Jesus said "This cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is shed for you". If we look at 2 Cor. 3:3-18 we get some insight into this new Covenant..

1)Christians are epistles of Christ to the world. vs.3

2) The Spirit of God is the writer, and our hearts are what He writes on. vs.3

3) Paul was a minister of that new covenant, that one by which the Spirit gives life. vs 6.

4) the ministry of the Spirit is more glorious than the old covenant. vs. 8.

5) the new covenant is called "the ministry of Righteousness" in verse 9.

6)Entrance into that new covenant means a veil is taken away from our eyes in Christ. vs.14-16.

7)Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. vs.17.

And now the clincher: as we look with unveiled faces at the Lord, through His word, we are transformed into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit... Sanctification, Christlikeness, 2 Cor.3:18.

I believe that the Holy Spirit applies the whole of the new covenant to every believer in Christ. Part of what Christ accomplished on the cross was our being set free from slavery to sin in order to be slaves of Christ, no middle ground. See Romans 6:18, also Acts 3:26. We are now in Christ's kingdom, under His rule in our lives, having been put there by God the Father. Col.1:13-14. See also 1 Peter 1:2. We are now temples of the Holy Spirit and evidences of His presence in the Christian life will show. Over time we grow from glory to glory, due to the Spirit's ministry to us through His Word. The seed (the word, attended by God the Holy Spirit, for they are always in concert) once planted begins to grow, grow towards its intended end, Christlikeness, Romans 8:29.If we look at Luke's rendering of the sermon on the mount, 6:40, we see Jesus say that a perfectly trained disciple will be like his teacher. May I suggest that here we see the whole intent of Christ for His people? Look at the great commission, Matt.28:18-20...We are to:"make disciples, baptizing them, teaching them to observe all that Christ has commanded.

Look also at Eph. 2:1-22. The progression begins with our having been quickened, having once been dead in tresspases and sins, having walked according to the course of this world, walking according the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience, and were by nature children of wrath. Then God makes us alive with His Son (regeneration)and enables us to believe. We then become His workmanship (poema, His work of art)as He causes us to walk in good works. He causes Jew and Gentile to be one new man in Christ. We now have access by the Spirit to the Father. We are now a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. I believe this to be the very apex of redemptive history this side of the Eternal State . It is the glorious work of God on once dead sinners comparable to the great scene in Ezekiel 37, the valley of dry bones. God's Spirit brings life where there was none, that life being Christ-likeness, coming to full fruition when we see Him in the air. 1 John 3:2.

The scriptures are clear. The Christian life is designed by God to be a testimony to the world, a testimony of the power of God in changing lives. Yes, that same power that rose our Lord from the dead is at work in the life of the Christian,transforming him or her from slaves of sin into slaves of Christ and into His image.

Near the Cross

1 Cor. 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

The greatest period in the history of the world occurred when Jesus Christ came to planet earth. This greatest period came into its greatest focus at the cross of Calvary. It was for this moment and this purpose that Jesus came into the world. At the cross is where Jesus Christ accomplished his mission of redeeming a people unto himself and the Father. Satan was defeated on the cross and the redemption of the people of God was secured. This is why Paul can say his focus was on nothing else but Jesus Christ and him crucified. All theology flows from the cross as everything points to this moment and this event.

Sin, wrath, love, grace, redemption, faith, and eternal life are all expressed and dealt with at the cross. Praise God for the joy and peace that Christians have when their lives, attitude, and thoughts stay near the cross. In the photo of the cemetery above, a person even wanted their remains to be near the cross. If you are down and face seemingly insurmountable problems in your life, meditate on the words of the hymn below and take comfort in being near the cross.

Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross
Words by: Fanny Crosby

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

Something I Wrote In April of 2000

"He knows the number of hairs on our head. He, in His Providence, controls all the comings and goings of our lives. Not one trial or experience comes at us without His approval and permission. He, not we, is in control. Nothing catches Him by surprise. Nothing gets by Him. Regardless of our deceptive feelings, everything is in His control - He has the reigns of every trial and tribulation. We can console ourselves with this truth."

During these dark times it is hard to believe the above came from my own pen.

Lord, how long?

We Have Peace with God Through Our Lord Jesus Christ

What did it take to bring about this peace? What did it take to bring together two polar opposites - a Holy Righteous God, with whom is no darkness at all, and unholy, sinful rebellious creatures as we? How could He become our Father and we His children?

There was a price to be paid!

Oh, what a price it was. God gave His Son. He gave His Son that we, His elect, might be saved from the wrath to come - that we might be adopted into His family as He puts us into His Son. He has made us accepted in His Beloved Son. "In Him we have redemption through His blood", Ephesians 1:7 says.

Now, let us consider what price the Son paid. Both Testaments paint a graphic picture. In Isaiah we read: "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting". Isaiah 50:6. ...His visage was so marred more than the sons of men...Isaiah 52:14. By the time the soldiers had gotten done with their mistreatment of Him, He was beaten beyond recognition, even beyond having the form of a man! "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed", Is 53:5. Isaiah goes on: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Verse 6. There's more---"He was oppressed, and He was afflicted---He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter---for the transgression of my people was He stricken. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief:---Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin---by His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for He shall bare their iniquities---He has poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors - Is. 53:7-12.

In the New Testament Jesus Himself at the Last Supper, while taking bread and wine, which stood symbolically for His body and blood, said of the wine "...this is My blood which is shed for many for the remission of sins."His blood shed that our sins may be forgiven. The blood poured from the crown of thorns pressed deeply upon His head. The blood poured from His back from the scourging with the whips laced with glass and bone chips. The blood poured from His face after the pounding He received from the soldiers' fists and from their pulling out of His beard. The blood poured from the nails in His forearms and ankles as He dangled from them on the cross. And, finally, the blood poured when, after His death, the soldier pierced His side with a sword.

Ah, there it is, that "fountain---opened---for sin and uncleanness." There is the means whereby sin can be forgiven and washed away. There is the means whereby we can come before the Throne of the Holy Creator and call Him "Father." From a position of rebellious, disobedient, hostile, morally filthy, unthankful objects of the coming wrath, to the positions of pardoned, forgiven, cleansed, reconciled, adopted sons and daughters of the Most High God! "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool" says Isaiah. Jesus came to die in our place, IN OUR PLACE!

While hanging on that rugged old cross something happened; Something that never, in all eternity past, nor shall it ever happen again. Something horrible, indeed the most horrible event in all history took place: at the height of His sin-bearing mission the Father turned His Face from the Son. "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" was the Son's cry. Who could possibly imagine what it was like for the Father to turn His Head from the Eternal Object of His love? Who could imagine what it was like for the Beloved Son to experience the Father looking away from Him - a once in eternity experience. For the first time ever, never to happen again, the Son experienced the loss of Fellowship and joy of being in His Father's presence.That is the price that God paid for lost sinners!And, oh how we are often tempted to trifle with this knowledge! How, at the slightest turn in our fortunes, are we tempted to question His love and care for us! Even after our regeneration we still have no concept of the price God paid for our adoption into His family. There is no real concept of what it was like for the Holy Father to have to vent all of His Righteous fury on top of His Beloved Son - His Holy, Pure, and Righteous Son. There is no concept of what it was like for the Son to experience the Father turning His head from Him as He bore our sins - "the just suffering for the unjust, that He might bring us to God."Now, the price has been paid. Now, we can call Him "Father." After His resurrection Jesus said, "I ascend unto My Father, and your Father."

Yes, three days later Jesus rose again, the sign that the Father had indeed accepted the Son's sacrifice.

How about you, dear reader? Do you have peace with God? Have you come to Jesus as your only hope of salvation?

Part of the Contrite Heart

Living for Him, selfless, submissive, and surrendered. Thankful for His promises, thankful that He "the only Wise God" is in control. Thankful that He "who calls the beginning from the ending" the One whose thoughts and ways are higher than ours "as high as the heavens are above the earth" is in control of everything that comes our way. Thankful that we don't have to rely on our own faulty, frail and very mortal wisdom to guide us through life. Thankful that the very most beautiful destiny in all of creation is ours - that of being conformed into the Image of God's Beloved Son, and becoming like Him when we see Him face to face as He comes to take us home to be with Him for all eternity.

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble -- THOMAS WATSON

I remember a friend sharing with my husband and I about a Chinese missionary that was in prision for sharing the word of God. He was put to work in the area of the prison where the waste was deposited and all day long he would sing hymns and this was one of the hymns he loved the most. He found peace in this horrid situation. His soul was at ease because he was thanking the Lord even then.

Instead of complaining at his lot, a contented man is thankful that his condition and circumstances are no worse than they are. Instead of greedily desiring something more than the supply of his present need, he rejoices that God still cares for him. Such an one is "content" with such as he has (Heb. 13:5).

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. --JOHN PIPER

If I am a son of God, nothing but God will satisfy my soul; no amount of comfort, no amount of ease, no amount of pleasure,will give me peace or rest. If I had the full cup of all the world's joys held up to me, and could drain it to the dregs, I should still remain thirsty if I had not God....

We are so blessed, to be a child of Gods.

How Well Are You Known In Hell

In my bible and devotional readings today, I came across the following passage:

When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard [of it], it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. (KJV)

But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah, the Ammonite servant, heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel. (ESV)

In this verse we are told that when Sanballat, the governor of Samaria and Tobiah his associated heard that Nehemiah was on his way to Jerusalem they were extremely displeased. Some versions say angry. These two choice pawns of Satan cast a long dark shadow over this wonderful story. These two men, were men of power and influence who opposed the work of God and tried their best to outwit and outmanuever Nehemiah in everything he did. Sanballat and Tobiah knew perfectly well what Nehemiah was after - this man of God wanted to restore the Holy City. Being enemies of God they focused all their Satanic hatred not only on the Lord but on His servants too. That includes you and me too if we are serving Jesus.

We can learn from our past and Christian history that whenever any work of God says, "Arise and build" Satan and his imps respond, "Let us arise and stop this." There were about 50,000 jews that were living in Judah but there appeared to be little concern among them about the state of Jerusalem's walls and the ruined testimony of the faith of the nation Israel. However once Satan found out that thee was one man named Nehemiah who was prepared to sacrifice all and serve God by re-building the walls, then WAR was declared in heaven. Here's a good thought to go with today. No battle can start anywhere in the spiritual sense until somebody decides to stand up, pick up the sword, shovel or trowel and challeng the things that need challenging.

I wonder how much overtime has Satan's demons punched on the time clock because of my willingness and your willingness to stand up and do something for God. And if I can put it another way, "HOW WELL KNOWN ARE YOU IN HELL?" One thing is for sure - when you do stand up and raise your banner for God and are counted as citizens of the kingdom with a desire to see the Lord's church grown, then Satan will throw all his weight against you.

My wife, Baptist Girl aka Honey or Cristina and I often state and know personally that when we truly desire to get closer to God and walk that "highway of holiness" and truly seek to serve Jesus, that, if I may say it, "all hell breaks loose." It seems that the devil will do all to get our eyes off of God. So here's my suggestion for you today. If you don't want a spiritual battle like this, then don't stand up, don't pick up the sword, don't pick up the shovel, dont pick up the trowel. Just stay seated on the sidelines. The devil loves sitting Christians. He hates it when we take a stand for Jesus. Raise your banner today. Let the demons see your flag, and be prepared to do battle as you build your walls.

Resting in Him

Away Message

My son has had some charges brought against him, to which he must appear in court this Tuesday. I must consult with a lawyer on Monday. All this, plus working 2 weeks straight, means little time for blogging. I hope to be back with y'all some time latter this week. Until then......

Please pray

Example of the promotion of the secular post-modern world-view!

I read the following article on the Christian Skepticism site by Swordbearer (my pastor) who gave me permission to reprint it here. Within an hour after reading his post, I heard ABC radio news give a report in a 6 minute on the hour newscast which probably has 2 or 3 minutes of commercials. Their report very much mocked the Biblical account of Mount Sinai event with no mention that the professor had absolutely no proof for his assertion. This is a blatant example of agenda based reporting that is put on for the sole purpose of shaping public opinion. My point is that the news media does not have to lie (although they will) to promote their agenda. All that is necessary is the selection of stories that fit their liberal secular world-view. Does anyone really believe ABC would have done a story on a professor offering something in support of the Biblical historical record? The bible and Christianity is under severe attack in our culture and we should be prepared for a major conflict between our Christian world-view and the post-modern secular world-view. Here is the post by Swordbearer..................

Professor Benny Shanon: Israelites Hallucinating at Sinai (Extent Some Will Go to Argue Against the Truth)

In Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai, Professor Benny Shanon, professor of cognitive psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, suggests (or asserts) when the people of Israel perceived the voices at Mount Sinai, it was the result of a hallucinatory experience due to partaking of two plants in their religious worship. Shanon's theory suggests "The religious ceremonies of the Israelites included the use of psychotropic materials that can found in the Negev and Sinai." What's interesting is he goes on to state:

"I have no direct proof of this interpretation," and such proof cannot be expected, he says. However, "it seems logical that something was altered in people's consciousness.

Note, in Exodus, there is nothing in the immediate or broader context that suggests the Israelites partook of hallucinatory objects. Not only that, but:
1. The event is recorded as historical,
2. The people are said to have been sanctified for two days (pointing to their purity and consecration),
3. The sound was exceeding loud... so that ALL the people that were in the camp trembled (not just some... i.e., some who were hallucinating)
4. The assertion is that the children of Israel saw (or perceived) that God talked with them "from heaven", not through their own imaginations.
5. The account is referred to by others as both a historical and revelatory event.
6. The event is in perfect keeping with the rest of the unfolding of biblical revelation and redemption.

The point is this...rather than performing proper exegesis, one must come with their own presuppositions ...that this "cannot" mean what it seeks to say ... in order both to connive a theory that the Israelites were partaking of hallinatory plants (when one admits there is no evidence of that, nor can or should one suggest it to be proved).

Back from the Internet Dead

I finally got my computer back from the repair shop. They reloaded Vista and Windows. Now I can't access any emails going back to before 2/28. Nor have I figured out how to get any email service at all.

Well, on March 12 I shall be switching to another internet provider. I'm going from frontiernet over to Time-Warner, which means all new email addreses.

So, if you have sent an email to me since 2/28, and have not been responded to it is because I haven't been able open my emails, or even get at them in the first place. I am so very sorry. Please be patient as I try to figure this all out.

Mark

ALL THE SINS OF ALL MEN?

Here is a question for any who believe that Christ has made atonement for every sin that was ever committed i.e. universal atonement (as opposed to Particular Redemption). What about the souls who are now in hell?
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Let me develop the theme, with a series of questions.
A soul dies in unbelief of the truth and immediately is damned in hell for evermore, without God and without hope. (The decree is terrible, I confess, but it is true and it is just.) Does that soul keep on sinning? Either it does or it doesn’t.
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IF THE SOUL DOESN’T KEEP ON SINNING IN HELL…
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What does the soul acquire in hell that prevents it from sinning?
The Holy Spirit, with His sanctifying graces, is not in Hell
Is the conscious soul in hell required to glorify God as it was on earth?
Does the conscious soul in hell consciously do so?
Does it consciously do so perfectly 100%, 100% of the never ending eternity?
If it does, how? (Again, in the absence of the Spirit of God who enables holiness)
If it doesn’t, is this ommission a sin?
If it is a sin…then the soul keeps on sinning in hell
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SINCE THE SOUL DOES KEEP ON SINNING IN HELL…
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Did Christ die to atone for these hell produced sins?
If He did, was it to produce faith and repentance for them?
If so…does such faith and repentance save?
(Obviously not, unless you believe in the Second Chance heresy)
Since it doesn’t, what was His purpose in dying for and atoning for these ongoing eternal sins when He has otherwise forgotten to be gracious to the souls in hell?
If Christ did not make atonement for these ongoing eternal sins, then He did not make atonement for all the sins of all men i.e. He limited his atonement for sins.
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Any come back on this line of thinking on my part?
Is this thinking flawed?
Are there some straw men here?
If so, show me where.
I raised this matter elsewhere on another blog, but the implications were largely ducked, while another argued that the soul does not keep sinning in hell, because there is no law in hell and where there is no law, then there is no sin.
But if the soul is required to glorify God perfectly in hell, surely the requirement itself is a law and its failure constitutes sin.
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From a convinced Particular Redemption man

Prayers for Sam

Sam's (Scribe) mother passed away on Feb 22, rather suddenly and unexpectedly. Please be in prayer for he and his family during this difficult time.

WATCHOUT FOR FALSE TEACHERS AMONGST YOU

I read this at Biblical Discernment Ministrie's Site and thought it worthy of sharing.....

"Paul said that these false teachers (Romans 16:17,18) are effective in deceiving believers. They're effective for two reasons:

(1) These false teachers are very effective communicators -- 'They use smooth and flattering speech to deceive people;' ...

(2) Believers aren't paying attention. Believers are unsuspecting ... They're [the false teachers] using smooth and flattering speech. They have personal magnetism about them. Our attention gets turned away from what they are saying to how they are saying it, to the impression they are making with their own personality. And when we are put in that situation, we turn our attention from the content of what is being taught, and ... we open ourselves up to be deceived and turned away from our purity and devotion to Jesus Christ."Now, one of the ways that believers get deluded is they begin to focus on what they agree with in false teaching, but what is at issue is what we disagree with ... Many believers are being deluded today [in this way] ... In such a debate [with false teachers], we have to be sure to focus on what we disagree on ... we have to be very careful as we are exposed to false teachers. " ... If we're talking about it being the power of God that establishes us, how do believers get deceived? Did God's power not work for them? ... You must understand the means of God's power -- 'according to my Gospel ' ... The Gospel of God is the message of Jesus Christ. He is the subject of that message ... The Gospel includes everything related to His death, burial, and resurrection ... The whole book of Romans is a detailed presentation of the Gospel ... God's power always works in the context of His Gospel, His revealed Word ... That is true not only in the initial salvation of the lost, but the ongoing salvation that the believer experiences [i.e., progressive sanctification] ... God's power does not work in the life of God's child -- to establish them, to firmly plant them, to strengthen them -- apart from the ministry of the Word of God in that life. If you are not being regularly exposed and taught and saturated with the Word of God, then God's power will not operate to establish you, and you will become a prey to satanic deception."I hope you have this underlined in your Bible -- 'There will also be false teachers among you.' He doesn't say maybe. We're not talking about the [cults] ... we're talking about those that rise from within the Church of Jesus Christ and promote false doctrine. 'They will secretly introduce destructive heresies' (2 Peter 2:1). How can you secretly introduce a destructive heresy among believers? Well, you present it under the guise of being truth to believers who are unsuspecting. You present it very cleverly, very smoothly ... "We [the Church] are more concerned with our feelings and our experiences than we are with the Truth of God ... You better be looking for a place where the Word is believed and taught. That's what the Church is; it's the pillar and support of the truth ... Are you looking for friends or are you looking for the truth? We want to corrupt and twist the Church to make it what people want ... Come to the church that believes and teaches the truth! ... God's power does not operate apart from God's Word ... If Satan wants to disrupt the work of God in your life, what does he do? -- attack the Word, so that the power of God does not work ... You could never have been saved apart from the Word of God, and you ought to understand, you can never grow, you can never be firmly planted as a child of God, unless you are constantly, constantly taking in the diet of the pure milk of the Word of God ... We must have that imbedded in our hearts and minds. Never be satisfied, never tolerate anything else, than a ministry that is focused in its entirety on the Gospel of Jesus Christ."