Contents

NOTE: clicking the right mouse button will give you a menu of often used functions.

Clicking on a topic in the window to the left will display that topic in this window.

The Church

Authority

Church and Music

Christian Living

Salvation

Jesus = the Christ - Son of God

Deity of Christ

God Exists

God Attributes of

Inspiration of the bible

Premillennialism

Sabbath

Old Law

Calvinism


The Church

The Church - outline

Old Testament Prophecies and the church

Established on Pentecost

The New Name

Elders

Elders Oversight Limited

Evangelism

Co-operation and autonomy

Priesthood of believers

Clergy - Laity

church discipline

Church benevolence

History of the apostasy

Start of Denominations


Established on Pentecost

BEFORE PENTECOST (of Acts 2)

•	at hand - Matt. 3:2; 4:17; Luke 10:9

•	prayed for it - Matt. 6:9-10

•	"I WILL build" - Matt. 16:18

•	'shall come' - Mark 9:1; Luke 22:18; 19:11

•	waited for it - Mark 15:43; Acts 1:6

•

AFTER PENTECOST (of Acts 2)

•	John IN the kingdom - Rev. 1:9	AD 96

•	church in existence 1 Tim. 3:15	AD 65

•	kingdom in existence Colossians 1:13	AD 65

•	church active Acts 13:1-3, 14:27	AD 45

•	church persecuted Acts 8:1	AD 40

•	in existence - Acts 5:11	AD 33

•	Saved added to it Acts 2:47	AD 33

The apostles were 'charted members', part of the foundation, Eph. 2:20

church = the saved, Eph. 5:23

ONLY THING CHRIST SAID TO SAVE -----


The Church - outline

1.	Organization - Phil. 1:1

•	Elders - Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23; 1 Tim. 3; Acts 20:17,28

•	Deacons - 1 Tim. 3:8-13

•	Saints - Acts 2:41-47; Col. 1:13

2.	Name - Eph. 3:15

•	church of God - Acts 20:28

•	Body of Christ - Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:23

•	bride of Christ - Rom. 7:4; Rev. 21:9

•	house (family) of God - 1 Tim. 3:16

•	churches of Christ - Romans 16:16

3.	Name (individuals) - Isa. 62:2

•	Christians - Acts 11:26 (also disciples)

•	Saints - Phil. 1:1

•	brethren - 1 Cor. 15

•	children of God - Gal. 3:26

•	priests - 1 Peter 2:5,9;  Rev. 1:6

4.	Worship:

•	In spirit and in truth - John 4:24

•	sing - Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16

•	pray - 1 Thess. 5:17

•	teach - Acts 20:7,20;  5:42

•	Lord's supper - Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11

•	contribution - 1 Cor. 16:1-2;  2 Cor. 8 & 9

5.	Only ONE

•	Matthew 16:16-18 - build MY church (singular)

•	Eph. 4:4 & 1:26-28 - body = church, only one body

•	1 Cor. 12:20 - but ONE


Old Testament Prophecies and the church

1. TIME

a. right time,  Mark 1:14-15, Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10

b. last days, Isa. 2:2; Acts 3:24

c. "after this", Joel 2, THIS IS THAT, Acts 2:

d. Days of those kings,  Daniel 2:

1. Dan. 7 = which kings = Roman

2. Mark 1:14-15 = 'the time is fulfilled'.

2. PLACE

a. Jerusalem,  Isa. 2:  and Micah 4

1. Cp. Luke 24:47,  only place Jerusalem so mentioned.

2. cp. Acts 1:4; Acts 2 = fulfilled.

3. PERSON

a. place of birth,  Micah 5:2-5; Luke 2:4, 11

b. virgin birth, Isa. 7:13-14;  Matthew 1:23

c. genealogy

1. promise of woman's seed - Gen. 3:15 / Galatians 4:4

2. Abraham's seed,  Gen. 12:1-3 / Galatians 3:16; Romans 1:4

3. David's son,  2 Sam. 7:16 / Matt. 1:1; Romans 1:3


The New Name

1. Isaiah 65:15;  56:6;  62:2

a. NEW, and an everlasting name that God would give.

2. Christians - Acts 11:26,  1 Pet. 4:16

3. Named  AFTER Christ,  Eph. 3:15

4. wear no other name,  1 Cor. 1:11-13; 4:6

5. stamped in forehead,  Rev. 22:4

6. James 2:7 - not to blaspheme the worthy name that we are called by.

7. To wear name, must be in the family of God -

a. born again,  John 3:5-7

b. sons of God,  Gal. 3:26-27

NOTE:  Acts 11:26 - disciples CALLED Christians.....  (chrematidzo)

•	Always of a divine communication or revelation. cp. Matt. 2:12;  2:22;  Luke 2:26;  Acts 10:22;  Heb. 8:5;  Heb. 11:7;  Romans 7:3

•	1. Paul to 'bear Christ's name' to gentiles. Acts 9:15;  before Agrippa, almost persuaded to be a Christian, Acts 26:25

•	2. ONLY NEW NAME WE HAVE

priests	Ex. 19:5-6	1 Pet. 2:5, 9

brethren	Acts 22:1	Acts 11:29

saints	Psa. 30:4; 34:9	Phil. 1:1

disciples	Isa. 8:16	Acts 11:26

Israel	Deut. 1:1	Gal. 6:16


Elders

THEIR DUTY TO LOCAL CHURCH

1.  to oversee the church - Acts 20:28

2.  feed the church - Acts 20:28

3.  tend the church - 1 Peter 5:1-3

4.  rule the church - 1 Tim. 5:17

5.  labor in word and doctrine - 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:17

6.  watch for souls of members,  Heb. 13:17

OUR DUTY TO THEM

1.  know them, 1 Thess. 5:12

2.  esteem them highly  1 Thess. 5:13

3.  support them,  1 Tim. 5:17-18

4.  obey them, Heb. 13:17

5.  receive no accusation against - except before witnesses, 1 Tim. 5:19

ELDER = BISHOP = PASTOR

1.  elder = bishop

a.  Same qualifications,  1 Tim. 3 and Titus 1

b.  used interchangeably,  Acts 20:17-28

2.  elder = pastor

a.  latin word for shepherd = pastor.

b.  found only in KJV N.T. in Eph. 4:11

c.  Jeremiah shows pastor = shepherd,   Jer. 23:1-5; 10:21;  3:14-15

d.  elder functions as shepherds to church -

1.  Acts 20:28 = feed = poimeino (verb - to shepherd)

2.  1 Peter 5:1-3,  also the verb form of 'pastor' or shepherd.


Elders Oversight Limited

1.  Restricted to LOCAL congregation

1 Peter 5:1-3;  Acts 20:28

2.  Complete in that local congregation

a. edification,  Eph. 4:16

b.  discipline

c.  benevolence  (see Acts 6)

d.  evangelism

e.  $

ONLY EXCEPTION TO THIS COMPLETE OVERSIGHT WAS IN THE SENDING DIRECTLY TO ELDERS OF A NEEDY CONGREGATION FOR RELIEF OF SAINTS.

Nowhere are they to make a contribution to another church or organization (such would turn the control of what ever is so contributed over to another)

This would include  colleges,  orphans homes,  missionary society,  or another church.


Evangelism

1. church supported local preacher

1 Cor. 9:14;  2 Cor. 11:8;  1 Thess. 3:8-9

2.  supported man in other area

Phil. 1:3-5;  2:25;  4:15-18

3.  several churches support same man

2 Cor. 11:8-9,  churches of macedonia to Paul in Thessalonica

No church ever worked through another agency or another church

1.  In relief of needy saints

a.  Acts 11:27-30

b.  1 Cor. 16:1-3

c.  2 Cor. 8:19-23

2.  In Evangelism

a.  2 Cor. 11:7-9,  and 12:13 -  Mac. messenger to Paul.

b.  Phil. 4:14-18;  messengers (2:25) to Paul.

Every church did same work in same way -

1 Cor. 4:16-17;  7:17;  16:1

Is it scriptural for congregations to combine their funds and centralize the control over the use of those funds in one congregation and under one eldership as a means of cooperating???? SCRIPTURE???


Co-operation and autonomy

CO-OPERATION	1.  common goal

2.  common work

+

Now centralization	3.  common oversight

4.  pooling of resources

Examples

1.  1 Cor. 16:1-3	Iconium

2.  2 Cor. 8:1-5; 9:1-2	Thessolonica

3.  Romans 15:25-32	Philippi

4.  Acts 11:29-30	Berea	to Jerusalem

Corinth

Athens

Lystra

Derby

Messenger verses delegate -

1.  NO power for messenger

2.  NOT permanent position.


Priesthood of believers

Function of Priests

•	Rom. 12:1-2;  present sacrifices to God

•	Heb. 8:1-4,  service to God, offer gifts to God

•	Heb. 9:1, 6-7

Before Law of Moses

•	Job, Cain, Abel, Abraham, Melchizedek, Noah, -

•	All offered sacrifice unto God - acting as 'priests'

•	God's 'intention' with Israel, a 'nation of priests' Exodus 19:5-6

After / During Law of Moses

•	Number 18:21, 26 - the family of Aaron

•	Hebrews 7:5, 11-14  ONLY the house of Aaron

Prophesy of Church

Isa. 61:1-6 -  under the Messiah, priesthood would INCLUDE gentiles. Hence - would be MORE than the house of Aaron.

Fulfilled in Church.

•	1 Peter 2:5,6 - all that are saints (Christians) are priests, are a 'holy nation' - priests unto God

•	Revelation 1:5-6, a 'kingdom of priests' -

Specific functions under New Testament

•	Offer sacrifice of body,  Rom. 12:1;  Phil. 2:17

•	Praise to God,  Hebrews 13:15

•	Substance ($, etc),  1 Cor. 16:1

•	Service,  Hebrews 13:16 - "doing good"

Conclusions

•	No special priesthood in church (Mormon, Catholic, etc.)

•	No special class of people in the church -

•	Any one may 'administer ordinances'

•	Need to be 'holy and blameless' as priests....

•	Need to "sanctify God' - illustrate with Nadab & Abihu in Leviticus 10.


Clergy - Laity

Clergy - from greek word "kleros'

•	literally = to cast lots, or to choose by lot.

•	came to mean "to assign a portion"

•	Then, became 'a heritage'

•	God's "clergy" = HIS PEOPLE (all of them!)

•	Deut. 4:20 - in OT was Israel

•	Deut. 9:29, etc.

•	In New Testament = God's people (all of them)

•	Eph. 1:11 - Christians are 'chosen in Christ'

•	1 Peter 5:3 - elders are over His "heritage' (chosen people)

•	Acts 26:18 - are God's 'kleros' when turn to God

•	Colossians 1:12 - partakers of 'the inheritance'

Laity - from greek work 'Laos'

1.  Literally = people.

2.  Old Testament -

Lev. 26:12;  Ezek. 37:27, Israel = God's people.

3.  Prophecy of Church

Hosea 1:10 - of church, 'they shall be My people'....

Romans 9:25-26,  1 Peter 2:10 - shows this is the church.

4.  New Testament always the church.

2 Cor. 6:16,  those called out of wickedness are to be His people

Hebrews 8:10,  They shall be my people...

Titus 2:14  redeemed us for His people...

1 Peter 2:9-10 - a chosen people - God's chosen people = the church.


church discipline

1. Reasons for

•	purify church - 1 Cor. 5:6-7

•	save erring brother - 1 Cor. 5:5

•	NOTE: When it is suggested that such discipline doesn't work, it usually only means #2 - the erring brother didn't repent. What is always forgotten in such cases is that the church was purified - it DID work.

2. Upon Whom

•	disorderly - 2 Thess. 3:6

•	wicked - 1 Cor. 5:11-13

•	busybodies - 2 Thess. 3:11

•	Those obeying not the word, 1 Tim. 6:3-6; 2 Thess. 3:14; 2 Jn. 9-10; Romans 16:17

•	those that cause division - Romans 16:17

•	Factious person - Titus 3:10-11

3. Scriptural course of Action

•	pray for them - 1 John 5:16

•	go see (individually) Matt. 18:15-17

•	Try to convert - James 5:19-20

•	Try to restore - Gal. 6:1f

•	admonish them - 1 Thess. 5:14

•	take two with you if above fails - Matt. 18:15

•	then - tell church - Matt. 18:15f

•	Withdraw from them if NOT change  2 Thess. 3:6; 1Cor. 5:4,5,13;  2 John 10;  2 Thess. 3:14ff

•	Whole church should support such action - Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:9-12


Church benevolance

Individual -

•	1 Tim. 6:17-18;  Hebrews 13:16;  1 John 3:17-19;  Matt. 25:31-46;  James 1:27;  Luke 10;  Acts 9:36-39

CHURCH -

•	Romans 15:25-26;  1 Cor. 16:1-3;  2 Cor. 8:1; 2 Cor. 9:1, 12;  Acts 2:44-45;  Acts 4:32-35;  Acts 6:1-4;  Acts 11:27-30;  1 Tim. 5:16

•	NOTE: All the above was for needy saints.

Distinction between individual, individualS, and church.

•	link, links, chain - illustration.

•	Matt. 18:15ff - individual, individuals, church

•	1 Tim. 5:8 - care for OWN - individual - church

•	church cannot assume permanent responsibility of some,  1 Tim. 5:16


History of the apostasy

1.  Only one church / faith in the New Testament. Eph. 4:4 (1:22ff); Mt. 16:16-18; Acts 2:38,41,47;  1 Cor. 4:17

2.  Apostasy prophesied in the New Testament - Acts 20:28-30; 1 Tim. 4:1-3

3.  Some fulfilled in New Testament times - 2 Tim. 2:17-18; 3 John 9-10; Rev. 2:20ff

HISTORY OF OTHER DEPARTURES

1. Early change in organization of church

•	Bishop over elders

•	Bishop's area enlarged to several churches (then called that a diocese)

•	Bishops hold meetings, called synods, to make rules for universal church

•	cp. Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:3-5; 1 Pet. 5:1-3; Acts 20:28

2. Priesthood  - developed by end of 2nd century.

3. Holy Water - 120 ad

•	was a way to tell who was properly baptized

4.	Penance - 157 ad

•	to pay for sins by physical harm, to inflict punishment for 1) expiation of sins 2) evidence of pardon.

5. Infant baptism (by immersion) - 2nd / 3rd century.

6. Human Creeds - 325 council of Nicea

•	Nicene Creed, official creed of Rom. Cath., Gr. Orth, and some denominations

7. Apostolic succession - 3rd century

8. Latin Mass, - 394

•	(Note, latin not 'universal' until after fall of Rome, hence NOT from apostles!

9. Extreme unction - 588

10. purgatory - 593

•	place to be 'purged from sins', many ways to do so, even pay $ - note 1 John 1:7 for truth.

11. Pope = 606, Bonafice 3rd, bishop of Rome

•	NOTE: Council of Chalcedon, 451 ad, bishop of Constantinople tried to have himself appointed 'universal bishop'. Was OPPOSED by Gregory, the bishop of Rome...who said that to ASSUME the title of universal Bishop or to seek to be the head of the church on earth was "the spirit of the antichrist."

12. instrumental music - 658 - 666

13. transubstantiation - 1000ad

14. celibacy of priesthood - 1015

15. sale of indulgences - 1109, a further development of the purgatory idea.

16. auricular confessions - 1215ad

17. Sprinkling for baptism,  1311 adopted by the council of Ravenna

18. Infallibility of the Pope,  1870

•	Even this was bitterly contested within the Catholic church, as was the idea of Pope.


Start of Denominations

Lutheran - 1530

•	Luther, a catholic monk and a teacher in a catholic university at Wittenberg, Germany.

•	Oct. 31, 1517 - 95 propositions for debate nailed to church door.

•	Followers assumed his name (over his objections) and adopted the Augsberg confession of faith, 1530.

Presbyterian - 1560

•	an outgrowth of Calvin's teachings.

•	John Knox took Calvin's teachings to Scotland, gathered following.

•	By 1592 was the established religion of Scotland.

•	1643-1649, Westminister Confession of Faith written and adopted by them.

Church of England - (Episcopal) - 1530 to 1534

•	Henry 8th of England

•	Many problems with Roman Pope and 'authority'.

•	Final straw - divorce to remarry.

•	Assumed control of church in England, most catholic ideas maintained.

Baptist church - 1607 - 1611

•	Originally known as 'anti-baptists' because they did NOT acknowledge the 'baptism' (sprinkling) of others.

•	John Smythe, objected to sprinkling for baptism.

•	His followers adopted the title of 'General Baptists".

•	The use of the term 'baptist' as a denominational designation is of comparatively recent origin, first appearing about the year 1644. (The New Schaff-Herzog Enc. of Religious Knowledge, Vol. 1; pg. 456).

•	"Baptist" is a name first given in 1644, to certain congregations of English Separatists, who had recently restored the ancient practice of immersion." (The New International Ency. Vol. 2, pg. 646)

•	"Smythe believed that the apostolic church model was lost, and determined on its recovery. He renounced the figment of a historical, apostolic succession, insisting that where two or three organize according to the teachings of the New Testament, they form as true a church of Christ as that of Jerusalem, though they stand alone in the earth." (Thomas Armitage, A HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS, pg. 2-3)

Methodists - 1703

•	John Wesly the founder.

•	He graduated from Christ Church College, Oxford, 1724.

•	He was ordained a priest in the church of England.

•	1739, associated with a group that wanted 'revival' of right living - he only wanted to reform the church of England.

•	In 1739, he formed "THE METHODIST SOCIETY"	in Kingswood, England.

•	Later wrote and adopted the Methodist Discipline.


Authority

What ever you do in word or in deed - co all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ  (Colossians 3:17).

Authority Needed

Authority Illustrated

Not An Authority

The Gospel Is ...

Understanding the Bible

Why some do NOT understand

God's Word Is


Authority Needed

Scriptures teach - do not ADD to God's word -

Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:5-6; 2 John 9-10; Rev. 22:18-19;

•	Isa. 55:8-9 - My way's higher than man's ways.

•	Jer. 10:23 - man is not able to walk by conscience

•	Prov. 14:12 - a way that seemeth right - end is death.

JESUS

•	1 Cor. 2:11 - No one knows the mind of God

•	Deut. 18:18 - prophet to speak ALL of God's word to man (Notice Acts 3:22 - Jesus is that Prophet).

•	John 12:48-50, Jesus told ALL

SPIRIT

•	John 14:26 - would not add or subtract

•	John 16:13 - would reveal ALL

•	1 Cor. 2:13 - revealed by choosing 'words'

APOSTLES

•	John 16:13 - spirit to guide them into ALL truth

•	John 15:15 - Jesus told them ALL things

•	1 John 1:3-4 - they wrote what they knew.

•	2 Peter 1:3 - knew all things pertaining to life and godliness.

•	Jude 3 - 1st century Christians to contend earnestly for THE faith - once for all delivered unto the saints.

•	2 Tim. 3:16-17 - can perfect, furnish unto every good work.

•	2 John 9-10,  not to go beyond the teaching of Christ

•	1 Cor. 4:6 - not to think above what is written.

PAUL

•	Gal. 1:11-12 - revealed unto him, not taught by men.

•	2 Pet. 3:115-16 - Peter approved his teaching, calling them 'scripture' and that such wisdom was GIVEN to him.

•	1 Cor. 2:16 - he had the mind of Christ.

•	Acts 20:27 - declared the whole purpose (counsel) of God.

•	1 Cor. 14:37 - wrote the commandments of God.

•	See also - 1 Tim. 3:14-15; Eph. 3:3-5.


Authority Illustrated

AUTHORITY ILLUSTRATED

Centurion - Matt. 8:5-10

Paralytic - Matt. 9:2-8

Jesus' mother - John 2

Lord - DO, Obey - Luke 6:46, Mt. 7:21 (see 'obedience' topic)

NOTICE ALSO

Prov. 28:26 - not trust in heart.

Jer. 17:5-9  not trust in man nor heart

Matt. 7:21 - must do will of father

Luke 6:46 - must obey Christ

Heb. 5:8-9 - He is the savior of those who obey him

Rom. 6:17-18 - obey from the heart - then made free from sin

1 John 2:3-4; John 14:15 - keep the commandments

Isa. 46:9-13 - God declares the end from the beginning

Psalm 119:89 - His word forever settled in heaven.

1 Peter 1:23-24 - the Word of God to abide forever

Matt. 24:35 - heaven and earth shall pass away - word will abide.

Psalm 119:160 - the sum of God's word is truth

2 Tim. 1:13 - hold the pattern of sound words.

Luke 10:16 - hear Christ = hear apostles

(see also Matt. 10:40; John 13:20).

Col. 2:6-8

1 Thess. 2:13; 4:1; 4:8

2 Thess. 3:6, 9, 14

EXAMPLES TO CONSIDER

Moses - Num. 20:7-12, 24;  27:12-14,; cp. Ex. 17:1-7

Nadab and Abihu - Lev. 10:1ff

Saul, - 1 Sam. 15:1-3, 18, 24

Uzza -  Num. 4:2, 15;  Ex. 30:1-10; 1 Chron. 13:1-12; 15:12-15

Priesthood of Christ,  Heb. 7:11-14


Not An Authority

Parents - Gal. 1:14; Matt. 10:37

Conscience - Prov. 14:12; Acts 23:1

Human wisdom - 1 Cor. 1:21; 3:19; 2:10-14; Jer. 9:23-24; 10:23; Isa. 55:8-9

Preachers - Gal. 1:8-9

Angels - Gal. 1:8-9

Feelings - Prov. 28:26

Human creeds - 2 John 9-10; Rev. 22:18-19

Traditions of men - Matt. 15:1-9


The Gospel Is ...

The Word of God, Acts 4:31; 11:1; 13:5,7,44;  11:32;  Phil. 1:14;  1 Thess. 2:13;  Heb. 13:7;  Rev. 1:2,9;  6:9;  20:4

The Word of the Lord - Acts 8:25;  12:24;  13:49;  15:35;  1 Thess. 1:8;  2 Thess. 3:1

The Word of hearing - 1 Thess. 2:13;  Heb. 4:2

The Word of the kingdom - Matt. 13:19

The Word of the gospel - Acts 15:7; Col. 1:5

The Word of grace - Acts 14:3; 20:32

The Word of Salvation - Acts 13:26

The Word of reconciliation - 2 Cor. 5:19

The Word of the Cross - 1 Cor. 1:18

The Word of truth - 2 Cor. 6:7; Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:15

The Word of righteousness - Heb. 5:13; cp. Rom. 1:16-17

The Word of life - Phil. 2:16

The health giving word - 2 Tim. 1:13; 2:8


Understanding the Bible

1.  It is a revelation, 'an uncovering or laying bare' which is done by the Spirit - 1 Cor. 2:10ff, 2 Pet. 1:20;  Eph. 3:3-5

2.  Some things are difficult - 2 Peter 3:15-16

3.  A Mystery? Yes, WAS a mystery, but NOW a revelation - Eph. 1:8-9;  Eph. 3:3-5;  Matt. 3:11;  Luke 8:10;  1 Cor. 2;  Col. 1:26;  Rom. 16:25ff

WHY WE CAN UNDERSTAND

•	Inferred from our studying it at all - why bother if it can not be understood at all.

•	Reason for writing - to be understood,  Eph. 3:1-5

•	Commanded to understand - Eph. 5:17

•	Promised that we could - John 7:17;  8:32

•	It is a condition for salvation

Matt. 18:3 - must be converted....

Matt. 13:15 - must understand to be converted.

•	Some DID understand -

Old Testament saints - Neh. 8:8

New Testament - 2 Tim. 3:15-17.

EXAMPLES FROM OUR OWN EXPERIENCES

•	John 11:35 - Jesus wept.

•	Eph. 5:19 - sing....

•	Heb. 11:6 - without faith...

•	Acts 17:30 - God commands all men everywhere to repent...

•	Rom. 10:9-10 - with the mouth confession is made unto salvation...

•	Mark 16:16 - he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved....

But yet, there are some who do NOT understand - why?

See why some do not understand.


Why some do NOT understand

Lenski said, "it is not in the facts, but the prejudices of the investigators". Don't blame the author when it is the readers fault. Don't blame the book when it is the readers' fault.

Many make no effort to understand.

•	Many will not read it - Eph. 3:3-5

•	Many won't study it - 2 Tim. 2:15

•	Many won't abide in it - John 8:31-32

Some have evil hearts.

•	Luke 8: - parable of the sower.

•	Ezra 7:10 - prepared his heart....

•	Eph. 4:18

Some have no love for truth.

•	2 Thess. 2:8-12 - no love for truth - believe a lie.

•	2 Tim. 4:3-4.

Some are deceived by false teachers.

•	2 Tim. 3:13 -

•	Eph. 5:6 -

•	2 Pet. 2:1-3 - as in Old Testament, so now under the New.

•	Matt. 7: - beware of 'wolf in sheep's clothing'

•	1 John 4:1 - 'try the spirits' -

Some 'wrest' the scriptures to their own destruction.

•	2 Pet. 3:15 - Peter said so!

•	Believe + baptized = saved vs. believe = saved, baptized if want to.

•	Mormons on 'elders' vs. Bishops - Titus 1:3-5.

Many make mistakes in principles of interpretation.

•	Figures of speech -

1. cup / break bread

2. book of Revelation taken literally'

•	application of 'to whom'

1. to apostles, John 14 - 15 - 16

2. church vs. Individual

•	Isolating scriptures

1. faith only - James 2:22-24

2. 'unconditional promises' - when condition given elsewhere.

•	Missing circumstances

1. "communism" of early church

2. customs vs. commandments.

3. saved at point of faith in Romans 4 -

•	Missing Grammar

1. Not -- but  passages

2. 'unworthily' in 1 Cor. 11:27 - adverb of MANNER

•	Define own terms

Jehovah's witnesses - 'worship of Jesus' -

Marriage / Divorce - redefine 'adultery' -


God's Word Is

Truth - John 17:17

Light - Psalm 119:105, 130

Gives understanding - Psalm 119:130

Cleanses - John 115:3

Sanctifies - John 17:17

Purifies - 1 Peter 1:22

Begotten by it - James 1:18

Quickens - Psalm 119:50

Produces faith - Romans 10:17

Born again of - 1 Peter 1:23

Converts - Psalm 19:7

Saved by it - Acts 11:14

Word of Life - Phil. 2:16

Sword of the Spirit - Eph. 6:17

A Fire - Jer. 23:29

The standard of judgment - John 12:48

A seed - Luke 8:11

Will not pass away - Matt. 24:35

What we are to preach - 2 Tim. 4:1-2

The power of God's spoken word -

Worlds made it - Heb. 11:3

Heavens made by - Psa. 33:6

Truth and Actions

Holding the truth - Romans 1:18

Obeying the truth - Romans 2:8;  Gal. 3:7

Walking according to - Gal. 2:14;  3 John 4

Resisting - 2 Tim. 3:8

Erring from - James 5:19


Church and Music

New Testament Teaching

Why Not Use Instruments

Who Opposed Instruments?

Arguments For instruments examined

Words for instruments in New Testament

Scriptures Concerning


New Testament Teaching

SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER:

See also "Scriptures Concerning"

•	General - Matt. 26:30;  Mark 14:26;  Acts 16:25;  Romans 15:9;  1 Cor. 14:15;  Eph. 5:19;  Col. 3:16-17;  Heb. 2:12; Heb. 13:15-16;  James 5:13;

•	'in heaven' = Rev. 5:8; 14:1-3; and 15:2.

CONCLUSIONS:

1. We are to sing.

2. To sing songs, hymns, and spiritual songs. - Eph. 5:19

3. sing UNTO God - Acts 16; Rom. 15

4. sing to teach and admonish each other, Eph. 5:19

5. sing out of thanksgiving - Col. 3:16

6. sing out of happiness - James 5:13

7. Sing with our understanding - 1 Cor. 14:15


Why Not Use Instruments

It rejects the authority of Christ

•	Col. 3:17 - what ever we do, we do by 'his name' - by his authority. He nor his apostles ever authorized such.

It violates the principle of faith

•	2 Cor. 5:7.- we are to walk by faith...

•	Rom. 10:17, - faith comes by hearing...the word of God,

•	No evidence - only 'guess' -, hence not of faith.

•	Instrumental music is not even opinion, it is only a bad guess.

It makes void the word of God by men's traditions

•	Matt. 15:7 - not built of God, will not last.

1. men SUBSTITUTE for singing - hence not an 'aid'

2. men of 'renown' from other backgrounds all rejected - Wesly, Clark, (Methodists), Spurgeon (Baptist), Greek Orthodox, etc. Schaff states that between 600-670ad such was introduced over the protests of many catholics.

It is incompatible with the spirit of the kingdom

•	John 18:31-36, not a 'worldly kingdom'

•	Offer up SPIRITUAL sacrifices, 1 Pet. 2:5; Heb. 13:15-16; Phil. 3:3

•	It is the WORDS that make it spiritual -

•	Offering Ins. Music like offering a lamb -

It violates specific command of God.

•	That which differs from right cannot be right.


Who Opposed Instruments?

It is NOT well known today that the use of instrumental music in worship is not only something relatively NEW but only came to use after MUCH opposition and fighting. Note:

Pope's chapel still does not have an instrument in it.

Greek orthodox church has NEVER allowed instruments in worship.

Russian churches do not permit them.

In England, following the reformation, only ONE instrument left in churches.

Anglicans - banned them in the 1640's.

Presbyterians:

•	John Knox - opposed them.

•	Calvin opposed them.

•	Zwingli opposed them.

•	1800's - they were fought over in American churches -

•	Peter Cartwright (circuit rider) said they were not used in his churches...

Methodists

•	Wesley, "... no objection to instruments of music in our chapels provided they are neither seen nor heard."

•	1827, divided over introducing them, started the Protestant Methodist church.

Baptists

•	Spurgeon opposed them.

•	Fuller in England opposed them.

•	Primitive Baptists still oppose them.

Mennonites - don't use them.

Quakers - don't use them.

church of Brethren - don't use them.

churches of Christ will not use them.


Arguments For instruments examined

Psallo, includes the idea of instruments

1.  When it does, it specifies the instrument.

2.  When specified in the NT was 'the heart' -

3.  When it is NOT designated, it is always translated SING.

4.  If this is note true, then ALL are commanded to PLAY and singing ALONE would be rebellion towards God.

Have instruments in heaven

Based upon Revelation passages - 5:8; 14:1-3; 15:2.

Revelation is a book of symbols - hence not taken literal.

•	5:8 - bowls = prayers, then harps = praise.

•	14:1-3, note says AS -- they are not literally there.

•	15:2 - compare with 'sea of glass etc., which is literal in heaven????

Even if it WERE true, heaven is NOT the church.

OT	NT	HEAVEN

harps	Heart	???????

Have them in our homes, then ok in church

•	Also have babies, food, business, government, school, sex, etc. - are ALL of these things to be brought into the church as worship???? no.

They are commanded in the Psalms

•	Was part of the law done away - John 12:34; 10:34; Rom. 3:10,11,14, 19

•	We are NOT under the law - Rom. 7; Gal. 3:21ff

•	DANCE also part of Psalms - why not that also?

•	Incense, sacrifices, sabbath, priesthood, - all or nothing!

It is an aid

We are to make melody in the heart, singing with grace in the heart, singing with understanding, teaching, admonishing each other - it does NOT aid any of these!

An expedient must first be lawful - 1 Cor. 10:23.

•	This is not 'lawful' (there is no authority for such) - hence not expedient.

•	This not 'edify' - hence not expedient.

•	This has caused stumbling & division - hence not expedient.


Words for instruments in New Testament

Did they have words to express instrumental music - especially singing with such? Perhaps it is not  mentioned because they had not such words for it? - NO, They DID have words for such and used them - but never used them to authorize instruments in worship to God.

Kitharodos - Rev. 18:22-23 and 14:2

•	used of singing AND playing, Liddel and Scott, used in contrast to psalmos.

Mousikoi = skilled music, musician.

auletes = flute player

saloistes = trumpet players

"piped" = played the flute  in Matt. 11:17

see also 1 Cor. 14:7,  flute, harp, and trumpet - but not used to worship.


Scriptures Concerning

Matthew 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. (KJV)

Mark 14:26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. (KJV)

 Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (KJV)

Romans 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. (KJV)

1 Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. (KJV)

Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (KJV)

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (KJV)

Hebrews 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (KJV)

Hebrews 13:15-16 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (KJV)

James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (KJV)

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. (KJV)

Revelation 14:1-3 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.

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. (KJV)

Revelation 15:2 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. (KJV)


Christian Living

Christian and governments

Marriage

Husbands

Wives

Fathers

Children

Work - duty and relationships

Spirit of man

Spirit and Soul

Death and annihilation

Hades - Sheol - Gehenna - Tartarus

Hell

Heaven

Prayer

Attending Services

Astrology

Drinking and Alcohol


Christian and governments

Romans 12:19-36, Romans 13:17 We are subject to such and pay taxes to such.

Titus 3:1

1 Peter 2:13ff - to hold such in honor for their position.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 - we are to pray for them.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Before the law of Moses

•	Gen. 4

•	Gen. 9:5-6

Under the law of Moses

•	Exod. 20:13

•	Exodus 21:12, 14; Lev. 24:17,21  - murder

•	Exodus 21:15, 17; - abuse of parents

•	Exodus 31:14 - sabbath-breaking

•	Exodus 21:16 - kidnapping

•	Exodus 22:18; Lev. 21:9 - witchcraft

•	Lev. 20:10 - adultery

•	Lev. 21:9 - unchastity

•	Deut. 22:25 - rape

•	Exodus 22:19 - beastiality

•	Lev. 20:11 - incest

•	Lev. 20:2 - idolatry

•	Lev. 24:14, 16, 2 - blasphemy

•	Exodus 32: Example = 3,000 put to death

•	Numbers 35:16

•	Number 25:19, 29, 33

•	Eccl. 8:11

•	1 Sam. 15:33

•	1 Kings 2:30-31

In New Testament

•	John 19:10-11

•	Acts 25:20-11 - refuse NOT to die (NOTE the word order: stronger than not refuse to die!)

•	Romans 12:19 - 13:7 - bears SWORD for punishment.

•	1 Peter 2:13-14.


Marriage

God - not good for man to be alone, Gen. 2:18 -

God created a mate suitable for the man - Gen. 2:18-22

1st marriage thus instituted by God for man - Matt. 19:5-6

God is a witness of such marriage - Malachi 2:14

Marriage is honourable in all - Heb. 13:4

It is a way to avoid fornication - 1 Cor. 7:1-5

What God has joined together, man must not put asunder - Matt. 19:6

POLYGAMY

In the beginning, God created one woman for one man - Gen. 1:27-28; 2:22-23

God desired the two become one flesh - Matt. 19:4-5

Polygamy began by the wicked descendants of Cain - Gen. 4:19.

Although there were men with a plurality of wives, each had serious problems because of that.

Abraham - Gen. 16:4-6; 21:9-10

David - 2 Samuel 13:1-8; 2 Sam. 15:18

Solomon - 1 Kings 11:1-8

Jesus rejected polygamy, teaching that marriage must be as it was originally instituted by God - Matt. 19:4-5

New Testament says EACH man should have HIS OWN wife and EACH wife her OWN husband - 1 Cor. 7:1-3


Husbands

Principle of Male Spiritual leadership apparent throughout the bible - Men were priests - Men were chosen for apostles - Men were to be elders and deacons - hence also in the HOME.

Such is a POSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY -

He is to be the 'head' - Ephesian 5:

He must love his wife as his own body - Eph. 5:25-29 -

He must please his wife and care for her as Christ does the church - Eph. 5:27; 1 Cor. 7:33

He must not be harsh with her - Col. 3:19

He care for her as 'the weaker vessel' - giving respect unto her and helping her in being a Christian - as 'heirs together of the grace of life' - 1 Peter 3:7

Such requires 'KNOWLEDGE" - knowledge of HER.

HE HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEETING HER NEEDS.

1.	Financial -

2.	Physical -

3.	Leading in spiritual -

4.	Emotional

5.	Social -


Wives

She is to love her husband -

She is to submit unto him - Gen. 3:16; Col. 3:18; Eph. 5:22-24

She must respect him - 1 Cor. 11:3; Eph. 5:33

She must work together with him - Titus 2:5

She is to be there for him physically - 1 Cor. 7:1-5

Her foremost duty is as wife, keeper of the home, and mother - 1 Tim. 2:3-5.

She needs to emphasize her spiritual side more than the physical - 1 Pet. 3:1-6.

Ephesians 5:22

1 Tim. 2:9-15

1 Tim. 5:14

Titus 2:3-5

1 Peter 3:1-6


Fathers

It is the FATHERS responsibility to the children - they are the spiritual leaders in the family - including their children.

Genesis 18:19

1 Sam. 3:13

Fathers are to bring up their children - Eph. 6:4

Are to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord - Eph. 6:4.

Are not to provoke them unto wrath - eph. 6:4

Are not to discourage them - Col. 3:21

Must set a good example before them  -

1 Tim. 5:8

Colossians 3:21


Children

Children (not just 2-3 year olds!) - but old enough to themselves read this and be willing to submit because of their faith in the Lord.

They must obey them - Col. 3:20; Eph. 6:1; Luke 2:51-52.

They must follow the instructions - 2 Tim. :2; Prov. 6:20-23; 30:7

They must respect and help them - Mark 7:10-13; Eph. 6:2-3.


Work - duty and relationships

WORK - NEED TO

1 Tim. 5:4-8

2 Thess. 3:6-12

1 Thess. 4:11

Gen. 3:19

Ephesians 4:28

EMPLOYER / MASTER

Ephesians 6:5

Titus 2:9

Colossians 3:22

1 Tim. 6:1

1 Peter 2:18

EMPLOYEE / SLAVE

Ephesians 6:9

Colossians 4:1

James 5:4

Romans 13:8


Spirit of man

MAN MADE OF AT LEAST TWO PARTS - BODY AND SPIRIT

Eccl. 12:7 - body / spirit

Psalm 90:10 - something flies away at death. Not the body, therefore "we" = the spirit.

Job 4:18-21,  dwell in houses of clay (body). House is always destinct from 'dweller' - we are destinct from our bodies.

Gen. 35:18 - her soul was departing ... for she died.

1 Kings 17:17-24,  soul of child came into him again.

1 Sam. 28:19

•	Saul to be gathered with dead TOMORROW

•	Died the next day

•	Not BURIED - but bodies remained visible - 1 Sam. 31:12-13

•	HENCE - SAUL (SPIRIT) GATHERED TO HIS PEOPLE, NOT THE BODY.

Number 27:12-13

•	Moses 'gathered unto they people"

•	NOT the grave, for buried far from them, Deut. 34:5

•	THUS gathered in 'sheol' - place of spirits.

Luke 20:37-38 - syllogism based upon this statement:

•	God IS the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

•	God is NOT the God of the dead.

•	THEREFORE - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob LIVING though dead physically.

Luke 23:42-43 - the thief on the cross

•	Paradise used only 3 times in Bible.

•	Would be WITH Jesus THAT DAY.

•	What type of a promise is it that they both would die that day???? That they would both be in the grave that day? NO - it was a promise that when they DIED they (their spirits) would be together in paradise.

2 Cor. 4:16-18

•	Inward verses outward man.

•	Inward = same as spirit, outward = the body.

•	Compare with Romans 7:22 - inward vs. outward (members of body)

•	Syllogism

1. Things NOT seen are eternal.

2. Inward man is NOT SEEN.

3. Therefore, it is the INWARD man that is eternal.

2 Cor. 5:6-8

•	Two possibilities for our existence:

1. PRESENT with the BODY and ABSENT from the LORD

2. ABSENT from the BODY and PRESENT with the LORD

•	WHEN is this possible - to be 'absent from body and present with Lord?"

1. NOT before death - are then IN THE BODY and absent from LORD

2. NOT after resurrection - are then IN THE BODY AND PRESENT WITH LORD.

3. Only leaves - when DEAD and yet before the resurrection.

2 Cor. 12:2 - two states of existence:

1. Either IN the body

2. OR OUT OF the body.

Phil. 1:21-23

1. It is better to depart (not live in flesh) and be with the Lord.

2. To REMAIN IN THE FLESH more needful - hence a contrast is seen between:

•  living in the flesh

•  departing FROM the flesh & being with the Lord.

2 Peter 1:13-15 - the tabernacle and 'I in it"

•	2 things mentioned here - the body and "I"

•	The dwelling and the dweller are separate things.

•	NOTE: decease = "exodus" (greek), lit. a going out. That is what the SPIRIT does, but the SPIRIT is the "I" that is so 'departing'.

2 Peter 2:9

•	Reserved = an existence.

•	reserved UNDER PUNISHMENT

1. kolazomenous = present tense,

2. to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, NASV, ASV -

3. YES, they not only EXIST - but are being PUNISHED.

Acts 9:36-41

•	She died ....while she was with them... turning to the body....

•	SHE was NOT THE BODY - the body was there, SHE had DEPARTED!

Luke 16:19-24 - Either real or a parable.

•	If history - proof of existence after death.

•	If a parable, is then based upon REALITY (all parables ARE)

1. Rich men - they exist.

2. Beggars - they exist.

3. Brothers - they exist.

4. Moses writings - they exist

5. death - it 'exists' -

6. Abraham's bosom, punishment, gulf - the two would then exist.

•	This is NOT an allegory. Try substituting the various 'allegorical definitions' into the story and see what nonsense comes out!

NOTE: Abraham's bosom = Josephus states: "with whom, there is no place of toil; no burning heat, no piercing cold, nor are there any briars there; but the countenance of the fathers and of the just, which they see always smile upon them while they wait for the rest, and eternal new life in heaven, which is to succeed this region. THIS PLACE WE CALL THE BOSOM OF ABRAHAM. (spoken about the relation to the felicitous abode of the righteous souls after death.

Revelation 6:9-11

•	Here we see the 'souls' of 'the dead' under the 'altar' - they were 'alive' and knew it!


Spirit and Soul

SPIRIT

Old Testament = 'rauch'

•	winds, storms - Gen. 8:1, etc

•	breath, Job 9:18

•	life principle - Gen. 6:17; 7:15

•	may be distinct from breath, Job 34:14; 27:3

•	attitude, Josh. 5:1; Prov. 29:11; Eccl. 7:8-9

•	non-flesh being, 1 Kings 22:21-22; Job 4:15-17

•	interchangeable with 'nephesh' (soul - see below) - Isa. 26:9; Exod. 6:9; Gen. 23:8; Eccl. 1:4; etc.

•	DESTINCT FROM THE FLESH,  Isa. 31:3; Zech. 12:1; Dan. 7:15; Num. 16:22; Eccl. 12:7; Job 32:8

New Testament = 'pneuma'

•	wind, John 3:8

•	breath, 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 11:11; 13:15

•	demons, Matt. 8:16; Luke 4:33; 9:39;  11:24

•	angels, Heb. 1:7, 14

•	character / moral qualities, Luke 1:17; Rom. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:7; 1 Pet. 3:4

•	the person, 1 Cor. 16:18; 2 Cor. 7:13

•	purpose / aim, 2 Cor. 12:18; Phil. 1:27; Eph. 4:23

•	perception, desires, feelings, Matt. 26:41; Mark 2:8; Acts 17:6

•	DISTINCT FROM BODY - Luke 24:37, 39;  8:49-55; Acts 7:59;  James 2:26

SOUL

Old Testament = 'nephesh'

•	person - Num. 31:19; Jer. 52:29

•	animal life, Gen. 1:20ff; Job 12:7-10; Ex. 21:23

•	breath, Job 41:21; Isa. 3:20

•	distinguished from life, Lev. 21:11; Job 9:21; Job 10:1; Psalm 88:3

•	DISTINCT FROM BODY - Isa. 10:18; Job 14:22; 1 Kings 17:21; Gen. 35:18

New Testament = 'psuche'

•	the person, Acts 2:41; 7:14;  Rom. 13:1; etc.

•	life itself, Luke 14:26; John 13:38; Acts 20:24

•	distinct from the spirit, 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 4:12

•	DISTINCT FROM BODY - Matt. 6:25-26; 10:28; 1 Thess. 5:23; Acts 2:27,31; 3 John 2

•	exists after the body 'dies', Acts 2:31; Matt. 10:28; Rev. 6:9-11


Death and annihilation

SIMPLY MEANS SEPARATION

•	from law of Moses, Rom. 7:4

•	prodigal, while 'separated from father', Luke 15:24

•	us from sin, Rom. 6:2; 1 Pet. 2:24

•	from God while still alive, Eph. 2:"1; 1 Tim. 5:6; Rev. 3:1

•	physical, spirit from body - James 2:26

USED IN THREE SENSES

•	physical death, James 2:26, etc.  spirit separated from body.

•	spiritual death because of sin, Eph. 2:1 - separated from God

•	eternal death = eternal separation from God, 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 2:11; 20:6, 14

NOT MEAN ANNIHILATION

•	Matt. 8:22 - follow me, and let the dead bury the dead.

•	Romans 14:9 - for to this end Christ both died and rose again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

•	Phil. 1:21 - for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

•	1 Thess. 5:9-10 - she that liveth in  pleasure is dead while she liveth

•	1 John 3:14 - we know that we passed out of death unto life because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.

See also Spirit and Soul


Hades - Sheol - Gehenna - Tartarus

HADES

•	Thayer: a dark and dismal place, in the very depths of the earth, the common receptacle of the disembodied spirits.

•	Vine: "it corresponds to 'sheol' in the Old Testament. In the AV it has been unhappily rendered 'hell,' 'the grave', 'the pit' ---it never denotes the grave, nor is it the permanent region of the lost; in point of time, it is used for such intermediate between decease and the doom of Gehenna.

•	New Testament passages - Matt. 11:23; 16:18; Luke 16:23; Acts 2:27, 31; Rev. 1:18, 6:8; 12:13; 20:14; 1 Cor. 15:55; Luke 10:15

SHEOL - hebrew word, similar to Hades in greek.

•	At times, Sheol is the place of punishment for the wicked - Deut. 32:22; Psalm 9:17; 55:115; Prov. 15:11, 24, etc.

•	In other passages, it probably refers to the GRAVE, - Gen. 44:29, 31; 1 Kings 2:6, 9, etc.

•	In yet others = the state of death, disembodied existence. This state of separation between soul and body is represented AS IF IT WERE A PLACE - 1 Sam. 2:6; equipped with 'gates' - Isa. 39:10

•

GEHENNA

•	Used ONLY of final abode of the damned.

•	Is the place where BODY and SOUL reside eternally -

•	Thayer: (valley of Hinnom) - the name of a valley... which was so called from the cries of the little children who were thrown into the fiery arms of Moloch. The Jews so abhorred the place after these horrible sacrifices had been abolished...that they cast into it not only all manner of refuse, but the dead bodies of animals and of unburied criminals who had been executed...(they) regard it as the natural symbol of penalty; and then this name was transferred to that place...where the wicked after death will suffer punishment"

•	See Matt. 5:22, 29-30; 10:28;  18:9;  23:15, 33  Mark 9:43,45,47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6

TARTARUS

•	Only in 2 Peter 2:4 - the place of punishment for evil angels, the same then as the place of 'torment' in Luke 16.

PARADISE

Robinson: "in the later Jewish usage, and in the N.T., paradise is put for the abode of the blessed after death namely:

1. the inferior paradise, or the region of the blessed in hades, Luke 23:43

2. the paradise of God, the celestial paradise where the spirits of the just (shall) dwell with God, 2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7

SEEMS TO BE SPOKEN OF IN TWO SENSES

•	Present sense, in hades: Luke 23:43. "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise,' - but Jesus went to hades Acts 2:31. That is a realm of disembodied spirits, for Jesus had not YET ascended bodily, John 20:17; Acts 1:9.

•	Eternal sense: heaven. 2 Cor. 12:2,4 - the third heaven is paradise. Rev. 2:7 - speaking of eternal reward, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.

WHY CONFUSION ABOUT TARTARUS, GEHENNA AND HADES?

•	Scholars sometimes mix opinions and scholarship.

•	Tartarus is not for AFTER judgment, but spirits are there NOW - 2 Peter 2:4, to be reserved UNTO judgment.

•	Gehenna cannot be part of hades (the place of disembodied spirits) for it is the place where God is 'able to destroy both soul and body', Matt. 10:28.

•	Gehenna always signifies the FINAL place of punishment of the wicked AFTER the judgment.


Hell

MANY NOT BELIEVE IN -

"The traditional kind of hell as a place of fire and brimstone... does not exist according to three theologians...'What kind of God is it that would condemn his children to that kind of eternal damnation? Rabbi Rosenthal asked." (quotation from a newspaper interview with a Catholic, a Lutheran, and a Jewish Rabbi, Plano Provoker, July 29, 1971)

Jehovah Witnesses say the teaching 'of a fiery hell for torment eternally of conscious ... souls' is 'God dishonoring" (Let God Be True, pg. 68).

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY

Hell is everlasting: it will never end, but it will continue 'day and night for ever and ever' Rev. 20:10

It is a place of punishment; there will be 'indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil" (Rom. 2:8-9).

It is a place of separation from God.  The wicked 'shall be punished... from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thess. 1:9).

It is a place of regret: there "shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 25:30). One not only weeps when he is in pain, but he grinds his teeth together when he is in remorse of mind - in regret.

It is a place of darkness - "and cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness" (Matt. 25:30)j.

It is a place of unquenchable fire - and 'the worm dieth not' - it is described 'as the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Rev. 21:8), and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:43).

It is a place of 'death' - Someone once said that hell is a place where every one will be trying to die, but no one will be able to get the job done. It is 'the second death' (Rev. 20:14; 21:8). This has to do with the fact of separation from the presence of God.

It is a place of undesirable company - all of the wicked, the filthy, the vile will be in hell - "the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Rev. 21:8). Consider the fact that if you go to hell, you will spend eternity with the thieves, the homosexuals, the most wicked of men. There will not be a single good person in hell.


Heaven

Heaven is the Home of God

•	You abide in your holy habitation - Deut. 26:15

•	The Lord the god of heaven - Jonah 1:9

•	Heaven is the throne of God - Matt. 5:16, 45; 7:21; Mark 11:25

•	His angels are in Heaven - Matt. 24:36; 22:30, 18:10; Luke 2:15

•	the host of heaven worship Him - Nehemiah 9:6

•	There is joy in heaven because of one sinner that repents - Luke 15:7, 10

Jesus is from heaven

•	He came down from heaven - John :13; 6:36

•	He returned to heaven - Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:11; 1 Pet. :22; Heb. 1:3; 8:1

•	He will come again FROM heaven - 1 Thess. 1:10; 4:16; 2 thess. 1:7

•

The earth is NOT the future dwelling place of man.

•	Earth - works to be burned up, 2 Peter 3:10.

•	Our reward is in heaven, Matt. 5:12.

•	Our hope is in heaven, Col. 1:5

•	Heaven is reserved for us, 1 Peter 1:4.

Where is it

•	Do not know - but it is where God is.

What is it like? - just a few descriptions:

•	A city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, Heb. 11:10, 16.

•	A place of rest and service to God, Rev. 22:3.

•	God shall wipe away all tears.

•	No more death there.

•	No pain is there - Rev. 21:4

•	No night there - no darkness, Rev. 22:5

Who shall go there?

•	Many shall NOT - Matt. 7:21-23.

•	Those who seek to do so - Luke 13:24; Romans 2:7.

•	Those who remain faithful, James 1:12; Rev. 2:10, 2 Tim. 4:7-8.


Prayer

ELEMENTS OF ACCEPTABLE PRAYER

Adoration and praise - Acts 2:47; Rev. 4:11

Confession of sins - 1 John 1:9, 1 Sam. 15:17-24; Luke 5:8

Thanksgiving - Luke 17:15-18; Psalm 107:1; Col. 4:2; Phil. 4:6; Acts 28:15

Supplication and petition - Phil. 4:6

•	forgiveness - Acts 8:22

•	moral and spiritual guidance - James 1:5

•	physical necessities - Matt. 6:11, (note James 4:3)

•	political rulers - 1 Tim. 2:2

•	spiritual leaders - Heb. 13:18

•	preachers - Col. 4:3

•	all men - James 5:16, 1 Tim. 2:1

•	even enemies - Matt. 5:43-45

CHARACTERISTICS OF ACCEPTABLE PRAYER

•	Must be offered in faith - Matt. 21:22; James 1:6-7; Mark 11:24;

•	In sincerity, humility, and fervency - James 4:6-10; 1 Cor. 14:15; Luke 18:10-14; Ps. 17:1

•	With understanding - 1 Cor. 14:15

•	In the name of Christ - Col. 3:17; John 14:6

•	Proceeded by faithful, righteous living - Prov. 28:9; 1 Pet. 3:10-12; 1 John 3:21-22; 1 Peter 3:7; James 5:16

•	Having forgiven others - Matt. 6:15; 18:21-35

•	Avoiding vain repetitions - Matt. 6:7-9

•	According to God's will - 1 John 5:14-15

•	Unceasingly - 1 Thess. 5:17


Attending Services

CHRISTIAN LIFE AND ASSEMBLING WITH OTHERS

•	Make calling and election sure - 2 Peter 1:10; 1 Cor. 10:12

•	Grow in christian graces - 2 Peter 1:5-7

•	Study  - 2 Tim. 2:15

•	Live a clean godly life - Matt. 5:16; Titus 2:12

•	Preach and teach - Matt. 28:19; 2 Tim. 2:2

•	Repent and pray for forgiveness of sins, resolving not to do them again, Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9

•	Meet each Lord's day to worship - Heb. 10:24-25; Acts 20:7; John 4:24

WHY ATTEND SERVICES

•	The Lord expects you to - Heb. 10:25

•	To encourage and be encouraged - Heb. 10:24

•	Christ is there - Matt. 18:20

•	Sets an example -

1.  for children

2.  for others

•	Need the fellowship of Christians

•	Hunger and thirst after righteousness - Matt. 5:6

•	Work to 'proper measure' - Eph. 4:16

NOTE: nonattendance a sign of lack of love - either for God or brethren or both.)


Astrology

Background of  Astrology

Bible and Astrology

Word Study


Background of  Astrology

Reading of the horoscope - Parade Magazine, June 3, 1972

10 million believers estimated in America

200,000 professional amateur astrologers

12000 daily newspapers carry forecasts.

HISTORY- goes back 5000+ years, to Babylon.

Thought the stars actually determined actions or destiny (physical action)

By figuring out their patterns, they claimed to foretell ones future.

DEVELOPMENT....

People first thought that gods lived upon the stars.

Hence, they thought that they directly intervened to control ones life.

Thus: Jupiter, which the ancient Babylonians called Marduk - the symbol of Marduk was the bull, and became the Taurus of the Zodiac.

QUALIFICATIONS TO BE AN ASTROLOGER

Sybil Leek, claims to be a witch.

Jeane Dixon - her ability (so claimed) comes from a crystal ball she acquired from a gypsy.

Linda Goodman, a reincarnated astrologer.

(Note: the above practices are directly linked to those being practiced in the Old Test. by the nation of Israel which God forbade - with a warning of death Lev. 20:27).

REASONS FOR THIS 'ART'

Fear of the future - want to know what will happen.

Practice of deceit for financial gain.

Love of unrighteousness.


Bible and Astrology

•	Deut. 18:9 -

Do not practice arts of nations (occult)

Put to death ALL false prophets.

Any believer in God should not even inquire after or take interest in other 'gods'. (see Deut. 12:30, 18:9-=15; 1 Cor. 10:6, etc.)

•	Isa. 47:11-14,  such is doomed to failure - will be destroyed.

•	Jer. 27:9-10 - same as the Isaiah passage above, separated by about 100 years and several generations. They didn't learn - did they?

•	Dan. 2:2, 10-11, 27-28 - shows the fruitlessness of such activity.

•	Gal. 5:19-20 - if not covered by 'witchcraft' - then 'such like' would cover them.

•	2 Cor. 5:7 - We walk by faith - hence not need to look into the future.

•	Romans 1:24-26 - 'star-worship', same as worshipping the creature.

•	Isa. 45:22-23 - God is only God  one should worship -- every knee is to bow unto Him whether in righteousness or unrighteousness

•	1 Thess. 5:22 - shun all forms of evil...

•	Deut. 29:29 - it is prying into the secret things of God.

SEE WORD STUDY FOR SPECIFIC ACTS AND CONDEMNATIONS


Word Study

ASTROLOGY - (Hebrews = ashshaph) is plainly prohibited, as in Moloch worship, Saturn worship, the worship of the golden calf, and the worship of the host of heaven - Deut. 18:9-11; 4:19; 17:2-7; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chr. 33:6; Isa. 47:13; Jer. 8:1-3; 10:2; 19:13; Dan. 1:20; 2:2,10,27;  5:7,11,15; Zephaniah 1:4-6; 2 Kings 17:16; 23:4; Acts 7:42-43

SOOTHSAYING - (Hebrews = 'anan' , "to observe the clouds",  and 'gezar' = 'seer') is prohibited. 'Anan' is said by some to mean 'augury,' - observing the movements of animals and birds," while 'gezar' literally means "cutter," - i.e., dividing the heavens or cutting animals open to examine the live and entrails.  Jer. 27:9; Isa. 57:3 (sorceress), Isa. 2:6; Micah 5:12; Dan. 2:27; 4:7; 5:7,11; Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:10-14; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chron. 33:6

DIVINATION - (hebrews qosem; greek = puthen) which is knowledge by direct interrogation of the spirits. Is forbidden. This would prohibit cartomancy (divination by card laying) ornithomancy (study of the activity of birds to foretell future); studying the arrangements of dregs in a cup, the interpretation of dreams, rhabdomancy and crystallomancy *using mirror or crystal ball, or pond water) to see into the future.  Deut. 18:10-14; Numbers 22:9; 23:23; 2 Kings 17:17; Jer. 14:14; Ezek. 12:24 Ezek. 13:6-9; 21:22-29; 22:38; 1 Sam. 6:2; 15:23; Isa. 44:25; Jer. 27:9; 29:8; Zechariah 10:2;  Micah 3:6-11; Acts 16:16f; Genesis 44:1-5.

ENCHANTMENTS (Hebrew = nachash) is closely akin to 'snake,' and perhaps signifies a snake-charmer or one who fascinates like a snake\. The word is used in connection with Joseph's divining cup (Gen. 44:1-4) and its use i akin to the more modern crystal-gazing with the hypnotic state induced by prolonged staring. Gen. 30:27 (Laban's knowledge attributed to this), Deut. 18:10-14; Acts 19:19; 2 Kings 17:17; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chron. 33:6; Numbers 23:23 and 24:1 (Balaam found enchantment and divination impotent against the people of God - 1 Kings 21:30).

HEPATOSCOPY - divination by 'studying the liver of an animal) - akin to haruscopy, the study of the entrails of the animal, is referred to in Ezek. 21:21.

RHABDOMANCY - cp. Hosea 1:12; Ezek. 8:17 - divination by a rod or wand - especially for discovering underground water or metal.

TERAPHIM - household idols (sometimes life-size - 1 Sam. 19:13,16). and sometimes miniature (Gen. 31:34-35). Involved was either ancestor worship ((today crystal balls are used more often to try to communicate with such ancestors) - anyway is condemned - 1 Sam. 15:23; Ezek. 21:21; Zech. 10:2; 1 Kings 23:245; Gen. 31:19-35; 1 Sam. 19:13-19; (here called images), Judges 17:5; 18:14-20; Hosea 3:4.

WIZARD - (yidh'oni = "one who knows") is a male or female sorcerer - Lev. 19:31; 20:6, 27; Deut. 18:10-11; 1 Sam. 28:3, 9; 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24-26; 2 Chron. 33:6; Isa. 8:19; 19:3.

CHARMER - Heb = chabar, "one who inflicts a spell, one who binds with magical charms. Acts 19:13-20 (the Ephesian letters were likely the magical formula used to 'charm') - Isa. 19:3; 47:9,12; Deut. 18;11 (spells), and Psalm 58:5.

AMULETS - Hebrew = kemia',  something tied to a person, and lehashim = "something whispered or muttered over".  were objects that had been blessed and then were worn as a good-luck charm. Gems, rings, herbs, seeds, and bracelets have been so used. The Bible's attitude toward such is always negative - Isa. 3:16-26 (amulets worn by women, moonlets and sunlets are like that which is still seen on Arab girls), Isa. 3:20 (LXX has peridexis, armlets for the right arm), Prov. 17:8; Eccl. 10:11; Gen. 35:4 (Jacob burned amulets at Bethel).

MAGICIANS (Hebrews = chartom) were men who used occult rituals and processes designed to control or influence the course of nature or to dominate men by the aid of supernatural power. It is uniformly condemned. (cp. also sorcerer).  Gen. 41:8, 24 - Pharaoh called magicians to interpret his dreams), Ex. 7:11, 24 (magicians of Egypt opposed God, and couldn't work a genuine miracle ); Ex. 8:18 (here is 'lehashim" - to wrap or, or muffle -- there was some hidden element or trickery to their deeds of magic), Ex. 8:7, 19; 9:11; Can. 1:20 (the king found Daniel with the Holy Spirit to be ten times better in every matter of wisdom and understanding than all the magicians and conjurers in his realm); Dan. 2:2, 10, 17; 4:7, 9; 5:11.

CONSULTERS OF FAMILIAR SPIRITS - Heb. obh; Greek - engastrimuthos) - everywhere condemned. Lev. 19:31; 20:6, 27 (the spirit dwelt in the medium?); Deut. 18:11; 1 Sam. 28:3, 7-9; 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24-26; 2 Chron. 33:6; Isa. 8:19ff; 19:3; 29:4.

NECROMANCY (Hebrews = darash 'el ha-methim = to call up spirits of the dead. Is likewise prohibited.  The word means to converse with the dead for purpose of consultation or divination. Deut. 18:11; 1 Sam. 15:23; Ezek. 21:21; Zech. 10:2; Isa. 8:19; 1 Sam. 28:7; Lev. 19:31; 1 Chron. 10:13;  (the passage affirms that King Saul died BECAUSE he consulted a medium!!!).

SORCERY - greek = pharmekeia from which we get 'pharmacy' or drugs. See Gal. 5:20; Rev. 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15.

SORCERY - hebrews,  kashshaph, greek = magike) would involve what we today have come to call levitation, apports, materializations, psycokinesis, and the like. God's attitude toward those who see supernatural power and knowledge from the spirits is clearly delineated in these verses: Ex. 7:11; 22:18; Isa. 47:9,12, Jer 27:9; 2 Kings (:22 (Jezebel is condemned as a sorceress), 2 Chron. 33:6; Deut. 18:10-11; Micah 5:12; Nahum 3:4; Malachi 3:5; Acts 8:9-13 (Simon could see that satan's 'miracles' were second rate - frauds). Acts 13:8-11; 19:1`9 (where the greek is periergeia).

'


Drinking and Alcohol

Social Drinking

1.	THE EFFECTS

a.	Physical:

1.	staggering, Isa. 19:14; Job. 12:25; Ps.107:27

2. 	woe,  Prov. 23:29

3.	sorrow, Prov. 23:29 /

4.	contentions, Prov.23:29

5.	babblings, Prov. 23:29

6.	wounds without cause, Prov. 23.29

7.	redness of eyes,  Prov. 23:29

b.	MENTAL EFFECTS

1.	exhilaration, Gen. 43:34

2.	loss of understanding and balance of judgment  Isa. 28:7;  Has. 4:11

c.	EFFECTS UPON HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY:

1.	biteth like a serpent, stingeth like an adder, bringing woe/sorrow, Prov. 23:29-32

2.	poverty,  Prov. 23:31;  21:17

d.	MORAL AND SPIRITUAL EFFECTS.

1.	mal-administration of justice, Prov,31:5 Isa. 5:23

2 	provokes anger, contentions , brawling, Prov. 20:1; 23:29

3.	conduces to a profligate life,  Eph. 5:18

4.	is allied with gambling, licentiousness and indecency Gen. 9:21f, Joel 3.3

5.	deadens the spiritual sensibilities, producing a callous indifference to religious influences and destroys all serious thought, Isa. 5:12

CANNOT BE SAVED AND BE A	DRUNKARD

1 Cor. 6:	Gal. 5:l9ff

ALSO SOME POSITiVE ASPECTS TO ALCOHOL AND ITS USE

1.	MEDICINE,  EXTERNAL, Lk. 10:34; internal, l Tim.5:23

2.	SERVICE TO GOD, Ex. 29:39-41; Lev. 23:13

3.	as BEVERAGE: Num. 6:20; Dt. 14:26: 2 Chron.2:15 Neh.5:18; Mt. 11:19; 1 Tim.3:8 (?) Tit.2:3


Social Drinking

1 Pet. 4:1-6,  part of old life which was to have been put away

1.	OINOPHLUGIA,  excess of wine,  = drunkenness, debauchers from wine + to bubble up, or overflow, hence to overflow with wine. The habitual drunk, alcoholic.

2.	KOMOS, (revelings), drinking mixed with "music" and good times. Is characterized by beer busts, Sat. night "good time" by most people, night clubs, etc.

3.	POTOS (banquetings),

a.	lit. = drinking, without reference to amount or substance. Context here shows is alcoholic drinks!   cp. Mt. 10:42.

b.	TRENCH,  "not of necessity excessive" Synonyms of NT., p.2l1.

c.	Trench, further, that it is related to words of excess in that it gives "opportunity for excess ."

d.	translated in New Eng. Bible, "tippling", that is drinking that is "continuously in small amounts .

HERE THEN IS THE PICTURE OF SOCIAL DRINKING, NOT OF NECESSITY TO EXCESS (although gives opportunity to such), DONE IN "SMALL AMOUNTS".  IT TOO IS PART OF OUR  PAST LIFE  AND MUST BE PUT OFF.


Salvation

Sin

Will Faith Only Save

Faith and Obedience

baptism

Justified and Saved by What

What May Happen to Our Faith

Repentance and Confession

God's Power to Save

Works

Judgment

Eternal Punishment

Apostasy - Is It Possible

Saved by --BUT

Examples of Apostasy


Sin

ALL ARE GUILTY

Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8; Eccl. 7:20; 1 Kings 8:46; Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 143:2; Prov. 20:9

IS REPUGNANT TO GOD

Psalm 5:4 - hath not pleasure in wickedness

Prov. 6:16f - 7 things which God HATES

Lists - Rom. 1;  Gal. 5:19f;  1 Cor. 6:9-11

IT SEPARATES FROM GOD

God will hide his face - Deut. 31:17 ; Isa. 59:1-2

Matt. 7:21f - 'depart from me ye workers of iniquity"

KNOWN TO GOD

Psa. 139 - thou knowest.... not hidden...

Heb. 4:13 - all things are 'naked  and opened unto ..Him

Gen. 4:10 - Abel's blood cried out...

Job 34:21 - eyes on all ways of man - no place to hide

Jer. 16:17 - sees all that man does

Psalm 44:20-21 & 1 Cor. 4:5 - knows secrets of heart.

SAVED FROM BY JESUS

Isa. 53 -

Matt. 1:21 - he shall save his people...

Acts 13:38

Acts 2:38 - repent and be baptized for the remission of sins...

Matt. 26:28 - ...my blood... for remission  of sins

Eph. 1:7 - IN Christ - redeemed and forgiven by his blood

Rev. 1:5 - washed in His blood.

TO OBTAIN

believe - Rom. 10:9-10, Heb. 11:6; John 3:16

confess - Rom. 10:9-10

repent - Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9

baptized - Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Gal. 3:26-27

faithful - Heb. 3:6, 14; Col. 1:21-23; Rev. 2:10

TO CONTINUE

walk in light - confessing our sins -1 John 1:7-9

forgive each other - Matt. 18:15-35

repent and pray concerning sins - Acts 8:22

strive for the goal - Phil. 3:18-26


Will Faith Only Save

Faith Without Love Will Not Profit

1 Cor. 13:2 - Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."

The Cowardly Rulers Believed

John 12:42-44 - "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Faith Alone Is Dead

James 2:17 - "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."

The Demons Believed

James 2:19 - "Thou believest there is one god; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."

Faith Without works is Dead

James 2:20 - "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

Not Justified By Faith Only

"James 2:24 - "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

Faith Without Works Is Dead

James 2:26 - "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

The Faith That Avails Must Work

Gal. 5:6 - "For in Jesus christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love."  Since the faith must "work" by love, before it will "avail," then "faith" cannot save the moment one has "faith," for there must be some time in which "faith" "works" before it saves - avails.

See Also the next section, Faith and Obedience


Faith and Obedience

FAITH - Used two ways in the Bible:

•	The Act of the heart or mind - Rom. 10:10

•	The gospel, the revealed faith - Gal. 1:21; 1:11; Jude 3; Eph. 4:4

Kinds of Faith

•	living or active - Heb. 11:6ff; Rom. 1:17

•	dead faith - James 2:18; 2:26; 2:19

•	Vain faith - 1 Cor. 15:14, 17  Matt. 15:9

vain faith produces vain worship, vain worship is 'worthless', all is vain IF BASED UPON MEN'S TEACHING

•	Miraculous faith

faith to do miracles - James 5:17

there were NO failed attempts

Such faith was 'given' - 1 Cor. 12

Such ended - 1 Cor. 13

OBEDIENCE

•	Mark 3:32-34 - to be a brother to Christ

•	Matt. 7:21-23 - to enter the Kingdom

•	1 John 2:2-3 - to know God

•	Luke 6:46 - to call Jesus Lord

•	John 15:10 - to abide in His love

•	Rom. 6:17 - to be set free from our sins

•	Phil. 2:12 - to work out own salvation

•	1 Perter 1:2 - elected unto obedience

•	John 14:15 - if Love Jesus -

•	John 14:21 - This is the one that loves Jesus

•	James 1:22 - to be a doer of the work and not a 'hearer only'

•	Hebrews 10:36 - to receive the promises of God

•	Hebrews 5:8-9 - to be saved

•	Phil. 2:5-9 - Christ our example in such obedience

•	1 Peter 1:22 - purify souls by obeying truth

•	1 Peter 4:17 - judgment hard for us, how about those who obey not the gospel?

•	2 Thess. 1:7-9 - to keep from everlasting punishment

•	Gal. 5:7 - can QUIT obeying -


Repentance and Confession

REPENTANCE

•	No just sorrow - sorrow WORKS repentance - 2 Cor. 7:9-10

•	It is to change one's mind and to determine in one's heart to forsake evil and to follow righteousness - Matt. 21:29; Luke 15:17-19.

•	Reason behind = God's goodness - Romans 2:4

•	Commanded - Acts 17:30, Luke 13:3

•	Desired by God - 2 Peter 3:9

•	Joy in heaven when sinner repents - Luke 15:7, 10

•	Preached by John the Baptist - Mark 1:4; Matt. 3:2

•	Preached by Jesus - Luke 13:3; Mark 1:14-15, Luke 5:32

•	Preached as part of the gospel -

To all nations - Luke 24:47;

with baptism UNTO remission of sins - Acts 2:38

with 'be converted' so sins blotted out - Acts 3:19

•	Is UNTO life - Acts 11:18

•	Continued after conversion when sin - Acts 8:22.

CONFESSION OF FAITH

•	All will eventually - Phil. 2:11

•	With mouth, unto salvation - Romans 10:9-10

•	Confess Jesus is Christ ( not sins) - 1 John 4:15; Matt. 10:31-32; Rom. 10:9-10

•	Made publicly - Phil. 2:11

example = Acts 8:37

bad example - John 12:42 (not confess though believed)


baptism

ONLY ONE NOW - Eph. 4:4-6

WHO

•	Those having been taught - Matt. 28:19

•	Believers - Mark 16:16; Acts 18:8; 8:37

•	Those who repent - Acts 2:38

•	Those of maturity - 'men and women' - Acts 8:12

WHY

•	In order to be saved - Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21

•	For remission of sins - Acts 2:38

•	To wash away sins - Acts 22:16

•	Into Christ - Gal. 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-5

WHEN

•	When receive word - Acts 2:41

•	When believe - Acts 8:12

•	When make confession of faith - Acts 8:37-38

•	Same hour of night - Acts 17:33

HOW

•	A burial and resurrection - Romans 6:3-5; Col. 2:12

•	Much water - John 3:22-23

•	Both go 'into and out of' the water - Acts 8:38-39

•	In the name of Christ (not what SAY, but what DO) - Acts 2:38-41

(This rules out baptism to become member of a denomination)

•	With faith in the working of God - Col. 2:12


Justified and Saved by What

JUSTIFIED BY WHAT?

•	Faith - Romans 5:1

•	Blood of Christ - Romans 5:9

•	Our words - Matt. 12:37

•	Grace - Titus 3:7; Romans 3:24

•	Works - James 2:20

•	In the name of Christ - 1 Cor. 6:11

•	Declare God justified in baptism (obedience to His commands) - Luke 7:29

•	Declare ourselves justified in prayer - Luke 18:14

SAVED BY WHAT?

•	God - 1 Tim. 4:10

•	Christ - Matt. 1:21

•	His life - Romans 5:10

•	His death - Heb. 9:15

•	His blood - Rom. 5:9; Matt. 26:28

•	Gospel - 1 Cor. 15:1-2; Romans 1:16

•	Calling on His name - Romans 10:13 (see Acts 22:16)

•	By words - James 1:21; 1 Tim. 4:5; Acts 11:14

•	By faith - Romans 5:1

•	By hope - Romans 8:24

•	By works - James 2:24

•	By preaching - 1 Cor. 1:21 (literally - the message preached)

•	By grace - Eph. 2:8-9

•	By baptism - 1 Peter 3:21

•	Save ourselves - Acts 2:40, Phil. 2:12 - by obedience with faith in God - Col. 2:12

It is obvious that we then are not saved by 'faith alone' - nor anything else 'alone''.


What May Happen to Our Faith

MAY FAIL - Luke 23:32  I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not.

SHIPWRECKED - 1 Tim. 1:19 - "holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck."

DEPART FROM - 1 Tim. 4:1 - "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils."

DENY IT - 1 Tim. 5:1 - "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

CAST OFF - 1 Tim. 5:11-12 "but the younger widows refuse; for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.  (Can anyone having damnation be saved?)

ERR CONCERNING - 1 Tim. 6:20-21 "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called; which some professing have erred concerning the faith". (see also James 5:19-20)

MAY BE OVERTHROWN - 2 Tim. 2:16-18 "But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness, and their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

If these things happen to our faith, by what will a man then live? For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). If these things happen to our faith by what shall we be saved?


God's Power to Save

•	Must hear and learn - John 6:44-45

•	Are drawn by TEACHING - John 6:44-45

•	Are called by the gospel - 2 Thess. 2:14

•	Are begotten by the word - James 1:18; 1 Cor. 4:15

•	Are born of the word - 1 Pet. 1:23

•	Gospel is God's power to save - Romans 1:16

•	Are saved through the message preached - 1 Cor. 1:21

•	The gospel saves when believed and obeyed - Mark 16:15-16

•	The word able to save souls when RECEIVED - James 1:21

•	All words to save - Acts 11:14

•	Must be obeyed - 2 Thess. 1:7-9

NOTE:  Romans 10:17 - Acts 20:32;  John 20:30-31;  Acts 2:37-47; 7:54; 8:12; 8:35-38; 11:14; 15:7; 13:44-48; 14:1; 17:11-12; etc.  FAITH (to the saving of our souls) COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING FROM THE WORD OF GOD.

NOTE: The gospel is the SWORD (instrument) of the Spirit - to convict and convert people to Christ - Eph. 6:17


Works

•	John 5:31-39 - they were a witness for Jesus' claims

•	James 2:17 - without these, faith is dead

•	Eph. 2:10 - we are created in Christ unto such

•	Matt. 6:1 - example of boasting,  condemned

•	Phil. 2:13 - God works in us (thru word and preaching - Heb. 12:24).

•	2 Thess. 2:16-17 Jesus establishes us in good works

•	2 Tim. 3:16 - scriptures furnish us unto all good works

•	John 6:29 - believing is a work (cp. Titus 1:16)

•	John 10:32 - Jesus is an example for us

•	John 15:8 - God is glorified by

•	Heb. 13:21 - God is glorified by

•	Matt. 5:16 - designed to lead others to glorify God

•	Col. 1:10 -

•	Matt. 7:15-20 -

EXAMPLES OF

•	Matt. 25:34-40 - help brethren

•	Col. 3:12-17

•	1 Thess 1:3 - work of love and faith

•	1 Thess. 4:1 - walk as have received Christ

•	1 Tim. 6:18 - lay up a good foundation

•	James 1:20-27 - doers of the work and not hearers only

•	2 Tim. 2:15-22 - study the word


Judgment

PRINCIPLES OF JUDGMENT -

•	One standard for all

•	No partiality with God

•	All to be judged

•	No changing after death

•	All at the same time -

•	Must obey the truth -

(Rom. 1:5, 16; 2:8; 6:13; 16:26)

ROMANS 2:1FF

•	the standard = truth, gospel,  2, 16

•	everyman to be judged vs. 6

•	No respect of Persons with God - 2:10-11

ACTS 17:30-31

•	a day of judgment

•	The World to be judged

•	Contrast with premill idea of 2 judgments, 2 resurrections, 2 chances -

•	Contrast with J.W. - more than two for some.

jOHN 5:26-29

•	An hour -

•	Everyone in the grave (contrast with J.W., )

•	Both good and bad

2 COR 5:10

•	all appear (even Christians)

•	According to bodily deed (no 2nd chance)

HEBREWS 9:27

•	after death

•	No reincarnation (cp. Job 16:22; 2 Sam. 12:23 -)

MATTHEW 25:31

•	a judgment

•	At 2nd coming of Christ

•	Already king - 1 Cor. 15:20-26

•	Not a 'trial' - but a 'sentencing' -

•	Jesus and devil not argue over you

•	Jesus declares your state

•	At death, destiny  eternally fixed.

LUKE 16

•	Death = either paradise or hades (rest or punishment)

•	Return of Christ = judgment, then either 'heaven or hell' for eternity

2 THESS. 1:7-9

•	At 2nd coming -

•	Punish certain ones (know not God, obey not the gospel)

•	Punishment is everlasting.


Eternal Punishment

NATURE OF THE PUNISHMENT

•	Matt. 8:12 - outer darkness; weeping, gnashing of teeth

•	Matt. 13:40-42 - tares, same as above

•	Matt. 13:49 - fish net,  same as above

•	Matt. 22:13, 25:30 -- same as above

•	2 Peter 2:17 (of wicked) ...for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved..."

DURATION OF PUNISHMENT

•	Matt. 25:41 - 'unto the eternal fire'

Eternal "never to cease; without end, everlasting" Thayer, pg. 20.

•	Matt. 25:46 - ETERNAL punishment

•	Jude 13 - "for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved forever'

•	Rev. 20:10 - "an d the devil...cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and false prophet...tormented day and night forever and ever.


Apostasy - Is It Possible

Real question - can one stop believing?

•	Ezek. 18:  righteous become unrighteous? -- YES

•	Luke 8:13 - believe FOR A WHILE, THEN FALL AWAY

BOOK OF HEBREWS - "holy brethren" - 3:1

•	Only IF hold fast until end - 3:6

•	Could harden heart - 3:8, 4:7

•	Heed, lest in THEM an evil heart of unbelief, depart from God. - 3:12

•	Come short of the promised rest - 4:1

•	Fall after example of unbelief - 4:11

•	Could commit wilful sin - 10:25

•	Could trod under foot the son of God - 10:29

•	Could do despite unto the Spirit - 10:29

•	Receive promise IF have patience - 10:36

•	Could draw back unto perdition - 10:38

•	Had besetting sin (unbelief) they were to aside - 12:1

•	Could fail of the grace of God - 12:5

•	Root of bitterness in them? - 12:15

•	Could be defiled - 12:15

•	Could refuse Him that spake from heaven - 12:25

•	Could be carried about with divers and strange doctrines - 13:9

Romans 11:

Gentiles grafted in by faith - but THEN could be 'broken off' because of unbelief.

Luke 8 - parable of the sower

they believed FOR AWHILE - and THEN FELL AWAY.


Saved by --BUT

•	Faith -- depart from the faith, 1 Tim. 4:1

•	Grace -- fail of that grace, Heb. 12:15

•	Hope - moved away from it, Col. 1:23

•	Blood - count it an unholy thing,  Heb. 10:29

•	Lord - deny the Lord that bought them, 2 Pet. 2:1

•	Truth -- err from it, James 5:19

•	Love -- fail to keep selves in it, Jude 21

•	Gospel -- may believe in vain, 1 Cor. 15:1-3

•	Promise -- come short of the promise, Heb. 4:1

•	God -- depart from Him, Heb. 3:12

•	Spirit -- do despite unto him, Heb. 10:29

•	Endure -- not continue, Matt. 10:22

SAVED BY FAITH --- BUT

•	Some erred concerning - 1 Tim. 6:21

•	Some depart from - 1 Tim. 4:1

•	Some turn aside from - 1 Tim. 1:5-6.

•	Some cast off their faith - 1 Tim. 5:2

•	Some have it overthrown - 2 Tim. 2:18

•	Some make shipwreck of - 1 Tim. 1:19

•	Some deny (thus worse than infidels) - 1 Tim. 5:8.


Examples of Apostasy

DEMUS

•	A Christian, Col. 4:14; Philemon 24

•	Love world - forsook Paul - 2 Tim. 4:10

•	To love world = enemy of God, 1 John 2:15

SIMON THE SORCERER - ACTS 8

•	Believed (same as other Samaritans)

•	Baptized (hence forgiven, Acts 2:38, saved - Mark 16:16)

•	IN gall of bitterness and bondage of sin....

PARABLE OF SOWER

•	Luke 8:13 - some believed for awhile - then fell away.

2 PETER 2:19-22

•	Escaped through knowledge of Christ.

•	Know right way of the Lord.

•	Turn from the holy commandment.

•	AGAIN, entangled and overcome

•	Better to NOT know the way ...

•	IT HAS HAPPENED -

(Yes it speaks of 'sow' - but that sow was WASHED - then returned to mud.)


Jesus = the Christ - Son of God

The Proposition Presented

The Resurrection

Events on 1st Day

3 Days and Nights?

Jesus - Idiot - Fraud, or Christ?


The Proposition Presented

1.	the proposition:

a.	Jesus, his common name

b.	Christ, messiah, the O.T. "anointed"

c.	THE SON OF GOD

1.	eternal

2.	deity

II.	FACTS ADMITTED BY ALL.

a.	Jesus lived, (all writers of History)

b.	That he lived in Palestine (a Jew)

c.	He lived at the beginning of the 1st century.

d.	He was a religious teacher., the founder or author of the Christian religion.

III.	ONLY TWO ALTERNATIVES.

a.	the son of God, as He claimed,

b.	an ordinary man.

1.	a Jewish imposter,

2.	a conscious and deliberate liar and fraud.

IV.	EVIDENCES OF HIS CLAIMS

1.	CLAIMS

a.	to be sinless.

1.	his challenge, Jn. 8:46

2.	His disciples statements, Heb.4:15

1 Pet. 2:22(not claim for selves though) Lk. 5:8; 1 Tim.  1:15)

3. 	Judas admitted his innocence Mt. 27:4

4.	Roman authority admitted also, Mt. 27:24

b.	claimed to be equal to God, Jn. 5:17-l8ff.

c.	claimed that He would rise from the dead

1.	Lk. 9:22; Mt. 12:40; 16:21; etc.

d.	claimed that all men everywhere should obey Him Mk. 16:15-16; (a Jew and THIS COMMISSION???)

2.	THE VIRGIN BIRTH

a.	Isa. ch. 7-9

1.	7:14

2.	8, called "Immanuel", mentioned twice

3.	9:6

4.	THIS WAS CLAIMED FOR JESUS, Mt. 1:18-25

3.	FULFILLED PROPHECIES Jn. 5:39; Lk. 24:25-27 SEE ALSO UNDER "BIBLE INSPIRED"

4.	UNNATURAL SAYINGS (have read and study for self)

1.	devoid of worldly ambition.

a.	refused to be made King, Jn. 6:15

b.	not cultivate "rulers", but poor and sinners Lk. 15:1-2, and rebuked prominent men - Mtt.23

2.	never expressed doubt on subjects,

a.	never referred to human authority or philosophy

b.	"spoke with authority," Mt. 7:29

3.	free of prejudice and hate

a.	Samaritan woman, Jn. 4

b.	destruction of Jerusalem, Mt. 24

c.	worldly kingdom rejected Jn. 18:36

d.	What would He gain,

1.	by denouncing all Jewish sects?

2.	ignoring and condemning their traditions

3.	accusing leaders of hypocrisy?

4.	no malice for enemies, Lk. 23:34

5.	free of egotism and selfishness

a.	gave God all the credit, Jn. 5:30; 11:40-43; 12:48

6.	unnatural claims:

a.	preexistence (no Jew would so claim Jn8:58

b.	words outlast even world, Mt. 24:35

c.	accepted worship, Mt. 8:2; 9:18, 14:33; Jn. 9:35-38; Jn. 20:26-29

5.	MIRACLES  Jn. 5:36

a.	possible

b.	DID HE DO THEM?

1.	he said he did, Jn. 5:36 etc.

2.	his disciples said he did, Acts 2:22,Jn.20:30

3.	his enemies said that he did, Mtt.12:22-24

4.	his enemies said his disciples did Acts 4:10,11

5.	Historians say that he did. Josephus described Him as "a doer of wonderful works"

6.	It was more than 100 yrs. before ANYONE denied His miracles.

6.	HIS RESURRECTION

a.	he claimed he would.

b.	witnessed (see chart, 1 Cor. 15)

c.	facts agreed upon by all

1.	Jesus lived and died

2.	Jesus was buried

3.	His body disappeared.

d.	EXPLANATIONS:

1.	SWOON THEORY.

a.	not account for soldiers actions Jn.19:33

b.	not account for testimony of a competent Roman officer, Mk. 15:44-45

c.	not account how those who "worked on body" failed to perceive life.

d.	NOT ACCOUNT FOR

1.	suffering on cross

2.	spear wound and loss of blood

3.	two days without food, water, medical aid

4.	unfolding wrappings,

5.	roll away stone

6.	fight off Roman Guards

7.	walk length of Palestine, and appear healthy to disciples.

2.	ENEMIES STOLE THE BODY.

a.	had no motive, wanted exactly opposite cp. Mt. 27:62-66

b.	why not produce after pentecost and destroy the apostles preaching?

3.	disciples stole body.

a.	not allow for Roman guard(at least 12) under penalty of death if would allow it.

b.	not account for "unbelief of disciples" They dispersed after death, did not expect Him.

c.	Why would they suffer for a known lie????

4.	the hallucination theory.

a.	Jesus corrected this, Lk. 24:36-37

b.	Thomas wanted proof positive, Jn.20:24-30

c.	variety of appearances, and number of those seeing Him at same preclude this idea.

d.	Disciples NOT expecting him.

e.	Besides, if this true, body would have been in grave, easy enough to prove true or false.

5.	ACCEPT THAT HE AROSE.

CONCLUSION:	IF THROW OUT THE IDEA OF JESUS AS TAUGHT:

1. 	A Jew, born in a captive Roman province, of a peasant woman, lived as a carpenter's son for 30 years, became a religious teacher for 3½, was deserted by followers when arrested, was tried and killed as a common criminal. He never wrote a book, never invented a machine, never went to college, YET CLAIMS TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD, THE JUDGE OF THE WORLD, SINLESS, AND WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD.

2. 	Established a religion that has grown and spread through out the world.

3.	Though a conscious liar, gave world highest moral standard it has ever known.

IS HE A FRAUD, A LIAR, OR THE SON OF GOD??????


The Resurrection

Scripture:	Luke 24;   1 Cor. 15

Different answers; (note opposite page, prior also)

J.W. POSITION: BODY NOT RAISED AT ALL

Eph. 4:10, He descended, SAME ascended

Jn. 2:19-21,  body was to be raised ('soma', not 'psuche')

Jn. 20:25-26,27,28 plus Lk. 24:25; 24:39-44

Rom. 4:24;  6:4;  1 Tim. 2:5

PROBLEMS IF NO RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

1. 	with res., our salvation stands or falls.

a.	makes intercession, (if dead, none) Heb. 7:25

b.	we still in our sins, 1 Cor. 15:16-17

2. 	NEWNESS OF LIFE DONE AWAY WITH, Rom. 6:1-6

3. 	NO HOPE AFTER DEATH, OUR PATTERN GONE, 1 Cor.15:18-11

4. 	JUDGMENT GONE,  ACTS 17:30-31

5.	APOSTLES ARE ALL LIARS,  1 Cor. 15:15

6. 	PERSON OF JESUS FAILS

a.	He a liar, for said that he would,

Mt. 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; Lk.9:22; 18:33; 24:7,46 Mk. 8:31; 9:31; 10:34

b.	by it declared to be the Son of God, Rom. 1:4

if not RAISED, THEN NOT THE SON OF GOD

c.	THEREFORE.. KNOW ASSUREDLY BOTH LORD AND CHRIST Acts 2:36

FACTS / WITNESSES OF HIS RESURRECTION

1.	OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY.

a.	1 Cor. 15:4,  "according to the scriptures

b.	Ps. 16:8ff = Acts 2:29-32;  13:35-37

c.	Ps. 2;  Acts 13:29ff

2. NEW TESTAMENT

a.	Christ himself, Mt. 16:21; Jn. 10:17-18; etc.

b.	personal witnesses;  Acts 1:3

1.	Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and other women, Lk.24:l-l0, Mt.28:l-l0

2.	two disciples on road, Lk. 24:l3ff

3.	disciples in room, Lk. 24:39-40

4.	Thomas Jn. 20

5.	on the sea of Tiberius, John 21:lff

6.	greater part of 500 people, 1 Cor. 15:6

7.	James 1 Cor. 15:7

8.	Apostles Acts 1

9.	Paul  1 Cor. 15:8, (last of all)

c.	APOSTLES PREACHING

1.	Paul's;	death, burial, and RES.) 1 Cor.15:l-4

2.	Peter,	Acts 2:32

d.	CONDUCT OF DISCIPLES BECAUSE OF BELIEF IN THIS

1.	suffer persecution

2.	suffer poverty

3.	suffer martyrdom for a "known lie"?????


Events on 1st Day

1.	put in tomb, Friday, Jn. 19:39-40,Women prepare spices Lk. 23:56

2.	very early, 1st day, women came, Mtt.28:1, Lk.24:1 Jn. 20:1; Mk. 16:2

3.	Mary Mag, (Mt.28:1,Jn.20:l) Mary, mother of James and Joses, Mt.28:1, Lk.24:10; Mk. 15:40

Salome, Mt. 27:56, Mk. 15:40

Joanna, Lk. 24:10

possibly other women, Lk. 24:10

4.	OBJECT FOR COMING:

a.	see sepulchre, Mt. 28:1

b.	to embalm body, Mk. 16:1; Lk. 24:1

5.	WHILE ON WAY, "? who will move stone"Mk.16

6.	arrival, saw stone moved Mtt.28:2; Mk.16:4

7.	Angels sat on stone, appeared as keepers, they frightened, Mt. 28:2-4

8.	Mary Mag. left, Jn. 20:6 to go to apostles

9.	women entered tomb.

a.	angel(young man)spoke, Mt.28:5

b.	was sitting when entered Mk. 16:5

c.	as entered, he stood, Lk. 24:4

d.	upon entering, saw another Lk. 24:4

10.	told to tell apostles, Mt.28:7, Mk.16:7; Lk.24:6-7

11.	went to city Mt.28:8 Mk. 16:8

a.	did not see apostles on return (needed for harmony)

b.	spoke to "no one' Lk. 24:9-10

c.	LATER DID TELL APOSTLES Lk.24:10, but not necessary FOR ALL TO HAVE DONE SO AT SAME TIME.

12.	Peter/John "ran to tomb" Jn.20:2-9

a.	they enter,

b.	Mary comes after that, Jn. 20:2-9 NOTE, not having seen angels with women she was still "ignorant", therefore weeping.

13.	Peter/John leave, Mary is alone, Jn. 20:10

14.	Mary looked into sepulchre, saw 2 angels, Jn.20:11-3

15.	Jesus appears to here, Jn. 20:14-18

a.	thus "1st" to see Him, Mk. 16:9

16.	She tells disciples she has seen, Jn.20:18, Mk.16:9 they not believe her.

17.	afterward Jesus appears to other women, Mt.28:9

18.	They tell apostles, Lk.24:10;  NOTE 11 ABOVE


3 Days and Nights?

PART = WHOLE

1 Kgs. 15:1,2,8,9

began reign in 18th yr. of Jeroboam

reigned 3 years

died in 20th yr. of Jeroboam

1 Kgs. 15:25,28

began to reign in 2nd yr. of Asa

reigned 2 yrs.

died in 3rd year of ASA

1 Kg. 15:33; 16:6,8

began to reign in 3rd year of Asa reigned 24 years, died in 26th year of Asa

1 Kg. 16:8-10

began to reign in 26th year of ASA reigned 2 yrs.

died in 27th year of Asa

THIS METHOD USED TILL FALL OF NORTHERN KINGDOM WITHOUT VARIATION.

Gen.42:17,18 Joseph put brethren in ward for 3 days, yet released them on the "3rd day".

Esther 4:16,  5:1  "neither eat nor drink 3 days, night or day; I also.. will fast in like manner, YET SHE WENT IN ON THE 3rd DAY

CORNELIUS

Ac.10:3  saw vision the 9th hour while praying

10:7,8 immediately sent soldiers to Peter

10:9 reached Peter NEXT day at noon

10:23 stayed all night, returned NEXT day

10:24 NEXT day at 9th hour met Cornelius,

YET 10:30 STATES IT WAS FOUR DAYS.

1st = less than 3 yours,  (9-12)

2 and 3rd = whole day.

4th = nine hours.

Mt. 27:63,64  Sepulcher to be made sure till 3rd day

But Jesus said he would rise AFTER 3 days.

1.	we would have said "till the 4th day"

2.	shows that they understood to mean 3 days

3.	shows they understood him to rise ON THE 3rd DAY

JESUS SAYS WILL RISE ON 3rd DAY.

Mt.16:21; 17:23; 20:19 Lk. 9:22; 18:33; 24:7,46

YET JESUS SAYS WILL RISE AFTER 3 DAYS ASV,

Mk. 8:31; 9:31; 10:34

ON 3rd DAY = AFTER 3rd DAY, ACCORDING TO COMMON USAGE

3 DAYS and 3 NIGHTS = AFTER 3rd day / on 3rd day.

THEY POINT TO SAME TIME,

NOTE: When Jewish writers wanted to be exact, would qualify term with "whole" or "full", Lev.25:29 Jer. 27:3; Acts 7:23; Acts 11:26; 28:30;

If meant 3 days and 3 nights AS WE MEAN IT:

WOULD HAVE SAID 3 FULL DAYS or 3 WHOLE DAYS.

STRANGE??? HOW ABOUT OUR "school year', work week, are they not strange to some peoples????


Jesus - Idiot - Fraud, or Christ?

Intro, Jn. 7:11-12;  Jn. 10:20; Mk. 3:20-21

1.	claimed to be the Son of God, Mk. 14:61-62; Mt. 27:43

2.	claimed - the only way to God. Jn. 8:24; 14:6

3.	claimed - the fulfillment of Ot. Mt.5:17; Lk.4:lff, Lk. 24:25-27,44,46

4.	claimed to be "the Christ"  Jn. 4:25-26

5.	claimed "from above" (heaven)

Jn. 3:13; 6:33-35,38,42,51,  16:22-28

6.	claimed able to forgive sins, Mk. 2:1-10

7.	claimed - able to raise people from dead,

a.	himself, Jn. 2:18-21; 10:18

b.	others, Jn. 6:40; 8:51; 11:25; 5:28-29

8.	claimed - equal to God, Jn. 5:26

a.	do what Father does

b.	raise dead 21

c.	judge mankind 22

d.	same honor  23

e.	life in self, 26

f.	execute judgment  27

THESE CLAIMS CAUSED HIS DEATH, Jn.19:7; Mk.14:61-64

HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THESE EVENTS/CLAIMS??????

Crazy - an idiot?  Hard to take when see his life & teaching.

Liar - Fraud?  A hypocrite - for condemned lying. A DECEIVER - not only caused his own death but those of his disciples.

Christ - the one that can save if you submit your life unto Him - or will judge / condemn if not trust in Him (Mark 16:15-16).


Deity of Christ

Humanity of Christ

His Deity

Jehovah

Prophecy of Christ

Titles of Christ

Character of Christ


Humanity of Christ

•	Born of woman - Luke 1:30-31; Matt. 1:24-25; Gal. 4:4

•	He was flesh & blood - John 1:14; Heb. 2:14

•	He had physical life - Matt. 26:38; Luke 2:46

•	He increased in wisdom & stature - Luke 2:52

•	He knew hunger - Matt. 4:2; 21:18

•	He knew thirst - John 4:7; 19:28

•	He knew tiredness - John 4:6

•	He slept - Matt. 8:24; Mark 4:8

•	He cried - Luke 19:41; John 11:35

•	Man of sorrow and grief - Isa. 53:3-4; Luke 22:44; John 11:3; 12:27

•	He was treated insolently - Matt. 26:67; Luke 22:63-65; 2:11; 1 Peter 2:23

•	He was scourged - Matt. 27:26; John 19:1

•	He was crucified on the cross - Luke 23:33; John 19:18

•	He was put in a grave - Matt. 27:59-50; Mark 15:46

•	He was in all points tempted like as we are - Hebrews 4:15

YET - He was without sin -  Heb. 4:15; John 3:5

Phil. 2:6-8 - 'emptied himself' and being found in the form of a servant - humbled himself even unto death.


His Deity

Affirmation concerning

•	Name of Jehovah applied to Christ

•	Claimed to BE EQUAL WITH THE FATHER - John 5

•	Was WORSHIPPED -

•	Was God - John 1:1

•	Called 'My Lord and My God' - John 20:28

•	Was God manifest in the flesh - 1 Tim. 3:16

•	He was in the 'form' of God in the beginning - Phil. 2:6-7

•	In Him was the fullness of Godhead - Col. 2:9

•	Son Of God

Words spoken of God were concerning Christ

•	Jehovah - Isa. 40:3; Matt. 3:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23, 27,29

•	The beginning and the end - Isa. 44:6 ; 48:12; Rev. 1:8, 17; 22:13

•	Lord of hosts - Isa. 6:1-3; 8:13-14; John 12:41; 1 Pet. 3:15

•	Eternal Creator - Psa. 102:24-27; Heb. 1:8-12; John 1:1-3

•	Unchanging God - Psa. 102:27; Eccl. 3:6; Heb. 13:8

•	King of Glory - Psa. 24:7,10; 1 Cor. 2:8; James 2:1

•	Mighty God - Isa. 1:24; 9:6; Titus 2:13

•	Eternal Father - Isa. 63:16; Matt. 5:16; Isa. 9:6

•	The True God - Jer. 10:10; 1 John 5:20

•	Lord of All - Jer. 45:23; Acts 10:36; Rom. 10:12; Phil. 2:10-11

•	Lord of Lords & King of Kings - Deut. 10:17; Psa. 16:3; 1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16

•	Judge - Eccl. 12:14; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:10

•	Source of Spiritual Blessings - 2 Thess. 2:16-17; 2 Cor. 13:11

•	Our Righteousness - Jer. 2:5,6; 1 Cor. 1:30

•	Redeemer - Isa. 44:6; Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 9:15; 1 Pet. 1:18-19

•	Shepherd - Psa. 2:1; Isa. 40:10-11; John 10:11,14; 1 Pet. 2:25; Heb. 1:20


Jehovah

the divinity of Christ

1.	Jet. 23:5-6/Mt. 2:2, 1 Cor. 1:30 JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

2.	Isa. 41:4; 44:6/ Rev.1:7,17; 2:8; 22:13 JEHOVAH = FIRST AND LAST = CHRIST

3.	Isa. 6:1-10/ John 12:39-41

•	Isaiah spoke of Jehovah's glory

•	but he spoke of Christ's glory

•	therefore, Christ = Jehovah

4.	Prov. 16:4/ Col. 1:16

•	Jehovah, whose glory all things created FOR but, all things created for CHRIST

5.	Pa. 102:24-27/ Heb. 1:10-12

•	Jehovah "forever"

•	refers to Christ

•	Jehovah = forever = Christ

6.	Isa. 8:13-15/ 1 Pet. 2:8

•	Jehovah a stone/rock of offence and stumbling

•	Christ the stone/rock of offence and stumbling

•	Jehovah = Christ

7.	Isa. 7:14/ Mt. 1:23

•	God with us = Christ, Christ = God

8.	Dan. 2:47; Dt. 10:17/ Rev. 17:14

•	Jehovah is King of Kings, Lord of Lords

•	Christ is king of kings, Lord of Lords,

•	Christ = Jehovah

9.	Isa. 40:28/ John 1:3; Col. 1:16  1 Cor. 8:6 , Heb. 1:1-2

•	Jehovah = creator

•	Christ = Creator

10.	Nehemiah 9:6/ Col. 1:17

•	Jehovah = creator and preserver

•	Christ = creator and preserver

11.	Ps. 97:lff/ Heb. 1:6, Jehovah = Christ, worship Him.

12.	Isa. 40:3/ Mt. 3:1-3, Jehovah = Christ (cp. Lk in New World Translation.)


Equal to the Father

John 5 records that Jesus healed a lame man - on the sabbath day. When accused of violating the sabbath, He said: "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.

While such a statement to US does not have that meaning, to the Jews it was spoken to it DID. How did Jesus respond to the accusation that He was making himself EQUAL with GOD? He said:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do; for whatever things he (the father) doeth, these also doeth the Son in the same manner." Our expression today is often 'Whatever He can do, I can do" - but Jesus statement is even stronger - 'in the same manner'. He did not DENY the equality - he affirmed it!

Next, He gives some particular illustrations of being EQUAL with the Father.

21 - God can raise the dead (physical) -

Jesus can raise the dead (and did so on several occasions).

22 - God has the right to judge -

The Son now has the right to judge all men.

23 - All men should HONOR God -

even so, all men should HONOR the SON - EVEN AS THEY HONOR THE FATHER.

24 - God can give spiritual life -

even so the SON gives spiritual life through His word..

26 - The Father has 'life in Himself' -

even so the Son has life 'in Himself'

27 - The Father can execute (carry out the sentence of) judgment -

even so the Son will execute judgment upon men.

A principle of 'judgment' in the Old Testament was that 'at the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses shall every word be established.' If you have only ONE witness, it doesn't mean he is lying, it only means that you can not draw a binding judgment upon their testimony.

Jesus therefore introduces several 'witnesses' to His claim of being equal with the Father.

•	First - himself - 30-31.

•	Second - John the Baptist - 33-35.

•	Third - the works (miracles) of Jesus - 36

•	Fourth - the Father himself - 37-38. (This is my beloved Son)

•	Fifth - the scriptures (i.e., the Old Testament) -


Jesus was Worshipped

God ONLY is to be worshipped -

"Then saith Jesus unto him (Satan), Begone, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. - Matthew 4:10

Angels are NOT to be worshipped -

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 who showed me these things. (9) Then saith he unto me, See thou do it no; for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren, the prophets, and of them who keep the words of this book. Worship God. - Revelation 22:8-9

Men are NOT to be worshipped -

Peter refused - Acts 10:25-26

Paul refused - Acts 14:11-15

YET - Jesus was worshipped AND accepted it.

•	Matt. 2:2, 8, 11 Wisemen at Jesus' birth

•	Matt. 8:2 - the leper He healed

•	Matt. 9:18 - the ruler

•	Matt. 14:33 the apostles after He walked on water.

•	Matt. 15:25 - Canaanite woman

•	Matt. 20:20 - mother of James & John

•	Matt. 28:9 - the disciples

•	Matt. 28:17 - the apostles

•	Luke 24:51-52 - the Apostles at the ascension.

•	John 9:38 - the blind man he healed

•	Mark 5:6 - the demons worshipped Him

•	Mark 15:19 - some 'mockingly' worshipped Him

•	God (the father) COMMANDED such worship of the Son -

Hebrews 1:6 - "And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him"

Back to "His Deity"


John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word WAS God,

All reputable translations say this - affirming He WAS GOD.

To affirm He was 'a god' is to affirm polytheism - a 'Big God' and a 'little god' - 2 'gods'.

NO ARTICLE?? - Notice that there is no article in John 1:6, 12, 13, 18; Matt. 5:9; 6:2; Luke 1:35, 78; 2:40; John 3:2-21; 9:16-33; Rom. 1:7, 17, 18; 1 Cor. 1:30; 15:10; Phil.2:11-13; Titus 1:1 - yet THESE are 'GOD'.

See also:  Mt. 4:3-4; 12:28; Lk. 20:37-38; Jn. 3:2; 12:3; Acts 5:29-30; Rom. 2:16-17; 3:5,22,23; 4:2-3.

King of Jews - John 19:21 - here 'king' is the predicate noun proceeding a copulative verb (eimi - I am) - yet it it NOT 'a king' - but THE KING.

See also 'the Christ' - Matt. 16:16; Acts 26:23

Not in harmony with

Isa. 43:10 - no other god with God

Deut. 4:35 - no other god

Deut. 32:9 - no other god

Colwell's rule: form "a definite Rule for the use of the article in the Greek New Test., Journal of Biblical Literature, LII, 1933, 13:21

"A definite predicate nominative has the article when it follows the verb; it does not have the article when it precedes the verb. ...The opening verse of John's gospel contains one of the MANY passages where this rule suggests the translation of a predicate as a definite noun... The absence of the article does NOT make the predicate indefinite or qualitative when it preceeds the verb; it is indefinite in this position only when the context demands it.

NOTE: the New World Translation, 1951 edition... has a list of 'parallels' - however they are NOT parallel in Grammar because the predicate noun stands AFTER THE VERB IN THESE - here in John 1:1 it stands BEFORE the verb - and hence the rule above is applied. The WORD WAS GOD (lit. and GOD was the Word).


Form of God

Philippians 2 states that Jesus was in the "form" of God - and then took on himself the 'form' of a servant. What does 'form' mean?

W. Robertson Nicoll: "In LXX morphe denotes the form, the appearance, look or likeness of someone, that by which those beholding him would judge him." (Epos. Gr. Test., III, p. 435).

M. R. Vincent: "This form, not being identical with the divine essence, but dependent upon it, and necessarily implying it, can be parted with or laid aside. Since Christ is one with God, and therefore pure being, absolute existence, He can exist without the form. This form of God Christ laid aside in His incarnation." (Word Studies, p. 878.)

H. A. W. Meyer: "Morphe, therefore, which is an appropriate concrete expression for the divine doxa ..., as the glory visible at the throne of God..." (Crit. and Exeget. Handbook, VIII, p. 67).

Henry Thayer: "Morphe... the form by which a person or thing strikes the vision; the external appearance..." (Phil. 2:6) "who, although (formerly when he was logos asarkos) he bore the form (in which he appeared to the inhabitants of heaven) of God (the sovereign, opp. to morphe doulou), yet he did not think that this equality with God was to be eagerly clung to or retained...but emptied himself of it... so to assume the form of a servant, in that he became like unto men (for angels also are douloi to Theou, Rev. xix.10; xxii.8 sg.) and was found in fashion as a man." (Gr. Eng. Lex., p. 41).

He then gave up such 'form' and was found in the 'form of a man' - and in order to to this He had to 'consider equality with God' and thing not to be held on to. - He was God manifest in the flesh.

Back to 'His Deity"


Fulness of Godhead

Colossians 2:9 - for in Him dwelleth ALL OF THE fullness OF THE GODHEAD BODILY.

"For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, Col. 2:9). "Godhead" is translated from the Greek "THEOTES" (from theos) declaring that in the Son there dwells all the fullness of absolute Godhead; they were no mere rays of divine glory which gilded Him, lighting up his person for a season and with a splendor not his own; but he was, and is, absolute and perfect God; and the Apostle uses THEOTES to express this essential and personal Godhead of the Son" (p.8, Trench's synonyms of the N.T.). The phrase "the fullness 9f the Godhead bodily" is translated:

MOFFATT:  the entire fullness of deity

WILLIAMS: all the fullness of deity continues to live embodied

RV:	dwells the whole fullness of deity bodily living ORACLES: all the fullness of the deity resides NAS.   all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.

Heb. 1:1-3

PERSON	FATHER	HOLY	GLORY

SPIRIT

THE "substantial quality, nature of any person or thing", the real nature of a thing," "the Divine essence of God," "substantial nature, essence, actual being, reality; Thayer, Cremer, Vine, Arndt &Gingrich.

EXPRESS IMAGE	SON	BRIGHTNESS

The exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect the phrase expresses the fact that the Son is both personally distinct from, and yet literally equal to, Him of whose essence He is the adequate imprint"

(Liddon)  THAYER, VINE


Son Of God

USE OF THE WORD SON

1.	Used by eastern people to denote "sameness"

a.	Gen. 4:20 Jabal was father of such as dwell in tents

b.	Gen. 4:21 Jubal was father of such as handle harp/pipe

c.	Mk. 3:17 sons of thunder, explosive character

d.	Lk. 10:6 son of peace, a peaceful man

e.	Lk. 20:34  the sons of this world, worldly minded

f.	Jn. 17:12 the son of perdition, wicked man

g.	Acts 4:36 son of consolation, helpful, consoling

SAME USAGE HERE IN JOHN 5:18

1.	Jews understood this, 10:30-33

2.	compare,

Mt. 27:54 = truly this was the son of God

Lk. 23:47;  certainly this was a righteous man,

AN ACCOUNT OF THE SAME SAYING BY THE SAME MAN.

3.	even so, IN THIS PASSAGE,  cp. Isa. 9:6

4.	THE TERM SON OF GOD IS USED AS A TITLE, equal to the title of Messiah (Christ)

Mt.16:16 thou art the Christ, the S. of the living God

Mtt.26:63 Tell us whether thou are the C. ,the Son of God

Mk. 14;61 Art thou the C., the S of the Blessed

Jn. 1:27 Thou art the Ch.,the S. of God.

Jn. 1:49;  thou art the S of God, thou art King of Israel

Jn. 6:69 thou art the C. the S  of the living God.

5.	STATEMENTS MADE AT THE CRUCIFIXION:

Mt. 27:40 if thou art the S. of God, come down

Mt. 27:43  for He said, I am the S. of God

Mk. 15:32 Let the Christ, the king of Israel, now come down

Lk. 23:35  if this is the Christ of God.

Lk. 23:37  If thou art the king of the Jews,

Lk. 23:39  art not thou the Christ?

MORE OBSERVATIONS ON HIS SONSHIP

2 Sam. 7:12-16. A dual prophecy of both Solomon and Christ. It is the picture of relationship of Father to Son, of the subordination of the son to the Father. In reference to Christ it speaks of His coming into the world and the role he played of submission to the Father. Part of vs. 14 is quoted in Heb. 1:5 to Show it is fulfilled in Christ.

Heb. 1:5 "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a son.

NOT ALWAYS A SON. Future tense of verb. Verb is from "eimi, which means TO BE, TO BECOME. This relationship had a beginning.

Phil.	2:8 "and being FOUND in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea the death of the cross.

a. "being found, humbled, becoming" are all in the AORIST tense which denotes a time in which all this began. There was a time when Jesus began his servitude; the time was when he came into the world as a man. The aorist tense in this passage is to be compared with the present tense of verse 6 in the word "existing", which denotes a continuous action. If he became a servant when he came into the world, that is when it began, then he wasn't a servant of God before he came into the world. His sonship in this sense had a beginning.


Prophecy of Christ

•	Seed of Woman - Gen. :15 - Gal. 4:4; 1 Tim. 2:15

•	Seed of Abraham - Gen. 12:3; 22:18 - Gal. 3:16; Acts 3:25-26

•	Born of a virgin - Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-35

•	Born in Bethlehem - Micah 5:2-3; Matt. 2:1-6; Luke 2:4; John 7:42

•	Tribe of Judah - Gen. 49:9; Micah 5:2 - Matt. 1:2; Heb. 7:14; Rev. 5:5

•	Descendant of David - 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Psalm 89:3-4; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5; - Matt. 1:1,6; John 7:42; Rev. 5:5; 22:16

•	His afflictions - Psalm 22:1, 7, 18; Isa. 50:6; 53:1-12 - Matt. 26:31; Luke 24:25-26; John 1:29; Acts 8:32-35.

•	Death on the cross - Psalm 22:16 - Matt. 20:18-19; John 3:14; 12:32-33; Phil. 2:8

•	His burial - Psalm 2:1-9; Jonah 1:17 - Matt. 12:40; 16:4; 27:63; John 2:18-22; Acts 2:27-32

•	His resurrection - Psalm 2:1-9; 110:1-2; Mark 16:19; Acts 2:3-36; Eph. 1:20-23; 1 Peter 3:22.


Titles of Christ

•	Last Adam - 1 Cor. 15:45

•	Alpha and Omega (beginning and end) Rev. 22:13

•	Amen - Rev. :14

•	Apostle - Heb. 3:1; John 3:17; 5:6; 6:29

•	Mediator - 1 Tim. 2:5

•	Advocate - Heb. 12:24; 1 John 2:1

•	King - Matt. 2:2; 21:15; John 18:36; Rev. 17:14; 19:16

•	Lord - Acts 2:36; Romans 10:9; Phil. 2:11

•	Good Shepherd - John 10:1-14; Heb. 1:20; 1 Peter 2:25, 5:4

•	Emmanuel (God with us) - Isa. 7:14, Matt. 1:23

•	Wonderful - Isa. 9:6

•	Counselor - Isa. 9:6

•	God - Isa. 9:6; John 1:1-2; 20:28; 1 John 5:20; Acts 20:28

•	Everlasting Father - Isa. 9:6 (Father of the ages, father of eternity)

•	Prince of Peace - Isa. 9:6

•	Faithful Witness - Rev. 1:5, 3:14

•	Governor - Matt. 2:6; Acts 5:31; Heb. 2:10.

•	High Priest - Heb. 3:1; 4:14; 7:26; 8:1

•	Head of the Church - Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23

•	Lamb of God - John 1:29; Acts 8:32-35; Rev. 5:6; 7:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19

•	Lion - Rev. 5:5

•	Prince of life - Acts 3:15

•	Resurrection and the life - John 11:25; 5:28-29; 10:10; 20:31

•	Saviour - 1 John 4:14; Phil. 3:20; Eph. 5:23; Acts 4:12

•	The Anointed One (Messiah) - Dan. 9:25; John 1:41; 4:25

•	The Word - John 1:1-2; 1 John 1:1; Rev. 19:13

•	Jesus - Matt. 1:21, 25; Luke 2:21; Acts 13:23; 10:38; Heb. 2:9

•	That man - John 19:5; Acts 2:22; 1 Tim. 2:5

•	Son of David - Matt. 1:1; Luke 1:32; 2 Tim. 2:8; Rev. 5:5; 22:16

•	Son of God - Mark 1:1; Matt. 16:16; John 11:27; 1 John 5:11-13; 4:15

•	Son of man - Dan. 7:13-14; Mark 2:27-28; Matt. 12:31-32; Luke 19:10; Acts 7:56

•	Servant of God - Isa. 42:1-4; 53:11; Matt. 12:14-21; Mark 10:45

•	Physician - Matt. 9:11-13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:30-32; 4:23

•	Prophet - Deut. 18:18-19; John 1:21; Luke 4:24; 13:33; Acts 3:22-26; 7:37; Matt. 17:5; Heb. 1:1

•	Stone - Mark 12:1-11; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:32-3; 1 Peter 2:6-8; Eph. 2:20

•	Bridegroom - Matt. 9:14-15; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:22-23; Rev. 19:7; 21:9

•	Bread of Life - John 6:35-68; Rev. 2:17

•	The Light of the world - John 8:12; 9:5; 12:35-36, 46; 3:19-21

•	The Way - John 14:6;See Eph. 2:18; Heb. 10:19-20; Acts 9:2; 19:9

•	The Truth - John 14:6;  1:14; 8:32; 18:37; 1 John 5:20

•	The Life - John 14:6; 1:4; 5:26; 11:25; 1 John 5:11-13, 20

•	Judge - John 5:22, 27; 12:47-48; Acts 10:42; 17:31; 2 Tim. 4:1; 2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25:31-46

•	The Just One - Acts 3:14; 7:52; 22:14; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 2:1


Character of Christ

•	Holy - Luke 1:5; Rev. :7; Acts :14

•	Righteous - Isa. 53:11; Acts 3:14; 22:14; 1 John 2:1

•	Without deceit - Isa. 53:9; 1 Peter 2:22

•	Without Sin - John 8:46; 2 Cor. 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 7:26; 1 John 3:5

•	Without blemish - 1 Peter 1:19; Hebrews 9:14

•	Faithful - Isa. 11:5; 2 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 2:13

•	One who is true - John 1:14; 7:18; 1 John 5:20; Rev. 3:7

•	Obedient and submissive to the Father - John 4:34; 6:38; 15:10; Heb. 5:8

•	Lowly in heart - Isa. 53:7; Matt. 11:29; Phil. 2:8

•	Compassionate - Luke 7:13; 19:41; Hebrews 2:17; 4:15

•	Long suffering - 1 Tim. 1:16

•	Loving - John 13:1; 15:13; 10:15

•	Giving Himself - Matt. 8:20; 2 Cor. 8:9

•	Forgiving - Luke 23:34


God Exists

3 Positions taken:

1.	Theism (belief in God)

2.	Atheism - affirm there IS no God

3.	Agnosticism

Fact One: The Universe Exists

Fact Two:  Universe Has Design And Purpose

Fact Three: Man Has A Unique Nature

What One Believes To Be An Atheist


The Universe Exists

Something cannot come from nothing

(law of biogenesis, 1st law of thermodynamics)

Something always existed.

MIND (intellect, God, whatever ) OR MATTER.

1.	matter not eternal.

a.	efforts to date universe

b.	Uranium 238 dating process, by dating hal life of  uranium. ASSUMES A STARTING TIME. IF ALWAYS BEEN THERE, THEN WOULD BE NO RADIOACTIVE PARTICLES TODAY.

c.	1st law of thermodynamics; matter and ENERGY can neither be created nor destroyed - only interchanged.

d.	2nd law of thermodynamics; the universe's sum total of USABLE energy is CONSTANTLY decreasing (could not do that FOREVER!!!!)

e.	"creation" a violation of science? but then so is "everlasting existence", which is more believable? We shall see.

f.	Real question: which is more logical, "mind" or "matter". Matter not able to DO anything "creative", like build, design, etc.

1.	mind greater than matter.

2.	matter not intelligent

3.	matter not eternal

Gen. 1:1,  God created, or  "NOTHING CREATED?????


Universe Has Design And Purpose

1.	illustration, finding rock or watch on pathway.

2.	design of universe

a.	innumerable stars, all in "orbit",no collision

b.	some stars "thousands" of light yrs away.

c.	OUR SOLAR SYSTEM. (only one of 300 million such)

1. 	includes 1 Sun and 9 planets.

2.	many have several moons, rotate different.

Jupiter, 1300 times larger than earth,

12 moons,

4 revolve east to west, 8 opposite

Saturn,

9 moons

1 east to west,  8 opposite

Neptune

2 moons

1 each way

d.	our galaxies are like large atoms.

3.	PURPOSE

a.	earth rotates at correct speed  slower would make winters and summers to long, burn & freeze.

b.	distance from sun gives right temp.

c.	angled at 230	gives seasons.

d.	moon, distance controls tide so land not covered

e.	atmosphere, burn meteors before hit earth, block out harmful rays from sun, etc.

4.	COMPARE WITH EYE,

a.	self cleaning (special fluid, plus drain hole)

b.	self adjusting, changes shape, etc.

c.	self metering (iris in pupil changes)

d.	hinged to move in all directions

NOT ABLE TO COMPARE WITH ANYTHING THAT MAN MAKES!!!

BUT ALL MEN HAVE THEM, THEY EVEN HAVE TWO

5.	SIZE

a.	earth = 25,000 miles around

b.	sun = 1 million times larger than earth

c.	to sun 92,000,000 miles or 4000 times the distance around the earth.

d.	Neptune = 2½ billion miles away.

e.	light year (186,000 miles p. second times number of seconds in a year)  most stars thousands of light years away.

f.	our galaxy 100 billion stars (milky way)

g.	at least another billion GALAXIES besides ours.

6.	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PURPOSE

a.	1000 m.p. hr at equator; if 100, days and nights would be 10 times longer, nothing would live.

b.	vapors of sea would then turn continents to ice!!!

c.	if closer land would be covered with water.

d.	crust of earth deeper by only 10 ft, THEN NO OXYGEN.

CONCLUSION  WHEN LOOKED AT IN SMALLER UNITS.

1.	smallest cell more complex than IBM machine

2.	each atom a will ordered universe.

DISRUPT = ATOMIC EXPLOSION.

SUMMARY OF THESE ARGUMENTS:

1.	universe run by laws = A LAWGIVER (God, Mind)

2.	It is run by mathematical principles, HENCE A MATHEMATICIAN (God)

3.	engineered with precision, hence an engineer  (GOD)

4.	designed for a purpose (hence a designer (GOD)

Heb. 3:4, he that created all things is God.

God CREATED MAN, Gen. 1:1,11,21,25, 28, 2:7

a.	explains why man over animals, Ps. 8:4-5-8

EVOLUTION "mentioned" in Bible, Isa. 29:15-16; Rom.1:21-25

THEISTIC EVOLUTION????

a.	evolution = "the non-miraculous origin of the universe

LEAVES GOD OUT, HENCE NOT THEISTIC!!!!!

b.	WOULD RULE OUT N.T. AND CHRIST, cp.

Mt.19:  John 1:1-4; Heb. 3:4; 1 Tim. 2:13ff; 2 Cor. 11:3ff;


Man Has A Unique Nature

1.	rational thought (can learn, and pass on)

2.	morals -

3.	esthetic nature (beauty of a picture, sunset, etc.)

4.	religious (all men worship something)

5.	a conscience.

CHOICES TO ACCOUNT FOR IT!???

God,	or evolution.

WHY REJECT EVOLUTION.

1. an unproven theory, can never be proven.

a.	fossil not exist past "precambrian period",

b.	no one back there to see,

c.	can not duplicate in present time period.

2.	cannot account for the origin of man.

a.	law of biogenesis, life comes from life

3.	no method of evolution.

a.	acquired characteristics, not true, impossible

b.	natural selection (Darwin's explanation), II

1. 	based upon mutation or acquired characteristics

2.	besides, G. Simpson NOW REPUDIATES SUCH.

c.	MUTATION???

1.	99% are harmful

2.	only type known is "micro" within species

3.	test with fruit flies, only change, COULD NEVER ADD ANYTHING (which of course is what is required to evolve upward.

LOGICAL CONSEQUENCE IS SELECTIVE BREEDING!!!!

PS. 14:1, fool has said in his heart: THERE IS NO GOD.


What One Believes To Be An Atheist

1. 	Life can come from nonlife;

2.	Something can come out of nothing.

3.	Order can come out of disorder - i.e., the cosmos came out of chaos.

4.	Chance can produce arrangement.

5.	There can be a design without a designer;

6.	Like does not produce like;

7.	There can be an effect without a cause;

8.	Mind can be produced by matter.

9.	There is no real purpose in life.

10.	There is no hereafter;

11.	The Bible is NOT the word of God.

12.	There is no God.

How would YOU like  to have the task of PROVING

a)	that the Bible is not the word of God

b)	that God does not exist?


God Atrributes of

Eternal

Creator of All

Omniscient

Omnipresent

Omnipotent

Unchangeable

Faithful

Jealous

Searches the heart

Impartial - No Respect of Persons

Holy

Merciful

Love


Eternal

•	Psalm 102:24-27

•	Psalm 90:1-4

•	Exodus 3:13-14

•	Isaiah 57:15

•	Jeremiah 10:10

•	1 Timothy 1:17

•	Revelation 1:8

•	Revelation 4:8-9


Creator of All

•	Genesis 1:1

•	Nehemiah 9:6

•	Psalm 8:3

•	Ecclesiastes 12:1

•	Acts 17:4

•	Hebrews 11:3

•	1 Peter 4:19

•	Revelation 4:11

•


Omniscient

Meaning - all that is knowable - even the thoughts and intents of the hearts of men - He knows.

•	Job 37:16

•	Psalm 147:4-5

•	Psalm 139:2-4

•	1 Chronicles 28:9

•	Matthew 10:29-30

•	Romans 11:33-36


Omnipresent

Meaning, His presence is everywhere - there is no where that at all times His presence is there.

•	Jeremiah 23:23-24

•	Psalm 139:8-12, 23-24

•	Hebrews 4:13

•	Acts 17:28-29

•	Jeremiah 16:17


Omnipotent

God is all powerful.

•	Genesis 1:3, 11

•	Psalm 3:8-9

•	Jeremiah 32:17

•	Isaiah 40:21-31

•	Matthew 19:26

•	Revelation 11:17

•	Hebrews 13:5-6


Unchangeable

God is unchangeable in CHARACTER - though how he treats men may change depending upon how they respond to His will.

•	Malachi 3:6

•	1 Samuel 15:29

•	Numbers 23:19

•	James 1:17

Note, that the scriptures indicate that God does 'repent' - change His mind towards men and thus resulting in a change of His actions towards men - but that is never an indication that His CHARACTER has changed.


Faithful

God ALWAYS keeps His word - whether it is a promise of good or a threat of wrath.

•	Deut. 7:9

•	Psalm 100:5

•	1 Corinthians 1:9

•	1 Corinthians 10:13

•	1 Thess. 5:23-24

•	2 Thess. 3:3

•	Hebrews 10:23

•	Hebrews 6:17-18

•	1 John 1:9

•	Romans 3:3-5

•	Titus 1:2

•	2 Timothy 2:11-13

•	1 Peter 4:19


Jealous

•	Exodus 20:5

•	Exodus 34:14

•	Joshua 24:19

•	Deut. 4:24

•	Hebrews 10:31

•	Hebrews 12:29

•	Matthew 6:3

•	James 4:4

•	Colossians 3:1-2


Searches the heart

•	1 Chronicles 28:9

•	1 Kings 8:39

•	1 Samuel 16:7

•	Acts 1:24

•	Romans 8:27

•	Luke 16:15

•	Revelation 2:23


Impartial - No Respect of Persons

•	Deut. 10:17

•	2 Chronicles 19:7

•	Acts 10:34-35

•	Romans 2:11

•	Galatians 2:6

•	Ephesians 6:9

•	Colossians 3:25

•	1 Peter 1:17


Holy

God is HOLY - 'set apart from sin and evil' - and this in an absolute sense. Because of His 'righteousness' - there can be NO evil associated with Him - He will not 'fellowship' evil in any degree or capacity.

•	Isaiah 6:3

•	Revelation 4:8

•	James 1:13

•	1 John 1:5

•	Leviticus 11:45

•	1 Peter 1:15-16


Merciful

•	Deut. 4:31

•	Exodus 34:6

•	Psalm 116:5

•	Psalm 145:8-9

•	Matthew 5:45

•	Luke 6:36

•	Romans 2:4

•	Titus 3:4-5

•	Luke 15:11-24

Note, that God will not be MOCKED - though He is merciful it doesn't mean that He is a 'fool' - you can NOT continue in sin - loving the world - AND expect mercy at the SAME TIME. You can at ANY time turn away from sin and evil and turn back to God and find mercy.


Love

Love - the active seeking of the best interests of another - God seeks our GOOD - not wishing any to perish (see 2 Peter 3:9).

•	1 John 4:7, 8, 19

•	Romans 5:8

•	Ephesians 2:4-7

•	John 3:16

•	Hebrews 12:6-7

•	1 John 3:1

This does NOT deny that He is also Holy and will bring every work into judgment - casting away those who insist on living in rebellion to His will - see God is Holy,


Inspiration of the Bible

Introduction - Does God Expect Anything

Archaeology and the Bible

Scientific Accuracy (What It Doesn't Say)

Pre-Scientific Knowledge

Health And Sanitation

Proofs From Prophecy

Babylon

Tyre

Christ

Style of Bible

A Complete Revelation

Complete Old Testament

Complete New Testament

The Everlasting Faith

No Original Manuscripts

Manuscripts We Have

The Fullness of Christ

The Church - The Fullness of Christ


Introduction - Does God Expect Anything

QUESTION:	Since God created the world, is there anything that He expects of me? How am I to know this.

1.	Inner light?  Then why not all men, even "primitive" countries, worshipping God the same?

2.	Human wisdom? Greatest minds of the day, Greek and Roman philosophers. Notice their world, Rom. 1: 17ff.

Plato said: "We will wait for one, either God or a God inspired man to teach us our religious duties and to take away the darkness from our eyes.

IF GOD DOES NOT EXPECT ANYTHING OF ME, THAN ALL THINGS ARE ACCEPTABLE TO HIM. I AM A GOD UNTO MYSELF.

POSSIBILITY OF GOD REVEALING HIMSELF?

yes, if He wanted to.

PROBABLE FOR HIM TO DO SO?

Yes, He put a need to worship in man. Every other need has a fulfillment, where is this one? Only in a revelation.

PROOFS OF INSPIRATION OF BIBLE

1.	unity,  need all of, first to last.

2.	archaeological (historical)

3.	scientific accuracy (what it doesn't say)

4.	prescientific  statements.

5.	fulfilled prophecy

6.	style


Archaeology and the Bible

Note:

1.	Such does Not PROVE Bible inspired of God -- directly.

2.	It Shows that it is historically accurate -- which it would HAVE to be if inspired.

3.	It is confirmed to such a degree that it is unique of ALL books.

a.	famine in Egypt in time of Joseph, confirmed by Petrie - 1912

b.	Exodus 5,  bricks and straw.  confirmed by Kyle in 1908, who found at Pithon the lower courses of bricks filled with good straw, the middle courses with stubble, and the upper with no straw at all.

c.	Joshua 6,  walls of Jericho

1.	walls fell flat, verse 20, Dr. Garstang in

1929-36	excavated the city. Walls were double walls, built on bad foundations, connected by mortar at top(thus leaving a "house" between the walls), the remains show that the outer wall fell outward, down the hill - pulling the inner wall after

2.	date given:  1400 B.C., (Joshua time)

3.	city burned with fire, (verse 24), ample evidence.

4.	No devoted" things taken (vs. 18:24) food stuffs and lentils, etc. found in the storerooms, all seemingly untouched.

d.	original Monotheism (belief in one God), all writings of early history bear this out.

e.	early writing. Until fairly recent times, it was thought that writing was not known until the time of Moses. The Code  of Hammurabi, the Weld Prism, the pre-flood tablets have now proven the use of writing in Abraham's day and even much earlier.

f.	early use of metals (Gen. 4:21,22)

Until recently the "Iron Age" was supposed to be from 1200 B.C. onward. Dr. Frankfort's discovery in 1933 pushed the use of iron back 1500 more years. Other discoveries show use of Bronze and other metals before the flood.

g.	BUILDING OF EGYPTIAN CITIES , BY HEBREW SLAVE LABOR (Ex. 1:11)  now confirmed by Naville, 1883; Petrie, 1905;  and Fisher,  1922

h.	KING BELSHAZZER OF BABYLON (Dan. 5) For many years all Babylonian records showed no such name listing Nabonidus as the last king before the Persian invasion However, the British Museum discovered a number of clay tablets that listed Nabonidus as having a son, Belshazzer, who ruled jointly with him and was killed in the persian conquest.


Scientific Accuracy

Although admitted to be at least 1900 years old, the Bible contains none of the geographical, historical, and scientific mistakes and inaccuracies that characterize the writings of men. Books of medicine, astronomy, geology, etc., even 50 to 100 years old are usually outdated because of mistakes.

a.	does not contain common "errors" of the day in which it was written

1.	Genesis account  verses  Egyptian Account

a.	Bible in harmony with modern ideas

''

b.	Egypt.  World from a "flying egg ,

man from the worms of the Nile.


Pre-Scientific Knowledge

a.	5 facts of science,  Gen. 1:1

b.	3 kingdoms,  Gen. 1

c.	seed of woman,  Gen. 3: 15

d.	earth on nothing, Job. 26:7

e.	weight to wind,  Job. 28:25

f.	rain cycle  Job  36:27-28

g.	paths of sea,  Ps. 8:8

h.	earth is decaying,  Ps. 102:26 =

i.	life in blood,  Lev. 17:10-16

j.	all nations of one (blood)   Acts 17:26

k.	quarantine, disinfection procedures , covering over mouth in treatment of infectious diseases,  Lev. 13-14


Health And Sanitation

1.	When rodents, or other creeping things touched any implement, vessel or raiment, the things made from earth or clay were to be destroyed while the rest could be washed in water to be made clean.

2.	When that classified as "unclean"" touched food or drink, the meat was to be burned, drink poured out , and the rest properly disposed of.

3.	Forbade them to eat things that died of itself (Deut. 14:21) or torn of beasts (Lev. 17:15)

4.	Required to bury animal blood 'and human excreta

5.	Sick people (open sores or leprosy)

a.	" to be quarantined or isolated"

b.	Wear a "mask over mouth and nose"

c.	Anything touched by them was "unclean"

d.	To clean included bathing of body and clothes in RUNNING water, and in some cases the removal of body hair.

e.	Burning of clothes or buildings when disease cannot be arrested.


Proofs From Prophecy

A.	NECESSITIES FOR PROPHECY

1.	It must have been delivered PRIOR to the event

2.	It must CORRESPOND PRECISELY WITH THE EVENT, no vague terms or general language)

3.	It must be something beyond mere human sagacity, (this rule precludes the prediction of eclipses and other such knowledge)

4.	It must be a prediction that COULD NOT have caused its own fulfillment, by suggesting to some one who knew of it, a corresponding procedure.)

1.	Gen. 9:25-27

a.	Canaan, the descendants of Ham, cursed to be servants of other nations. (Resided

b.	Shem,  blessed, God will dwell with

c.	Japheth,  enlarged.

FULFILLED:

1.	Ham, the "Negro", of Africa. any questions?

2.	Shem, the Semitic race, Jews and Arabs. Father of Abraham, Moses, David, etc.

3.	Japheth, enlarged,

a.	reside in Europe, far east, America, etc.


Babylon

2.	PROPHECY OF BABYLON  -  Isa. 13:19-22  (700 B.C.)

1.	Never again be inhabited

2.	Arab not pitch tent there, not make flocks to stay there

3.	Wild beasts shall live in their palaces and houses

Isa. 14:23

4.	will make it pools of water

Isa. 25: 12

5.	high walls to be brought down.

Jer.	600 B.C.

Jer. 51:25-26

1.	it will be a burnt mountain

2.	stones will not be taken from for other buildings

3.	it will be desolate

Jer. 51:36-43

4.	its fountain would dry up.

5.	sea will cover it up.

Babylon had been a city for thousands of years. It was the capitol of the worlds leading nation. It was fortified with a 300 ft. high wall and 125 ft. thick. Outside the wall was a manmade canal surrounding it like a moat (extending some 64 miles inland from the river source). Further more it had been on the trade route thousands of years. It also contained the "hanging gardens", one of the 7 wonders of the world.

196 sq. miles

14 miles per side

56 miles circumference

30ft. wide moat

1.	Due to lack of rain over several cent., the Euphrates River became saline. 100 A.D. this ruined the fertility of the land no drinking water there.

2.	People deserted it till it became completely emptied.

3.	1,000 A.D., river changed its course, man made canal dried up.

4.	Over the centuries, water level in the plain has risen, causing 1/4 of the city to be under water.           Ency. Brit.  Ii,  p. 950

5.	Because of soil deterioration (and local superstition) Arabs will not camp nor graze their sheep near the city. (Superstition comes from the fact that Alex. the Great tried to rebuild the city and died there)

6.	Its walls and buildings have weathered, but the stones were NEVER taken and used for new buildings (as was customary).  :

Note:  Some building material and bricks were used, but the STONES never moved.

Cp. Austen R. Layard, "Discoveries Among The Ruins Of Nineveh And Babylon", (Harper Brothers, 1853, N.Y.)

Edward Chiera: "They wrote on clay, the Babylonian Tablets Speak Today", Edited by George C. Cameron, Rev. ed.,  Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1966.


Tyre

3.	PROPHECY AGAINST NATION OF TYRE (Phoenicians) Ezek. 26:3-5;12,14,21

1.	Many nations, as waves of the sea, would come against it.

2.	The walls and buildings would be torn down and cast into the water. All the stone, timber, and even the soil down to the bedrock, would be covered by the sea.

3.	The city site would be made a bare rock and used as a place for spreading and repair of fishing nets.

4.	The city would no longer exist.

HISTORY:

1.	586 B.C. Phoenicians came under siege by Babylon.

a. held out for 13 years,

b. then built 2nd smaller city on island 1/2 mile out in Med. Sea.  (see Encyclopedia Brit, xxii, pg. 452)

2.	322 B.C..  (333) Alex. the Great conquered coastal cities, including their navies , sent them against Tyre. (Ency. Brit., xxii, pg. 452

•	because of the strength of Tyre's navy, considered too slow, decided to build a causeway to Island

•	used timber and stone from old city.

•	ran out before finished, had ground scraped down to bedrock, getting enough fill to finish job.

•	destroyed the Phoenicians.

•	today, only a large, bare rock left.

•	for centuries the site has been used by fisherman to spread and mend their nets.

•	other than historical records, there is no evidence that one of the world's richest cities ever existed.


Christ - prophecy of

1.	born of woman Gen. 3:15 = Gal. 4:4

2.	born of virgin,  Isa. 7:14 = Mt. 1:22

3.	linage of Abraham Gen. 12:3 = Acts 3:25,26

4.	Family of David,  Ps. 132:11 = Rev. 22:16;  Jer. 23:5 = Mt. 1:1-2

5.	preceeded by forerunner, Isa. 40:3 = Matt. 3:3 Ma1.3:l;4:5 = Lk. 3:3,4

6.	Born in Bethlehem,  Micah 5:2 - Mt. 2:5-6

7.	Divinity, God with us,

Isa. 7: 14 = Mt. 1:22

Isa. 25:9= Lk. 2:11

Isa. 9:6 = Mt. 11:27

Jer. 23:6 = Luke 2:11

8.	slaughter of Babies, Jer. 31:15 = Matt. 2:17,18

9.	Galilean Ministry	Isa. 9:1-2 = Mt. 4:14-16

10.	His priesthood.

a.	after order of Melchizedek,  Ps. 110:4=Heb. 5:5

b.	King and Priest, Zech. 6:12-13, Heb. 7:17-21

11.	a prophet, Deut. 18:15,18 = Acts 3:22  4,

12.	purging temple  Ps. 69:9 = Jn. 2:17

13.	triumphant entry.

a.	enter Jerusalem on ass, Zech. 9:9 = Mt. 21:4,5

b.	also,  Isa. 62:11

14.	betrayed by friend, Ps. 41:9; 55:13 = Jn. 13:18

15.	price of betrayal = Zech. 11:12-13 = Mt. 27:9-10

16.	deserted by disciples  Zech. 13: 7 = Mt. 26: 56

17.	silent before Accusers

Ps. 38:13-14, Isa. 53:7 = Mt. 27:12-14

18.	smitten on cheek  Micah 5:1 = Mt. 27:30

19.	scourged and spit upon	Ps. 35:15 / Isa. 50:6 = Mk. 14:65/Jn. 19:1

20.	mocked and insulted  	Pss. 22:7 = Matt. 27:39,40

21.	vinegar and gall	Ps. 69:21 = Mt. 27:34 / Jn. 19:29f

22.	cries on cross  	Ps. 22:1; 31:5 Matt. 27:46

23.	vicarious death	Isa. 53:4-6 = Mt. 8:17

24.	crucified among thieves  Isa. 53:12 = Mt. 27:58

25.	nailed to cross	Isa. 25:10 / Ps. 22:16 = John 19:18; 20:25

26.	pierced. Zech. 12:10 = Jn. 19:34-37

27.	not break bones	Ex. 12:46; Ps. 34:20 = Jn. 19:33-36

28.	parted garments, 	Ps. 22:18 = Jn. 19:23,24

29.	buried with rich	Isa. 53:9 = Mt. 27:57-60

30.	flesh not corrupt, 	Ps. 16:8-10 = Acts 2:31

31.	arose from the dead 	Ps. 16:8-10; 30:3 = Luke 24:4, 31,34

32.	Ascended into heavens   Ps. 68:18;  24:7-9 = Lk. 24:51, Acts 1:9

33.	Coronation	Ps. 110:1-2 & 24:7-10 = Acts 1:9; Eph. 1:20-23

Regarding these N cases of events foretold for Israel's messiah who was to come, if the chances of success were even in the case of each one, that is p (probability) equals 1/2 in every case, then the overall probability that all n events would find their fulfillment in one Person would be pn equals  1/2n . Thus there would be but one chance in 2n (33 million, where n equals 25) of all these foretold events coming true if they were mere guesses. Now a glance at these prophecies concerning Christ reveals that they do not all have an even chance of success, for in some instances it is highly improbable that the event would occur at all (as for a child to be born without a. human father). A very conservative compromise would be p = 1/5; and the overall probability for the n prophecies coming true would be

pn = (1/5)n,

or ONE CHANCE OUT OF A THOUSAND TRILLION IF n = 25

(source unknown, taken from B. B. Baxter, I Believe Because)


Style of Bible

1.	BREVITY OF ENTIRE BOOKS.

A.	Genesis = 50 chapters.

1.	origin of world

2.	1st 2,500 yrs of man! 5 existence

3.	1st 34 verses = creation of material world

B.	Life of Christ, central theme, but yet

1.	Mt. = 28 chpts.  Mk. = 16, Lk = 24, Jn =21

2.	BREVITY OF BIBLE INCIDENTS.

a.	Gen. 3:1-24,  fall

explains  sin, suffering, sickness, death, toil, and necessity of Messiah

b.	Mt. 17: 1-8,  transfiguration of Jesus and the appearance of Moses and Elijah,

c.	appearances of Christ after resurrection

Mt.	= only	2 such appearances

Mk.	= only	3

Lk.	= only	3

Jn.	= only	4

YET THERE WERE AT LEAST 10

d.	Death of apostle James, 1st apostle martyred Acts 12:2, = 1 verse,  11 words.

3.	OMISSIONS OF SCRIPTURE

A.	John's gospel:

birth of John the B., birth of Jesus, genealogy of Christ, youth, baptism, temptation transfiguration, ascension,

B.	John = 20 days in life of Christ.

1.	total life = at least 12,000 days.

2.	active ministry = at least 1,270 days

3.	All gospels,  only 34 days.

4.	Of 879 verse in John, 237 = one day.

CONCLUSION:	JOHN 20:30-31,  21:25

C.	Acts = Part of Peter and Paul's lives.

1.	what of other apostles?

2.	what of Peter from Acts 13 onward?

3.	What of Paul, end in prison?

D.	PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF JESUS.

1.	What other book would not DESCRIBE its main character?

2.	What about the "supporting" roles. Why were they not described?

4.	IMPARTIALITY OF SCRIPTURES ,  GOOD AND BAD OF EVERYONE

A.	Abraham and Sara,  Gen. 12:10-20;  20:1-12

B.	Noah,  Gen.

C.	David;  2 Sam. 11:1-21

D.	Anger of John and James,  Lk. 9:51-55

E.	Ambition of Mother of James and John, Mt. 20:20-28

F.	Peter's denial Mt. 26:69-75

G.	Judas's betrayal Mt. 26:14-16, 47-50

H.	NO APOLOGIES FOR GOOD GUYS, NO REPROACHES ON BAD GUYS, JUST THE FACTS

5.	calmness of scriptures

a.	Emotions of writers not apparent.

1.	transfiguration;  Mt. 17:1-5

2.	John the B. death;  Mt. 14:6-12

3.	Christ's miracles

a.	feeding of 5,000  Mt. 6:39-44

b.	walking on water,  Mk. 6:49-51

C.	Lazarus raised John 11:43-46

4.	betrayal of Christ = no anger/vexation in the narrative, Mt. 26:14-16, 47-56

5.	crucifixion, no emotion Mt. 27:33-56

6.	NO COLORFUL ADJECTIVES IN DESCRIBING ANY OF THE ABOVE EVENTS, SUCH AS WE WOULD USE:

stupendous, amazing, unbelievable, unrivaled, unprecedented, etc.


A Complete Revelation

Deut. 18:18 (Acts 3:23)  Messiah = ALL OF GOD'S WORD

Jn. 12:48-50, spoke what Father commanded

Jn. 8:26,  speak what He heard

Jn. 17:8  given the words God gave Him,

Jn. 15:15,  Jesus told apostles ALL THINGS

APOSTLES THEREFORE KNEW ALL OF GOD'S WORD

Jn. 15:15, heard it if Jesus told it.

Jn. 14:26, H.S. bring ALL THINGS to remembrance

Jn. 16:13,  they guided into ALL TRUTH

2 Pet. 1:2-3,  they had ALL THINGS FOR LIFE,GODLINESS

SCRIPTURES WRITTEN TO:

1. 	cause faith, Jn. 20:30-31, 17:20

2.	grant life,  Jn. 20:30-31

3.	teach what Jesus did & taught, Acts 1: 1

4.	know what apostles taught,  Lk. 1:3-4

5.	know commandments of Lord, 1 Cor. 14:37

6.	understand what revealed to apostles,Eph.3:3f 44

7.	know what apostle saw and heard, 1 Jn. 1:3-4

8.	have fellowship with God/Christ, 1 Jn. 1:3-4

9.	our joy might be made full (complete)        "

10.	men might not sin, 1 Jn. 2:1

11.	cause to remember teachings of apostles after their death, 2 Pet. 1:12-21

12.	remember/contend for the faith  Jude 3,5

13.	be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto ALL (every) good work,  2 Tim. 3:16-17

14.	that the revelation of the mystery (the gospel) might be manifested unto all nations -- unto the obedience of faith, Rom. 16:25-26

15.	know how to conduct self in '"church", 1 Tim. 3:15


Complete Old Testament

1.	NOT every speech, conversation or sermon of inspired men written (Jn.20:30). Can have all their truths without every speech.

2.	No proof any truth taught having been lost.

3.	If O.T. was, not effect US being under the N.T.

4.	God's people have been zealous to preserve the inspired records.

5.	Such inspired books were duplicated often, thus would be found in more than one place.

6.	In O.T. a short letter or any other piece of writing, could be called a book. "Bill of divorcement", Dt. 24:1, is a 'book of divorcement', Mt. 19:7; Mk. 10:4. "book of generations" of Mt. 1:1.

THUS SOME SO CALLED LOST BOOK MAY BE IN OTHER BOOKS.

7.	"lost book" might be in bible under another name,  ex., the book of the covenant in Ex. 24:7, what God revealed to Moses, which he read to people, Ex. 24:1-2,3,4,7

8.	Secular records as well as inspired books kept by Jews these not needed to be preserved Cf. 1 Kings f4:19-29.

9.	Some books cited in the Bible were not inspired writings, Acts 17:28; Tit. 1:12

10.	NO PROOF THAT ANY BOOKS WERE LOST.

a.	Jesus accused Jews of many things, but not 80 careless as to lose an inspired book.

b.	Jesus accepted the 0.T. as God's word, dividing it as they did, law, prophets, and psalms, Mt. 5:17,18;  7:12; Lk.24:27-44

c.	we have same that He had, all but 7 O.T. books are cited in N.T.

11.	Mtt.2:23 = simple that he would be despised,rejected, lowly, etc.

12.	Jude 14?. not book. but a prophecy that He made, Jude received by inspiration.


Complete New Testament

1.	NOT have to have every time a truth recorded to have all truth. (if repeated, once enough)

2.	NOT THEN EVERY SPEECH nor all writings.

3.	IS THERE ANY PROOF ANY TRUTH LOST???? .

4.	Col. 4:16? epistle to Laodiceans?

a.	History knows of no such letter.

b.	Not actually TO, but FROM.

1.	a letter (which we have) being circulated?

2.	obvious such was practiced, this one to be sent to Laodicia.

c.	if such private letters as Philemon were preserved, why not this one?

d.	Could be the letter "to the Ephesians"

1.	that not directed "to Ephesians", critical note, Eph. 1:1

5.	Jude 3? Not sure He wrote another. Could be and probably is, the same letter of Jude

6.	Eph. 3:3? again, the former part of this same letter meant, not another.

7.	KNOW OF NO APOSTOLIC FATHER who EVER quoted from anything OTHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE.

8.	1 Cor. 5;9.  if any, this is it.

a.	dealing with fornication, and so does 1 Cor. , thus not necessarily a loss of the truth, even if "letter" lost.

b.	Many maintain it is the SAME LETTER,

c.	AGAIN, NO INDICATION PROOF GIVEN TO SUBSTANTIATE THE IDEA OF A LOST LETTER.


The Everlasting Faith

O.T. ,

Ps. 119:89-91, 152, 160,  FOREVER,

Isa. 40:8,  endure/abide forever

 Mt. 5:17,  not "perish" till fulfilled

N.T.

Isa. 55:3,

Isa. 55:10-11,  will accomplish purpose (see notes, opposite page,)

Mt. 24:35,  last till fulfilled

Heb. 13:20	everlasting covenant ,

1.	1st was faulty,  Heb. 8:7

2.	2nd = one Jesus mediator of, Heb. 8:6; 9:15

3.	2nd, = remission of sins,  Heb. 8:7-13

1 Pet. 1:24-25,  will "abide forever" John 12:48,  will judge on last day

Jude 3.

1.	"once for all,"  cp. Heb. 9:27, a. once for all time validity b. not to be repeated,

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:

PS. 12:6-7,  keep world, preserve word

PS. 100:3,  endure,

Jn. 5:39, "search the scriptures",

1.	"if find one?"  NO

2.	"if not perverted? NO

Lk. 16:    have Moses and prophets (all? yes)

Lk. 24:44-46, scriptures, thus it is written


No Original Manuscripts

1.	Probably good thing, otherwise would be worshiped.

2.	PRESERVED IN QUOTES OF ANCIENTS WRITINGS

A.	Ignatius, 110ad , quotes from:

Mt. 1 Pet. 1 Jn., 9 of Paul's letters

B.	THE DIDACHE,  80-120 ad.   22 quotes of Mt.,

ref. to Lk., Jn. Acts, Romans, Thess. 1 Pet.

C.	EPISTLE TO BARNIBUS, ad. 90-120 quotes Mt., Jn. Acts, 2 Pet.

D.	TATIAN,  160 a.d., made a "harmony of the gospels, 4 (and only 4 )recognized

E.	Basilides (gnostic heretic)  117-130AD attempting distortion of gospel quotes from Mt. Luke, Jn. Rom. 1 Cor. Eph, Col.

F.	Marcion (heretic)  140AD, made own "canon" (accepted books) Lk., Rom., 1-2 Cor., Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, 1-2 Thess, Philemon

G.	Irenaeus 130-200 AD.

1.	quotes most of N.T. as "scriptures"

2.	known as "gospel and APOSTLES (like "law and prophets"

H.	ORIGEN 185-254  2/3 of N.T in His Accepted all 27 books as we have them.


Manuscripts We Have

1.	Muratorian Fragment,  Rome, ad 170 lists book of N.T (w/o Heb., 1-2 Pet, and James.)

2.	OLD LATIN VERSION (translation into Latin middle of 2nd cent., all but Hebrews, James, 2 Pet. )

3.	4,000	manuscripts or parts thereof, written 2 - 15th cent.,

4.	Siniatic,

Tischendorf, Monastary of St. Catherine, 1859, 43 leaves, later found the rest of it. Most of Old, ENTIRE NEW TEST., plus Ep. of Barnabus, and part Shep. of Hermes . MADE EARLY 4th cent. (300's)

5.	VATICAN, 4th cent., almost ALL N.T.,

6.	ALEXANDRIAN, 5th cent., complete except fragments of N.T. missing. (not books)


The Fullness of Christ

1.	THE PREEMINENCE OF Christ, Col. 1:14-23

a.	relation to God, image, vs: 15

b.	relation to the universe:

1.	Creator, vs. 16 (Jn. 1:1-3, Heb. 1:2)

2.	preexistent,  17:a, Jn. 1:1, 8:58; 17:5

3.	sustainer,  17b

c.	relation to church,  = HEAD,  18

d.	relation to deity;  fullness,  19;  (2:9)

e.	relation to man,  sin,  God, RECONCILER,  20-23

2.	Christ the Mystery of God, Treasury of Wisdom, Knowledge (1:24 - 2:5)

a.	mystery revealed,

1.	Christ in you, hope of glory

2.	not known before, 1 Pet. 1:10-12; Rom. 16:25

b.	TREASURE OF WISDOM

a casket, coffer, or other receptacle, in which valuables are kept"' Thayer.

THIS WISDOM = IN CHRIST

c.	KNOWLEDGE, (2:3b),  all we need to know.

3.	Christ the fullness of the Godhead, and the Christian's completeness,  2:8- 3:4

a.	philosophy denounced as enemy of Christ,  vs. 8

b.	Christian' 5 completeness in Christ  9- 15

CONCLUSION:

1.	nothing philosophy can add for Christian,  2:8

2.	no powers that can conquer Christian,  2:15

3.	nothing the law can contribute,

a.	not judged by it,  16

b.	not under it,  17

4.	visionary angel worship nor modern revelation can help,  18-20

5.	Christian not to submit to ascetic rules for CHRIST SUPPLIES EVERYTHING WE NEED,  20-23


The Church - The Fullness of Christ

1.	God's eternal purpose in Christ, 1:3-14

a.	God the designer

b.	Christ the "channel of blessings, 7-12

1.	redemption  7

2.	all things summed up in, 8-1O

3.	our inheritance, 11a

4.	the fullness of times, 10

compare Mk. 1:14,15, Gal. 4:4

2. 	The church in the eternal purpose 1:20-3:13

a.	church = fullness of Christ      44

1.	all blessings in Christ

2.	church the fullness of Christ,l:23

5.	all blessings in church

b.	the church = the body of the reconcile - 2:15-18

c.	church = temple,  2:19-22

d.	church, the fulfillment of the mystery, 3:1-13,

1.	mystery now revealed

2.	revealed by H.S.,

5.	church God's eternal purpose,

summary

1.	God to provide nothing more than that which has been provided, 1:10

2.	Man needs nothing more than that which God has provided.

3.	The unsearchable riches and wisdom of God now made known, 3:8,10

4.	These were not enjoyed by or known to man before Christ, 3:9,10

5.	These fulfill the divine purpose, leaving no vacuum or need of further blessing or revelation, 3:11


Premillennialism

Christ's Work On Earth - Why He Came To Earth

Kingdom Exists Now

Spiritual Kingdom

Christ On The Throne Of David

The Land Promise To Abraham

Why Reject Literal Restoration

The Time Gap Theory

Consequences Of Millennialism

The Second Coming

Why Bring Christ Back To Earth?

The Reign of Christ -

The Kingdom Prophecies Fulfilled

Jesus Is King AND Priest Now

Israel In The Old Testament

Israel In The New Testament

Paul's Allegory - Gal. 4:21-31

Restoration Difficulties

Things Not Mentioned in Rev. 20

God's Chosen People


Christ's Work On Earth

CHRIST'S WORK ON EARTH

WHY HE CAME TO EARTH

1.	to do the Father's will:

Jn.6:38; 4:34; 5:36; Heb. 5:7-9.

2.	To fulfill the law of Moses) Mtt.5:17-18; Lk  24:44; Gal. 3:14-16.

3.	To call sinners to repentance,  Mk. 2:17; Jn.12:47

4.	To preach the kingdom

Lk  4:43; Jn.18:36-37; Mt.3:1-3; Mk.1:14-15; 9:1

5.	To die as a sacrifice for mankind

Jn.12:27; Mk.1O:45; Jn.2:18-22; 3:14-18 Isa.53;  Ps. 22, etc.

6.	To triumph over Satan,

1 Jn. 3:8; Heb.2:14; Col.2:15; Mt.12:29; Eph.4:8

7.	To establish the new covenant, (the 2nd one)

Jer.31:31-34; Heb. 10:5-10; 8:7-13; 9:15; 12:22-2, Heb. 13:20

8.	To tell us all things,

Dt. 18:l8ff; Jn.4:25;  2 Pet. 1:3; Jude 3

JESUS FINISHED THE WORK HE CAME TO DO,

Jn. 17:4;  2 Cor. 5:16.

WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED

1.	His mission of redemption is complete; Eph. 1:7-Jo; Col. 1:13-14

2.	His revelation is complete, Eph. 3:1-10; Jude 3

2 Pet. 1:3; 2 Tim. 3:15-17

3.	His authority is complete, Mtt.28:18; Eph.1:20-22

4.	His kingdom is complete, Col. 1:13; Rev.1:5,6,9

5.	His throne is complete, Heb. 4:14, Rev. 3:21;Acts2

6.	His name is complete,  Eph. 1:22;  Col. 3:17

7.	His glory is complete, Lk. 24:25; 1 Pet. 1:20-21


Kingdom Exists Now

Kingdom exists now

1.	Mk.1:14-15;  The time was fulfilled in the 1st advent Note also) Gal.4:4; Rom. 5:6; 1 Tim.2:6; Eph.1:10

2.	Mk.9:1, Apostles not to die till see it come with power either they saw it, or they are alive, or Jesus lied

Kingdom to come with power,	Mk.9:1

power to come When they received H .S., Acts 1:8

therefore, kingdom,power, holy spirit all came together.

Kingdom and Spirit came together, Spirit came in Acts 2,

therefore, kingdom came with power in Acts 2.

3.	Col. 1:13,  church was IN THE KINGDOM.

4.	Rev. 1:6, (NASV) "hath made us to be a kingdom, priests...

''

5.	Rev. 1:9  John was "in the kingdom ,

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN = KINGDOM OF GOD

Mt.	5:3	Lk. 6:21

Mt.	11:11	Lk. 7:28

Mt.	13:11	Lk. 8:10; Mk. 4:11

Mt.	13:31	Mk. 4:30

Mt.	19:14	Lk. 18:17

Mt.	19:23	Lk. 18:24; Mk. 10:23

Mt.	19:24	Lk. 18:25; Mk. 10:25


Spiritual Kingdom

Jn.6:15, Jews once tried to make him king, but he rejected their offer. Why?  Because:

1.	Jn. 18:36, his kingdom is NOT OF THIS WORLD.

2.	Lk. 17:20-21; His kingdom will not come with observation  rather it is "within you". IT IS SPIRITUAL.

3.	Col. 1:13, you enter his kingdom when you leave the power of Sin and Satan, it is spiritual.

4.	Rev. 1:5-6; you enter the kingdom when you become a priest--when you are washed in the blood of Christ.  It is a SPIRITUAL KINGDOM.

5.	Rom. 14:17  the kingdom is "not meat and drink", but RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

6.	This was what he offered them from the beginning.

a.	Jn. 2:  he announced his death/resurrection.

b.	Jn. 3:  he said you "must be born again" to enter

c.	Jn. 3: he went on to show that "this salvation" depended upon HIS BEING LIFTED UP, AND THEN HE WOULD DRAW ALL MEN UNTO HIM.

7.	Notice also, the gospel of Mark.

a.	The kingdom time was fulfilled, Mk. 1:14-15

b.	Jesus came to call sinners to repent,  2:17

c.	parables of kingdom expounded,  ch. 4

1. sower,  entrance into kingdom = obedience to word of God.

d.	announced his death & resurrection,  8:31f.

e.	still announced coming kingdom during that generation!  9:1 (note, this not the transfiguration, Apostles still seeking kingdom Acts 1: ,

also Joseph was waiting for it, Mk.15:43)

f.	entering kingdom = becoming like children, 10:14f

g.	entering kingdom = same as being saved, 10:25-26

h.	Jesus to die, 10:33; 45

i.	Parable of "vineyard", kingdom given to another nation. Also: 12:34; 14:25; 15:2; 15:26, etc.


Christ On The Throne Of David

THRONE:  ISBE, Vol.5, pg2976  1) the exalted position of earthly kings, rulers, judges, etc., their rule, majesty and power. 2) The majesty and power of Jehovah as the true king of Israel. 3) The rule of the promised theocratic king (the Messiah), its everlasting glory and righteousness.  4) the matchless glory, the transcendent power and absolute sovereignty of God.

compare: the "seat of Moses"  Mtt.23:1-2;

THRONE = SOVEREIGN POWER AND DIGNITY, RULE AND EXALTED POSITION

1.	Christ has all authority and power NOW, ruling over all nations including Israel, Mt. 28:18-19.

2.	He is above all rule and authority and power NOW, Eph. 1:20-22.

3.	Acts 2:36, Jesus = LORD ( a ruler), let Israel KNOW IT

4.	CHRIST ON DAVID'S THRONE,  FROM Ps. 110:1,

a.	Acts 2:30-31,  this spoke of the RESURRECTION!!!!

b.	HAS BEEN FULFILLED.

1.	Christ raised,  32

2.	to right hand of God, 33

3.	exalted,  33

5.	received promise 34

WHAT PROMISE:	THE ONE MADE TO DAVID, THAT GOD WOULD RAISE UP ONE (the resurrection) TO SIT UPON HIS THRONE.

6.	FULFILLED IN CHRIST,  36.

SINCE CHRIST WAS TO BE RAISED TO SIT ON DAVID'S THRONE, THIS FOREVER DESTROYS THE CONTENTION THAT BECAUSE THE JEWS REJECTED HIM, GOD "postponed" THE KINGDOM.

1.	Christ had to be rejected to be crucified.

2.	Christ had to be crucified to be raised.

3.	Christ had to be raised to sit on David's throne.

THE THRONE OF DAVID WAS TO BE GIVEN ONLY AFTER HIS REJECTION AND RESURRECTION!!!

ALL THE SAME THRONE, GOD'S, DAVID'S, SOLOMON'S, CHRIST'S

1 Kgs.1:46-48,  Solomon sat on David's throne

1 Chron. 29:23;  Solomon sat on the LORD'S THRONE, BUT HE SAT ON BOTH AT SAME TIME, THEY ARE THE SAME THING. CHRIST IS ON THE LORD'S THRONE (Rev.3:21) HE IS ALSO ON DAVID'S. .

CHRIST TO BE ON DAVID'S THRONE WHILE DAVID IN TOMB. 2 Sam. 7:12-16.

THIS fulfilled in Acts 2:

a.	the promise of David's throne, 30-33

b.	David in tomb,  27

c.	David in tomb,  29

d.	the promise was HIS (David's)throne, 30

e.	Christ has been exalted and received the promise,

f.	DAVID STILL IN TOMB.  34.

THIS CAN NOT BE FULFILLED IN 2nd COMING.

1.	Christ to reign till all enemies made his footstool, Acts 2:34

2.	The last enemy to be conquered = death,lCor.15:26

3.	DEATH IS DESTROYED AT 2nd COMING,  Jn. 5:28-29

4.	DAVID WILL THEN BE RAISED, HENCE CHRIST CAN NOT THEN SIT ON DAVID'S THRONE .

IF HE IS NOT NOW ON DAVID'S THRONE, HE NEVER WILL BE.

Zech. 6:13; Christ to be "king and priest on throne.

a.	Christ is "priest" NOW"  Heb. 4:14.

b.	Christ is then KING NOW.

Zech. 6:13,  Christ to be a priest and king on THRONE

a.	Christ not a priest on earth, Heb. 7:17.

b.	Christ not a KING ON EARTH,

Christ to reign "WHEN THE GENTILES TRUST IN HIM, Rom. 15:12

a.	The gentiles trust in him NOW, Acts 15,etc.,

b.	THEREFORE CHRIST IS REIGNING NOW.


The Land Promise To Abraham

ARGUED, the land was 1) promised to Israel, 2) it was an unconditional promise, and 3) it was "forever .

1.	As to the first: would agree was to Abraham's "seed".

a.	the time:  Acts 7:17, when come out of Egypt.

b.	fulfilled:

1.	Josh. 21:43-45, they received all the land.

2.	Josh.23:3-4; go over and possess the land which the Lord hath promised you.

3.	Josh.24:14;  ALL CAME TO PASS, NOT ONE THING FAILED

4.	Neh.,  THOU HAST PERFORMED THY WORDS, 9:7-8

a.	said of land promised

b.	even outlines same land as Gen. 15.

5.	2 Sam. 8:3, David "RECOVERED" the land.

6.	1 Kgs.4:21, Solomon reigned over it,

(again same boundaries as Gen. 15:18)

7.	Dt. 19:7-10, there to be SIX cities of refuge when they possess ALL OF THE LAND. Joshua 2O:1-9 we see that they HAD ALL SIX CITIES.

Besides, the TIME FOR THE FULFILLMENT WAS UNDER JOSHUA, WHEN THEY CAME  OUT OF EGYPT,(Acts 7:17). IF NOT THEN FULFILLED, IT NEVER WILL BE.

WAS THE PROMISE UNCONDITIONAL?

1.	the RECEIVING OF IT WAS,

2.	the KEEPING IT WAS NOT.

Joshua 23:

1.	they have received the land,  3-5

2.	there is still danger from the nations,  vs.13

3.	they have received the land, vs. 14

4.	IF THEY TRANSGRESS THEY WILL BE REMOVED FROM IT,15-16.

Judges 2:20-23;  conditional

Exodus, 23:31-32;  Conditional

Dt. 28-30,  CONDITIONAL KEEPING OF THE LAND. (cp.30:17-18)

Jer. 18:1-17, conditioned on "not doing evil"

Jer. 7:1-7,  IF YE AMEND YOUR WAYS, THEN DWELL HERE.

EVEN THE RETURN TO THE LAND WAS CONDITIONAL .

Dt. 30:1-10;  conditioned upon keeping the law of Moses

(note, this now NOT POSSIBLE, IF ACCEPT CHRIST, Rom.7:6 Gal. 5:6; Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:15; Heb. 8:8)

Jer. 12:14-17;

1.	After being plucked out of land" (Babylonian Capt.)

2.	God will restore,  vs. 15.

3.	IF THEY . . . . (conditions) THEY WILL BE BUILT, 16

4.	IF THEY DID NOT FULFILL CONDITION, THEY WOULD BE PLUCKED UP AND THEIR NATION DESTROYED. (seen in Dest. Of Jerusalem.

Jer. 19:1-11, hence they would be broken like a potters wheel, that NEVER WOULD BE PUT TOGETHER AGAIN.

WHAT ABOUT THE PROMISE BEING "FOREVER", OR ETERNAL.

1.	Even 1000 years then would not fit this idea!!!!

2.	It is then known to be "limited", This in harmony with the biblical usage of such words: Notice:

Gen.17:13, circumcision and everlasting covenant, but it is no longer binding, cp. Gal. 5

Dt. 15:17; "a servant forever", but LIMITED TO LIFE!

Ex. 12:14; the Passover was to be "forever" but only lasted as long as the Old Covenant!

Lev. 16:31;  the Day of atonement,

Lev. 24:	the statute of shewbread,

Ex. 40:15; the Aaronic priesthood,

Num. 25:13  the Aaronic priesthood,

Jonah 2:6, (NASV,  Jonah in belly of whale FOREVER.

THIS THEN MEANS, AS LONG AS GOD DETERMINES. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SO UNDERSTOOD IN ORDER TO LIMIT IT TO 1000 YRS.


Why Reject Literal Restoration

Why reject "literal" restoration from Ezekiel, Isa., Jer., etc. (either they were fulfilled in Babylonian return, or we must understand them as speaking of the spiritual restoration under Christ.

1.	This would make circumcision of the flesh as an eternal restriction on communion with God, Ezek. 44:9; Zech. 16:21; Joel. 3:17.

a.	this would require a complete following of law of Moses,  Gal. 5:2-3.

b.	such action only results in a curse,  Gal. 5:2-3

c.	We are the TRUE circumcision, who worship IN SPIRIT, Phil. 3:3  (i.e., the church!)

d.	Our circumcision is "made without hands" in putting off body of sins, Col. 2:11-12, WHY GO BACK TO OLD?

2. 	This would require David literally returning / reigning cp. Ezek. 34:23-24

a.	Would have "two kings," Two heads" Two shepherds. BUT THERE IS TO BE ONLY ONE.  Ezek. 34:23; 37:23

b.	David's seed (Jesus) was to "sit on His throne WHILE HE IN THE TOMB,  t 2 Sam. 7:13-16.

c.	This would make David equal in power to Jesus, but we know David called Him LORD.

3.	This would require literal Sabbath keeping for all people - Ezek. 44:24; 45:17; 46:1,3 (also, the Passover,  45:21,  New moon, 46:1,3, 45:17;  sabbatical year,  Lev. 25:10; Ezek.46:17,Isa.66:23)

a.	Christians are expressly said to be delivered from such,  Col. 2:14

b.	This would be "returning to the weak and beggarly elements, and we not to do that, Gal. 4:9

4.	This would require restoration of ancient kingdoms.

So would we  be  led to believe by Micah 5:Sff; Isa. 11:11-16 (their position on its), Dan. 2; Ezek.36; Isa. 24;  Isa. 14:1-2; Jer. 50, etc. It is from these nations Israel was to return from.

1.	These destroyed long ago, and God has said that "they shall not rise again, " Isa. 13:9-11; Jude7

2.	Time? cp.  Mk.  1:15; Gal. 4:4; etc.

5.	Would require the restoration of the Levitical priesthood.

Ezek. 44:10-16; 43:19; Isa. 66:20-21; Jer.33:17-18; Jer. 33:23-26  Malachi 3:3-4.

a.	Servants of Jesus have alter which THEY HAVE NOW RIGHT TO EAT, Heb. 13:10. IF THEY SERVE JESUS (which will happen in Mill.), CANNOT SERVE BOTH ALTER.

b.	Levite only ministered to the shadow, Heb.8:5-6. Why restore the shadow instead of having substance?

c.	WHY RESTORE THE OLD SYSTEM, WHEN TODAY ALL CAN BE PRIESTS AND KINGS UNTO GOD? -- Rev. 1:6,9.

6.	Would requires the restoration of animal sacrifices FOR sin.

Ezek.42:13;  43:18-27; 45:17-25; etc.

a.	Why restore that which was "not better", Heb.9:23

b.	Why restore that which could not take away sins, Heb. 10:4,11

c.	Why restore that which would require a rebuilding of the "lesser holy place' Heb. 9:24?

d. 	Why restore that which could not cleanse the conscience, not continually make the comers thereunto perfect,  Heb. 10:1-2

e. 	Why restore that which God had no pleasure in, 10:8

f.	WHY RESTORE THAT WHICH IS NOT NEEDED, SINCE IN THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST, ALL (EVEN THE JEWS) CAN BE FORGIVEN OF ALL THEIR SINS  Heb. 10:18????

7.	Would require the restoration of the Mosaic Law.

This required by	# 6,5,1 above,

a.	it was "unprofitable,"  9:26, why restore it.

b.	it is inferior,  Heb. 8:6   Why restore it.

c.	it was "faulty", Heb. 8:7  why restore it.

d.	it had "inferior rest/promise, Heb. 8:6

e.	it could not justify,  Rom. 3:

f: 	it nullifies the grace of God,  Rom. 6:14

g.	We are "dead to it" Rom. 7; it was taken out of the way,  Col. 2:14,  WHY RESTORE IT.

HOW COULD THIS (the restored law) BE CALLED THE 2nd COVENANT? It is only the 1st restored!. Was the 2nd to be "like the first" NO, Heb. 8:9, THEN HOW COULD IT BE RESTORED? Heb. 8:9; Jer.31:31f, HAVE TO BE THE NEW TESTAMENT, OR THE GOSPEL, FOR DURING THE "millennial period" they will LIVE UNDER "THE RESTORED COVENANT", which IS the first, and hence NOT THE 2nd, Therefore, if the gospel is not the 2nd, THERE NEVER WILL BE ONE!!!!


The Time Gap Theory

Walvoord: "Dispensationalists have regarded the present age as a parenthesis UNEXPECTED and with it specific prediction in the O.T. ..." 227, MK

Again:	"Nothing could be plainer to one reading the O.T. than the foreview herein proved did NOT PREDICT a period of time between the two advents,  pg. 228 MK

WHAT ABOUT THESE THEN: NOTE, IF ONE PROVES THE O.T. DID, THEN DOWN GOES THEIR THEORY.

1.	Gen. 12:3 & Gal. 3:8f, Jew and gentile to be redeemed IN THIS AGE.

2.	Acts 26:22-23; preached nothing but what Moses and prophets said--gospel BOTH to the people (Jews) and the gentiles.

3.	Eph. 2:17,

4.	Luke 24:46-47; death, resurrection, world-wide preaching under the Messiah.

5.	Hosea 1:10; 2:23; & Rom. 9:24; (1 Pet.2:9-10).

EVEN THEIR "PASSAGE" of Dan. 9:27 PREDICTED the death of Christ! But the reason for the "parenthesis" was BECAUSE THE JEWS REJECTED THEIR KING, THEREFORE GOD POSTPONED IT. HOW DOES THAT COINCIDE WITH DAN. 9:27???

Besides: Jesus said that the time was fulfilled!

He then

1) 	changed his mind (could not because of such prophecies as above of his death)

2)	LIED  --  or

3) 	WAS IN ERROR -- OR

4) 	HAD IT ALL FIGURED OUT CORRECTLY, and thus THE MILLENNIALIST IS WRONG.


Consequences Of Millennialism

1.	Denies that Christ is reigning now,  Rev. l:5-6;5:8

2.	Annuls this dispensation as last days, Heb. 1:1

3.	Makes God false to his promises  Mk. 1:14-15, 9:1

4.	Alternates Judaism and Christianity, Heb. 8:5-7 Heb. 9:9-10.

5.	Minimizes gospel, belittles church,

Eph. 3:9-11, Mt. 28, all nations,

Mk. 16:  every creature

Rom. 1:16-17,  both Jew and Greek.

6.	Revokes the great commission.  Mt. 28:19-20

a. allows to be saved with out this,

b. if saved under, not "Jews, but Christians,

7.	Nullifies salvation to gentiles now. Acts 15:14-18

8.	Demotes Christ from throne in heaven to the earth, his footstool,  Heb. 1:3-13

9.	Makes first coming of Christ a failure, Gal. 4:4-5; John 17:1-4

IT IS A MERE THEORY BASED ON SCHOOL OF SPECULATIVE INTERPRETATIONS.


The Second Coming

1.	the end of probation  2 Pet: 3:9; 1 Pet: 1:17

2.	the end of the world  2 Pet. 3:7-10

3.	the resurrection of all dead, Jn. 5:28-29; Jn. 6:40

4.	the final judgment, Jn. 12:48; Mt. 25:31, 2 Thess. 1:5-10

5.	the kingdom delivered BACK to God 1 Cor.15:20-28

6.	HEAVEN	2 Pet. 3:13; Jn. 14:36; 1 Pet. 1:4; Phil. 3:20

NO PROOF THAT CHRIST WILL EVER SET FOOT ON EARTH AGAIN.


Why Bring Christ Back To Earth?

John 17: 1- 10 -  WHY BRING CHRIST BACK TO EARTH

1.	His mission of redemption is complete - Eph. 1:7-10, Col. 1:13-14

2.	His revelation	complete , Eph. 3:1-10, Jude 3; 2 Pet. 1:3,  2 Tim. 3:15-16

3.	His authority is complete  Mt. 28:18, Eph.l:20-23

4: 	His kingdom is complete, Col. 1:13, Rev. 1:4,6,9

5.	His throne is complete, Heb. 4:14,  Rev. 3:21; Acts 2

6.	His name is complete Eph. 1:22, Col. 3:17

7: 	His glory is complete, Lk  24:25; 1 Pet. 1:20-21


The Reign of Christ -

1 Cor. 15:20-28

1.	Raised to sit on the throne (God's right hand) UNTIL THE END,  Acts 2:29-34

2. 	Ascended - sat on throne (God's right hand) UNTIL THE END,  Heb. I 1:3-13

3.	Must reign - in heaven (God's right hand) UNTIL THE END  Heb. 10:12-13

REIGN OF CHRIST IS CONTINUOUS FROM PENTECOST TO END OF TIME

NOTICE WHAT HAPPENS AT END,  1 Cor. 15

Christians reign with Christ - 1 Cor. 15:24;  Rev. 5:8-10

1.	Kings and priests NOW  Ex. 19:6,  Rev. 1:6

2.	Reign in life through right   Rom. 5:17

3.	Reign with apostles  1 Cor. 4:8

4.	Reign by righteous judgment  1 Cor. 6:2-3

5.	Reign by enduring  2 Tim. 2: 12

6.	Reign by overcoming  Rev. 3:21

7.	Ruling over the nations  Rev. 2:25-26

HENCE - CHRIST REIGNS NOW - CHRISTIANS REIGN NOW

LIVING AND REIGNING WITH CHRIST

1.	He that overcometh - will sit  Rev. 3:21

2.	He that endureth - shall reign, 2 Tim. 11:12

3.	He that eateth - shall live  Jn. 6:51-58

CHRISTIANS LIVE NOW,

Christians sit with Him now, (Eph. 2:6)

Christians reign now,  Rom. 5:17; Rev. 2:25-26;


The Kingdom Prophecies Fulfilled

1. 	Dan. 2:44	Mk. 1:14-15, 	time fulfilled

Heb. 12:28 	Kingdom received

2.	Dan. 7:13	Acts 1:8-9 	ascending in the clouds

Mk. 9: 1  	kingdom to come with power

Acts 2:1-4, 	power on Pentecost.

3. 	Isa. 2:2	Heb. 12:22  	have come to mount

4.	Dan. 2:44	Heb. 12:28 	have received kingdom

IN DAYS OF THESE KINGS, fulfilled in MK. LK. 14-15

KINGDOM SHALL STAND FOREVER,  Heb. 12:28


Jesus Is King AND Priest Now

Zech. 6:12-13

l.	He shall build the temple  1 Cor. 3:16, Eph. 2:21-22

2.	He shall sit on His throne, Acts 2:34

3.	His shall rule on His throne, Heb. 1:8

4.	He shall be priest on His throne  Heb. 4:14; Heb. 8:4

5.	He sits, rules, IS priest, on throne now. Ps. 110,  Heb. 5:6-10

CHRIST IS PRIEST AFTER ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK:

THEREFORE HE IS KING AND PRIEST AT THE SAME TIME,

THEREFORE HE IS KING AND PRIEST NOW, IN HEAVEN


Israel In The Old Testament

1.	The land promised to Abraham, Gen. 13:15;  15:18;  17:7-8

2.	The land inhabited by Israel, Ex. 6:4-8, Josh. 21:43-45

3.	The inheritance was conditional, Josh. 23:15 Deut. 6:10;  8:19-20

4.	That IF YOU DO - IF YOU DO NOT enforced. Jer. 18:1-10

a.	Moses said they would perish, Deut. 30:17-18

b.	Joshua said they would lose inheritance, Jer. 23:12-16

c.	Jeremiah said they could not be restored Jer. 19:1-11


Israel In The New Testament

1.	Last state of Jews worse than 1st, Mt. 12:45

2.	Kingdom taken from Jews - given to another Mt. 21:43;  1 Pet. 2:7-10

3.	The national Crime invoked national penalty DEATH (Mt. 21:33-45

4.	Abraham's seed no longer with Jews, Gal. 3:26-29

5.	God's Jew no longer of Abraham's flesh, but of Abraham's FAITH,  Rom. 4:16, 2 Cor. 5:16 Col. 3:10-11

6.	Christian gentiles are God's Jews  Rom. 2:28-29

7.	Circumcision of flesh gives place to circumcision of heart,  Col. 2:11-12

8.	Conversion of a Jew destroys nationality Eph. 2:16; Gal. 6:15; Gal. 3:28-29, 2 Cor. 5:17

9.	Old Israel has no further place in the picture Gal. 3:26-29

10.	The church is NOW the Israel of God. Gal. 6:15-16

11.	Paul renounced Jewish nationality for Christ Phil. 3:2-8

ls.	The hope of Israel is not national restoration Acts 26:6-7; Acts 28:20; Eph. 4:4-6 (the ONE Hope


Paul's Allegory - Gal. 4:21-31

1.	Two women = two Covenants (old and new)

2.	Two sons = two nations (fleshly and spiritual)

3.	Hagar and Ishmael had nothing in common with Sarah and Isaac.

NATIONAL (fleshly) ISRAEL HAS NOTHING IN COMMON WITH SPIRITUAL ISRAEL.

4.	The final verdict  = CAST OUT THE HANDMAID AND HER SON,


Restoration Difficulties

1.	The promises based on keeping law of Moses Deut. 30:1-10; Neh. 1:7-10

BUT THE LAW OF MOSES ABOLISHED,  Eph. 2:14-16, etc.

2.	The inheritance only through family estate Lev. 25;  Ezra 2:70;  Jer. 12:14

BUT THE GENEALOGIES PERISHED AND FORBIDDEN,

a.	destruction of Jerusalem

b.	1 Tim. 1:4;  Titus 3:9

3.	The northern kingdom (10 tribes) lost FOREVER

NEVER CAN BE RESTORED Hosea 1:4-6  ?

4.	The earthly throne of David extinct with Coniah

Jer. 22:29-30


Things Not Mentioned in Rev. 2

1.	It does not mention the 2nd Coming of Christ

2.	It does not mention a bodily resurrection

3.	It does not mention a reign on earth.

4.	It does not mention literal throne (of David)

5.	It does not mention Jerusalem or Palestine

6.	It does not mention US (only martyrs)

7.	It does not mention Christ on earth.

A CURSE IS PRONOUNCED ON ONE WHO ADDS TO WORDS OF THIS BOOK - Rev. 22:18-20


God's Chosen People

Mt. 5:7-11, "not Abraham's fleshly seed"

Mt. 8:11-la,

Mt. 10:32-35	Isa. 2:1-4

Mt. 21:43	Isa. 11:10

Mt. 22:1-10	Isa. 45:6

Mt. 23:34-39	Isa. 49:6,12

Mt. 28:18-19	Isa. 54:1-3

Mk. 16:15-16	Isa. 59:19

Lk.	Jer. 5:18

Jn. 1:18	Jer. 31:31-34

Jn. 3:3-5,16	Hosea 1:9-10

Jn. 4:24	Hosea 2:23

Jn. 8	Amos  9:11ff

Jn. 12:42-48	Malachi 1:11

Jn. 14:6

James 2:5

Rom. 2:28-29 (1:16-17)

Rom. 3:28-30

Rom. 4:1-12

Rom. 4:16

Gal. 3:26-29

Phil. 3:3

Col. 2:11

1 Pet. 2:9

2 Pet. 1:10


Sabbath

There seems to always be some controversy over the 'sabbath'. The following studies deal with some basic concepts concerning this subject.

The 7th day - not the 1st

Sabbath given ONLY to Israel

Sabbath made known at Mt. Sinai

Christ kept all the Law - including the Sabbath

Christians were NOT given the sabbath

The 1st Day

Old Law

2 Covenants


The 7th day - not the 1st

"The seventh day is the sabbath" - Exodus 20:10.

"The seventh day is the sabbath - Exodus 31:15.

"At the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week" - Matthew 28:1.


Sabbath given ONLY to Israel

It was given ONLY to those whom God brought out of Egypt - Exod. 20:2, 8-11

He called all Israel" and gave THEM the sabbath and other laws - Deut. 5:1

He had NOT made such covenant with their fathers Deut. 5:1-21 (Adam and Abraham did NOT keep the sabbath!)

The Israelites received the sabbath BECAUSE they had been delivered from Egyptian bondage - Deut. 5:15

The sabbath was a sign between God and Israel - NOT all the nations - Exodus 31:12-17

God had not given any other nation such a law - Psalm 149

The Gentiles were 'strangers from the covenant' - Eph. 2:11ff


Sabbath made known at Mt. Sinai

While God 'kept' the first sabbath, there is NO evidence that He gave it to people then - Gen. 2:3

The scriptures do NOT tell us that Adam, Noah, Abraham or Jacob kept the sabbath (on the contrary, such commandments were NOT given to the fathers of the generation of the Exodus - Deut. 5:1f)

The first example of people who were given the sabbath is the Israelites when they camped at Mount Sinai - Exodus 16:4,5, 22-30.

God made known to the Israelites the sabbath at Mount Sinai, through the hand of Moses - Nehemiah 9:13-14.

God gave the sabbaths when the Israelites were in the wilderness - Exodus 20:10-12.

He gave them that day in which He Himself had rested at the beginning - Exodus 20:11, 31:17


Christ kept all the Law - including the Sabbath

Jesus was born a Jew - born 'under the law' - Gal. 4:4

He received circumcision and also sacrifice was offered "according to the Law of Moses" - Luke 2:22-39.

He taught the Jews that they must keep the laws of sacrifice - Matt. 8:2-4.

He kept the Jewish feasts like the Passover and Tabernacles - Luke 22:8, 15; John 7:2.

He met with Jews in their synagogues - Luke 4:15, 20.

He taught in their temple - Matt. 26:55.

He kept the sabbath because he obeyed the whole law - Gal. 4:4

On the cross he fulfilled the whole law and took it away - John 19:28-30; Eph. 2:14-17; Col. 2:14-16.

He took away the first covenant that he might establish the second - Heb. 8:6-13; 10:9-10.

The law was changed - Hebrews 7:12.

The law was the tutor to bring people to Christ, but then Christians do NOT continue to obey that tutor - Gal. 3:24ff


Christians were NOT given the sabbath

•	Paul preached or argued with the Jews on the sabbath because he could find many people on that day - Acts 13:14, 42; 17:2-3; 18:4

•	We no where read that 'he kept' the sabbath... to preach on the sabbath is one thing - 'to keep' the sabbath is something else.

•	Christians have no law that they must keep the sabbath.

•	There is no example of the early Christians 'keeping the Sabbath'.

•	Christians are not judged concerning the Sabbath and other elements of Judaism - Col. 2:14-17; Rom. 6:14

•	Christians are specifically 'free from' and 'dead to' the law that contained the 10 commandments - Romans 7:

•	The remaining sabbath rest unto the people of God is that which shall be in Heaven - Hebrews 4:1-11; 11:13-16.


The 1st Day

•	Christ arose from the dead on the first day of the week - Mark 16:1-9; Luke 24:1, 13, 21, 46

•	Thus, he was demonstrated to be the Son of God upon the first day of the week - Rom. 1:4

•	After he arose from the dead, Christ met with the apostles often on the first day of the week - John 20:1, 19, 26

•	The church of God was established on Pentecost, the first day of the week - Lev. 23:15, Acts 2:1-47

•	The Holy Spirit came and began His work on that day - Acts 2:1-4

•	1st Gospel Sermon preached on this day of Pentecost - Acts 2

•	About 3000 souls, the 'first fruits' of the Gospel (Lev. 23:17) were added to the church on that day - Acts 2:41, 47

•	The church of the Lord met on the first day of the week to eat the Lord's Supper and to do other things - Acts 20:7; 2:42; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 11:23-33.

•	In the New Covenant we have these new things:

••	A New Covenant - Heb. 8:13; 10:9-10.

••	A new church - Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:20-23.

••	New Commandments - 1 Cor. 14:37; Mark 16:15-16

••	A new Day - Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2

••	A new Name applied to the New Day - Kuriakos - Lord's day, Rev. 1:10


Old Law

NOT UNDER THE OLD LAW

1.	Jer. 31:31-33 -- new covenant promised

2.	Acts 15:5; 19-21; 24:29

3.	Rom. 6:14 - "not under the law" (particularly the 10 commandments)

4.	Rom. 7:1-6 - "dead to the law,  delivered from the law)

5.	Gal. 3:25 - not under the law

6.	Gal. 4:24-31  Cast out the bondwoman (1st covenant)

7.	Gal. 5:1-4 - free from the law, liberated from the law

8.	Eph. 2:15 - abolished the law

9.	Col. 2:14 - blotted out, took out of way, nailed to cross

10.	Heb. 7:12 - a changing of the law

11.	Heb. 7;18 - a disannulling of the law

12.	Heb. 8:13 - old = ready to vanish away when Jeremiah foretold new

13.	Heb. 10:9 - taketh away the first

14.	2 Cor. 3:6ff - done away, abolished

NOW - under law to Christ -- 1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:3; Romans 3:2; 8:1-2

Law of Moses to ISRAEL -- Deut. 5:1-3;  Psa. 147:19-20;  Eph. 2:11-13


2 Covenants

Two covenants

Ezek. 34:22-31

INTRODUCTION:

1.	'everyone knows' that there are TWO covenants that make up the Bible - or do they? Still one of the problems we face in teaching people about Jesus.

2.	This is a 'simple' lesson on the scriptural differences between the two.

3.	We will take our text from Ezek. 34:22-31

1.	The problem of this section of Ezekiel - how to interpret!

a.	If all 'literal' - then serious problems of a mixing of the two covenants!

b.	Then, To what period does this apply?

1.	If to return from Babylon, then where is that covenant? Where was the 'prince'? Where was David?

c.	The principle parts of this covenant as outlined here:

1.	One shepherd

a.	Jesus the true shepherd, John 10:11, 1 Pet. 2:25, 5:4

2.	Is 'David' -

a.	Ezek. 37:24-25, David to be 'king' ? same problem, David here used to refer to the son of David - Jesus, Mt. 1:1, the king of kings,

3.	a new covenant - obviously, Moses made the 1st.

4.	a covenant of peace -

5.	a covenant of blessings - Eph. 1:3 - all spiritual blessings in Christ.

2.	Parallel with Jer. 31:31-34.

a.	a New covenant -

b.	NOT like the one by Moses coming out of Egypt

c.	Law in inward part - which was NOT true of the old, which one entered by BIRTH, hence could be in covenant relationship and NOT care!

d.	New not 'taught' - because they were TAUGHT in order to UNDERSTAND and hence to be CONVERTED  - all BEFORE they

3.	Quoted in Heb. 8 and again in Heb. 10.

a.	He IS the mediator of a BETTER covenant -

b.	Needed because of the sin of the people of the 1st covenant.

c.	Was between BOTH houses  - Judah and Israel

d.	NOT like the OLD -

e.	When God said this, He declared the old to be OLD, and hence ready to vanish away -

f.	Repeated in Heb. 10:16-17, and there the emphasis is upon the forgiveness of sin by the NEW sacrifice and priesthood that are part of this New covenant.

4.	It is this new covenant that we are sanctified by.

a.	Specifically stated - Heb. 10:6-10

5.	Some 'new' elements of this 'new covenant' would include:

a.	New temple -

b.	New sacrifice -

c.	New priesthood -

d.	New Day -

e.	New 'people' -

6.	This covenant has been done away in order for the above to be true:

a.	Not have TWO covenants, TWO priesthoods, TWO sacrifice systems, etc.!

b.	Old NOT bring the forgiveness or blessings -

c.	Is by the SECOND that we are sanctified and blessed!

7.	It is specifically said that the old has been done away with - Col. 2:12f


Calvinism

Introduction

John Calvin

Total Depravity

Affirmed

Denied

Unconditional Election

Affirmed

Denied

Limited Atonement

Affirmed

Denied

Irresistible Grace

Affirmed

Denied

Perseverance of the Saints

Affirmed

Denied

Good books include:

Robert Shanks' -

Elect in the Son

Life in the Son

Jack Cottrel's trilogy on God -

God the Ruler, God the Creator, and God the Redeemer


Introduction

Calvinism is a system of theology that actually developed over many centuries. We must go back to the time of Augustine for a well rounded background. Augustine is given the credit of forming the ideas of irresistible grace, total depravity, and predestination. Although it must be pointed out that his ideas were exaggerated in Calvinism.

1.	Augustine, early in life "abandoned himself to vicious excesses; being hurried away, to use a metaphor, by the violence of his appetites and passions." (Albert Taylor Bledsoe, A Theodicy; Or Vindication of the Divine Glory, New York: Nelson & Phillips, 1853, p. 176).

2.	One day his feelings suddenly changed. He knew he could not do it by himself, so it must have been God. "Holiness, according to him, consists of a feeling of love to God. He knows this is derived from the divine agency: and hence he concludes, that the whole work of conversion is due to God, and no part of it is performed by himself." (Theodicy, p. 177).

Basically, what John Calvin did was to take the kernel that had been given by Augustine and develop that into a complete "system" of religion. It will be seen that this system MUST be complete - if any one part fails, then the system fails. The classic idea of Calvinism has best been presented in the TULIP acrostic.

T = total depravity.

U = Unconditional salvation.

L = limited atonement.

I = irresistible grace.

P = perseverance of the saints (once saved always...)

Starting with the idea that men are born sinners, totally depraved and opposed to all good, we then have a problem of how to save him. If there are conditions, he cannot meet them - for you see he is TOTALLY depraved. Hence - salvation must be UNCONDITIONAL. If it is unconditional then all men are saved - right? Wrong - for Jesus did NOT die for ALL men - but rather only for the elect, that is, the atonement is limited to those that God chose to save. It is a LIMITED ATONEMENT.  How can we be sure though that those who were chosen for salvation will believe?  Answer = since they are totally depraved they, as all men, are incapable of belief. Therefore God send the Holy Spirit who converts them and such work of the Spirit is irresistible.  So there, we now have them all "saved" - but what if they should fail to be faithful? They cannot fail to be faithful - for God has seen fit to guarantee that the SAINTS WILL PERSEVERE.

Simple, isn't it!  This is what we want to study. In the introduction to Calvin's "Institutes, liii," one writer said: "Calvin's clarity of expression may at first lead the reader to suppose that his thought is easy to grasp. Actually, he lays heavy demands upon the mind, and some of those best versed in his writings have confessed the difficulty of explaining some elements of his thought... Calvin's treatment of the natural in relation to his doctrine of grace has been much controverted."  We must admit that there will be scriptures that can be made to sound as if they teach the above - obviously people would try to prove their theology by the Bible!  We hasten to add, as Dr. Mosheim stated: "the controversy about Calvinistic election, particular redemption, special Calvinistic operations of the Spirit before faith, and in order to produce faith, total depravity and final perseverance 'were absolutely unknown in the first ages of the Christian church." (Mill. Har., Vol. II, pp. 360). It is our job to "try the spirits" - we need to prove all things and hold fast to that which is good.


John Calvin

As a young man of 26 or 27 he wrote a series of books now known as "Institutes of the Christian Religion". From this work he never retreated. His work has effected almost every branch of denominationalism since that time. We see it most often in the works of the Presbyterian church today. It has been making a "comeback" due to the heavy exposure of literature that has been published and promoted in bookstores - especially in what is now called "Christian Book Discount House". We also see remnants of it in other denominations - particularly the Baptist church. Many years ago the Baptists were much more Calvinistic then they now are. Many of the early Baptists held to all five points - but today we find them mostly holding to the last point - once saved always saved. Hence, you will find people that take all and you will find people that take only some of this teaching. I firmly believe that to be logically consistent one must accept ALL or reject ALL. One could not hold to the idea of total depravity and then require conditions for salvation - for the NO ONE would be saved. Likewise, if salvation is unconditional and the atonement was not limited, then ALL would be saved. If men are totally depraved and the Spirit's work could be resisted, then even some of those who were chosen could reject God's salvation. Likewise, if they became saints and then "fell away" we would have the problem of Jesus's blood being "wasted" (to paraphrase the Calvinistic argument on the necessity of the perseverance). You see then how the system works! It might be interesting to note that there are very few Calvinists that do NOT consider themselves to be part of the elect.

There are also a few other points that should be studied in connection with Calvin's system. The first one is the sovereignty of God - that God is the supreme ruler of the universe. Calvin theorized that in order for this to be so one must believe that everything that happens in the universe is a direct result of the will of God. The second concept that must be added to our study is that of "predestination."  This usually is taught in connection with the topic of "limited atonement". A third problem area to be considered is that of the foreknowledge of God. Again, this also is tied in with the concept of limited atonement.


Total Depravity

Representative statements

1.	"By this sin (eating the forbidden fruit) they (our first parents) fell from their original righteousness and communion with God,and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions."  (The Presbyterian Confession of Faith, as quoted by T. W. Brents, The Gospel Plan of Salvation, p. 109-110).

2.	"The whole soul of man is entirely depraved, corrupt, and alienated from God --- a child of wrath, an heir of hell, going astray from the womb, conceived in sin, an enemy to God, having a heart deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; the understanding darkened, the affections earthly, and the whole man sensual and devilish." (Ewing's Lectures, as quoted by  T. W. Brents, The Gospel Plan of Salvation, p. 124).

3.	"All mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse." (J. M. Pendleton, Missionary Baptist, 'Church Manual Designed for the use of Baptist Churches, as quoted by C. R. Nichol and R. L. Whiteside, Sound Doctrine, Vol. 4., pg. 98).

4.	"... born wicked and depraved... corruption of our nature... the whole of man is corrupted - 'mind and heart' - and to contend that only a part of the soul is corrupted is opposed to supernatural grace." (Institutes., Vol. 1, p. 262).  "Original sin, therefore, seems to be a hereditary depravity and corruption of our nature..." (Institu., Vol. 1., pg. 251).

5.	"If infants are guilty of original sin, then they are proper subjects of baptism, seeing, in the ordinary way, they cannot be saved, unless this is washed away by baptism. It has been already proved, that this original stain cleaves to every child of man; and that thereby they are children of wrath, and liable to eternal damnation ... Infants need to be washed from original sin; therefore, they are proper subjects of baptism." (John Wesley, Wesley's Works, Miscellaneous, Vol. 2, pg. 16. as quoted by C. R. Nichol and R. L. Whiteside, Sound Doctrine, Vol. 5, pg. 69).

6.	"From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions." (Second London (or Assembly) Confession, Baptist, chap. VI.)

7.	"Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the corruption of the nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually." (Doctrine and Discipline of the Methodist Church, Nashville: The Methodist Pub. House, 1952, p. 27).

This then should give us a place to start on this doctrine! Remember - this is what they believe. It means that babies are born 1) guilty of Adam's sin; 2) entirely depraved; 3) an enemy of God; 4) sensual; 5) devilish; etc. -- all from the list above. Let us now examine some of the scriptures that are often quoted to prove the above and see if they are rightly used.

(To Scriptures)     Back to Contents of Calvinism


TD - Affirmed

Things that NEED to be proven:

1.	That sin CAN be inherited (the GUILT of sin, not the consequences!)

2.	That we DO inherit the GUILT of Adam's sin.

3.	That sin is not only 'transgression of law" - but simply our NATURE.

1.	Genesis 6:5

a.	Earth was corrupt, "for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth: (Gen. 6:12).

b.	Note, thoughts of his heart" -- do infants THINK? if so, only EVIL?

c.	Which one of the points have been proven? NONE

2.	Job 15:14-16

a.	Note: who was the speaker - Eliphaz the Temanite! Was he inspired? Job called these "vain words" - Job. 16:2.

b.	If the above WERE God's truth, Jesus was also "born of woman" - Gal. 4:4.  We then also depraved....

3.	Psalm 51:5 - 'born in sin'

a.	Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger, but He was not a colt!

b.	Acts 2: 8 - people were 'born in a tongue' - that is, where that language prevailed.

c.	born in sin = where sin has prevailed.

d.	Notice - this not prove any one of the three things needed.

4.	Psalms 58:3

a.	"from the womb' -  NOT IN the womb.

b.	go astray - not BORN that way

c.	speaking lies - 'infant' from latin meaning 'little non-speaker' -

d.	NOTICE context: is only about the wicked (verse 3) and those that WORK wickedness (verse 2). This not speaking about the condition of babies at birth! It says nothing about Adam, Adamic sin, or hereditary sin.

5.	Jeremiah 13:23 -

a.	This is not speaking of Adam, or Adam's sin, but of those people who are ACCUSTOMED to do evil. Footnote for "accustomed" = taught in KJV and ASV.

b.	This not speaking of one is born - sinner or otherwise.

c.	Note how Israel got in this condition - vs. 10, 11. 25

d.	These were the 'people of God' !!  It was Israel who had been 'chosen' and 'elect' - but they had corrupted their ways.

6.	Jeremiah 17:9 - wicked heart.

a.	WHO's HEART???  vs. 5 - those whose heart had DEPARTED from the Lord.

b.	These people had made their heart his way (17:23) - not BORN in that condition - not inherited such from Adam.

c.	Responsibility of our hearts is OURS - Prov. 4:23.

7.	Isaiah 1:5-6 - no soundness

a.	This of Judah and Jerusalem, vs. 1 - not ALL MANKIND.

b.	Not speaking of individual - but of the NATION of Israel.

c.	Note what they were doing -- 2,3,4 - they were SINNING.

8.	Romans 3:10-18 - all HAVE sinned.

a.	Again, they have GONE out of the way - NOT born that way.

b.	This describes their PRESENT condition - not from heredity but practice.

9.	Romans 5:12

a.	Finally - a passage that mentions Adam, Sin, and the world!

b.	It does NOT teach that sin entered MAN - but the world, or "kosmos"

c.	It does NOT teach that sin passed to all men - but that DEATH did.

d.	It says that death passed to all FOR ALL HAVE SINNED.

e.	The passage is speaking of the CONSEQUENCE of Adam's sin, i.e., that he was the first to sin - hence sin made an entrance. BUT HE WAS NOT THE LAST.....

10.	Eph. 2:1-3

a.	Note the footnote - in YOUR sins where you WALKED....

b.	This is personal - not hereditary!

c.	This is ACTION - not inclination.

d.	By nature =

1.	Nature = "a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature" - Thayer.

2.	"Even as others" - but how did "others" get that way? By hardening their hearts, by giving themselves over to sin (Eph. 4:17-19; 2 Peter 2:14).

11.	Prov. 21:4 - the plowing of the wicked is sin?

a.	Ben Bogart affirmed that everything one does is sin, because he is totally depraved, and wholly inclined towards evil. This passage was 'used' to 'prove' that even 'work' is a sin before one is regenerated.

b.	Not talking about infants, nor even necessarily those who are 'unregenerated' --

c.	How become wicked??  21:7 -  through robbery (infants doing this??) - 17:23 - by taking out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment, YOU BECOME WICKED BY DOING WICKED DEEDS!

d.	Compare Job 4:8; the 'plowing' here is not literal.

Denied     Back to Contents of Calvinism


TD - Denied

1.	The first thing to observe is the definition of sin. cp. 1 John 3:4 - where the Bible says that sin is the 'transgression of the law." This proves that sin is not inherited, but is the actual transgression (act) done.  Compare this with the end of the Presbyterian Confession of Faith which states that the GUILT of THIS (Adam's sin) SIN WAs IMPUTED ... From this  original corruption ... do proceed all ACTUAL transgressions." The Bible rather teaches that to be guilty of sin - one must himself transgress the law!

2.	The second thing to observe is that the Bible specifically states that God does NOT impute the GUILT of sin to anyone but the one who does it! Ezek. 18:4-10; Deut. 24:16; etc. Adam's children did not bear Adam's guilt - hence they could not have passed it on -- they never had it.

3.	The nature of "children" is a subject of this discussion - hence we would refer you to Jesus's statements in Matt. 18:3 and Matt. 19:4.  Children are said to be "of such is the kingdom of heaven" and MEN are exhorted to BECOME LIKE CHILDREN (depraved or otherwise??)

4.	Study the book of Genesis and see what differences you see in Adam before and after the "fall". He could hear God, understand God, fear God, worship God, and be enticed to sin BEFORE the eating of the fruit. What about AFTER?  He heard God, he feared God, he was able to understand God (he talked with Him), and he was able to be tempted to do evil. How much change in his character?  If we are born with the same capabilities of Adam, then we too can hear God, understand God, fear God,  etc. One does NOT learn about inherited total depravity by reading about Adam and Eve!

5.	What shall we do with Jesus. It says of men that "the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same", and that "in ALL THINGS it behoved Him to be made like unto his brethren, (Heb. 2:14-17).  The Catholics, anticipating this argument, invented the doctrine of the immaculate conception of Mary, so that Jesus was born of one in which this original stain would not be, hence it was not passed to him. Then was Mary also with out "Adamic sin"?  How could she be if her mother wasn't, her grandmother, her great-grandmother...Eve?

6.	Why is it that when Adam sinned - the GUILT was pass on but when one becomes a Christian and hence RIGHTEOUS - that THAT is NOT passed on? Could we not equally as well speak about one being totally inheritedly righteous?  Why NOT???

7.	Consequences of such teaching -

a.	It removes the responsibility for sin from the individual.

b.	It gave rise to the doctrine and practice of infant baptism.

c.	It contradicts the Bible - Ezek. 18:20.

d.	It is not PROVEN by the Bible - hence is a 'teaching of men'.

Next: Unconditional Election

Back to Contents of Calvinism


Unconditional Election

REPRESENTATIVE STATEMENTS

1.  "God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass." (Presbyterian confession of faith, Chap. 3, Sec. 1)

2. "By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man, all are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and, accordingly as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestinated to life or to death. (Inst., 3:21:5)

3. "We say, then, that Scripture clearly proves this much, that God by his eternal and immutable counsel determined once for all those whom it was his pleasure one day to admit to salvation, and those whom, on the other hand, it was his pleasure to doom to destruction. We maintain that this counsel, as regards the elect, is founded on his free mercy, and without any respect to human worth, while those whom he dooms to destruction are excluded from access to life by a just and blameless, but at the same time incomprehensible judgment." (Ibid. 3:21:7).

4.  When God prefers some to others, choosing some and passing others by, the difference does not depend on human dignity or indignity ... If what I teach is true, that those who perish are destined to death by the eternal good pleasure of God, though the reason does not appear, then they are not found  but made  worthy of destruction ... the eternal predestination of God, by which before the fall of Adam He decreed what should take place concerning the whole human race and every individual, was fixed and determined ... God chose out of the condemned race of Adam those whom He pleased and reprobated whom He willed ... (E.P. 8:5) " "Quoted from Robert Shank, Elect In The Son, p. 47).

CONCEPTS OF THIS POINT

1.  Is based upon truthfulness of preceding two points:

a. The sovereignty of God demanding that God be the immediate cause of EVERY event.

b.  The depravity of man - whereby mankind is not only "lost" - but unable to do anything good -- i.e., hear, obey, believe, etc.

2.  Unconditional - this election is one that requires NOTHING of man.

3. Personal - that this election was that certain PERSONS were chosen. This is in contrast to the concept of "corporate" -- i.e., that the relationship was chosen and all that are found in the proper relationship compose the "elect".

4. Double or single predestination? Augustine taught only single -- that is that God only elected who was to be saved -- not that He chose who would be damned. Calvin taught a double predestination -- one group predestined to heaven, the other group predestined to hell. I believe that logical consistency on this point would drive one to Calvin's position.

5.  Presentation of material. I debated with myself over this, but settled on this order:

a.   What I believe the Biblical concept of predestination is.

b.   Answers to some of their affirmative material.

c.   Positive material on the concept of conditions for salvation.

d.   Another "work sheet" on one of their typical presentations.

Back to Contents of Calvinism


Defined

1.  Election of Christ -- the center of all teaching on "election"

a.  To quote Shank, "The first step toward a correct understanding of the biblical doctrine of election is the recognition that the election of men is comprehended only in Christ; outside of Christ there is NO election of any man."

b.  Christ is the elect one of salvation -- Eph. 1:4; Matt. 12:18;  Isa. 42:1-7; Isa. 49:1-13; 1 Pet. 2:4; 1:20;  John 10:36

2.  Election is Corporate.

a.  By this we mean that it is Christians as a BODY OF PEOPLE that have been chosen. It is not that YOU were CHOSEN to be a Christian.

b.  Israel in the Old Testament:

1.  God chose Israel, redeemed them from bondage, and brought them into the promised land, Dt. 6:21-23.

2.  His choosing was according to His purpose -- not their goodness, Dt. 7:6-8; 9:4-6.

3.  His purpose was that they would be hIs holy people and declare the glory of God -- Isa. 43:10-12, 20-21; Ps. 79:13.

4.  Such election was "corporate" -- of the body of people. God chose Israel, but there were conditions upon the individual partaking of the blessings of such "election".

Dt. 6:12 -- beware lest forget the Lord.

Dt. 7:7 -- chosen, but vs. 12, blessings came to pass IF they would hearken.

Dt. 10:12 -- what does the REQUIRE? - SOMETHING!

Dt. 11:26-29 -- set before them a blessing and a curse -- IF

Jer. 6:10 -- were uncircumcised in ear.

Jer. 6:13 -- they were covetous

Jer. 6:15 -- could not even blush at sin.

Jer. 6:19 -- had rejected the law of the Lord.

Jer. 6:30 -- God had rejected them.

NOTE:  JEREMIAH NOT ONE THAT WAS REJECTED BY  OR FORSAKEN BY THE LORD!.

1 Cor. 10:1-5 -- all were baptized unto Moses, but with many of them He was not well pleased.

The nation of people were "chosen", "elected" -- but the individual within that nation could either be blessed or cursed depending upon his relationship to God.

c.  Church in the New Testament is the "elect" of God.

1.  cp. Eph. 1:4; etc. we are "chosen IN Him". Our being of the elect is dependant upon our being in Him.

2.  Note:  Fleshly Israel's relationship to this election.

a.  Rom. 9:30-33. The reason for any Israelite "falling" was unbelief.

b.  Rom. 10:1-17  Such "fall" is not final -- dependant upon their faith.

c.  Rom. 10:18-21 -- Israel's unhappy state is the consequence of her own rejection of the gracious appeals and overtures of God.

d.  Rom. 11:1-6 -- Despite the fact that MOST of Israel had rejected the gospel, God still accepts those who believe.

e.  Rom. 11:7-24 -- The rest of Israel can still turn from unbelief -- and become part of the elect again.

3.  Becoming a member of the church is CONDITIONAL!

a.  You should be able to put the scriptures here! --

4.  REMAINING A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH IS CONDITIONAL!

a.  Cp. chapter on apostasy.


UE - Affirmed

1.	Romans 9

A.	This section does deal with God's sovereignty -- is right to do as He pleases.

B.	This section does NOT deal with God's choosing or rejecting anyone TO SALVATION!

1.   None of these mention salvation.

2.   All such choosing here looks beyond the personal benefits of the individual.

C.	This section CANNOT be divorced from the rest of the book -- or the rest of the Bible.

1:16-18  The gospel is God's power to save ALL who believe …

4:11 - all who believe

4:23-24 -- "IF"

5:18 - Christ's sacrifice has the same potential as Adam's sin -- ALL - MANY

6:5 - IF

6:16-18 - OBEY

8:17 - IF

10:1 - Israel MIGHT be

10:9-10 -- "if"

10:11 - Whosoever

10:12 - ALL

10:13 - Whosoever

10:21 - "stretchforthed to them" -- they disobeyed.

11:14 - "might save some"

11:20 - unbelief = the condition of rejection.

11:21-23 - "IF"

11:32 - ALL

2.	Rom. 8:28-29

a.	Notice the above statements on condition for the context.

b.	Notice particularly 1,9, 13, 17 -- IF, the condition of salvation!

c.	Here foreknowledge preceeds predestination! Calvinism teaches it backwards (i.e., that God predestined some to heaven, hence he knows who will go there) and uses this passage anyway!

d.	This is not an UNBREAKABLE chain! This is where they are wrong!

3.	1 Peter 2: 8-9  appointed to ..

a.	They were disobedient to the word -- hence they "stumbled". It was to the stumbling that Peter referred to as being appointed. ANYONE that is disobedient to the word is appointed unto stumbling! IT IS NOT THAT THEY WERE UNCONDITIONALLY ELECTED UNTO DAMNATION.

4.	1 Peter 1:1-2 -- chosen

a.	TRUE -- but the choosing was IN CHRIST (cp. Vs. 20), and UNTO OBEDIENCE (vs. 2).

b.	They still had to "make their calling and election sure" - 1 Pet. 1:10.

c.	They could still fall - cp. 2 Pet. 2:18f

d.	This then not prove such an 'unalterable, unconditional election".

5.	Rev. 13:8; 17:8 - written in the book of life before the foundation of the world.

a.	TRUE - only the 'elect' - (i.e., Christians, saved people) written there.

b.	They could be erased! Cp. Rev. 3:5

c.	Hence, there were conditions to remaining there!

d.	There were also conditions to being written there in the first place.

6.	2 Tim. 2:10 -- chosen unto salvation

a.	TRUE - but Paul labored that they MIGHT -- was it really 'unalterable"?

b.	Read vs. 11-13. If, IF, IF - IF -- condition, condition, condition!!!

7.	Col. 3:12 -- chosen of God.

a.	TRUE, also says were reconciled in the body of Christ -- and presented holy before God  IF…CONTINUE -- not an unconditional election at all. (cp. 2:11-13).

8.	Acts 13:48 -- ordained unto eternal life.

a.	Hard to believe that ALL the elect in this believed at this time! You mean that there were NO MORE THAT WOULD EVER BE SAVED IN THIS TOWN! Baloney!

b.	"Ordained" - not say that GOD ordained them --

c.	Note the following comments on the word 'ordained':

"The meaning of 9tetagmenoi) must be determined by the context. The Jews had JUDGED THEMSELVES UNWORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE: the gentiles, as many as were disposed to eternal life, believed. BY WHOM so disposed is not here declared; nor need the word be in this place further particularized. We know that it is God who worketh in us the will to believe, and that the preparation of the heart is of him: but to find in this text preordination to life asserted is to force both the word and the context to a meaning which they do not contain…" (Alford, The Greek New Testament, p. 153).

"It was dogmatic arbitrariness which converted our passage into a proof of the decreturm absolutum, for Luke leaves entirely out of account the relation of "being ordained" to free self-determination … Indeed, the evident relation in which this notice stands to the apostle's own words.… (vs. 46) … rather testifies AGAINST the conception of the absolute decree, and FOR the idea, according to which the destination of God does not exclude, individual freedom…" (Meyer, Critical and Exegetical Handbook on the Acts).

"A bad rendering, as suggesting that human choice had no real part in such belief. The idea is simply that of preparedness of heart, without any thought as to how this came about. This is clear from the account of the Jew's unreadiness; THEY JUDGED THEMSELVES UNWORTHY… Thus all is conceived to turn ultimately on man's own choice. Like the Pharisees in Luke 7:30, the Jews rejected for themselves the counsel of God. No divine decree ordained the result either way. The best rendering then would be "were (found) disposed to eternal life," which preserves the exact shade of the verb (to set in order, arrange, dispose) and has just that degree of ambiguity which belongs to the original.

POINT: IT DOES NOT SAY THAT GOD PREDESTINED THESE TO SALVATION BY AN UNALTERABLE DECREE BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN -- AND THAT WITHOUT CONDITIONS.

9.	Works nullify grace -- any passage in Romans?

a.	First - works in Romans is used of 'perfect obedience to law -- whereby one is justified before God on his own merits". It DOES NOT mean obedience -- cp. 1:5; 2:8; 6:17-18; 10:3, 16;  15:18;  16:19.

b.	By this we might mention that they INCLUDE faith as a work -- and even declare that faith is not a requirement! HOW DO THEY DO THIS? Simple, Because men are TOTALLY DEPRAVED-- they CANNOT BELIEVE apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. Hence, God must choose WHO the Holy Spirit will create faith in and who He will not!

Back to Contents of Calvinism


UE - Denied

CONDITIONS UPON SALVATION

1.	The most fundamental point throughout the teaching of the Bible is that there are conditions. One is left almost without knowing where to start because there are so many places one could start.

2.	IF

a.	From the beginning of the bible to the end of the Bible this word is used. It means simply that the ACTION of God towards people is dependant upon the ACTION of the people - or God's action is conditional!

b.	Here is a partial list of "if" conditions that are found in the bible.

2 Pet. 1:4-10; Mt. 6:22-23; Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:6,14; 6:4-8; 10:26-31; 12:7-8; 10:38-39; James 1:22-27; 2:8-9; 1 Cor. 15:1-2; Col. 1:21-23; 1 Tim. 5:8; Isa. 1:18-20; Jer. 18:5-12; 7:5-7; 12:16-17; 15:19; 17:24-27; 22:4-5; 26:3-4; 2 Tim. 2:20-21; Rom. 11:17-24; 8:13-14;  John 15:1-6; Mt. 6:14-15; 16:24-26; Lk. 14:25-35; John 8:31-51; 14:15,23; 15:6,10; 7:17; 2 Chron. 7:14; 15:1,2; 30:1-26; Ezek. 3:7; 33:18-19; Zech. 3:7; Malachi 2:2; 1 Sam. 15:11; 15:22-26; 13:13-14; 7:3,12:15; 1 Chron. 28:6-9; 1 Kgs. 6:12; 9:2-9; 8:1-61; 11:11-13; Ex. 19:1-6; 24:6-8; Lev. 26:3-28, 40-42; Deut. 4:26-29; 11:26-28; 29:24-25; 30:17-18; 31:27,29; Joshua 24:20; etc.

3.	There are also many passages that put conditions upon salvation that do not use "if".

a.	1 Tim. 2:3-4 - must come to a knowledge of the truth.

b.	John 3:16; Mark 16:16 - must believe the truth, the gospel.

c.	2 Pet. 3:9 - must repent of ones sins.

d.	Mt. 10:32-33; Rom. 10:9-10 - must confess that Christ is Lord.

e.	Mark 16:16 - must be baptized.

f.	Heb. 5:8-9; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rom. 10:16; Must obey the gospel.

g.	Acts 10:34-35 - must fear God and work righteousness

h.	2 Pet. 1:10 - must give diligence to our calling and election.

4.	CONSEQUENCES OF THE UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION DOCTRINE.

A.	Makes God a respecter of person -

B.	Makes God judge with unrighteous standards.

C.	Makes God the ultimate cause of all sin.

D.	Makes man unaccountable for either sin or righteousness.

5.	Total predestination? Is there choices to be made by man?

Jonah 3:4,10 - will be overthrown, they repent, God changes his action.

2 Kgs. 20:1,5,6 - shalt die, he repents, God changes His plan.

Jer. 18:7-10 -	will bless, they turn to sin, God changes His plan. Will curse, they repent, God changes His plan.

Joshua 24:14-15 - choose you this day.

Deut. 11:26 -	blessed IF obey, cursed IF not obey. God's actions NOT set!

Back to Contents of Calvinism


Limited Atonement

The next point in our "tulip" study is that of a limited atonement. This is regarded as a necessary counter point to the idea of unconditional election. The basic idea is founded in the idea that if Christ died for all, and the death of Christ is effective to saving from sins, then all will be saved. Since that is not true - then Christ could not have died for all men. As Robert Shank as well said, "Recognition of the will of God for the salvation of all men completely negates Calvin's system of theology" (Elect in the Son, p.92). Let us look at a few representative statements regarding this doctrine.

REPRESENTATIVE STATEMENTS

"...it was the will of God that Christ by the blood of the cross should effectually redeem ... all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation." (Canons of Dort 2:8).

"Christ died exclusively for the elect, and purchased redemption only for the elect; and in no sense did he die for the rest of the race." (Presbyterian Confession of Faith, Expository Comments).

"All Calvinists agree that Christ's obedience and suffering were of infinite value, and that if God had so willed, the satisfaction rendered by Christ would have waved every member of the human race. It would have required no more obedience, nor any greater suffering for Christ to have secured salvation for every man, woman, and child who ever lived that it did for Him to secure salvation for the elect only. But He came into the world to represent and to save only those given to Him by the Father. Thus Christ's saving work was limited in that it was designed to save some and not others, but it was not limited in value for it was of infinite worth and would have secured salvation for everyone if this had been God's intention" (THE FIVE POINTS OF CALVINISM, P.39, paragraph 3).

"Whether the expression "limited atonement" is good or not, we must reckon with the fact that unless we believe in the final restoration of all men we cannot have an unlimited atonement. If we universalize the extent we limit the efficacy. If some of those for whom atonement was made and redemption wrought perish eternally, then the atonement is not itself efficacious. It is this alternative that the proponents of universal atonement must face. They have a "limited" atonement, and limited in respect of that which impinges upon its essential character. We shall have none of it. The doctrine of "limited atonement" which we maintain is the doctrine which limits the atonement to those who are heirs of eternal life, to the elect. That limitation insures its efficacy and conserves its essential character as efficient and effective redemption." (John Murray, REDEMPTION - ACCOMPLISHED AND APPLIED, p.74)

" It pleased the Lord to make a covenant grace wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of him faith in him that they may be saved; and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life his Holy Spirit to make them willing and able to believe" (Article 8). "Others not elected. ..they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved" (Article 10). "God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins..." (Article 11). (PHILADELPHIA CONFESSION OF FAITH.)

Back to Contents of Calvinism


LA - Affirmed

John Murray, professor of systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, used the following points in his REDEMPTION - ACCOMPLISHED AND APPLIED.

1.	ROMANS 8:31-39.

a.	for us, vs. 31; = the elect of 28-30.

b.	all of 32 = all of us elect.

c.	Christ then delivered up ONLY for the elect.

ANSWER:

a.	True - except for the word only.

b.	True, in this context.

c.	Other scriptures also must be considered. Not use this context which does talk only about the elect and then use it to modify those which talk about all men! That is what he does with it though!

d.	This passage talks about the benefits of salvation - NOT THE POSSIBILITY!

2.	EPH. 2:4-7; (Rom. 6:2-4, 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Col. 3:3)

a.	All those that Christ died for are "dead with Christ".

b.	Not all are dead with Christ.

c.	therefore - Christ did not die for all.

ANSWER:

a.	It is the first statement that is in error!

b.	Those who are "dead with Christ" are those who have believed, been baptized, and are now "crucifying the old man" - Gal. 2:; Rom. 6, etc. When this passage was written YOU were not "dead with Christ"! - but you are now since you believed! This does not deal with WHO or HOW MANY can crucify the old man!

3.	If the sacrifice if efficacious for all, and some die, then it is not efficacious at all.

ANSWER:

a.	We know that it is not efficacious (producing an intended effect) in the sense that it provides universal salvation without conditions.

b.	still, we need to talk about the potential ability of it, not what is realized!

c.	To say that it is potential for all, yet does not effectually cleanse all, is a scriptural idea. Example, the gospel is for all (Mark 16:15). The gospel produces faith (Rom. 10:17). Yet not all believe it. Is the gospel therefore "non-efficacious"? NO - it is still the power of God to save those who believe (Rom. 1:16).

d.	Christ sacrifice has the potential to save ALL men - but it produces the effect ONLY on those who believe in Him.

4.	"Did Christ come to make the salvation of all men possible, to remove obstacles that stood in the way of salvation, and merely to make provision for salvation? OR did he come to save his people?"

a.	The problem is the either/or type of question. This assumes that there are NO other possible answers to this question!

1.	Christ could have come to do neither.

2.	Christ could have come to do one of these PLUS other things.

3.	Christ could have come to do BOTH, WHICH IS WHAT HE DID!

NOTICE HEBREWS 5:8-9; MATT. 1:21

"though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him:"

"...thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save His people from theirs sins."

In	these two verses we have BOTH points. He came to EFFECTUALLY save and to make it possible for all who believe to be saved!

NOTE THIS SYLLOGISM:

1.	Christ came to save the elect ONLY

2.	Christ came to seek and save that which was lost. Luke 19:10

3.	Therefore only the elect are lost! all others are safe?

OTHER ARGUMENTS FROM OTHER CALVINISTS INCLUDE:

5.	JOHN 10:11-15

a.	From this text it is taught that Jesus died for "Sheep" and for no others.

b.	TRUE = BUT WHO ARE THE SHEEP IN THIS PASSAGE?

1.	those who hear his voice (v.3), follow him (v.4), hear his voice (16).

c.	The point is that being a sheep is conditional - and that whosoever does these conditions are then the sheep for whom Jesus died for!

6.	Acts 20:28

a.	From this it is alleged that Jesus purchased the church - the elect.

b.	This speaks of those who have "received the word" - Acts 2:41, and hence been added to the church (Acts 2:47) - the body of Christ which is made up of those redeemed by the blood of Christ! It does not deal with the possibilities of becoming a Christian and a member of the church of Christ.

7.	Eph. 5:25-27

a.	This is the same type argument as above. It only deals with the end effect, not the possibility of who can be saved.

8.	"US" and "our" used to refer to the "elect" and exclude "them," the non-elect. Isa. 53:4-6;

Titus 2:14; 1 Cor. 5:7).

a.	"All" equals the "us." have not the non-elect "gone astray" (Isa. 53:6)?

b.	Grace which brings salvation hath appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11).

c.	Christ was the sacrifice for the world (1 Cor. 5:7; Jn.l:29).

d.	1 John 2:2 - not for OURS ONLY but ALSO for the sis of the world!

9.	Christ died for "many," not for "all" (Isa. 53:12; Matt. 20:28; 26:28).

a.	Would not "all" represent "many"?

b.	"Many is used, but not always, to signify only a portion and not all (1 Cor. 12:14).

c.	"Many" is used to mean "all" (Rom. 12:4,5; 1 Cor. 10:17.

d.	Many is sometimes used interchangeably with All - cp. Rom. 5:l2ff

e.	The "Ransom for many" equals the "ransom for all" (Matt. 20:28; 1 Tim. 2:6).

Back to Contents of Calvinism


LA - Denied

1.	John 6:51; 3:16 - He gave His life for the life of the world - effective only on believers.

2.	John 12:32-33. His death would draw ALL men, hence his death was FOR all men. Only those who come to this though are saved by it.

3.	Rom. 5:18-19. Here the FACT is stated. The conditions are not here stated. Christ justification is said to be able to effect as many as Adam's sin did - EVERYONE.

4.	2	Cor. 5:14 - one died for all, then all were dead.

a.	admitted that all are dead in sin (Rome 3:23).

b.	Christ died for those who were dead in sin - 2 Cor. 5:14.

c.	Christ then died for all!

5.	Hebrews 2:9

a. 	Note" by the grace of God", Christ "tasted death for every man", therefore, if those for whom He died is restricted, so is God's grace!

b.	The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men" (Tit. 2:11). and it is this grace which sent Christ to die for all.

6.	2	Cor. 5:19 - God was in Christ reconciling the WORLD to himself.

7.	1 Tim. 2:4-6. 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. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom FOR ALL, to be testified in due time.

a.	GOD'S WILL - is for all to be save.

b.	Not all are saved. Hence - although it is not God's will (want) for some to perish, they will!

8.	Heb. 2:9; 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.

9.	1 John 2:2 - He is the propitiation for OUR sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD

10.	1 Jn. 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the son to be the Saviour of the WORLD.

NOTE:	the difference in the PROVISION and the ACCEPTANCE in these scriptures:

I Tim. 2:4:

P = all men

A = knowledge of truth

John 3:16

P = world, whosoever A = believeth

John 6:33

P = world

A = comes, believes

Titus 2:11

P = all men

A = teaching, denying, living

Romans 5:18

P = all men

A = vs. 17, receive grace

2 Cor. 5:19

P = reconciling world

A = 6:1, receive not in vain

Mk. 16:15-16

P = gospel to every creature. A = Believe and be Baptized.

CONCLUSION:	THE ATONEMENT IS EFFICACIOUS FOR ALL MEN POTENTIALLY, FOR NO MAN UNCONDITIONALLY, AND FOR BELIEVERS EFFICIENTLY.

Back to Contents of Calvinism


Irresistible Grace

This is known most commonly as the "direct work of the Holy Spirit." This doctrine, like unconditional election and the limited atonement, is a result of the necessity of a system of doctrine and NOT the teaching of scripture. If one starts where the Calvinists start, and then proceeds in a logical fashion, he would end up with this idea. However, as has been observed, the Calvinist has started off wrong, hence if he logically proceeds he will still be wrong!

This doctrine states that since man is totatally depraved, God, in order to insure that all those for whom Christ died will be saved, must send the Holy Spirit to "convert" the depraved sinner so that he can then believe and be saved. Below are some of their statements.

1.	"All those whom God has predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly, to understand the things of God; taking away their heart of stone, and giving them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, by His almighty power determining them to that which is God; and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ, yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace.

"This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed by it" (The Westminister Confession of Faith, Chapter 10).

2.	"As Calvinists we hold that the condition of men since the fall is such that if left to themselves they would continue in their state of rebellion and refuse all offers of salvation. Christ would then have died in vain. But since it was promised that He should see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied, the effects of that sacrifice have not been left suspended upon the whim of man's changeable and sinful will. Rather, the work of God in redemption has been rendered effective through the mission of the Holy Spirit who so operates on the chosen people that they are brought to repentance and faith, and thus made heirs of eternal life" (Loraine Boettner, The Reformed doctrine of Predestination, p.

163).

3.	"Although the general outward call of the gospel can be, and often is, rejected, the special inward call of the spirit never fails to result in the conversion of those to whom it is made. This special call is not made to all sinners but is issued to the elect only! The Spirit is in no way dependent upon their help or cooperation for success in His word of bringing them to Christ. It is for this reason that Calvinists speak of the Spirit's call and of God's grace in saving sinners as being 'efficacious,' invincible,' or irresistible.' For the grace which the Holy Spirit extends to the elect cannot be thwarted or refused, it never fails to bring them to true faith in Christ!

Calvin's concept above shows TWO calls - an outward or general call which is addressed to ALL men and a hidden or special call arbitrarily granted to some men and withheld from others. It is ONLY this special inward call that can save - the other apparently is just for show or just for fun - God doesn't really mean it! Calvin considers the general call to usually NOT be authentic - that is, the REAL call of God to salvation. The people TH IN K they are called, they OBEY this call, they THINK they are saved, but it is only God allowing them to be deceived! When God invites ALL men He doesn't really mean it. Notice Calvin's statements concerning this:

"...there are two species of calling - for there is a universal call by which God, through the external preaching of the word, invites all men alike, even those for whom he designs the call to be a savour of death and the ground of a severer condemnation."

(3:24:7)

"(God) invites all to (life) by His word. Now  this is not contradictory of His secret counsel, by which He determined to convert none but His elect. He cannot rightly on this account be thought variable, because as lawgiver He illuminates all with the external doctrine of life, in this first sense calling all men to life. But in the other sense, He brings to life whom He will, as a Father regenerating by the Spirit only His sons." (E.P. 8:2)

"...however universal the promises of salvation may be, there is no discrepancy between them and the predestination of the reprobate, provided we attend to their effect. We know that the promises are effectual only when we receive them in faith, but, on the contrary, when faith is made void, the promise is of no effect. If this is the nature of the promises, let us now see whether there be any inconsistency between the two things - vis. that God, by an eternal decree, fixed the number of those whom he is pleased to embrace in love and those on whom he is pleased to display his wrath, and that he offers salvation indiscriminately to all. I hold that they are perfectly consistent, for all that is meant by the promise is just that his mercy is offered to all who desire and implore it, and this none do save those whom he has enlightened. Moreover, he enlightens those whom he has predestinated to salvation. Thus the truth of the promises remains firm and unshaken, so that it cannot be said there is any disagreement between the eternal election of God and the testimony of his grace which he offers to believers. But why does he mention all men? Namely, that the consciences of the righteous may rest the more secure when they understand that there is no difference between sinners, provided they have faith, and that the ungodly may not be able to allege that they have not an asylum to which they may betake themselves from the bondage of sin, while they ungratefully reject the offer which is made to them. (3:24:17).

It is interesting to see then that according to Calvin:

1.	God "calls" all men - but not really.

2.	God offers all men an "asylum from sin", they have the "choice" of taking refuge there, but they refuse: - BUT THEY HAD NO REAL CHOICE BECAUSE THEY WERE

PREDESTINATED TO BE TOTALLY DEPRAVED AND UNABLE TO CHOOSE GOOD!

3.	Depraved sinners can THINK they are called to faith and repentance, outwardly and inwardly trying to live a godly life, but are suppossed to be "utterly indisposed to good, wholly inclined to evil - and that continually"!

Back to Contents of Calvinism


IG - Affirmed

1.	ISAIAH 6:9-10

a.	point - and outward call" - but not able to learn or understand.

b.	NOTE, also Jeremiah 5:21, 6:10

"Judah's spiritual blindness, deafness, and hardness of heart is due NOT to any arbitrary divine interdiction, but to human volition and God's gracious appeal to Judah is predicated on the fact of man's moral agency" (Shank, Elect in the Son, p.167)

c.	Note - Isa. 45:22 - salvation offered to "all the ends of the earth"

d.	Berkouwer (a modern Calvinist) stated: "It is almost incomprehensible that Isaiah 6:9-10 has been quoted as "proof" for the hardening of the reprobate from eternity."

2.	Matt. 13:11-5 (Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10).

a.	Jesus had preached the gospel to them - Mk. 1:14-15; Mt. 11:4f

b.	They had NOT accepted such teaching - Matt. 11:16-19

c.	Jesus pronounced as curse for such unbelief - Matt. 11:20-24

d.	Mt. 13:12 - reception of FURTHER truth is based on the acceptance of PRESENT understanding of truth. By rejecting the straight forward preaching - they were in no position to now understand the parables! It however was not because of some divine, unalterable decree that they COULD not believe!

3.	John 12:37-40.

a.	Same problem:

1.	had heard the preaching -

2.	had seen the miracles -

3.	had rejected them all -

4.	as observed by Westcott then, "This divine 'cannot' expresses a MORAL and not an external or arbitrary impossibility" (B.F. Westcott, The Gospel According to St. John, p. 185).

4.	Acts 28:25-27

a.	Same problem -

b.	Note "became" dull, Closed their eyes - was own volition!

5.	John 6:44-45 - "draw" = secret, inner, irresistible call.

a.	Note vs. 45 - HOW drawn = thru teaching!

1.	gospel the instrument

2.	Can be resisted!

b.	Same word used in Jn. 12:32 - will draw ALL MEN!

6.	Matt. 11:27; John 5:21

point - only whom God WILLS to reveal and give life are "called".

a.	Note John 5:39,40 - THEY REFUSED - they were at LIBERTY to come - but they WOULD not do so. They rejected the "witnesses of Christ" - (Christ, John, the miracles, the Father, the word!) - but they had to be able to UNDERSTAND the witnesses (the call) to REJECT them!

b.	Jesus said these things THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED -

7.	John 10:26

a.	NOTE - appeal in verse 38 - is to the SAME MEN!

8.	John 3:8 - secret work of the Spirit.

a.	only an illustration - you see the effect of the wind, not the wind. You see the effect of the new birth - not the new birth.

b.	Note vs. 11 - they refused - not because of a decree of God - but because of their choice!

c.	Note vs. 14-21; STILL OFFERED - WHOEVER BELIEVES

9.	John 8:47 - believe not = because not of God

a.	BUT, verse 24, still left open the invitation!

10.	John 9:39 - blind to see, seeing to be blind.

a.	again, note context. They had rejected the miracle of the blind man - hence they who thought they could see were really blind - it was a matter or rejection of the testimony - not inability to understand such!

11.	John 15:16,19

a.	this speaks of choosing the apostles to the apostleship - not salvation.

12.	John 17:19 - those whom thou hast given me -

a.	Again - of the apostles.

b.	was then enlarged to THOSE THAT BELIEVE THRU THEIR WORD - vs. 20

13.	Acts 2:39 - "called of God".

a.	true - but how called? thru the gospel - 2 Thess. 2:14

b.	Gospel is for all - Mark 16:15-16.

14.	Acts 16:14 - opened her heart?

a.	HOW - by preaching, the things spoken by Paul.

b.	cp. as in Luke 24:45 - Lord opened their hearts by teaching!

15.	Rom. 12:3 - God gives faith.

a.	HOW - Rom. 10:17

16.	Eph. 2:8 - Faith a gift?

a.	IF is of faith, then cp. above, from the word, Rom. 10:17

b.	Believe is of salvation - as stated by Robertson:

"and that (kai touto). Neuter, not feminine taute, and so refers not to pistis (feminine) or to charis (feminine also), but to the act of being saved by grace conditioned on faith on our part."

(A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament)

17.	Acts 13:48 -

a.	cp. notes under previous sections for comments on this passage.

Back to Contents of Calvinism


IG - Denied

1.	THE UNIVERSAL NATURE OF THE CALL OF GOD CAN NOT BE SO LIGHTLY DEALT WITH.

a.	Called by the gospel - (2 Thess. 2:14) - which is for all (Mk. 16:15-16, Mt. 28:18f)

b.	This is in line with the universal salvation offered by God -

I	Tim. 2:4-6; 1 Tim. 4:10; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rom. 5:18; Rom. 11:32; 2 Cor. 5:19; Tit. 2:11; Col. 1:20; John 3:14-17; John 6:33,51; John 7:37; Rev. 22:17; Acts 17:30; 1 Jn. 2:2; isa. 45:22, etc., etc.

2.	THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT

1.	to inspire and reveal the word - to apostles and prophets. Eph. 3:3-5; John 16:13-15; 14:26; 15:26

2.	through THEIR word - to convict and convert - John 16:7-10

a.	word = the sword of the Spirit - Eph. 6 b. word = causes faith:

Rom. 10:17; 1:16; John 20:3-31; 17:20; Acts 14:1; 11:14; 17:11-12, etc.

3.	The Holy Spirit CAN be resisted - Acts 6:10; 7:51-55.

He is resisted by resisting and rejecting the Word of the Spirit - the gospel call!

Back to Contents of Calvinism


Perseverance of the Saints

(ONCE SAVED - ALWAYS SAVED)

INTRODUCTION:

This is the final point of Calvinism's TULIP. This doctrine is still held by many groups -even though they may deny the other points of Calvinism. The Baptist church is probably the one that you have met most often that want to discuss this point. I still believe that logically this MUST be associated with the other points of Calvinism. If God will save only the elect, and ALL those whom Jesus died for MUST be saved, and the Holy Spirit irresistibly converts ALL,of these "elect" - then God must "guarantee" their salvation. If God is the only one that has anything to say about their salvation (excluding even themselves) then it would seem sure that they would be saved - God said so. What is overlooked in this is the concept of man's responsibility and ability. Calvinism denies BOTH. Man not only is said to have no ability to hear and obey the gospel (apart from the irresistible work of the Spirit) - but he has no ability to ever turn from such after being saved. Since then it is the work of the Spirit that decides his action, he also loses his responsibility for his actions. How is this doctrine taught? Let us again read some of their statements.

1. "They whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved." (Westminister Confession of Faith, Chapter 17)

2. "Or in other words we believe that those who once become true Christians cannot totally fall away and be lost, - that while they may fall into sin temporarily, they will eventually return and be saved.

"This doctrine does not stand alone but is a necessary part of the Calvinistic system of theology. The doctrines of Election and Efficacious Grace logically imply the certain salvation of those who receive these blessings. If God has chosen men absolutely and unconditionally to eternal life, and if His Spirit effectively applies to them the benefits of redemption, the inescapable conclusion is that these persons shall be saved. And) historically, this doctrine have been held by all Calvinists, and denied by practically all Armenians" (Loraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, p. 182).

3. "We take the position that a Christian's sins do not damn his soul. The way a Christian lives, what he says, his character, his conduct, or his attitude toward other people have nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul....All the prayers a man may pray, all the Bibles he may read, all the churches he may belong to, all the services he may attend, all the sermons he may practice, all the debts he may pay) all the ordinances he may observe, all the laws he may keep, all the benevolent acts he may perform will not make his soul one whit safer; and all the sins he may commit from idolatry to murder will not make his soul in any more danger....the way a man lives has nothing whatever to do with the salvation of his soul....The way I live has nothing whatsoever to do with the salvation of my soul" (Sam Morris, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Stamford, Texas, in a tract entitled, "Do A Christian's Sins Damn His Soul?").

4. "Baptists teach that a child of God can do anything he wants and go to heaven anyhow" (Dr. Albert Garner, Baptist Editor, Former President of Baptist Seminary, Lakeland, Florida, Kelly-Garner Debate, p. 116).

One of the dangers of denying this doctrine is that we are thought to be teaching the PROBABILITY of apostasy. Let us be careful here - for while we deny the IMPOSSIBILITY of one falling away, we also deny the PROBABILITY of one falling away. What I affirm is the POSSIBILITY of apostasy.

There are also some things that we are accused of when teaching against this doctrine.

1. We are accused of denying the power of God. This is not true. The power of God to save is said to have been put in the gospel (Rom. 1:16). We are then kept "by the power of God" -but that is said to be "through faith" (cp. 1 Pet. 1:5) - and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Such faith may fail - 1 Tim. 1:5,6; 1:19; 4:1; 5:8,12; 6:21; 2 Tim. 2:18; Lk. 22:32).

2. We are accused of denying God's faithfulness. That is not the question. He is faithful - 1 Cor. 1:9; 2 Tim. 1:12). His faithfulness however does not negate the responsibility of man nor does is guarantee man's faithfulness (2 Tim. 2:12,13; Rev. 2:10; Jas. 1:12).

3. We are accused of denying God's love. His love will not die (Rom. 8:38,39). However, we

must "keep ourselves in the love of God" (Jude 21). God loved us WHILE WE WERE SINNERS (i.e., before we were saved) - but we were still lost due to sin. God will continue to love us - but we may yet be lost because of sin!

We recognize the power of God, the faithfulness of God, and the love of God. What we are pointing out is that man still has not only the responsibility of serving God - he has the ability to either continue serving or quit serving. This doctrine removes both his ability and his consequent responsibility.

Back to Contents of Calvinism


P - Affirmed

1. JOHN 5:24 - "shall not come into condemnation".

This is said to teach that "shall not" is an absolute, unconditional statement.

A.	Note the conditions within the context: It is those who hear and follow that this promise is for. One of the problems of these types of texts is to ignore the continual nature of the verbs - he that hears (continues to hear) and follows (continues to follow) shall not be condemned. The question really is still open though about whether one can QUIT hearing and QUIT following! IF they do - then this text has nothing to do with them.

B.	2 Tim. 4:3-4, they can cease to hear.

C.	Heb. 3:12; Psa. 106:12,24; Luke 8:13; they can cease to believe.

D.	James 5:12 - brethren can fall into condemnation.

2. JOHN 10:27-29 - shall never perish.

A.	This text is of the same type as above. The promise is for those who hear and follow.

B.	Compare, John 3:36

1.	an unbeliever "shall not see life". But, can he change and become a believer?

2.	a believer "shall not perish". But, can he change and become an unbeliever? YES.

3. JOHN 6:37 - "(he) that cometh to me, I will no wise cast out."

A.	Again, can one cease coming to Christ?

B.	One must "believe" to come to Christ - but he can quit believing.

C.	Rev. 3:16 - He will spue out some - and these were in the church.

D.	John 15:6 - He will cast forth some -

4.	A child cannot be "unborn." You are always your Father's child, so we reaming children of God. Once a child - always a child.

A.	Physically, one cannot be "unborn," but our lives in the flesh are independent of our our parents; they die, we live.

B.	Was one not a child of the Devil before he became a child of God? Once a child -always a child? Then we have the impossibility of conversion! It is not true in the spiritual realm.

C.	Even if it were true, God will deny and disinherit those who deny and desert Him (Num. 14:12; 2 Tim. 2:12; Matt. 25:1,12).

5.	If one is lost, he was never truly saved. He was a "professor," not a "possessor" of eternal life.

A.	Such is not stated in the Bible. What a way of setting in judgment upon the thoughts, motives and intents of ones heart! Besides, most Baptist churches vote on the validity of ones "saving experience" before admitting them to membership. Were they right when they voted? If not, then what good did it do?

B.	Notice the section under Ezek. 18:2Off, Luke 8:13; and Acts 8. Here they were "believers", they were "righteous" - but they quit. It was not that they NEVE R BELIEVED or NEVER DID RIGHTEOUSNESS - but that they QUIT!

6.	The sins of the flesh do not affect the soul. This is the philosophy behind Sam Morris' statement quoted earlier. Not also below:

"My soul sin? No. Has Brother Bogard ever sinned? In my soul I do not. I am as perfect as God himself so far as my soul is concerned. Then what about my body? It does sin" (Hardeman-Bogard Debate, pp.309, 310)."

. "	"

The "outer man sins - but not the "inner man .

A.	First, it is the INNER man that is commanded to "not let sin reign in your mortal bodies". Rom. 6:12. It is the spirit of man that is responsible for the deeds of the body, Rom. 8:13; 12:1; 13:14; Mtt. 15:19-20;. It is the spirit of man that will be brought into judgment for the deeds of the body - 2 Cor. 5:10!

B.	1 Pet. 2:11, the "spirit" of man is to "abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul".

C.	Consider problems of this view in light of Hebrews 12.

1. Outer man is not chastened because it is not redeemed!

2. Inner man is not chastened because it does not sin!

3. There then is no chastening involved!

4. Therefore) being without chastening, we are "bastards", not sons?

7.1	JOHN 3:6,9 - children of God "cannot" sin.

A.	The impossibility here is not that of sinning, but of sinning and remaining in a right relationship with God! Yes, they CAN sin - but they cannot CONTINUE to sin and abide in Christ. Hence) instead of the impossibility of apostasy, this actually shows the possibility of such!

B.	Notice) as in vs. 8, the idea is not of "one sin", but of practicing such. If one does "practice" sin - he is of the devil!

Back to Contents of Calvinism


P - Denied

It	is hard to know where to start! As a friend once said, there is hardly a page of the entire Bible that does not warn God's people about sinning . These warnings are real - because the danger is real! Not of just losing one's rewards - but of losing one's faith and hence his salvation!

Let me again state what I believe to be the real issue. It is not just of a "believer" being lost - but whether or not one can quit believing. Can a believer become an unbeliever? It is not just of a "righteous" person being lost - but whether a righteous individual can become an unrighteous one.

1.	Ezek. 18:20ff. One can be righteous and become unrighteous.

2.	Luke 8 - the parable of the sower.

a.	Note, the heard, the received the word, the believed.

b.	THEN - note the believed FOR A WHILE. Does this not mean that they quit believing?

c.	Such faith was not "professor faith" only - but saving faith, cp. vs. 12

d.	It states that they FELL AWAY.

3.	Acts 8 - Simon the sorcerer.

a.	He believed (notice that this was Luke's statement by inspiration).

b.	he was baptized.

c.	consequences as stated in Acts:

1. He was to perish in this condition - vs. 20

2. His heart was not right with God, vs. 21

3. He needed to repent and pray that PERHAPS God would forgive him. vs. 22

4. He was in the gall of bitterness, vs. 23

5. He was in the bond of iniquity, vs. 24.

WAS HIS RELATIONSHIP ONE OF A "SECURE, SAVED CHILD OF GOD"?

D.	We are sometimes told here that the only danger was of losing his PHYSICAL life!

He	was too wicked for God to allow to continue on the earth - so God took him to be in heaven??????

4.	Luke 12:42-43.

A.	QUESTION - "who is faithful?" (42)

B.	ANSWER  - the one doing as instructed (43)

C.	DANGER  - reliance on Lord's delay, and so sinning (45)

D.	PENALTY - appointed portion with unbelievers (46)

NOTE:	He was the Lord's servant. He sinned. He was NOT an unbeliever -but was given the portion or reward of the unbeliever. He was LOST!

5.	Romans 8:12-13

A.	Written to children of God. (they are "debtors" to live after spirit)

B.	They could live after the flesh.

C.	They then would die.

1.	will die physically anyway -

2.	death here is spiritual!

6.	2	Peter 2:20-22

A.	Again, written to children of God.

B.	they had escaped through knowledge (i.e., been saved!)

C.	they were AGAIN entangled.

D.	They were OVERCOME.

E.	the SECOND end was worse then the first! the first = never saved.

7.	Gal. 5:1-4

A.	Called into grace of Christ - Gal. 1:6

B.	children of God by faith, having been baptized into Christ, Gal. 3:26-27

C.	Had been made free - Gal. 5:1

D.	They had FALLEN FROM GRACE! (not just away from, having never been in grace!)

E.	Christ had BECOME of no effect unto them.

8.	Hebrews 10:26-29.

A.	These were sanctified by the blood - vs. 29

B.	There was a sorer punishment coming -

1.	sorer than the death in the Old Testament!

2.	This then describes the damnation of ones soul.

9.	Warnings in Hebrews - to the "holy brethren, Heb. 3:1

A.	they could be Christ's house only IF they held fast the confidence and the rejoicing of

the hope firm unto the end. 3:6

B.	They could harden their hearts. 3:8; 4:7

C.	They had to take heed lest there be in THEM an evil heart of UNBELIEF in DEPARTING from the living God, 3:12

D.	They could be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, 3:13

E.	They could come short of the promise of entering into the rest, 4:1

F.	They could fall after the example of unbelief. 4:11

G.	They could commit willful sin, 10:25

H.	They could trod under foot the son of God, 10:29

I.	They could do despite unto the Spirit, 10:29

J.	They were told to have patience that they MIGHT receive the promise, 10:36

K.	They were taught that they could draw back, 10:38

L.	They had some besetting sin they were to lay aside. 12:1

M.	The could fail of the grace of God. 12:5

N.	They could have in them a root of bitterness, 12:15

0.	They could be defiled) 12:15

P.	They would be unable to escape if the refuse him that spake from heaven, 12:25

Q.	They could be carried about with divers and strange doctrines, 13:9

ARE THESE WARNING REAL? CAN THEY BE DISREGARDED AND STILL ALLOW FOR SALVATION?

10.	WE ARE SAVED BY -------- BUT:

grace -------- some may fail of the grace of God, Heb. 12:15

hope -------- may be moved away from that hope, Col. 1:23

blood -------- may count the blood an unholy thing, Heb. 10:29

Lord -------- may deny the Lord that bought them, 2 Pet. 2:1

truth -------- brethren may err from the truth, James 5:19

love -------- may fail to keep selves in that love, Jude 21

gospel -------- may believe it in vain, 1 Cor. 15:1-3

promise -------- may come short of the promise, Heb. 4:1

God -------- may depart from the living God, Heb. 3:12

Spirit -------- may do despite unto the Spirit, Heb. 10:29

endure -------- may not continue to endure, Matt. 10:22

11.	A STUDY OF THE WORD "IF".

1 COR. 15:2	saved, IF ye keep in memory...

Heb. 3:6	Lord's house, IF hold fast...

Col. 1:23	Holy, unblamable, IF continue in the faith...

1 John 1:7	cleansed by blood, IF walk in the light...

2 Pet. 1:10	never fall, IF ye do these things

John 8:31	disciples indeed, IF continue in my words...

John 8:51	never see death, IF a man keep my sayings...

John 12:26	My father will honor him, IF a man serve me...

Gal. 6:9	shall reap, IF we faint not...

etc., etc.,  WHAT DOES THE WORD IF MEAN???? ALL OF THEM ARE ADDRESSED TO THE CHILDREN OF GOD - NOT THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL. SALVATION IS STILL CONDITIONAL!

12.	THE BOOK OF LIFE?

1.	God's children have their names written in the book of life, Phil. 4:3

2.	Only those who overcome will NOT be blotted out, Rev. 3:5

3.	Those who sin have their names blotted out, Ex. 32:33

4.	Those whose names are not found in the book are cast out, Rev. 20:15

5.	hence, those whose names are blotted out will be cast out and will be lost.

As	we said, where do we begin - and then, where do we end? The Bible basically was written to the children of God - warning thing on HOW to live! What do we do with such warnings as 1 Cor. 6:9-10 or Gal. 5:l9ff? Is God only "pretending" to warn us? Apostasy is a REAL danger - warnings are not to be taken simply as spurs to do good unto those who will be saved, they are warnings about losing your soul!

Back to Contents of Calvinism