Recently, I had a great blessing bestowed on me in attending the Good News Tour at the Loma Linda University church. It was a great conference put on by Heavenly Sanctuary.com and it included some wonderful pastors and teachers of the Word of God discussing their favorite subject....the nature and character of God.
I was most impressed with the sermon put together by Dr. Brad Cole titled, "Biblical Inspiration: God’s Pen or God’s Penmen?" I thought it was a wonderful sermon that was thoughtfully presented. Because I hope you find Dr. Cole's sermon as much a blessing to you as I did I have included a link for you to view the sermon. Enjoy!
Biblical Inspiration: God’s Pen or God’s Penmen?
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Um, don't start one?
The August 25th edition of Time Magazine includes an article entitled, "How to Stop a New Cold War."
I know! I know!
Don't start one!
Matthew 5:43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
We are fortunate, um strike that, blessed beyond measure, that we have a humble and gracious King and Savior who kindly and without condemnation, shows us how it is to be when dealing with those that would mistreat us, deceive us, and other wise persecute us. God Himself came to this Earth and voluntarily allowed Himself to be horribly treated in order to show the true goodness, nature and character of God and just how much God loves His creation. Wow! That's truly awesome to think about frankly.
Mathew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
So let's repeat.
How to Stop a New Cold War? Don't start one.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
One that I just don't quite get
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Sin is the transgression of the law. I get that.
There aren't too many Christians these days that wouldn't be willing to tell anyone that will listen that homosexuality is a sin, and rightly so. Clearly homosexuality is against God's law.
And therein lies the problem.
"We're not under the law anymore, we're under grace." How many times have you heard that? How many times have you said that? "We're not under the law anymore, we're under grace." Well, if we aren't under the law anymore, then how is it even possible that homosexuality is considered a sin?
Let me explain.
It seems it's sheik to say these days that, "We're not under the law anymore, we're under grace." Yet I actually agree with this notion quite a bit. Those that have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are not under the law anymore. Their sins are covered by the blood of Son of God. Now they are under the conviction and direction of the Holy Spirit (of course we have to ask, "What standard does the Holy Spirit use?") to walk in the way of and abide with Jesus. Besides, the law is set-up specifically law breakers, not for those that obey the law.
1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
But what law?
Nowhere in the 10 Commandments can one specifically find a prohibition against homosexuality, or having an affair with one's aunt. Nor does the 10 Commandments make mention of bestiality. I think the 7th Commandment is fairly clear: "Thou shalt not commit adultery. " - Exodus 20:14. In fact, the word used here for adultery means just that, "to commit adultery, always with wife of another" - see Strongs #H5003.
Well, that's confusing. If sin is the transgression of the law and yet I can't find a prohibition against homosexuality in the 10 Commandments, then how in the world can homosexuality be a sin?
Is it something I might find in the Mosaic law? You know, that law that was ' just for the Jews.' Well, after a very brief search I found this one for homosexuality:
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.
I found this one that prohibits having an affair with one's aunt:
Leviticus 20:20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
I found this one that says something extremely negative about bestiality:
Leviticus 20:15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
How then can something not mentioned in the 10 Commandments, and yet mentioned in a law that apparently has nothing to do with Gentiles but "Jews" only, be considered sin? Is it because, as the pat answer seems to be, it's something that was "reiterated" in the "New" Testament?
Few men marry their sisters. Why is that considering there is no prohibition of a man marrying his sister in the "New" Testament? Could it be that's because it's found in the Mosaic law?
People will say and do just about anything to prove that we aren't under the "law" anymore but use that very "law" to conveniently attack a position in an argument they feel quite passionately about.
Yet it is these very arguments that dismantle the very positions they hold about the law and grace.
Whenever I read the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8 I try to imagine for a second that it was me caught in the very act of doing a sin worthy of death by stoning. I try to imagine Jesus saying to me, "David, where are your accusers at? Has no man condemned you?"
Jesus came to show us the Father....everything about the Father. His goodness, His mercy, His grace and tenderness. He came to show that to me, and He came to show that in every sinner. Jesus uses the law to show us our weaknesses and our propensity to sin, yet at the same time He doesn't condemn us.
Do we have license to sin? God forbid. Do we have complete freedom to pick and choose which of God's laws we will choose to follow? Sure we do. If we choose the road that's wide and that leads to destruction God will not stop us. Does that mean He stops loving us? God forbid.
Sin is the transgression of the law. I get that.
There aren't too many Christians these days that wouldn't be willing to tell anyone that will listen that homosexuality is a sin, and rightly so. Clearly homosexuality is against God's law.
And therein lies the problem.
"We're not under the law anymore, we're under grace." How many times have you heard that? How many times have you said that? "We're not under the law anymore, we're under grace." Well, if we aren't under the law anymore, then how is it even possible that homosexuality is considered a sin?
Let me explain.
It seems it's sheik to say these days that, "We're not under the law anymore, we're under grace." Yet I actually agree with this notion quite a bit. Those that have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are not under the law anymore. Their sins are covered by the blood of Son of God. Now they are under the conviction and direction of the Holy Spirit (of course we have to ask, "What standard does the Holy Spirit use?") to walk in the way of and abide with Jesus. Besides, the law is set-up specifically law breakers, not for those that obey the law.
1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
But what law?
Nowhere in the 10 Commandments can one specifically find a prohibition against homosexuality, or having an affair with one's aunt. Nor does the 10 Commandments make mention of bestiality. I think the 7th Commandment is fairly clear: "Thou shalt not commit adultery. " - Exodus 20:14. In fact, the word used here for adultery means just that, "to commit adultery, always with wife of another" - see Strongs #H5003.
Well, that's confusing. If sin is the transgression of the law and yet I can't find a prohibition against homosexuality in the 10 Commandments, then how in the world can homosexuality be a sin?
Is it something I might find in the Mosaic law? You know, that law that was ' just for the Jews.' Well, after a very brief search I found this one for homosexuality:
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.
I found this one that prohibits having an affair with one's aunt:
Leviticus 20:20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
I found this one that says something extremely negative about bestiality:
Leviticus 20:15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
How then can something not mentioned in the 10 Commandments, and yet mentioned in a law that apparently has nothing to do with Gentiles but "Jews" only, be considered sin? Is it because, as the pat answer seems to be, it's something that was "reiterated" in the "New" Testament?
Few men marry their sisters. Why is that considering there is no prohibition of a man marrying his sister in the "New" Testament? Could it be that's because it's found in the Mosaic law?
People will say and do just about anything to prove that we aren't under the "law" anymore but use that very "law" to conveniently attack a position in an argument they feel quite passionately about.
Yet it is these very arguments that dismantle the very positions they hold about the law and grace.
Whenever I read the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8 I try to imagine for a second that it was me caught in the very act of doing a sin worthy of death by stoning. I try to imagine Jesus saying to me, "David, where are your accusers at? Has no man condemned you?"
Jesus came to show us the Father....everything about the Father. His goodness, His mercy, His grace and tenderness. He came to show that to me, and He came to show that in every sinner. Jesus uses the law to show us our weaknesses and our propensity to sin, yet at the same time He doesn't condemn us.
Do we have license to sin? God forbid. Do we have complete freedom to pick and choose which of God's laws we will choose to follow? Sure we do. If we choose the road that's wide and that leads to destruction God will not stop us. Does that mean He stops loving us? God forbid.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Who is Israel?
For an absolutely riveting video that clearly and concisely demonstrates the Biblical truth regarding the true identity of Israel please click the link shown above. The video is only 13 minutes long, yet those 13 minutes are jam packed with scriptural references and proofs that end this notion that the modern, secular nation state of Israel is the favored nation of God or home to His people.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Does that mean we can murder and steal?
I also wanted to mention that in Ray Comforts "Answers from the Evidence Bible - Freedom from Keeping the Sabbath" there is this argument:
"Acts 15:5–11, 24–29 was God’s opportunity to make His will clear to His children. All He had to do to save millions from damnation was say, "Remember to keep the Sabbath holy," and millions of Christ-centered, God-loving, Bible-believing Christians would have gladly kept it. Instead, the only commands the apostles gave were to "abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication."
Using the same logic as expressed above then had the Jerusalem Council mentioned, "Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not covet, etc, etc, then by extension millions of Christ-centered, God-loving, Bible-believing Christians would have gladly kept them. But is that true?
What the argument here is really making is that since the Jerusalem Council did not admonish newly minted Christians from murdering, stealing or coveting then those must be perfectly fine to do! But who would buy that argument? Who would even make such an argument and still keep a straight face? Even more interesting is that this very council of consisting of new Christians from Jewish backgrounds made it known that these new Christians were to keep certain aspects of the Mosaic health laws, 1) Not to eat blood, and 2) Not to eat anything strangled or that died on it's own.
Clearly, a confused, nonsensical argument should be rejected whenever logic based on the perfect law of God and clear Biblical evidence is used to dismiss it.
"Acts 15:5–11, 24–29 was God’s opportunity to make His will clear to His children. All He had to do to save millions from damnation was say, "Remember to keep the Sabbath holy," and millions of Christ-centered, God-loving, Bible-believing Christians would have gladly kept it. Instead, the only commands the apostles gave were to "abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication."
Using the same logic as expressed above then had the Jerusalem Council mentioned, "Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not covet, etc, etc, then by extension millions of Christ-centered, God-loving, Bible-believing Christians would have gladly kept them. But is that true?
What the argument here is really making is that since the Jerusalem Council did not admonish newly minted Christians from murdering, stealing or coveting then those must be perfectly fine to do! But who would buy that argument? Who would even make such an argument and still keep a straight face? Even more interesting is that this very council of consisting of new Christians from Jewish backgrounds made it known that these new Christians were to keep certain aspects of the Mosaic health laws, 1) Not to eat blood, and 2) Not to eat anything strangled or that died on it's own.
Clearly, a confused, nonsensical argument should be rejected whenever logic based on the perfect law of God and clear Biblical evidence is used to dismiss it.
How perfect?
Today I had an opportunity to listen a bit to Ray Comfort of the "Way of the Master" fame. It was a tape from his appearance at the Strategic Prophecy Conference held recently in California. It was actually quite good. Ray has a very logical and Biblical way of pointing out that the "law of liberty", the Ten Commandments, are still in effect and are a wonderful way to point out sin and in effect, the character of God. He makes sense and uses a myriad of scriptures to show that the moral law of God is indeed "...is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple."
But there is a bit of a problem that we need to address.
On Ray's web site there is a section titled "Answers from the Evidence Bible" in which the argument is made that in reality the moral law of God isn't perfect after all, at least that's what I gather the argument is when I read articles titled, "Freedom from Sabbath Keeping."
If God's original moral law is perfect and able to convert the soul then why would it need to be changed by doing away with the Sabbath? Honestly, if something is perfect by definition (in this case God's definition), it needs nothing to be changed to make it better. If something is considered perfect it can't be made more perfect by changing something about it. Furthermore, if something is deemed to be perfect is later found to need changes then it couldn't have been perfect in the first place.
That's a question I love to have answered. How is it that something God deemed to be perfect wind up needing to be changed?
Here's a few questions asked in the article that I'll happily answer:
"First, nowhere does the Fourth Commandment say that Christians are to worship on the Sabbath."
Actually, that's a fairly untrue statement when the weight of actual Bible evidence is applied to it. First, it was a "mixed multitude" (Exodus 12:38) that came out of Egypt and enjoyed that first Sabbath in the wilderness. That should be proof alone that God didn't just command the children of Israel. But just a scant 5 verses later we read the requirements for the strangers (gentiles) that wanted to take part in the Passover (Exodus 12:43-48). Obviously taking part in the Passover meant accepting what the Passover symbolized which is the life and sacrifice that God would later provide for the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36).
This brief picture of Bible prophecy in Exodus clearly demonstrates that there would be a people outside of the original covenant that God made that would desire to be part of His covenant. What is most interesting to note is that these strangers that desired to take part in the Passover would have done this by faith, and not by any requirement of any covenant.
Second, the stranger was required to keep the Sabbath holy and to keep from profaning it. "But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates:" - Exodus 20:10. Strangers in the Bible always symbolize a people outside of God's original covenant with the children of Israel.
Third, a "Holy Convocation" was called to be assembled every seventh day Sabbath. "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day [is] the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work [therein]: it [is] the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings." - Leviticus 23:3
One can easily conclude that if a stranger was to keep the Sabbath holy by commandment of God, and a holy convocation was suggested by God, that what might be inferred was that God wanted to share with the strangers what was going on and why?Obviously in that we see this addressed by Paul when he tells us that the oracles of God were first entrusted to the children of Israel - see Romans 3:2.
Fourth, God gives us further evidence that it is the strangers, the Gentiles, that take a hold of His covenant in a most interesting, and quite enlightening manner:
"Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;" - Isaiah 56:6
Just as the the covenant was confirmed by the willingness of the children of Israel to do what was commanded in God's holy, just and perfect moral law, the Ten Commandments - see Deuteronomy 4:13; God specifically made it clear through the prophet Isaiah that the sons of the Gentiles would join themselves to God by taking a hold of His covenant and keeping His Sabbath.
Lastly, the argument that "...nowhere does the Fourth Commandment say that Christians are to worship on the Sabbath" is a bit of a red herring at best. The childish retort would simply be that nowhere does the Fourth Commandment say that Christians are not to worship on the Sabbath for that matter. But in examining and weighing the mounds of Biblical evidence and scriptures it becomes even more far-fetched to believe that Christian aren't required to keep the Sabbath. After all, if the law is indeed able to "convert the soul" are we referring only to Jewish souls?
And yet Paul recognized quite fully that even those that didn't have the law, yet did the requirements of the law, were actually those that understood the law. "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:" - Romans 2:14.
It's evident, from a purely logical standpoint, that something that is perfect doesn't need to be changed. The moral law of God, written by His finger and engraved in stone, is indeed perfect, holy, just and good.
It has never changed.....and never will.
But there is a bit of a problem that we need to address.
On Ray's web site there is a section titled "Answers from the Evidence Bible" in which the argument is made that in reality the moral law of God isn't perfect after all, at least that's what I gather the argument is when I read articles titled, "Freedom from Sabbath Keeping."
If God's original moral law is perfect and able to convert the soul then why would it need to be changed by doing away with the Sabbath? Honestly, if something is perfect by definition (in this case God's definition), it needs nothing to be changed to make it better. If something is considered perfect it can't be made more perfect by changing something about it. Furthermore, if something is deemed to be perfect is later found to need changes then it couldn't have been perfect in the first place.
That's a question I love to have answered. How is it that something God deemed to be perfect wind up needing to be changed?
Here's a few questions asked in the article that I'll happily answer:
"First, nowhere does the Fourth Commandment say that Christians are to worship on the Sabbath."
Actually, that's a fairly untrue statement when the weight of actual Bible evidence is applied to it. First, it was a "mixed multitude" (Exodus 12:38) that came out of Egypt and enjoyed that first Sabbath in the wilderness. That should be proof alone that God didn't just command the children of Israel. But just a scant 5 verses later we read the requirements for the strangers (gentiles) that wanted to take part in the Passover (Exodus 12:43-48). Obviously taking part in the Passover meant accepting what the Passover symbolized which is the life and sacrifice that God would later provide for the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36).
This brief picture of Bible prophecy in Exodus clearly demonstrates that there would be a people outside of the original covenant that God made that would desire to be part of His covenant. What is most interesting to note is that these strangers that desired to take part in the Passover would have done this by faith, and not by any requirement of any covenant.
Second, the stranger was required to keep the Sabbath holy and to keep from profaning it. "But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates:" - Exodus 20:10. Strangers in the Bible always symbolize a people outside of God's original covenant with the children of Israel.
Third, a "Holy Convocation" was called to be assembled every seventh day Sabbath. "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day [is] the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work [therein]: it [is] the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings." - Leviticus 23:3
One can easily conclude that if a stranger was to keep the Sabbath holy by commandment of God, and a holy convocation was suggested by God, that what might be inferred was that God wanted to share with the strangers what was going on and why?Obviously in that we see this addressed by Paul when he tells us that the oracles of God were first entrusted to the children of Israel - see Romans 3:2.
Fourth, God gives us further evidence that it is the strangers, the Gentiles, that take a hold of His covenant in a most interesting, and quite enlightening manner:
"Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;" - Isaiah 56:6
Just as the the covenant was confirmed by the willingness of the children of Israel to do what was commanded in God's holy, just and perfect moral law, the Ten Commandments - see Deuteronomy 4:13; God specifically made it clear through the prophet Isaiah that the sons of the Gentiles would join themselves to God by taking a hold of His covenant and keeping His Sabbath.
Lastly, the argument that "...nowhere does the Fourth Commandment say that Christians are to worship on the Sabbath" is a bit of a red herring at best. The childish retort would simply be that nowhere does the Fourth Commandment say that Christians are not to worship on the Sabbath for that matter. But in examining and weighing the mounds of Biblical evidence and scriptures it becomes even more far-fetched to believe that Christian aren't required to keep the Sabbath. After all, if the law is indeed able to "convert the soul" are we referring only to Jewish souls?
And yet Paul recognized quite fully that even those that didn't have the law, yet did the requirements of the law, were actually those that understood the law. "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:" - Romans 2:14.
It's evident, from a purely logical standpoint, that something that is perfect doesn't need to be changed. The moral law of God, written by His finger and engraved in stone, is indeed perfect, holy, just and good.
It has never changed.....and never will.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Even Jesus Christ Rejects National Israel
Even Jesus Christ rejected the notion that a future, secular nation/state would have any significant relevance for the future of His kingdom. Jesus, because He is God, knew that He would be rejected by those He was sent to and that eventually those that were outside of this and yet wished to join themselves to God the Father would do so through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Let's study this important parable to find out how and why Jesus spoke what He did to the Pharisees:
The Bible and Christian thought is not a "new" religion but merely an extension of the old ways of the Israelite teachings that were meant to direct the observer to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the Savior that He would send and in our case, has sent.
Let's study this important parable to find out how and why Jesus spoke what He did to the Pharisees:
Matthew 21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
The householder in this parable, as in all the other parables that mention the householder, speaks of God the Father. In creating the earth and all that is in it He is the householder and the One that planted the vineyard. The vineyard in this case are those people that God has planted and continues to plant to this day that hear Him and abide with Him. See Isaiah 61:3. The vine, if there was any doubt, is Jesus Christ (John 15:1).
21:34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
The servants that God the Father sent to the husbandmen, those in charge of keeping the vineyard in order, were the prophets of the Old Testament that spoke to the Children of Israel of the coming Messiah.
Here, Jesus specifically reminds those who He was speaking to what had actually happened to a number of the prophets that God sent to the Children of Israel. Jeremiah was stoned, as was Habakkuk and Zechariah was slain with the sword by Joash.
Jesus here is re-emphasizing what He said in verse 35.
This is more than obvious that Jesus here is talking about Himself.
21:38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
Jesus is simply predicting what happened in His day when the Son of God came and was killed by the Pharisees.
See above.
Jesus asks those whom He was speaking to a very important and pointed question that we must ask ourselves. When God the Father returns to see what has happened to His vineyard what will He do?
Do you desire to be a part of that "other husbandmen?" By accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and abiding with Him you personally become part of the other husbandmen and will render to Jesus the fruits in their seasons.
This is a direct reference to Psalms 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16. Jesus is constantly refered to as a rock or stone in both the Old and New Testaments.
Jesus plainly declares here that the Kingdom of God, which is found within the heart of each and every man and woman (Luke 17:21), would be taken away from those that were responsible to share the great and wonderful blessings of God the Father and eventually given to another. This fact is made even more clear in the Book of Acts when the Jews of that day found themselves unworthy of eternal life and thus the preaching of the Kingdom of God went to the gentiles.
Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
In other words, when we voluntarily fall on that stone, that precious corner stone of Jesus Christ, we see our weakness and just how helpless we really are. Thus we realize how broken we are. And yet, if we resist that power of Jesus Christ and allow that stone to fall on us, it will grind one to powder.
The Bible and Christian thought is not a "new" religion but merely an extension of the old ways of the Israelite teachings that were meant to direct the observer to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the Savior that He would send and in our case, has sent.
Replacement Theology
I think that there is some confusion in the world today, among Christians and non-Christians alike, regarding the belief that the majority of Christians are taught or believe that “the Church” has somehow replaced the nation of
If this is indeed the thinking, that “the Church” has somehow replaced the nation of
Personally I believe that very few Christians have this belief, because if more Christians did, they would understand the truth that the Church has not replaced
Those that are called out by the Holy Spirit to believe in and, more imporantly, abide with Jesus Christ are members of His Body, the Church. They become adopted members of His nation. His family has replaced the secular, nation/state of
In the Old Testament, if I wanted to join with the nation of
Exodus 12:43-49 clearly spells out God’s desire for accepting the Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ in type.
And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This [is] the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. All the congregation of
Now, if an Israelite had purchased a slave, that slave could participate in the eating of the Passover provided he was circumcised. Likewise, those that of their own volition who chose to partake in the eating Passover (verse 48), where also required to be circumcised and after wards were considered to be “as one that is born in the land.”
How are we, as Christians today, purchased just like a slave? Through the blood of Jesus Christ; Ephesians 2:13, 1 Corinthians 6:20. What is required of anyone that wishes to join Jesus Christ and become a follower of His way, of His truth and His life? A circumcised heart; Deuteronomy 30:6, Romans 2:28-29. Those things in the Old Testament which pointed to Jesus Christ and that were to be performed by the tribe of
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Food for Thought......
The following is a letter to the editor that was written by a friend of mine in Colorado. It is definite "food for thought." This is the link to Doug's web site: http://www.geocities.com/fountoftruth/waning.html
Letters to the Editor
Rocky Mountain News
Denver, CO 80202
Editor:
Thank you for your article of June 30, 2008 entitled “Evangelicals' political clout wanes, scholars say.” This waning political influence is long overdue. For years, Christians and their churches have been inappropriately used as partisan political tools. The consequences have been most unfortunate.
From 1980 to 2000, there was always a drumbeat about the need for Christians to vote Republican. When George W. Bush mentioned Jesus during the 2000 campaign, things went crazy. Based on just one statement, evangelical leaders relentlessly promoted Bush as this great Christian man and insisted that Christians stand with him foursquare. Someone said that it was as if they wanted to add Bush to the Holy Trinity.
Millions of evangelicals thus became fervent supporters of unprovoked war, torture, warrantless searches and spying, rogue police and guilt without trial. They became cheerleaders for the most un-Christlike behavior imaginable.
When called on this, they often would try to frighten people, saying things like, “Do you want liberals in power?” Well, our “conservative” president outspends his liberal predecessor by $1 trillion per year. Every liberal program these “conservatives” say they oppose is larger and costlier than ever. Abortions are as available now as they were in the Clinton years.
Christians are called to be light in a world of darkness and salt in a world of decay. While we need to be involved in politics, we must not compromise Christianity for the sake of political victory. We must acknowledge the very strict limits of what government can accomplish and that the state almost always does more harm than good.
We must also not yoke ourselves unequally with secular political movements. This unholy alliance of evangelical Christians and the Republican Party has given Christians a reputation as warmongers, cultural control freaks and partisan political jerks. This is not how Christ called us to live.
Let us look to the Bible and to the teachings of Christ, rather than temporal partisan political agendas, as our guide toward influencing our world.
Douglas F. Newman
Aurora
Friday, June 6, 2008
"Blood in, Blood Out"
Isn't it interesting that at various times something from the outside, some sort of outside influence or condition, may reflect a certain story or passage that we might be reading in the Bible at the time? A case in point, for me, happened just a few days ago. When I returned home from being out and about, a postcard greeted me at the door. It was left in the door by Victory Outreach in Victorville. The card was promoting an event, a live drama called "Blood In, Blood Out." Judging from the pictures on the post card and this note, "To join the Mafia, you kill....To leave the Mafia, you die" one can assume that this production must have something to do with leaving the "Mexican" Mafia and the brutal lifestyle that it represents.
What was so interesting to me in receiving this post card when I did is that I was reading Acts chapter 9 at the time and reading about the conversion of Saul from early church persecutor to becoming the staunch preacher he was to become.
What's so interesting about that you might ask and what's the connection.
Well, after Saul received his sight and began preaching in the synagogues that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, folks began to take notice; those who remembered him as the one that destroyed many of those that called on Jesus in Jerusalem and those that were convicted by the truth of Saul's words and preaching of Jesus Christ as Messiah.
Verse 22 tells us that as Saul increased more in knowledge and understanding and began to be more and more empowered, he also began to perplex and confuse the Jews and cause an uproar amongst them by "proving" that Jesus was indeed the Christ. In fact, the uproar was evidently so great and so powerful in piercing their hearts by Saul's preaching that they sought to take Saul's life.
Hopefully, by now, you can see the connection. Just as it was in Saul's day where going against the grain and speaking out against what was considered to be true at the time by the religious leadership was seen as punishable by death, so the same goes on today, when trying to leave a powerful criminal enterprise like a gang, in this case, the Mexican Mafia is punishable by death.
Saul began preaching the "real" truth; that the Messiah had indeed come and came in the form of a man named Jesus Christ, with such power that he began to cut the hearts of the so-called religious leadership of his day so much to actually want him dead.
In fact, I was struck so much by the connection between this post card from Victory Outreach and these events that surrounded Saul some 2000 years ago, that I noted in my Bible by verse 23 "Blood In, Blood Out."
Through Saul's exhortation and preaching he was able to clearly demonstrate that Jesus was the Messiah spoken of in scripture, so much so that the "shot callers" in the Jewish priesthood wanted him dead.
Fortunately for Saul, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he had become a member of the only "gang" that matters.....the "Royal Priesthood" of Jesus Christ and His family.
What was so interesting to me in receiving this post card when I did is that I was reading Acts chapter 9 at the time and reading about the conversion of Saul from early church persecutor to becoming the staunch preacher he was to become.
What's so interesting about that you might ask and what's the connection.
Well, after Saul received his sight and began preaching in the synagogues that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, folks began to take notice; those who remembered him as the one that destroyed many of those that called on Jesus in Jerusalem and those that were convicted by the truth of Saul's words and preaching of Jesus Christ as Messiah.
Verse 22 tells us that as Saul increased more in knowledge and understanding and began to be more and more empowered, he also began to perplex and confuse the Jews and cause an uproar amongst them by "proving" that Jesus was indeed the Christ. In fact, the uproar was evidently so great and so powerful in piercing their hearts by Saul's preaching that they sought to take Saul's life.
Hopefully, by now, you can see the connection. Just as it was in Saul's day where going against the grain and speaking out against what was considered to be true at the time by the religious leadership was seen as punishable by death, so the same goes on today, when trying to leave a powerful criminal enterprise like a gang, in this case, the Mexican Mafia is punishable by death.
Saul began preaching the "real" truth; that the Messiah had indeed come and came in the form of a man named Jesus Christ, with such power that he began to cut the hearts of the so-called religious leadership of his day so much to actually want him dead.
In fact, I was struck so much by the connection between this post card from Victory Outreach and these events that surrounded Saul some 2000 years ago, that I noted in my Bible by verse 23 "Blood In, Blood Out."
Through Saul's exhortation and preaching he was able to clearly demonstrate that Jesus was the Messiah spoken of in scripture, so much so that the "shot callers" in the Jewish priesthood wanted him dead.
Fortunately for Saul, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he had become a member of the only "gang" that matters.....the "Royal Priesthood" of Jesus Christ and His family.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Israel at 60, Give or Take a Few Thousand Years
This happens to be the title of an article that appeared in both the Israel National News in April and today on the American Thinker website that was written by Steve Feldman and Robert Sklaroff of the Philadelphia District of the Zionist Organization of America.
Unfortunately, this article contains the most glaring error that can ever be made with respect to Abraham and the Nation of Israel - namely the insistence that Father Abraham was a Jew. Clearly, from any honest recollection of the truths offered in the Bible or the Hebrew Torah we can, with the utmost assurance, insist that Abraham was not a "Jew." Now in general, while I agree with the overall summation made by the authors of the article - that the Nation of Israel is well over 60 years old, in fact thousands of years old, I disagree (obviously) with the assertion that this Nation only includes only the actual blood decedents of Father Abraham.
The modern State of Israel is a secular state based on the model of Roman Civil Law that has been in existence for thousands of years and adopted, in fact, by virtually every nation/state in the world. So to insist, as many do today, that God will save this secular nation, outside and apart from what has already occurred in history and what we are assured of will again happen in the future through what the Apostles wrote is just not sound Biblical teaching.
Another point in the article that is a completely misleading is the writers insistence that the first "Jew" to set foot in Israel was Abraham when he purchased the grave for Sarah. This is woefully inaccurate. Actually, Abraham set foot in Canaan (which was occupied by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan during Joshua's day) when he was instructed by God to leave the land he was in for Canaan. - Genesis 12:1-12. Later, after a famine in the land, Abraham left and went to Egypt. After being kicked out of Egypt for lying to Pharaoh about Sarah, Abraham went back to Canaan. In fact, the Bible tells us Abraham went back to the place where he had originally built an alter to the Lord when he first entered into Canaan. - See Genesis 12:8 and Genesis 13:3-4.
The Bible goes on to tell us in Genesis 13 that from where the altar was, in the plain of Moreh, Abraham moved to the plain of Mamre, which is near Hebron, where he built another altar. - Genesis 13:18. Hebron is smack-dab in the mist of Israel, both in Abraham's day and still to this day! This is where God made His famous promise to Abraham (Abram) that He would provide Abraham all the land that he saw.
"For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto The Lord." - Genesis 13:15-18 KJV
The fact as to why the authors of this piece didn't add this information into their article, or just didn't know these facts, is anyone's guess. But to me it is a bit distressing and I cannot honestly believe that no one in the modern, secular nation State of Israel didn't call them on it! These are Bible basics and I would imagine, for those that are claiming the promises God made to Abraham, they would know a little bit more about them.
Unfortunately, this article contains the most glaring error that can ever be made with respect to Abraham and the Nation of Israel - namely the insistence that Father Abraham was a Jew. Clearly, from any honest recollection of the truths offered in the Bible or the Hebrew Torah we can, with the utmost assurance, insist that Abraham was not a "Jew." Now in general, while I agree with the overall summation made by the authors of the article - that the Nation of Israel is well over 60 years old, in fact thousands of years old, I disagree (obviously) with the assertion that this Nation only includes only the actual blood decedents of Father Abraham.
The modern State of Israel is a secular state based on the model of Roman Civil Law that has been in existence for thousands of years and adopted, in fact, by virtually every nation/state in the world. So to insist, as many do today, that God will save this secular nation, outside and apart from what has already occurred in history and what we are assured of will again happen in the future through what the Apostles wrote is just not sound Biblical teaching.
Another point in the article that is a completely misleading is the writers insistence that the first "Jew" to set foot in Israel was Abraham when he purchased the grave for Sarah. This is woefully inaccurate. Actually, Abraham set foot in Canaan (which was occupied by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan during Joshua's day) when he was instructed by God to leave the land he was in for Canaan. - Genesis 12:1-12. Later, after a famine in the land, Abraham left and went to Egypt. After being kicked out of Egypt for lying to Pharaoh about Sarah, Abraham went back to Canaan. In fact, the Bible tells us Abraham went back to the place where he had originally built an alter to the Lord when he first entered into Canaan. - See Genesis 12:8 and Genesis 13:3-4.
The Bible goes on to tell us in Genesis 13 that from where the altar was, in the plain of Moreh, Abraham moved to the plain of Mamre, which is near Hebron, where he built another altar. - Genesis 13:18. Hebron is smack-dab in the mist of Israel, both in Abraham's day and still to this day! This is where God made His famous promise to Abraham (Abram) that He would provide Abraham all the land that he saw.
"For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto The Lord." - Genesis 13:15-18 KJV
The fact as to why the authors of this piece didn't add this information into their article, or just didn't know these facts, is anyone's guess. But to me it is a bit distressing and I cannot honestly believe that no one in the modern, secular nation State of Israel didn't call them on it! These are Bible basics and I would imagine, for those that are claiming the promises God made to Abraham, they would know a little bit more about them.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Intelligent Design?
I loathe the term "intelligent design." In all reality it has got to be one of the poorest ways to describe creation that anyone could utter. Not to mention it's a term that singlehandedly belittles the Creator to the point of trying to attach to him our limited understanding of things around us.
Think about it. Calling God "intelligent" is the equivalent of calling the Grand Canyon a pothole. It's a description that completely underestimates actual reality. God is so much more than what any human notion could possibly even begin to describe. If you really want to know the complexity involved in trying to describe what God is, or what God resembles, read Ezekiel chapters 1 & 2. It is extraordinary to even think that God would have a mere mortal man attempt such a description in the first place and yet Ezekiel seems to pull it off quite well. I fully expect God to be just as Ezekiel attempted to explain Him...sort of, I think!
In the book of Isaiah God tells us in no uncertain terms "For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9. I don't look at this statement from God as being aloof or arrogant as much as I see Him putting truth, understanding, knowledge and wisdom in proper perspective. That is to say His perspective compared to our perspective. I mean really, can anyone imagine, in their finite minds, what it must be like to frame the heavens, to create the forces that would hold the universe together, or create the marvelous workings of the human body? In this light "intelligent" almost seems like an insult.
One of the most comical, and yet serious, passages of the Bible has to be when God finally has it up to here with Job and the Sunshine Boys and lets both barrels loose in what has to be the single best undressing of human logic and thought in the Bible in Job chapters 38, 39 & 40. Yikes! Every time I read this section of Job my mouth is literally on the floor! I try to imagine what it must have been like for Job. "I...I...I...well, I...I...umm, well I...I...er, umm...I..." You get the point.
Yet, even with all of this, God still promises us that when we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him. - Deuteronomy 4:13, Jeremiah 29:13. God is so good that He even encourages us to "reason" with Him! - Isaiah 1:18. He will even reveal Himself and His ways to us through His spirit. - 1 Corinthians 2:11-13.
If I can let me leave you with this thought. If God spoke the worlds into existence, how much actual designing took place? Paul puts it this way - that the things we see were not made of things that do appear.
"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." - Hebrews 11:3
Think about it. Calling God "intelligent" is the equivalent of calling the Grand Canyon a pothole. It's a description that completely underestimates actual reality. God is so much more than what any human notion could possibly even begin to describe. If you really want to know the complexity involved in trying to describe what God is, or what God resembles, read Ezekiel chapters 1 & 2. It is extraordinary to even think that God would have a mere mortal man attempt such a description in the first place and yet Ezekiel seems to pull it off quite well. I fully expect God to be just as Ezekiel attempted to explain Him...sort of, I think!
In the book of Isaiah God tells us in no uncertain terms "For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9. I don't look at this statement from God as being aloof or arrogant as much as I see Him putting truth, understanding, knowledge and wisdom in proper perspective. That is to say His perspective compared to our perspective. I mean really, can anyone imagine, in their finite minds, what it must be like to frame the heavens, to create the forces that would hold the universe together, or create the marvelous workings of the human body? In this light "intelligent" almost seems like an insult.
One of the most comical, and yet serious, passages of the Bible has to be when God finally has it up to here with Job and the Sunshine Boys and lets both barrels loose in what has to be the single best undressing of human logic and thought in the Bible in Job chapters 38, 39 & 40. Yikes! Every time I read this section of Job my mouth is literally on the floor! I try to imagine what it must have been like for Job. "I...I...I...well, I...I...umm, well I...I...er, umm...I..." You get the point.
Yet, even with all of this, God still promises us that when we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him. - Deuteronomy 4:13, Jeremiah 29:13. God is so good that He even encourages us to "reason" with Him! - Isaiah 1:18. He will even reveal Himself and His ways to us through His spirit. - 1 Corinthians 2:11-13.
If I can let me leave you with this thought. If God spoke the worlds into existence, how much actual designing took place? Paul puts it this way - that the things we see were not made of things that do appear.
"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." - Hebrews 11:3
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Abraham the Gentile
How many times have you heard someone call Abraham a Jew? And yet, it almost goes without saying that one of the most fascinating, indeed awe inspiring, glimpses into Bible prophecy can be found in the story of Abraham - the gentile. The story of Abraham is a story for anyone and everyone that places their trust in Jesus. When you examine this story of Abraham it is, in all reality, the story of the gentiles and how the gentiles are saved.
First the basics. Abraham was a direct descendant of Noah's son Shem. We know that the whole world was populated from the offspring of Noah. Shem we are told in Genesis 10:21 was father of all the children of Eber, who was the father of Abraham. Eber then is really the father of Hebrew nation; this means that Abraham his son was a Hebrew and not a Jew. Jews didn't come along until Abraham's great-grandson Judah began to have children of his own.
According to the Strong's Concordance the word Hebrew means: "a region across" which fits perfectly when we are told that Abraham was from Ur of the Chaldees in Genesis 11:31. The area of the Chaldees was located between the Tigris and Euphrates in what is commonly known as Mesopotamia. I'm offering all this information to point out that Abraham was a gentile, no matter how we look at it, but that's not the fascinating part. This is. That very same promises that God gave to Abraham are available to us! In fact, those promises, which were accepted by Abraham by his faith in God are the same promises we receive from God and accept by faith.
In Romans 4 Paul asks us to consider father Abraham and that his justification, if it was through works, would have given him something to boast about - but not before God. Abraham was not saved by works. Paul tells us plainly that Abraham believed God and his belief was reckoned to him as righteousness. Paul goes on to explain to us that if we work then the wages we earn are not a gift but what is due to us (Romans 4:4) whereas if we trust the one who "justifies the ungodly" then our faith is reckoned for righteousness, just like Abraham (Romans 4:5). To confirm this point Paul quotes David in the Psalms (Psalms 32:1-2).
This is getting good!
Now, Paul asks rather pointedly, "How then was it (faith) reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised?" Another way we could look at this question is this, was Abraham reckoned unto God before he was "set aside" by God or after? And the answer Paul? "It was not after, but before he was circumcised." (Romans 4:10).
What a tremendous blessing this is giving us! That God accepts our faith, even before our hearts are fully circumcised (See Romans 2:28-29) just as He did for Abraham. What a wonderful way to see the picture of God building trust with us!
Paul tells us that Abraham "received circumcision" as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them" (Romans 4:11). What Paul is illustrating for us is that "the promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13). No covenant, or special dispensation, but by faith alone. And this is exactly how we receive the promises that God makes to us! Not through the law, but by the "righteousness of faith." No covenant, or special dispensation, but by faith alone! Paul goes on to tell us that if those that adhere to the law are heirs, then "faith is null and the promise of God is void."
Paul tells us plainly in verse 16, "That is why it (the promise) depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants--not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all..."
So the promises that God made to Abraham, that were counted to him as righteousness due to his faith, are ours to claim as well! Paul tells us that, "It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:24-25).
Wow!
The very same promises God made to Abraham belong to us as well. We will be reckoned by our faith in Him that raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead! What an awesome promise and an awesome glimpse as to how this prophetic vision, expressed first in the gentile Abraham, is now available to both Jew and gentile that accept the God that raised Jesus from the dead. As our faith is counted for righteousness in God so too is our faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).
Something that illustrates this point for us and solidifies the truth of this promise made to the gentiles is the story of the tremendous faith displayed by the centurion that led to the healing of his servant in Matthew 8:5-13.
He didn't question, he just believed. He just had faith. As a result, Jesus makes an absolutely staggering comment regarding the faith of the gentiles, "I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." Matthew 8:11-12.
The promise here is obvious. The gentiles, those from the east and from the west, will sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven based on their faith and trust in Jesus Christ the Messiah while those that do not display faith in the Messiah by placing their trust in Him will be on the outside looking in.
There is much to learn from the faith of Abraham the gentile.
First the basics. Abraham was a direct descendant of Noah's son Shem. We know that the whole world was populated from the offspring of Noah. Shem we are told in Genesis 10:21 was father of all the children of Eber, who was the father of Abraham. Eber then is really the father of Hebrew nation; this means that Abraham his son was a Hebrew and not a Jew. Jews didn't come along until Abraham's great-grandson Judah began to have children of his own.
According to the Strong's Concordance the word Hebrew means: "a region across" which fits perfectly when we are told that Abraham was from Ur of the Chaldees in Genesis 11:31. The area of the Chaldees was located between the Tigris and Euphrates in what is commonly known as Mesopotamia. I'm offering all this information to point out that Abraham was a gentile, no matter how we look at it, but that's not the fascinating part. This is. That very same promises that God gave to Abraham are available to us! In fact, those promises, which were accepted by Abraham by his faith in God are the same promises we receive from God and accept by faith.
In Romans 4 Paul asks us to consider father Abraham and that his justification, if it was through works, would have given him something to boast about - but not before God. Abraham was not saved by works. Paul tells us plainly that Abraham believed God and his belief was reckoned to him as righteousness. Paul goes on to explain to us that if we work then the wages we earn are not a gift but what is due to us (Romans 4:4) whereas if we trust the one who "justifies the ungodly" then our faith is reckoned for righteousness, just like Abraham (Romans 4:5). To confirm this point Paul quotes David in the Psalms (Psalms 32:1-2).
This is getting good!
Now, Paul asks rather pointedly, "How then was it (faith) reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised?" Another way we could look at this question is this, was Abraham reckoned unto God before he was "set aside" by God or after? And the answer Paul? "It was not after, but before he was circumcised." (Romans 4:10).
What a tremendous blessing this is giving us! That God accepts our faith, even before our hearts are fully circumcised (See Romans 2:28-29) just as He did for Abraham. What a wonderful way to see the picture of God building trust with us!
Paul tells us that Abraham "received circumcision" as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them" (Romans 4:11). What Paul is illustrating for us is that "the promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13). No covenant, or special dispensation, but by faith alone. And this is exactly how we receive the promises that God makes to us! Not through the law, but by the "righteousness of faith." No covenant, or special dispensation, but by faith alone! Paul goes on to tell us that if those that adhere to the law are heirs, then "faith is null and the promise of God is void."
Paul tells us plainly in verse 16, "That is why it (the promise) depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants--not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all..."
So the promises that God made to Abraham, that were counted to him as righteousness due to his faith, are ours to claim as well! Paul tells us that, "It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:24-25).
Wow!
The very same promises God made to Abraham belong to us as well. We will be reckoned by our faith in Him that raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead! What an awesome promise and an awesome glimpse as to how this prophetic vision, expressed first in the gentile Abraham, is now available to both Jew and gentile that accept the God that raised Jesus from the dead. As our faith is counted for righteousness in God so too is our faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26).
Something that illustrates this point for us and solidifies the truth of this promise made to the gentiles is the story of the tremendous faith displayed by the centurion that led to the healing of his servant in Matthew 8:5-13.
He didn't question, he just believed. He just had faith. As a result, Jesus makes an absolutely staggering comment regarding the faith of the gentiles, "I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." Matthew 8:11-12.
The promise here is obvious. The gentiles, those from the east and from the west, will sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven based on their faith and trust in Jesus Christ the Messiah while those that do not display faith in the Messiah by placing their trust in Him will be on the outside looking in.
There is much to learn from the faith of Abraham the gentile.
Ecological Dimension of Sunday?!
The following was taken from a post made at Advent Talk an online Adventist discussion forum. I thought it was relevant simply because it illustrates very well what the lack of any adherence to the moral laws of God will eventually bring. Already we can see great strides being taken to legislate Sunday observance in contrast to Sabbath solemnity.
This actually quite relevant to the topic of dispensationalism because the ship of the dispensational mindset is generally without course nor rudder in the sea of sound doctrine and scripture. All the while, as dispensationalist's consistently and blindly gaze at the wrong horizon of the secular, modernistic State of Israel (built on the image of neo-pagan Roman civil law), the ecumenical world movement is quickly creeping up behind them. The minions don't see Rome because they aren't looking at Rome and their pastors, who very much teach solid Jesuit eschatology, happily lead their flock astray.
It will only be a matter of time before some catastrophic event such as an economic meltdown, a massive terrorist attack or environmental disaster will cause the supposed necessity of a legislated worldwide day of rest.
Ecological Dimension of Sunday?!
In a homily in Vienna, Austria, recently, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the threat that hovers upon the environment and Creation in general, stressing the necessity to pay greater attention to, what he called, “the ecological dimension of Sunday”, the day when the Church thanks God for the Creation. He said: “At a time when creation seems to be endangered in so many ways through human activity, we should consciously advert to this dimension of Sunday too”.
This “ecological dimension” of Sunday is a new language by which the Pope tries to show the Vatican’s leadership in a global campaign to “save the planet” (see http://zenit.org/article-20450?l=english). Wouldn’t that be what some are calling “ECOmenism”?
But in a theological perspective, we see in the papal discourse a clear distortion of the real meaning of the Sabbath institution: he points to Sunday as a day to celebrate creation, which doesn’t match the biblical teaching, for that role is assigned to the seventh-day Sabbath as being the “memorial of creation”.
According to the Genesis creation record, on the first day God was acting in His work, as Creator, and only on the seventh-day He rested, blessed and sanctified the day (Gen. 2:2, 3). So, this twisting of meanings is certainly a subtle change of the Bible’s teaching and symbolism on the subject of what constitutes the institution to remember the Creator and His creation.
In the USA, on the other hand, campaigns stressing greater respect for Sunday and the 10 Commandments are under way. A “10 Commandments Commission” was formed to promote a “10 Commandments Day” (which is being set for the 1st Sunday of May) under the command of influential Evangelical leaders, such as James Dobson, Benny Hynn, Charles Colson, Pat Robertson, Don Wildmon and a good number of others (see: http://www.ldausa.org/index.cfm and http://www.tencommandmentsday.com/).
The promoters of these significant campaigns understand that the moral and spiritual decline of the great North-American nation (and all over the world) is due to the failure of society to consider seriously these divine principles, which seems a good thing, but that implies serious dangers for religious freedom. Such initiatives could lead to having religio-political systems influencing the government to dictate norms according to the expectations and interpretations of these leaders. History teaches us a sober lesson that when there is a mix of religion and politics, minorities are always hurt. . .
In an interview on May 18, 2005 to the program “Fresh Air”, of the NPR network (National Public Radio), that covers practically the entire country, Dr. James D. Kennedy, influential minister and evangelist who had an intense radio and TV activity before passing away in September, 2007, said openly that the principle of separation of Church and State in the USA is an error that goes against the ideals of the Christian founders of the nation, and should be simply discarded. This is a very worrisome notion. His interview can be heard through the following link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4656600).
We understand through the study of Bible prophetic statements that the final events on this planet will have much to do with the Sabbath/Sunday question. It will be the definition of who will bear the seal of God, and who will receive the “mark of the beast”. And that the obligatory character of total suspension of activities on Sundays is not a new idea we can see just recalling the “rehearsal” of that during a very serious crisis in recent decades--the oil embargo of the 70’s. What day in the week was affected by those politico-economical developments of the time? The older ones remember the gas stations closing on Sundays in many countries throughout the world.
This actually quite relevant to the topic of dispensationalism because the ship of the dispensational mindset is generally without course nor rudder in the sea of sound doctrine and scripture. All the while, as dispensationalist's consistently and blindly gaze at the wrong horizon of the secular, modernistic State of Israel (built on the image of neo-pagan Roman civil law), the ecumenical world movement is quickly creeping up behind them. The minions don't see Rome because they aren't looking at Rome and their pastors, who very much teach solid Jesuit eschatology, happily lead their flock astray.
It will only be a matter of time before some catastrophic event such as an economic meltdown, a massive terrorist attack or environmental disaster will cause the supposed necessity of a legislated worldwide day of rest.
Ecological Dimension of Sunday?!
In a homily in Vienna, Austria, recently, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the threat that hovers upon the environment and Creation in general, stressing the necessity to pay greater attention to, what he called, “the ecological dimension of Sunday”, the day when the Church thanks God for the Creation. He said: “At a time when creation seems to be endangered in so many ways through human activity, we should consciously advert to this dimension of Sunday too”.
This “ecological dimension” of Sunday is a new language by which the Pope tries to show the Vatican’s leadership in a global campaign to “save the planet” (see http://zenit.org/article-20450?l=english). Wouldn’t that be what some are calling “ECOmenism”?
But in a theological perspective, we see in the papal discourse a clear distortion of the real meaning of the Sabbath institution: he points to Sunday as a day to celebrate creation, which doesn’t match the biblical teaching, for that role is assigned to the seventh-day Sabbath as being the “memorial of creation”.
According to the Genesis creation record, on the first day God was acting in His work, as Creator, and only on the seventh-day He rested, blessed and sanctified the day (Gen. 2:2, 3). So, this twisting of meanings is certainly a subtle change of the Bible’s teaching and symbolism on the subject of what constitutes the institution to remember the Creator and His creation.
In the USA, on the other hand, campaigns stressing greater respect for Sunday and the 10 Commandments are under way. A “10 Commandments Commission” was formed to promote a “10 Commandments Day” (which is being set for the 1st Sunday of May) under the command of influential Evangelical leaders, such as James Dobson, Benny Hynn, Charles Colson, Pat Robertson, Don Wildmon and a good number of others (see: http://www.ldausa.org/index.cfm and http://www.tencommandmentsday.com/).
The promoters of these significant campaigns understand that the moral and spiritual decline of the great North-American nation (and all over the world) is due to the failure of society to consider seriously these divine principles, which seems a good thing, but that implies serious dangers for religious freedom. Such initiatives could lead to having religio-political systems influencing the government to dictate norms according to the expectations and interpretations of these leaders. History teaches us a sober lesson that when there is a mix of religion and politics, minorities are always hurt. . .
In an interview on May 18, 2005 to the program “Fresh Air”, of the NPR network (National Public Radio), that covers practically the entire country, Dr. James D. Kennedy, influential minister and evangelist who had an intense radio and TV activity before passing away in September, 2007, said openly that the principle of separation of Church and State in the USA is an error that goes against the ideals of the Christian founders of the nation, and should be simply discarded. This is a very worrisome notion. His interview can be heard through the following link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4656600).
We understand through the study of Bible prophetic statements that the final events on this planet will have much to do with the Sabbath/Sunday question. It will be the definition of who will bear the seal of God, and who will receive the “mark of the beast”. And that the obligatory character of total suspension of activities on Sundays is not a new idea we can see just recalling the “rehearsal” of that during a very serious crisis in recent decades--the oil embargo of the 70’s. What day in the week was affected by those politico-economical developments of the time? The older ones remember the gas stations closing on Sundays in many countries throughout the world.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Jesus Doesn't Charge Anything.....
Nor does He demand forced penance from us, or elaborate rituals. Nor does He require lengthy pilgrimages, or confession to another man. He simply asks us to believe Him, to trust Him and to abide with Him (John 15).
Plenary indulgence announced for anniversary of the Apostle to the Gentiles
Plenary indulgence announced for anniversary of the Apostle to the Gentiles
An Excellent Article
Dispensationalism: Root Cause of Antinomianism
by J.K. McKeeThe following is an excellent article that addresses some interesting points and sheds greater light on the dispensational movement and theology that is prevalent today in so many Christian circles.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Who is Real Israel?
Here's a wonderful study and teaching from Pastor David Asscherick called Who is Real Israel?
I hope you find the information in this study a blessing to you this day.
I hope you find the information in this study a blessing to you this day.
Sorry, but that's just plain old wrong......
The following is found at Zionism on the Web:
Christian Zionism combats Christian antisemitism
There can be no more insidious or deadly train of thought as to say to someone "If you don't believe like I do then you must hate me" or "If you don't believe like I do then you must be a bigot." The above statement from Zionism on the Web bears this out. What's being said here in no uncertain terms is this: If you don't believe in Christian Zionism then you must be a racist, more specifically, antisemitic. You must be a bigot. The ignorance displayed by the above referenced statement bears this out. Yet a simple and cursory look at the Bible slices through this vitriol like a hot, two-edged sword slices through the core of men!
When Paul, a Pharisee and Benjamite states with clarity that, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28) then it must be concluded based on this declaration that Paul was antisemitic!
When Paul, a Pharisee and Benjamite states with clarity that, " Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." (Romans 9:6-8) then it must be concluded based on this declaration that Paul was antisemitic!
When Paul, a Pharisee and Benjamite states with clarity that, "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." and " But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3:14, 22) then it must be concluded based on this declaration that Paul was antisemitic!
It must be pointed out that these promises do not come by blood but as Paul says these promises come by faith,
Romans 4: 13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
[Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Even more powerful is Paul's declaration that if we have faith in that which was promised to Abraham, that is Jesus Christ, then we are children of Abraham:
Galatians 3:7
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Of course, tying all of this together in a nice tight package for us is John the Baptist, who, when the religious leaders of his day insisted that the had the promise of Father Abraham by blood, were told in no uncertain terms that God the Father of all didn't need them and what's more, if He needed to, He could bring forth heirs to Abraham from stones.
Matthew 3:9
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
What's remarkable in all of this is that God has done just as he promised, and continues to do so to this very day! He has made a nation to rise in place of the stubborn and obstinate Children of Israel by and through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ was a Jew. Jews descended from Judah, who was one of the sons of Jacob who had his name changed by God. Jacob was the grandson of Abraham. Abraham was a son Eber. Eber was one of the sons of Shem. Shem is where we derive the term "antisemite."
And I am very thankful and very blessed that this humble and gracious Jewish carpenter called me to come to Him, to abide with Him and to be a part of His Kingdom. If believing the promises of the Bible and the truths they reveal make me an antisemite, then I stand guilty as charged!
Am I shocked by any of this? No, not in the least. Fortunately, I was given a "heads-up" ahead of time before anyone ever thought of the term "Christian Zionism."
Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Christian Zionism combats Christian antisemitism
"A significant amount of Christian antisemitism revolves around the theory of replacement theology. According to this theory Christians replaced the Jews as the chosen people, and Jews have no further role to play in gods designs. Replacement theology, described by Zionism Israel.com as "a bigoted doctrine of the medieval church" is connection with anti-Semitism and specifically the promotion of the charge of Deicide, that is the Jews are blamed for the crucifixion. This charge from the medieval church lead to numerous genocides against the Jewish people in various countries. The church has since appologied and rejected this theology. Christian Zionists are at the forefront of exposing places where this evil lingers."
Special Note: The above was taken verbatim from the above named website. All spelling/typographical errors are from the website.There can be no more insidious or deadly train of thought as to say to someone "If you don't believe like I do then you must hate me" or "If you don't believe like I do then you must be a bigot." The above statement from Zionism on the Web bears this out. What's being said here in no uncertain terms is this: If you don't believe in Christian Zionism then you must be a racist, more specifically, antisemitic. You must be a bigot. The ignorance displayed by the above referenced statement bears this out. Yet a simple and cursory look at the Bible slices through this vitriol like a hot, two-edged sword slices through the core of men!
When Paul, a Pharisee and Benjamite states with clarity that, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28) then it must be concluded based on this declaration that Paul was antisemitic!
When Paul, a Pharisee and Benjamite states with clarity that, " Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these [are] not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." (Romans 9:6-8) then it must be concluded based on this declaration that Paul was antisemitic!
When Paul, a Pharisee and Benjamite states with clarity that, "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." and " But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe." (Galatians 3:14, 22) then it must be concluded based on this declaration that Paul was antisemitic!
It must be pointed out that these promises do not come by blood but as Paul says these promises come by faith,
Romans 4: 13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
And Abraham's righteousness was counted as faith.....
[Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Even more powerful is Paul's declaration that if we have faith in that which was promised to Abraham, that is Jesus Christ, then we are children of Abraham:
Galatians 3:7
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Of course, tying all of this together in a nice tight package for us is John the Baptist, who, when the religious leaders of his day insisted that the had the promise of Father Abraham by blood, were told in no uncertain terms that God the Father of all didn't need them and what's more, if He needed to, He could bring forth heirs to Abraham from stones.
Matthew 3:9
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
What's remarkable in all of this is that God has done just as he promised, and continues to do so to this very day! He has made a nation to rise in place of the stubborn and obstinate Children of Israel by and through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ was a Jew. Jews descended from Judah, who was one of the sons of Jacob who had his name changed by God. Jacob was the grandson of Abraham. Abraham was a son Eber. Eber was one of the sons of Shem. Shem is where we derive the term "antisemite."
And I am very thankful and very blessed that this humble and gracious Jewish carpenter called me to come to Him, to abide with Him and to be a part of His Kingdom. If believing the promises of the Bible and the truths they reveal make me an antisemite, then I stand guilty as charged!
Am I shocked by any of this? No, not in the least. Fortunately, I was given a "heads-up" ahead of time before anyone ever thought of the term "Christian Zionism."
Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Christians United For Israel
Christians United for Israel has an interesting and informative web site. You can check out their website here: CUFI.org.
On their site they have an information section titled "Learn about Christian Zionism" in which various questions are asked and answered about Christian Zionism. The very first question, as one would expect is, "What is Christian Zionism?" The answer is given to us by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem:
"Tens of thousands of churches, and literally tens of millions Christians in the USA have a committed belief in the importance of standing with Israel and blessing the Jewish people. The verse most often referred to as their biblical mandate is Genesis 12:3 in which God tells Abraham “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
When it comes to things Biblical, there is only one standard of truth, and that is the Bible itself. God's Word is quite capable to speak for itself with much clarity and much illumination. This matters because by careful Biblical examination of the second part of this answer can be found to be quite suspect and quite deceptive: The verse most often referred to as their biblical mandate is Genesis 12:3 in which God tells Abraham “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Now, I'm certainly not suggesting that Genesis 12:3 isn't true, in fact, it is crystal clear. My issue of course is how it is used by the CUFI and how it is interpreted. Their view can be discerned right away from the opening words of their home page. Among other things it says quite plainly that "The Bible commands us...to bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3).
There's just one problem with this whole position. Abraham wasn't a Jew! In fact, no where in scripture is Abraham ever referred to as a Jew. Abraham was a "Hebrew" and it is important to understand the connection that is inferred by this fact. The very first "Jew" was Jacob's (Israel's) son Judah. In fact, the term isn't even used in the Torah and it isn't used until the book of Ester in referring to the lineage of Mordecai. The term "Hebrew" actually refers to Abraham's lineage which comes from Eber. An Eberite is a Hebrew or descendant of Eber. This tells me one thing that I find quite remarkable. When this blessing in Genesis 12:3 was directed towards Abram before he became Abraham, he not yet been circumcised and therefore must have still been a "gentile!" This blessing was made, not by covenant or agreement, but by a promise that God had vowed.
Now I am not suggesting that we shouldn't bless the people that live in the secular nation/state currently called Israel. We should. But we are also instructed by both Jesus and the apostle Paul to "bless" those that would be our enemies and bless those that would persecute us (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28, Romans 12:14). This is quite consistent with the teachings of Jesus as He continues in Matthew 5:45-48 where Jesus teaches to be "perfect" as Christians, as followers of Jesus, that we need to love as God loves. We need to love even those that would not love us, just as God does. That's a staggering thought when you begin to meditate on what Jesus is honestly teaching.
Now back to the gentile Abram. The promises made to Abram before he was circumcised are truly remarkable in the symbolism they offer. Before Abraham was circumcised, which I see as symbolic for the circumcision of our hearts ( Deuteronomy 10:6, Romans 2:29) he was still a "gentile" which shows me that the promises extended to Abraham are available to you and I and anyone else that wishes to name the name of Jesus Christ above all that is named. This point is made by the apostle Paul, confirmed in his letter to the Galatians.
After God makes His statement to Abram regarding the blessing, God goes on to tell Abram in Genesis 12:7 that "Unto thy seed will I give this land." Paul tells us clearly that this promise was outside of the covenant that God made with Abram. "For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise" (Galatians 3:18). But what is even more remarkable is that the promise God made to Abram was not a promise made to each and every "seed" that comes from Abram, but just one, Jesus Christ. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16).
Now many might dare to call this "replacement theology" but the fact remains that all the blessings and promises that God made to Abram are accomplished through Jesus Christ. Whether one is from Kentucky, Kenya, Korea or Kyrgyzstan it matters not. Wherever one is in the world we are free to become "fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:13-22).
On their site they have an information section titled "Learn about Christian Zionism" in which various questions are asked and answered about Christian Zionism. The very first question, as one would expect is, "What is Christian Zionism?" The answer is given to us by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem:
"Tens of thousands of churches, and literally tens of millions Christians in the USA have a committed belief in the importance of standing with Israel and blessing the Jewish people. The verse most often referred to as their biblical mandate is Genesis 12:3 in which God tells Abraham “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
Since the birth of the State of Israel in 1948 the theological error known as Replacement Theology has begun to decline and increasing is a theology of Christian Zionism that understands the importance of God’s everlasting covenant with Abraham and the nation he would birth.
However, just as the term “Zionism” has been turned into a negative word by Israel’s enemies, so “Christian Zionism” is under attack and often misrepresented in the media and in some public discourse. For this reason, the ICEJ’s articles and monographs defining and clarifying the beliefs of Christian supporters of Israel and placing their “love for Israel” within its proper biblical context are proving invaluable."
Let start with the very first statement which is: "Tens of thousands of churches, and literally tens of millions Christians in the USA have a committed belief in the importance of standing with Israel and blessing the Jewish people." Undoubtedly, this is true. But if I recall properly the popularity of a teaching doesn't make it true. Just because something is believed doesn't mean that it is the truth. There are many examples of this of course and conversely, just because something isn't seen as the truth by the majority doesn't mean that what is believed is false.When it comes to things Biblical, there is only one standard of truth, and that is the Bible itself. God's Word is quite capable to speak for itself with much clarity and much illumination. This matters because by careful Biblical examination of the second part of this answer can be found to be quite suspect and quite deceptive: The verse most often referred to as their biblical mandate is Genesis 12:3 in which God tells Abraham “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Now, I'm certainly not suggesting that Genesis 12:3 isn't true, in fact, it is crystal clear. My issue of course is how it is used by the CUFI and how it is interpreted. Their view can be discerned right away from the opening words of their home page. Among other things it says quite plainly that "The Bible commands us...to bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3).
There's just one problem with this whole position. Abraham wasn't a Jew! In fact, no where in scripture is Abraham ever referred to as a Jew. Abraham was a "Hebrew" and it is important to understand the connection that is inferred by this fact. The very first "Jew" was Jacob's (Israel's) son Judah. In fact, the term isn't even used in the Torah and it isn't used until the book of Ester in referring to the lineage of Mordecai. The term "Hebrew" actually refers to Abraham's lineage which comes from Eber. An Eberite is a Hebrew or descendant of Eber. This tells me one thing that I find quite remarkable. When this blessing in Genesis 12:3 was directed towards Abram before he became Abraham, he not yet been circumcised and therefore must have still been a "gentile!" This blessing was made, not by covenant or agreement, but by a promise that God had vowed.
Now I am not suggesting that we shouldn't bless the people that live in the secular nation/state currently called Israel. We should. But we are also instructed by both Jesus and the apostle Paul to "bless" those that would be our enemies and bless those that would persecute us (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28, Romans 12:14). This is quite consistent with the teachings of Jesus as He continues in Matthew 5:45-48 where Jesus teaches to be "perfect" as Christians, as followers of Jesus, that we need to love as God loves. We need to love even those that would not love us, just as God does. That's a staggering thought when you begin to meditate on what Jesus is honestly teaching.
Now back to the gentile Abram. The promises made to Abram before he was circumcised are truly remarkable in the symbolism they offer. Before Abraham was circumcised, which I see as symbolic for the circumcision of our hearts ( Deuteronomy 10:6, Romans 2:29) he was still a "gentile" which shows me that the promises extended to Abraham are available to you and I and anyone else that wishes to name the name of Jesus Christ above all that is named. This point is made by the apostle Paul, confirmed in his letter to the Galatians.
After God makes His statement to Abram regarding the blessing, God goes on to tell Abram in Genesis 12:7 that "Unto thy seed will I give this land." Paul tells us clearly that this promise was outside of the covenant that God made with Abram. "For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise" (Galatians 3:18). But what is even more remarkable is that the promise God made to Abram was not a promise made to each and every "seed" that comes from Abram, but just one, Jesus Christ. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16).
Now many might dare to call this "replacement theology" but the fact remains that all the blessings and promises that God made to Abram are accomplished through Jesus Christ. Whether one is from Kentucky, Kenya, Korea or Kyrgyzstan it matters not. Wherever one is in the world we are free to become "fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:13-22).
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Did He Really Say That?
Pastor John Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas released a book just a little over 6 months ago titled, "In Defense of Israel." His ministry, John Hagee Ministries (JHM) produced a TV commercial promoting this book where Hagee clearly denies that Jesus Christ came to be the Messiah of Israel.
The video of this commercial can be viewed here.
It's fairly easy to see where Pastor Hagee stands and what Pastor Hagee believes. His expressed views in the commercial for his book cannot be gainsayed in any way:
"This book will expose the sins of the fathers and the vicious abuse of the Jewish people. In Defense of Israel will shake Christian theology. It scripturally proves that the Jewish people as a whole did not reject Jesus as Messiah. It will also prove that Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah. It will prove that there was a Calvary conspiracy between Rome, the high priest, and Herod to execute Jesus as an insurrectionist too dangerous to live. Since Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah, how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered? Read this shocking expose, In Defense of Israel."
Wow! If I hadn't heard it, nor seen it with my own eyes, I could have sworn that this man, a pastor of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, actually denied that Jesus was the Messiah. Worse yet, Pastor Hagee is basically saying that the Jews would most certainly have accepted Jesus had He actually come to do what Pastor Hagee says He didn't come to do!!!!! Confusing doctrine to say the least.
Now there are a great number (if not hundreds), of Bible cites that clearly show that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Anointed One of Israel. I can think of no better though than the ones that actually described Jesus being anointed.
In the book of Daniel, chapter 9 and verses 24-27 we read:
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
Since Messiah is a variation of the Hebrew mashach
Matthew 16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
In relation to the point made regarding the book of Daniel we see that Jesus was "baptized" by John in the book of Matthew (3:15-17) which is emblematic of being anointed and which was the clear fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel 9:24, where Jesus came to "fulfill all righteousness" also lends great credence and proof that Jesus was come as the Messiah.
In the book of Acts we are told by the physician Luke, in the most plain language possible in the recounting Peter's encounter with Cornelius how Jesus was "anointed" with the Holy Ghost and power."
Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
This verse also validates what is prophesied in the book of Daniel regarding Jesus being the Anointed One of Israel.
It is truly unfortunate that such drastic and sensational claims have to be made in order to sell a few books and to attempt to validate the clearly false teaching of dispensationalism and the make the denial that Jesus has come as Messiah to save all of Israel.
But rather than make judgments about Pastor Hagee and his motives we should offer prayer to the Father that the scales will be removed from his eyes and that his ears will be unstopped to the wonderful truth that the Gospel has to offer, namely that Jesus is the Messiah and the risen Son of the Living God. Even when one makes such glaring and obvious mistakes we must still believe in our heart of hearts that God the Father knows the difference, knows what is in Pastor Hagee's heart and has the capacity to rightly judge the true motives of pastors such as John Hagee and the messages they espouse.
The video of this commercial can be viewed here.
It's fairly easy to see where Pastor Hagee stands and what Pastor Hagee believes. His expressed views in the commercial for his book cannot be gainsayed in any way:
"This book will expose the sins of the fathers and the vicious abuse of the Jewish people. In Defense of Israel will shake Christian theology. It scripturally proves that the Jewish people as a whole did not reject Jesus as Messiah. It will also prove that Jesus did not come to earth to be the Messiah. It will prove that there was a Calvary conspiracy between Rome, the high priest, and Herod to execute Jesus as an insurrectionist too dangerous to live. Since Jesus refused by word and deed to claim to be the Messiah, how can the Jews be blamed for rejecting what was never offered? Read this shocking expose, In Defense of Israel."
Wow! If I hadn't heard it, nor seen it with my own eyes, I could have sworn that this man, a pastor of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, actually denied that Jesus was the Messiah. Worse yet, Pastor Hagee is basically saying that the Jews would most certainly have accepted Jesus had He actually come to do what Pastor Hagee says He didn't come to do!!!!! Confusing doctrine to say the least.
Now there are a great number (if not hundreds), of Bible cites that clearly show that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Anointed One of Israel. I can think of no better though than the ones that actually described Jesus being anointed.
In the book of Daniel, chapter 9 and verses 24-27 we read:
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
Since Messiah is a variation of the Hebrew mashach
Matthew 16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
In relation to the point made regarding the book of Daniel we see that Jesus was "baptized" by John in the book of Matthew (3:15-17) which is emblematic of being anointed and which was the clear fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel 9:24, where Jesus came to "fulfill all righteousness" also lends great credence and proof that Jesus was come as the Messiah.
In the book of Acts we are told by the physician Luke, in the most plain language possible in the recounting Peter's encounter with Cornelius how Jesus was "anointed" with the Holy Ghost and power."
Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
This verse also validates what is prophesied in the book of Daniel regarding Jesus being the Anointed One of Israel.
It is truly unfortunate that such drastic and sensational claims have to be made in order to sell a few books and to attempt to validate the clearly false teaching of dispensationalism and the make the denial that Jesus has come as Messiah to save all of Israel.
But rather than make judgments about Pastor Hagee and his motives we should offer prayer to the Father that the scales will be removed from his eyes and that his ears will be unstopped to the wonderful truth that the Gospel has to offer, namely that Jesus is the Messiah and the risen Son of the Living God. Even when one makes such glaring and obvious mistakes we must still believe in our heart of hearts that God the Father knows the difference, knows what is in Pastor Hagee's heart and has the capacity to rightly judge the true motives of pastors such as John Hagee and the messages they espouse.
The God Who Washes Feet
In the painting shown above Jesus is either getting ready to wash the feet of Osama Bin Laden just as soon as He finishes washing the feet of Koffee Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, or He has just finished washing the feet of Osama Bin Laden, the so-called "Arch-villain of the Republic!" Amazing!
Would God really wash the feet of His enemies? Would your God really wash the feet of your enemies?
I suppose the answer truly lies in whether you believe God would wash your feet!
Romans 5:10
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
If you believe that God would wash your feet, but not the feet of your enemies or His enemies, then you more than likely serve a god much different than the God I serve. But, on the other hand, if you have faith in what Jesus actually does, which is to wash the feet of the very man that would later betray Him then you have a fairly good grasp on the character and nature of our Heavenly Father.
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Dispensational Non-Sense
Maybe you've heard them or seen them. Prominent pastors with large congregations and large national followings that constantly and consistently preach and teach that the modern and secular State of Israel will be saved apart from those that make up the body of the church established by Jesus Christ.
But is that really true? Does God the Father have one plan for the salvation of those that are called Jews and those that are called Gentiles? Is that the way God truly works? Clearly, the apostle Paul tells us that "...all Israel will be saved..." (Romans 11:26), but does that mean at the complete exclusion of the Gentiles? Or does the statement that Paul makes show us that all those who join themselves to the Lord will be called Israelites and thus be saved?
It's important to know and it's important to understand what the Lord is doing.
We have only scripture to point us in the right direction and to give us a firm grasp of what is true and what is false. In the days of the apostles, as they were writing their letters to the various churches, they had but one set of scriptures to prove the points that they were making and those scriptures were what we would call the "Old Testament" (2 Timothy 3:16). I suggest then that it is quite proper, and quite important, to establish the true and proper identity of "National Israel" through these "Old Testament" scriptures. This is just exactly what the apostles did, we should gladly do the same.
It cannot be doubted nor disputed that the Nation of Israel was to carry the oracles of God to the world. They were to be a model to the entire world at that time of the power, grace and majesty of the Lord their God.
Leviticus 24:2
Command the Children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
In that oil is representative of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5 ) the Children of Israel were surely responsible for ensuring that the lamps of the sanctuary to have the oil of light, so that the word of God could be clearly known to all those who joined themselves to His sanctuary.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
This same word, this same light is what led the way and lighted the path of the ancient Israelites as they made there way through the wilderness:
Exodus 13:21
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Isaiah 10:16-17
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among His fat ones leanness; and under His glory He shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and His briers in one day;
The point is this and it must be made and understood....all those that wish to hear the Lord, that wish to be saved by the Lord must "join" themselves to the Lord. There is no other way. Gentiles were never promised salvation through the Savior, only the Nation of Israel was. Yet, to becomes an Israelite one must have done certain things. Certainly, circumcision was one thing but more importantly the desire to partake of the passover meal was another. See Exodus 12:40-49.
If one wished to join with this Nation Israel, "to sojourn" with them they were required to be circumcised if they had a desire to partake in the passover:
Exodus 12:48
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
If the "stranger" was willing to do these things, the stranger was treated as a native son of the Nation of Israel, with all the rights of one that was born a direct descendant of Jacob (Israel).
Exodus 12:49
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Let's quickly fast forward to Paul's day. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul, in one of the most clear examples of this anywhere in the New Testament, compares this very example from Exodus as being fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13
Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
It cannot be said any more succinctly. We Gentiles, which were formerly called uncircumcision by those that are part of the circumcision and where we were outside of Jesus Christ without the covenants of promise, without hope and outside of God in this world are made "near" to Jesus Christ by His blood. Just as the Gentile converts were adopted and absorbed into the Nation of Israel by circumcision and the desire to partake in the passover, the modern day Gentiles, converted into accepting and believing in the promises through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ are now partakers in the same covenant promises given to National Israel.
To make this point even more clear Paul goes on to say that we "...are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22.
Friends, it can be no more plain than the nose on one's face. God saves all of Israel, both of blood and those that are Israel by adoption. To believe anything thing else simply cannot be shown to be from scripture.
But is that really true? Does God the Father have one plan for the salvation of those that are called Jews and those that are called Gentiles? Is that the way God truly works? Clearly, the apostle Paul tells us that "...all Israel will be saved..." (Romans 11:26), but does that mean at the complete exclusion of the Gentiles? Or does the statement that Paul makes show us that all those who join themselves to the Lord will be called Israelites and thus be saved?
It's important to know and it's important to understand what the Lord is doing.
We have only scripture to point us in the right direction and to give us a firm grasp of what is true and what is false. In the days of the apostles, as they were writing their letters to the various churches, they had but one set of scriptures to prove the points that they were making and those scriptures were what we would call the "Old Testament" (2 Timothy 3:16). I suggest then that it is quite proper, and quite important, to establish the true and proper identity of "National Israel" through these "Old Testament" scriptures. This is just exactly what the apostles did, we should gladly do the same.
It cannot be doubted nor disputed that the Nation of Israel was to carry the oracles of God to the world. They were to be a model to the entire world at that time of the power, grace and majesty of the Lord their God.
Leviticus 24:2
Command the Children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
In that oil is representative of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:2-6; Revelation 4:5 ) the Children of Israel were surely responsible for ensuring that the lamps of the sanctuary to have the oil of light, so that the word of God could be clearly known to all those who joined themselves to His sanctuary.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
This same word, this same light is what led the way and lighted the path of the ancient Israelites as they made there way through the wilderness:
Exodus 13:21
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Isaiah 10:16-17
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among His fat ones leanness; and under His glory He shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and His Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and His briers in one day;
The point is this and it must be made and understood....all those that wish to hear the Lord, that wish to be saved by the Lord must "join" themselves to the Lord. There is no other way. Gentiles were never promised salvation through the Savior, only the Nation of Israel was. Yet, to becomes an Israelite one must have done certain things. Certainly, circumcision was one thing but more importantly the desire to partake of the passover meal was another. See Exodus 12:40-49.
If one wished to join with this Nation Israel, "to sojourn" with them they were required to be circumcised if they had a desire to partake in the passover:
Exodus 12:48
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
If the "stranger" was willing to do these things, the stranger was treated as a native son of the Nation of Israel, with all the rights of one that was born a direct descendant of Jacob (Israel).
Exodus 12:49
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Let's quickly fast forward to Paul's day. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul, in one of the most clear examples of this anywhere in the New Testament, compares this very example from Exodus as being fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13
Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
It cannot be said any more succinctly. We Gentiles, which were formerly called uncircumcision by those that are part of the circumcision and where we were outside of Jesus Christ without the covenants of promise, without hope and outside of God in this world are made "near" to Jesus Christ by His blood. Just as the Gentile converts were adopted and absorbed into the Nation of Israel by circumcision and the desire to partake in the passover, the modern day Gentiles, converted into accepting and believing in the promises through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ are now partakers in the same covenant promises given to National Israel.
To make this point even more clear Paul goes on to say that we "...are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22.
Friends, it can be no more plain than the nose on one's face. God saves all of Israel, both of blood and those that are Israel by adoption. To believe anything thing else simply cannot be shown to be from scripture.
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