tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36680349046797244572024-02-08T02:12:45.347-08:00Sola Scriptura. True or False?As Christians do we follow the cry of the reformers or do we follow the reformers & their followers? My goal is to discuss the Biblical basis (or lack of) for many commonly held beliefs of Christians.Topics may range from humor to heresy. Please keep comments on topic but I am open to requests.Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-11850131930095097122023-01-08T12:48:00.002-08:002023-01-08T12:48:12.851-08:00Happy New Year 2023<p> I hope you all are spending more time with family after at least for most the craziness has ended. Pray for our country. </p>Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-48491494203322696602021-03-26T17:21:00.002-07:002021-03-26T17:21:21.416-07:00Wow.. its been a while.Who would have seen a virus as the catalyst that would cause even more freedoms to be handed away, when the previous one took a plane running into a building. I pray that this country remembers that our liberties were hard won, and the US for a time was a light in the darkness, a civilization that showed what could be. Not perfect by any means, but better then most for a time. Now the first 2 amendments along with others are being treated as suggestions rather then the acknowledgement of preexisting rights that outdate our government. I don't expect to see much action here, but felt like getting this off my chest. Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-88770109379414429462017-05-16T07:32:00.002-07:002017-05-16T07:32:22.592-07:00How many Gospels are there?Matt 10:5 What gospel did Jesus tell his disciples NOT to tell the gentiles (us)? "These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans." "hint" he tells you in the same book.. and gives clues in the same chapter. Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-63296530573329444042017-04-17T06:57:00.006-07:002017-04-17T06:57:52.159-07:00Peter and his Sword (a discussion on weapons and self defense from a Biblical perspective.I want to take you back to the garden at Gethsemane…when a large crowd of Roman guards armed with swords and clubs came to arrest Jesus. As they went to arrest Jesus, one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the Roman guards.<br />
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There’s a couple of things that are very interesting about this…<br />
First, earlier, in Luke 22:36, Jesus told his disciples that if they didn’t own a sword, that they should sell their cloak and go buy one. Not a knife for cutting cheese, bread, or rope…but a sword, which was one of the main law enforcement and battle weapons of the time.<br />
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Second, Jesus’ response to Peter drawing his sword and attacking the Roman soldier wasn’t shock, awe, or disbelief. He wasn’t angry that Peter was armed. He wasn’t angry that Peter defended him. He didn’t tell him to give his sword to the Roman guards. He didn’t tell him to throw it on the ground. He said, “Put your sword back in its place. For all who live by the sword will die by the sword.” And then he healed the Roman soldier’s ear and went with the Romans, knowing what was to come.<br />
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A lot of warriors feel alienated by the “modern” Church…but in large part, that’s because a lot of “modern” churches don’t understand warriors. Not modern warriors and not warriors whose stories are told throughout the Bible.<br />
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The warrior ethos is highlighted throughout the Bible…definitely more in the Old Testament, but Jesus surrounded himself with rough men who were ready and willing to fight the good fight…both physically and spiritually. Peter was outnumbered and outgunned. The Bible doesn’t tell us that any of the other disciples had his back. But he took the fight to the bad guys anyhow.<br />
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Taken from an article by OX at drytrainingcards.com <br />
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I would love to discuss this. Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-42853774064549797102017-04-12T17:18:00.003-07:002017-04-12T17:18:54.319-07:00Did Christ die on Wednesday, Thursday, or "good" Friday? <a href="http://www.bible-truth.org/WhatDayDidChristDie.html">http://www.bible-truth.org/WhatDayDidChristDie.html</a> This is a good article on some of the issues with Friday. I personally feel it was probably Thursday because he did rise on the 3rd day.. but am open to Wednesday because of the way the Jews counted days. Sunday being the Day of Resurrection is not a question. :) I would love to have a bit of a discussion on this issue? <br />
Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-32207973329857633632017-03-21T16:30:00.002-07:002017-03-21T16:30:18.567-07:00Thieme From Houston Texas. Thieme was a Pastor in Houston and this quote caused a fun discussion on facebook, so I thought I would carry it over here.<br />
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<br /> “Can a Christian immerse himself in sin and evil and still be a Christian? Throughout the Church Age pastors and theologians have struggled to explain this paradox. Some contend that perpetually carnal believers were never genuinely saved. But the Bible emphatically states that once a person expresses faith alone in Christ alone, he is eternally saved (John 3:16, 36). Others assert that believers who continually sin can lose their salvation. Bu<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show">t since every believer has an irrevocable position “in Christ” (2 Cor 5:17), neither sin nor evil, not even God Himself, can separate the believer “from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:39). The believer is eternally secure, forever a son and heir of God (Gal 4:5-7).<br /> “Although the believer can never lose his eternal life, he can be in danger of destroying his spiritual life and losing all the blessings that “God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9)” (Reversionism, p. 1)</span>Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-42754108672753176302015-11-02T06:08:00.000-08:002015-11-02T06:08:00.491-08:00The Forgiveness of Sins Part 4: A Working Thesis <br /> by Antonio da Rosa<br />
In the last few installments I made the claim that there is no sense in the Bible, anywhere, in which someone is forgiven of their FUTURE sins. Forgiveness is always a temporal, personal matter, where sin is “let go” and is granted with reference to sin ALREADY COMMITTED. When a believer in this dispensation receives the absolutely free gift of eternal life, a number of other blessings follow, an example being the “forgiveness of sins”. At this moment of initial salvation, every transgression and sin carried out, up to that point, is forgiven. Furthermore, the newly regenerate one, in light of the redemption provided through Christ’s death, is given the privilege, right, and opportunity to have any and all future sins forgiven simply through confession to the Father.<br />
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS<br />
In the dispensations past, men and women did not share in all of the superlative blessings that have been afforded to those living in the economy of Grace through the cross of Jesus Christ. The indwelling ministry and gifts of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament period provide a stark contrast to anything available to the saints of all prior dispensations. Forgiveness of sins, on the other hand, is not something new to God’s people; in fact it is a blessing that runs throughout the entire Bible. Yet we must be made perfectly clear on this: the process through which individuals are forgiven has greatly changed between the Old and New Testaments due to Christ’s once and for all death for sin.<br />
The Mosaic Law, for instance, had laws and ordinances regulating every aspect of life in Israel. A large portion of revelation within it concerned Israel’s relationship to God. Available within the Law was the provision for forgiveness, which was contained in many and varied offerings of sacrifice, the procedures for which being prescribed by God. The shedding of blood through animal sacrifice provided an atonement through which basis forgiveness could be given. The forgiveness granted was for sins already committed and for the purpose of temporal harmony and fellowship with God.<br />
The New Testament heralds the shed blood of the cross of Christ and attempts to plumb the deep implications of it. Whereas in the Old Testament, the sacrifices were temporary, the death of Christ (the God-Man) was of infinite value. One of the many benefits of Christ’s death is that Jesus, Himself, stands in the presence of the Father as the ever present Propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). Whenever a saint in this dispensation is in need of forgiveness in order to repair or continue temporal fellowship with God, he does not have to shed the blood of an animal. Jesus Christ has made the once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27). The believer’s only need is to confess His sins to God because through the advocacy of the Son, whose presence forever reminds the Father of His perfect satisfaction in regards to sin, God is faithful to forgive and still remains righteous while doing so.<br />
So in summary, the Old Testament saints had to continually offer their imperfect sacrifices so that sin may be covered. The Father looked upon those present offerings and could bestow forgiveness. Different is what the case is in the New Testament. Christ offered the perfect sacrifice, never to have to die again. The Father looks presently upon Jesus Christ, who offered Himself in the past, and grants forgiveness on that basis. The forgiveness sought in both of these situations is for sins already committed.<br />
I am not relating to you things that you probably do not already know; I want to inform you that I am well aware at this point. But have you REALLY thought through this material enough? It is quite apparent to me, that even though there are major distinctions between the Old and New Testaments with regard to how forgiveness of sins was obtained, there remains a consistent thread throughout the whole Bible: the forgiveness of sins is for saints WITHIN THE SPHERE OF TIME for the purpose of temporal harmony with God. No matter where it is found within the Bible, forgiveness is an “in time” (temporal) benefit that does not extend beyond the present. It is the method through which the believer REMAINS or RETURNS to fellowship with his Creator (or with regard to initial salvation, forgiveness INITIATES fellowship), and it is a personal issue with God, not judicial.<br />
FORGIVENESS IS NOT AN ETERNAL CONSIDERATION WITH GOD<br />
One of the problems (among many) that Free Grace advocates have with Lordship Salvation proponents is the way they import the idea of eternal salvation indiscriminately into a wide variety of passages. Whether it is in the areas of discipleship or temporal deliverances and consequences, they seem to read the Bible disposed to understand almost everything with regards to the eternal. They have eternity on the brain!<br />
But do we? Have we, in our passionate emphasis on soteriology, mistakenly supposed the forgiveness of sins to refer to and guarantee our ETERNAL standing with God? Where did we get this from? (I do have some ideas I will share later). Is this a tradition that has been handed down to us and not arrived at through precise, hermeneutical care? In this series I will attempt to show that THIS IS NOT A DOCTRINE TAUGHT ANYWHERE IN THE BIBLE.<br />
*Our Temporal Lives in Relation to God are of Great Importance to Him*<br />
The way we PRESENTLY live in this world, in our relationship with God, is of great interest to Him. An impartial reading of the Old and New Testaments for the purpose of discerning the degree to which God is concerned with how one lives in the here-and-now in relation to Himself may surprise some of you. Certainly God has made provision for our eternal well-being, but it may not follow in your minds that He has precisely and especially done the same for our temporal life as well.<br />
Maybe you think that I am going too far with my conclusions concerning your possible estimate of God’s consideration of our “in time” relationship to Him. Fair enough. Allow me the opportunity to access it through a series of questions. Have you ever considered that there are DIVISABLE blessings found within the salvation package we received upon believing in Christ for eternal life? Are these blessings clearly differentiated in your understanding, or do they overlap so much as to tend to blur the lines between them? Is “forgiveness of sins” just ANOTHER WAY of describing “justification”? DO YOU REALIZE THAT THERE ARE BENEFITS PROVIDED FOR THE BELIEVER THAT SOLELY RELATE TO OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD NOW, ABLE TO BE DISTINGUISHED FROM THOSE WHICH ARE ETERNAL? Wouldn’t it make sense that there would be? Let these questions sink in for a moment.<br />
As a side, we have all heard Covenant Theologians blast Dispensationalists for advocating two methods of salvation and I have read the same charge in reverse (See Ryrie’s Dispensationalism, pgs 192-93 for both cases). Could these misunderstandings stem from confusing “forgiveness” with “regeneration”? People have often looked at the sacrificial system which was a basis for forgiveness in the Old Testament and erroneously supposed that in some way it was a means through which God eternally saved individuals of Israel. People have always possessed eternal life through faith alone (John 3:3-8; c.f. 3:16), but it is evident from the study of the Bible that forgiveness is conditioned on works (see Leviticus 4ff for OT saints, and c.f. Matthew 6:14-15 w/ 1 John 1:9 for NT saints), both being certainly based upon sacrifice.<br />
CATEGORY ERROR<br />
As we have already noted in this article, Christ’s death has many benefits that the New Testament explores. I believe that we will spend eternity learning (and experiencing!) of all the blessings that have and will ever yet be showered upon us through the merits of the cross and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Eternal participation in the Kingdom of God, regeneration and eternal life, justification, resurrection, “the forgiveness of sins”, the ministries of the Holy Spirit, the prospect of riches in the ages to come, redemption, opportunity for co-heirship with Christ, the cleansing blood of Jesus as we walk in the light and other provisions for temporal fellowship with God... these are but a PARTIAL list of blessings established upon the foundation of the cross of Christ.<br />
AN ACT OF CHARITY MAY HAVE MANY DISTINGUISHABLE BENEFITS WHICH CAN INCLUDE A DIVERSITY OF PROVISIONS EACH WITH THEIR UNIQUE INTENTS, SENSES, AND PURPOSES. One may think immediately of a last will produced to administer the property and resources of the recently deceased. Today’s legal environment can be utilized to manage one’s “estate” in a very DETAILED way. Trusts can be set up in a variety of manners, items and funds bequeathed with stipulations and conditions, and property divided with specific intents, all with varying objectives. Such is precisely the case concerning the magnanimous deed performed by Jesus Christ on the cross. Resulting from it comes the manifold blessings contained only fractionally in the catalogue of the preceding paragraph.<br />
Herein lies the relationship between these blessings: they all flow from the infinite value and merits of the cross of Christ. Since we should regard this statement as true, we shouldn’t be surprised to see distinguishable benefits, stemming from the death of the Son of God, being presented TOGETHER in the text of Scripture, where authors like to heap blessing upon blessing! Yet it should not be automatically assumed by the wise interpreter that since the Biblical writers integrate these doctrines in their writings and sermons that they affirm equations between them, or consider them anything but able to be differentiated.<br />
One of my professor’s, Dr. Garland Shinn, taught me a principle of interpretation based upon the doctrine of inscripturation. God gave man a wide range of vocabulary through which to articulate the glories and wonders of God. The writers of Scripture wrote “not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual [words]” (1 Cor 2:13; c.f 2 Tim 3:16 & 2 Pet 1:20-21). Dr. Shinn used to drive home the point that the Holy Spirit used precision in guiding the writers of Scripture in their word choices. Why did they use one word over another? Here he sums up my point, “Similarity is not identity. Distinguish between two things that are similar. Words and concepts are only identical if they are affirmed to be” (Dr. Garland H. Shinn, Practical Biblical Hermeneutics, Class Notes, 1997, emphasis his). Unless Scripture affirms two things to be identical, we may not.<br />
Nowhere in the text of Scripture is “the forgiveness of sins” affirmed to be equated with justification. Since this is true, we must distinguish between them. The first distinguishing characteristic between these two doctrines is that forgiveness is a PERSONAL issue between God and man (or man and man) and justification is a JUDICIAL issue. This point is famously illustrated by the late Zane Hodges:<br />
----------<br /> Suppose I go to court on charges of stealing someone’s car. The judge before whom I stand does not concern himself with the issue of forgiveness. As a judge, his only concern is with the question of guilt or innocence. He will either clear me or condemn me.<br />
But suppose it was the judge’s car that I stole? As an individual he can choose to forgive me, or not to forgive me. But whether he does or not, the decision has nothing to do with his role as a judge. It is purely a personal matter between myself and him. [Zane C. Hodges, Harmony with God: A Fresh Look at Repentance, pg 72]<br /> ----------<br />
What Zane called this was a “category error” (ibid., pg 70), lumping two disparate doctrines into the same category. He continued, saying, “this is a serious mistake.”<br />
“The Forgiveness of Sins” is stated traditionally to have two senses. One is the familiar sense illustrated throughout this article, being that of a personal issue between God and man. The second sense that this doctrine is stated to have has been termed, “judicial,” “forensic,” or “legal” forgiveness. This sense states that God has decreed the believer in His Son forgiven eternally of all sins, “past, present, and future” as a punctilliar act. Traditionally, this is described as a legal declaration, so similar, in fact, to justification, that the line is blurred between the two, and people actually identify one with the other.<br />
Let it here be noted that there is no need for ANOTHER legal declaration beside justification! Justification is complete and sufficient on its own to completely clear the believer of every charge of evil, giving him the very righteousness of God. Any sense of forgiveness that claims to be “judicial” is completely superfluous. When the one declared righteous by faith in Christ appears before God, he stands whole, completely cleared before His bar of justice, having God’s very life through regeneration. Furthermore, he is sinless, so forgiveness ceases to be necessary.<br />
These two doctrines were never meant to be confused or blurred! Forgiveness does not have any legal aspect to it, nor is it ever given as an indulgence, granting forgiveness of future sins. FORGIVENESS OF SINS IS NOT EQUATABLE WITH JUSTIFICATION.<br /> To be continued...<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-61264798829013341722015-09-28T14:34:00.000-07:002015-09-28T14:34:32.346-07:00The Forgiveness of Sins Part 3, By Antonio da RosaLOGICAL CONSISTENCY, AN OPENING RHETORIC<br />
The following is a brief treatise concerning the logical consistency of the Forgiveness of Sins as held by a major consensus of Evangelical Christianity. It has been crafted to get your mind thinking about this subject. As you read, allow these questions to settle in your consideration: how could one be eternally forgiven of future sins yet have to seek forgiveness for all future sins, lest he remain unforgiven? Why would future sins need to be eternally forgiven if a provision guaranteeing all forgiveness of future sins upon confession was given to each believer in Christ?<br />
<br /> INITIAL ILLUSTRATION:<br />
Many people in my family have expressed frustration when purchasing a birthday or Christmas gift for me. Beside the consistent suggestion of books, I have had a hard time determining material things or services that I want. One October I got on a scale and found that I was the heaviest that I had ever been in my life. This had quite an impact on me. I needed to get focused on the temporal body that God was using in His service! At Costco, I saw that they had a 2 year membership to 24 Hour Fitness for only $12.50 a month. It was rather expensive, I think like $299, but it was something I could actually find useful besides books, so I suggested it. I knew that there was no budget for such a high priced gift, so I did not even consider it a possibility – I just threw it into the mix. To my surprise, I did receive this gift that very Christmas. I would like to note for my readers that through this membership coupled with Slim Fast shakes for lunch I lost more than 25 pounds (and have kept it off!).<br />
Imagine for a moment that I went in with my gift certificate, was signed up, and given a membership good for 2 complete years from that point on, giving me unlimited access and use of their entire facility (not so hard to imagine since this is the case). Yet what if I was to return for my second visit to find that I must actually pay a fee every time I entered the gym? I think that you would agree that I ought to be rightly perplexed! Rationally, logically, and reasonably, how could I be financially responsible to the gym for each visit if my 2 year membership accorded me unlimited entry and use of the facility by virtue of its contract? Of course this is an absurdity; it is utterly and obviously senseless and illogical, contrary to reason and all common sense. But this is the type of situation that I am asked to believe is the case with God and His forgiveness of sins!<br />
We are told by most evangelicals, often in the context of evangelism, that when one believes in Christ that he is forgiven for all his sins – past, present, and future. Yet, in the context of Christian living, he is told that he must be forgiven by God for all of his future sins, lest he remain unforgiven and out of fellowship with God. May I propose that this, too, is absurd (illogical, and contrary to reason)? How is it that we are responsible to God to be forgiven for every future sin if we have already been forgiven of every future sin? This is like being asked to pay a fee upon each future visit to a gym when in fact each future visit has been paid for by purchasing and successfully applying for a membership. This is literally against all reason.<br />
I recollect the first time that my mind was presented with this apparent affront to logic. It immediately was recognized as such. In light of the dissonance that such tension created, I asked a more mature Christian about how these considerations could be compatible. The answer was such, that in my immature Christian experience, I was able to compartmentalize this information, regarding both to be true, even in the light of a weakly attested harmonization. (The answer was a “positional” vs “experiential” nuance, which we will discuss later). Yet now, in light of my growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, such attempts at harmony do not satisfy my critical thinking processes. I thus am comfortable saying that we are presented with two contradictory notions. Both cannot be true at the same time. Logically speaking, there are only 3 choices: (1) the regenerate are eternally forgiven of their sins, including future sins, and have no need for temporal forgiveness, (2) believers are forgiven of their past sins (at the point of conversion) and have the privilege to have all future sins forgiven through confession (and being forgiving), or (3) neither of these are correct and we must seek some other formulation. Why is this logic air-tight? For the simple reason that it is impossible to be God-forgiven of one sin and God-unforgiven of the exact same sin at the exact same time. What is forgiven is forgiven, and what is not has yet to be forgiven.<br />
<br /> CORNELIUS VAN TIL AND GORDON CLARK: <br />
In the 1940s a theological controversy came to being within the Reformed tradition. Essentially, one side (Van Til) believed that there were true propositions in the Bible that are contradictory to human logic which can never be harmonized, because God is incomprehensible and man can never know all the same truth as God can for God does not operate in the sphere of logic. The other side (Clark), stated that the truth may only appear that way, and either we must search the Bible for more information that will facilitate harmony, or realize that we will not be able to know the information this side of eternity – but they should both be considered as true, and able to be harmonized, logically understood, when more information is introduced. Examples of such Reformed “truths” that were at the heart of the controversy where “sovereignty and responsibility,” and “the sincere offer of the gospel”.<br />
In such a controversy, I would side with Gordon Clark. But I don’t leave it where he might. If there are two doctrinal pronouncements that contradict each other, my first reaction would be to test each one individually, to see if its articulation, based upon a methodical study of Scripture, must be modified or changed. I would posit that either one or both were in error before deciding that there is not enough information. In the process of systematizing my doctrinal thoughts, I have not found two sets of doctrinal pronouncements that are actually to be held in tension and/or paradox (contradiction), but have found enough information, or have been persuaded to modify or change a position, in order for all held Christian beliefs to be in harmony with one another.<br />
In the issue at hand, God’s forgiveness of sins, I have used these principles in coming to new held beliefs. During the course of my Christian journey, I have heard a large range of teachings and positions. One, in particular, is interesting to note here. Some Mid-Acts Dispensationalists are struck by the apparent contradiction of the necessity to be forgiven of what has already been forgiven, and have come to the opposite conclusion that I have. They teach that since one is forgiven of all their sins, past and future, there is no need to confess one’s sins for forgiveness, and so they consider 1 John 1:9 as an eternal salvation text, conditioning eternal forgiveness of sins on confession. I believe that they have discarded the wrong doctrine, but I note them because they are impressed as I am over the contradictory nature of the current articulations concerning God’s forgiveness of sins.<br />
<br /> A PLEA:<br />
In the following articles I will be reviewing the pertinent texts concerning God’s forgiveness of sins in the New Testament. I invite you to join with me in this study, to test and challenge your convictions in this area. Even if you do not come to the same conclusions as I do, you can guard against “implicit faith,” having confirmed your beliefs with a precise and methodical study of the Scriptures.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-53231262033400213362015-09-25T13:00:00.002-07:002015-09-25T13:00:56.049-07:00The Forgiveness of Sins Part 2, by Antonio da Rosa<br />
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE WE GET INTO THE MEAT OF OUR STUDY<br />
Zane Hodges once wrote:<br /> “It may seem strange to say it, but the grace movement must face the danger of not being open to God’s Word.<br />
Most grace people probably feel that openness to God’s Word is a hallmark of the grace movement. After all, we are prepared to let the Scriptures speak even if they clearly contradict long-held traditional interpretations. The doctrine of rewards is one such area where the grace movement seems prepared to let the Scriptures speak.<br />
I agree that this has been a strong point of the grace movement up until now. I hope it will continue to be. But there are some warning flags.”<br />
And continued:<br /> “…the grace movement must bring all of its convictions to the bar of Scripture. And we must be prepared to revise these convictions however God’s Word requires. No movement can remain vital which no longer examines itself in the light of Scripture.<br />
When such examination of our convictions ceases, tradition and dead orthodoxy are not far down the road.”<br />
An Indispensable Method Used to Systematize the Doctrine of the Forgiveness of Sins:<br />
Throughout my years of Bible College and Seminary, I was introduced to many helpful, methodical approaches to studying the Bible. One approach that I have found useful in my own study is the observation, extrapolation, and application method. You start out with a text of Scripture and write down as many observations concerning it as you can, without making any inferences or interpretations of the text. One is to simply make declarative statements concerning the data in the text itself. Next, based on the wealth of information contained in those observations, one would make inferences and extrapolations, but only as far as the text could legitimately allow. This second step is basic interpretation. In class, we were not allowed to make any inference that couldn’t be supported from the text at hand. We did this in order to stay “in bounds” with the text. If there was not enough information within the text itself for a particular pronouncement, we were not allowed to make it.<br />
This type of precaution will be very important in our study of the Forgiveness of Sins, because for years we have been handed down interpretations of these passages and have rarely questioned them. And when they are questioned, we usually run to our traditional understandings rather than making careful observations about them. <br />
Certainly, as all students of the Bible know, all the information concerning a doctrine present in a particular text may not be present in the text being considered. So in order to grow in understanding of the issues, the other texts would need to be studied in the same way, with the observations and extrapolations. The information gleaned from all the relevant texts could be used to make greater extrapolations and interpretations, and thus the issue could be considered using all the relevant biblical data and legitimate conclusions could be made – and at the same time the rules of the study prevent improper use of the text, the inclusion of secondary assumptions not found in the text, and erroneous interpretation (and by extension improper application). This method is a beneficial tool when doing systematic theology.<br />
The Dangers of Imprecise Observation and Interpretation:<br />
This type of exercise is very helpful when studying any biblical doctrine. I used this very same process to come to the conclusions that I did concerning God’s forgiveness of sins in the New Testament. I have found, as in my study of forgiveness of sins, that I and others have been guilty of making inferences that can't legitimately be supported by reasoned observation and extrapolation and then asserting them as biblical fact. Furthermore, I note that I and others have fallen into the error of "implicit faith," by which we have, without the application of focused study or critical thinking, regarded and taught as truth a wide range of tenets springing from various theological traditions, and not from our own personal study.<br />
We must be on guard about this! Too often I find that we go too far in our theological pronouncements, going beyond what may be legitimately extrapolated from the scriptural data. WE MUST COMMIT OURSELVES ANEW TO STAY “IN BOUNDS” WITH CARE AND PRECISION, GOING BACK TO THE RELEVANT TEXTS, DETERMINING TO RECEIVE NOTHING MORE FROM THE TEXT THAN WHAT CAN LEGITIMATELY BE ASCERTAINED FROM IT. This point, in my estimation, cannot be overemphasized! The imprecise handling of the biblical texts can have a snowballing effect, as illegitimate inferences can be used to make more, which then in turn can be used to make greater ones and so on.<br />
Reader, is it possible that you have not been careful enough with the handling of Scripture? To admit so, as I do, can be humbling, indeed. Some authors, I have read, have been very obstinate to confess their shortcomings, because they have been “published” and their pride and reputation are on the line. One of the many things that I have admired about Zane Hodges is that he continued to test his beliefs against a proper consideration of the Scriptures. Zane’s prayerful and methodical approach to the study of Scripture produced clarity, modifications, and even changes in his beliefs, and he was not afraid to announce them. Fidelity to the Scriptures is far more important than any other consideration. I hope that you will judge this true as well, no matter where you eventually will be in relation to this current study of God’s forgiveness of sins in the New Testament.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-91568132552434828652015-09-23T06:03:00.003-07:002015-09-23T06:03:37.361-07:00Forgiveness of Sins Part 1 by Antonio Da Rosa<br />
What is to follow is a treatise concerning the Forgiveness of Sins, which will be posted a little at a time. With this first post I wish to make some general remarks about forgiveness that I intend to fully develop and substantiate in the coming days. Your comments, questions, and objections are welcomed, for I submit this series for your approval.<br />
Opening Statements on the Forgiveness of Sins:<br />
"Forgiveness of Sins" is not an eternal consideration of God; only a temporal one. When one believes in Jesus for eternal life he does not receive an eternal forgiveness of sins. Furthermore, it is incorrect to state that there is a "forensic" or “legal” forgiveness, which is an illegitimate confusing of categories, as we shall see.<br />
The forgiveness of sins is precisely this: The one made alive by Christ is forgiven of all the sins that he has ever committed in the past (2 Peter 1:9) and has the privilege, right, and opportunity to come to the Father, through the name of Jesus Christ, to have any and all future sins forgiven (1 John 1:9).<br />
Forgiveness of sins is a temporal issue. It deals with our harmony and fellowship with God in the here and now. Many distinct and varied blessings to the regenerate flow from the magnanimous death of Christ. Some are eternal in nature, and some are benefits that are specifically designed for us in our pilgrimage here on earth.<br />
People are not careful enough, in my estimation, when reading and studying the word of God, to make critical distinctions in the Bible. Justification does not equal forgiveness of sins does not equal eternal life, etc. They are all distinct, even if they all come in the salvific package. Eternal life is God’s divine life, in which all things necessary to prepare one to live with God forever resides. Justification is a legal declaration from God and the imputation of perfect righteousness, which springs from eternal life. And forgiveness of sins remits all past sins at the time of regeneration, and provides the basis upon which all future sins may be let go.<br />
Forgiveness of Sins is Not Legal in its Purview. It is Personal:<br />
Forgiveness is not a legal issue! Think about it for a second. A judge is not in the business of dispensing forgiveness! He hands down judgments of guilty or not guilty; he acquits or condemns; he makes pronouncements based on the law. A judge does not concern himself with matters of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a PERSONAL issue between two or more parties.<br />
Of course a judge can forgive; he just does not do so in a context of jurisprudence. Let’s say that you stole the judge's car and were in front of him for that charge. He could find you guilty and then come down off the bench, take off his robe, and upon your contrition offer you forgiveness. Forgiveness is a personal issue.<br />
In all the occurrences of the 2 Greek words aphiemi (to forgive) and aphesis (forgiveness) resides not a single passage necessitating the doctrine of eternal forgiveness of sins; but many clearly denoting temporal forgiveness for the benefit of restoring or continuing fellowship with God. <br />
Get your thinking started here. Realize that forgiveness is not judicial, but relational. I mean, comon, shouldn’t this go without saying? This is a reasonable distinction.<br />
Then ask yourself, "Why would God have to forgive a man temporally for what has already been forgiven eternally, if what was given to him at the moment of salvation is eternal forgiveness?" This consideration alone ought to jar you a little!<br />
A Few Reasons Why this Study is Important:<br />
Jesus, when evangelizing, almost used exclusively the term "eternal life". For sure, forgiveness of sins is given when one believes in Jesus for eternal life (see Peter's preaching to Cornelius in Acts 10:43), but it is past sins that are in view (see 2 Peter 1:9); and also in view is the ability to be forgiven of future sins by confessing them to the Father (1 John 1:9). <br />
Irrevocable eternal life is the main concern and priority in the saving message of both Jesus and His apostles. Through the message of life, unending life, resurrection and physical immortality, and eternal participation in the world to come is offered (and by corollary, experience of the eternal life in abundance and ever increasing measure in the life now). In evangelism, we are to prefer the use of eternal life, rather than eternal forgiveness of sins, because there is no clear passage offering an eternal forgiveness of sins by grace through faith. As a matter of fact, our eternal standing with God and our eternal destiny DOES NOT DEPEND A WIT UPON FORGIVENESS, as we shall see in the posts to come.<br />
Like Jesus, presenting eternal life should be the primary focus of our evangelism.<br />
Some Parting Words to this Installment:<br />
Future forgiveness of sins is not granted like an indulgence giving assurance that all future, temporal, personal fellowship with God will be maintained despite what one's future actions and attitudes may be. And an all-encompassing eternal decree of forgiveness is both confusing to thought (eg. a man being God-forgiven and God-unforgiven of the same sin at the same time) and completely unnecessary to eternal felicity (see below).<br />
An objection may be stated that apart from some sense of eternal forgiveness of sins that one could not be assured of heaven upon death. We must realize that forgiveness of sins was designed to be a benefit solely in time. When eternity comes for the believer, eternal life (God's kind of life, necessary if one is to live with God) and justification (God’s imputed righteousness) are operative. These considerations, as we shall see, alone assure heaven. The forgiveness of sins (which is always temporal) does not.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-91410261461157409122015-05-28T09:14:00.005-07:002015-05-28T09:14:46.314-07:00Works Needed For eternal life?Ok I am going to post the 3 views I am aware of and would love feedback. <br />
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1) Works are needed for eternal life. John 3:16 was not everything you need to receive it.. or a slight variation is that you gain it with belief but lose it with out works. Since the end result is identical I see no difference. Either way, if you are not good enough you don't make it, which puts you in the chair of saving yourself.<br />
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2) Works AUTOMATICALLY follow if you are a "real" believer. No works (or not enough works), no eternal life. Very similar to # 1 but a variation of it.<br />
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3) Works enhance your life and earn rewards AFTER you have become a believer and received eternal life. Failure to do so may lead to harsh consequences but not a loss of the gift of eternal life.<br />
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If you can think of something that does not fall into these, please share! Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-54656435304182835062015-01-19T18:35:00.000-08:002015-01-19T18:35:19.697-08:00Repentance needed for eternal lifeThere are 3 main views. <br />
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1) Repentance is a turning from Sin and is a requirement for eternal life<br />
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2) Repentance is a changing of your mind about Jesus Christ and is a requirement for Eternal Life<br />
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3) Repentance is turning from sin but is not a requirement for eternal life.<br />
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I hold to 3, but would love to discuss it further. <br />
<br />
Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-25263486398171908352014-12-28T17:38:00.002-08:002014-12-28T17:38:41.750-08:00From Monastery to Free Grace. The Journey and Testimony of a Friend.
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">From
Monastery To Free Grace , by Tim Grady .</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{1.
Beginnings .}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">My name is
Tim Grady . Born Aug. 21 , 1958 in Kankakee , Illinois to Dr. and Mrs.
Grady , and had ten brothers and sisters : seven sisters
, and three brothers .<br />
<br />
I was raised in an Irish Roman Catholic home , and was an altar boy for nearly
10 years , with a tremendous respect for the clergy ; all things
traditional , religious , and Roman Catholic . I remember
having a serious interest in one day donning the holy vestments .<br />
<br />
After eight years of Catholic grade school (St. Theresa's) , I followed my
three older siblings to Bishop McNamara high school , where I spent two years
, until transferring to a public high school (Eastridge) for the
remaining two years . <br />
<br />
Life was changing , and my interests and values were in flux . <br />
<br />
After enrolling at Loyola University in Chicago during the fall of 1976 , I was
convinced by the Dean Of Studies , that taking off from school and moving to
California , would be a better option . I put my thumb out on Interstate #80 ,
and headed West !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{2.
"Head west , young man"... the land of the mystics .} </span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Arriving in
Pacific Grove , California , was a welcomed shock . Life was noticeably
different - right away . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Surrounded
by the majestic mountains which meet the Pacific Ocean , was far
more compelling than the sight of endless corn and bean fields on the flat
Midwestern plains .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The
cultural differences provided an even greater contrast . The '60's culture
of the 'Summer Of Love' ; Berkeley's Haight Ashbury and
the "Grateful Dead/surfer dude vibe", was instantly recognizable .
The openness to all-things-spiritual was in the air . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">As time
went by , on the Monterey Peninsula , I became closely associated
with a mystical community of Catholics at the Carmelite Monastery off of
Highway 1 , just south of Carmel . Nestled amidst the florid Juniper trees ,
the pounding waves of the Pacific Ocean provided the pulse for this
surreal and poetic enclave . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Often , I
would hitchhike in the morning from Pacific Grove to the Monastery - perhaps 10
miles - followed by breakfast in Carmel with Catholic
friends . a good way to kick off the otherwise mundane events of
work and study (Monterey Peninsula College) .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This period
saw my interest in reading Catholic mystics accelerate (St. Theresa of
Avila ; St. John Of The Cross ; Thomas A Kempis ; The Desert Fathers -
Philokalia ; and everything written by Trappist monk Thomas Merton )
. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Through
these friends , I was directed to a bookstore in Carmel , owned by the sister
of a monk from the Immaculate Heart Hermitage in Big Sur , California ; some 56
miles south of Carmel on the majestic Coastal route (Highway 1) . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">My
fascination was instantly piqued , and I arranged to go down for a
"retreat" for three days , while contemplating the meaning of
life , and my place in it .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{3.
The climb to the Cloister ... to be a Benedictine .}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Once again
, I stuck my thumb out , and hitched a ride down the winding and spectacular
Highway 1 to the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> (Benedictine)
Monastery known as 'New Camaldoli' ; the American branch of the
Italian motherhouse .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">See the
Monastery here : <a href="http://www.contemplation.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.contemplation.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Getting
out of the vehicle , I started climbing the access road 3.5 miles to the
top , where it levels out , and the grounds of the Monastery are evident .
Overlooking Santa Lucia Bay of the Pacific Ocean , one becomes instantly
transfixed with the textures , sights , smells , and sounds of one of the
best meetings of land and sea in the world . The peace I felt
was other worldly .<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">It seemed
, after several retreats in Big Sur , that this indeed was my calling. I
phoned Father Louis at New Camaldoli , and arranged for a meeting with the
Abbot Father Bruno , and Father Adam - who was the Novice Master in
1977 . It was as though the portals to heaven had swung wide open , and life
would no longer be a question mark , but an answered prayer . I would be
entering the Novitiate for the summer of 1977 .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">It seemed
as if the collective thoughts of the Catholic saints and mystics I
had treasured , was now being realized for me . This was profoundly
moving , and a cause for great joy and expectation . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">As it
turned out , the rhythm of monastic life was quite agreeable . Rising at 3:30
a.m. for morning prayer . Back at 6:00 a.m. for Mass , followed by breakfast
and free time until 12:00 lunch . Then , four hours of work - whether
in the garden ; cleaning rooms , in the kitchen , or cutting firewood
(etc.) . The days had a definite pattern that provided stability .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What was
intriguing was the manner of the older brethren and the conversations that
took place , when time allowed . I was in awe of the rectitude they showed in
their fastings and devotions , whether praying the rosary daily , or
incessantly (under the breath) repeating the 'Hesychyst prayer' from the Early
Desert Fathers : "Lord Jesus , have mercy upon me a sinner" . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">I wanted
dearly to emulate their example . Some of them , like Father Bede , would go
weeks without any human contact , because there is a housing area of
"cells" specifically for that on the eastern flanks of the
grounds .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The
isolation ; focus on prayer ; contemplation ; self denial by
fasting or wearing uncomfortable items (hairshirts etc.) ; praying to
the saints and the Virgin Mary for intercession ; the holy sacrifice of the
Mass - were the heartbeat of this "spiritual factory" . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">As it
turned out , Father Adam was headed to Italy for a meeting of all the Novice
Masters and Abbots of the Camaldolese Order , at the end of the summer of 1977
. As such , he spoke with me about my future and recommended that I go
back out in the "world" , and commit to vows later in life . Most of
the monks , over the years , made this decision in their late 20's
, whereas , I had just turned 19 . I agreed that this made sense ,
and at the end of that summer , I headed back to Monterey , along with a short
visit back to Illinois . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{4.
Re-entry to the "world" ... sort of .}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Upon
returning to the Monterey Peninsula , I joined the Oratorian community Of St.
Philip Neri , where I stayed for nearly three years in a semi-monastic
setting . Father Emeric Doman was its Rector , and I drove him each day to say
Mass at the Navy Postgraduate School , among other parishes. Brother(s)
Peter , Matthew, and Richard were all studying theology in Berkeley for the
priesthood , and lived in quarters next to mine . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">See
Oratorian Community here : <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oratorian-Community/118167334866926" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oratorian-Community/118167334866926</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This is
when , for two years , I taught the high school Confirmation/Catechism class at
St. Angela's Parish in Pacific Grove . The interaction was very invigorating
, being around so many hopeful young people on their way to promising
careers , soon to be in the collegiate ranks .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">See
here : St. Angela Merici parish ; Pacific Grove , California : <a href="http://www.stangelamericipacificgrove.org/about-st-angela-merici/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.stangelamericipacificgrove.org/about-st-angela-merici/</span></a>
... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">These were
some of the best times of my life . I had great chats with these folks about so
many burning issues , while majoring in philosophy at the
college . Frequently encounters in all manner of spiritual dialogue ,
was a daily expectation . The challenges were many , and the
responses varied while applying the maxim : "why do you believe that
to be true ?". Truth continued to sort out the winds of doctrine ,
circulating at a fever pitch .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Around this
time (1980) , I had developed a friendship with several "evangelical
bible believers", who introduced me to some rather startling information -
speaking of challenges . They were quite friendly and engaging . I was
invited to their homes for dinner and bible study where the conversations
became more specific . What they pointed out , was that salvation had nothing
to do with belonging to an organization , but a personal relationship with
Jesus , as found in the bible . I did not fully grasp what this
meant , but it opened another door of curiosity .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Later ,
other areas of doctrine were being questioned by my "Jesus freak"
friends . This was a time of great unrest and discomfort for me . All that
I thought I believed , was now under close scrutiny . I felt like I was on the
defensive , and my answers were getting harder to summon .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{5.
Grace breaks through .}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Soon
thereafter , it became evident that the bible was clear about this
"personal relationship thing" , and that it truly is a matter of
believing , as opposed to belonging to an Institution or outward
Organization . I did not really grasp all the implications of this world
changing realization , but a step toward what I perceived of as freedom , was
clearly taken .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Shortly
thereafter , in 1980 , I left the Oratorian Community and moved outside
where I lived in makeshift tents on the beach (Spanish Bay in Pacific
Grove/Pebble Beach) , and forested areas near Carmel
, for nearly 11 years . It seemed as though I was living in a
John Steinback novel . In fact , this was where Steinbeck used to hang out
with friends while writing books like 'Cannery Row' . The pounding tones of the
surf , and the invigorating odors of the sea breeze , lent an air
of tranquility that helped in working through the issues I was
confronting .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Through the
'80's , I became involved in Classical music as a vocal performer in ensembles
, and as a soloist in the Carmel Bach Festival ; the Monterey
Symphony ; Pro Musica of Utah (Salt Lake City) ; Camerata Singers of Salinas ;
and as a founding member of I Cantori Di Carmel . These were days filled
with the glories of sharing in some of the greatest artistic expressions
ever authored , and the camaraderie among fellow participants .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">As well , I
became heavily involved in the political arena . I ran against Clint Eastwood
for mayor of Carmel in '86 ; again in '88 ; and several other offices on
the Monterey Peninsula (along with a couple in Siskiyou County
(Mount Shasta) , California ('92-'98) .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> A</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">long with
those engagements , there came a developing sense of spiritual/worldview
refinement . I was attending Calvary Chapel in Pacific Grove , and had
several friends there who proved helpful in answering crucial questions . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{6.
Clarifying Grace .}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">A lingering
question was : how does anyone know that they are saved ? I was finding the
answer to this question quite elusive . My question became : how do you
KNOW that you know ? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">I was
persuaded that John 3:16 was plain enough to answer that , though there were
friends who believed that one could "lose salvation" through bad
behavior , or by way of "apostasy/falling away" . Or
, there were those who held that lots of sin/"bad fruit" would surely
indicate that someone was unsaved , and that they were not somehow one of God's
"elect" . These were the conflicting opinions I was finding within
"evangelicalism" .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">During the
late '80's I would listen to Christian radio throughout the day , and would
practically set my clock by Dr. Walter Martin's apologetic show 'The Bible
Answer Man' . Reading apologetic texts from he (and others from the
Christian Research Institute) , along with all things written by
Dr. Norman Geisler and Dr. Francis Schaeffer - became the daily rhythm
that explained so much of the enduring "why's" of this life . This ,
coupled with majoring in Philosophy in college , underscored a continuing
thirst to give reasons for "why I believe WHAT I believe" . In
short , it provided the mechanics to wade through all the competing winds of
doctrinal truth claims . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Going back
to college in '90 at Eastern Mennonite U. (Harrisonburg , VA.) , was an
experiment on several levels . I had become influenced heavily by the pacifist
writings of Leo Tolstoy , that led to an interest in the Amish/Mennonite
worldview . In taking an old Testament course from a Princeton Phd. professor ,
who held to the view that the bible was NOT - in fact -
historical , my views sharpened with respect to Mennonite theology , and led to
an in depth appraisal of their doctrine concerning pacifism . And
, most importantly - justification/salvation .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">On both
counts , I became persuaded that neither view held up to biblical scrutiny .
After one semester in the books , it was "back to California",
once again .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{6.
Northbound - freedom bound in Mt. Shasta/Weed .}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Shortly thereafter
, it became clear that it was time to head for other environs . I had developed
a keen interest in wilderness trekking while frequently exploring the Los
Padres National Forest near Big Sur , California . Looking at the maps of the Mount
Shasta/Weed area , and being interested in attending
Weed's College of the Siskiyous , it seemed agreeable to my growing
disenchantment with the $ high
rollin'/overly commercialized/overdeveloped California
"dream" .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> Having
been through the Weed area before , I recalled how easy it was to feel
anonymous there , being surrounded by boundless acres of timber , trails and
peaks . This seemed the perfect remedy for disillusion . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">1992 would
be another turning point . My sense of freedom was growing . Behind me lay
a series of events that led to an ever increasing desire to clarify
that liberty . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Going to
the Weed Berean church , along with small group bible studies ,
widened the circle of friends while living there from '92 until '99
. This was an era marked by clarification of life's most important
question : what must I do to be saved?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Just prior
to this span , Dr. John MacArthur's book 'The Gospel According To Jesus',
hit the shelves . I was familiar with his radio broadcast 'Grace To You' ,
which aired daily on the Redding , Ca. Christian radio station
. A friend from the church had a copy , and another book with a
competing viewpoint titled 'Absolutely Free' , by Dr. Zane Hodges . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{7.
Center of the dartboard .}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">It was
instantly evident that this issue - justification by faith - was indeed the
center of the dartboard . In reading through both views , I was struck with how
Hodge's view seems so easy to parallel with scripture , which so clearly
affirms assurance of eternal life as a present possession . MacArthur's view
seemed to suspend any such certainty , and made living the Christian life a
constant guessing game . His popularization of "Lordship Salvation"
blurred the distinction between justification and sanctification , and turned a
once-in-a-moment event of believing , into a process known as
'discipleship' . Some of the finer points of this issue awaited further
refinement , but the door to the heart of truth was opened .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">After
commercial fishing out of Seward Alaska in '94 , I returned to the Weed/Mt.
Shasta area and finished off studies at College Of The Siskiyous in late May of
'95 . Then it was time to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada -
a 2,750 mile trek through the mountains and wilderness stretches in California
, Oregon , and Washington . This would take 134 days to complete , and
was a profound life - changer .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> Nearing
the conclusion , between Stehekin Wash. and Rainy Pass (Wash Hwy. 20) , a
25 mile stretch , I encountered eight bears in one day ; seven blacks
, and one Grizzly . One was a momma black and her cub , and I was in between
them ... not exactly a desirable scenario ! But , she let me go ,
which explains why I'm still writing this !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">There were
so many invaluable encounters with people on the trail , often discussing
worldview issues and what was most meaningful in their lives . Well over 90% of
them came from a humanist and/or New Age perspective , with an implicit faith
in some form of macro-Evolutionary Cosmology . Coming from a Creationist biblical
worldview will often make one feel like a stranger in a strange land !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This trek
provided ample proof of the Lord's faithfulness in supplying comfort and wisdom
in very challenging circumstances . It was so clear how there really is nothing
to worry about , as I frequently read from Luke chapter 12 :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span class="ecxreftext"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">"<a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-22.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">22</span></b></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Then, turning to his disciples,
Jesus said, <span class="ecxred">“That is why I tell you not to worry about
everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.</span>
<span class="ecxreftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-23.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">23</span></b></a></span><span class="ecxred">For life is more than
food, and your body more than clothing.</span> <span class="ecxreftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-24.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">24</span></b></a></span><span class="ecxred">Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in
barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!</span>
<span class="ecxreftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-25.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">25</span></b></a></span><span class="ecxred">Can all your worries add
a single moment to your life?</span> <span class="ecxreftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-26.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">26</span></b></a></span><span class="ecxred">And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the
use of worrying over bigger things?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="ecxreftext"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-27.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">27</span></b></a></span></span><span class="ecxred"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">“Look at the
lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon
in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> <span class="ecxreftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-28.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">28</span></b></a></span><span class="ecxred">And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today
and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you
have so little faith?</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="ecxreftext"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-29.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">29</span></b></a></span></span><span class="ecxred"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">“And don’t be
concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> <span class="ecxreftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-30.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">30</span></b></a></span><span class="ecxred">These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the
world, but your Father already knows your needs.</span> <span class="ecxreftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-31.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">31</span></b></a></span><span class="ecxred">Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you
everything you need.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="ecxreftext"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><a href="http://biblehub.com/luke/12-32.htm" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">32</span></b></a></span></span><span class="ecxred"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">“So don’t be
afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the
Kingdom</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">" .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Re-entry
back into the work-a-day world after the trail was a difficult transition
. Settling back in , and working as a tree faller while operating a
firewood business , was truly satisfying in many ways . Being out there in
the altitude of the mountains amongst the trees , vistas , and
open spaces ; without time constraint or a boss for several years
, rated at the top for the jobs I've had .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This time
also saw tremendous growth in clarifying biblical truth , and honing in on the
"center of the dartboard" .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{8.
Back to the Bay ... Area.}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">It was not
long after returning to Weed , that a friend and his family whom I'd lived
with were going to move to the bay area and he'd work with a Grading & Paving
Co. out of Pleasanton , California . They would live in Tracy , just east over
the Livermore grade . I was invited to join them , and decided that
$27.00/hr. might not be a bad idea after all !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">As it
turned out , I stayed until mid '2000 . During this time , I had met a former
Jesuit priest (18 years head of St. Joseph's parish , San Jose ,
Cal.) named Bob Bush , and his wife . After hearing them on a
50,000 watt Christian radio station in Oakdale , California (KCBC) , I phoned
them to talk about Jesus , the bible , salvation , and having been a
Benedictine monk . They lived near Oakdale , and invited me for a visit .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">They then
invited me to participate with them on-air during their broadcasts . This would
last for nearly two years . It was truly amazing to have so many callers
understand that they too could have certainty of eternal life simply by
believing Jesus' promise (John 6:47) . Much of the time , we would read
straight out of the Catholic Catechism ; The Canons And decrees Of The Council
Of Trent ; or Vatican Council 2 , to prove - from Official Catholic
sources - what they taught about authority , tradition , sin ,
salvation/justification, purgatory , indulgences (etc.) . In comparing
tradition with the bible , some were persuaded that the two were irreconcilable
.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Once again
, the operative principle is that the bible alone is the authority , and
if anything contradicts what it says , "anything" must go - not
the reverse .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The message
that grace is unmerited favor and cannot be earned , was received by some . I
found tremendous hunger in more than a few of the callers . I
look back fondly on those days , as a profitable venue for bringing people
out of bondage to works righteousness , and their uncertainty of salvation
. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> My
love for Roman Catholics continues to be deep . Echoing the Apostle
Paul : "I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also
bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, <span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>that
I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. </span> <span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>For I could wish that I myself were accursed
from Christ for my brethren...' (Romans 9:1-3)</span> ; and :
"What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness,
have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; <span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness,
has not attained to the law of righteousness.<sup> </sup>Why? Because <i>they
did</i> not <i>seek it</i> by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law.
For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. </span> <span class="ecxtext">As
it is written: </span><span class="ecxoblique">“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling
stone and rock of offense,</span><br />
<span class="ecxoblique">And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame .
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be
saved. </span><span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>For I bear them
witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. </span><span class="ecxoblique"> </span><span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>For they
being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own
righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. </span><span class="ecxoblique"> </span><span class="ecxtext">For Christ <i>is</i> the end of
the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans
9:30-10:4)" .</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{9.
Clarifying Calvinism.}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">After
Y2K passed , life in the Bay Area for me was coming to a close . It was also
becoming evident that people within the 'Ex-Catholics For Christ Conferences'
community - including Bob Bush , Dr. John MacArthur , Dave Hunt & the
Berean Call , and many other ex-priests and nuns - had sharp
disagreements about what the "center of the dartboard" was .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">In studying
the history of Calvinism at that time , particularly Dr.
Laurence Vance's 'The Other Side Of Calvinism' , it was clear that those who
promoted a ..."you can't be saved if you have bad fruit (works) in
your life" view , were tied to this 5 point Calvinist system . Dr. R.C.
Sproul , Dr. James White , Dr. John Gerstner et al ,were some of the most
eloquent apologists for that position , and had a tremendous sway over
many friends .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Their
position reduced to : you CANNOT be certain that you are one of God's secret
and unknowable "elect" , because you must persevere till the end of
your life in faith and good works to "prove" it .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">As well ,
there were several - including Bob Bush & his wife - who believed you could
"lose your salvation" . This has been termed the
"Arminian" position , though it is found in belief systems unattached
to that tradition .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">It seemed
to me that either way , Calvinist or Arminian , one could not be
sure of what Jesus had so clearly guaranteed . In the end , either
way , one would be in doubt of salvation until death . Both were looking
at performance(works) instead of looking to Jesus for what He certifies
. Again , Jesus' words in the bible could not be reconciled with either
view ( John 3:16,5:24,6:47,11:17-27,20:31 etc.) . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Yet again ,
the bible alone is the authority . Not any institution , tradition , or
person .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">A book I
read , at that time , sharpened the focus on this all important issue . Dr. Bob
Wilkin's "Confident in Christ" was a further elaboration on Dr. Zane
Hodges "Absolutely Free", written more than 10 years earlier .
Written in an easy-to-understand fashion , this book crystallized and
articulated all that seemed to be on my plate , at precisely the right time .
Wilkin's website at <a href="http://www.faithalone.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.faithalone.org</span></a>
became my daily "pilgrimage" , as I would copy all the journal
articles before leaving the library . His subsequent books 'Secure And Sure',
and 'Road To Reward' (and 'The Ten Most Misunderstood words In The Bible',
which I have not yet read), remain invaluable resources in understanding the
freedom and liberty that salvation by grace through faith connotes
. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Over these
books , and what they articulate - that certainty of eternal life IS the good
news - a parting of the ways happened with many friends and associates , some
of whom I'd known for many years . Jesus made it clear that He and His word are
to be valued above all allegiances in this world , and that division based on
truth is imperative (Matthew 10) . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> To
this day , I am not at all surprised that the majority have never been right
about what matters most : truth . And in this case , the truth of everlasting
life .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{10.
North to Wahington ; Peru ; Marriage/Family Life}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">As it
turned out , I moved to Anacortes , Washington in 2001 and have done road
construction ; worked as a scaffold erector in the refineries ; worked at
Boeing in Everett ; and a flagger on the highways .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">In 2003
& in 2005, I was able to hike the Continental Divide Trail (3,100
miles) from above Glacier Natl. Park , Montana/Canada , to the Mexican
border at Columbus , New Mexico . In '05 , it was a benefit for the
Crisis Pregnancy Center in Salida , Colorado . Both treks took 102 days to
complete , again providing incalculable moments to treasure . God's
handiwork (creation) is the greatest art form and never fails to challenge
point to the One who !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Since then
, I was tremendously privileged to mountaineer and trek in Peru ,
Chile , Bolivia , and Argentina in 2007. Twice more to Peru
involved meeting my wife (Vanessa) , and returning with her in 2008 . We
now have two sons : Solomon Jehoshua (age 5) ; and Josiah Hezekiah (age 3) .
Her family continues to reside in an eastern district of Lima (La Molina)
, Peru's capital . In a better world , we would live six months
there ... during their summer , of course !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">We continue
to live twenty miles from Anacortes , in Sedro Woolley ,
Washington - five miles east of I-5 on the way to the glorious
North Cascades .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">{11.
In Conclusion}</span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Above all ,
the journey called "life" takes all sorts of twists and
turns , where each of us walks a slightly different trail . What
remains true for all is that everything in this world changes
and cannot afford certainty . Interestingly , we measure
ourselves , and others , against the backdrop of "achievement",
thereby hoping to find and project some form of "identity".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Yet , these
phenomena are subject to the modulations of circumstance .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> In
sum , things that change cannot give certainty . Only the Promise of
the One who cannot lie , nor change , gives such assurance . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">While
at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:17-27) , His beloved friend , Jesus
clearly affirmed the certainty of eternal life to all who are persuaded that He
will give it to them , by believing in Him for it :<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> "<span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>So when Jesus came, He found that he had already
been in the tomb four days. </span> <span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>Now
Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. </span> <span class="ecxtext">And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary,
to comfort them concerning their brother.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="ecxtext"><sup><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> </span></sup></span><span class="ecxtext"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Now Martha, as
soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting
in the house. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> <span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been
here, my brother would not have died. </span> <span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>But
even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”</span><br />
<span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>Jesus said to her, </span><span class="ecxwoj">“Your brother will rise again.”</span><br />
<span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>Martha said to Him, “I know that he will
rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”</span><br />
<span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>Jesus said to her, </span><span class="ecxwoj">“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though
he may die, he shall live.</span><span class="ecxtext"> </span> <span class="ecxwoj">And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you
believe this?”</span><br />
<span class="ecxtext"><sup> </sup>She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe
that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”</span><br />
<br />
<span class="ecxtext">He did not lie to Martha and Mary . He did not lie to me .</span><br />
<br />
<span class="ecxtext"> He took me from climbing the mountains of changing
works (the monastery/religiosity) , to the solid rock of unmerited favor
. There is no rest while climbing .</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="ecxtext"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"> His
guarantee is the only thing that is certain , and gives eternal
rest ... without cost . </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-47046056885443245252014-10-07T11:25:00.001-07:002014-10-07T13:11:06.538-07:00Mission Trip Report from the Amazons in Peru.<!--[if !mso]>
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The Plan! (for pictures go to https://peruepic.shutterfly.com/pictures/1197)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
When I left on this trip to Peru,
and knowing that the final week was going to be focused on “the mission trip” I
knew that I wanted to make the whole 6 weeks my mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I had brought a case of Spanish
Gospels of John from livingwater.org as well as some ones in English and was
determined to give them all out during my time there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little did I Know that I was going to wish I
had more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave them out to almost all
of my taxi drivers. “tienes aqua viva?” and I would give them to someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I felt the Holy Spirit bring it to my mind
with someone, I tried to respond immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone I gave it to seemed excited and pleased I offered it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would sometimes tell them a little more if
they seemed to question what it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
told them it was free, and so was the Aqua Viva.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Arequipa</b> -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few that stand out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were in Arequipa in a historical
area for shopping I saw a guy sitting behind his wares looking extremely
bored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I talked with him for a moment
and offered him the Gospel. He took it, and when I went by again 30 minutes later
he was engrossed in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A woman my wife
bought some jewelry from was very friendly, and we built up a relationship with
her because of our repeated purchases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
gave one to Marisa to give to her, and when she did, she seemed very happy, but
even more so the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was
excited and said she had aqua viva and had given it to her husband to read as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
time I was with a Taxi driver who I was unable to get to open up in
conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stayed glum the entire
trip, but as I left I felt like I needed to give him one anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I leaned back towards the car and handed him
the book saying “quieres aqua viva?” or do you want living water?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked at me funny and I told him it was
about Jesus Christ and he gave me a grin and said thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another time we were in a Taxi with 2
brothers, one of whom was training to be a taxi driver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was interesting, but they were happy to
get the gospels as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I walked
by a security guard in front of a casino for a few days near where we stayed
for the first week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One time I went by,
and felt like I should give him one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
took it gladly, and we spoke about it for a few minutes before I moved on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Close to this was a restaurant called
Crepisimos where we ate several mornings and got to know the morning crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were happy to get the gospels as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
day, we took a bus on a 2 hour trip to some hot springs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were the inexpensive bus’s where they
would get packed, and I only had about 5 with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would sit there practicing reading them ni
Spanish and catch people reading over my shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I saw they were interested I would offer
them one which they took gladly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran out
quickly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Virtually all of my wife’s uncles and aunts, as well as
cousins got them, and I was able to speak to a relative in depth about
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are Mormon, so please
continue to pray for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is willing
to discuss, but fell back into his testimony as a defense against what God’s
word said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also gave one to my wife’s
95 year old grandmother who said she would read it with her reading
glasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have shared Christ and
gospels with her previously. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chimbote and Chiclayo – I spoke with an Indian looking
gentleman who was from British Guyana in a hotel lobby in Chiclayo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spoke for a few minutes and he asked why I
was there so I mentioned a mission trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was concerned if we were just here to talk or to help, and I
explained some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a Muslim, but
when I offered him the words of Jesus Christ who Mohammed said was a prophet,
he accepted with a thank you. He spoke fluent English as well as a few other
languages so he got one in English. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At my Wife’s well to do uncles factory, the security, one
janitor, and two secretaries got them as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They work with my wife’s dad and were excited to meet us and were happy
to receive them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few days later, my wife’s Uncle took us to see another of his
houses where he has vineyards and an interesting discussion came about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother-in-law was with my wife and I as
well as Kianna and one of my wife’s cousin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My mother-in-law we have spoken to and prayed for years, as she was
raised Catholic and was converted to Mormonism before coming to the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our upcoming mission came up in conversation,
and my wife’s Catholic uncle who has many people working for him began to
discuss how we just need to follow John the Baptists example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife and I tried to get a few words in,
but he is used to being listened to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
finally was able to quote Jn 6:47 to him and told him it was important what
Jesus said. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife reiterated, and
then, my mother in law said “its not what you do, you just have to believe in
God”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AWESOME.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not quite theologically correct, but it
sounds like she finally has it! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife’s uncle was not interested in
continuing the conversation at that time, and we did not want to be pushy, but
we will continue praying. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Picture of a llama..
actually a river from the plane on the way to Pullcalpa from Lima. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sunday - Day 1</b> – We
got up early to get on the plane and fly to the Amazons! It was exciting as we
arrived in Pucallpa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got on the bus
to head to a Church that supports the mission to the Shipobo people and sung a
few songs with them before heading down to the boat. I purchased some Chirimoya
(an exotic fruit) for some of my fellow missionaries and began to get to know
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I found out later, we have an
awesome group of excited believers! Once on the boat, I began to try and get to
know some of the crew and gave out some more gospels of John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see the Evangelista on the left side.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David and Gelyn were the two security
guard used for the “prevention” of any issues with “river pirates”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>once or twice they showed a gun, and one
evening fired a warning shot, but that was all that was necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave them both Gospels of John and spoke to
them briefly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gelyn was an agnostic and
David was more open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would talk more
over the coming week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see below
that the sunsets on the river are beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we arrived at the village, they were waiting for us even though it
was late and had a ceremony to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(please note that the actions on given
days are all based on my recollection and could be slightly off. )</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some of the children who I hope you
will keep in prayer were, Renaeln 11, Laison 1, Anderson 10, Raul 11, Leibis
11, and Ken 8.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Monday – Day 2 – </b>We got up
early and got started moving supplies off the boat so we could start working on
the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My focus was building
relationships with people and getting some work done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Indians were very friendly and open and
appreciated us being there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children
loved Kianna and it was seldom that you saw her without at least 3 or 4
following her around. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tuesday - Day 3 –</b> Besides
working on the church, I spent some time talking to some older men of the
village who spoke some Spanish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Javier,
Pedro and Caleb who was a bit younger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They received Gospels of John with excitement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gave a Gospel to a man named Leoncio and he
sat and read it for most of the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Later in the morning, the boat Captain, Alvaro came running up to me. He
was very excited after reading the Gospel of John the Monday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said in Spanish “this book is very good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I know what I have and now I have more
love for God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel so much love!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave me a hug and left with <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span>a very light step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having assurance is amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a time of fellowship in the church and
spent time with the kids letting them color and I did a gospel presentation
using an evangicube for about 40 children!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of the children affirmed that they believed in Jesus Christ at the
end of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended with some songs and
games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wednesday – Day 4 –</b> Most
of the Gospels of John went to adults who had learned to read Spanish, however
I found some children, Lenner<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>11 and
Lacy 13 who said they knew how to read as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I tested them and after they read me a few verses each, they both got
Gospels of John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More work on the church,
and I spent time with the children teaching them games I had learned in
Awana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did not want me to
stop!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That evening there were a few
girls hanging around the boat, and I had a finger flashlight they all
wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told them whoever could quote
John 3:16 could have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few
tries, a teenager and his girl friend who were close by apparently were
listening in, and the boy quoted it verbatim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I gave him the light which quickly ended up in the girls hand. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> When I got back to the
boat, I saw another of the boat employees, Miguel on the deck reading the
gospel of John I had given to him a few days earlier. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thursday – Day 5 – </b>I
was speaking to David, and Gelyn with another villager who was a Christian and
on fire for Christ, and during the conversation Gelyn stated he had become a
Christian! Gelyn was the professed Agnostic from day one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has my email and I hope we communicate
further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please pray for him, that if he
has already believed, that he grows, and if not, that he continues to read the
Gospel of John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not sure if he did
so out of pressure because of the conversation and the villager or not. Gelyn
is the guy in the green shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
the last day at the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said good
by to Saibel 10 and Seti her 11 month old sister that she carried everywhere
with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was amazing to see how
responsible these young
girls were, and how seldom any of them cried or complained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The baby’s as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took a quick trek up the river to another
village as well and gave them some shoes, knives, sewing materials, clothes,
stuffed animals etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I handed out a
couple Gospels of John and shared Christ with a few teenagers standing around. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we left Nueva
Palestina, the village again gathered for a farewell ceremony that
made most of us cry and said goodbye to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t have pictures because they involved us with them. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Boat trip back - </b>I
spent most of the boat trip back sitting with Pastor Abelardo which is one of
the missionaries that risks his life traveling to these villages and teaching
and making inroads into new villages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
asked him if he had any passages in scripture that were difficult to understand
or questions he had problems answering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He seemed to have a pretty good understanding of God’s grace, but did
ask me to explain about the Sabbath and if it was for us today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained that it was part of the Law that
we were freed from, and that Sunday worship was different and spent some time
in Galatians until he was satisfied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was very pleased and we exchanged email for further discussions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked for prayer for his son Eli who has a
disease that they have not been able to diagnose and that 2 of his other
children has already died from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I tried to give you the names of those who I had dealt with
whenever I could so that if you wish, you can pray for them specifically. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your prayers and support are appreciated and
if you want further details, please feel free to write, call or email me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>951-256-4579.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love in Christ </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trent Hilderbrand (if you would like an emailed copy with pictures, please give me your email)</div>
Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-42016553148088486392014-04-22T12:15:00.002-07:002014-04-22T12:15:34.045-07:00Update. Date and location change for my mission trip.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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God had other plans for us, so we did not go to Panama in 2013 BUT I am still in need of prayer and financial partners for my second
mission trip!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My first to Manipur India
had over 150 people profess saving faith in Jesus Christ(over 1100 for the
group of 17 we had) and we handed out many New Testaments. (if you are
interested in additional information on that trip, let me know) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lord willing, we will be in the Amazon Jungle
in Pucallpa, Peru<span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 9.0pt;"> </span>from August 16th through the 22nd of 2014<span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 9.0pt;">,</span> and I
hope that you will remember us in prayer. We will be taking a riverboat up into
the Amazon and assisting new believers with the building of a church, and will
be evangelizing with Gospels of John in Spanish. We will also be teaching
the new believers and teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
nervous and excited at the same time especially as my daughter Kianna will be
with me and learning to serve as a missionary as well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="InsideAddress" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Please feel no obligation to
support me, I appreciate your prayers and I believe that you are only rewarded
for what you give freely, not what you do out of obligation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will provide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="InsideAddressName" style="text-align: left; text-indent: .5in;">
The
cost for the trip is $1199 x 2 + 731.54 x 2 airfare to include my daughter, and
our <b>plane tickets are already purchased</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Please contact me via email at <a href="mailto:Trentgh7@hotmail.com">Trentgh7@hotmail.com</a>,
or call me with any questions at 951-256-4579.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your prayers for many to believe, and my safety are very much
appreciated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you in advance for
your prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will give a report when
I return.</div>
Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-42047748880722606742013-08-12T17:25:00.000-07:002013-08-12T17:25:49.321-07:00And then there were 11.. I mean 12.. I mean 13?? How many Apostles were there anyway?Figured we would go a lighter route since it has been a while since I have done so. How many True Apostles were there. I assume we will all agree that Judas was not.. but Matthias? Paul? My opinion is that Matthias was mans choice and was not a true Apostle, Paul was God's choice. I will also argue that the Bible is clear that there are only 12.... Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-28984877067766947842013-06-13T11:39:00.006-07:002013-06-13T11:39:50.619-07:00The Gospel--The Greatest Message that Gives Life - By Stephen Lewis<div class="_6a _6b">
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<span class="messageBody"><span class="userContent">The Gospel--The Greatest Message that Gives Life<br /> <br />
When Adam and Eve ate of fruit from the forbidden tree in the Garden,
God did not declare them “sinners” (although they were and we are); God
declared them “DEAD.” The result is that every human being is estranged
from God--"alienated from the life of God." Ephesians 4:18. Therefore,
what man has needed since that time is not only their sins forgiven, but
more importantly, they have needed “LIFE--Everlasting Life.”<br /> At the
cross the righteous justice of God was satisfied for all humanity (2
Corinthians 5:19; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Peter 2:24). Jesus Christ is the
Propitiation for the Sins of the Whole World (2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 John
2:2). It is by Grace alone, through Faith/Believe/Trust alone, in Jesus
Christ (based on His Death and Resurrection) alone that we receive the
free gift of everlasting life (the remedy for everlasting Death). <br />
Therefore, the person comes to God through believing in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ in His role as Mediator bestows everlasting life on the
believer, thus introducing him/her to God. God in response accepts the
believing person and pronounces him/her justified. The Issue is not
believing in the payment for sin but believing in Jesus Christ for the
Free gift of Everlasting Life based on Jesus Christ’s Death and
Resurrection.</span></span></h5>
Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-81798061736299520912013-04-21T12:07:00.006-07:002013-04-21T16:28:55.647-07:00A logical problem with the reformed or lordship position?Ok, help me flesh this out, but it seems to make a lot of sense.<br />
<br />
The Lordship position "claims" that they believe in a faith alone that saves in Jesus Christ BUT if you really believe, then you will persevere in good works and not fall away.<br />
<br />
If that is true, why were most of the epistles written? They are quoted by Lordship proponents as proof that if you are not doing good works, you should question you were ever really saved and are not if you do not persevere, yet that begs the question. Shouldn't they point back to belief in Jesus Christ so that the works will follow, not just encourage you to do good works? After all, there are plenty of people who believe good works save.. that seems it would be confusing..<br />
<br />
There seem to be only 3 options. 1, it is telling people that they better do good works TO be saved. 2. They are saying you are saved, so do good works and stop screwing around Rom 12:1-2.(which would be unnessecary in the reformed position) OR 3. they are saying that you are saved, but to keep yourself saved you must do good works. All 3 are not inline with the reformed position, and only one fits the "Good News" spelled out clearly in the Evangelistic Gospel. The reformed position is confusion. Claiming it is written to false professors, it is telling them to "persevere" "love God" and "do good works" for the purpose of ??? going to the lake of fire anyway? And IF they are about eternal life, the consequences are based on works & not faith which is just another hair in their ointment. It seems the Catholic or Armenian position is more consistent even if not any more biblical.<br />
<br />
Are you following my line of thought? I was praying for a way to clearly show a reformed person that Grace is Grace! and this came into my mind to share. I appreciate feedback. Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-28549247398166220352013-04-06T19:49:00.001-07:002013-04-06T19:50:31.008-07:00Why do Pastors and other well meaning believers tell unbelievers to say a sinners prayer?I am sure you have all seen a tract, or heard a preacher say it. "If you want to have eternal life, repeat these words after me" or "pray something like this" or "ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins" Where did this heresy come from? How many people think they have their "insurance" paid up because they said some words? Many religions around the world have "magic" words or mantra's, but Christianity is not one of them. You don't ask Jesus into your heart.. (maybe I should do a post just on this) or ask him to forgive you for your sins.. (Great for believers, but this does not give you eternal life either.) Jesus Christ gave one condition for eternal life over and over. Believe in him for it. Why do we have to make it more complicated?If you don't believe in him for it, it does not matter what you say, and if you do, then just thank him for what he just gave you and what he has done for you! Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-55106260190900445672013-02-10T07:45:00.003-08:002013-02-10T07:45:41.425-08:00Tithing for the New Testament Church?<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">I thought this article was excellent and invite discussion. </span></span></h5>
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">By Ronald Robey, </span></span></h5>
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">What the Word of God says concerning His Holy tithe:<br /> <br />
First, I do recognize that Abram tithed to Melchizedek before the Law
was given by Moses to the Israelites. I have no problem admitting that,
as it is in black and white in the 14th Chapter of Genesis for all to
read.<br /> <br /> I contend that that tithe, of the spoils of war as
verified both in Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7, is not a tithe that we, as
Christians, are to pattern our giving today.<br /> <br /> Abram's tithe was
of the spoils of war, meaning he had to go to battle to attain those
spoils that he tithed from. He promised God that he would not take any
of those spoils unto himself, meaning he did not claim them as his own
property. He did this because he did not want the king of Sodom, Bera,
to have reason to say he had made Abram rich (Genesis 14:22-24) He did
not even eat of those spoils as the men that were with him did... he did
not want them at all. This is why, after giving the tithe of the spoils
to Melchizedek, he also gave away the rest of the spoils. No room for
Bera to say he had made Abram rich whatsoever.<br /> <br /> Had Abram saw
the tithe of spoils as his own, he would have been that much richer than
he was when he started out on his rescue mission for his nephew Lot.
Apparently, even Bera did not consider Abram tithing a tenth of the
spoils as having made Abram rich enough to tithe the spoils he tithed. <br /> <br /> We also glean from the text that the property Abram tithed was not his own property, his own assets.<br /> <br />
Now, it can be argued that Abram was giving God His tithe. I am
convinced that if it was "God's tithe," then God later amended His tithe
when He gave the Law to Moses for the Israelites. For, in Leviticus 27
we read:<br /> <br /> Leviticus 27:30-34 And all the tithe of the land,
whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the
LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD. And if a man will at all redeem ought
of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And
concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever
passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. He shall
not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if
he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy;
it shall not be redeemed. These are the commandments, which the LORD
commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.<br /> <br />
Notice God stated specifically that His tithe was of the seed of the
land, the fruit of the tree, and the tenth of the herd and flock that
passed under the rod. If God's tithe was what Abram tithed to
Melchizedek, it certainly was amended to a specific people, (the
Israelites) a specific possession (crops, flocks and herds) and a
specific purpose.<br /> <br /> The specific purpose can be found in the book of Numbers, Chapter 18. There, we read:<br /> <br />
Numbers 18:20-24 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no
inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I
am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. And,
behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an
inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of
the tabernacle of the congregation. Neither must the children of Israel
henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear
sin, and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of
the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a
statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of
Israel they have no inheritance. But the tithes of the children of
Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have
given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among
the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.<br /> <br /> The
specific purpose for the tithe was to provide for the Levites who had no
inheritance in the land of Israel. The Levites received the tithe from
the remaining tribes of Israel. That tithe was crops, flocks and herds;
meaning that the only ones God said were to tithe were those grew
produce and raised livestock.<br /> <br /> Under the law, God required far less than a tithe for the spoils of war. (see Numbers 31) <br /> <br />
The Word of God continues with the same tithes throughout the Bible,
even in the time of Jesus. The Pharisees tithed mint, cummin, dill,
anise... things grown and required in the tithe as per Leviticus
27:30-34. There was never a tithe of money in the Bible. <br /> <br /> In
Deuteronomy 14, we read that the festival tithe could be sold for money
if it was too great a burden to carry, but when the tither (again farmer
or herder as per the tithe requirements in Leviticus 27) arrived at the
place God wanted him to tithe, he was to buy back the tithe and there
eat the tithe. <br /> <br /> It's all there in black and white, folks. I'm not making this up. The tithe was to be eaten... it was food, not money.<br /> <br />
I submit that , in order for the Church to teach a monetary tithe, the
Church must present Scripture that states that God amended His Holy
tithe to <br /> <br /> 1) no longer be food, but money<br /> 2) no longer be from Israelite farmers and herders only, but from everyone who is a child of God<br />
3) no longer be a yearly tithe of 20% every 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th year
of a seven year cycle and 30% every 3rd and 6th year of a seven year
cycle with no tithe being given the seventh year as the land was to rest
the seventh year, to a weekly monetary tithe of 10% year in and year
out without a rest.<br /> 4) no longer be to the Levites because they had
no inheritance, to Church leadership who could own cars, homes, boats,
and other possessions <br /> <br /> It is my contention that the monetary tithe that Church leadership teaches today is either due to <br /> 1) lack of proper study of the Word of God and therefore, ignorance of what God's Holy tithe was<br /> 2) knowing what God's Holy tithe was but teaching a monetary tithe to get money from the congregation<br /> 3) greed<br /> 4) a combination of the three previous reasons stated.<br /> <br />
At any rate, the monetary tithe doctrine is unsanctioned by God, it is
unscriptural, it is unsubstantiated and and its adherents are
unscrupulous.</span></span></h5>
Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-56811431211821547702013-01-20T13:44:00.005-08:002013-01-20T13:44:58.780-08:00Because of, or in spite of?Fact, Eternal life is a gift, gained by simply believing IN Jesus Christ. (Jn 6:47 JN 3:16, Eph 2:8-9, 1Tim 1:16, etc. <br /><br />Question: Do you receive that gift In spite of what you have or will ever do, or because of things you have done or will do? <br /><br />Thought: If its in spite of what you have or will ever do, but then you can lose it because of something you have done.... <br />Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-75992734728860292352012-12-31T11:56:00.000-08:002012-12-31T11:56:11.668-08:00Salvation by Faith Alone by Arch Rutherford<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Salvation, Faith Alone<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’ve
been challenged many times with the different views of what true salvation
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two main schools of thought are
the “Free Grace” and “Lordship Salvation” views.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I personally believe that the scriptures are
clear that faith alone in Christ alone will secure your entrance into
Eternity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Lordship
Salvationists have several passages they point to in order to prove that faith
without works is dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What exactly does
this mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will attempt to explain my
view; that there is a major difference in having Eternal Salvation with
certainty and being a disciple or abiding in His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I,
by no means, am trying to bring up a point of division among other believers
that I feel are trying to abide in His word and be disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is commendable and what Christ desires
for all of us believers to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
this is not the Gospel Message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nowhere
in Scripture does it say, “If you believe in Me and abide in My Word, you will
have eternal life”. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Free
Grace View and Defense</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">J. Hampton
Keathley III in his commentary “<i>Common Assaults on the Gospel</i>” writes:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“<i>The sole condition for eternal
life is personal faith in Jesus Christ alone as one’s Savior. Christ is enough!
This means faith in the person and finished work of Christ as the God-man who
died for our sins is the sole basis of one’s salvation. None of the faith plus
someone’s add-ons are conditions for eternal life. It is nonsense to speak of a
free gift that costs us something or gives us something to do to get salvation
(Rom. 4:1-6; 11:6).</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Bible is clear that our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work is
enough for us all (John 6:37-40).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is not to say that works are not good or not desired by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is saying that faith is all we need to
enter the Kingdom of God.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But
what is faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what about
repentance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These words, as is
salvation, are too often confused with the different translations from the
original Greek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most often our
misinterpretations of the Word comes from our limited view of the Scriptures
through our English language.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What
Do These Terms Mean?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
am by no means a biblical composition scholar, nor have I a grasp of the Greek
or Hebrew language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is fairly
easy to gather information on the original text of the Bible through
software.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From this, the Internet, and
many conversations with biblical scholars, I have found that my own confusion
comes from what the words actually mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is much clearer now as to why James and Paul seem to be contradicting
each other but by no means are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just two
different audiences and the uses of different Greek words for salvation,
repentance, and faith.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Repentance</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Since
English is somewhat limited compared to the original Greek, we need to see
which Greek word is used and what it means.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There
are two New Testament Greek words which are translated <i>repentance</i> in the
modern English translations: <i>metanoia</i> and <i>metamelomai</i>. <i>Metanoia</i>
is translated fifty-eight times in the New Testament; the latter only six
times. I will be focused primarily on <i>metanoia</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Metamelomai</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> means, “To regret, change the mind”
and may connote the idea of sorrow, but not necessarily. It is translated by
“regret, change the mind, and feel remorse” in the NASB and NIV, and in all but
one of the passages where it is used; the primary idea is a change of mind (cf.
Matt. 21:29, 32; 27:3; 2 Cor. 7:8; Heb. 7:21).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Metanoia</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">, the primary word, without question,
means “a change of mind.” It refers to the thinking of people who thought one
thing or made one decision and then, based on further evidence or input,
changed their minds. So, the basic sense is “<b>a change of mind.” </b>This is
its meaning and use outside the New Testament and in the New Testament. It is a
change of mind that leads to a different course of action, but that course of
action must be determined by the context. In a context that deals with
forgiveness of sin or receiving eternal life as a gift from God, the course of
action is a change of trust because one now sees Jesus as the only means of
salvation from sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
repentance for the Jews and Gentiles was the same, they needed to change their
mind as to who Christ was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once they had
done that, they could then accept Him and have faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Salvation</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Word “salvation” is the Greek, <i>soteria</i> and <i>soterion</i>. The basic,
unaffected meaning of the word <i>salvation</i> is “to rescue” or “to save,
deliver.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i>But we must ask a further
question about this basic meaning if we are to understand it’s meaning in a
particular context: To be rescued from what? In <u>Philippians 1:19</u> Paul
uses the word “salvation,” soteria, to mean rescue from his confinement in
Rome. Except for the KJV, most versions translate this word “deliverance.” In
that text salvation does not mean rescue from eternal damnation but deliverance
from his present confinement in Rome. But, of course, in other contexts
salvation does refer to being rescued from eternal condemnation [Acts 4:12] </i>(Ryrie,
p. 92). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Compare
also Luke 1:71 referring to deliverance from Gentile domination, Acts 7:25</span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">referring to rescue from Egypt,
but Acts 13:47 by the context refers to salvation from sin and the gift of
eternal life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So,
does is the word salvation always referring to eternal life when the Apostles
are writing to brethren?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It stands to reason, that since they
are considered brethren, that they are referring to impending judgment and
delivery from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we Christians not
have temporal judgment at any time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At any time, God can choose to
judge us and demand Earthly payment for what we are doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has nothing to do with Christ’s death
and payment in full for our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
the natural struggle with the flesh that we are all guilty of and will continue
in until we receive our glorified bodies.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
following is an excerpt from J. Hampton Keathley III in his commentary “<i>Common
Assaults on the Gospel</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find it
clearly states what I believe about repentance, faith and salvation.</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">The Object of
Repentance</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Many today make repentance and faith two
distinct and necessary requirements for salvation. In his book, <i>Evangelism
and the Sovereignty of God</i>, J. I. Packer writes:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The demand is for repentance as well as
faith. It is not enough to believe that only through Christ and His death are
sinners justified and accepted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Knowledge of the gospel, and orthodox belief of it, is no substitute for
repentance.… Where there is … no realistic recognition of the real claims that
Christ makes, there can be no repentance, and therefore no salvation.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Is this what the Bible really teaches?
Believe and repent are never used together as if teaching two different
requirements for salvation. When salvation from eternal condemnation is in
view, repent (a change of mind) and believe are in essence used as synonyms.
Lewis Chafer wrote:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Too often, when it is asserted--as it
is here--that repentance is not to be added to belief as a separated
requirement for salvation, it is assumed that repentance is not necessary to
salvation. Therefore it is as dogmatically stated as language can declare, that
repentance is essential to salvation and that none could be saved apart from
repentance, but it is included in believing and cannot be separated from it.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Roy B. Zuck writes:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Repentance is included in believing.
Faith and repentance are like two sides of a coin. Genuine faith includes
repentance, and genuine repentance includes faith. The Greek word for
repentance (metanoia) means to change one’s mind. But to change one’s mind
about what? About sin, about one’s adequacy to save himself, about Christ as
the only way of salvation, the only One who can make a person righteous.</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In Luke’s rendering of the Great Commission
he uses repentance as a single requirement in the same sense as believing in
Christ (Luke 24:46-47). As Dr. Ryrie says of this verse, “Clearly, repentance
for the forgiveness of sins is connected to the death and resurrection of
Christ” (p. 97). The repentance comes out of the recognition of one’s sin, but
the object of repentance is the person and work of Christ, or faith in Christ.
Interestingly, in Luke 8:12 he uses believe alone, “Those along the path are
the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their
hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A comparison of other passages clearly
supports the fact that repentance often stands for faith in the person and work
of Christ. Compare Acts 10:43 with 11:17-18; 13:38-39 with 2:38. Also, note
Acts 16:31 which uses “believe” alone.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The stated purpose of the Gospel of John is
to bring men to faith in Christ (20:31), <b>yet John never once uses the word
repent, not once</b>. If repentance, when used in connection with eternal
salvation, is a separate or distinct requirement from faith in Christ, then
John does not give the whole gospel. And if you can believe that, you can
believe anything. Speaking of the absence of John’s use of repent in His
gospel, Ryrie writes:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And yet John surely had many
opportunities to use it in the events of our Lord’s life, which he recorded. It
would have been most appropriate to use repent or repentance in the account of
the Lord’s conversation with Nicodemus. But believe is the word used (John
3:12, 15). So, If Nicodemus needed to repent, believe must be a synonym; else
how could the Lord have failed to use the word repent when talking to him? To
the Samaritan harlot, Christ did not say repent. He told her to ask (John
4:10), and when her testimony and the Lord’s spread to other Samaritans, John
recorded not that they repented but that they believed (vs. 39, 41-42). There
are about fifty more occurrences of “believe” or “faith” in the Gospel of John,
but not one use of “repent.” The climax is John 20:31: “These have been written
that you may believe … and that believing you may have life in His name.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(THIS NEXT EXPLANATION OF SCRIPTURE IS
ONE I HOLD TO)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What about Acts 20:21? “… Solemnly testifying
to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ.” Some would say, “Doesn’t this passage teach that faith and repentance
are not synonymous and that repentance is a separate requirement?” NO! Paul is
summarizing his ministry in Ephesus and what he solemnly proclaimed to both
Jews and Greeks, specifically, repentance toward God and faith in our Lord
Jesus Christ. The two words, <i>repentance</i> and <i>faith</i>, are joined by
one article in the Greek text which indicates that the two are inseparable,
though each focuses on a different aspect of the one requirement of salvation,
namely, faith in Christ.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We can legitimately translate it like this.
“Solemnly testifying … a change of mind about God, and faith in our Lord Jesus
Christ.” Repentance, <i>metanoia</i>, focuses on changing one’s mind about his
previous conception of God and disbelief in God or false beliefs (polytheism
and idolatry) about God (see 1 Thess. 1:9). On the other hand, belief in
Christ, as an expression of a change of mind, focuses on the new direction that
change about God must take, namely, trusting in Christ, God’s Son, as personal
Savior.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It has also been suggested that in this
summary Paul is emphasizing the distinction between the particular needs of
Gentiles and Jews. Gentiles who were polytheistic needed to change their minds
about their polytheism and realize that only one true God exists. Jews needed
to change their minds about Jesus and realize that He is their true Messiah
(Ryrie, p. 98).</span></div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">Uses
of the Concept of Repentance in the New Testament</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"></span></h2>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">A Synonym for Eternal Salvation</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Metanoia</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
is sometimes used through a metonymy as a synonym for eternal salvation. A
metonymy is a figure of speech by which one name or noun is used instead of
another to which it stands in a certain relation. These involve a metonymy of
cause for the effect. The <b>CAUSE</b> is a change of mind about Christ and His
gospel. The <b>EFFECT</b> is eternal salvation (compare 2 Pet. 3:9, 1 Tim. 2:4,
Luke 5:32).</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">A Non-Saving Repentance (<i>metamelomai</i>)<i>
</i></span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Under this category we might also include
repentance in the sense of remorse, regret with the use of <i>metamelomai</i>.
This aspect of non-saving repentance is a repentance or change of mind that
does not lead to eternal life or the spiritual blessings sought. Two examples
are Judas (Matt. 27:3) and Esau (Heb. 12:17). Compare also Matt. 21:28-32. </span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">A Salvation Repentance</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Salvation repentance is a change of mind that
results in eternal salvation. This involves a change of mind about self, about
one’s sinful condition and inability to save oneself combined with a change of
mind about Christ, that He is the Messiah Savior and the only one by whom man
can find salvation (Acts 2:38; 17:29-31). Salvation repentance means a change
in confidence; it means turning away from self-confidence to confidence in
Christ, faith alone in Christ alone. The irony of all of this is that any other
viewpoint is really not biblical repentance because it virtually borders on
faith in oneself. “In this use <i>metanoia</i> occurs as a virtual synonym for <i>pistis</i>
(faith).”</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">A Christian Experience Repentance</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a change of mind regarding sinful
behavior. An illustration of this kind of repentance is found in 2 Corinthians
7:8-11; 12:21; Revelation 2:5, 16, 21; 3:3, 19. By Paul’s use of <i>lupeo</i>
(to distress, grieve) and <i>metamelomai</i>, 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 he clearly
illustrates that <i>metanoia</i> does not mean to feel regret, but involves a
change of mind.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For though I caused you sorrow (lupeo)
by my letter, I do not regret (metalomai) it; though I did regret (metalomai)
it--for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while--I
now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful (lupeo), but that you were made
sorrowful (lupeo) to the point of repentance (metanoia); for you were made sorrowful
(lupeo) according to the will of God, in order that you might not suffer loss
in anything through us. For the sorrow (lupe) that is according to the will of
God produces a repentance (metanoia) without regret (metamelomai), leading to
salvation; but the sorrow (lupe) of the world produces death. For behold what
earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow (lupeo), has produced in you:
what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what
zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be
innocent in the matter</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> (2 Cor. 7:8-11).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wilkin writes:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On some occasions <i>metanoia</i> is used in
contexts where the change of mind in view is clearly indicated as having to do
with one’s sinful practices. For example, in Luke 17:3-4 Jesus taught the
disciples that they were to forgive all who sinned against them if they came
and indicated that <i>they had changed their minds </i>regarding their sin. In
this case and others like it “repentance” would be a good translation choice.</span></div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">Conclusion</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"></span></h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ryrie writes:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To return to the main point of this chapter:
Is repentance a condition for receiving eternal life? Yes, if it is repentance
or changing one’s mind about Jesus Christ. No, if it means to be sorry for sin
or even to resolve to turn from sin, for these things <i>will not save</i>.. Is
repentance a precondition to faith? No, though a sense of sin and the desire to
turn from it may be used by the Spirit to direct someone to the Savior and His
salvation. Repentance may prepare the way for faith, but it is faith that
saves, not repentance (unless repentance is understood as a synonym for faith
or changing one’s mind about Christ).</span><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"><a href="http://www.bible.org/docs/splife/evang/#P113_23996">14</a></span></sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In the third of a series of excellent articles
on the meaning of repentance, Wilkin writes:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I wish we could retranslate the New
Testament. It would make teaching and preaching passages using <i>metanoia</i>
simpler. It would eliminate the confusion many have when they read their Bibles
and see the word <i>repent</i>… </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In most cases when the English word <i>repent</i>
occurs in the New Testament it is translating <i>metanoia</i>. M<i>etanoia</i>
is not the equivalent of the Old Testament term <i>shub</i>. It certainly does
not mean “penance.” Nor does it normally mean “repentance.” Rather, in the New
Testament it retains its pre-Christian meaning of a change of mind. The English
reader thus generally needs to read “change of mind”—not turn from sins—when he
sees the word “repent” in the New Testament. The context must be consulted to
determine the object of a person’s change of mind.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The only times <i>repent</i> is actually a
good English translation is when the object of <i>metanoia</i> is sinful deeds.
A change of mind about sinful behavior is equivalent to repentance.</span><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 7.5pt;"></span></sup></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Most of the issues between the two
camps are how the Scriptures are interpreted from the English language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when viewing it in context from
Greek, many of these issues disappear and the simple meaning of Salvation is
revealed.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Lordship Salvation View and
Problems</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">While
there are variations within the lordship camp, all the lordship salvation
proponents seem to believe in three things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The following is an excerpt from “<i>Common Assaults on the Gospel</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There may be a few left out or some that
Lordship Salvationists might dispute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, these seem to make up the core doctrine preached by this camp:</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">(1) The condition of
eternal life is more than trusting in Christ </span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One or more of the following are also
conditions of eternal life: turning from sins, being willing to turn from sins,
total surrender or committing one’s life to Christ, obedience, and persevering
in the faith. Some include baptism in their list of conditions.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">(2) The condition of
perseverance</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Another idea that is promoted is if you do
not persevere, then either you were not really saved, or your faith was only
intellectual, or you lost your salvation.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Undoubtedly because of the strong emphasis in
Scripture on faith or believing in Christ for salvation (about 150 passages in
all), proponents of the lordship persuasion find themselves in a quandary. They
will often redefine saving faith as consisting of several aspects which include
some form of works as evidence of real faith. This forces them into a very
contradictory position. Note the contradictory elements in the Doctrinal
Statement of a church that teaches lordship salvation. The statement about
faith is prefaced with the following:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“Although there are several aspects that
saving faith involves, the Scriptures clearly teach that it is not a work, but
is itself solidly based on God’s grace.”</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But then faith is defined in such a way that
it includes works. According to the Doctrinal Statement saving faith includes: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Knowledge of the Facts</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">--Faith
must be based on the content of the Word of God. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Assent to this Knowledge</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">--A
person must agree that the facts of Scripture are true. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Repentance</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">--There
must be a turning from sin and turning towards God. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; margin-right: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Submission to Christ</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">--There
must be a subjection to the person and will of Christ with a desire and
willingness to obey.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">While new life should result in change or
good works, works in the Christian life like turning from sin are a product of
fellowship with the Savior or the Spirit-filled, Word-filled life. They are the
result of abiding in the vine. Initial faith joins a person into the vine, but
it is</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">abiding
that produces the fruit. This is why Jesus challenged His disciples to abide.
Without it, we become unfruitful.</span></div>
<h3 style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">(3) The promises of the
Word are not sufficient for assurance</span></h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For assurance of salvation, one holding to this
position must also look to his works. They say believers cannot have 100%
assurance of salvation merely by looking to the promises of the Word. In fact,
many if not most in this doctrinal camp say that 100% assurance is impossible
since no one’s works are perfect and no one knows if he will persevere.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It sounds to me, from the excerpt
above, that Lordship Salvationists have no more assurance of salvation than
those of the Old Testament!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there
are key differences in whom the apostles were writing to and whom Christ was
speaking to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once this has been
established, there are two clear-cut types of Christians:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Those who believe and </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Those who believe and abide in His
word, which in turn, makes them disciples. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As I stated above, I do not mean to cause
division but to show the simple fact that God wishes none should perish and
that faith in His Son is sufficient to save one from Eternal Damnation!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that once we are saved, or <i>believe</i>
in Him, the Bible has this to say,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jesus
therefore was saying to those Jews who <b><i><u>had believed</u></i></b> Him, ”<span style="color: red;">If </span>(<b>not since</b>)<span style="color: red;"> you
abide in My word, <i>then </i>you are truly disciples of Mine.</span>” [John
8:31]</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is His call for us to be disciples not
to receive Eternal Life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That has
already been accomplished!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, He
would not have stated the above to the crowd of non-believing Jews.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A Look at the Book of James</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">James, after denying Christ through
most of His ministry, had become a believer and was addressing those who were
already believers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is concerned with
the carnality of these brethren and trying to convict them to repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the other problems, with these
Christians, is their holding to legalism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This seemed to diminish the work of Christ on the Cross and His
Resurrection!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, they were doing
nothing that bore fruit from abiding in His word.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It is clear that the epistle is
directed to Believers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James makes this
perfectly clear with the following verses:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They were begotten of God (1:18) </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They were brethren (1:2, 16, 19, 2:1) </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They had faith in Christ (2:1) </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But they were religionists as is
evident by James warning in 1:26 and by the following facts: </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo2; tab-stops: list 1.25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(a)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They were hearing the Word though not
applying it (1:22-26) </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo2; tab-stops: list 1.25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(b)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They were meeting together as an
assembly of believers (2:2) </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo2; tab-stops: list 1.25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(c)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">They prided themselves on having the
Law (2:10-11) and </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l3 level2 lfo2; tab-stops: list 1.25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(d)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Some wanted to be teachers in the
assembly and were priding themselves on their mature wisdom (3:1-2). </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
the fact that they were believers is not even an issue that is debatable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The issue is the terms or words used by James
in the English translation are not quite as accurate as the original
Greek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The following is a breakdown of
the words that most often stumble us when dealing with James and its’
contradictions with the writings of Paul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The following again is from “<i>Common Assaults on the Gospel</i>”:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(1) Faith: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">James
is not talking about a real versus a false or spurious faith, one that only
claims to be real, but really is not. These were brethren (vs. 14), true
believers with real faith in Christ for salvation. But as for their daily walk,
their faith was dead, inoperative, and unproductive. Faith, in order to work
and be productive, must have a valid object and be energized by fellowship with
the Lord; it must grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ (2 Pet. 3:18).
Their faith had a valid object for salvation from sin’s penalty, but not for
the Christian life and victory against the power of sin. Again, compare Paul’s
argument in Galatians and in Colossians. See also Matthew 6:30; Colossians 2:6;
Romans 10:17; 2 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2:13.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(2) Save: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
James 1:21, James speaks about the Word’s ability “to save your souls.” Compare
also 2:14 and 5:20. We need to be careful that we do not misunderstand this.
The modern English translation has for many only one religious meaning-- “to be
saved from hell.” But this is not what James meant nor what his readers would
have understood. By context, this meant “to save your life” from God’s divine
discipline and the self-made misery of walking out of fellowship. Five times
James uses the word <i>sozo,</i> “to save,” which means:</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To save or deliver from peril,
injury, suffering, or physical death (Matt. 8:25; 14:30; 27:40, 42; Mk.
13:20; Jam. 4:12; 5:20). </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To heal, restore to health or
strength (Matt. 9:22; Mk. 5:24; Jam. 5:15). </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To save or deliver in a spiritual
sense from the penalty, power, and presence of sin (1 Cor. 1:21; Jam.
1:21; 2:14; 1 Tim. 1:15). Used of the past, present, and future aspects of
salvation. Some passages could refer to all aspects of salvation, past,
present, and future. </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We simply cannot limit this word to mean
salvation from hell. James is clearly saying their faith, in the condition it
was in, could not save or deliver anyone from the things that were dominating
their lives. But he is not talking about salvation from hell. Why should he?
This does not fit the context as demonstrated above. He did need to warn them,
however, about the bondage and futility of legalism and dead orthodoxy, and
about the consequences of sin-- the loss of rewards and divine discipline even
to the point of death (1:15, 21; 4:12; 5:1-4, 7-8, 9, 14-16, 20).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(3) Soul: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Soul
is <i>pseuche</i> which is translated “life” or “lives” as often as it is
translated “soul” (43 versus 47 times in the NASB). In some cases (as in James
1:21) it would be better to translate it with the English word “life” or
“lives.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(4) Works:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
James is speaking of deeds and actions which are the product of a vital,
growing, productive faith in the indwelling Spirit (Jam. 4:5) and the engrafted
Word (Jam. 1:21). Paul, by contrast, speaks of dead works, which are done apart
from faith, which proceed from the flesh and which are done to gain merit with
God.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">(5) Justified:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
This is the Greek, <i>dikaioo,</i> which has two uses: </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 124.5pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 124.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -52.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(a)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To declare or pronounce righteous and
refers to the imputation of righteousness through faith in Christ (Rom. 5:1). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 124.5pt; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list 124.5pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -52.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(b)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it may also mean to show to be righteous
(Mat. 11:19; Luke 7:35; Rom. 3:4; 1 Tim. 3:16) (Abbot-Smith; Thayer). James
uses it in this way in 2:21.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<div style="margin-right: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Conclusion</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We can be certain of our Eternal
Salvation if we believe that the Works of Christ Jesus can save us and believe
in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is somewhat of a work in
and of itself: repenting or changing your mind about God and believing in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But once we have believed, we are called to
be disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the major
issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Not all will be disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But those that aren’t can still be assured of
their Eternal Position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who do
abide in His word, He will call disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the difference in entering the Kingdom and inheriting the Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should all desire to inherit the Kingdom
but all will not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not to judge
others on their works when dealing with their Eternal Position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we should challenge our brothers and
sisters daily to emulate the Life of Christ and do works accordingly.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">His simple message is this, “</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much simpler does it get?</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Scriptures
to Ponder</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Faith Alone for Salvation</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/John/john_3.htm#God">John 3:16</a>, <i><span style="color: red;">"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have
eternal life." </span></i></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_3.htm#fo">Rom. 3:22</a>,<i>
"even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all
those who believe; for there is no distinction."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_3.htm#Fo">Rom. 3:24</a>,<i>
"being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which
is in Christ Jesus;"</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_3.htm#Fo">Rom. 3:26</a><i>,
"for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present
time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in
Jesus."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_3.htm#for"><b>Rom. 3:28-30</b></a>,
<i>"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works
of the Law. <sup>29</sup>Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God
of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,<sup> 30</sup>since indeed God who
will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith
is one."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_4.htm#th">Rom. 4:3</a>,<i>
"For what does the Scripture say? "And Abraham believed God, and
it was reckoned to him as righteousness."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_4.htm#Bu"><b>Rom. 4:5</b></a>,<i>
"But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies
the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,"</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_4.htm#Bu">Rom. 4:11</a>, <i>"And
he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the
faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father
of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that
righteousness might be imputed to them also,"</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_4.htm#For%201">Rom. 4:16</a>, <i>"Therefore
it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise
might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but
also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us
all."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_5.htm#fie"><b>Rom. 5:1</b></a>, <i>"therefore
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ,"</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_5.htm#Much">Rom. 5:9</a>, <i>"Much
more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from
the wrath of God through Him."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_9.htm#Wh">Rom. 9:30</a>, <i>"What
shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness,
attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith."</i>
</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_9.htm#Wh">Rom. 9:33</a><i>,
"just as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense, And he who believes in Him will not be
disappointed.”</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_10.htm#1%C2%A0">Rom. 10:4</a><i>,
"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who
believes."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Romans/rom_10.htm#Th">Rom. 10:9-10</a>,<i>
"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in
your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; <sup>10</sup>
for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the
mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Gal/gal_2.htm#Kno"><b>Gal. 2:16</b></a>,<i>
"nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ
Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works
of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be
justified."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Gal/gal_3.htm#Ga">Gal.3:5-6</a>, <i>"Does
He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do
it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? <sup>6</sup>Even so
Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness."</i>
</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Gal/gal_3.htm#he">Gal. 3:8</a>,<i> "And
the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations
shall be blessed in you."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Gal/gal_3.htm#But">Gal. 3:14</a>,<i>
"in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to
the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Gal/gal_3.htm#22%C2%A0">Gal. 3:22</a><i>,
"But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by
faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Gal/gal_3.htm#24%C2%A0">Gal. 3:24</a>, <i>"Therefore
the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be
justified by faith."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Eph/eph_1.htm#13">Eph. 1:13</a>,<i> "In
Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your
salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy
Spirit of promise."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Eph/eph_2.htm#gr">Eph. 2:8</a>, <i>"For
by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it
is the gift of God."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/Phil/phil_3.htm#And"><b>Phil. 3:9</b></a><i>,
"and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own
derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith."</i> </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://www.carm.org/kjv/1Tim/1Tim_1.htm#16">1 Tim. 1:16</a>, <i>"And
yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost,
Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for
those who would believe in Him for eternal life."</i> </span></li>
</ol>
Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-89117417085243632642012-12-01T08:51:00.001-08:002012-12-01T08:51:26.772-08:00Are you sure?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoTitle">
Assurance of Salvation</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I.
What is assurance of salvation?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Assurance of salvation is
the certainty that one has eternal life that can never ever be lost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is knowing beyond the
shadow of a doubt that one has eternal salvation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">II.
Who may have this assurance and when may it be had?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyone who has through faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ been born again may have assurance of salvation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Everyone
from the very day that they take Jesus Christ to be their Savior may have
assurance of salvation.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo2; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>It
is the birth right of every person born into the family of God</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
III. Why is it good to have assurance of salvation?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>God
wants us to have this assurance</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>John
5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of
God, that you may know that you have eternal life”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Whoever
has been born again is a child of God. What father out there would not want his
child to know certainly the he is indeed his child?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>It
creates gratitude within us.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>In
our Christian walk</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>We
do not live in fear</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 117.0pt; mso-list: l6 level3 lfo3; tab-stops: list 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>of losing one’s salvation</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 117.0pt; mso-list: l6 level3 lfo3; tab-stops: list 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>of maybe not having it</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>It
gives peace</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>It is
the foundation for all things done in the Christian life.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
IV. We do not gain assurance of salvation through looking
at our works!</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>They
can never give certain assurance</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>They
are subjective. Often our circumstances and daily Christian living in like a
roller coaster.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>They
can give false assurance!</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo4; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><u>Matthew
7:22-23</u> “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in
Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you.’”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Looking
to our works can create despair</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
V. Certain, undoubted assurance of salvation comes only
through looking to Jesus Christ in His promises by faith</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Assurance
is of the essence of faith</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l5 level2 lfo4; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><u>Hebrews
11:1</u> “Now <i><u>faith is the assurance of things hoped for</u></i>, the
conviction of things not seen”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>When
we believe what Jesus says in His promises of eternal life, we certainly know
that we have eternal life.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo5; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Jesus’
promise GUARANTEES that anyone who simply believes in Him has eternal life.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 117.0pt; mso-list: l6 level3 lfo3; tab-stops: list 117.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span><u>John 6:47</u> “I promise your this, anyone who
believes in Me has eternal life”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l6 level2 lfo3; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>No
one can say that they believe Jesus and His promise and doubt if they have
eternal life at the same time. It is impossible!</div>
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VI. Can assurance be lost?</div>
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Yes. Assurance
can be lost when:</div>
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>We
take our eyes off of Jesus</div>
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>and
put them on ourselves and our circumstances</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo6; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;">
3. Loss of Assurance is not loss of eternal life. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
VII. When we lose certain assurance of our salvation, what
should we do?</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>We
need to freshly look to Jesus Christ in His promise.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>We
don’t look at an event in the past, we look to Jesus in the present.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ending
illustrations:</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">If I said to
you, “I put 400 Dollars in your bank account.” And you said you believed me
(and you did believe me), what are you certain you have?<br />
<br />
Answer: 400 dollars<br />
<br />
Only if you <i>doubt</i> me could you not be certain you have the 400 dollars.
Doubt precludes faith (in other words doubt cannot exist at the same time as
faith) (Mark 4:40; Mark 11:23; Rom 14:23; Jas 1:6)!<br />
<br />
If faith = conviction and assurance, being persuaded that something is true,
you cannot say that you believe something and at the same moment doubt it. It
is logically sound to put forth this proposition: if someone believes
something, they consider it true. If you believe Christ in His promise, you
consider His promise true.<br />
<br />
What does His promise say?<br />
<br />
You shall never perish, never hunger, never thirst, never be lost, etc.<br />
<br />
Therefore, if you believe Jesus, you consider His promise true. The only way
you could not understand that you are forever saved is if <i>you don't believe
Christ's message</i>, in other words, you do not believe His message to be
true.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">A dad talking
to his son:</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
Dad: "Son, I promise you that I put a candy bar on your bed."<br />
<br />
Son: "I believe you, Dad."<br />
<br />
Dad: "Son. What is it you know you have on your bed?"<br />
<br />
Son: "Dad, I have a candy bar!"<br />
<br />
Dad: "Are you certain that you have a candy bar?"<br />
<br />
Son: "Of course!"<br />
<br />
Dad: "Why are you certain?"<br />
<br />
Son: "Because I believe what you said about the candy bar."<br />
<br />
Assurance is of the essence of faith.<br />
<br />
In that one believes, he is <i>certain</i> of what he believes.<br />
<br />
If he believes Jesus Christ in His promise, he is <i>certain</i> he is
eternally secure, that he has eternal life. If he retains doubt, he neither
believes, nor has assurance.</span></div>
Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-72379550735152577332012-11-24T12:42:00.002-08:002012-11-24T12:42:39.850-08:00Logical and Humorous reasons why we cannot lose eternal life once gained.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. Everyone whom God knows is going
to enter <br />
heaven, will enter and is therefore eternally secure.<br />
<br />
2. Conditional security would mean that the "savee" <br />
would keep himself saved by doing all he should be <br />
doing and abstaining from all from which he should <br />
abstain. That would be impossible.<br />
<br />
3. There's no record in Scripture of anyone ever being <br />
saved more than once. This implies that either there's <br />
only one chance to "hold on" or else eternal security is <br />
true. (In the chorus of the hymn "Ye Must Be Born Again" <br />
the tenor sings, "ye must be born again". The bass <br />
sings, "again" and "again" and "again". George <br />
Boyajian quipped that he agrees with the tenor but he <br />
disagrees with the bass.)<br />
<br />
4. Salvation by grace and eternal security go together. <br />
If salvation is by grace, eternal security naturally follows. <br />
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that's done for us. If salvation could be lost, where <br />
would be the salvation by grace in such an <br />
arrangement?<br />
<br />
5. If eternal salvation could end, the word "saved" <br />
wouldn't really mean saved. It would only mean <br />
probation. "Probation by grace" for eternal life isn't <br />
taught in the Bible. <br />
<br />
6. Eternal life is a present possession. It's bestowal <br />
doesn't await physical death.<br />
<br />
7. Eternal life cannot end. It isn't something separate <br />
from the believer like a piece of clothing that can be put <br />
on and taken off. If God gave someone only 5, 10 or 20 <br />
years of "eternal" life and then took it away, why would <br />
He call it eternal?<br />
<br />
8. To deny eternal security and at the same time to <br />
believe ones self to be saved would be to say that one <br />
is keeping himself saved. That is, he would be making <br />
himself out to be his own savior.<br />
<br />
9. Eternal security is in keeping with the gospel being <br />
good news. Conditional security is not. <br />
<br />
10. Eternal Security honors Christ by recognizing Him <br />
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Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3668034904679724457.post-27051162498773583082012-11-15T15:59:00.006-08:002012-11-15T15:59:47.322-08:00From Suarez The Doctrine Of Unconditional Submission<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Hoping to open up some discussion on this. </span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The Doctrine Of Unconditional Submission</span></strong><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Lets discuss the doctrine of
unconditional submission. Or simply put, that God requires us to submit
unconditionally to the governing powers, regardless of what they ask. I don't
believe such a doctrine is biblical. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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Many Christians are uncomfortable with the idea that they
would ever have to refuse to obey a law, much less actively resist authority,
but that may be what is needed in some situations. Rom 13:1 Let every soul be
in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the
powers that be are ordained of God. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Where there is conflict, we stand
on God's word as the basis of our beliefs and are no longer subject morally or
ethically to do what the government says. God is the ultimate authority, and
whatever we do must be in line with His will. As long as His will and the
governments is the same, no problem. But when there is a difference, we ALWAYS
stand on the word of God. God is sovereign and omnipotent and rules all. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Don't believe it? Consider Hitler.
Would it have been proper for a Christian to have submitted to Hitler?
Absolutely not. Consider something as minimal (in today's context) as King
George's taxes on the American Colonies. When compared to today, few of us
would even blink an eye about something so minor. Yet in those days it
was enough to go to guns. And had American Patriots not resisted we would
not now be a nation today. Today we see the glimmerings of anti-Christian
laws (illegal to pray in school, illegal to invoke the name of Christ,
etc.). How will you resolve to submit to that oh, Christian??</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
The Bible is full of examples where
good people of God directly disobeyed the orders of their ungodly kings. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Examples include the Hebrew
midwives who disobeyed Pharaoh's order to kill babies in Exodus 1:16-17, the
flight of Moses from Egypt after killing the Egyptian in combat, Rahab lying to
the king in Joshua 2:4, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego disobeying the king in
Daniel 3:13-20, and Daniel disobeying the king in Daniel 6:10. And lets
not forget Joseph fleeing to Egypt with Mary and Jesus in direct disobedience
to Herrod in Matthew 2:14. And our Lord Jesus was certainly not an
unconditional submissive when He challenged the Pharisees, cleansed the Temple,
and taught His people.<br />
<br />
Clearly God also allows evil men to come to power as chastisement for a people.
Insofar as these men do not trample the word of God, or make it illegal, we can
continue under their control. (Consider Hitler, Stalin, PolPot, Hussein, and
Chavez) The moment they compel you by force (how else does ANY government
get people to obey?) to deny the faith or compel you to do things contrary to
God's will, the submission role is over and the sword of Luke 22:35 must come
out to play.<br />
</div>
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Did you know the laws of our own civil government adopt this
view? According to the Declaration of Independence, the "laws of nature
and of nature's God" are laws higher than the laws of England (and, by
implication, higher than the laws of any human civil government). The laws of
nature are God's moral law written on the heart as the conscience, and the laws
of nature's God are the laws of God revealed in the scripture. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Declaration of Independence also says that it is not
merely our right, but also our duty, to throw off civil authority when that
civil authority shows that its goal is to reduce the people under absolute
despotism. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
Unconditional submission to anything or anyone except God Himself, amounts to
idolatry. This includes good things as well as bad ones. Remember Peter's bold
answer to the ruling Council: Act 5:29 And Peter and the apostles
answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br />
Seems very clear to me. So why do so many churches and so many pastors
ignore this? One reason...it is easy. It is easy to simply go
along. It is easy to not make waves, not lose any tithe money,
and simply bow the head and do as you are told. I say no!<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
This ill-conceived and
misinterpreted doctrine must be purged from the minds of believers. Under
normal circumstances we should submit to just and necessary laws and rules, but
when those same rules become ungodly and unjust, we must make a choice -
follow God or follow man.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">It has been said at Warrior Talk's Christian Warrior
sub-forum that "the natural human tendency is to rebel unless given good
reason to submit, and that God intends us to submit unless given good reason to
rebel."</span><br />
<br />
Trenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08943247383371721563noreply@blogger.com5