Jane Taylor the 19th century English nursery rhyme writer who penned the immortal words "Twinkle, twinkle little star how I wonder what you are", was indeed asking a most profound question! A question most serious theologians have given scant regard to. But could it be otherwise, if they have been deceived by the Copernican heliocentric theory? For they thought our sun to be a star (some 900,000 times bigger than our earth!) and if this be true, as they sincerely believed/believe; then if the sun be a star as our great men of science teach, (which it isn't, if we would only believe God's written word!) then it follows that all the stars visible in the night sky are great fiery balls of fire, light years apart!, with variations of size and brightness as depicted in 1 Corinthians 15.41-42. Of the "celestial bodies" there is the "glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon." Indeed, we can observe this for ourselves! It is said there is "another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory." Again we can observe that some stars are brighter than others, though not to the same degree as between the sun and moon. The apostle says regarding the comparison of the celestial bodies with the terrestrial, "So also is the resurrection of the dead." Those who are Christ's at His Coming "shall shine as the brightness of the firmament...as the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12.3. Or as the incarnate Lord said "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Matthew 13.43. The Lord said of the resurrected saints, "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." Matthew 22.30.
Trying to connect the dots as it were, there does seem to be an inextricable relationship between mankind, angels, and the stars. And I am trying to find out exactly what the truth is without leaving the confines of God's word. For in the resurrection, the risen saints "will be as the angels in heaven", yet superior, for we will be judging them (not the elect angels-why would they need judgment?) There is an invisible domain in the angelic realm as it were; they can see us, for our Lord tells us regarding "these little ones" (were not we all, once such?) "in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father" Matthew 18.10. but we cannot see them (stars apart)! I believe that Satan is currently acting alone, that all the fallen angels are currently incarcerated; 2 Peter 2.4, Jude 1.6. In a soon coming Day, however there will be an outburst of demonic activity when this infernal "legion" will be released upon the earth: read the whole of Revelation 9, where the "bottomless pit" is "opened"! and "four angels which are bound" are "loosed"! This chapter is perhaps the least understood in the whole Bible! reading it almost send "shivers down one's spine!" It opens thus; "And the fifth angel sounded and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth." A star is obviously not 900,000 (or thereabouts!) times bigger than our earth!
Hebrews 1.14 informs us that angels are "ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation"; that is for all those names that are in God's "book of life"*. The hosts of these invisible agents must therefore be currently active in ways that we cannot perceive, doing God's will in upholding all things, but especially for the benefit of the heirs of salvation. Psalms 34.7 & 91.11 shed much light on this; "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." The unfallen angels are therefore watching over the heirs of salvation, they are called the "watchers" Daniel 4.13, 17 & 23. All without exception, would agree that they are watching from above, for they are the unfallen angels who are the "ministering spirits", but exactly where are they watching from? This I believe is the grand question we should ask ourselves; are they the observable stars in the night sky, or at least, were some of the stars their "habitation" from which they "left"; Jude 1.6? (those that we can now barely see?).
* It is interesting that the expression "book of life" is found eight times in the KJV 1611 Bible, and that only in the New Testament; eight being the number of resurrection. Who but those who will "inherit salvation" be in that book?
Sunday, 27 May 2018
God is NOT the author of sin!
There are many believers who will not grasp the truth as it is in Christ. "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 29.29. (emphasis mine).
What are these "secret things"? If we knew these "secret things" would we not be as God?
Adam and Eve were in a most blessed environment! they were in the "garden of Eden", which of us have been in such a sphere? "And the LORD God commanded the man saying , Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2.16-17. (emphasis mine).
It is a fact is it not, that God created Satan? read Ezekiel 28.15. Satan through his enormous pride did indeed fall, for "iniquity was found in thee." The prophet confirms this in verse 17; "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty." (my emphasis). Satan is the "day star" in Isaiah 14.12 (RV) Lucifer (AV). God put our first parents in the garden; Calvinists and Arminian's are at least agreed on this! But, the grand question is; who is the author of sin? God or Satan? Satan's apostasy was before man, and God allowed Satan to enter into the garden, as he did also grant him permission to "smite" Job in Job 2.6-7. Why then would God do this? But then, who can say to Him "What doest thou?" Daniel 4.35. Nevertheless, of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." God expressly commanded Adam and Eve to "not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2.17 (my emphasis).
Is it not clear then, why we have been subjected to this test? The "elect angels" (1 Timothy 5.21) know nothing of redemption other than the "spectacle" (Gk. theatre) that they see going on down here below, See 1 Corinthians 4.9. God in Christ "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works." Titus 2.14. Without redemption, would we be anything other than automatons? Of the gospel, it is written "the angels desire to look into." 1 Peter 1.12? Why do they "desire to look into these things"?
Can we not but wonder at their astonishment that the Creator became incarnate only to die on that cross? God "saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2 Timothy 1.9 (my emphasis). Clearly God had a predetermined plan, otherwise known as predestination and election, not only did He know what would come to pass (foreknowledge), He is the author of all that has happened, is happening, and will happen. Yet He is NOT the author of sin, for "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1.5. "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8.28 (emphasis mine). Are not these "all things" every thing, bad as well as good? Though man is a free agent to do what he will, it is God's unseen hand which orchestrates all events; even "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will." Proverbs 21.1. Man is a responsible creature with a God given conscience, more so the believer, so it is incumbent on us to live according to the Law of Christ, walking by the two great commandments, Matthew 22.38-40, on this Peter said "make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye will never fall." 2 Peter 1.10.
In the garden of Eden, it was the arch deceiver Satan who "beguiled" the woman (Genesis 3.6, 1 Timothy 2.14. Eve gave the fruit to Adam and "he did eat" Genesis 3.6. Adam and Eve only had to obey God's command and all would be well. But it was Satan who tempted man to sin against His maker. Did not God have a right to put that tree there? This was surely telling the federal head of our race Who it was that owned the place, was it not?
God created Satan "perfect", so why or how did he apostatise? Certainly he "was full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty" Ezekiel 28.14; it is written that God's ways are "past finding out!" Romans 11.33.
But, even to think that God was caught unawares by Satan's apostasy; could He then be called the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient One? Some may speculate that even without the serpent's presence in the garden, Adam and Eve may still have sinned (though they may have took longer to do so!) James 1.14 says "every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." They may have kept looking at that fruit until it drove them to distraction, finally to cave in! But this is speculation, for what was predetermined by God actually happened. His plan came to pass.
Some treat the crucifixion as an afterthought, almost as if the devil got the better of the Almighty, and God put 'plan b' into place by sending His Son to die on the cross to save us! But the Scriptures reveal otherwise, that "the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world" Revelation 13.8, and as 2 Timothy 1.9 puts it "before the world began." God is outside of time, but He predestinated the events to the tiniest minutiae that led to the cross some 4000 years ago, or did all these events happen by chance? Think on these things! The Lord Jesus even "chose a devil" John 6.70 to do the wicked deed, yet Judas did what he did, of his own volition! How do we explain these things? Do we have a plumb line to fathom them? Yet "it is written".
"God calleth His own sheep by name" John 10.3, He is calling them out one by one, "My sheep hear My voice" John 10.27, they will come. But why do they come? "No man can come to Me, except My Father which hath sent Me draw him" John 6.44 (my emphasis). The Gospel call is universal, for He "commandeth all men everywhere to repent" Acts 17.30 (my emphasis). But only the elect (My sheep) hear His voice (John 10.16 & 27).
Arminians will use Acts 7.51 to support 'free will', but this verse is merely telling us that the "stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears" resisted the testimony of the preached word of God, that is to the external work of the Holy Spirit. "My Spirit shall not always strive with man" Genesis 6.3. 1 Peter 3.18-20 shows us that it was the Spirit of Christ in Noah that "strove" with the antediluvians when the patriarch preached to them.
I believe in what is known as Reformed Calvinistic theology; which upholds the "doctrines of grace" aka "TULIP" and pre-destination/election, because I see them very clearly taught in the Scripture of Truth, not because I am a follower of any man, only THE Man!
What are these "secret things"? If we knew these "secret things" would we not be as God?
Adam and Eve were in a most blessed environment! they were in the "garden of Eden", which of us have been in such a sphere? "And the LORD God commanded the man saying , Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2.16-17. (emphasis mine).
It is a fact is it not, that God created Satan? read Ezekiel 28.15. Satan through his enormous pride did indeed fall, for "iniquity was found in thee." The prophet confirms this in verse 17; "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty." (my emphasis). Satan is the "day star" in Isaiah 14.12 (RV) Lucifer (AV). God put our first parents in the garden; Calvinists and Arminian's are at least agreed on this! But, the grand question is; who is the author of sin? God or Satan? Satan's apostasy was before man, and God allowed Satan to enter into the garden, as he did also grant him permission to "smite" Job in Job 2.6-7. Why then would God do this? But then, who can say to Him "What doest thou?" Daniel 4.35. Nevertheless, of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." God expressly commanded Adam and Eve to "not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2.17 (my emphasis).
Is it not clear then, why we have been subjected to this test? The "elect angels" (1 Timothy 5.21) know nothing of redemption other than the "spectacle" (Gk. theatre) that they see going on down here below, See 1 Corinthians 4.9. God in Christ "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a people for His own possession, zealous of good works." Titus 2.14. Without redemption, would we be anything other than automatons? Of the gospel, it is written "the angels desire to look into." 1 Peter 1.12? Why do they "desire to look into these things"?
Can we not but wonder at their astonishment that the Creator became incarnate only to die on that cross? God "saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 2 Timothy 1.9 (my emphasis). Clearly God had a predetermined plan, otherwise known as predestination and election, not only did He know what would come to pass (foreknowledge), He is the author of all that has happened, is happening, and will happen. Yet He is NOT the author of sin, for "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." 1 John 1.5. "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8.28 (emphasis mine). Are not these "all things" every thing, bad as well as good? Though man is a free agent to do what he will, it is God's unseen hand which orchestrates all events; even "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will." Proverbs 21.1. Man is a responsible creature with a God given conscience, more so the believer, so it is incumbent on us to live according to the Law of Christ, walking by the two great commandments, Matthew 22.38-40, on this Peter said "make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye will never fall." 2 Peter 1.10.
In the garden of Eden, it was the arch deceiver Satan who "beguiled" the woman (Genesis 3.6, 1 Timothy 2.14. Eve gave the fruit to Adam and "he did eat" Genesis 3.6. Adam and Eve only had to obey God's command and all would be well. But it was Satan who tempted man to sin against His maker. Did not God have a right to put that tree there? This was surely telling the federal head of our race Who it was that owned the place, was it not?
God created Satan "perfect", so why or how did he apostatise? Certainly he "was full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty" Ezekiel 28.14; it is written that God's ways are "past finding out!" Romans 11.33.
But, even to think that God was caught unawares by Satan's apostasy; could He then be called the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient One? Some may speculate that even without the serpent's presence in the garden, Adam and Eve may still have sinned (though they may have took longer to do so!) James 1.14 says "every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." They may have kept looking at that fruit until it drove them to distraction, finally to cave in! But this is speculation, for what was predetermined by God actually happened. His plan came to pass.
Some treat the crucifixion as an afterthought, almost as if the devil got the better of the Almighty, and God put 'plan b' into place by sending His Son to die on the cross to save us! But the Scriptures reveal otherwise, that "the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world" Revelation 13.8, and as 2 Timothy 1.9 puts it "before the world began." God is outside of time, but He predestinated the events to the tiniest minutiae that led to the cross some 4000 years ago, or did all these events happen by chance? Think on these things! The Lord Jesus even "chose a devil" John 6.70 to do the wicked deed, yet Judas did what he did, of his own volition! How do we explain these things? Do we have a plumb line to fathom them? Yet "it is written".
"God calleth His own sheep by name" John 10.3, He is calling them out one by one, "My sheep hear My voice" John 10.27, they will come. But why do they come? "No man can come to Me, except My Father which hath sent Me draw him" John 6.44 (my emphasis). The Gospel call is universal, for He "commandeth all men everywhere to repent" Acts 17.30 (my emphasis). But only the elect (My sheep) hear His voice (John 10.16 & 27).
Arminians will use Acts 7.51 to support 'free will', but this verse is merely telling us that the "stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears" resisted the testimony of the preached word of God, that is to the external work of the Holy Spirit. "My Spirit shall not always strive with man" Genesis 6.3. 1 Peter 3.18-20 shows us that it was the Spirit of Christ in Noah that "strove" with the antediluvians when the patriarch preached to them.
I believe in what is known as Reformed Calvinistic theology; which upholds the "doctrines of grace" aka "TULIP" and pre-destination/election, because I see them very clearly taught in the Scripture of Truth, not because I am a follower of any man, only THE Man!
Saturday, 26 May 2018
Defining moments and theology
I believe we all have what we may call "defining moments" in life; when we hit a brick wall as it were, and realise that we are going nowhere. This happened to me around 1998-99, for until then I would watch the soaps religiously, especially Coronation Street, which, from memory, was then broadcast on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings from 7.30-8.00 pm. And if I knew there was any possibility of missing a show, I would pre-set the VHS video recorder (remember them!); so that I wouldn't miss anything, for often the last episode would leave you in a state of suspension, and you just had to know what happened next!
But, one day it suddenly dawned upon me (without any external influence-God apart!) that what I was watching was all make believe, and I asked myself some really serious questions as to why I was watching fiction that originated in the mind of a man that was perhaps no better than me, I was just filling my head up with junk!
I then pulled the plug on "The Street" and have never watched it since, praise God. Subsequently, I started to ask questions about life and attend the local Baptist Church, where I started my journey in pursuit of the truth. To cut a long story short, since that defining moment there have been many ups and downs, and it wasn't long before I realised that the minister of this Baptist Church wasn't teaching the truth, for he had no problem with evolution, and as for the Revelation; "don't go there!" So whilst still spasmodically attending this Church, I was searching beyond this false minister.
Slowly, but surely I began to gravitate toward eschatology, for I seriously started to believe that the Creator God in Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour would 'soon' return to this earth at "any moment"! Eschatology then somewhat began to consume me, I became totally absorbed with the rapture! I purchased and read every book I could find on the subject! Over the years after applying myself to much study of God's written word I came to the conclusion that certain events had to happen before the Lord's Return, and researched the Plymouth Brethren Movement that gave rise to pre-tribulationism under J.N.Darby, C.I. Scofield and others via the auspices of Margaret MacDonald, and Edward Irving. This novel doctrine came to the surface circa 1830,and was previously unheard of in some 1800 years of NT Church history, but it has now spread like wildfire to the point that it is now the predominant belief!
The point I am making is that after becoming a believer, I naturally wanted to know how and when the Lord would return, sounds logical I hope; for what true believer wouldn't? But my theology had become so lop-sided as it were, for I had studied eschatology to the detriment of all of the other great Bible doctrines!
I love this quote from Charles Spurgeon, from memory it goes something like this.
"If you were to take the most beautiful face in the whole world and increase her nose by one inch in length, would that face still be beautiful? Beauty, then I take it is proportion, so it is with the Scriptures."
Spurgeon was making this point in regard to the Plymouth Brethren movement, most especially the Darbyites who were known as the "Exclusives".
Many today, most especially the militant Pre-tribulation rapture teachers and preachers seem to be "one trick pony's", all their teachings are heavily interlaced with the rapture!
But, one day it suddenly dawned upon me (without any external influence-God apart!) that what I was watching was all make believe, and I asked myself some really serious questions as to why I was watching fiction that originated in the mind of a man that was perhaps no better than me, I was just filling my head up with junk!
I then pulled the plug on "The Street" and have never watched it since, praise God. Subsequently, I started to ask questions about life and attend the local Baptist Church, where I started my journey in pursuit of the truth. To cut a long story short, since that defining moment there have been many ups and downs, and it wasn't long before I realised that the minister of this Baptist Church wasn't teaching the truth, for he had no problem with evolution, and as for the Revelation; "don't go there!" So whilst still spasmodically attending this Church, I was searching beyond this false minister.
Slowly, but surely I began to gravitate toward eschatology, for I seriously started to believe that the Creator God in Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour would 'soon' return to this earth at "any moment"! Eschatology then somewhat began to consume me, I became totally absorbed with the rapture! I purchased and read every book I could find on the subject! Over the years after applying myself to much study of God's written word I came to the conclusion that certain events had to happen before the Lord's Return, and researched the Plymouth Brethren Movement that gave rise to pre-tribulationism under J.N.Darby, C.I. Scofield and others via the auspices of Margaret MacDonald, and Edward Irving. This novel doctrine came to the surface circa 1830,and was previously unheard of in some 1800 years of NT Church history, but it has now spread like wildfire to the point that it is now the predominant belief!
The point I am making is that after becoming a believer, I naturally wanted to know how and when the Lord would return, sounds logical I hope; for what true believer wouldn't? But my theology had become so lop-sided as it were, for I had studied eschatology to the detriment of all of the other great Bible doctrines!
I love this quote from Charles Spurgeon, from memory it goes something like this.
"If you were to take the most beautiful face in the whole world and increase her nose by one inch in length, would that face still be beautiful? Beauty, then I take it is proportion, so it is with the Scriptures."
Spurgeon was making this point in regard to the Plymouth Brethren movement, most especially the Darbyites who were known as the "Exclusives".
Many today, most especially the militant Pre-tribulation rapture teachers and preachers seem to be "one trick pony's", all their teachings are heavily interlaced with the rapture!
Friday, 25 May 2018
All men have not faith: 2 Thessalonians 3.2
Further on from yesterdays little treatise on 1 Timothy 2.4, it occurred to me earlier this morning, that perhaps 2 Thessalonians 3.2 is a much better example to illustrate the fact that the "all" in 1 Timothy 2.4 cannot possibly mean that God "desires" every man "to be saved" as the NASB and ESV render it. For we know that many men in fact DO have faith! So the "all" in 2 Thessalonians 3.2, likewise cannot mean every man, or not?
Otherwise we are all in real trouble! Let us "rightly divide the word of truth".
Otherwise we are all in real trouble! Let us "rightly divide the word of truth".
Thursday, 24 May 2018
1 Timothy 2.4; a universal salvation Scripture?
"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2.4.
To qualify what the little word "all" means in this universal sounding verse should not be too difficult. Clearly the apostle cannot be meaning that every man will be saved, for any with a little knowledge of Scripture would know that cannot possibly be true. If it were true, every man from that point on would "be saved", for God is all powerful, and "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6.10. Have all men without exception been saved since those inspired words were uttered? Has everyone repented and believed on the precious blood of Jesus? Well, even an Arminian would know that not to be the case! Is not unbelief and wickedness ever increasing the world over? Has our own once well favoured land become more Christian or less, in recent years? Such a notion that the "all" in the verse under consideration means every man, would render God not to be omnipotent, which would be contrary to the plain teaching of Scripture, for His will be done! The Saviour taught extensively about "everlasting punishment" in the Gospels, He even questioned if He would "find faith on the earth" when He returns! Luke 18.8. He said "Narrow, is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7.14.
So what does the "all" mean? It obviously means (read the context) that all men from Gentile nations from the four corners of the earth will be among the elect, along with the Jews. For Paul said "supplications, prayers, intercessions...be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority..." He is asking believers, in the first place, to pray for those who rule so "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (in other words, so they will leave us alone!). But, what do we see going on today? Christians are being increasingly marginalised, and so we will be until the Antichrist himself arrives.
The Bible is a Judeo Christian book, the "all men" must therefore mean all God's elect from the Jews and the Gentiles. All men will be saved, that is many from all the nations on God's earth, obviously not every man. Some of the 'easy read' translations read God "desires all men to be saved" NASB/ESV. This is further evidence of the truth, for how could an omnipotent God not have what He "desires"; is God all powerful or not? Let us remember,"the powers that be are ordained of God." Romans 13.1, God raised up Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, if they could have, would they have had their every desire fulfilled? Then why not the Almighty?
I do wish believers would refrain from using such verses as a proof text to support their attacks on pre-destination, election and reprobation.
Of the Jews, Paul said;
"who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us: and they please not God, and are contrary to all men." 1 Thessalonians 2.15.
Does the "all men" in this verse mean EVERY man in the world including those Jews Paul was talking about? Likewise, was EVERY person in the world" taxed in Luke 2.1? Clearly not! But, "all" those under Caesar's jurisdiction were. When I was selling second hand cars I would say all these cars are mine (all in my compound), I didn't mean every single car in the world! Let us start "rightly dividing the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2.15?
To qualify what the little word "all" means in this universal sounding verse should not be too difficult. Clearly the apostle cannot be meaning that every man will be saved, for any with a little knowledge of Scripture would know that cannot possibly be true. If it were true, every man from that point on would "be saved", for God is all powerful, and "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6.10. Have all men without exception been saved since those inspired words were uttered? Has everyone repented and believed on the precious blood of Jesus? Well, even an Arminian would know that not to be the case! Is not unbelief and wickedness ever increasing the world over? Has our own once well favoured land become more Christian or less, in recent years? Such a notion that the "all" in the verse under consideration means every man, would render God not to be omnipotent, which would be contrary to the plain teaching of Scripture, for His will be done! The Saviour taught extensively about "everlasting punishment" in the Gospels, He even questioned if He would "find faith on the earth" when He returns! Luke 18.8. He said "Narrow, is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7.14.
So what does the "all" mean? It obviously means (read the context) that all men from Gentile nations from the four corners of the earth will be among the elect, along with the Jews. For Paul said "supplications, prayers, intercessions...be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority..." He is asking believers, in the first place, to pray for those who rule so "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (in other words, so they will leave us alone!). But, what do we see going on today? Christians are being increasingly marginalised, and so we will be until the Antichrist himself arrives.
The Bible is a Judeo Christian book, the "all men" must therefore mean all God's elect from the Jews and the Gentiles. All men will be saved, that is many from all the nations on God's earth, obviously not every man. Some of the 'easy read' translations read God "desires all men to be saved" NASB/ESV. This is further evidence of the truth, for how could an omnipotent God not have what He "desires"; is God all powerful or not? Let us remember,"the powers that be are ordained of God." Romans 13.1, God raised up Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, if they could have, would they have had their every desire fulfilled? Then why not the Almighty?
I do wish believers would refrain from using such verses as a proof text to support their attacks on pre-destination, election and reprobation.
Of the Jews, Paul said;
"who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us: and they please not God, and are contrary to all men." 1 Thessalonians 2.15.
Does the "all men" in this verse mean EVERY man in the world including those Jews Paul was talking about? Likewise, was EVERY person in the world" taxed in Luke 2.1? Clearly not! But, "all" those under Caesar's jurisdiction were. When I was selling second hand cars I would say all these cars are mine (all in my compound), I didn't mean every single car in the world! Let us start "rightly dividing the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2.15?
Monday, 21 May 2018
Do infants who die before the so-called age of responsibility go to heaven?
Is it not dangerous to base theology on one Bible verse alone? Sadly many today seem to do just this.
I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
2 Samuel 12.23.
Many teach that upon David learning of his infant child's death (which was a judgment from God for David's sin), that when he said "I shall go to him" that his dead child would be with him in heaven. But is this so? It is written "in Adam all die." 1 Corinthians 15.22 (my emphasis).
On the doctrine of imputation, A.W. Pink writes thus;
"The doctrine of imputation is as bitterly hated as those of unconditional election and eternal punishment. Those who teach it are accused of representing God as dealing unjustly. What do the Scriptures say about it? As we have seen, Romans 5 declares that death has come upon all men because all sinned in Adam (v 12), that "through the offence of one many be dead" (15), that "the judgment was by one to condemnation" (16), that "by one man's offence death reigned" (17), that "by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation" (18), that "by one man's disobedience many were made sinners" (19). "In Adam all die" (1 Cor 15.22). God deals with men on the principle of imputation. The sins of the fathers implicate the children (Exodus 20.5). The curse of Canaan fell on all his posterity (Gen 9.25). The Egyptians perished for Pharaoh's obduracy. Achan's whole family died for his crime (Joshua 7.24). All Israel suffered for David's sin (II Sam. 24.15-17). The leprosy visited upon Gehazi passed to all his seed forever (II Kings 5.27). The blood of all the prophets was exacted of the members of Christ's generation (Luke 11.50)."
Adam being the federal head of the entire human race, through his disobedience, sin entered the world, and because of his sin, death is the lot of all his descendants. David said:
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 51.5 (my emphasis).
When David said "I shall go to him", he was merely saying that he would go to sheol (his grave), because that was the abode of the Old Testament righteous and unrighteous dead.
It is, no doubt a very emotive subject, but are babies born sinners or no?
I can well understand why some hate what is known as Calvinistic theology, but as ever, "what saith the Scripture?"
I can well understand why some hate what is known as Calvinistic theology, but as ever, "what saith the Scripture?"
Sunday, 20 May 2018
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near. Isaiah 55.6 KJV.
In my teens, and throughout my early adult life I would occasionally stop and read the inscriptions on this silent witness wondering what they meant, (approx. 6' in height) and often tentatively bend the protruding sundial! The messages inscribed upon it were too deep for me to comprehend, as I was brought up in a household with absolutely zero Christian influence. Many of us are subjected to these gentle nudges, persuasions, or whatever we choose to call them and I believe Hebrews 3.15 gives us much light here; "Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." I have shuddered many times in recent years, almost breaking out in a cold sweat when I consider it wasn't until about 2001-2 that I finally began to wake up! O to realise how close to the lake of fire I was!
In this Cotswold town where this silent witness still 'speaks' are a great many chapels, churches with towering spires, meeting houses and such like. When I last lived in the district (2013) the population was some 25,000, but consider how much less it would have been when these aforementioned structures were built? Church attendance was very healthy in the so-called post Reformation period leading up to the pre-technology age (1940? on) that we now live in, for in those days people had very few distractions or diversions (fun!) as we do today. Now we have not only 24 hour a day satellite television, laptops, handheld devices of every sort, gaming applications, novels, and whatever else, and this within our own four walls! what of beyond those walls; the cinemas, shopping malls, theatres, casinos, wine bars, pubs, night clubs and what have you? The Church was the big communal part in the period of time under discussion, for the distractions in that era were practically non-existent, most especially in the rural communities. In the village that I lived in it was said that in the non-conformist Baptist Church there, (they all were, before the downgrade controversy) when Charles Spurgeon visited to preach; that standing room was denied to those flocking within to hear the great London preacher; some 3,000 or more were in the two tiered chapel, with many outside to hear his thundering voice! In the same church building today, you would scarcely see more than a handful attend on a Sunday service! The 'simple' rural folk that lived in Spurgeon's time in that village, that lived in that time shall we say lived from hand to mouth. Today? no! they now live in the second most prosperous area in the UK outside of London and the South East, with houses and cars to match! Worldly prosperity chokes the gospel message, why do we want to know about the suffering Saviour when we are full to the brim with all the 'comforts' that the world provides us with? What can God give us that we don't have? The welfare state will even look after the 'have-not's' from the cradle to the grave! Does not this wicked system take personal responsibility away from us all?
Is it not a fact that these silent witnesses are everywhere in every village, town and city up and down the length and breadth of the UK? Are they less effective than vocal witness? at least they quote Scripture verbatim! unlike much of the drivel that emanates from our faltering lips! Isaiah 55.6 was the first verse I memorized, so I believe, I wonder why? It had a profound effect, thank God.
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