JOHN CALVIN'S DOCTRINE by steve finnell

How much of John Calvin's doctrine do you embrace? All of it, some of it? Why believe any of John Calvin's doctrine if  it is contrary to Scripture?

The cornerstone of Calvinism is the T.U.L.I.P.

1. Total Depravity, which states men are sinners from conception and cannot believe the gospel, therefore God must individually predestine them for salvation.

2. Unconditional Election, which says some men are individually selected for salvation and others are selected to spend eternity in hell.

3. Limited Atonement, which means Jesus did not die for all men, but only died for those who were unconditional selected for salvation.

4. Irresistible Grace, which states that God's elect cannot resist the call of the gospel.

5. Perseverance of the Saints, (AKA once in grace always in grace) which mean Christians cannot lose their salvation.

 THE T.U.L.I.P IS CONTRARY TO SCRIPTURE

Total Depravity: Acts 10:1-2 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.(NKJV)

Cornelius was not totally depraved from birth.

Job 1.1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. (NKJV)

Job was not totally depraved at conception.

Unconditional Election: Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (NKJV)

Salvation is not unconditional.

Limited Atonement: 1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.(NKJV)

Jesus died for all men, not just a select few.

Irresistible Grace: Acts 7:51 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.(NKJV)

Yes, men can and do resist the Holy Spirit.

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS: Galatians 5:4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (NKJV)

Yes, Christians can fall from grace.

The results of believing the T.U.L.I.P doctrine are.

1. You do not have to believe that Jesus is the Christ; because God will force you to believe; because of irresistible grace.

2. You do not have to be immersed in water; because baptism is a work.

3. God selected you to go to heaven, but selected your neighbor to burn in hell.

4. Even though you live an unrepentant sinful lifestyle or have rejected Jesus as the Christ you will still be saved, because you are, once in grace always in grace.

5. You do not have to believe that God raised Jesus from the grace; because you have been saved by grace alone.

6. You do not have to make the commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God, because God gave you the faith to become saved, so you are saved by God's gift of faith and you have been saved by faith alone.

7. You do not have to be obedient to any of God's terms for pardon; because you have been saved by grace alone.

It is not possible to believe only parts of the T.U.L.I.P---- Remove any part of Calvin's T.U.L.I.P the flower wilts.

INCLUSIVE SALVATION BY STEVE FINNELL

Who are those who are included in salvation? All men who believe and obey what the apostle Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost are saved. It does not make any difference what denominational name is written on the church building where you worship, if you obey the gospel preached by Peter, then,  you are saved, you are a member of the Lord's church, you are part of the church of Christ, you a member of the body of Christ, you are a Christian.

What did Peter preach?

1. Peter preached that Jesus was a miracle worker. (Acts 2:22)

2. Peter preached that Jesus was resurrected from the dead by God the Father.(Acts 2:24-35)

3. Peter preached that Jesus was both Lord and Christ.(Acts 2:36)

When the three thousand believe Peter, they asked "What shall we do?"(Acts 2:37)

4. Peter told them to repent and be baptized in order to have their sins forgiven.(Acts 2:38)

This is the same message Jesus preached. (Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved....)

THE TERMS FOR PARDON ARE: Faith-John 3:16, Repentance-Acts 2:38, Confession-Romans 10:9-10, Baptism (immersion in water) 1 Peter 3:21

All who meet the terms for pardon are saved regardless of the denominational name on the church building.  

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE CHURCH? BY STEVE FINNELL

The question has been asked "Of what church are you a member?" I am a member of the church that Jesus owns. 

WHAT CHURCH?

Acts 20:28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

I am a member of the church of God which Jesus purchased with His own blood.

Romans 16:16 .....all the churches of Christ greet you.

I am a member of the church of Christ.

Galatians 1:22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which are in Christ.

I am a member of the church that is in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea......

I am a member of the church of God in Christ.

I am a member of the church of the Messiah.

I am a member of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am a member of the church of the King of Kings.

I am a member of the church of the Lord of Lord's.

I am a member of the church of the Lamb of God.

I am a member of the church of the Prince of Peace.

I am a member of the church of the Son of Man.

I am am member of the church of God's only begotten Son.

I am a member of the church of the Living God.

I am a member of the church of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

My church membership is written in the Lamb's book of life. (Rev. 20:15, Rev. 21:17)

The Lord adds the saved to His church. (Acts 2:47 ... and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.)

Jesus gave the instruction on how to be saved and added them to His church. (Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved....)

THE CHURCHES I AM NOT A MEMBER OF

The church of King Henry the VIII.

The church of Alexander Campbell.

The church of the Pope.

The church of John Calvin.

The church Eudorus N. Bell.

The church of Alexander Mack.

The church of Mary Baker Eddy.

The church of Joseph March.

The church of John Knox.

The church of Freemasons.

The church of Charles Taze Russell.

The church Martin Luther.

The church of Menno Simons.

The church of Joseph Smith.

The church of George Fox.

The church of William Booth.
The church of Ellen G. White.
The church of Herbert W. Armstrong.
The church of John Smythe.
The churches of Catholics.
The churches of Lutherans.
The churches of Baptists.
The churches of Methodists.
The churches of Episcopalians.
The churches of Pentecostals.
The churches of Mormons.
The churches of the Salvation Army.

The Christian church.

 Christians do not own the church. All Christians are part of the body of Christ, however, they did not purchase the church. Christians are part of the Lord's church, but it is not their church. I do not belong to the "Christian" Church.    

You can join a denomination, but the Lord adds the saved to His church.

YOU CANNOT JOIN THE LORD'S CHURCH!

YES, I AM A MEMBER OF THE church of CHRIST. Why, because the Lord adds the saved to His church.

THE LORD ADDS ALL THOSE, TO HIS CHURCH, WHO HAVE OBEYED HIS TERMS FOR PARDON.

FAITH: John 3:16

REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38

CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10

BAPTISM: (IMMERSION IN WATER) 1 Peter 3:21

THEN, THE LORD ADDS YOU TO HIS CHURCH! 

THE PURPOSE OF MIRACULOUS SIGNS BY STEVE FINNELL

What is the purpose of miraculous signs? Are miraculous signs occurring today?

John 2:1-11.....11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

The first miraculous sign Jesus performed was turning water into to wine. It confirmed His glory. He was the Son of God.

John 6:2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He performed on those who were sick.

Jesus healed the sick to confirm that He was the Son of God.

John 3:1-2....this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

Jesus performed signs to confirm that He came from God.

John 20:30-31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Jesus performed signs to confirm that He was the Son of God. The Bible has been written so men might believe and have life in  the name of Jesus. Jesus is not coming back to earth to perform more signs. Jesus has already proved He the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Savior of all who believe and meet God's terms for pardon. Signs were to confirm that Jesus was the Son of God and that the Bible was God's message about salvation for mankind.

 MIRACULOUS SIGNS AFTER THE DEATH OF JESUS

Mark 16:16-20......17 These signs will accompany those who have believed in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover."......20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirm the word by the signs that followed.

Those who believed and were baptized performed miraculous signs to confirm the word of God. Are Christians today performing miraculous signs to confirm the word of God? NO, THEY ARE NOT. We have the written word of God to confirm that Jesus was the Son of God. We do not need miraculous signs today. The church of Christ was well established by the first one hundred fifty years. We have a completed Bible.

If miraculous signs were available today these things would be occurring in every church of Christ congregation.
1. Some would be casting out demons.
2. Some believers would be speaking with new tongues.
3. Some would pick up poisonous snakes and not be hurt.
4. Some believers could drink poison without being affected.
5.Some could lay hands on the sick and heal them.
Is this happening in every single Christian congregation in the world? No, it is not occurring in any of the Lord's churches anywhere.

Hebrew 2:1-4....3...if we neglect  a salvation? After it was at first spoken  through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both  by signs, and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

God has already confirmed (past tense) our salvation by signs, wonders, and miracles. It is recorded in the Bible so we can believe and be saved.

God is not going to send Jesus to reconfirm that Jesus is His Son. God is not reconfirming His church and the gospel by using the contemporary churches with miraculous signs. We have a completed Bible with all the miraculous signs to confirm that Jesus is the Son of God.The Bible has the gospel plan of salvation.

THERE ARE NO MODERN-DAY APOSTLES. THERE ARE NO MODERN-DAY CHRISTIANS PERFORMING MIRACULOUS SIGNS!      

I KNOW WHO JESUS IS  by steve finnell

If you know Jesus is that enough to acquired salvation? If you acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God does mean you are saved? If you believe in Jesus but will not publicly confess Him, will that saved you? Does simply believing in Jesus make you a child of God washed in the blood of Jesus?

Luke 4:41 And demons also came out of many crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.(NKJV)

Simply knowing who Jesus is cannot save anyone.

John 12:42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;(NKJV)

Simply believing in Jesus cannot save anyone.

What are the New Covenant terms for pardon? How can you become saved? When are you added to the Lord's church?

1. John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.(NKJV)

2. Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (NKJV)

3. Acts 2:38 And Peter replied, "Each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit.(The Living Bible- Paraphrased)

4. Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.(NKJV)  

You must. Believe. Repent. Be immersed in water. and Confess in order to be saved and in order to be added to the body of Christ and in order to have sins forgiven and in order to become a Christian and in order to become born again.

You cannot believe only and be saved.
You cannot repent only and be saved.
You cannot be baptized only and be saved.
You cannot confess only and be saved.
The Bible makes clear the requirements for salvation. All of the above.

Galatians 1:8 Let God's curses fall on anyone , including myself, who preaches any other way to be saved than the one we told you about; yes, if angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed. (The Living Bible-Paraphrased)

No man is saved before they are immersed in water. 


   

  

TRADITIONS OF MEN by steve finnell

Can vain worship save anyone? Just asking.

Mark 7:7 And in vain they worship Me , Teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.'(NKJV)

Mark 7:9 And He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.(NKJV)

TRADITION OF MEN: Absolution is the remission of sin granted by the church through priests and pastors.

GOD'S TRADITION: Mark 2:5-10......7 "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?".....(NKJV)

The problem was the scribes did not understand that Jesus was the

  Son of Man. Jesus was and is God.

TRADITION OF MEN: Praying to the Virgin Mary because she is an advocate, an intercessor, and a mediator between men and God.

GOD'S TRADITION: 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin . And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (NKJV) Romans 8:34 Who is he condemns? It is Christ who died, and futhermore is also risen, who even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercessions for us. (NKJV) 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. (NKJV)

TRADITION OF MEN: Immersion in water, that being baptism, is not essential in order to be saved.

GOD'S TRADITION: Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.(NKJV)

TRADITION OF MEN: There are various and sundry ways to get to heaven.

GOD'S TRADITION: John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (NKJV)

TRADITION OF MEN. Even if division is caused by perverting the gospel and denying God's fundamental truths we should join together for charitable works and evangelism with them all.

GOD'S TRADITION: Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. (NKJV)
  

The Meaning of Baptism and the Catholic Ritual

by	Moisés Pinedo

It is distressing to see how the doctrine of baptism is distorted in modern-day Christendom. With the passing of time, baptism, as a necessity for salvation, has been replaced by a “prayer of faith,” abstract manifestations of conversion, and ecclesiastical ceremonies based on traditionalism. Today, many ignore the concept, implications, and importance of baptism. Jesus said: “[U]nless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5, emp. added). Paul wrote that there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”(Ephesians 4:5, emp. added). These New Testament passages and others make it clear that baptism is not merely a religious tradition or a commandment of men. Therefore, it is very important to understand it correctly.

It is essential to know the meaning of “baptism.” Depending on the context in which it is mentioned, “baptism” may mean many different things. For example, in an evangelical context, it is regarded as just a “public profession of faith” (Rhodes, 1997, p. 178). In a Catholic context, the word “baptism” brings to mind a ceremony, godparents, elegant robes, emotional parents, an infant in white, a fountain, and a few drops of water (as well as a pre-paid fee for the ceremony and the actual “baptism”). However, when we consider the real meaning of the word “baptism,” many of these erroneous concepts disappear.

In his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, W.E. Vine defined “baptism” and other related words:

BAPTISMA, baptism, consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, to dip).

BAPTIZO, to baptize, primarily a frequentative form of bapto, to dip, was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another, etc. (1966, 1:96-97, emp. added).

From the definition of the word, it is easy to see exactly what was involved in the act of baptism: “immersion, submersion and emergence.” Unfortunately, the word “baptism” has been passed from generation to generation as a transliteration, i.e., a phonetic representation of a word in another language. [Note the similarity between the Greekbaptisma and the English “baptism”]. A study of the Greek etymology of this word opens the door to its real meaning and also gives us a better picture of how it was carried out in New Testament times. Baptism was not sprinkling or pouring, as Catholicism teaches, but immersion. The Bible points out some important implications concerning baptism.

First, baptism requires enough water to immerse completely a believer. The gospel accounts inform us that John the baptizer baptized in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:4-6; Mark 1:4-5; Luke 3:2-3; John 1:28). The Jordan was the largest and most important river in Palestine, and it contained enough water for the innumerable baptisms (immersions) that took place there. For example, in this river, Naaman the leper immersed himself seven times (2 Kings 5:14). If baptism were an act of sprinkling, it would have been unnecessary to baptize in the Jordan; instead, a single container of water would have been sufficient. However, as the apostle John noted, John the baptizer also baptized in the Aenon, “because there was much water there” (John 3:23).

Second, baptism is immersion since one goes down into and comes up out of the water. This fact is seen clearly in the various baptisms in the gospel accounts and the book of Acts. The gospel writers recorded the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). Matthew 3:16 and Mark 1:10 tell us specifically that Jesus “came up from the water.” Certainly the phrase “to come up from the water” would have been omitted if Jesus was only sprinkled.

Acts 8:26-39 records one of the most illustrative accounts of the procedure of baptism. Luke wrote that while an Ethiopian was on his return trip from Jerusalem, he heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the mouth of Philip (a servant of God). Then, “they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’” (Acts 8:36). Luke does not record the source or location of that water, but we can infer that it was sufficient for Philip to immerse the Ethiopian. Luke clarifies how baptism was performed when he notes that “both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water,” and “they came up out of the water” (Acts 8:38-39, emp. added). From this biblical narrative, it is illogical to conclude that the baptism of the Ethiopian was some form of sprinkling. It is impossible to “go down into” and “come up out of” a few drops of water! There is no doubt that the Ethiopian was immersed.

Third, baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is not a random practice void of any logic pattern, or special meaning. God chose baptism as the perfect representation of the redemptive plan performed by His Son, Jesus Christ. In Romans 6:3-4, Paul explained the symbolic meaning of baptism: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” R.L. Whiteside noted about these verses:

In being buried in baptism there is a likeness of his death; so also there is a likeness of his resurrection in our being raised from baptism to a new life. Hence, in being baptized we are united with him in the likeness of this death and resurrection. We are therefore, partakers with him in death, and also in being raised to a new life. Jesus was buried and arose to a new life; we are buried in baptism and arise to a new life. These verses show the act of baptism, and also its spiritual value (1988, p. 132).

There is great spiritual value and meaning in the act of immersion. It not only re-enacts the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, but also unites the believer with Christ (Galatians 3:27). There is no other act of faith that is an effective (and biblical) substitute for being immersed into Christ. When a person is immersed, he is buried with Christ. Could sprinkling be described as a burial? When a person dies, do people sprinkle dirt on his head and declare him “buried”? Of course not! Rather, he is covered completely (immersed) with dirt. Similarly, to be “buried” with Christ, we must be covered completely (immersed) in water. Sprinkling falls far short of representing the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.Both Paul and Peter, in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and 1 Peter 3:21, added emphasis to the importance and significance of baptism.

Finally, it is important to note that the modern Catholic practice of “baptism,” i.e., sprinkling or pouring, is inconsistent with the Catholics’ own understanding of the meaning and method of biblical baptism. In the first chapter of the “Sacraments of the Christian Initiation,” the Catechism of the Catholic Church declares:

This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to “plunge” or “immerse”; the “plunge” into the water symbolizes the catechumen’s burial into Christ’s death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as “a new creature” (1994, 1214, emp. added).

It appears that ignorance of the etymology and procedure of biblical “baptism” did not mislead Catholicism from the truth concerning baptism, but rather the emphasis that Catholicism places on tradition above biblical truth. Catholics also declare:

To facilitate the application of the new discipline, baptism by infusion—which consists in pouring water on the child’s head instead of immersing the whole child in a basin—gradually became common because it was easier; it became the almost universal practice in the fourteenth century. But although immersion fell into disuse, it still had its place in the rubrics (Cabié, 1988, 3:72, emp. added).

It is declared (with shameless audacity) that the commandment for immersion given by the Lord (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16) was replaced by the traditional rite of sprinkling or pouring out of convenience. These words can find accurate parallel in the words of condemnation pronounced by Jesus against the Pharisees when He said:

Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men... All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition (Mark 7:6-9).

 

REFERENCES

Cabié, Robert (1988), The Church at Prayer (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press).

Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994), (Mahwah, NY: Paulist Press).

Rhodes, Ron (1997), The Complete Book of Bible Answers (Eugene, OR: Harvest House).

Vine, W.E. (1966), An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell).

Whiteside, Robertson L. (1988 reprint), Paul’s Letter to the Saints at Rome (Bowling Green, KY: Guardian of Truth Foundation).

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THE MOMENT OF SALVATION? BY STEVE FINNELL

At what point are men saved? When are sins forgiven. Those who believe men are saved by "faith only" believe that men are saved the moment they believe. Is that a Scriptural concept or a man-made tradition? The real question is, are men saved before they are baptized in water?

Jesus said "and has been baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16) Was Jesus confuse about the moment of salvation. The word "shall" is always future tense. SHALL DEFINED: intend to, definitely will, is determined to. Did Jesus get confused and think that "shall" meant was already saved?

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

If they were saved the moment they believed; then why did they have to be baptized into Christ Jesus. Are not all men who have been wash by the blood of Jesus Christ already part of the body of Christ?

Romans 6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

If men are saved the very minute they believe, then, why do they have to wait until they are baptized in water before they can walk in newness of life?

Romans 6:5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

If men are saved the moment they have faith, then, why are they not united with Jesus in the likeness of His death until they are baptized in water?

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

If men are saved the minute they believe, why then, do they have to be baptized in water in order that sin might be done away with?

Romans 6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin.

If men are saved the very minute that they believe, then why, do they have to be immersed in water before they have died to sin?

Romans 6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

If we are saved the minute we believe, then why do we have to be baptized to live with Him.

Romans 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ.

If men are saved the very moment that they believe, then why, are they not dead to sin and alive to God in Christ until they are baptized in water?

If you were saved the moment you believed---then you were saved before your sins were forgiven.(Acts 2:38....and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...)

If you were saved the minute you believed---then you were saved before you clothed yourself with Christ.(Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.)

If you were save the moment you believed--- then you were saved before your sins were washed away. (Acts 22:16 Now why do delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.)

THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN FIND THE THE WORDS "MEN ARE SAVED THE MOMENT THEY BELIEVE" IS IN CREED BOOKS, STATEMENTS OF FAITH, BIBLE COMMENTARIES, AND BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT THE BIBLE. YOU CANNOT FIND IT IN THE BIBLE!

THERE IS NO SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS MEN ARE SAVED BY "FAITH ONLY."

The moment of salvation is after belief and immersion in water. (Mark 16:16)

(All Scripture quotes from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE) 

IF THE GREAT FLOOD  ......? by steve finnell

If the great flood occurred today instead of in the days of Noah those who question God's control over climate and weather would be pounding on the ark door and blaming Noah and his family for man-made CO2 emissions.

Genesis 6:1-22, Genesis 7:1-24......12 And the rain was on earth forty days and forty nights.....23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground; both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.....(NKJV)

The idea of man-made climate change does not come from searching the Scriptures.   

Believing What Jesus Believed

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

It has become increasingly popular to accept certain parts of the Bible and to reject other parts. Such amazing events as the miracle of Creation, Jonah’s being swallowed by a sea creature, and the Flood of Noah often are brushed aside as mere myth, while more “credible” things such as the teachings of Jesus are accepted as fact. Although this line of reasoning might have some initial appeal to our “enlightened” society that rejects biblical miracles off hand, it contains a major flaw. When the teachings of Jesus are analyzed, it can be shown that Jesus Himself believed and taught the Old Testament stories that some label as myth.

For instance, the story of Jonah has come under attack due to its extraordinary details. According to the Old Testament Scriptures, God’s prophet Jonah disobeyed the Lord and was swallowed by a great sea creature. For three days, he dwelt as a damp denizen of that creature’s belly, until finally he was vomited onto the land and given another chance to obey God. To certain scholars, the story of Jonah finds a place in the Scriptures, not as a factual narrative of a specific historical account, but as a myth or allegory. What did Jesus believe about the story of Jonah? His sentiments in this regard were emphatically stated.

Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet: for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here (Matthew 12:38-41).

Quite clearly, Jesus accepted the story of Jonah as an accurate description of a real, historical event. He included not only the fact that Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish, but also affirmed that the city of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah. If the story of Jonah were simply an allegory or myth, Jesus’ entire point about being in the belly of the Earth for as long as Jonah was in the belly of the fish would be weakened to the point of ridiculousness. For, if Jonah wasn’t ever really in the belly of the fish, then what would that say about the Son of Man actually being in the belly of the Earth?

Another story endorsed by Christ is the formation of man and woman at the beginning of Creation. Some scholars, in an attempt to find a compromise between the Bible and organic evolution, have postulated that the Creation account of Genesis need not be taken literally, and that room can be found in Genesis to accommodate the idea that humans evolved gradually in Earth’s recent past. What did Jesus say about this idea?

During His earthly sojourn, Christ spoke explicitly regarding Creation. In Mark 10:6, for example, He declared: “But from the beginning of the creation, male and female made he them.” Note these three paramount truths: (1) The first couple was “made”; they were not biological accidents. Interestingly, the verb “made” in the Greek is in the aorist tense, implying point action, rather than progressive development (which would be characteristic of evolutionary activity). W.E. Vine made this very observation with reference to the composition of the human body in his comments on 1 Corinthians 12:18 (1951, p. 173). (2) The original pair was fashioned “male and female”; they were not initially an asexual “blob” that eventually experienced sexual diversion. (3) Adam and Eve existed “from the beginning of the creation.” The Greek word for “beginning” is arché, and is used of “absolute, denotingthe beginning of the world and of its history, the beginning of creation.” The Greek word for “creation” is ktiseos, and denotes the “sum-total of what God has created” (Cremer, 1962, pp. 113,114,381, emp. in orig.). Christ certainly did not subscribe to the notion that the Earth is millions or billions of years older than humanity.

Accepting the testimony of Jesus Christ further demands that the global Flood of Noah be taken as a literal, historic event. The Lord Himself addressed the topic of the great Flood in Luke 17:26-30 (cf. Matthew 24:39) when He drew the following parallel:

And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed (emp. added).

The Lord depicted an impending doom that was to befall the Jews of His day who would not heed the Word of God. For the purpose of this article, however, note the context in which Jesus discussed the Flood destruction of Genesis 6-8. He placed the Flood alongside the destruction of Sodom, and He also placed it alongside the destruction of the ungodly at His Second Coming. John Whitcomb correctly noted that the word “all” must refer to the totality of people on the entire Earth in Noah’s day, and in Sodom during Lot’s time. Jesus’ argument would be weakened considerably if some of the people on the Earth, besides Noah’s family, escaped the Flood, or if certain Sodomites survived the fiery destruction sent from Heaven (1973, pp. 21-22). It is evident from the text that Jesus affirmed that the same number of ungodly sinners who escaped the Flood will be the same number of disobedient people who escape destruction at His Second Coming—none. From His remarks, one can clearly see that Jesus accepted the Genesis account of a global flood as a historical fact.

The sayings of Jesus contain numerous references to some of the Old Testament’s most extraordinary events. A person cannot consistently maintain a belief in Jesus and His teachings, while denying the details of the accounts that He endorsed as factual. The testimony of Jesus and the factual accuracy of the stories He commended stand together.

REFERENCES

Cremer, H. (1962), Biblico-Theological Lexicon of New Testament Greek (London: T & T Clark).

Vine, W.E. (1951), First Corinthians (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan).

Whitcomb, John C. (1973), The World That Perished (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).

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IS IGNORANCE A VALID EXCUSE? by steve finnell

Can ignorance be claimed as an excuse for rejecting the words of Jesus?

Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (NKJV)

Is it a valid excuse to claim ignorance when denying that immersion in water is essential in order to be saved?

Acts 17:30 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,

Ephesians 4:18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;(NKJV)

Can men reject water baptism for the remission of sins and be excused because of their hard heart.

1 Timothy 1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.(NKJV)

The key here is "formerly" ignorant.  The apostle Paul never denied that water baptism was in order to receive forgiveness.

Galatians 1:6-9 ......9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received let him be accursed. (NKJV)

Can those who claim Jesus as savior and have read the New Testament Scriptures claim ignorance when they deny that water baptism is essential for forgiveness from sin?

Will the ignorance excuse work on Judgment Day?

   

APOSTLES DOCTRINE? by steve finnell

The three thousand converts on the Day of Pentecost continued in the apostles doctrine. [Acts 2:40-42 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine....] NKJV

The apostles doctrine came from the apostles.

 Who are not apostles? Scribes and Pharisees, Thomas Campbell, Mary Baker Eddy, Tony Campolo, Judaizers, John Calvin, Joseph Smith Jr., Gnostics, Pope Francis, Kenneth E. Hagin,
Rick Warren, Max Lucado, Bill Hybels, Paul Washer, Martin Luther, William Miller, Charles Taze Russel, Brigham Young, Jimmy Swaggart, Charles Stanley, Chuck Swindoll, Alexander Campbell, Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, John Piper, T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dwight L. Moody, and Billy Graham.

From whom did the apostles receive their doctrine? From God the Father through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

 [John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.](NKJV)

John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (NKJV)

The apostles had all truth. There was, nor is there, new truth after the apostles died.

Galatians 1:11-12 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached   me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

The apostle Paul was taught by Jesus Christ.

John 12:49 "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. (NKJV)

 John 7:16 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. (NKJV)

The apostles doctrine came from God the Father through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The apostles were guided into all truth. There is no new truth. New truth ended with the death of the last apostle.

 The apostles doctrine is found in the Bible alone.

The question is, do men today continue in the apostles doctrine or do they follow man-made doctrine?