Dear Brother
Faull:
What about Romans 9
and Pre-destination?
ANSWER:
Romans 9 does not teach what Calvinists think it
teaches.
God is no respecter of persons. He does not elect one to
salvation and another to damnation.
HE DOES ELECT PERSONS FOR SERVICE AND NOT
ANOTHER. He did in the past and He does today in the
Church. He elected the nation of Israel to be His people
for service.
He chose Shem to be the race, Abraham to be the nation
of that race, Judah to be the tribe of that nation, Jesse to
be the family of that tribe, David to be the house of that
family, and Mary to be the individual of that house through
whom Messiah would come and BLESS ALL NATIONS.
He did not choose Shem to be saved and Ham and
Japheth to be lost.
He did not choose Abraham to be saved and Nahor lost.
He did not choose Judah to be saved and his 11 brothers
lost.
He did not choose to save Jesse and damn his brothers,
nor did He choose David to salvation and his brothers to
be lost.
He did not choose to save Mary and her siblings lost.
HE CHOSE THEM FOR SERVICE, NOT SALVATION!!!
It was through them that the Messiah would come. It was
through them that the Incarnate Word would be given.
What advantage hath the Jew? Much every way, chiefly
that unto them were committed the oracles of God, to
whom pertaineth the adoption, the glory, the covenant,
the giving of the Law, the service of God, and the
promises. Romans 3:2 and Romans 9:4
Not all of Abraham’s seed were chosen for service. The
election was Isaac, not Ishmael nor his second wives’
children.
Likewise, Jacob was not chosen for salvation over Esau.
Jacob was chosen for service. It was not of him that wills
or runneth that God gives the privilege of being the
chosen vessels of service. He chooses whomsoever He
wills to be the one through whom He works.
Sometimes, due to His foreknowledge, He would raise up
a particular man to earthly honor and elevate him to be
King as he did the Pharaoh of the Exodus. He knew that
man. He knew he would resist Him and God would be
able to display His power over all the gods of the
Egyptians because of their stubbornness.
He did not want to raise up some weak milquetoast at that
time that would obey Moses. He raised up this Pharaoh
whom God knew would harden his heart and rebel
against Him so God could show His power to Israel and
the world.
Notice that the first few times it says, “Pharaoh hardened
his heart”. Then after a few more times when he was
really in rebellion, God is said to harden his heart. God
provoked him to wrath by His miracles as each one made
him more hardened.
It is like a son who is rebellious and hard-hearted already,
but when the father puts more on him the father is said to
harden the son’s heart. God did not have to do anything
to him to harden his heart initially. He raised up that
particular man because He knew him and that each
plague would harden him that much more. He was
chosen to be the king so that God could show His power.
Romans 9:17, Exodus 9:16-17
We have no right to complain that He uses one lump of
clay to glory and another lump to dishonor. God, in His
mercy, has made us both Jews and Gentiles, to His glory.
How? “As many as receive him to them gave he power
"From the cowardice that shrinks from
new truth, from the laziness that is content
with half truths, from the arrogance that
thinks it knows all truth, O, God of Truth,
deliver us."2 THE GOSPEL UNASHAMED July 2010
(the authority) to become the Sons of God, even those
who believe on his name.” John 1:12
Gentiles can, like Abraham, attain unto the righteousness
of faith. The Jews continue to try to be saved by law. They
do not seek righteousness by faith, as our father Abraham
did, but go about to establish their own righteousness.
Romans 10: 3
Let me illustrate a Biblical election to service:
A sodbuster in 1888 had five kids. He said to his oldest
son," Lets go into town and get some supplies. " "But Dad
I wanted to go hunting," said the boy. "Well, bring your
gun along and we’re bound to see something on the way
back," said the father.
All the kids wanted to go to the town overnight with them
to get the supplies. The father laughed and said, "If I took
the whole family there would be no room for the supplies.
We will bring back some goodies for all of you. This trip is
for all of the family." So they left.
Once they got to town it was evening, as it was a long
way to town. The boy was excited because there was a
circus in town. He got to see a lot of strange sites, a
shooting display, the fat lady, the midget, the elephants
and lions and even a ventriloquist. He got to sleep in the
hotel and eat in a restaurant. Dad even let him try some of
the new fangled ice cream.
The next morning they went to the general store and the
boy got to eat some new candy as he helped load the
wagon. He had a lot of privileges that the other 4 kids did
not have, but Dad had chosen him, not because he loved
him more, but he was the strongest. He could help load
the wagon and watch for trouble on the way home. He got
to shoot a deer on the way home and he and his father
lifted the heavy carcass into the wagon.
When they got home, the other kids came running and
were given some goodies. The whole family was blessed
for the winter because they had gone. Now the older son
was chosen for service. It was not that he was the favorite
even though he had special opportunities. The whole
family was blessed as the father intended them to be all
along.
Now note Abraham. “I am going to bless you, make you a
great nation, and in thy Seed (Singular, Christ) ALL the
nations of the earth will be blessed.” He was told, “You
shall be a blessing.” God blessed Abraham and used him
to bless all men. When Jesus was born it was said, "Fear
not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which
shall be to ALL people." (Not just an elect few that God
chose to save.)
What a damnable, ugly doctrine Calvinism is. God is no
respecter of persons. The offer is to whosoever will.
Come unto me All ye that labor and heavy laden and I will
give you rest.
The secret of understanding the Bible is not to use the
difficult passage that seems to contradict the simple ones.
The thing to do is to take the simple ones that are plain
and try to understand the difficult one. Calvinism likes to
use Romans 9 with their blasphemous doctrine of TULIP
and make John 3:16, Mark 16:15-16, and the great
commission and a zillion more that promises salvation to
any believer, untrue.
Remember that God chooses specific men and women
for service, not salvation. “He’s not willing that any should
perish but all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9
“He wills all men to be saved.” I Timothy 2:4
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
ARE SINS FORGIVEN BEFORE BELIEVING? by steve finnell
John 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."(NKJV)
Jesus said if you do not believe that He is the Son of God you will die in your sins. Does that mean that unbelieving infants and young children who die without believing will die in their sins? Of course not, infants and young children have no concept of sin nor have they committed sin. They are not guilty of Adam's sin nor any of their ancestors sins. Guilt from so-called original sin is a man-made doctrine.
Men do not inherit sin from others.
Acts 16:30-34 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs , what must I do to be saved?" 31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.".......34....having believed in God with all his household.(NKJV)
The jailer and "all" of his household had to believed in order to be saved. There were no unbelievers, including infants, who were baptized for their sin so they could be saved. No unbelievers were saved that night.
Acts 2:36-38 .... God made this Jesus, whom you crucified both Lord and Christ......38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(NKJV)
The three thousand on the Day of Pentecost had to first believe, then repent and be immersed in water in order to have their sin forgiven. There were no unbelieving infants baptized for their sins nor for the sin Adam committed.
Unbelievers cannot be forgiven of sins.
Infants do not need forgiveness. Adults who cannot understand the concept of sin, due to no fault of their own, do not need forgiveness.
Even if the doctrine of original sin was true, unbelievers could not be forgiven by being baptized at birth.
Sins are not forgiven before believing, nor are sins forgiven before being baptized. Belief precedes immersion in water.
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.(NKJV)
Can unrepentant atheists have their sins forgiven by being immersed in water? Of course not
Can can men be baptized by proxy for their unbelieving relatives? Of course not.
Are unbelieving infants sins forgiven because they are baptized? No, because they have no sins that need to be forgiven. Even if babies were guilty of Adam's sins, they could not be forgiven without believing.
Men will not go to hell because of Adam's sin. If men spend eternity in hell, it will be because of their "own" unforgiven sin.
Will the Temple Be Rebuilt?
by David Vaughn Elliott
Peace in the Middle East is elusive. A major obstacle is the status of Jerusalem. Especially the status of the Old City, which is all the Jerusalem there was in Jesus' day. And in the Old City, especially the Temple Mount, where in 70 A.D. the Romans left not one stone upon another, as Jesus had prophesied.
The current ten weeks of bloodshed in Israel [written Dec, 2000] was sparked late in September when a leading Israeli politician, Ariel Sharon, paid a visit to the Temple Mount. Behind these tensions are the hopes of some Israelis and the fears of some Palestinians that the Jews will attempt to build a Third Temple on the Temple Mount. For thirteen centuries, the Islamic Dome of the Rock has stood where once stood the magnificent temples of Solomon and Herod.
Only God knows if, in fact, some Jews will one day succeed in rebuilding the temple. Even if they do, it will not be in fulfillment of any prophecy of Scripture. None exists. Nor will it meet with any approval from God. On the contrary, it will be in direct defiance of the very God who destroyed the temple in 70 A.D.
When Jesus the Messiah died on Calvary, the old temple worship ceased to have validity. God tore the temple veil in two from top to bottom. The book of Hebrews proclaims: "Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands... by his own blood he entered in once into the [heavenly] holy place... For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins... We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (9:11,12; 10:4,10).
If the Jews do rebuild the temple and again offer bulls and goats, it will be an absolute insult to Messiah Jesus, the One who offered Himself as the "once for all" sacrifice for Jew and Gentile alike.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
INCONSEQUENTIAL ACTS OF OBEDIENCE? BY STEVE FINNELL
When men obey God, is it just an inconsequential act or does it produce a result?
Does obeying Jesus result in a positive outcome?
Hebrews 5:8-9 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation. (NASB)
If you disobey Jesus, then obviously He is not your source for salvation.
Faith only proponents say water baptism is act of obedience, but that baptism is unnecessary to receiving salvation.
Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.(NASB)
If obedience to God was not essential to salvation, then Jesus would have said you are saved, now obey by believing and being baptized in water. Believing is an act of obedience, just as is water baptism.
Acts 16:31 They said "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...(NASB)
Believing is an act of obedience. Men are saved as a result of believing. Salvation does not precede obeying God. Salvation follows obedience to God.
Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord who has believed our report?"(NKJV)
Believing the gospel is an act of obedience.
Not believing the gospel is an act of disobedience.
2 Thessalonians 1:8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
2 Thessalonians 1:8 bringing judgement on those who do not wish to know God, and who refuses to accept his plan to save themthrough our Lord Jesus Christ. (The Living Bible---Paraphrased)
Refusing to accept God's plan of salvation brings vengeance.
HOW DO MEN OBEY THE GOSPEL?
1. They obey by believing. (John 3:16) Believing is an act of obedience.
2. They obey by repenting. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) Repentance is an act of obedience.
3. They obey by confession. (Romans 10:9-10, Acts 8:37) Confession is an act of obedience.
4. They obey by being immersed in water. (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 22:16) Being baptized in an act of obedience.
Salvation is subsequent to obeying the gospel.
Salvation follows being obedient to God's terms for pardon.
Salvation occurs after submitting yourself to the New Covenant terms of forgiveness from sins.
SALVATION DOES NOT OCCUR PRIOR TO BEING OBEDIENT TO THE GOSPEL PLAN OF SALVATION.
Being obedient to the gospel is not keeping the Law of Moses.
Being obedient to the gospel is not a good deed.
Being obedient to the gospel is not a meritorious act.
Being obedient to the gospel is not earning salvation.
Being obedient to the gospel does not mean that we are not saved because of God's grace.
OBEDIENCE IS ESSENTIAL TO BECOMING SAVED!
Does obeying Jesus result in a positive outcome?
Hebrews 5:8-9 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation. (NASB)
If you disobey Jesus, then obviously He is not your source for salvation.
Faith only proponents say water baptism is act of obedience, but that baptism is unnecessary to receiving salvation.
Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.(NASB)
If obedience to God was not essential to salvation, then Jesus would have said you are saved, now obey by believing and being baptized in water. Believing is an act of obedience, just as is water baptism.
Acts 16:31 They said "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...(NASB)
Believing is an act of obedience. Men are saved as a result of believing. Salvation does not precede obeying God. Salvation follows obedience to God.
Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord who has believed our report?"(NKJV)
Believing the gospel is an act of obedience.
Not believing the gospel is an act of disobedience.
2 Thessalonians 1:8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
2 Thessalonians 1:8 bringing judgement on those who do not wish to know God, and who refuses to accept his plan to save themthrough our Lord Jesus Christ. (The Living Bible---Paraphrased)
Refusing to accept God's plan of salvation brings vengeance.
HOW DO MEN OBEY THE GOSPEL?
1. They obey by believing. (John 3:16) Believing is an act of obedience.
2. They obey by repenting. (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19) Repentance is an act of obedience.
3. They obey by confession. (Romans 10:9-10, Acts 8:37) Confession is an act of obedience.
4. They obey by being immersed in water. (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 22:16) Being baptized in an act of obedience.
Salvation is subsequent to obeying the gospel.
Salvation follows being obedient to God's terms for pardon.
Salvation occurs after submitting yourself to the New Covenant terms of forgiveness from sins.
SALVATION DOES NOT OCCUR PRIOR TO BEING OBEDIENT TO THE GOSPEL PLAN OF SALVATION.
Being obedient to the gospel is not keeping the Law of Moses.
Being obedient to the gospel is not a good deed.
Being obedient to the gospel is not a meritorious act.
Being obedient to the gospel is not earning salvation.
Being obedient to the gospel does not mean that we are not saved because of God's grace.
OBEDIENCE IS ESSENTIAL TO BECOMING SAVED!
Saturday, November 21, 2015
A Fool of
Fools by George L. Faull
The environmentalists
are all worried about an
alleged global warming
and what they call “A
man’s carbon footprint.”
Me thinks they should be concerned about the
global warming that Peter spoke about and the
moral footprints he addresses.
II Peter 3:10-12: “10 But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens
will pass away with a great noise, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the
works that are in it will be burned up. 11
Therefore, since all these things will be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to
be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for
and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved,
being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent
heat?”
Now there is no doubt that God has placed man on
the earth to care for it. Psalms 8:4-8: “4 What is
man that You are mindful of him, And the son of
man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a
little lower than the angels, And You have crowned
him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to
have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet, 7 All
sheep and oxen-Even the beasts of the field, 8
The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That
pass through the paths of the seas.”
The worry we should share is not global warming
caused by man but rather the problems the global
warming fanatics produce for man while trying to
manipulate us to their stupid, manmade contortions
to allegedly protect the earth from mankind.
Think for yourself. Which is more important to God?
Man or the world that God made for man? Which
does God love?
The treaties and bans and ideas proposed at
Copenhagen last year are alarming!!! Think!!!
They want to tell you:
• How many children you should have.
• At what temperature your house should be.
• What kind of car you should own (Little death
traps)
• How many animals or pets you can own.
• What you can and cannot eat.
• What fuel can be used, how much, and how
often.
Personal liberty, free enterprise, choice of life and
health will become dictated by the government. Of
course, that is the real goal of these totalitarians.
Can you imagine:
• The price tag on such an agenda?
• The control they would have?
• The loss of profits to enterprises and small
businesses?
• The loss of jobs of both skilled and unskilled
labor?
How will the poor pay for this increase in fuel, food,
healthcare, or transportation in an anxiety ridden
environmental whack-o world with all of the
prohibitions and foolish legislation? And who will
make the profit on this agenda?
Big government will have to pay. This means a
totalitarian government with high taxes. This means
that the number of poor people will increase and
need provision by big government.
"From the cowardice that shrinks from
new truth, from the laziness that is content
with half truths, from the arrogance that
thinks it knows all truth, O, God of Truth,
deliver us."2 THE GOSPEL UNASHAMED April 2010
The government of a few elitists will become the lord
of God’s creation instead of all mankind. Psalms 8
speaks to all men, not an elite bunch of lords over
His world.
What utter arrogance it is to think that mankind living
a moral normal life is going to affect the quality of
God’s world. The truth is, God is much more likely
to chasten mankind for man’s immoral lifestyle than
man can affect it by living normal Godly lives.
It sure was hot around Sodom and Gomorrah for its
immoral footprint and their abuse of each other than
their abuse of the environment. The Bible says that
Sodom was like the Garden of Eden before He
destroyed it.
Genesis 13:10: “And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all
the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered
everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom
and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the
land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.”
God has shown that He casts out His tenets for
immorality and abuse of people but never for his
abuse of the environment.
What an insult to the wisdom, providence, and
sovereignty of God to think His whole creation could
be brought to worthlessness by the caretaker He
placed over His world. Is God going to allow His
tenant to annihilate that which He owns? To think
so is just plain “gory”.
A fool says in his heart, “there is no God”. It is a
bigger fool who says that there is a God but He
could not design His world to accommodate the
billions of people whom He chose to place on His
earth.
Color such men “unbelievers” for as Scriptures says
in Isaiah 45:18: “For thus says the LORD, Who
created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the
earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did
not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited:
"I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Fools by George L. Faull
The environmentalists
are all worried about an
alleged global warming
and what they call “A
man’s carbon footprint.”
Me thinks they should be concerned about the
global warming that Peter spoke about and the
moral footprints he addresses.
II Peter 3:10-12: “10 But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens
will pass away with a great noise, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the
works that are in it will be burned up. 11
Therefore, since all these things will be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to
be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for
and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved,
being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent
heat?”
Now there is no doubt that God has placed man on
the earth to care for it. Psalms 8:4-8: “4 What is
man that You are mindful of him, And the son of
man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a
little lower than the angels, And You have crowned
him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to
have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet, 7 All
sheep and oxen-Even the beasts of the field, 8
The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That
pass through the paths of the seas.”
The worry we should share is not global warming
caused by man but rather the problems the global
warming fanatics produce for man while trying to
manipulate us to their stupid, manmade contortions
to allegedly protect the earth from mankind.
Think for yourself. Which is more important to God?
Man or the world that God made for man? Which
does God love?
The treaties and bans and ideas proposed at
Copenhagen last year are alarming!!! Think!!!
They want to tell you:
• How many children you should have.
• At what temperature your house should be.
• What kind of car you should own (Little death
traps)
• How many animals or pets you can own.
• What you can and cannot eat.
• What fuel can be used, how much, and how
often.
Personal liberty, free enterprise, choice of life and
health will become dictated by the government. Of
course, that is the real goal of these totalitarians.
Can you imagine:
• The price tag on such an agenda?
• The control they would have?
• The loss of profits to enterprises and small
businesses?
• The loss of jobs of both skilled and unskilled
labor?
How will the poor pay for this increase in fuel, food,
healthcare, or transportation in an anxiety ridden
environmental whack-o world with all of the
prohibitions and foolish legislation? And who will
make the profit on this agenda?
Big government will have to pay. This means a
totalitarian government with high taxes. This means
that the number of poor people will increase and
need provision by big government.
"From the cowardice that shrinks from
new truth, from the laziness that is content
with half truths, from the arrogance that
thinks it knows all truth, O, God of Truth,
deliver us."2 THE GOSPEL UNASHAMED April 2010
The government of a few elitists will become the lord
of God’s creation instead of all mankind. Psalms 8
speaks to all men, not an elite bunch of lords over
His world.
What utter arrogance it is to think that mankind living
a moral normal life is going to affect the quality of
God’s world. The truth is, God is much more likely
to chasten mankind for man’s immoral lifestyle than
man can affect it by living normal Godly lives.
It sure was hot around Sodom and Gomorrah for its
immoral footprint and their abuse of each other than
their abuse of the environment. The Bible says that
Sodom was like the Garden of Eden before He
destroyed it.
Genesis 13:10: “And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all
the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered
everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom
and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the
land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.”
God has shown that He casts out His tenets for
immorality and abuse of people but never for his
abuse of the environment.
What an insult to the wisdom, providence, and
sovereignty of God to think His whole creation could
be brought to worthlessness by the caretaker He
placed over His world. Is God going to allow His
tenant to annihilate that which He owns? To think
so is just plain “gory”.
A fool says in his heart, “there is no God”. It is a
bigger fool who says that there is a God but He
could not design His world to accommodate the
billions of people whom He chose to place on His
earth.
Color such men “unbelievers” for as Scriptures says
in Isaiah 45:18: “For thus says the LORD, Who
created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the
earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did
not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited:
"I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Friday, November 20, 2015
THE PHILOSOPHY OF CONTEMPORARY EVANGELISM by Steve Finnell
The modern evangelist's philosophy is rooted in the saying "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
The apostle Peter preach the first gospel sermon on the Day of Pentecost 33A.D.. Did the three thousand converts shut up their ears until they knew how much Peter cared?
Peter preached Jesus as a miracle worker. (Acts 2:22)
Peter preached Jesus crucified and put to death. (Acts 2:23)
Peter preached Jesus resurrected from the grave. (Acts 2:24)
Peter preached Jesus ascended into heaven. (Acts 2:33-34)
Peter told the three thousand that they had crucified Jesus. (Acts 2:36) Is that when the three thousand understood how much Peter cared and started to believe his preaching?
What was their reaction? (Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles. "Men and brethren, what shall we Do?)(NKJV) Were they cut to the heart because they realized how much Peter cared or were they cut to the heart because the apostle Peter was preaching the gospel truth?
What was Peter's answer? (Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus for there mission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.) (NKJV)
Peter preached the complete gospel on the Day of Pentecost. FAITH John 3:16 CONFESSION Romans 10:9 REPENTANCE AND WATER BAPTISM Acts 2:38.
Simply showing how much you care is not TANTAMOUNT TO PREACHING THE GOSPEL TRUTH.
Men who preach men are saved if they sincerely believe a lie are showing they care, but they are not preaching a gospel that saves.
Men who preach you can have your sins forgiven without being baptized in water, care, however, that preaching cannot save anyone.
Men who preach salvation apart from believing in Jesus, care, but that preaching cannot save anyone.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
PETER WAS NOT THE FIRST POPE BECAUSE........ BY STEVE FINNELL
Peter was not the first Pope because he did not believe that unrepentant atheists were redeemed.
Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; (NASB)
Acts 3:19 Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord.(The Living Bible---Paraphrased)
Peter did not believe in universal salvation. Peter believed Jesus was the only way.
Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio), Quoted May 22, 2013, "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone!"Father , the atheists?" Even the atheists. Everyone!......"But I don't believe, Father, I am an atheist! But do good: We will meet one another there."
Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; (NASB)
Acts 3:19 Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord.(The Living Bible---Paraphrased)
Peter did not believe in universal salvation. Peter believed Jesus was the only way.
Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio), Quoted May 22, 2013, "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone!"Father , the atheists?" Even the atheists. Everyone!......"But I don't believe, Father, I am an atheist! But do good: We will meet one another there."
The apostle Peter was not the first Pope because he never referred to himself as the Chief Shepherd.
1 Peter 5:1-4 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder.....4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter said he was a fellow elder. Peter never claimed to be the head of the elders. He cited Jesus as the Chief Shepherd. Peter did not believe that he, himself, was the great Shepherd. Jesus was and is the great Shepherd.
Peter was not the first Pope because he refused to be worshiped. He did not have men kiss his ring nor let them bow down in acts of worship.
Acts 10:25-26 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man."
Peter considered himself to be a man. He did not think he was another God on earth.
Peter was not the first Pope because he had a mother-in-law.
Matthew 8-14 When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Don't we have the right to take a believing wife alone with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas?(John 1:42 Cephas=Peter).
Peter was not the first Pope because he did not credit himself as being the Holy See.
Ephesians 1:20-23 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right in heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church....
God the Father placed Jesus as head of the church. Peter was never nor will he ever be head of the church. Peter was not the Holy See.
Peter was not the first Pope because he was not infallible. Peter had to be rebuked by the apostle Paul.
Galatians 2:11-21But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned........14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?............
Paul had to rebuke Peter for perverting the gospel, because Peter was agreeing with the Judaizers. Peter was not Paul's superior.
Peter was not the first Pope because he never claimed to be Lord God the Pope.
Peter was not the first Pope because never said that no man could receive salvation unless they were in subjection to him.
Peter was not the first Pope because he never assigned the title of the Most Holy to himself.
Peter was not the first Pope because never designated himself as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Peter was not the first Pope because he never indicated that he was the Chief Pastor.
Peter was not the first Pope because he did not believe he had the authority to delete Scriptures.
Peter was not the first Pope because he never thought that he was the head of the church of Christ.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH!
Colossians 1:13-19 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.......18 He is also head of the body, the church..........
God placed Jesus Christ as the head of the church. Peter was never the head of the body of Christ. No man has been, nor is any man head of the church of Christ.
PETER WAS NOT THE FIRST POPE BECAUSE---There is no office of Pope mentioned in the Bible.
(All Scripture quotes from NASB unless noted)
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
95% OF ALL BAPTISTS ARE CALVINISTS! by steve finnell
Some tenets of Calvinism.
1. Once in grace always in grace aka know as eternal security and perseverance of the saints. [NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
2. The doctrine of original sin. That being, that because Adam sinned all men have inherited Adam's guilt and a sin nature at birth. [NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
3. Unconditional Election. God selects a certain few for salvation and selects all other to burn in hell. [NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
4. God imputes faith so the elect can believe and be saved.[NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
5. Limited Atonement. Jesus died only for the elect.[NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
6. Irresistible Grace. God selects His chosen few and they cannot resist His calling.[NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
7. Total Depravity. Men are born unable to keep from sinning. Men are not able to believe the gospel unless God forces them to believe.[NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
8. Men are saved by grace alone. Men have no responsibility to believe and be saved.[NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
9. Men are saved by faith only. Immersion in water is not essential in order to be saved. [NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
10. The minute a person believes that Jesus is the Son of God and confesses Him as Lord his sins are forgiven. Men's sins are forgiven and then they are baptized in water as a testimony of their faith.[NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
11. God predestined some individuals to be saved and predestined all others to be lost.[NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE]
If you believe like a Calvinists. If you teach doctrine like a Calvinist. You are a Calvinist.
A Controversial Newsletter “The Printed Voice of Summit Theological Seminary”
~ All articles are written by George L. Faull, Rel. D. unless otherwise stated ~
Vol. 28 No. 4 October 2015 George L. Faull, Editor
The Irrationality of Calvinism --By Terry Carter
The following quotes are from the book The Five Points of Calvinism by Edwin H. Palmer. Edwin Palmer was the Executive Secretary of the NIV and General Editor of the NIV Study Bible. He was a very strong Calvinist. The following quotes from his book demonstrate that as a strong defender of Calvinism, he was honest enough to admit that it is an irrational and contradictory belief system. His statements speak for themselves.
“By way of anticipation, it should be pointed out that the Calvinist keeps both God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility, even though he cannot rationally reconcile the two.” (Page 35)
“Contrary to what most people think, the Calvinist teaches that man is free – one hundred percent free – free to do exactly what he wants…And just because man is free, man is a slave…In other words, the Christian does not have free will.” (Pages 35-36)
“Here we stand before a fundamental mystery. On the one hand, the Bible teaches that God intends that salvation will be for only certain people. On the other hand, the Bible unequivocally declares that God freely and sincerely offers salvation to everyone…Peter writes with unmistakable clarity that the Lord is ‘Longsuffering toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance’ (II Peter 3:9)…Here we come again to that fundamental problem of God…To man it seems impossible to reconcile both truths. They seem to contradict each other.” (Page 51)
“Although it is true that none would be saved were it not for the irresistible grace of God, no one may ever fall into the rationalistic trap of saying that he has nothing to do…The Bible never allows that. It comes with only one command: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…So believe. God commands you to. But if you do, thank God for causing you to do so.” (Page 66)
“It is even Biblical to say that God has foreordained sin. If sin was outside the plan of God, then not a single important affair of life would be ruled by God.” (Page 82)
“In other words, God made it absolutely certain that Joseph’s brothers would sin; yet He did it in such a way that the brothers and not God are to blame…In other words, sin is ordained by God.” (Page 83)
“But if anyone has really been thinking, he has probably raised a serious objection many times…For, where is God’s holiness? If He ordained the sin of Joseph’s brothers and the sin of Judas, how can any rational person say that God is holy? Isn’t God to blame?” (Pages 83-84)
“He correctly sees the problem: reconciling the two opposing forces of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility…He reasons that he cannot logically reconcile these two apparently contradictory facts. So he holds to one set of facts and denies the other. He holds to man’s freedom and restricts God’s sovereignty. In this way, he has no rational problem. The contradiction dissolves.” (Page 84)
“…the Calvinists accept both sides of the antimony. He realizes that what he advocates is ridiculous. It is simply impossible for man to harmonize these two sets of data. To say on one hand that God has made certain all that ever happens, and yet to say that man is responsible for what he does? Nonsense! It must be one or the other, but not both. To say that God foreordains the sin of Judas, and yet Judas is to blame? Foolishness! Logically the author of The Predestined Thief was right. God cannot foreordain the theft and then blame the thief. And the Calvinist freely admits that his position is illogical, ridiculous, nonsensical, and foolish…The Calvinist holds to two apparently contradictory positions. He says on one hand, God has ordained all things. Then he turns around and says to every man, ‘Your salvation is up to you. You must believe. It is your duty and responsibility. And if you don’t, you cannot blame God. You must only blame yourself’”. (Page 85)
“In the face of all logic, the Calvinist says that if a man does anything good, God gets all the glory; and if man does anything bad, man gets all the blame. Man can’t win. To many people such a position seems foolish. It seems unreasonable…he [the Calvinist] accepts this paradox of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. "From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth, from the laziness that is content with halftruths, from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth, O, God of Truth, deliver us." 2 THE GOSPEL UNASHAMED October 2015 He cannot reconcile the two; but…he accepts both.” (Pages 85-86)
“…although sanctification is a gift of God, and it is God who works in us to do good things, nevertheless, it is our responsibility to use the means of grace, and not wait for God to move us.” (Page 87)
“It’s up to you. But if you do believe, than (sic) thank God for making you want to believe.” (Page 93)
“Many Christians…cannot bear to think that God has ordained sin. It sounds nonsensical, especially… [since] …God is holy and the antithesis of sin…This does not make sense…” (Page 97)
“To say it another way, God willingly permits sin…In the final analysis, we cannot really understand…We may not be able to reconcile these two theses.” (Page 99)
“Although all things – unbelief and sin included – proceed from God’s eternal decree, man is still to blame for his sins. He is guilty; it is his fault, not God’s.” (Page 106)
“As Calvin said, ‘Although God and the devil will the same thing, they do so in an entirely different manner.’” (Page 106)
“How [says the non-Calvinist] can you read it other than as a total contradiction, a yes and no on the same point? The question that is being asked is not: What does the Bible say? But rather: What can my finite reason understand? What is contradictory and what is not?” (Page 107)
“John Murray takes the same humble [I, Terry, say irrational] attitude…even though to his mind there is a contradiction…’it cannot be gainsaid that God decretively [ultimately] forbids what he perceptively [directly] commands…If I am not mistaken, it is at this point that the sovereignty of God makes the human mind reel as it does nowhere else in connection with this topic.’” (Pages 108-109)
Now consider some statements by Robert A. Peterson and Michael D. Williams from their book, “Why I am not an Arminian”.
“Notice that sovereignty and freedom don’t cancel each other out…Rather, in a way that we cannot fully comprehend, God is absolutely in control, and we are genuinely responsible.” (Page 64)
“God does not save all sinners, for ultimately he does not intend to save all of them. The gift of faith is necessary for salvation, yet for reasons beyond our ken, the gift of faith has not been given to all.” (Page 128)
“Yet people cannot be saved without God’s powerful work in them. God wants all to hear the gospel, but he intends to save only some. Why that is the case, we do not know.” (Page 129)
“Scripture constrains us to say that God is not the cause of sin, yet somehow, in ways we cannot fathom, His sovereign plan includes the sinful acts of human beings. ‘To put it bluntly,” writes Carson, ‘God stands behind evil in such a way that not even evil takes place outside the bounds of his sovereignty, yet evil is not morally chargeable to him.’ Exactly how God relates to the sinful behaviors of human beings we do not know…We do not know how it is that God sovereignly directs and ordains our freely chosen paths and, yes, our sinful acts as well as the good that we do.” (Pages 160-161)
“For reasons known only to God, He has not chosen to save all human beings.” (Page 190)
“But John 3:16-17 teaches that God loves all sinners, a truth unfortunately not endorsed by all Calvinists…When asked how we reconcile these passages with those that teach God’s special love for the elect, we admit that our theology contains rough edges. But we would rather have an imperfect theology and be faithful to the whole witness of Scripture than to mute the voice of some texts as Calvinists have sometimes done…Furthermore, we do not regard this problem as insoluble for the mind of God…But we admit that our present state of knowledge prohibits us from explaining how God can love all persons savingly in the one sense and only love some savingly in another sense.” (Pages 211-213)
“We also affirmed that the Bible teaches two seemingly contradictory, but ultimately complementary truths (1) God loves a sinful world, and (2) he has a special effective love only for the elect. Only by affirming these two truths simultaneously do we do justice to scriptural teaching.” (Page 214)
Interestingly, Palmer has the following, somewhat inconsistent, things to say about logic and the Bible. “And sometimes logic – to the dismay of some Biblicists - has to be used. But there is nothing wrong with using logic if we do it properly.” (Page 109)
“The temptation is to accept only what our logic approves rather than what the Bible teaches.” (Page 111)
Palmer repeatedly presents a false dichotomy as though we must choose between what is logical and rational or what the Bible teaches. This, in reality, is a claim that the Bible is irrational, illogical, and contradictory. At the same time it is an admission that Calvinism is illogical, irrational, and contradictory. Yet, Peterson and Williams admit that a doctrine needs to pass the logic test as well as the Biblical test.
“To be true, a doctrine must pass not only a test of logical coherence but also a test of empirical fit with the Bible’s data.” (Page 202)
The real choice is not between logic and Scripture, but between an irrational theology and the truth of what the Bible teaches.
God is not irrational, illogical, or contradictory, nor is He the author of confusion.
“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” --I Corinthians 14:33
The Irrationality of Calvinism --By Terry Carter
The following quotes are from the book The Five Points of Calvinism by Edwin H. Palmer. Edwin Palmer was the Executive Secretary of the NIV and General Editor of the NIV Study Bible. He was a very strong Calvinist. The following quotes from his book demonstrate that as a strong defender of Calvinism, he was honest enough to admit that it is an irrational and contradictory belief system. His statements speak for themselves.
“By way of anticipation, it should be pointed out that the Calvinist keeps both God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility, even though he cannot rationally reconcile the two.” (Page 35)
“Contrary to what most people think, the Calvinist teaches that man is free – one hundred percent free – free to do exactly what he wants…And just because man is free, man is a slave…In other words, the Christian does not have free will.” (Pages 35-36)
“Here we stand before a fundamental mystery. On the one hand, the Bible teaches that God intends that salvation will be for only certain people. On the other hand, the Bible unequivocally declares that God freely and sincerely offers salvation to everyone…Peter writes with unmistakable clarity that the Lord is ‘Longsuffering toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance’ (II Peter 3:9)…Here we come again to that fundamental problem of God…To man it seems impossible to reconcile both truths. They seem to contradict each other.” (Page 51)
“Although it is true that none would be saved were it not for the irresistible grace of God, no one may ever fall into the rationalistic trap of saying that he has nothing to do…The Bible never allows that. It comes with only one command: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…So believe. God commands you to. But if you do, thank God for causing you to do so.” (Page 66)
“It is even Biblical to say that God has foreordained sin. If sin was outside the plan of God, then not a single important affair of life would be ruled by God.” (Page 82)
“In other words, God made it absolutely certain that Joseph’s brothers would sin; yet He did it in such a way that the brothers and not God are to blame…In other words, sin is ordained by God.” (Page 83)
“But if anyone has really been thinking, he has probably raised a serious objection many times…For, where is God’s holiness? If He ordained the sin of Joseph’s brothers and the sin of Judas, how can any rational person say that God is holy? Isn’t God to blame?” (Pages 83-84)
“He correctly sees the problem: reconciling the two opposing forces of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility…He reasons that he cannot logically reconcile these two apparently contradictory facts. So he holds to one set of facts and denies the other. He holds to man’s freedom and restricts God’s sovereignty. In this way, he has no rational problem. The contradiction dissolves.” (Page 84)
“…the Calvinists accept both sides of the antimony. He realizes that what he advocates is ridiculous. It is simply impossible for man to harmonize these two sets of data. To say on one hand that God has made certain all that ever happens, and yet to say that man is responsible for what he does? Nonsense! It must be one or the other, but not both. To say that God foreordains the sin of Judas, and yet Judas is to blame? Foolishness! Logically the author of The Predestined Thief was right. God cannot foreordain the theft and then blame the thief. And the Calvinist freely admits that his position is illogical, ridiculous, nonsensical, and foolish…The Calvinist holds to two apparently contradictory positions. He says on one hand, God has ordained all things. Then he turns around and says to every man, ‘Your salvation is up to you. You must believe. It is your duty and responsibility. And if you don’t, you cannot blame God. You must only blame yourself’”. (Page 85)
“In the face of all logic, the Calvinist says that if a man does anything good, God gets all the glory; and if man does anything bad, man gets all the blame. Man can’t win. To many people such a position seems foolish. It seems unreasonable…he [the Calvinist] accepts this paradox of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. "From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth, from the laziness that is content with halftruths, from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth, O, God of Truth, deliver us." 2 THE GOSPEL UNASHAMED October 2015 He cannot reconcile the two; but…he accepts both.” (Pages 85-86)
“…although sanctification is a gift of God, and it is God who works in us to do good things, nevertheless, it is our responsibility to use the means of grace, and not wait for God to move us.” (Page 87)
“It’s up to you. But if you do believe, than (sic) thank God for making you want to believe.” (Page 93)
“Many Christians…cannot bear to think that God has ordained sin. It sounds nonsensical, especially… [since] …God is holy and the antithesis of sin…This does not make sense…” (Page 97)
“To say it another way, God willingly permits sin…In the final analysis, we cannot really understand…We may not be able to reconcile these two theses.” (Page 99)
“Although all things – unbelief and sin included – proceed from God’s eternal decree, man is still to blame for his sins. He is guilty; it is his fault, not God’s.” (Page 106)
“As Calvin said, ‘Although God and the devil will the same thing, they do so in an entirely different manner.’” (Page 106)
“How [says the non-Calvinist] can you read it other than as a total contradiction, a yes and no on the same point? The question that is being asked is not: What does the Bible say? But rather: What can my finite reason understand? What is contradictory and what is not?” (Page 107)
“John Murray takes the same humble [I, Terry, say irrational] attitude…even though to his mind there is a contradiction…’it cannot be gainsaid that God decretively [ultimately] forbids what he perceptively [directly] commands…If I am not mistaken, it is at this point that the sovereignty of God makes the human mind reel as it does nowhere else in connection with this topic.’” (Pages 108-109)
Now consider some statements by Robert A. Peterson and Michael D. Williams from their book, “Why I am not an Arminian”.
“Notice that sovereignty and freedom don’t cancel each other out…Rather, in a way that we cannot fully comprehend, God is absolutely in control, and we are genuinely responsible.” (Page 64)
“God does not save all sinners, for ultimately he does not intend to save all of them. The gift of faith is necessary for salvation, yet for reasons beyond our ken, the gift of faith has not been given to all.” (Page 128)
“Yet people cannot be saved without God’s powerful work in them. God wants all to hear the gospel, but he intends to save only some. Why that is the case, we do not know.” (Page 129)
“Scripture constrains us to say that God is not the cause of sin, yet somehow, in ways we cannot fathom, His sovereign plan includes the sinful acts of human beings. ‘To put it bluntly,” writes Carson, ‘God stands behind evil in such a way that not even evil takes place outside the bounds of his sovereignty, yet evil is not morally chargeable to him.’ Exactly how God relates to the sinful behaviors of human beings we do not know…We do not know how it is that God sovereignly directs and ordains our freely chosen paths and, yes, our sinful acts as well as the good that we do.” (Pages 160-161)
“For reasons known only to God, He has not chosen to save all human beings.” (Page 190)
“But John 3:16-17 teaches that God loves all sinners, a truth unfortunately not endorsed by all Calvinists…When asked how we reconcile these passages with those that teach God’s special love for the elect, we admit that our theology contains rough edges. But we would rather have an imperfect theology and be faithful to the whole witness of Scripture than to mute the voice of some texts as Calvinists have sometimes done…Furthermore, we do not regard this problem as insoluble for the mind of God…But we admit that our present state of knowledge prohibits us from explaining how God can love all persons savingly in the one sense and only love some savingly in another sense.” (Pages 211-213)
“We also affirmed that the Bible teaches two seemingly contradictory, but ultimately complementary truths (1) God loves a sinful world, and (2) he has a special effective love only for the elect. Only by affirming these two truths simultaneously do we do justice to scriptural teaching.” (Page 214)
Interestingly, Palmer has the following, somewhat inconsistent, things to say about logic and the Bible. “And sometimes logic – to the dismay of some Biblicists - has to be used. But there is nothing wrong with using logic if we do it properly.” (Page 109)
“The temptation is to accept only what our logic approves rather than what the Bible teaches.” (Page 111)
Palmer repeatedly presents a false dichotomy as though we must choose between what is logical and rational or what the Bible teaches. This, in reality, is a claim that the Bible is irrational, illogical, and contradictory. At the same time it is an admission that Calvinism is illogical, irrational, and contradictory. Yet, Peterson and Williams admit that a doctrine needs to pass the logic test as well as the Biblical test.
“To be true, a doctrine must pass not only a test of logical coherence but also a test of empirical fit with the Bible’s data.” (Page 202)
The real choice is not between logic and Scripture, but between an irrational theology and the truth of what the Bible teaches.
God is not irrational, illogical, or contradictory, nor is He the author of confusion.
“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” --I Corinthians 14:33
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
A Look at
Acts 2:39 by George L. Faull
I thought it might
be well for me to
comment on a
verse-Acts 2:39.
Though we often
refer to verse 38
of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost, we would do well to read
the context. Verse 39 is abused by many. Let’s look at
verses 37-41.
“37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said
unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise
is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar
off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And
with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying,
Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the
same day there were added unto them about three
thousand souls.”
The 39th verse is an abused text by four major religious
factions to prove their particular heresy.
THE PENTECOSTALS use the verse to prove that the
Holy Spirit’s miraculous power is available to all men
today. They consider “the Promise” to refer back to
verses 16-21.
These verses are a quote of a prophecy of Joel, which
states that wonders will be done in the last days by those
of “all ages”, old and young, “all genders”, sons and
daughters, “all social status”, my servants and
handmaidens, and “all nations”, all flesh.
They ignore a sermon had been completed and Christ
was shown to be both Lord and Christ and they had killed
Him. The listeners asked the question, “Men and
brethren, what shall we do?” Peter’s answer in verse 38
shows the question was not what shall we do to get these
miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. Rather, what do we do
to be forgiven for our killing our Messiah? It was a
specific question about salvation and not about speaking
in tongues or the wonders and signs of Joel’s prophecy.
The question preceded the offer of salvation and the gift
of the Spirit. Acts 2:39
THE ROMANISTS who favor infant baptism make their
emphasis on the inclusion of children receiving the
promise offered by Peter. On the contrary, it is a promise
to the descendants of the listeners who could enjoy the
promise of salvation and the Holy Spirit if they too repent
and are baptized.
It is ludicrous to get out of this text that there is grace
bestowed in baptizing unbelieving babies who need no
repentance. There is no water regeneration taught in
verses 38 – 39. There is no merit or dispensing of grace
by baptizing infants who can neither believe nor in need of
repentance.
Even Albert Barnes, who advocated infant baptism,
rebukes those who try to use this verse to advocate infant
baptism. “It does not refer to children as children, and
should not be adduced to establish the propriety of infant
baptism, or as applicable particularly to infants. It is a
promise, indeed, to parents, that the blessings of salvation
shall not be confined to parents, but shall be extended
also to their posterity. Under this promise parents may be
encouraged to train up their children for God; to devote
them to his service; believing that it is the gracious
purpose of God to perpetuate the blessings of salvation
from age to age.”
THE CALVINISTS are the third group that abuses this
text. They take their clue from the expression, “even as
many as the Lord our God shall call.” The word, “call”, is
the trigger word for a Calvinist. Their doctrine is that God
calls specific persons to salvation to the exclusion of
others.
When they hear the word “call”, it conjures up in their
mind the whole theory of election, predestination, and
eternal security. They like to point out the last phase of
verse 39 is in the middle voice and this means God is
doing the calling.
In Robertson Word Study (he is a Calvinist) writes, “It is a
first aorist middle subjunction with ‘an’ in an indefinite
relative clause, a perfectly regular construction. The Lord
"From the cowardice that shrinks from
new truth, from the laziness that is content
with half truths, from the arrogance that
thinks it knows all truth, O, God of Truth,
deliver us."2 THE GOSPEL UNASHAMED April 2010
calls men of every nation, anywhere, whether Jew or
Gentile.” We have never read the verse any other way
than the Lord is calling men to Himself.
THE BEREAN BIBLE SOCIETY is the fourth group that
abuses the text and are the successors of E. W. Bullinger,
Corneluis Stam, and J. C. Ohair. They teach that the
Gospel invitation offered here by Peter was for Jews only.
They are hyper or ultra-dispensationalists in that they
believe this offer by Peter was for a Jewish millennial
kingdom.
They believe baptism is a Jewish ordinance and has been
phased out for today and not a requirement for this
dispensation.
They ignore that those who are “afar off”, in verse 39, are
the Gentiles as Ephesians 2:12-16 plainly affirms.
They pretend that the gospel of Peter and Paul differ and
that Paul, as the apostle to the Gentiles, revealed a
different Gospel than Peter.
Such alleged scholars wrest this Scripture as they do all
the Scriptures.
II Peter 3:15-16: “15 And account that the longsuffering of
our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul
also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written
unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them
of these things; in which are some things hard to be
understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures,
unto their own destruction.”
The listeners and their children and those who were “afar
off” (Gentiles) are all made the promise of the remission of
sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit when they repent and
are immersed. This agrees perfectly with other Bible
passages.
1. The Gospel call is for the Jew first, also to the
Greek.
Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek.”
2. Those who are “afar off” are the Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:12-13: “12 That at that time ye were
without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope, and
without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ
Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are
made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
3. The Lord calls men to Himself by the Gospel.
Listen how it is done.
II Thessalonians 2:13-14: “13 But we are bound
to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren
beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the
obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
4. Why does God send out this call? He wants
all men to come to repentance and not perish.
II Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.”
5. The call to the Father is offered to “whosoever
will”.
John 3:16: “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.”
Revelation 22:17: “And the Spirit and the bride
say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever
will, let him take the water of life freely.”
So our Pentecostal, Romanist, Calvinist, and Berean
friends have twisted or perverted this text. It is very
simple to understand the meaning.
In verse 37 a question is asked, “Men and brethren, what
shall we do?” (Since we killed the Christ.)
In verse 38 an answer is given. There are two
commands, “Repent and be baptized” and two results
promised “the remission of sins and the Gift of the Holy
Spirit.”
In verse 39 we are told who can repent and be baptized
and enjoy the promise of salvation. “For the promise is
unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar
off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
In verse 40 an offer was made, “Save yourselves (it is
passive) from this untoward (perverted) generation.”
In verse 41 we are told the response to the offer that
Peter made in his sermon, “Then they that gladly received
his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added …about three thousand souls.”
Do not be misled by the theologies of men. A text out of
context becomes a pretext.
Those who responded had heard the call of God and they
came to Him and obeyed the offer.
God does the saving if we do not refuse His call.April 2010 THE GOSPEL UNASHAMED 3
Joel had said, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever
shall call on the name of the LORD shall be
delivered:….” Joel 2:32a
Paul was told, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the
name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16
God has called you by the Good News of the Gospel and
now you need to call upon Him. God has always planned
that Abraham’s seed, which is Christ, be a blessing to all
nations, not just the Jews. The promise to all was made
in Peter’s sermon on Pentecost in verse 39.
What says the Scripture? Galatians 3:8: “And the
scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen
through faith, preached before the gospel unto
Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
Galatians 3:27-29: “27 For as many of you as have
been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Won’t you, like the 3,000 on Pentecost, gladly receive the
Word and be baptized and let the Lord add you to His
Church?
He will keep His promise. That has been His desire for all
men from the foundation of the world.
Acts 2:39 by George L. Faull
I thought it might
be well for me to
comment on a
verse-Acts 2:39.
Though we often
refer to verse 38
of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost, we would do well to read
the context. Verse 39 is abused by many. Let’s look at
verses 37-41.
“37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their
heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles,
Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said
unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise
is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar
off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And
with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying,
Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the
same day there were added unto them about three
thousand souls.”
The 39th verse is an abused text by four major religious
factions to prove their particular heresy.
THE PENTECOSTALS use the verse to prove that the
Holy Spirit’s miraculous power is available to all men
today. They consider “the Promise” to refer back to
verses 16-21.
These verses are a quote of a prophecy of Joel, which
states that wonders will be done in the last days by those
of “all ages”, old and young, “all genders”, sons and
daughters, “all social status”, my servants and
handmaidens, and “all nations”, all flesh.
They ignore a sermon had been completed and Christ
was shown to be both Lord and Christ and they had killed
Him. The listeners asked the question, “Men and
brethren, what shall we do?” Peter’s answer in verse 38
shows the question was not what shall we do to get these
miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. Rather, what do we do
to be forgiven for our killing our Messiah? It was a
specific question about salvation and not about speaking
in tongues or the wonders and signs of Joel’s prophecy.
The question preceded the offer of salvation and the gift
of the Spirit. Acts 2:39
THE ROMANISTS who favor infant baptism make their
emphasis on the inclusion of children receiving the
promise offered by Peter. On the contrary, it is a promise
to the descendants of the listeners who could enjoy the
promise of salvation and the Holy Spirit if they too repent
and are baptized.
It is ludicrous to get out of this text that there is grace
bestowed in baptizing unbelieving babies who need no
repentance. There is no water regeneration taught in
verses 38 – 39. There is no merit or dispensing of grace
by baptizing infants who can neither believe nor in need of
repentance.
Even Albert Barnes, who advocated infant baptism,
rebukes those who try to use this verse to advocate infant
baptism. “It does not refer to children as children, and
should not be adduced to establish the propriety of infant
baptism, or as applicable particularly to infants. It is a
promise, indeed, to parents, that the blessings of salvation
shall not be confined to parents, but shall be extended
also to their posterity. Under this promise parents may be
encouraged to train up their children for God; to devote
them to his service; believing that it is the gracious
purpose of God to perpetuate the blessings of salvation
from age to age.”
THE CALVINISTS are the third group that abuses this
text. They take their clue from the expression, “even as
many as the Lord our God shall call.” The word, “call”, is
the trigger word for a Calvinist. Their doctrine is that God
calls specific persons to salvation to the exclusion of
others.
When they hear the word “call”, it conjures up in their
mind the whole theory of election, predestination, and
eternal security. They like to point out the last phase of
verse 39 is in the middle voice and this means God is
doing the calling.
In Robertson Word Study (he is a Calvinist) writes, “It is a
first aorist middle subjunction with ‘an’ in an indefinite
relative clause, a perfectly regular construction. The Lord
"From the cowardice that shrinks from
new truth, from the laziness that is content
with half truths, from the arrogance that
thinks it knows all truth, O, God of Truth,
deliver us."2 THE GOSPEL UNASHAMED April 2010
calls men of every nation, anywhere, whether Jew or
Gentile.” We have never read the verse any other way
than the Lord is calling men to Himself.
THE BEREAN BIBLE SOCIETY is the fourth group that
abuses the text and are the successors of E. W. Bullinger,
Corneluis Stam, and J. C. Ohair. They teach that the
Gospel invitation offered here by Peter was for Jews only.
They are hyper or ultra-dispensationalists in that they
believe this offer by Peter was for a Jewish millennial
kingdom.
They believe baptism is a Jewish ordinance and has been
phased out for today and not a requirement for this
dispensation.
They ignore that those who are “afar off”, in verse 39, are
the Gentiles as Ephesians 2:12-16 plainly affirms.
They pretend that the gospel of Peter and Paul differ and
that Paul, as the apostle to the Gentiles, revealed a
different Gospel than Peter.
Such alleged scholars wrest this Scripture as they do all
the Scriptures.
II Peter 3:15-16: “15 And account that the longsuffering of
our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul
also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written
unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them
of these things; in which are some things hard to be
understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures,
unto their own destruction.”
The listeners and their children and those who were “afar
off” (Gentiles) are all made the promise of the remission of
sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit when they repent and
are immersed. This agrees perfectly with other Bible
passages.
1. The Gospel call is for the Jew first, also to the
Greek.
Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek.”
2. Those who are “afar off” are the Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:12-13: “12 That at that time ye were
without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope, and
without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ
Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are
made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
3. The Lord calls men to Himself by the Gospel.
Listen how it is done.
II Thessalonians 2:13-14: “13 But we are bound
to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren
beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the
obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
4. Why does God send out this call? He wants
all men to come to repentance and not perish.
II Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.”
5. The call to the Father is offered to “whosoever
will”.
John 3:16: “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.”
Revelation 22:17: “And the Spirit and the bride
say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever
will, let him take the water of life freely.”
So our Pentecostal, Romanist, Calvinist, and Berean
friends have twisted or perverted this text. It is very
simple to understand the meaning.
In verse 37 a question is asked, “Men and brethren, what
shall we do?” (Since we killed the Christ.)
In verse 38 an answer is given. There are two
commands, “Repent and be baptized” and two results
promised “the remission of sins and the Gift of the Holy
Spirit.”
In verse 39 we are told who can repent and be baptized
and enjoy the promise of salvation. “For the promise is
unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar
off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
In verse 40 an offer was made, “Save yourselves (it is
passive) from this untoward (perverted) generation.”
In verse 41 we are told the response to the offer that
Peter made in his sermon, “Then they that gladly received
his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added …about three thousand souls.”
Do not be misled by the theologies of men. A text out of
context becomes a pretext.
Those who responded had heard the call of God and they
came to Him and obeyed the offer.
God does the saving if we do not refuse His call.April 2010 THE GOSPEL UNASHAMED 3
Joel had said, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever
shall call on the name of the LORD shall be
delivered:….” Joel 2:32a
Paul was told, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be
baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the
name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16
God has called you by the Good News of the Gospel and
now you need to call upon Him. God has always planned
that Abraham’s seed, which is Christ, be a blessing to all
nations, not just the Jews. The promise to all was made
in Peter’s sermon on Pentecost in verse 39.
What says the Scripture? Galatians 3:8: “And the
scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen
through faith, preached before the gospel unto
Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
Galatians 3:27-29: “27 For as many of you as have
been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Won’t you, like the 3,000 on Pentecost, gladly receive the
Word and be baptized and let the Lord add you to His
Church?
He will keep His promise. That has been His desire for all
men from the foundation of the world.
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