CAN GOD'S PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES?-BY STEVE FINNELL

Do the children of God need priests, preachers, and assorted clergy to interpret the Scriptures for them? Can the Holy Spirit, alone, help  Christians  correctly understand the Bible? Do God's people need clergy to explain the Scriptures?

Acts 17:10-11 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more nobleminded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

1. Who was being taught? Answer: Jews.
2. Who was doing the teaching? Answer: Paul and Silas.
3. Were Paul and Silas Roman Catholic priests? Answer: No. There was not a Roman Catholic church in the first century.
4. The Bereans searched the Scriptures for the truth. If these Berean Jews could not understand the Scripture, then why were they searching God's word, in order to confirm the truth taught by Paul and Silas?
5. God's people can understand the Scriptures.

Acts 18:24-26 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things of Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26  and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

1. Apollos knew the Scriptures, however, he did not have the complete terms for pardon.
2. Priscilla and Aquila explain the way of the Lord more accurately.
3. Priscilla and Aquila were not Roman Catholic priests. They were a woman and a man. They were husband and wife. There was no Roman Catholic church in the first century.
4. Any of God's people can understand the Scriptures and teach others.

There is no verse of Scripture that states only priests and or preachers can understand the Scriptures.

THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN FOR ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN TO READ AND UNDERSTAND. 

ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE THE INDWELLING GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. ANY CHRISTIAN CAN UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE IF THEY HAVE A SINCERE AND HONEST HEART.

 PRAYER IS THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING GOD'S WRITTEN WORD.

WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE FOR THE TRUTH? BY STEVE FINNELL

If you are searching for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, who and what are you going to consult? If you are  looking for advice, information and instruction on how to be saved from sin and how to live the Christian life, where can you find God's inerrant truth.

Are you going to consult books written by:
Clement of Rome
Irenaeus of Lysons
Tertullian
Augustine of Hippo
Polycarp of Smyrna
Bishop Fulton Sheen
Martin Luther
John Calvin
John Knox
George Whitefield
Charles "Chuck" Colson
Cotton Mather
Jerry Falwell
Billy Graham
John Piper
Max Lucado
Alexander Campbell
T. D. Jakes
Oral Roberts
Dwight Moody
Joseph Smith Jr.
Mary Baker Eddy
Charles Taze Russel
Sun Myung Moon
L. Ron Hubbard

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO TRUST YOUR SALVATION TO THESE MEN?

As for me I trust the book written by these men:
Moses
Daniel
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Paul 
Peter
Jude

I trust the book that was inspired by God. 
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God....

WOULD THERE BE THOUSANDS OF DENOMINATIONS, IF ALL MEN WOULD JUST CONSULT GOD AND HIS VIEW FOUND IN, HIS BOOK, AND HIS BOOK ALONE?

THE BIBLE SHOULD BE YOUR MANUAL FOR THE TRUTH! 

ELECTION IS NOT PRESELECTION- BY STEVE FINNELL

Calvinism teaches that a select few have been unconditionally elected for salvation, and that all others will spend eternity in hell.

The elect of God are those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. The elect have not been individually preselected, by God, for salvation. All men have a choice to accept Jesus or reject Him.

WHY INDIVIDUAL PRESELECTION IS NOT GOD'S PLAN!

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

The gospel is the power for salvation to everyone. Preselection is not the gospel nor would preselection include salvation to everyone who believes. 

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

If you believe in preselection, then you have to believe that God wants the unselected to perish.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.

God's grace is not a preselection process. Grace is the opportunity for all men to be saved.

Hebrews 2:9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that the by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

Jesus died for everyone. God did not limit nor preselect the number  for whom Jesus died.

Romans 10:9-17...13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."......17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Faith comes from hearing the gospel preached. Faith does not come because it is imputed to a few preselected individuals.

Acts 17:30-31 Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."

Why would God call "all" men to repent, if men do not have free will?

Why will Jesus judge the world if only the preselected will be saved? Why would the preselected have to be concerned about judgment if they are unconditionally saved?

Acts 2:40 ...."Be saved from this perverse generation!"

Peter preached the gospel on the Day of Pentecost. Why would he tell them to be saved if they already had been individually preselected for salvation? They would have had no choice in the matter.

GOD DOES NOT UNCONDITIONALLY PRESELECT INDIVIDUAL MEN FOR SALVATION AND UNCONDITIONALLY SEND ALL OTHERS TO HELL.

God does not force preselected men to BELIEVE (John 3:16)

God does not force preselected men to REPENT (Acts 2:38)

God does not force preselected men to CONFESS (Rom. 10:9)

God does not force preselected men to be BAPTIZED (Acts 2:38)

ELECTION IS NOT PRESELECTION!  

EXAMPLES OF INFANTS BAPTISM IN SCRIPTURE? by steve finnell

How many examples of infant baptism are found in the Bible? Answer: NONE. Infant baptism is a man-made doctrine.

An example given to support infant baptism is the conversion of the jailer. (Acts 16:23-34.) The reasoning being that the jailer's whole household was baptized.

1. Acts 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."(NASB)

The whole household was required to believe. The jailer could not believe for his household. Infants are not capable of believing the gospel of Christ.

2. Acts 16:32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.(NASB)

The word was spoken to all in the house. Babies have no capacity to understand the word of the Lord. No infant  responded to the gospel that night.

3. Acts 16:33-34......and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believe in God with his whole household. (NASB)

Who was baptized that night? Answer: The Jailer and all his household. What preceded their baptism in water? They all believed in God.  No, infants were baptized that night. Infants cannot believe in God. Infants cannot believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no example in Scripture of infants being baptized. You can only find infant baptism in man-made creed books and other writings of men.

The is no example in the Bible of unbelieving adults nor of unbelieving infants being forced to be baptized in water. There is no Scripture of any non-believers being baptized in water, period.

Jesus said in Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved...(NASB)

Men say "Baptize unbelieving infants for forgiveness from original sin and then teach them to believe and they shall be saved."(Note: The doctrine of original sin is also a man-made teaching.)

If you can baptize unbelieving infants then you can baptize unbelieving adults as well.

Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

            

THE LORD'S CHURCH-BY STEVE FINNELL

What are the things that do not make you a member of the body of Christ?

What are the requirements for membership in the Lord's church?

THINGS THAT DO NOT MAKE YOU A MEMBER OF THE LORD'S CHURCH.

1. Simply believing that Jesus is the Son of God does not grant you membership in the Lord's church.

Mark 5:1-12 .....7..."What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?....12 The demons implored Him....

Demons believe that Jesus is the Son of God, however, that does not give them membership in the Lord's church. Legion was not part of the body of Christ.

2. Sprinkling infants with water does not make them part of the body of Christ. Sprinkling unbelieving babies is not an act that adds them to the Lord's church.

Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved....

Only believers who have been baptized are added to the Lord's church. Babies are not capable of believing.

3. Joining denominations, such as the Catholic Church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church, the Methodist Church, etc. does not grant you membership into the Lord's church. Joining a denomination cannot save anyone. You cannot join the Lord's church.

Acts 2:47...And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The requirement for being added to the Lord's church is not joining a denomination. The Lord only adds the saved to the church. The church is the  body of Christ.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BEING ADDED TO THE LORD'S CHURCH?

The apostle Peter said, on the Day of Pentecost, " Be saved from this perverse generation!" (Acts 2:40)

Who was saved? Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day were added about three thousand souls.

Three thousands souls were added to the Lord's church on the Day of Pentecost. Why were they added to the body of Christ?

They received Peter's message and were immersed in water.(baptized).

Peter's message: (Acts 2:22-38) They were taught that Jesus was the Christ. That Jesus was Lord. That God raised Jesus from the dead. They were told to repent and be baptized so their sins could be forgiven and that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Those who believed Peter's message, and repented and were baptized, were added to the body of Christ by the Lord Himself. (Acts 2:47 ...And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

MEN BECOME SAVED THE SAME WAY TODAY AS THEY DID ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST.

HOW TO BECOME ADDED TO THE LORD'S CHURCH.

1. FAITH: John 3:16, Mark 16:16

2. CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10, Acts 8:37

3. REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19

4. BAPTISM: Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Galatians 3:27.

ONLY THE LORD ADDS YOU TO HIS CHURCH!     

   

SECULARISTS AND THEIR VIEW OF HISTORY-BY STEVE FINNELL

Did you ever notice that secularists accept historical writings as fact, unless they are about God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever heard a secularist proclaim that the following men did not live and that they were not who historians said they  were?

Confucius 551-479 B.C.

Plato 427-347 B.C.

Alexander the Great 356-323 B.C.

Julius Caesar 100-44 B.C.

Socrates 469-399 B.C.

Buddha 563-483 B.C. 

Ludwig van Beethoven 1770-1827

Homer 800-700 B.C.

Isaac Newton 1642-1727

Galileo Galilei 1564-1642

Leonardo da Vinci 1452-1519

Marco Polo 1254-1324

John Locke 1632-1704
George Washington 1732-1799
Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865

Secularists do not question the historical fact, that these men lived and died. They do not deny the role these men played in history. They believe this, by faith, that the historical accounts are accurate.


Secularists do deny the historical accuracy of the Bible and all other accounts that proclaim Jesus as the Son of God. They deny the historical accounts of God the Father resurrecting Jesus from the grave.

THE RESULTS OF A SELECTIVE VIEW OF HISTORICAL FACTS.(2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.)

SECULARISTS HAVE FAITH IN MEN!
CHRISTIANS HAVE FAITH IN GOD!

(Scripture from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE

GOD LOVES ALL MEN, HOWEVER, SALVATION IS CONDITIONAL-by steve finnell

Does God love the whole world? Yes, however, salvation is conditional.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (NASB)

CONDITION FOR SALVATION: Whoever believes in Jesus.

Romans 10:10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth confesses, resulting in salvation.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Believing and confessing.

John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not judges; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.(NASB)

CONDITION FOR SALVATION: You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who disbelieves shall be condemned.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Believe in Jesus and be immersed in water.

1 Peter 1:21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.(NASB)

CONDITION FOR SALVATION: Faith and hope in God only comes through Jesus Christ.

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he does not obey the Son will not not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: You must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and obey Him. Jesus said he who believes and is baptized shall be saved.

Acts 22:16 Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: You need to acknowledge the authority of Jesus before you are baptized in water. Yes, water baptism is essential for salvation.

Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order of times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; (NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: You must repent of your unbelief and return to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.(NASB)

CONDITION FOR SALVATION: Eternal life only comes through Jesus Christ

Galatians 3:26-27 For you are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Faith in Christ Jesus and being baptized into Christ.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit e cannot enter into the kingdom of God.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Baptized in water and receive the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 5:32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Obey God by meeting the terms for pardon and you will be born again by receiving the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit Himself.

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will received the gift of of the Holy Spirit.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Repent by believing that Jesus is both Lord and Christ and make the commitment to turn from sin and and turn toward God and be immersed in water. Then you will receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit. At that point you have been born of the water and the Spirit.

1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he is in God.(NASB)

CONDITION FOR SALVATION: You must confess Jesus as the Son of God.

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good new about the kingdom of God, they were baptized, men and women alike.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: They believed and were immersed in water. There were no unbelieving adults nor were there any unbelieving infants baptized. Believing in Jesus always precedes water baptism.

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

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Confess Jesus, believe in His resurrection from the grave. Note; no infant can believe in the resurrection nor can they believe in Jesus. Why would anyone baptize infants? Infants have no need for forgiveness, they are not guilty of sin.

1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you---not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience---through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.(NASB)

CONDITION FOR SALVATION: Appealing to God for a good conscience through being immersed in water baptism.

Acts 2:22-41 ......40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Believe and be baptized in water.

Acts 16:30-34 and  after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They said,"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."....33....and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.......34 having believed in God with his whole household.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Believe in the Lord Jesus and be baptized in water. Note: The jailer did not believe for his household. His whole household believed. The jailer did not believe for anyone but himself. Infants cannot believe therefore; none were baptized in water.

Ephesians 5:23-27.......so that He might  sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water by the washing of water with the word.....27 that she would be holy and blameless.(NASB)

CONDITIONS FOR SALVATION: Jesus must sanctify and cleanse the body of Christ by washing it with water baptism accord to the word of God.




GOD LOVES ALL MEN, HOWEVER, SALVATION IS CONDITIONAL.   

  




    

   

    

WHEN JESUS SPOKE?-BY STEVE FINNELL

Do you believe what Jesus said to be the truth or do you believe the interpretations of others?

Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.

Jesus said "Has been baptized shall be saved."

Many interpreters have said that Jesus meant that they had been saved the minute they believed and that they should be baptized later, as a testimony of their faith. 

Should you trust your eyes when you see what Jesus said?
Should you trust your ears and eyes when you hear and see interpreters and preachers teach something Jesus did not say?

When Jesus was alive He forgave sins of whom ever He wished to prove that He had authority to forgive sin.(Matthew 9:6)

Matthew 9:2 And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son;your sins are forgiven."

Were the paralytics' sins forgiven the very minute his friends had faith? No, they had faith before they brought the paralytic before Jesus, yet he was still in his sins. The paralytic did not have sins forgiven until Jesus made the proclamation, "Your sins are forgiven."

Jesus has made a proclamation for us, "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved." Jesus never said, "He who has faith only will be saved."

JESUS NOR THE APOSTLE DID NOT STATE THAT MEN SHOULD BE IMMERSED IN WATER BECAUSE THEIR SINS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORGIVEN.

Under the New Covenant sins are always forgiven because of faith and baptism.

(Scripture from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)

GOD LOVES ALL MEN, HOWEVER, SALVATION IS CONDITIONAL.

The conditions are: Believe-John 3:13 Repent-Acts 2:38,Acts 3:19 Confession-Romans 10:9 Water Baptism-Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, Acts 22:16.  

IF YOUR ONLY SOURCE FOR TRUTH.....?-BY STEVE FINNELL

If your only source for truth was the Bible, would you still believe and teach the doctrines you now hold? If you discarded your Bible dictionary, your creed book, your writings of the early church fathers, your denominational statement of faith, your church catechism, your books written about the Bible, your Greek lexicon, your Bible commentaries, and all other sources not authored by God.  Can you honestly say you would still reach the same conclusions you now hold about God and His instructions to you?

IF THE BIBLE WAS YOUR ONLY SOURCE FOR TRUTH WOULD YOU STILL BELIEVE.....?

1. That it God took billions of years to create the heavens and the earth?

2. That God predetermined a few to be saved and chose all others to burn in hell?

3. That water baptism is not essential for the forgiveness of sins?

4. That God forces certain men to have faith so that they may believe and be saved?

5. That God proclaimed that sprinkling and pouring water are equal forms of water baptism, along with immersion?

6. That once men are save they can never be lost?

7. That it does not make any difference what men believe as long as they are sincere, because we are all going to the same place anyway?

8. That men can pray to the virgin Mary and other dead saints as mediators.

9. That church teaching overrules what the Bible teaches?

10. That God is still giving new revelation to men today?

11. That Jesus is not the only Savior and not the only way to be saved?

12. That men are saved by grace alone? That God does it all and men have no responsibility to believe, repent, confess, nor be baptized?

13. That once men become Christians, they can continue in a sinful lifestyle and still go to heaven?

14. That men are saved the minute they believe?

15. That the Bible has been mistranslated and filled with errors and contradictions?

16. That men do not have free-will to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior?

17. That there are many gods and you can some day be a god?

18. That salvation by grace alone is God's doctrine?

19. That salvation is attained by faith only?

20. That sins are forgiven before water baptism?

CAN YOU BELIEVE THESE  THINGS WITHOUT RELYING ON EXTRA-BIBLICAL SOURCES? 

THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY SOURCE FOR THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH. WHETHER TO BELIEVE IT, IS A PERSONAL CHOICE.

     

    

KEEPING THE LAW OF MOSES?-by steve finnell

Can men be justified by keeping the Law of Moses? No. Can mankind have their sins forgiven by keeping the Law of Moses? No.

Can men be saved by keeping the laws of denominations and factions? No.

Acts 13:23-39 23....God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus.....38 Therefore let it be know to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. (NASB) 
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.(NASB) 

Jesus proclaimed forgiveness from sin (Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved....)NASB. Do the Laws of denominations and factions void what Jesus has proclaimed? No, they do not.

The Laws of denominations and factions say water baptism is not essential in order to be saved.

The Laws of denominations and factions proclaim that men do not have the free-will to believe and be baptized in water. These Laws assert that men are saved by grace alone and that God predetermines which individuals will be saved.

The Laws of denominations and factions state that saying a sinner's prayer is essential in order to be saved.

The Laws of denominations and faction proclaim that all men are born guilty of the first man Adam's sin and therefore all infants must be sprinkled with water by so-called baptism in order to Adam's sin washed away.

Infants are not guilty of sin, period.

Men are saved by faith plus obeying the New Covenant terms for pardon. Men are not saved by following the Laws of denominations and factions.

FAITH PLUS OBEDIENCE EQUALS SALVATION.  Faith: John 3:16 Confession Romans 10:9 Repentance Acts 2:38 Water Baptism 1 Peter 3:21

Keeping of the Law of Moses cannot save anyone.

Keeping of the Laws of denominations and factions cannot save anyone.