In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, in the seventeenth day of the month, in this day all the fountains of the great deep were risen, and the windows of the heavens were opened up. And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. (Genesis 7:11-12) I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. And it will be when I gather the clouds on the earth, then the bow shall be seen in the clouds. (Genesis 9:13-14) And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years. And he died. (Genesis 9:29) These four scriptures, I believe, tell us volumes about the earth upon which Adam and Eve walked. The earth of The Garden of Eden was like a greenhouse, heavily overcast, with no direct sunlight. Genesis 1: 6-7 tells us that God separated the waters above from the waters below and called that thing in between "heaven" (or "sky" as Hebrew and modern English both use the word heaven to refer to that which we see when we look up, as well as to refer to the abode of God) As we read thru the various geneologies in the early chapters of Genesis, we see lifetimes spanning centuries. How can this be? While I believe God created an "old Earth" I also beleieve God did not create geneticaly faulty creatures. If we were able to look at the genetic material from Adam or any of the creatures that populated the earth of his day we would seee NO mutations, and because of the heavy cloud cover there would be no damaging solar radiation to start the process of genetic mutations. so it was not untill after the flood, when God opened "the windows of heaven" and released the "waters above" to flood the earth, creating mostly clear skies, and exposing mankind and flora and fuana alike to essentially unfiltered solar radiation. Further proof of this is the fact that the Rainbow appearing in the clouds was a new thing. Why and how was this a new thing? To see a rainbow the air must contain water molecules AND DIRECT SUNLIGHT. therefor; beasue there had been no direct sunlight before teh flood a rainbow had never been seen And finally we see through the various geneologies that after Noah the lifespans reduced with each generation:
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May 4, 2009
Living 900 years has GOT to be a bit boring
April 16, 2009
Do We Live by Law or by Grace?
Are we under the Law God gave to Moses, in the first five books of the Old Testament?
Moses was the leader of a nation sovereignly created by God. God gave Moses a set of laws to govern that nation, the nation of Israel. These laws included everything from how to worship to how to cook dinner, how to plant crops, how to hold trials. All the laws a nation needs. It governed the Nation of Israel just as the Constitution Governs the U.S. Just as any nation does; over the years more laws were written that added detail and complications to those original laws. Jesus was a Jew, living in Israel, under the Laws of Israel as were Peter, John, Paul and most everyone mentioned in the New Testament (Tho not all). This is partly why there is so much mention of the Law of Moses; because that was the Religious, Criminal & Civil law under which they lived (also Roman law, of course).
Are we subject to the Law God gave Moses? No
(unless you live in Israel).
This issue was addressed early on (in the Book of Acts, chapter 15) when various Jews who were following Jesus' teachings taught that one must FIRST become a Jew, following Jewish Law, before one could become a follower of Jesus. The leaders of that first congregation ruled that there was NO REQUIREMENT for Christians to follow Jewish Law.
In Romans; Paul calls for all believers to submit to authority, because the originator of law, the ultimate authority is God. The Law which we are to submit to is that Law established by the Authority under which we live, the Law of your Country, Province, City, Village, whatever. Peter pointed out to the rulers of Israel that when Man's laws CONFLICT with God's law we are bound to obey God.
What the exactly is the Law of God, from which all other law is derived?
Jesus taught; “ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ... You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” and then He said;”On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Paul expands on this in Romans Chapter 9.
In Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome he discusses the issue of Law in great detail. He acknowledged that we all live under various systems of Law. Paul even discusses those that live under NO law and will be judged by that inward law that they understand naturally, absent of any government.
Jesus preached that God's judgment is much broader than man's. That not only can one be condemned for breaking a law, but even for DESIRING to break a law, without the opportunity to do so. In His “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5,6 and 7, Jesus repeatedly says “You have been taught...” “But I say...” thereby expanding the definition of sin beyond the details that the rabbis used when teaching the Law of Moses.
The best example of this is;
Mat 5:21 You have knowledge that it was said in old times, You may not murder; and, Whoever murders will be in danger of being judged: But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be in danger of being judged; and he who says to his brother, Raca, will be in danger from the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, You foolish one, will be in danger of the hell of fire.
Jesus was trying to make it clear to the Jews that ALL were guilty of Sin, that NONE were innocent. And therefor... ALL needed Jesus. All of us need a sin sacrifice, and Jesus Himself was that final Sacrifice. This is why He says “Do not think I came to DESTROY the Law or the Prophets,. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” His sacrifice on the Cross was the Final sacrifice for sin, called for under the Law of Moses.
One thing Jesus did not teach was a NEW LAW. His every reference to the Law was to Moses' Law, that which governed the Nation of Israel. When God set out to give a law He made it quite clear what He was doing. Read those first books of the Old Testament, esp; Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. God not only clearly stated the Law, but also made it very clear to WHOM they applied.
There is no such Law in the New Testament, beyond the two basic commandments; “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. ... You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The New Testament teaches Grace, based on Christ's sacrifice. We are taught to guide our actions not by threat of God's anger and condemnation but by our LOVE for Jesus.
So, what happens when (not if) we violate GOD's law?
What happens when we sin?
Sin has natural consequences as well as criminal and civil consequences (that defines sin). However our ultimate judge is God. Jesus told us not to fear those that can only hurt our bodies, but to fear the One that can destroy both body and soul in hell!
Every one of us from Adam through to the last man standing at the end of Armageddon and beyond will one day stand at the Judgment Seat of heaven. Two things will happen that day, either we will have to answer to our creator for breaking HIS law, or we will be declared innocent because the record books of Heaven show that we belong to the Lamb of God; Jesus Christ. The Lamb's Book of Life is the record of those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. That one single decision, to accept Jesus, to Believe, is the ONLY thing that allows you to escape the requirement of answering for your own crimes against Heaven.
For this reason, for our sin, Jesus came to earth.
The Son of God, divine, and eternal CHOSE to lower himself to the place of mankind, to walk without sin for over thirty years, and to offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. By this God offers us His Grace, a free gift, the ultimate “Get-Out-of-Hell-Free-Card.”
So... Do we live by Law, do we hope to prove ourselves to God by our own good works, avoiding any and all sin, or do we accept God's free gift, and be declared innocent, sanctified, made pure and Holy because, and only because of the Blood that Jesus Christ shed on that ugly cross?
Do we live in fear, under the Law, or in Love under God's Grace. Jesus said that if we Love Him we demonstrate this by keeping His commandments. Do you see the contrast there; Obedience based on Love Vs Obedience based on fear of punishment.
God's Grace covers our sin, declares us innocent.
Jesus freed us from the bondage of sin and guilt. Does this mean then that we can go through life sinning as we please? Paul ask the obvious question: WHY WOULD WE DO THAT! Sin causes pain and suffering to ourselves and others, Sin has bad consequences.
DO we Sin? Yes.
Why? Because we still live on this earth captive to our physical limitations, subject to our physical desires and such. For this reason, God, knowing we would fail, sent His Son to die for our sins... God did this while we were still sinners. He did not wait for us to clean up our act and deserve this free gift.
In the three years or so that Jesus preached, He made clear what SIN was, how God viewed it, and what HE came to do about it. He also taught a better way to live, not based on perfection, but based on the principals of Love of God and love of our fellow men.
After Jesus died, resurrected and ascended back into Heaven his followers wrote various letters addressing various issues in the various congregation they established, all based on the teachings of Jesus. They were giving practical application to the principals that Jesus taught.
Please understand however... These letters(epistles) are NOT a New Testament Law, they are simply advice and direction as to how best to live one's life as a follower of Jesus.
When we fail, when we sin, WE ARE NOT CONDEMNED. We repent (we change our ways), God forgives, and we move on.
We study the Old Testament to understand God, how he deals with men and women; to learn of the prophecies that prove Jesus was the Promised one. We do not study the Old Testament because we are required to live by that Law. Jesus teaches about the Old Testament Law to show the futility of sin, to show that everyone sins, either by violating the letter of the law or by DESIRING to do so. And, all of these types of sins are Covered by the Sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross. Covered by the Grace, the free gift of forgiveness, from God.
Let me give three examples:
Lying; We tell a lie, and then tell another lie to cover the first lie, and then another, and another... Under Grace when we tell a lie, we simply admit the lie, seek forgiveness, God forgives and we move on.
Murder; To kill a person in anger or without legal sanction puts us under the condemnation of the law, we are judged, convicted and punished. Jesus taught that even just the anger puts us under the same condemnation. God judges more harshly, but forgives completely.
Divorce; Most countries laws allow divorce, some require a reason, most no longer do. God said “What therefore God hath joined together, let not put asunder” so then when a couple divorces their remarriage is considered adultery in God's courtroom, and what does HE do? He forgives.
In each case the outcome is the same, under Grace, no matter what Man's law says.... God forgives the followers of His Son, who are covered by the price Jesus paid (death) on the cross.
So, when you ask; “ is _______ a sin?”
I answer; “Yes” and God forgives
April 2, 2009
March 28, 2009
Hmmm........................
 | The Freedom Tower is out. |
March 16, 2009
Bible in One Year (Pros and Cons)
In order to Understand and remember/internalize these one must read each as a separate document.
Chapters and verses are artificial bookmarks added to the scriptures 1000 or more years after the origins of the documents. (Psalms is the exception)
Chapter and verse numbers assist our study by providing us a simple way to refer to portions of Scripture, but are otherwise meaningless. In many cases Chapters actually break up concepts in the wrong places; and verses almost always chop up paragraphs, and often even splitting sentences.
I personally prefer a Bible that displays the text in normal paragraphs, adding in the verse numbers in small print.
That being said; I believe daily Bible study should stick to one book at a time (few of them are very long).
Some books need to be read in chronological order: Luke & Acts is a good example.
Some books parallel one another:
Each of the Non-Chronological books was written during or about the time frame covered by the Chronological books (2 exceptions). For example; many of Paul's letters to the various Churches were written during his various mission trips recorded in Acts, the rest were written from Rome, after his arrival recorded in Acts Chapter 28. In the Old Testament the various books of the Prophets were mostly written during the time frame of the chronology starting with 1st Kings.
Needless to say, I'm all for reading the entire Bible in One Year, or any other reasonable time frame. This concept offers a certain discipline to the reader.
For Bible in One Year plans that present the scriptures in a rational order look here: BlueLetterBible.org/ (Notice the options on the lower half of the page)
Of course there are other ways to study scripture; Word studies and subject studies are two examples.
I once had a copy of the Old Testament that showed a supposed date for the events and references in every Chapter.
There are also various charts that illustrate these relationships:
BibleStudy.org
BibleLights.com
BibleDiagrams.com
It is possible, using the Genealogies and various scriptural references to the passage of time to place the Fall of Adam and Eve at about 4000 years before the advent of our Lord.
I know there are documents tracing this. If you find one before I post it here, please send me a note: Pastor@MarkElliott.org.
March 14, 2009
Bible Study
Jesus taught that His Holy Spirit would remind us ("bring to remembrance") His Word. How can we be reminded of something that we do not first know?
Have you ever thought what it must have been like to sit among The Twelve, being taught by Jesus Himself? Four of His followers (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) have shared with us that very experience. For that reason I recommend that every follower, every Disciple, of Jesus get a plain language, red letter edition of the Bible. Spend some time "sitting at Jesus' feet." Study His Words (the words printed in red).
In my opinion Jesus' teachings are the heart, the central point of all Scripture. The Bible exist to Showcase the Good News that Jesus taught; The simple message of our universal guilt ("for ALL have sinned") and His redemptive sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus taught that salvation comes ONLY through Him.
People asks; "Which version, which translation, is best? is it the KJV or the NIV or the NKJV or some other?" My answer is that the Word written in YOUR HEART is the best version. The Good News that has changed your life. The message that your friends, neighbors and co-workers see in your daily walk... THAT is the scripture that counts.
So let me lay out a framework for the Believer's Bible study.
First, as I said above; there are the teachings of Jesus, the Good News, the Gospel.
Second, there's the context of those teachings; the four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These tell of the life of our Lord.
Third, the story told by Luke in the book of Acts. Here is a history of that first few years showing us how Jesus' followers (disciples), guided by His Holy Spirit, applied those teachings.
Fourth, you study the various letters ("epistles") written by these same disciples. The address the day to day issues found in the daily life of those first congregations.
This includes the 13 letters written by Paul to 7 churches and 3 friends, as well as 8 letters written by various leaders of the early church to deal with various doctrinal and congregational issues.
Finally, in the New Testament, we have the monumental book of prophecy: The Revelation given to John, the last survivor of the Twelve.
So then what of the Old Testament?
The Jewish Bible, the collection of writings which they call the "Law and the Prophets."
Well, at first look, one cannot ignore the fact that the early Church was primarily a Jewish Church. In fact this is an issue dealt with repeatedly by the leaders of those first congregations.
More importantly; your Savior, Jesus Christ, was a Jew. He preached to the Jews. The Twelve were all Jews. So to fully understand the New Testament you need to understand the Old Testament.
Keep in mind that when Jesus or His followers refer to "Scriptures" they are talking about the Old Testament. When Jesus said to satan " it is written..." He quotes the Old Testament.
Just as in the New Testament; the Old Testament begins with a chronological/history.
Genesis covers the first 2000 years of mans history (from Adam & Eve in The Garden of Eden to Joseph in Egypt)
Then there is a 400 year gap while Jacob's (now named Israel) family, twelve sons, their wives and kids and kid's kids, etc, hang out in Egypt.
Exodus begins at about 1500BCE with Moses leading Israel out of Egypt towards the "Promised Land"
The first 5 books of the Old Testament are called the "Torah" by the Jews. This is their Law, found specifically in the last part of Exodus and includes Leviticus & Numbers, then is recapped in Deuteronomy.
There is a pattern throughout these books of a series of Covenants, legal agreements between God and various people. Many of the covenants are promising the arrival of Jesus as a descendant of Abraham who will save the world. The remainder of these covenants can be summed up in the concept: God says Obey my laws and things will go well with you, ignore them and you will suffer.
The chronological history continues thru the Book about Esther
Jesus, in His teaching, makes many references to the Jewish Law.
He also refers to various prophecies (mostly about Himself) that can be found throughout the Old Testament.
The Story of Job has no chronological reference. It is generally considered a book of wisdom, illustrating God's interaction with mankind.
Psalms is a collection of Poems and songs, mostly written by King David.
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes(Sermons) and the Song of Solomon were written by the last ruling monarch of United Israel; King Solomon.
The remaining books of the Old Testament are the records of the various Prophets who served in the period Covered by the Books of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles.
The last Prophet(Malachi) wrote approximately 400 years before the birth of Christ
A word about prophets;
Prophets are spokesmen of God. They say whatever God tells them to say. SOMETIMES their messages foretell future events, other times they bring words of Correction or comfort. It is important to understand the difference between a prophet and a preacher. The preacher speaks from his knowledge and understanding of God and God’s word. The prophet is simply a mouth-piece, speaking whatever God puts in his mouth. I call this Speaking by revelation (i.e.; speaking what God has revealed).
You may hear of the terms “Major Prophets” and “Minor Prophets” This terminology is bogus, it simply refers to the SIZE of the book recording the ministry of a particular prophet. NO prophet of God is more or less than any other, as they ALL speak from the same source; Revelation from the One True God.
The things that can be learned from the Old Testament;
- Prophecies of Christ Coming
- History of God’s Chosen People, Israel
- God’s Law given to govern Israel
- God’s interaction with People
- The Old Testament Law, specifically the system of sacrifices,
is a fore-shadowing of Christ and the Church era. - Wisdom of Godly men (primarily; King Solomon and King David)
It is also useful as a reference, because the writers of The New Testament
frequently refer to the Old Testament, that being the only “scriptures” they had
Biblical Truth Vs Church Traditions
Some traditions, widely accepted, have no bearing on sin or salvation; Such as Moses being the writer of the Torah, or Peter having dictated the Gospel to a man named Mark.
Other scriptural truths are contradicted by some church traditions; such as the claim that Mary was a virgin for her entire life, when the Bible clearly refers to the brothers and sisters of Jesus (one of which is thought to be the author of the Book of James)
In my viewpoint, the ultimate test of any Doctrinal Teaching is the Words of Jesus, Himself. If Jesus taught it then WE should teach it.
I realise this may be considered an over-simplification, but as I see it, Jesus walked the streets of Galilee, teaching common people. He said exactly what He meant to say, and He generally expected to be understood by those to whom he preached
The Good News preached by Jesus was MEANT to be simple, to be easy to understand.
March 11, 2009
Memorize Scripture
"These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for symbols between your eyes. You shall write them on the door-posts of your house, and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)We need to make the Inspired Word of God an integral part of our thinking.
We are what we read, what we watch, what we hear and what we study. Yes?
I feel that every Believer should memorize Scripture,
and memorize certain basic facts concerning the Holy Bible:
Admittedly this is something I find extremely difficult (memorizing).
Songs, on the other hand are easy to remember,
so; if you have trouble memorizing look for songs to help you.
Basics of scripture that every Believer should know from memory:
Books of the Bible
- Name
- Author; known or attributed(some books name their author, some do not)
- Type; History, Prophecy, Epistle(letter), Wisdom
- Subject; Life of Christ, History of Israel, end times prophecy, etc
The Full Armor of God (I’ll let you find the verses)
Roman Road; 5 verses in Paul’s letter to the Roman Church which lay out the way to salvation
The Beatitudes; The Opening to Jesus’ sermon on the mountain Found in Matthew 5 verses 3-12
The Ten Commandments (I’ll let you find the verses)
Oddly enough there’s some disagreement over which exactly is the fourth commandment
Works of the Flesh (I’ll let you find the verses)
Fruits of the Spirit (I’ll let you find the verses)
Spiritual Gifts (I’ll let you find the verses)
5 ministries God has given to the Church (I’ll let you find the verses)
Names of The Twelve
Names of the Tribes (there’s several list, some of which differ a bit)
The Seven Churches of Revelations Found in the first 3 Chapters
Know the Name and Nature of each
There are 3 portions of scripture, a sermon, the last class Jesus taught The Twelve, and His last Prayer, which are Very important to know and understand, and if we do so, we will understand almost all of Jesus’ message to His followers
- Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5,6 &7 (there’s a similar sermon in Luke 6)
- Jesus Last teaching: John 14-16
- Jesus’ Final Prayer; John 17 in the garden the night of his capture
Paul’s Sermon on Mars Hill in Athens; (I’ll let you find the verses)
Here he preached to pagans with no knowledge of Scripture. It is a masterful sermon!
Also; Stephen's sermon in Acts chapter 7 gives an excellent outline of the Old Testament history of Israel.
There are MANY lists of verses you can use. (one example)
AND, be sure to memorize any verse that you find to be especially meaningful
As I’ve said elsewhere; the best version of the Bible is the one in your heart and mind,
November 25, 2008
I Believe....
 Doctrinal Statement | ...In the One true God, Creator of the Universe, and all that in it is. ...In Jesus; God's Divine and "only begotten" Son. The Creative Word of Genesis chapter 1, born in the flesh, of a virgin, walked 30+ years on this earth without sin, offered His own Body a sacrifice, in MY place, taking MY death sentence upon Himself. Raised from the dead after three days, walking the earth, proving the reality of His ressurection to over 500 witnesses, and finally, ascending into heaven to rule and reign at the right hand of His Father, the One True God. |
...In God's Holy Spirit, My guide and comfort, the Mechanism of God's power. ...In the Holy Bible, as accurate and divinely inspired. ...It is my reasonable service to God, an expression of my love for Him, to submit my entire life to Him, as His willing servant, without reservation or limit, holding back nothing. | |
Doctrinal Statement
Forgiveness: Once a sinner accepts Jesus as Lord and Saviour their sins are forgiven. They are judged to never have sinned.
Salvation: A repentant sinner is saved by the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus death takes the place of the sinner's just punishment. When a sinner stands before the judgment seat of Heaven their life will be examined. Only those whose names are recorded in "The Lamb's Book of Life" will escape the just punishment for their sins.
Faith: Faith is the measurable existence of things promised in God's Word. It is the evidence that things we have not seen do, in fact, exists. Many things of the Kingdom of God are spiritual, and therefore not observable by our natural senses. These things are first known and understood by faith.
Love: God's Love for YOU is unconditional and unending, based only on His decision to love you. God's love is not based on your worthiness, nor on your actions.
Love: A believer demonstrates love towards God by obedience to God. God has made His will clear through His Word. So it is the responsibility of the believer to learn the Word, either by personal study or by teaching.
Godhead: The Godhead is the unity of three persons, Jehovah, the Father; Jesus, the Son, and their Holy Spirit. Each functioning with the full authority and power of God, and in perfect and complete agreement with one another.
God: Our Spiritual Father, creator of the Universe, all powerful, all knowing, without beginning nor end. (aka; Jehovah)
Jesus: Jesus's arrival(incarnation) on earth from heaven, by means of virgin birth, was promised from the beginning of mankind's existence, and repeatedly throughout history, both to the Jews and to others. He lived a life without sin. He died on the Cross, suffering the punishment for each individual's sins, was resurrected on the third day following, and returned to Heaven after walking on earth, being seen by many witnesses. He now sits at the right hand of God, intervening on our behalf.
Holy Spirit: God's Holy Spirit, sometimes identified as the Holy Ghost or the Spirit of God. Is our point of contact with the God head. We are urged to be immersed in His presence, to follow His guidance. He provides us access to God's knowledge, power, and thoughts. Jesus taught and the New Testament illustrated that believers were to be immersed in the Holy Spirit, as a natural outcome of accepting Jesus. A gift of God, one of many.
Bible: The written Word of God, given by inspiration of God for Doctrine, rebuke, correction, and instruction in righteousness. It is without error or contradiction, and is completely compatible with the truths of the observable universe, it's history and it's present.
Church: It is appropriate for a believer to be in fellowship with other believers. It is in that fellowship that the body of Christ most effectively functions, because God has called each believer to a particular function in His Kingdom. Only in working together can the individual functions, ministries, come together as a unified whole, accomplishing the will of God.
Worship: God is deserving of our worship, He expects it, and he is Jealous of anything we worship instead of Him, or above Him
Prayer: Talking with God, though often formal, is simply a conversation, a discussion, with our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the universe. As a conversation it is appropriate to expect an answer, to not only talk but to also listen.
Immersion: Jesus charged his followers to go into all the world immersing them and teaching them. There is clear evidence that the leaders of the church, in the years immediately following Jesus' resurrection immersed believers in water as a public display of the believer's oneness with the death burial and resurrection of Jesus.(aka: Baptism)
January 26, 2008
Q & A
I'll take a shot at having answers
My answers tend to be from scripture as I am no Theologian
I generally start with the Gospels as the foundation, and build on that using the applications of Jesus' teaching as shown in the various letters in the rest of the New Testament, and referring to the Old Testament for context and examples of God's interaction with Peoplekind (P.C. for "mankind"?)
I seldom discuss or speculate on the interpretion of Prophecy. I figure we are no better at that than the Rabbi's of old... and most of THEM totally missed the Messiah, ya know?
I have doctrinal statements, and a statement of belief on my website: pastor.markelliott.org, so feel free to check them out as well
So... within these parameters.. ask away!
:-)
October 28, 2007
God Did It
created the Heavens and the Earth
The Army Corps of Engineers didn't do it;
OPEC didn't do it;
Halliburton didn't do it;
God did it!
This one fundamental fact should alter the way you do business.
God has certain undeniable rights of ownership in His creation. Just as our laws consider the rights of an inventor who discovers some new process or an artist who produces a beautiful work of art, it is time that we consider the rights of the One who started this whole process.
God created all the raw materials for our factories, He created the very environment in which we live and work, He started the chemical processes that we use to purify the water, pasteurize our milk, refine our minerals.
When I say "created" I mean that He caused it to come into existence where nothing had previously existed. Whether He did this in 7 days or 700 millennia is irrelevant, the point is that He did it!
Whenever I say God, you think "religion".
This has nothing to do with religion. I am sure you feel that your belief, or unbelief makes a difference. Consider that for many years everyone believed that the earth was flat. Did this change the true shape of the earth? Neither does your rejection of God effect His existence or His creation.
There is still the fact that God knows more about this world than you or I, simply because He created it. Therefor, it is reasonable to attempt to discover God's way.
Let us examine these questions...
"What does God's Creator-Rights earn Him?"
"How do we discover His way of doing things?"
"How do we implement what we discover?"
Just as there is a potential cost in using another's Patent or Copyright, there is a cost in using God's Creation. Just as an inventor sets the price on his invention , God has set a price on His creation. He demands two things, first that you acknowledge Him as the creator, and second that you return a tithe to Him, for His use. A tithe is a fancy word for 10% off the top.
Where do you send the check? The simplest place is to His Church. If you are not sure where that is, find the neediest person or group you can and give it to them (this by-passes the middle man).
Where do you go to find His way of doing things?
To His Book, of course.
So you don't "believe in" the Bible. So what!
It claims to be written at God's direction. Check it out for yourself, don't rely on hearsay evidence. There are specific answers to corporate and business problems in God's Bible. Solutions to personnel problems, ethics, taxation, banking, investments, manufacturing, distribution and so forth.
Even better, approach The Creator directly. He has placed himself at our disposal by way of His Son, Jesus. I know, you don't "believe in" Jesus, Do not forget with whom you are dealing, this is not some local government or foreign investment cartel, this is the Son of the Creator of the Universe!
Once you discover God's way of doing things, what then?
Put them to the test. I challenge you to take any one of God's solutions and set them head-to-head against man's ways, let both run their course, and objectively judge the results.
For example, try this one in your company for one year...
"You have heard that it has been said, love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But Jesus says, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which mistreat you, and persecute you."
You will discover that God's ways are better than your ways. And your company will prosper for it!
God has the ultimate monopoly on world-creating. No one has an outlet across town where you can buy the competitive product. Sure, there is an usurper who claims to be God's competitor, but strangely the products turned out by the Evil One are destructive rather than constructive! Satan, the Devil, (whatever name you choose) offers answers, Solutions, and plans for your company that will result in the ultimate destruction of you and your business.
God holds the creative power of the universe, all power, resources, talents, and truth originate with Him.
December 7, 2005
deacon/minister/servant
Strong's Number: 1249
Def: One who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master. A servant, attendant, or minister
This term, in the noun and verb form (ie; one who serves, and serving), appears 104 times in the greek New Testament in 90 different verses. Only 4 of those references SEEM to be referencing an official or officer in the local congregation (the references in 1st Timothy Chapter 3).
The KJV translators used three words to translate diavkonoß; "minister" (as in ministering to a person’s needs), "servant" and "deacon." Of course "deacon" is not really a translation at all , but a "transliteration," a made-up word, used by the translators to give the word a meaning of thier own.
As I am sure you know, the concept of settting aside certain people to serve in the local congregation was first established in the Jerusalem Church in Acts Chapter 6;
"Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:2-4 (KJV)
In Paul's 1st letter to Timothy we read;
"Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." 1st Timothy 3:8-13 (KJV)
Please note the phrase "office of a deacon" this concept is NOT IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK
TEXT." In my opinion (and please feel free to do your own research on this) the passage would be more accurately translated;
"Likewise must those who serve be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them serve, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let those who serve be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have served well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."
This more accurately applies the teachings of Jesus concerning being a servant;
"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28 (KJV)
I point out this and other transliterations to help you get a CLEARER UNDERSTANDING of the Word, not colored by the bias of the translators, no matter how well thier bias is accepted in today's Church.
~peace~
February 12, 2005
Hate Speech
As we see hate speech laws spreading across the land, we see cases of Christians being charged for doing what they feel they are compelled to do, by the teachings and doctrines of scripture.
My fundamental question, though, is this...
to attack anyone, their religion, or their lifestyle?
If we examine the various PUBLIC teachings (i.e. sermons) of Jesus, Peter, and Paul, do we see THEM attacking the other religions of their day? Do we see them attacking the various sinful lifestyles of their day? Or do we, instead, see them offering hope, deliverance, and salvation? Paul's most famous sermon (on Mars Hill in Athens) offers no such condemnation, nor does Jesus’ Sermon on the mount, nor Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost.
Can we not take the Gospel to the world WITHOUT Condemnation?
If you study closely Jesus’ messages his accusation are for God’s people (the Jews) not for the World.
Let’s take the Gospel to the world in love and peace, as scripture teaches and illustrates. And leave condemnation and judgment to the Lord.
~peace~
December 3, 2004
Biblical Inerrancy
Not sure I completely agree with em, but they are certainly worth a review:
In response to the trend toward liberal and neo-orthodox interpretations denying the biblical inerrancy of Scrupture, the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy was produced by hundreds of evengelical scholars and leaders in an international and interdenominational effort to affirm and defend biblical inerrancy. This statement was produce at a congress, sponsored by the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy, in Chicago during the fall of 1978.
The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy was signed by nearly 300 noted evangelical scholars, including James Boice, Harold Lindsell, John Warwick Montgomery, Roger Nicole, J.I. Packer, Robert Preus, Ear Radmacher, Francis Schaeffer, R.C. Sproul, and John Wenham.
The International Council on Biblical Inerrancy went on to produce another significant statement: The Chicago Statement on Biblical Hermeneutics in 1982 for the purposes of clarifying hermeneutical principles and practices.
November 30, 2004
November 25, 2004
trans·lit·er·a·tion
def: To represent (letters or words) in the corresponding characters of another alphabet.
In English Bibles there are some significant words that the translators chose not to translate. Three come to mind immediately
- Baptize: def; to wash, dunk or dip
- Apostle: def; emissary or missionary (one sent out)
- Deacon: def; servant or server
Each of these words has quite common and utilitarian meanings in the language of their day (Greek) and have simple and obvious translations in modern, and even archaic, English.
By NOT translating these words with their clear and simple meaning, the religious people are allowed to MAKE UP the meaning for these MADE UP words, even to the point of ignoring and contradicting what was written in the original texts.
I will offer an in-depth discussion of these three words
(and maybe others that y’all choose to point out)
~peace~
November 23, 2004
Apostles/Missionaries
def; a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders
1. specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ
2. in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers
King James Word Usage - Total: 81 “apostle” 78 times, “messenger” 2 times, “he that is sent” 1 time
The Greeks had a word for a person sent as a messenger, that word was; “apostolos” -- Modern English has various words (even a religious one) that could accurately translate this word; “messenger” “emissary” “envoy” “ambassador” “representative” “diplomat” and “missionary”
In the Gospels (Matthew, Mark Luke & John) there are the Twelve sent out by Jesus;
- Simon, who is called Peter
- Andrew, Peter’s brother
- James & John the sons of Zebedee
- Philip
- Bartholomew
- Thomas
- Matthew the publican
- James the son of Alphaeus
- Lebbaeus Thaddaeus
- Simon the Canaanite
- Judas Iscariot
(Matthew 10:2-5)
Needless to say, Judas Iscariot lost his position, and the other 11 chose Matthias, by lot (drawing straws), in the Upper Room (Acts 1:21-26)
However, JESUS chose a new “12th” and sent him out; Paul, Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9)
Revelation 21:14 reffers to; “the twelve apostles of the Lamb” In MY opinion the twelth one of these is Paul, rather than Matthias, as Matthias was not chosen by Jesus, and Paul was chosen by Jesus.
The question I want to address here is the LOSS OF MEANING that comes from transliteration…
By making up a word to replace (rather than translate) the greek word which simply means “messenger” Religious people can give it any definition they want. Most don’t even realize there were OTHERS designated as apostles/missionaries beyond the twelve; Barnabas; James, the brother of Jesus; Andronicus and Junia; Titus; and even Jesus himself.
Clearly, The Twelve apostles/missionaries chosen and sent out by the Lord Himself hold a special place, as Revelation 21:14 indicates. But, scripture also plainly says the God chooses Others as missionaries (and prophets, evangelist, pastors, teachers) throughout the history of the Church right down to this present day.
~peace~
November 19, 2004
baptize/wash/dip
| def: | 1. to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk) |
| 2. to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe | |
| 3. to overwhelm |
(for a more complete treatment of this doctrine read this)
First lets look at the words, the language... There are four Greek words that are read as some form of baptize;
Baptizo Baptisma Baptismos Baptistes
These all derive from one root word; "bapto" which means to "to cover wholly with a fluid;"
In four places these words are translated "wash" (Mark 7:4 & 8, Luke 11:37-38, Hebrews 9:10)
In three they are translated "dip" (Luke 16:24, John 13:26, Rev 19:13)
In all other cases we find some form of the word "baptize". This is a word made up by Religious scholars, by simply spelling the Greek word for English speakers... this is called "transliteration" NOT translation
What this means is that the men who WROTE the New Testament had no special word, like "Baptism" for the event they were describing.. they simply said "wash."
For instance;
- Matthew 3:11 the writer actually wrote; "... he shall wash(cover) you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"
- Mark 1:8; "I indeed have washed(covered) you with water: but he shall wash(cover) you with the Holy Ghost."
- Matthew 28:19; "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, washing(immersing, dunking) them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
NO Greek scholar can contradict the above translation.
BUT - is it talking about WATER, dunking, getting people QUITE wet?
John-the-baptizer clearly got people wet! He often stood in the Jordan river, preaching and calling sinners to be baptized/washed for repentance, because the Messiah was coming soon!
Jesus followers were also Baptized/washed, in a similar manner to John's as there were repeated comparison to John's ministry of Baptism/washing.
In Acts chapter eight, the preacher Phillip , while teaching the word to a foreigner, is asked... Here is water, why can't I be baptized/washed? The man clearly understood from Phillip's teaching that he needed to be baptized/washed in water. Phillip, of course, baptized/washed the man. Later in Acts chapter ten, Peter clearly states that water is necessary to baptize/wash those in attendance
Peter's first letter mentions Baptism (chapter 3); first comparing it to the great Flood, then making a point that it not be confused with taking a bath to wash ones body, indicating that there was a similarity. Clearly referring to WATER in both cases.
| Definitions
From Strong's Concordance (electronic) | |
| 911 | bapto, bap'-to; a prim. verb; to whelm,i.e. cover wholly with a fluid; i.e. (lit.) to moisten (a part of one's person), or (by impl.) to stain (as with dye):--dip |
| 907 | baptizo, bap-tid'-zo; from a derivative. of G911; to make fully wet; :--baptist, baptize, wash. |
| 908 | baptisma, bap'-tis-mah; from G907; baptism (techn. or fig.):--baptism. |
| 909 | baptismos, bap-tis-mos'; from G907; ablution (cerem. or Chr.):--baptism, washing. |
| 910 | Baptistes, bap-tis-tace'; from G907; a baptizer, as an epithet of Christ's forerunner:--Baptist |
(for a more complete treatment of this doctrine read this)
~peace~
November 5, 2004
an Epiphany
"e·piph·a·ny" n. ... A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.
I was in my prayer closet (okay... a bench at the beach, but I was praying) and after I finished a realization came to me:
"No one needs me,
Everyone needs Jesus"
~peace~