05/15/18 A SAD GOODBYE
My friend and college classmate posted that John Wesley College (my alma mater) will have its final graduation this coming Saturday. The college proclaimed the message of full salvation and trained men and women for ministry since 1903.
I shared some of my thoughts in a comment. I am sharing that comment with you here.
A SADDER DAY,
THAN WORDS CAN SAY.
It wasn't just a name It was a heritage, a message, a family, a fort and training ground for holiness warriors.
I am glad it was there for me, in my shallowness, leading me into holiness, loving me, holding me when I suffered loss, teaching me that the message of holiness was true, showing me that the message of entire sanctification was livable, proving that perfect love was real and active.
I am grateful for having met heroes and heroines of the faith, men and women who sacrificed personal and family advantages so that I could know the truth of Bible holiness (as a work of grace and a way of life).
Great men and women come to mind (in fact, they cross my mind on a regular basis). I won't mention any, for fear of leaving someone out. But they were men and women of valor, compassion, self sacrifice, purpose. They led the school, they fed the school, they cleaned and maintained the school.
They were unique and special in their day, and how much more we need them today.
I sit here with tears, not just for wonderful memories, but because future ministry students will never have the advantages that are made available through a Bible college dedicated to the message of heart purity and victorious living. And there was never a time or society that needed it more.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
05/15/18 PARADOX
05/15/18 PARADOX
Choosing God's way can look to the un-Biblical person like we hate people in darkness.
We hate the darkness, not the people.
Choosing God's way can look to the un-Biblical person like we hate people in darkness.
We hate the darkness, not the people.
05/15/18 DOWNTRODDEN?
05/15/18 DOWNTRODDEN?
Y'all ever notice how Liberals are all about "loving" the downtrodden, until it is the ones they down-trod?
Y'all ever notice how Liberals are all about "loving" the downtrodden, until it is the ones they down-trod?
05/15/18 TOO TANGLED
05/15/18 TOO TANGLED
For clearing up the "PALESTINIAN FALSE NARRATIVE," see...
Massive Fishing Line Tangle (aka, Bird's Nest) nowhere to start.
For clearing up the "PALESTINIAN FALSE NARRATIVE," see...
Massive Fishing Line Tangle (aka, Bird's Nest) nowhere to start.
05/15/18 SKIN OF A REASON...
05/15/18 SKIN OF A REASON...
The massive amount of false narration by Jew haters concerning violence in Israel is the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.
The massive amount of false narration by Jew haters concerning violence in Israel is the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.
05/15/18 SHOCKING
05/15/18 SHOCKING
Here is a SHOCK.
The mindset of the masses is against the Bible, against Israel, against Christians.
Just like the Bible foretold.
Here is a SHOCK.
The mindset of the masses is against the Bible, against Israel, against Christians.
Just like the Bible foretold.
05/15/18 DON'T CHOOSE THE WRONG SIDE
05/15/18 DON'T CHOOSE THE WRONG SIDE
I would jump on the GAZA EXPRESS or the PALESTINIAN SPECIAL, but I am not misled by demonic hatred of Israel. LEARN THE TRUTH.
I would jump on the GAZA EXPRESS or the PALESTINIAN SPECIAL, but I am not misled by demonic hatred of Israel. LEARN THE TRUTH.
05/15/18 WHY JESUS CAME
05/15/18 WHY JESUS CAME
Jesus came to make...
The dead, live;
The bad, holy;
The worldly, godly;
The carnal, spiritual;
The earthly, heavenly.
Expect Change.
Jesus came to make...
The dead, live;
The bad, holy;
The worldly, godly;
The carnal, spiritual;
The earthly, heavenly.
Expect Change.
Monday, May 14, 2018
05/14/18 BIBLE EVENTS IN THE NEWS
05/14/18 BIBLE EVENTS IN THE NEWS
Based on 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12, I have taught for decades that in the last days, before the return of Christ, God would send strong delusion to THOSE WHO WOULD NOT RECEIVE THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH AND BE SAVED, so that they WOULD BELIEVE THE LIE, THAT THEY MIGHT BE DAMNED WHO BELIEVE NOT THE TRUTH BUT HAVE PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
We are seeing this happen internationally as Jerusalem takes center stage in the unfolding world events, aligning the enemies of Israel, just as the prophets foretold thousands of years ago.
But instead of believing the truth that God revealed in the Old and New Testaments, the whole world raises its fist and fury at Israel. They do this, whether they are the avowed enemies of Abraham's seed and the cross, or they are professing believers following cunningly devised fables, or they are the deceived masses seeking world order and peace from anyone other than Jesus Christ.
As long as people deny the Holy Bible they will be sucked in by Satan's lie. It is so obvious that it leaves the Bible believer shaking his head in disbelief.
It is not too late to turn from darkness, look to the light of the gospel and be saved from your sins.
As crazy as you may think I am, remember, Jesus did die and rise again physically. God's prophets did tell us about the end time world events. He did say that people would believe a lie and be damned. But it is not too late to look and live.
I am not claiming that the world will end in a given number of days or years. I am saying that it will happen at some point. I am saying that current events are compatible with what will happen in those terrible days when the world will follow a one world ruler, a one world economy and a one world religion, into a world of chaos and catastrophe.
Even if it does not happen for another thousand years, it is going to happen. The thing to be concerned about is whether your life aligns with God and His Truth or Satan and his lie, because we are going to be confirmed in either the truth or the lie, by our own choice.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Based on 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12, I have taught for decades that in the last days, before the return of Christ, God would send strong delusion to THOSE WHO WOULD NOT RECEIVE THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH AND BE SAVED, so that they WOULD BELIEVE THE LIE, THAT THEY MIGHT BE DAMNED WHO BELIEVE NOT THE TRUTH BUT HAVE PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
We are seeing this happen internationally as Jerusalem takes center stage in the unfolding world events, aligning the enemies of Israel, just as the prophets foretold thousands of years ago.
But instead of believing the truth that God revealed in the Old and New Testaments, the whole world raises its fist and fury at Israel. They do this, whether they are the avowed enemies of Abraham's seed and the cross, or they are professing believers following cunningly devised fables, or they are the deceived masses seeking world order and peace from anyone other than Jesus Christ.
As long as people deny the Holy Bible they will be sucked in by Satan's lie. It is so obvious that it leaves the Bible believer shaking his head in disbelief.
It is not too late to turn from darkness, look to the light of the gospel and be saved from your sins.
As crazy as you may think I am, remember, Jesus did die and rise again physically. God's prophets did tell us about the end time world events. He did say that people would believe a lie and be damned. But it is not too late to look and live.
I am not claiming that the world will end in a given number of days or years. I am saying that it will happen at some point. I am saying that current events are compatible with what will happen in those terrible days when the world will follow a one world ruler, a one world economy and a one world religion, into a world of chaos and catastrophe.
Even if it does not happen for another thousand years, it is going to happen. The thing to be concerned about is whether your life aligns with God and His Truth or Satan and his lie, because we are going to be confirmed in either the truth or the lie, by our own choice.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
05/14/18 DASH-CAM MESSAGES THE BIBLE IS TECHNICALLY TRUSTWORTHY
05/14/18 DASH-CAM MESSAGES THE BIBLE IS TECHNICALLY TRUSTWORTHY
We live in the age of INFORMATION. We can access vast amounts of information in seconds on our computers and devices. But we may tap into Misinformation.
There are articles on animals, plants history, sports, music and whatever else we have want to know. Some of the writing is very technical and specific. But we might have to compare various writings in order to determine what is true and accurate.
People will put their trust in technical writings, concerning all of these areas, but they will not trust what the Bible says. However, the Bible was written by men who were chosen by God to write the things that God instructed them to write. Those writings were technically accurate when they were revealed and when they were written. In fact, those writings were meticulously copied from one person to another and one generation to another and from one millennia to another, in order to maintain technical accuracy. No other document has ever been recorded and copied and communicated with such precision.
Through all of the steps of transmission, the Bible is authentic, accurate, genuine. The Bible has proved itself to be trustworthy because what it says is either verifiable or it is not refutable. Much of the so-called "disputed' portions of Scripture have been verified, and none of it has been successfully refuted. We cannot always trust the word of theologians or other "experts." Regardless of how qualified an "expert" is, through study, training, experience, it does not mean that the view of the expert is correct.
When we research the message of the Bible, we need to know what the Bible says, so that we will be able to determine if the "experts" are being consistent with the original message of the Bible.
We live in the age of INFORMATION. We can access vast amounts of information in seconds on our computers and devices. But we may tap into Misinformation.
There are articles on animals, plants history, sports, music and whatever else we have want to know. Some of the writing is very technical and specific. But we might have to compare various writings in order to determine what is true and accurate.
People will put their trust in technical writings, concerning all of these areas, but they will not trust what the Bible says. However, the Bible was written by men who were chosen by God to write the things that God instructed them to write. Those writings were technically accurate when they were revealed and when they were written. In fact, those writings were meticulously copied from one person to another and one generation to another and from one millennia to another, in order to maintain technical accuracy. No other document has ever been recorded and copied and communicated with such precision.
Through all of the steps of transmission, the Bible is authentic, accurate, genuine. The Bible has proved itself to be trustworthy because what it says is either verifiable or it is not refutable. Much of the so-called "disputed' portions of Scripture have been verified, and none of it has been successfully refuted. We cannot always trust the word of theologians or other "experts." Regardless of how qualified an "expert" is, through study, training, experience, it does not mean that the view of the expert is correct.
When we research the message of the Bible, we need to know what the Bible says, so that we will be able to determine if the "experts" are being consistent with the original message of the Bible.
05/14/18 ALERT: DINOSAUR SIGHTINGS
05/14/18 ALERT: DINOSAUR SIGHTINGS
ALERT: Dinosaur sightings. Creatures claim only 2 genders exist, and deny that Mormons, Jews, Muslims are Christian.
How weird.
ALERT: Dinosaur sightings. Creatures claim only 2 genders exist, and deny that Mormons, Jews, Muslims are Christian.
How weird.
05/14/18 DON'T BELIEVE IN FAIRY TALES
05/14/18 DON'T BELIEVE IN FAIRY TALES
No matter how much a parent tells it, and no matter how much a child believes it, there is no Santa Claus, Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy. Parents try to justify it by saying that the children "need" or want these things to be true, or they say that it would be "robbing" the children to tell them that these are not real.
It would be the same if God told us to believe in things that are not true or real. If man does not have a free will, with which to choose salvation, then God would be misleading us by instructing us to pray for the lost, to witness to the lost. If there are people who cannot believe on Christ (because God supposedly does not enable them to believe), then it is a farce to witness to them. If God saves people by unconditional, unilateral, double predestination, then it is not necessary for people to hear the "gospel" in order to be saved. There would be no need for a Great Commission to convert the lost.
God does not lie and God does not mislead us with fairy tales. All men are lost. All men need salvation through Christ. Christ died for the whole world. We are sent to the whole world to proclaim the gospel that saves the lost. Whosoever believes in Him shall be saved. These are teachings from the Bible and they are real.
I don't believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy or the five points of Calvinism, because no such thing is taught in the Holy Bible. The notion that God does not love the whole world, that Christ did not die for the whole world, that God does not provide and offer salvation to the whole world and that God does not enable everyone with the ability to believe the gospel is a Theology taught by errant theologians, including John Calvin and followed by Reformed Theology. Such a teaching is a contradiction to Divine revelation, Divine commands, Divine nature.
Do not be caught up in the make believe world that you have no choice concerning your salvation or that you are not accountable for your sins after you get saved.
No matter how much a parent tells it, and no matter how much a child believes it, there is no Santa Claus, Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy. Parents try to justify it by saying that the children "need" or want these things to be true, or they say that it would be "robbing" the children to tell them that these are not real.
It would be the same if God told us to believe in things that are not true or real. If man does not have a free will, with which to choose salvation, then God would be misleading us by instructing us to pray for the lost, to witness to the lost. If there are people who cannot believe on Christ (because God supposedly does not enable them to believe), then it is a farce to witness to them. If God saves people by unconditional, unilateral, double predestination, then it is not necessary for people to hear the "gospel" in order to be saved. There would be no need for a Great Commission to convert the lost.
God does not lie and God does not mislead us with fairy tales. All men are lost. All men need salvation through Christ. Christ died for the whole world. We are sent to the whole world to proclaim the gospel that saves the lost. Whosoever believes in Him shall be saved. These are teachings from the Bible and they are real.
I don't believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy or the five points of Calvinism, because no such thing is taught in the Holy Bible. The notion that God does not love the whole world, that Christ did not die for the whole world, that God does not provide and offer salvation to the whole world and that God does not enable everyone with the ability to believe the gospel is a Theology taught by errant theologians, including John Calvin and followed by Reformed Theology. Such a teaching is a contradiction to Divine revelation, Divine commands, Divine nature.
Do not be caught up in the make believe world that you have no choice concerning your salvation or that you are not accountable for your sins after you get saved.
Sunday, May 13, 2018
05/13/18 A MOTHER'S DAY THOUGHT
05/13/18 A MOTHER'S DAY THOUGHT
We are saved by keeping the law. NO, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT OUR SOUL BEING SAVED OR RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE, WHICH IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
But we are SAVED FROM A GREAT DEAL OF SUFFERING AND LOSS. Of course keeping the moral law of God is fulfilled in the Two Great Commandments concerning loving God with the whole heart, mind, soul and strength AND loving our neighbor as ourselves. AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT JESUS SAID.
Honoring mother and father is the first commandment (addressing our relationship with other people), and it sets the standard for family relationships. I am convinced that this is the foundation stone in right relationships with parents, siblings, friends, our own spouse, our own children and all other human relationships.
If fact, it provides the foundation for a right relationship with God. Parents must communicate the moral standards and affection, which introduces the children to the nature of God. Children must learn submission to legitimate authority and what it means to live together in community with family members. This is essential for all subsequent relationships.
Parents should be honored by the children. BUT DON'T FORGET, the parents need to live honorably and lead exemplary lives. Still, parents living as they ought to live is no guarantee that the children will respond properly. (REMEMBER, ADAM AND EVE HAD THE PERFECT PARENT, AND SEE HOW THAT TURNED OUT). In fact, the uprightness of one person (even if it is God) does not ensure the right response from anyone else. That is OUR OWN CHOICE. We decide on whether we will be the people God wants us to be.
God designed the home for such exposure and training. DON'T MESS UP YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THE BEST YOU CAN, regardless of how they may respond to it.
Proverbs 1:8-9
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Proverbs 6:20-22
20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
Proverbs 10:1-2
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
Proverbs 20:20
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Proverbs 23:22-25
22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
Proverbs 29:15
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Proverbs 30:11-17
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
We are saved by keeping the law. NO, I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT OUR SOUL BEING SAVED OR RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE, WHICH IS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
But we are SAVED FROM A GREAT DEAL OF SUFFERING AND LOSS. Of course keeping the moral law of God is fulfilled in the Two Great Commandments concerning loving God with the whole heart, mind, soul and strength AND loving our neighbor as ourselves. AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT JESUS SAID.
Honoring mother and father is the first commandment (addressing our relationship with other people), and it sets the standard for family relationships. I am convinced that this is the foundation stone in right relationships with parents, siblings, friends, our own spouse, our own children and all other human relationships.
If fact, it provides the foundation for a right relationship with God. Parents must communicate the moral standards and affection, which introduces the children to the nature of God. Children must learn submission to legitimate authority and what it means to live together in community with family members. This is essential for all subsequent relationships.
Parents should be honored by the children. BUT DON'T FORGET, the parents need to live honorably and lead exemplary lives. Still, parents living as they ought to live is no guarantee that the children will respond properly. (REMEMBER, ADAM AND EVE HAD THE PERFECT PARENT, AND SEE HOW THAT TURNED OUT). In fact, the uprightness of one person (even if it is God) does not ensure the right response from anyone else. That is OUR OWN CHOICE. We decide on whether we will be the people God wants us to be.
God designed the home for such exposure and training. DON'T MESS UP YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THE BEST YOU CAN, regardless of how they may respond to it.
Proverbs 1:8-9
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Proverbs 6:20-22
20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
Proverbs 10:1-2
1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
Proverbs 20:20
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Proverbs 23:22-25
22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
Proverbs 29:15
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Proverbs 30:11-17
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
05/12/18 APOSTLES WERE INSPIRED, WE ARE ENLIGHTENED
05/12/18 APOSTLES WERE INSPIRED, WE ARE ENLIGHTENED
Remember, the Holy Bible is God's inspired revelation of Himself:
Theology is man's feeble attempt to understand God.
THEREFORE
Our greatest need is a knowledge and understanding of the Bible. Theology can help us, but it can also hinder us. We must know the word of God so that we are not misled by the words of men.
(The Lord willing) I will be sharing more concerning these things in articles and videos.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Peter 3:17-18
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Remember, the Holy Bible is God's inspired revelation of Himself:
Theology is man's feeble attempt to understand God.
THEREFORE
Our greatest need is a knowledge and understanding of the Bible. Theology can help us, but it can also hinder us. We must know the word of God so that we are not misled by the words of men.
(The Lord willing) I will be sharing more concerning these things in articles and videos.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Peter 3:17-18
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
05/12/18 NEW TESTAMENT APOSTLESHIP
05/12/18 NEW TESTAMENT APOSTLESHIP
I recently worshiped with Free Grace Wesleyan Church on Harkers Island, and was blessed by the fellowship, the music and of course Pastor Clint.
During his message, Pastor Clint correctly mentioned the fact that there are people today who falsely claim to be apostles. As I said, he only mentioned it in passing, therefore he did not elaborate at that time. Of course I agreed with him, because no one meets New Testament qualifications of an apostle.
The Biblical importance of a New Testament apostle is the fact that God empowered and enlightened them in a way that no one else has been enabled. This is because they, along with other specially anointed men, were inspired by the Holy Spirit to convey God's word. Others may preach what the apostles and prophets said, but no one is receiving new revelation and inspiration since the New Testament. The Old and New Testaments are God's only revealed and inspired word to the world. One of the passages that came to mind concerning the uniqueness of an apostle is in Ephesians. It tells us that we are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (the New Testament writings).
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
I wanted to find a concise and accurate statement concerning the New Testament qualifications of an apostle, therefore I pulled up various sites, which address this issue. Of course, some of the groups that claim to have apostles try to explain away the Biblical criteria for apostleship. However, one of the sites (a Calvinistic site) quotes John MacArthur on this subject.
(please be sure to read my last paragraph, after the MacArthur quote. thank you).
I AM NOT A MACARTHUR FAN for various reasons, including the fact that he teaches the errors of Calvinism. Still, I appreciated this article on this subject. Especially take not of these two points;
an apostle had to be an EYEWITNESS to the physically resurrected Christ, and
an apostle had to be SENT by Jesus personally.
Also note that MacArthur, who is very strongly Calvinistic, references and quotes Wayne Grudem, a Charismatic professor of theology and Biblical studies, concerning the fact that no modern person meets the qualifications of a New Testament apostle.
Here is a copy of the MacArthur's quote.
JOHN MACARTHUR QUOTE...
Charismatics, and others who build entire theological systems on single verses or even words, will ask, “Where does the Bible say the apostolic office is no more?” This is unlikely to satisfy them, but it should convince you, the logical, biblical thinker.
It would be impossible for any contemporary Christian to meet the biblical qualifications required for someone to be considered an apostle. The New Testament articulates at least three necessary criteria:(1) an apostle had to be a physical eyewitness of the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:22; 10:39–41; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:7–8); (2) an apostle had to be personally appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13; Acts 1:2, 24; 10:41; Gal. 1:1); and (3) an apostle had to be able to authenticate his apostolic appointment with miraculous signs (Matt. 10:1 –2; Acts 1:5–8; 2:43; 4:33; 5:12; 8:14; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3–4).
Those qualifications alone conclusively demonstrate that there are no apostles in the church today. No living person has seen the risen Christ with his or her own eyes; no one is able to perform miraculous signs like those done by the apostles in the book of Acts (cf. Acts 3:3–11; 5:15–16; 9:36–42; 20:6–12; 28:1–6); and—in spite of presumptuous claims to the contrary—no one in the modern church has been personally and directly appointed as an apostle by the Lord Jesus. Of course, there are some charismatics who claim to have seen visions of the resurrected Lord. Not only are such claims highly suspect and impossible to verify; they simply do not meet the apostolic criteria—since an apostle had to see the resurrected Christ in the flesh with his own eyes. . . .
Wayne Grudem, popular author and professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary, is a committed charismatic himself and perhaps the best theologian and apologist for the movement. But even he acknowledges that “since no one today can meet the qualification of having seen the risen Christ with his own eyes, there are no apostles today.”
—John MacArthur, Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship (Thomas Nelson, 2014), 92–93
MY LAST PARAGRAPH. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT simply go online to find out what the experts say concerning Bible, theology or doctrine. You need to have a solid foundation, with a wide range of knowledge before you start accepting answers on the internet. It is easy to be misled by cultists and errant Christians. A person needs to be grounded in truth or he may find himself being deceived. Find a good, solid, loving local church and a godly, gifted, called and spiritually equipped pastor. ALSO, BEWARE. Just because a person may be accurate and correct in one area, does not mean that they are qualified to speak in another area. It is too easy to follow false prophets or be misled by those who preach partial truths.
I recently worshiped with Free Grace Wesleyan Church on Harkers Island, and was blessed by the fellowship, the music and of course Pastor Clint.
During his message, Pastor Clint correctly mentioned the fact that there are people today who falsely claim to be apostles. As I said, he only mentioned it in passing, therefore he did not elaborate at that time. Of course I agreed with him, because no one meets New Testament qualifications of an apostle.
The Biblical importance of a New Testament apostle is the fact that God empowered and enlightened them in a way that no one else has been enabled. This is because they, along with other specially anointed men, were inspired by the Holy Spirit to convey God's word. Others may preach what the apostles and prophets said, but no one is receiving new revelation and inspiration since the New Testament. The Old and New Testaments are God's only revealed and inspired word to the world. One of the passages that came to mind concerning the uniqueness of an apostle is in Ephesians. It tells us that we are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (the New Testament writings).
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
I wanted to find a concise and accurate statement concerning the New Testament qualifications of an apostle, therefore I pulled up various sites, which address this issue. Of course, some of the groups that claim to have apostles try to explain away the Biblical criteria for apostleship. However, one of the sites (a Calvinistic site) quotes John MacArthur on this subject.
(please be sure to read my last paragraph, after the MacArthur quote. thank you).
I AM NOT A MACARTHUR FAN for various reasons, including the fact that he teaches the errors of Calvinism. Still, I appreciated this article on this subject. Especially take not of these two points;
an apostle had to be an EYEWITNESS to the physically resurrected Christ, and
an apostle had to be SENT by Jesus personally.
Also note that MacArthur, who is very strongly Calvinistic, references and quotes Wayne Grudem, a Charismatic professor of theology and Biblical studies, concerning the fact that no modern person meets the qualifications of a New Testament apostle.
Here is a copy of the MacArthur's quote.
JOHN MACARTHUR QUOTE...
Charismatics, and others who build entire theological systems on single verses or even words, will ask, “Where does the Bible say the apostolic office is no more?” This is unlikely to satisfy them, but it should convince you, the logical, biblical thinker.
It would be impossible for any contemporary Christian to meet the biblical qualifications required for someone to be considered an apostle. The New Testament articulates at least three necessary criteria:(1) an apostle had to be a physical eyewitness of the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:22; 10:39–41; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:7–8); (2) an apostle had to be personally appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 3:14; Luke 6:13; Acts 1:2, 24; 10:41; Gal. 1:1); and (3) an apostle had to be able to authenticate his apostolic appointment with miraculous signs (Matt. 10:1 –2; Acts 1:5–8; 2:43; 4:33; 5:12; 8:14; 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3–4).
Those qualifications alone conclusively demonstrate that there are no apostles in the church today. No living person has seen the risen Christ with his or her own eyes; no one is able to perform miraculous signs like those done by the apostles in the book of Acts (cf. Acts 3:3–11; 5:15–16; 9:36–42; 20:6–12; 28:1–6); and—in spite of presumptuous claims to the contrary—no one in the modern church has been personally and directly appointed as an apostle by the Lord Jesus. Of course, there are some charismatics who claim to have seen visions of the resurrected Lord. Not only are such claims highly suspect and impossible to verify; they simply do not meet the apostolic criteria—since an apostle had to see the resurrected Christ in the flesh with his own eyes. . . .
Wayne Grudem, popular author and professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary, is a committed charismatic himself and perhaps the best theologian and apologist for the movement. But even he acknowledges that “since no one today can meet the qualification of having seen the risen Christ with his own eyes, there are no apostles today.”
—John MacArthur, Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit with Counterfeit Worship (Thomas Nelson, 2014), 92–93
MY LAST PARAGRAPH. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT simply go online to find out what the experts say concerning Bible, theology or doctrine. You need to have a solid foundation, with a wide range of knowledge before you start accepting answers on the internet. It is easy to be misled by cultists and errant Christians. A person needs to be grounded in truth or he may find himself being deceived. Find a good, solid, loving local church and a godly, gifted, called and spiritually equipped pastor. ALSO, BEWARE. Just because a person may be accurate and correct in one area, does not mean that they are qualified to speak in another area. It is too easy to follow false prophets or be misled by those who preach partial truths.
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