heirs with Christ

Reformed Lifestyle

2011-01-17T10:44:00.000-08:00

Dont forget that this is not a current Blog. If you want to visit my current blog it is at http://reformedlifestyle.wordpress.com

Just a reminder to all of the 1PC people that read this blog.. I love you all, I have nothing against you personally, but I do have an issue with the teachings of the Oneness Pentecostal doctrines.

God bless you all.

Refocusing Scripture on Jesus rather than on self

2010-06-30T15:37:00.001-07:00

I found a nice site that I am looking around on right now, I will post more, but here is a great quote from there...

"Refocusing Scripture on Jesus rather than on self.

Therefore living for Him and not using Him to get on with my own life." If the law is about you – what kind of Christian life will you lead? If Psalm 15 is about you, how will you cope? If David slaying Goliath is a type of your battles – what's the moral? But if the law describes Christ and His righteousness… If Psalm 15 is about Him… If David is Christ defeating the head of the house of the wicked and winning victory for the people of God… then we are put in our right place. We confess "I am not the righteous one described in the law, but a sinner." "I am not the Blameless One, but I have taken refuge in Him." "I am not the victorious King, but He has won my victory for me."

Jesus!

2010-06-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

There is no other way in which God can be known but through Christ, who is the image and pattern of his substance… Although Jews, Turks, and other infidels boast that they worship God the Creator of heaven and earth, yet they worship an imaginary God: however obstinate they may be, they follow vague and uncertain opinions instead of truth; they grope in the dark and worship their own imagination instead of God. In short, outside of Christ, all religion is deceitful and transitory and every kind of worship ought to be abhorred and condemned. ~ John Calvin (Commentary, Isaiah 25:9)

--
James R. Evans OST L2
teleNetwork Inc.
San Marcos, TX

"If ever there should come a wretched day when all our pulpits be full of modern thought, and the old doctrine of substitutionary sacrifice shall be exploded, then there will remain no word of comfort for the guilty or hope for the despairing." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

First Post of 2010

2010-01-03T06:50:00.001-08:00

I was just looking up some stuff on the internet when I came across a Conspiracy Theory forum. This forum had a 'Religious Conspiracy Theories' section on it. I was curious of course. Well one of the topics was Noah's flood. Some one was trying to "scientifically" disprove it. Most of the people there backed up his claims and there were a couple that obviously studied the topic and defended it. Here is the intro to the post.. I am going to break it down with my responses.

"There has been a long standing trend, a conspiracy if you will, for Religious Fundamentalists to attempt to discredit science and put forth the Bible as absolute fact.They treat it as a History book instead of a peice of literature, which is what it really is."

- Okay, right off the bat he is segregating Science from the bible, trying to make religion in to fantasy and science in to fact.. I hate it when humanists do this.

"This is being seen more and more lately in the U.S., which I find quite frightening! In an attempt to get others to pull the wool from their eyes, and think for themselves,"

- This is not true, actually it is the opposite, Every one used to know the truth in America, the very country was founded on Christian principles and the Bible it's self!. It is here of late that people are abandoning the Bible and tolerating other pagan beliefs to where Christianity is boiled down to two groups now, radical evangelicals and romanists (Catholics). And even the Secular Humanists who claim they have no God when in fact they worship themselves.

Then I realized as I looked around on this site, that almost all of the topics were anti Christian. Most of the responses were tolerance, and demeaned the sovereignty of God. When I have some time I am going to start posting on this site because they need a reformed view. lol

God bless you all and happy new year.

WCF X:II

2009-12-18T18:29:00.001-08:00

WCF X:II. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.

Is it over?

2009-12-14T15:45:00.001-08:00

Well our meetings came to a close today with the Jehovah's Witnesses that have been stopping by. We had a few interesting conversations but today We did what they did not expect; We preached to them. Once again they tried to play the witness by association card, where they try to say that we actually believe the same thing by agreeing with the things We disagree with them on. Funny, that approach I knew would only work for so long. I clearly and openly explained the Sovereignty of God and the doctrines of Predestination and Reprobation to them and she cracked and finally admitted that it is not something that she believes. She insists that humans have free will and that we are in control of our own destinies. I advised that she is taking the deity away from Jehovah and giving it to man, she did not disagree and then changed the subject. I proposed that we were only arguing and that our goal was to convert her and her daughter to what we believe truth is. I also proposed that our arguments are all moot, because it all comes down to soteriology. I explained that there are two variants of protestant Christianity, the ones who follow Rome and the teachings of Jacobus Arminius, or the teachings of the reformers (etc. John Calvin/Martin Luther), proto-reformers, and the scripture. In other words, salvation by works, or salvation by grace. They say they do not believe in a works based salvation, but they also said that they do not believe in the perseverance of the saints. So I pointed out that making a claim like that is directly contrary to the other. Of course the thing that really convinced them that our friendly chats were over was when I asked them what manuscript their NT was translate from, they only really believe in one translation, the "New World Translation". She found it in her bible... The Westcott & Hort. I told her that I was sorry but I can not trust anything they say because their Bible was null and void because of the Greek Manuscripts. (I had just finished giving them the history of the W&H vs the Textus Receptus versions before I found out about their Bible) This statement kind of set her back a second, then she said that we can generally come to the truth from all of the versions of scripture, then I told them no that the Westcott and Hort Greek NT was not the Word of God and that they seriously need to research the men who came up with that New Testament. I was very impressed with my brother in law Sevé, he stuck it out and fought back many great points. I loved the way he used the "O-3 God Logic" philosophical argument most atheists use to try and disprove God, to prove that God does exist and is in control of everything, including our Will and Choices. She was dumbfounded and pretended to understand, but her daughter got it.. and tried to disagree, in fact they both just admitted that they wouldn't like having a God like that. Then Sevé for the win said , "Your god can be logically disproved, my God can't".

I will actually be praying for Abby and her daughter, maybe the seeds we planted (or threw at them) will one day sprout.

--
James Evans

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." -- Paul to the Ephesians (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Boston Legal Evolutionary Jargon

2009-12-09T18:56:00.001-08:00

I was revisiting some DVDs recently. i was watching a Law-Dramedy called Boston Legal. It is a witty Drama-Comedy (Dramedy) A spin-off of the long-running series The Practice, Boston Legal followed the personal and professional exploits of a group of attorneys working at the law firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt..

Well I was watching season one and came across an episode called "From Whence We Came" where the firm takes the case of a High School Principal who fired 2 teachers because they refused to teach Intelligent Design (Creation) along with Evolution in class. Evolutionist was the Plaintiff and Creationists were the Defendants.

It is amazing how even though the Creationists won (sorry for the spoiler) Evolution was still the real winner. Let me explain. When some one, be it a Christian, Jew, or any other belief that believes in a great creator, mixes the theory of evolution with religion, you still get a false religion.

I want to start with the etymology of the word "believe", because you have to believe in the theory of evolution as well as believe in God. This is such a debated topic that people lose focus of the outcome and focus on the means. Let me explain; Means are what people believe the "Facts" are, the outcome is what the facts prove.

Believe is a verb that comes from the Greek word "pistevo". The NOUN version of this word is "pistis" and is translated to English ....faith. (this is a long post waiting to happen on this topic.lol) To believe in Evolution, you have to have faith in it, in the Scientists that are telling you that their scientific studies and research is flawless. You have to have faith in the account of history you have been taught, in the teachers in the schools, in the text books they teach from.

Now, modern secular science tells you that you do not need faith in any of these things because they have facts or unquestionable scientific evidence.

Okay, let me get on to this episode so I can eventually reveal my thesis.

Attorney Daniel Gellman: Why can't you view Intelligent Design as a Science, Ms Turner?

Roberta Turner: Because! There is simply no scientific data to support it. How are we to maintain any credibility as Science teachers if we say, "Gee! Despite all this data, there's also another possibility." Intelligent Design makes a mockery of Science. If you wanna teach it as religion course? Fine! But as a Science? It's simply preposterous.

This is a very good example of what most secular scientist make in their defense. But this ridicule can be turned around right back at her if one was to really study scientific history. People need to learn from history instead of making up new things. (Religion included).

Attorney Daniel Gellman: This case is all about politics. It's about getting religion back into schools. Creationism is religious doctrine; it is not supported by scientific data. I'm a Christian. My wife is a Jew. We have wonderful debates. And this country, as a whole should be more theologically literate, but it's not Science! What's happening here today is an attack on evolution. It's clever. Let's call it Intelligent Design. Let's not mention God. But, come on! The Supreme Court banned the teaching of Creationism in the public schools. They were right then, they remain right today, and my client's discharge was unlawful, as well in violation of our time honored tradition of separating Church and State. Of course we have a legitimate Cause of Action.

Shirley Schmidt: That was almost Evangelical. The Establishment Clause prohibits the endorsement of, or discrimination against any particular religion. But it was never meant to extinguish the notion of a Higher Power. I certainly believe in evolution. Who here among us, while watching the presidential debates could deny that we all come from monkeys. But, what's so wrong with suggesting, as a possible theory, that a Higher Power might have also played a part? As for Church and State, we go to war over God-given rights to Democracy. Let's face it. God is big here. We love God, and we as a nation have an overwhelming belief He had something to do with the creation of human-kind. But, teach that in a Science class? Perish the thought. Nobody here is trying to squash evolution, and I would agree with Mr Gellman, it isn't good Science to suppress information. But, I would ask the court, who here today is trying to do the squashing?

I want to break down some of the Daniel Gellman character's argument. "Creationism is religious doctrine; it is not supported by scientific data. I'm a Christian" This is where we start to see danger. This is something that is saturated modern Christian thought. Actually the literal 6 day 'young earth' creation model is very supported by scientific data, and evidence. It is always distorted and interpreted as something different by bias and brainwashing. Also he said " And this country, as a whole should be more theologically literate, but it's not Science!" Once again making "creation" in to a religious belief and Science some thing more 'real'. Then he flips the argument to a "bait and switch" when he says "What's happening here today is an attack on evolution."

Then he says "...and my client's discharge was unlawful, as well in violation of our time honored tradition of separating Church and State." This really gets under my skin because of the ignorance that most people have when it comes to the separation of church and state. I like what the Shirley Schmidt character says in reply, "As for Church and State, we go to war over God-given rights to Democracy. Let's face it. God is big here. We love God, and we as a nation have an overwhelming belief He had something to do with the creation of human-kind". But that still isn't even enough on that topic, Let me define what Thomas Jefferson meant but this phrase, Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in 1802 to answer a letter from them written in October 1801. The Danbury Baptists were a religious minority in Connecticut, and they complained that in their state, the religious liberties they enjoyed were not seen as immutable rights, but as privileges granted by the legislature — as "favors granted." Jefferson's reply did not address their concerns about problems with state establishment of religion - only of establishment on the national level. The letter contains the phrase "wall of separation between church and state,"

The letter was the subject of intense scrutiny by Jefferson, and he consulted a couple of New England politicians to assure that his words would not offend while still conveying his message: it was not the place of the Congress or the Executive to do anything that might be misconstrued as the establishment of religion.

In other words: The Government needs to stay out of the church's business and not vise versa like the secular humanists like to use it.

Now to my point.

This is what the Judge says as he awards the victory to the defendant.

Judge William Howe: It seems as long as you do it in the name of the Almighty, one is free to abandon not only common sense and Science, but also the facts. But I am also concerned about a secular society squeezing faith out of our lives. We've all witnessed the ridiculous lawsuits to stop Nativity scenes at Christmas, to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance. God has always been a part of who and what we are as a nation. On our currency it reads, 'In God we trust.' The Declaration of Independence speaks of God. How we are created, endowed by our creator it references our Supreme Judge of the world and Divine Providence, God. And I'm sorry, anybody who has ever held a new born child in his hands must make room for the chance that a Higher Power exists. And it shouldn't offend you west Scientists to say, "Hey! We just don't know." I find the decision to include Intelligent Design along with evolution into the Science curriculum does not violate the establishmentcause of the First Amendment. I'm ruling in favor of the defendant. This lawsuit is dismissed.

Here is my Thesis: Even though the Creationists won the case, evolution was still the winner.

1. Every one here still believes in evolution (even the so called Christians)

2. Every one here thinks that Creation is religion and Science is fact.

3. No one wants to be accused of "attacking evolution"

=============

Okay, now here is my reformed thought on the topic.

I used to debate evolutionists. Not professional debates but friendly verbal debates and hostile internet debates. I would always declare my side, the evidence to support it (leaving out the Bible entirely) and stay away from logical fallacy. This was one of the things that lead me to having high blood pressure because the evolutionists would always win in their own minds. The Evolutionists would always change their evidence and say that real science is always changing. They also debase you and ridicule you especially if you have no credentials. They feel that only people that have recognized credentials can know the truth. Some one who has gone through the teachings for years and have mastered the theory. In my opinion some one who has gone through that much indoctrination has been brain washed anyway. After I reformed, and started studying theology instead of science, I find even more reason for me to believe in creation.

Since the creation, the creature has found ways to try and disprove the creator. Many pagan religions turn to nature to explain the supernatural by worshiping the creation instead of the creator. Here we find the same thing in the followers of the theory of evolution. Richard Baxter says "...that they study the creature before the Redeemer, and set themselves to physics, and metaphysics, and mathematics, before they set themselves to theology; whereas, no man that hath not the vitals of theology, is capable of going beyond a fool in philosophy. Theology must lay the foundation, and lead the way of all our studies". Today modern secular science, like it always has, tries to disprove God. I believe in the Sovereignty of God. He controls the actions of every creature. God controls the minds and hearts of men. We have theological and scriptural reference and proofs of this. I no longer debate people on evolution, I will tell them how it is, scientifically and theologically, but we need to look at it more as evangelizing instead of debating. If they do not have or want truth in their minds and hearts, all we can do is plant the seeds and walk away, not argue.

You can not mix the theory of Evolution with the theologically sound doctrine of Christ. You can mix science with scripture however, because the Bible is scientifically accurate and I believe that this will only be accepted by God's Elect, because the Scripture is written for them alone. . This is where most people get confused because of the secular propaganda, Evolutionists want you to believe that Evolution is Science and not religion. It is a religion, a religion of secular humanism. So they disassociate the word science from religion to help push their argument. They want you to believe that evolution is not a religion because it is based on facts, thus is science. In contrast they want you to believe that creation is a religion because is based on something that is not real, thus not science. This confuses many people even God's elect. That is why so many fall victim to the modern twisting of scripture introducing "Gap Theory" and "Day Age" Theory. The term is "Theological Evolutionist" and it is getting more popular in the apostate Christian churches.

The best way to win against an evolutionist, is prayer. If it is a loved one, or even just a friend, if they are Elect, then they will eventually come to reason if it be God's will.

I am long winded.. I am going to go watch some more Boston Legal.. lol

Jym

Westminster V:I

2009-12-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

I have been reading and studying some historic documents lately.. the one I love the most is the Westminster Confession of Faith written by the Westminster Assembly in 1646.

Today I want to study Chapter V; of Providence.

I. God the great Creator of all things does uphold,[1] direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things,[2] from the greatest even to the least,[3] by His most wise and holy providence,[4] according to His infallible foreknowledge,[5] and the free and immutable counsel of His own will,[6] to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.[7]

The scripture that goes with this is:

[1] HEB 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

[2] DAN 4:34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

PSA 135:6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

ACT 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

[3] MAT 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

[4] PRO 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

PSA 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 145:17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

[5] ACT 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

PSA 94:8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? 9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? 10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? 11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

[6] EPH 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

PSA 33:10 The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

[7] ISA 63:14 As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

EPH 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.

ROM 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

GEN 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

PSA 145:7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

Theology must lay the foundation

2009-12-03T11:36:00.001-08:00

There is a prayer I have been petitioning to God lately. I want more desire to involve myself as a father to the teaching of Christ to my children. I want to seek Christ even more than I do now. This world we live in is corrupt. I believe that our minds are conditioned to indulge on entertainment. Not just movies and football, but everything we can do to "make life more comfortable". Knowing this you would think that it would make it easier to turn away from those things when need be in order to focus on Christ or to do Scripture studies. But it seems to be more difficult some times. For me. I know that when I am in the Word, or reading a good book written by puritan reformers, I feel nourished where the entertainment of the world leaves me empty and mindless. I pray that God will give me the strength to have daily devotions with my family as that they are all reformed as well now. I want to teach my children more about Christ, more about the beautiful history of the church and the martyrs and why they died.

I was reading a little of Richard Baxter's "The Reformed Pastor" and came across something that was a beautiful insight:

...that they study the creature before the Redeemer, and set themselves to physics, and metaphysics, and mathematics, before they set themselves to theology; whereas, no man that hath not the vitals of theology, is capable of going beyond a fool in philosophy. Theology must lay the foundation, and lead the way of all our studies. - Richard Baxter from "The Reformed Pastor"

Jehovah's Witnesses

2009-12-03T10:08:00.000-08:00

I love my pastor. He is witty and very wise. I recently asked him if I should continue preaching the gospel and doctrines of predestination to some Jehovah's Witnesses that came by. They are still interested in talk ing to me, but my wife and mother-in-law feels that i need to give them the boot and warn them to never come by again. This was his answer.

Jym,

Mt. 28: "18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying , All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo , I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 21 Except for Jehovah's Witnesses and other cult members, ye are not to teach them."

Bill

What we Represent

2009-11-23T12:26:00.001-08:00

It was brought to my attention recently that when we represent something we fully accept and represent that idea whether it be an Idea, product, or belief to the onlookers. (people that see us representing)

Example: if I wear a tee-shirt with a logo of a bad movie (with cussing, violence, nudity and sexual explicitness) then that is showing the world (strangers/friends/family) that I not only condone everything in that movie but I like it to the point of wearing it on a shirt to promote it.

Now, lets look at Christmas. (Assuming that you the reader already knows that the holiday is pagan and an apostate representation of Christ.)

If we decide that we are just going to put up a tree (and decorations), see family, and swap gifts; but not celebrate the Roman Catholic elements that blaspheme Christ, then we assume that this is okay. Because it is a time of family and nostalgic good feelings from our past. ...

... Well, if we accept one small part of this celebration then we accept everything the celebration represents. This is a matter of public opinion. (in other words this is what people will assume, not what you actually believe in your heart) For example if you wear Christmas shirts, you condone everything Christmas stands for. If you put up a tree and exchange gifts, then you are telling the world and every one who sees you doing it, that you are not only okay with the Roman Catholic Mass (Christ-Mass) but you celebrate it. You are telling people that you not only hold true to the worship of a 4th century Roman Catholic Bishop (St. Nicholas) but you also condone and practice the Pagan celebrations of YULE and Saturnalia. (12 days of Christmas). In condoning the celebrations of Saturnalia you also accept, condone and like the practice of orgies with children and animals with animal and sometimes human sacrifices to Saturn. By accepting the date of December 25th as the represented day of Christ's carnal birth, you accept that Christ is incarnate of Mithras the Sun God, and his mother Queen of the Universe, Mary being divine and assisting in the salvation of God's people along with Christ's atonement and taking the Eucharist.

Woah! That is absurd! Kind of extreme right? Well, we have to know what we are representing to the unlearned eyes of this world. If we represent something that is offensive to Christ, then we are telling others that it is okay to offend Christ. (and telling Christ we are okay with others offending him)

In other words some of the traditions of this seasonal celebration seem to not be blasphemous, but they represent something that is. If you represent Christmas in any way, then you represent everything it stands for.

Shenouda

2009-11-20T19:03:00.000-08:00

Question:

AntiCatholic Protestants, what do you make of Pope Shenouda III is he also an "AntiChrist"?

My Answer:

Yes, the papacy is anti-Christ. It teaches a differnt Christ than the Scripture teaches. Catholic soteriology teaches salvation by works and not grace."For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."Eph 2:8-9

----------------------

This individual was trying to say that this pope does nice things and so we shouldn't see him as anti-Christ. I am seeing this more and more, it seems that the world operates off of the paradigm that good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell. They outright disregard the Holy Scriptures and what the authority of God teaches.

the red pill

2009-09-16T06:11:00.001-07:00

I just had a dream, well nightmare really. It was about the big picture of this world. I know that I have said things in the past to people about this kind of thing and that I have studied and believed things that most do not. The things that I believe would today in this age and world be categorized as crazy. I just want to break things down because the red pill was a hard pill to swallow. My nightmare was essentially just a scenario of of things, a representation or vision, not of actual event, but rather a reminder to me not to get comfortable in the warm fuzzy blanket of deceit. Over the last hundred years or so we have been lied to and deceived. The human populace has been conditioned. Look at the way they use the word "Conspiracy Theory" This is now a term that means crazy. Instead of looking in to the theory people are labeled this and discarded because the went outside the politically correct form fitted standard of thought the Government and media has dictated as what is right. This is saturated in every corner of modern Christian Dogma as well. You can believe in Jesus as log as it doesn't go against the grain, your church is 501(c)3, and that your Christian religion teaches love (phileo and not real agapé) and peace and harmony and unity with all religions. This is the conditioning that we are subject to. All real doctrine of Christ has been thrown out and the Bible reduced to an old book full of morals. But if you actually believe the events in the book took place then you are crazy and deny what modern science and modern history teaches. The control that is in place here is astounding. Everything from the foods we eat to the mind conditioning of our brains through media like news and entertainment. The atrophy of our brain comes from diet and media I am telling you.. The big corporate responsibility is not to the people but to the ones who benefit monetarily. People are getting fatter, and dumber to make it easier to control them. There are toxins in our food, water and consumer products to the point where it is very hard to avoid them. We have communist public schools that are mandatory and control and condition our children what to think and what to believe. We are circling the drain.

Here are some of my outrageous claims. First, history is not accurate. We have an ancient book that is backed up archeologically and scientifically. But since it talks about an all powerful God

that is in control of everything, it is disregarded. The infection of humanism and philosophy in science has lead the way to people thinking that the earth and universe is unrealistically old. It is an absolute absurd thought that the earth is over 4 billion years old and call that science. It is dogmatic to believe that one kind of animal can turn in to another one over millions of years. But in modern communist academia it is scientific fact (with no proof of experimentation). No one wants to be ridiculed, so they do not question. This all leads way to many Historical Fallacies. The history of the world and of mankind is tainted to push the big agenda. Another good example of this is Dinosaurs. (this falls under media as well). Our modern communist train of thought is that the dinosaurs died off millions of years ago. Well, real science and eyewitness reports would testify otherwise. To drive this home, how would you, dear reader, feel if I was to tell you that I have personally seen a dinosaur with my own eyes? You would think i am crazy or didn't know what I really saw. There is no way one could actually see a dinosaur. Well not if you have bought in to what the world is selling. The word "dinosaur" is Latin for "Terrible Lizard". It was a term coined in 1842. Before that they were called dragons and have been documented in history by stories, paintings, pottery, jewelry, clothing, ceramic figurines, etc. But that doesn't matter anymore. It is all overlooked. The things that sickens me the most is how this all fits in to what is becoming the emergent church. I will talk about that in a little while.

Media is a powerful tool. I am not only talking about commercials and News, but also entertainment. After taking in the amount of toxins and MSG and other potentially harmful chemicals to our brain we sit down and "veg out" watching our favorite TV shows, Movies or video games. Now we all know that people are swayed by news and commercials. that is what it is designed for.. that is why there are different news networks.. they each have political agendas.

Fox news is more conservative and republican, where as CNN is more liberal and democratic. You have the commercials brainwashing you to by their harmful products. Then you have the entertainment shutting your mind down by putting you in a different scenario other than real life just filling the time between your birth date and your death date on your tomb stone. What better way than this to fill your empty time between school or work then to just space out and

enrich your self in the stories of something not real. To just get away from the agonies and stresses of real life. This is all conditioning and very addictive because the effects are like a drug. This is the blue pill. Oh and to just push this a little further, now we have the internet. I work Internet and Computer tech support. I see this all the time, People can not live with out their internet, and it is getting worse as we have given birth to the new age of digital money management and business over the world wide web. Have you ordered pizza over the internet yet? I have. This is just the beginning. Our technology is our collar and leash.

Last but not least, what about religion? The emerging church (sometimes referred to as the emergent movement) is a Christian movement of the late 20th and early 21st century that crosses a number of theological boundaries: participants can be described as evangelical, post-evangelical, liberal, post-liberal, charismatic, neocharismatic and post-charismatic. Participants seek to live their faith in what they believe to be a "postmodern" society. Proponents of this movement call it a "conversation" to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature, its vast range of standpoints and its commitment to dialogue. What those involved in the conversation mostly agree on is their disillusionment with the organized and institutional church and their support for the deconstruction of modern Christian worship, modern evangelism, and the nature of modern Christian community.That was taken from wikipedia.org. It is describing what modern Christianity is in america. The saturation of the Romanist pagan taint in the Christian religion has been here since the beginnings of the religion, It is the evil twin that comes as a shadow to oppose the true pure Christian religion. It all comes down to Soteriology (the study of salvation). There are only two actual beliefs on Christian Salvation. Salvation by Works and Salvation by Grace. The Bible teaches Salvation by Grace, and the World teaches Salvation by Works. The Bible teaches that God chooses who he will save, and saves them, and condemns the rest to eternity in agony. The world teaches that Christ loves every one and you have to choose to follow him, and only you can choose your salvation. The corruption of the Word of God is astounding. But this conditioning that started in Rome is leading to a unitarian philosophical government run dogma to control the people rather than free them. Accourding to the bible salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the triune God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the Gospel. The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation. That is from a very helpful site, reformed.org. This is only one aspect of the control, the other is Eschetological. (study of the end times). What better way to control religious people then to control what they think of prophecy. That is why the Bible HAS to be the final authority on prophecy. Otherwise you will get false prophets claiming they have a word from God. If this was true then it would render the Bible moot.

I said all of that to say this. The elect of Christ is truly in the world but not of the world. We have to stand up for truth in this day, but to what point and at what cost? The world will hate you for the things you believe, if you do not believe what they want you to believe.

Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[[ The Red Pill /Blue pill reference is to the Movie "The Matrix" The ones that wanted to know the truth took the red pill, and the ones who wanted to stay in the fabricated made up world not knowing the truth took the blue pill. ]]

True Worship vs. False Worship

2009-09-11T14:04:00.001-07:00

True Worship	False Worship
Only what God commands in His Word is allowed.	Whatever is not expressly condemned in the Bible is allowable.
God-centered worship.	Leads to man-centered worship.
Worship content is the objective word of God.	Worship becomes more and more subjective or mystical.
Worship remains pure, simple and unadulterated.	Worship changes and evolves and becomes adulterated with manmade traditions.
Worship based on God's Word has limited parameters.	Public worship forms and content theoretically are infinite.
Thoroughly biblical.	Basically pragmatic: whatever seems to work, and whatever pleases man, will be used.
Pure Gospel worship is transcultural. Besides language barriers, people from churches that are faithful to the regulative principle could visit a like-minded church anywhere in the world and immediately fit right in and feel at home. In the seventeenth century, an English or American Puritan, a Scottish or Irish Presbyterian and a Reformed Dutchman both had very similar worship services. This was not the result of some act of conformity but because they both believed and obeyed the regulative principle. In the future, as pure doctrine and pure worship are revived and as whole nations are converted and covenant with God, the transcultural nature of pure Gospel worship will be very useful and important to travelers and business people.	False worship caters to man's sinful autonomy. Therefore false worship is a mixture of paganism and Christianity. Because false worship has a theoretically infinite number of worship options, a person would have to adapt, learn and adjust to each cultural and denominational worship option. The high church liturgical Episcopalian would probably feel uncomfortable at a black gospel jamfest. There are thousands of different hymnals, hundreds of different liturgies. There are rock groups, drama groups, orchestras, poetry readings, videos, Bo-Bo the clown, comedians, entertainers, Johnny Carson style interviews, liturgical dance, organ recitals; there are several different holy days and church calendars, etc. False worship fragments the church.
Historically kept the Reformed and Presbyterian churches' worship pure, until abandoned or redefined so as to be rendered meaningless.	Historically has led the church into declension, heresy and idolatry. The apostolic church eventually degenerated into papalism.
Biblical worship focuses on God and His Word.	Man-centered worship focuses on man and his senses. Therefore it either degenerates into entertainment or pompous ritual and ceremony (smells, bells, gator hats, cathedrals, intricate liturgies, etc.)
Men have liberty under God's Word.	Men lose their liberty under man's changing and arbitrary standard.
Pure Gospel worship fosters biblical ecumenicity and community.	False worship divides the church into a thousand splinters. As worship content and style "evolve" and change, the old are even divided from the young.

Remember

2009-09-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

Remember remember the eleventh of September
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot...

Remember the ones who lost their lives
Remember the ones who are behind it
Remember the ones who are blamed for it

Rome's Great Secret: Free Will

2009-09-11T13:14:00.001-07:00

How things have changed! In 1563 the Council of Trent (an avowed standard of Popery) asserted: "If any one shall affirm, that man's free will, moved and excited by God, does not by consenting, co-operate with God, the mover and exciter, so as to prepare and dispose itself for the attainment of justification; if moreover, anyone shall say, that human will cannot refuse complying, if it please; but that it is unactive, and merely passive, let such an one be ACCURSED!" (cited from page 139 of the Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink)

More simply put, should anyone assert that man DOES NOT have a free will, let such an one be damned as a heretic! The seriousness and force of this statement, from the Vatican of that day, can easily be illustrated. For for this cause, William Tyndale (as well as many others among the courages reformers of the sixteenth century) were burned at the stake (cf.p. 166-167, God's Outlaw: The Story of William Tyndale and the English bible by Brian Edwards).

Martin Luther clearly saw the issue of free will as the primary cause of his separation from Rome. In his book, The Bondage of the Will, Luther replied to the Romanist Erasmus and his diatribe, The Freedom of the Will. Though disagreeing with just about everything else Erasmus wrote, Luther commended Erasmus for at least recognizing the crux of the matter at issue between Rome and the Bible believers, the debate over "free will." In this regard Luther said, "that unlike all the rest, you alone have attacked the real issue, the essence of the matter in dispute," - i.e. man's so-called "free will."

As opposed to the Roman Catholic/Arminian view on free will, we find the Biblical doctrine summed up, on pages 52-53, of the Westminster Confession of Faith, (Ch. 9, sec. 3 and 4, 1647 edition reprinted by Free Presbyterian Publications) "Man by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation (Rom. 5:6, 8:7, Jn. 15:5), so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good (Rom. 3:10-22), and dead in sin (Eph. 2:1, Col. 2:13), is not able by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto (Jn. 6:44, 65, Eph. 2:2-5, 14, Titus 3:13). When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin (Col. 1:13, Jn. 8:34-36) and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good (Phil. 2:13, Rom. 6:18, 22), yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly nor only will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil 9Gal 5:17, Rom. 7:15-23).

Two opposing and irreconcilable views have been placed before you today and one question remains, Who do you stand with? The Bible, Christ, His prophets, reformers, martyrs, puritans, etc., (against man's free will) or with the Roman Catholic/Arminian teachings and traditions of men? (Jn. 10:3, 27, Matt. 15:7-14, 16:6-12).

For further study see Jn. 1:13 and Rom. 9:16. In Matt 22:14 you will notice: "many are called" (that is the outward call, through preaching, etc.) but few choose? oh no, the scripture reads: "few are chosen," that is, chosen of God's will, receiving the inward effectual call and enablement of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 110:3), as they are predestined to (Rom. 8:29-30).

In light of the short study above, it is easy to see how a lack of doctrinal and historical study is leading many into serious compromise with the false ecumenical apostasy espoused by Rome and other deviant beliefs. In this area, many "Protestants," even now, bow down to Rome's humanistic, anti-Christian, idol of free will - - may God give you strength to remain faithful to His word!

---- Jim Brown (Grace and Truth Ministries)

Judas' suicide

2009-09-08T07:03:00.001-07:00

My wife was reading the Bible last night.. She was reading the book of Acts. She came across Acts 1:19 about Judas' suicide. She asked me, "I thought Judas Hung him self, What does "falling headlong" mean?"

Act 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

Mat 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

This was my answer:

You were asking about how Judas Iscariot killed himself in the Bible because of the 2 different descriptions (Matthew 27:5 and Acts 1:18) do they contradict? We read the Bible through our Western glasses and we have to remember that the Bible is wrapped up in a culture. Our Western culture says "hanging = rope around the neck." The Middle Eastern culture is quite different. If someone were to be "hanged" or "hang themself" they would stand on something (i.e. rock, stool, etc.) and leap onto a sharpened steak or spear so the body was quite literally HANGING from the pole. That is why Luke says that Judas' guts were poured out on the field and thats why Matthew says Judas hanged himself. They are saying the same thing. We just don't understand that as readers because we fail to unwrap the culture that the Bible comes in. What we need to steer away from is the "Old West" or "Western" backdrop for Judas' suicide.

I wanted to post this because I thought it was interesting and another good example of the idioms and culture of that time and how America mistranslates the Bible.

JYM

ref=http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/649434

Tongues

2009-08-26T11:26:00.001-07:00

Unlearnt tongues are essentially about reversing the effects of the fall; so that the curse of Babel (Genesis 11) is temporarily lifted. This is why languages were given at Pentecost - it was a temporary reversal of just one effect of the fall, namely the confusion of languages given a thousand years approx after the fall; but which was an extension of the fall's (sin) effect. Two sorts of tongues existed in Biblical times; firstly the pagans went ra-la-ab-la-nan-la-fa-la etc which is untestible gibberish but which can give a person a buzz - just like a drug or strong coffee. The second type of tongues are unlearnt human languages given by God. There are no such thing as 'angelic tongues' firstly because the angels in heaven were not cursed by God with many different languages at Genesis 11 and secondly because being spirits without a mouth or a voice box, these angels (in heaven) do not speak via sound waves in an atmosphere. Finally Paul is using hyperbolae (exaggeration) at 1st Corinthians 13:1 to make a point.

Unfortunately, Paul had to write to the Corinthian Church because although they had the true gift, others had brought pagan tongues into the Church and still others (the majority) were abusing the true gift and using it to show off. For instance at 1st Corinthians 14:2 the (true) gift of tongues was being so abused so that only God understood what was being said - which defeated the whole purpose of his giving the gift in the first place which was to communicate a message in a human language which somebody would understand! Please do allow Paul a little irony at this verse (1st Corinthians 14:2). Today, the same thing has happened in the modern Church as at Corinth, but whilst Corinth was largely the true gift mixed with abuse and error as well as some (if only on a small scale) of the false gift. Today the Charismatic movement is almost entirely the false pagan gift (allah-ballah-fallah-corullah type of drivel) with very little of the true gifts ever being exercised.

The sheer ignorance and gullibility of most Charismatics is shocking as Charismatic experiences have the intention of very gradually and slowly weaning people away from scripture alone as God's sole means of communication to us and onto scripture as interpreted by experience. But God isn't doing that as it's Satan who's having a field day amongst keen but clueless Charismatics and the result is clear ... the tongues movement is reversing the reformation and is a major tool of Satan's ecumenical movement to unify all Churches under Rome. If a one world Church led by the Pope does actually happen (as Satan is planning), then we'd largely have the gullible Charismatics to thank for this.

Oh and before I forget the modern tongues (babbling) movement was revived by the shakers - who had a female Christ! Then in the 1830's the Mormons started to speak in tongues (babbling) and on the 1st January 1901 (the first official day of the new Millennium) a Sodomite and eventual KKK member called Charles Parham revived tongues (babble) at the Topeka Bible College! Now I might be a Limey, but I'm not stupid enough to believe that the Holy Spirit is using tongues to start revival amongst over 50 Million Roman Catholics, 11 Million Mormons and approx 15 Million Oneness folk, not to mention Arian tongues speakers and Word of faith tongues speakers who believe that Jesus offered up a sacrifice to Satan in hell! As I've said this movement isn't of God and it's being used by Satan to reverse the reformation.

---Robert Skynner

Chocolate Teapot

2009-08-20T08:38:00.001-07:00

another gem by Robert Skynner.

As useless as a Chocolate Teapot.

Here in the United Kingdom (UK) due to political correctness emanating from all sectors of the government, we now have firepersons (I can't say fireman as it's a sexist term), who lack the strength to lift another person of slightly above average weight (16 stone). This lifting requirement used to be one of the standard entrance tests for all trainee firemen, as they had to be strong enough to demonstrate that they could carry an injured people out of burning buildings. However today under new British fire regulations a female fire person of small stature only has to be strong enough to life somebody her own weight which in one recent case was under 7 stone in the instant of a virtual female dwarf who wanted to be a fireperson! Also left-wing councils can still appoint lifeguards even if they are poor swimmers, as the life-guards assistant can now co-ordinating a rescue from the land by the lifeguard who actually can swim!

So in both cases the people appointed to such posts as firepersons and lifeguards must meet certain diversity and politically correct Gramskian-cultural Marxist ideals so beloved by left-wing local councils! No doubt under the guise of diversity, it's not rescuing the drowning person that's the important thing, but getting all the paper-work right and demonstrating that your not racist, sexist or homophobic. Frankly, if I was drowning and the assistant life-guard was a one-legged, man-hating, black lesbian, then I'd rather that I'd be allowed to drown in peace! As for my ever needing assistance from the local fire service in the event of a fire. Well as I live on the fourteen floor and so the last thing that I'd want to see would be a tiny miniature six foot long (toytown) fire engine staffed by dwarf female firefighters, who then holding a circle of cloth two feet of the ground then encourage me to jump from 140 feet!

But such people appointed to such life saving jobs are really just about as useless as a chocolate teapot if they can't perform basic functions necessary to the job such as swim well in the case of a life-guard or carry a heavy person in the case of fireman. Let me compare this to making tea in a teapot made out of chocolate. When you place boiling water inside it, the chocolate teapot will quickly melt and spill the hot water and the tea bags. Now look, I'm a Trinitarian, and like it or not it is we and not Oneness folk who have been regarded as orthodox for two thousand years. So if Oneness Pentecostals are now going to claim that Trinitarians are lost and going to hell, and I've heard many Oneness folk making this claim, then it's my observation that Apostolics who say this but then cowardly duck out of a mature and adult conversation where they defend this claim demonstrating a knowledge of the Greek as well as an understanding of grammar; are just as useless as a life-guard who struggles to swim or a fireperson who can't lift a injured person of average size out of a burning building. Frankly if you are Oneness yourself and you can't intelligently refer to both the Greek and grammar to make a good case for the baptismal formula being 'Lord Jesus Christ.' Then in my opinion your just about as useless as a chocolate teapot and you might as well pack up your religion and admit that you are really just as uneducated as the Jehovah's Witnesses who like Oneness Pentecostals will also condemn all Trinitarians as heretics, but then run away when challenged to prove their claims fairly and in open discussion just as 1st Peter 3:15 commands us to do.

Written by a former Oneness Pentecostal.

I feel the same here. I will say this. When I was in the 1PC churches I was told not to study that stuff because it was dangerous. Being as naive as I was at that time I believed the man behind the pulpit. I see now it is because 1PC is new. The Christian teachings are old. they want to keep me in the faith so they do not want me to learn about the past. - Jym

In the name of Joshua...?

2009-08-19T16:46:00.001-07:00

Robert posted something I had to copy and paste here because it is something that basic logic in understanding really merits no response. What I mean is, What can you say to this? The Oneness Pentecostals focus everything on the name of Jesus. Even when you try to tell them that NAME (onoma) means authority, like "stop in the name of the law", They still hold to the actual word "JESUS" as the name of God, the word to speak in the water baptism formula and the name that saves by speaking it. They have songs what just repeat the word over and over like a mantra. This is what the entire Oneness Pentecostal religion is founded on... Okay, here is his post:

Why can't we baptise in the name 'Joshua?'

I hope that you do understand that nobody ever called 'Jesus' by this English name in the book of Acts which describe events between the years approximately 30 and 50 AD. The word 'Jesus' did not even exist until about nine hundred years ago when the English language arose out of Anglo-Saxon and French of the then ruling French nobility. Now the name 'Jesus' is nothing but an anglicised rendering of the Aramaic 'Yashua,' whilst the name 'Joshua' is nothing but an anglicised rendering of the Hebrew 'Yeh-ho-shuah' but these are all the same single name and not different names. So do you understand that Joshua (the son of Nunn) and Jesus (Joshua the Son of God), possessed the exact same name in Hebrew? This being so, why can't people use the name Joshua in water baptism today, for Joshua (yeh-ho-shuah) means Jesus (Yahsua). - Robert Skynner

This is so simple.. I can't believe that I never saw this. It has gone over an hour with no response ... on a very busy forum.

the gospel ?

2009-08-18T12:52:00.001-07:00

I have noticed that most people who are running to Christ, or feel drawn to him still have many disagreements with each other. The bible does say that we judge the fruits of people to tell if the are of God. But what about the ones that are off in sin but the hand of God. God has people going through trials and tribulations. This does not mean that they are not saved or Elect. That is why we have to preach the Gospel to every one so that the activation of the Holy Spirit in some one will regenerate them and make them alive in Christ. But what about the ones who already think they are saved. Are they? I mean I am looking at these Oneness Pentecostals who really believe that water baptism is what saves them. I used to believe the same way! How do you preach to someone who thinks they are already saved? That is why I can only take so much of the 1PC garbage of them just repeating Acts2:38 and John 3:5 over and over. The fact is that they are mis interparating these scriptures. I don't believe "preaching the Gospel" is debating the Word of God. What is Preaching the Gospel to you?

It took a very blatant and rude man challenging my belief in the 1PC faith. He broke down the scripture and defined the words then got in my face and said that pentecostolism is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. He called 1PC a lie from the pit of Hell. The conviction of these words aligned with the feelings I had had in the past of 1PC teetering on the edge of mysticism and occult magickal practices with a flavor of VooDoo/HooDoo in ceremony with Christian words slapped on them. When the connection of the past convictions and his words connected.. I couldn't talk for 2 days. I was in shock, literally. But it wasn't until the Calvinistic messages of grace came in until i started actual spiritual healing from the years of spiritual abuse.

Being ex-Oneness Pentecostal, I feel like I need to help these people because I was there, I believed that lie. But I am completely lost as to how, I mean I need to know how to present the true gospel of the bible, salvation by Grace, Faith, and Christ alone. Sola Scriptura: relying on nothing extra biblical such as modern prophetic tongues, dreams and visions making the Bible forfeit.

Keep me in prayer.

The Skynner Returns

2009-08-18T09:09:00.001-07:00

There was a guy on ALL of the facebook pentecostal groups that was boldly posting things about the Oneness Pentecostal religion to them in order to get a response for his 2 books over the Oneness pentecostal beliefs and how wrong they are. I liked his posts and agreed with him and duked it out with him for a while but he was dominating all of the Pentecostal forums to the point where people were ignoring anything I said because they were al ready riled up by his posts.

He was banned from the pentecostal boards... and now has an alternate name and is back.. read this post:

Fred Brown Aka, Robert Skynner: Speaking on the Issues etc radio program, Thomas Fudge an associate professor of theology from Auckland, New Zealand and a former member of the UPCI for 30 years, said of them that according to the UPCI that: ''Christ only died upon the cross only to make salvation via Acts 2:38 possible.'' So it's not Christ himself who directly justifies sinners in official UPCI doctrine; but rather, it's the use of the name 'Jesus' by the neophyte himself as a (sacramental) religious rite, which then justifies the lost provided that the name ''Jesus'' is then verbally uttered accurately at water baptism.

Now in my opinion the UPCI's use of the name 'Jesus' as a means of salvation is similar to witchcraft, where any spell has to be uttered correctly with the proper pronunciation in order to supposedly make it work! So most Oneness Pentecostals are simply using the name 'Jesus' in an identical way to the young actors in the fictional Harry Potter films who practice reciting their spells correctly with proper intonation and pronunciation at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Salvation isn't down to a formula of words or to what we can do to save ourselves, for Christ saves us and it's not a certain pronunciation of his name which saves us. So it is only the 'ungodly' who are 'not working' (for their salvation) who are saved according to (Romans 4:5). Whilst almost all Oneness folk regard salvation as for ''the Godly'' who are ''working'' for their salvation in complete contradiction to Paul at Romans 4:5.

===========

Of course he is correct, but the Pentecostals are offended and start getting ugly in their replies. This guy does this to debate them, and he is very very very good at it. And he calls them out on many fallacies. I enjoy reading his threads.

More Witnessing to Pentecostals

2009-08-17T19:47:00.001-07:00

Okay, I am posting this stuff to show how Pentecostals think, but mostly to post Biblical truths to them. I know that most will not accept this but they need to hear it. I am still waiting on replies for these two... i love it whan they tell me to read my Bible. lol

Oneness Pentecostal: So if Pentecostals are not saved then you just recently got saved..can you explain what we must do to be saved. I am interested how James views conversion in that he thought he was saved for 30 years and then found out he was not and now did something different to be saved and I want to know what that something is. Do we all not want to know?.that we all might be saved? I am sure James will be forth coming with this truth.

ME: Salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the Gospel. The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation.

The effect of the fall upon man is that sin has extended to every part of his personality -- his thinking, his emotions, and his will. Not necessarily that he is intensely sinful, but that sin has extended to his entire being. The unregenerate (unsaved) man is dead in his sins (Romans 5:12).

Without the power of the Holy Spirit, the natural man is blind and deaf to the message of the gospel (Mark 4:11f). This is why Total Depravity has also been called "Total Inability." The man without a knowledge of God will never come to this knowledge without God's making him alive through Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5). We are saved by Grace alone.

"for whose sins did Christ atone?" The Bible teaches that Christ died for those whom God gave him to save (John 17:9). Christ died, indeed, for many people, but not all (Matthew 26:28). Specifically, Christ died for the invisible Church -- the sum total of all those who would ever rightly bear the name "Christian" (Ephesians 5:25).

The result of God's Irresistible Grace is the certain response by the elect to the inward call of the Holy Spirit, when the outward call is given by the evangelist or minister of the Word of God. Christ, himself, teaches that all whom God has elected will come to a knowledge of him (John 6:37).

Men come to Christ in salvation when the Father calls them (John 6:44), and the very Spirit of God leads God's beloved to repentance (Romans 8:14). What a comfort it is to know that the gospel of Christ will penetrate our hard, sinful hearts and wondrously save us through the gracious inward call of the Holy Spirit (I Peter 5:10)!

(those whom God has saved) will remain in God's hand until they are glorified and brought to abide with him in heaven. Romans 8:28-39 makes it clear that when a person truly has been regenerated by God, he will remain in God's stead. The work of sanctification which God has brought about in his elect will continue until it reaches its fulfillment in eternal life (Phil. 1:6). Christ assures the elect that he will not lose them and that they will be glorified at the "last day" (John 6:39).

Oneness Pentecostal: So that is what your stand is on salvation, a Calvinistic flavor but it will do, where are Pentecostals not saved in this? I do not understand? Were you not saved as a Pentecostal?

ME: Indeed, but being Pentecostal is not what saved me. There is nothing that we can do, nothing, that will merit our salvation. Getting water baptized in Jesus name, will not save us, It is a proclamation of salvation yes, but not salvation it's self. God knew his saved people from before the foundation of the world. This is something that makes us not judge others.. because there is no way to know if some one is Elect of God. I am not proclaiming to know it all.. really, I am a student of the Word as well.. I am just conveying what I know to be truth by the Holy Ghost.

Oneness Pentecostal: Unfortunately you got to me 35 years too late, I have had too many positive experiences in my Pentecostal faith and they far out way some negative things I have been through. It does no good to try to sell a skateboard to a man who has experienced a Segway. That is exactly what you are doing here on this board, your theology is the same ole, same ole....." tongues has past away we now have the NT complete with no power"..the first century had a miracle power gospel but we have the NT complete. Well no thanks James..Ill take the Sagway.

My final reply: "your theology is the same ole, same ole"

--- Exactly.

===========================================

Oneness Pentecostal: Is it your goal to attack Pentecostals? Not to be mean. It is one thing to fellowship with this group or to even ask questions. But to post something that is anti-Pentecostal is out of line. But you know I am not upset with you. I stay strong in my FAITH. I know who I am. At least PENTECOST is in the Bible. Everything we do is found in scripture. And when JESUS gave Peter the keys to the church (PENTECOST) He said that the gates of Hell shall not prevail. So you will not win, James. VICTORY IS MINE! I TOLD SATAN GET THEE BEHIND! VICTORY, VICTORY, SHALL BE MINE!

ME: I am not trying to attack Pentecostals. I just don't want to see people go through the same spiritual abuse I went through all of my life. I am trying to show Pentecostals the truth about the religion

Oneness Pentecostal: I understand that you do not want people to go through Spiritula abuse. But at the same token just because you were spiritually abused in the Pentecostal church does not mean all are like that. I was Spiritually abused by a Lutheran and a Baptist. But I don't think that they are all the same. And what "truth" are you trying to show us about our religion?

ME: I started studying church history and was amazed at all of the things the Christian church went through, especially the breaking away from the Pagan Roman Catholic beliefs. I always figured that the Pentecostal religion started at that one festival of Pentecost in Acts. But The actual religion didn't start until the early 1900's. The details were always hidden from me growing up. I was always told to not research church history or Greek NT because it was dangerous.. The resources are out there now. There is a lot about the oneness pentecostal religions that are not ever talked about especially by the pastors. There is a good book over the history of the Oneness Pentecostal churches by some one on the inside, high up in the UPCI. I will message it to you if you are interested.

Oneness Pentecostal: OK, why do you say that our religion did not start until the 1900's and not when the Bible speaks of it? ... Because our views of baptism in JESUS name, being filled with the HG, prophesy, and much more is traced in the Bible. So how did our denomination not become a denomination until 100 years ago? I am confused on your view point. ... Thanks for the offer of the book. I might consider it later ...

I am not going to answer her because it is a bait and switch attempt. I already told her that it is in the book.

=========================================

There is another woman who posted on here that started ranting and raving with a major case of Reductio ad absurdum:

Oneness Pentecostal: Feeling bold tonight......We have no way of knowing His elect? His elect will bear fruit, seed will take root and grow in others-the vine, signs and wonders, etc....read the Word of God! My people perish for their lack of knowledge.

If we do nothing to get salvation, then isn't everyone saved???? What a lie this world is feeding! If we repent, if we humble ourselves, if we are obedient, if we love Him, if we keep His commands, if we follow Him, if we serve Him, if we have faith, if we....then He will give freely, abundantly, supernaturally.....

This idea, that if we understand the meaning behind a concept, then we don't have to do what He commands is a lie. The church understands baptism (kinda), we get it, so it isn't necessary. LIE!

We get submission, so Women cut your hair. LIE! We get why we sinned before, so we don't need to repent. LIE! God already knows what I am thinking, so we don't need to pray. LIE! God knows what is in my heart, so I don't have to express praise out loud or with my body. LIE! He is only interested in my heart and what goes on in the inside, so I can look however I want, act and say whatever I want. LIE! He knows I don't cuss, so I can watch movies with cuss words and it doesn't matter. LIE! On, and on, and on..........believe what you want. (Do Apostolic Oneness Pentecostals go to your site of choice and post these sort of things? (I didn't even what your original post-just read) You are one in a million who come to ours. Think about that.)

I wonder if my husband , who loves me as Christ loves the church, would continue to lay next to me every night, allowing me to teach his children and sit at his feet and hear his most precious thoughts, if I was out every night fornicating with another! No, he wouldn't. He would still love me, but if I didn't change he would kick me out. I am guessing most human christian husbands wouldn't allow more than one occurrence, most none. The truth is God pleaded with Israel and finally after many, many, many times He gave her a bill of divorcement. There is a fornicating spirit rampant in this world right now and she will ride upon the beast. Get behind me Satan. I rebuke Jezebel in the name of Jesus!

We have no way of knowing His elect? His elect will bear fruit, seed will take root and grow in others-the vine, signs and wonders, separated, holy, righteous, etc....read the Word of God! My people perish for their lack of knowledge.

Acts 2:38 First be obedient, then He will save you and you will be filled with the Holy Ghost. Most important words, EVER!

Revelation 2:19-21 (King James Version)

19I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

MY REPLY: Jennifer, you are putting words in my mouth.

"If we do nothing to get salvation, then isn't everyone saved???? "

- absolutely not. God chooses his Elect and saves them, there is also Sovereign Reprobation.. people created by God for the purpose of chastising his people and going to hell. Rom. 9:22, 23, John 12:39, 40, Luke 2:84, Romans 9:10-13, Malachi 1:2-3, Prov. 16:4, Jude 4, II Peter 2:12, Rev. 17:17, Rev. 13:8, II Thess. 2:11, Acts 13:41, Matt. 25:41, John 9:39,

"We have no way of knowing His elect? His elect will bear fruit, seed will take root and grow in others-the vine, signs and wonders, separated, holy, righteous, etc"

--- Yes I absolutely agree with you.. That is not what I am talking about at all. When I say that we do not know who God's elect is I am talking about preaching the Gospel. We have to Preach to all because we do not know who God will save and who he will not save.

" we don't have to do what He commands is a lie"

-- We do have to do what he commands. I never said that. I said that water baptism is not what saves you.

You know, after reading your post I think you are seeing what I am saying in a legalist manner.. and taking it to extremes. Reductio ad absurdum at it's finest.

====

Saved by Water alone?

2009-08-17T10:40:00.001-07:00

This was a thread about water baptism. The main poster was asking what "formula" to use, Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, or Jesus Name in order to be saved.

ORIGINAL POSTER:Thank You!

Oneness Pentecostal:You are right it is God who saves; through grace. And only He knows who will have the gift of salvation. Yet, in His word we understand that we must be born of the water and of the Spirit (John 3:5).

ME: born of water.. we are all born of water.... That it the womb.

That is what Jesus is talking about in John3:5 when he is explaining that we have to be born again ("anothen"-greek- means from above) We are born of water and spirit.

The term Born of water has meant born from the womb for thousands of years, now all of a sudden people think that it means water baptism....

We are born of water (womb), then to be "born again" is of spirit. <<<

Oneness Pentecostal: To claim that "born of water" is a reference to natural childbirth is totally absurd. For Jesus to be saying that a person needs to be born "from the womb" in order to enter the kingdom of God just doesn't follow logically. Everyone who exists or ever existed came into this world by way of the womb except for Adam and Eve, so it goes without saying that a person would have to first be born naturally in order to eventually be born again. It's quite clear that being born again includes both water and the Spirit, with "born of water" unequivocally being a reference to water baptism.

ME: He didn't say "that a person needs to be born "from the womb" in order to enter the kingdom of God". He said in order to be born "Again" you have to be born once ("of water"=womb) and then again (of spirit).

Read it in context:

Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Oneness Pentecostal: How about you answer all the scriptures that have shown, that it is impossible that Jesus meant "birth" water, when he said born again of water. Also, there is no history ever, of the phrase "birth water", but there is a phrase called "water birth" which is a rather new way of giving birth, by immersing the mother into a warm tub as she goes into labor. This did not come about until the 1960's, so in no way, is this what Jesus meant. If it only meant to be born from the womb, there would have been no reason for Jesus to be baptized (by immersion, when he was in his 30's).

ME: I am not speaking of "water Birth". I am speaking of the ancient idiom of being born of the flesh. When a woman's water breaks, the baby is "born of water" in the flesh. It was an idiom of that time period. I am not making this up, you can research it and find it yourself. And Jesus was baptized by John in water, as it was custom of that time for converts (proselyte) to the Jewish religion. Water Baptism doesn't save you. Only God can save you, and not by anything you do. It is not a co-redemptive work, or a second act of grace.

================================

This just seems so obvious to me. You just can not change the meaning of words to fit your belief. You have to change your belief to fit the scripture.

Perseverance of the Saints

2009-08-17T09:58:00.001-07:00

Perseverance of the Saints is a doctrine which states that the saints (those whom God has saved) will remain in God's hand until they are glorified and brought to abide with him in heaven.

Romans 8:28-39 makes it clear that when a person truly has been regenerated by God, he will remain in God's stead. The work of sanctification which God has brought about in his elect will continue until it reaches its fulfillment in eternal life (Phil. 1:6). Christ assures the elect that he will not lose them and that they will be glorified at the "last day" (John 6:39). The Calvinist stands upon the Word of God and trusts in Christ's promise that he will perfectly fulfill the will of the Father in saving all the elect. c&p-CRTA

Scripture references:

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Joh 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

=======================================

Some other religions who claim to be Christian believe that you can lose your salvation overlook the doctrines of Grace that is found in the Bible. These religions are usually man centered and focus on a co-redemptive soteriology. I remember going to some modern arminian Baptist churches that believe that you can backslide and get lost in the ways of the world therefore losing your salvation. They also believe that you have to believe in Christ and say a prayer accepting Christ before you are saved.. This is an example of a Co-Redemptive Soteriology. Christ doesn't save you alone, you have to make the choice.. (hince the belief in Free Will)

Another big one I also know about on a personal level are the Pentecostal churches. They utilize 2 scriptures for their Soteriology. Acts 2:38 and John 3:5. They believe that you have to repent then get water baptised in Jesus Name to be saved, then God will give you the gift of the Holy Ghost (as evidence of salvation by what they think is speaking in tongues) They also believe that you can lose this salvation and have to 'Get Filled" with the Holy Ghost over and over again to ensure your salvation.

Any religion teaching that you have to do something to get saved (or go to heaven) is not teaching Biblical soteriology. God chooses his Elect unconditionally, Christ redeemed them by substitutionary sacrifice, The Holy Ghost regenerates them with personal conviction causing them to follow Christ. This is Biblical.

A great Lord's Day service

2009-08-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

My pastor is taking a sabbatical and so the men of the church are reading sermons and conducting the services in his stead. Frank read part one of "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" by Johnathon Edwards. It was a great message reminding us that we are all totally depraved. Total Depravity is probably the most misunderstood tenet of Calvinism. When Calvinists speak of humans as "totally depraved," they are making an extensive, rather than an intensive statement. The effect of the fall upon man is that sin has extended to every part of his personality -- his thinking, his emotions, and his will. Not necessarily that he is intensely sinful, but that sin has extended to his entire being. The unregenerate (unsaved) man is dead in his sins (Romans 5:12). Without the power of the Holy Spirit, the natural man is blind and deaf to the message of the gospel (Mark 4:11f). This is why Total Depravity has also been called "Total Inability." The man without a knowledge of God will never come to this knowledge without God's making him alive through Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5).

The fellowship after church was very well needed in this time for me. Oh and Jared started a facebook group for the church today! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115669494469&ref=mf

Now we are headed to the river to relax in the cold water!

JYM

a thought on X-MAS

2009-08-16T06:33:00.000-07:00

I have people ask me all the time why I do not celebrate x-mas since i am a Christian. I simply tell them because I am not Catholic. They always smirk and say that I am silly (or worse) and that catholics are Christians too. I step on a lot of toes lately because I am not a 'all paths lead to the same god' Christian. I am more conservative in my Christian walk than I ever thought I would be.. but it is that strong of a conviction. I then tell them that I do not celebrate any of the roman catholic holidays like x-mas, easter, st. valentine's day, st. patrick's day, or halloween. Most people consider this un-american and me to be a scrooge. Well. I say bah-humbug. (by the way humbug means "this is a hoax") My mother especially.. says.. "You mean you don't think it is okay to say happy birthday Jesus?" I say no.. we are not instructed in the Bible to celebrate Jesus' birth or even our own births. I still celebrate birthdays because it doesn't involve worship. But the rituals of the romanists have saturated this new world to the point where their days of worship have become american culture. So if I get foul looks from people, whatever.. because I am more worried about how my God looks at me not fallible man. Oh and I say X-MAS because I do not want to associate the name of Christ with the Mass. I am sure there will be many more posts on this as the winter solstice gets closer.

Mobile Blogging

2009-08-16T06:16:00.001-07:00

i am testing this mobile post thing. This is sent from my cell phone.. now I guess I can blog my thoughts on the spot. I was woke up by a rooster in the house this morning.. it was pretty funny...God bless you all and have a happy Lord's Day.

Acts 2:38,39 proves predestination.

2009-08-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

So the pentecostals like to idolize their soul winning doctrine verse ACTS 2:38. I have actually heard it misquoted many times. But just like their "magic Holy Hair" verses they stop reading and miss the very next verse.

ACTS 2:38- Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39- For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

There is the Calling of God... we do not seek him .. he calls us. That is the I in TULIP. That is what the Holy Ghost does, that is what Peter is saying here!

Irresistible Grace: The result of God's Irresistible Grace is the certain response by the elect to the inward call of the Holy Spirit, when the outward call is given by the evangelist or minister of the Word of God. Christ, himself, teaches that all whom God has elected will come to a knowledge of him (John 6:37). Men come to Christ in salvation when the Father calls them (John 6:44), and the very Spirit of God leads God's beloved to repentance (Romans 8:14).

Blaspheme the Holy Ghost

2009-08-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

I was just accused of blaspeming the Holy Ghost.

Luke 2:10. "And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven."

"Blaspheme the Holy Ghost"

Greek: βλασφημέω, from βλάπτω = "I injure" and φήμη = "reputation".

So it would mean something along the lines of: Injure the Reputation of the Holy Ghost.

What is the Holy Ghost?

A) The Spirit of God, the inward call to come to Christ by regeneration.

B) An emotional empowering of God that makes you seazure and uncontrollably mummble.

C) A separate God that gives you psychic powers.

The anaswer is A.

I will be happy to Blaspheme the other two because they are not the real Holy Ghost of the Bible.

more on 1UPC

2009-08-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

I am breaking down this awesome post on the PuritinBoard by William Price who is attending Mills Road Baptist Church, Houston, Texas.

As touching the soteriology, Oneness Pentecostalism holds a very humanistic view of salvation. Oneness depends heavily on baptismal regeneration. They believe that a soul chooses God, repent of their sins on their own. From there, their sins are only forgiven/remitted through water baptism pronouncing the name of Jesus over the candidate for baptism. Then, God is obligated to fill that persons so that they speak in tongues. But, that is not all. You must work within your own power for both your salvation continuing and your sanctification. Jesus becomes nothing more than the means of salvation, but man is a co-redeemer in that work.

This is very insightful. He also goes on about "Holiness". Something I never felt right about while in the 1UPCs

Next, let's look at their idea of holiness. In Oneness Pentecostalism, the Cross is the means of salvation, but not the means of our sanctification. In Oneness, one is sanctified only initially by salvation, but then we must work for our holiness by wearing the right clothes, avoiding all things worldly including all TV and movies, all alcohol with the exception of communion in some churches, and also no jewelry. In their belief system, women who wear pants are in sin, regardless of reason, because all pants are for men only.

I guess I am hitting on all of this recently because of my mother's visit.. She is here for 2 days and taking my kids for a week... they are going to have to go visit her church while she is there. I hope I have taught them well..

This is hard.. every one on my past friends and family have always been pentecostal or pentecostal related. My mother is so confused as to "what I am" as far as my religion or what not. I told her Presbyterian, but she didn't even know what that was.. I had to have my wife confirm that it is like baptist. So then she was like... SO you are baptist instead of pentecostal? ... No.. I am reformed Presbyterian. anyway. It gets real hard a X-mass time. Because We don't celebrate that anymore either.

HOLY MAGIC HAIR

2009-08-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of the holy magic hair doctrine? This doctrine declares that a woman's uncut hair has mystical power to call down angels, and force God to answer prayer requests. The uncut hair is protection from demonic forces in a woman's house, but only if it is completely uncut. It is preached by Oneness Pentecostal preacher Lee Stoneking. And from what I have seen is becomeing popular in the 1UPC.

Any Thoughts?

Trinity

2009-08-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Coming out of the Oneness Pentecostal religion I had a hard time understanding the Trinity. The OUPC has an ignorant confused view of the Godhead. I found this on a reformation page talking about Calvinism. It really helped me iron out the creases and understand better.

Salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the triune God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them, the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the Gospel. The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation.

Oneness was a doctrine started in St Louis in 1916. It was a misunderstanding of the trinity, they think that the Trinity or Triune God of the Bible is worshiping three separate Gods. This is not so.

What's in a name

2009-08-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

The word sunklhronomoi (sunkleeronomoi), "joint-heirs" (Romans 8:17), amounts to 1071, the factors of which are 153 and 7 (153x7=1071).

The expression suklhronomoi de Cristou (sunkleeronomoi de Christou), "joint heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17), amounts to 2751. Now the factors of 153, as we have seen, are 9 and 17, and the number 2751 is three times the nine hundred, plus seventeen, viz., 3 x (900 + 17) = 2751.

The expression ktisiV qeou (ktisis Theou), "the creation of God," is 1224, or 8 x 153.

So what is with this 153 number? That is a much longer post at a later time.

I believe in Acts 2:38

2009-08-13T15:58:00.000-07:00

My mother asked me if I believe in Acts 2:38 anymore because I am Calvinist and not Pentecostal. Of course my reply was Yes, I believe in the entire Bible.

Acts 2:38 is: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost".

This scripture says nothing about salvation. First of all The Baptism he is talking about referred to means to stain or to dye something. This is a term that can not be changed it was used that way thousands of years ago. We can not change the meaning because of our modern idea of what baptism is. He is not talking about the proselyte water ritual of converting to Judaism like John the Baptist was doing.

Also the name of Jesus Christ. This means the Authority of Christ. This is a term that has been so misunderstood and misused in the recent past.

So if you define the words according to the time they were used... we get Amend your ways and be stained by the authority of Jesus Christ.

But another thing is the "For the remission of sins" thing.

Being water baptised while saying 'in Jesus name' is not what saves you from your sins.. The substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the only things that can remiss sins from the elect sinner.

Because Jesus Died for your sins, being marked by Him or Stained by his Authority, the Elect receives the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Now.. what about this Holy Ghost thing? Is it babbleling in a unrecognized emotional spasms? Is is an empowerment of emotional ecstasy? The traditional, Historical Christian teachings say that it is the Spirit of God and directly involved in the Elects regeneration and God's Irresistible Grace. It is the inward call of God on the Elect's heart to come to Christ.

Defined on www.reformed.org: The result of God's Irresistible Grace is the certain response by the elect to the inward call of the Holy Spirit, when the outward call is given by the evangelist or minister of the Word of God. Christ, himself, teaches that all whom God has elected will come to a knowledge of him (John 6:37). Men come to Christ in salvation when the Father calls them (John 6:44), and the very Spirit of God leads God's beloved to repentance (Romans 8:14). What a comfort it is to know that the gospel of Christ will penetrate our hard, sinful hearts and wondrously save us through the gracious inward call of the Holy Spirit (I Peter 5:10)!

So yes I believe in Acts 2:38

Beginning or the end?

2009-08-13T15:57:00.001-07:00

A thought on things. 05/16/09

The Almighty Father, God of all things, is the creator and controller of everything. He created and controls Good and Evil, Birth and Death, His Will and our will. If this is not believed by the Christian, then they do not know the God of the Holy Bible. I now believe this to be a necessary principle to secure. If you do not, it leads to the possibilities of Deism, Humanism, and Luciferianism.

I was recently lent a book over the New World Order from my pastor. I wasn't sure if I was going to read the entire thing because I thought I pretty much knew it all when it came to this topic because I listen to Alex Jones and watch his DVDs. I was wrong. There is so much more. The more I read I found it taking longer to read because I found myself stopping to take things in, and research further these things that sounded too absurd to believe as a Christian. Now as a Reformed Christian who believes in the Sovereignty of God, it is coming a little more in to focus as it is believable by the mighty hand of God.

One thing lead to another as I watched things unfold before my very eyes on the Internet these things that the reprobate teach and believe. I first was shocked by the true nature of the word “America” and where it came from. In the book New World Order, Bill Still talks about the Freemason's and Illuminati's goal of the “Great Plan” to create a New Atlantis on the continent across the sea (America). First of all, I didn't know about the Atlantean tie in to the secret societies and the Great Flood of the Bible. Amazing really.. After doing some research It seems that this was the Great corruption that Genesis spoke of before the Great Deluge. Well the Masons and other Secret Societies conciser Lucifer to the be Great God of Light that was cast out of Heaven because Adonai (The Jewish God of the Old Testament) was a control freak and didn't want to share power with Lucifer, or any one for that matter.

“Today worshipers of Lucifer feel that he has received a "bum rap" from Christians and Jews who personify him as evil. One of the most quoted authorities on the subject is H. P. Blavatsky, who was the founder of the Theosophical Society. Quoting from her bookSecret Doctrine(Theosophical Press), she explains the various ancient culture views and philosophy of evil. She writes:"Antiquity knew of no isolated, thoroughly and absolute bad "god of evil." Pagan thought represented good and evil as twin brothers born of the same mother—Nature…In the beginning the symbols of Good and Evil were mere abstraction Light and Darkness. This led to the primal [original] twins, Osiris-Typhon, Ormazd-Ahriman, and finally Cain-Abel…(Vol. 1, p. 412); …." - http://www.plim.org/2Luciferian.htm

Now Lucifer being the Serpent, and Light Bringer to all humanity and God of the ancients, was also worshiped in what is now called America.

“In the most prevalent versions of American history, the origin of the name America is attributed to the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. This popular distortion of the true origin of the native Amaruca, which translates as: Land of the Great Plumed Serpent.” - http://www.amaruca.com/

Now this was a lot to take in, I knew that Masons were Luciferian. My Grand Father is a 32 Degree mason. I have been in the rooms where the masons hold there rituals and have seen first hand the alters with the chalices, daggers and candles. But like I said I never knew about the Atlantis tie-in and the origin of the name America. Well one link lead to another link to another link before I came to StarGods.org. This was a site that was anti-NWO, and is now pro-NWO. I couldn't believe the things I was hearing on this guy's youtube site as he twists what Christianity is and how he makes it look bad and secular humanism, and enlightenment and Luciferianism look good. Plus he has a 10 part seminar series by David Wilcock (divinecosmos.com) that I am still watching.. But it is opening my eyes to how this is all coming about with the 2012 new age enlightenment thing. I mean even how Evolution Theory, Science, and Technology is tying in to it as well. It turns my stomach as that it is evil to the core. But This is all by the hand of God for the sake of his Elect. I will leave off here with a question:

What do we do about all of this evil and impending doom as God's Elect?

I believe we are to focus on the Word of God and worship Him. We repent daily. We obey and take up our cross daily to be His students. Preach the Word and die daily for it. We are to be hated by the World.

Almighty Father, give us strength in Jesus' Name.

SPEAKING BOLDLY

2009-08-13T15:56:00.001-07:00

For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive. - Psalm 106:45, 46

God is controlling everything: the smallest molecules, big events, and even the hearts of men (Proverbs 21:1). God has a specific plan for you in redemptive history. And God reveals to us in the Scripture that he wants us to be witnesses in Babylon. God has a specific plan for our lives and, according to Scripture, will move into the heart of those he foreordains to put in our paths.

I believe there is strong scriptural warrant to believe that you will enjoy an unearthly protection when you live for Christ and speak boldly about Him. Many of us worry that if we stick our neck out to speak about Christ people may react negatively. We may worry about such things for a minute, but since God got us into this situation by calling us to be witnesses for him, he can get us out of it. God protects those who make a commitment to Him. And however people may react, the outcome is according to God's perfect plan. He has ultimate control over how the message you bring to people will be received. Remember, you are just the mailman. We do not create the massage, God does, and we must deliver that message intact. He will determine the outcome.

But many times we compromise because we're afraid we'll come in harm's way or be ridiculed when we speak about Christ but the fact is if we do not compromise, God will be our protection in the midst of trouble ... but as soon as you compromise, you forfeit that unearthly protection and, at that point, you're on your own.

Speaking of Israel Psalm 106:46 says, "He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives."Do you realize that God can not only sway a king, God can sway an entire society? This is because, verse 45 says He is a covenant keeping God and He made a covenant with His people. And, friends, we have a covenant with our God in Christ. In it he remembers not to treat us as our sins justly deserve. And further, because he has imputed to us Christ's righteousness, You are now children of God, in a covenant relationship that is indelible and unbreakable. So as you pray, ask God to have you move out into the world and engage with those who will be worthy of your time, and even if you do not see instant results, know that you are just the messenger whom God has assigned to this very encounter.

C&P from: http://www.reformationtheology.com

me mum

2009-08-13T15:53:00.000-07:00

I used to be part of a large apostate belief. I was born into it. It is one of the many churches that call themselves "Christian". God's Elect are everywhere.. There is no way for us mere mortal sinners to say who is elect of God or reprobate. I want to say that because I want you to know that I do not believe that every one in the Roman Catholic Church or their protestant followers are hell bound. But the things they believe are in fact antiChrist. The belief I came out of was the Pentecostal religion. This is a religion that started in the early 1900's and has grown exponentially in the last 100 years. As far as salvation, the Bible teaches God's Grace, and Man teaches Man's works. Grace is defined by the Trinity in which the Oneness Pentecostal religion denies out of ignorance. "Salvation is accomplished by the almighty power of the triune God. The Father chose a people, the Son died for them; the Holy Ghost makes Christ's death effective by bringing the elect to faith and repentance, thereby causing them to willingly obey the Gospel. The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation.-CRTA"

I had a hard time as I wrestled with the concept of what I had been taught my whole life being erroneous. Then it moved over to the ones I loved as well. My wife, my Mother. My Wife’s Eyes were opened by scripture (The Word of God) and My mother still is hostile about the situation, as expected. This is an example, however very small, of how she feels…

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This conversation started after I gave her a very short book about Calvinism and Armenianism called “The Reformed Faith”. [which she threw in the garbage with out reading BTW]

ME: hey mom. Sorry I was in the middle of something when you called.. So what did you not believe in that book?

MOM: We'll talk in person about it. It almost sounds like the book of Morman, I believe that the old testament was very real, but my salvation came when Jesus was born in Matthew. etc ,etc...We'll talk later., love you

ME: I guess so... but the book was just about the differences between the doctrine of grace vs. the doctrine of works. It is about the Biblical Christian religion, not Mormonism.

Um.. you are throwing me off with the salvation comment. How do you think one is saved?

MOM: Repent, be baptised in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins. You shall receive the gift of the holy ghost. This is for you and your children and all who believe (can't quote it, sorry.) What changed your and Bevs mind about salvation? Do you believe what you and she felt so many times was fake..or the holy ghost? You need to speak with lots of different religion preachers or believers about this stuff. It breaks my heart to see you off into something so far out of the realm of Jesus and all His power....love you, Mom

ME: [What changed your and Bevs mind about salvation?] Really, it was the Bible. I studied the Bible and the history of thePentecostal Church. The Bible teaches something different than what I was raised to believe as far as salvation. The Pentecostal salvation method (what you were quoting) isn't even 100 years old. The "Acts 2:38" scripture is talking about regeneration and baptism .. not salvation. But the Pentecostal Churches I was raised in says that you have to repent, then be water baptized (in Jesus name) and receive the Holy Ghost with evidence of glossolalia (speaking in tongues). This means that WE have to "Do something" to be saved. The Bible clearly teaches that God chooses and saves his people and then the fruits of the spirit manifest. We (The Church) are saved by Grace not by works.

This isn't some far out off the wall cult we are talking about.. I believe in biblical Christianity. Your verbal attacks stem from the fact that what I believe isn't pentecostal anymore.

POP QUIZ

1) How were God's Church saved before Peter quoted Acts 2:38? Before the Miracle at Pentecost?

2) What is Pentecost?

Love you mom...

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There was no answer to this. She couldn’t even quote the scripture she has her entire faith based on. This is one of the reasons so many Spiritual Victims of the Pentecostal faith have no idea what the Bible really says. The sermons are neverexpository. They are based on the Man-made Man-centered situations that warrant their method of salvation and Holy living. [Which to them is outward and work based] Don’t get me wrong, Topical Preaching is very well needed, but systematic exposition is something that is very important if you are trying to stay Bible-Based.

Christians will never know the truth about their own faith until they study the history of the Church itself. You can’t look around and see a real Christian church anymore. It has morphed into an apostate idol. It is something that is meant for good but is an offensive odor to the nostrils of the Almighty. Just like the Golden Calf the children of God made to honor Jehovah while waiting for Moses to get the 10 commandments. They were doing what they thought was right by worshiping Jehovah by making an image of Him. Well that is what Mankind has done to the Word of God. If you study the History of the Church after the closing of the cannon of scripture you will see the rise of the antichrist papist order and the false church or the Roman Catholics. You will see the reformation of true Christianity from the Romanist Church and the birth of Protestantism. You will see the Christians persecuted by the Romanist and fleeing to the New World. You will see the Rise of the New Age movement and the amalgamation of pagan practices into modern Christian Culture. And the destruction of the regulative principal of worship followed by the institution of man centered worship and will worship < /Colossians 2:23 >

Any way.. this is just a rant.. sorry… I just wish that some people, especially the ones I love, would read and study before they start talking.

not a math blog

2009-08-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

This is my Christian blog. The only math is gematria.