FORECAST OF EVENTS THAT COULD TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT 220-272 WEEKS (probability scale of 1-10)

1. (9/10) Christ will return to Jerusalem [Mt. of Olives] from the sky above in apocalyptic fashion on an unknown day and time in 2030 with His angels to gather and glorify all of history’s saints.

2. (9/10) Christ’s return will also mean the immediate and fiery destruction of Satan and his global army of God-and-gospel rebels who will make an unsuccessful attempt to exterminate the tiny remnant of Jesus Jews who exist in Jersualem and a small church/churches in the world.

3. (9/10) Christ’s return will likewise mean the fiery destruction of this universe, the final judgment of humans and angels, the wicked being eternally resigned to the lake of fire and the righteous receiving eternal life in the new heavens and earth.

4. (9/10) Christ’s return and its ensuing cosmic catastrophes will surprise the majority of earth’s inhabitants whose present and future outlook on their wicked way of life will be superlatively positive.

5. (6) Another sign that Jesus’ return is imminent will be the perplexing presence of UFO/UAPs arising from our oceans and the paradigm-shifting propaganda of their alien architects.

5.1. perplexing presence of UFOs/UAPs arising from our oceans (Luk 21:25 “signs in the sun, moon and stars”) = The invasion of powerful foreign (or alien) entities (Eze 32:7-12; Isa 13:1 w/9-11 w/17-19). In this case, UFOs/UAPs “roaring” out of our seas w/advanced tech or capabilities that leave us at an intellectual loss/perplexed (“and on the earth dismay among the nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the seas”[1]). In this respect consider also (Eze 1:4-5; Eph 2:2 “prince of the power of the air”[2]).

5.2. paradigm-shifting propaganda of their alien architects (that causes men to faint and the heavens to shake – Luk 21:26 w/27) = Satan and his demons (the alien architects of the UFO/UAPs) are the heroes or saviors of humanity (2Co 11:14) - and the family of Yahweh (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit), its true villains:

1) The family of Yahweh:

1.1.) are oppressive bigots: they created humanity and the angels with free-wills but then prohibit us from using them in the discovery of self-identity, sexual expression and morality, expecting us to instead imitate them and their rigid system of rules and religion under penalty of eternal damnation if we refuse or rebel.

1.2.) are racists: they are the creators of diversion tactics – including false religions, false gods, false alien encounters and messages - all meant to ensure that no one other than the Jews succeed in this world.

1.3.) are also frauds: they possess no rightful claim to us or the universe since their creative power and ability is not inherent to them – which means they can be beat (e.g., like Thanos, they stole the infinity stones).

2) Satan and his demons:

2.1.) were exiled from our material realm for attempting to free us from such tyranny though they have continued to fight behind the scenes ever since.

2.2.) have been working tirelessly for almost 6k years to counter Yahweh’s agenda and get our thinking and technology to a place where we are ready to rush heaven and win our freedom (e.g., thinking: Avengers versus Thanos; Fantastic Four versus Galactus; tech: the invention of computers, the internet, AGI, electrogravitic/anti-gravity propulsion warships [UFOs] able to transcend dimensional boundaries).

2.3.) do not want to enslave but empower us – including provide the healing and resources we need to live happy lives (humanity only does bad things bc God has not provided them w/enough resources).

3) Time is the of the essence, the world must immediately unite if they have any chance of winning the fight that will soon be coming to them if they do not first take it to Yahweh (i.e., conquer the third heaven and home of Yahweh before the destruction of this world. Satan is aware of this universe’s 6k yr shelf-life and the return of Christ).

Satan’s story-line is simply an inverted version of Babel. Instead of an assassination in heaven, it will be an ambush on earth (Gen 11:1-9 [consider similarities between Babel and Rev 20:8-9 - esp. Gen 10:32/Rev 20:8 “nations” and Gen 11:3/Rev 20:9 “plain”]).

6. (6) = When Satan formed his coup against God, he not only took a third of the heavenly host (angels) but all the advanced military tech that was in their possession at that time (e.g., interdimensional [manned] warships and drones, telepathy, AI, etc.,) and has been making improvements to it ever since (hence the reason for the multiplicity of new and different UFO/UAPs showing up in our skies Rev 12:4; Eze 1:4-5, 15-21).

7. (6) = The reason the UFO/UAPs are coming out of our oceans is because its deepest parts are the location of the abyss –the exilic home, hiding place and primary base of Satan and his demons after their rebellion against Yahweh. This may also be behind the myth of Atlantis: a city whose residents possess great power and powerful technology banished to their place under the sea by the Gods[3] (Gen 1:2 “darkness was over the surface of the deep [waters]” = The abyss, a watery place of non-order/disorder/deadness, a bottomless hole [pit] in the ocean [Sheol, Hades, Tartarus the bottomless pit – Jon 2:1-6; Rev 20:13] Isa 27:1; Mat 12:43; Luk 8:31-33; Rev 20:1-3 w/8).

8. (6) = Satan and his demons have been secretly working with those people and governments wielding the most influence and power throughout human history (1Jo 5:19; Deu 32:17).

9. (10) = Advanced tech and cures aside, Satan’s sincerity (2Ti 3:13) and worldview/ethic (“will to power”) will be his most powerful weapons in convincing the vast majority of the world to follow him (Ecc 10:4) [4].   

10. (3) = In an effort to increase his odds of winning, Satan will attempt to stall the resurrection by abducting the remnant of Jesus Jews on planet earth and moving them via his interdimensional warships (UFOs) to the second heaven (immaterial space outside of God’s home [third heaven] where dead spirits reside, angels fly and spiritual battles are fought – e.g., Rev 8:13, 14:6; Rev 12:7-9; Dan 10:10-13) before the return of Christ (Rev 20:8 w/1Th 4:13-17 w/1Co 15:50-53 w/2Co 12:2 and Rev 1:10 w/4:1-2 [Eze 3:12, 8:3, 11:1).

11. (3…9) = Our alien abduction will be thwarted by Jesus’ return and our (along with the righteous dead’s) instantaneous transformation into human torches who then ambush and destroy Satan, his demons and the world of wicked humans who followed him (Rev 20:9 w/1Th 4:13-17 w/Psa 104:4 [Mat 22:30] and Heb 12:29 [Rev 1:14-16; 1Jo 3:2]; Psa 149:5-9).

CLOSING CONTEMPLATION:

1) If Satan can make improvements to God’s tech, doesn’t that mean God is not omniscient? If He is, what reason might God possess for deliberately not possessing perfect (unable to be improved) tech at the beginning of our Creation (i.e., before Satan’s rebellion)? What biblical example might provide some support? 2) Why will Satan’s sincerity and worldview be so convincing to so many in our world (and some in our church)?

3) How do we keep from being swept away in Satan’s apocalypse?

4) What is Nietzsche advocating for and against, by this statement, “When the center of gravity of life is placed, not in life, but in the ‘other world’—in nothingness—life has in reality been deprived of its center of gravity. The great lie of personal immortality destroys all reason, all naturalness in instinct;—all that is beneficent, that is life-furthering, that pledges for the future in instincts, h...

(9 w/12) For we know in part and we prophesy in part…for now we see in a mirror dimly” = What God provides to His people with respect to prophecy is not only incomplete (“in part”) but often a poor reflection of its reality making any consistency in accuracy when forecasting the future almost impossible (e.g., Act 21:11 w/31-33). As a result, the church functions like capricious children (v11) in her efforts to discern coming events. She is nonetheless tasked with this mission – errors and edits included, as God’s prescribed method for planning and preparation (hence 1Th 2:13-14 w/3:1-4 w/5:19-21; e.g., accuracy of weather forecasting for navy fleets on long deployment: > 14 days [<50%], 2-4 days [>90%] “The future of conflict will belong to those who can anticipate the storm and utilize it to their advantage.” - JR Cottingham, National Defense Magazine).[1]

PNTM: Our ability to plan and prepare for the coming storm surrounding Jesus’ possible return in 2030 requires we not only remind ourselves of Scripture’s prophetic forecast regarding these things but also make updates or changes as we get closer and clearer.

FORECAST OF EVENTS THAT COULD TAKE PLACE IN THE NEXT 220-272 WEEKS (on a probability scale of 1-10)

1. (9/10) Christ will return to Jerusalem [Mt. of Olives] from the sky above in apocalyptic fashion on an unknown day and time in 2030 with His angels to gather and glorify all of history’s saints (Mat 24:25-36 [Act 1:11]; Luk 21:25-32; Zec 14:4-9; 1Th 4:13-18; 2Pe 3:8 [Isa 46:10];[2] Act 2:17 w/Gal 4:4-6 “fullness of time” = consummation of the [prior] ages [epochs] w/Heb 9:26 “consummation of the ages” [which began at Christ’s death in 30 AD]).

2. (9/10) Christ’s return will also mean the immediate and fiery destruction of Satan and his global army of God-and-gospel rebels who will make an unsuccessful attempt to exterminate the tiny remnant of Jesus Jews who exist in Jersualem and a small church/churches in the world (Zec 14:1-3 and Rev 20:7-10 [9 “camp of the saints” = Gentile Jesus Jews in a small church/churches in the world; “beloved city” = Hebrew Jesus Jews in Jerusalem] and 2Th 2:7-10 w/Mat 16:18 w/2Pe 3:9 w/Rom 11:25 [no more Gentiles are turning to Christ and becoming Jesus Jews] w/26-28 [Luk 13:35, 15:11-32 = Some Hebrews in Jerusalem turn to Christ and become Jesus Jews at/close to His return] w/1Ki 19:14 w/18:4, 13 [also 19:18]; Consider also: 

1) Jesus seems to hint at the idea of only a few/tiny remnant of saved in the end by His question in (Luk 18:8). 2) Jesus and Peter both connect His return to the Flood – an event which saved only eight people (Mat 24:37; 1Pe 3:20 w/2Pe 3:3-9 [mention of God’s patience in both seems to suggest we also view the small number of those delivered from His first extinction event as representative of those delivered in His second]).

3) God’s deliverance of only a tiny remnant is a predominant theme across redemptive history (Gen 6-9 [Noah and his family in re: to the Flood]; Gen 45:7 [Joseph and his bros/Israel in re: to the global famine]; 2Ki 19:30-31 [Judah in re: to the Assyrian invasion]; Isa 10:20-22 [Israel in re: to the Assyrian invasion]; Ezr 9:8-15 [Judah/Israel in re: to the Babylonian invasion]; Jer 23:1-6 [Jesus Jews in re: to Israel’s apostasy]).

3. (9/10) Christ’s return will likewise mean the fiery destruction of this universe, the final judgment of humans and angels, the wicked being eternally resigned to the lake of fire and the righteous receiving eternal life in the new heavens and earth (2Pe 3:1-13; Rev 20:11-22:16; 1Co 6:3; 2Co 5:9-10).

4. (9/10) Christ’s return and its ensuing cosmic catastrophes will surprise the majority of earth’s inhabitants whose present and future outlook on their wicked way of life will be superlatively positive (Luk 17:26-30; 1Th 5:1-5 “darkness” = Wickedness as the way of life will be popular and prospering causing the majority to miss the bad omens in their midst). The bad omens signaling the soon return of Christ (missed by the majority of the world) will include:

1) great apostasy among true churches and the prevalence of false gospels, teachers and churches (Mat 24:10-13; e.g., Christianity and her teachers, the FAG).

2) there is only a small number of Jesus Jews left on planet earth and conversion efforts among Gentles in the world have stalled (again 2Pe 3:9; Rom 11:25; Luk 18:8). 

3) the (possible) conversion of Hebrews in Jersualem to Jesus Jews before His return (again Rom 11:26-27). 

4) global agreement to persecute and kill Jesus Jews – including betrayal by biological family members (Mat 24:9; Luk 21:16-17; Rev 20:9). 

5) the biblical gospel (MCG) of the Jesus Jews will be recovered and proclaimed as a testimony to the whole world/all the nations against their false gospels (e.g., FAG) (Mat 24:14 “testimony” = Witness to the truth/true gospel in the face of opposition – most specifically, religious/gospel opposition, as a means of judgment against them – Luk 21:1-15 [parallel to Mat 24]; Consider also that the word testimony’s predominant use in the OT is in respect to judgment - Exo 16:28-34 [Exo 31:18 w/Deu 10:2, 4-5]; Exo 25:21-22; Num 17:10, 35:30; Rev 15:5-7). 

6) the obstacle presented by a pandemic of homoerotic narcissism to God’s gospel mission (today’s examples: world celebration of LGBTQ, gender fluidity/gender bending, masturbation - in most cases, a homoerotic act[3], the celebration of the “Queer Last Supper” at the opening ceremony of 2024 Paris Olympics[4]): 

Noah’s day (Gen 6:12 “corrupt”) = Some ancient Jewish sources view this as a reference to homoerotic narcissism.

Abraham’s day (Gen 18-19 w/Jud 1:7) = Sodom and Gomorrah – two city-states/kingdoms (each had their own king – Gen 13) with great influence over the territory to be inherited by Abraham (See Gen 14).

Moses and the Israelites in Egypt (Exo 3:6-14 “I AM WHAT I DO”) = A slight variant on the name of the gender-fluid/gender-bending “He-She” Egyptian father of the gods, Atum who masturbated as the means to creating humanity[5] 

Consider also (Luk 17:26-30) = Jesus’ reasons for referring to both Noah and Sodom with respect to His return is more than simply to make the point that His return will catch most off guard. More importantly, it indicates why they will be caught off guard: for missing the thing which has historically signaled God’s national – or global judgment to be imminent – homoerotic narcissism (Rom 1:18-27) = Alluding no doubt to the past, Paul confirms widespread homosexual behavior – including homoerotic-masturbation [v24] to be the clear historical sign that humanity has reached the tipping point with respect to narcissistic idolatry and God’s ensuing wrath.   

5. (6) Another sign that Jesus’ return is imminent will be the perplexing presence of UFO/UAPs in our cosmos and oceans and the paradigm-shifting propaganda of their alien architects (Luk 21:25-27) = Not a contradiction of the superlatively positive outlook of the wicked communicated in Luk 17:26-30]; (v25) “signs in the sun…” [not a reference to cosmic calamity but the presence of foreign and powerful entities – e.g., Eze 32:7-12] w/ “perplexity [at a loss to understand] at the roaring [report – Luk 4:37] of the seas” [not a reference to the effects of the moon on our tides which we understand]; literature/prophecy from the ANE has little/no concern for scientific matters; more often such things are once more a reference to entities] = The perplexing presence of UFO/UAPs in our cosmos and oceans; (v26) = The paradigm-shifting propaganda of the UFOs alien architects.

CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: What is the p...

1.1. (Mat 9:9-13 w/36) 

1.2. (13) “sinners” = Lost people who love God - versus lost people who love self/their sin. Jesus made the former a priority in His ministry (versus the latter who were a waste of time – TBD). “I desire compassion and not sacrifice” (Hos 6:6 “in the knowledge [understanding] of God rather than sacrifice”) = What God wants most from us as the sign of our love and loyalty are not those things or acts which require no exercise in understanding (“sacrifice”) but those that do (“compassion”) – especially in relation to those whose hearts are tender to God (they love Him) but are lost/have lost their way (“sinners”) (see Mat 12:1-7) = The Pharisees’ handling of the disciples was wrong (they “condemned the innocent”) because they did not take the time to understand them.

1.3. This (then) is what is behind the word “shepherd” in verse 36 (notice its connection to “compassion”) = A person who takes the time to understand at a deep level, the life of another, for the purpose of gaining their trust and effectively caring for them. In this case, caring for their spiritual needs (including evangelism – see v35). 

1.4. This call to shepherd the lost who love God starts w/those in the covenant community (like those Jesus is speaking to in Mat 9) including our spouses and kids [the given – hence in re: to shepherds over the church – 1Ti 3:4-5]) but extends also to those outside the covenant community (those welcomed to God)(Act 1:8 w/13:48 “appointed for eternal life” = The lost outside the covenant community whose hearts are inclined to love God; 2Pe 3:9 “you…any” = Those who are lost yet love God – or inclined to love God – e.g., Neh 9:8). 

1.5. The identity of the lost who love God = People who are distressed and dispirited by their sin because they have a heart inclined toward God – i.e., they love Him and don’t want to hurt Him (Luk 19:1-10 – Notice it is Jesus Who befriends Zaccheus leading to his repentance; similar w/the woman at the well – Joh 4:7-22 w/28-30).

1.6. The identity of the lost who love self/their sin = They are distressed and dispirited by God who makes them feel bad about the fact that they truly love self/their sin (or the world – i.e., darkness – Joh 1:5, 3:19-20).

1.7. Those who truly love God in their hearts will also love and want to follow Christ (Joh 5:39-42, 8:44). 

1.8. It is important to note that those who love for God (Christ) will do so be because Who He is and what He represents (life and light [law – Isa 2:1-5], grace and truth [or compassion/mercy, lovingkindness and truth/faithfulness], righteousness, justice and equity [which includes transparency and honesty about who we are – Joh 3:21; Joh 1:1-4, 14 [Exo 34:6]; Joh 14:6; Psa 99:4 w/Isa 11:1-5) ---versus what they get from God in terms of material blessings etc., (e.g., Luk 8:13-15 “an honest and good heart” = They love God b/c of Who He is not what He gives them – hence why the rocky and thorny soil eventually fall away – the things they wanted from God they can get a lot quicker from the world world; See similar in Heb 6:4-6 = They loved God for what He gave them [“tasted the heavenly gift…partakers of the HS…tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come”] versus Who He is).

1.8. PNTM w/respect to the identity of the lost who love self/their sin = They may believe they love God but their reasons for doing so are narcissistic. They operate as though God is their investment versus what is actually true: we are God’s investment (and He expects a good return!). As a result, they care very little about righteousness/doing the right thing unless it gets them something. God is just a means to further their love of self (i.e., God is their sponsor) (Joh 6:1-15 w/25-26 w/66-68).

2. Jesus doesn’t want His faithful to invest themselves in the lives of the lost who love self/their sin.

2.1. (Mat 10:1-15)

2.2. (12-14) = Don’t’ give your time to the lost who love self/their sin as evidenced by their less than interested attitude toward the things of God or sadness over their sin. 

2.3. Why Jesus doesn’t want us to invest ourselves in the lost who love self/their sin: 

1) Because there is nothing we can say or do to change their situation (the problem is moral not intellectual – no amount of reasoning will remove their love for darkness [sin/self and the world] Joh 14:22-24 = There is no point in disclosing Myself/attempting to reach those who don’t love Me/are not inclined to love Me because they will never obey/be faithful). 

2) Because it takes time away from the lost who love God (and need our help) which weakens us as a church (we are only as strong as our weakest link) and our mission in reaching others (hence Mat 9:37-38). 

3) Because it can lead to discouragement – even depression or feelings of hopelessness (e.g., 1Ki 19:1-9 = Focus on the darkness in our midst can so eclipse the good [18:36-40] that we lose meaning [and hope or motivation] in the struggle). Remembering this last point becomes even more important when we realize that the majority of the lost we will encounter (in the church and outside in the world) are those that love self/their sin (they love the world and darkness and not God).

3. Jesus wants the lost who love God (or are inclined to love God) to know that He (still) loves them and is the secret to receiving permanent relief from their struggles with sin. 

3.1. (Mat 11:28-30)

3.2. (28) “All who are weary and heavy-laden” = The lost who love God/inclined to love God but continue to be burdened by their sin (who are dispirited and distressed by their struggle with sin – hating it/desiring to be done with it). 

3.3. (28/29) I will give you rest…you will find rest” = You will overcome your struggles with sin and be able to live faithful to God consistent with your love for Him.

3.4. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me” = The secret to overcoming is becoming My disciple (which entails two things): 

1) “take My yoke upon you” = Take the covenant (vows) of faith through the waters of baptism necessary to cleansing your soul and becoming a new creation (Tit 3:5; Joh 3:1-16 [vv1-11 = baptism where we become new creations; vv12-16 = vows of faith/fidelity – vv12-16). 

2) learn from Me” = Live learning to imitate Me (i.e., to bear my image instead of your own [seeking to be yourself or possess your own identity/life]; Mat 16:24-25 [“follow” = Imitate; “loses his life for My sake” = Forfeits the search for self bc it has been replaced by seeking to instead be a reflection of Christ – His self/image]; Joh 12:25-26). According to Paul, this second part (the “secret”) was implied in our baptism (Rom 6:1-11 “alive to God in [the imitation] of Christ”) and God’s plan from the beginning (Rom 8:29)

3.5. The instruments of love (for Him/God) and imitation are what Jesus uses to restore “lost” Peter after his thrice denial (Joh 21:15-19).

CLOSING CONTEMPLATION:  

1) Which one do you feel you cannot live without: the promotion of God or the promotion of self (btw: only one can be true – Mat 6:24)? 

2) Do you live as though God is your investment or you as His investment?

3) Is your life dedicated to learning and putting into practice the imitation of Christ (to being the best Christ-version of you – Phi 1:21)? Does looking forward to this as your life’s focus excite – or depress you?  

4) How do we reconcile today’s teaching w/: 3.1.) Romans 3:11 [Psa 14:1-3, 53:1-3], 3.2.) Psalm 73:25-26 and Mat ...

1. It will be a place without sin, a place of unending love.

1.1. There will never be any sin in the NHNE (no sin = no lawlessness [1 Jo 3:4]; a place of perfect lawfulness or equity [the purpose

of God’s Law]). Hence the reason there will no human death/curse (existence of human death/curse = existence of sin; Isa 65:25;

1Co 15:26 w/55-56; Rev 22:3).

1.2. What will keep us from sinning in the NHNE? The faithfulness in trusting God and practicing equity we secured in this life (Mat

22:36-40 = Trust God and practice equity [the summation of the Law and Prophets]) will translate into perfect equity and trust (or

obedience) once coupled w/perfect knowledge in the next.

(Rev 21:7 “overcomes”) = Secures faithfulness in trusting God and practicing equity (e.g., Gen 18:19 w/22:16 [Gen 22:1-3]) in

contrast to (8a “cowardly”) = Unwilling to practice equity; the selfish; (8b “unbelieving”) = Unwilling to trust.

(1Co 13:12 “know fully”) = Possess perfect wisdom (skill in discerning value [enhancing equity]) in relation to all things – including

the new things we discover/learn/experience in our travels to different planets, solar systems and galaxies.

1.3. This (then) is what also makes the Reboot a place of unending love (equity = Law = love). The NHNE will be a place filled

w/constant unending and unfailing love from everyone around us (no betrayal, lying, manipulation, heartbreak etc., ever again in

relation to anyone). Everyone will treat everyone with the same righteous care they expect for themselves (Mat 7:12; 2Pe 3:13

“NHNE where righteousness dwells”).

2. It will be a universe of superlative beauty.

2.1. That the Rebooted universe wb beautiful is confirmed by Jesus’ (Rev 2:7 [Rev 22:2] “Paradise of God” = Garden of beauty).

2.2. That the beauty of the NHNE wb superlative in relation to its predecessor is confirmed by Paul (2Co 4:17-18; Rom 8:18-23

[“creation” = Nonhuman parts of Creation -e.g., celestial bodies, plants, animals, etc.,]) = The glory or beauty of the NHNE is so much

greater that it makes our existing world not only a poor comparison but a painful choice (“the whole creation groans and

suffers…and we ourselves groan.”)

2.3. The word translated “corruption” (Grk., phthora) also carries the idea of inequity – or imbalance (e.g., 2Pe 1:4, 2:19) –which

means that what we can expect in relation to the superlative beauty of the NHNE is a universe where everything (including us) will

be created perfectly symmetrical, proportionate and ordered in relation to itself and its environment (i.e., it will suffer no imbalance

in form or function, it wb equitable). This (btw) the biblical definition of beauty (enhanced equity [achieved thru complexity and

diversity] 1 ).

2.4. The most likely reason John’s vision of the NHNE in Rev 21 and 22 is largely symbolic is due to the fact that he would not be able

to explain the beauty he observed had he seen its true form. It was beyond his imagination and cognitive abilities to understand.

This is most likely what Paul is getting at in (2Co 12:1-4 “not permitted to speak” = Not able to form meaningful words or thoughts to

explain what was observed).

2.5. This goes back to Paul’s statement about the NHNE being “far beyond all comparison” (2Co 4:17). Our existing world is the basis

for all cognitive ability or imagination. IOW: we cannot imagine things outside this created order. Yet once more- what is coming in

the Reboot is “far beyond” that -- which means whatever the NHNE looks like it is beyond the best (or coolest) our imaginations can

come up with (i.e., better than the coolest stuff we imagine –or watch in our sci-fi movies- e.g., think about the beauty of the

galaxies and planets presented in Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek or Star Wars films—it will make those universes look like some

2yr old drew it with a crayon).

1 Two additional thoughts (or tangents) in relation to beauty as enhanced equity: 1) creating beauty wb our primary function in the Reboot just as it was/is here - i.e.,

to further enhance the equity of existing things or raw materials provided by God in the new universe (in re: to this life – Gen 2:15 “cultivate” = “Enhance the equity

or life-giving abilities of those raw materials in the garden I have provided to you [and then expand that principle to the rest of the existing things on the planet]”). 2)

bc we are imagers of God (a Being Who lives for equity – Psa 138:2), we are drawn to equity (love) – especially its enhanced versions (beauty) – hence the reason also

we are duped be evil or sinful things if they are (at the same time) beautiful (manifesting in some aspect of their identity, enhanced levels of equity [e.g., the

symmetry of a beautiful woman’s physical form]).

3. It will be experienced as eternal pleasure.

3.1. Those who dwell in the same realm as God experience nothing but pleasure (Psa 16:11; this is what is inferred by Rev 21:1-3).

3.2. Pleasure is also the result of everything being equitable and beautiful – or existing w/o the other thing associated with that

word, “corruption” – the pain connected to deficiency, depravity, destruction, disease and death (Rev 21:4).

3.3. Eternal pleasure is likewise behind the word “paradise” (in the ANE, the term also meant, “pleasure park”).

3.4. Our modern history as human beings has proven this to be the most appealing part of the NHNE (e.g., those addicted to

pleasure producing drugs. The experience is so good they could care less about their location or state when using [emaciated and

laying in the gutter]. Hence the reason it is so hard to get addicts to kick it – pleasure trumps everything else).

4. We will exist as immortal and invincible human torches equipped with superhuman abilities and advanced tech who enjoy

travelling through infinite galaxies filled not only with every being that existed on this planet (including dinosaurs) and in the

third heaven (several different species of beings are presented in Scripture) but also those creatures specifically designed to

thrive in the different types of atmospheres and environments found on other planets where we serve as their discoverers,

enhancers, subduers and protectors.

4.1. Regarding our existence as immortal and invincible human torches with superhuman abilities (Gen 1:27 [w/Gen 5:1-3

“image/likeness” = Includes ontological makeup] w/Heb 12:29 [w/Deu 9:3 “consuming fire” = ontological makeup]; Rev 21:4-6

w/Rev 22:1-2; Gen 3:10 w/Rev 1:14-15 w/2:18 w/1Jo 3:2; Mat 22:30 w/Heb 1:7 [Psa 104:4] w/Rev 10:1 w/Rev 7:1-2, 14:6, 13 w/Mat

13:41-42 w/1Ch 21:16; Psa 103:20).

4.2. Regarding advanced tech (Eze 1:13-21 “workmanship” = Indicates advanced tech not other living beings; “the spirit of the living

beings was in the wheels” = The donut-shaped tech [drone ufo?] was paired to the living beings – i.e., under the control of their

minds/spirits).

4.3. Regarding our role as discoverers, enhancers, subduers and protectors of this new universe (Gen 1:26-28; Gen 2:15w/Psa 8:4-8

= Mankind was made to be the caretakers and cultivators of all life in God’s creation- from one end of the universe to the other).

4.4. Regarding the existence of all things that existed before and life on other planets: our God is a God of life, redundancy and

purpo...

Psalm 104 credits God – at least indirectly, with the creation of alcohol – which means according to Paul (1Ti 4), it (like other “foods” created by God – v3) “is good” (Gen 1:31) and not to be “rejected (condemned or forbidden) – but rather “received with gratitude.” However (as Paul also makes clear), its place as good is dependent on it being “sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.” IOW: even created things first declared good by God must be practiced according to His prescription (“the Word of God”) and dedicated to His glory (“prayer” – 1Co 10:31) if they are to remain good – and not become stumbling blocks and sin. Assuming the latter to be given (we have prayerfully committed to God that the pleasure we receive in consuming alcohol will bring Him glory), only the former remains in question: what is God’s prescription for consuming alcohol? This study will provide the answer to that question as well what happens when we don’t follow His prescription.

1. Like God’s other powerful gifts (e.g., sex), His prescription for consuming alcohol enjoys a very limited context: excluding medicinal use[1], its sole purpose is to function only as an initial aid to the kind of gladness of heart conducive to God-honoring comfort and conversation with God’s covenant family during God’s sanctioned/sacred celebrations. 

1.1. (Psa 104:15) “makes man’s heart glad” = Initiates gladness of heart; “food which sustains man’s heart [with gladness].” = Sustains gladness of heart. IOW: it was never God’s intention that mankind would fill up on alcohol as the means to sustaining the gladness initiated by alcohol. That gladness is instead to be sustained through filling up on food (or feasting) 

1.2. Hence the reason those who fill up on alcohol (i.e., attempt to sustain their gladness by continuing to consume alcohol) are cursed with drunkenness (Gen 9:21 “drunk”) = To fill up or saturate (versus initiate) w/alcohol. NOTICE: the word does not point to the result (becoming tipsy, impaired, etc.,) but rather the cause – i.e., attempting to sustain (through filling up or saturation w/alcohol) the gladness of heart initiated by alcohol. 

1.3. In summary: We are to initiate gladness thru alcohol but sustain that gladness thru food/feasting. And all of this is only to take place with covenant family during God’s sanctioned/sacred celebrations: 

1) Sabbath feasts (Deu 14:26) = The consumption of alcohol takes place along w/eating meat or feasting (in the ANE, meat on the menu - more than not, indicated the existence of a special feast or celebration).

2) Wedding-related celebrations - including betrothal celebrations [e.g., baptisms] (Gen 14:17-20) = This sacred meal (of bread and wine/alcohol) along w/giving a tenth represents the beginning of the marriage covenant/betrothal process between Abe and God (followed by the binding vow ceremony in 15:1-21)[2]; (Joh 2:1-10). 

3) Celebrations of covenant renewal/ratification or reconciliation (Mat 26:27-29) = The LT (ratification/renewal of the covenant initiated at baptism (Joh 13:10); (Luk 15:23) = Considering what we also know about ANE practice, two things in this verse imply the consumption of alcohol: the consumption of meat and the mention of celebration. 

4) Birthday celebrations w/covenant family (Job 1:4 [“his day” same word as 3:1] w/13 “wine”).

5) Celebrations established by God’s leaders in the covenant community (Joh 10:22-23) = Jesus celebrated Hanukah/Festival of Dedication, a sacred holiday established – not by God, but the leaders of the covenant community [the Maccabees] involving the consumption of alcohol (e.g., camping trip; members dinner; ordination celebrations).

1.4. What (then) is not considered by God as sanctioned/sacred celebrations (though we are with covenant family): Any fellowship or celebration not mentioned above (e.g., vacation w/covenant family; Gen 18:1-8 = Abe serves milk not wine).

1.5. PNTM: Per God’s prescription, consuming alcohol requires possessing the right context: drinking to initiate gladness/conversation w/covenant family that takes place in those religious or covenant family environments established by God or His leaders. Following this prescription not only causes us to fulfill our prayer of dedication to God (we are drinking in a way that glorifies God) but avoid the consequences associated w/alcohol abuse and sin.[3]

2. God’s curse in various forms of harm – even death and hell, are appointed to those who sin by not treating alcohol according to His prescription. 

2.1. (Jam 4:17; Rom 14:23 = Failing to do something according to faith [and therefore sinning against God] would include not only those things you know to be sinful but also anything you know could be sinful - yet still choose to do, though you do not possess the biblical support to prove it is righteous). This would include: 

1) Getting drunk (1Co 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; 1Co 11:20-21 w/29-34) = Hell wb the home of drunkards.[4] Additional dangers associated w/getting drunk: a) You open yourself up to demonic influence (or possession) (Eph 5:15-16) “days are evil” = Every day is filled with evil spirits attempting to make contact with us (See Eph 6:11-13 “the evil day” = Day when we are being attacked by evil spirits) (w/17-18) “do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation” [Grk., asotia = Literally, unsavedness – or an unsaved version of being filled up or occupied] = IOW: you are not filling up with the Spirit – but w/what invites those opposed to salvation (evil spirits/demons). Ancient cultures used drunkenness to occupy – or be occupied/filled by the spirit realm. In the first century, Ephesus was the epicenter for such demonic practice (hence why Act 19:18-19; See Power and Magic: The Concept of Power in Ephesians). b) You increase the chances of sexual perversion (e.g., Gen 9:20-25; Gen 19:30-36; 50% of all sexual assault cases involve alcohol and/or drunkenness).

2) Drinking large amounts (i.e., beyond what should be needed as an initial aid to gladness of heart)(Isa 5:22) “Woe to those [you are in danger of damnation] who are heroes at drinking wine and valiant men in mixing strong drink” [those able to tolerate large quantities of alcohol before becoming intoxicated/before reaching the initiating effects of gladness] (w/24-25) = God will punish these heroes of alcohol as rebels who have rejected His law; (1Ti 3:3) “addicted to wine” [Grk., paroinos] = One who consumes more wine than needed. [5] Additional danger associated w/drinking large amounts of alcohol = Permanent brain damage or shrinkage of those parts of the brain associated with memory, reasoning, cognition and learning (Pro 31:4-7).[6] 

3) Drinking with or like the pagans (drunkards) (1Pe 4:3 “Gentiles” = Pagans) = You drink w/or like the pagans you will condemned w/or like the pagans; (Mat 24:49) “drinking with the drunkards” = Drinking alcohol with pagans[7]; Hence why (2Co 6:14-7:1) “Come out of their midst and be separate from them [the “unbeliever” or pagan]…let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh” = This includes also separating/cleansing ourselves from their drinking practices/traditions (e.g., Isa 5:11-13) = Constant drinking throughout the day (which begins in the morning and continues into the evening) was a popular holiday [vacation] tradition among pagan cultures in the ANE that God condemned His people for adopting due to their willful ignorance of His Law which forbid such practice. Hence (Act 2:15). 

4) Drinking on unsanctioned days (Lev 10:1-3 w/9) = The reason that God killed Nadab and Abihu is because they were drinking alcohol on the day of their service before God. IOW: they were drinking on an unsanctioned day....

1. Send thank you cards to those who persecute you. 

1.1. Though 2Ti 3:12 makes clear that persecution is promised to those who attempt to preach and practice faithfulness to Christ, we nonetheless seem to be caught off guard when it happens. 

1.2. Hence why Peter says what he does in (1Pe 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you”).

1.3. This “testing” in not only necessary to qualifying for the next life, it also promises to grant us and extra measure of blessing (Mat 5:10-12) = If the tests we faced in this life included being slandered and condemned as evil by false followers of Christ (the main antagonists of Christ’s words – Joh 16:2) we will receive a greater reward than those who faced no persecution (“your reward in heaven is great” - Or greater than the other blessings or rewards mentioned in the prior verses [3-9]).

1.4. Which means two things: 

1) those who persecute us are actually doing us a huge favor! They are personally seeing to it that our eternal stay in Paradise be upgraded to first class. 

2) the considerate thing to do in relation to such individuals would therefore be to send them a thank you card letting them know we appreciate the upgrade. 

1.5. We could also offer to send them pics of all the awesome experiences we will be having – since where they are going will not be awesome – but awful.

1.6. PNTM: We should be overjoyed every time someone speaks evil about us (or our church) since what they are ultimately doing is increasing our stock value for the next life. 

2. Focus on glowing over knowing. 

2.1. Glowing = Becoming immortal; Knowing = Becoming omniscient.

2.2. As you continue to follow Christ, you will (of course) learn more and more of the Bible. The temptation that can arise because of such learning is the expectation that God or His Word will provide the answer to all things; that all your questions get answered and all your conundrums get solved – which is just another way of saying, “I demand to be omniscient or all-knowing like God.” And 

2.3. This then becomes the requirement of your relationship with God: “For me to follow/obey Him, I need to know everything He knows.” This is not only a highly dangerous and sinful path to take in our walk with God, but the one tread by our first parents.

2.4. Adam and Eve demanded to know - and as a result, lost their glow (they lusted after omniscience and lost their immortality) (Gen 2:17 w/3:6-7) = The view within ancient Judaism and the early church was that the pre-Fall bodies of Adam and Eve were akin to the pre-incarnate body of Jesus or those of the righteous angels – they were glowing as though they were made of light (or fire) (Eze 1:26-28 “Son of Man” [Dan 7:13]; Dan 10:6; Consider also Moses’ face after dwelling in the presence of Jesus on Mt. Sinai – Exo 34:29). Their quest for forbidden knowledge meant not only losing these illuminated coverings which hid their otherwise naked bodies (hence the reason for the “fig leaves” – and later, God clothing them with garments of animal skins – v21), but also the protection this “forcefield of light” provided against Creation’s deadly forces (damage, disease and decay) (hence why God said, “in the day you eat of it you shall die”).[1] 

2.5. God’s prohibition against eating from the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” indicates that it was never His will that we would know all things – or that we would get all things right, during our earthly life. Our mission/test is not the pursuit of omniscience (knowing) but immortality (glowing) which requires knowing – or getting right, only one thing: the gospel (Gal 1:8-9) and trusting God (versus fretting over) those things we don’t yet understand or may never understand (Deu 29:29).[2] 

2.6. Hence the reason: 

1) the only thing we see the faithful people of the early church ever fighting to get right – or know with great precision, are things related to the gospel (Gal 2:11-12 w/Act 15:1-22).

2) we are to recognize as true brothers/sisters in Christ all those who possess and practice the right gospel – regardless of how ignorant/wrong they may be in relation to other things (Mar 9:38-40 “not following us” = Not believing or doing all of the same things we do as part of our discipleship and worship of Christ; “perform a miracle in My name” = They possess power/authority in agreement with My NIL which makes them members of a covenant community possessing the right gospel; e.g., the church in SC).

3) the emphasis in Scripture has always been trust and teachableness (e.g., Deu 8:2-3; Pro 3:5-7) (5) = Trust that what God says or does is right and righteous even when we don’t fully understand; (6) = Show that you trust Him by obeying what He says (once more, even when we don’t fully understand) (i.e., “in all your ways acknowledge Him”); (7) IOW: be teachable.

2.7. Why God will - at times, hides the truth from His people (even as it relates to aspects of the gospel) = To protect/advance His church ([e.g., Luk 9:44-45 w/18:31-34 w/Luk 24:27; Joh 14:26 w/Act 11:1-3] = Joh 16:12; Gal 2:4). Is it possible that the reason neither Jesus nor the HS gave the early church the answer regarding the retirement of the OC signs was to save those Jews/Pharisees who otherwise would not initially come to Christ had they been rejected (e.g., God let us believe in the wrong doctrines of believer’s baptism and Calvinism to attract many of our current people to our church who otherwise may not have initially come)? (Psa 18:35) = Your condescension has saved me.

2.8. Why God made the mission (our test in this life) about learning to trust Him rather than seeking to possess all the answers: 

1) the moral virtue of trust is not something God can give without violating our freewill. It is therefore something we must secure (through its faithful and regular exercise – especially in trials – Gen 22:16-18 w/Gen 18:19). 

2) the moral virtue of trust is the key to guaranteeing we don’t sin in the Reboot when God rewards us with knowledge of all things (e.g., Satan and the fallen angels possessed all knowledge but not trust). It is important to note that the knowledge of all things is not the same as possessing the mind of God. Knowing all things is not the same as being wise to all things. Hence the need for securing trust to keep us from destroying the next world as we did this one. 

2.9. PNTM: Though we are called to continue learning and growing in our understanding of Scripture, that does not mean we have the right to demand or do what Adam and Eve were prohibited from demanding or doing – nor does it mean that we could even if we tried. The Bible is not the tree of knowledge (i.e., it does not have the ability to make us omniscient like God). This was never God’s purpose for giving it to us. There are plenty of things that it does not give us the answers to – as well as plenty of things where it provides only snippets of information. It does however provide enough information to make us wise unto salvation and righteous living (2Ti 3:15-16) - and to reasonably put our trust in God regarding those things where it is silent or less than complete in what it reveals. And that (as mentioned) is where God wants us to place our focus. We are to focus on glowing (i.e., immortality through trusting God and getting the gospel right) – not knowing (i.e., omniscience or thinking we need to kno...

1.1. What happens in baptism? 

1) We take the sign which represents our life-long marital vow of faith/faithfulness to Christ as our Head/Husband necessary to establishing a saving covenant w/Him and becoming a part of His Bride, the church, - i.e., God’s family (Mar 16:16; 1Pe 3:21 “appeal” = A vow/pledge; “good conscience thru the resurrection” = God receives our vow of faith and applies the forgiveness secured thru Christ’s death and resurrection [giving us a good conscience before Him – i.e. we are now right w/God or justified]; Jer 31:31-34 “Husband…I will be their God and they shall be My people = Marriage”; “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it” = Similar to Sinai [Exo 24:7-8], a vow of faithfulness [to God and His Law] wb taken to secure the covenant and salvation/justification; Act 20:28 “church of God which [Christ] purchased with His own blood” = Jesus gave His life as the bride-price for the church [Eph 5:25]; Gal 3:26-27 “clothed” = You are now a part of Christ’s lineage/family, the lineage/family of Abraham/promise [v16], the lineage/family of the sons of God [v26] who do the deeds of Abraham [Joh 8:39] and the will of the Father [Mat 7:21 w/12:50] b/c they have traded their earthly family/loyalties for loyalty to God’s family [hence v28]). As such, we now consider ourselves not only dead to sin/flesh/the world (no longer trusting their judgment or seeking to fulfill their desire) but under the daily obligation to put them to death through trust and obedience to the Spirit - or Christ and His Law. IOW: we must flee what is familiar [our flesh/the world/blood family] and embrace what is foreign [the Spirit/Christ/His Law/God’s family/the church]) to maintain what we have gained (Rom 8:12-13 [w/Joh 14:26, 16:13-15]; 1Co 9:21[Gal 6:2]; Gal 5:16; 1Jo 2:15-17; Rom 6:1-18). 

2) We receive initial cleansing[1] of our sins (justification/right standing/forgiveness/propitiation) by the Holy Spirit in regeneration (receiving a new spiritual heart/becoming a new creation) as well as His indwelling presence as Helper (Tit 3:5-7; Eze 36:25-27 [HS as helper not doer - Joh 14:16). Both our vow of faithfulness and the work of the HS are mentioned in (1Pe 1:1-2 “sprinkling” [w/2:24 “wounds…healed”] = The prescribed mode for baptism is sprinkling not immersion). 

1.2. Who is Jesus Christ? 

1) The promised God-Son (the Yhwh separate from Yhwh the Father) Who became the incarnate Son of David and Savior-Messiah (anointed priest, prophet and king) of the Jewish people (i.e., the children of Abraham) Whose life, death and resurrection secured eternal salvation and established the New Covenant with Israel as the eternal kingdom of God on earth (Dan 7:13-14; Heb 1:8-9, 13:20; Rom 1:3-4, 4:25; Mat 1:18; Jer 31:31 w/Joh 4:22; Heb 2:14-16; Luk 22:20). 

2) The covenant-making God of the Bible (e.g., OC: Jud 1:5; Heb 9:15-16). Hence the reason the framework of salvation stays the same: it begins w/blood and water (Passover = Beginning of God’s salvific calendar and a burnt offering – a vow of faithfulness necessary to receiving the sin offering/atonement/forgiveness - Lev 1:4 [LBS!] w/Lev 16:3; hence 1Co 5:7-8; 1Co 10:1-4; 1Pe 3:20 w/Gen 8:20). 

1.3. What does our baptism provide as our new identity? 

We are now among the saved children of Abraham – or spiritual Jews who are now a part of Christ’s covenant community or church, New Covenant Israel (Rom 2:29, 11:17, 19, 24; Gal 3:29, 6:16; Eph 2:11-22). 

1.4. Who can baptize us? 

Only those possessing the keys to the gates of heaven/salvation as Christ’s covenant church or New Covenant Israel, the Kingdom of God/heaven on earth (Mat 16:17-19; Joh 20:21-23). 

1.5. What must we do once we have graciously gained this saving covenant relationship with Christ and become a part of His church (or New Covenant Israel)? 

Fulfill our marital vows – or maintain the covenant through the faithful practice of equity and love (most especially to Christ and His church as defined by Him and the entirety of the Scriptures (Mat 5:17-20; Mat 28:18-20; Mat 7:12; Mat 22:36-40).

2. Our Covenant Commitment To Christ and His Church (Christ Covenant Church/CCC)

Do you promise before Christ on penalty of apostasy (Deu 29:18-20; Heb 10:26-30) if you fail or refuse: 

1) to preach, faithfully practice and defend the aforementioned as the only truth and true gospel unto death? 

2) to be loyal to CCC as Gods family above your blood/physical family (Mat 12:50)? 

3) to trust and submit to Christ’s leading through the leadership of CCC (Heb 13:17)? 

4) to never be unteachable but eager to learn and change as we continue to be shown new things by Christ from the Scriptures (Joh 8:31)? 

5) to rejoice when counted worthy to suffer for what we believe (Mat 5:10-12)? 

6) to seek counsel and understanding from rabbi Scott when there are questions or problems with the teaching or others in the covenant community - including yourself (Col 1:28)? 

7) to stand on the truth of God’s Word regardless of the opposing voices (2Ti 4:2)? 

8) to recognize as truth from God’s Word only what is coherent, consistent and equitable with the whole of Scripture (Psa 19:7-8)? 

9) to use the courts of CCC to handle all grievances related to its members or the teaching which cannot be resolved by other means (Mat 18:15-20)? 

10) to separate from all those who speak against this gospel, this leadership and church (2Jo 1:9-11)? 

11) to believe nothing as coming from the Holy Spirit that is contrary to the teaching of this church which you cannot prove to its leadership and people (Act 15:22 w/28)? 

12) to never cover up sin- no matter the member -including rabbi, yet never accuse anyone of sin without providing the evidence and following the process prescribed in Scripture (Lev 19:15-18)? 

13) to denounce Christianity as defined by the FAG, the doctrines of original sin, penal substitution and moral inability as false, unjust and therefore entirely wicked (Eph 5:11)?

Signature of baptized member:

Date:

 [1] This cleansing continues – especially through the sacrament of the Lord’s Table as long as we maintain the covenant through faithfulness (repentance [justice]/obedience [just living]) (1Co 11:23-32).

1. If we have the truth/true gospel, then it will not cause problems with blood family.

1.1. (Mat 10:34-37; Luk 2:34-35; Luk 12:51-53). 

1.2. (Mar 3:20-21 w/31-35) = Rabbi Jesus (the One Whose life we must imitate for Him to be our Savior) chose God’s family over His physical family – including His mother. This BTW is the same Jesus Who gave us the 5th commandment (“honor your father and mother”).

1.3. Hence why (Luk 9:59-62) = The agenda of God’s family/kingdom trumps even the most sensitive or important of blood family traditions/demands.

1.4. As we should expect, the disciples followed Jesus’ lead by choosing God’s family over their blood family (Mat 19:27-29).

2. If we have the truth/true gospel, then we will be in the majority (or at least there wb others around like us). 

2.1. (Rev 2-3) = Along with the Jerusalem church, only two of the seven churches in Asia minor were not on the brink of losing their lampstands (becoming false churches). 

2.2. (1Pe 3:20) = There were only eight saved people when God destroyed the world the first time.

2.3. (Rev 20:7-9) “surrounded the camp of the saints” = What is left of Christ’s true followers at the time of His return will be a singular camp [or congregation] small enough to be surrounded (hence why - Luk 18:8). 

2.4. (Act 1:15) = 120 people were left after Jesus’ earthly ministry. They were the only ones on planet earth still following Him. 

2.5. Hence why they referred to the early church as a cult (Act 24:14 “sect” being used in a derogatory sense). 

2.6. Jesus’ popularity was short-lived and He never controlled the majority.[1] The Pharisees were the dominant religious party/group (i.e., the group wielding the most influence and power over the Jewish community – including over the priests). In Jesus’ day, they occupied most of the seats in the Sanhedrin – the Jewish version of our three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial: they were who created new laws, enforced the laws and were seen as the law’s experts in interpretation). The Pharisees were who the nation listened to and believed were the curators of their religion. 

2.7. In reality however, they were hypocrites and counterfeits. They could not defend their positions from Scripture (hence the reason it says that when Jesus preached it was different than them – He possessed authority – i.e., He could defend His position from Scripture- whereas they could not). Which is why they resorted to bullying: to threats, manipulation, slander and blasphemy (e.g., Mat 12:22-32). 

2.8. In many ways the Pharisees were the first Evangelicals: 

1) they preached a FAG (Joh 8:31-39 w/Mat 3:7-10). 

2) they embraced many wicked, unethical, Scripture-violating traditions (Mat 15:1-14; e.g., Evan: grape juice for the LT [leavened grapes versus unleavened grapes or wine; Original Sin, Penal Substitution and Moral Inability]). 

3) they practiced unjust justice (Joh 8:1-11; e.g., Evan: church discipline w/o discipline – or the discipline prescribed by God).

4)  they possessed embarrassingly bad theology (Mat 12:1-21; Mat 22:41-46; e.g., Evan: monotheistic view of the Trinity).

2.9. Hence why Jesus’ entire ministry was a direct attack against the Pharisees (e.g., His first public address – SotM is directed at them – they are the ones whose horrible teaching He is correcting in Mat 5, who He is referring to as “hypocrites” in Mat 6, and the false teachers paving a broad path He warns against following in Mat 7).

2.10. Jesus stood up to the Evangelical bullies of His day. And He didn’t need to be in the majority to do it (or to be the One possessing the truth). If the Bible’s history teaches us anything, it is that the truth is most often found among the very small minority.

3. If we have the truth/true gospel, then nobody claiming to follow God will persecute us or accuse us of evil.

3.1. The previous point should have made it abundantly clear that this too is an unrealistic expectation.

3.2. Jesus promised we wb presecuted and accused of all kinds of evil (Mat 5:10-12, 9:3, 11 w/[11:19], 10:16-22, 12:24, 24:9-11; Luk 4:28-29; Joh 8:41, 48, 9:22, 28-29, 10:20, 15:25, 16:1-3; Rev 2:9-10).

3.3. Paul also spoke about this so we should not be surprised – especially as we enter the last days (2Co 11:26; Phi 1:29-30; 2Ti 3:12 w/1-11).

4. If we have the truth/true gospel, then nobody in our church will ever disturb, deceive or betray us, or go apostate and leave the church.

4.1. This too is highly. unrealistic thinking. Didn’t Jesus have the truth/true gospel – yet He and the early church faced all kinds of internal trouble or problems (Mat 26:24-25, 45-46; Joh 6:66 [w/Act 1:15]; 2Co 11:3-4 w/13-14; Gal 1:6-7; Phi 3:18-19; 1Jo 2:19)

4.2. Jesus (and again the apostle Paul) warn us that this wb the norm in those churches with the truth/true gospel (those who are the true kingdom of God on earth – especially once more as we get closer to the end of history (Mat 10:21, 13:18-23, 36-43, 24:12-13; Rom 16:17-18; 2Ti 3:13, 4:1-5, 16).

CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: 1Pe 5:12-13

 [1] See Kent Yinger, The Pharisees: Their History, Character, and New Testament Portrait

1. Jesus established the synagogues – or congregations led by rabbis that existed in His day as the model for His new covenant churches (congregations).  

1.1. (Joh 4:21-24) (21) “neither on this mountain [Mt. Gerizim – the site of the Samaritan temple] nor in Jerusalem [the site of Israel’s Temple] will you worship the Father” = God’s location will no longer be a single place fixed on a sacred mountain. IOW: no more temples (22) “Salvation is from the Jews” = God’s salvation or Savior (Messiah – v25-26) is only for Jews and their religion (Judaism) (Heb 2:16). (23-24) “an hour is coming and now is” = The model for New Covenant Judaism’s people and place of worship are already in existence. They are identified by two things: 1) “spirit” = Entering into worship will only be afforded to spiritual Jews (versus the Temple which excluded all but ethnic Jews. IOW: no Gentile proselytes were allowed into its inner courts of worship) (Rom 2:27). 2) “truth” = The focus of worship will be the teaching of Scripture (versus the Temple where the focus is the sacrifices of the priesthood) (Joh 17:17). 

1.2. What people and places of worship already existed that fit the things mentioned by Jesus (not a temple, not therefore associated with the priests, entering into worship was available to all who are spiritual Jews, and the focus of worship is the teaching of Scripture)? The first century synagogues (congregations, assemblies) who welcomed into worship Gentiles converts (i.e., Gentiles who became spiritual Jews) and whose focus was the teaching of Scripture by their rabbis.

2. Jesus and the apostles carried the title of Rabbi which implies they were training and ordaining their disciples to become rabbis as the leaders and planters of new covenant churches.

2.1. Jesus was called “Rabbi” (Mat 26:25, 49; Mar 9:5, 11:21; Joh 1:38, 3:2, 4:31, 6:25, 9:2, 11:8; hence the reason Jesus is allowed to teach in the synagogues [e.g., Luk 4:15]. Only Rabbis were allowed to teach in the synagogues).[2]

2.2. That Jesus was indeed a rabbi is also supported by His: 1) speech when correcting false teaching (Mat 5:21-22, 27-28, 33-34, 38-39)= According to Dr. David Daube, this repeated formula (“you have heard that it was said…but I say to you”) was the calling card of the rabbis.[3] 2) posture when teaching (Mat 5:1-2; Mat 13:1-3a; Luk 4:16 w/20-21) = According to Dr. David Sedaca, sitting while teaching was the invention of the rabbis.[4] 

2.3. Jesus employs the master-slave/teacher-disciple language used by rabbis in His addresses to the twelve (e.g., Mat 10:24-27; Luk 6:40). 

2.4. The fact that the twelve lived with Jesus and provided for His needs (e.g., Joh 4:8 w/31 “the disciples were urging him saying, ‘Rabbi eat’”) also points to their discipleship being that of rabbi trainees.[5]

2.5. Matthew and John’s mention of Jesus anointing the eleven with authority as the church’s first leaders would have been understood by first century readers as a Rabbi ordaining His young disciples as junior rabbis (Joh 20:21-23 = The combination of sending and receiving of the HS indicates ordination/anointing to ministry. 

The authority to forgive sins is what is meant by binding and loosing in Mat 16:17-19 = The phrase “binding and loosing” was unique to the ancient rabbis and a reference to their authority as judges in penal cases). [6] 

2.6. Similar to the other apostles, Paul received training as a rabbi (Act 22:3 “educated under Gamaliel”) = Gamaliel was a Rabbi and the president (Heb., nasi) of the Sanhedrin (Babylonian Talmud: Shab. 15a). To be educated by him, meant that Paul was his disciple – i.e., that he was trained by him to be a Rabbi according to the theological and hermeneutical convictions of the Pharisees (in contrast to the Sadducees; Act 5:34 w/Act 23:6). As a result, Paul (like Jesus) was allowed to teach in the synagogues (Act 13:14-16ff). 

2.7. Paul’s constant push to be in the homes of his disciples - as well as his call for them to imitate his life, further supports his rabbinical identity given those ordained as rabbis were the only ones considered legitimate enough to makes such demands (Act 20:20; Rom 15:24, 28-29; 1Co 11:1; Phi 3:17, 4:9; 2Th 3:9).[7] 

2.8. Paul’s reference to the ordination/anointing of Timothy (“laying on of hands”) likewise was a phrase associated with being ordained/anointed as a rabbi in ancient times (1Ti 4:14; 2Ti 1:6).[8]

2.9. The fact that Paul and the other apostles could ordain men to be leaders so quickly after a church was planted also supports that they were rabbis – or in these cases, men who were previously being trained to be rabbis, since this was the only form of theological education available in the first century (Act 6:6, 8:17; Act 14:23).

2.10. Peter’s reference to the younger (elders) submitting to the (older) elders in (1Pe 5:5) likewise finds precedent in the practice of junior rabbis - most specifically, when giving their judgment on court-related matters (Mishna Sanhedrin 4:2). Outside of the rabbinical context, nothing exists for understanding Peter’s instruction in 5:1-6.

3. The term “pastor” is never used in the NT as a formal title or rank when referring to the leaders of God’s people.

3.1. Formal titles or ranks used in the Bible for leaders: 1) apostles and elders (Act 15:2; 1Co 12:28[9]), 2) overseers and deacons (Phi 1:1), 3) rabbi or teacher (Joh 1:38), 4) prophets (Act 13:1[10]), 5) lord (Joh 6:68[11]). No leader is ever addressed using the word “pastor/shepherd.”

3.2. Even when the term (“Shepherd”) is attached to Jesus, it carries with it the idea of “rabbi” indicating “pastor/shepherd” to be more a descriptor of function similar to OT examples (Jer 39:3; 2Ki 18:17) (1Pe 5:5 “Chief [rab means ‘chief’] Shepherd” Heb 13:20 “Great [rab means ‘great’] Shepherd”). 

3.3. Though the leaders of the NT church carried out the function of shepherding (1Pe 5:2) – as well as the office of priest (hence why Rom 15:16), neither of these terms are used to formally address them.

3.4. Unlike the case with rabbi, the term pastor is never linked to ordination/anointing in the first century. Besides apostles and prophets, rabbis were also the only other individuals being ordained in the first century (e.g., priests – Heb 7:21).

4. The fact that Jesus prohibits the use of rabbi in Matthew 23 lends further support to this term as the appropriate title/rank for the church’s ordained leaders.

4.1. (Mat 23:8-10)

4.2. What Jesus is not saying = Never use these titles ([1Co 12:28; 2Ti 1:11] = Rabbi; 1Co 4:15; Eph 6:2; Heb 13:17). 

4.3. What Jesus is saying = Never consider those who receive these titles as your final authority. Such respect and submission must be given to God and God alone.

4.4. Why Jesus picks these three titles (rabbi, father and leader) = Because they were the common nomenclatures of His day. IOW: these are how the people of the covenant community addressed those men in the position of elde...

Faithfully obeying those principles established by OT Scriptures according to their transformation in Christ (NC application) therefore includes the various Sabbath commands (days, harvest season festivals and years): 1) Hardship relief (Exo 20:8-11 and Lev 25:1-55 w/Heb 4:9-11 and Mat 12:12). 2) Holy convocation w/feasting and rejoicing (Psa 42:4; Lev 23:1, 7-8, 21, 24, 27, 35-37 w/Heb 10:25; Psa 92 w/Col 3:16). 3) Reciprocation (Exo 23:14-19 w/Heb 7:1-10; 1Co 16:1-2). 4) Covenant renewal (Lev 23:1-44 w/Luk 22:19-20). 

That being said, what changes have been made to the Sabbath under New Covenant Judaism? And why the change?

1. What? Our observance of the Sabbath principles are no longer tied to the day of Saturday, the festivals of Passover, Pentecost and Yom Kippur or the 7th and 50th year of Jubilee. 

Though the Sabbath commands remain intact (Mat 5:17-18), Paul not only views them as no longer tied to Saturday, the Festivals or Jubilee, but strongly warns against finding any soteriological value in their former application (Gal 4:9-11; Col 2:16-17 w/23). 

2. Why? Because the locus of our Savior God’s identity is no longer the old Creation– but the new.

What was being communicated through OC Israel’s observance of the seventh-day Sabbath as a holiday (i.e., a day off from work to rest, convocate, reciprocate and renew the covenant) was that her Savior from slavery to false gods (the creator gods of Egypt – Jos 24:15; Exo 12:16; Num 33:1-4) was Yhwh, the (true and only) God of Creation. For NC Israel however it is different. Though Yhwh is still our Savior from slavery to false gods (Jesus is the Yhwh Who led OC Israel out of Egypt – Jud 1:5), His locus of identity is no longer the original (or old) Creation – but the New Creation as evidenced by His gospel message of regeneration and His personal resurrection from the dead on the first day (Gen 1:5). Important also to note, celebrating the Sabbath on the first day has precedent in the OT. Each of the Feast Sabbaths (“holy convocations”) had a 1st day Sabbath associated w/it (Lev 23:7 [P/UL], 15 w/21 [W], 35 [B]).

Evidence of Sunday Sabbath observance in the NT: Considering the Pentecost of Acts 2 was celebrated on a Sunday, the statement, (46) “throughout the day (a better translation of [Grk.] kath’ hemera [“day by day]; e.g., Act 11:1)…in the temple and from house to house [house churches]” suggests a Sunday Sabbath observance since that this is when all but one of the four Sabbath principles (hardship relief) were also observed (46-47).

3. What? The prohibition against cooking on the Sabbath no longer remains in force.

3.1. (Rom 14:1-21):

1) The focus of Paul’s instruction is the weaker brother whose opinion is that he can only eat vegetables on certain days (1-2).

2) That food (specifically eating vegetables only) is Paul’s focus is confirmed by both the number of verses devoted to the subject (all but verse 5) and his immediate return to the subject of food after mentioning the issue of days in verse 5 and part of 6.

3) One must therefore conclude that the only reason Paul briefly mentions days is because of their direct connection to the food issue (5) “one person regards one day above another (w/regard to what he can/cannot eat) another regards every day alike (w/regard to what he can/cannot eat).” 

4) Whatever the food issue is, it is related to OT clean laws (14, 20).

5) There is only one food issue that fits the aforementioned criteria: the prohibition against foods prepared on the Sabbath (e.g., v21, “[broiled] meat… [mixed] wine” – Pro 9:2). Such food would be considered “unclean” (i.e., profaned or defiled by the fact that it was prepared on the Sabbath). Besides those foods prepared on the prior day, the only other acceptable foods for consumption would be raw fruits and vegetables – which would/could be the only option for the weaker Jewish brother (i.e., ethnic Jew who still feels weird about consuming things prepared on the Sabbath) when feasting with his church family (whose meals were prepared on the Sabbath). 

3.2. PNTM: Paul no longer sees the prohibition of preparing food on the Sabbath applying under its NC application (i.e., the Sunday Sabbath).

4. Why? Because the prohibition against preparing food did not apply to first day Sabbaths.

4.1. Though still holidays and therefore prohibiting regular work, all Feast Sabbaths (or “first day” Sabbaths) allowed for the preparing of food. Hence the reason they are called “feasts” [Heb., chag] and “holy convocations” [Heb., miqra qodesh]  (Lev 23:7 [P/UL], 15 w/21 [W], 35 [B]; Deu 14:26 w/Deu 16:1-16 [Exo 12:16 “no work shall be done except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be prepared by you.”]).[2] 

4.2. Different words are used in Leviticus 23 to distinguish between those Sabbaths which prohibit “any/no work” and those which prohibit “no laborious work.” For example: Yom Kippur (Lev 23:28, 31 [Heb., melacha] = All labor including preparing food) versus the Feast of Booths (Lev 23:35-36 [Heb., melechet avodah] = All labor except for preparing food). 

4.3. PNTM: Christ has established a first day Sabbath (Sunday) that – based on the principles being observed by the early church (e.g., hardship relief as well as holy convocations and covenant renewal – Act 2:42-47), were viewed as not only the replacement for the seventh day (regular) Sabbath but also the Feast Sabbaths which allowed (encouraged! Deu 14:26) the preparation of food. 

CLOSING TAKEAWAYS:

1. The two types of Sabbath days (regular, feast) have been combined into one day – The Lord’s Day or Sunday which means it is on this day that God expects us to faithfully practice the principles established by all the Sabbath commands: 1) rest/recreation/relief/release (Saturday evening until Sunday evening), 2) convocation w/feasting (cooking and alcohol allowed) and fellowship (Saturday evenings or Sunday afternoons), 3) reciprocation and return on God’s blessings (Sunday worship), 4) convocation w/singing/rejoicing, remembrance and covenant renewal (Sunday worship).

2. The Sabbath begins and ends at sunset (Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset). Check your phones to determine the exact time.

3. Work prohibited on the Sabbath (barring the discussed exceptions) includes: 1) any job for which you are compensated. 2) any work related to your job or career. 3) all things related to going to school or training. 4) all things related to housekeeping, yard work or cleaning that could reasonably be done on another day (contra: cleaning ...

That being said, what changes have been made to the Sabbath under New Covenant Judaism? And why the change?

1. What? Our observance of the Sabbath principles are no longer tied to the day of Saturday, the festivals of Passover, Pentecost and Yom Kippur or the 7th and 50th year of Jubilee. 

1.1. (Gal 4:9-11 “elemental things”) = Superficial forms of discipline able to teach but not transform (see v1-3; 1Ti 4:8). Paul’s mention of more than just days indicate his prohibition to include all the various Sabbatical times and dates in Scripture (“days [Saturdays] and months and seasons [months associated w/harvest season festivals: 1st of the month for Passover or Spring harvest; 3rd month for Pentecost or Summer harvest; 7th month for Yom Kippur or Fall harvest] and years [7th and 50th Jubilee]). 

1.2. (Col 2:16-17) “act as your judge” = Condemn you; “shadow” = In form only [it was superficial] without the real power or substance [of its spiritual reality]; Hence 2:23). Paul’s encouragement to essentially ignore condemnation for things including the Sabbath only becomes relevant if the Colossians were not observing such commands according to their OC applications (Saturdays, Passover, Pentecost and Yom Kippur, 7th and 50th year jubilees). 

1.3. PNTM: Though the Sabbath commands remain intact (Mat 5:17-18), Paul not only views them as no longer tied to Saturday, the Festivals or Jubilee, but strongly warns against finding any soteriological value in their former application (Gal 4:11; Col 2:23). 

2. Why? Because the locus of our Savior God’s identity is no longer the original or old Creation.

2.1. The main reason God makes Israel observe the seventh day Sabbath was to make sure they remembered that their deliverance from their slavery not only to the Egyptians but more importantly, their false gods (whom they were guilty of serving – Jos 24:15) was because He and He alone was the true Creator of the universe (Deu 5:15) = The phrase “by an outstretched arm” (in Deu 5:15) is believed to be a reference to the ten plagues (Exo 7:5, 15:12) – which according to scholars, served a dual – yet related purpose: 1) to reveal Yhwh as the true and only Creator God of the universe, 2) to expose Egypt’s creator gods as demonic frauds (Exo 7:4-5, 14:31). For example:

1) As a demonstration of God’s sovereignty (or ownership over Creation), the first eight plagues function as a sort of reversal of those things created on the six days of Creation (1st plague w/Gen 1:10 -bodies of water filled with life; 2nd, 3rd and 4th plagues w/Gen 1:20, 22, 24 w/28 – the animals of the sea, the land and the air wb ruled by man; 5th plague w/Gen 2:18-20 – domestic animals to help man; 6th plague w/Gen 1:28 man blessed w/good health; 7th and 8th plague w/Gen 1:12, 29 – an abundance of fruits and veggies for food).

2) The ninth plague (darkness you can feel – Exo 10:21) communicated what (then) remains – or may be claimed as home by those choosing false gods, the darkness of de-creation and chaos that existed before Yhwh’s ordering presence and power (Gen 1:2). 

3) The tenth plague (death of the firstborn) includes also “first-born gods” – a term used by the Egyptians to refer to their creator gods - Atum-Ra and his 8 children, the Ennead (e.g., Egyptian coffin texts and the Cannibal Hymn, “It is the king who will be judged with Him-whose-name-is-hidden on that day of slaying the first born [gods]” [The Priests of Ancient Egypt]). 

4) Just as God created the universe by uttering 10 blessings (Gen 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 28, 29) so He also destroys the “universe of Egypt” (her gods, people, animals, resources, etc) by uttering curses/plagues. 

“At the end of the narrative in Exodus, Israel looks back over the stilled water of the Sea at a land with no people, no animals, no vegetation, a land in which creation has been undone. Israel is convinced that her redeemer is the Lord of all creation. He who had just reduced order to chaos was the same as he who had previously ordered the chaos.” – Ziony Zevit (“Three Ways To Look At The Ten Plagues”)[1]

2.2. What (then) was being communicated through OC Israel’s observance of the seventh-day Sabbath as a holiday (i.e., a day off from work to rest, convocate, reciprocate and renew the covenant): Israel’s Savior from slavery to false gods (the creator gods of Egypt – Jos 24:15; Exo 12:16; Num 33:1-4) is Yhwh, the (true and only) God of Creation. 

2.3. For NC Israel however it is different. Though Yhwh is still our Savior from slavery to false gods (Jesus is the Yhwh Who led OC Israel out of Egypt – Jud 1:5), His locus of identity is no longer the original (or old) Creation – but the New Creation:

1) Another important part of Jesus’ messianic mission was to usher in the new Creation (i.e., the new heavens and the new earth) (Isa 11:1 w/6-10 = Language related to the new heavens and earth [Isa 65:17-25]).

2) Delivering people into the new Creation was the goal of Jesus’ salvific ministry (Joh 10:9-11) “life abundantly” = Life as a new creation (Tit 3:5-6 “He saved us…by the washing of regeneration” = Propitiation resulting in new creation (Mat 19:28 “In the regeneration” = The new Creation) = Salvation means that our spirits have not only been cleansed but replaced with those fit for the coming new heavens and earth (Rev 21-22). IOW: we have become a new creation for the new Creation – the ultimate goal of our salvation! This is also what Jesus is getting at when He speaks about the new birth (Joh 3:3) = We must be born a new creation to enter the new Creation to come. 

3) Accordingly, those saved under the New Covenant exist as the evidence that the new Creation has already begun - and likewise, that the old Creation is passing away (i.e., it is in its final stage or “last days” ; Act 2:17; Heb 1:2 = Last days of the old Creation) (2Co 5:17; Rom 8:18-21 = The “revealing of the sons of God” [those saved under the NC] marks the beginning of the New Creation [“the glory of the children of God”]) 

4) For this reason also, Jesus’ resurrection is considered the “first fruits” or beginning of this new Creation age (1Co 15:20) “first fruits of those asleep” = The beginning of the resurrection age – the consummation and fully realized new Creation – the new heavens and the new earth (again Mat 22:30 and Rev 21-22).[2]

2.4. PNTM: Jesus (Yhwh) our Savior – or the salvation He offers to us (NC Israel) is associated with the new Creation (and no longer the old). As such, our Sabbath day commemoration should not take place on the seventh day - the day commemorating the old Creation, but the first day - the day commemorating the beginning of a new Creation (Gen 1:2) and the reason Christ rose on Sunday. 

2.5. That observing the Sabbath associated with the new Creation (i.e., Sunday) is now what matters to God and our salvation is confirmed by Paul in (Gal 6:14-16) What Paul is sayin...

That being said…

1. There are four principles established by the various Sabbath commands that we must be faithful to practice:

1.1. Rest and relief from labors, hardships or suffering.

1.1.1. (Exo 23:12, 31:12-17; Lev 25:1-13 [the poor and property, 14-55]) = The seventh day, seventh year and the end of seven sabbath years were all to be observed as times of rest or relief from regular work - and other labors, hardships or suffering, not only for God’s people, but those people, animal and things under their charge. Notice again from Exodus 31: these “sabbaths” (or all of God’s various Sabbath commands): 1) promised certain death to those who found defiant (14-15 “profane” = Violate in defiance [e.g., Num 15:30-36]); “shall surely be put to death” -mentioned 2x for emphasis]). 2) were viewed by Him as a “perpetual covenant”, a “forever sign” between Him and Israel (Exo 31:16-17).

1.1.2. (Exo 16:22-30 “boil what you boil and bake what you bake [on the days before the Sabbath]”; Exo 35:1-3 “you shall not kindle a fire” [for cooking]) = Rest included no cooking on the Sabbath. All cooking must be done before the seventh day.

1.1.3. (Exo 20:8-11) = The importance of observing the Sabbath commands is highlighted not only by the threat of death but the fact that God made it the 4th of His ten commandments.

1.1.4. During His earthly ministry, Jesus clarified what forms of work were acceptable -or exceptions, on the Sabbath (Mat 12:1-8 “Son of Man” [Dan 7:13] w/ “Lord of the Sabbath”) = I am God, the One Who created/instituted the Sabbath and therefore know what is acceptable to do on this day – which includes all: 1) those involved in sacred work (e.g., pastors/priests – vv1-7). 2) unforeseen/special circumstances (e.g., assets in jeopardy – vv9-11[1]). 3) work directly related to relieving hardship or suffering (e.g., mercy ministries, doctors – vv12-13[2]). 4) those forced to work on the Sabbath by unjust employers (Mat 11:25-30 w/12:1 “at that time”) = Matthew connects Jesus’ words in 11:25-30 to what follows in the Sabbath pericopes of chapter 12 indicating this as its context as well. In typical hypocritical fashion (Mat 23), the Pharisees condemning Jesus’ Sabbath day activities, were the ones truly guilty of profaning it through their refusal to give this day off to those they employed – most specifically, their young disciples (Mat 23:4 “heavy burdens”). Jesus’ words express divine judgment against the Pharisees (“you have hidden these things [the revelation of Jesus regarding the Father] from the wise and intelligent” [sarcasm: the Pharisees who believed themselves to spiritually wise and intelligent but were instead spiritually dumb and blind – Joh 9:40-41]) while extending divine favor to those forced to work (“[you] have revealed them to infants [their young disciples]…Come to Me all who are weary…and I will give you rest…you will [also] find rest for your souls [IOW: become My disciples and not only will you no longer be forced to work on the Sabbath but also find the eternal rest of the Father you have been seeking as disciples of the Pharisees]).” (i.e., God shows compassion to those not afforded a Sabbath rest by their masters [Deu 5:15 “slave” w/no day of rest]).   

1.1.5. That God requires NC Jews to keep this principle of the Sabbath is confirmed by: (Heb 3:11-4:11).

1.1.6. This Sabbath principle is most likely what is being described/prescribed in: (Act 4:32-37).

1.2. Reunion and rejoicing as a holy convocation.

1.2.1. (Lev 23:1-8 [Passover/Unleavened Bread] w/15 w/21 [Pentecost/Weeks] w/23-41 [Trumpets/Yom Kippur/Booths]) “a sabbath…a holy convocation” (Heb., miqra) = Assemblies (v36); “Feast…celebrate the feast…rejoice…celebrate it as a feast…celebration” = These Sabbath assemblies/holy convocations were to be a time of rejoicing [partying] with the covenant family through fellowship and fine dining – including strong drink (Deu 14:26). These family reunions were to also include corporate singing and the playing of musical instruments in the courts/house of the Lord (Psa 92:1-4 w/13-14).

1.2.2. That God requires NC Jews to keep this principle of the Sabbath is confirmed by: (Heb 10:25) “assembling together” = An allusion to God’s multiple mandates to not forsake His prescribed holy convocations/Sabbath assemblies (e.g., Lev 23).

1.2.3. This Sabbath principle is most likely what is being described/prescribed in:

1) (Act 2:44-47) “were (assembled) together” = holy convocation/Sabbath assembly; “taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God…” = Feasting, fellowshipping and rejoicing as a covenant family/sabbath assembly/holy convocation. 

2) (Eph 5:18-20) = The context for Paul’s instruction is most likely the church “ekklesia” (literally, an assembly- as in a Sabbath assembly).

3) (Col 3:15 “you were called [to assemble] in “one body” [meaning the church] w/16) = God has called you to rejoicing and singing as a holy convocation/Sabbath assembly.

1.3. Reciprocation or return on God’s blessings.

1.3.1. (Exo 23:14-17 [Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread] “none shall appear before Me empty-handed” w/Exo 34:25-26 “the very first of the first fruits of your soil into the house of the Lord”; [Pentecost/Feast of the Harvest] “the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field”; [Yom Kippur/Feast of the Ingathering] “at the end of the year when you gather the fruit of your labors from the field”) = Israel’s three Sabbath assemblies/holy convocations – which were deliberately wed to the three harvesting times of the year, was when God expected His people to bring their tithes (“first fruits”) to His house (Mal 3:10 [2Ch 30:13 w/31:5-10). IOW: God viewed His Sabbaths as a time of reciprocation – or the time when Israel was to make a return on His blessings to them.

1.3.2. These Sabbath assemblies were not only reserved for the required tithe, but when the people would also make any votive and freewill offerings (peace offerings) (Deu 12:6-7 [Deu 14:22-23]).

1.3.3. That God requires NC Jews to keep this principle of the Sabbath is confirmed by: (Gal 3:27-29 [sons of Abe thru baptism into Christ] w/Heb 7:1-10) = All the sons of Abraham (OC Jews/NC Jews) pay tithes to Christ.

1.3.4. This Sabbath principle is most likely what is being described/prescribed in: (2Co 8:1-5) = A freewill offering to help the struggling church in Jerusalem.

1.4. Remembrance and covenant renewal.

1.4.1. (Deu 5:12-15) = God connects the Sabbath to Israel’s redemption/deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

1.4.2. (Exo 12:1-14 w/24-27 w/13:3 w/15:11-13 [“LORD” = Yhwh] w/Exo 18:8-11 and Num 33:1-4) = The Passover Sabbath and sacrament was carried out for the purpose of remembering Israel’s redemption from death and slavery under the false gods of Egypt to life w/the true God of Creation.

1.4.3. Hence then the reason for its connection to the original Creation sabbath or seventh day, the day commemorating Yhwh as the true Author of life (Deu 4:33-35 w/39; Also again Exo 31:13 “so that you might know I am the LORD Who sanctifies you”) IOW: That you might know that Yhwh is your Creator and Savior.

1.4.4. Hence also the requirement of fully consuming the sacrifice. The Passover lamb functioned primarily as a burnt...

1. (2006) Lord Before Savior

Fully submitting/dedicating ourselves to Jesus’ Lordship by repenting – or confessing and turning from our sin through justice and just living was the pre-requisite to His deliverance (salvation) in the OT (esp. ancient Judaism) just as it is in the NT. IOW: Lordship Salvation is not simply a NT phenomenon (Heb 5:9 w/13:8)

2. (2012) Gain and Maintain

The framework of salvation is the same under the New Covenant as it was under the Old Covenant (or ancient Judaism): we gain our salvation by grace through faith and maintain it through faithful obedience to God’s commands. IOW: There is no dichotomy between works and faith in salvation. 

3. (2013) Marriage Covenant Theology/Gospel

Redemptive history is comprised of five saving covenants (Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Old and New) whose makeup/nature is marital (they are betrothal – or inchoate marriage covenants), and Jesus, the covenant-making member of the Godhead, their divine Husband (Jer 31:31; Hos 2:19; 2Co 11:2). Being marital in nature explains Scripture’s soteriological framework of covenantal nomism or “gain and maintain.” In human marriages, what is gained by grace through vows of faith must be maintained by faithfulness - or the marriage is permanently forfeited in divorce (apostasy). Also similar to human marriages, our vows of faith (or faithfulness [Heb., emunah; Grk., pistus = faith/faithfulness]) to Christ is accompanied by prescribed symbols/signs (e.g., wedding rings) which not only serve as reminders of our obligation to fidelity, but possess the authority/power to ratify the covenant and dispense its blessings (e.g., now refer to each other as husband and wife; Mat 1:18-19; 1Pe 3:21). Since the New Covenant exists as a second version of the Old Covenant (the New representing Jesus’ re-marriage to a new Israel [NC Judaism] after His divorce from old and apostate Israel [OC Judaism]), there are two new covenant signs (baptism and the LT) to replace the former covenant signs (circumcision and animal sacrifices [burnt and sin offering]).

4. (2014) Paedobaptism 

All of God’s promises to those in the Old and New Covenant find their source in the promises originally made to Abraham and his descendants (i.e., OC and NC Israel [Judaism 1.0 and 2.0]/Old and New Covenants are the descendant covs of the Abe cov). Hence the relevance of our baptism in Christ placing us in the family of Abraham (Gal 3:27-29). When God gave those promises to Abraham and his descendants, He made the special provision of automatically including their children at the moment of conception as long as the covenant sign was placed upon them by their parents shortly after birth (Gen 17:12). Babies under the NC should therefore be baptized (rather than waiting for them to be able to make a profession of faith) just as they were under the OC (Act 2:37-39). 

5. (2015) Biblical Jurisprudence and Sexual Ethics

Justice /righteousness (same word in Hebrew [tzedek] and Greek [dikaiosune]) is the controlling attribute in the character and actions of God (Psa 89:14, 97:2). Everything He is and does is therefore defined by justice/righteousness (e.g., His love is a just/righteous love, His hate is a just/righteous hate, etc.,). As such, every facet of OC Judaism, has this as its goal: the promotion and preservation of justice. To accomplish this mission, God established not only laws and punishment for Israel (e.g., Lev 19:31 and Deu 18:10-11 w/Lev 20:27), but also a system of justice involving judges (priests), a divine council (priests and levites), courts and a judicial process (Exo 21:23-25; Lev 24:19-20; Num 15:30-31, 35:30; Deu 16:18-20 w/17:2-13, 19:15-21; Deu 25:1; Psa 82:1; Joh 5:31, 8:16-17). The OT Prophets, Jesus and His NT authors confirmed that the same would be true under the NC (Isa 66:21; Mat 5:17-18; Mat 18:15-20; Joh 20:21-23; Rom 15:16; 1Co 6:1-4; 2Co 13:1-2; 1Ti 5:19, 21). Though at times different in application, the goal and principles remain intact (1Co 5:9-13 [Act 10:28 w/Exo 23:32-33, 34:12-16; Deu 7:1-5; Psa 82:1, 106:34-35]). This includes the goal and principles related to sex: all sexual activity is to be performed as a celebration and expression of marital fidelity (Gen 2:22-25 w/Mat 19:4-6 “one flesh” = [“flesh of my flesh” – 2Sa 19:13] = faithful/loyal/fidelity/allegiance; “let no man separate” = Let no man destroy through marital infidelity; “what God has joined together” = In covenant fidelity). Any action therefore outside of those parameters constitutes a capital crime (e.g., 1Co 5:1-8 [Deu 22:22] = All sexual activity outside of the marriage covenant is sexual immorality and equals death [OC: physical, NC: spiritual]; i.e., the definition of sexual immorality for the NT is determined by the OT since this is its source). 

Path to this particular paradigm shift (and other relevant events): 

1) Realized the what Jesus was establishing as church discipline and jurisprudence in Matthew 18:15-20 was essentially a repeat of the church discipline and jurisprudence found in OC Judaism (I looked at the references in my Bible).

2) Recognized that what Christianity believed Jesus was teaching as church discipline and jurisprudence from Matthew 18:15-20 was far afield from the goal and principles communicated by His source, the church discipline and jurisprudence of Judaism: 

(2.1.) The goal of church discipline in Judaism = The restoration of justice to the covenant community through God’s prescribed punishment of the guilty and protection of the innocent/victims (Deu 16:20, 25:1; 2Co 13:1-2 w/11)… 

(versus) the goal of church discipline in Christianity = The receiving of a penitent confession from the guilty as enough for the innocent/victims to forgive the guilty and forget their crime.   

(2.2.) The principles of jurisprudence in Judaism = The Church/covenant community will appoint priests and Levites as judges and officers to enforce God’s Law and function as their court and divine council whose authority and judgments are therefore backed by God making all forms of insubordination or insurrection acts rendering that person apostate (Num 15:30-31; Deu 16:18, 17:9-13; Mat 12:32 w/Joh 20:22). No action/judgment will be allowed that distorts justice, is partial, or does not demonstrate evidence beyond a reasonable doubt (Deu 16:19, 17:6; 1Ti 5:21). The punishment will be determined by the crime - not the person, and mercy never negates justice – nor will be pity be shown to the guilty (Deu 19:21)… 

(versus) the principles of jurisprudence in Christianity = The church nor her leaders possess any authority from God and therefore no ability to declare someone apostate whose condemns them or refuses their judgment. If the guilty person confesses their sin and is sorry, then no punishment is necessary. If they are unrepentant, then the only punishment ever afforded is shunning them until they decide to confess and be sorry for what they have done. Seeing that this punishment has no basis in Scripture, means that its practice is subjective and partial. It is determined by how the congregation feels about that person and their sin at the time it is committed. If the victims are not satisfied with the aforementioned disciplinary measures, the congregation is to view them as the ones now in sin (i.e., unforgiving).  

(2.3.) In Christianity righteousness and justice are two separate things (you can b...

1. (2006) Lord Before Savior

Fully submitting/dedicating ourselves to Jesus’ Lordship by repenting – or confessing and turning from our sin through justice and just living was the pre-requisite to His deliverance (salvation) in the OT (esp. ancient Judaism) just as it is in the NT. IOW: Lordship Salvation is not simply a NT phenomenon (e.g., The Gospel According To Jesus) 

Path to this particular paradigm shift: 

1) Realizing that Jesus is the Savior of all redemptive history (versus just those under the NC) (e.g., Jud 1:5; Heb 9:15-16)

2) Realizing that the soteriological formula used by Him to save people is also the same (i.e., L>S) (Heb 13:8 [Mal 3:6-7]). 

2) Recognizing that formula (L>S) throughout both the New and Old Testaments (Gen 17:1-2; Exo 19:5; Exo 23:22; Lev 16:26; Deu 7:9; Deu 30:1-3; Psa 81:11-14; Psa 85:9; Isa 1:18-19; Isa 48:17-19; Isa 59:1-2; Isa 59:20; Jer 4:14; Jer 9:12-14; Jer 26:13; Jer 36:3; Mat 7:21-23; Mar 1:14-15; Luk 1:50; Luk 3:8-9 w/18; Luk 19:1-9; Eph 5:5-6; Heb 5:9; 1Jo 1:6-7; 1Jo 2:4-6). 

2. (2012) Gain and Maintain

The framework of salvation is the same under the New Covenant as it was under the Old Covenant (or ancient Judaism): we gain our salvation by grace through faith and maintain it through faithful obedience to God’s commands. IOW: There is no dichotomy between works and faith in salvation (e.g., FAG: either you earn your way to heaven by your works/obedience [impossible] or you get to heaven by simply believing in the works/obedience of Christ).

Path to this particular paradigm shift: 

1) Pastor Rowe advised me to “be careful” how much I pushed the importance of obedience to salvation causing me to conclude that: 

(1.1.) Christianity (at some point) in her history had created a false dichotomy between faith and obedience/works in Christianity. Why? Because God demands we do the opposite of P. Rowe’s advice (we are to be careful to make sure we obey – Deu 28:1), yet would never by such demands create a false dichotomy. God’s Word must therefore teach a different framework (a third option) – one which makes faith and obedience/works complementary not contrary obligations.

(1.2.) If the soteriological formula of salvation is the same throughout redemptive history (i.e., L>S was true for OT salvation just as it is for NT salvation), then the framework housing faith and obedience in a complimentary way can also be found in the OT (i.e., I will observe it in ancient Judaism). 

(1.3.) I need to start reading theological books about ancient Judaism (biblical theology/soteriology). 

(1.4.) I need to study and teach church history -especially the Protestant Reformations where the dichotomy-producing FAG came to the fore. 

2) I discovered in my study and teaching of the German Reformation (16th cent.,) that Martin Luther (the inventor of the FAG and “father of the Protestant Reformation”) had a lot in common with the 2nd century heretic Marcion: both were guilty of creating the false dichotomy between law (OT/works) and grace (NT/faith). 

3) I read E.P. Sanders’ ground-breaking work, Paul and Palestinian Judaism which proves “covenantal nomism” (get in by grace, stay in by obedience [gain and maintain]) to be the soteriological framework of ancient Judaism (versus the works-based view held by Christianity for almost 2k years).  

4) I confirmed covenantal nomism to be the soteriological framework of all salvation in the Bible - including under the NC (Gen 18:19; Exo 24:7-8 w/Lev 18:4-5 [Luk 10:25-28]; Deu 27:9-10; Deu 28:1-2 Mat 28:18-20; Phi 2:12-13; Phi 3:7-16; Col 1:23; 1Ti 6:12).

3. (2013) Marriage Covenant Theology/Gospel

Redemptive history is comprised of five saving covenants (Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Old and New) whose makeup/nature is marital (they are betrothal – or inchoate marriage covenants), and Jesus, the covenant-making member of the Godhead, their divine Husband (Jer 31:31; Hos 2:19; 2Co 11:2). 

Being marital in nature not only explains Scripture’s soteriological formula of Lord Before Savior (God requires the wife [church] vow her full submission to her husband as Lord/head of household – Eph 5:22-24), but also its framework of covenantal nomism or “gain and maintain” (in our human marriages: what is gained by grace through vows of faithfulness must be maintained - or the marriage is permanently forfeited in divorce [apostasy]). 

As such, all the saving covenants of redemptive history are bi-lateral (conditional) - including the Abrahamic and New Covenants (Gen 15 = God’s vows; Gen 17 = Abe’s vows). Similar to human marriages, our vows of faith (or pledge of faithfulness [pistus = faith/faithfulness]) to Christ is accompanied by prescribed symbols/signs (e.g., wedding rings) which not only serve as reminders of our obligation to fidelity, but possess the authority/power to ratify the covenant and dispense its blessings (e.g., now refer to each other as husband and wife; Mat 1:18-19; 1Pe 3:21). Since the New Covenant exists as a second version of the Old Covenant (the New representing Jesus’ re-marriage to a new Israel [NC Judaism] after His divorce from old and apostate Israel [OC Judaism]), there are two new covenant signs (baptism and the LT) to replace the former covenant signs (circumcision and animal sacrifices [burnt and sin offering]). Both baptism and the LT possess the power to cleanse away sin and are therefore sacraments (God gives what the sign signifies – Rom 6:1-7; Joh 13:5-10) not ordinances (symbols of remembrance only), given to the church (covenant community) – not the individual (“outside the church there is no salvation”- Cyprian) (Mat 16:17-19; Joh 20:21-23). Like circumcision, baptism is a one-time act. It is also the place where Christ accepts our marital vow/pledge of faith (1Pe 3:21) and reciprocates with His own pledge sign – the giving of the HS, sealing/binding/ratifying the marriage covenant (2Co 1:21-22; Eph 1:13). Seeing that the New is simply the second version of the Old equally means that all of God’s OT laws are expected to be faithfully observed according to Christ’s interpretation and/or new application (i.e., God’s established principles endure forever) (Mat 5:17-20, 21-48; Psa 119:152, 155, 160). 

Path to this particular paradigm shift: 

1) I wrote a paper called Rediscovering Justification (2012) exposing the soteriological problem created by Christianity (or Luther’s faith-works/obedience dichotomy) and the biblical solution of covenantal nomism (gain and maintain). Justification Rediscovered also refuted the Christian doctrines of forensic justification (declared only) and active obedience (imputation of Christ’s obedience) as also inconsistent with their established types in ancient Judaism (we are made just; justification thru sacrificial death only), along with mentioning (in germinal form) the continuing authority and bi-partite distinction of the Law (cov signs/clean laws and moral comms), marriage as the biblical metaphor for God’s saving covenants and the reality of apostasy under the New just as it was under the Old (Judaism). Pastor Rowe expressed great angst over the paper because it exposed as false what he had been taught/believed – yet he could not biblically refute it. 

2) Pastor Rowe’s response encouraged me to keep “pulling on the thread” – to reflect further on...

1. Jesus did not come to create a new religion (e.g., Christianity) but a new covenant for the already existing and ancient religion of Judaism first established (under the old covenant) at Mt. Sinai. 

1.1. (Luk 22:20 w/Jer 31:31) = Not a new religion (e.g., Christianity) but a new covenant for the already existing religion of “the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (i.e., Judaism; hence Luk 24:27 “Moses” and “the prophets” – or the Law and Prophets represent the Scriptures defining the religion of Judaism).[2] (Heb 8:1-13 w/9:10 “reformation” [Grk., diorthosis = To make improvements on something already in existence]) = The author of Hebrews views Jesus’ ministry and covenant as an improvement (“better covenant…better promises”), a reformation versus a replacement of the existing religion that “Moses” and the Jews received at Mt. Sinai (v5 “on the mountain” w/Exo 25:40). (Joh 4:22) “salvation is from the Jews” = Salvation is only available through the religion of the Jews (Judaism). 

1.2. If Jesus had started a new religion, He would have been a false teacher and deserved to die (Deu 12:32-13:3; Isa 8:20).

1.3. In relation to Christianity constituting a new – and therefore false religion consider God’s words just before His promise of a new covenant (Jer 31:27-30 w/Eze 18:1-4 w/19-20) = Penal substitution was the evil and unethical practice of the pagan nations around Israel who served demons (Lev 18:21, 20:3-5; Jer 32:35). As such, God not only condemns it under the old covenant version of His religion but promises its condemnation will be the sign of those following His new covenant version in the future. 

1.4. The fact that all three branches of Christianity today (Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelical/Protestant Christianity) embrace not only penal substitution but the equally unethical doctrines of trinitarian monotheism and original sin (Joh 8:16-17; Eze 18:20) confirm they no longer represent what God promised and Jesus established. They are apostate.    

Brad H. Young (Jesus The Jewish Theologian)

“Jesus was a Jew. He never changed religions. He was loyal to his people, committed to Torah in faith and practice…always remaining true to the vision of the prophets of his own ancient faith tradition.”

Marvin R. Wilson (Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots Of The Christian Faith)

“As far as the Gospel record is concerned, Jesus spoke from within Judaism; he never abandoned his ancestral faith.” 

Joachim Jeremias (The Central Message of the New Testament)

“[Jesus was] a prophet who remained completely within the limits of Judaism.” 

Frederick E. Greenspahn (Early Judaism: New Insights and Scholarship)

“Jesus, an itinerant Jewish teacher born and active in the first three decades of the first century CE, had no intention of beginning a new religion. Rather, Jesus operated within an exclusively Jewish [context], as did his earliest followers. Although they were different in some ways from other Jewish groups among whom they lived, their ideas and practices fall well within the Jewish spectrum…From a historical point of view it is clear that [Jesus] had no intention of beginning a movement that in time would not consider itself or be considered by others to be Jewish. Christianity was Judaism.” 

2. The apostles viewed themselves and their fellow disciples as Jews practicing a form of Judaism.

2.1. The Apostle Paul viewed himself as “called” not converted to be a minister of a new covenant not a new religion: 1) (Gal 1:11-17) = What changed for Paul was not his religion (“Judaism”) but understanding that Jesus was indeed the Christ and that God had now “called” him to “preach Him among the Gentiles.” 2) (Act 21:15-26) = The only reason Paul would abide by James’ request is if the religion he continued to practice was a form of Judaism. 3) (2Co 3:1-7) = Not ministers of a new religion but a new covenant – one able to grant eternal life.

2.2. Even the Jews viewed Paul as still following a form of Judaism (Act 24:14) “a sect” [Grk., heiresis]= A group/party within an existing religion (in this case, Judaism) whose beliefs or practice on some things are different from its other members (Act 24:5 “sect of the Nazarenes” = Those within Judaism who believed Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah; e.g., Act 26:5 “sect of our religion”). On this note consider also: 1) (Act 15:5) “sect of the Pharisees” = These men were still strict followers of Judaism. IOW: They did not see their belief in Jesus as Messiah as a change to a new religion – hence the reason for their demand that the Gentiles be “circumcise[d]” and “observe the Law of Moses.” Their error was covenantal not religious (i.e., new covenants receive new signs/application to distinguish them from previous covs – e.g., Abe [cir.], Old [circ. + sabs]). 2) (Act 28:17-22) = The only reason these Jews were willing to hear Paul is because what he was preaching was still a form of Judaism (again, a “sect” – as in a sect within Judaism). If Paul had converted to an entirely different religion, no Jew would have come or been invited. As further support, notice Paul refers to his religious persecution as “for the sake of the hope of Israel” (20). Israel’s hope was a new covenant not a new religion. Lastly notice also, where he goes to prove the veracity of his message – “the Law of Moses and the Prophets,” (the Scripture defining the religion of Judaism - v23). 

2.3.  Paul identifies the followers of Jesus (including Gentiles) as spiritual Jews - and the Church, as Israel (Rom 2:26-29; Rom 11:17, 24 Gal 6:16; Eph 2:11-13; Phi 3:3). Paul also claims that Gentiles becoming Jews -and part of Israel, is what will make ethnic Jews and Israel, “jealous” (Rom 11:11).

2.4. The Apostle James identifies the followers of Jesus as constituting the twelve tribes of Israel (Jam 1:1) and mentions them meeting in synagogues – the meeting place of those practicing Judaism! (Jam 2:2 “assembly” [Grk., synagogue]; In this same vein – Act 5:12).

2.5. The term “church” (Grk., ekklesia) also possesses Jewish roots. It is the same word used to identify Israel -or the OC community, in the Septuagint (LXX). 

2.6. The Apostles Paul, John and Peter, all identify the disciples of Jesus and the church, as the community now possessing Israel’s ancestry, religion and promised priesthood (1Co 10:1 “our forefathers”; Rev 1:6 w/1Pe 2:5 w/9 = Allusions to the OC priesthood of Judaism which God promised to restore [Exo 19:6 w/Isa 61:1-6 [Luk 4:18] and 66:21]).[3]

James Cantor (“James? Jacob! Brother of Yeshua, first Leader of the Church”)

James and the disciples of Jesus did not see themselves as Christians. They saw themselves as Jews who followed the Jewish Messiah. It needs to be kept squarely in view that these people did not view themselves as founding a new religion…James views the gospel message as a case of Old Testament promises to Jews being fulfilled, and Gentiles joining a Jewish messianic movement centered on Jesus, not of Jews joining some new religion.”

Craig A. Evans (Anti-Semitism and Early Christianity)

“Early Christians did not view themselves as belonging to a religion that was distinctive from Judaism. New Testament Christianity was Judaism – that is, what was believed to be the true expression of Judaism.”

Daniel Boyarin (Dying For God)

“Christianity developed out of the ‘orthodox’ Judaism of the first century.”

1. People should reject all forms of Christianity not only because its doctrines are unethical but also its worldview.

1.1. There are three main branches of Christianity: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestant/Evangelical Christianity that exist in the world today. All three prove to be completely unethical (and therefore false) w/regard to the following:

1.1.1. their doctrines of Trinitarian Monotheism (Joh 8:17-18 “two-witness rule requires the witnesses be separate beings), Original Sin (Eze 18:20; Rom 5 and 7 teach sinful inclination/impulse/drive [not the stain of sin/original sin] was passed on from Adam – which was the popular belief w/in ancient Judaism known as “ha yetzer ha-ra”[Heb.] See W.D. Davies, Paul and Rabbinic Judaism, p.20), Perfectionism and Total Depravity (Deu 28:1 w/30:11-14).

1.1.2. their embrace of a FAG (i.e., we are ultimately only saved by what God/Christ has done on our behalf) (Eze 33:18-20 w/Rev 20:12) which includes the belief that Christ was punished for our sins (Jer 31:27-30 w/31-34; Eze 18:4 w/20; Lev 27:29).

1.1.3. their creation of a new religion (Joh 4:22 “we worship what we know for salvation is from the Jews”) = Judaism is the religion from God. Anything not consistent w/that is worshipping what “you do not know” – i.e., false religion. If Jesus had created a new religion – one not demonstrating consistency/continuity with Judaism, then He was a false teacher Who deserved to die (Deu 12:32-13:3). The fact that He (Jesus) established a “new covenant” confirms He was not starting a new religion since such a statement implies an already existing religion. Rather, Jesus established, New Covenant Judaism, the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31. Christianity (in all its modern manifestations) is a new religion. It bears no continuity with Judaism as testified to also by its FAG - or rejection of the gain and maintain mechanics that are a part of every saving covenant and gospel in the Old Testament – most especially original - or OC Judaism.

1.2. What however may prove to be the most overlooked evidence of Christianity’s unethical nature, is the worldview created by its false gospel and doctrines: “This Life Is God’s Testimony” = God created this world as the place where He would testify to our complete inability to do anything that could please Him or get us to heaven (“you suck”) and His abundant mercy in sending His Son to do it all for us (“Jesus is the Only One Who doesn’t suck”). Getting to heaven requires we not only adopt (believe in) this as our worldview but also practice daily self-abasement (e.g., Wayne’s World, “we’re not worthy!”) and cessation from anything that might imply we can contribute something to our salvation (e.g., Tim Keller, “we need to repent of our repentance”; Tullian Tchividjian, Jesus Plus Nothing Equals Everything). Why this worldview is unethical: Based on their beliefs, God is the reason we suck. God should therefore be apologizing not rubbing our noses in it. Likewise, Christ should not be viewed as an act of mercy, but the obligation He possess to fix His screw-up.

1.3. Given the apostasy that for some time has characterized all main branches of Christianity, we must reject not only the religion but also the term “Christian” as our identity. New Covenant Judaism is our religion, and “New Covenant Jews”, our identity.

2. The worldview taught in the God’s Word and therefore by His religion, New Covenant Judaism, is “This Life Is A Test.”

2.1. God created this world as humanity’s temporary testing site, the place where – based on our life performance, we choose what in the future will serve as our permanent and eternal home (heaven/Reboot/New Creation or hell). This is the worldview taught in God’s Word and therefore by those following His religion, New Covenant Judaism (Pro 17:3 = Through testing the heart [the place determining our actions – Mat 12:34], God is able to determine who among humanity has chosen to be precious moral metal and who has chosen to be moral dross).

2.2. This worldview (“This Life Is A Test”) therefore possesses two salient points: 1) every single person’s life in this world (every circumstance good or bad) is their personal and particular test (their test-life). 2) God is going to give to every person who has ever lived, what they by their responses to the circumstances of this test-life chose (deserve) as their future, permanent and eternal version of life (Gal 6:7-8 “what a man sows…”) = We – not God, are the ones determining by our choices our eternal home. Those persons who therefore choose “sow to their flesh” – or choose self and the inequity of this world as what they follow, have inadvertently also chosen to fail their test and possess hell as their future, permanent and eternal home.

2.3. What was told to ancient proselytes of Judaism: 1) “Be informed that the world to come exists only for the righteous (for Jews who keep the commandments of God).” (Yabamot – 47). 2) “In paradise at some future time, there would be a banquet, the Messianic feast, where the meat of Leviathan [will] be served, as [will] wine preserved in its grapes since the days of Creation.” – Samuel Sandmel (Judaism and Christian Beginnings).  

2.4. To pass the test that is our life – or be worthy of eternal life with God in the new Creation (the Reboot/new heavens and new earth) (Rev 21-22), a world full of happiness, unending love (or righteousness) - and therefore free from inequity (or wickedness and sin) and unhappiness, requires we - during our test-life, “sow from the Spirit”(Gal 6:8) – i.e., we choose to love all freewill beings (e.g., God and humans) with equity by not only gaining a marriage covenant relationship with His Son Jesus Christ (His love gift to us - 1Jo 4:9) through baptismal rebirth/a vow of faith in His church, but also maintaining that covenant through frequent table observance, faithful obedience to all His laws (Mat 22:37-40 = God’s Law is how we love/show equity to Him and others; Rom 13:8-10) and loyalty to Christ and His covenant family over our blood family for the rest of our life (i.e., God made humanity as His weaker vessel [image] for the same reason He made the woman for the man – to create loyal family – not friends who have families loyal to them) (1Pe 3:21; Gal 3:26-27 [Rom 3:28]//Mat 28:19-20; Phi 2:12, 3:8-16; Jam 2:24//Act 2:42, 46, 20:7; Luk 22:14-23 w/Joh 13:1-20; 1Co 11:23-26//Mat 5:17-20//Mat 10:34-37, 19:29-30; Mar 3:21 w/31-35; Luk 14:25; Joh 13:34-35// Mat 16:26-27 “deeds” = This life is our test not our treasure).

2.5. Beside the aforementioned, loving God and others with equity also includes:

1) bold evangelism of the lost – especially blood family (Joh 14:16-17 w/Joh 16:8 = no conversion w/o HS conviction, no HS conviction w/o bold evangelism [sin, righteousness and judgment]; Mat 10:27 w/32-37 = Jesus will view people who are weak in their confrontation of family [bc they are worried about losing them] as loving them more than Him).

2) immediate separation from the unrepentant – especially from blood family (1Co 5:9-13; 2Jo 1:9-11; 2Co 6:14-18; Mat 19:27 w/29)

3) implementing staunch measures against the idolatry of dissipation – especially bc of blood family (Luk 21:34 w/Mat 24:42-51 did not prepare for the “thief”/their “master” = Dissipation; also Mat 25:24-30; 1Co 7:29-31).

2.6. It is clear that not everybody is given the same opportunities in life or potential to experience and possess the same things. Any worldview therefore that teaches this life is the only place where will we be able to experience the good things of Creation (e.g., Ath...

1. People should reject all forms of Christianity not only because its doctrines are unethical but also its worldview.

1.1. There are three main branches of Christianity: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestant/Evangelical Christianity that exist in the world today. All three prove to be completely unethical (and therefore false) w/regard to the following:

1.1.1. their doctrines of Trinitarian Monotheism (Joh 8:17-18 “two-witness rule requires the witnesses be separate beings), Original Sin (Eze 18:20), Perfectionism and Total Depravity (Deu 28:1 w/30:11-14).

1.1.2. their embrace of a FAG (i.e., we are ultimately only saved by what God/Christ has done on our behalf) (Eze 33:18-20 w/Rev 20:12) which includes the belief that Christ was punished for our sins (Eze 18:4 w/20; Lev 27:29).

1.1.3. their creation of a new religion (Joh 4:22 “we worship what we know for salvation is from the Jews”) = Judaism is the religion from God. Anything not consistent w/that is worshipping what “you do not know” – i.e., false religion. If Jesus had created a new religion – one not demonstrating consistency/continuity with Judaism, then He was a false teacher Who deserved to die (Deu 12:32-13:3). The fact that He established a “new covenant” confirms He was not starting a new religion since such a statement implies an already existing religion. Rather, Jesus established, New Covenant Judaism, the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31. Christianity (in all its modern manifestations) is a new religion. It bears no continuity with Judaism as testified to also by its FAG - or rejection of the gain and maintain mechanics that are a part of every saving covenant and gospel in the Old Testament – most especially original - or Old Covenant Judaism (Exo 24:7-8).   

1.2. What however may prove to be the most overlooked evidence of Christianity’s unethical nature, is the worldview created by its false gospel and doctrines: “This Life Is God’s Testimony” = God created this world as the place where He would testify to our complete inability to do anything that could please Him or get us to heaven (“you suck”) and His abundant mercy in sending His Son to do it all for us (“Jesus is the Only One Who doesn’t suck”). Getting to heaven requires we not only adopt (believe in) this as our worldview but also practice daily self-abasement (e.g., Wayne’s World, “we’re not worthy!”) and cessation from anything that might imply we can contribute something to our salvation (e.g., Tim Keller, “we need to repent of our repentance”; Tullian Tchividjian, Jesus Plus Nothing Equals Everything). Why this worldview is unethical: Based on their beliefs, God is the reason we suck. God should therefore be apologizing not rubbing our noses in it. Likewise, Christ should not be viewed as an act of mercy, but the obligation He possess to fix His screw-up.

1.3. Given the apostasy that for some time has characterized all main branches of Christianity, we must reject not only the religion but also the term “Christian” as our identity. New Covenant Judaism is our religion, and “new Jews”, our identity.

2. The worldview taught in the God’s Word and therefore by His religion, New Covenant Judaism, is “This Life Is A Test.”

2.1. God created this world as humanity’s temporary testing site, the place where – based on our life performance, we choose what in the future will serve as our permanent and eternal home. This is the worldview taught in God’s Word and therefore by those following His religion, New Covenant Judaism.

2.2. This worldview (“This Life Is A Test”) therefore possesses two salient points: 1) every single person’s life in this world (every circumstance good or bad) is their personal and particular test (their test-life). 2) God is going to give to every person who has ever lived, what they by their responses to the circumstances of this test-life chose as their future, permanent and eternal version of life (Gal 6:7-8 “what a man sows…” = We – not God, are the ones determining by our choices our eternal home; Jer 17:10 “test the heart…mind” = Our will – the place determining our choices; “according to his ways” = In agreement with his choices). 

2.3. To pass the test that is our life – or be worthy of eternal life with God in the new Creation (the Reboot/new heavens and new earth) (Rev 21-22), a world full of happiness, unending love (or righteousness) - and therefore free from inequity (or wickedness and sin) and unhappiness, requires we - during our test-life, “sow from the Spirit”(Gal 6:8) – i.e., we choose to love all freewill beings (e.g., God and humans) with equity by not only gaining a marriage covenant relationship with His Son Jesus Christ (His love gift to us - 1Jo 4:9) through baptismal rebirth/a vow of faith in His church, but also maintaining that covenant through frequent table observance, faithful obedience to all His laws (Mat 22:37-40 = God’s Law is how we love/show equity to Him and others; Rom 13:8-10) and loyalty to Christ and His covenant family over our blood family for the rest of our life (1Pe 3:21; Gal 3:26-27 [Rom 3:28]//Mat 28:19-20; Phi 2:12, 3:8-16; Jam 2:24//Act 2:42, 46, 20:7; Luk 22:14-23 w/Joh 13:1-20; 1Co 11:23-26//Mat 5:17-20//Mat 10:34-37, 19:29-30; Mar 3:21 w/31-35; Luk 14:25; Joh 13:34-35).

2.4. Those persons who respond to their life in any other way than the aforementioned, are choosing to fail their test (to sow to their flesh- Gal 6:8) and therefore hell as their future, permanent and eternal home, a place of unbridled and unending corruption and destruction (Mar 9:43 “unquenchable fire”; Rev 20:15 “lake of fire”; Mat 13:42 “in that place there will be weeping” [b/c there is no hope for justice or protection from the corruption and destruction those in hell continue to inflict on one another – Lam 1:2, 16]; “and gnashing of teeth” [a reference to those seeking temporary relief from their guilty conscience through the dehumanizing destruction of others – e.g., rape of enemy soldiers or rape in prison = Most of the time, the act is performed not for sexual pleasure, but sadistic pleasure – or the sense of relief that can result from inflicting pain on others [or seeing others in a situation worse than ours]. The sense of relief the perpetrator experiences is often proportionate to the level of suffering inflicted – making dehumanization [one of the worst forms of suffering] preferrable. This has proven especially true when the victims are viewed as the cause of our pain – e.g., Act 7:54-58. Given therefore sexual assault’s ability to provide the most relief, as well as the fact that those in hell will most likely possess bodies similar to those they chose to love during their test-life, means rape will exist as one of the most popular activities for those in hell).

2.5. The “test” worldview is not only ethical but effective in overcoming the massive inequities of every other worldview:

2.5.1. In relation to the “test” worldview being ethical consider:

1) All morally conscious people know that God exists and they should seek Him (Rom 1:19-20). God promises to lead all those who seek Him to the truth – including the proper worldview and religion (Act 17:27 w/Neh 9:7-8; Isa 55:6; contra Psa 10:4).

2) Faithful obedience to God’s expectations and laws – which is how we love others (i.e., promote and protect equity) is not only achievable in every individual test prescribed by God (Deu 30:11-14; Mat 6:33-34; 1Co 10:13; Mat 6:34) but also not burdensome to those who are reborn, loving God and loving others (1Jo 5:1-3).

3) The only people who will go to hell – the pl...

1.1. One of the most popular reasons people have kids today is because they want to experience heart-warming moments and memories w/them, live vicariously through them and feel some sense of validation or acceptance because of them. Or, if you are too weird and controlling to have real friends, then you have lots of kids whom you force to be your friends and like what you like and do what you do. In either case, these kinds of people are having children for the purpose of serving their selfish personal pleasures. 

1.2. This however is not the reason God gave us the ability to have kids - but pets. Pets exist for the purpose of serving our pleasure – but never kids.

1.3. The only reason God wants Christians to become parents is the same reason the military has drill sergeants: to transform those kids into battlefield-ready soldiers fiercely loyal to their commander in chief and ready to give their lives for their comrades and country. In this case, soldiers on the spiritual battlefield, fiercely loyal to the Commander-in-Chief of the armies of heaven, Jesus, ready to give their lives for their comrades (i.e., their covenant brothers and sisters) and His kingdom (or country on earth), the church (1Co 7:26-35). How these verses relate to children: 1) one of the main purposes of getting married is to have children - especially in biblical times when children were vital to a family’s wealth and health (Psa 127:1-5). 2) like Paul’s original audience, we too are living in that period of time just before Christ’s return (them = 60s-70 AD, us = 2025-2030) when it will be exceptionally difficult to be a Christian - and much more, responsible for the souls of others (i.e., a wife or children) (v26 “present distress” = Morality is at an all-time low and persecution of the godly at an all-time high [2Ti 3:1-12]; v28 w/vv32-35) = Wives and children create “trouble” which distracts from the “devotion to the Lord” we must possess to get to heaven. This includes the temptation to focus on pleasing them rather than pleasing the Lord – i.e., establishing one’s home and practice according to His “interests” rather than theirs and the world’s – which will be even more important when the time we possess to get the job done has been “shortened” due to Christ’s imminent return. Hence (vv29-31) = No time to focus on selfish agendas – including those we may possess with respect to a wife or children. IOW: spiritual transformation must not only be the dominant driver in all family time, decisions and planning, but practiced with a sense of urgency (e.g., military boot camp: 8-12 weeks to turn a civilian into a soldier).

1.4. How you know this is your purpose for having kids: 1) your pleasure in having them is directly proportionate to your faithfulness in fulfilling your calling as a parent. 2) your love and joy toward them is based entirely on their performance (Phi 2:2, 16-18, 19-22 [w/1Ti 1:2 w/2Ti 1:2-5]; 2Jo 1:4; The Father’s love for Jesus is based on performance - Joh 10:17).

1.5. Why treating children like pets (i.e., having them for personal pleasure) primes them for apostasy = Your selfishness will not only be the thing they learn most from you but what drives their already selfish hearts further away from loving and serving God. 

2. Our salvation depends on us caring more about the preservation of justice/equity than the preservation of lives -most especially the lives of our apostate children. 

2.1. (Deu 16:20) = God demands that we care more about the preservation of justice/equity than the preservation of life. 

2.2. (Deu 19:21) = The sign that a Christian cares more about the preservation of justice/equity than the preservation of life is the absence of compassion (“you shall not show pity”) and compromise (“life for life, eye for eye, [etc.,]”) they show toward those guilty of serious crimes (e.g., malicious witness) – which would therefore most certainly include the apostate. 

2.3. Why I say our salvation depends on us caring more about justice: because practicing justice/righteousness (i.e., God’s Law – or His laws of equity, laws which create fair treatment for all) is what identifies us as the children of God – as those who love God and others – which are the two greatest commandments (or practices necessary to salvation) ([Matt 22:37-40 w/Rom 13:8-10] w/1Jo 3:7-11; 1Jo 5:1-3). 

2.4. Point (then) Not To Miss: God cares (and requires us to care) more about protecting and promoting love for all people (including Himself) than preserving the lives of those who might die in the process (especially those who are apostate and deserve it).

2.5. The only reasons therefore a person would be inclined to generate feelings of compassion or compromise toward the apostate (e.g., crying and expressing pity for them, feeling sorry for them, wanting to relive fond memories of them before they went apostate, or questioning the integrity of God’s words) is they are ignorant of – or don’t care about how unloving, inequitable, ungrateful and utterly treasonous their behavior is to God and others (two examples):

2.5.1. (e.g., unloving) (Heb 10:27-30, [v29] “trampled under foot”) = Idiomatic reference to dehumanization (Psa 56:1), the crime of treating someone as less than human, to take away their human dignity. In this case, the Son of God (their former marriage partner), inferring that the crime of dehumanization was also sexual in nature. “treated as unclean the blood of the [marriage] covenant by which he was sanctified” = Though adultery is a sexual crime that would qualify as treating the marriage covenant and the marital gift of Christ’s justifying blood as “unclean”, it is not by itself a dehumanizing act. The only way Christ could be dehumanized through such adultery is if His body were also somehow involved and violated through the crime. Spousal rape or forcing one’s spouse to function as a prostitute are the types of sexual crimes within marriage that qualify also as dehumanizing acts. Hence the reason the author of Hebrews refers to it as also “insult(ing) (or outraging) the Spirit of grace” versus simply grieving or quenching Him (Eph 4:30; 1Th 5:19). 

This is why the author can also speak of those committing so heinous a crime as being worthy of an even “severer punishment” than the apostate of the Old Covenant (those who had “set aside the Law of Moses” -vv28-29). 

The Point (then) Not To Miss: those committing apostasy under the NC are viewed by God as forcing Christ (their marital spouse) to be dehumanized through rape or prostitution. What then does that say about our declared love for Christ if we feel any level of sympathy or sorrow toward the apostate – those guilty of dehumanizing Him through rape and prostitution?         

2.5.2. (e.g., inequitable) (“I am remembering/crying/feeling sorry for/desiring the non-apostate child in the past” w/Eze 18:21-24).

2.5.3. (e.g., ungrateful) (Num 11:1-6 [Our past life w/the wicked in Egypt was better than our life w/God now bc of what had to be left behind] w/10 w/16-20) = You ungratefulness reveals your rejection of God. In this light consider the heart of the truly grateful (Mat 13:44-46).

2.5.4. (e.g., utterly treasonous) (2Sa 18:32-19:8) = You commit treason when you cry for the loss of those disloyal but do not/would not shed tears for the loss of those who are loyal. By your tears you demonstrate not only partiality toward your son, but that you value the life of the wicked more than the righteous. The same can be said about parents crying for their apostate children. Why are they not instead shedding tears for Christ – our loyal and righteous God Whose death was wast...

1) What markes understanding the WHY (on this topic) so important?

2) Though apostasy is a loss, we need to be very careful to understand that it is not the loss of a lvoed one. It is a loss of betrayal.

Why People Go Apostate

1 They REFUSE to make God their greatest love. (Lk 14; 1 Pe 1:8; Joh 5:42; Rom 5:1-5)

1.1 Three things that lead to apostasy:

1.1.1 The things of God become foolishness

1.1.2 They don't experience God's guidance in their life.

1.1.3 They possess no emotional motivation or help in their obedience.

2. They REFUSE to trust the foreign over the familiar. (1 Joh 2:15-18)

3) The REFUSE to take seriously the dangers of remaining dumb and discounting sin. (Heb 5:11-6:8; Phi 2:13; Prov 22:3; Phi 1:9; Heb 12:15; Deu 29)

Why do they think this way? They don't believe three things:

1) They don't believe that sin needs to be mastered before it gets big.

2) They don't believe thir sins will end in apostasy.

3) They don't believe God takes their sin that serious.

Closing Contemplation:

If you are not actively/aggressively pursuing God as your greatest love, you are refusing Him. Progress or Regress. Are you ON FIRE for Christ?

1) One moral lawgiver and law for all (Isa 33:22; Jam 4:12; Deu 4:2 w/5-8; Num 15:16). 

2) Free to choose (not free from consequences, Deu 30:19) 

3) Everyone gets what their choices/deeds deserve (Psa 28:4, 62:2; Pro 24:12; Isa 3:10-11; Jer 17:10, 21:14, 32:19; Eze 7:27, 18:14-20 w/25-32, 24:14, 33:20; Mat 16:27; Joh 5:29; Rom 2:6; 2Co 5:10; Rev 2:23, 20:12; 22:12; Consider also Pro 18:26; Luk 16:25; Gal 6:7-10; 2Ti 2:11-13; “what goes around comes around”, “you get what you give”). 

4) The punishment will fit the person and the crime (Deu 19:21; Luk 12:47-48). 

5) No punishment w/o participation (Eze 18:20). 

6) No culpability without ability (Luk 12:47-48; Deu 1:39 w/Jon 4:11; Isa 7:15-16, 8:4). 

7) No responsibility without competency (Deu 17:8-9; Mat 18:6-7; Rom 12:3-4; Jam 3:1). 

8) No punishment w/o evidence beyond a reasonable doubt (Deu 17:6, 19:15). 

9) No permissions or prohibitions allowed that hurt the enforcement of covenants/contracts (Exo 20:1-7 [DMCs], 14 [HMCs], 16 [all HCs]) and the protection of private property (Deu 19:14; Exo 20:8-11 [DPP], 12-13, 15, 17 [HPP]). 

10) Justice (equity in action) above all else (Deu 16:20).

Review items:

1. Because we are moral creatures, we tend to give the most trust and loyalty (obedience) to those people and things in our life which we perceive to be the most equitable (e.g., Deontological studies; “Inference and Trustworthiness form Intuitive Moral Judgments” [Journal of Experimental Psychology] = 5 different studies revealed that people whose judgments are based on moral convictions are not only perceived as more trustworthy but preferred as social partners). 

2. The authors of the Bible[1] are characterized by zealous trust and obedience to God because they understand His judgments and laws to be perfectly equitable (i.e., they possessed ethical understanding).

1) Notice the zealous (or joyous) trust and/or call to obedience (worship, exaltation) by the Psalmists because of their understanding of God as equitable (Psa 7:1-17, 9:1-10, 11:1-7, 19:8-14, 25:1-3 w/8-10, 37:1-3 w/17w/27-28, 58:1-2 w/6 w/10-11, 62:7-12, 75:1-2, 89:14-5, 96:7-10, 97:1-2 w/8-18, 98:7-9, 99:1-5, 116:5 w/12-14, 119:62-63, 73-75, 105-106, 137-144, 157-160, 161-168). 2) Equity is what is prophesied will cause the Gentiles to trust and obey Jesus (Isa 11:1-5 w/10). Consider also (2Ti 3:16) = Hardly could Paul claim the Scriptures are “profitable for training in righteousness” unless he understood its teachings to be truly equitable.    

3. God testifies that He alone is righteous (equitable) and those who seek Him will not only find this to be true but will (as a result) swear their allegiance (of trust and obedience) to Him (Isa 45:18-24).

4. Realizing their importance to trust and obedience, Satan’s strategy has always been to call into question the equity of God (Gen 3:1 w/4-5; 2Co 2:11).

5. Getting people to zealously trust and obey God has therefore always meant getting people to understand that His judgments and laws are the only things that truly promote and protect equity for all free will beings. (Psa 119:7-8, 34; Ethical understanding [wisdom/knowledge] is the primary kind of understanding/wisdom/knowledge/discernment we are to pursue in relation to God – e.g., Pro 1:1-7 = The Proverbs are for the purpose of ethical understanding in relation to God [vv1-3]. And the first fruit of such a pursuit is “fear of the LORD” or trust in Him [v7 w/3:5 and 7]; Pro 2:1-9).

6. Discovering the equity of God requires we answer the right questions 

Example: An unquenchable lake of fire as God’s eternal punishment for the wicked, those whose names are not found in the book of life (Mat 25:46 “eternal punishment”; Mar 9:43-48 “unquenchable fire”; Act 24:15 “resurrection of…the wicked”; Rev 20:15 “not found written in the book of life…lake of fire”).

1st QUESTION: Have we taken the time to sufficiently understand what the Bible teaches about the judgment or law being assessed? 

1) The “lake of fire” in (Rev 20:15) is: 1.1.) hell (Mar 9:43, 45, 47). 1.2.) considered a place of eternal punishment given it is one and the same as the “unquenchable fire” or “the fire that is not quenched” mentioned by Jesus in (Mar 9:43-48) and the “eternal punishment” mentioned by Him in (Mat 25:46). 1.3.) a return to the original “earth” - or the dark, fiery, chaotic and lifeless world that God transformed into a stable, ordered and beautiful universe teeming with light and life (Gen 1:1-2) (v2) “the deep…waters” = Deep primordial lake (abyss/pit). God’s first material creation (or “earth”)- which was then used to create our world (vv3-31). “formless and void” (unstable and inept, without order or the ability to create and sustain life – See Fn) “darkness was over the surface of the deep” - or “the deep lake (abyss/pit) was enveloped in darkness” [destruction or desolation at times associated w/fire]. The description of the first earth (Gen 1:2) bears too close a resemblance to the fiery and dark pits [or deep lakes] of Hades and hell to be coincidence (2Pe 2:4 “hell…[fiery] pits [deep lakes] of darkness”). 

2) The “book of life” (Rev 20:12, 15) is the registry of not only those who are on their way to the Reboot (Rev 21-22), but gained and maintained a marriage covenant relationship with Jesus during their earthly life (Deu 29:1,9 w/18-20) = Refusing to faithfully obey (v9 w/28:1 = Faithfulness not perfection; v19 “I walk in the stubbornness of my heart” w/Deu 30:10-14 = Disobedience is refusal [rebellion] not failure) the words of God’s marriage covenant (Isa 45:5) would mean the removal of that covenant person’s name (v20 “blot out”; proving the covenant to be conditional – Exo 19:5-6) from the book of the Law (v20 “this book” w/v21) which is one and the same as “the book of the covenant” and the “book of life”(Exo 24:7 w/Neh 8:1; Deu 29:20 w/Rev 3:5 [book of life is the book of the new covenant]) = Given its transcovenantal use, we can safely assume that “book of life” is a registry of all those who were faithful to gain and maintain their respective covenants with God (Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, OC, NC) (the OC g&m parallel in the NC: Mat 28:16-20w/Exo 24:1-8 = Like Moses, Jesus ascends the mountain to God [to receive the “authority” of the covenant from “heaven” – or that gets you to heaven] to be gained and maintained by those on “earth” w/the help of His priests [Exo 24:1 w/Mat 28:20]).

3) This understanding in relation to the “book of life” informs us as to its relationship w/the book recording our “deeds” (Rev 20:12): it serves as the evidence of whether or not we possessed covenant fidelity to God during our life (since as discussed this is the only way to reach the Reboot: gain and maintain covenant relationship w/Jesus during your life). 

4) As such anyone whose deeds demonstrate they: 4.1.) refused to seek God and enter into a covenant relationship w/Jesus (Rom 1:18-23) or 4.2.) refused to maintain the covenant relationship they did possess w/Jesus are those designated as the resurrected “wicked” (Act 24:15; See also Joh 5:28-29 w/Dan 12:2), one and the same (then) as those whose names are “not found written in the book of life”, those whose reward is eternal punishment in the “the lake of fire” (Rev 20:15).

5) T...

1. Why are we talking about this subject? 1) Too many Christians are unaware that they suffer from CCD. 2) CCD ranks among the number one reasons people fail to be faithful and eventually go apostate. 

2. Why does CCD hinder our ability to be faithful and avoid apostasy? Because loyalty/faithfulness is always a function of trust. IOW: for human beings to loyal or faithful to something or someone, they must first trust them. No one has ever trusted someone or something they believe is (or might be) unrighteous (unjust, inequitable, NOT FAIR). Why? Because that is our design from God as moral creatures (and something therefore we cannot escape). It is impossible for us to trust something or someone we are not confident is righteous. In summary: loyalty/faithfulness cannot happen where there is distrust. 

3. What is the (God designed/designated) purpose of CCD – or the distrust we experience? To alert us to the fact that we are currently operating without what is necessary to be faithful and avoid apostasy – i.e., trust! IOW: that we need to shore up/resolve this “trust deficiency” ASAP before it is too late. 

4. What is (therefore) not the purpose of this distrust? To serve as sign (or confirmation) that God and His Word are indeed unrighteous (unjust, inequitable) and you need to run to the world/apostasize ASAP. 

5. Why is drawing such conclusions based on a feeling alone irrational (crazy)? Because not only do feelings not think (i.e., they don’t possess any ability to determine what/who is right or wrong, righteous or unrighteous), but they are also inherently selfish. Without the direction provided by learning and understanding, they will only steer us in the direction of what serves our best interest – without any consideration of others (equity) (e.g., animals – 2Pe 2:12). 

6. What are the sure-fire signs/symptoms that a person is struggling with CCD? 1) anxiety or depression that won’t go -or stay away[3], 2) lack of zeal for God and the things of God (e.g., the necessity of salespeople believing in the product they are selling). 

7. What is the cure for CCD or the deficiency of trust we feel in relation to God and His laws? Possessing not only knowledge of God and His laws but ethical[4]  understanding- i.e., we need to also possess the understanding that God and His laws are not only righteous (promoting and protecting justice and equity for all creatures – true freedom and happiness for human society) – but exist as the only ethical standard that can produce such things . IOW: Human flourishing can only happen if we follow God and His laws. There is no other way. The laws created by humans are not a viable alternative to the laws of God. They cannot produce human flourishing (justice, equity, freedom and happiness for everyone). They instead can only produce what -in the end, will hurt human society - or take away the freedom and happiness of others. If (then) we are going to cure our CCD (and secure the ability to be faithful and avoid apostasy - not matter the situation), then this is what we MUST become convinced of – which means we need to be committed to always finding the answer to this question, “Why is what God does or says the only thing that will promote and protect what is fair for everyone (that will produce human flourishing [justice, equity, freedom and happiness)?” This is how you sb reading your Bible and what you sb spending your time pondering. Once more, knowledge of God and His laws is not enough. It is not enough to produce the trust necessary to lasting loyalty or faithfulness – or obedience when it is no longer convenient.

7.1. Eve presents the perfect example of this very problem. She possessed the knowledge of God’s laws (Gen 3:2-3), but not the ethical understanding. As a result, she became easy prey to distrust (which Satan exploited – vv4-5) and the temptation to sin. 

7.2. Asaph acknowledges how close he came to apostasy - as well as the deliverance that ensued once he stopped trying to understand God’s dealing with the wicked by his flesh/feelings and started seeking ethical understanding from God’s Word (Psa 73:1-22) [v17] “Until I came into the sanctuary of God” = The primary home of Scripture before the invention of the printing press. “Then I perceived their end. Surely you have set them on slippery places” = The wicked are getting away with nothing. “You cast them down to destruction…[and] when one [the wicked] awakes [on the other-side before God]…you [God] will despise [treat of no value] their form [their phantom/spirit in the afterlife].” = IOW: God will respond to them the way they responded to Him during their life (equity).

7.3. King David knew ethical understanding was the key to trusting and obeying God and therefore prays for it in (Psa 119:34) “give me understanding” = Help me to comprehend how your laws are righteous (promote and protect justice and equity for humanity). “that I may observe your law and keep it with all of my heart” = That I may be faithful to obey it with full commitment (or trust) (contra 2Ch 25:2). PNTM: Trust and obedience to Gods laws require ethical understanding.

7.4. The causal relationship that exists between ethical understanding and trust/obedience is also why Paul prays the way he does in (Col 1:9-10). 

7.5. Peter uses the ethical understanding  already possessed by his audience to motivate them to continued faithfulness and study of God’s Word (1Pe 2:1-3) “If you have tasted the kindness [the moral consideration; Psa 34:8] of the Lord [on you behalf]” = If you have come to an ethical understanding  of God and His laws – if you have experienced that He is indeed righteous (then “grow in respect to your salvation” by putting aside “all malice…deceit…hypocrisy [etc.,]” and “long[ing] for the pure milk of the word.”). PTNM: the trust we gain through ethical understanding is not only the key to faithfulness but to “long[ing] and “grow[ing]” in our study of God’s Word. 

7.6. Additional support: 

1) (Pro 3:5-7 “trust in the LORD” = “fear the LORD”) w/(Pro 1:7 “fear of” [trust in] the LORD is the beginning of knowledge [understanding]”) = Trust in what the LORD (says) is the beginning (or first result) of possessing understanding --OR trust only starts (or happens) where there is ethical understanding (understanding that God and His laws are righteous [just, equitable]). 

2) (Pro 1:1-3) = Notice the kind of understanding (“wisdom…understanding” etc.,) God intends to communicate through Solomon’s Proverbs, is the kind related to “righteousness, justice and equity” – which means this is also what the Proverbs are talking about when calling for us to “acquire wisdom [and] understanding” (e.g., Pro 4:5) = Acquire ethical understanding [in relation to the righteousness, justice and equity of God and His laws]!”[5] 

3) (Deu 4:5-8) [v6] “so keep and do [God’s commands] for that is [the indication] of your wisdom and understanding” - i.e., the indication that you understand God’s laws to be righteous. What (then) Moses is saying: Your obedience to God indicates to the nations that you understand His laws to be righteous. Hence the reason the “peoples” (other n...

Distilling what we have learned from studying Satan with some additional conjecture for good measure:

1. Satan’s big reveal: Shortly before Jesus’ return, Satan is going to appear in human form and  convince the entire world to unite under his leadership and go to war against Yhwh and the last small vestige of Christ’s churches and devout Jews in Jerusalem that still exist and stand against him (Rev 20:3 [“short time”]w/7-9a “nations which are in the four corners of the earth” = Every nation on earth; “God and Magog” w/Eze 37-39 = The biblical symbol of a world led by one leader and the majority united in fulfilling his evil agenda; “the number of them is like the sand of the seashore” = Vast majority of the population will follow Satan; “surrounded” = Implies these groups are not spread out or numerous, but rather limited in location and small in number; able to easily be contained and captured; “the camp of the saints” = Christ’s churches; “the beloved city” = Devout Jews in Jerusalem crying out to God/sacrificing red heifers to purify themselves for Messiah’s return who will repent and be saved the moment Jesus lands on the Mt. of Olives – Rom 11:25-28 “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob” = Seeing Jesus wb their salvation [Rev 1:7]; “they are enemies for your sake” = They will not listen to Christians [FAG has ruined our witness to them]).

2. Satan’s ability: There are three reasons Satan will be able to “deceive the nations” and unite them in a global war against Yhwh: 

2.1. The apostasy of the New Covenant Church = Over the course of human history God has employed various corrective measures to restrain (slow down, push back, limit) the moral corruption and spiritual darkness continually infecting and progressively destroying the “code of Creation” (what God used to create the material world – Gen 1:3,6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26 “Then God said”) – which includes the invisible, dimensional barrier separating our world from the heavenly realm above (Gen 28:12; Act 1:9-11; Eph 4:8).[3] Among these was the establishment of covenant communities (churches) with codified law, a consecrated people and an empowered priesthood. Though a vast improvement on the original design, the New Covenant community/Church – like her predecessor, was not perfect. As a result, she too would eventually succumb to her self-inflicted wounds of gospel and moral compromise, forfeiting not only God’s presence and power among her, but her ability to act as salt and light in the world. Such loss of restraint would mean those spiritual gates once locked were now open and those behind them once more free to exercise the full range of their evil powers – including the use of those communities (now apostate) for their own purposes (2Th 2:1-9 “apostasy comes first, then the man of lawlessness is revealed/released…you know what restrains him now” = God’s CC not going apostate): 

1) >70 AD = OCC is apostate (Eph 6:11-12 w/Rev 2:9, 18:2) w/the NCC on the brink of apostasy (5 of the 7 churches in Rev 2-3) leads to Satan’s release (Rev 12-13).

2) >2030 AD = NCC is apostate leading once more to the restraints being removed/to Satan’s release (Mat 16:18-19 w/Mat 12:22-29 w/Joh 12:31 w/Luk 10:17-18 w/Rev 2:5 w/Rev 20:3,7 [“thousand years = The complete time the church remains faithful and therefore able to restrain Satan/keep the gates of Hades closed after being put there by Jesus]).

2.2. The power of pseudo-incarnation/body-snatching (2Th 2:8 [2Th 1:7-9 w/Isa 11:1-4, 66:15-16] w/Rev 20:9; Rev 13:1-2 w/Rev 17:8), miracles of healing and advanced tech (2Th 2:9 “all [every kind of] power [e.g., high-tech weapons, UFOs, telepathically/spirit/demon controlled drones] and signs [attesting miracles; e.g., healing of all diseases, granting of superhuman health and abilities] and false wonders” [eye candy; e.g., everything wb tune to not only entertain us but convince us that we can break through the weakened dimensional barrier and make an attack on heaven/God’s throne - Rev 20:9 “they came up on the broad plain” = An allusion to Gen 11:1-8 [“they found a plain in the land of Shinar”] = God’s corrective measure is not to tear down the tower but disrupt their ability for global communication and unification – which He states will give them the power to eventually do what they are attempting [break thru into heaven and make an attack on His throne]; v6).[4]     

2.3. His prior success in indoctrinating the world in his “anti-God, self-love, live by your flesh” religion = Such success is due not only to the amount of time (Job 38:4-7 = Almost 6k years) and travel speeds Satan has possessed to push his propaganda (Eph 2:1-2 “prince of the power of the air” w/Isa 6:2 w/Job 1:7, 2:2) but also his knowledge of our Achilles’ heel – our test given to us at Creation, which he immediately exploited with our first mother (Gen 3:1-5) = What makes this life a test is not that God prohibits certain things that our flesh wants to do, but that our flesh wants to do them only because we cannot see their true value (how undesirable, harmful and horrible they really are). Though our flesh (our five senses) are unreliable when it comes to moral decisions, what we feel (the signal they send) is often the opposite. IOW: our flesh gives to us the feeling that we should trust our senses alone. As a result, we naturally trend in the direction of our flesh – trusting it more than God’s laws – even when we have put them to memory (Gen 2:2-3).

Satan knew this and exploited it with Eve the same way he has been exploiting it w/us for ~ 6k yrs. How Satan exploited this w/Eve: 1) By causing her to feel distrust for God; that His laws may be unjust (“You surely will not die!”). 2) By causing her to feel love for self and confidence in self over God; that she deserves to be god and has the right to determine right and wrong for herself (“you will be like God knowing good and evil”). That Eve took the bait is made clear by how the text reveals she made her decision (“when the woman saw that the tree was good…desirable to the eyes”) = IOW: She decided in accord with her flesh/senses or feelings were telling her (which is insanity given our feelings don’t think). Psychologists, the most popular spiritual practitioners of our day, proves that Satan has indeed been successful in indoctrinating the world in his anti-God, self-love, live by your feelings (or morality determined by our flesh) religion.   

3. Temptation to apostasize: Scripture predicts that the aforementioned three things will mean that the temptation to apostasize at the time of Satan’s big reveal will be so strong that: 1) We should expect that a number of us will fall away (Mat 24:10; 2Th 2:9-15) = Paul’s parting admonishment to the Thessalonian church [“So then, brethren, stand firm…”] reveals they were not immune to Satan’s deception. 2) If the time from Satan’s reveal and Jesus’ return were not short, all Christians would eventually fall away (Mat 24:22).

4. A possible picture of what Satan’s big reveal (and message to humanity) may look like: Satan shows up in human flesh, with lots of UFOs, super advanced tech and proves he can heal every disease and grant superhuman health and abilities to every human if they will follow him in fighting against the evil Yhwh Who only retains the title “God” because He controls the “God particle” to create. Taking His throne would mean we could not only use it m...

CREATION AND PRE-CRIME CAREER 

1. Satan was a high ranking, highly elite throne-guardian angel who looks like a fiery winged serpent or dragon and existed as one of several types of elohim created not only before human beings but the construction of our entire universe. 

CRIMES AND PENALTIES 

2. Satan sparked an insurrection not only against God but His high priest Adam, convincing a third of the angel population to follow him in his rebellion.

3. The initial punishments suffered by Satan for his double insurrection were threefold: 1) loss of position [as throne guardian], 2) loss of physical form in this world [as a glorious dragon], 3) imprisoned in Hades [lowest, darkest, most desolate and fiery portion of Sheol]. Satan was reduced to a groveling amputee who now works as the night manager at the hotel Hades. That said, Satan retains command of a large demonic army with access to our world. 

4. For almost six thousand years, Satan has been using his access to our world and the power of Sheol to reduce God’s army while increasing his own.[3] 

5. Christ’s first return resulted in Satan being unable to use his newly discovered power of pseudo-incarnation or “body-snatching” for the entirety of the Church Age. 

5.1. Christ’s first return: The spiritual return of Jesus (Rev 1:7 [e.g., Isa 19:1]) in 70 AD to judge: 1) unfaithful OC Israel thru divorce and the destruction of God’s house (Mat 23:37-24:3 w/15 [the destruction of the temple] w/34; Rev 5:1-5 w/chs 6-11 [11:1-2 w/15]). 2) those involved with the Jews in persecuting Jesus’ new (covenant) people thru the downfall of Satan (“the dragon”), the Roman Caesar Nero, (“the beast”) and the Jewish priesthood (“false prophet”) (Rev 13:1-18).

5.2. (Satan’s) newly discovered power of pseudo-incarnation or “body snatching” (def., the spirit of the host person is replaced by Satan’s spirit – allowing for complete integration with their body, and uninhibited expression of his personality and powers)[4]: As discussed, Satan was forced to shed his skin in this world at the time of his initial “grand insurrection” (insurrection against God and His sacred human authorities). Since then, he has been seeking a way to re-incarnate himself.[5] It isn’t until the time of Christ that we find Scriptural evidence of Satan possessing this ability suggesting he was unable to do so before this time. Hence the reason for referring to it as “newly discovered” (e.g., Rev 13:1-2 “the dragon standing on the seashore” = Satan [Rev 12:9];  “[the] beast coming out of the sea” = Nero Caesar, Roman king living in the first century;[6] “And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority”) = A statement describing what happens when there is the passing of the mantle between outgoing and incoming kings or national leaders (e.g., recent transfer of the president’s power, throne and authority from Joe Biden to Donald Trump). In this case, from Satan to Nero (Rev 13: 4 “his authority”). That being said, there is more going on in these verses than a simple a transfer of power (etc.,). It implies also the replacement of Nero’s spirit with the spirit of Satan; that the true person of Nero, no longer exists (is dead and in the “lake of fire” – Rev 19:20), his body-snatched and identity assumed by an imposter. This then is the real reason the person who appears to be Nero can also be said to possess Satan’s supernatural power (etc.,). The transfer of power included also a transfer of person. Satan had pseudo-incarnated himself in the body of Nero. Proof that Satan pseudo-incarnated himself in the body of Nero – versus simply transferring his power (etc.) or possessing him: 

1) (Rev 13:1 “coming up out of [Grk., anabaino] the sea”) = A reference to Nero’s earthly place of origin, Rome[7] before the transfer (v2b) versus Nero’s place of origin after the transfer (Rev 17:8 “come up out of [Grk., anabaino] the abyss”) = The beast/Nero’s place of origin has changed from this world to the underworld. The body of Nero is no longer inhabited by the person from Rome, but the prince of the abyss (Rev 9:11).[8] 

2) (Rev 13:4 “they worshipped the dragon”) = A reference to the Jews who were not only in approval but instigating Nero’s blasphemy against Jesus and empire wide persecution of Christians (5-8 “all who dwell in the land [Grk., epi teis geis = Israel] = Satan’s 2nd “grand insurrection”).[9] How then did the Jews worship Satan (“the dragon”)? By their worship of Nero indicating once again, that the switch has taken place. Satan (“the dragon”) is now Nero. 

3) (2Th 2:1-9) = Consistent with other biblical prophecy, many of details discussed by Paul in 2Thessalonians 2 will experience dual fulfillment – or are applicable to both Christ’s first return (in 70 AD) – as well as His second or final return (in 2030 AD). This includes the references to pseudo-incarnation or body-snatching by Satan. For example: (3.1.) (v9) “the one [the “man of lawlessness”-v3] whose coming [or return -Grk., parousia] is in accord with the activity of Satan” = Literally, “activity confirming [him] to be Satan.” The word translated “activity” [Grk., energia] not only reinforces this understanding but echoes the gist of John’s words in (Rev 13:2b). Per Strong’s, “this word is used only for superhuman power whether God or the devil.” (3.2.) (v8) = The “lawless one” of 2Thessalonians 2 – who is destroyed by fire from heaven at the Lord’s return is - according (again) to verse 3, a human being (“man of lawlessness”). Yet in its future parallel, Satan is the main antagonist suffering this fiery fate, the same person bound in the abyss for a thousand years (Rev 20:7-9). How do you make sense of that? How can this person be identified as human and yet also as Satan? Like first century Nero, this future man of lawlessness (or antichrist) will only be human in respect to physical form. The spirit of that man will (however) be gone, replaced by the spirit of the devil which means the identity of that person has also changed. It is no longer that man, but Satan who has snatched his body and now wears it as his own. 

5.3. What is the relevance or importance of this power (the power of pseudo-incarnation or body-snatching)? As discussed, this ability allows Satan to display (in our world) the full range of his supernatural abilities with in turn also allows him to “deceive the nations” into following him as their god in a global war against God’s people (first attempt: Rev 13:7; second attempt: Rev 20:7).[10] This is why then after his first attempt (in the first century), such power was temporarily placed in shackles.

5.4. unable to use (his…power of pseudo-incarnation or “body snatching”): (Rev 20:1-3) “[with] a great chain…laid hold of the dragon…and bound him…and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations”) = John’s vision of Satan being placed under heavy restraint communicated two things to the first century church: 1) justice would finally being served for Satan’s war crimes against her (Rev 6:9-11), 2) it would be a very long time before Satan could again exercise such power of deceit. His ability to reincarnate himself - and subsequent uniting of the nations that would follow, had been completely neutralized for “one thousand years.”

5.5. Why can we be conf...

CREATION AND PRE-CRIME CAREER 

1. Satan was a high ranking, highly elite throne-guardian angel who looks like a fiery winged serpent or dragon and existed as one of several types of elohim created not only before human beings but the construction of our entire universe. 

CRIMES AND PENALTIES 

2. Satan sparked an insurrection not only against God but His high priest Adam, convincing a third of the angel population to follow him in his rebellion.

3. The initial punishments suffered by Satan for his double insurrection were threefold: 1) loss of position [as throne guardian], 2) loss of physical form in this world [as a glorious dragon], 3) imprisoned in Hades [lowest, darkest, most desolate and fiery portion of Sheol]. Satan was reduced to a groveling amputee who now works as the night manager at the hotel Hades. That said, Satan retains command of a large demonic army with access to our world. 

4. For almost six thousand years, Satan has been using his access to our world and the power of Sheol to reduce God’s army while increasing his own.[3] 

4.1. access to our world: Though Satan’s imprisonment in Hades means he (and his angels) no longer possessed citizenship in the spiritual realm of heaven or the natural realm of earth (their two former residences – Gen 1:1 w/Job 38:4-7 and Eze 28:13-16), because Hades exists in the same geographical location as earth (Hades is the “earth beneath”- Eze 31:14) he (and his angels) still possess access to our realm. Entrance into our world primarily happens through entering - in various ways or degrees, the bodies of living physical beings – most especially human beings. Hence why Jesus says that when an unclean spirit is exorcised, it is forced to return to Hades (i.e., travel through “waterless places”), until it can find another physical host (Mat 12:43-45; Consider also Luk 8:30-33). 

4.2. How Satan uses human bodies to reduce God’s army while increasing his own: 

1) By placing in the minds of sinful people (Christian and non-Christian) the lie that God (Yhwh) is a fraud (e.g., Gen 3:4-5) = God is a lying, emotionally abusive, manipulator (v4; Pro 19:3) who is really not God in the truest sense (infinite and uncreated, the source of all other life) (v5a; Psa 10:4, 14:1, 53:1), but a selfish bigot and control freak whose self-deluded worship of Himself has convinced Him that His laws are the only ones worth following (5b = You will be able to make your own laws or determine for yourselves what is right and wrong). That Satan still possesses the ability to place in our brains strong and convincing lies about God after his expulsion from our world is confirmed in the NT (Joh 13:2 = Jesus is a fraud; 2Co 4:3-4 w/Eph 2:1-3 w/1Jo 3:7-12 = The gospel or Christianity [loyalty to God: His laws and people] is a fraud; Mat 13:19 = Christians are frauds; Rev 12:9-10 “deceives the whole world…accuser of our brethren”[as frauds]-10 = God, Jesus, the gospel, Christianity and Christians are all evil frauds).

2) By placing in the minds of sinful people (Christian and non-Christian) the lie that serving self or the world (what they have to offer) is better than serving God (what He has to offer) (Jam 4:1-8).

3) By placing in the minds of people not welcomed to God (those who do not truly love God/who have not truly counted the cost of following Christ - Luk 14:25-35) a very strong and convincing argument to get saved/be baptized into Christ’s Church (e.g., Act 8:13 w/21) so that they can eventually become stumbling blocks that cause others to ruin their testimony or go apostate (Mat 13:24-30, 18:7-10; Luk 17:1; 2Pe 2:13-22; Jud 1:12-19). 

4) By possessing unto apostasy those excommunicated Christians who have not embraced comprehensive repentance.[4] This danger is a part of Paul’s instruction in (1Co 5:5) “deliver to Satan” = (Lev 16:10) “send it into the wilderness [outside the heavenly outpost/realm of heaven to the realm of Hades] to Azazel [Satan].”[5] Every time therefore a person is excommunicated from the covenant community, they – like this goat are being delivered to Satan (Azazel) with one important and dangerous difference. What they are offloading in the wilderness is not the sins of others, but their own. Paul’s additional comments are key to understanding exactly what this looks like: “for the destruction of [their] flesh.” IOW: to return to the covenant community, their repentance or turning from the practice of sin must be comprehensive. Not just the sin (or sins) that severed their relationship with Christ, but the practice of all sin – most especially those of the mind (heart) which are the source of all others (1Sa 24:13; Mat 12:34, 15:18). That this is indeed what Paul is referring to by “destruction of the flesh” is confirmed and further developed in his instruction to the Romans (Rom 8:12-13) = Notice the instrument we use destroy the desires of our flesh, “the Spirit” (v14, devotion to His desires [which we find in His Word]). As made clear by Paul’s connection to salvation (“destruction of his flesh so that his soul may be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus”), the excommunicated can no longer afford to continue neglecting this obligation. To do so will mean Satan taking possession of not only their sin but their soul. If they do not take control of their lives and completely destroy all the areas of unfaithfulness or compromise that remain, Satan will take control and completely destroy their soul. Paul was not the only one aware of this danger. Peter likewise recognized the threat and attempts to warn the excommunicated (1Pe 5:8) = Though not as obvious, Peter is also alluding to the goat sent into the wilderness to Azazel. It was assumed by the Jews that this animal would soon become the prey of a larger predator – most specifically, the Asiatic “lion” who at that time, were plentiful in the region. It is therefore the souls of the excommunicated Peter warns the devil is hunting as “roaring lion” to “devour” (Grk., katapinoe = To consume something in its entirety, to swallow whole, to completely destroy – e.g., Isa 25:8 [LXX] w/1Co 15:54 and 2Co 5:4). The instruction that follows for resisting this threat likewise agrees with Paul (v9 [literal translation) “Whom you resist through firm faithfulness [faithfulness without areas of compromise – comprehensive repentance] knowing that the same sufferings [sacrifices for faithfulness] are being expected by the [rest of] the brotherhood in the world.” IOW: the comprehensive faithfulness/repentance being required of you (as the means to escaping the devil) is what is expected of all who would follow Christ.   

5) By possessing those non-Christians who can use their great power and influence to dissuade people from following Christ or continuing to follow Christ (Mat 13:20-22; Act 13:10 and 45; Eph 6:11-12; 1Th 2:14...

CREATION AND PRE-CRIME CAREER 

1. Satan was a high ranking, highly elite throne-guardian angel who looks like a fiery winged serpent or dragon and existed as one of several types of elohim created not only before human beings but the construction of our entire universe. [DISCUSSED]

CRIMES AND PENALTIES 

2. Satan sparked an insurrection not only against God but His high priest Adam, convincing a third of the angel population to follow him in his rebellion.

2.1. insurrection against God: (Gen 3:1-5) = Verses 4 and 5 reveal that Satan’s initial inquiry was not innocent, but for the purpose of calling the equity of God’s prohibition into question (His death threat was a lie and His motives for making the one tree off limits was selfish - i.e., He did not want to share His divinity with others). By such actions, Satan was guilty of the greatest covenant sin: divine insurrection (deliberately slandering God by accusing Him or one of His anointed leaders of evil; Mat 12:22-34 “vipers” (~ little satans) = Jesus equates the pharisees to Satan – the first insurrectionist.  

2.2. Though, it is often assumed that Satan’s initial rebellion took place before the creation of our world, the biblical evidence says otherwise (Eze 28:12-13a w/14-15) = Satan’s insurrection took place while at his post guarding Adam, God’s first high priest and divine council (“stones of fire” = ANE reference to a DC [Psa 82:1ff]) in God’s first temple (“Eden, the garden of God…the mountain of God” = ANE reference to divine temples [sacred gardens and mountains][3]). 

2.3. insurrection…against…His priest Adam: How? 1) thru Satan’s deception of his wife. Eve had likely heard God’s prohibition from her husband (Gen 2:17 = Prohibition spoken to Adam before Eve was created; Gen 3:3 “God has said” versus “God said” may also indicate she had received the command indirectly [through her husband]). As such, what Satan was doing in his condemnation of God’s rule was true also for Adam His priest: the one who had taught this rule to his wife. Like God, Adam was (in Satan’s mind) guilty of promoting evil through the authority of his position and teaching.[4] 2) thru his (likely) open refusal to recognize Adam’s divine authority above his own (Eze 28:16-17 “By the abundance of your trade [Because of the abundance of your materials – i.e., position, possessions and stature – Eze 28:13-14] you were internally filled with violence [the need to fight against God’s justice/moral decisions]…Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor”[You let your natural gifting go to your head; You charmed yourself into believing you were smarter or more righteous than God]; Isa 14:12 “star of the morning, son of the dawn” [firstborn – or first of the Father’s strength and beauty- Eze 28:12]; Isa 14:13-14 [Satan believed he sb above God Himself – security detail to humans was therefore a huge slap in the face]; e.g., Num 16:1-3). There was also the issue of Satan’s place as the first to be created (ANE principle of the firstborn: majority recipient of the father’s possessions and rightful heir to the throne). [5] 

2.4. That humans - or God’s divine council, has authority over angels is attested to in the NT (1Co 6:3; Jud 1:8-9).

2.5. Both biblical evidence and Jewish tradition suggest that those angels who fell with Satan were those under his direct command (i.e., those soldiers loyal to his command as their general - Eze 28:14 “anointed” [double entendre’ ~ expansive a reference to his wings] = A God appointed, high ranking [military?] leader). [6] 

2.6. The number of angels who followed Satan in his rebellion could be 50 million (Rev 12:3-4 “a third of the stars” [angels – Job 38:7] w/Dan 7:10 and Rev 5:11 “myriads upon myriads” [10k x 10k = 100m] = 50m loyal soldier demons).

3. The initial punishments suffered by Satan for his insurrection were fourfold.

3.1. Like Adam, Satan was defrocked of his sacred rank (Eze 28:16). 

3.2. Satan was not only forced to shed his glorious (dragon) body in our world, but to gaze upon the deformity God would deposit in the animal kingdom as a mocking reminder of his folly for the throne (Gen 3:14-15[7]; Eze 28:12 [“full of beauty”] w/17b “I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, that they may see you” w/Jug 1:7 [Literally, “hands or thumbs…feet or big toes”] *See pic* [The mutilation of Adoni-Bezek]). 

3.3. Thirdly, Satan (and his demons) were imprisoned in the deepest, darkest portion of Sheol (i.e., the Abyss, the pit, the waterless pit, or the waterless place), which is the lower spiritual realm of desolation and chaos, the wilderness and wandering place of the dead (Psa 28:1; Zec 9:11; Mat 12:43; Rom 10:7; Eze 31:15; Job 38:17; Job 10:20-22 ). [8] In Scripture this lower realm of Sheol (the new home of Satan and the demons) is known as Hades, Abaddon, Tartarus or the pit of destruction (Isa 14:15; Rev 9:1 “bottomless pit” [pit below the pit] w/11; 2Pe 2:4; Jud 1:6[9]). Beyond the aforementioned discomforts, Hades is engulfed in fire (Luk 16:23-24; Deu 32:22; Job 31:1-12)[10], a fitting distinction given that it is also the exclusive home of the dead who are damned and on their way to a second death in a lake of fire (i.e., hell, Gehenna) (Isa 30:33, 66:24; Mar 9:45-46; Luk 12:5; Rev 20:14-15). 

3.4. Hades existence in superposition to planet earth (it is the “upside down” earth) is why: 1) Scripture can say that Satan and his angels were cast down to earth (Rev 12:4) – or use various idioms related to earth to identify it (Psa 71:20 “depths of the earth”; Eze 31:14, 16 “the earth beneath”; also Jon 2:6 “the roots of the mountains”). 2) Satan and the demons have access to our realm (Job 1:12-19, 2:6-7; Luk 8:26-33; Rev 12:4-12).  

3.5. Though Hades had become the permanent home of Satan and his demons, Scripture indicates they also still possessed some access or ability to enter the highest spiritual realm, heaven (Job 1:6-7, 2:1-2 “before the LORD” [in heaven]). It wasn’t until Christ’s redemptive victory that the heavenly borders became permanently closed (Rev 12:8 “heaven”).

CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: 1) Why did Satan and his demons initially still have access to heaven after their insurrection? 

2) Seeing that God can close the borders to earth just as He eventually did with heaven (Rev 20:1-3), why does God keep giving access to Satan and his demons to our world? 3) Has access to our world been given to the other residents of Hades (the damned dead)? And what about the dead saints? Do they have access to our realm? 4) Since Satan is king of Hades, can he harm or control the damned in Hades? 5) Are there any outposts of the heavenly realm in superposition with our world? 6) How might this teaching and the answers to ...

CREATION AND PRE-CRIME CAREER (Eze 28:12-19; Isa 14:12-15)

1. Satan was a high ranking, highly elite throne-guardian angel who looks like a fiery winged serpent or dragon and existed as one of several types of elohim created not only before human beings but the construction of our entire universe.

1.1. high-ranking: (Rev 9:11 “king [of the demons]”; Mat 9:34, 12:24-27; Mar 3:22 “Beelzebul [compound word meaning “ruler Baal”]…the ruler of the demons”; Eph 2:1-2 “the prince…” [Grk., archon as in archangel – e.g. Michael, Dan 10:13 LXX]). Seeing that God was the first to appoint him to such a high rank (Isa 14:13 “I will raise my throne [of rule]”), we can be sure that God also provided him with those gifts/abilities commensurate to leading or ruling over others (vision, strategy, planning, persuasion, etc.). All things considered, Satan is one of God’s most intelligent, influential and powerful creations (Eze 28:12b “Full of wisdom and beauty”). 

1.2. highly elite throne-guardian angel: (Eze 28:14 “cherub”) = Elite class of angel who guards (“who covers” [Heb., sakak = To guard]) sacred people and places (God, priests and the tabernacle/temple: “the cherubim formula” - 1Sa 4:4 w/2Sa 6:2 w/Isa 37:16 w/Eze 10:1-20 //Exo 25:18; Exo 26:1, 31, 36:8, 35; 1Ki 6:23-29). [3] According to (Eze 28:13), Satan’s post was in the “Garden of Eden” (or v16, the “mountain of God”) implying his security detail to be Adam, God’s first high-priest in God’s first temple (Eze 28:16 “stones of fire [on the “mountain of God”]” w/Eze 28:18 “sanctuaries” w/Isa 14:13 “the stars of God…the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north” = In the ANE, all these phrases referred to a divine place, house or temple – the place of God’s divine council or priests). Given their association with sacred things, the ten precious stones mentioned as his “covering” (Eze 28:13) further reinforces his role as a protector of sacred people and places. (v14) “anointed” (Heb., mimsah) is better translated according to its literal understanding, “outstretched” or “expansive” – most likely a reference to his wings (e.g., cherubim on the mercy seat – Exo 25:20). Given this as the bejeweled portion of Satan’s body, his wings served not only for flying but fighting. From a defensive perspective they were heavy armor plating, from the offensive side, they were diamond tipped battle blades.[4] Biblical scholars have demonstrated that “seraphim” (Isa 6:2) is simply a descriptive term referring to a different class of cherubim increasing the possible number of “weapon wings” assigned to Satan to six.[5] Six wings (versus only two) may be the reason Paul refers to him as the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2). [6] 

1.3. fiery winged serpent or dragon: Identifying Satan as seraphim agrees with the other titles used to describe Satan: a fiery winged serpent or dragon able breathe fire on his enemies (Isa 6:2 “seraphim” [Heb., serap = To burn][7]; Eze 28:18b “I brought fire from the midst of you”;  Rev 12:3-13:11, 16:13, 20:2 “the great red [Grk., purros ~ pryro, fire] dragon”]).[8] Satan as a dragon or fiery serpent is further supported by: 1) his identification as a serpent (Gen 3:1 w/Rev 12:9 and 20:2; See also Rev 2:13 [“Pergamum…where Satan dwells” = Temple of Asclepius [pagan god intertwined with a talking snake who teaches him the secrets of healing]; Job 26:12-13 [Rahab] and Isa 27:1 [Leviathan] = Appropriation language: Satan is identified with the multi-named mythical sea creature of the ANE - and is conquered by Yhwh). 2) the other Hebrew word associated with the term seraphim (sarap = Serpent. In this case, a fiery serpent).[9] 3) the possible mention of a serpent in the Ezekiel text (Eze 28:12 “seal” may be “serpent” as in “serpent of perfection”).[10]

1.4. The chances that such descriptions were meant to be taken literally are high given the multiple examples of throne-guardians in ANE tradition depicted as serpent-like humanoid beings. In Mesopotamia, this was the Snake-Dragon, in Egypt, Uraeus the snake-god. 

“That a divine Mesopotamian keribu might be depicted as a ‘snake dragon’ is striking. Other divine throne guardians, such as those in the Egyptian religion, might also be cast as serpentine. Bernard Batto describes the Edenic rebel this way: ‘The serpent [was] a semi-divine creature with wings and feet like the seraphs in Isa 6:2, whose function was to guard sacred persons and sacred objects such as the tree of divine wisdom.’ [Philippe] Provencal shows that ‘the Egyptian Uraeus serpent, drawn from two species of Egyptian cobras, fits all the elements of the supernatural seraphim who attend Yahweh’s holy presence in Isaiah 6. The relevant cobra species spit burning venom, can expand wide flanges of skin on either side of their bodies – considered wings in antiquity – when threatened, and are (obviously) serpentine.’[11] Karen Joines adds that ‘a function of the Uraeus is to protect the pharaoh and sacred objects by breathing out fire on his enemies.’[12] – Michael Heiser (Demons). 

1.6. Satan possessed his snake-dragon form as his physical body during his time in the Garden of Eden and his deception of Eve (Gen 3:1 “beast [Heb. hayeh  = Living flesh/physical being] of the field [v14 “cattle” [Heb., behemoth = Large animal] which the LORD God had made”) = Satan possessed the physical body (living flesh) of a large animal (think of a mythical dragon). What we know of serpents today are the remains of God’s curse after the Fall. As such, snakes are not a part of what God originally created and called “good” (Gen 1:31). They are instead a perversion, God’s curse on His original design, the sentient snake-dragon cherub (Eze 28:12b w/17,19 – the physical flesh that once represented you in the natural world will no longer represent wisdom and beauty but the perversion of evil). 

1.7. Lastly, scholars of ancient tradition also link Satan (“Azazel” – Lev 16:10) and the cherubim to those angels identified as “Watchers” (Dan 4:13, 17, 23) [13] who in addition to their role as warriors or guardians also functioned as intelligence officers – which included imparting wisdom to the world’s sacred leaders (e.g., king Nebuchadnezzar - Dan 7:13-24 [w/2:37-38 and Jer 27:6]). Considering that Satan’s appointment as a throne-guardian in the Garden of Eden is unique in Scripture – i.e., he is the only one ever mentioned occupying this post, also demands that we view him as an “elite among the elite” in this rare class of angels.[14] 

1.8. elohim ([Heb.] = God/god[s]): 1) All divine being(s) or those beings whose primary residence is the supernatural realm including but not limited to God (Yhwh) who possess divine authority and/or supernatural power (e.g., Exo 20:3 w/Deu 32:17; 2Co 4:4). 2) All non-divine being(s) – or those beings whose primary residence is the natural realm (i.e., humans, thos...

1. Why was evangelism was so much easier in the 1st century?

1.1. Textual support for my question (Act 11:19-21) = Those doing the evangelism are not the apostles but the untrained laity of the Jerusalem church (Act 7:51-8:1). Given then their evangelistic success, what advantage did the laity of the early church possess that we do not have today? Why was it so much easier?

1.2. Unlike today, everybody was religious: it was considered axiomatic truth that the events of the natural world (our world) were influenced and impacted by the decisions and actions of supernatural beings (otherwise known as gods) who not only lived in a supernatural world but often had human children (sons) who lived among us. And this belief was not compartmentalized as it is oftentimes today.  In the ancient world such beliefs impacted every aspect of daily civilian and government life (e.g.,): 1) kings (Caesars) were often revered as deity in human flesh, as the sons of the gods. 2) holidays, cities – even people’s children and homes were named after and/or dedicated to a patron deity. 3) national identity was theological rather than geographical. 4) the primary reason for all animal slaughter was propitiatory not dietary. 5) all government was viewed as divine and all service to the state a religious act (hence the reason Christians were accused of being atheists for their refusal to serve in government or the military). 6) victory in battle, economic success or good weather was viewed as not only favor from a particular deity or group of deities but a sign that they were the “god(s) on top.” 7) the manufacture and sale of idols for personal and public shrines (Act 17:16) was a vital economic industry providing a large tax revenue base to the state and income to many families (Act 19:23-29). 8) the most popular form of conversation taking place in the public square was not entertainment, sports or politics – but theology - most especially the subject of “who is the god on top?” (Act 17:17-21). 8) Most places associated with pleasure were also temples (prostitution, restaurants). In short, because of the surrounding society, the gods were very real and relevant removing that subject (the existence and need for God) as the first obstacle to overcome in evangelism. IOW: evangelistic conversations were about convincing people that Yhwh was the God on top (and the resurrection of His Son Jesus as the proof of His love for all humanity versus trying to convince people that Someone and something exists beyond the material world (Act 17:22-31). A simple testimony regarding the life, death, resurrection, rule and coming judgment of Jesus was -in most situations -all the knowledge required to be potent and effective (1Co 15:1-4).

1.3. Primitive technology and a large percentage of the population being illiterate also meant that less philosophical and theological competency was required to refute and remove people’s confusion or doubt (Act 28:17-23). Today is just the opposite. Because of our vast exposure to opposing worldviews and heresies associated with the Bible’s teaching and gospel, those functioning as effective evangelists are required to become effective apologists both philosophically and theologically (Act 17:22-23 = Confusion created by their access to many different religious views).

1.4. Such “information corruption” may be another sign that we are in the final years before Christ’s return. Jesus makes clear that in the end it will be like the days of Noah. Corruption will again have reached a tipping point making the possibility of finding salvation like finding a needle in a haystack, reducing the number of those saved to a small covenant family (Mat 24:37-38). 

2. What does it mean when Jesus says that the first greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, why do the first and second greatest commandment matter and what initial or internal way is there to assess whether or not we are fulfilling them?

2.1. What does it mean to love God w/all our heart, soul and mind (the 1st greatest commandment)? The answer is found in the phrase that connects the first to the second (Mat 22:37-39) “The second is like it” = IOW: The way we love in the second greatest commandment will be the same as the first. As such, whatever Jesus says is the way we love our neighbor (i.e., our covenant family – Lev 19:17 [“fellow countryman”]w/18 [“neighbor”]) is how also we are to love God – or what it means to love Him w/all our heart, soul and mind. So what is the answer – how are we told to love our covenant family? As ourselves. So then, loving God w/all your heart, soul and mind just means to love God in the same way as you love yourself. Both God and our covenant family are to be loved in the same way as we love ourselves. They are to be “our very heart.”

2.2. Why does it matter (why is important to have this kind of love for God and our covenant family)? (Mat 22:40 w/Mat 5:17-20) = Nobody gets to heaven who is unfaithful to love God and His people in the same way they love themselves.

2.3. The initial and internal way to assess our whether or not we love God and our covenant family as ourselves is by considering these two groups with respect to this universal truth:

As human beings we possess the ability to betray others and live with it (including those we may have great affection for). We do not however possess that ability in relation to self – or those that we choose to love in the same way as we love ourselves. It is impossible to betray yourself – or those you love as yourself - and live with it.

 2.4. Why? B/C This is how God has hard-wired us (Eph 5:29 “no one ever hated [betrayed] his own flesh but nourishes it and cherishes it”). The context of this verse is our universal truth – or the main point of our discussion: loving others as our self. Paul reveals this as the key to covenant fidelity – or Christ-like love for our wives (Eph 5:28) = This then is what is meant in v25 when it says Christ “gave Himself for her” meaning His bride, the church. He loved her in the same way He loved Himself – giving Him the power to be faithful in the most severe test: dying for her. Hence the reason then we can’t live with ourselves if we are not true to ourselves or those we love in the same way we love ourself. We can’t betray ourselves. It is an ontological impossibility created by God for our preservation and those we would place in that category. Which means five things: 1) As much as we may not want to always admit it, our actions do reveal our true self (or what we truly love) since once more we can’t betray (be unfaithful or untrue) to ourselves and live with ourselves. Those kinds of things – those actions that are not true to who we are, that betray our true self, are unsustainable – which means they won’t last long. They are unlivable – which means we would choose suicide over them – as demonstrated by Judas (Mat 27:3-5). 2) This is the reason we will be judged according to our deeds. Betrayal will never be among the deeds of those who truly love God and their covenant family as themselves (since again, they couldn’t live with that – we can’t live w/betraying ourselves). 3) Repentance (biblically defined) is what happens when we have fallen into behavior that is not – or no longer, our true self – i.e., when we have chosen to love God and His people in the same way as ourselves. 4) This is also what it means to deny (or die to) self - another requirement to getting to heaven (Mat 16:23). Living for self means that self is the only one I love in that way. It is therefore a selfish love. The moment however you attach God and God’s people to that, your love has changed. It is impossible to be selfish or guilty of betrayal since I cannot be selfish or betray myself or those who are now in the same category (they are myself...

Coherent (def.): clear, consistent, logical and reasonable (equitable/just). Coherent things are intelligible, they make sense. Coherency is therefore a prerequisite to the identification of something as truth. 

The doctrine of the Trinity believed by most of Christendom since the first and second councils of Nicaea (325 and 381 A.D.) – i.e., Nicene Trinitarianism, denies that the three fully divine and distinct persons that make up the Godhead (or Divine Family) are also three separate or distinct beings. Though three in person, those three exist as one being.[1] This study will demonstrate why this view of the Trinity (otherwise known as ontological monotheism) is incoherent and false while establishing the view presented in Scripture – otherwise known as Coherent Trinitarianism.[2]

1. The Bible teaches Coherent Trinitarianism. 

1.1. DEFINTION: the one true God of heaven and earth exists as a Godhead (or Divine Family) of not only three separate or distinct persons but three separate or distinct Beings, Father, Son and Holy Spirit Who: 1) Are all fully divine (in nature and name, Yhwh). 2) Operate according to ancient monotheism or a divine hierarchy of authority: the Son being fully subordinate to the Father, the Holy Spirit being fully subordinate to the Father and the Son (Joh 14:28, 16:13-15; hence 1Co 15:28).[3] 3) Each possess their own cognitive faculties, unique personality and role within Godhead. 

1.2. The fact that the Bible uses plural language at times when speaking of God, demands that we think of Him as a plurality or as three distinct Beings (e.g., Gen 1:26; Gen 3:22; Gen 11:7; Gen 19:24; Isa 6:8 [“who will go for Us?”]; Dan 7:13 [Divine “Son of Man”] w/Mat 26:63-65[4]; See also Mat 9:1-6[5]. Including Mat 9 and 26, Jesus is considered guilty of violating Jewish monotheistic sensibilities no less than 5 times [Joh 5:18, 8:58-59, 10:30-31]).

1.3. When the Bible uses singular language to speak of God, it most often – if not always, refers to a specific member of the Godhead 

(e.g., Isa 6:8 [“Whom shall I send?”] w/Joh 12:41).

1.4. Though the OT saints knew of God the Father (Deu 32:6; Isa 9:6[6], 63:13, 64:8[7]; Joh 8:41), their personal experiences were more with Jesus. He was the Yhwh they were interacting with most of the time. It wasn’t until the teaching and propitiatory ministry of Jesus’ incarnation, that the OT saints gained personal knowledge and relationship with the Father (Joh 1:18; Joh 8:12-19, 14:6-9, 16:26-28; Mat 11:25-27; Heb 10:19-22)[8]. 

1.5. The enlightenment, education and access provided by Jesus w/respect to the three distinct Yhwhs of Elohim may be reason entrance in the covenant community changed from vows to the Elohim of the three patriarchs (the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) to the three Yhwhs themselves (Father, Son, Holy Spirit – Mat 28:18-20).    

2. Nicene Trinitarianism is incoherent in its ontological monotheism - or juxtaposition of three persons with one being given that these terms (person and being) are substantively synonymous. 

2.1. If you have three distinct persons, you have three distinct beings. 

2.2. For example, to say that Peter, James and John are three distinct persons is the same thing as saying they are three separate beings. The same would be true for God. Admitting to three distinct persons is admitting to three separate beings[9]. 

2.3. Put in terms of self, the Trinity is either one-self or three divine selves. Both however cannot be true (Law of Noncontradiction) (e.g. Mat 22:41-46) = If Jesus considered false belief those things which created a cultural contradiction (i.e., A father referring to his son as “Lord”), how much more would He have a considered false those things which created an ontological contradiction! 

“So the only reason it seems, why we do not call these three together ‘one person’ and instead call them ‘one being’ yet never say ‘three beings’ is because we want to keep at least one word (‘being’) for signifying what we mean by ‘trinity’ and not (at the same time) be reduced to silence after we have confessed there are three.” - Augustine 

“The blessed trinity is three somewhats; and these three somewhats we commonly call ‘persons’, but the true notion and nature of that distinction is unknown to us” - John Wallis (17th century Anglican bishop)

“What is a ‘person’ if not a certain being? How then can Father and Son and Spirit be different ‘persons’ while being the same being? It’s a matter of logic [coherency] that these both can’t be true: there’s exactly one divine self, and there are exactly three divine selves…When it comes to [Nicene] trinitarian formulations, some will celebrate them as either uninterpretable or interpretable in incoherent ways…Equivocal [ambiguous] terms are the enemy of clear [coherent] thinking…So it is with those who claim the doctrine of the [Nicene] Trinity is a holy mystery in the sense that it has no or almost no intelligible content. ” – Dale Tuggy

“The traditional Trinitarian makes the [incoherent] claim that three selves are not three substances. And once again we are left with no reason worthy of the name for thinking that the Trinitarian is not a tritheist.” – C. Stephen Layman (“Tritheism and the Trinity”, Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers) 

3. The reason Nicene Trinitarianism exists is because those who invented and embrace it falsely assume ontological monotheism to be the teaching of the OT, Jesus and the NT.

3.1. The Shema or Deuteronomy 6:4 stands as the most popular OT text for supporting ontological monotheism – or the belief that Moses was calling the Jews to a (ontological) monotheistic theology. The context surrounding this text however, warrants a different understanding (Deu 6:1-15) = The main point of Moses’ teaching in this section is that if God’s people are to continue to receive His blessings and remain in the land, they would need to make sure that their personal and parental focus was on loving God above everyone and everything else through careful obedience to His commands (1-3 w/5-9). IOW: They were to be exclusive in their loyalty to Him as God (13-14). Which means whatever Moses is calling Israel’s attention to v4 (“Hear [Heb., shema] O Israel!”) it is related to this. The phrase “is one” is therefore about exclusivity to God (as Israel’s one and only God) not God as a singular being (ontological monotheism). It is “Hear O Israel!” The LORD [Yahweh] is our God, the Lord is [the] one [and only God for us]. 

3.2. That this is indeed what is being communicated in verse 4 is supported not only by the context (since how is communicating God as a singular Being relevant or coherent w/the verses around it?), but also the alternate rendering conveyed by the original language (“one” [Heb., ehad = first, alone- Neh 9:6; Zec 14:9; literally then, “Hear O Israel! The LORD is our God, the Lord is first” or “Hear O Israel! The LORD is our God, the Lord alone.”). The latter is the translation of the Jewish Publication Society and the Jewish Study Bible. POINT NOT TO MISS: the primary text for supporting ontological monotheism in the OT does not support it. Deu 6:4 is not about - nor concerned with, the number of beings that exist as God (Yhwh).

3.3. Scholarly study and archeological discovery (e.g., the Halbturn amulet) have revealed that viewing the Shema as a statement on ontological monotheism (or that God exists as a singular being) was a later phenomenon in Judaism (the invention of the Second Temple period).

3.4. There is good reason to believe that the ontological ...

Coherent (def.): clear, consistent, logical and reasonable (equitable/just). Coherent things are intelligible, they make sense. Coherency is therefore a prerequisite to the identification of something as truth. 

The doctrine of the Trinity believed by most of Christendom since the first and second councils of Nicaea (325 and 381 A.D.) – i.e., Nicene Trinitarianism,[1] denies that the three fully divine and distinct Persons that make up the Godhead (or Divine Family) are also three separate or distinct Beings. Though three in Person, those three exist as one being.[2] This study will demonstrate why this monotheistic view of the Trinity is incoherent and false while establishing the view presented in Scripture – otherwise known as Coherent Trinitarianism.

Why this study should matter to you as a Christian: 

1) We are called to defend all of the doctrine handed down by Jesus and the apostles (Jud 1:3 “the Faith” = All doctrine - not simply those teachings related to “salvation” – especially since one of the main things Jesus did during His earthly ministry was challenge people’s ontological view of God). 

2) Our obedience demands that we possess correct (or coherent) thinking about God (Deu 29:29 = Properly observing or obeying God’s Law requires we teach and defend what has been revealed about Him [literally, what has been made clear/coherent]; 1Co 15:34).

3) Our confidence and perseverance in what we believe depends on coherency (e.g., Mat 16:1-4, 22:41-46) = Jesus came to restore the coherency of God’s revelation/religion lost by the Judaism of His day. The lack of coherency provided by Israel’s shepherds were causing distress and doubt in the covenant community (Mat 9:36) = One of the most important jobs of the God’s shepherd is to create stability in his flock through the removal of confusion and the restoring of coherency (Jer 3:15 “understanding” = Coherency). 

4) Our defense and promotion of Christianity depends on coherency. 

“A Christian might say that the Trinity is an utter mystery and cannot be logically explained yet insist that if a defining doctrine of another worldview is ‘an utter mystery logically,’ then that worldview must be rejected. But this will not do. If we allow opaque mysteries in our own worldview, we have to allow them everywhere. Or if we demand logical consistency in other worldviews, we must demand it of our own. That is, the criteria for rational evaluation must be objective. Special pleading should be apologetically out of bounds…If Christians desire to demonstrate the truth and rationality of Christianity to those who hold other worldviews, they must apply objective criteria to the contending worldviews. If none are given, there is no apologetic, but only preaching.” – Douglas Groothuis (Christian Apologetics)[3]. 

5) Nicene Trinitarianism’s best apologists admit (by commission or omission) the incoherency of their belief.

“All of this leaves us wondering…how three persons could be parts of the same Being - rather than three separate Beings? Since the divine persons are, prior to the incarnation, three unembodied Minds, in virtue of what are they one Being - rather than three individual Beings?” – William Lane Craig[4] (“A Formulation and Defense of the Doctrine of the Trinity”)

My email exchange with Doug Groothuis from 8/31/24 – 9/2/24

(Me) Dr Groothuis: I am thankful for your words (in Christian Apologetics) but was wondering if (in light of such statements) you could provide me with a coherent explanation for the Trinity (three persons who are one person). Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this. I have yet to find an explanation that doesn’t end in some form of modalism. (8/31)

(DG) Scott: Read the Athanasian Creed on this and a good systematic theology, such as Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, or John Frame, Systematic Theology, or Lewis and Demarest, Integrative Theology. Also consult The Westminster Confession. Davis is good on philosophical theology. Godspeed for truth and goodness and beauty, Doug (8/31)

(Me) Dr Groothuis: Thank you for your reply. Your sources seem to support what you condemn: “no logical explanation…only preaching”. For example in the Athanasian Creed it says: Now this is the catholic faith: That we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity, neither blending their persons nor dividing their essence. For the person of the Father is a distinct person, the person of the Son is another, and that of the Holy Spirit still another. But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one…Thus the Father is God,

 the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God, Yet there are not three gods; there is but one God… Just as Christian truth compels us

 to confess each person individually as both God and Lord, so catholic religion forbids us to say that there are three gods or lords.”

Am I missing something? Nowhere does it explain how believing that three persons can equal one is coherent. Diligently seeking to understand. (8/31)

(Me) Hi Dr Groothuis, I found something in a Ligonier (RC Sproul) video that was different from what I have heard. He explained the issue of singular (God as one) as essence or being but not person (three persons, one essence or being). This again however seems like wordplay - unless what is meant by essence or being is nature (e.g., divine versus human) but then we are left with three gods (persons) who are all fully divine (in essence/nature/being) and once more not a trinity (as you understand it). To me, at least, it seems no different than saying you and I are both human (we share the same essence) but are separate persons- no singularity to speak of. The trinity: one true God who exists as three persons is essentially tritheism [which means the Bible does not teach a monotheistic religion]. If my questions/our conversation would be better served by meeting, I am willing to pay a speaking fee. There is a group of us that would appreciate your counsel. (9/2)

(DG) I suggest you read Stephen T Davis on this, as I mentioned. (9/2)

(Me) I bought the book as you suggested and read the chapter on the Trinity. Here was the extent of his explanation: “Scripture affirms that there is one and only one God; Christianity is, after all, a monotheistic religion…We won’t be going into details as to this last claim.”

(Me) Could I pay you to meet with us to discuss this further? (9/2)

(DG) This is not the extent of Davis's explanation. He gives several models and engages the strengths and weaknesses of each. You simply give the statement of the doctrine. Philosophical theology attempts to explain and defend.

(DG) Does this help you any? I know you need more than this. (9/2)

(Me) I have read (and own) most of the systematics you mentioned as well as others - including Grudem’s with the diagram you included. They do nothing more than describe what trinitarian doctrine teaches (there is father, son and Holy Spirit, all equally divine and separate persons yet one singular God versus three gods). What I am looking ...

All signs point to Jesus’ return in 2030. And though this event will be a day of great joy and excitement for His faithful followers, getting to that day without going apostate will prove difficult – even impossible for many. Why? Because they will be ill-prepared and equipped to endure the epic levels of craziness, scariness and confusion that will become our world in the years or days prior to His return. In short, those people will not possess what is known in the fields of psychology and sociology as “disaster behavior.” To avoid becoming one of those people will therefore mean learning and applying those principles necessary to possess it. The following points represent those principles -or how to prepare for the end of the world:

1. Prepare according to the predictions.

1.1. The death rate from natural disasters has significantly dropped over the last hundred years due to our ability to predict (forecast) when these events will happen. For example, in 1927 when nothing existed to predict natural disasters, the global death toll exceeded 3.5 million. Since the 1970s and the creation of devices for predicting such things, that number has consistently stayed below 500 thousand.

1.2. The lesson (then) to be learned? If we want to increase our chances of survival, we need to prepare according to the predictions, we need to follow the forecast and be on the alert.

1.3. Jesus agrees (Mat 24:37-51) – Besides the obvious, there are two things worth noting here: 1) If you are gauging your urgency to get ready or take seriously Christ’s return based on the world around you, then you are going to miss the boat (just like they did in Noah’s day). You won’t be ready when Jesus comes because you refused to act according to the forecast – the predictions of His coming. 2) Being alert (or following the forecast) means being responsible with your life in the time you have remaining. IOW: this isn’t the time to be less committed in your walk with Christ or with the potential He has given you for advancing His gospel and Kingdom. To use a football analogy, we have hit the two-minute warning. Whatever you’ve got left, you need to leave it on the field – otherwise you may lose the game. My advice: plan exactly what you are going to accomplish for Christ over the next five years and start working that plan. Like Jesus says about the faithful slave, He needs to find you productive when He shows up – otherwise you will be “cut to pieces and assigned a place with the hypocrites…that place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (i.e., hell).”

1.4. BTW: the reason Jesus mentions hell as the place of hypocrites is because that is ultimately why people end up in hell. They go to hell bc their choices in life created a double standard (one favoring them). As a result, they are hypocrites (approving for themselves what they condemn in others). The only way to avoid such hypocrisy is by following God’s Law. It is the only law that always creates equity (impartiality/fairness) - the opposite of hypocrisy (Mat 7:12 “treat others in the same way as you would want them to treat you”).

2. Get through the denial phase as quickly as possible.

2.1. Those who study disaster will tell you that the first phase in the survival arc is denial. When disaster strikes we tend to suppress the truth of the event – or what’s happening to us. We respond in denial. Denial is just another word for disbelief/unbelief. Which means we have a hard time believing things when difficulty or disaster strikes. In our case, what the Bible says about Jesus’ return and the urgency that will be necessary to stay faithful. As a result, we will delay to act – or fail to act at all, sealing our fate.

2.2. The National Research Council found that when disaster strikes – as in the example of a fire, “people are often cool…delaying their response.”

2.3. The average response of the World Trade Center survivors was six minutes after realizing what had happened. Some waited as long as forty-five minutes before acting. About one thousand individuals spent time shutting down their computers before leaving the collapsing towers. A person on a floor in the upper sixties stated that “the building started to sway and everything started shaking” and that they “knew something was wrong.” Yet instead of immediately leaving, they ran to their desk and made several calls to relatives trying to figure out what was going on.

2.4. Scientists believe the reason we tend to fall into the denial phase is four-fold:

1) we have a “normalcy bias.” IOW: we think that disaster only happens to other people, but never us (our lives are too normal; e.g., Survey of one thousand Americans after 9/11: most believed they only had a 21 percent chance of being in a terrorist attack whereas it was 48 percent with everyone else – i.e., anyone other than them). 2) our brains are great at picking up patterns but not so good at picking up exceptions (the exception being the disaster that is now making our lives different than the normal pattern). 3) we give in to peer-pressure. We don’t want to risk embarrassment by overreacting. 4) we succumb to the “illusion of centrality.” When in trauma our feelings attempt to convince us that the problem is not that big – or is a local problem. What is happening is only true for a small group of people, everyone outside that group is fine.

2.5. That trauma or traumatizing events create denial is something that Jesus also recognized (Mat 16:1-3) = Though the Jews possessed the ability to discern the “sign of the times” (the time of Messiah), they refused to do so. They were living in deep denial. They were traumatized by the thought that Messiah was among them. They weren’t ready for that big of a change to their life. So they asked Jesus to provide something (a “sign”) that would make them feel better about acting on what was for them an inconvenient truth. Here however is where Jesus departs from the world in His view of denial – most specifically with respect to denial linked to Him –or moral things. Jesus had no pity or toleration for such denial. He viewed it as evil and “adulterous” (v4). Why? Because when it comes to moral things or following Christ, denial means we have now put self (or our safety) above Him and His will – the very thing we vowed we wouldn’t do the day we got married to Him (our gospel vows: die to self, live and die for Him). To live in denial when it comes to Jesus (or His final return) is to therefore commit adultery because we are going back to our former lover (self).

2.6. In agreement (then) with the other forms of denial, this too will cause us to delay and likewise seal our fate.

2.7. Great way to test whether we are living in denial is to ask yourself this question: How much urgency toward faithfulness and being bold in evangelism has the news of Jesus’ return in 2030 – or all the crazy stuff regarding UFOs (and its link to the demons) created in you? 

3. Determine to trust someone outside yourself.

3.1. One of the biggest mistakes we make as humans is believing – or behaving as though we (or self) is the person we should trust the most.

3.2. Once more, scientific studies say otherwise – especially when facing trauma, difficult situations and disaster. Due to a multiplicity of personal biases, poor thinking skills as well as our tendency to listen to our feelings far more than the facts, most humans do a poor job of assessing reality when in relation to self. In contrast, we do a far better job of assessing those things for others since our ability to be more...

In this respect, the chronological order presented in this study assumes the following in relation to those NT prophecies most relevant to our subject (the return of Christ): 1) the book of Revelation = None of Revelation will experience dual fulfillment and the majority has already been fulfilled (1:1-20:8a). Only a small portion remains yet to be fulfilled (Rev 20:8a-22:21). 2) Jesus’ Olivet Discourse = The majority of the Discourse will experience dual fulfillment (Mat 24:4-14, 23-51). Only a small portion was fulfilled in the past (Mat 24:15-22). 3) Paul’s prophetic words to the Thessalonians = Some has yet to be fulfilled (1Th 4:13-18, 5:1-3; 2Th 1:7-10) and some will experience dual fulfillment (2Th 2:1-12).

Chronology of Fulfillment: 

1. Jesus made His first return in 70 AD to bring judgment against OC Israel through the destruction of her holy city and temple. 

1.1. This largely is the focus of John’s vision from the post-death/resurrected/ascended Jesus in the book of Revelation. Its scary – or otherworldly imagery realized through the breaking of seals, sounding of trumpets and pouring out of bowls is meant to depict the historical events surrounding and leading up to the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem and her Temple by the Roman general Titus and his armies.[2]

1.2. As its content makes clear, this destruction represents the finalization of His divorce to OC Israel – His unfaithful wife, leading to the confirmation of His marriage to his newly betrothed (and faithful) bride, NC Israel (i.e., the church). (Rev 5:1-10): 

1) What is the “book” (or scroll) in the “right hand” of God the Father (“Him who sat on the throne”) “sealed up with seven seals?” A get mekushar, the special seven-sealed marriage license used by priests under the OC. In this specific case, the marriage license used by Jesus the divine Priest, in His marriage to OC Israel at Mt. Sinai (Exo 19-24 w/Jud 1:5; Exo 24:7 “the book of the covenant” = the marriage covenant document)[3]. 

2) How are we to understand the “strong angel[’s]” request for one “who is worthy to “open the book [or] break its seals?” As a summons for divorce. Somebody has filed a petition with the heavenly courts requesting divorce from OC Israel. For proceedings to begin, that person must not only make themselves known, but bring the proper evidence necessary for their request to be granted (i.e., they must possess grounds to make them “worthy” to receive a divorce; Mal 2:14-16 = God hates/does not approve of His priests divorcing for illegitimate reasons).  

3) Why is John crying over no one being found “worthy?” Because the confirmation of Jesus’ marriage to NC Israel (the church) and the kingdom power promised to her (v10; Mat 21:43) cannot happen until the divorce to OC Israel is finalized (until all seven seals are broken).

4) What makes Jesus (“the Lion from the tribe of Judah” and “Root of David”= The Christ) the “worthy” candidate (i.e., the One able to make a valid case for divorce)? = Not simply His role as Husband, but His position as the offended spouse. Hence why He is pictured also as the “Lamb…as if slain.” His death - though necessary for purchasing the new people of God (v9), was the result of OC Israel’s marital unfaithfulness. She murdered Him to keep playing the “harlot” with the world (Rev 19:1-7) “harlot” [Grk., porne’- Mat 5:32] = OC Israel; “bride” and “saints” = NC Israel/the church. That the church has already shown herself to be faithful is attested to in (v8). The basis for the church being viewed as already faithful to Christ are the many martyrs who remained sexually pure and obedient even though it cost them their lives (Rev 6:9-; 12:17, 13:7, 14:1-4, 20:4).

1.3. Why does Jesus’ divorce from OC Israel also include her destruction? Why does the breaking of the seven seals deliver a seven-fold judgment? IOW: Why does Israel experience both divorce and death as punishment for her adultery? B/C when Jesus wrote the marriage contract, He included the prenuptial promise of a seven-fold vengeance if Israel was found to be unfaithful ([Lev 26:18, 21, 24, 28] w/Luk 21:22).

1.4. That John’s 70 AD vision should be viewed as Jesus’ first return is supported by Jesus’ words at the beginning and the end of the book’s prophecy (Rev 1:1-7 and 22:10-12). 

1.5. With respect to the destruction of Jerusalem, this too becomes abundantly obvious once we consider the identity of the prophecy’s primary target in judgment: 

1) (Rev 1:7, 11:15-18) “earth” = Land, as in the land of Israel.[4]

2) (Rev 11:1-2) “holy city” “forty two months” w/8 “great city (16:17-19, 18:20-24)…where also our Lord was crucified” = Jerusalem.

1.6. During His earthly ministry (i.e., before His death), Jesus likewise prophesied that such destruction would be the result of Israel’s rejection of Him (Mat 23:37-39) = Though Jesus indicates there will be a change of fortune in the future (v39, think Rom 11:26-27), the coming state of things will not be good (v38, “Behold your house is being left to you desolate”). By house Jesus means both the Temple and the city in which she dwells (Jerusalem) as confirmed by what follows in chapter 24 and its parallel account in Luke: 

1) (24:1-3) = Jesus is asked two (not three) questions, one in relation to His return to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple and the other in relation to His final return at the end of the age (Literally, “tell us when these things will happen [i.e., the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple], and what will be the sign of Your coming at the end of the age?”). Jesus answers the first question -or the question related to Jerusalem’s destruction in (24:15-22) = In fulfillment of Daniel 9:26-27 (“the people of the prince to come will destroy the city and sanctuary… And on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction.”), Josephus (Wars) records that after setting the Temple on fire, Titus (the “prince to come” and son of the current Caesar, Vespasian), led his men into its inner sanctuary, defiling it by their presence and the dead bodies they stacked upon its outer altars  (i.e., they committed “the abomination of “desolation” [same word as Mat 23:38]). 

2) (Luk 21:20-24) = Notice that Luke’s versions not only repeat many of the specifics found in Matthew’s version but applies the act of “desolation” to the city itself (21:20, “when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near”). Notice also, Jesus’ promise that Jerusalem would remain “trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (21:24) - another important indicator that what the future holds for Jerusalem and the Jews is a major change of fortune (Rom 11:25 [“until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”] w/26-27). 

1.7. Though Jesus’ return in 70 AD was not in the manner we commonly think of - i.e., He returned spiritually not physically (as He will at the end of history), He did nonetheless return in the manner most common throughout history. Jesus’ spiritual visitation to earth for the purpose of judgment – most specifically judgment against sinful cities or nations (including His own) has occurred multiple time...

1. Jesus was condemned to death by the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate.

1.1. (Mat 27:26; Mar 15:15; Luk 23:23-24; Joh 19:14-16)

1.2. “Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus.” – Tacitus (Annals)

1.3. Josephus (Antiquities, Wars) indicates that Pilate reigned in Judea from 26 to 36 AD.

1.4. Jesus’ death could not, therefore, have taken place before 26 AD nor after 36 AD. [A 10-year window]

2. Jesus was crucified before Paul became a Christian.

2.1. While in Corinth, the Jews brought Paul before the proconsul of Achaia, Gallio (Act 18:8-13). Roman records (e.g., the Delphi or Gallio Inscription) indicate that Gallio served as proconsul from 51-52 AD.

2.2. Paul’s arrival in Corinth was just after Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome (Act 18:2). Per the ancient historian Orossius, this took place in the ninth year of Claudius’ reign – or 49 AD. 

2.3. Prior to this Paul was delivering aid to Jerusalem in response to Agabus’ prophecy of a coming famine (Act 11:27-30). Per Josephus, the famine was affecting Jerusalem during the time of Queen Helena’s pilgrimage (46-47 AD). 

2.4. According to Paul, this trip was 14 years after his conversion (Gal 2:1 “after an interval of fourteen years [after conversion – 1:11-17] I went up again [having visited once already 11 years prior – or three years after conversion – 1:18]). 

2.5. Paul’s conversion was, therefore, between 33 and 32 AD. As such, the latest possible date for Jesus’ death is 33 AD. 

[A 7-year window]

3. Jesus died on Friday, the day of preparation for a Sabbath-Passover.

3.1. Per the Law, the Passover (i.e., sacrifice and eating of the paschal lamb) had to be celebrated in the month of Nisan – the first month of the Jewish calendar (Est 3:7), at moonrise  on the 14th day - which signaled the beginning of the 15th day (Exo 12:2-8; Lev 23:5-6; Num 28:16-17; Deu 16:6). In God’s eyes, days extend from moonrise to moonrise versus sunrise to sunrise (Gen 1:5 “there was evening and there was morning, one day” [Note the order]). If Passover fell on a Sabbath (a Sabbath-Passover or “high day” – Joh 19:31[1]), then both the sacrifice and preparation of the meal (cooking the lambs and unleavened bread, etc.) had to take place the day before (Friday day – the 14th of Nisan) – or in the hours before moonrise and the beginning of the Sabbath (Friday evening, the 15th of Nisan), since no work could be done on the Sabbath. This day was called the “day or preparation.”   

3.2. All four gospels make clear that Jesus died on the “day of preparation” (Friday day, the 14th of Nisan), during one of these unique Sabbath-Passover celebrations (Mat 27:50 w/62; Mar 15:37 w/42-43; Luk 24:44-46 w/50-54; Joh 19:31-33)[2].

3.3. Jesus died, therefore, at the same time as the Passover lambs were slain (on the day of preparation). Hence the reason: 1) for Paul’s words in (1Co 5:7 “Christ our Passover [lamb]…has been sacrificed”), 2) the Passover meal celebrated by Jesus and disciples (the Last Supper/Lord’s Table) did not include a lamb. Jesus was replacing them as the eschatological Passover “lamb of God” (Joh 1:36). Hence why also, their Passover meal needed to be celebrated on Thursday evening before the actual Sabbath-Passover meal (i.e., on Friday evening[3]). By then, Jesus would be dead. The benefits of consuming Him through the bread and wine the night before made moot any need for further OC Passover observance or meals. Jesus’ supper/table had become the new – or NC, Passover. 3) Paul can also speak of Jesus’ resurrection as our “first fruits” (1Co 15:20) – no doubt an allusion to the offering of first fruits which happened on the 16th of Nisan, a Sunday during a Sabbath-Passover.  

3.4. Astronomical calculations indicate only two Sabbath-Passover dates within the 7-year window: 30 and 33 AD[4] 

***The million dollar question: Which year is the correct one?***

Considering where the additional evidence points:

4. The 46th year of Herod’s Temple project points to one date. 

4.1. During Jesus’ first Passover, He is confronted regarding the time it took Herod to expand the temple (Joh 2:13-20 “forty six years”). 

4.2. According to Josephus (Antiquities), Herod began his rule of Judea in 37 BC and his work on the Temple in his eighteenth year - or 19 BC. Accounting for the transition between BC and AD (there is no “0” BC/AD, it goes from 1BC to 1AD), as well as inclusive reckoning (counting, 1-2 = 1 yr, 2-3 = 2 yrs) the 46th year of Herod’s Temple project and Jesus’ first Passover, occurred in 28 AD.

4.3. Given that Jesus’ public ministry lasted for three Passovers (Joh 2:13, 23; Joh 6:4; Joh 11:55, 12:1[5]) the dates of all three would be as follows: the first in the spring of 28 AD, the second in the spring of 29 AD and the third, the Passover of His death, the spring of 30 AD. [6] 

5. The 15th year of Tiberius’ reign cannot contradict the date established for Herod’s Temple project.

5.1. Jesus’ public ministry began shortly after that of John the Baptist given: 1) this was among the main reasons for John’s ministry of baptism: to identify – or make official Jesus’ public ministry as Messiah (Joh 1:19-34). 2) what Mark identifies as the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (Mar 1:1-9) “the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ” = Mark’s unique focus is the public ministry of Jesus only. Hence no mention of His birth or genealogy. He instead begins where the “gospel” (or public) ministry of Jesus began, at His baptism by John. Scholars agree that this event took place shortly after the ministry of John began. Hence the reason for Mark’s reference “in those days” - i.e., in the days when John was baptizing “in the Jordan river.” 

5.2. According to Luke, John’s ministry started “in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pilate was governor of Judea” (Luk 3:1). 

5.3. Those holding to the later date of AD 33 for Jesus’ death claim that Tiberius’ reign as Caesar began in 14 AD. Their evidence is Roman coins which communicate this as the starting date of His reign. 

5.4. If however 14 AD is correct, Jesus’ baptism didn’t take place until 29 AD, a date too late based on the previous calculations regarding Herod’s Temple project and Jesus’ first Passover (28 AD) which comes after – not before, His baptism (Joh 1: Baptism, Joh 2: 1st Passover).

5.5. Considering however, the information provided by ancient historians Tacitus (Annals) and Suetonius (Augustus; Tiberius), the inscription found on an ancient Roman calendar (Fasti Praenestini), and the writings of a soldier who served under Tiberius (Velleius Paterculus), we learn that Tiberius’ reign actually began in 12 AD when he was made co-regent (co-Caesar) with his step-father, Augustus.[7]

5.6.  Calculating according to this date and inclusive reckoning (counting “1-2 = 1, 2-3 = 2”), yields 27 AD as the beginning of John and Jesus’ public ministry (or baptism) which not only fits within the time that “Pilate was governor of Judea” (26-36 AD), but also the chronology of Jesus’ first Passover (again, 28 AD).

5.7. Important note regarding Luke’s reference: It can be safely assumed that Luke would’ve had little regard for (or even thought of) determining Tiberius’ reign based on the technicality of when he functioned as the sole Caesar (which is what was being communicated on Roman coins) since his original audience would’ve been far more practical in their assessment, counting the years in ...

1.1. According to Jewish tradition and the belief of the early church, the shelf-life of God’s first Creation – before the final return of Christ and the beginning of His second and eternal Creation, would be 6,000 years, a corollary to the six literal creation days of Genesis one. 

“Six thousand years the world will exist and for one thousand, [the seventh], it shall be desolate [no longer exist], as it is written, ‘And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day” (Sanhedrin 97a)

“Six eons for going in and coming out, for war and peace. The seventh eon is entirely Shabbat and rest for life everlasting.” - Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus (2nd century A.D.)

“For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years (2Pe 3:8); and in six days created things were completed; it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousandth year.” - Irenaeus[1] (130-202 A.D.) 

“Give heed, children, what this means; ‘He ended in six days’ (Gen 1:2): He means this, that in six thousand years the Lord shall bring all things to an end; for the day with Him signifies a thousand years; and this He himself bears me witness, saying; “Behold, the day of the Lord shall be as a thousand years” (2Pe 3:8). Therefore, children, in six days, that is in six thousand years, everything shall come to an end.” - The epistle of Barnabas[2] (75 A.D.)

“And 6,000 years must needs be accomplished, in order that the Sabbath may come, the rest, the holy day on which God rested from all His works. For the Sabbath is the type and emblem of the future kingdom of the saints, when they shall reign with Christ, when He comes from heaven, for ‘a day with the Lord is as a thousand years’ (2Pe 3:8). Since, then, in six days God made all things, it follows that 6,000 years must be fulfilled.”  - Hippolytus[3] (170-235 AD)

1.2. Peter confirms this as God’s view (2Pe 3:1-13) = God’s first Creation was never meant to last forever. From the beginning there has been a date “reserved” when all of it will be destroyed by fire. This will be followed by a judgment of humanity to determine who is worthy to enter His new (and eternal) Creation. This day will also fulfill the “promise” of Jesus’ return and can be calculated by viewing each day of His Creation as representing 1,000 years (v8). Just as there were 6 days for man to work, there will be six thousand years allotted to humanity to do the work of God and determine who among them is worthy to enter the “new heavens and earth where righteousness dwells” (v13). Or as the writer of Hebrews refers to it, God’s eternal Sabbath (or seventh day) rest (Heb 4:9).

1.3. Peter’s preaching on Pentecost revealed only 2,000 years left after the ascension of Christ. 

(Act 2:17-20) = Peter’s divinely inspired interpretation of Joel 2:28 as “And it shall be in the last days” indicates that the IPO of the indwelling Spirit marks the beginning of the final two millennia before the Sabbath millennium/time of Christ’s return. Why? 1) Peter indicates there will be plural days [or millennia] before the end – or Christ’s return (17, “last days”). 2) At the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we were already somewhere in the range of 4,000 years – which means Peter’s reference cannot be three or more. 

This puts Jesus’ return somewhere around 2033/34 (or two thousand years after Christian Pentecost which took place in 33/34 A.D.). 

2. Why should we be confident that it is exactly two thousand years (versus two thousand and fifty years, etc.,)? 

2.1. We serve a God Who – in human terms, is OCD and likes to do history in neat, complete and repeated packages. Which means nothing is arbitrary or imprecise. Everything has meaning and is connected. God’s past acts and intentions always establish patterns and principles that will be followed in the future. God therefore making the number of millennia for Creation’s shelf-life match exactly the number of days He took to create it should come as no surprise. It is what we should expect. Examples of other things where we see such meaningful redundancy: 1) The first verse of the Bible which introduces us to God’s week of Creation (Gen 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”) is seven words (in Hebrew), followed by seven paragraphs which unpack the six days whose end goal is the Sabbath – or the seventh day. 2) There exists no overlap or spill-over with respect to the things assigned to the days of Creation (e.g., all creatures of the water and air on the fifth day only, all creatures of the earth on the sixth day only). 3) God saw to it that Jesus’ genealogy was communicated as three complete sets of 14, the numerical value of the Hebrew letters “dwd” (David) to emphasize (hence the reason for three), His identity as the Messianic son of David (Mat 1:17).

2.2. Paul communicates that Jesus’ death closed out the prior redemptive epic (Gal 4:4-5 = Jesus’ death marked the end of the OC and ushered in the NC – the time when Gentiles [those not “born under the Law” or OC] could receive “adoption as sons”). 

2.3. Jewish tradition also supports this understanding: 

“The world will exist for six thousand years: two millennia of waste as the Torah had not been given; Two millennia of Torah (i.e., years under the Old Covenant); and then two millennia of the age of Messiah (i.e., years under the New Covenant which was ratified – or began, at Jesus’ death – Mat 26:28 w/Heb 9:15-16).”  - Tractate Avodah Zarah [9a] (3rd century A.D.).

2.4. POINT NOT TO MISS: to bet on 2033/34 as Jesus’ return date is to bet on God based whose past behavior – which has not only been perfectly consistent but committed to repeating previously established principles or patterns. IOW: Our God is a God of redundancy.

3. Why will so many people be caught off guard by Jesus’ return?

3.1. They mistakenly believe they can’t know the year of His return and so don’t attempt to figure it out (Mat 24:32-36 w/42) = “Day and hour” cannot be known, but there will be signs that His return is “near” (i.e., signs related to specific years). 

3.2. They will be reading the wrong signs. (Mat 24:37-41) = The actions and events of humanity listed in these verses indicate that humanity at the time of Christ’s return will be under the impression that they had many more years to live on this earth (e.g., marrying and giving in marriage” w/1Co 7:29-31).[4]

4. What should be our gospel witness during the time we have remaining?

We should be bold about telling people that Jesus is returning in 2033 and 34, explaining why we know that to be true and calling them to get right with God before it is too late (along with boldly telling those who think they are right with God yet believe in a false gospel that they are not) followed by sharing how the Bible says we get right and stay right w/God (i.e., we gain it by faith and must maintain it by faithfulness). This form of witnessing is one of the reasons John the Baptist was so successful in his evangelism of the lost (Luk 3:7) = John’s question (“who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”) only makes sense if this was part of his message. IOW: John was preaching (and baptizing) w/respect to a soon approaching Messianic judgment day (i.e., Jesus’ 1st return in 70 A.D. and His divorce from OC Israel; See vv15-18).

5. What should we be doing in the time we have remaining?

4.1. Abstaining from all forms of sexual sin (Rev 14:4).

4.2. Stop practicing those things that weaken our willpower and lea...

1.1. (Deu 24:1-4 “When a man takes a wife…and he writes her a certificate of divorce” [1]) = Not establishing divorce but regulating what already existed as part of Israelite society. Other examples of axiomatic and inalienable practices that were a part of Israel (just as they were every other ancient society): 1) marriage = Not establishing marriage but regulating what already existed in Israelite society. (Exo 21:7-10) 2) slavery (Exo 21:1-2 “If you buy a Hebrew slave…”) = Not establishing slavery but regulating what already existed in Israelite society. 3) war (Num 10:9 “When you go to war…”) = Not establishing war but regulating what already existed in Israelite society.

1.2. The POINT NOT TO MISS: Divorce was the long-established axiomatic default for dealing with unfaithfulness in marriage - not something established later as an additional option. 

“Although there are not multiple instances of divorce recorded in the Pentateuch, we must assume that divorce was as prevalent in Israel then as in other ancient Near Eastern societies. Several passages speak about divorce, but none of them condemns or even discourages it… It is assumed in these passages that divorce happens, and no comment is made whether divorce itself is desirable or not.”– David Instone-Brewer (Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible: The Social and Literary Context)

2. Under the Old Testament, God allowed divorce for almost any reason, whereas under the New Covenant, sexual immorality became the only allowable reason.

2.1. Allowance for almost any reason: 1) Under the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 21:9-14 “sent her away” = divorced her). 2) Under the Old Covenant (Exo 21:11 = Notice divorce is allowable for more than sexual abandonment/sexual immorality; Deu 24:1 w/Mat 19:1-3 = The Pharisees understood divorce (or the phrase, “some indecency”) to allow for (v3) “any reason at all.” Notice that in (v8) Jesus does not correct their understanding but rather confirms it by explaining why Moses “permitted”(allowed) such large parameters (Mat 19:7-8). Priests were the only exception (Mal 2:14-16 “hates”[2]). 

2.2. Under the New Covenant, Jesus confirms not only the Law’s continuing necessity but fills it up to its fullest measure and meaning – or the meaning and measure God originally intended (As it re: continuing necessity - Mat 5:18-20; As it re: filling up to its fullest measure and meaning - Mat 5:17 “fulfill” = Confirm [LXX- 1Ki 1:14]; Fill up in measure and meaning). Hence the reason (then) for sexual immorality becoming the only valid reason for divorce. Jesus is filling up the measure/meaning of marriage to what it was intended to be “from the beginning” (v8). (Mat 19:4-6 [Gen 2:24]) = Per God’s design, when a husband and wife enter into a marriage covenant, they create a new family (v5 = Family by covenant or the covenant ratifying act of sexual activity in marriage). This new family/covenant relationship is meant to be permanent (v6, “What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate”). Why (then) is divorce allowed for sexual immorality (v9,)? Because in the case of sexual immorality, the marriage has already been broken. All sexual acts are covenant ratifying acts, making all sexual activity outside an existing marriage an attempt to replace that marriage w/another (1Co 6:16). The divorce is therefore simply the legal notice that such has taken place (i.e., the current marriage has been broken by the attempt to replace it through marriage covenant ratifying acts w/another) and per the request of the innocent party, that marriage will not be re-consummated. This however is the only time a divorce functions this way since no other act by a spouse breaks the marriage covenant. Hence why Jesus can say that divorce for any other reason makes each party guilty of adultery. Because without the prior covenant-breaking act of sexual immorality, both parties are still bound in marriage (i.e., their divorce is not recognized by God). As a result, any sexual act (including those in a new marriage) becomes adultery in relation to their still existing first marriage. 

2.3. That Jesus’ actions (re: divorce) were never meant to be an override of God’s Law (Deu 4:2) but rather a restoration (a filling up) to its originally intended meaning (to its fullest meaning and measure) is supported by the following:  

1) (Mat 5:31-32) “It was said…but I say to you” = According to David Daube (The New Testament & Rabbinic Judaism) this was an ancient rabbinic way to indicate a correction was about to applied to a prior (and inaccurate) understanding of Scripture. 

2) (Deu 24:4) = Defilement of the land due to remarriage to the former spouse only makes sense in the context of sexual immorality, meaning this was the reason for the first husband’s divorce. IOW: the phrase, “since she has been defiled” refers not to the fact that she was married to someone else after their divorce, but rather that the second marriage was the result of her adultery w/the new husband while still married to the former. The toleration of sexual immorality (which is what the former husband would be doing through remarrying or re-consummating marriage to his former adulteress wife), is a major reason God removed the land’s former occupants (Lev 18:1-23 w/24-28 = Toleration of adultery is viewed as a crime not only against God but the land itself). Deuteronomy 24:4’s allusion to passages like Leviticus 18 helps us to confirm adultery as the intended focus of God’s instruction regarding divorce.[3] 

3) This is also how Deuteronomy 24:1-4 is used by God in (Jer 3:1) = Notice, God paraphrases Deuteronomy 24:1-4 as a threat to unfaithful Judah (See 2:1). However, those identified as Judah’s new husbands prohibiting her return to God (should He enact the divorce) are seen as one and the same as those she is currently guilty of “harlot[ry]” (sexual immorality) with (her “lovers.”). In support then of the previous point and the argument as a whole, God also understands the phrase, “some indecency” in Deuteronomy 24:1 as a reference to sexual immorality. This is its fullest -or most accurate meaning and (once more) the reason God prohibits remarriage in the text.[4] And as mentioned in previous studies, this interpretation was hidden from previous generations (Mat 19:8 - “hardness of heart” = Inability to understand produced by stubbornness or immaturity) as God’s means of leading them and preserving His purposes (e.g., Gen 21:9-14; Exo 21:7 w/10-11; also possibly, Neh 13:1-3).      

3. God’s authorization of His people to kill those guilty of sexual immorality in marriage does not therefore replace the axiomatic practice (or default) of divorce but rather becomes the new and additional option offered to the offended party. 

3.1. One of the purposes of case law in any society – ancient or modern, is not only to regulate what already exists (i.e., divorce – e.g., Deu 24:1-4), but authorize the offer of new and additional options. Authorization is especially necessary when those other options involve capital punishment, as is the case with adultery. God’s law authorizes His people to treat sexual immorality in marriage the same way as sexual immorality outside of marriage as an additional option offered to the offended party (Lev 20:10) = The emphasis in carrying out the death sentence (“you shall surely put them to death”[5]) is to reassure those involved that they possess God’s full authorization and backing (similar to Mat 18:18-20). He...

1. What’s going on? (What is the context or backstory of the letter?) 

1.1. This is a pastoral epistle. It was written to Paul’s church-planting partner and pastor, Titus in regard to those churches he and Titus had started in the various cities on the island of Crete. Titus was tasked with establishing two things in each of the churches: 1) order (sound doctrine and behavior), 2) authority (ordained pastors/elders) (Tit 1:4-5) “set in order what remains” [Grk., epidiorthaoh] = To straighten out what is still out of line (i.e., what persists in going its own direction) – which implies that there were people in these churches who were not believing or acting the way they should; “and appoint [elders]” = Anoint/ordain (same word translated “anoint” in Heb 8:3). Titus needed to deputize qualified men with (Jesus’) divine authority as a means to establishing order/dealing with those out of line (Joh 20:21-23). 

1.2. Beyond the obvious, these two tasks were necessary due to the fact that the Cretans were known for causing dissension in relation to established things – most especially things related to order and authority (Tit 1:12) = Part of a poem written by the Greek poet (or “prophet”) Epimenides. The reason for his accusation? The doubt Cretans were causing among those devout to the Greek religion and its chief god, Zeus by their divisive claim that his tomb resided on one of their mountains (i.e., that Zeus was not immortal)[1].

1.3. Their proclivity for contention and dissension in relation to religious authorities and doctrine was also being felt in the churches. Hence the reason Paul makes apologetics a required skill for those serving as “God’s steward” (Tit 1:7 [Grk., theos oikonomos] = Compound word: God + house + law – Literally, the law man in God’s house; the church’s sheriff [bishop]). As it re: to apologetics - (Tit 1:9-11) “rebellious men” [Grk., anupotaktos] = People not submitted to authority in temper or teaching (hence Paul’s charge to Titus in 2:15 [“let no one disregard you” -i.e., ignore/discount your authority] and emphasis on submission to authorities in 3:1-2); “empty talkers” [Grk., mataiologos] = People whose teaching was against -or calling into question that of God’s sheriffs/bishops (elders/overseers) (v11 “teaching things they should not teach”) though what they said lacked the necessary knowledge, coherency or evidence to be considered “sound doctrine” (Tit 2:1). According to Paul, “many” of the Cretan Christians fit this profile and needed to be “silenced (literally, their mouths shut) because they were “upsetting whole families” = Their questioning of the church’s authority and their doctrine was encouraging doubt, dissension and division in the congregation. IOW: it was threatening the unity of the church and trust in her leadership.

1.4. Two likely reasons so many in Crete were this way: 

1) arrogance or thinking more highly of their intellect and ability than they should. Hence the reason for Paul’s universal call to be “sensible” (Tit 2:2, 3 w/5, 6 [Grk., sophron] = To place a moderate estimate on oneself in re: to intellect/understanding, ability/expertise) and his urging of “bondslaves” to “not [be] argumentative” (9 [Grk., antilego] = To dispute, be contrary, not listen). 

2) self-interest. Claiming the tomb of Zeus resided on their island, was for the Cretans, a way to make a lot of easy money off the curious. IOW: it wasn’t because they actually believed it – or could support it with evidence, but it served their financial (self) interest. Hence the reason for Epimenides’ accusation that the Cretans were not only “liars” but also “lazy gluttons.” This too is why Paul says those upsetting households (upsetting the unity of the church and trust in her leadership) were doing it for “the sake of sordid gain” (literally, gain that is for selfish or shameful reasons). 

1.5. Why such attitudes and actions needed to be stifled in the Cretan churches was not only because of its threat to the unity of the church and the trust of her leadership, but also its hindrance to one of the church’s most important missions, the producing of good deeds (mentioned 4x in the letter: 2:14, 3:1, 3:8, 3:14). 

1.6. How divisive people hinder the church’s ability to produce good deeds: the division and distrust they create in the church means less people willing to work together or follow the leaders’ direction. As a result, less good deeds are accomplished for the kingdom. In addition, where such division and distrust exists, what also exists is more internal conflict and fighting – or unnecessary distractions that consume resources which could have been used to advance the kingdom (produce good deeds). Hence the reason for Paul’s instruction in verse 9 (after his mention of good deeds) (Tit 3:8-9).

1.7. THE TAKEAWAY (with respect to what’s going on): Because of the arrogance and selfishness that characterized the Cretan population many of the male members in the cities’ various churches were by their attitude and actions guilty of being divisive or sowing seeds of dissension and doubt in relation to the church’s teaching and leadership.

2. What’s the point? (What is Paul ordering the churches to do when he says, “reject a factious man after a first and second warning”?) 

2.1. Based on what’s going on (the context of the letter), the person identified as “factious” must be related to those who are guilty of being divisive – or sowing seeds of dissension and doubt in the congregation.

2.2. This understanding not only fits within the semantic range of the word’s meaning (Grk., hairesis/hairetikos [heresy/heretic]) but how it is most commonly used in the NT. Though we tend to associate this word with false teaching or teachers, rarely (if ever) does it carry this limited connotation. Its emphasis is instead on the disposition of those people or things with which it is identified. IOW: they (or it) is said to be hairesis/hairetikos -not because they are necessarily wrong (i.e., they or their teaching is false), but because their attitude or actions are viewed as divisive or sowing seeds of dissension and doubt in relation to the teaching and leadership of those accusing them. In short, because they are not “getting with the program” of the religious community currently in power or to whom they belong.[2]

2.3. Some biblical examples to drive this home (i.e., in the bible hairesis/hairetikos are terms referring to those who are divisive to the teaching and leadership of the church [and not as its modern use suggests, terms devoted strictly to identifying false teaching and teachers]): 

1) hairesis is used to identify Christians (Act 24:5, 14, 28:22 “sect” = Paul and Christians were obviously not false teachers but did teach what was divisive to the beliefs and leadership of the Jewish religion [e.g., that Jesus was Messiah and God]).

2) hairetikos is used to identify those who were contentious to the teaching and leadership in Corinth (1Co 11:16-19 “factions” = Those in Corinth condoning long hair on men though it stood against the teaching of the churches and her bishops/sheriffs [“we…nor the churches of God”]).

3) hairesis is never used when identifying Scripture’s biggest forms of false teaching (circumcision needed for salvation – Gal 5:2; resurrection already happened – 2Ti 2:18; okay for Christians to partake of the table of idols/demons – 1Co 10:21; we are saved by faith alone – Jam 2:24; Jesus is not the son of...

2. Those who struggle with sexual sin – or possess strong desires to commit sexual sin, are people guilty of idolatry. 

2.1. IOW: struggles with-or strong desires to commit sexual sin, are a sure sign that the person you are dealing with is an idolator. 

2.2. Idolatry is the worship of something other than the Creator, or God. You worship the creature or what is created - which in practical terms means that you trust your flesh (your senses or sense of perception) and/or the propaganda of the world (the creature v. the Creator) when determining the value of things in this life (e.g., Pro 5:1-5, 6:20-26). 

2.3. The consequence of such idolatry is God’s wrath surrendering you to the power of your flesh and its sexual deviance (Rom 1:18-27) = God is incredibly angry w/those who refuse to value the things of this world according to His truth (they “suppress the truth”) – though they know He exists (He is their “Creator” and therefore the One Who knows best). They choose instead to “worship” (Grk., sebazomai = To give devotion to) the creature, to give their loyalty and trust in valuing things to what is created (i.e., their physical senses or perception and what is touted and taught as valuable by the creatures of their culture or propaganda of this world – which has always included things related to sexual pleasure). As punishment, God “[gives] them over (Grk., paradidomai = Surrenders them to the power of what they trust as the determiners of value -i.e., “the lusts of their hearts.”) which means they are now enslaved and emboldened “to impurity…[and] degrading passions.” (i.e., sexually deviant desires). 

2.4. What would be a “2” on the scale of sexual temptation for the Christian (the person worshipping God) becomes a “10” for the person worshipping the creature (trusting the value system placed on things by their flesh and the world). They are now slaves to sexual sin and unable to sustain faithfulness to God (Jon 2:8; the danger of such enslavement for those already saved – 2Pe 2:18-22).

2.5. This connection between idolatry and sexual sin is testified throughout the Bible (Exo 32; Isa 57:7-8; Hos 4:12-14; 1Co 6:9-11; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:5; Col 3:5; Rev 2:14, 20, 21:25). 

2.6. God’s act of surrendering the idolator is congruent with the moral physics established at Creation: loyalty, attraction and affection are all the function of value. IOW: those things are the result of where we chose to see value (and who or what we chose to trust as the determiner of value – the creature or the Creator) (Mat 6:21).  

2.7. Why idolatry makes God so angry is because of what it says about Him and us. By choosing self (or the world) to be the ones who will decide what is valuable in this life, we are equally choosing those things to be the determiners of right and wrong. We have replaced God with ourselves as the source of such things. In essence, we have declared ourselves to be false gods and true God - expendable. 

2.8. This was the sin of our original parents (Gen 3:5-7) = In choosing to violate God’s prohibition, Adam and Eve were committing the sin of idolatry. Trust in God was no longer needed, they would now be the ones determining right and wrong. Their flesh and intellect were sufficient for determining the true value of the new world they barely knew. The reign of earth’s first false gods had begun. And (once more) we are following in their footsteps when we choose to trust our flesh and the world to determine the value of things (what is right and wrong, wise or foolish, safe or dangerous, necessary or unnecessary, essential or expendable).

3. Overcoming sexual sin (and being sexually pure) therefore requires ending our idolatry - our reign as false gods, by changing who we worship from creature to Creator.

3.1. In practical terms this means we make the decision to 100% distrust what is being communicated by our flesh and the world (as to the value of things – no matter how shiny or sexy or cool) and instead give 100% of our trust to God and His Word for determining what is truly valuable. IOW: we make the decision to surrender our entire value system to God. No matter how we feel or how persuasive the world is in selling us on something, we make the decision to always view it with suspicion until we can square it with God’s Word. We refuse to consider anything as valuable, important, necessary, essential, righteous or wise unless God’s Word agrees that it is. We only place the value on things that God’s Word places on those things (Luk 16:15).

3.2. This is what it means to die to self and live for Christ which is the bare minimum requirement to following Him and getting to heaven (Mat 16:21-23 w/24). 

3.3. This is also what it means to love God with our entire creature (Mar 12:29 and Exo 20; Rom 12:1 w/Jer 31:1; Consider how this is the opposite of idolatry which is loving the creature as god). 

3.4. The result of worshipping the Creator will be loyalty, attraction and affection for God and the things He says are valuable (i.e., those things that are righteous, wise and safe) and disgust for the things that He says are not (i.e. those things that are wicked, foolish and dangerous) (again, Mat 6:21). IOW: faithfulness becomes completely doable (even in respect to sexual things). 

4. Changing how you view sex is also a big part of how you overcome sexual sin and be sexually pure.

4.1.(Rom 12:2) = The transformation that happens when you renew your thinking is not something that happens passively. Like the previous principle, renewing your mind takes action – most especially w/respect to the subject of sex. It means making the decision to no longer think about sex the way the world thinks about it. You will only think about sex the way God thinks about sex, the way He created it. 

4.2. The way the world attempts to frame sex gives you the impression that it is better – or possesses more value than God’s design – which means trusting God (or His value system) is important (here) also. IOW: I need to trust that by viewing sex His way (and rejecting the world’s view) I will not be missing out (or less blessed) in this life.

4.3. Though the way the world views and experiences sex looks superior to God’s design, it is a dark hole leading to the destruction of those things you care most about – including your soul. 

4.4. Why do I say that? Because the way the world views and experiences sex creates an insatiable appetite often leading to deviant activity, sexual addiction and severed relationships – most especially marriages and families. For example, studies show that people who watch porn feel less satisfied and less connected to their spouses. Porn also creates feelings of sexual inadequacy and frustration leading to the search for help in the form of sexual products or deviant sexual activity. From a biological perspective, the hit on dopamine receptors can be similar to drugs like cocaine - creating not only addiction but the need for more –or more deviant behavior to feel the same way. At least 50% of all failed marriages and family issues are related to porn.  

4.5. What (then) is difference between how the world and God view sex?

4.5.1. According to the world...

Christ Covenant Church seeks to a place that possesses coherent Christianity. The reason for this endeavor is the following:

1. Coherency is essential to the confirmation of something as truth especially as it relates to what you believe. 

1.1. In Philosophy this is known as the Coherence Theory of Truth: an individual proposition (or belief) is only true if it is coherent with existing propositions or a system of propositions (or beliefs) already determined to be true (e.g.,) I [Scott Jarrett] am 54 going on 55. For that belief to be true, then it must cohere with other beliefs or truths such as: 1. My birth date is 11/1/69, 2. I am still alive. My statement/proposition (54 going on 55) sb considered true b/c it is logically coherent.  

1.2. That coherency is essential to truth (or what we believe to be true) can be seen by considering Satan’s first attack against humanity. It was an attack on the coherency of God’s words (Gen 3:1-5) = Satan’s contribution to humanity’s first act of rebellion was his ability to get our original parents to believe that what He had said was incoherent. This then is the power of incoherency (and once more, why coherency is so essential): incoherency leads to distrust and ultimately open rebellion against God.

1.3. As humans, we have been hard-wired to trust only those things that are coherent: that make sense because they are clear, consistent, logical and reasonable (Pro 29:18 “vision” [Heb., hazon = Prophetic vision that makes clear or coherent what God’s people are to do]) = Without such coherency, God’s people will be “unrestrained” in their moral behavior. IOW: they will become distrustful and disobedient to God’s Law. This is confirmed also by the author’s response to the first couplet (“But happy is he who keeps the law [Heb., torah = God’s special revelation or message – most especially His Law). When God’s Word -or what we believe about it is coherent (clear, consistent, logical and reasonable), it is much easier to trust it and obey His laws.

2. If the Bible is truth, then what it teaches (and Christianity believes) must be coherent[1]. 

2.1. Jesus testifies to the Bible (or God’s Word) as truth (Joh 17:17).

2.2. Jesus also testifies to the Bible’s coherency (Deu 30:11-14; Joh 1:1 “Word” [Grk., logos = Logic, the coherent word; in re: to the mind it refers to the function of reason/logic and calculation]) = Jesus’ identity as the divine Logos (“Word”) communicates to us not only the nature of God (as logical or coherent) but also the nature of Scripture (God’s divine written words – OT, NT): they are likewise logical (or coherent) giving us (humans made in the image of our logical/coherent God) the ability to know Him w/certainty (v18 “explained” [Grk., exegeomai = Exegesis; coherent explanation). [2]  

2.3. Jesus uses logic – or the Law of Noncontradiction [A ≠ non-A][3] to prove the existence of life after death/resurrection and His deity – Mat 22:31-32 [Jesus also confirms plenary inspiration]; Mat 22:41-46)[4].

2.4. Paul likewise uses a logical syllogism to prove the necessity of the resurrection to salvation/Christianity (1Co 15:12-20). 

2.5. Other passages related to the Bible’s teaching as coherent (Psa 19:7b-9, 119:105; 2Ti 3:15-16 = None of these texts are truthful unless what the Bible teaches is indeed coherent; 1Pe 3:15 “defense” [Grk., apologia = Out of logic]).

2.6. To say that the Bible’s teaching is coherent is not the same as saying that it is not (at times) difficult to understand (e.g., 2Pe 3:15-17) = According to Peter, the reason Paul could be difficult was not due to incoherency (i.e., what he wrote was unclear, inconsistent, illogical or unreasonable) but rather the moral instability (“unstable”) and intellectual deficiency (“untaught”) of others (“unprincipled men”).

2.7. Oftentimes the incoherent (and therefore false) doctrines believed by many Christians today are labeled as incomprehensible. Incomprehensibility however is not the same as incoherency. The difference between the two from the standpoint of cognitive understanding is experience versus intellect. Though what is incomprehensible can be intelligible (it can be understood intellectually), it is beyond that person’s ability to understand experientially (e.g., hell). By contrast, what is incoherent fails to be something that can be understood both by experience and intellect (e.g., 2 + 2 = 3).[5] 

2.8. Finally, coherency is necessary not only to our knowledge of God, but to distinguishing between the divine and the demonic.

“If a transcendent God really does have a logic all His own, no criteria can exist in the realm of the transcendent to distinguish between Yahweh and Satan.” – Nash (ibid)

“If the law of non-contradiction is irrelevant in the sphere of transcendent ontology, the God and not-God, the divine and the demonic, cannot be differentiated.” – Clark (ibid)

2.9. Point (then) Not To Miss: never should we accept as biblical truth any belief or doctrine that fails the test of coherency.

3. A great place to start when determining whether the version of Christianity you are following is true or false is the test of coherency (it fails to be clear, consistent, logical or reasonable). 

3.1. As it re: to consistency consider: Is our doctrine of God or salvation consistent w/what was what was established in the OT? IOW: is their coherency between the NT and OT based on what you believe? Or do you possess a “canon within a canon”? (Luk 5:36-39) = NT (“new wine”) orthodoxy/orthopraxy is determined by its coherency or consistency w/what has already been established (“is good enough”) from the OT (“the old wine”) .

3.2. As it re: to clarity and logic consider: Jesus appeals to the Pharisees’ clarity and ability to use logic (or logical inferences) to indict them for their rejection of Him as Messiah (Mat 16:1-4 = Their problem was moral not intellectual. IOW: it was not an issue of coherency).

3.4. As it re: to reasonableness (it is equitable and just) consider: Jesus appeals to reasonableness (bib. jurisprudence) in His claims to deity when condemned by the Jewish leaders (Joh 5:31 w/31-47; also Joh 7:24).

4. Our God-given mission is to fight to re-establish the coherency to Christianity. 

4.1. (Jud 1:3; 1Ti 6:20-21 “opposing arguments” [Grk., antithesis = Incoherent beliefs]).

4.2. Why would we need to re-establish the coherency of Christianity? Because what was taught at the church’s inception by Jesus, the apostles and early church fathers (Ante-Nicene) regarding the Bible’s three main pillars: God, the gospel and man have been lost to incoherency (Jud 1:3 w/4).

“The Christian experience requires not simply a surrender of the will but a rational [coherent] assent to the truth.” – Nash 

5. Modern Christianity – or Christianity after the Ante-Nicene period (325 A.D. to the present) has been incoherent in its view of the Bible’s three main pillars of truth: God, the gospel and man.

5.1. None of this should come as a surprise given: 1) this is Satan’s first – and frequent play (hence 2Co 10:5; 1Ti 6:20-21), 2) the consequences of incoherency (distrust and disobedience to God).

5.2. Incoherency in re: to the doctrine of Man (e.g., Calvinism) = Not only incoherent because it violates the law of noncontradiction (man has a free will yet God has already decreed what man will do before he was created), but bc it is also unr...

The accusations of our critics:

[See PREVIOUS SERMON (Coherence Part 1) for accusations 1-3]

4. Your requirement of faithful obedience to be a Christian is too difficult. We are totally broken and unable to live faithfully obedient lives to God. It is for this reason the message of salvation is faith in Christ not faithfulness to Christ. It is also the reason Jesus came to earth – to obey so we wouldn’t have to! The standard of obedience preached at your church is just making people into self-righteous Pharisees. God doesn’t expect nor require this level of commitment to get heaven. 

Our biblically obedient and coherent response: 

4.1. Though we are born depraved – or with a strong desire for sin (or to serve self over God and His commands), we still possess the ability to choose and do good – or obey His commands. If this were not true, then God would be unjust for condemning people to hell based on their deeds (ability establishes culpability) (Job 34:11; Psa 62:12; Jer 17:10, 21:14; 2Co 5:10; Rev 20:11-15).

4.2. God’s requirement of faithful obedience (not perfection) has never been too difficult – including for those under the OC (those w/o the indwelling Spirit, regeneration or propitiation) (Deu 28:1 w/30:11-14). 

4.3. The message of salvation has always been both faith and faithfulness (to Christ). Faith itself is a pledge or personal promise to faithfulness to God over self or anything else (i.e., to live for or love God above anyone and anything else) (Gen 15:6 [w/Joh 8:56] w/Gen 17:1-8 [God confirming His promise and pledge to Abraham and the condition of that promise - Abraham’s former faith pledge to Him]; Exo 24:7-8 w/1Pe 1:1-2, 3:21). That our faith pledge mb followed by faithfulness for salvation to be secure is confirmed by James (Jam 2:14-26).

4.4. If Jesus did indeed come to earth to obey on our behalf (with the assumption that we could not do it ourselves), then this too incriminates/indicts God given His expectations of obedience and severe judgments against disobedience in the OT (e.g., most of the first generation died and went to hell because of their unfaithfulness – Heb 3:12-19 [v19, apistis = unfaithfulness, See Num 14:33 w/4:6-11]).

4.5. The Pharisees were self-righteous - or viewed themselves as righteous, but not for valid reasons. They claimed to keep (or be faithful) to God’s laws but were - in reality, hypocrites - not willing to exert the smallest amount of effort to obey God’s commands (Mat 23:1-4 w/ 28). Like Evangelicals, the Pharisees believed they were saved simply because of their faith and being a part of Abraham’s family. What they failed to accept is that God will remove from Abraham’s family all those who are unfaithful (Mat 3:1-10 w/Luk 7:30 [they did not believe they could be removed for unrepentance/unfaithfulness]; Joh 8:31-39; Rom 11:21-23). 

4.6. If God doesn’t require this level of commitment to get to heaven, then why do those who fail to possess faithfulness end up apostate and in hell – i.e., under God’s eternal and unforgiving wrath (Mat 7:21-27; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:5-6; Heb 10:26-30)?

5. Your church places loyalty to Christ and His church above loyalty to biological family including one’s spouse, children, and parents. As a result, you divide families and even approve of divorce. God made the marriage and the family to be the most important institutions on the planet. God also commands that children respect their parents. 

Our biblically obedient and coherent response: 

5.1. Our choice to place loyalty to Christ and His church above loyalty to biological family – including one’s spouse, children, and parents has always been a condition of God’s (or Jesus’) covenant/salvation/eternal promises (Gen 12:1 w/2-3; Gen 22:1-2,3-18 w/Jam 2:21-22; Deu 6:4-5; Mar 12:29-30; Luk 14:25-35). 

5.2. That loyalty to the church is how we express loyalty to Christ is confirmed by the facts: 1) the church is identified as the Body and Bride of Christ. Can a person sin against a man’s body or wife and not sin against the man himself? (Pro 6:27-35). 2) the church is the fullness of Christ on earth (Eph 1:22-23). In these two ways, Christ essentially made loyalty to Him synonymous with loving our covenant brothers and sisters. Hence why (Joh 13:34-35). 

5.3. Hence the reason this was a major focus of John the Baptist and Jesus’ earthly ministry: to turn God’s people back to Him and His family over their human families as the first loyalty (Mal 4:6 w/Luk 1:17).

5.4. Hence the reason also Jesus predicted that many families would be divided over His message (Mat 10:34-39).

5.5. The only divorce we approve of are those sanctioned by Jesus: divorce for sexual immorality (Mat 5:31-32). To not allow what God allows is no different than allowing what God does not allow - which also brings God’s wrath against the covenant community (Isa 5:20, 23-25).

5.6. The most important institution on earth is marriage and the family, Christ’s marriage to the church and the covenant family that it creates (i.e., the church). Every other form of marriage and family is subservient to this given: 1) The marriage of Christ to His church is the archetype/model for human marriage and family (Eph 5:22-32). 2) the creation of the holy family (not the biological family) was the goal of all Creation (Eph 1:1-11 w/3:1-11 = God the Father’s plan for Creation was to gather a people for His glory – and future inheritance - a holy family [made holy] thru the redemption [and marriage covenant] realized and accomplished thru His Son, Jesus Christ ).

 5.7. Respecting one’s parents looks different when a person is a child under the home and headship of their parents versus once that child becomes an adult and is no longer dependent – or living at home. The former requires full submission to their parent’s commands and wishes (sans anything directly opposed to God or His Word) (Eph 6:1-3), whereas the latter no longer requires such submission but only that the (now) adult independent child see to it that the needs of their elderly non-apostate parents are being met (Mat 15:1-6). 

5.8. Based on what was just discussed, children being loyal to their parents above God or His church has never been acceptable or expected by God.

6. If your church is doing everything right then why have there been so many disciplinary cases – including excommunications and apostasies --as well as betrayal and moral failures among those serving as officers? The church is to be a place of peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Again, these things signal a problem. 

Our biblically obedient and coherent response: 

6.1. The NT churches were filled with disciplinary cases -including excommunications and apostasies. As a matter of fact, many – if not most of the NT epistles or letters to the churches were written to deal with disciplinary matters (Rom 2:1-29; 1Co 3:1-18, 4:1-5, 18-21, 5:1-5, 6:1-11, 7:1-2, 8:1-13, 10:1-33, 11:1-22, 15:1-24; 2Co 1:21-2:11, 6:1-7:2, 10:1-11:33, 12:19-13:11; Gal 2:11-5:26; Col 2:8-23; 2Th 3:6-15; 1Ti 1:3-4, 18-20, 4:1-10, 6:20; Tit 1:10-16; Heb 3:12-14; 2Pe 3:14-18; Jud 1:3-4; Rev 2:1-3:22). If this was true for churches planted and pastored by the apostles, how much more those living in the worst or last days? We should therefore expect the church in the last days to feel as though they are over-run with such difficulties (Mat 24:10-12; 2Ti 3:1-17 = NOTICE where our confidence is to be in these difficult and confusing times). 

6.2. Consider also the covenant communities under: 1) Moses (most went apostate – i.e., almost ...

The accusations of our critics:

1. Your list of capital crimes and their punishments are completely arbitrary. The NT possesses no such list or penalties. The only law is love.

Our biblically obedient and coherent response: 

1.1. The NT (or more specifically, Jesus) affirms the OT Law’s (including its capital crimes) continuing authority under the NC and for the Christian (Mat 5:17-18, hence 19-20).

1.2. The NT likewise establishes excommunication as the new and consistent application of the prior established (OT) principle of death prescribed for capital crimes (OT = physical, NT = spiritual) (1Co 5:1-5; 1Ti 1:20).

1.3. Given that God prescribes the same punishment for all capital crimes, the time assigned to excommunication likewise must be the same no matter the kind of capital offense committed (Num 15:16). Biblical equity also requires that repeat offenders receive an increased sentence or level of severity commensurate to the original established time multiplied by the number of times they have reoffended (A-Jud-Sys.: recidivism rate) (Deu 25:2).  

1.4. That God is indeed prescribing a set or fixed amount of time as well as the fact that this time is to be determined by the covenant community is made apparent by the NT evidence of time being assigned to those excommunicated while by the same token, making no mention of exactly how much time was actually assigned (2Co 2:6-7 w/1Co 5:1-5). 

1.5. To speak as though love is a replacement to God’s Law – or stands opposed to the Law, is a complete oxymoron. From God’s perspective, there is no love without His Law. His Law – not the laws of men, is what determines true and righteous love to others. Said differently, it is impossible to love anyone, without strict adherence to God’s Law. The Law/establishing of equity = Love (Gal 5:13-14; Rom 13:8-10; Lev 19:15-18 w/Mat 22:39). 

1.6. The question is therefore not whether we are going to follow love or the Law as our authority, but which Law (or laws) will define our love? The very arbitrary, always changing, completely subjective, laws of men based entirely on their sinful and selfish desires or the very equitable, never changing, completely objective laws of God based entirely on His perfectly righteous and immutable character? 

1.7. Whether people realize it (or not), there is really only two choices: autonomy (self-law – [Jug 21:25; Pro 18:1]w/Pro 13:13; Gen 3:5[1]) or theonomy (God’s law – Deu 4:2, 5-8, 6:24).

2. There is no such thing as apostasy[2] and even if there was, that is between God and that person. It is not something that the church can know or has the authority to declare.

Our biblically obedient and coherent response: 

2.1. Per God’s promise, the church in the OT (the Old Covenant community or kingdom of God on earth) was supplied with priests-judges who were ordained (deputized) with divine authority from the Holy Spirit and able (therefore) to bind in apostasy those who knowingly rebelled against their authority and/or refused to comply with the discipline/justice for their sins and stop their practice of rebellion against God and His laws (i.e., who refused to repent) (Exo 19:6 w/Deu 17:9-13 w/Num 15:30-31; Deu 29:18-20).  

2.2. Per God’s promise, priest-judges ordained (or deputized) with the same authority and ability were provided to the church in the NT (New Covenant community or kingdom of God on earth) (Isa 66:21; Rev 1:6; Mat 16:17-19 w/Joh 20:21-23 [w/Mat 12:32]; Mat 18:15-20).

2.3. If the OC priest-judges had the authority and ability to know who was apostate and bind them in apostasy how much more those functioning as priest-judges under the NC whose possess an added measure of the HS (bringing true regeneration and cleansing from sin thru the blood of Christ) and the completed (“perfect”) version of God’s Word to instruct them leading to greater clarity or understanding and less impact from personal depravity (Rev 1:5 w/Deu 28:20; 1Co 13:9-12). 

2.4. Though not in relation to eternal things, we nonetheless believe the state possesses authority from God and can make decisions which promote or preserve justice and purge evil. We believe also that such authorities should be respected and submitted to (Rom 13:1-3). If this true for the state whose government and courts are secular why would we consider the church whose government and courts are sacred to be any less competent or called by God? (1Co 6:1-6).

3. Your views on what constitutes sexual immorality and the severity of punishment inflicted (excommunication) on such sins as porn and masturbation are too extreme. Porn and masturbation are the regular practice of many if not most Americans – including those claiming to be Christians[3]. Studies also suggest that their practice may not only be essential to mental health and longevity of life, but near impossible to resist because of the way we have been created.

Our biblically obedient and coherent response: 

3.1. Per God’s Word, the sin of sexual immorality has but one punishment, death (OT- physical, NT- spiritual/excommunication; again 1Co 5:1-5) and has been committed any time a person voluntarily participates in any sexual activity w/someone not identified by God as their spouse: 1) Adultery (Exo 20:14 [versus 20:17]Lev 20:10; Deu 22:13-24), 2) Homosexuality (Lev 20:13), 3) Fornication and Incest [all sexual acts with unbelievers or those we have no intention or biblically sanctioned ability to marry] (Lev 20:11-14; Num 25:1-8 w/1Co 10:8 w/1Co 6:15-20; 2Co 5:20-6:2, 14-18; Exo 34:12-16), 4) Bestiality (Exo 22:19; Lev 20:15-16), 5) Rape (Deu 22:25-27), 6) Masturbation [immoral] (Mat 5:27-30), 7) Voyeurism and Pornography [illicit viewing of sexual acts or nakedness] (Lev 18:1-20).

3.2. To not excommunicate those guilty of biblically defined sexual immorality would constitute rebellion by the church and secure God’s curse on the congregation (1Co 5:2 w/12-13 w/Deu 13:1-18; e.g., Jos 7:13). 

3.3. If pornography (and masturbation) is the regular practice of most Americans, then most Americans are going to hell. This is perfectly inline (coherent) with Jesus’ prediction as it re: to humanity (Mat 7:13-14; Luk 13:22-24).

3.4. A person’s mental health and longevity of life is more often (if not always) the result of sin – not its resistance (again, Deu 28:20 [“until you perish quickly”] along w/v34, 65-66; Deu 32:47).

3.5. Sexual immorality only becomes “near impossible to resist” when we fail where it starts and what is easy to prevent: 1) succumbing to sinful sexual lust/coveting (Exo 20:17 [versus 20:14]; Job 31:1; Eph 1:12-18), 2) living for this world instead of the next world (this is the key to contentment or the removal of coveting) (Pro 29:18; Col 3:1; Phi 3:14 versus 2Pe 1:9).

 [1] “Such then is the graveyard of autonomous ethics; each gravestone reads the Satanic temptation, ‘Ye shall be gods, knowing [determining] good and evil.’” – Greg Bahnsen (Theonomy In Christian Ethics)

[2] The unforgiveable sin or the inability to ever be forgiven by God. This curse can only befall those who were formerly saved -or in saving covenant relationship with God. That person’s sins are placed back upon them w/no hope of future pardon. They are bound in a state of damnation from which they cannot escape no matter the repentance that may follow (Heb 12:15-17). 

[3] Consider the following statistics (2023): 1) 47% of families in the United States reported that pornography is a problem in their home. Pornography use increases t...

1.1. Unbelief wb at an all-time high at the return of Christ (Luk 18:8).

1.2. Without sustaining belief (or faith) in God, His Person and Words (1Ti 1:5 [“love” = For God and others – loyalty/equity]; Heb 10:37-39 [w/Heb 11:6]; 1Jo 5:4-5; 1Pe 1:5-7), it is impossible to sustain faithfulness to God and others (the other necessary instrument of salvation and to receiving divine blessings) (Jam 2:14-24; Luk 17:3-10; hence 2Pe 1:5-11; our examples – Heb 11:33 and 12:2). 

1.3. Transformation from a foolish, spiritually darkened, deceived person led by their flesh/feelings to a person who is wise, discerning, enlightened and led by the Spirit, is also impossible without sustained belief (or faith) in God  (Psa 119:66; 2Co 4:4; Eph 6:16; 1Th 2:13, 3:5-7, 5:8; 1Pe 5:9). 

1.4. Un-sustained belief (or faith) in God will eventually lead to apostasy (Heb 3:12-14; Rom 11:20-23).

1.5. Every weapon in Satan’s arsenal has this as its goal: the destruction of belief in God, His Person and Words (Gen 3:1-5; Satan continues to operate from the original playbook. Hence the reason Paul can say “we are not ignorant of his schemes – 2Co 2:6-11 [w/2Sa 24:1 w/2Sa 7:8-16 – most eps. vv14-16]).

2. Definition of belief (or faith) in God (the action not the object or religion – e.g., Jud 1:3) 

2.1. What belief in God is not: mere mental ascent or agreement to His existence or the Bible as His words.

2.2. What belief in God is (the biblical definition): The choice (Mar 16:11 “refused to believe” = Made a choice not to believe) to give unquestioned trust and allegiance exclusively to God, His Person and Words as eternally and infinitely perfect in truth, beauty, righteousness, justice, mercy, love, power, wisdom and knowledge (versus self, others or anything in Creation – e.g., Rom 1:18-25 “honor…give thanks” = Acts demonstrating allegiance; “worshipped” = Acts demonstrating where – or w/whom, we place our highest trust/allegiance; Heb 11:1; belief = Trust/Allegiance – Exo 19:9; Num 14:11, 20:12; Deu 1:30-35 w/Heb 3:19; Deu 9:23, 32:51; 2Ki 17:14; Psa 27:13, 78:22 w/32, 106:12 w/24; Psa 146:6 “keeps faith” = Allegiance; Joh 1:12 [“believe in His name”] = Trust/Allegiance to that person and their word]//unquestioned trust and allegiance - Act 8:37 “believe with all your heart” = No division in your heart [in your trust/allegiance]). 

2.3. Our choice to believe in God (to give unquestioned trust and allegiance exclusively to Him) is an operation of the will that must not be governed by: 1) earthly thinking (Luk 24:11; Joh 3:12 “earthly things” versus “heavenly things” = Belief in only what can be seen or is common/comfortable to the natural world/way of thinking [materialism or naturalism] versus belief also in the unseen or what is uncommon/uncomfortable to the natural world/way of thinking [belief in the immaterial and supernatural]; Isa 53:1; 1Co 1:21; hence 2Co 5:7 and 1Pe 1:8; [Lam 3:65; Eph 4:18; Mar 16:14 “hardness of heart”] = Refusal to believe in the unseen/unrealized – Pro 22:3; e.g. From an ability perspective, this is the brain function of animals. We however possess the higher faculties and function [ability] of foresight, forecasting and faith – belief in what is yet to be seen or realized. Our failure to use such faculties/function is therefore not due to ability but our will. We refuse -or choose not to do so for immoral reasons – Mat 16:1-4; hence Luk 16:31), 2) emotions (Rom 4:18-20; Mat 17:17 “sign” = emotional experience). To say that our choice is not governed by natural thinking is not the same as saying there is no evidence to support what we believe. There is enough to leave every person w/o excuse on Judgment Day (Rom 1:19-20; Consider also Joh 2:22 w/Joh 20:27-31). To say that the trust/allegiance we give to God must be unquestioned is not the same as saying God expects blind trust. IOW: God does not expect us to trust Him if He fails to be or do what He has promised in His Word (the Bible) (e.g., Mal 3:10).

3. How we sustain/strengthen our belief in God.

(Luk 8:15) “hold it fast” = Belief in God will be met w/challenges and therefore requires the constant and consistent practice of certain things to preserve it: 1) removal of all stumbling blocks/overcompensation (Mat 13:44-48, 18:7-9; Luk 19:8; 2Co 7:1 w/11; Col 2:5 w/8; 1Ti 4:1, 6:20-21; Heb 12:1), 2) apologetics (1Pe 3:15; 2Ti 2:15-18; Jud 20), 

3) spending time receiving spiritual bread from others (Rom 1:11-12; 1Th 3:2 w/10; Eph 4:11-13), 

4) sharing our spiritual bread w/others (Heb 3:12-14), 5) self-discipline (body and mind) (1Co 9:27; 1Ti 4:6-10), 

6) being doers of God’s Word (Jam 1:22-25 “prove yourself doers [“one who looks intently at the perfect law…and abides by it”] versus “hearers who delude themselves” [who deceive themselves into thinking they believe but instead are “like a man who looks…in a mirror…and…immediately [forgets] what kind of person he was [a person who used to trust but not anymore]”) = Sustain that trust/allegiance [true belief in God] through obedience. It goes both ways: we need to sustain our belief to obey and we need to obey to sustain our belief - i.e., there exists a symbiotic and synergistic relationship between belief and obedience), 7) right attitude in trials (Jam 1:1-3).

4. Signs/Causes of unbelief (What to keep in mind: the choice of unbelief is sin – Joh 16:8-9).

Given that the belief in God refers to two things: His Person and His Word means that there are essentially two types of unbelief related to this subject: 1) unbelief as it relates to God’s Person (trust in His existence and/or attributes – e.g., His love, justice, wisdom) and 2) unbelief in His Word (trust that what He says is true and accurate; trust that I need to place the same level of seriousness He places on certain subjects or issues – e.g., repentance/change/faithful obedience/getting to heaven/the requirement urgency, overcompensation and living for the whole, etc.). 

What then are the causes and/or signs of these two sins of unbelief?

4.1. (S/C) hardness of heart (Lam 3:65; Eph 4:18; Mar 16:14 “hardness of heart” = Refusal to believe in the unseen/unrealized – Pro 22:3; e.g. From an ability perspective, this is the brain function of animals. We however possess the higher faculties and function [ability] of foresight, forecasting and faith – belief in what is yet to be seen or realized. Our failure to use such faculties/function is therefore not due to ability but our will. We refuse -or choose not to do so. IOW: the problem is moral not intellectual).

4.2. (S/C) ignorance/folly/bad influence or intel in re: to God, His Person and Word or even other religions (Eph 4:18 “ignorance”; 1Co 15:32-34; hence Col 2:8; 1Ti 6:20) (e.g.,): 1) As it re: to the spiritual books of other religions: Hinduism’s Bhagavad Gita = Never claims to be written by a personal God Who has spoken to humanity; Mormonism’s Book of Mormon, Islam’s Qur’an = Both rely on and are counterfeit versions or distortions of Christianity (Mormonism started almost 2000 years after Christianity’s inception, Islam almost 600 years after). Each claim that the Bible is corrupted and their books are the fix. 2) As it re: to morality – or those who claim there is no such thing as good and bad or morality = Everybody has a moral point of view – including those who say there is no morality since that is a moral point of view or position - they are being moral about no morals— which also means that everyone is religious since this is at the heart of what defines religion (a system of morality). Now, knowing this is true and inescapable, which do you think is the wise choice, a religion or morality determined by a perfect God or one driven by the sinf...

1.1. Unbelief wb at an all-time high at the return of Christ (Luk 18:8).

1.2. Belief (or faith – Mar 11:22-23) in God, His Person and Words is the first necessary instrument of salvation and to receiving God’s blessings (Gen 15:6; Isa 7:9; Mat 13:58 ; Luk 1:20, 45; Joh 3:15-18, 5:24, 10:26; Act 10:43, 16:31; Rom 1:16, 3:28; Heb 3:18-4:2; 11:6 [He is there and He is not silent]; 2Ti 3:15; Contra – hell, Rev 21:8). 

1.3. Without sustaining belief (or faith) in God, His Person and Words (1Ti 1:5 [“love” = For God and others – loyalty/equity]; Heb 10:37-39 [w/Heb 11:6]; 1Jo 5:4-5; 1Pe 1:5-7), it is impossible to sustain faithfulness to God and others (the other necessary instrument of salvation and to receiving divine blessings) (Jam 2:14-24; Luk 17:3-10; hence 2Pe 1:5-11; our examples – Heb 11:33 and 12:2). 

1.4. Transformation from a foolish, spiritually darkened and deceived person who is addicted to their feelings, sin and the world to a person who is wise, discerning, enlightened and led by the Spirit, able to withstand the attacks of Satan, the flesh and world is also impossible without sustained belief (or faith) in God, His Person and Words (Psa 119:66; 2Co 4:4; Eph 6:16; 1Th 2:13, 3:5-7, 5:8; 1Pe 5:9). 

1.5 Un-sustained belief (or faith) in God, His Person and Words will eventually lead to apostasy (Heb 3:12-14; Rom 11:20-23).

1.6. Every weapon in Satan’s arsenal has this as its goal: the destruction of belief in God, His Person and Words (Gen 3:1-5; Satan continues to operate from the original playbook. Hence the reason Paul can say “we are not ignorant of his schemes – 2Co 2:6-11 [w/2Sa 24:1 w/2Sa 7:8-16 – most eps. vv14-16]).

1.7. Some of those who are struggling w/unbelief can be snatched from the fire (Jud 1:22-23).

2. Definition of belief (or faith) in God (the action not the object or religion – e.g., Jud 1:3) 

2.1. What belief in God is not: mere mental ascent or agreement to His existence or the Bible as His words.

2.2. What belief in God is (the biblical definition): The choice (Mar 16:11 “refused to believe” = Made a choice not to believe) to give unquestioned trust and allegiance exclusively to God, His Person and Words as eternally and infinitely perfect in truth, beauty, righteousness, justice, mercy, love, power, wisdom and knowledge (versus self, others or anything in Creation – e.g., Rom 1:18-25 “honor…give thanks” = Acts demonstrating allegiance; “worshipped” = Acts demonstrating where – or w/whom, we place our highest trust/allegiance; Heb 11:1; belief = Trust/Allegiance – Exo 19:9; Num 14:11, 20:12; Deu 1:30-35 w/Heb 3:19; Deu 9:23, 32:51; 2Ki 17:14; Psa 27:13, 78:22 w/32, 106:12 w/24; Psa 146:6 “keeps faith” = Allegiance; Joh 1:12 [“believe in His name”] = Trust/Allegiance to that person and their word]//unquestioned trust and allegiance - Act 8:37 “believe with all your heart” = No division in your heart [in your trust/allegiance]). 

2.3. Consider (Jam 1:21-25): 1) v21 “receive the word implanted” = Give unquestioned trust/allegiance to God’s Word, 2) v22-25 “prove yourself doers [“one who looks intently at the perfect law…and abides by it”] versus “hearers who delude themselves” [who deceive themselves into thinking they believe but instead are “like a man who looks…in a mirror…and…immediately [forgets] what kind of person he was [a person who used to trust but not anymore]”) = Sustain that trust/allegiance [true belief in God] through obedience. Which means it goes both ways: we need to sustain our belief to obey and we need to obey to sustain our belief (i.e., there exists a symbiotic and synergistic relationship between belief and obedience). 

2.4. Our choice to believe in God (to give unquestioned trust and allegiance exclusively to Him) is an operation of the will that must not be governed by: 1) earthly thinking (Luk 24:11; Joh 3:12 “earthly things” versus “heavenly things” = Belief in only what can be seen or is common/comfortable to the natural world/way of thinking [materialism or naturalism] versus belief also in the unseen or what is uncommon/uncomfortable to the natural world/way of thinking [belief in the immaterial and supernatural]; Isa 53:1; 1Co 1:21; hence 2Co 5:7 and 1Pe 1:8; [Lam 3:65; Eph 4:18; Mar 16:14 “hardness of heart”] = Refusal to believe in the unseen/unrealized – Pro 22:3; e.g. From an ability perspective, this is the brain function of animals. We however possess the higher faculties and function [ability] of foresight, forecasting and faith – belief in what is yet to be seen or realized. Our failure to use such faculties/function is therefore not due to ability but our will. We refuse -or choose not to do so for immoral reasons – Mat 16:1-4, 17:17; hence Luk 16:31), 2) emotions (Jer 12:6; Rom 4:18-20; again Mat 17:17 “sign” – an emotional experience). 

2.5. To say that our choice is not governed by natural thinking is not the same as saying: 1) there is no evidence to support what we believe. There is enough to leave every person w/o excuse on Judgment Day (Rom 1:19-20; Consider also Joh 2:22 w/Joh 20:27-31). 

2.6. To say that the trust/allegiance we give to God must be unquestioned is not the same as saying God expects blind trust. IOW: God does not expect us to trust Him if He fails to be or do what He has promised in His Word (the Bible) (e.g., Mal 3:10).

CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: Have you made the choice to give unquestioned trust and allegiance exclusively to God, His Person and Words and are you doing what it takes to sustain that?

NEXT WEEK: 1) How we sustain/strengthen our belief in God, 2) signs/causes of unbelief.

2. Life is a test, and God is the proctor of that test. He is the one judging/grading how you do. It is why you exist. This is our purpose: pass His test. Those who pass the test seek Him through the constant, consistent, and permanent practice of learning about Him. (Heb 11:6; Jer 29:13; Jer 9:24; Col 1:28; Col 2:1-10; Joh 1:18; 2 Pe 3:17-18; 2 Pe 1:16-190

3. Because life is a test, you will be tested. (Deu 8:2; 1 Pe 4:12-18; Jam 1:1-2; Phi 1:28 w/ 1 Pe 4; 1 Co 10:13; Eze 3:8; Rom 6:20-22).

3.1 We choose one or more of 3 things that are overcomer killers (e.g., enhancers).

3.1.1 Ignore, or refuse to believe, God's Truth. (Rom 1:18-24; Deu 8:2)

3.1.2 Give in to fear. (Eze 3; Rev 21:7-8; Psa 11)

3.1.3 Listen to the lies of your flesh and the world. (1 Joh 2:15-17; 1 Joh 2:3; Eph 5:5-6; Jer 17:9; Heb 3:12; Rom 8:4-14; Eph 4:17-24).

4. The key to passing life's test is overcompensating conviction, the inverse of the overcomer killers.

5. Dummies go to hell. Don't be a dummy.

1. Can you give the Big Picture (from God's Word)?

2. Can you show that salvation is a marriage?

3. Can you show it is a marriage to Jesus?

4. Can you show who Jesus is and what He did?

5. Can you show that baptism necessary as the place where we pledge our allegiance to Jesus?

6. Can you show that God's vow to us is dependent on us being faithful?

7. Can you show that obedience is necessary to salvation?

8. Can you show that the obedience God requires is faithfulness and not perfection?

9. Can you show that this is something you can do?

10. Can you show faithfulness means our new life will be characterized by righteousness and repentance?

ANSWERS

1. (Heb 11:6; Romans 2:6-8)

2. (Jer 31:31-32)

3. (Eph 5:32; Acts 4:12; Jude 1:5)

4. (1 Cor 15:1-4; John 1:1-5, 14)

5. (1 Pe 3:21; John 3:5; Gal 3:26-27)

6. (Luk 10:25-28; Hebrews 3-4)

7. (Jam 2:24)

8. (Deu 28:1; Mat 25:14-30; Mat 5:48 w/ Col 1:28)

9. (Deu 30:10-14)

10. (1 John 3:4, 7-10; Luk 13:1-9; Acts 26:20)

2. Extreme ownership.

3. Self suspicion before evil suspicion.

4. See something, say something.

5. No victim mentality.

6. Use the courts.

7. Those who fail to fulfill the second greatest commandment are fit only for the pit.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

1. The first generation ministry is to raise up the second generation.

2. Hold them accountable so that their generations are not marked by the same failures.

3. we all need to own the failures of our first generation and vow to be better.

1. Historically the church has recognized the existence of only two forms of ministry: the ministry of mediation and the ministry of mercy. The ministry of mediation includes all those gifts and tasks related to teaching (e.g., preaching, discipleship, counseling, music/worship, sacraments), justice (e.g., discipline, establishing policy, counseling, judgment/JUDCO, sacraments) and operations (security, administration, finances, building and grounds maintenance) whereas the ministry of mercy includes all those gifts and tasks related to caring for the disadvantaged (e.g., poor, elderly, sick, injured and incapacitated) and dying. 

Support for this two-fold division is as follows:

1.1. The division of labor practiced by the church of the apostles (Act 6:1-4) = A division between those officers who would oversee the ministry of mediation (“ministry of the word”) and those who would function in the ministry of mercy (“serve tables”; e.g., chaplains).

1.2. The charge to Paul by the Jerusalem church (Gal 2:1-10) “remember the poor” = IOW: make sure that in addition to your preaching of the gospel and planting churches (the ministry of mediation) that you make sure those churches also possess ministry devoted to mercy.

1.3. The distinction that seemingly exists among the angels between those who report truth and carry out judgment (i.e., mediators or messenger angels; e.g., Gabriel and Michael, the watchers and cherubs – Dan 4:17) and those who help the disadvantaged and dying (i.e., angels of mercy – Luk 22:43-44; Heb 1:14). 

2. Pastors (the ordained officers) are commanded to spend their time and energy on the ministry of mediation and therefore need the help of others in the congregation to fulfill the ministry of mercy. 

(Act 6:2) “it is not desirable” = It is not what God wants us to do (Hence v4). 

3. This was true even in relation to Jesus. Though involved in acts of mercy, His ministry focus was mediation. (Heb 12:24 “mediator of the new covenant”; Luk 4:38-44 = Notice how the people tried to monopolize His time in the direction of mercy). 

4. Because the ministry of preaching and teaching takes so much energy and time, Jesus prohibited those He recruited to this task, to be involved in mercy-related ministry – including with those who are dying.

(Luk 9:59-60) = Based on Jesus’ charge to this man (a faithful Jew), he is being called to a ministry of mediation – most specifically preaching (“go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God”)[1]. To do so however, this man would need to leave the care of dying saints (his faithful Jewish father) to others – those involved in the ministry of mercy. He was not allowed to do both (“Let the dead bury their own dead”) = Ancient idiom referring to those whose function was to care for the dying in the covenant community (“their own dead”).

A paraphrase of Jesus’ words to this man: “Let those tasked with caring for the dying worry about caring for your dad’s death. Your responsibility is to grow the covenant community through preaching the gospel.” 

That this is what Jesus is indeed communicating versus calling this man to ignore the death of his father and condemning anyone involved in the care of the dead (or dying) as spiritually undead (a common way of looking at the phrase “Let the dead bury their own dead”) is supported by the fact that Jesus cared deeply and did not ignore the deaths of those close to Him – including not only family but also friends (e.g., friends – Lazarus, Joh 11:1-15; family – John the Baptist, Mat 14:12-13).  

5. The only time we see pastors involved in the care of the sick, is when it concerns the baptism of those dying. 

(Jam 5:14-16) = This person’s sickness is unto death. He is also bed-ridden. Hence why the elders “pray over him. Their prayer is due to his request for salvation. In such circumstances, ancient tradition prescribed a baptism (“anointing”) with oil (rather than water). Since it is only the ordained officers (“elders” or pastors) who possess such authority - i.e., the authority to baptize or “loose” someone from their sins” (Mat 16:19 w/Joh 20:21-23; 1Pe 3:21; Act 2:38), it is their services (or the ministry of mediation) that is necessary (versus the ministry of mercy). Do not miss the fact that the pre-requisite to receiving this death-bed baptism is no different than what is required in normal cases (v15 “prayer of faith” [belief], v16 “confess your sins” [repentance]). Notice also that it is the “effective prayer” (calling out to God) by the “righteous man” (i.e., the elders – Mat 28:19 “I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost”) that secures the repentant and believing person’s restoration to God and future resurrection (v15 “restore the one who is sick [to God] and the Lord will raise him up [in the resurrection].”).  

6. Why God has made such a division in the church with respect to these two ministries is no doubt related to:

6.1. The opportunity it provides to every person to be productive for kingdom – something absolutely necessary to our faithfulness and fitness for heaven (Mat 25:14-46). 

6.2. The equity it establishes in the covenant community. IOW: no one person is doing all the work or carrying all the burden. It is instead an “every member ministry” (1Co 12:14-25 “The body is not one member, but many…[Therefore] the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you.’”).

7. Three conclusions should be drawn from this study: 

7.1. Those not laboring in the ministry of mediation, need to give themselves to the ministry of mercy (Luk 10:1-2) “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest = Similar to the twelve commissioned before them, the seventy were most likely also sent out “in pairs” (Mar 6:7) to fulfill the tasks of mediation and mercy (Luk 9:2 “He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and perform healing”). The reason these men were sent in pairs was due to the church’s two-fold division of ministry (mediation and mercy); one would be focused on preaching and teaching, while the other was focused healing and caring for people’s needs.

The POINT NOT TO MISS: Jesus’ plea for additional workers (“beseech the Lord of the harvest…”) is not just in relation to preaching; the kingdom also needs people to labor in the fields of mercy!

7.2. Pastors are in the ministry of mediation, and therefore should never be expected to function in those roles related to the ministry of mercy. We must be careful not to confuse the role of pastor with the role of chaplain. 

7.3. The chaplain is an officer whose focus is overseeing the ministry of mercy in the church (i.e., seeing that the needs of the disadvantaged or dying in the covenant community are being met; e.g., Epaphroditus – Phi 2:25-30 w/1:13).

 [1] That this man was a Jew and faithful to God is supported by the fact that: 1) the focus of Jesus’ ministry was the Jewish community (Mat 10:6). 2) Hardly would Jesus have attempted to recruit this man to preaching about the kingdom had he been an unfaithful Jew. He would have instead called him to repentance (Luk 13:1-5). Based on the context (vv57-62), each of the men mentioned were more than simply faithful Jews, they were already disciples of Jesus....

With respect to one’s ability to reason consider:

1) God makes such a distinction in multiple OT texts (Jon 4:11 “know the difference between their right and left hand”; Isa 7:15-16 “know enough to refuse evil and choose good”; Isa 8:4 “My father...my mother” ) = A person able to demonstrate (e.g., in conversation w/others) cognitive reasoning skills (i.e., able to make distinctions for the purpose of comparing and contrasting -or use deduction as part of their thinking process [“if this then that”]). 

2) God’s makes a punitive distinction between those who are able/old enough to reason and those who are not in (Deu 1:39 “have no knowledge of good and evil”) = Not yet old enough to reason. A person’s ability to reason therefore renders that person subject to the full weight (or punishment) of the Law with respect to their sin (e.g., penalties related to restitution, death for a capital crime).

3) That no distinction should be made between a person’s ability to reason in general and a person’s ability to reason from a moral perspective (i.e., one implies the other) is confirmed in Jesus’ condemnation of the Jewish leaders (Mat 16:1-4).

4) Though not fully culpable, those unable to reason still commit sin and possess some level of culpability (e.g., Isa 48:8; Psa 51:5 [hence, vv6-9]; Psa 58:3). Hence the reason God commands parents to be diligent and severe in the corrective punishment of their children (Pro 23:13-14). 

5) The age at which a person is able to reason is not the same as the age of bar/bat mitzvah (“son/daughter of the law”), the age at which all legal rights were extended to a Jewish boy or girl including the ability to marry and own property. 

2. Correction: God’s relatively easy first expectation of parents in relation to their children is that the level of correction (negative reinforcement) applied to their children will be swift, consistent and severe enough to immediately establish their authority and stop those children from practicing all forms of overt rebellion against them or any other authority figure before those children possess the ability to reason. 

(Exo 21:15; Deu 21:18-21) = All capital crimes are crimes that could have been easily avoided had the responsible parties been obedient to God’s preventative prescription. They are therefore crimes which are the result of sizable neglect, unbelief, cowardice and selfishness. 

Hence why: 

1) parents who fail to meet this first expectation are said to be desiring their child’s death (Pro 19:18).

2) spanking is required until this first expectation is met (Pro 29:19 “does not respond”) = Words will not be enough to secure compliance.  This is especially true in children not yet old enough to reason. In this respect, they are like a slave (Gal 4:1-3 “elemental things”) = Rudimentary means of learning/education – i.e., spanking or “association training.”. This is the law of the animal kingdom or the base level of brain operation found in creatures possessing a brain (e.g., canines – wolves establish order/peace through the association training of negative reinforcement)[1]. 

3) Though the indwelling Spirit given at baptism allows us to eventually leave spanking behind, the Spirit does not replace a person’s ability to reason. Rather the Spirit works w/our ability to reason. Hence in those unable to reason, other measures must be adopted.   

4) the modern world’s embrace of only those forms of correction which employ reason reveals their great ignorance of - and obstinance to, both General and Special Revelation (Ecc 8:11 and Isa 26:9-10) = Justice (swift and painful punishment fitting the crime) is the key to effective correction and the mitigation of similar actions in others.

3. Compliance: doing better than you did before, yet still not meeting God’s expectation (of faithfulness) means that you are still in sin (or not fully) repentant and will go to hell if you do not do what it takes to become fully compliant. 

Consider:

1) The serial killer who reduces his murders from five every month to two every month is still guilty of practicing murder. 

2) (1Jo 3:7-10; Heb 12:1-4; Mat 5:29-30, 18:8-9; 1Co 9:27-30; Mat 16:24-26 w/27). 

4. Counsel: attempting to play the spiritual physician in the covenant community when you do not possess the proper training or have passed the proper tests is worse than medical malpractice (Mat 18:6-7). Hence the reason all spiritual council (advice) given by the church’s members should be immediately reported to its licensed spiritual physician, the (ordained) pastor (“physicians of the soul” – Richard Baxter). 

1) (Pro 6:19, 13:10, 16:28, 17:19, 18:1-7 w/15; Rom 16:19 w/1Co 5:1 w/2Co 7:7; Phi 2:19; 1Th 3:5; 1Co 1:10 w/ Phi 1:27 = Standing together for the gospel requires we be of the same mind which is impossible if the counsel we give or receive is contrary to God’s appointed teacher in the church – i.e., the ordained pastor). 

2) In this light consider (2Co 10:3-6) = Paul saw the censorship, removal and even prosecution of every form of bad counsel, thinking or theology posited by the congregation as an important part of his role as a pastor and responsibility to protect the flock (“spiritual warfare…fortresses” = Mental strongholds inhibiting people’s obedience that will eventually lead to their apostasy). 

3) How we should think about our relationship to the ordained pastor: like the doctor-nurse relationship in a hospital (nurses are to report all treatments administered or new symptoms to the attending doctor) or the relationship between the Executive Director of an Assisted Living facility and his staff (e.g., Richard Conklin’s job as E-D at Morning Star = Protective oversight req’g all depts and staff to share all counsel and situations affecting the safety and prosperity of the residents – e.g., staff tells a resident that it is okay to keep a coffee table in their apartment who unbeknownst to them has a history of falling). 

4) How we should NOT think about our relationship to the ordained pastor: like the relationship between the police and a criminal (“criminals don’t rat out fellow criminals to the cops”). This is the mindset of the wicked and the world w/respect to authority – including the authority in the church (a ghetto or street theology/mindset; e.g., “I want to confide in others or receive advice from others who will not seek pastor’s counsel”) = I am a stumbling block/attempting to make another guilty of collusion or malpractice.

5) If we are truly family, then nothing should be hidden from those God has made our spiritual parents for our protection and prosperity (pastor = our spiritual father; “father knows best”; 1Co 4:14-15; 2Ti 1:2).

 [1] Colorado Law: A parent, guardian, or other person entrusted with the care and supervision of a minor or an incompetent person,

and a teacher or other person entrusted with the care and supervision of a minor can use reasonable and appropriate physical force, if it is reasonably necessary and appropriate to maintain or promote welfare of child. Sec. 18-1-703.[Cr.] "Reasonable" or "appropriate" physical force which is "reasonably necessary and appropriate to maintain or promote the welfare of the child" is defined as follows: not excessive or abusive.

Colorado Law: “Abuse” or “child abuse or neglect” means an ...

1. Through our inescapable drive to assess (judge) all things from an ethical perspective (right and wrong), we (humanity) are not only confirming our unique identity as moral creatures but also our belief in: 1) this life as a test (ethics indicate a test) and 2) the existence of God (i.e., an objective test-grader) Who in the after-life, will reward or punish us based on our performance of the test.

1.1. Hence the reason humans suffer guilt, depression and mental illness, b/c we as moral creatures sense our failures in relation to the test we instinctively know exists (Deu 28:20, 28).

1.2. The Moral Test argument cannot be refuted nor should anyone want to refute it given the other options: 1) this life is the only life or 2) everyone goes to heaven makes all suffering and evil meaningless and unbearably cruel (Deu 28:34 “you will be driven mad by what you see”).

1.3. Support: (Rom 1:18-21; Luk 20:35; Rev 3:4-5; Jam 1:12 [Hence Jam 1:1-3]; Psa 62:12 Pro 24:12; Mat 16:27; Joh 5:28-30; Rom 2:6, 14:12; 1Co 3:13; 2Co 5:10; Eph 6:8; Col 3:25; Rev 2:23, 20:12, 22:12).

RELIGION

2. The principles (i.e. rules for the test) established by God’s Word and gospel is the only ancient system of morality (i.e., religion) that creates true equity in the world. 

2.1. There are two important things to consider when determining the rules of the test:

2.1.1. He is there and not silent. 

It is only reasonable to assume that when God created humanity, He provided them with the rules to the test – i.e., the system of morality (religion) they would need to follow to pass the test. 

2.1.2. Ancient is better. 

Given the correspondence between time and corruption - or the fact that the reliability of something diminishes the further you move from its point of origin, those religions closest to the beginning of Creation would therefore be the most likely to possess an accurate record. Two of the oldest possessing a record of rules are: 1) the religion of the Babylonians (Code of Hammurabi [18th century BC]), 2) the religion of the Hebrews/Jews (Mosaic Code [15th century BC]).[1]

2.2. Though the similarities between these two ancient religions confirm prior oral tradition (the laws originally given to Adam and Eve were passed down to Noah and his sons and their descendants)[2], only the Mosaic Code establishes the same moral expectations and justice for all people without discrimination due to status, health or race (Deu 16:20; Num 15:16. IOW: it is the only ancient religion that truly establishes equity (or love – Lev 19:15-18).   

GOSPEL

3. The only way human beings have ever received salvation (i.e., passed the test/avoiding failing the test) is by entering into a marriage covenant with God (i.e., by marrying Jesus)[3]. 

Support: (Jer 31:31-32 w/Jud 1:5)

4. Because the way we get saved is through entering into a marriage covenant with Jesus: 

4.1. Gaining that relationship has always required a faith-pledge of our allegiance - i.e., our solemn promise to obey the latest version/application of Jesus’ moral law (e.g., 1Co 5:1-5 versus Lev 20:11) and observe its associated covenant signs (“clean laws”)[4]. 

Support: (Deu 32:51)[5]

Covenant signs associated w/our faith-pledge in our human marriages = Wedding rings exchanged at the time of our vows (our faith-pledge of allegiance to one another)

Covenant signs (CS) associated w/our faith-pledge in our marriage to Jesus:

4.1.1. Adamic and Noahic Covenants (Gen 6:9 “Noah walked with God) = Most likely indicating that pledges or vows of allegiance have been taken and that the respective parties have entered into a covenant relationship with one another – (Consider for example, Amo 3:3 “Can two walk together unless they are in agreement?” = Context is that of covenant agreement); CS = Animal sacrifice (Gen 3:21 ,8:20). 

4.1.2. Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 15:6); CS = Animal sacrifice and circumcision (Gen 17:1-14) = The obligation to obedience being communicated by God is not new to Abe. No doubt this is what Abe originally committed to in his pledge of faith. Seeing however that this is what his new “sign in [the] flesh” is meant to communicate, necessitates its rehearsal by God.

4.1.3. Old Covenant (Exo 24:7-8); CS = Animal sacrifice, circumcision, separation and sabbaths. In the NT these are referred to as “the works of the law”(Exo 31:13).

4.1.4. New Covenant (1Pe 1:2 w/3:21 “appeal to God”) = Pledge of allegiance; CS = Baptism and the Lords Table.

4.2. Maintaining that relationship has always required faithfulness to our prior faith-pledge of allegiance.

Support: Human marriage = Unfaithfulness leads to divorce (Mat 5:32); Marriage to Jesus = Unfaithfulness likewise leads to divorce/apostasy (Heb 10:26-30, 12:14-17; Isa 50:1; Jer 3:38; 1Co 10:1-12 [5-6 and 11-12]) = The only way the OC Jews can serve as an example w/respect to NC salvation is if the same consequences suffered by them for unfaithfulness can also be suffered by us. 

5. To simply say that people under the OC gained their salvation by observing the OC clean laws erroneously implies they were only necessary – or needed to be observed at the initial point of a person’s salvation. 

Reductio Absurdum: no bacon on the Israelite’s burger the day they got saved, but after that it was okay.

6. That a bi-partite distinction exists within God’s Word and that it is the OT covenant signs that Paul is opposed to when speaking of the end of the Law (Rom 10:4) is not only confirmed by their proximity to the phrase “works of the law” (e.g., the mention of circumcision in Rom 3:28-30 where Paul also states that we are “justified by faith apart from the works of the law”), but also what Paul says in (1Co 7:19 “circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, what matters is keeping the commands of God” ).

7. Though they may look different in application, the principles established by the moral commands of the OT remain in full force today as confirmed not only by their repeated mention in the New Testament, but also the principle of stare decisis.[6]  

7.1. In re: to repeat: (Rom 13:9) “if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” = Love is accomplished through obedience to God’s moral commands (w/Gal 5:13-14) “through love serve one another…the whole Law is fulfilled…in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” = Paul’s command to love is a repeat of the second greatest commandment which requires observance of all God’s moral commands to accomplish [again, Rom 13]).

7.2. In re: to stare decisis: (e.g., 1Co 6:18) = Unless I am willing to think that only sex with a prostitute (v16) constitutes immorality, I need the OT to determine the scope of the crime which means the moral commands established in the OT remain authoritative. 

 [1] The distinction between these two religions is the different path taken by the sons of Noah and their descendants: 1) the descendants of Ham and Japheth who rebelled against God (Gen 10:1-11:9 = The Tower of Babel, the Babylonians), and 2) the descendants of Shem who continued following God (Gen 11:10-35:29 = Abraham, ...

Why we are discussing these kinds of subjects = So that we are viewing of our world in the same way Jesus and those living in the ancient near east (the bible’s authors) viewed their world since this is not only the real world but also vital to proper biblical interpretation (or the avoidance of projecting on the text/reading into the text our modern ideas and assumptions [eisegesis] – e.g., Gen 2:18-20). 

 “It would be dishonest of us to claim that the biblical writers read and understood the text the way we do as modern people, or intended meanings that conform to theological systems created centuries after the text was written. Our context is not their context. The proper context for interpreting the Bible is …not the modern world at all, or any period of its history. The proper context is the context of the biblical writers-the context that produced the Bible…The biblical context was produced by men who lived in the ancient near east (ANE). Seeing the Bible through the eyes of an ancient reader [therefore] requires shedding the filters of our [modern] traditions and presumptions. They processed life in supernatural terms.” – Michael S. Heiser (The Unseen Realm)

Doorstep theory (def.,): Many of those currently living today (2024) will witness the return of Jesus (i.e., we are living on the “doorstep” of Jesus’ return) (Mat 24:32-35).

1. What makes this kind of claim (theory) provocative or (once more) fringe?

1.1. The great number of people who misunderstand what Jesus taught regarding knowledge of His return: 

1.1.1. They think Jesus taught that the time of His return was unknown (even to Him) (Mat 24:36, 25:13; Mar 13:32-33).

1.1.2. Though Jesus did say we cannot know the exact day or hour, such statements were made in the context of telling His disciples what to look for as the sure-fire signs that His return was imminent (or would take place during the lifetime of many who witnessed them; again Mat 24:32-34; Mar 13:29). IOW: we may not know the exact day or hour, but we can be confident with respect to a small window of years (Mat 24:22). 

1.2. The great number of people who fail to consider that Jesus gave such sure-fire signs so that those living at the time of His return would be prepared.

1.2.1. (Mat 24:42-51) = Those who are ignorant – or not convinced that Jesus’ return is imminent run the risk of falling away or being found unfaithful when He comes. 

1.2.2. We as a church would therefore be foolish to avoid discussing such things if the evidence of these sure-fire signs seem to be present in our time.

2. What are the reasons for believing that we may be on the doorstep of Jesus’ return? Four sure-fire signs have been confirmed:

2.1. We are living less than ten years away from the 7th or Sabbath millenium.

Per God’s perspective and plan, each millennium represents one of the days of Creation. As such, the time the world will end and Messiah will return is on the Sabbath -or the beginning (seventh) millennium (i.e., 6,000 years after the 1st day of Creation).[2] We will officially enter the Sabbath or seventh millennium in 2033/34. 

Support for saying Jesus will return during the Sabbath millennium which begins in 2033/34:

2.1.1. Peter confirms this as God’s view (2Pe 3:8). 

2.1.2. The context of Peter’s words (in 2Pe 3) is Jesus’ return and the end of human history (2Pe 3:1-10). 

2.1.3. Peter confirmed 2033/34 as the year we enter the Sabbath millennium in his preaching on Pentecost. 

(Act 2:17-20) = Peter’s divinely inspired interpretation of Joel 2:28 as “And it shall be in the last days” indicates that the IPO of the indwelling Spirit marks the beginning of the final two millennia before the Sabbath millennium/time of Christ’s return. Why? 1) Peter indicates there will be plural days [or millennia] before the end – or Christ’s return (17, “last days”). 2) At the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we were already somewhere in the range of 4,000 years – which means Peter’s reference cannot be more than two. 

This puts Jesus’ return somewhere around 2033/34 (or two thousand years after Christian Pentecost which took place in 33/34 A.D.).

2.1.4. Ancient Jewish tradition also taught this view (e.g., Talmud, Midrash literature).

2.2. Satan’s global misinformation campaign has begun and been successful.

(Rev 20:7-8a) = One thousand years after Satan’s incarceration in the abyss - or the advent of the church age (Rev 19:1-20:6), the dimensional portal will be opened allowing him to “deceive the nations” into thinking they are worshipping Jesus - when in reality, they have embraced false gospels and gods.

Support for saying that Satan has been released and poisoned the world w/false versions of Christianity and the gospel:

2.2.1. The official start of the false Christian religions of Roman Catholicism (RC) and Eastern Orthodoxy (EO) happened almost exactly 1,000 years (11th century Great Schism) after the establishment of Christ’s church on earth (Rev 20:7).

2.2.2. In fulfillment of Peter’s words, Martin Luther twisted the words of Paul and invented the FAG leading to the equally false  Protestant Reformation (16th century) (2Pe 3:15-17) = As before, the context of these verses is the end of human history/the return of Christ.

2.2.3. False Christianity is now not only the predominant form of Christianity in the world but also the largest group of people on the planet. Almost 3 billion human beings (37.5% of all humanity) claim to be Christian according to some version of its main three false religions (PR, RC, EO).

2.3. The FAG has become the dominant gospel and those not adhering to it are heavily persecuted. 

(Mat 24:8[3]-13) = The gospel being preached by the “false prophets” just before Christ’s return will be antinomian in nature (it will amount to “lawlessness”). IOW: obedience to God’s Law will be considered “nice but no longer necessary.” This lawless/antinomian gospel will also be the dominant gospel of the day. Hence the reason it “mislead many” (not few) causing “many” to “fall away and betray one another and hate another” (i.e., violate their covenant allegiance to Christ and/or His people, the church). 

The desire for this gospel to remain dominant will also cause its lawless recipients to heavily persecute those who preach against it and lay siege to those remaining vestiges of God’s divine council on earth (Jud 1:8-10 w/14-15 = Rejection of the church’s DC/authority will also characterize the time just before Jesus’ return). 

Support for saying the FAG gospel has become dominant and the authority of Christ’s churches and gospel are rejected and reviled: 

2.3.1. The FAG is now a part of all popular versions of Christianity around the world - including RC/EO. 

IOW: Most – including those in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, teach some version of the FAG in that obedience is nice but not ultimately necessary to that person getting to heaven.

2.3.2. It is currently hard (impossible?) to find churches teaching a gospel where obedience to all of God’s Law is necessary to be saved (Rev 20:8-9) “surrounded the camp of the saints” = Indicates that Christ’s churches - or those covenant community embracing the true gospel, will (at that time) be few in number and therefore easily outnumbered (“surrounded”) by those in Satan’s false gospel (FAG) churches. 

2.3.3. The Evangelical church’s rejection o...

1. The focus must be on God and His work not us or ours. 

1.1. (Eph 5:19, “singing…to the Lord”; Col 3:16 “singing… to God”) 

1.2. Too many songs in MCW (modern Christian worship) are guilty of placing the focus on us (what we are feeling, doing or going to do for God) w/very little – to no communication in respect to God (Who He is and what He has done or is doing). IOW: they are heavy on us and light on God.[4] 

1.3. Compare: 1) (Psa 8, 46) = Words focused on God: Who He is and what He has done.[5] 2) Crown Him With Many Crowns (“the Lamb upon the throne…Awake my soul and sing of Him Who died for Me; And hail Him as they matchless King thru all eternity…Crown Him the Lord of heaven; One with the Father known…His glories now we sing; Who died and rose on high; Who died eternal life to bring; And lives that death may die.”) = The focus is on God (Jesus): Who He is and what He has done (not us or what we are going to do).

to [Last week’s top 20 worship songs, CCLI]: 1) I Speak Jesus (“I just wanna speak the name of Jesus, Over every heart and every mind, Cause I know there is peace within Your Presence, I speak Jesus, I just wanna speak Jesus”) = The focus of this song is what we are going to do – not Jesus or His work. 2) How Great Is Our God (“sing with me, how great is our God and then the world will see how great is our God…name above all names worthy of all praise, my heart will sing…”) = Besides being entirely about what we are doing or singing (we are the primary acting agent), the song makes no mention of Who God is or what He has done or is doing, nor speaks any of words directly to God. Consider also [the 7 top cliches in MCW]: 1) I want you, 2) I need you, 3) I lift you up, 4) I lay it down, 5) I’m in awe, 6) I’m alive in you, 7) I am living for you. = All focused on us as the primary acting agent.

1.4. PNTM: We are here to sing to God – or about God not ourselves (i.e., bows not vows is how we give praise to God).[6]

2. The words (and music) must communicate God as our King not our girlfriend.

2.1. (Eph 5:19) “Lord” = A term used to confer majesty to those in positions of authority. Our songs must therefore communicate this majesty. IOW: the songs we sing must sound like an expression of majesty to a king versus a solicitation for intimacy with our girlfriend. 

2.2. Example: All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name (“All hail the power of Jesus’ name let angels prostrate fall, to Him ascribe all majesty and crown Him Lord of all, to Him all majesty ascribe and crown Him Lord of all!”).

2.3. Compare: The Secret Place by Phil Wickham (“Where are you going to run my soul…How you gonna keep this flame alive…In the fading light when night is breaking, I know you will always be waiting, You’ll always be there, I running to the secret place. Where you are…you stole my heart, stole my heart. Better is a moment I spend with you…I’m running, I’m running to the secret place.”). 

to The Secret Place by RC Sproul (“He who dwells within His most secret place, Is never far from His blessed grace…The secret place of God Most High, The shadow of our Mighty King, The dwelling place where angels cry, Is where our praise will forever ring.”).

2.4. Examples from other MCW songs: 1) “Capture my heart again, your love is extravagant, your friendship, intimate.” (Your Love Is Extravagant by Casting Crowns), 2) “As I feel your touch, you bring a freedom to all that is within.” (Pour Out My Heart by Craig Musseau), 3) “A sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside my chest.” (How He Loves – John Mark McMillan), 4) “Lay back against you and breath, hear your heartbeat, this love is so deep, it’s more than I can stand” (The More I Seek You - Kari Jobe), 5) “We’re going all the way, and the wonder of it all is that I’m living just to fall more in love with you.” (Deeper ’99  by Delirious) 

2.5. It is not just a song’s lyrics that can make us be guilty of treating God like our girlfriend. It can also be the music. Does the music [melody etc.,] make you feel like God is your king or your lover? Does it sound more like the Michigan Wolverine’s fight song, Hail To The Victors! or Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On?

2.6. PNTM: what we sing and how it sounds must be majestic. If it doesn’t feel majestic, then we probably shouldn’t be singing it. 

“Care must always be taken that the song be neither light nor frivolous, but that it have weight and majesty.” – John Calvin 

“There is a great difference between music which one makes to entertain men at table and in their houses, and the [songs] which are sung in the Church in the presence of God and his angels.”- St. Augustine

3. Songs must also communicate rich wisdom and theology that will aid in the congregation’s spiritual formation and fortitude. 

3.1. (Col 3:16) “Let the word of Christ [or early manuscript version: the Lord] richly dwell within you [in] all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” = Because of its large biblical content, our congregational singing should represent the first sermon of our church service. Our worship in song should feel like “the meal before the main course.”

3.2. With the exception of the Getty’s (and a few other modern hymn writers), the wisdom and theology found in most MCW is extremely lacking or completely non-existent. 

"Too often today the church serves up affective sentiments without much care for the discipline of the Word." - R. Kent Hughes

“One of the saddest features of contemporary worship is that [it is filled with] trite jingles that have more in common with contemporary advertising ditties than with [God’s inspired music], the Psalms. The problem here is not so much the style of the music, though trite words fit best with trite tunes and harmonies. Rather the problem is with the content of the songs…Today’s songs reflect our shallow or nonexistent theology and do almost nothing to elevate one’s thoughts about God.” – James Montgomery Boice

“Many American evangelicals continue to exhibit a considerable gap between the materials they sing and the theology they preach. They confess to believe in a transcendent God who is above all creation, yet they sing few [songs] which properly reveal God’s excellences. Some congregations expect “strong meat” in biblical preaching but seem to be satisfied with “milk” or even lollipops in song.” – Donald Hustad

3.4. MCW Examples: Oceans by Hillsong (“You call me out upon the waters; The great unknown where feet may fail; And there I find You in the mystery; In oceans deep my faith will stand, I will call upon Your Name; And keep my eyes above the waves; When oceans rise; My soul will rest in Your embrace; For I am Yours and You are mine; Your grace abounds in deepest waters; Your sovereign hand will be my guide; Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me; You’ve never failed and You won’t start now; Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders; Let me walk upon the waters; Wherever You would call me; Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander; And my faith will be made stronger; In the presence of my Saviour; I will call upon Your Name; Keep my eyes above the waves; My soul will rest in Your e...

Why we are discussing these kinds of subjects = So that we are viewing of our world in the same way Jesus and those living in the ancient near east (the bible’s authors) viewed their world since this is not only the real world but also vital to proper biblical interpretation (or the avoidance of projecting on the text/reading into the text our modern ideas and assumptions [eisegesis] – e.g., Gen 2:18-20). 

 “It would be dishonest of us to claim that the biblical writers read and understood the text the way we do as modern people, or intended meanings that conform to theological systems created centuries after the text was written. Our context is not their context. The proper context for interpreting the Bible is …not the modern world at all, or any period of its history. The proper context is the context of the biblical writers-the context that produced the Bible…The biblical context was produced by men who lived in the ancient near east (ANE). Seeing the Bible through the eyes of an ancient reader [therefore] requires shedding the filters of our [modern] traditions and presumptions. They processed life in supernatural terms.” – Michael S. Heiser (The Unseen Realm)

Divine council (def.,): a heavenly assembly of beings who have been deputized by God to function as His vice-regents on earth governing and judging the nations on His behalf.

1. Biblical evidence of their existence 

(Psa 82:1-8)

(1) “God (Heb., elohim [singular – see underlined] = Divine being/God) takes His stand taking His stand(participle -singular) in His own the divine (Heb., be el = the divine [See ESV], e.g., el shaddai = God of the mountain, Gen 35:11) congregation (or council); He judges in the midst of the rulers (or gods) (Heb., elohim [plural – see verse 2], “you” [plural] = Divine beings/Gods/gods). See also verse 6, “I said, ‘you are gods’” (again, elohim). 

2. Who are the plural elohim that make up this divine council? After considering the possible options, there is only one that meets all the biblical tests: the anointed priests and levites (judges) of the covenant community.[2]  

3. What are the practical implications and application associated with the God’s divine council being the priests and levites in Christ’s churches (the New Covenant community)?

3.1. Deacons/officers are a part of the DC by proxy (i.e., they are deputized not anointed, e.g., Korah the levite - Num 16:3 “we are all holy” [anointed]) (Deu 21:5 [priests are judges] w/2Sa 15:1-4 and 2Ch 26:21 [kings are judges] = Deu 17:8-9) = The king and priests are the anointed judges in the CC (high court judges or divines[3]). Levites and the heads of households help the king and priests in judging. They are the low court judges (2Ch 19:8). They have been deputized to represent the high court judges – i.e., the divine council or council possessing divines or those w/divine authority/anointing (Deu 16:18 “judge the people…tribes…in all your towns”; “judging ones [participle; the wise heads of household in each tribe[4]] and officers” [Levites] versus 17:8-9 “if any… cases of dispute” are “too difficult…then you shall arise and go to…the Levitical priests and judge” [priests and king/the anointed/divines]; NC = Pastors and deacons, Isa 66:21 [priests and deacons selected as heads of their households] w/1Ch 17:6 “the judges of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd My people”).

3.2. Jesus confirms that the NC possesses a DC just like the OC which means there is supernatural authority, power, protection and guidance in our church that Jesus Himself backs up or supports – which is what makes it a divine council issuing divine judgments: 

1) (Mat 18:15-16) = [Deu 16:18, 17:6], 

2) (Mat 18:17a) = [Deu 17:8], 

3) (Mat 18:17b-20) = [Deu 17:9-12].

3.3. The way God perfectly cares for and leads His people to heaven is through the fallible and fallen leadership of His DC which means: 

1) though fallible and fallen, God’s DC can judge/rule with justice (or equity) and righteousness (e.g., 2Sa 8:15). 

2) unless it can be disproven to the congregation, our default position as a congregation should be to view the decisions and judgments made by our DC as coming directly from God (Pro 16:10; 2Co 1:21 w/4:6-7; Consider also 1Ti 3:1-16 = The P+D are what make the church the pillar and buttress [fortress] of truth; Mat 10:40 and 18:19-20; Act 15:22). 

3.4. Anyone who thinks the church possesses no DC (i.e., no human judges w/divine authority): 

1) is ignorant of the Scriptures and God’s power (in the church) (Mat 22:29).

2) has not considered the implications of such thinking w/respect to not only the preservation of justice and righteousness in the church but protection from demons and demonic influence (e.g., how many of us wb okay w/getting rid of the American judicial system which appoints secular men as judges w/final authority in relation to laws and issues of justice? If we deem them necessary to procuring the aforementioned things in this country, why would the same not be necessary for the church? [1Co 6:3-4]. Do we not view the secular judges as possessing authority from God? [Rom 13:1] Then why not those leaders in the church?). 

3) are more than likely rebels who despise such authority or judges since they are a threat to their wicked way of life (Pro 21:15). 

3.5. The church’s DC will be under stricter judgment by God and so should be careful in their decisions and judgments to make sure they are always promoting justice and preserving equity (Deu 16:20; Jam 3:1; the result of such carefulness wb the ignorant/disobedient viewing many of their decisions/policies as petty or unrighteous – e.g., late = absent; Pro 28:5).

3.6. Understanding that the DC in the church is actually referred to as elohim, brings further clarity and certainty to why insubordination or insurrection amounts to apostasy from God (Deu 17:9-12 [Num 15:30-31; Deu 29:18-20] w/Mat 18:17b-20 [Mat 12:32]; Mat 10:14-15; Rom 13:2 w/5; the crayon-eaters dilemma = When you refuse or reject the counsel of the DC, you have pushed your case to God on J-Day – which allows for no recourse/redemption after judgment).

3.7. It makes sense that the DC of the church will be involved in the final judgment of those who were a part of their congregation given they will also be involved in the judgment of those angels who caused their office and congregation pain and distress (1Co 6:3 = Those angels who caused trouble to the CC over which that DC was responsible. The righteous angels will face no judgment; Heb 13:17; Hence why then even the archangel Michael chose never to speak against the DC – Jud 8-9; Consider the context of Jude: humans treading where no angel would dare to tread; 1Th 5:12-13 “live in peace w/one another” = CC w/their DC; Num 12:1 w/9-10).

3.8. The existence of a DC in the church means that though Jesus has left us for heaven, He has not left us as orphans (i.e., persons w/o a father – or one who through their vision and discernment, discipline and discipleship, provides them with the tools to prospering in this world and passing the eternal test). 

In the ANE, it was assumed that those w/o fathers were also those w/o the proper leadership in their lives to become wise or make wise decisions. Orphans – or those left as orphans, were as a result, often the idiots and crimina...

Why we are discussing these kinds of subjects = So that we are viewing of our world in the same way Jesus and those living in the ancient near east (the bible’s authors) viewed their world since this is not only the real world but also vital to proper biblical interpretation (or the avoidance of projecting on the text/reading into the text our modern ideas and assumptions [eisegesis] – e.g., Gen 2:18-20). 

 “It would be dishonest of us to claim that the biblical writers read and understood the text the way we do as modern people, or intended meanings that conform to theological systems created centuries after the text was written. Our context is not their context. The proper context for interpreting the Bible is …not the modern world at all, or any period of its history. The proper context is the context of the biblical writers-the context that produced the Bible…The biblical context was produced by men who lived in the ancient near east (ANE). Seeing the Bible through the eyes of an ancient reader [therefore] requires shedding the filters of our [modern] traditions and presumptions. They processed life in supernatural terms.” – Michael S. Heiser (The Unseen Realm)

Previously discussed: Dimensional portals (def.,): doors or gates and their accompanying bridges connecting the immaterial/spiritual/supernatural world to the material/physical/natural world allowing those with access, the ability to travel or send/receive things from one dimension (or realm) to the other (e.g., Rev 4:1 “door” = Portal; Consider also 2Co 12:2 – Like John, Paul most likely travelled through a dimensional portal). BIG TAKEAWAY: In Christ’s churches, we have access to a heavenly portal that allows us to give and receive from God those persons (e.g., receive angels for help – Heb 1:14) and things (e.g., give praise to God, receive forgiveness through the sacraments – 1Pe 3:21; Joh 13:5-15 [context is the LT – v26]) important to our saving relationship with Him. 

Divine council (def.,): a heavenly assembly of beings who have been deputized by God to function as His vice-regents on earth governing and judging the nations on His behalf.[2]

1. Biblical evidence of their existence 

(Psa 82:1-8)

(1) “God (Heb., elohim [singular – see underlined] = Divine being/God) takes His stand taking His stand(participle -singular) in His own the divine (Heb., be el = the divine [See ESV], e.g., el shaddai = God of the mountain, Gen 35:11) congregation (or council); He judges in the midst of the rulers (or gods) (Heb., elohim [plural – see verse 2], “you” [plural] = Divine beings/Gods/gods). See also verse 6, “I said, ‘you are gods’” (again, elohim). [3]

2. Who are the plural elohim that make up this divine council? Considering the options:

2.1.  other members of the Trinity (Jesus and the Holy Spirit) (Heb 1:8; Act 5:3-5)

Why this is not a viable option: God not only condemns the elohim (“rulers”) of verse 1b of judging unjustly and walking in darkness but also promises they will one day “die like men” because of such behavior (2-7). 

2.2. other deities (or the gods of other religions) 1) (Exo 20:3; 1Ki 11:33) 

Why this is not a viable option: Other deities do not exist (Deu 4:35, 39; Isa 45:5-6)

2.3. Dead people – particularly dead saints (1Sa 28:13) 

Why this is not a viable option:  1) Dead people play no role in governing or judging the affairs of those currently living (2-4). 2) Though communication with or by them is possible, God strictly prohibits such interaction as punishable by death (Lev 20:27). 

2.4. Angelic beings  (the view of Michael Heiser)

Specifically: Satan and the other fallen angels who are identified as “sons of God” before His throne (Job 1-2) and are responsible not only for the Fall but mating with humanity and promoting global rebellion against God leading to the Flood (Gen 6 w/1Enoch 6-11). God placed these demons over the Gentile nations as their divine council (or spiritual authorities) after their rebellion at Babel (Deu 32:8-9 w/17 = “Sons of Israel” sb “sons of God” referring to “demons”, who inherited the Table of “Nations” as God’s judgment against the Gentiles for the Tower of Babel event [Gen 10-11]). God’s rebuke and condemnation of this council in Psalm 82 is the result of their poor oversight. Though wicked they were still expected to rule righteously.

Why this is not a viable option: 

1) God never gives angels authority positions over humans – including archangels (Jud 8-9). Rather, it is humans who function as judges (rulers) over the angels (1Co 6:3). Angels exist to serve humans – specifically, those inheriting salvation (Heb 1:14). [4] 

2) The idea that angels had sex with women infers not only that angels have the ability to procreate. Yet Jesus makes it clear that angels possess no such capability given they lack the proper context for such activity, marriage (Mat 22:30). To assume sexual activity were possible by angels is to therefore equally accuse God of sin – or providing moral creatures with natural desires and capabilities that possess no righteous application or solution. The fact that giants existed after the global flood (Gen 6:4) lends additional support. They are the mutated offspring of men – not angels[5].    

3) Viewing the word “nations” in Deuteronomy 32 as a reference to the 70 nations of Genesis 10 is not only a false assumption – one leading directly to Heiser’s change of the phrase “sons of Israel” (MT) to “sons of God” (DSS), but a failure in reading comprehension.[6] 

The entire context and focus of the Deuteronomy 32 (Moses’ Song) is God’s inheritance for the people of Israel, a group made up of twelve nations (Gen 17:4-6 w/16) which means the phrase, “sons of Israel” found in the MT is correct. 

Regarding the reference to “demons” in (v17), Moses is simply recounting the idolatrous acts of the first generation (e.g., Exo 32:1-6; Lev 17:7; Act 7:43 [Amo 5:26-27]) since this is what prohibited them from receiving or realizing this land inheritance.  

4) Jesus applies (6) to humans not angels (Joh 10:34 = Jesus’ defense only makes sense if the Jews understood Psalm 82 – including verse 6, as referring to humans). 

2.5. the anointed priests/judges of the covenant community (Deu 17:8-9 w/Deu 21:5 = Priests/levites are the judges in the CC)

1) the place where the elohim carry out their office as rulers/judges is on earth (not heaven), the same place as the priests/judges of the covenant community (1-4; hence why God will also judge them on the earth – v8 “Arise O God, judge [the unrighteous judges] on the earth for it is You [God] who possesses [owns] all the nations”).

2) the judges (priests and levites) of the covenant community are also referred to as elohim (e.g., Exo 21:6 [See “God” Fn]; Exo 22:8-9).

3) the word translated “earth” in (5,8 [eretz]) can also be translated as land - as in the land of Israel (i.e., the covenant community) (e.g., 2Ki 5:2 “land” [eretz]).

4) the word translated “nations” in (8) can refer to the tribes of Israel (i.e., the covenant community) (e.g., again Gen 17:4-6).

5) The predominant concern and scope of Scripture is justice in the covenant community and among its leaders – not the other leaders or nations. To therefore assign a context bigger than God’s people to Psalm 82 (as Heiser does – the 70 nations of the Gentiles from Gen 10-11), is to assume an interpretive position or approach contra...

“It would be dishonest of us to claim that the biblical writers read and understood the text the way we do as modern people, or intended meanings that conform to theological systems created centuries after the text was written. Our context is not their context. The proper context for interpreting the Bible is …not the modern world at all, or any period of its history. The proper context is the context of the biblical writers-the context that produced the Bible…The biblical context was produced by men who lived in the ancient near east (ANE). Seeing the Bible through the eyes of an ancient reader [therefore] requires shedding the filters of our [modern] traditions and presumptions. They processed life in supernatural terms.” – Michael S. Heiser (The Unseen Realm)

Previously discussed: Dimensional portals (def.,): doors or gates and their accompanying bridges connecting the immaterial/spiritual/supernatural world to the material/physical/natural world allowing those with access, the ability to travel or send/receive things from one dimension (or realm) to the other (e.g., Rev 4:1 “door” = Portal; Consider also 2Co 12:2 – Like John, Paul most likely travelled through a dimensional portal). BIG TAKEAWAY: In Christ’s churches, we have access to a heavenly portal that allows us to give and receive from God those persons (e.g., receive angels for help – Heb 1:14) and things (e.g., give praise to God, receive forgiveness through the sacraments – 1Pe 3:21; Joh 13:5-15 [context is the LT – v26]) important to our saving relationship with Him. 

Divine council (def.,): a heavenly assembly of beings who have been deputized by God to function as His vice-regents on earth governing and judging the nations on His behalf.[1]

1. Biblical evidence of their existence 

(Psa 82:1-8)

(1) “God (Heb., elohim [singular – see underlined] = Divine being/God) takes His stand ([participle -singular], “taking His stand) in His own the divine (Heb., be el = the divine [See ESV], e.g., el shaddai = God of the mountain, Gen 35:11) congregation (or council); He judges in the midst of the rulers (Heb., elohim [plural – see verse 2], “you” [plural] = Divine beings/Gods/gods; See also verse 6, “I said, ‘you are gods’” [again, elohim]). [2]

2. Who are the plural elohim that make up this divine council? Considering the options:

2.1.  other members of the Trinity (Jesus and the Holy Spirit) (Heb 1:8; Act 5:3-5)

Why this is not a viable option: God not only condemns the elohim (“rulers”) of verse 1b of judging unjustly and walking in darkness but also promises they will one day “die like men” because of such behavior (2-7). 

2.2. other deities (or the gods of other religions) 1) (Exo 20:3) “You shall have no other gods (elohim) before Me”, 2) (1Ki 11:33) “Ashtoreth the goddess (elohim) of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god (elohim) of Moab, and Milcom the god (elohim) of the sons of Ammon.”

Why this is not a viable option: (Deu 4:35, 39; Isa 45:5-6)

2.3. Dead people – particularly dead saints (1Sa 28:13) [in reference to Samuel the witch of En-dor says],“I see a god (elohim) coming up out of the earth.” 

Why this is not a viable option:  1) Dead people play no role in governing or judging the affairs of those currently living (2-4). 2) Though communication with or by them is possible (e.g., besides 1Sa 28:13, see also Isa 29:4), God strictly prohibits such interaction as punishable by death (Lev 20:27). 

2.4. Angelic beings 

1) (Psa 8:5) “gods” [elohim] translated as “angels” in (Heb 2:7); (6) “I said, ‘You are gods (elohim), and all of you sons of the Most High (a reference to God) = elohim are sons of God w/(Job 1:6) “sons of God” (elohim) which included “Satan” who exists as part of the angelic class known as Watchers/archangels [Dan 4][3] or cherubim [Isa 28]). In the case of Psalm 82, fallen watchers/cherubim -i.e., demons, hence the rebuke and condemnation of (2-7). This is the view of Dr. Michael Heiser.[4] Included in Heiser’s view, is the belief that the global flood was the result of Satan and his fallen watchers/cherubim having sexual relations w/human women (which produced the Nephilim or giants) and convincing humanity to (once more) rebel against God. Heiser’s view comes from an Enochian understanding of (Gen 6:1-4).

“The divine transgression before the flood is retold in several Jewish texts from the intertestamental period. At least one has the divine offenders coming to earth to ‘fix’ the mess that was humankind—to provide direction and leadership through their knowledge. They were trying to help, but once they had assumed flesh, they failed to resist its urges. The more common version of events, one with a more sinister flavor, is found in 1 Enoch 6–11…The story begins very much like Genesis 6: “And when the sons of men had multiplied, in those days, beautiful and comely daughters were born to them. And the watchers, the sons of heaven, saw them and desired them. And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us choose for ourselves wives from the daughters of men, and let us beget for ourselves children’…The offspring of the Watchers (sons of God) in 1 Enoch were giants (1 Enoch 7)…But what does it all mean? Why is Genesis 6:1–4 in the Bible? What was its theological message? Yes, there were giants, renowned men, both before and after the flood (Gen 6:4). But those offspring and their knowledge were not of the true God—they were the result of rebellion against Yahweh by lesser divine beings. Genesis 6:1–4, portrays…a horrific transgression and, even worse, the catalyst that spread corruption throughout humankind. Genesis 6:5 is essentially a summary of the effect of the transgression. It gets little space—it’s a restrained account. The later Second Temple Jewish literature goes after it full bore. First Enoch 8 goes on to elaborate how certain watchers corrupted humankind by means of forbidden knowledge.” – Heiser (ibid)

“They [the Watchers] became servants of Satan and led astray those who dwell upon the dry ground” (1 Enoch 54:6)… “These are the Watchers (Grigori), who turned aside from the Lord, 200 myriads, together with their prince Satan(ail)”(2 Enoch 18:3). 

2) (Deu 32:8-9 w/17) “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, When He separated the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the sons of Israel” (Masoretic Text) – versus “sons of God” (elohim) (Dead Sea Scrolls) = A reference to God giving over the 70 nations of Genesis 10 (the “table of nations”) to Enoch’s watchers (the “demons” of verse 17) due to the people’s rebellion at the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9). It is therefore also these individuals that God is rebuking and condemning in (2-7). Though fallen, the demons were still expected to exercise righteous judgment.

“Deuteronomy 32:8–9 describes how Yahweh’s dispersal of the nations at Babel resulted in his disinheriting those nations as his people. This is the Old Testament equivalent of Romans 1:18–25, a familiar passage wherein God ‘gave [humankind] over’ to their persistent rebellion. The statement in Deuteronomy 32:9 that ‘the LORD’s [i.e., Yahweh’s] portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage’ tips us off that a contrast in affection and ownership is intended. Yahweh in effect decided that the people of the world’s nations were no longer going to be in relationship to him. He would begin anew. He would enter into covenant relationship with a new people that did not yet exist: Israel. The implicat...

1. Easter is also known as “Resurrection Sunday” since it marks the day Jesus Christ became the first person to experience resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection is also the reason God’s people corporately worship God on Sunday rather than Saturday (Rom 6:9; 1 Co 15:20; Act 20:7 = Every Sunday is Resurrection Sunday). 

2. Jesus’ resurrection (to Paradise): 1) proved that He is the Divine Son of God (Rom 1:4 w/Joh 10:18), 2) means His sacrificial death was sufficient to propitiate - or satisfy God’s requirements for cleansing the sins of His people and make them truly righteous before God the Father. As such, the temporary injunction of animal sacrifices (“pass-over atonement”) was forever canceled (Rom 3:23-25, 4:25 w/Heb 10:10-17; also Mat 1:21).   

3. No one since Jesus has experienced resurrection since: 1) the son of the Shunammite woman, the widows’ sons, Lazarus, Dorcas, and Eutychus experienced resuscitations not resurrections given they died again (1Ki 7:17-23; 2 Ki 4:18-37; Luk 7:12-15; Joh 11:39-44; Act 9:36-41, 20:9-10), 2) all those who have died in the past currently exist like God without physical/material bodies ([Due 4:15-18 w/Joh 4:24 w/Luk 24:39] w/1Co 15:20-23; 1Th 4:16-17; 2Co 5:8).

4. Every person who has ever lived will experience a resurrection at the return of Jesus to earth (Joh 5:28-29; Act 24:15 [Dan 12:2; Psa 11:7]).

5. Before Jesus’ resurrection, those who died went either to Abraham’s bosom (the temporary resting place of righteous disembodied spirits) or Hades (the temporary torturing place of wicked disembodied spirits) and neither could cross over to the other (Luk 16:19-26). 

6. After Jesus’ resurrection, those in Abraham’s bosom were allowed into heaven (their sins having been propitiated versus simply passed over) to fellowship w/the Trinity, the angels and the righteous disembodied spirits of those who die after Jesus’ resurrection (Heb 9:15-16 w/Eph 4:8-10; 2Co 5:8; Luk 23:43). 

7. Experiencing the resurrection of the wicked will: 1) be the fate of most human beings because they chose to love wickedness rather than put faith in and be faithful to Jesus during their earthly life (Mat 7:18-23; Luk 13:23-24; 2Th 2:1:5-9, 2:10-12, 2) be followed by God’s condemning judgment and then being tortured in a lake of fire everyday forever (Psa 11:4-6; Rev 20:11-15; 2Th 2:10-12; again Joh 5:28-29 and Dan 12:2).

8. Experiencing the resurrection of the righteous will: 1) be followed by God’s approving judgment then an eternal life of never sinning, suffering or being bored, as they will be forever equipped with superhuman bodies and forever occupied with discovering, developing and enjoying King Jesus’ perfect new - and infinite universe to His glory (Rev 21-22), 2) require not only pledging your allegiance to Jesus in this life through baptismal faith but then living in faithful obedience to those vows until you die or Jesus returns (1Pe 3:21; 1Jo 3:7-10; Luk 20:35 “those considered worthy to attain to the resurrection [of the righteous] w/Joh 5:29). 

9. We should not be surprised that people mock our belief in a future resurrection, the resurrection was as unpopular (a belief) in the ANE as it is today (e.g., Act 17:18 w/31-32). To not believe in a resurrection – most especially, the resurrection of Jesus, will eternally condemn you (1Co 15:1-4 “the gospel which I preached to you” w/Gal 1:6-9 “a different gospel…anathema”).

“Nobody in the pagan world of Jesus’ day and thereafter claimed that somebody had been truly dead and had then come to be truly, and bodily, alive once more.” - N.T. Wright (The Resurrection of the Son of God).

10. The fact that there will be a future resurrection not only confirms that this is not the only life we will live, but that the point of this very temporal life is to determine what version of eternal life we deserve (1Co 15:32).  

TODAY’S TAKEAWAY: GOD IS REAL. THIS LIFE IS THE TEST. GAIN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS AND THE RIGHTEOUS.

PHI 3:10-11

“10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

- 16:1, 5-13 = Divine blessing, confirmation, & guidance

**notice however, humble beginning

**notice also, God’s choice for ‘most likely to succeed’ v.7

16:18; 17:4-11, 26, 32-37, 45-47; 18:30 = Courageous, confident, & great leader (vs Saul hiding in the luggage), giving guarantees ahead of time. 

2. David demonstrates his righteous careful character through extreme trials.

18:10-11, 17, 19, 25, 19:6, 9-12, 18, 20:41-42, 21:13-22:2, 22:21-23 = Saul’s attempts to kill David -> Saul makes aggressive efforts to kill him, David loses one of his best friends, flees like a criminal, makes himself look insane, and Saul kills the priests in pursuing David.

*23:1-14 = stands up to his people, seeks God’s guidance

*24 = David’s test of sparing Saul’s life & standing up to his men. Attention to detail despite everything pointing to God’s deliverance.

*26 = David spares him again & again stands up to his men. 

*30 = David’s own peeps talk of stoning him. Seeking God through the situation is part of being righteous.

2Sa 1 & 4 = David continuing to respect the King’s office 

2Sa 7 = David’s covenant with God

8:15 = justice and equity

9:1-13 = David’s integrity

Character tests = Spares Saul’s life, is pressured by his men, is under threat of being stoned, David is reliant on God, trusts God, continues to pray to God (ref Psalms)

3. David saves his soul by submitting faithfully and quickly to God’s discipline.

2Sa 11 = David’s complacency leads to committing serious sin.

2Sa 12:1-25 = discipline (Psalm 51)

*Notice that David accepts what God uses to punish him. David doesn’t mope around.

*Ref David’s continued rapport with Nathan all the way into 1Kings

2Sa 15-18 Absalom’s rebellion and David’s response. 

David ends his life with the legacy of a man after God’s own heart intact, ‘faithful in all things’, (Act 13:22; 1Kings 15:3-5)

Concluding principles that come from comparing Saul & David’s life: 

1. What makes a man mighty in God’s eyes is not his ability to physically conquer but rather his commitment to carefully obeying God.

2. Response to discipline is a defining moment and test for people, possibly more than anything else.

3. Having the deck stacked in your favor is an indicator of future POTENTIAL, not future SUCCESS. 

New principles from David’s life

1. Complacency kills. (David’s comfy in his palace instead of going to battle, Pro 1:32) 

2. God expects us to respond righteously to authority even if/when they respond unrighteously. (Rom 13; 1Ti 5:19; 1Pe 3; Mat 5:38-41)

3. God expects us to be faithful, NOT perfect. 

4. Growing distant from church members and/or your pastor(s) after discipline is a huge red flag. (notice David’s continued comms with Nathan vs Saul)

5. God doesn’t hold grudges. (He will bless and work all things for good if you’ll just turn and be faithful to Him. e.g. God doesn’t desire the death of the wicked [Eze 18, 33], and uses Bathsheba to continue David’s bloodline)

6. God demands our attention to detail even under pressure. (David slows down when pressured to kill Saul, doesn’t violate God’s command about building the temple, etc. vs Saul’s compromise, or Moses’ rush to strike the rock)

7. God expects you to honor your covenants/keep your word even to your own detriment. (Psa 15:4; 1Sa 20:14-17 w/ 2Sa 21:1-2)

8. Your sin has consequences and God expects you to accept that and move on. (David’s life was characterized by trouble after what happens with Bathsheba, but he doesn’t complain about it) 

9. It’s important to be in your place when the fighting starts. (You don’t have to go sword to sword but do your part! This requires sacrifice, the good of the “ nation” over personal achievement/comfort. Don’t be someone who sits on the sideline or worse, thinks we shouldn’t be fighting)

Closing Contemplation: at the end of your life, will your choices reveal you to have been more like Saul or David?

1. Saul had all the potential to be a great king. 

9:1-2 = Rich upbringing & physical presence

10:1-10 = God’s blessing, confirmation, & guidance

10:17-24 = The approval of most of the people

11:1-2, 5-8, 11-15

- Saul was Israel’s yearbook selection for “Most likely to succeed”

- Think of this from their perspective and the way Scripture lays it out

2. Saul’s life falls apart because he refuses to change his character flaws.

2.1. Impulsive = 1Sa 13:5-14 – Saul’s wrong sacrifice

Notice Saul’s arrogance to take it on himself to sacrifice. (e.g. Uzziah doing the same becomes a leper for taking priestly duties upon himself 2Ch 26 – too big for your britches syndrome)

Notice Saul makes excuses for why he did it (I feared b/c the people were scared, and the Philistines were bearing down on me)

VERY interesting, v. 12 – word for “forced” is typically “Restrain, or control yourself”, Saul does the opposite by “restraining” his conscience and acting anyway. Rom 14:23

2.2. Impulsive, rash & arrogant = Saul’s vow. 1Sa 14:24, 27-33, 38-46, 52

Saul creates a far worse situation by taking a vow that no one required. One he didn’t think through and resulted in further wrongdoing (eating w/ the blood). Pro 19:2/Pro 15:28

2.3. Impulsive, inattention to detail, arrogance, and fear of man = 1Sa 15:1-3, 7-9, 10-24, 25-31

Notice Saul still believes he did it correctly. V.13 & TRIPLES down on doing it the right way in the face of God’s messenger (e.g., Mat7; God’s present-day messengers = pastors). Saul makes excuses for what he did, doesn’t take ownership. Usually when people are zealous about taking ownership, it’s there BEFORE doing something wrong. Instead, getting Saul to own anything is like stapling jelly to the wall, moving target, all appearance-based.

Notice Saul 1) blames the people for preserving the sheep & fears what they’ll say if he puts his foot down. 2) Saul doesn’t want the shame of Samuel leaving, he asks him to “honor me before the people. V30-31. Look at how fearing what men think controls & makes you pathetic. Desperately clawing after Samuel to avoid the shame of discipline. When you don’t take ownership and don’t value obedience, you fear man, and can’t live with the disapproval of the people.

3. Saul is disciplined for his rebellion but shipwrecks his soul by refusing to submit to God’s discipline.

3.1. Notice the paranoia and attempts to stay in control that Saul makes. Despite Saul’s love for David, as soon as Saul perceives a threat, he attempts to kill David twice & then to get him killed. David 18:5-16. 25-30. Saul attempts to kill David once more & even Jonathan with the spear in person and hunts him in at least 4 major instances documented for us.

3.2. In his pursuit of David, Saul DOES murder the priests due to them helping David. 1Sa 21:1-10, 22:6-19. 1Ti 5:19

3.3. Saul ends his sad life still expecting to find God’s favor & throws a tantrum when God doesn’t answer. 1Sa 28:4-6 w/ v7, 10-11, 14-15, 16-19, 1Chr 10:13

Concluding principles from Saul’s life:

1. Response to discipline is a defining moment and test for people, possibly more than anything else (Heb 12, Jam 1, Pro 6; Pro 15:10 – hates reproof = death, Pro 15:31-33)

2. We shouldn’t be surprised or worried that those who refuse to submit to God’s discipline often end up being the worst enemies of God and His people. (e.g. Simon the Sorcerer, Cain, Judas; it can seem crazy that close friends/family leave the church and quickly turn around to lie, slander, and become enemies of Christ, but understand this follows the pattern in Scripture)

3. Moral decline doesn’t happen overnight. (Take stock of your current trajectory, not your current state. You can’t just look at data points, you have to plot the trajectory) Birds of a feather flock together. Don’t think ‘it happened to them, but it won’t happen to me’. What is it about these people that you’re attracted to? 

4. What makes a man mighty in God’s eyes is not his ability to physically conquer but rather his commitment to carefully obeying God. This should be SUPER encouraging to us. God doesn’t need warriors or inherently special people to do great things – he just needs people to obey. You don’t have to be a king capable of routing nations, leading armies, slaying giants, for God to delight in what you’re doing, all you have to do is obey. 

5. Having the deck stacked in your favor is an indicator of future POTENTIAL, not future SUCCESS.  Your future success is contingent on being faithful now and in the future, not the amount of potential you currently have.

“It would be dishonest of us to claim that the biblical writers read and understood the text the way we do as modern people, or intended meanings that conform to theological systems created centuries after the text was written. Our context is not their context. The proper context for interpreting the Bible is …not the modern world at all, or any period of its history. The proper context is the context of the biblical writers-the context that produced the Bible….The biblical context was produced by men who lived in the ancient near east (ANE). Seeing the Bible through the eyes of an ancient reader [therefore] requires shedding the filters of our [modern] traditions and presumptions. They processed life in supernatural terms.” – Michael S. Heiser (The Unseen Realm)

Dimensional portals (def.,): doors or gates and their accompanying bridges connecting the immaterial/spiritual/supernatural world to the material/physical/natural world allowing those with access, the ability to travel or send/receive things from one dimension (or realm) to the other (e.g., Rev 4:1 “door” = Portal; Consider also 2Co 12:2 – Like John, Paul most likely travelled through a dimensional portal).

1. Summary of what we learned in our previous two discussions:

1.1. In the Bible, access to the divine (a heavenly portal/gate which in most cases, is also identified as the house of God) is associated w/mountains (including hills and high places). Hence the name, “El Shaddai” (Literally, “God of the Mountain”): 

1) Mt. Eden (Eze 28:13-14 “Every precious stone was your covering” = This statement along w/what follows could be a reference to a temple like structure that existed as God’s house on the mountain – Precious stones were a part of Solomon’s Temple – 1Ch 29:2) 

2) Mt. Ephraim (Gen 28:10-22 “a ladder was set on earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it…‘This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate [portal] of heaven [Bethel].’” w/Jug 4:5 “Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim”)

3) Mt. Sinai/tabernacle (Exo 24:1-18 w/the tabernacle being constructed at the base of the mountain – Exo 40)

4) Mt. Zion/Jerusalem Temple (Psa 84:1-3, 9), 5) Jesus as the eschatological Mt. Zion/Temple (house of God) (Mat 16:18 “rock” [mountain] w/Dan 2:35 [7:13] w/Isa 2:1-3; Joh 1:14 “dwelt” = Literally, “tabernacled”; Joh 2:19-21 w/Rev 21:22; Mat 16:19 “keys [to the portal/gate] of the kingdom of heaven”). Hence why also (Gen 11:1-9 “Babel” – later, “Babylon” or “Gate of Heaven”). 

1.2. In the Bible, bodies of water (seas, lakes and rivers) are associated with death, the wicked and demons (Psa Psa 9:17 “the wicked…Sheol”; Luk 8:31 “demons…the abyss”, 16:23 “[wicked] in Hades”; Mat 8:31-32 “[the demons possessing the swine] rushed…into the sea” w/12:43 “[exorcised demon] passes through waterless places seeking rest [a water-filled place]”) (In re: to both Psa 18:1-17).

*For further study see L. Michael Morales (Who Shall Ascend The Mountain of the Lord?)

2. Conclusions (Inferences/Hypotheses) that can be drawn from what we have learned:

2.1. The above two truths, are why God’s salvation often involves (or is depicted as) deliverance from the watery depths and ascent to the mountain heights (bc we are moving from death to life/new life): 

1) Noah and family: were delivered from the global flood to Mt. Ararat (Gen 7:6-7 w/17w/21-8:4) 

2) Moses and Israel were delivered thru the Red Sea to Mt. Sinai (Exo 14:29-30 and 19:1-2) 

3) David (in re: to Saul’s deadly manhunt) was delivered from “the torrents (rushing water) of ungodliness (or demonic assault, 1Sa 16:14)…the cords of Sheol…the snares of death…the many waters” to a place “on high” to the mountain of God - or God who is the mountain (“rock”) (Psa 18:1-7 w/15-17)

4) Us/Christians were delivered thru the waters of baptism symbolizing the place of our sin/death to new life on the mountain that is Christ (1Pe 3:20-21 w/Rom 8:3-4) Who experienced the same path in His mission to save us: baptism unto death (Luk 12:50) leading to resurrection and heavenly ascension from the top of a sacred mtn (Mt. Olivet).

2.2. Access to God – or His sacred mountain (for forgiveness, blessings, empowerment, guidance) has never been something available in any place, at any time or in any way (Exo 19:10-19 w/Psa 15 = Access to God/His mtn is limited and restrictive; Joh 12:25-26 = Access to El Shaddai Jesus is limited and restrictive; Again Mat 16:18-19 [Joh 20:21-23] = Forgiveness exists only in the church planted on El Shaddai Jesus and thru the hands of His anointed priests [Jam 5:14-16]). 

2.3. Only God can open portals to heaven. The only portals we can open, are those to Hades (e.g., Gen 28:16 “surely God is in this place and I did not know it”) = Jacob plays no role in opening the portal, only in recognizing it. (Gen 11:4 w/6) = Their efforts in opening a heavenly portal was an exercise in futility, what however they could open in respect to evil had no limits [“nothing evil which they purpose to do will be impossible for them”]; 1Co 10:20 “sharers in demons” = Sacrifice to demons opens portals to [contact w/] demons).  

2.4. Heavenly portals are necessary for salvation (Joh 3:3 “born again”) = Literally, born from above (Grk., anothen = Above, e.g., Joh 3:31 [“He who comes from above”]). Hence the reason the sacraments reside w/the church (i.e., the house of God/gate of heaven where these portals exist) (Mat 16:19).

2.5. The closer the portal the closer the help or hindrance (Dan 10:2-13) = It seems as though the angel was not able to simply appear at the place where Daniel was praying and fasting, but rather had to travel (from Jerusalem) through Persia to get to him (i.e., God was not willing to open a portal in Babylon). This implies that portals are not everywhere and the time it takes to receive supernatural help is determined by their proximity (See Num 1:51-2:2 w/Psa 34:7; Consider also Mar 5:25-30 = Jesus as the new house of God, was a walking portal). The proximity principle should also be assumed in relation to demonic activity (1Th 2:18 “Satan hindered us”).

2.6. The world is filled w/churches (sacred mountains) who, because their gospel is false and/or are compromising, have filled the world w/portals open to the demonic realm (Mat 16:18 “gates of Hades” w/Rev 18:2; Combined w/the previous point consider all the Evangelical churches that start in public schools – or false Christian schools [Roman Catholic, Evangelical] and what that means for those places – i.e., they are being overrun by demons. Could this be the reason for the uptick in violence, idolatry and immorality in our schools today?). 

2.7. It should come as no surprise that false versions of Christianity share many similarities to true Christianity since this is how all effective false religions work. Consider the false religions of the ANE started by the 70 nations who are the descendants of Noah’s rebellious sons Ham and Japheth (Gen 10 Table of Nations). Because they share the same ancestors and experiences as the true followers of YHWH, what they produce as their god and religion share many of the same names, stories and beliefs (e.g., portals, sacred mtns and high places, the necessity of sacrifice, stories of Creation and the Flood, etc). The differences (in these false versions) exist in those areas whe...

What to keep in mind when discussing subjects like this: (1Ti 1:3 “strange doctrines”) = Doctrine that does not agree with orthodoxy – e.g., Gen 6:1-4 according to 1Enoch (fallen angels mated with human women who gave birth to the giants who actions and dead, demonic spirits are the main reason for humanity’s corruption [tbd under Divine Council]).

Why talking about these subjects are important: 

1) we are living in stranger times (e.g., The US secret program that employed what is known as remote viewing [clairvoyance] from 1978-1995 [Project Stargate]; UFO/UAP and alien phenomena and their possible connection to world govts, the divine or demonic and other dimensions, our culture’s current obsession w/the supernatural [super-heroes, aliens, stargates/portals to other dimensions or multiverses [The Marvels, Avengers Infinity War and End Game, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Spiderman Across the Spiderverse, Zac Snyder’s Justice League, Stargate, Fringe, Resident Alien, Ancient Aliens, Stranger Things, etc.], quantum mechanics/physics and its belief in multiple dimensions).

2) much of what the Scriptures have to say about these kinds of subjects were suppressed in the over correction of the Protestant Reformation [16th century] as the means to not only curtailing the myths of Roman Catholicism but also the hyper-supernaturalism that characterized much of the Middle Ages [400 – 1500 A.D.].

3) the evidence for dimensional portals (or “stargates”) or divine councils are not only present in the Scriptures but also other ANE[1] literature (Sumerian, Babylonian, Akkadian, Egyptian and Assyrian [e.g., the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Book of Gates).  

4) the Bible presents a material world that is very connected to, dependent on, impacted and affected by an immaterial world filled with supernatural beings and power. 

“Human events are inextricably intertwined with the events in heavenly places.” - Sinclair Ferguson (“Preaching From The Book Of Daniel”)

5) to speak of the events of life without consideration of their connection or impact on the spiritual realm would have seemed strange to the biblical authors living in the ANE. If we are to understand our bibles and its message to us, we must then understand it from their perspective. 

“It would be dishonest of us to claim that the biblical writers read and understood the text the way we do as modern people, or intended meanings that conform to theological systems created centuries after the text was written. Our context is not their context. The proper context for interpreting the Bible is not Augustine or any other church father. It is not the Catholic church. It is not the rabbinic movements of late antiquity and the Middle Ages. It is not the Reformation and the Puritans. It is not evangelicalism in any of its many flavors. It is not the modern world at all, or any period of its history. The proper context is the context of the biblical writers-the context that produced the Bible. Every other context is alien to the biblical writers and, therefore, to the Bible….The biblical context was produced by men who lived in the ancient near east (ANE). Seeing the Bible through the eyes of an ancient reader [therefore] requires shedding the filters of our [modern] traditions and presumptions. They processed life in supernatural terms.” – Michael S. Heiser (The Unseen Realm)

Dimensional portals (def.,): doors or gates and their accompanying bridges connecting the immaterial/spiritual/supernatural world to the material/physical/natural world allowing those with access, the ability to travel or send things from one dimension (or realm) to the other (e.g., Rev 4:1 “door” = Portal; Consider also 2Co 12:2 – Like John, Paul most likely travelled through a dimensional portal).

1. The cosmology[2] established by the Bible seems to identify certain geographical locations as more likely to possess dimensional portals. The geographical locations most frequented by those living in the ANE for the purpose of connecting with the spiritual/immaterial/supernatural realm were the high places. Hence the reason communication w/God (or false gods), religious sacrifices and temples often existed on mountains (e.g., Mt. Sinai, Mt. Zion) or mountain-like structures (e.g., pyramids, ziggurats; the Tower of Babel)(See Tabernacle Prefigured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology In Genesis and Exodus, Who Shall Ascend The Mountain Of The Lord? by L. Michael Morales).

2. Those high places confirmed to be dimensional portals between heaven and earth are also referred to as the “house of God” (other by its other terms: “sanctuary”, “tabernacle” or “temple”). This is the point behind God resting on the seventh day [after the six days of Creation] - and the reason we are told to be gathering for worship on the Sabbath in God’s house. ANE thought teaches us that though God’s home is in heaven, the place He chooses to rest is in His house [think vacation home] on earth. In the beginning that was Mt. Eden, later it was Mt. Sinai.[3] Other houses of God and dimensional portals associated w/high places/mountains: 1) Jacob’s Bethel (Gen 28:10-19 [“Beth-el” = House of God; “gate of heaven” = Dimensional portal] w/Jug 4:5 [“hill country of Ephraim” = Mt. Ephraim; See also Gen 35:3, “let us go up to Bethel”]), 

2) Israel’s tabernacle (Exo 29:44-45 w/1Chr 6:48 [“the tabernacle of the house of God”]; Exo 40:34 w/24:15-16 [“cloud…glory of the Lord” = God’s Presence transfers to the tabernacle identifying it as the new sacred mountain of God and gate to heaven] [4]), 3) Jerusalem’s temple/sanctuary (2Chr 6:6 w/Psa 78:68-69; Psa 48:1-3 w/9 w/13 [“Mount Zion…His holy mountain…Your temple…her palaces”] w/Psa 27:4 [“house of the Lord…His temple”]). 

Understanding the connection between high places and heavenly portals (the presence of God/the divine) helps us to better appreciate why: 1) important events or meetings are often referred to as “Summit Meetings” (e.g., G5 Summit; Gen 31:51-32:2 = The fact that Jacob and Laban are on a mountain when all these things happen [covenant/“pillar” of “witness” est’d, God invoked for judgment, sacrifice is made] and supernatural events are experienced [“angels of God” are on the mtn] is not by accident. Jacob and Laban no doubt saw this place as a potential portal [“This is God’s camp”]), 2) Jesus and His disciples found solace in the high places or mountain gardens (Mt. Olivet, Luk 21:37; its mountain garden:: the Garden of Gethsemane – consider also the angels who are there – Luk 22:39-43), 3) the gospel is connected to a high place/mountain (Isa 52:7 [Rom 10:15; Eph 6:15]) = Reference to the mountain tells us the messenger possesses a message from “on high” – i.e., it comes from God. 

3. Jesus moves the house of God or dimensional portal between heaven and earth off the former sacred mountains and on to Himself and His churches. The physical location of Jesus’ churches wb be global and no longer require the need of a literal high place or sacred mountain (Joh 4:20-24 “worship in spirit and truth”) = Access to God (for forgiveness, blessings, empowerment, authority) would no longer be based on Jewish bloodline or its former sacred mountain (Zion/Jerusalem). God’s people would instead be born by the Spirit and building their lives on the truth/teachings of Jesus – God’s new sacred mountain – the eschatological Mt. Zion of the prophets. (Mat 16:13-18a) “I also say to you that you are Peter” = Jesus seems to be indicating that the reason He gave “Simon Barjona” (v17) this nickname (“Pe...

What to keep in mind when discussing subjects like this: (1Ti 1:3 “strange doctrines”) = Doctrine that does not agree with orthodoxy – e.g., Gen 6:1-4 according to 1Enoch (fallen angels mated with human women who gave birth to the giants who actions and dead, demonic spirits are the main reason for humanity’s corruption [tbd under Divine Council]).

Why talking about these subjects are important: 

1) we are living in stranger times (e.g., The US secret program that employed what is known as remote viewing [clairvoyance] from 1978-1995 [Project Stargate]; UFO/UAP and alien phenomena and their possible connection to world govts, the divine or demonic and other dimensions, our culture’s current obsession w/the supernatural [super-heroes, aliens, stargates/portals to other dimensions or multiverses [The Marvels, Avengers Infinity War and End Game, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Spiderman Across the Spiderverse, Zac Snyder’s Justice League, Stargate, Fringe, Resident Alien, Ancient Aliens, Stranger Things, etc.], quantum mechanics/physics and its belief in multiple dimensions).

2) much of what the Scriptures have to say about these kinds of subjects were suppressed in the over correction of the Protestant Reformation [16th century] to not only curtail the myths of Roman Catholicism but hyper-supernaturalism that characterized much of the Middle Ages [400 – 1500 A.D.] and its theology.

3) the evidence for dimensional portals (or “stargates”) or divine councils are not only present in the Scriptures but also other ANE[1] literature (Sumerian, Babylonian, Akkadian, Egyptian and Assyrian [e.g., the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Book of Gates).  

4) the Bible presents a material world that is very connected to, dependent on, impacted and affected by an immaterial world filled with supernatural beings and power. 

“Human events are inextricably intertwined with the events in heavenly places.” - Sinclair Ferguson (“Preaching From The Book Of Daniel”)

5) to speak of the events of life without consideration of their connection or impact on the spiritual realm would have seemed strange to the biblical authors living in the ANE. If we are to understand our bibles and its message to us, we must then understand it from their perspective. 

“It would be dishonest of us to claim that the biblical writers read and understood the text the way we do as modern people, or intended meanings that conform to theological systems created centuries after the text was written. Our context is not their context. The proper context for interpreting the Bible is not Augustine or any other church father. It is not the Catholic church. It is not the rabbinic movements of late antiquity and the Middle Ages. It is not the Reformation and the Puritans. It is not evangelicalism in any of its many flavors. It is not the modern world at all, or any period of its history. The proper context is the context of the biblical writers-the context that produced the Bible. Every other context is alien to the biblical writers and, therefore, to the Bible….The biblical context was produced by men who lived in the ancient near east (ANE). Seeing the Bible through the eyes of an ancient reader [therefore] requires shedding the filters of our [modern] traditions and presumptions. They processed life in supernatural terms.” – Michael S. Heiser (The Unseen Realm)

Dimensional portals (def.,): doors or gates and their accompanying bridges connecting the immaterial/spiritual/supernatural world to the material/physical/natural world allowing those with access, the ability to travel or send things from one dimension (or realm) to the other (e.g., Rev 4:1 “door” = Portal; Consider also 2Co 12:2 – Like John, Paul most likely travelled through a dimensional portal).

1. The cosmology[2] established by the Bible seems to identify certain geographical locations as more likely to possess dimensional portals. 1.1. The earth’s oceans or large bodies of water are depicted as uncreated space, the place of darkness, chaos and evil – and therefore the place where those go who are now dead (uncreated physically, no longer attached to a physical body, spirits) those who have left the “light” of creation or “light of life” (life/creation being associated w/life - Gen 1:3-4; Job 33:30; Psa 56:13; Joh 1:4, 8:12). The sea was therefore thought of as a portal to the underworld (again Exo 20:4). Most common biblical terms used to identify the underworld: “Sheol or Abbadon”– Job 26:5-6[3]). Support: (Gen 1:1-2, “formless and void” = Uncreated; Gen 6:17 w/7:21-23 w/1Pe 3:20-21 [Like the blood of the sacrifice, water removes what should not exist in creation – i.e., sin, to the place of uncreation[4]]; See also 2Pe 3:5-6 [“formed out of water by water” = The water represents the instrument of creation rather than creation itself. Peter also associates it w/destruction – which coincides with the idea of uncreation since this is the end product of destruction]; Psa 18:4-6 w/16-19, 49:14 [Sheol is associated w/darkness in contrast to the upright who rule in the light/“morning.” It is also the place where our created “form” is uncreated or “consumed”]; Job 17:13]; Jon 2:2-3; Isa 57:20-21; Jam 1:6; Jud 1:13; Hence Rev 21:1)[5]. 

Given this understanding consider water’s connection to demons or demon possession (Mat 8:31-32 w/12:43 = Water shares much in common w/physical bodies making it a nice alternative. In this sense, pigs are also a reasonable option as a transport vessel back to the water – especially given their recent eviction from their human host – the ideal home for sentient life-forms/spirits)[6]. 

1.2. In contrast, the earth’s land is depicted as created space and her gardens and high places or mountains (think Eden and the mountain of God in Eden) are depicted as sacred space, or the place where dimensional portals often exist. Hence the reason, ancient religions (those whose origins are closest to Creation and “religion zero”, or that originally instituted by God and practiced by Adam and Eve) are frequently associated with sacred gardens or high places, natural (mountains) or engineered (e.g., man-made ziggurats/pyramids of Mesopotamia and Egypt) (Exo 3:1; Deu 9:10; 1Ki 3:4; Psa 48:1-2, 68:15; Isa 2:3, 8:18, 14:13-5; 18:7, 51:3, 57:15; Jer 17:12; Eze 20:40, 28:13-14 [“Eden, the garden of God” in on the “holy mountain of God”]; Mic 1:5, 4:2; Heb 12:22; Rev 14:1, 21:10). With respect to the false religions existing in the ANE consider (Gen 4:12-14[7]; Gen 11:1-9[8]; Lev 26:30; Num 33:52; Deu 12:2; 1Ki 11:7, 12:31-32, 13:33; 2Ki 17:9-11, 29 Isa 65:3, 66:17). Mountains as sacred space also played a role in how those living in the ANE perceived the watery depths of the underworld. It existed at “the roots of the mountains” (Jon 2:5-6).

“[In the Bible] sacred space was poetically conceived as a world-mountain surrounded by the primeval waters. At the cloud-covered summit of the mountain is the temple, the dwelling of God, and at the base are the chaos waters, underneath which lies Sheol, the place of the dead. Representing God’s life-giving Presence, the waters of life flow from the summit of the mountain. Movement away from life (creation) toward death (chaos); and, conversely, movement toward God is expressed as an ascent from death to life…Hence the movement from death to life, from exile to entry into God’s Presence, involves a pattern of deliverance through waters to the mountain of God. Noah and his household…will be delivered through the waters of deluge to the Ararat mou...

2. We are in good company.

3. Our primary mission is to be the aroma of Christ to the lost, not win the lost to Christ.

4. Our primary audience and antagonist is and will be the false churches of the world.

5. God uses the persecution of false churches to purge the apostate from Christ's true church.

6. Persecution serves as one of the greatest and most reliable assurances that we are going to heaven.

7. The Evangelical rejection of the true gospel may also be another sign that Jesus will be returning soon.

Those who believe such things indicate they are not only completely ignorant – or rebellious to, what the Bible actually teaches on this subject, but also the church’s divine authority in such matters[1].

1. We cannot transfer to another church without our current church’s allowance or approval.

Why? Because our membership is attached to our baptism and our baptism is the property of the church currently possessing it -not us.

1.1. God only recognizes us as a member of a specific church when that church performs/possesses our baptism (Act 2:41 “added” [to the church as members] at the point of baptism). IOW: Membership = Baptism.

1.2. To transfer our membership to another church therefore requires the transfer of our baptism to that church. 

1.3. Given that baptism is also the way we receive initial forgiveness or the washing away of our sins, it constitutes one of the keys of salvation given to the Christ’s churches – not the individual (Act 2:38, 22:16 w/Joh 20:21-23 w/Mat 16:18-19: Keys unlock gates – in this case, the gates to the kingdom of heaven [in contrast to v18 “gates of Hades”]. The key of baptism gives us access to the blessings of the Spirit and forgiveness [the blood of Christ]).[2]

1.4. Transferring to another church would therefore also require allowance/approval of the church (possessing your baptism) since: 1) they (not you) are the owners of that heavenly access key (baptism) (again, the keys are the property of the church not the individual) (Gen 28:11-18: Notice the gate to heaven is in God’s house, the pillar of truth; the NT church is that place today - 1Ti 3:15 “household of God…pillar…of the truth”), 2) it is impossible to have access granted by another church since only one legitimate baptism is allowed (Heb 6:1-6 “washings” which makes us “partakers of the Holy Spirit.” = Baptism; “impossible to renew them again to repentance since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God” = No second forgiveness or cleansing from sin – i.e., No second baptism; Hence, Eph 4:5)[3]. 

1.5. As additional support that our baptism is the property of the church and not us, consider also the church’s authority to permanently bind or remove forgiveness (i.e., declare apostasy) – which therefore means the rescinding of that person’s baptism (Mat 16:19 and Joh 20:21-23 w/Mat 18:17-20). Hardly could the church do that if baptism was the property of the individual (at least not without their consent)!

2. The church where our baptism resides, must be very careful when it comes to transferring a person’s baptism/membership to another church.

Why? Because the church where our baptism currently resides – most specifically its shepherds (elders/pastors), have been assigned as our primary overseers for protection and the promotion of obedience to Christ’s commands (Mat 28:19 w/20; Act 20:28).

2.1. Allowing members of the church to leave without absolute confidence in the new church and its pastors, would therefore constitute a failure in these shepherds’ duty of care for which they will be severely judged (Act 

20:26-27 w/Eze 33:7-9; Jam 3:1). 

2.2. This will be especially true if the church where their membership is transferred possesses: 1) a false gospel (allowance to or approval of a church with a false gospel is the same as approving a false gospel which in turn brings judgment on their former church – or at least its pastor; Gal 1:6-9 w/2Jo 1:9-11) or 2) no relationship w/their current church by which to confirm the legitimacy of their gospel (that they are a true church) and competency of their shepherds (that they are a safe church) (Act 20:28-31 = Guard the flock from wolves. Would anyone consider someone to be a good shepherd guarding their flock from wolves if they allowed them to be cared for by strangers or someone they knew to be incompetent? This is akin to those Jesus refers to as “hired hands” or false shepherds – Joh 10:12-13; Consider this same question from the perspective of a parent)  

3. Clear evidence it is not God’s will that the church allow or approve of the transfer of someone to another church:

3.1. They have outstanding discipline or grievances with their existing church (Mat 5:23-26).

3.2. The church they wish to be transferred to is false or not safe (point #2; Consider Paul’s perspective in regard to those pastors he knew to be false though they claimed to be comrades and had received the support of the people – 2Co 11:6 w/10-15 = Paul fought against giving approval or equal footing to flaky or false shepherds – regardless of what other people thought. Notice also, Paul has no problem using strong language in his assessment of such men).

3.3. Their current church does not know or have a relationship w/the transfer church so as to confirm them as true and safe (again, point #2). The idea that the church can trust the individual to make that decision is like saying we trust our children to make the big decisions in the home or the patient to determine the diagnosis or prescription for the doctors [who will still be responsible for the consequences of those decisions]).

3.4. They don’t want their current pastor over them and/or believe him to be unrighteous/unfit/using his office for evil/a false teacher - though they do not have the biblically required evidence to prove it (1Ti 5:19; Deu 17:12-13; Num 16:1-3 w/Num 15:30-31 w/Mat 12:32; Consider also 2Co 13:1-2). 

3.5. They want to live somewhere too far from the existing church w/o confirmation of a church in that area (Jam 4:13-17).

3.6. There is nothing to be gained by them or the other church (this is the pattern est’d in the NT: those sent out will profit those other churches [e.g., Phoebe, Rom 16:1-2; Apollos, 1Co 16:12 w/Act 18:24; Timothy, 1Ti 1:3; Paul and Barnabas, Act 13:1-4]).  

CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: What should the church follow, the will of God or the will of people (those wanting to transfer)? 

 [1] Both now and going forward, what is to be assumed is that the church we are attempting to transfer from is a biblical church as well as the church where we were baptized or is currently possessing our baptism based on the allowance or approval of our baptizing church. 

[2] Hence the reason churches have always viewed the sacrament of baptism as the prerequisite to the other key of the kingdom, the LT (the sacrament where we receive continued cleansing by Christ’s blood – Joh 13:1-10), because baptism is the only way to gain access to this atoning reservoir (the blood of Christ resides in His church – Act 20:28; In this light Consider again Joh 13:10 = IOW: the original bath or washing of baptism by Jesus is what grants us access to the additional – and necessary washing provided thru the “supper” [v4]).

[3] “The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered unto any person," - WCF, (ch.27)

1. Salvation requires you believe/practice the right gospel (i.e. the gospel of gain by faith in Jesus Christ and maintain by faithful obedience to all His commands versus the false gospel of faith alone). 

1.1. (Rom 3:28 [gain] AND Jam 2:24 [maintain]; 1Jo 1:6, 2:3-4) = We need more than faith to get to heaven. We must be faithful, otherwise what was gained initially by faith wb lost and we wb counted as “liars” (to our covenant oaths) before God. GRAVEDIGGER: Can a Christian get to heaven whose life is characterized by disobedience? (No, Jam 2:14ff). Obedience is therefore another condition of salvation and the FAG is (therefore) false.

1.2. Popular today is the idea that precision/correctness w/respect to the gospel doesn’t matter. What God cares about is strictly belief and practice. IOW: Even if our gospel is wrong/false, we are good as long we truly believe it and are committed to its practice. 

1.3. What God’s Word teaches (Gal 1:6-9) = The context is gospel mechanics (what we must do to be saved) not historical facts (Who Jesus is and what He did). We need to get both right (historical facts: 1Co 15:1-4). 

1.4. What about those who sincerely love God yet are ignorant to the right gospel? God leads those people out of their ignorance and into the truth (He sends messengers):

1.4.1. The apostle Paul (1Ti 1:12-15 “Yet for this reason I found mercy”) = B/C Jesus saves the ignorant sinner who is sincerely seeking God (v12, “faithful” = Paul’s problem was intellectual not moral)

1.4.2. Cornelius (Act 10:21-22 w/34-35)

1.4.3. Apollos (Act 18:24-26)

1.4.4 Woman at the well (Joh 4:20-24 [“must worship Him in spirit and truth” = You need to have the right gospel] w/28-29, 39-42).

1.5. These are the kinds of Evangelicals we are looking for (those welcome to God/those whose problem is intellectual not moral/those “worthy” to receive the gospel). What to do w/those whose problem is moral (Mat 10:12-15) = Notice: those who are “worthy” are: 1) the only ones we give our time to, 2) the ones whose problem is not moral (v14, “does not receive you, nor heed your words” = Is not teachable to what you are saying; Mat 16:1-4). 

1.6. POINTS NOT TO MISS: 1) There is no such thing as a saved person that believes and practices the wrong/false gospel. 2) God wants us to be seeking those who are seeking Him (those whose problems are intellectual – not moral).

2. Just because a person or church claims to believe/practice the right gospel doesn’t mean they do. 

2.1. (Tit 1:16)

2.2. Most every person or pastor who claims to be a Christian will initially “agree” that obedience is necessary to salvation yet when pressed further, it becomes only nice but not necessary (e.g., Andy and Kasey pastoral interviews). Further investigation is therefore necessary.

2.3. Questions for assessment: 1) do they hold to the FAG? (if a church, check their website), 2) Can a Christian get to heaven whose life is characterized by disobedience (e.g., continues to live with their girlfriend) if that person continues to fully trust Christ for their righteousness and faithfully confess their sin to God? 3) In relation to a church, how often do they practice church discipline, enforce obedience or declare people apostate? (Mat 7:15-23: bad fruit = practicing lawlessness – or in the case of a church, allowing for the practice of lawlessness).

2.4. Verifying a person or church as truly legitimate takes time. In the early church, you could not move from one church to another w/o pastoral collaboration for this very reason. Churches or people professing to be legit was not naively assumed to be true (or allowed to be true b/c people wanted to take a “vacation” from their current church [usually a sign of rebellion and thinking they will be more effective at flying under the radar elsewhere – (e.g., my conversation w/a Reformed Baptist pastor in LA; our response to the elder and people from the Evergreen church).

3. You cannot be a saved person (Christian) yet not baptized and a member of church believing/practicing the right gospel. 

3.1.There is no such thing as a saved person who has not received remission/forgiveness of their sins (“Baptism is said to be ‘for the remission of sins’ and to ‘wash your sins away’. Unless one is prepared to say that one is saved without their sins being forgiven, then they must admit that baptism is a condition of salvation” – Robert Oliver, Clinton Church of Christ) (Act 2:38, 22:16; 1Pe 3:21). Consider Christ’s confirmation of baptism in the gain and maintain gospel presented by Jesus in (Mat 28:18-20).

3.2. The “keys” of  the kingdom (baptism and the LT) have only been given to those churches built by Christ—churches possessing the right gospel (Mat 16:17-19 w/Joh 20:21-23 w/Act 20:28). 

3.3. Hence the reason the early church was fond of saying, “there is no salvation outside of the church.”  

4. It is possible for people/churches to have different doctrinal beliefs/practices yet still believe/practice the right gospel.  

4.1. Though a church/person may possess different doctrinal beliefs or practices (doctrine or practice that may even create theological, ethical or logical contradictions), as long as those doctrines and practices do not negate their belief and practice of the right gospel, we are to view them as our brothers and sisters in Christ.

4.2. Examples of different doctrine that does not immediately negate a person or church’s ability to believe and practice the right gospel: 1) Calvinism, 2) Creedal Baptism, 3) limited forms of Continuationism (those versions not negating Scripture as our final authority or the existence of a closed canon), 4) Dispensationalism, 5) Premillennialism.

4.3 Examples of different doctrine that does immediately negate a person or church’s ability to believe and practice the right gospel: 1) Antinomianism (belief that any portion of God’s Law is no longer in force or must be observed), 2) Modalism (Oneness Pentecostalism), 3) any denial of Jesus’ full humanity or full deity, 3) Open Theism, 4) denial of Ecclesiastical Soteriology (sacerdotalism or the authority of the church in salvation), 5) denial of eternal and literal heaven and hell, 6) denial of baptism as necessary to salvation, 7) any rejection of God’s Word as our final authority, a closed canon or the embracing of progressive revelation (e.g., some Pentecostals/Charismatics and all Roman Catholics), 8) Neo-Orthodoxy.      

4.4. POINTS NOT TO MISS: 1) There is big difference between saying that someone holds to different doctrine versus a different gospel. 2) Some doctrine/practice automatically negates a person’s belief or practice of the right gospel (e.g., Gal 5:1-4).

5. Just because a church believes/practices the right gospel doesn’t mean it is a safe church.

5.1. True churches can still be dangerous churches. 

5.2. The problems these churches (or their pastors) can still have: 1) Intellectual problems. The pastor is weak in the following areas: logic and critical thinking, Special Revelation -i.e., Scripture [1. hermeneutics or interpretation, 2. grammar or how language works, 3. worldview/framework theology, 4. biblical theology, 5. biblical jurisprudence/justice – inc. the proper practice of church discipline/excommunication and apostasy, cap crimes, 6. systematic theology ...

What (then) we need to know (beyond this) so that we do not end in eternity w/ the wrong family:

1. Jesus knew His ministry would cause division in human families b/c it would involve calling people back to loyalty to God’s family over their human families (Mat 10:34-37) “Me” = My family (Mat 10:40; Joh 13:34-35). (Luk 1:16-17) “turn the hearts of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God” = “turn the hearts back to the children” (or “restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers” – Mal 4:6). The patriarchs are the “fathers” (e.g., Abraham). In this way the Jews would be “a people prepared for the Lord” – i.e., worthy to receive salvation from Jesus/Messiah. What was the heart of “father” Abraham? He chose God (or God’s family) over his only (beloved = special, miracle, divine promised) son, Isaac, the child gaining honor for his human family (e.g., Luk 1:25; the reason some parents live vicariously thru certain children – they are the child that finally made them feel like a success/gave them the honor their former life had not afforded to them) (Gen 22:1-18: Notice the lack of hesitancy, level of commitment and trust demonstrated by Abraham’s actions in carrying out God’s instructions to kill his son. The lesson no doubt learned by Isaac from his father’s actions: 1) there sb no question as to which family possesses our supreme loyalty/love - Gen 22:1 “tested” w/16, 2) love/loyalty to God’s family should make our love/loyalty for human family look like hate – Luk 14:26).

2. When we become Christians we are (therefore) committing to leave behind all loyalties to our human families and cleave (or cling) to God and his family (Mat 19:27-29). This truth is reinforced by the fact that how we join God’s family is through a marriage [God/Jesus becomes our Husband] (Gen 2 

3. God greatly rewards and holds in high regard those who do not hesitate to demonstrate their loyalty to His family over their human family (again Gen 22:16-18; Exo 32:25-29 w/Deu 33:8-9 = The Levites gained the high honor of leading God’s people bc of their loyalty to God’s family over their human families).

4. Jesus saw the church as God’s family and the priority during His time on earth (Mar 3:31-35).

5. Jesus’ human family thought He was crazy because of His loyalty to God’s family (Mar 3:20-21 [w/31-35]: Notice what loyalty looks like: our homes are constantly filled w/God’s family – Act 2:42, 46). 

6. We are expected to separate from human family who refuse to listen to the true gospel (the gospel calling for the complete submission of their entire life to faithfully obeying Jesus as their forever Boss) or God will group us w/them in their damnation (2Co 6:14-17) v17, “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate” = A common OT theme w/ reference to both unrepentant/wicked outsiders and family members that – as a result of such unrepentant wickedness, have been placed under God’s damning ban/curse (outsiders – Isa 52:11, Jer 50:8, family - Deu 13:12-17; Rev 18:4). Paul’s use of this OT theme further reinforces his strong prohibition against relationship [“bound together”] or “fellowship” w/any persons (family or otherwise) who are unrepentant/wicked. Notice, Paul also makes his prohibition and its accompanying OT support, a condition of our covenant relationship w/God (vv16, 18). (2Jo 1:9-11) = Who more than our human family fits the description of those we would naturally welcome into our homes [i.e., give a greeting to]?). POINT NOT TO MISS: Being set apart as God’s holy people has always required separation from the unrepentant wicked.

7. Only those willing to endure the pain of separation from human family for the sake of Jesus will make it to heaven (again Mat 10:21-22 w/32-33 w/37; also Luk 14:25-35).

8. Jesus Himself suffered separation from human family b/c of His loyalty to God’s family (Luk 9:58-62) = The context is human family. When Jesus (therefore) speaks of having nowhere to lay His head, He is indicating He was separated from many of His human family and therefore possessed none of the expected places of rest afforded to weary travelers in ancient times (i.e., the homes of their family relatives). 

9. Jesus’ first disciples suffered separation from human family b/c of their loyalty to God’s family (again, Mat 19:27-29)

10. Many among God’s family and greatest saints will be orphans (Mat 19:27; Psa 27:10).

11. Being a part of God’s family is performance-based and conditional – the very opposite of most human families and the reason many people choose the latter over the former (i.e., in my human family I don’t have to change or leave my sin behind to remain and receive its benefits) (Joh 10:17, 15:1-11; Jud 1:21; Deu 7:9). 

CLOSING CONTEMPLATION: Two conclusions can be drawn from the truths above: 1) False gospels (and the world run by Satan) will always preach a Jesus and gospel message that exalts human family and unconditional love and demonizes the ideas of division and separation, 2) One of Satan’s greatest tools and man’s greatest stumbling blocks to getting to heaven wb human family. 

CLOSING CHALLENGE: 2024 RESOLUTION: Excel in our love/loyalty to God’s family (1Th 4:9-10).

1. Getting to heaven requires that we stop living by our feelings[1] and become characterized by a life of obedience to Jesus’ words (i.e., God’s will [Law and mission]): 1) the terms “flesh”,  “fleshly”, “passion”, and “sensuality” or commands to deny ourselves are often a reference to our feelings (Mat 16:24; Col 3:5-7; Gal 5:19 w/24; Rom 8:12-13 w/13:13-14; Tit 2:11-12; 1Pe 2:11, 4:1-3; Consider also Mat 7:24-27 = The “sand” or foundation of the second man’s house – the man not living in obedience to Jesus’ words, more than likely represents his feelings. He lives according to his feelings. As a result, when the storms or trials of life come, he is fickle and falls apart). 2) the command for self-control is a call to have command over our feelings (i.e., emotional intelligence) (Act 24:25; Gal 5:23; 2Pe 1:5-6; lack of s-c is what brings “difficult times” -2Ti 3:3). 3) living in obedience to Jesus’ words is what it means to live by the Spirit (which is always contrasted w/living by our feelings) (Joh 16:13-15 w/[Gal 5:16, 24-25; Rom 8:5]). 4) it is impossible to live faithfully for Jesus and be under the control of your feelings (Gal 5:17; Rom 8:6-8). 5) Feelings are weak and unreliable (Mat 26:41 and Rom 7:18; 2Co 1:17; Jer 17:7 in contrast to v9 “heart” = A reference to feelings). 6) Living by our feelings is sin (2Co 12:21).

2. Living by our feelings is associated w/loving the world and the message/enticement of false teachers and Satan which is why it is impossible to live according to our feelings and please God (1Jo 2:15-16; 2Pe 2:1-2, 7, 10, 18-20; Eph 2:1-3).

3. Everybody has the ability to win the war over their feelings, some however exacerbate their situation because of their choices, making it nearly impossible (Deu 30:11-14; 1Co 10:13; Mat 19:24-26).

4. Overcoming our feelings (i.e., possessing self-control or emotional intelligence) will require that: 1) we are self-programmed robots (we start like animals limited to feelings, afraid and unwise to everything [feelings don’t think – e.g., Teyve barks at boxes] and become self-programmed robots [programming our feelings thru conditioning/reinforced action that results in us becoming either adult animals or proper image-bearers -2Pe 2:12]. 2) as we get older/more removed from learning, we resort back to feelings as the main driver in decision-making and as a result, more averse to change/taking risks and fearful (Ecc 12:3-5). 3) we practice extreme degradation and desertion of our feelings as a guide for truth (1Co 9:27 [Modern translation: “I make it my b**ch”] = Degradation; Rom 8:13 “putting to death” = Desertion - treating how we feel as irrelevant to what is true/false; Mat 5:29-30, 18:7-10 = Completely ignore/dessert those things convincing you of rebellion so that you do not despise [lead astray] those looking to you for guidance [e.g., your children]; Important not to miss: when considering our approach to living the Christian life, analogies are never from the business world [i.e., it is not business etiquette or best practices that we are to employ], but rather the military or sports – which uses extreme degradation and desertion to be successful [e.g., boot camp instructor; David Goggins]; 2Co 10:1-5 = Fighting for God’s kingdom requires desertion in relation to our feelings). 4) we start with our tongues (Jam 3:1-2 “bridle the whole body” = Bridle your feelings). 

5. Everyone is born welcome to God and will by their response to their feelings, either solidify themselves in that state – or a state of rebellion (Gen 22:16-18; Rom 1:18-26 = God eventually gives people over to their feelings [leading to His wrath] b/c of their choice to continue living according them [“gave them over in the lusts of their hearts…to degrading passions” = You can’t give someone over to something unless this was already present and in practice. This then is the source of their unrighteousness/ungodliness – v18]; Eph 4:17-22 = Living according to our feelings will eventually corrupt our souls - and once it is corrupted, there is no fix, even for Christians. Hence Heb 6:1-6 and 10:26-30).

6. The kind of preaching or proclamation (teaching and evangelism) practiced by Jesus and the apostles and prescribed by God and the Holy Spirit was always controversial and polarizing b/c it was never sensitive to the feelings of the audience since feelings won’t cause us to live for God (What you win them with is what you win them to; 1Th 2:1-5; 2Ti 4:2; Heb 4:12; Hence Paul can say 2Co 2:15-17 e.g., Mat 15:11-14; Act 4:1-2 w/18; Act 6:9-14 w/51-53; Act 9:22-23; Act 13:5-10, 14-16 w/44-51; Act 14:1-2 w/18-19; Act 17:1-6; Act 18:4-6; Act 28:20-24).

7. God will see to it that those who hate His truth- including His life purpose and plan for humanity (i.e., this life is a test of overcoming our feelings in favor of God and His ways that will determine who is worthy of heaven), are duped by Satan at His reveal (2Th 1:3-5 w/2Th 2:1-10). 

8. There is only one feeling that is safe and sb promoted in our life and that is genuine heartfelt love for God and for others (a choice that results also in a feeling) since this is what overcomes the feelings most responsible for our failures as a Christian, fear, jealousy and pride [i.e., caring what others think] (Joh 21:15-17 [18:25-27]; 1Jo 4:12, 16-21; Love creates lasting commitment and consistency whereas fear, jealousy and pride, nothing but posers and pansies).

9. The feelings associated with our conscience – or our conscience and General Revelation, were never designed to be enough when it comes to determining right and wrong (IOW: we also need God’s Word – Special Revelation) (Gen 2:16-17).

CLOSING CONTEMPLATION/CHALLENGE: One of the sticky wickets associated w/the subject of feelings is that most people who are living according to their feelings (versus the Spirit/in obedience to Jesus) are completely blind to it - or in absolute denial. IOW: they don’t think they are that kind of person –or they do not they see it---which is what makes it difficult—and why we need to pick up on those objective cues (or signs) from Scripture so that we can see it and make the proper spiritual diagnosis of who we are before it is too late. 

The objective signs that you are living according to your feelings: 1) what most determines your free time is what pleases you versus what pleases God, prospers His people or prepares you to better serve and advance His kingdom (Phi 1:21). 2) you are averse to change (change creates negative feelings). 3) you are constantly fighting doubt/suspicion w/regard to God, God’s Word, church, leaders or people though you possess no sound evidence to do so (1Ti 6:1-4). 4) you struggle w/fear, pride and jealousy or wanting to be in positions of importance so that people will look up to you (Jam 3:14-15 “natural” = “fleshly or animalistic – i.e., the basis for all judgment or actions is our feelings). 5) you are prone to insurrection against God’s leaders or causing division in the Body of Christ (Jud 1:18-19 “following ungodly lusts” [their feelings] –“these are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded [Literally, natural or animalistic – same word as Jam 3:15 referring to creatures operating off their feelings]). 6) Jesus is your sponsor rather than your Lord (i.e., He serves/fulfills your Christian vision for yourself [i.e., where you feel you wb most happy]). 7) you are sloppy w/your words (e.g., “I was making fun of my coat but it actually does a good job of block...

BC I want to avoid that pitfall in this church, this morning we are going to discover and be reminded of what God says about this subject or, What you should expect if your church truly possesses a shepherd from Jesus

1. They wb IMITATORS:

Jesus the Great Shepherd (Heb 13:20) promised to give Jesus-imitating shepherds as a gift to His people and primary caretakers of His body, the church, while He is in heaven. (Jer 3:15a “I will give you shepherds after my own heart”) = Shepherds w/the same heart (likes/dislikes, affections, agenda and desires) as Jesus (i.e., sheps who are imitators of Jesus in their shepherding). It’s fulfillment: (Eph 4:8 w/11 [“pastors” = shepherds] w/12 [“equipping…building up” = A caretaker]). POINTS NOT TO MISS: 1) If Jesus gave these kind of shepherds to His church, then it must not only be possible, but what we should expect and believe wb true of our shepherds. Hence the reason (Mat 10:40). 2) All of us need to possess a healthy level of skepticism, but skepticism that persists even when the evidence says otherwise is not healthy nor safe. It is pathological and rebellious unbelief (not against me –BUT GOD). Scripture to keep in mind (1Co 4:5 When the Lord comes He will “bring to light the things hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts” – i.e., no plausible deniability before God). 

2. They wb EDUCATORS:

Central to their role as Jesus imitators, these shepherds will spend copious amounts of time educating their people in God’s Word since this is the key to trusting God. (Jer 3:15 [Eph 4:14 = Education/understanding of God’s Word/doctrine wb how the shepherds shore up instability/distrust; Pro 22:17-19) = Trust is the by-product of education; Education is the key to trust (not entertainment/manipulation of the emotions [e.g., the “sermons” in most churches]). The piece that makes this a little bit of “sticky wicket” = Retainage requires repetition—which means if the only time you ever hear what I preach on Sunday is (on Sunday) then what you retain wb very little (20-30% at best). Which means though I am doing the job of an educator, you are failing to do your job as a learner (i.e., to study the lecture, to go over and over it until you retain it or know it). This btw the way is what the Proverbs are talking about when it says, “seek understanding” – understanding is learning—AND learning requires repetition or study to retain the material. Are you doing that ---or do you think you have more important things to do? Remember: this is the key to trust (and the reason so many of you still struggle w/trust) –B/C you are uneducated (and you are uneducated) bc you care more about spending your time being entertained than being educated (learning or studying what is given to you every week [you trade the steak dinner for terd rolled in sugar]).

3. They wb OBSESSORS:

Because obedience is so important and empiricism (truth/morality, actions/speech det’d by feelings) so dangerous, Jesus’s shepherds become obsessed with making sure their people are growing in faithfulness to God’s laws while faithfully ignoring their feelings as their guide to truth. (This was Peter as witnessed in his second epistle; in re: to obedience or faithfulness, 2Pe 1:5-13; in re: to empiricism or truth/morality, actions/ speech det’d by feelings, 2Pe 2:1-2 “sensuality” = Empiricism [2:18]; See also 2:7 “unprincipled men” = People w/o laws governing them [instead it is their feelings – “sensual conduct”], 2:10 “indulge in the flesh” = “despise authority”; Empiricism [truth/morality, actions/speech determined by our feelings versus God’s Law] is at the heart of the faith- alone false gospel [2:18-20 “promising them freedom” = Freedom from God’s law – that which keeps us from corrupting and defiling ourselves).

4. They wb ENFORCERS:

Like Jesus, these shepherds will be incorruptible and unfaltering in their use of authority to secure justice in the covenant community. (Isa 42:1-4): “My Servant…My chosen One…I have put my Spirit [mantle of authority] upon Him” = A reference to Messiah. He wb characterized by two things:  1) The justice He secures will never mistreat or abuse those under it or fail to provide the tools necessary for the repentant sinner to be restored (They wb incorruptible). (1-2, “He will bring forth justice to the nations [In doing so] He will not cry or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street [the idea of chaos or disturbance caused by the malpractice or abuse of those in authority]”) w/(3, “A bruised reed…a dimly burning wick [the repentant sinner] He will not break…extinguish [destroy or leave w/o the hope of future restoration]”). IOW: His actions will establish equity in the covenant community. 2) The taunting or condemnation of the wicked and ignorant, or the obstacles they present will not intimidate or stop Him from securing justice in the covenant community (THEY WB unfaltering) (4). Jesus-imitating shepherds will (because of such imitation) be characterized by the same two things: they too will be incorruptible (no malpractice/no abuse) and unfaltering (never intimidated or discouraged) in their use of authority to secure justice. 

In addition to what has already been said, it sb noted that the securing justice for the covenant community also requires a staunch rejection of empiricism (i.e., judgments based on feelings). This too is picked in the picture painted by the prophet w/respect to the coming Messiah (Isa 11:1-5) “He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear, But with righteousness He will judge…” = Don’t miss the contrast being made by Isaiah between judgment that takes place by way of the senses (what the eyes see or the ears hear) versus judgment based on righteousness. One is sensual (or based on how judgment is affected purely by those devices – how our feelings are manipulated or moved --empiricism), whereas the other (righteousness – referring to God’s Law) is outside of us—and therefore objective (or able to make decisions that are not influenced by personal preference or experience – those things which create a double standard or inequity). 

Which means this is entirely possible. Pastors can be truly equitable and just if they (like Jesus) are committed to listening only to God’s Law when making judgments/decisions for the covenant community. Hence the reason (btw) we are commanded not to pursue outside (or pagan) courts when dealing w/members of the covenant community (1Co 6:1-6). To think we need the council of outside authorities or courts to handle crimes w/in the church is to believe that the world (run by Satan) and rebellious to God are more objective or know better how to secure justice for the innocent or bring reform those individuals committing the crimes. It reveals not only a complete distrust of God but also a level of insanity, why would we go to darkness to find the light? (Isa 8:20!). All of this is true also as it relates to those functioning in the world as authorities and judges versus Jesus’ shepherds in the church. What would ever make us think that those controlled by Satan and completely ignorant of God’s Word wb more competent than those empowered by the Holy Spirit and equipped w/Scripture? Again, to do so betrays a level of insanity. Hence Paul’s command in (Rom 12:1-3) = According to Paul there are three things we all need to do (in light of what He has done for us): submit our life our minds and our ego to God and His Word -- which means executing a full-stop when it c...

Peter heals a lame beggar and preaches to the crowd who have gathered because of the miracle. 

WTP?

1. Evangelism can look like going to another church’s bible study (1; Act 17:1-3; Deu 33:10; Mal 2:7; Joh 18:20 = Temple courts [e.g., Solomon’s Portico] were where the people in Jerusalem would go to find teaching from various experts on the Law [priests/scribes, lawyers/judges, Pharisees, Sadducees, etc.,]. Hence the reason Jesus went to the Temple to teach – because He knew the religiously inclined wb there; Similar Act 16:13 = Bible studies were not always held in synagogues or the Temple [see also Act 20:20 “teaching…house to house”).

2. It is the job of the covenant community to see that those born w/disabilities are provided with the financial support necessary to care for their needs (1-2, “alms” = Financial donations; Act 4:34 “not a needy person among them”; Lev 15:4).

3. We must graciously accommodate the theological ignorance of those whose soteriology is right (1, [“going up to the Temple at the ninth hour” = The time of the evening sacrifice] w/17 “acted in ignorance” = Peter and John knew that the sacrifices of the Temple could not propitiate for sin. They however also knew that those attending the Temple who were ignorant of this –and more importantly of Jesus’s true identity and role in this respect, possessed the right soteriology [i.e., gain thru vows/covenant signs/faith and maintain through obedience to God’s Law or faithfulness is also required to be save]. Hence the reason for referring to them as “brethren”. In this light, consider 1Ti 1:12-14 = Paul was already a faithful member of the covenant community [already saved]. Paul made similar accommodations to the Jews in Act 21:20-26).   

4. The mantle of authority (or power) given by Jesus to those pastors possessing the right gospel remains fully intact even when they possess certain beliefs which are wrong due to ignorance (1-10 = At the time that Peter exercises Jesus’s authority/power [“in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene” = According to His authority/power], he ignorantly believes the gospel to only be available to Jews or Jewish proselytes [Act 10:1-28]; Mat 18:18 “whatever you bind…loose” [Grk., hosos = Any or all things in quantity or measure]).

5. God gives power and spiritual authority (“piety” [Grk., eusebia = spiritual authority] to the church’s anointed pastors as a means to: 

5.1. glorifying Jesus since it is His power and authority they now possess (11-13a; Joh 14:13; Joh 20:21-23). POINT NOT TO MISS: when you resist the authority of the church’s leaders you are both resisting Jesus and robbing Him of His glory.

5.2. exposing those possessing hearts of rebellion against God’s authority (13b-15 = The Jews refused, rejected and killed [“disowned”] Jesus b/c they did not want to submit to His authority. God raised Him from the dead proving Jesus’s authority was divinely-appointed). POINT NOT TO MISS: When you buck the authority of Jesus (which now resides in His anointed pastors), you show yourself to be a rebel to God.

6. Loyal obedience to Jesus as our King can lead to more than just spiritual deliverance (16, “on the basis of faith in His name [a pledge of loyal submission to Jesus’s authority]…has given him this perfect health”; 1Co 11:30 = Many Christians get sick or suffer ill health bc they continue to pledge their loyalty to Jesus’s authority [which we do every time we partake of the LT – “for faithfulness of life”] yet live in sinful opposition to Him).

7. There is mercy for those whose rebellion is the product of ignorance and not stubbornness (17; 1Ti 1:13; Zec 7:8-13 = Stubbornness leads to wrath – not mercy [God being stubborn to us]. Hence the reason we need to determine whether the problem is moral or intellectual).

8. God knows how to take our ignorance and evil actions and use them to advance His Kingdom (13-18, “He has fulfilled” = God’s purposes were being accomplished even thru the wicked suffering inflicted upon Jesus by the Jews; Isa 53; Pro 16:4). POINTS NOT TO MISS: 1) free wills and a free future are not enough to keep God from perfectly accomplishing His plans – esp. in re: to His people (Rom 8:28). 

2) possessing the proper biblical framework in re: to God and human responsibility, is essential to avoiding – or reading into passages like vv13-18, the error of determinism ([Exo 13:17; Isa 54:15; Jer 19:5] w/Eph 1:11 “works [Grk., energeo] = To give energy to, to operate - not determine/decree/fix – Act 17:26, 31 [Grk., horizo] = Some things - but not most things, have been determined by God – e.g., Jer 5:22).

9.  There is no forgiveness of sins or blessing of salvation from Jesus for those who fail to cease in their practice of (known) sin and live in obedience to God’s commands (19, “repent and return [to loyalty to the Lord, to practicing His ways and righteousness– Act 11:21, 26:18; Jam 5:19-20; Isa 55:7 w/56:1; Jer 4:1-2]” = This is the principle of put off and put on [Eph 4:22-24; e.g., it is often people’s failure in the latter that keeps them from persevering; Other examples: dieting, unhealthy relationships – self programmed robots//*wb awkward and uncomfortable at first]; 26, “to bless you by [instrumental – how the blessing will take place] turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” = The blessing [of Jesus’s salvation] happens only where there is no more practice of sin – i.e., where [again] it has been replaced by the practice of righteousness [1Jo 3:7-10]).

10.  Jesus will return when the Jews return to Jesus (19-25)[1] “in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things” = The return of the Jews to God thru becoming Christians (Rom 11:25-29), will lead to the return of Christ and times of refreshing (new heaven, new earth (Isa 66:18-22), which will also signify the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (1:6) and the eternal destruction of all people who do not bow the knee to Jesus (22-25 [Gen 22:18; Deu 18:15-19; 2Sa 7:8-17]; Isa 66:23-24)[2].

 [1] “Christ’s coming is seen as in some sense dependent on Israel’s repentance.” – Ben Witherington (Acts)

[2] “If the Israelites would repent for a day, the son of David (Messiah) would come immediately” – 1st cent., Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus (p. Ta’an)

1) the sacred holiday of Pentecost (Shavout - Feast of Weeks, Exo 34:22) represented not only a celebration of God’s bountiful giving of physical food (or harvest), but also spiritual food since according to Jewish tradition, Pentecost was the day Israel received the Law from God at Sinai (Hag Matan Torateinu – The Festival of the Giving of Torah[1]) (1, “Pentecost…they were all together in one place”[2]). 

2) the parallels that exist between Sinai and the Christian Pentecost: 

(Exo 19:16-18 w/20:1, 18) = Fire and awe (“fire…people trembled”) accompanying the presence of God speaking about His mighty deeds and Law (“God spoke all these words, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery’”) which all the people experienced/heard (“All the people perceived”).

(Act 2:2-12) = Fire and awe (“fire…They were amazed and astonished…they all continued in amazement and great perplexity”) accompanying the presence of God (“the Holy Spirit”) speaking about His mighty deeds and Law (“speaking of the mighty deeds of God”) which all the people experienced/heard (vv5-11).[3] 

3) like the Christian Pentecost, Sinai also shares the association of people receiving the Spirit (Act 2:4 and Num 11:16-17 [this event takes place immediately following the Sinai event – Num 10:11-13]). 

4) Luke’s mention of the Pentecost event as “fulfillment” (1, “When the day of Pentecost had come”) = Literally, “in complete fulfillment of the day of Pentecost” (Grk., en ho hemera pentakostay sumplay-ra-oe = In sum/complete fulfillment). Luke seems to be indicating that something started in the past (i.e., Sinai) has now come to completion (at Pentecost).[4] 

5) What follows the Christian Pentecost is the receiving of the “new” Law (the Law as transformed in application and/or semantic range by Jesus) (42, “the apostles’ teaching”).

2. The “other tongues” – or tongues given by the Spirit to the early church, were human languages unknown to their speakers (versus a non-human language unknown to the speakers – e.g., an angelic language [Pentecostal version of speaking in tongues]) [5] (4-6, “tongues” [Grk., glossa = human language, Rev 14:6], “hearing them speak in his own language” – See also again, vv8-11)[6].

3. Without the proper biblical framework, acts of God (or obedience to God) have been known to be misinterpreted as the behavior of fools or false teachers (12-13; “full of sweet wine”) = Drunk early in the morning, the behavior of fools (14-15). Drunkenness during the day was also associated w/many pagan religions who believed alcohol (or the creation of ecstatic states) was a means to connecting w/deity (e.g., early Christians were accused of being cannibals [for eating their Lord] and guilty of incest [bc they married their brothers and sisters]; we are accused of being works based/trying to earn our salvation or unaware of what Scripture teaches about salvation by faith [bc we teach salvation also requires obedience]).

4. Prophesy always involves the miraculous but not always new words – or predictions about the future (16-18, “prophesy”) = Peter is identifying their miraculous speech as the fulfillment of the first portion of Joel 2:28-32 (i.e., the portion re: to prophecy). Yet the content of their speech was itself not miraculous. Once more, they were “speaking (only) of the mighty deeds of God” – referring to those deeds done by God in the past. How then does this qualify as prophecy? The content of most prophecy is not miraculous; it neither speaks about anything new nor predicts anything still future. For speech to qualify as prophetic only two things are necessary: 1) speech in agreement w/God’s existing words (Deu 13:1-11, 18:20), 2) speech accompanied by something miraculous (2Co 12:12; Deu 13:1-2, 18:21-22)—which in the early church’s case, was the ability to speak the various foreign languages of those present at Pentecost w/o knowing them beforehand. 

5. Peter’s divinely inspired interpretation of Joel 2:28 as “And it shall be in the last days (versus how it was communicated in the original text, “And it shall come about after this”): 

1) indicates that the Christian Pentecost/IPO of the indwelling Spirit is not only the beginning of new words/NT canon from God but also the final millennia before Christ’s return and Judgment Day (17-18 = Gifts of the Spirit necessary to new words from God [“prophesy…visions…dreams” = The indication of new words from God/NT canon], 19-20 = Signs that will immediately precede Jesus’ return [Mat 24:29-31]). 

2) provides further evidence that Jesus’ return will be in the very near future (17, “last days” = Plural or referring to more than one day which in Jewish tradition, each day represents a thousand years of redemptive history [2Pe 3:8] and Messiah returns on the last day, the Sabbath [or at the end of 6,000 years]. 

At the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we were already somewhere in the range of 4,000 years – which means the “days” (or millennia) being referred to by Peter can be no more than two. That puts Jesus’ return somewhere around 2033 [or two thousand years after the Christian Pentecost which took place in 33 A.D.]. In this light, consider Jesus’ words in Joh 9:4). 

3) should create greater urgency (in us) to be faithful and productive for His kingdom (Mat 25:14-30) – most especially in witnessing to the truth and saving others (Peter’s [Joel’s] point in v21. Once we reach the last days, there is no time to waste; again Joh 9:4, also Pro 11:30).

6. The indwelling (or empowering of the) Spirit is given for the purpose of: 

1) witness in persecution (Chapter one: witnesses on fire in the fire) (1:8). 

2) new Scripture (2:17, again, “prophesy…visions…dreams”). 

3) judgment (most esp. in the covenant community – 18, “prophesy” [all God’s people] = Judgment is a form of prophecy [e.g., Eze 23:36]; The NC indwelling Spirit is the new version of Num 11:17, hence Mat 18:15 = Every member judging/holding other members accountable/responsible for preserving justice/confronting sin as the first step in congregational justice/discipline).

7. What God wants the Jews to know about Jesus: 

1) He was from God (22; Joh 3:2). 

2) God’s plan was to deliver Him to the Jews as the (truly) propitiatory sacrifice for their sins (23a; The animal sacrifices were neither sufficient nor penal [i.e., the lambs were not punished]– Rom 3:25; Heb 10:4; Consider also the example of Isaac [God was not punishing him or Abe] or the prophesy of the High Priest [Joh 11:50-51]). 

3) The Jews treated Jesus as though He were a criminal (23b). 

4) God still treated Jesus’ death as propitiation for Israel’s sin, hence the reason death could not keep Him/He was resurrected (i.e., He was victorious – Rom 4:25) (24; Heb 9:15-16).

5) Jesus’ resurrection and role as Messiah (the “Christ”) was prophesied by David (25-32). 

6) Jesus is now in heaven where God has exalted and confirmed Jesus’s role not only as His earthly king (“Christ”), but the divine King of heaven and earth (“Lord”) (33-36), 7) God is holding the Jews personally responsible for Jesus’ mistreatment and death (23, 36).

8. Peter uses the three most relevant pieces of evidence to validat...

2. Jesus did not go back to heaven until equipping His Church w/: 1) authority: He passed the mantle of Holy Spirit authority [anointing] to His “chosen” leaders (2, “after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders [or “charge” – Mar 13:34] to the apostles”, Joh 20:21-23). 2) assurance: He proved He was alive after His death (3, “many convincing proofs” = Evidence that removes doubt – e.g., Joh 20:17 [Mary Magdalene hugged Him], 20, 24-29 [Apostles saw/touched His wounds], 21:12-15 [Peter and other apostles ate breakfast w/Him]; “over a period of forty days” = Most likely the time when more than 500 people also witnessed Jesus alive after His death -1Co 15:6). 3) ability: He provided His disciples w/instructions for receiving the promised indwelling Holy Spirit for empowerment (4-8).

3. There is an ascending and descending gift of the Holy Spirit: 1) ascending = anointing (2; Joh 20:21-23 = Jesus gives the HS just before He ascends back to heaven), 2) descending = indwelling (4-5, 8; Eph 4:7-11; “measure” = indwelling - or indwelling and anointing; “When He ascended…He gave [aorist = tense stressing association more than indicating time]” = Christ’s HS anointing is associated w/His ascension; “descended” = On Pentecost to give the indwelling Spirit; v11 = The anointed offices today [“evangelist” = NT priest who plants churches/missionary, “pastor-teacher” = NT priest; See Isa 66:21]). 

4. Being faithful as Jesus’ “witnesses” in the midst of persecution/trials is: 1) necessary to being empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit (4-8 w/Luk 3:16-17 w/Mar 9:43-50 “salted by fire” = Tested by fire [or fiery trials] (Lev 2:13 “with all your offerings you shall offer salt”)[1]. Jesus went through the same process – Luk 3:21-22, 4:1-14. In this light consider also Paul’s words in Act 20:22-24 w/14:22; we are born [again] w/power that can only be released thru the trials that come thru witnessing). 2) the reason most Christians never experience empowerment from the indwelling Spirit -- because they avoid witnessing for Jesus and the persecution/trials it often brings! Point NOT to miss: empowering is for the purpose of witnessing in the midst of persecution/trials which means if you avoid witnessing in these situations, you avoid being empowered (12-26 = The apostles are praying [w/ the expectation of] empowerment [12-14] bc they are planning to witness [15-26] to the same hostile Jews who killed Jesus[2]; See similar in [4:29-30]).

5. Jesus’ return will feel a lot like a science fiction movie, an alien invasion and episode from “Law And Order” (9-11 w/1Th 4:15-17 [Mat 24:29-31] and 2Th 1:7-8 [Psa 149; Joh 5:28-29; Mat 13:40-43]; In the end, everyone will have their day in God’s court and some of us wb called to testify against others– Rev 20:11-15; Heb 13:17; 1Co 6:2-3).

6. The geographical place of Jesus’ ascent will also be the geographical place of His return (11-12 w/Zec 14:1-14, 9).

7. The standard by which to measure any church is its divinely inspired prototype: the church started by Jesus, the church of the apostles, the Jerusalem church which was small and filled with a lot of personal family members (versus large and filled with a lot of strangers) [3] (13-15; As it re: to being small: “one hundred and twenty persons” = Very small in comparison to the crowds that once followed Jesus [e.g., Luk 9:12-14]; As it re: to being filled w/family members: “Judas” = Jesus’ [half] brother, apostle and author of Jude, “Mary the mother of Jesus, …with His brothers.” = This list would include James – the future senior pastor of the church, as well as Joses and Simon. His sisters were [ml] also in attendance [Mar 6:3]; According to Scripture and tradition [e.g., Clement of Alexandria], most of the “eleven” were married and had at least one child [e.g., Mat 8:14; 1Co 9:5; e.g., Peter’s daughter was named Petronilla]. More than likely then, 30-40 [or 25-33%] of the 120 persons were family members. As it re: to remaining small: though experiencing times of great expansion (Act 2:41, 4:4, 5:14), they were short lived. Persecution forced most of the church’s new members to seek shelter in churches outside of Jerusalem (e.g., Act 8:4). As a result, the Jerusalem church remained one of the smallest for the majority of her first century existence (hence Act 11:28-30; Rom 15:25-26; 1Co 16:2-3).[4] 

8. The apostles believed that insurrection – condemning or coming against the authority of those anointed to sacred office in the church was blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, the unforgiveable sin and apostasy (16-20 w/Mat 26:14 w/Joh 12:1-8; “Let his homestead be made desolate and let no one dwell in it” [See the full context of Psa 69:22-28] = Let them become apostate; For blasphemy against the HS as insurrection against the anointed in the covenant community, see Mat 12:32 w/Num 15:30-31, 16:1-3; also Psa 105:15).

9. The qualifications for being in the anointed sacred office of apostle make clear that anyone claiming that office today is a false teacher (21-22 w/25 “apostleship”). 

10. The congregation is the one deciding who gets anointed/ordained (15-16 w/23 [“they” = the congregation] – 26 [“added” = voted in by the congregation]; See also Act 6:1-6 [“the whole congregation…chose”; That they were choosing for the purpose of anointing/ordaining – i.e., that these were elders/pastors is confirmed by the fact these individuals had the authority/ability to baptize – e.g., Act 8:38]; OT ref. to congregational choosing for anointing – 1Ch 29:20-22).

11. Casting lots (sortition or selection by lottery) is a divine way to preserve equity in situations where there is no explicit counsel from God [His Word] (23-26 = Lots were cast to determine the duties of the priests. Joseph and Mattias were [ml] elders in their church [Luk 1:9 and 1Ch 24:1-5, 31, 25:8, 26:13-16] e.g., also [clothing] Mat 27:31; [land] Num 26:55; Jos 18:6; [sacrifices] Lev 16:8; in re: to it being divinely attended [revealing God’s will] – Pro 16:33 [e.g., Urim and Thummin – Exo 28:30]).

 [1] “The reference to ritual sacrifice (Lev 2:13) would be fairly evident to the first readers of Mark. The argument has a coherence deeper than catchwords: Since undisciplined disciples risk the fire of gehenna at the last judgment, the hardships the disciple will undergo now are disciplines like the fire of a sacrificial offering that purifies, or like salt which stings but is preservative in its effect. Jesus on his way to Jerusalem is the supreme example of the sacrificial offerings ‘salted with fire.’ His sacrificial death is not to shield disciples from costly obedience, but rather show them the way: ‘For every one (meaning every disciple) will be salted with fire.’ Disciples whose lives ...

1. The gospel message being preached will have teeth.

1.1. Two things are meant by this figure of speech:

1.1.1. the message wb offensive not only to the world, but also the majority of those claiming to follow God (e.g., the Jews of Jesus’ day; Evangelical Christians) (Act 7:51-54) = Like the messages preached by the former prophets, Stephen’s gospel was offensive to the majority of those already believing themselves to be the followers of God (the Jews of Jesus’ day; popular Christianity) (Act 17:6 “upset the world”, Act 28:22 “it is spoken against everywhere”). Most people (pagans and “Christians”) will hate the gospel of a genuine Jesus movement.

1.1.2. salvation would not be free and easy – or something you get for nothing (with no strings attached). It would instead require sacred vows of loyalty to Jesus and a life of faithfulness to God’s Laws (Act 2:38): 

1) “repent” = Commit to practicing obedience to God’s Laws (which means putting off/turning from the practice of sin) (Luk 3:3 [notice, like faith, repentance is also necessary to the forgiveness of sins], 4-14 = IOW: Practice the Law in all things, this is what it means/looks like to repent (Isa 40:3-8 “word of our God” [i.e., God’s Law]) = Eternal preservation/salvation will require clearing out of our lives all lawlessness and clinging to God’s Law as preached (esp. at the time of His Messiah) (Isa 42:1-4, 51:4-5). Notice this message (or offer of salvation) also applies to the “nations” – people other than the Jews (Isa 55:1-7 w/56:1-8)[1]. That by repentance is meant commitment to obeying God’s Law is also supported by other passages in the book of Acts (Act 21:21-24) = Paul would have refused James’ request if the version of Christianity he had converted to did not view obedience to the Law as necessary; (Act 24:14-15 w/25:8) = Likewise, Paul could not say these things if the version of Christianity he had converted to did not view the Law as necessary; (Act 17:11) = The Bereans would have found Paul’s gospel to be false if it ignored obedience to God’s Law since this was the central message of the OT Scriptures they were using to validate his message. 

2) “each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” = Notice, this too (baptism) is necessary for salvation (or the forgiveness of sins). According to Peter’s first epistle, baptism represents a sacred vow of loyalty to Jesus (1Pe 3:21 “an appeal [Lit., a vow or pledge of loyalty] to God [in exchange for] a good conscience [i.e., forgiveness] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ [the person whose blood is the source of our forgiveness]”). This vow of loyalty is also picked up in the word faith [Grk., pistis = loyalty]. Examples from Acts (Act 3:16 “faith in His name”) = A common ancient idiom referring to a person’s loyalty to another (usually a person more powerful or of higher status than themselves); (Act 20:21 “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ”) = Not only is the aforementioned idiom expressed, but this time the word “faith” is used as the substitute for baptism. Instead of Peter’s former gospel combination of repentance and baptism, it is repentance and faith – demonstrating faith to be both a suitable synonym for baptism and another term communicating vows of loyalty.

1.2. Why a gospel requiring such things was (and continues to be) so offensive to those outside a genuine Jesus’ movement = Because the gospel preached by the majority of those claiming to follow God has always been a gospel which requires no such loyalty or commitment. True now and true also in Jesus’ day. The rebellious Jews were the first Evangelicals. They too  believed in a FAG (Jer 6:14-19; Luk 3:8 w/Joh 8:39).    

1.3. A gospel causing this kind of offense among the majority was prophesied as central to the genuine Jesus movement (Luk 2:34-35 w/Mat 10:16-39) = The people Jesus is calling “wolves” - who will do these awful things, wb the majority of those claiming to follow God and blood family.

2.  The gospel message is powerfully and irrefutably proven from the Scriptures. 

1.1. (Act 18:24-28 “powerfully refuted…demonstrating by the Scriptures”) = Proving by powerful argument and irrefutable Scriptural evidence (“demonstrating”, Luk 17:14). 

1.2. (Act 1.17:1-3, 8:4, 19, 19:8 “synagogue”) = Jewish place of worship where scrolls containing all the OT Scriptures would be found. Though Paul [ml] possessed some books (e.g., Pentateuch – 2Ti 4:13), it would have been almost impossible to his missionary endeavors to carry everything. 

Hence therefore the common practice of going to the synagogue to evangelize. (“explaining and giving evidence”, “reasoning”) = The employment of logic and facts to make an argument. In this case, the logic and facts established by the Scriptures. (“persuading”) = Irrefutably proving.

1.3. Jesus preached the same way (Luk 24:27 w/32 “our hearts burning within us”) = Idiomatic phrase indicating the presence of strong conviction where there had once been doubt. Jesus’ demonstrably proved from the OT Scriptures that the gospel message He had preached (most esp., that the Christ would need to suffer and die) was true.

1.4. Point not to miss: the gospel of a genuine Jesus movement doesn’t just claim its message is irrefutable, but proves it from the Scriptures in such a way that it leaves its opponents w/o a valid rebuttal (in re: to ordained men, Tit 1:9-11 silenced” = their mouths made shut/stopped). 

3. Because what is being preached as the gospel is both offensive and irrefutable, those rejecting its message (including those within the majority) will employ slander and shady tactics to shut the preachers up. 

2.1. (Act 6:7-13 “cope with the wisdom”) = Refute his arguments from Scripture. Jesus promised to give His preachers this kind of wisdom (Luk 21:15). (“secretly induced men to say...put forward false witnesses”) = Employed slander and shady tactics to shut Stephen up bc (once more) they couldn’t refute him.

2.2. (Act 9:22-23 “plotted” [20:3 “plot…formed by the Jews”, 19 “plots of the Jews”]; See also 23:12-15 “conspiracy”) = Shady tactics. In this case, the shady tactic of condemning someone w/o giving them the opportunity to defend their actions or beliefs (e.g., a kangaroo court). God’s Law forbids such shady tactics (Exo 23:1 w/Deu 19:15; Hence Joh 7:51). Even the pagan Romans viewed such behavior as shady and illegal (Act 19:21-28 w/35-42; See also Act 23:30, *25:16). 

2.3. Because they could not refute their gospel, the Jews called the Christians a cult (“sect”) so that others would view them with suspicion. 

2.4. Another common (shady) tactic of those who are unable to refute the preachers in a genuine Jesus movement is to slanderously attack their personal character.  This they also do, in the hopes of scaring others out of listening to them (Act 24:5 “deceivers…pest”) = Translates as “scoffer” in the OT. It refers to a wicked person who boldly condemns those who are right as though they were wrong. (“dissension”) = Insurrection (against God). See also Paul’s words in (2Co 6:8 “regarded as deceivers”) = Imposters. 

2.5. Jesus’ character and intentions were likewise attacked by those who were unsuccessful in attacking what He preached (Mat 11:19 “gluttonous man and a drunkard” [Notice they condemned JtB also- ...

A major deterrent to canonical confidence[1], is not only a poor understanding of the canon’s formation, but the intended function of God’s spoken words as communicated in the canon itself. Having addressed the latter (function), this study will address the former (formation). With that in mind, there are several important truths that must be understood with respect to the formation of the Canon – or those books believed to contain God’s spoken words:

1. By the time of Jesus and the apostles, the Old Testament had long been accepted by the Jews as the first installment of God’s spoken words.

1.1. First century Jewish historian, Josephus claims that the same books found in (our modern-day) Old Testaments, had long been considered God’s spoken words by the Jews, “For although such long ages have now passed, no one has ventured neither to add, or to remove, or to alter a syllable” (Against Apion, 1.38-42).

1.2. First century Jewish writer, Philo of Alexandria likewise acknowledges the Old Testament as God’s spoken words using the same three-fold structure used by Jesus to describe them (Luk 24:44 “the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms”), “The laws and the sacred oracles of God enunciated [God spoke] by the holy prophets … and psalms” (On the Contemplative Life, 25; See also Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus and Dead Sea Scrolls, 4QMMT). 

1.3. The way that Jesus and the apostles speak about the Old Testament, it is clear they too saw it as the first installment of God’s spoken words (i.e., as Scripture) (e.g., Mat 4:1-11, 9:13, 15:3-9, 22; Mar 12:10; Luk 4:21, 18:20; Joh 5:39, 7:38 10:35; Act 1:16, Rom 4:3; 2Ti 3:15-16; Jam 2:8; 1Pe 2:6).

1.4. Furthermore, 33 of the 39 Old Testament books are referenced or directly quoted by Jesus and other NT speakers[2]. Those not referenced or directly quoted: Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Song of Solomon, Obadiah[3].

1.5. Point not to miss: The OT (as the first canon or installment of God’s spoken words) was not only a forgone conclusion by the time of Jesus and the apostles, but something they and the other NT speakers firmly believed and promoted.

2. When the Old Testament speaks about the coming new kingdom (new Israel) and its Messiah, it also speaks about new spoken words from God (i.e., a new “testament” from God)[4].

2.1. Support: 1) (Deu 18:18 “put my words in His mouth and he shall speak”) = Messiah will speak new words from God [fulfilled: Mar 9:7; Joh 6:14, 7:40; Act 3:23-24, 7:37], 2) (Isa 11:1 “rod of His mouth”) = Messiah will judge the earth w/new spoken words from God [fulfilled: 2Th 2:8; Rev 1:16, 11:15, 19:15], 3) (Isa 61:1-2 “bring good news”) = Messiah will bring new spoken words of salvation [fulfilled: Luk 4:18-19], 4) (Isa 2:2-3 “the word of the Lord from Jerusalem [shall go forth to the nations]”) = The new spoken words from God will go forth from Jerusalem to the nations of the world [fulfilled: book of Acts]. David Pao believes Isaiah 2 to be the paradigm for the entire book of Acts[5] (In this light consider, Luk 24:46-47). 

2.2. Literature from the Second Temple period make it clear that the Jews knew the Old Testament was not the end of God’s spoken words. IOW: there would be a second installment:

“The Jews of the Second Temple period were not a settled group. Despite having returned to their promised land, they still conceived of themselves as in ‘exile’ – they were still oppressed by foreign rulers (Bar 2:7-10; 2Macc 2:5-18; 4Q504 2-5; T. Mos. 4:8-9). Thus, Israel was in a posture of anticipation and longing; they were waiting for God to fulfill His promises to break into the world and redeem His people…Another way [therefore] to articulate Second Temple expectations…is to say that the Jews of this period viewed the story of the Old Testament books as incomplete. When the Old Testament story of Israel was viewed as a whole, it was not viewed as something that was finished but as something that was waiting to be finished….That Second Temple Jews regarded the Old Testament story as incomplete and in need of a proper conclusion has significant implications for the production of a new corpus of biblical books. If some Second Temple Jews became convinced that the story was completed in the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth – such as the earliest Christians did -- the it is not unreasonable to think that the proper conclusion to the Old Testament might then be written. Indeed, the very structure of the Old Testament itself, with its truncated and forward-looking ending, naturally leads to the expectation that there would be a second installment of writings to finish the job. Otherwise, one would be left with a play that had no final act.” – Michael J. Kruger (The Question Of Canon)

“A new Israel would require new Scriptures.” – David Meade (“Ancient Near Eastern Apocalypticism and the Origins of the New Testament Canon of Scripture.”)

3. The concept of a new covenant also points to a second installment of new spoken words from God.

3.1. Scholars have long observed that “where there is a divine covenant…there is a divine covenantal document [containing God’s spoken words].”[6]

3.2. So close is the connection between covenant and an accompanying document containing God’s spoken words, that the OT authors would frequently equate the two. To possess a covenant w/God meant to possess spoken words from God (Exo 24:7; Deu 4:13, 29:21; 2Ki 23:2).  

3. It is therefore safe to assume that the early Christians – who were also highly covenantal in their understanding of their new faith, were expecting new spoken words from God (a New Testament to go with their new covenant).

“The earliest Christians were themselves immersed in the covenantal structure of the Old Testament and thus would have understood this critical connection between covenants and written texts [of God’s spoken words for that covenant]…If they believed that through Jesus Christ a new covenant had been inaugurated with Israel (Jer 31:31), it would have been entirely natural for them to expect new written documents [of God’s spoken words] to testify to the terms of that [new] covenant.” - Kruger

4. At least some of the New Testament authors were aware they were writing the second installment of God’s spoken words (i.e., the New Testament).

4.1. Consider for example, Peter’s use of the word “Scripture” when speaking about the writings of Paul (2Pe 3:16). Paul likewise uses the word “Scripture” when referring to a saying from Jesus in Luke’s gospel (1Ti 5:18 w/Luk 10:17). Certainly, such identification was not lost on the authors themselves. IOW: the authors (Paul and Luke) also shared the view that what they were writing was indeed Scripture (Consider Paul’s words in 1Co 14:37-38). 

4.2. Assuming Luke felt the same way about his other book, the book of Acts, means we have accounted for over half the books in the NT (15 of the 27) or 139 of its 260 chapters (53%). Chances therefore are high that those writing the remaining portion also knew they were writing Scripture. 

4.3. As additional support, many scholars believe that all of the NT’s authors believed they were preserving apostolic witness – i.e., that God was (through them) preserving (in written form) His (or Jesus’) spoken words to the apostles (Joh 14:26 w/17:8).  And their belief shares substantial patristic evidence. The early church fathers, Justin Martyr, Tertullian and Irenaeus...

A major deterrent to canonical confidence[1], is not only a poor understanding of the canon’s formation, but the intended function of God’s spoken words as communicated in the canon itself. This study (or part one) will address the latter, part two, the former. With that in mind, there are several important truths that must be understood with respect to God’s spoken words:

1. The exclusive instrument God has chosen to lead and have relationship w/His people (i.e., to save them) has been His spoken words (not feelings or Jesus’ face in pancakes or naan - or the more recent and local example, glitter bombs [Church of the Front Range]) (Exo 34:27 “in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel” = God’s words were the means to covenant relationship w/OC Israel; Deu 31:8-9 = God’s words were the means to leading OC Israel; Isa 8:19-20 = Those led by anything other than God’s spoken words are counterfeits; Heb 1:1-2; 2Ti 3:16 “inspired” [Grk., “God-breathed” = Spoken by God] = What has been written down as Scripture is what was spoken [to the human authors] by God; 2Pe 1:19-21 = Gaining and maintaining a saving relationship w/God [“until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” = Until you get to heaven/the day of your eternal salvation is realized] requires that you give yourself to His “spoke[n]” words [“Scripture”] as the exclusive means to leading and living your life [versus to false teachers who lead thru feelings, their experiences or promises of false freedom [2:1-19]; What about Gideon’s fleece? See Jug 6:36 w/37-40). 

2. Since the purpose of God’s spoken words is the salvation (physically and spiritually) of His people, we should: 1) always view His spoken words with this as their intention (i.e., whatever He has said is relevant/important to the subject of salvation – 2Ti 3:15), 2) never view His spoken words as an attempt at referring to or explaining all things (e.g., the Bible has very little to say about dinosaurs; the Bible spends very little time on the subject of Creation). 

3. Never – including the present, have God’s people ever possessed all God’s spoken words yet they have always had what they needed to be faithful (Deu 29:29; 2Pe 1:3; e.g., 1Sa 10:10-11; Joh 20:30; Col 4:16; Rev 10:4).

4. God at times, has deliberately hidden His spoken words - or their understanding, until His people were ready to receive it and take the next necessary step in their journey of obedience (Neh 8:13-18 [Lev 23:34; Deu 16:16]; Eph 3:1-6 = OT saints not given full understanding as to the prophecies regarding the coming Messiah. Hence Mat 13:34-35 and Luk 24:27, 45-46//Luk 9:45, 18:31-34; Joh 12:16, 13:7, 20:9; *the importance of this truth to our church: do not become unsettled by the fact that as we mature, God corrects our poor understanding of His spoken words from the past – e.g., Calvinism, baptism, Insurrection or the unforgiveable sin, what other things qualify as a capital crime, etc. ** what has never changed: our view that what a person needs to do to be saved is more than simply put faith in Christ, they must also be faithfully obedient to His laws).

5. God has also deliberately foregone giving the exact application for some of His spoken words to accommodate the changing moral climates experienced by His people throughout the world and redemptive history (e.g., Deu 25:1-3; 1Co 5:1-5 w/2Co 2:6-8; see also 2Co 8:21; *important not to miss: though the church is given freedom as to the application of these laws, that does not make our decisions arbitrary or without God’s authority and backing[2]; Mat 18:18-20).

6. Under Jesus’ new covenant kingdom, God has deliberately changed the way we are to understand and apply some of His previously spoken (or preserved) words (e.g., Rom 10:20-21 w/Isa 65:1-2; 1Co 5:1-5; Col 2:11-12; Act 15:17 w/Amo 9:12 [LXX versus MT[3]]).

7. In addition, God has deliberately made some of His spoken words hard to understand (e.g., 2Pe 3:16) so that those who truly love Him will truly understand it and those who don’t, won’t[4] (Jer 29:13 “with all of your heart” = Hard work motivated by love is the condition to finding God; Isa 6:10 w/1:1-15 and 5:24 = Dull and dim are God’s curse on those who refuse to love Him by listening to His laws [to love is to listen]; Mat 13:13-15; Joh 8:42-43; Act 28:27; 2Co 12:7-10 [the theory of desirable difficulty] = We are better at understanding things [we are “stronger”] when those things are presented in a difficult way[5]).

8. Though not always apparent on the surface, there are no contradictions or inconsistencies between the principles established by God’s spoken words in the Old Testament and those established in the New Testament (Hence the reason: 1) Jesus and the NT’s speakers always appeal to the OT in support of their position or teaching – e.g., Act 24:14 [roughly, one out of every three verses in the NT is a direct or indirect reference to the OT], 2) Paul supports the OT as a source for becoming “wise” about NT salvation or training in righteousness [2Ti 3:15-16], 3) the Scriptures used at the start of the 1st century church to discern truth from error was the OT [the NT didn’t exist] – e.g., Act 17:10-11//e.g., Act 15:17 w/Amo 9:12 = No contradiction in the way James applies Amos since the intended goal of the prophet’s words agree with James’s interpretation [i.e., the Gentiles will be able to seek God’s salvation w/o becoming Jews [“all the nations who are called by My name”. Hence Paul’s struggle w/the Jews - Gal 6:13-15 w/3:28).  

9. The two worst things therefore a person can be, are: 1) lazy in working hard to understand God’s spoken words (2Pe 3:16 = The reason they are “untaught and unstable” is due to their unwillingness to put forth the effort or work to “grow” in their understanding of God’s new covenant plan [the “grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” They are “unprincipled men” [lazy – literally, w/o a law governing their behavior- most esp. God’s law – e.g., 2Pe 2:7], vv17-18; why so bad: v16b, “to their own destruction”)  and 2) under the impression that no changes or corrections will be made to their understanding of God’s spoken words as a consequence of their growth in understanding (and therefore refuse to change – or call into question what is being taught) (this too is implied in 2Pe 3:16-18 = People refusing to grow are people refusing to change; e.g., Act 6:8-7:53 [51]; Gal 4:1-10 [8-10]; why so bad: Heb 6:1-8).

10. The end of first-century supernatural offices, brought an end to any additional spoken words from God in human history (1Co 13:8-10).  

 [1] By canonical confidence I mean, confidence that what we possess as God’s spoken words is enough to save us. 

[2] Arbitrary (def.) based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

[3] Based on the evidence from other extant Jewish sources (e.g., Dead Sea Scrolls), some scholars believe the LXX rendering to be the more accurate/correct rendering.

[4] To say that something is hard to understand does not mean the same thing as beyond human understanding. If this were true, then hardly could Peter (for example) make an appeal to Paul’s wisdom – or encourage other Christians to read his letters since their message would be indiscernible (2Pe 3:14-15). It should also be noted that acknowledging the diffi...

1.1. The mission of our “Master” = Using our potential to be a value-add to His (new) kingdom (i.e., the church) through the

cultivation of its assets (14-17). (14) “entrusted his possessions…talents [literally, weights of value]”, (27) “money” = Kingdom assets, those things determining the kingdom’s value. (15) “each according to his ability” = Potential based on one’s resources and opportunities. (16, 17) “traded and gained”, (27) “money back with interest” = Cultivation.

1.2. Accomplishing the mission of our Master is necessary to being ready when we meet Him (24:44 w/25:13 w/14a “for it is just like…”). IOW: it is necessary to receiving (final) salvation (versus damnation) (21 versus 30).

1.3. Adding to the value of Jesus’ (new) kingdom/church is the reason He (the Master) purchased (redeemed/saved) us out of this condemned world. IOW: the gracious gift of our salvation (i.e., forgiveness/escape from hell/eternity in heaven) is reciprocal (26 = Jesus expects a ROI).

1.4. Maintaining our salvation therefore includes this aspect of obedience. We must make sure we are the kind of Christian whose life is a value-add to the mission of our Master. Consider: 

1) Christians are the “slaves” (14) of God (term used most frequently in the Bible to describe God’s people). Slaves have no rights or reason to live beyond the mission of their master (again, this is why they are purchased).

2) Our potential (“ability”) plays a crucial role in determining whether we were faithful to our Master’s mission - i.e., did our potential match our performance? (15 w/29). 

3) The third slave is considered “wicked” and sent to hell not because of living an unholy life (e.g., he didn’t steal the master’s talent), but rather because he refused to be productive - or productive according to his master’s preference (Mat 7:21-23 = Those condemned chose to serve Jesus according to their preference versus God’s preference [“the will of My Father”]).

1.5. According to Jesus, failing to be productive (according to your potential and God’s will for your life) means you are still wicked and worthy of hell. 

2. Kinds of Christians: value-add (v-a) and value-bad (v-b)

2.1. “Lions” (v-a Christians) (16-17): 

1) they make good use of their “ability”/they live up to their potential/they have a great ROI. In the case of the first two servants in our parable, they had a 100% ROI! 

2) they view Christianity like the military: they respect authority and live for the mission (20, “Master… you entrusted to me…see I have gained”).

3) they are bold and courageous: they capitalize on their fear versus being controlled by their fear (25, “afraid”). 

4) they have sense of urgency and always execute the mission (16 “immediately”).

5) their value is determined by the value of the church (Phi 2:3-4; this is what removes selfishness; it is how we die to self and live for Christ). 

6) lions love pain (their perspective: pain = gain).

7) lions know - and are good with, God’s love being conditioned upon performance (Joh 17:4).

8) lions are like/imitate Jesus and so go to heaven (23 “joy of the master” = Heaven, where “the Lion from the tribe of Judah” lives – Rev 5:5; Joh 17:4).

2.2. "Chickens” (v-b Christians) (18): 

1) they do not live up to their ability/potential. Like chickens who bury their eggs, the wicked servant buried his ability/potential so that others [in this case, the master] cannot benefit from them (25-27). Important point NOT to miss: it’s not enough to serve if what we do falls short of our ability/potential-i.e., we possess a poor ROI (e.g., pastor becoming a lay-teacher in the church – Would that be an acceptable ROI? Could I say I had been faithful w/my ability/potential?). 

2) they view Christianity like a book club: no one is boss, we exist to discuss what we like in God’s book/complain [squawk like chickens] about what we don’t. 

3) they are big talkers/squawkers who end up being nothing more than lazy cowards and emotional wrecks (26 “lazy” = cowardly = selfish)

4) they hate anything urgent, make excuses and often fail to execute the mission (24 w/26 = Servant rejected the urgency of the mission assigned by his master). 

5) their value is determined by what others think of them/how they view themselves in relation to others (in the church) (e.g., 24 = The wicked servant’s value was determined by how superior he felt to others [“a hard/harsh man”]). 

6) chickens avoid pain (their perspective: pain = not necessary for gain) (24 w/25; e.g., pastor chooses a different career path because of the pain and effort required).

7) chickens delude themselves into believing that God’s love for them is unconditional/not performance-based - i.e., they are evangelicals (25 = the wicked servant assumes his master will be okay w/his lack of performance).

8) chickens go to hell (30 “outer darkness…weeping and gnashing of teeth” = Hell; Mat 13:42 see also Rev 22:18).

2.3. “Hogs and dogs” (very v-b Christians) (Mat 7:6): 

1) they are worse than hell-bound chickens. Hogs and dogs have no genuine interest in adding value to Jesus’ kingdom. 

2) they despise the “holy” mission given to them at their conversion and anyone who attempts to push them in that direction they will “tear…to pieces”. 

3) though citizens of Jesus’ kingdom, they hate His rule/authority (Luk 19:14)  

4) hogs and dogs not only fail to execute but drain (“devour”) the resources of the church.

On Judgment Day, all farm animals (chickens, hogs and dogs) will be thrown into the lake of fire by the angels (Mat 13:41-42; “stumbling blocks” = Chickens, those who by their cowardly selfishness and laziness promote the same in others; “those who commit lawlessness” = Hogs and dogs, those who despise God’s holy law and those who practice/enforce it [“they will devour you – Mat 7:6]). 

Only royal animals (lions) make it to heaven (Mat 13:43; “the righteous will shine forth as the sun” = V-A, royalty language – see Dan 12:3 w/Psa 80:1, 132:17-18]) 

3.Cultivation of the Kingdom’s assets

3.1. How we cultivate the Kingdom (or Church’s) assets = Through the bold AND consistent promotion of her 3 main assets in our lives, church, and the world (boldness and consistency = cultivation)

3.2. Why boldness? Boldness brings conviction, and conviction - not conversion is the goal. Only the HS can bring conversion. We are called to create conviction not conversion (Ecc 10:4 [“allays” = removes]; Act 2:47, 4:29). boldness = conviction

Signs associated w/boldness (how you know you are being bold, and people are convicted):

1) They want to hear more/get right with God (Act 2:36-37)

2) They get angry, say mean things, avoid or condemn you or seek to hurt you (Act 7:52-54).

3.3. Why consistency? Past victories/faithfulness only counts if you keep producing in the present (Eze 18:24; Mat 21:19). consistency = perseverance 

3.4. The 3 main assets of Jesus’ (new) Kingdom (the Church) that must be boldly and consistently promoted in our lives, church and the world:

1) TRUTH (the reality of the K) [God’s Word - most esp. His gospel] (Mar 16:15 [v20]; Luk 24:46-48 w/Act 1:8 – Notice it includes those who already think they are saved [“Jerusalem and in all Judea” = the Jews]; Lev 19:16-18 w/Psa 34:12-13; Isa 8:20; Joh 17:17; Eph 4:15; 1Pe 2:22; 1Jo 3:18; remember Rev 22:15). 

2) JUSTICE (the function of the K) [God’s prescription] (P...

Making sense of the book of Revelation requires:

1. We treat Revelation like all other prophetic literature in Scripture which operates according to the principles of symbolism (Rev 1:1, “communicated” [Grk., saymainoe] = Communicated through symbols/signs), original audience relevance (Rev 1:3-4, written to seven churches existing in the 1st century about events that will [in the majority] take place in their lifetime [3, “the time is near”; Mat 24:34]. Hence the early date for writing: > 70 AD[1]), unconventional fulfillment (e.g., Rev 14:8 [Isa 21:9], “Babylon” identified as someone other than literal Babylon), and recapitulation ([def., repeating previously mentioned events for the purpose of reinforcing formerly established truths and introducing new details or different perspectives that further the reader’s understanding and appreciation of those events.], Rev 5-11 w/12-18 [TBD]).

2. We read John’s heavenly vision (chs. 4-22) as five main acts: two past, one in the past and present, two yet future.

2.1. ACT ONE (PAST): DIVORCE  

(4:1-5:14) = Jesus before the divine divorce court. 

2.1.1. John is taken up to God’s heavenly throne room, the place where His judgments are determined (4:1-3). 

2.1.2. The court’s business on this day is the finalization of Jesus’ divorce from OC Israel (5:1-5).[2] 

2.1.3. The “book” (or scroll) with the seven seals represents the marriage covenant between Jesus and OC Israel created during the Sinai event (Exo 19-24 w/Jud 1:5; Exo 24:7 “the book of the covenant” = the marriage covenant document). 

2.1.4. John weeps knowing that unless the marriage w/OC Israel is put asunder, the kingdom and promises of God could not be transferred to the church (or NC Israel). IOW: Jesus’ prophecy would not come true (Mat 21:43). 

2.1.5. Jesus’ status as Israel’s true Husband (her “Lion” and “Root”) is the reason He is only One who can execute the divorce (break the seven seals of the marriage document rendering it void). 

2.1.6. Likewise, Jesus’ status as a priest is the reason for the seven seals (Heb 4-10). Unlike normal marriage documents which were sealed only once, the marital document used for priests (get mekushar) was sealed seven times to dissuade priests from hasty divorces since priests were prohibited from the possibility of re-marrying their former spouses (or marrying those divorced). This understanding tells us that Jesus’ decision to pursue divorce is neither hasty nor without substantial grounds. Jesus’ grounds for divorce are two-fold: 1) OC Israel’s continuing (and generational) spiritual harlotry (Isa 50:1; Jer 3:8-9, 5:7, 13:27; Eze 16:8-30), 2) OC Israel’s murder of her Messiah and Husband-God (Act 2:36, 3:15, 7:52; Rev 5:6, 11:8; According to Jesus, this was the “final straw” – Mat 23:32-36).

2.1.7. As such, correctly interpreting Revelation 4 and 5 is essential to understanding 15 of the remaining 17 chapters (i.e., chs. 6-18 or 70% of the entire book of Revelation).

(6:1-11:19) = The seven-seals of the marriage document are broken releasing a seven-fold judgment against OC Israel culminating in the destruction of the Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans (depicted as seven trumpets)

2.1.8. God promises a seven-fold judgment for Israel’s adultery/apostasy in Leviticus 26 (Lev 26:18, 21, 24, 28).

2.1.9. The “four horsemen” of the initial four seals are also an allusion to Ezekiel 14 where God promises severe judgment against Jerusalem for unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 14:12-21). 

2.1.10. Direct parallels exist between the initial four seals and what is communicated in Leviticus 26 and Ezekiel 14: 1) Seal one (Rev 6:1-2) = Conquest (Jerusalem) (Lev 26:28-31; Eze 14:21), 2) Seal two (Rev 6:3-4) = Sword/War (Lev 26:24-27; Eze 14:17-18), 3) Seal three (Rev 6:5-6) = Famine (Lev 26:18-20; Eze 14:12-14), 4) Seal four (Rev 6:7-8) = Wild Beasts and Pestilence (Lev 26:21-23; Eze 14:15-16, 19-20).

2.1.11. Jesus prophesies that He will use the Romans as His primary means of judgment against the Jews (Mat 22:1-7; the Roman-Jewish War [67-70 AD]).

2.1.12. The fifth seal places Nero’s persecution (64-68 AD) squarely on the shoulders of the Jews (who suggested Christians be Nero’s scapegoat for the burning of Rome) (Rev 6:9-11[3]).

2.1.13. The sixth and seventh seals (Rev 6:12-17 w/8:1-11:19) represent the five-month siege against Jerusalem (April – September 70 AD). 

2.1.14. The seven trumpets which begin at the breaking of the seventh seal, signal the high point/culmination of the vision’s goal: the destruction of Jerusalem (most spec., her Temple) and the end of Jesus’ marriage to OC Israel (Rev 11:2 w/8).[4]

2.1.15. Revelation 7 predicts a reprieve in the war when: 1) Jewish Christians (i.e., the Jerusalem church) who understood and heeded Christ’s previous warning, flee the city (Rev 7:1-8; Luk 21:20-24[5]), 2) the full number of martyrs is complete and Nero’s persecution is over (Rev 7:9-17; fulfillment of Rev 6:11; Nero’s death/Vespasian’s dispatch [68 AD][6]).

(12:1-18:24) = Recapitulation (repeat w/extra details/different perspective) of Revelation chapters 6 through 11. 

2.1.14. Jerusalem, the “great city” of (Rev 11:2 and 8) is identified w/the idolatrous and pagan nation of Babylon, OC Israel’s former oppressors and place of exile (Rev 14:8 w/16:19, 17:18, 18:2, 10, 16, 18-21).

2.1.15. The  beast that comes up from the abyss” in (Rev 11:7) is identified as Rome and Nero (the beast from the sea) (Rev 13:1-6, 18 [Rev 17:9-10 “seven heads…seven mountains” = Rome the city on seven hills; “seven kings, five have fallen, one is” = Nero was the sixth of the seven Roman Caesars][7]) who makes an unholy alliance with Israel and her priesthood (the beast of the land and the false prophet) (Rev 13:11-17 [Rev 16:13, 19:20, 20 :10 “false prophet”][8])[9] to destroy Christians. (Rev 6:9-11 w/[11:7, 12:17, 13:7-10, 14:12, 16:6, 17:6, 18:24])

2.1.16. The seven seals (of Rev 6-11) are depicted as seven bowls of wrath (Rev 16).

2.1.17. Revelation 12 and 13 also reveal: 1) OC Israel’s apostasies in relation to Messiah (Apostasy #1: abdication of her Messiah motherly duties [Rev 12:1-2; Mal 2:10-15], Apostasy #2: attempted murder of her Messiah Son [Rev 12:3-4; Mat 2:13-18; Luk 4:28-29], Apostasy #3: abandonment of her Messiah Son [Rev 12:5-6]), Apostasy #4: anarchy against the Roman govt [Rev 12:7-14][10]. 2) Satan’s (aka, the “dragon” and “serpent”) direct involvement in Israel’s apostasy (Rev 12:3-4), Rome’s power (Rev 13:1-4), and Christianity’s persecution (Rev 12:12, 17, 13:7-10).

2.2. ACT TWO (PAST): REMARRIAGE  

(19:1-21) = Jesus consummates His marriage to the Church (NC Israel) signaling their reign on earth.

2.2.1. After celebrating the finalization of His divorce to adulterous/apostate OC Israel (the “great harlot”) through: 1) destroying Jerusalem and the Temple and 2) avenging the blood of the first century Christian martyrs (Rev 19:1-6), Jesus consummates His marriage to His new Bride, the Church (OC Israel) whose faithful deeds are her wedding dress (19:7-10). 

2.2.2. Jesus is revealed as the Divine Warrior Husband Who fights for His Church (Rev 19:11-16 w/6:2 [“conquering to conquer”] and 19:2 [“avenged the blood of His bond-servants”]). 

2.2.3. As His final act of vengeance for the first century Christian martyrs, Jesus’ destruction of Rome is also predicted (19:17-21). IOW: (Dan 7:13-14) wb fulfilled!

2.2.4. The reign of Jesus’ kingdom (NC Israel/the Church) has begun (Rev 19:6b w/11:15, 12:10, 17:14).

2.3. A...

1. The senior pastor (or shepherd) –and therefore his helpers/under-shepherds (i.e., deacons/officers – Luk 12:58), are the one(s) responsible for the spiritual health of their churches (Rev 1:20 “stars are the angels of the seven churches” or “messengers sent by God to those particular churches)”(2:1, 8, 12, 18, 3:1, 7, 14) = Senior pastor/shepherd. 

Additional support: 1) stars are a metaphor for pastors who lead people to righteousness (Dan 12:3), 2) the seven stars exist among the “seven golden lampstands.” Not only is this a metaphor for the church, but a reference to the lampstands tended to by the OC priests and Levites in the Temple. In the same way, the NC priests and Levites will tend to (or be responsible for) the lampstand that is now the church. 

2. A church that is spiritually healthy is a church characterized by people overcoming their sin (i.e., their lives are no longer characterized by sin – 1Jo 5:3-5 = Christians [those who believe in Jesus/God’s Son and are born again] overcome sin [the “world” – 1Jo 2:16] by faithfulness to God’s commands which they do not find hard/burdensome”). 

Maintaining the spiritual health of the church – or seeing to it that people are overcoming their sin is absolutely necessary not only to each individual’s salvation, but each church’s ability to continue as a place where God’s Spirit and salvation resides (Hence Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21) = Each “overcome” message exists in the form of a conditional statement. IOW: only those who overcome their sin will receive the salvific/eternal promises mentioned. 

With respect to the church see (Rev 2:5 “remove your lampstand out of its place”) = The lampstands in the Temple represented God’s spiritual presence and lit the way to inner sanctum/holy of holies – the place offering salvation. As such they represent both the Holy Spirit and salvation. Christ’s threat to remove the lampstand therefore refers to Him removing that church as a legitimate church – or dwelling place of His spirit and salvation.

3. To produce a church that is spiritually healthy – or characterized by people overcoming their sin (or being faithful to God’s commands), requires that her shepherd (senior pastor) and his under-shepherds (deacons/officers) be completely intolerant of seven particular sins. The reason Jesus chose the seven churches mentioned in Revelation (though there were many other churches), is because each of them possessed one (or the potential for one) of these seven sins:

3.1. Ephesus: Failure to give first loyalty to Jesus/His church/His words and gospel. 

(Rev 2:1 w/4-5 ) “The One who holds…in His right hand…who walks” = Jesus is the One who created/owns us and cares for us most (Gen 3:8). 

“left your first love” w/(Mat 10:27-37) = Our loyalty to Jesus includes preaching God’s words/gospel to our lost blood family members. Our loyalty to Jesus is also measured by our loyalty to His Body, the church (Mat 25:40 “to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers…you did it to Me”; “The blood of the covenant is stronger than the water of the womb”).

3.2. Smyrna: Failure to be faithful when suffering persecution. 

(Rev 2:8-10) “first and the last” = Jesus is the only God. The largest cult of emperor worship (“Nero is Lord of the universe”) existed in Smyrna; “who was dead, and has come to life” = Docetism – or the belief that Jesus could not be a man or die, came only in spiritual form, also very popular in Smyrna; 

“you will be tested…have tribulation…be faithful unto death” = The city’s devotion to the emperor as God and the popularity of Docetism within the local churches made employment/living as a true Christian very hard – even deadly (Mat 10:22).

3.3. Pergamum: Failure to be theologically, spiritually and sexually pure. 

(Rev 2:12-16) “The One who has the two-edged sword” = Jesus possesses the real authority not only to destroy but heal. Pergamum worshipped the Asclepius – the Greek god of healing.

“I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is” = Asclepius was a serpent; e.g., symbol for modern medicine/medical science

“teaching of Balaam/Nicolaitans” = Doctrinal impurity. The church was teaching that it was okay to embrace the sin of your culture as a means of reaching others for Christ (e.g., the pragmatism of the mega-churches – “the ends justify the means”)

“eat things sacrificed to idols and commit acts of immorality” = Spiritual and sexual impurity. Christians were frequenting the temple of Asclepius to receive healing (e.g., our involvement in alternative medicine associated w/false religion; entertainment that is spiritually/sexually impure)”.

3.4. Thyatira: Failure to separate from false Christians or gospels. 

(Rev 2:18-20) “The Son of God, whose has eyes like a flame of fire and His feet are like burnished bronze” = Jesus knows the true motives of our hearts (v19 and 23; also Rev 1:12-15 [picture of a king/judge sitting in judgment – “in the middle of the lampstands”]). Jesus’ stmt (ml) due to the excuses made by those unwilling to separate from false Christians/gospels (e.g., “I go to that church/hang out w/those people b/c I am trying to win them to Christ”).

“you tolerate the woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and leads my bondservants astray” = There were people in the church (not everyone – v24) who were not separating from this local false Christian teacher, yet the church did nothing about it (2Jo 1:9-11).

3.5. Sardis: Failure to take our Christian life seriously by being productive for the Kingdom of God. 

(Rev 3:1-3) “He Who has the seven Spirits of God” = Jesus is the One Who determines who remains spiritually alive (Hence, “you have a name that you are alive but you are dead”).

“Wake up, strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed” = The Christians in Sardis were lazy and unproductive when it came to advancing the Kingdom and gospel. As a result they were about to lose their personal salvation and ability to offer salvation to others (as a church) (Mat 25:14-30; Luk 8:16-18).

3.6. Philadelphia: Failure to take on the religious giants condemning us as heretics or apostate. 

(Rev 3:7-11) “He Who is holy who is true, who has the key of David…I have put before you an open door that no one can shut” = Jesus is the true King of Israel and His church the true re-constituted Israel that old Israel cannot oppose/reject (Rev 6:10-17).

“you have a little power [you are small in comparison to your opponents]…[yet] I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan [the majority group/the giants who condemn you and call you apostate – Act 24:14], who say they are Jews [i.e., the true followers of God] and are not…I will make them come and bow down at your feet”).

3.7. Laodicea: Failure to be truthful in their assessments of life, love, self or others. 

(Rev 3:14-19) “the Amen” [the truth] the faithful and true Witness” = Jesus is the God Who demands truth.

“I wish that you were cold or hot”  =I wish you were true to one degree or another (hot or cold)

“you say, ‘I am rich…and you are wretched and miserable and poor’” = You are untruthful in your assessment of self/life.

“blind” = You are untruthful in your assessment of others (Mat 7:5)

“those whom I love I reprove” = (ML) said for the purpose of correcting th...

Making sense of the book of Revelation requires:

1. We treat Revelation like all other prophetic literature in Scripture which operates according to the principles of symbolism, original audience relevance, unconventional fulfillment, and recapitulation.

1.1. Symbolism

(Rev 1:1 “communicated” [Grk., saymainoe]) = To indicate the reality of something through signs or symbols; symbolism). Scholars believe Jesus’ use of this Greek word is a direct allusion to Daniel 2 where he is told to interpret the various pieces of Nebuchadnezzar’s great statue dream as symbolism – or symbolic of the various kingdoms that would exist in the future (Dan 2:30 “interpretation” = saymainoe [LXX]). Jesus is therefore communicating that like Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, John’s visions (chs 1 and 4-22) are not to be interpreted literally, but through the lens of signs and symbols. This principle is true not only with respect to Daniel’s prophecy but all OT prophetic literature. We are to interpret its visions as symbolism (signs/symbols pointing to reality rather than the reality itself). What also proves true is that the book of Revelation shares many of the same signs and symbols found in those Old Testament prophetic books. Knowing this helps us to avoid using our imaginations in the interpretive process (e.g., Rev 1:7-8 w/Isa 19:1). 

Examples of imagination from John MacArthur’s interpretations of Revelation:

1.1.1. (Rev 6:12-13), “moon became blood. Accompanying the earthquake will be numerous volcanic eruptions; large amounts of ash and debris will be blown into the earth’s atmosphere, blackening the sun and giving the moon a blood-red hue. Stars of heaven fell. The best explanation is a massive asteroid or meteor shower.” 

Understanding these verses based on prior OT use (Isa 13:1-22; Eze 32:1-11) = Prophetic language indicating God’s judgment against one pagan nation through their destruction by another pagan nation– which also meant the defeat of their false gods/idols. Isaiah 13 = The fall of the Babylonian kingdom to the Medo-Persians in 539 BC. Ezekiel 32 = The fall of the Egyptian kingdom to the Babylonians in 605 BC. In respect to false gods/idolatry = Both the Babylonians and the Egyptians worshipped gods derived from the “sun”, “moon” and “stars”. 

What then is being communicated by these symbols in Revelation 6:12-13? Israel’s rejection of their Messiah (Jesus) means that they too have become a nation guilty of idolatry (of worshipping a false god) and will likewise