Ancient Paths

(Jer 6:16 ESV)  Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

In this passage, the ancient ways are the well-trodden paths – those travelled by many beforehand.  God, in His mercy, had given the nation of Israel good laws to live by.  Laws that to this day are the foundation of modern jurisprudence.  Judah had watched as the northern kingdom of Israel had been invaded by Assyria and taken captive, yet her heart was still stubborn.

Before we judge Judah too harshly, let us ask ourselves how God sees modern Christianity. Saints since the day of Pentecost have handed down the faith of our fathers. Men and women of faith have died as martyrs rather than renounce the true gospel message of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

In the last generation we have decided that instead of soaring cathedrals that easily surpassed any architectural structure in town we would build multipurpose buildings that resemble every other building in the shopping mall.  Instead of hymns sang with gusto by the congregation accompanied by a thundering pipe organ we have choruses with three chords, forgettable lyrics and a soft rock beat to everything.

No longer does the pastor stand behind the sacred desk and proclaim “Thus saith the Lord!” – instead we have a life coach who sips a latte while sitting on a stool and tells us stories.  We gave up bible study because it was too boring and instead have “life groups” who “do life together”(whatever that means). 

Not everything new is bad but neither is everything old. I don’t know about you but I miss church – the pews, the hymns, the pulpit and the choir. It was comforting and reminded me of the history of the Christian faith and those who trod the ancient paths before me.

Idolatry–what is it?

Webster defines idolatry in two ways:

  1:      the worship of a physical object as a god
  2:      immoderate attachment or devotion to something

God defines it in Exodus 20:3 as “Do not have other gods besides me.” CSB

It seems pretty simple, right? Do not worship anyone besides the one true God of the Bible. So how do we worship God? By singing to Him, praying to Him, listening to pastors preach about Him and reading His own words in the Bible. It follows then, that we are not to sing about, pray to, listen to sermons about or read sacred writings of false gods.

In Deuteronomy 12:29-32 it says

29 “When the LORD your God annihilates the nations before you, which you are entering to take possession of, and you drive them out and live in their land, 30 be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, ‘How did these nations worship their gods? I’ll also do the same.’ 31 You must not do the same to the LORD your God, because they practice every detestable act, which the LORD hates, for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 Be careful to do everything I command you; do not add anything to it or take anything away from it. CSB

Did you catch the part about being ensnared?  It can happen so easily.  Especially if the only sermons or bible studies you’ve heard about idolatry pass it off as something only Old Testament people did with carved statutes.  Or maybe it was hedonism or materialism that was the explanation.

What if though modern day Christians were actually worshipping other gods? What if the modern church was actually condoning practicing the worship styles and practices of other religions? Sounds crazy. Would your church offer a class on praying to a Hindu god? The teacher might be wearing gym clothes and everyone brought a mat.  There are different poses and stretches designed to awaken the kundalini spirit at the base of your spine and enable your inner man to communicate with the Hindu gods.

Or perhaps the god that you and your children love to read about, talk about and see movies of is named Lucifer?  He comes dressed as a school boy and learns to conjure and cast spells.How enchanting! Forget about all those admonitions in that dusty old Bible about not practicing witchcraft and sorcery! (sarcasm here)

Folks if we can’t get the first commandment down pat it’s no wonder 2-10 are hard! As I read through the bible every year, I notice the one thing that upsets God the most – idolatry.  He warned Israel about it through Moses and sent prophet after prophet to tell people to repent but they didn’t listen.

Are we any different today?

Back at the writing desk

The last several years have been hectic and hard.  I’m hoping with the advent of a new year to begin blogging again. In this blog,  I hope to share insights from bible studies that I do and offer some brief comments.

Stay tuned!

Crystal

The woman at the well

John 8:1-11 ESV (1) but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. (2) Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. (3) The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst (4) they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. (5) Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" (6) This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. (7) And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." (8) And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. (9) But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. (10) Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" (11) She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."

While studying this the other day, I came across something I’d never heard before.  Read this from Matthew Henry:

c. Perhaps he refers to the trial of the suspected wife by the jealous husband with the waters of jealousy. The man was to bring her to the priest (Num. 5:15), as the scribes and Pharisees brought this woman to Christ. Now it was a received opinion among the Jews, and confirmed by experience, that if the husband who brought his wife to that trial had himself been at any time guilty of adultery, Aquae non explorant ejus uxorem—The bitter water had no effect upon the wife. “Come then,’ ’ saith Christ, “according to your own tradition will I judge you; if you are without sin, stand to the charge, and let the adulteress be executed; but if not, though she be guilty, while you that present her are equally so, according to your own rule she shall be free.’ ’ ~Matthew Henry

The Pharisees had brought the woman but not the man caught in adultery thus showing their hypocrisy and violation of the Law which requires both parties to be put to death.

Leviticus 20:10 (ESV) “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 22:22 (ESV) “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.

From this insight of Matthew Henry, we better understand why they left so quickly – if they had been guilty of adultery themselves they were in no position to judge this woman.

I love learning nuggets like this from the Scriptures!

Another Gem in John

I have been studying lately in the gospel of John and have just discovered another (to me anyway) gem concerning the deity of Christ.  I’ve never heard any sermons or teachings on this so maybe I’m not alone in having missed this.

John 8:12 (ESV) Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

There are two reasons that Jesus’ statement was radical:

1.  One of the names of God is “Light” so in claiming this title for Himself, Jesus was claiming to be God.

1 John 1:5 (ESV) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Psalm 27:1 (ESV) The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 60:19 (ESV) The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.

2.  “Light” was a term for the Messiah.  In claiming this title for Himself, Jesus was emphatically saying that He was the Messiah.

Isaiah 42:5–7 (ESV) Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Isaiah 49:6 (ESV) he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Isaiah 60:1–3 (ESV) Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

It pays to dig a little deeper!

Jesus walks on the water

Read this from John:

John 6:16-21 ESV
(16)  When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
(17)  got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
(18)  The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.
(19)  When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.
(20)  But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."
(21)  Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Now this section of Psalms 107:

Psalms 107:23-30 ESV
(23)  Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;
(24)  they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.
(25)  For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
(26)  They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;
(27)  they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end.
(28)  Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
(29)  He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.
(30)  Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.

Have you ever noticed this before?  It’s almost an exact prophecy of Jesus’ miracle of walking on the water.  Now notice in Psalms – they cried to the LORD – when in all caps it is God’s personal name – sometimes rendered Yahweh or Jehovah. To me, this passage is a clear teaching on the deity of Jesus.  Only God can calm the seas and Jesus did just that, therefore Jesus is God!

How long is a day?

 

Genesis 1:5 ESV
(5)  God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

The bible makes the claim that God created the world in six days.  Some have tried to squeeze evolution into that narrative by claiming that the Hebrew word יום can mean a period of time.  However, good hermeneutics demands that we properly interpret Hebrew as the word is used elsewhere.

Regarding the word day (yôm) several interpretations have been suggested. (1) The days of Creation refer to extended geological ages prior to man’s presence on earth. (2) The days are 24-hour periods in which God revealed His creative acts. (3) They are literal 24-hour days of divine activity. In favor of the third view is the fact that the term yôm with an ordinal (first, second, etc.) adjective means 24-hour days wherever this construction occurs in the Old Testament. Also the normal understanding of the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:11) would suggest this interpretation. BKC

What does Exodus 20:11 say?

Exodus 20:11 ESV
(11)  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Have you ever wondered why a week is seven days and not ten or five?  The answer is found in creation – God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.  That is why our week is seven days.

And now you know how long a day is.

Who is God?

…if not the Creator?

Genesis 1:1(ESV) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

I have been thinking about the importance of taking the book of Genesis literally and seriously.  Starting in verse one, the bible declares that God has always existed and furthermore, He created the heavens and the earth.

For those who don’t take Genesis chapter one seriously, exactly who do you think God is? What kind of God do you worship?  Think about this – if Genesis 1:1 isn’t true then:

• God hasn’t always existed.  Obviously there is someone greater than Him that created Him.
• He isn’t all powerful – only a real God would have the power to create.
• He lied in the very first verse of His letter to us which would make Him unholy.
• Nothing He says in the rest of His word would be trustworthy.
• Such a God would not be worthy of worship.
• Such a God would have no moral authority to tell creation His laws.

Basically you are left without a God.  Those who don’t believe in God don’t believe in Jesus either.  Says so in John:

John 5:19-24 (ESV)
(19)  So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
(20)  For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
(21)  For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.
(22)  The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,
(23)  that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
(24)  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

So tell me again how do you call yourself a Christian and yet don’t believe in Genesis 1:1?

Jesus is the One

While studying John chapter three yesterday, I stumbled upon something that amazed me.  Look for a minute at these verses:

John 1:18 (NET) No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known. 6:46 (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God – he has seen the Father.) 8:47 The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God’s words. You don’t listen and respond, because you don’t belong to God.”

1:18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο.

6:46 οὐχ ὅτι τὸν πατέρα ἑώρακέν τις εἰ μὴ ὁ ὢν παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὗτος ἑώρακεν τὸν πατέρα.

8:47 ὁ ὢν ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ τὰ ῥήματα τοῦ θεοῦ ἀκούει· διὰ τοῦτο ὑμεῖς οὐκ ἀκούετε, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἐστέ. ¹

Ex 3:14 καὶ εἶπεν ὁ θεὸς πρὸς Μωυσῆν Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν, καὶ εἶπεν Οὕτως ἐρεῖς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ Ὁ ὢν ἀπέσταλκέν με πρὸς ὑμᾶς.²

Who did Jesus say that He was? Over and over He said “I am the One".”  To a first century Jew who was familiar with the Septuagint and who prayed the Shema every day – His words could not have been more clear. Jesus was claiming to be the great “I AM” of Exodus.

Here is John 3:13 in the Greek TR

13 και ουδεις αναβεβηκεν εις τον ουρανον ει μη ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας ο υιος του ανθρωπου ο ων εν τω ουρανω ³

^Footnotes:

¹Aland, K., Black, M., Martini, C. M., Metzger, B. M., Robinson, M., & Wikgren, A. (1993; 2006). The Greek New Testament, Fourth Revised Edition (with Morphology) (Jn 8:47). Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

²Septuaginta: With morphology. 1979 (electronic ed.) (Ex 3:14). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

³Robinson, M. (2002). Elzevir Textus Receptus (1624): With morphology (Jn 3:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Was Paul a Nazarite?

17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. Acts 21:17-26 (ESV)

Many Jews took the Nazarite vow at some point in their life.  The minimum amount of time was 30 days and the maximum was for life although we only know of four who did that.

Scripture mentions three Nazarites for life: Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist, to which Christian tradition adds the name of James the Just, ‘the brother of the Lord,’ who presided over the Church at Jerusalem when Paul joined in the Nazarite-offering. In this respect it is noteworthy that, among those who urged upon Paul to ‘be at charges’ with the four Christian Nazarites, James himself is not specially mentioned. [Edersheim, A. (2003). The Temple, its ministry and services as they were at the time of Jesus Christ. (375). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.]

At this point in time, the early church is about twenty years after the cross or sometime in the early 50’s A.D.  Why would Paul participate in something so Jewish twenty years after the cross?

For some reason, probably in the midst of his work at Corinth, Paul himself took on the Nazarite vow. This could only be terminated by his going up to Jerusalem to offer up his hair, which until then was to be left uncut. But it seems to have been allowable for persons at a distance to cut their hair, which was to be brought up to Jerusalem, where the ceremony was completed. This Paul did at Cenchrea just before setting out on his voyage into Syria (Acts 18:18).
In our text-verse, Paul took on the Nazarite vow again at the Feast of Pentecost. One commentator writes: “The ceremonies involved took a longer time than Paul had at his disposal, but the law permitted a man to share the vow if he could find companions who had gone through the prescribed ceremonies, and who permitted him to join their company. This permission was commonly granted if the newcomer paid all the fees required from the whole company (fees to the Levites for cutting the hair and fees for sacrifices), and finished the vow along with the others. Four Jewish Christians were performing the vow, and would admit Paul to their company, provided he paid their expenses.
Paul consented, paid the charges, and when the last seven days of the vow began he went with them to live in the temple, giving the usual notice to the priests that he had joined in regular fashion, was a sharer with the four men, and that his vow would end with theirs. Nazarites retired to the temple during the last period of seven days, because they could be secure there against any accidental defilement.” [Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & customs of the Bible (534–535). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.]

If, as some believe, everything Jewish or associated with the Torah died instantly when Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, they would be hard pressed to explain this portion of Scripture. However, Jesus, his disciples, Paul and most of the early church were Jewish and stayed within Jewish culture and practices.  Jesus said:

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17 (ESV)

And Paul said:

12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Romans 7:12 (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

Without the Old Testament, the New Testament makes no sense.  Jesus was the fulfillment of the entire sacrificial system of the temple.  He is the promised Messiah of every prophet.  Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it perfectly.  Amen!

Saving Seats in Church

James 2:1-9 ESV
(1)  My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
(2)  For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,
(3)  and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet,"
(4)  have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
(5)  Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
(6)  But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?
(7)  Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
(8)  If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.
(9)  But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

If you’ve ever been to a megachurch or large conference you have seen a rather unsettling phenomenon.  Large sections of seats near the front are roped off for VIP guests leaving seats in the balcony or nosebleed section for those unfortunate enough to be just ordinary Christians.  This practice has turned my stomach for as long as I’ve been a Christian.

I grew up in a Baptist church where most people left the front center pew open for the pastor and his family and the rest was open seating.  It wasn’t necessary to rope off two thirds of the church for the “elite” as we were all members of the church.  When I started attending charismatic churches in my twenties, I noticed everyone wanted to sit up front instead of the usual back row Baptists I had grown up with.

Then as celebrity speakers became the thing (rather than humble Spirit filled preachers) churches started marking off most of the front section of the church for staff members and their friends and of course that well known country music star that just happens to come to your church.  It got so bad at one church that I counted over 65% of the seats were reserved and general members could only sit on the back 4 rows of the church!

For those of you who practice such sin in your church – can you please explain to me why James chapter two doesn’t apply to you?

Cultural relevancy or not?

Leviticus 18:2-5 ESV
(2)  "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the LORD your God.
(3)  You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes.
(4)  You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the LORD your God.
(5)  You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.

Deuteronomy 12:29-31 ESV
(29)  "When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations whom you go in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land,
(30)  take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods?--that I also may do the same.'
(31)  You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.

It never ceases to amaze me, when something in the bible is about as crystal clear as it can be, how some people think they can get away with disobeying that part of Scripture and not have any consequences.

What is clear from the above texts and the clear teaching of Scripture in general is that we are not to take the practices of other religions and incorporate them into our worship. Most Christians skim over this with a relieved sigh and tell themselves “I’m so thankful I don’t worship idols.”

Just what were some of these ancient civilizations doing that caused God to vomit them out of their land?  Leviticus 18 tells us:

• They were marrying or having sexual relationships with relatives.  Today we call that incest.
• They were sacrificing their children to Molech.  Today we call that abortion.
• They were unfaithful to their wives – it was and still is called adultery.
• They were engaged in same sex relationships i.e. homosexuality.
• They were having sex with animals i.e. bestiality.

To this list we can also add any practice having its origins in another religion such as yoga (Hinduism), mind-emptying meditation (as opposed to biblical meditation), martial arts (rooted in Buddhism), and Freemasonry (based in Lucifer worship).

God says “Don’t do it!”  Will you agree with Him?

Have the gifts ceased?

1 Corinthians 13:8-12 ESV
(8)  Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
(9)  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
(10)  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
(11)  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
(12)  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Those who hold to the position that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased when the final chapter of the final book of the New Testament was written are called cessationists.  Those who believe that God can and still does work through the Holy Spirit in the life of believers today may be called continuationists.

The argument by the cessationists goes something like this:  God used men to write the New Testament and so gave them miraculous abilities and gifts so they would be able to write Scripture.  Once Scripture was completed, there was no reason to continue working in this manner again as man could simply read all that was necessary.

A continuationist would say there is no such artificial stopping point noted in Scripture and that God continues to work in man through the Holy Spirit just as illustrated for us in the Scripture.

A key verse for the cessationists is the one from 1 Corinthians 13 above.  They read into the passage (eisigesis) that perfect must mean the completed New Testament canon.  If this is true then the following must also be true:

• Knowledge has ceased.  Has it? No.
• Prophecy must cease.  Has it?  That depends on how you define prophecy.  If we define it as Holy Spirit inspired forth telling, then no it hasn’t.  If we add in fore telling then that depends on the solution to the argument here.
• We see Jesus face to face.  Do we?  Obviously no.

Conclusion: we still see in a mirror dimly so we also have knowledge in part and prophecy in part and tongues (note it never mentions tongues as being in part!). 
Therefore the gifts still continue today.

Who or what is the Restrainer?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 ESV
(1)  Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,
(2)  not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
(3)  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
(4)  who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
(5)  Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
(6)  And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
(7)  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
(8)  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.
From the Believer’s Bible Commentary:

2:6   They knew what was restraining the full and open manifestation of the man of sin, and what would continue to restrain him until the appointed time.
This brings us to the third great unanswered question in this chapter. The first is, “What is the apostasy?” The second is, “Who is the man of sin?” The third is, “What or who is the restrainer?”
In the first part of verse 6, the restrainer is described in an impersonal way ... what is restraining. But then in verse 7 it is a person—He who now restrains. E. W. Rogers puts it clearly:

It is Something and Someone who wittingly, purposefully, and designedly holds it in check with the view to ensuring that the Man of Lawlessness is revealed in his own proper time.

Seven of the more common views as to the identity of the restrainer are: (1) the Roman Empire, (2) the Jewish State, (3) Satan, (4) the principle of law and order as found in human government, (5) God, (6) the Holy Spirit, and (7) the true church as indwelt by the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit indwelling the church and the individual believer seems to fit the description of the restrainer more completely and accurately than any of the others. Just as the restrainer is spoken of as Something and Someone in this chapter, so the Spirit is spoken of in John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:8, John 16:13-14 as both neuter (the Holy Spirit) and masculine (He). As early as Genesis 6:3, the Holy Spirit is spoken of in connection with the restraint of evil. Then later He is seen in this same role in Isaiah 59:19 b, John 16:7-11, and 1 John 4:4.
It is by the indwelling Spirit that believers are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) and the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Salt is a preservative, but it also hinders the spread of corruption. Light dispels darkness, the sphere in which men love to perform their evil deeds (John 3:19). When the Holy Spirit leaves the world as the permanent Indweller of the church (1 Corinthians 3:16) and of individual believers (1 Corinthians_6:19), the restraint of lawlessness will be gone.

I would agree with the above assessment and add this to it.  Jesus speaks of the Church as not being subordinate to any evil:
Matthew 16:18 ESV
(18)  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Yet in this passage:
Revelation 13:5-7 ESV
(5)  And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
(6)  It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
(7)  Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,
it seems that the Beast has conquered the saints. The only way to make sense of this is to understand that the Church has been removed prior to the appearance of the Antichrist and the “saints” spoken of here in Revelation are Tribulation saints i.e. those saved after the rapture.
Thus, once again, the doctrine of the rapture takes into account and fully explains these passages.

Don’t think that way!

Matthew 5:17-18 ESV
(17)  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
(18)  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Jesus said very specifically “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law…”  So why is it that so many Christians think exactly that way?  Jesus makes His point very clear when He says He didn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.  Obviously, abolish and fulfill are polar opposites.

I’ve even heard of some who don’t read the Old Testament because “Jesus did away with that.”  Really?  Matt 5:17 is in the New Testament right?  Let’s look at verse 18 shall we?  Has the earth passed away yet? Nope – then not one dot, not one small mark is nullified.

Romans 3:20-24 ESV
(20)  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
(21)  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--
(22)  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
(23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(24)  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

When Paul talk about the law usually it is in the context of being made righteous with God and how the law is unable to make us righteous.  The gracious gift of Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins is contrasted with trying to obey a list of laws and thinking that you can make yourself good enough.  It is in that sense that we are “freed from the law.”

We are justified by faith in the free gift of Jesus yet that doesn’t give us a license to do whatever feels good.  The first 39 books of the bible are given to us to instruct us in the way of righteousness so that after we have believed we may know how to live.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 ESV
(14)  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
(15)  and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
(16)  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
(17)  that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

What Scriptures was Timothy acquainted with?  What we now call the Old Testament – Genesis through Malachi.  These Scriptures are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is useful for teaching and doctrine. Let’s read it all, amen?

Seed is NOT money

Mark 4:14 ESV
(14)  The sower sows the word.

Jesus is explaining the parable of the sower to his disciples. Very clearly and unmistakably, Jesus says the seed is the word.  He doesn’t say “sow your thousand dollar seed.”  Where did we get this mistaken idea that we are to give X amount of dollars and then get 100X back?  Oral Roberts and those he mentored.

The pyramid scheme of sowing dollars works great if you are the one taking up the offering.  Everyone gets to practice their “faith” while you rake in the bucks.  If the people never see a hundred-fold return, you can always blame their “rocky soil.”  How convenient.

1 Peter 1:23 ESV
(23)  since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

What is the imperishable seed?  The word of God.

Acts 8:18-23 ESV
(18)  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,
(19)  saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
(20)  But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
(21)  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
(22)  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
(23)  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

Furthermore, you cannot buy the gifts of the Holy Spirit with money!  God and His gifts are not for sale.  In fact, this practice is call simony after this passage.

The next time you hear a huckster on a Christian television channel tell you to send in “your thousand dollar seed” just say “no thank you!” and get out your bible and read for a while.  You’ll get a bigger blessing by reading Scripture!

Tattoos

 

Leviticus 19:28 ESV
(28)  You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the LORD.

The human body was designed by God, who intended it to be whole and beautiful. Disfiguring the body dishonored God, in whose image the person was created. Cutting one's flesh for the dead and tattooing (or perhaps painting) one's body had religious significance among Israel's pagan neighbors. In Israel, such practices were signs of rebellion against God. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary

Genesis 1:27 ESV
(27)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The bible is quite clear on this matter.  Mankind is created in God’s image – to mar our bodies in any way is to say that God didn’t get it right the first time or that we know better than God how we should look.  Such is rebellion.

Literal or not?

What keeps theology interesting and the discussions thereof endless – is that serious students of the bible all claim to believe every word of the bible “from Genesis to maps” literally.  Here are a few examples of verses that some take literally while the opposing camp explains them away yet both appeal to be bible literalists.

1 Timothy 2:12 ESV
(12)  I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

1 Corinthians 11:5 ESV
(5)  but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

Those who quote 1 Timothy as saying that women can have no role during a worship service conveniently ignore 1 Cor 11 where Paul tells women to wear head coverings while prophesying.

Acts 18:26 ESV
(26)  He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

This verse also clearly shows a husband and wife team teaching a man with Priscilla’s name mentioned first. Is the case against women speaking in church air tight?  Of course not – and those who believe in either side are not justified in calling the other heretics for simply disagreeing.

Here is another example:

Romans 5:18 ESV
(18)  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

Both Armenians and Calvinists would agree that Adam’s sin lead to all men being sinners.  But did Jesus’s sacrifice lead to justification for all men?  Throw this verse into the middle of any good debate and watch how quickly some will tell you that “all means some” and still claim to take the bible literally.

Discussion: shouldn’t we all be just a bit more honest and agree that we take some scriptures literally and massage others in an attempt to fit our own distinct theological beliefs?  And can we please quit calling the other side of the debate non-biblical just because they don’t believe as we do?

Apostasy or departure?

2 Thessalonians 2:3 NASB
(3)  Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

The Greek word for apostasy translated here in the NASB is

G646 – apostasy
ἀποστασία

Feminine of the same as G647; defection from truth (properly the state), (“apostasy”): - falling away, forsake. Strong’s dictionary

From the Bible Knowledge Commentary:

One major event is the rebellion (lit., “the falling away,” hē apostasia, from whence comes the English word “apostasy”). This is a revolt, a departure, an abandoning of a position once held. This rebellion, which will take place within the professing church, will be a departure from the truth that God has revealed in His Word. True, apostasy has characterized the church almost from its inception, but Paul referred to a specific distinguishable apostasy that will come in the future (cf. 1Ti_4:1-3; 2Ti_3:1-5; 2Ti_4:3-4; Jas_5:1-8; 2Pe_2:1-22; 2Pe_3:3-6; Jude). He had already told his readers about it (2Th_2:5).

From Vine’s NT Dictionary:

3. apostasia (G646), "a defection, revolt, apostasy," is used in the NT of religious apostasy; in Act_21:21, it is translated "to forsake," lit., "thou teachest apostasy from Moses." In 2Th_2:3 "the falling away" signifies apostasy from the faith. In papyri documents it is used politically of rebels.

The word apostasy at its essence means to depart from or to fall away from much like we would speak of departing from a certain gate at an airport.  Most scholars understand this passage to be talking about departing from the faith – hence our modern understanding of the word – apostasy.

What if though – the departure were in reference to something else that must take place before the Antichrist is revealed?  Let’s look at how the Geneva Bible (1587) translated this passage:

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Geneva
(3)  Let no man deceiue you by any meanes: for that day shall not come, except there come a departing first, and that that man of sinne be disclosed, euen the sonne of perdition,

Could this be an explicit reference to the rapture of the Church?  It does fit the context – true apostasy would be a lot easier if the real Christians were no longer around.

Discuss!

Be Still?

Psalms 46:8-11 NET
(8)  Come! Witness the exploits of the LORD,
    who brings devastation to the earth!
(9)  He brings an end to wars throughout the earth;
    he shatters the bow and breaks the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
(10)  He says, "Stop your striving and recognize that I am God!
    I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!"
(11)  The LORD who commands armies is on our side!
    The God of Jacob is our protector! (Selah)

Psalms 46:10 KJV
(10)  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Context is everything isn’t it?  In this verse, so beloved by mystics, we see from the context that God is addressing the nations who are raging against Him (compare Psalms 2:1-2).  If I could loosely paraphrase verse 10 it would be “Stop fighting and learn that I – Jehovah God am Supreme!”.  It has nothing – I repeat – nothing to do with the type of meditation being promoted today where one empties one’s mind and has some trance experience.

Of the commentaries I surveyed, not one said the verse had anything to do with meditation practices.  Not one.  I looked at Barnes, Believer’s Bible Commentary, Bible Knowledge Commentary, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Gill, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary, Keil & Delitzsch, and Pulpit Commentary.

The next time you hear this verse being used to justify mysticism and mind emptying rituals consider the reliability of the teacher.