This blog really goes in depth into the heart of why the Gospel is hindered by lies relating to a person's testimony. We must not mix truth with lies, especially the ultimate truth.
Please take a moment to consider.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 Can you have an iPod big enough?
Ecclesiastes 1
1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. 5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. 6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. 8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. 11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
I like the way Solomon sets up his argument in Ecclesiastes: "All is vanity."
A lot can be said here, but I want to address a certain aspect of the passage: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Do you have an iPod? How many songs do you have on it? How many podcasts have you downloaded? How many movies do you rent or how many have you downloaded?
I have over 40gb of info on my iPod, which is probably laughably small, and you know what? I am tired of listening to most of it. Songs that were great and fresh have become nauseating. Movies have become predictable and jokes have lost their sting. They have become empty.
Solomon has caught on to the fact that God has designed us to only be fulfilled in him and the fact that the curse not only wears down our bodies but also everything we try to find pleasure, rest or escape in. As Isaiah says: Isaiah 40:8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Solomon knew that conclusion and describes what is not vain, after laying out his arguments and evidence in the rest of the book.
I am reminded of the truth of Genesis every time I put clothes on. May God remind us of our frailty and true purpose when our pleasures fade. May God help us to find satisfaction in him alone.
1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. 5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. 6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. 8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. 11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
I like the way Solomon sets up his argument in Ecclesiastes: "All is vanity."
A lot can be said here, but I want to address a certain aspect of the passage: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
Do you have an iPod? How many songs do you have on it? How many podcasts have you downloaded? How many movies do you rent or how many have you downloaded?
I have over 40gb of info on my iPod, which is probably laughably small, and you know what? I am tired of listening to most of it. Songs that were great and fresh have become nauseating. Movies have become predictable and jokes have lost their sting. They have become empty.
Solomon has caught on to the fact that God has designed us to only be fulfilled in him and the fact that the curse not only wears down our bodies but also everything we try to find pleasure, rest or escape in. As Isaiah says: Isaiah 40:8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Solomon knew that conclusion and describes what is not vain, after laying out his arguments and evidence in the rest of the book.
I am reminded of the truth of Genesis every time I put clothes on. May God remind us of our frailty and true purpose when our pleasures fade. May God help us to find satisfaction in him alone.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Harvest House says to Ergun Caner, "respond."
Great to hear that a company did not hide or try to deny the issue in an effort to save their publishing dollars.
This shows integrity, and I am glad. It shows that if the book says fiction, it's fiction, but if it says non-fiction, it had better be non-fiction!
I also agree with them: Set it straight soon Ergun, please?
Harvest House statement:
"We are saddened by the controversy that has risen as a result of the self-contradictory statements made by Ergun Caner over the years. And, we are concerned that the allegations surrounding his statements have not yet been adequately addressed by him, and we are hopeful that he will personally respond to them soon."
This shows integrity, and I am glad. It shows that if the book says fiction, it's fiction, but if it says non-fiction, it had better be non-fiction!
I also agree with them: Set it straight soon Ergun, please?
Harvest House statement:
"We are saddened by the controversy that has risen as a result of the self-contradictory statements made by Ergun Caner over the years. And, we are concerned that the allegations surrounding his statements have not yet been adequately addressed by him, and we are hopeful that he will personally respond to them soon."
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Ergun Caner on Archive.org
Mkhan used this site to find "factual statements that are self-contradictory."
This schedule of speaking engagements may lead to more information.
Use it well.
This schedule of speaking engagements may lead to more information.
Use it well.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Does Romans 5 Teach Arminianism?
The Arminian:
Romans 5:1-2 - It is through faith that we are made a part of Christ.
Romans 5:1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Response: Let’s look at the rest of the context and see what we can see.
3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
For all of the above limitations on scope, we, us, our and many, there are a few places the Arminian will cite, v. 6 “the ungodly” and v. 18 “free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
First, v. 6 does not say “all the ungodly.” It is further clarified in v. 8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” It says to us, while we and for us. Not for everyone. The reference to “the ungodly” is to us “while we were yet sinners.” As v. 6 says, while WE were without strength.
Second, v. 18, cannot have the Arminian meaning. It is either universal, or must be taken a different way. Why? Because of the words “unto justification.” If all men are not justified, then this verse cannot mean what the Arminian says.
For instance, are these contradictory?
12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned
19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,
One verse says all have sinned and the other says many were made sinners. There is no contradiction, the verses are not intended to convey the same exact message. Nor is the many to be taken as merely a subset of the all. No, they are intended to convey different things.
What does this passage teach?
1. The love of God is shed abroad in our (Christian) hearts.
2. When we (Christians) were without strength, Christ died for the ungodly.
3. God commended his love toward us (Christians.)
4. While we (Christians) were sinners, Christ dies for us (Christians.)
5. We (Christians), having been justified, will be saved.
6. While we (Christians) were enemies, we (Christians) were reconciled.
7. Since we (Christians) are reconciled, we (Christians) will be saved.
8. We (Christians) have received atonement.
9. They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness (Christians) shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
There is no room for a universal redemption and no room for a discourse on conditional election. God did it all.
1. God shed his love in our (Christians) hearts by the Holy Ghost.
2. Holy Ghost is given to us (Christians.)
3. Christ died for “the ungodly,” clearly referring to us (Christians.)
4. God commendeth his love toward us (Christians.)
5. Christ died for us (Christians.)
6. Christ justified us (Christians) by his blood.
7. Christ will save us (Christians) from wrath.
8. By Christ’s death, we (Christians) were reconciled to God.
9. By Christ’s life, we (Christians) will be saved.
10. Christ gave the atonement to us (Christians.)
If you do not see that the pronouns limit this to Christians, then all of those refer to men in general. Then you see all men are given Holy Ghost, God commends his love toward everyone in that Christ died for everyone. Everyone is justified by his blood. Christ will save everyone. Christ reconciled everyone. Christ atoned for everyone.
The only consistent conclusion is either universalism, which is not remotely true, or the Calvinist view. The context demands the Calvinist view.
Yes, we (Christians) are justified by faith and by faith we have access, but this is not inconsistent with Calvinism.
Where does faith come from? Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Every man does not refer to every man who ever lived, it refers directly to the “every man that is among you.” (Christians) No universalism here either.
Monergism. It is all of God.
Romans 5:1-2 - It is through faith that we are made a part of Christ.
Romans 5:1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Response: Let’s look at the rest of the context and see what we can see.
3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
For all of the above limitations on scope, we, us, our and many, there are a few places the Arminian will cite, v. 6 “the ungodly” and v. 18 “free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
First, v. 6 does not say “all the ungodly.” It is further clarified in v. 8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” It says to us, while we and for us. Not for everyone. The reference to “the ungodly” is to us “while we were yet sinners.” As v. 6 says, while WE were without strength.
Second, v. 18, cannot have the Arminian meaning. It is either universal, or must be taken a different way. Why? Because of the words “unto justification.” If all men are not justified, then this verse cannot mean what the Arminian says.
For instance, are these contradictory?
12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned
19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,
One verse says all have sinned and the other says many were made sinners. There is no contradiction, the verses are not intended to convey the same exact message. Nor is the many to be taken as merely a subset of the all. No, they are intended to convey different things.
What does this passage teach?
1. The love of God is shed abroad in our (Christian) hearts.
2. When we (Christians) were without strength, Christ died for the ungodly.
3. God commended his love toward us (Christians.)
4. While we (Christians) were sinners, Christ dies for us (Christians.)
5. We (Christians), having been justified, will be saved.
6. While we (Christians) were enemies, we (Christians) were reconciled.
7. Since we (Christians) are reconciled, we (Christians) will be saved.
8. We (Christians) have received atonement.
9. They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness (Christians) shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
There is no room for a universal redemption and no room for a discourse on conditional election. God did it all.
1. God shed his love in our (Christians) hearts by the Holy Ghost.
2. Holy Ghost is given to us (Christians.)
3. Christ died for “the ungodly,” clearly referring to us (Christians.)
4. God commendeth his love toward us (Christians.)
5. Christ died for us (Christians.)
6. Christ justified us (Christians) by his blood.
7. Christ will save us (Christians) from wrath.
8. By Christ’s death, we (Christians) were reconciled to God.
9. By Christ’s life, we (Christians) will be saved.
10. Christ gave the atonement to us (Christians.)
If you do not see that the pronouns limit this to Christians, then all of those refer to men in general. Then you see all men are given Holy Ghost, God commends his love toward everyone in that Christ died for everyone. Everyone is justified by his blood. Christ will save everyone. Christ reconciled everyone. Christ atoned for everyone.
The only consistent conclusion is either universalism, which is not remotely true, or the Calvinist view. The context demands the Calvinist view.
Yes, we (Christians) are justified by faith and by faith we have access, but this is not inconsistent with Calvinism.
Where does faith come from? Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Every man does not refer to every man who ever lived, it refers directly to the “every man that is among you.” (Christians) No universalism here either.
Monergism. It is all of God.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Did Job Sin With His Lips? Arminians say, "Yes."
Job 2
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Did Job sin with his lips when he said, "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Did Job sin with his lips when he said, "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"
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