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• Question: Ephesians 2:8, is faith a gift of God?
  • Dear Bob,
  • First of all, I want you to know that I came across your site much by accident. In the past few months, I've had a very hard time dealing with thoughts of Predestination and Freewill, and have not been sure what to believe, although I KNEW that I did not want to believe in Predestination, even if supported by scriptural evidence. However, after reading much on your website, the forums and the "questions answered" section, I have started feeling much better. Your experience, your knowledge, and your compassion have helped to strengthen my own beliefs.
  • Thank you!
  • But, I have a question, which pertains to us having the freedom to choose Christ. In Ephesians 2:1-8, the bible tells us that we were dead in trespasses and sins. Verse 8 is the important one here: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" I can understand that we are blessed with salvation by God's grace, but I'm curious as to whether we actually have the freewill to choose God, that is, to have faith, if we are dead in trespasses and sins? Your view on this is much appreciated.
  • Your friend in Christ,
  • Ryan
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Ryan,
  2. I'm happy that our site helped you.
  3. In Ephesian 2:8,9, it's not faith that is a gift from God, it is salvation. There is no place in the New Testament that says faith is a gift of God. There is a passage that some think says that faith is a gift. It is the verse you mentioned, Eph 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. However, the Greek for that verse does not say faith is the gift of God. When we look at the underlying Greek, we see that "grace" (xariti) is feminine and faith (pistews) is feminine, but the demonstrative adjective, "that" (touto) is neuter, likely the neuter complement of an abstract subject, salvation. If the "that" was referring to the feminine word "faith" (pistews), it would have been in the feminine case. So, instead, it is referring to the concept of salvation in the periphrastic participle, "have been saved".
  4. When referring to concepts where the noun is not in the context, the word is usually in the neuter. Therefore, the gift that is being referred to by "that" (touto) is salvation. Salvation certainly is God's gift to everyone who believes. Acts 13:39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
  5. This faith is our faith. Notice the following passages. Matthew 15:28 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 17:20 20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. Mark 2:5 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." Luke 7:9 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" Luke 7:50 50 Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace." Acts 14:9 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, Romans 1:17 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." Romans 3:25 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, Romans 3:26 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:27 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Romans 4:5 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 1 Corinthians 15:14 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 1 Corinthians 15:17 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Ephesians 1:15 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, Colossians 1:4 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 1 Thessalonians 1:8 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 1 Timothy 1:5 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.
  6. Let me know if this does not answer your question.
  7. In Christ,
  8. Bob Hill
• Question: Spiritual warfare
  • Dear Bob Hill,
  • Thank you for your quick response. I know there is always a spiritual warfare between God and the devil and his angels and that God does win the war but, there seems to be another warfare involving unsaved people who are taken up in high places for the purpose of them losing their souls and for self worship. It doesn't make sense a person can easily lose their soul right here on earth by rejecting Jesus and the Gospel and there is enough self worship going on down here without a person being transported up to a heavenly place for the sole purpose to lose their soul and worship themselves. That is the Spiritual Warfare in high places that I a questioning? Is this kind of spiritual warfare in high places scriptural and if it is where does it come from I don't see it in my Bible. This is what I am really concerned about that such an occurrence could happen to a unsaved person and then their fate is sealed forever and they can never be saved. Please explain this to me if it does really exist in scripture.
  • Thank you again,
  • Joyce
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Joyce,
  2. God speaks of the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.
  3. Eph 3:8-13 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
  4. He also speaks of our spiritual struggle against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Because of this, we are admonished to put on God’s spiritual armor for this ongoing spiritual battle.
  5. Eph 6:10-20 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-- 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
  6. Our victory is already secure. God has done it in Christ. Eph 3:8-13 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which has been hidden from the ages in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
  7. Any unbeliever has been given the opportunity to believe in Christ according to John 1:9-13, That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
  8. God wills all to be saved according to 1 Tim 2:1-6 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time
  9. In Christ,
  10. Bob
• Question: Spiritual warfare in high places
  • I have been told that the spiritual warfare in high places is a place of self-worship and where you can lose your soul (there is a battle for your soul there) I don't read that in my Bible and I am wondering where this is coming from is it scriptural? This would be for a non believer I guess since we are protected. I've been told that this kind of warfare rarely happens but, it does once in awhile. I find this very disturbing as I had a strange experience while I was suffering from Chronic Fatigue, depression and on medication and now I am afraid if there is such a thing maybe it happened to me because I was sure I was saved until I got depression and then I doubted my salvation and this strange occurrence happened to me. If there is such a thing why aren't we being warned about it. Is it just something for Pastors to know about?
  • I need your input.
  • Thank You
  • Joyce
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Joyce,
  2. The spiritual warfare mentioned in the Bible is real. Satan and his angels are at war with our almighty God. We already know what the final result will be. God does win.
  3. According to Eph 1:11-14, we cannot lose our salvation. When we trusted Christ as our Savior, we were baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ. Once we became a member of Christ, the body of Christ, we were promised the inheritance that God predestined for us. God will make sure that we, the body of Christ, the all things of verse 11, will have what He has counseled. Our assurance is based on the fact that God sealed us with the Holy Spirit. This sealing is the guarantee that we cannot lose our inheritance in Christ. When the day of redemption, the rapture of the body of Christ (when we are caught up to be with Him forever) we will not need our sealing anymore.
  4. Eph 1:11-14 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
  5. When a person is suffering from Chronic Fatigue, depression and on medication, she can experience all kinds of disturbing thoughts. But God has sealed you. God reiterates that in Eph 4:30: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
  6. If you have any more questions, please ask them. I’m here to help.
  7. In Christ,
  8. Bob Hill
• Question: What does Romans 1:2 mean?
  • Hello Bob:
  • Greetings to you across the miles, in grace.
  • I would be interested to receive from you Bob, your critique of a person's handling of Romans 1:2. I will quote his footnote here, in the event you don't have access to his translation "The Unveiling of Christianity."
  • He translates the word "which" by "Whom"
  • "WHOM, verse 2. Romans 1:2 is one of the most crucial verses in the whole Bible. This is because of one little Greek word, the pronoun HOS. This pronoun has three meanings, (1) who, or whom, when referring to persons, (2) what, when referring to objects, and (3) which, when referring to things.
  • "The use of the meaning 'which' by the King James Bible represents a major cover-up in translation work. Most if not all major translations have the word 'which' in Romans 1:2. Why? Because of the preconceived notion that the gospel message found in Paul's letters is the same message the Old Testament prophets preached. In other words, there is only one gospel in the Bible and Paul's letters are a continuation of Old Testament truth. You see the vast majority of Bible translators have not rightly divided the Holy Scriptures in their thinking. The kind of theology they believe in has driven them to the conclusion that right division of the Scriptures is not necessary.
  • "There are many prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Lord Jesus Christ; for example, read Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. According to the context of Romans 1:2, it is the Person of Christ who is referred to. His Humanity and Deity are mentioned in verses 3 and 4.
  • "The use of 'whom' instead of 'which' in verse 2 throws tremendous light on the rightful place Paul's letters have in the New Testament canon.
  • For instance:
  • 1. We understand more fully that Christ Himself is the gospel. This was first taught in Gal. 1:16, where Paul wrote, 'in order that I might preach Him as the gospel'. This is what Romans also teaches. There would be no gospel message without the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • 2. Paul's letters are not to be mixed with the Old Testament Scriptures (which also includes the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and are complete in themselves. In this way, we will have accurate knowledge in understanding the unique purpose and message that the risen Christ revealed to the Apostle Paul."
  • I value your comments both from the Greek grammar side of the issue as well as the exegetical part.
  • Thanks for your help.
  • Grace and peace,
  • REW
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Bud,
  2. euaggelion Noun: neuter, singular, accusative ho Pronoun: relative, neuter, singular, accusative
  3. I'm sorry to say this, but person making these statements did not discern that the antecedent of ho (which) has to be euaggelion because euaggelion is the only neuter noun in the sentence. It cannot be translated any other way. The which is referring only to the gospel.
  4. When Paul referred to the "gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures", I believe he was referring to the gospel that God promised to Abram. In Gal 3:8 it says, "the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.'" The gospel Paul preached was new only in the sense that works had been added to faith shortly after the statements in Gen 12&15. From the time of Gen 17 up to the salvation of Paul faith-works were required for salvation. As you know, from Paul's salvation to the present, we are justified by faith without the need of works. Romans 4 covers this thoroughly. On the other hand, I'm sure you agree, we who are saved should be sure to do good works as they are produced in us by the Holy Spirit. The book of Titus emphasizes this.
  5. Faith is what God required in every dispensation. Paul does show from Genesis that Abram was justified by faith. When Paul referred to the "gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures", he was referring to the gospel that God promised to Abram.
  6. As you know, the difference in Paul's message from the prophets is the new entity called the body of Christ. This was a mystery, a secret hid in God until it was revealed to Paul. The gospel associated with the mystery did not have the conditions that the circumcision gospel had. All the questions that seem confusing are solved when we realize that God has two main gospels as shown in Gal 2:2,7-9 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. 7 . . . when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision had been committed to me, as the gospel of the circumcision was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
  7. In Christ,
  8. Bob Hill
• Question: Did God preserve his word and if so where is it today?
  • Did God preserve his word and if so where is it today?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Tim,
  2. When we look for an answer to your question, we find that the word of God is a very generic term. It is used to describe a presentation of the gospel by John the Baptist before any of the New Testament was actually written. For instance, in Luke 3:2-6 it says: while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" This is how it is used in the New Testament.
  3. However, you are probably referring to the Bible as the word of God. I would agree with this description for the Bible. Does God preserve the Bible. We have no biblical evidence that says this. However, we do have passages that say the word of God abides forever. In 1 Peter 1:22-25 it says: "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because 'All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, 25 but the word of the LORD endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you."
  4. I believe God guided the nation of Israel to accept a canon of the OT. Similarly, I believe God guided the first century church in the approval of what was God's word, so that the canon was already firm at the beginning of the 2nd century.
  5. Where is the Bible? We have it complete in the vast amount of biblical manuscripts in Greek and Hebrew. Sure, there is the Textus Receptus, the Critical Text, and the Majority Text, three different texts. But we have no 2 manuscripts that agree completely.
  6. Where does that leave us? To some extent, it leaves us at the mercy of Hebrew and Greek scholars who collate, study, and translate these texts.
  7. Most of the translations that depend on more modern syntactical studies, exhaustive studies of sentence structure in the papyri, and are more literal in their translation are closer to the meaning of the Hebrew and Greeks texts. The dynamic equivalent, and the paraphrased translations are less close and have the added problem of more presuppositional translating by those doing the translation.
  8. I use the NKJV because it is based on the Textus Receptus but has marginal notes of the Majority Text and the Critical Text. I also correct the NKJV in areas that I have studied very thoroughly. I am convinced of the supremacy of the Majority Text, but it would take pages of writing to explain why.
  9. I do believe the Bibles we have at our disposal have the vast majority of God's word in each of them. I personally believe the NKJV with the modifications of the MT marginal notes is the best Bible available at this time. It has all the truth we need. However, as different languages are used in different countries, each translation may have some error in it. This is especially true of translations made for tribes that have now words to translate biblical animals or ideas. We, in America, are stuck with more translations than we can use, and everyone has his own favorite one. They usually have no valid reason for their preference, but they will argue for their translation as though they knew what they were talking about.
  10. In Christ,
  11. Bob Hill
• Question: What is the bible's stance on Cremation?
  • Dear Bob,
  • I have a friend whose brother is considering cremation. His family is trying to talk him out of it . They feel if they could show him that this is biblically wrong they could change his mind. Is cremation an acceptable form of burial according to the bible. Please help!
  • Please give scripture to biblically approve it or condemn it, whichever it is.
  • Thanks,
  • Steve
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Steve,
  2. I find no evidence in the Scriptures either for or against cremation. According to the Anchor Bible Dictionary, "No evidence yet exists that links any Semitic [including Jews] group with cremation as an accepted form of burial. On the other hand, both textual and archaeological material indicates that it was an accepted custom among groups of both Greek and Anatolian backgrounds, and that on the Greek mainland, it became the dominant form of adult burial during the 11th-10th centuries B.C."
  3. According to information in the Bible Knowledge Commentary on Jer 34:4-5, it says, "In the midst of judgment God did offer a promise of peace. Because of his rebellion Zedekiah could have been executed by Nebuchadnezzar, but God promised that he would not die by the sword. He would die peacefully and would receive a proper funeral befitting a king (in contrast with Jehoiakim; cf. 22:18-19). The people would kindle a funeral fire to honor and lament Zedekiah. This fire does not refer to cremation because Israel and Judah buried dead bodies rather than cremating them. Instead it referred to the custom of lighting a large bonfire as a tribute to a dead king (cf. 2 Chron. 16:14; 21:19).
  4. Personally, I see no reason for or against cremation. I know of many Christians who have preferred that method of disposing of the body.
  5. I'm sorry I can't help you on this one. When God's word is silent, we can only have an opinion, not an absolute.
  6. In Christ,
  7. Bob Hill
• Question: Does the bible make it clear that adam was the first man?
  • Does the bible make it clear that adam was the first man?
  • Is it also clear that his first two sons are Cain and Abel?
  • Bandit (A.K.A.= David)
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. David,
  2. I believe it is clear from the following Scripture that Adam was the first man.
  3. 1 Cor 15:45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
  4. 1 Tim 2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
  5. I also believe it is clear from the following Scripture that Cain was the firstborn and Able was right after Cain. It seems that they were twins.
  6. Right after Adam and Eve sinned and they were expelled from the Garden of Eden, it says in Gen 4:1-2:
  7. Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD." 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
  8. In Christ,
  9. Bob
• Question: Are pictures of Jesus "graven images"?
  • Are pictures of Jesus "graven images"?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Yes they are, but God was concerned about His people, Israel, worshiping the graven images. That's why they were forbidden to have any before them.
  2. In Christ,
  3. Bob Hill
• Question: Did Satan sift Peter when he denied Christ?
  • While studying the book of Matthew in my Sunday school class, when we came to the scriptures about Peter's denial of Christ, I said that this was when Peter was turned over to Satan to be sifted. I was taking this from Luke 22:31-33 and a Beth Moore Bible Study course which I had gone through in which she explained "sifting". Everybody in my Sunday school class disagreed with me on this. My Sunday school teacher (a very mature Christian and Biblically literate man) did not agree with me or Beth Moore on this. They would not, however, turn the scripture in Luke to read it plainly put. I don't know why. SO. Do you agree with me and Beth Moore regarding this or with the rest of my Sunday School class. Their opinion, by the way, was that Peter just denied Christ to save his own life; there was nothing else going on.
  • Thank you so much for your help.
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Mary,
  2. God allowed Peter to be sifted.
  3. As far as satan and Peter, I agree with you. When we read Lk 22:31-34: "And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.' 33 But he said to Him, 'Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.' 34 Then He said, 'I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.'"
  4. Apparently there was a council in heaven just like the council in Job. God gave satan permission then, and I believe God gave satan permission to have Peter tested 3 times about Christ. Christ knew that Peter would not pass the test, so He told Peter, "when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Peter grew a lot by this testing.
  5. In Christ,
  6. Bob Hill
• Question: Does Mr. Sproul hold any heretical beliefs?
  • Dear Brother Bob,
  • Do you know the doctrinal position of Mr. Sproul? Is he a "Calvinist"? Does he hold any heretical beliefs? Would you consider his literature as dangerous?
  • In Christ,
  • Kevin
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Kevin,
  2. I have seen that it is too easy to call someone a heretic. Groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Oneness Pentecostals are certainly in gross error when it comes to the deity of Christ or trinity. Those who believe in water baptism for salvation also are in grave error. Generally, I am not one who calls others heretics when they believe in the Bible as the inerrant word of God. However, there are some groups who believe the Bible is the word of God and add to it other extra-biblical material. I believe these groups are heretical. With this in mind, I would not say that Dr. Sproul is a heretic, but he might say that I am.
  3. Dr. Sproul is an extremely strong Calvinist. In his book, Chosen by God, Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois: 1986., he wrote this:
  4. Quote:
  5. I began the class by reading the opening lines from Chapter III of the Westminster Confession:
  6. God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass.
  7. I stopped reading at that point. I asked, "Is there anyone in this room who does not believe the words that I just read?" A multitude of hands went up. I then asked, "Are there any convinced atheists in the room?" No hands were raised. I then said something outrageous: "Everyone who raised his hand to the first question should also have raised his hand to the second question."
  8. A chorus of groans and protests met my statement. How could I accuse someone of atheism for not believing that God foreordains whatever comes to pass? Those who protested these words were not denying the existence of God. They were not protesting against Christianity. They were protesting against Calvinism.
  9. I tried to explain to the class that the idea that God foreordains whatever comes to pass is not an idea unique to Calvinism. It isn't even unique to Christianity. It is simply a tenet of theism - a necessary tenet of theism.
  10. That God in some sense foreordains whatever comes to pass is a necessary result of his sovereignty. In itself it does not plead for Calvinism. It only declares that God is absolutely sovereign over his creation. God can foreordain things in different ways. But everything that happens must at least happen by his permission. If he permits something, then he must decide to allow it. If He decides to allow something, then in a sense he is foreordaining it. Who, among Christians, would argue that God could not stop something in this world from happening? If God so desires, he has the power to stop the whole world.
  11. To say that God foreordains all that comes to pass is simply to say that God is sovereign over his entire creation. If something could come to pass apart from his sovereign permission, then that which came to pass would frustrate his sovereignty. If God refused to permit something to happen and it happened anyway, then whatever caused it to happen would have more authority and power than God himself. If there is any part of creation outside of God's sovereignty, then God is simply not sovereign. If God is not sovereign, then God is not God.
  12. If there is one single molecule in this universe running around loose, totally free of God's sovereignty, then we have no guarantee that a single promise of God will ever be fulfilled. Perhaps that one maverick molecule will lay waste all the grand and glorious plans that God has made and promised to us. If a grain of sand in the kidney of Oliver Cromwell changed the course of English history, so our maverick molecule could change the course of all redemption history. Maybe that one molecule will be the thing that prevents Christ from returning.
  13. We've heard the story: For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of the shoe the horse was lost; for want of the horse the rider was lost; for want of the rider the battle was lost; for want of the battle the war was lost. I remember my distress when I heard that Bill Vukovich, the greatest car driver of his era, was killed in a crash in the Indianapolis 500. The cause was later isolated in the failure of a cotter pin that cost ten cents.
  14. Bill Vukovich had amazing control of race cars. He was a magnificent driver. However, he was not sovereign. A part worth only a dime cost him his life. God doesn't have to worry about ten-cent cotter pins wrecking his plans. There are no maverick molecules running around loose. God is sovereign. God is God.
  15. My students began to see that divine sovereignty is not an issue peculiar to Calvinism, or even to Christianity. Without sovereignty God cannot be God. If we reject divine sovereignty then we must embrace atheism. This is the problem we all face. We must hold tightly to God's sovereignty. Yet we must do it in such a way so as not to violate human freedom.
  16. At this point I should do for you what I did for my students in the evening class-finish the statement from the Westminster Confession. The whole statement reads as follows:
  17. God, from all eternity, did by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.
  18. End Quote
  19. I used one of his books in one of our theology classes. We critiqued the book. I believe it is important to read the books written by those who oppose what we believe.
  20. I do think he is an excellent preacher.
  21. In Christ,
  22. Bob
• Question: Robert VanKampen
  • Hi, Bob,
  • My daugter is studying a book by Robert VanKampen entitled "The Sign". Can you tell me a little bit about Mr. VanKampen? Is he orthodox? Thanks.
  • Deanna Miller
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Deanna,
  2. Mr. VanKampen believes in a post-tribulation pre wrath of God rapture. He believes the church is going to go through the tribulation. He and Marvin Rosenthall are similar in this belief. Since our fellowship is based on our unity in the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, he is orthodox. I just disagree with his end time scenario. I believe the church will be raptured before the tribulation.
  3. In Christ,
  4. Bob Hill
• Question: What do you think the image of God is?
  • Dear Bob,
  • Thanks for answering my last question about my philosophy course. I have another one now. =) What do you think the image of God is? The Bob Jones philosophy of education states, "Possessing the divine image, man reflects God not only in his moral, intellectual, and emotional capacities but also in his aesthetic sensibility, social inclinations, and other qualities of his personality. To acknowledge this correspondency is not to claim a degree of deity for man but to recognize that man, the creature, uniquely bears the stamp of his Creator."
  • It appears to me that they have compared man with animals and determined that the areas in which we differ from animals must be related to the image of God. This makes some sense, but should we also compare man to angels? Angels are moral beings (Ez. 28:15; Matt. 25:31). They are intelligent (Eph. 3:10). They have emotions (Job 38:7; Rev. 12:9,17). They have aesthetic sensibility (Ez. 28:12,17). They can even praise and worship God (Ps. 148:2; Heb. 1:6). But they aren't made in the image of God, are they?
  • As I discussed this with Rebecca, she mentioned that we can commune with God, but we can't think of a time when angels did this. God spoke to Moses "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend" (Ex. 33:11). Abraham "was called the Friend of God" (Jam. 2:23). Does the image of God refer to our ability to have a relationship with Him?
  • In our Lord,
  • Jennifer
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Jennifer,
  2. I have some strong theological opinions about the image of God, God the Son and the fact that we were made in the image of God.
  3. I believe that the father wanted Christ to have the preeminence in all things. In Col 1:18, it says, "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
  4. For this reason, I believe God the Son created the image that He indwelled when He created everything else, so that He is actually called the "firstborn of all creation." Col 1:15 "who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation".
  5. The plot gets thicker. For we must ask what that means. I believe the Son continued to exist in this image/form. I believe this image was the form that the Son left when He became a man. Phi 2:5-11 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
  6. I believe this image was also called the beginning of the creation of God. Rev 3:14 "These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God."
  7. This was the image of God in whose likeness man was made. Gen 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
  8. The Son created this image [the firstborn of all creation & the beginning of the creation of God] before He created anything else.
  9. Then, He indwelled that form and created the whole universe and us, while He was in that form. This is not the only thing He was the first in, He was, as I already stated, the firstborn from the dead. Col 1:18 "And He . . . is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
  10. Further, for us, His Church, He was the firstborn among many brethren. Rom 8:29 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
  11. He is also our Head, the head of the body. Col 1:18 "And He is the head of the body, the church".
  12. Remember, the Father's purpose for all this was to show the preeminence of our Lord Jesus. But that's not all. God wanted to bless us and have an intimate relationship with us., That happened in the person of His Son. So now, let's look at the blessings we have in Christ.
  13. We're rescued from the power of darkness. Col 1:13a "Who has rescued us from the power of darkness".
  14. We're transferred into Christ's kingdom. Col 1:13b "and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son".
  15. We have redemption. Col 1:14 "in whom we have redemption".
  16. We have forgiveness of sins. Col 1:14 "in whom we have . . . the forgiveness of sins".
  17. Terry may not agree with this, but we, the fullness, the body, dwell in Him. Col 1:19 "for He delighted to have all the fullness dwell in Him". How do we know this fullness is talking about us? Col 2:9,10 "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Deity bodily; 10 even you are filled in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." So, that's us according to Eph 1:22,23 "And He . . . gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills the all in all.
  18. He reconciled the all things (That's us.) in Christ, making peace. Col 1:19 He delighted to have all the fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile the all things (Jews & Gentiles who believe in this dispensation) in Him, having made peace through the blood of His cross, through Him, whether the things on the earth or the things in heaven, 21 even you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death". Again, how do we know the all is us, the body of Christ? Eph 2:11-16 "Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh-who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the both one (Jews & Gentiles who believe in this dispensation), and has destroyed the middle wall of separation, 15 having annulled in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity by Him.
  19. Christ reconciled us to present us holy and blameless. Col 1:22 "to present you holy, and blameless before Him."
  20. We communicate with Him right now, in prayer. We will communicate with Him in heaven, but with Whom? It seems that we will be communicating with the Son. It seems to me that the Father's unmasked radiance, etc., is too much for us to see even in our spiritual bodies. I can only surmise this from biblical material. Nothing in the word of God flat our says it.
  21. In Christ,
  22. Bob
• Question: Where did Noah's wife come from, and what color was she?
  • where did she come from and what color was she did man start white or what color is the beginning
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Twice Saved,
  2. There is no record of Noah's wife's name or lineage. We have no idea what color Noah or his wife were. My guess is that they would not be Caucasian.
  3. In Christ,
  4. Bob Hill
• Question: Are there two spiritual families?
  • Is it true that there are two spiritual families?
  • The family of God and the family of the devil?
  • If yes what Biblical references suppor this view?
  • RHK
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Richard,
  2. I think angels were created on the first day of creation. Gen 1:1-5 In the beginning [of the first day] God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
  3. The angels were created on the first day, for they were around to shout for joy when the earth's foundations were laid. Job 38:4-7 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Psalm 148 says they were created. Psa 148:1-5 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! 2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! 4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created.
  4. The angels are called sons of God because a creature created directly by God or begotten by God is called a son of God. For instance, Christ was the only begotten of the Father. John 1:14,18 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 3:16,18 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
  5. Angels were also a direct creation of God. Psa 89:6 Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD? The Alexandrinus text of the LXX of Gen 6:2 is angeloi tou theou. And, then, there's that Job passage. Job 38:4-7 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
  6. These angels presented themselves to God periodically. Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 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.
  7. Some left their heavenly habitation. Jude 6 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode [alla apolipontas to idion oikaytayrion], He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. oikaytayrion is only found one other place, 2 Co 5:2 "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation [oikaytayrion] which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
  8. Some of the angels of Jude 6 attempted to contaminate the generations of the Messiah. Gen 6:2-9 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. 3 And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.
  9. This sexual encounter with the daughters of men was referred to as disobedience and compared to the perversion of Sodom. 1 Pe 3:18-20 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. Jude 6-7 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 2 Pe 2:4-6 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly.
  10. For this disobedience they were punished and their progeny, the Nephilim of Genesis 6:4, were destroyed. 2 Pet 2:4-6 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell [tartarwsas] and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly. Later the Israelites were commanded to destroy the Canaanites when they went into the promised land because the Nephilim were in the land as a result of another attempt to contaminate the line of Messiah. Gen 6:4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
  11. Angels were created perfect. Ex 20:11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Gen 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Gen 2:1-4 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. 4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
  12. In his pride, lucifer rebelled and led his angels in revolt against God. Rev 12:3-4,7-9 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. But they will be thrown out just before the tribulation starts. 7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
  13. Satan rules over his kingdom of demons - fallen angels. Mat12:24-28 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
  14. Satan is the ruler of this present age. John 12:31 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 2 Co 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
  15. So, there are now two kinds of angels. The elect angels remained loyal to God. 1 Ti 5:21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. Satan and his angels rebelled against God and are doomed. Mat 25:41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, "Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
  16. There appears to be orders or ranks among angels. Eph 1:21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come. Eph 6:11-12 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Col 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Col 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 1 Pe 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
  17. Therefore, I believe the Bible shows there are 2 groups of angels, but I don't think I would call them families.
  18. In Christ,
  19. Bob Hill
• Question: what happens to your soul when u die?
  • Dear Bob,
  • What happens to your soul when u die? If u are saved do u go directly to heaven? If u are not saved do u go directly to hell for all of eternity?
  • Thank you,
  • Jay
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. If we die before the rapture, we will not go to limbo or be unconscious, we will go to be with the Lord, in heaven. That's what, at least, 2 passages of Scripture show: 2 Co 5:1-8 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
  2. Phi 1:21-24 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
  3. When these physical bodies die, we will go directly to be with the Lord.
  4. If we don't die before the rapture, the next event that will occur in God' s prophetic program, is the rapture of the body of Christ.
  5. In Christ,
  6. Bob Hill
• Question: Demons
  • Bob -
  • What is the role of demons in this dispensation? I cannot find much biblical information on this subject, though there seems to be a plethora of other books out on it. Many Christians have claims of being tormented by demons, seeing them, or seeing them at work in places of witchcraft, spiritualism, etc. Is this valid? It has never happened to me, so I can neither verify nor refute these claims. Is the casting out of demons a miraculous work, or something that still needs to be performed today? Any light you can shed on this topic for me would be helpful. Thanks.
  • Josh Hall
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Josh,
  2. I would like to begin by listing the passages that show a demon (satan) or demons (angels nor principalities nor powers) are in the business of harassing us in this dispensation of grace. Therefore, the torment of Christians by demons may be valid since we are in a battle with them. However, they cannot indwell us since the Holy Spirit indwells each believer. Since casting out demons was one of the sign gifts that passed away, I do not believe we are able to cast out demons in this dispensation. That doesn't mean that we can't lead a demon controlled person to the Lord as his savior, but the word of God would have to be used in a non-stop way. Here are the passages that show demonic activity today.
  3. Acts 26:15-18 "So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and [b]from the power of Satan to God[/b], that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'"
  4. Rom 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor [b]angels nor principalities nor powers[/b], nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  5. Rom 16:17-20 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace [b]will crush Satan under your feet[/b] shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
  6. 1 Co 5:1-7 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles-that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 [b]deliver such a one to Satan[/b] for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
  7. 1 Co 7:5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again [b]so that Satan does not tempt you[/b] because of your lack of self-control.
  8. 1 Co 8:4-6 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For since there are those called gods, whether in heaven or on earth [b](just as indeed there are many gods and many lords)[/b], 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
  9. 2 Co 2:5-11 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent-not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 [b]lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.[/b]
  10. 2 Co 4:3,4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 [b]whose minds the god of this age has blinded[b], who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
  11. 2 Co 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For [b]Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness[/b], whose end will be according to their works.
  12. 2 Co 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, [b]a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me[/b], lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
  13. Eph 3:8-20 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which has been hidden from the ages in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to [b]the principalities and powers in the heavenly places[/b], 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen.
  14. Eph 6:10-20 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, [b]that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.[/b] 12 For we do not struggle against flesh and blood, but [b]against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.[/b] 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be [b]able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one[/b]. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints- 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
  15. Col 1:9-18 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 [b]He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love[/b], 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, [b]whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers[/b]. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
  16. Col 2:13-17 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 [b]Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.[/b] 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.
  17. 1 Th 2:18 Therefore we wanted to come to you-even I, Paul, time and again-[b]but Satan hindered us[/b].
  18. 1 Ti 1:17-20 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom [b]I delivered to Satan[/b] that they may learn not to blaspheme.
  19. 1 Ti 5:9-15 Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. 11 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some have already [b]turned aside after Satan.[/b]
  20. God created us for fellowship with Him. A free will being is the only creature who could truly fellowship with God. When we look at Scripture such as Mat 12:25,26, we see that satan has a kingdom.
  21. Mat 12:25,26 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?"
  22. Man ended up under satan's authority, when he tempted Eve and she believed him rather than God. That was a lack of faith. Because of Adam's sin, the Adamic race was put under satan's authority. We were in satan's kingdom. When we trust Christ, we get transferred.
  23. Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.
  24. Satan's plan of action is deception. That's why the most important thing for the human race is truth. John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
  25. satan's deceit focuses on humans. He blinds minds and destroys faith.
  26. 2 Co 4:3,4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
  27. satan works through churches and organizations which are supposed to be good but are really evil.
  28. 1 Ti 4:1,2 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.
  29. There's also moral decay. satan is attacking Christians and our faith by that spirit of tolerance about immorality which is so rampant in America today. Since the terrorist act on the Twin Towers, I think satan can see he made a mistake. Revival has a stronger chance to happen.
  30. satan had the holding power of death. But, Christ knew why He came.
  31. Heb 2:14-18 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had [b]the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.[/b] 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
  32. We must be filled with his knowledge.
  33. When we look at what happened in the O. T., it is becoming clearer and clearer to me that there was an angelic conflict between God and His angels and satan and his angels/demons. Consider Deu 32:7-9.
  34. Deu 32:7-9 "Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations. . . 8 When the Most High divided the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the nations according to the number of the angels* of God. (*"A growing majority of scholars . . . argue that the . . . LXX reading, 'angels of God,' reflects the original. . . . fragments of Deuteronomy 32 found at Qumran have effectively settled the issue. . . . (they) discovered a fragment of an ancient Hebrew manuscript that offered the bene el (sons of God) reading." God at War, note 72 p. 339.
  35. I believe that different areas of the world, with their boundaries well marked by God, were apportioned according to the number of angels. Just what this means, I can't say for sure, but it looks like certain good angels have territories and certain evil angels have territories. These evil angels influence the people in their territory and are called gods by the humans dwelling there.
  36. It also says this in Acts 17:26,27.
  37. Acts 17:26,27 and He made from one blood every nation of mankind to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek the Lord, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, even though He is not far from each one of us.
  38. Do you remember when God destroyed the whole earth because of the angels?
  39. Gen 6:4-7 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward (When Israel entered the promised land.), when the sons of God (angels) came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (The fallen angels/demons had led them into a mind set of total evil.) 6 And the Lord repented that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I repent that I have made them."
  40. I believe God's judgment on these angels is revealed in 2 Pe 2:4,5 & Jude 5-7.
  41. 2 Pe 2:4,5 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, the eighth, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly
  42. Jude 5-7 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh (sarkos heteras), are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
  43. Also, when God led Israel out of Egypt, I believe this was a battle with angels as well.
  44. Ex 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and [b]against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment[/b]: I am the LORD.
  45. So, when Israel follows after other gods, Yahweh punishes them severely. For instance, when Israel went after other gods, as they did at Peor, Yahweh punished them severely. Look at Num 25:1.
  46. Num 25:1-5 Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. (Actually, Israelite men engaged in sexual immorality with Moabite women. This was an integral part of the Canaanite fertility rites and was practiced in connection with the regular services of their temples.) 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. (The physical, sexual nature of this kind of worship tempted the Israelite men and led them into the spiritual apostasy of worshiping Baal.) 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the Lord, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel." 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor." 24,000 men died because of this sin of immorality & apostasy at Baal of Peor.
  47. The rescue from Egypt was a rescue from their gods. David reiterated this rescue, not only from the land of Egypt, but also from the gods of Egypt in
  48. 2 Sa 7:21-24 "Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name-and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land-before Your people whom [b]You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?[/b] 24 For You have made Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, Lord, have become their God.
  49. But, what has this to do with us today? Your question had to do with demonic activity now. Consider this: Even after Christ died for our sins, satan is still the god of this age.
  50. 2 Co 4:3-7 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those who are perishing, 4 in whom [b]the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who are not believing[/b], lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your slaves for Jesus' sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
  51. We can see from Eph 2:2 that satan is still active today.
  52. Eph 2:1,2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you then walked according to the course of this world, according to [b]the prince of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience.[/b]
  53. What should we do? I believe the answer is clear in Eph 5:15-21.
  54. Eph 5:15-21 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled by the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
  55. In Christ,
  56. Bob Hill
• Question: Why is pascha translated "Easter" in the KJV?
  • Dear brother Bob,
  • Why is pascha translated "Easter" in the KJV?
  • In Christ,
  • Kevin
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Kevin,
  2. The King James translators as a whole, made a stately and fairly accurate translation of the Greek text. However, in Acts 12:4, "And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter (to pasca) to bring him forth to the people.", they should have translated the Greek word, to pasca, Passover. In other places their translation of the Greek aorist, perfect and present tenses were somewhat confused. The NKJV is more accurate. It does still follow the Textus Receptus, but it does give readings from the Majority Text and the Critical Text. The NKJV translated this, "So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover (to pasca).
  3. For instance, Vine's Expository Dictionary says, "pascha (pasca , (3957)), mistranslated "Easter" in Acts 12:4, A.V., denotes the Passover (R.V.). The phrase "after the Passover" signifies after the whole festival was at an end. The term Easter is not of Christian origin. It is another form of Astarte, one of the titles of the Chaldean goddess. the queen of heaven. The festival of Pasch held by Christians in post-apostolic times was a continuation of the Jewish feast, but was not instituted by Christ, nor was it connected with Lent. From this Pasch the Pagan festival of Easter was quite distinct and was introduced into the apostate Western religion, as part of the attempt to adapt Pagan festivals to Christianity. See PASSOVER.
  4. In Christ,
  5. Bob Hill
• Question: Lots of questions boiled down to, vessels unto honor and unto dishonor?
  • should we glory in the flesh or in the transforming power of the spirit of god? if god will not give his glory to another. and we are saved by grace not by works were does mans own thinking ,reasoning, works come into play? does god not have a right to make one vessel unto honor and one unto dishonor? Does not the potter have power over the clay? if god is changing us into creatures of his love were does fleshy, soulish , devilsh man come into the picture? can god be all in all in his creation if man can boast of anything?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Student,
  2. God has always chosen His own special ways to bring redemption. He used Jacob, not because he had done any good works, but because He chose to. He did not use Esau, although he had not done any evil, again, because He chose to. He has the right to choose individual people for service to bring the promise. God can do this and be perfectly just, because God can have mercy on whomever He pleases. Therefore, we have no right to question God, for God can do whatever He wants to with His creation. But this has nothing to do with free will.
  3. The Jews had no right to question God's authority to use anyone He pleased to bring the message of redemption. In fact, God endured those who were fit for destruction and demonstrated His riches on the vessels of mercy by calling a new group from Jews and Gentiles. This group is the "us" of Rom 9:24, referring to us Christians, the body of Christ.
  4. Therefore, the Gentiles gained righteousness even though they didn't pursue it. This was possible because Jesus Christ made God's righteousness available by His faithfulness culminating in His death (Rom 3:21-26). However, Israel didn't attain to righteousness because they sought it by the works of the law instead of faith. In fact, they stumbled over true righteousness (Rom 9:30-33). So, the answer to the question, "How could God have abandoned Israel?" is clear. God can do as He pleases. He chose Israel. Now He has decided to choose a group from Israel and the Gentiles based on the righteousness of faith. This is the body of Christ. If Israel misses out, it's her fault. These concepts are illustrated frequently in Romans 9.
  5. We see that Ishmael was rejected. He was the child of the flesh. He was the child of the flesh because Abraham and Sarah took it into their own hands to produce the promised seed apart from God. Abraham went in to Hagar, and she conceived. This does not mean Ishmael couldn't become a believer. He could have been saved, but he was not a man of faith. He persecuted Isaac (Gal 3:28,29). We see then that Ishmael becomes the personification of a child of the flesh.
  6. The basis of God's purpose according to election was not for salvation; it was for service. It's not of works but is based on His calling. Again, this election is not to salvation. It is for God's purpose. I think that His primary purpose is the provision of salvation by our Savior.
  7. In Rom 9:12 it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." Even though Jacob consistently duped Esau, Esau never really served Jacob. In fact, almost the opposite was true. How then was this prophecy true? We must look at the quotation's context. "And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger" (Gen 25:23). Notice, it explicitly says, "Two nations are in your womb." God was not dealing with the individuals here. He was dealing with two nations. Israel was His chosen people. Edom (Esau) was not. In the future, Edom will be the servant of Israel.
  8. Rom 9:13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." This verse is like the previous one with one great exception. This reference is from the last book of the Old Testament. This was about a thousand years after Jacob and Esau were born. When we look at the context of Malachi 1, we see that He is again talking about the two nations. It doesn't mean He loved everyone in Israel or hated everyone in Edom, for we find repeatedly how wrathful He got with Israel and destroyed many among them. Therefore, this love and hate was not against the individual men Jacob and Esau, but towards the nations. It was recorded after the nations had been in existence for a long time.
  9. We must consider another point. This hate is not necessarily absolute. In Luke 14:26, the hate is certainly relative. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." I think the hate in Malachi and Romans 9:13 may also be relative. It may relate to God's sovereign choice among the nations.
  10. When we look at the verse you alluded to, Rom 9:14,15, I think we have to analyze it too. Rom 9:14,15 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." There is no unrighteousness with God. He always conducts Himself in a just way. Now He shows us how He conducts Himself. He shows us that the Jews can't restrict Him to the only option they think He must take, always treating Israel as the top nation. God shows that He makes His decisions based on His clearly defined principles.
  11. The 15th verse shows that He can display His mercy to anyone He desires. Israel cannot put restraints on Him. In this passage, you can't escape the issue of selection. God has mercy on whomever He pleases. The point here is, was God unrighteous to choose Jacob as the one to receive favored status as a nation? The Jew would naturally answer, "No!" But, putting ethnic advantage aside, why? Because God has the right to show mercy to whomever He pleases. If He wants to choose one for service but not the other, He can do that. He chose Jacob but not Esau. The Jews liked that decision.
  12. Esau could have "willed" or "run" as much as he pleased. He could have been saved or have been the most godly man who ever lived. And Jacob could have been a rat, but Jacob still would have been chosen. Paul's point here, is, God chose Israel as a favored nation above all others, not because of her worthiness or goodness above others, but simply because He has the right to select one and not the other.
  13. God has the complete freedom to do as He desires. His principle for salvation is laid out when Paul completes this section about Israel's position by summation in Rom 11:32, "For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all."
  14. Further, we see that His desire is to save everyone, not just Israel. We see this again when we consult Exo 33:19: "Then He said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion". We see from the context that this quote was a response to Moses because Moses had "found grace in My sight, and I know you by name." Moses had pleased God by his obedience and intercessory behavior. I think the passage should be translated, "I will have mercy on whomever I want to have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I want to have compassion." Again, we see from Rom 11:32 that for salvation, He wants to have mercy on everyone.
  15. Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. Have you ever considered what is not of the willing or running one? What is of the mercy showing God? It could be the provision of salvation. It could be the act of election for a purpose. It could be the concept that He wants all to be saved. But it is not talking about being saved. The principles of salvation for the covenant people were laid down by God in Genesis 17 and later in the law. The principles of salvation for this dispensation are laid out in Paul's epistles and the later part of Acts. The circumcision epistles do not apply to us in the area of salvation. Both sets of principles are of God who shows mercy. But, although the methods of salvation are different for the different dispensations, the means of God's grace is the same. It is the death of His dear Son. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
  16. Did God raise create Pharaoh just so He could knock him down? Because of Calvinistic influence, we've been taught to think that. Rom 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." First we must read the context of this statement from Exodus 9:16. We see that the magicians could not stand before Moses. They may have died in this plague while God protected Pharaoh and raised him up for God's stated purpose. Therefore, I don't think God raised Pharaoh up to become the king of Egypt just to knock him down. He seems to have raised him from the infection of boils and also strengthened his resolve in the face of these awful plagues so He could continue to show in him His power and punish him for his unrepentant heart. Other expositors agree with this idea.
  17. Rotherham translated this passage in his The Emphasized Bible as follows: "For now might I have put forth my hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou shouldst have secretly disappeared from the earth; but indeed for this very purpose have I let thee remain, for the purpose of showing thee my might, and that my name may be celebrated in all the earth." Adam Clarke translated this, "But truly, on this very account, I have caused thee to subsist, that I may . . ." Forster and Marston said in God's Strategy in Human History, "The context of Paul's reference is, after all, that of God's general dealings ('raising up' or 'making to stand'), not of any specific act of God.
  18. Rom 9:18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. Does God harden people? As you know, some believe that God elects some to be saved but reprobates the rest - actually actively consigns them to hell. Now is that what this verse is teaching? Let's look at an illustration: Let's put a lump of moist clay and a lump of hard wax on the window sill of the south side of the building in the hot sun. Since I live in Colorado, today, the sun graciously shined down with its sunlight on a nice sunny Colorado afternoon. If we come back a couple of hours later while the sun is still well up in the sky, we'll find a hard rock like lump and a puddle of wax. It was the same sunlight that hardened the clay and melted the wax.
  19. This is like the rain of Heb 6:7-8, "For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned."
  20. Now let's think about these two illustrations. Did the sun harden the clay in the sense that it made the clay be the kind of substance that would harden, or was the sun the cause for the clay to harden? Similarly, was the rain the reason one portion of ground brought up briars and the other useful herbs? Do you see the difference? Was the sun the thing that made the clay hard? Was the sun the thing that made the wax melt or soften? Or was it the sun that made the clay do what clay innately does when heat warms it up? Did the wax do what wax does innately when it gets warm?
  21. You may ask what the Bible means in Ex 3:19 and 4:21 when it reports God speaking to Moses, "But I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not even by a mighty hand" (3:19). And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go" (4:21). Pharaoh is an example of how God shows mercy. God didn't let the pestilence kill him. Verse 18 could be a conclusion: God has mercy on whomever He wills (Jacob and Pharaoh) and hardens whomever He wills (Pharaoh). But this is not a hardening against salvation. Individual salvation is not an issue here.
  22. But let's refer to Ex 3:19 and 4:21. Here God is speaking to Moses before Pharaoh ever had a chance to harden his own heart. What did God tell Moses? He said, "I am sure (he) will not let you go." What does that mean? "The king of Egypt has a heart like a lump of clay. I know that is what his heart is like. I know this guy's heart. It's not the waxy type. It's like a lump of clay." Many expositors agree with this interpretation.
  23. Again, Rotherham translated this, "I will let his heart wax bold, and he will not suffer the people to go." Further, he wrote, "That Hebrew grammars distinctly avow occasion or permission to be sometimes the sense of verbs which ordinarily signify cause can be verified by a reference to the Hebrew Grammar of Gesenius, . . . After stating that the verbal form . . . called piel denotes intensity and repetition, this grammar adds: 'It often takes the modifications expressed by permit, . . . . Of this, a good example is found in the verb shalach, 'to send.' Notice its modification with reference to the raven and the dove in Gen. VIII. 7,8. Noah sent them 'forth'; that is he simply 'let them go.' So with regard to hayah, 'to live'; in piel, 'to cause to live.' Moses said that the midwives (literally) 'caused the male children to live' (Ex. 1.17) - plainly, 'permitted them,' 'refrained from putting them to death.'" There are other examples of this usage. Cf. The Emphasized Bible, p. 919. The reference most similar to our text is Psalm 81:11,12. "But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. 12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels." Here, we see that the result of letting them have their own stubborn heart was to walk in their own counsels. Rotherham quotes Kalisch: "As the external, often accidental, occasion of an event is mostly more obvious, even to the reflecting mind, than its primary cause or its true (often hidden) originator, it has become a linguistic peculiarity in most ancient, especially the Semitic, languages, to use indiscriminately (the occasion) rather than (the cause) so that the phrase, 'I shall harden the heart of Pharaoh' means: 'I know that I shall be the cause of Pharaoh's obstinacy; my commands and wonders will be an occasion, an inducement to an increasing obduration of his heart." Also consult Forster and Marston, God's Strategy in Human History, pp. 160-175.
  24. In other words, when we see the event with Pharaoh, and God says, "I am going to harden Pharaoh's heart," we look at it as the occasion. Pharaoh's heart is hardened. God is going to harden it. What does He mean when He says I'm going to harden that heart? He means, "I'm going to be the cause of Pharaoh's heart being hardened, like the clay. We must always consider 1 Timothy 2:4 when we look at this account. God even wanted Pharaoh to be saved. In addition, we must always remember that God does not cause anyone to sin (James 1:13-15). God's actions are reflected in Psalm 18:25-26, "With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; 26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd."
  25. Rom 9:19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" This question is similar to the previous questions from self righteous Jews who were hassling the believers in Rome. If we look at this question more closely, we must ask, "Can anyone resist His will?" If you mean His counsel (boulay) then the answer is, no one can. But if you mean who can resist His will (thelayma)? Everyone does. Unbelievers resist and all are not saved. Believers resist and all are not sanctified (1 Th 4:3), even though that is His will. However, no one can prevent His counsel (boulay) from happening. He is going to bring His counsel, (boulay), to pass. That's the word found in this passage.
  26. According to 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness but is longsuffering toward us, not counseling (boulomenos) any to perish but all to have room for repentance" (My translation.). No one has resisted His counsel. He has determined that the plan of salvation would be accomplished, and it was. Paul doesn't seem to answer the question directly, but I think the illustration in 9:20,21 really does.
  27. Rom 9:20,21 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Paul was alluding to Isaiah 64:8, "But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand." He also directly quoted from Isaiah 29:16, "Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, 'He did not make me'? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, 'He has no understanding'?" But in addition to these passages, I believe he was looking more to the context of Jeremiah 18:1-11.
  28. The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words. 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 6 O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? says the LORD. Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! 7 The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, 8 if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will repent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. 9 And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, 10 if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will repent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. 11 Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
  29. When the potter (God) tried to make the clay (Israel) into a vessel of honor, it marred in his hand. Would that be the potter's (God's) fault or the clay's (Israel's). Was the clay (Israel) resisting? When it was made into another vessel, one which didn't have the honor that the first vessel would have had, was that the potter's (God's) fault? Absolutely not! Further, we see that repentance is the vital issue from God's view. This is illustrated in 2 Ti 2:20,21, But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."
  30. Rom 9:22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. When God desired "to make known what is possible with Him" (Weymouth), we find that He endures with the vessels of wrath which fitted themselves to destruction. The participle, fitted (katayrtismena) can be either a middle or a passive. I have translated it as a middle considering the middle concept in the material of Acts 13:46,48, Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had disposed themselves (aysan tetagmenoi) to eternal life believed.
  31. In Christ,
  32. Bob Hill
• Question: What bible dictionary should I use?
  • Dear brother Bob,
  • Do you have a suggestion on a Bible dictionary?
  • Planning on buying one shortly.
  • In Christ,
  • Kevin Mc
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Kevin,
  2. For the NT I would get a Vine's Expository Dictionary of the NT. The OT is
  3. different. There are 2 excellent ones, but I can only remember the author of
  4. one. Wilson's OT Word Studies. These are very thorough dictionaries of the
  5. words of the Bible. They deal with the Greek and Hebrew, but anyone can use
  6. them. They have them at Biblediscount.com, and they do discount them.
  7. In Christ,
  8. Bob Hill
• Question: Is there a necessary distinction between God and the Spirit?
  • If it is true that the Holy Spirit and God are one what is the purpose in speaking of them in separate terms and different names? Are we making it too difficult to understand God by adding this third being or is there a necessary distinction between God and the Spirit?
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Andrew,
  2. God has existed forever. Apparently he fellowships within the godhead for all eternity.
  3. The persons in the godhead have different functions, and they are consistent in what they each do. They are spelled out very well in the Bible.
  4. One of the functions of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin so they will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, in whom God the Son paid the sacrifice for our sins.
  5. We don't even understand ourselves, so how can we understand the godhead. We can understand what God says about Himself to some extent, but our understanding is on such a miniscule level, I'm sure we don't really have a clue about how wonderful He is.
  6. In Christ,
  7. Bob Hill
• Question: Why is a doctrine of the trinity important?
  • While belief in the trinity has been considered orthodox for the better part of the history of Christian thought, how it should be understood has been highly debated. Can you please expalin to me why a doctrine of trinity is important and how a variety of metaphors can be helpful?
  • Andrew
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear Andrew,
  2. The Bible shows us repeatedly that there is only one God. 1 Corinthians 8:6 says, “yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.” This verse is showing God as He is worshipped and as He redeems. But it also seems to show that there is only one God and another person, Jesus Christ.
  3. Is Jesus Christ, God? There are a number of reasons why we must say, yes, He is God. The first is found in John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Yet, the Bible clearly states that there is one God. Isaiah 44 & 45 repeatedly say there is only one God! For example Isaiah 44:24 says, “Thus says the LORD [Jehovah], your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb: ‘I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself.’” If the Word were not God, then John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:16 would contradict this statement because they show that “by Him, Christ, all things were created . . . through Him and for Him.” Because He is God, these Scriptures do not contradict Isaiah.
  4. When He, the Son, came and talked to Abraham in Genesis 18:1, He appeared to Abraham as a man. The two angels went down to Sodom (18:16-19:1). What did Jehovah the Son do? The LORD [Jehovah] went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham” (18:33). “Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens” (19:24). Here, we have two manifestations of Jehovah at the same time. The first, Jehovah the Son, refers to the one who was seen by Abraham. He rained down brimstone and fire from Jehovah, the Father, out of heaven. The first Jehovah was actually seen by men! Jehovah the Son was seen. But do we have the right to say this? Let’s look at this more carefully. In Philippians 2:6-8, it gives us information about the Son. “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, [Literally, He emptied Himself. He emptied Himself of His non-moral attributes of deity such as omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence. We also see that He left the form of God and took upon Himself the form and attributes of a servant, and came in the likeness of man. But He still retained His moral attributes such as love, compassion, mercy, and repentance.] taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
  5. Notice, He was in the form of God. He was God. The form belonged to God. He then left that form and took another form. Yet, He was still God according to John 20:28, “And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” It is interesting that both Lord and God have the article here. Also, why didn’t Christ correct Thomas if he was wrong in calling Him God?
  6. Considering the word “form” as found here, and in Genesis 1:26, He made man in the likeness of that form which belonged to God. He made “man in Our [plural] image, according to Our [plural] likeness.” This was the likeness or image that God (the Son) first created according to Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” This image was also called, “the beginning of the creation of God” (Rev 3:14). He, God (as the Son), then indwelled this image that belonged to Him and created everything else (Col 1:16). Then, He made man in its likeness. When God was in this image, apparently man could see Him without fear of being destroyed. When it says that no one has ever seen God, we see from Scripture (John 6:46) that it means the Father can’t be seen. The Son shows and explains the Father (John 14:9; 1:18). All they could see of the invisible God (the Father) was shown in Jesus Christ the Son.
  7. We find that the Word who is God, was not only seen by Abraham and the apostles, but He was also seen by Moses. In Exodus 24:9-11, we see that they saw God and lived to tell about it. Exodus 33:20 says, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Therefore, the God whom they saw in Exodus 24 must have been God the Son. No one has seen the Father except God the Son, “He who is from God; He has seen the Father” (John 6:46).
  8. Christ said, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day” (John 8:56). The Jews said He wasn’t even “fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham” (8:57)? Christ answered in 8:58, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Then, they wanted to stone Him. Why? Because He was referring to Himself as God. The words “I AM” were the same words which the Septuagint used to translate the first “I AM” from the Hebrew of Exodus 3:14. God continued in verse 15, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’” Christ said it more pointedly than the translation shows. Literally John 8:58 is “Before Abraham came into existence, I Am.” The Jews knew He said He was God.
  9. Later, John quoted Christ: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” This is used of God the Father as well as God the Son. Notice what it says in Revelation 1:8,17; 2:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” 17 And when I saw Him [Christ], I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.” 2:8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, “These things says the First and the Last [Christ], who was dead, and came to life.” These same words were used by Jehovah in Isaiah 44:6-8,24 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God. 8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.” 24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself.” Who spread the heavens? Christ (John 1:3; Col 1:16,17)! Who is the Savior? Christ (Isa 45:5,6,18,21,22)!
  10. When we look at another aspect of God, His knowledge, we know that He knows things infinitely. God alone knows everything. When the Son says, “As the Father knows Me,” how does the Father know the Son? In a complete way. Then He says, “even so I know the Father” (John 10:15). Christ knows the Father in the same way, completely, because He is God.
  11. There is only one God. But He manifests Himself in three ways – Father, Son, and Spirit. To show how true this is, let’s look at John 14. Christ is speaking. In verse 7 He says, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” How can man see God and still live? We say that it was only as He manifested Himself as the Son (John 1:18; Heb 1:2-8). Then He said something almost incomprehensible. He said, verse 10, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” He not only has the Father in Him, but He is in the Father! As we look further in this chapter, we see either a great confusion on John’s part or a blurring of the persons of the Godhead in the unity of God. Since this is inspired by the Holy Spirit, I don't think John is confused. Notice verses John 14:17-26: “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” According to this, the Holy Spirit will come to them. 18 “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” But, according to this, the Son will come. 23 “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.’” According to this verse, the Father is coming. Let me repeat that, “We will come to him and make Our home with him.” At least two of the trinity will come. 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
  12. Who dwelled with them (17)? Christ, but He says the Spirit. Who will come? The Spirit, but Christ says He will come (18). Now wait a minute! Who is coming? The Father, and the Son (23), and the Spirit (26). God is coming (came)! The trinity came! Wow!! Are you as confused as I am? Who really was to come according to John 14? All we can say is God was coming in every way – Father, Son, and Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes when both the Father and the Son come. This is why Christ said in John 10:30, “I and My Father are one.” So from this, we must say again, the Son is God. That’s why the Father says in Hebrews 1:8, “But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.”
  13. When God manifests Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit, all three manifestations have different functions. The Father is highest and is the one who is mainly worshipped. John 14:28 reports this: “You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.” But the Son is worshipped also, for the Father tells all the angels to worship Him. Hebrews 1:6, “But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’” Every knee shall bow to Him. Philippians 2:9-10, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.” This was prophesied in Isaiah 45:23: “I have sworn by Myself. The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.” Here we see again that Jehovah is equated to Christ.
  14. The Son is always subject to the Father in function (John 14:28; 1 Co 15:28), but as deity He is equally God. In His humanity, He is human (1 Tim 2:5) so He can redeem man (Heb 2:14-18). Remember who the only Savior was back in Isaiah. It was Jehovah. Therefore, we can see again, Christ, the Savior, is Jehovah.
  15. Further, we find that God the Father raised Christ from the dead. (Acts 2:24,32; 3:15,26; Rom 4:24; 6:4; 8:11; Col 2;12) But we find Christ saying that He would raise Himself, (John 10:17,18) “I will raise it up . . . But He was speaking of the temple of His body” (John 2:19,21). But it also says He was made alive by the Spirit. Therefore, we see the trinity in action in His resurrection.
  16. The Holy Spirit is God. Acts 5:3 records that “Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” Then the 4th verse said, “Acts 5:4 “Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” If he lied to the Holy Spirit, and this is described as lying to God, then, the Holy Spirit is God.
  17. I hope this helps clarify God and His trinity,
  18. Bob Hill
• Question: Was Israel set aside?
  • In your two studies on baptism you include the following statement:
  • 1. Peter got a vision in Acts 10 which showed that Israel had been set aside. They were no longer God’s special people because the vision showed the law of clean and unclean animals was set aside (Acts 10:9-16; Lev 20:24-26).
  • After the stoning of Stephen, God was in the process of setting the Jews aside. He did not complete that process until the end of Acts. Three times during Acts Paul told the Jews that he was turning from them and going to the Gentiles.
  • One could say that God set Israel aside as a nation at the stoning of Stephen & Paul's ministry to Jews was to individuals only, even tho he regularly began his work in a city by preaching in the local synagogue. Even so, is their being set aside as a people really the same as declaring that they were no longer God's special people? What about Romans, chapters 9 thru 11?
  • Thank you for your considering these question.
  • Yours in Christ,
  • John E. Loe
• Answer: (click here to see the answer)
  1. Dear John,
  2. In regards to your first statement, quote:
  3. “After the stoning of Stephen, God was in the process of setting the Jews aside. He did not complete that process until the end of Acts. Three times during Acts Paul told the Jews that he was turning from them and going to the Gentiles.”
  4. It is true that God through Paul was showing Israel something. But I do not believe He was showing Israel that “God was in the process of setting the Jews aside.” God set Israel aside in Acts 7 when Christ stood in judgment at the st