Question: Does God Elect or does man have Freewill in Salvation?

Posted on May 8, 2013 by shepherdbryan

This is the first of several articles that will be included in the coming days. Be careful about presuming on the content before you listen to understand and dialogue with someone on this important doctrine.

Does God Elect or does man have Freewill in Salvation?

The question of Election versus Freewill has stirred up theological thinking for hundreds of years. It’s not been totally settled, but many people have come with more clear answers than others. Does God elect people separate and apart from the free will of man? Or, does the free will of man determine his destiny for eternity? The Bible seems to address both aspects.

This will be the first of several articles to address this important question. There is so much Scripture on the topic that it will not be addressed in a few short articles. The purpose of this is to answer the question posed to me and to provide discussion points, so that we might arrive at a clearer understanding of God’s plan without causing division, schism, or even separation. Jesus said oneness was a major purpose for His people in His prayer to the Father (John 17:20-23). My intention is to preserve peace and rightly divide Scripture by renewing truth in the mind.

Scripture indicates God sovereignly makes choices apart from man. For example,

¹³ As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”

¹⁴ 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 compassion¹.”

¹⁶ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

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 earth¹.”

¹⁸Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. (Rom. 9:13-18)

Is this black and white clear? Remember this is only one text, which must be harmonized with 66 books of the Bible. One text cannot be taken out of context, or it becomes a pretext.

On the other hand, Scripture indicates that man has freewill. For example,

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh. 24:15)

If man didn’t have a choice, why would Joshua tell them to choose? Additionally, John wrote,

“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. (John 3:16)

If man didn’t have a part in salvation, then why does it say, “that whoever believes”? Both God’s sovereignty and man’s freewill are indicated in Scripture, so how do we harmonize this to prevent any contradictions or pretexts in Scripture?

This is best understood by the word “antinomy.” The word literally means “against the law” or the mutual incompatibility, real or apparent, of two laws. The concept of antinomy holds that two subjects are both true, yet they contradict each other. For example, the Trinity is an antinomy in that God is one and God is three. On the one extreme, God is one, which is modalism and states that God appears as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. On the other extreme, God is three and the extreme holds to three gods or tritheism. If you go too far on either truth, you enter heresy. The same is true with sovereignty and free will. Both are true and you end in heresy if you camp on one or the other. Accept the antinomy by faith and you will be much closer to the truth.

Does God elect? Yes. Does man have freewill? Yes. Did God elect before the creation of the human race? Yes. Does man have to choose at the point of salvation to trust in Jesus Christ as Savior? Yes.

Those who hold to extremes counter the other side’s argument. For example, those who camp on the sovereignty of God often say God regenerates man and then gives man faith to believe. God does not give faith to those who do not believe. Scripture does say, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy…” (Rom. 9:15). Those who hold to the free will of man extreme often say that God knew who would believe and thus elected them.

The key is to accept by faith that both are true and seek to understand Scripture so that no contradiction exists. There can be no contradiction in Scripture, because it is inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16) and the Holy Spirit carried along the writers of Scripture (2 Pet. 1:21), so that it is true (John 17:17).

I will include a few more articles on the subject in the following days to stir up your thinking and to grasp the awesome infinity of God’s wisdom.

Question: What is the Role of Women in Church?

Posted on May 4, 2013 by shepherdbryan

What is the Role of Women in Church?

The role of women has characteristically been a question since the Garden of Eden. When the woman, later named Eve, took the leadership role, while Adam stood by, a problem developed. It’s not that women are not good leaders. They are incredible and often better leaders than many men. However, the question is “What is the role of women?” And especially, “What is the role of women in the church?”

This question is like many questions; the question can only be answered if you start with the right source or view. For example, “Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?” Or, “What music should be used to worship God?” Or even, “Is it right for women to work outside the home?” If you begin with man’s view, you’ll develop one kind of answer. If you begin with God’s view, you may get another answer.

The question must be answered from Scripture. There is no question that men and women are equal in essence. Paul wrote, “…there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28) They are one in that they are equal in essence before God. When Peter wrote how a husband is to live with his wife, he wrote, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Pet. 3:7) Peter did not say that women were weaker than men. He said that husbands are to live with their wives AS, or in a similar way, you would with a weaker vessel. In other words, give her honor and treat her with respect and love. Men and women are equal as people before God.

Yet, God gave them different roles. Men are assigned specific leadership responsibilities. For example, men are addressed as responsible for child training, “Fathers do not provoke your children to anger…” (Eph. 6:4). But that doesn’t mean women won’t raise children as Timothy’s mother and grandmother raised him (2 Tim. 1:5). Women may do the bulk of child training, especially if the father travels for work or puts in exceptionally long hours. Yet, God holds fathers responsible.

Another example is that men are addressed as those who might aspire to the position of overseer, which is the functional responsibility in the church of an elder or pastor. Paul writes, “If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” (1 Tim. 3:1) The position of pastor is not open to women. Paul makes that clear in 1 Timothy 2:12, where Paul says, “And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.” (1 Tim. 2:12) The original Greek “to teach” and “to have authority” are grammatically both present infinitives, which means the woman is not to be in the position of regularly teaching men or maintaining authority over men. If the verbs were aorist infinitives, it would mean they could not ever teach men or have any authority over men. As Paul states it, women could teach men as an expert over a particular subject matter or report back as a missionary to a church, or serve as a chairperson of a committee, of which she is an expert, but not on an on-going basis. This does not mean women cannot teach or exercise authority. Women are to teach younger women,

³ the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things–

⁴ that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

⁵ to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. (Titus 2:3-5)

Women also are excellent teachers of children. At Grace, women teach boys and girls through high school and then women beyond high school. Women will speak to mixed audiences on special occasions. Why are women restricted? God wrote that guideline. It is His model.

I do not need to evade that question by providing a simplistic answer, although because “God said it” should be enough. Paul wrote, “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” (1 Ti m.2:14) Can men be deceived? Of course, but God holds men responsible to give the answer and justification for what happens, not the woman. Will she have to give an account? Of course, she’ll have to give an account for herself (2 Cor. 5:10), not as the final authority for her marriage. Who does God hold responsible for divorce? The man! Malachi records, “Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.” (Mal. 2:14) Are wives responsible for their marriages? Of course (Eph. 5:33), but the onus is on the man!

An additional example is that men are tasked by God to fight and protect women and children. God always numbered the number of male warriors in Israel, not women. Women were not called to fight. Can they fight? Like cats and dogs. But that is not their role. Men are to lay down their life for women, even as Jesus laid down his life for the Church. God told Moses,

² “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male individually,

³ “from twenty years old and above– all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.” (Num. 1:2-3)

Note two things. First, Moses was to number the males, not the females. Secondly, they were numbered and expected to be able to go to war. Those males who were not, were not numbered. Men are responsible for the role of protection, not women. Are women to protect? Of course, but it is not their responsibility.

There are additional examples. For example, God chose men as the writers of Scripture. All of the priests in the Old Testament were men. Women were not allowed to serve. This doesn’t diminish the role of women any more than Jesus’ role of going to the cross diminishes who He is in the Trinity.

So what is the role of men and women? John Piper and Wayne Grudem edited an historical volume entitled, “Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism.”¹ They give the following definitions for biblical manhood and womanhood. For manhood they wrote,

At the heart of mature masculinity is a sense of benevolent responsibility to lead, provide for and protect women in ways appropriate to a man’s differing relationships. (p. 35)

For womanhood, they wrote,

At the heart of mature femininity is a freeing disposition to affirm, receive and nurture strength and leadership from worthy men in ways appropriate to a woman’s differing relationships. (p. 36)

In this excellent 566 page tome, they, word-by-word, explain these definitions and relate the roles of men and women in the home and church. This is the best volume on the market that examines the roles of men and women, including their roles in the church. I refer you to this excellent resource.

This begs the question, “Why did God make distinctions between the roles of men and women?” Did God decide to put women under the thumb of men to make women miserable? Does God not like women as much as men? Nothing could be further from the Truth! God is a God of order (1 Cor. 14:40). Everything has a purpose and ultimately that purpose is to glorify God. Consider the following thoughts.

First, the roles of men and women mirror the roles of the Trinity. Just as God the Son was submissive to the Father (John 5:19, 30), so the woman is submissive to the man (Eph. 5:22). The Son is not inferior to the Father (John 10:30), but they have different roles (Luke 22:42). The Son executes the Father’s plan in obedience to the Father’s will (Luke 2:49). The Son doesn’t look down on Himself and was obedient to the point of death (Phil. 2:8).

Secondly, the roles of men and women provide for structure and order. Paul commands wives to be submissive, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” (Eph. 5:22) The word for “submit” or “be subject” is a military term, which means “to serve under” or “under authority.” The Roman centurion understood this authority (Luke 7:8). The husband doesn’t become the big Kahuna, whereby he is free to do what he wants. That would be sin. The husband must die to himself, his own desires, so that he can lead his wife, in order to best serve the Lord as a couple (Eph. 5:25-26).

Thirdly, the roles of men and women provide the best environment for raising and discipling children to the next generation. Women are tremendous nurturers with children all through life, and often much better than fathers, while fathers are called on to exhort their children to godliness. Paul explains that differentiation,

⁷ But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

⁸ So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

⁹ For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

¹⁰ You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

¹¹ as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged¹every one of you, as a father does his own children, (1 Thes. 2:7-11)

Fourthly, the roles of men and women in the church are designed to hold men responsible to the original command in the Garden “to tend and keep” and be responsible for ensuring that the church will be kept on track. Can men lead the church off track? Of course he can and does! And he will be held responsible before God. Can women lead a church to godliness, truth and growth? Yes and there are many examples where they do. But just because they do or it is expedient, because some women are better capable to lead and communicate, that does not make it right. It is not any more right than numerous other roles in Scripture. For example, it was God’s choice for the Levites to serve in the tabernacle and temple, not another tribe (Ex. 38:21; Num. 1:50-53). It was God’s choice that elders were to devote themselves to prayer and teaching the word (Acts 6:4), instead of the administrative and serving roles of the deacons. It was God’s choice that Jesus die on the cross (Luke 22:42). It was God’s choice that we remain on earth and be witnesses (Acts 1:8). It is God’s choice that we suffer for doing good to exalt His name, because life is about Him, not us (1 Pet. 3:17). It is God’s choice.

Women should pursue raising up women to be godly. Paul explains what women ought to do,

³ the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things–

⁴ that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

⁵ to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” (Titus 2:3-5)

This is not being done today. There are many wonderful examples of women who are discipling other women. There are many wonderful examples of women who care deeply about the future generations of children. However, there are too many women who are more focused on temporal and mundane goals, rather than eternal goals.

Women are trying to catch up and surpass men in the unimportant roles of working in the world. There are few higher callings than to train young women to be godly, so that the Word of God not be blasphemed, as it is today. Additionally, women should be working with children to teach them holiness, respect and diligence to understand God’s will. What would happen if the godly women spent most of their time working with their own children and other children that are a part of their church family? There would be such blessing our current world has never seen! Instead they are pursuing their own careers. Where is their spiritual fruit of disciples?

Are women intelligent? Of course women are intelligent. They are often more intelligent than men. Are they good communicators? Women are often better than men. Are they better administrators and leaders? Many women are much better than some of the best of men. That isn’t the point. What is God’s view? What does God outline in His Word? What does God say is important? What will bring honor to God? Will a successful career honor God like raising up disciples? Will an ability to do whatever she wants or travel wherever she wants to go really honor God like raising up disciples? Will an ability to have her name on the wall among the men leaders honor God like raising up disciples? The worldly measures are so unimportant compared to raising disciples for Jesus Christ. As Jesus said, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

¹Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A Response to Evangelical Feminism, ed. John Piper and Wayne Grudem, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 1991.

Question: Do Extraterrestials Exist?

Posted on May 1, 2013 by shepherdbryan

Do Extraterrestrials Exist?

Good Morning America reported that 80 million Americans believe in extraterrestrials.¹ Stephen Bassett, who leads the Citizen Hearing Foundation, blames the “truth embargo” on the Cold War for why Congress hasn’t investigated the issue.² He reports that there are over 3,500 pilot sightings, but the pilots are not allowed to speak publicly by the Air Force. Apparently, there will be hearings at the National Press Club regarding government cover-ups at Roswell, New Mexico, which is the 1947 “UFO crash site.”

A June 2012 National Geographic survey shows that 36 percent of Americans believe aliens have visited Earth. And 80 percent believe the government is withholding evidence.³ Many question those who question the evidence. They claim that highly respected testimonials will be given by Apollo Astronaut Edgar Mitchell, former Canadian Minister of Defense Paul Hellver, USAF Captain Robert Salla (commander of Nuclear Missile Silo), and New York University, Rochester Professor Richard Dolan at the National Press Club. And what about Area 51 in Nevada? This is a secretive military installation just 100 miles from Las Vegas.

How do you make sense of all this unexplainable information and the alleged sightings? We either don’t trust our government or we have a great deal of trust or respect for alien stealth.

The Apostle Paul explained that these kinds of things would happen. He recorded it in Romans 1. He writes,

²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

²² Professing to be wise, they became fools,

²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man– and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

²⁴ Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

²⁷Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. (Rom. 1:20-27)

Note several things. First, God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen (all-power, infinite creativity, merciful love, justice, unchangeable, etc.) by mankind, so they should acknowledge God (Rom. 1:20). But, secondly, man did not glorify Him as God and was not thankful for all that God did and does to provide for salvation. So mankind became empty (futile) in his thoughts and his heart was darkened, so he could not understand the truth and would believe the lie (Rom. 1:21). Thirdly, mankind thinks he is so wise to determine the answers himself, rather than seeking truth from God, he becomes foolish (Rom. 1:22). Fourthly, mankind changes his focus from the infinite God to his own man-made focus, whether “four-footed” animals or extraterrestrials (Rom. 1:23). So, God gives mankind over to that way of thinking and it results in all sorts of immorality and distortions in thinking (Rom. 1:24). Man wants something other than the holiness of God, so God allows man to pursue what he wants in order to show that man will never be satisfied with anything, if it is something other than God Himself. Fifthly, mankind continues to buy into the world’s lies and focuses on the world around him rather than depend on God for all answers (Rom. 1:25). Sixthly, we see one of the results of mankind pursuing what is not natural because he is foolish, his heart is darkened, because he wants what he wants when he wants it (Rom. 1:26-27).

Friends, the extraterrestrials exist. And they are another life form. Additionally, they are not of an earthly form. They are part of the angelic realm called demons. Demons can manifest themselves in a variety of forms. Paul writes that we battle against these spiritual forces, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age¹, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12) They purpose to deceive people, as Paul writes, “…with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thes. 2:10) In other words, their purpose is to blind people to the Truth, so they will believe the lie, rather than the Truth and be saved from judgment to come.

Why are they becoming more prevalent today? It is more prevalent, because man is turning away from God in greater numbers. When people dabble in the occult, witchcraft, psychics and fascination with the bizarre, God allows greater manifestations to demonstrate if people are not dependent on Him, they will become captivated by “extraterrestrials.” It was after World War II, there was an attraction to eastern mysticism. Additionally, the ease of world travel has made it much more accessible for people to bring back to the United States an appeal for answers other than the Truth of God’s Word. Drug addiction has taken many people on trips far worse than world travel with resultant devastation in objective, divine thinking. Astrology and sexual immorality replace a love of Truth and our Divine Creator, which makes room for further darkness in thinking.

Extraterrestials exist, but they are of the spirit world, not this world. Search in the Scriptures and God will give you all the answers you need!

¹http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/06/28/most-americans-believe-government-keeps-ufo-secrets-survey-finds

²http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2013/04/29/former-members-of-congress-getting-20k-to-hear-evidence-of-extraterrestrial-cover-up

³http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/06/28/most-americans-believe-government-keeps-ufo-secrets-survey-finds

Question: If not me, who?

Posted on April 30, 2013 by shepherdbryan

If not me, who?

I remember some of the sermons growing up and one of the significant ones was from Isaiah 6. My pastor, Pastor Johnson, gave a message from Isaiah 6:1-8. It reads,

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

² Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

³ And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

⁴ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

⁵ So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.

⁷ And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”

⁸ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” (Is. 6:1-8)

It is interesting that only one attribute of God is ever mentioned three times in a row and that is God’s holiness. It is mentioned here in Isaiah 6:3 and also Revelation 4:8. God is holy! And therefore He is worthy for my response to please Him in any and every way. However, I didn’t learn that until only recently.

When I heard the sermon on this passage, maybe 42 years ago, it was the last verse that caught my attention and the Holy Spirit used that verse and message to persuade me commit my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I asked myself the question, “Would I be willing to say, ‘Here I am! Send me!’” to the Lord? I had no idea what that might mean, yet I knew I really had no choice. He is God.

Then I had to ask myself, “If not me, who?” Furthermore, I needed to ask the question, “At what point would I be willing to go?” Or, “If not now, when?”

What about you? Are you willing to say, “If not me, who?” and “If not now, when?” We Christians don’t mind connectingwith other people in a home group or church service. We don’t mind serving the Lord in a variety of ways. We don’t mind being equipped for service and helping out either at church or another Christian brother or sister in need. We don’t mind learning more Scripture or practical application in service. That is all relatively easy. Here is the real question, “Where is your fruit of multiplication?”

These three words compose the vision statement I developed for our church last year: Connect, Equip, Multiply:

Connecting together to worship God 1 Cor. 12:19-25
Equipping together in grace to be more like Christ Eph. 4:11-14
Multiplying together with the gospel to reach the world Matt 28:18-20

Here is the question you need to ask yourself, “Who is following you so that you are investing in them?” Your investment in them will multiply and influence future generations for the kingdom. What is your fruit? Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Is there multiplying fruit in your life? Jesus also said,

¹⁹ “Go therefore¹and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

²⁰ “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matt. 28:19-20)

Are you living a safe life of connecting and being equipped? I praise the Lord that you are connecting and being equipped! The real Christian life is in multiplying yourself! Multiplication is essential, so that many others will transition into future generations just like a maple tree sends out thousands of seeds to plant hundreds of trees. Seek to become equipped to disciple others to multiply your influence in the future generations.

Ask yourself, “If not me, who?” And “If not now, when?”

Question: What are baptismal practices of other faith groups?

Posted on April 26, 2013 by shepherdbryan

Question: What are baptismal practices of other faith groups?

There are two main baptismal practices in churches. There is infant baptism and believer’s baptism. Infant baptism is most often practiced by those in the Catholic Church and those who follow a Covenant Theology (although neither would agree on the other’s theology) and the parent makes the decision on behalf of the child. Believer’s baptism is taught by most other churches who teach that the person must make his own profession of faith and submersion into water is the normal mode.

Those who teach infant baptism draw upon several concepts for support. First, because circumcision was the sign of the Abraham Covenant and it identified the boy with the nation of Israel, infant baptism is said to be a continuation of identifying the infant with the family of God. Also, many use the proximity of circumcision and baptism in the Colossians 2:11-12 as being significant. James Buswell in his A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion states that infant baptism indicates membership in the covenant, not necessarily personal faith (2:262).

Secondly, an historical argument states that church fathers supported infant baptism which identifies the child with the church. However, some in the early church also taught baptismal regeneration (you must be baptized in order to be saved), which is error (heresy).

Thirdly, there are examples from Scripture where whole households were baptized (Acts 11:14; 16:15, 31; 18:8; 1 Cor. 1:16). It is argued that infants were included.

Yet there is another view against infant baptism. Scripture always follows an order of “believe and then be baptized” (Matt. 3:2-6; 28:19; Acts 2:37-38; 16:14-15, 34). Secondly, baptism is considered an initiation rite of joining the Christian believing community and therefore must be done only with believers. Thirdly, the passages that describe those who were baptized in the households, had believed. This would exclude infants. Fourthly, if the infant were baptized, in the case of one believing parent and one unbelieving parent, then that unbelieving parent would be baptized and that seems to contradict Scriptural intent.

Within the spectrum of those who follow believer’s baptism, there is a divergence of the mode, but most accept immersion into water. The divergence of the mode consists of whether the baptism should be in a baptistery, lake, or running stream or river. Some prefer a stream or river, because the water is considered living.

Immersion is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Immersion into the water is identification with the death and burial of Jesus. It recognizes a death to the old way of living as an unbeliever. Coming out of the water is identification with the resurrection of Jesus to a new resurrection life. It is recognition and proclamation of walking in newness of life in the power of the Holy Spirit.

There are some denominations and religions who teach that baptism is necessary for salvation. This is called baptismal regeneration. Grace sees that baptism is an ordinance and as a public proclamation of faith, but not a requirement for salvation.

Regarding the view of other religious beliefs on baptism, please note the table below.

Baptisms of Other Religions
Adventist	It expresses a person’s personal faith in Christ, who died for our sins. By immersion only. Baptisms by other churches are accepted on conditions.
Baptist	It is not necessary for salvation. By immersion only. Baptisms of other churches accepted if done by immersion. Infants are not baptized. Candidates must first believe.
Catholic	By pouring, sprinkling or immersion. Baptisms of other churches accepted when performed as Catholic Church prescribes. Necessary for salvation. Infants are baptized.
Christian Scientist	Baptism is not a physically manifested rite or ritual. Do not immerse, sprinkle or do any outward ordinance. Baptism is the spiritual purification of daily life.
Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints	Through the Atonement, Christ the Redeemer and Savior assured redemption, or resurrection, for all. Provides for salvation and exaltation according to our personal worthiness. The baptismal covenant is the first covenant a person makes with God. Members are baptized at the age of 8, the age at which they begin to take accountability for their sins.
Disciples of Christ	Done by immersion, showing one’s obedience. Symbolic of death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Only those old enough to know what they are doing when they confess the name of Christ are baptized.
Eastern Orthodox	By immersion for the remission of sins and entrance into church. Essential to salvation must be performed by one holding proper priesthood authority. Required of all 8 years & older. Infants are not baptized.
Episcopalian	By immersion or pouring. In an emergency any Christian may baptize saying “in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost”. Necessary to salvation. Infants are baptized.
Jehovah’s Witness	By immersion, in lake or river, no fonts in Kingdom Hall. Symbolizes being dead to old way of life. Baptism does not cleanse from sin. Infants are not baptized.
Lutheran	By sprinkling, pouring or immersion. Baptisms performed by other churches accepted when all Bible conditions are met. Necessary to salvation except in rare instances. Infants are baptized.
Methodist	By sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. Is only an outward sign of one’s entrance into the church. Baptisms of other churches accepted. Not necessary to salvation. Infants are baptized.
Presbyterian	By sprinkling, pouring, or immersion which ever method is preferred by the applicant. Baptisms of other churches accepted. Not necessary for salvation. Infants are baptized.
Quaker	Do not believe in outward ritual of baptism. The ongoing spiritual process should not be treated as an event. Inward baptism and communion are most important to spiritual life.
Unitarian	Do not baptize. Members are admitted by the following covenant “In the love of truth and spirit of Jesus we unite for the worship of God and the service of man,” or by signing statement of ethical purpose.
United Church of Christ	Done at time of confirmation and reception into church. Infants presented by parents or sponsor. Usually performed by sprinkling.

The above chart was obtained from: http://www.religionresourcesonline.org/different-types-of-religion/compare/baptism.php

Question: Did the ancient people know what a half-hour was?

Posted on April 14, 2013 by shepherdbryan

Question: Did the ancient people know what a half-hour was?

A question came from a reference in Revelation 8:1. It is the transition from the seal to the trumpet judgments. The seventh seal is the initiation for the seven trumpet judgments. Revelation 8:1 states, “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (Rev. 8:1) Did the ancient people really know what a half hour was? That does seem to be a small length of time, considering they didn’t have quartz or digital watches!

The Greek word for half hour is ἡμιώριον(haymiorion) (Rev 8:1). It means literally, “half hour” according to a Scripture dictionary. It comes from two words “haymi,” which means “half” and “horion,” which is a dimunitive form “hora,” or “hour” So it is half an hour to the lines on a sun dial. It’s only used in this one location in Scripture.

A couple references in Isaiah 38:8; and 2 Kings 20:9 reference telling time by a sort of sun dial. Half the distance between lines would be the half hour. Sun dials were well known in ancient times. They were common in B.C. 1500 and some say the obelisks were used to tell time back to B.C. 3500.

Always ask the questions; always trust the Scriptures.

Question: Is believing in what Jesus did for us enough for salvation?

Posted on April 9, 2013 by shepherdbryan

Question: Is believing in what Jesus did for us enough for salvation?

This is really a two part question: 1) Is believing in what Jesus did for us and who He is enough for salvation? And 2) What does true conversion look like?

Salvation is the most basic question and statement of belief for the Christian. It is essential to clarify and understand what is true regarding salvation. If your understanding of salvation is wrong, then nothing else matters. If you believe, for example, that you must know that Jesus was the Son of God and keep certain rules, then you miss the essential truth for salvation. Let’s begin by noting three things: 1) the bottom line for salvation; 2) the gift of salvation; and 3) how the gift must be received.

First, Paul explains the gospel in his first letter to the Corinthians. He writes,

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you
received and in which you stand,

² by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you– unless you
believed in vain.

³ for I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures,

⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:1-4)

Paul is declaring the gospel, which is knowing that Jesus Christ 1) died for your sins; 2) He was buried (that is He showed that the work was done); and 3) He rose again (His work was shown to us that it was accepted by the Father). That is the gospel, or good news that we must trust.

Secondly, salvation is a gift from God according to Paul, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…” (Eph. 2:8) The original language of Greek in this verse requires that the word “it” as in “it is the gift of God” must refer back to a neuter noun, because gift is neuter (like many languages, there is masculine, feminine and neuter nouns and pronouns). Some people have tried to say that the “it” refers to “faith” and therefore they say God gives a gift of faith. In order for it to refer to faith, there would have been a feminine relative pronoun included, but there is not. The gift cannot refer to “faith” according to the original language, no matter how someone might attempt to construe the rationale. The “it” can only refer to “salvation” as offered by God as a gift.

Thirdly, that gift must be received by faith. John writes, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12) The person must “receive” Jesus, that is, what He did on the cross. By receiving Jesus as your Savior, you are “believing” in His name. John is using two expressions that imply the same thing.

Let’s expand this definition of faith. First, it is not enough to know that Jesus is the Son of God and died on the cross for salvation. Knowledge alone is not sufficient for salvation. Knowledge is awareness. Knowledge is a cognitive fact. Those who do not welcome the truth may know it, but not trust in it (2 Thes. 2:10). Secondly, it’s not enough to mentally agree with the facts. The demons believe that God is one, that is, has one plan and has one provision, but they shudder (Jam. 2:19). They “shudder,” literally “frizzle,” because they are fearful of their eternal destiny. Thirdly, you must accept the gift of salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ. Trust is dependence upon the object. It is accepting the gift or relying upon the gift. It is more than cognitive awareness. It is proving a chair will hold you up by actually sitting on the chair. It is actually getting on the plane and buckling up, rather than just hoping from a distance that a plane might take you on a trip.

Now the question, “What does true conversion look like?” When someone is converted, he is a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). He becomes a branch that must abide in the vine in order to bear fruit (John 15:5). He must long for the milk of the word (2 Pet. 2:1-2) and eventually desire to grow in order to feed himself (Heb. 5:12-14), so that he can discern truth and error. A truly converted one will pursue knowing Jesus (Phil. 3:9-14). He will bear the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), because he will confess his sins to God (1 John 1:9), and because he desires to walk in fellowship with God and others (1 John 1:6-7).

However, a believer can act like an unbeliever. Paul writes, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the¹Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, (Eph. 4:17) If they didn’t have to be concerned about walking like Gentiles (unbelievers), Paul would not have warned them. Paul also writes, “…be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18) If believers were filled with the Spirit all the time, Paul would not have to command that to happen. Furthermore, Paul writes in 1 Cor. 3:1-3,

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in
Christ.

² I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it,
and even now you are still not able;

³ for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (1 Cor. 3:1-3)

First, Paul clearly is writing to “believers” (saints in 1 Cor. 1:2) and he calls them brethrenin the above passage. Secondly, Paul says they are “carnal,” that is, they are living according to the flesh, rather than the Spirit. The rest of the book of Corinthians reveals just how fleshly they are living. Thirdly, he reveals their carnal status by identifying the sins they are committing, “envy, strife, and divisions.” And fourthly, he states they are behaving like mere men, instead of spiritual, godly men.

When a Christian acts in a carnal way, watch out! Paul admonishes the Galatians believers to not think they can become sanctified by the flesh (Gal. 3:3). When a Christian continues in sin, he will be disciplined by the Lord (Heb. 12:5-6). He will lose out on intended blessings and rewards (Col. 2:18; 3:24, 26; 2 John 8; Heb. 6:12; 10:35).

Question: Do we see Jesus when we die or at the Rapture?

Posted on April 7, 2013 by shepherdbryan

Question: Do we see Jesus when we die or at the Rapture?

This is a great question and the study of last things is always fascinating. The answer to the above question is yes. Yes, we will see Jesus at death and yes we will see Jesus at the Rapture. We should consider 1) the death of the believer; 2) the order of ascension; and 3) additional passages. Let’s first look at the death of the believer.

At the death of the believer, the saint will be ushered into the presence of the Lord. Paul writes, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:8) The context of 2 Corinthians 5 is regarding death and the tearing down of our outward body and receiving a new resurrection body from the Lord. The above passage states that we can have confidence that when we are absent from the present body, we will be “present” with the Lord. The word “present” comes from a prepositional phrase that means “face to face” with the Lord.

Secondly, let’s note the order of ascension. At the Rapture, there seems to be a confusing statement that causes some to think that those who die before the Rapture won’t see Jesus until the Rapture. Paul writes,

¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus¹.

¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thes. 4:14-17)

The first aspect is the order ascension. The phrase “sleep in Jesus” is a reference to those believers who have died (1 Thes. 4:14). Paul adds, “We who are alive and remain until the Lord’s coming (Rapture), will by no means precede those who are asleep.” (1 Thes. 4:15) If those who are dead go first, have they really seen Jesus at death? The answer is yes, because in order to harmonize 2 Corinthians 5:8, they have in spirit, but they may not have received their resurrection body until the Rapture. The second aspect is that once we die, there is no time. In time beyond, everything happens (no time given). The third aspect is that those who are alive will be together with those who died “to meet the Lord in the air.” The fourth aspect is that “we shall always be with the Lord,” so that the time element will seem instantaneous and we enter right into the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9).

Thirdly, let’s note several additional passages. David writes, “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” (Ps. 17:15) David spoke of seeing Christ when he was walking in righteousness, but we should consider that in our perfect righteous state, we will see Jesus. Jesus said that He would leave to prepare a place for His followers, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3) Jesus desires that we behold His glory, which will be completely fulfilled at death, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)

The application is that we want to please Him now! In the verse immediately following the first verse above, Paul writes, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (2 Cor. 5:9)

Question: Are Sign Gifts operational today?

Posted on April 3, 2013 by shepherdbryan

Question: Are Sign Gifts operational today?

Many good students of Scripture will rest on 1 Cor. 13:10, when it comes to answering the question whether the sign gifts are available today or not. Basically, the perfect [the Bible] has been completed, so the partial [sign gifts] are removed. It is a valid thought process, but likely not the best supported interpretation of that passage. There are many well-thought-out reasons why this simplistic approach is not a correct interpretation. There are much better reasons taking into consider the context of 1 Corinthians 12-14, within which 1 Corinthians 13:10 is found and other explanation.

For example, in the context of Ephesians 2:20, the gifts of apostle and prophets were the foundation for the building structure of the church. Those gifts ceased during that first century foundational era with the completion of the canon of Scripture. However, you cannot argue the sign gifts have ceased because of that passage.

There are other passages like Philippians 2:26-27 and 2 Timothy 4:20, in which Paul was present with very sick co-laborers in the gospel. Paul, who had healed others, gave no indication that he was able to heal again as he did in Malta (Acts 28: 8,9). Is it possible that God took away the gift of healing from Paul? If so, why? Was the purpose for which Paul had the gift of healing now completed?

Much of church history shows a vacuum of sign gifts until the beginning of the 1900s. It was in the modern Charismatic movement in Los Angeles, California, in 1904, when the power seemed to be restored. Yet with all the writing, there have been objective investigations to verify the veracity of “the miracles.” The dead were not raised, the lame were not healed. The blind did not receive sight. The modern tongues movements seemed to be questioned because modern tongues are a repetition of a small number of phrases, in contrast to the biblical examples of Acts 2 and 10. The miraculous do not match the miracles presented in the New Testament.

I’m very open to the presence of sign gifts, but I see that with the provision of greater amounts of the canon or “measurement” of Scripture, sign gifts were not recorded as in the initial apostolic days of beginning the church. The reason may be because of the purpose of sign gifts. The reason is the same reason as any of the miracles in Scripture.

God allowed miracles in order to draw attention to the truth. Moses was one who worked many miracles (Ex. 4:1-5)

Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say,`The LORD has not appeared to you.'”

² So the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”

³ And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

⁴ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail ” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand),

⁵“that they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” (Ex. 4:1-5)

God gave Moses miraculous powers, so “that they may believe that the Lord God…has appeared to you.” (Ex. 4:5). God also worked the plagues and other miracles to give the entire nation of Israel reason to trust God was speaking through Moses. God gave Elijah miraculous powers, so Israel would believe God appeared to Elijah and was speaking through Him.

God also worked miracles through Jesus, so the people would be attracted to Him and believe His words. After Jesus fed 5000, people came back for more. Sometimes when you give people what they want, they only want what they want rather than the truth, so Jesus didn’t give them more food.

During one of the Passovers, Jesus had 5000 men and their families, who needed to eat. Jesus directed the disciples to feed them (John 6: 4-10). They recognized they could make the provision, so God used the opportunity to reveal His ability to provide through Jesus and they should listen to Jesus. Jesus fed the people and an abundance was recovered (John 6: 11-13). Those who saw the “sign” recognized Jesus as “the Prophet who is to come into the world.” But when Jesus perceived the people were going to “take Him by force to make Him king, He departed…”(John 6: 15) Jesus knew they only wanted Him to be a Bread King, not a Suffering Messiah Savior, so He withdrew from letting the “sign gift” or “miracle” from being a distraction. The importance was the message, not the sign. The sign was to lead to the message – Jesus Christ, sent from God for the world.

If the message is clearly communicated in Scripture, are sign gifts needed today? Jesus told the account of the rich man and Lazarus and how the rich man wanted Lazarus to go back to the world to tell the rich man’s brothers that they must repent. The rich man was counting on the miracle of someone coming back from the dead waking his brothers up from their complacency,

²⁷ “Then he said, `I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,

²⁸ `for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’

²⁹“Abraham said to him, `They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’

³⁰“And he said, `No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’

³¹“But he said to him, `If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'” (Luke 16:27-31)

Abraham was very clear, [“If they don’t believe what was written, they will not believe.”] The issue of the sign gifts is not having a great miracle. The issue of the sign gifts is to draw attention to the truth of the Word. If the Word is completed today, then is there a need for sign gifts? I’m open to explanations, but I’ve found explanations for present activity wanting for substance.

Maybe you have some Scriptural support that God is using sign gifts today. I know they will begin again during the Tribulation and the Millennium, but I’m not seeing the need today. Could God use sign gifts in primitive places? I’ve heard some experiences that seem plausible. I know God can do what He wants to do. If He puts Himself in a box during this dispensation and restricts them because of the completed canon, I cannot change that. Let us dialogue for unity and peace. Let us also ensure we rely on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to live godly lives in the discussion process. We want to follow the excellent words:

In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity. We should strive for unity in the sphere of love as we pursue the truth.

Question: Can a believer lose his salvation per Rev. 3:5?

Posted on March 24, 2013 by shepherdbryan

What is the “Book of Life”?

Can a believer lose his salvation per Rev. 3:5?

The Book of Life contains all the names of everyone who is born. Only God could know all those names. In ancient cities, a register was kept with a list of living citizens. The names of the dead were erased. The Book of Life therefore, contains the names of all the living, the wicked as well as the righteous. David writes,

²⁸ Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. (Ps. 69:28)

We need to recognize that the names of the righteous are written in the Book from the foundation of the world according to Revelation 13 and 17,

⁸ All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev. 13:8) (my emphasis)

⁸ “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Rev. 17:8) (my emphasis)

Their names were written before they had done anything good or bad. They were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world,

⁴ …just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (Eph. 1:4)

Now when the disciples returned from a mission ministry, they were all excited about what they saw. Jesus exhorted them to not be excited about demons subject to them, but that their names were written in heaven.

²⁰ “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

The word for “written” is in the perfect tense, which means that it could be translated “written with the result that they cannot be not written,” that is, “the names cannot be removed.” If the names of believers are recorded in heaven, why would Jesus give any indication that the name could be removed? Only if the name was not a part of the living, that is, those who have trusted in God’s plan of salvation found in Jesus Christ.

As unbelievers die, their names are removed from the book, just as the names were removed from the registry of the ancient city. So that at the Great White Throne, only the names of believers remain in the book and it becomes known as the Lamb’s book of life,

¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

¹³ The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

¹⁵ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:12-15) (my emphasis)

Those who never trusted Christ were removed from the book and they are cast in the Lake of Fire. That book becomes known as the Lamb’s Book of life,

²⁷ But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Rev. 21:27)

These are the true believers for eternity. They are the elect. It doesn’t matter if the name was included in a local church on planet earth. It only matters if the name is in the Book of Life for eternity.

Some people struggle with the passage in Revelation 3:5, which says, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (my emphasis) If someone is genuinely born again, he remains regenerate and written in the book (John 5:24; 6:35-37, 39; 10:28-29).

However the seed thought of removal was begun by Moses during the formation of the great nation of Israel. Moses and the Lord dialogued,

³¹ Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! ³² “Yet now, if You will forgive their sin– but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” ³³ And the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. (Ex. 32:31-33) (my emphasis)

Overcoming is a concept John addresses in 1 John 5:4, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith.”The one who overcomes the world is the one who trusts in Jesus Christ and is no longer blinded by the god of this world (1 Cor. 4:4). Revelation 3:5 does not state that a name will be removed, but that those who are believers absolutely will not be erased (cf. Walvoord, Bible Knowledge Commentary, pp. 82, 338). God would never blot out the name of a true child of God.

Shepherding Truth

Renewing Truth, Rightly Divided

Category Archives: FAQ