6/30/21

Telling People What to Think by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=941

Telling People What to Think

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Dan Barker, the ex-preacher who deconverted to atheism, is most famous for his book Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist. In this treatise against God and religion, Barker discussed a book that he wrote for children that contained these words: “No one can tell you what to think. Not your teachers. Not your parents. Not your minister, priest, or rabbi. Not your friends or relatives. Not this book. You are the boss of your own mind. If you have used your own mind to find out what is true, then you should be proud! Your thoughts are free!” (1992, p. 47). Noble sentiments indeed!

But, as one digs deeper into Barker’s book, it quickly becomes clear that those sentiments do not find a willing practitioner in the person of Dan Barker. In his chapter on prayer, Barker wrote:

Don’t ask Christians if they think prayer is effective. They will think up some kind of answer that makes sense to them only. Don’t ask them, tell them: “You know that prayer doesn’t work. You know you are fooling yourself with magical conceit.” No matter how they reply, they will know in their heart of hearts that you are right (1992, p. 109, emp. in orig.).

From Barker’s statement about what should be “told” to those who believe in prayer, it is easy to see that he does not necessarily believe his previous statement that “no one can tell you what to think,” or that a person should use his own mind “to find out what is true.” In fact, what Barker is really trying to say is that a person should only think for himself if such thinking will lead him to believe that there is no God, or that prayer does not work, or that all religion is nonsense. If thinking for himself leads a person to believe in the efficacy of prayer or the existence of God, then that person should be “told” what to believe.

In truth, the Bible demands that each person weigh the evidence for himself or herself. First Thessalonians 5:21 states: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” Among those things that should be tested are the writings of skeptics like Barker. When blatant inconsistencies pepper their pages like so many spots on a Dalmatian, then those writings should not be “held fast.”

REFERENCE

Barker, Dan (1992), Losing Faith In Faith—From Preacher to Atheist (Madison, WI: Freedom from Religion Foundation).

Tampering with the Chief Engineer's Design by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3725

Tampering with the Chief Engineer's Design

by	Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

The Great Designer designed designers. An exploding mass cannot design anything, much less design a designer. Genesis 1:28 confirms concerning mankind: “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the Earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the Earth.’” Thus began the field of engineering. Using our ingenuity, humans have since engineered many ways to fulfill the commands to “subdue” and have “dominion over” the Earth, from harnesses for oxen to automobiles to space shuttles and beyond. God created the Universe with potential for infinite growth in human knowledge that can lead to many improvements in living conditions when we learn to harness and utilize the phenomena God designed and implemented on Earth for us to discover. Consider the effect that harnessing the power of electricity, magnetic fields, nuclear reactions, and chemical reactions has had on life as we know it. Unfortunately, as the poison of atheism becomes more prevalent in society, encroaching into the field of engineering, we can be guaranteed that progress will be slowed, and eventually, stopped or even reversed.

An image of an artificial heart exhibited at the London science museum.

A few years ago, I attended a Bio-engineering seminar concerning design improvements on artificial hearts for use in transplants. After the presentation, during the question and answer period, a professor stood up and asked the presenter a question that went something like this: “Has nature optimized the heart yet after all of these millions of years of its evolution, or is it still necessary for us to help it along with our designs?” At that moment, it struck me how dangerous the Theory of Evolution can be if allowed to run rampant in the field of engineering. Those who follow out the implications of the Theory of Evolution could cause not only a hindrance to scientific and technological progress, but could actually place us in mortal danger. How so?

If engineering design is approached from an evolutionary perspective, the above question is appropriate. Has nature optimized the ______, or do we need to fix it? If the Theory of Evolution is true, there should be a multitude of examples in the physical world of creatures and plants, and the components that comprise them, that are sub-optimal—since they are all in the process of evolving to better states. [NOTE: Such is not the case, which is further proof that the Theory of Evolution cannot effectively account for the state of the world.] After all, an explosion, plus a series of random accidents, no matter how many, do not produce optimized systems. Vast improvements would be necessary. Thus, the intelligence, experience, and wisdom of mankind could improve the condition of the system that “Mother Nature” dealt us. [Also note: the fact that we have the ability even to consider improving nature, implies that we as humans are too advanced to be the result of a series of random accidents. Nature could not create and then improve us to the point that we can take over and improve it. Mother Nature could not produce an entity greater than herself. The effect cannot be greater than the cause.]

However, if the Theory of Evolution is false, and the God of the Bible is the Chief Engineer of the Universe, an evolutionary approach could be very dangerous. To tamper with the design of the Almighty Engineer of the Universe would be tantamount to placing oneself above Him in knowledge and declaring oneself to be omniscient. Consider also that science is constantly evolving as research is conducted. Views once held as fact have been radically revised or even abandoned. Though some people for centuries held that the Earth was flat, modern science has proven that the Earth is spherical. The medical practice of “bleeding” a sick patient to eliminate ailments in the blood was common only 200 years ago. However, through further research and scientific investigation, and following many deaths, such a practice now seems barbaric.

Now consider an example that could be directly relevant today. If humans become arrogant enough to think that we have the knowledge necessary to improve the design of the heart, act on those feelings, and then find out through further research that the design of the heart was actually already optimal, what damage could have been done in the process? Those whose hearts had been “improved” by the wisdom of mankind, could have shorter life spans or suffer major physical complications due to the arrogance of atheistic engineers. Thus, humans could potentially be harmed due to atheist engineers making design decisions without adequate understanding of the intricacies of God’s design! No wonder Almighty God, by the hand of Paul, warned: “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile’” (1 Corinthians 3:18-21).

Many other examples illustrate the dangers of atheistic engineering. Since sin entered the world in Genesis three and mankind was evicted from the Garden of Eden, the pristine conditions of life on Earth have severely deteriorated. The Earth, as well as the general condition of the human body, is running down as the Second Law of Thermodynamics implies. Disease and genetic mutation, for example, attest to this. Isaiah declared: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the Earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke. The Earth will grow old like a garment, and those who dwell in it will die in like manner....” (51:6). We have used God-given engineering abilities to combat some of this decline through designs of our own, including, for example, medicine to combat disease, and sophisticated structures to withstand the forces of natural calamity. However, with a warped perspective about Who the Author and Designer of the Universe is, mankind could attempt to fix things that do not need fixing, and thereby bring calamity, suffering, and unhappiness.

Now consider: If engineers would respect the Chief Engineer Who has surrounded us with amazing prototypes—an engineering school into which we have all been admitted—they could make quicker and better advancements in technology. Engineers of the past understood this. The Wright brothers, for example, analyzed birds to determine how to get an airplane to stay in the air (Fausz, 2008; Root, 1905), thereby achieving their objective. However, evolutionists will tend not to use God’s optimized designs since, to them, there is no ultimate Engineer to mimic. Rather, they are the results of a multitude of random accidents. Evolutionists would, therefore, have to recognize that optimized designs could not possibly come from an explosion. [NOTE: Ironically, many evolutionists openly gape at the amazing complexity and seeming design of the world, and yet fail to recognize the implications of their awe (Block, 1980, p. 52; Jastrow, 1981, pp. 96-97; Lipson, 1980, 31:138; Wylie, 1962, p. 25).] Thus, technological advancement is slowed and designs often will fail to reach their potential.

If scientists fail to ask the right question, we will begin to see notable deleterious effects in the field of engineering. If engineers ask the right question, they, and indirectly we, will continue to have major advancements in technology as blessings from the Chief Engineer. What is the right question? The correct question to ask is, “Why did the Chief Engineer do it that way?” Studying that question will help us to have better “dominion” over the Earth. He designed the Earth, and we can be assured that His design, and the rationale behind His design, will be very useful. After all, who could possibly out-design the Chief Engineer of the Universe?

REFERENCES

Block, Irvin (1980), “The Worlds Within You,” Science Digest, special edition:49-53,118, September/October.

Fausz, Jerry (2008), “Designed to Fly,” Reason & Revelation, 28[2]:9-15, February, [On-line], URL: http://apologeticspress.org/articles/3599.

Jastrow, Robert (1981), The Enchanted Loom: Mind in the Universe (New York: Simon and Schuster).

Lipson, H. S. (1980), “A Physicist Looks at Evolution,” Physics Bulletin, 31:138, May.

Root, Amos Ives (1905), “First Published Account of the Wright Brothers Flight,” Gleanings in Bee Culture (Medina, OH: A.I. Root Company), [On-line], URL: http://www.rootcandles.com/about/wrightbrothers.cfm.

Wylie, Evan M. (1962), Today’s Health, July.

Taking Cues from Nature’s Designer by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1878

Taking Cues from Nature’s Designer

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

The field of biomimicry (copying biological systems) is beginning to see an influx in funds and research as scientists across the globe recognize its potential. In a recent article titled “Scientists Taking Cues From Nature,” Associated Press writer, Greg Bluestein, noted that many scientists are beginning to look to biomimicry to help them solve perplexing technological problems, such as helping bipedal robots to walk more fluidly and less robotically.

In the course of the article, Bluestein interviewed Marc Weissburg, the co-director of the new Georgia Tech’s Center for Biologically Inspired Design. In his comments, Weissburg suggested that evolution is responsible for the amazing abilities we find in the natural world. He stated: “If you think of organisms as products, all the bad ones have been recalled. Those that have survived evolved over millions of years” (Bluestein, 2006).

Weissburg also commented on the superior abilities that biological systems maintain compared to many of the ones humans have made. He said: “It really captures the imagination to show how much better organisms are at doing things. The natural world doesn’t waste energy, accumulate a large amount of toxins or produce more materials than it uses” (Bluestein, 2006).

But is seems that Weissburg, like many of his evolutionary colleagues, has missed the implication that follows from his line of work. If brilliant scientists spend decades of their lives attempting to identify and mimic superior design found in the natural world, then a conscious intellect—the Designer of nature—must maintain a superior intellect than the scientists who are attempting to mimic His systems.

Ironically, the very last sentence of Bluestein’s article is a quote from Weissburg saying: “Every organism is designed to solve a problem.” How can a person make such a statement and miss the fact that if every organism is “designed,” then that design demands a Designer? Weissburg is exactly right, every organism was designed to solve a problem. One of the main purposes for the intricate, complex organisms Weissburg and his fellow scientists are studying is to prove to such men that a superior Intellect does exist. All those who fail to make the proper connection between the magnificent world of nature and the Designer’s hand in the process will ultimately be “without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

REFERENCE

Bluestein, Greg (2006), “Scientists Taking Cues From Nature,” [On-line], URL: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060619/ap_on_hi_te/nurturing_nature;_ylt= AtCpSxfCdFaFLwCMytY1XoGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3cjE0b2MwBHNlYwM3Mzg-.

"THE GOSPEL OF JOHN" The New Birth (3:1-21) by Mark Copeland

"THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"


The New Birth (3:1-21)

 

INTRODUCTION

1. A commonly used phrase is "born again Christian"...
   a. Often in the context of distinguishing between Christians who are
      "born again" and those not
   b. Which is a really an incorrect distinction, for all true
      Christians have been "born again"
   -- But what does it mean to be "born again"?

2. The Bible uses the expression "born again" only a few times...
   a. Jesus in His conversation with Nicodemus - Jn 3:3,5,7
   b. Peter in his first epistle - 1Pe 1:3,23
   -- Although the idea of being "born" of God is used many times 
      - e.g., Jn 1:13; 1Jn 5:1

[In His discussion with Nicodemus, Jesus reveals much about being "born
again."  With His comments as the basis of our study, let's examine what
the Bible reveals about "The New Birth".  After we are introduced to
Nicodemus (cf. also Jn 7:50; 19:39), we observe Jesus emphasizing...]

I. THE NECESSITY OF THE NEW BIRTH (1-3)

   A. NECESSARY TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD...
      1. Unless one is born again, he cannot see (enter) the kingdom - cf. Jn 3:3,5,7
      2. What is the kingdom of God?  In brief...
         a. The rule and reign of God in the person of Christ

            cf. Mt 28:18; Ac 2:36; Re 1:4
         b. A spiritual kingdom not of this world - cf. Jn 18:36; Lk 17:20-21
         c. A kingdom made up of faithful subjects (i.e., the church) 
            - cf. Col 1:13; Re 1:6,9
         d. A kingdom both present and future - cf. Mt 13:41-43; 1Co 15:24-26
      -- Do you wish to be in the kingdom now and hereafter?  You must
         be born again!

   B. NECESSARY TO BE SAVED...
      1. To be in the kingdom is to be saved from the powers of darkness cf. Col 1:13
      2. Salvation requires a rebirth, a regeneration - cf. Tit 3:5
      -- Do you wish to be saved from your sins?  You must be born again!

[Nicodemus is confused, assuming that Jesus has in mind a physical
birth.  So Jesus explains...]

II. THE NATURE OF THE NEW BIRTH (4-5)

   A. INVOLVES BOTH WATER AND THE SPIRIT...
      1. Note carefully:  one birth involving two elements - water and the Spirit
         a. Not two births (born of water and born of the Spirit)
         b. But one birth (born of water and the Spirit)
      2. Compare Paul's description - cf. Tit 3:5
         a. A washing of regeneration (water)
         b. And renewing of the Holy Spirit (Spirit)
      3. An obvious reference to baptism
         a. "There can be no doubt, on any honest interpretation of the
            words, that gennethenai ek hudatos (born of water) refers to
            the token or outward sign of baptism, gennethenai ek
            pneumatos (born of Spirit) to the thing signified, or inward
            grace of the Holy Spirit.  All attempts to get rid of these
            two plain facts have sprung from doctrinal prejudices, by
            which the views of expositors have been warped." - Alford(Greek Testament)
         b. "By water, here, is evidently signified baptism." - Albert Barnes
         c. "Baptism by water, into the Christian faith, was necessary
            to every Jew and Gentile that entered into the kingdom of
            the Messiah." - Adam Clarke
         d. "There is not any one Christian writer of any antiquity in
            any language but what understands it of baptism....I believe
            Calvin was the first that ever denied this place to mean
            baptism.  He gives it another interpretation, which he
            confesses to be new." - William Wall (History of Infant Baptism)
      -- The new birth occurs when one is baptized, for in that simple
         act of faith they are born not only of the water out of which
         they arise, but also born of the Spirit (regenerated) by the
         working of God at that moment - cf. Col 2:12-13
   
   B. INVOLVES THE WORD OF GOD...
      1. One is born again by the Word - 1Pe 1:23
         a. The incorruptible Word that is preached - cf. 1Pe 1:25
         b. The instrument through which the Spirit convicts the sinner
            - cf. Jn 16:7; Ep 6:17
         c. Which includes the command to be baptized - cf. Mk 16:16;

Ac 2:38; 22:16
2. Jesus sanctifies and cleanses His church by the washing of
water by the word - Ep 5:26
a. The "washing of water" is another allusion to baptism
- Jameison, Fausset, Brown
b. Yet baptism must be administered in conjunction with the
Word of God to be of benefit
-- The new birth involves several elements (water, Spirit, Word of
God), all coming together when one responds to the gospel in
baptism - e.g., Ac 2:37-39

[While there is evidence that one is born of water as they rise from the
watery grave of baptism, the evidence of their being born of the Spirit
comes later...]

III. THE EVIDENCE OF THE NEW BIRTH (6-8)

A. SEEN BY THE EFFECT OF THE SPIRIT...
1. We should expect that what the Spirit produces is spirit (i.e.,spiritual) - Jn 3:6
2. Like the wind (the same Greek word as Spirit), we do not see
the Spirit itself but the effect that it produces
-- Has one been truly born of the Spirit (i.e., born again)? With
time there should be clear evidence that a change has occurred- e.g., 1Jn 3:14

B. SEEN BY THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT...
1. Paul describes the fruit (evidence) of the Spirit - Ga 5:22-23
2. Which comes not only being born of the Spirit, but walking in the Spirit - Ga 5:16,25
-- Where the fruit does not appear, either there was never any
rebirth or one is walking after the flesh, not the Spirit! - cf. Ga 5:17

[As the discussion continues (Jn 3:9-13), it soon turns into a
discourse (Jn 3:14-21), the latter in which Jesus describes...]

IV. THE BASIS FOR THE NEW BIRTH (14-18)

A. THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST...
1. Jesus compares His eventual crucifixion to Moses' lifting up of
the serpent - Jn 3:14; Num 21:4-9
2. So people would be saved from perishing by believing in Jesus - Jn 3:15
-- Without redemption from sin, regeneration would be meaningless;
the new birth provides both! - cf. Ac 22:16; Tit 3:5

B. THE LOVE OF GOD...
1. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that
those who believe might have everlasting life (i.e., enter the
kingdom of God) - Jn 3:16
2. God does not want anyone to perish or be condemned, but to be
saved - Jn 3:16b-17
-- God's love for man is what makes Christ's sacrifice and the new
birth possible! - cf. 1Jn 4:9-10

C. THE FAITH OF MAN...
1. Those who believe in Jesus will not perish, but have
everlasting life - Jn 3:15-16
2. They will not be condemned, unlike those who do not believe - Jn 3:18
-- The new birth requires faith in Jesus; without faith, being
born of water is meaningless, and born of the Spirit impossible
- cf. Mk 16:16; Jn 8:24; Ac 8:36-37

[Christ's sacrifice and God's love, in cooperation with man's faith,
makes the new birth possible. Yet many remain condemned for lack of
faith in Jesus. Why? Jesus offers one reason for...]

V. THE REJECTION OF THE NEW BIRTH (19-21)

A. MANY LOVE DARKNESS MORE THAN LIGHT...
1. Light (Jesus) has come into the world - Jn 3:19a; 1:5,9; 8:12
2. There are those who love the darkness instead, because of their
evil deeds - Jn 3:19b
-- Their love for things of the world cause them to reject the
light of Jesus - e.g. Lk 16:14

B. MANY DO NOT WANT TO BE EXPOSED BY THE LIGHT...
1. They know that coming to Jesus will expose their evil deeds Jn 3:20; cf. Ep 5:13
2. But those willing to obey (does the truth), do not fear the light - Jn 3:21
-- Unwilling to give up their evil deeds, they are unwilling to
submit to the new birth which acknowledges one's sinfulness and
requires repentance - e.g., Ac 2:36-38

CONCLUSION

1. In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus reveals much about being born again...
a. The necessity of the new birth (one cannot be a Christian unless "born again")
b. The nature of the new birth (a birth involving both water and the
Spirit, i.e., baptism)
c. The evidence of the new birth (observable by its effects, i.e.,
the fruit of the Spirit)
d. The basis of the new birth (Christ's sacrifice, God's love, man's faith)
e. The rejection of the new birth (why many refuse to submit to it)

2. What about you? Have you been born again...?
a. Born of water and the Spirit (i.e., a washing of regeneration and
renewing of the Holy Spirit)?
b. Born through the Word of God (i.e., by responding to the gospel message)?
c. Responding to God's love and Christ's sacrifice by expressing your
faith in baptism?

Remember the words of Jesus...

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does
not believe will be condemned." (Mk 16:16)

"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'"
(Jn 3:7)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

The Divide Between Politics and Christianity by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

https://thepreachersword.com/2020/09/01/the-divide-between-politics-and-christianity/#more-17199

The Divide Between Politics and Christianity

Susan Eisenhower has recently written a book about her grandfather, Dwight D. Eisenhower, entitled “How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhower’s Biggest Decisions.”

Cal Thomas recently reviewed the book in one of his columns and referenced Susan’s admiration for what she called Ike’s pursuit of “the middle way.” In the book is this quote from a letter that Eisenhower wrote to a friend in California in 1954.

“I developed a practice which, so far as I know, I have never violated. The practice is to avoid public mention of any name unless it can be done with favorable intent and connotation; reserve all criticism for the private conference; speak only good in public.”

While Thomas expressed his respect and appreciation for the late President, saying he demonstrated “good character,” and his method worked in the military, didn’t believe his approach was successful in the political arena.

Cal writes, ”There’s a cliché about sports: ‘It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how you play the game.’”

“In politics it’s about winning, and if you don’t win, how you played the game won’t matter.”

During the next 63 days until the November 3rd until the Presidential election the game is going to get rough and tough. The players will get down in the trenches trying to deliver their best blow. There will be some really hard hits. No flags will be thrown for unsportsmanlike conduct.

We’re bound to hear a lot of name calling. There will be charges. And counter charges. The venom and vitriol will spew forth from both parties. People will be unfairly labeled. Positions will be assigned that the other party disavows. And does anyone believe every ad is going to be accurate? Incriminating innuendoes will abound. Truth will be sidelined. And lies will fly through the airwaves.

The challenge for Christians, especially those who feel compelled to publicly express support for their candidate, will be to live, speak and act on a higher plane. Not to hurl sarcastic insults. Not to speak contemptuously of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Not to engage in nasty-name calling. Not to post disparaging remarks about others on social media. And not to display a hostile and hateful attitude toward those with whom we disagree.

While I understand there are issues of paramount importance facing us today, and moral matters that are on the ballot, we don’t get a pass from “speaking the truth in love” (Eph 4:16). No matter how serious we deem the political choices, we’re not exempt from showing mercy. Demonstrating compassion. And treating others with respect.

Jesus’ principle, called the golden rule, applies even during elections. “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12).

What if we applied these two Bible passages in all our interactions with others, including facebook posts, regarding political issues?

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:31-32).

“Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Col 4:5-6).

Emulating the current culture of political discourse is not conducive to our Christian influence in the world. Instead let’s emulate Christ. Let’s rise above the fray. Let’s do better. And be better.

The world is watching us. What will they see? And what will they hear?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

THE PURPOSE OF MIRACULOUS SIGNS BY STEVE FINNELL

https://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2016/10/

THE PURPOSE OF MIRACULOUS SIGNS BY STEVE FINNELL

What is the purpose of miraculous signs? Are miraculous signs occurring today?

John 2:1-11.....11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.

The first miraculous sign Jesus performed was turning water into to wine. It confirmed His glory. He was the Son of God.

John 6:2 A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He performed on those who were sick.

Jesus healed the sick to confirm that He was the Son of God.

John 3:1-2....this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

Jesus performed signs to confirm that He came from God.

John 20:30-31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Jesus performed signs to confirm that He was the Son of God. The Bible has been written so men might believe and have life in the name of Jesus. Jesus is not coming back to earth to perform more signs. Jesus has already proved He the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Savior of all who believe and meet God's terms for pardon. Signs were to confirm that Jesus was the Son of God and that the Bible was God's message about salvation for mankind.

MIRACULOUS SIGNS AFTER THE DEATH OF JESUS

Mark 16:16-20......17 These signs will accompany those who have believed in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover."......20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirm the word by the signs that followed.

Those who believed and were baptized performed miraculous signs to confirm the word of God. Are Christians today performing miraculous signs to confirm the word of God? NO, THEY ARE NOT. We have the written word of God to confirm that Jesus was the Son of God. We do not need miraculous signs today. The church of Christ was well established by the first one hundred fifty years. We have a completed Bible.

If miraculous signs were available today these things would be occurring in every church of Christ congregation.
1. Some would be casting out demons.
2. Some believers would be speaking with new tongues.
3. Some would pick up poisonous snakes and not be hurt.
4. Some believers could drink poison without being affected.
5.Some could lay hands on the sick and heal them.
Is this happening in every single Christian congregation in the world? No, it is not occurring in any of the Lord's churches anywhere.

Hebrew 2:1-4....3...if we neglect a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs, and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

God has already confirmed (past tense) our salvation by signs, wonders, and miracles. It is recorded in the Bible so we can believe and be saved.

God is not going to send Jesus to reconfirm that Jesus is His Son. God is not reconfirming His church and the gospel by using the contemporary churches with miraculous signs. We have a completed Bible with all the miraculous signs to confirm that Jesus is the Son of God.The Bible has the gospel plan of salvation.

THERE ARE NO MODERN-DAY APOSTLES. THERE ARE NO MODERN-DAY CHRISTIANS PERFORMING MIRACULOUS SIGNS!

John's First Letter Introduction by Charles Hess

https://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Hess/Charles/Albert/1929/Comments/123John/intro.html

WHAT FIRST JOHN IS ABOUT
John forcefully warns against all sinning. He points out that "there is a deadly sin" (1Jo 5:16).^[ 1 ] He stresses love, truth, righteous living, walking in the light and obeying commandments. One cannot be a faithful Christian without these. He discusses at length the nature and mission of Christ. A sharp distinction is made between true and false believers.

Chart
TOPICS IN 1 JOHN
Prologue--the Word of life (1Jo 1:1-4).

Walking in the light (1Jo 1:5-2:2).

Keeping His commands (1Jo 2:3-11).

New status of believers and their relation to the world (1Jo 2:12-17).

Warning against antichrists (1Jo 2:18-27).

The hope of God's children (1Jo 2:28-3:3).

Sinlessness of God's children (1Jo 3:4-10).

Brotherly love the mark of a Christian (1Jo 3:11-18).

Assurance and obedience (1Jo 3:19-24).

The spirits of truth and falsehood (4:1-6).

God's love and the love of Christians (1Jo 4:7-12).

Assurance and love (1Jo 4:13-5:4).

The true faith confirmed (1Jo 5:5-12).

Christian certainties (1Jo 5:13-21).

(from I. Marshall 26)

A WORD ABOUT TRANSLATIONS

Before proceeding,^[ 2 ] a word about translations from the Greek is in order.^[ 3 ] In notes on some other epistles I have relentlessly pointed out apparent errors in several versions. The NIV has been mercilessly singled out again and again because of paraphrases that are, in my judgment, inexcusable. However, to give credit where credit is due, the NIV translator of the epistles of John did a pretty good job. Nevertheless, I still intend to call attention to error if I find it.

THE WRITER

Although his name does not appear in the letter, the apostle John is undoubtedly the writer.^[ 4 ] His mother Salome followed and ministered to or waited on Jesus when He was in Galilee (Mt 27:55, 56; Mk 15:40, 41; Lu 8:2, 3; 23:55, 56; Joh 19:25). His fisherman father Zebedee had hired servants, an indication of prosperity (Mk 1:19, 20). John may have been in his late teens when Jesus called him. His brother James ^[ 5 ] was probably a little older.^[ 6 ] The two brothers were partners in the fishing business with Simon ^[ 7 ] (Lu 5:9, 10). Bethsaida in Galilee, the city of Andrew and Peter, was probably John's second home (Joh 1:44). Young John was known to the high priest (Joh 18:15). After the crucifixion, he took Mary "into his own home" (Joh 19:27 ASV; compare Lu 18:28; Joh 16:32).

Chart
JOHN'S CHARACTER TRAITS
With mother Salome and brother James, asked for high kingdom positions (Mt 20:21; Mk 10:35).

Was prosperous (implied by Mk 1:20; Joh 18:15).

A "Son of Thunder" (Mk 3:17).

Tried to hinder a follower of Jesus (Mk 9:38; Lu 9:49).

Said, "Lord, will You that we bid fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" (Lu 9:54).

Soon after Pentecost, John was put in prison with his good friend and fellow-apostle Peter (Ac 4:3, 8, 13). The two also went to Samaria together in order to impart miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit and to preach (Ac 8:14-25). Along with James and Cephas, John earned the reputation of being a "pillar" in the early Jerusalem church of Christ (Ga 2:9).

TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING

Clues as to the time of writing of the letter of 1 John are so scarce that any attempt to set a date be would only a guess.^[ 8 ] It was written after the church was established and before John's death. I cannot say exactly when. I am not even certain that 1 John was written before 2 and 3 John. Some take the references to Gnosticism to indicate a late date but recent documents have discounted that contention.^[ 9 ] I am not even certain when John was banished to the island of Patmos (see chart JOHN'S BANISHMENT AND DEATH). The times usually fall between AD 85 and 100.^[ 10 ] Others assign a date prior to AD 70. At the early date suggested, was the message of the epistle really needed? Yes it was (see note below on TO WHOM WRITTEN). John is believed to have lived in Ephesus in his later years.^[ 11 ] He may have been there when he wrote the book.

Chart

JOHN'S BANISHMENT AND DEATH
(Re 1:9)
Banished by Claudius before AD 70? (Grotius). [Claudius died AD 54].

Banished by Nero before AD 70? (Sir Isaac Newton). [Nero died AD 68]?

Banished by Domitian about AD 95? [Domitian died 9/18/96].

According to some ancients, John died at Ephesus about AD 100? [third year of emperor Trajan].

TO WHOM WRITTEN

Nowhere in 1 John does the writer designate his readers. It is assumed he wrote for a general audience. The warning against idols brings to mind Gentiles (see 1Jo 5:21). The content of the letter answers the false doctrines of Docetism ^[ 12 ] and Gnosticism.^[ 13 ] It also answers heretics Marcion ^[ 14 ] and Valentinus.^[ 15 ] Since the second century, the epistles of John, Jude, James and Peter have frequently been called "catholic"^[ 16 ] meaning general or universal. However, other letters to specific churches (for example, Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians and Romans) are somewhat general in application. Also the "general" letters of 2 and 3 John are not so very general. They are specifically addressed to "the elect lady" and "the beloved Gaius" (2Jo 1; 3Jo 1).

STYLE

John's style reminds one of the Psalms or Proverbs with their characteristic Hebrew "poetic" style (see charts SYNONYMOUS PARALLELISMS and ANTITHETIC PARALLELISMS). Some of his sentences have three parts,^[ 17 ] others four.^[ 18 ]

Chart
SYNONYMOUS PARALLELISMS
He who loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing causing offence in him (1Jo 2:10).

We know love because He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1Jo 3:16).

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God, and whoever loves Him who gives birth, loves him also who is born of Him (1Jo 5:1).

The letter of 1 John has been unjustly criticized as being disjointed and without any logical sequence of ideas. For example, one writer said, "John's thoughts are not arranged logically and systematically."^[ 19 ] If the reader would carefully peruse Robert Law's study on the first epistle of John, The Tests of Life, he could easily see its beautiful organization and symmetry. He wrote, "It is perhaps venture-some, therefore, to express the opinion that the more closely one studies the Epistle the more one discovers it to be, in its own unique way, one of the most closely articulated pieces of writing in the New Testament; and that the style, simple and unpremeditated as it is, is singularly artistic."^[ 20 ] I trust that Mr. Law will forgive me for borrowing several of his rich ideas, especially for the charts on testing.^[ 21 ]

Chart
ANTITHETIC PARALLELISMS
And the world is passing away, its lust also. But he who does the will of God continues forever (1Jo 2:17).

Everyone who remains in Him does not keep on sinning. Everyone who keeps on sinning, has neither seen Him nor known Him (1Jo 3:6).

We know that we have passed from death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love, remains in death (1Jo 3:14).

GNOSTICISM
Much of what John writes in this letter answers false teachers who were upsetting the young churches (see 1Jo 2:18, 22-24; 4:3; 2Jo 7). These false teachers are usually called "Gnostics." Gnosticism is difficult to define in a brief paragraph because it includes several branches of philosophical thought that existed in cults even before Christ. As early as the first century, it was introduced into various churches of Christ. One of its false ideas was that the world was created by a lesser deity called Jehovah who was different than the primary or true God. A further teaching was that matter is evil and that emancipation or salvation came only by "gnosis" or the esoteric ^[ 22 ] knowledge of spiritual truth. Not unlike modern "faith only" teachers, some of the Gnostics misapplied John 17:3 and taught that "knowledge only" was all that was necessary for salvation!

Since Gnostics taught that matter is evil, according to them, the human body had to be evil.^[ 23 ] With this faulty reasoning, they argued that God could not have dwelt in the "evil" body of Jesus. Some said His body was only a body in appearance. As a result, they denied that Christ came in the flesh (1Jo 4:2, 3; 5:1). They said He did not perform the deeds attributed to Him in the Gospels but they were only imaginary.^[ 24 ] They denied that His death was for the sins of the world (compare 1Jo 2:2). They denounced the bodily resurrection and claimed that baptism was their only resurrection. Some of them opposed wine and even thought marriage was wrong. Others engaged in sins of the flesh without any compunction. Because it was important that the teaching of Christ be kept pure and true, John urged that the false "spirits" be tried (1Jo 4:1).

CERINTHUS
The Cerinthians and Ebionites ^[ 25 ] were, in some respects, different from those mentioned above but they were just as bad. They admitted the deeds of Christ but denied He was the Son of God (see 1Jo 2:22). They had a preconceived notion of what God should be like and found it impossible to reconcile the revealed truth with that, so they rejected the revealed truth. A notorious Gnostic was named Cerinthus. He was a Jew who was educated at Alexandria, Egypt, but he lived in or near Ephesus during John's stay there.^[ 26 ] He said the world was not created by "the primary God" but by an offshoot power. He denied the miraculous conception and virgin birth. He taught the doctrine of "adoptionism" that after Jesus' baptism, "the Christ" descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove and that He then announced the "unknown Father" (the primary God) and performed miracles. He further taught that near the end of His ministry "the Christ" withdrew from Jesus who then suffered, died and rose from the dead.^[ 27 ] All the while, the separate "Christ" remained apart and incapable of suffering because He was a spiritual being.^[ 28 ]

Footnotes:

^[ 1 ] The basic text in these notes on the letters of John is the Old Paths Version (OPV). Quotations from 1, 2 and 3 John and from Colossians are from the OPV unless otherwise noted.

^[ 2 ] Greek transliteration follows the BibleSoft method. Many quotations in charts and paragraphs not from the OPV are from an updated but unpublished ASV.

^[ 3 ] The total vocabulary of the Greek NT is 5437 different words, of which, in his three epistles, John employs only 303 (I. Marshall 2). In this respect, these letters are considered to be the easier NT letters to translate.

^[ 4 ] In all the books attributed to John, his name only occurs five times, all in the book of Revelation.

^[ 5 ] James the brother of John was martyred under Herod Agrippa (Ac 12:2).

^[ 6 ] Suggested by the mention of James before John (Mk 1:19).

^[ 7 ] The remains of Simon Peter's "lake-front" property in Capernaum indicate that he was well-to-do. However, in the early days of the Jerusalem church, neither he or John had silver or gold (Ac 3:6).

^[ 8 ] The Anti-Marcionite Prologues (AD 150/180) state: "Later John the apostle, one of the Twelve, wrote the Apocalypse on the Island of Patmos, and after that the Gospel" (Roberts 11).
^[ 9 ] See footnote on Valentinus on a following page.

^[ 10 ] Some ideas about the date of the writing of 1 John are: probably AD 68 or 69 (Adam Clarke); before the destruction of Jerusalem [AD 70] (Macknight); AD 90 or about AD 90 (Ellicott Harrison, Woods); 85-90 (Introduction in NASB; Almanac); no date given or entirely conjecture (Albert Barnes, Matthew Henry; B. W. Johnson); late first century, cannot be sure (Zondervan).
^[ 11 ] Eusebius, Church History 3.23.4 (compare Irenaeus, Against Heresies 2.22.5; Clement, Who is the Rich Man? 42.1). Irenaeus died about 202 AD, Clement of Alexandria about 211 AD and Eusebius 340 AD.

^[ 12 ] Docetism was a heresy that afflicted early churches. The Greek word for "seem" is DOKEOO and the Greek for Docetists is DOKEETAI. This probably accounts for the name of this false doctrine that included the ideas that Christ only seemed to have a human body and only seemed to die on the cross.

^[ 13 ] The term "Gnosticism" is derived from the Greek word GNOOSIS knowledge.
^[ 14 ] Marcion was a wealthy shipowner of Sinope (northern Turkey) and the son of a bishop. About 138-140 he came to Rome with a large monetary contribution to the church which he later recovered. He presented a collection of so-called contradictions and other statements to the presbyters but was not satisfied with their reply. He died about AD 160 but the sect he started survived long afterward. His "unanswered" contradictions led him to the hypothesis that there were two gods. He considered the Jewish Creator God to be inferior to the Supreme Christian God revealed through Christ (Davies 74, 75).

^[ 15 ] Valentinus' late second century teachings had infected some of the churches of Christ long before his time as suggested by the discovery of Gnostic documents from Nag Hammadi in Egypt (Roberts 1).

^[ 16 ] Greek KATHOLIKOS, catholic or general. Clement of Alexandria also called the letter recorded in Acts 15 "the catholic letter of all the apostles given to the faithful" (from Vincent 2.303).

^[ 17 ] See 1Jo 1:3; 2:7.

^[ 18 ] See 1Jo 2:18; 5:4, 5;

^[ 19 ] Roberts 28.

^[ 20 ] Law 2.

^[ 21 ] In addition to Robert Law's "spiral" outline of 1 John, other interesting and acceptable patterns have been observed by A. E. Brooke, C. H. Dodd, A. Feuillet, P. R. Jones (similar to R. Law's), E. Malatesta (also similar), I. Howard Marshall and R. Schnackenburg.

^[ 22 ] Esoteric knowledge is that which supposedly can only be understood by a select group.

^[ 23 ] Traces of Gnosticism are seen in the NIV and other versions of the Bible, especially in the book of Romans, where "flesh" is rendered "sinful nature."
^[ 24 ] Basilides and others, including the Docetists and Phantasiatists, taught the deeds of Christ were imaginary. These sects were termed "antichrists" by John in 1 John 4:3. An argument for a late date for the writing of 1 John is that Basilides, Cerinthus and others did not arise until after AD 70. I tend to discount this argument because their false teachings were extant before that. (Macknight 647, 649).

^[ 25 ] The Jews called a poor person "ebion." The poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were sometimes called Ebionites but not all of them held to "Ebionism" which is a poor doctrine about Christ, especially, the teaching that Jesus was only human. Irenaeus, who wrote in AD 176 or 177, listed the Ebionites between the Cerinthian and the Nicolatian heretics (Macknight 648).
^[ 26 ] Irenaeus, a pupil of Polycarp, who was himself a student of John, relates that Polycarp told him that the apostle, "The disciple of the Lord, going to bathe at Ephesus, and perceiving Cerinthus within, rushed out of the bathhouse without bathing, exclaiming, `Let us fly, lest even the bathhouse fall down, because Cerinthus, the enemy of the truth, is within'" Against Heresies 3.3, 4 from Woods 206).
^[ 27 ] B. Horsley (Letter 14 to Dr. Priestly) said, "The Cerinthians held, that Christ being restored to Jesus after His resurrection, it rendered the man Jesus an object of divine honors" (Macknight 647).
^[ 28 ] Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1.26.1, 2; Vincent 2.339.

Charles Hess

Copyright ©1998, Charles Hess, Ridgefield, Washington, U.S.A.
This material may be copied for personal study only.
It may not be distributed or published in any form whatever
without the copyright owner's written permission.
This copyright notice must be included on all copies made.

The basic Scripture text in this commentary is
The Old Paths Archive^® Version of the Holy Scriptures (OPV),
Copyright © 1997,1998, Roy Davison, Belgium. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Published in The Old Paths Archive (http://www.oldpaths.com)

Better than a mountain of Gold by Gary Rose

W hat a picture! Imagine, a MOUNTAIN of GOLD! I cannot even guess as to its value; untold millions or perhaps even BILLIONS of dollars! However much it is, I know of something that has more value and is far more enduring than mere mass of atomic number 79 ( gold ).

The prophet Isaiah says...

Isaiah 2 ( World English Bible )

¹This is what Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

²It shall happen in the latter days, that the mountain of Yahweh’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.

³Many peoples shall go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.

⁴He will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

⁵House of Jacob, come, and let us walk in the light of Yahweh.

⁶For you have forsaken your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled from the east, with those who practice divination like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with the children of foreigners.

⁷Their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures. Their land also is full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.

⁸Their land also is full of idols. They worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.

⁹Man is brought low, and mankind is humbled; therefore don’t forgive them.

¹⁰Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty.

¹¹The lofty looks of man will be brought low, the haughtiness of men will be bowed down, and Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day.

¹²For there will be a day of Yahweh of Armies for all that is proud and haughty, and for all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low:

¹³For all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, for all the oaks of Bashan,

¹⁴For all the high mountains, for all the hills that are lifted up,

¹⁵For every lofty tower, for every fortified wall,

¹⁶For all the ships of Tarshish, and for all pleasant imagery.

¹⁷The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and Yahweh alone shall be exalted in that day.

¹⁸The idols shall utterly pass away.

¹⁹Men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily.

²⁰In that day, men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for themselves to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

²¹To go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Yahweh, and from the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake the earth mightily.

²²Stop trusting in man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for of what account is he?

What has more value than GOLD? The word of God is my answer. Why? Because HE who formed the entire universe has expressed his will from Mt. Zion and codified it in a written form which we call the Bible. GOLD may be valuable, but being in a right relationship with the almighty is far more precious than any amount of wealth we might accumulate.

Consider these words of Jesus…

Matthew 26 ( WEB )

²⁶For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

²⁷For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.

Give glory to God, stop trusting in your own strength, or wisdom or abilities; learn the right way from GOD and LIVE!

New Bible Reflections

6/30/21