RepentTrust

Evangelism on March 4, 2011

2011-03-05T15:53:00.002-07:00

Prior to evangelizing at First Friday last night, we (some of us who regularly go out and evangelize) got together at the request of Tom Fusco (Till the Nets R Full) (a faithful brother who comes out to reach the lost on Mill on Saturday nights and in his day-to-day life) to discuses ways to get more people to come out and reach the lost. About once a month, Tom and others have a Way of the Master Seminar (which are free) and then encourage the people who attend to come out to Mill to evangelize. Tom wants to come up with new ideas to get more people to come to the seminars so that they will be better equipped to reach the lost. By the way, if you have any ideas or are in the greater Phoenix area please email us at RepentTrust@yahoo.com. The meeting was predictive and those in attendance said they would make an effort to get the word out about the seminars. After the meeting, we went to First Friday and set up off of 3rd St. and Roosevelt. It was an interesting time. There were a few guys out there dressed in sheets (supposing to look like togas) they were trying to heckle us, but the Lord can use their negative actions for good. They ended up drawing people to us. I decided to give one of them the good person test using the amplifier. Overall, it went very nicely. He was cooperative and went through the test and we came to the conclusion that he wasn’t good. He admitted that he was going to hell, but said he wasn’t concerned. I still gave the Gospel to those listening. The toga wearing people stayed for a while. At the conclusion of our night at First Friday, some fellow believers who were visiting from various places outside the valley, stopped by to encourage us. We found that we have some common friends who reach the lost. I always like to discuss what people believe when they say that they’re Christian as so many do and so few are. After First Friday, Jennifer, Stan and I went to Mill Ave. to continue the outreach. Had some good conversations with some people. I was able to give out a few of Ray Comfort’s books including God Has A Wonderful Plan For Your Life, which does a good job of covering what to do and what not to do while reaching the lost. Overall, the night was encouraging. We got to give many the Good News of Christ.

8 year old Open Airs the 10 Commandments

2010-11-07T17:09:00.003-07:00

Al brought his eight year old daughter out evangelizing this past Friday. She handed out several Gospel tracts and even got on the amplifyer to tell everyone the Ten Commandments.

"Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." -Galatians 3:24

Waning about Dangerous Men

2010-08-26T18:12:00.009-07:00

Sadly, in recent times it’s become more and more evident that many are unaware that men such as Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Fred Price are heretical teachers. I’m sure some will be offended by me saying this, but that is not my intent. If these men are lying about the Lord, as I claim (and the links bellow will verify), then we should be offended by their words and not hear them (Deuteronomy 13:3). We are continuously warned about false teachers and false prophets throughout the Bible (Matthew 7:15; 24:11, 24; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Peter 2). Those at the Church at Ephesus were commended when the Lord said of them “’…you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false…’” (Revelation 2:2). The following links will cite the words of these men who I claim are false teachers.
Many of these individuals proclaim many truths and often cite Scripture, however the greatest of lies is often shrouded by many truths. This of course makes the lies all the more believable. The good they speak does not atone for the bad. As for citing Scripture, Mormons, Oneness Pentecostals and Jehovah’s Witnesses all do as well (Luke 4:10-11).
Please bear in mind, these are not minor doctrinal differences, they are essentials to the Christian faith. It’s not merely a question of nonessentials like what eschatological view you hold (pre, post or mid-tribulation), how many times a month you have communion or whether women can wear pants. These are foundational doctrines, such as who God is, what one must do to be saved and what Christ accomplished on the cross.
As I have heard, some will say, "They only misspoke a few times." Yes, a person can misspeak, one might say something they regret and there is forgiveness in the true Christ, but the Christ these men proclaim is not the true God and there has been no evidence of repentance for the things they‘ve proclaimed. This is clearly a habitual (continual) pattern. Bear in mind, it takes but one false prophesy for a man/ woman to be deemed a false prophet (Deuteronomy 13; 18:19-22) regardless to whether or not he/ she has performed miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Matthew 24:24).

For Kenneth Copeland, Fred Price and Kenneth Hagin
In short: http://www.gty.org/Blog/B100105
Full-length: http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/90-64

For Benny Hinn
http://www.reachouttrust.org/articlePDFView.php?id=76

Friday to Saturday, then Saturday to Sunday on Mill

2010-06-18T17:19:00.006-07:00

Beginning with Friday to Saturday (6-11-10 to 6-12-10), I got to Mill a bit after 8:00 p.m. shortly after that I was joined by Nathan Briscoe, Toby and a friend of theirs. They’re part of a group of believers who have been coming out the past few weeks. They had seen us evangelizing and felt led to share the Good News, so they‘ve been joining us, which is great and is something I praise God for (Luke 10:2). Justin Bond also stopped by for a bit. After he came by, Jennifer (my sister) showed up. Around the time Justin left, Walter joined us.
I started out with a little open airing. Lately with open airs, I’ve been trying to talk about the finitely of this life. I’ve been mentioning the fact that compared to eternality, this life isn’t even a drop in the bucket. We should have our priorities on that which is eternal instead of that which is temporal. Keeping this in the forefront of my mind has personally helped me a bit lately. We need to look to the things that are not seen, rather than to those which are seen (2 Corinthians 4:18) and be like whose in Hebrews 11. This world and the things of it are fleeting, fading, passing away (1 John 2:15-17). Even many things that aren’t necessarily bad will end. This life is, but a vapor (James 4:14). Our standing before God should have preeminence in our priorities. I also like to mention the fact that I’m not trying to get people to go to a particular church or to join a particular denomination (of course they‘re more than welcome to come to my church) and I don’t want them to follow me, but I point them to Christ who alone can save. Of course, if people get saved they should get involved with a local body of believers. However, throughout the Scriptures Jesus and His first century followers didn’t go around inviting people to church; they told them to repent and believe (read the Gospels and the book of Acts). By the way, I think if local churches were as they should be, we would have what Paul descried in 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 happening.
Often during times when no one’s been preaching I’ve been putting the Bible on the amplifier using my cell phone. This night I had it play Matthew 5-7 and some of Romans (1 Timothy 4:13) and we also will often do Scripture readings without the cell phone. On this particular night, Nathan and Toby did their first open air on the amplifier. Which I also praise God for, watching people set aside fears and tell others the Gospel is wonderful to see.
As I was passing tracts out, a man named Raymond was passing by, so I gave him one and we got into a great conversation about the things of God. He said he was a believer, but I’m always cautious when a person claims to be a Christian, as so many people in America do. He seemed to be very humble. He said he had just come from playing basketball and he was dressed for that and not for the Mill Ave night life. We talked for some time. He seemed to be sound in doctrine and he had an amazing testimony of how God saved him. He told me before he was saved, he would sell drugs and sell woman, but God delivered him and changed him. He stuck around with us for over an hour and he said he’d likely be out in the future. I was encouraged by him.
Eventually the group of us dwindled down to Walter, Jennifer and myself. At one point a man came up to Walter and began doing some inappropriate acts and another man (who said he was a Christian) came over, got close to the man and told him to stop what he was doing. There was some arguing and the man who was doing the inappropriate act threatened the other man, but his friend eventually pulled him away. Praise God! It was getting to be about 2:00, when Josh (who is part of the group of believer who‘ve been joining us lately) showed up. We all decided to go over to IHOP and do some fellowshipping.
As for the Saturday to Sunday (6-12-10 to 6-13-10), I got to Mill a bit after 8:00 again. Tom and Catharine Fusco, Alan, Al Gordon, and Dan were already there or were just showing up at about that time. Al gave a report of the night on his blog http://saintsoftheway.blogspot.com/2010/06/saturday-06-12-10.html
After the others left (well after midnight), a man came up to me while I was open airing and asked me why a person couldn’t be good without Jesus. I didn’t get into the fact that without Jesus there is nothing good. Instead, I decided to explain that he like everyone else had sinned against God and was deserving of hell. I them explained how Christ paid our penalty in His life’s blood. That Jesus suffered the hell (wrath of God) that we were due on the cross and that we can receive that through faith in Him. The man had a surprised look on his face and then thanked me and said he never understood it like that before. I gave him a Bible and told him to repent and put his trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. His name is Dan, please pray for him. He was very receptive and came back a little later when I was talking to a man named Louis who was a Jehovah’s Witness. He was friendly, but admitted that he was not living as he should be. I encouraged him to repent as well. I also told him about the Deity of Christ, which JW’s deny. We talked for some time and I left about 2:00 again.
By the way, below are a few pictures from First Friday (6-4-10). There were a lot of believers out there and I was encouraged by that. I also wanted to mention that on the 5th of June I want to a class held by Tom Fusco. It was fun and encouraging. Check out his site for future classes. They’re free. It’s focused on the Way of the Master. Tom has one about each month. http://tillthenetsrful.blogspot.com/
God will be glorified.

June 10 into 11, 2010

2010-06-17T17:34:00.001-07:00

June 10 into 11, 2010: I got to Mill Ave. a little after 9:00. Overall, the night seemed to be quite fruitful. Throughout the evening I spoke to many people and did a good bit of preaching. As usual, the preaching was a great way of drawing people in to discuss the things of God. Early on, a man who came over and walked around in front of me appeared to be following what I was saying as I was preaching the gospel. I eventually got into a conversation with him, he had told me some of the circumstances in his life which were quite unfortunate, he said Christians had wronged him. He said he him was a believer, but due to what he was facing, he saw no reason not to just give up and just get drunk. I told him that I don’t know all of the details concerning what he is going through, but I told him I’m sorry that he’s facing whatever he is. I encouraged him not to live for the temporal things and circumstance of this life, but for Christ. If our hope and life are truly found in Christ, this world can fall apart and we’ve lost nothing (after all this life is nothing compared to eternity). I admit I personally have trouble keeping this focus as I should. I also exhorted him not to look to professing Christians (particularly here in America where there is really no reason not profess faith in Christ) to see what a Christian is, but rather to look to Christ. In some cases, people will point to the Crusades or the Inquisition (which by the way were Catholic, not Christian) as reasons to reject Christ and Christianity. If a person uses these and other so-called “Christian” acts to defame Christianity, I’ll often ask them to consider what they would think of a person that professed to be a follower of theirs who went around murdering and claiming to be doing it in their name. I also like to mention the fact that Jesus seemed to be most upset with the religious hypocrites (Matthew 23). Throughout Scripture, we’re warned about and warned not to be one of those who profess faith in Christ, but do not truly know Him, nor are known by Him (Matthew 7:21-23; 15:7-9; Romans 2; Titus 1:16; 1 John 1:6; 2:4). I believe the conversation with the man was fruitful. I often like to encourage people who say they’re Christian to read 1 John to see if they line up with it’s description of one who is born of God (which I encourage you who might be reading this to read if you consider yourself to be a follower of Christ) .
Another conversation that stands out was with a man who admitted he was in sin and wanted to know if I thought he could be saved. He said he has family that are Christian and have talked to him about Christ. He appeared to be broken, I don’t know his heart of course and I don’t know if it was because He realized the gravity of his sin before God or if it was merely because of the fear of hell, but I told him that he could be saved and that he must repent and believe. Please pray for him, his name is John. I gave him my number and it sounds like he has family reaching out to him. One interesting occurrence is that at one point while I was preaching, a man came up to me who anointed me with oil. I spoke to many others, a few times I got a little nervous. At one point, some homosexual men came over to me and were very angry with me after I read 1 Corinthian 6:9-10. I talked to them for a bit. Other people came over as I spoke with them as it was apparently evident that they were angry. I read them some of Romans 1. They claimed that Jesus just spoke about love. I tried to explain to them that they needed a Biblical definition of love, pointing to 1 Corinthians 13 (the same letter that says homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God). I told them love “…does not seek its own…” (1 Corinthians 13:5) and that if they really love a person, they won’t lead them into sin by being in a homosexual relationship with them. They weren’t interested in what the Bible said.
Sadly, there were some woman acting inappropriately out there during the night. Unfortunately, some people use sex and provocative ways to get what they want. This is detestable.
There were other conversations. I left about 2:00. In general the night seemed to be quite fruitful. In fact, it’s nights like this that really help bring some perspective on the importance of getting out and proclaiming the Gospel (Matthew 28:19; Luke 10:2-3). God will be glorified.

Two Vitally Important Messages

2010-06-07T23:25:00.004-07:00

Hell's Best Kept Secret by Ray Comfort

Shocking Youth Message by Paul Washer

Is it Biblical to Lead a Person in a Sinner's Prayer?

2010-04-08T11:57:00.007-07:00

Jesus is never recorded in Scripture leading anyone in a “Sinner’s Prayer,” nor are His disciples. Instead, Jesus (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Mark 1:15; Luke 5:32; 13:3-5; 24:47), the twelve (Mark 6:12), Peter (Acts 2:38; 3:19) and Paul (Acts 16:30-31; 17:29-30; 20:21; 26:20) told people to repent and believe. We should do what they did. Many modern day “evangelical” types (Bill Graham, Pat Robertson, Joel Osteen etc.) lead people in a “Sinner’s Prayer” as a means to supposedly lead them to Christ. However, this isn’t done in Scripture. Jesus told people to ‘count the cost’ (Luke 14:28) and ‘forsake all’ (Luke 14:33). Consider the way He spoke to those who wanted to follow Him in Luke 9:57-62; Matthew 19:16-22 and John 6:59-69. For the most part these evangelicals will tell people it’s not about the prayer or the words, but then if that’s true, why is there such a strong focus on it. Granted, a person who is convicted by God and has their eyes opened will likely call on the name of the Lord in prayer and I’m not against a contrite person doing this (Psalm 51; Romans 10:9-13; Luke 6:45). However, we should follow the example of Christ and his disciples and tell people to repent and believe, not try to lead them in a prayer. Sadly, many people look to a “Sinner’s Prayer” for assurance of salvation, not solely to God through the work of Christ. Eternal life in Christ is a free gift received by faith (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9).

From the Skatepark to Mill Ave. Art Festival Caution Profane Language

2010-04-01T15:43:00.001-07:00

Premillennialism Vs. Amillennialism

2010-03-28T19:47:00.010-07:00

This is a discussion that Phil Ballmaier and I (Marcus Mattingly) have been having concerning the Millennial Reign of Christ. Phil believes in Amillennialism; that there will be no future earthly reign of Christ. I believe in Premillennialism; that there will be a future earthly kingdom.

Mattingly: “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. ‘You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.’” (Revelation 5:9-10). It doesn’t say they ‘are’ reigning upon the earth, but rather ‘they will reign upon the earth.’ Read all of Zechariah 14. Consider Ezekiel 34:23-31; 37:24-28; Jeremiah 23:3-8; Psalm 72:8-16; Isaiah 11. You still haven’t told me where the resurrected martyrs of Revelation 20 are?

Ballmaier: Alright man, Revelation 5:9-10, let's see what I can do:

I. Literal vs. Allegorical Interpretation
Are you taking the whole chapter litterally???
If so, then what about the names of Christ?
Is He litterally a physical lion?
Is He litterally a a root?
What about His discription???
Does He litterally have seven horns?
Does He litterally have seven eyes?
Of course not, this is a vision
Tell me, is He litterally a physical lamb?
The point is this: Just like me, you are FORCED to take some things figuratively. You ARE NOT taking everything litterally.

II. Context of This Passage is the Worthiness of the Lamb in
His Judgment
The scroll and its seals represent judgment upon the
earth
When you view verse 10, you MUST do so in light of the
judgment to come.
Lets do a litteral rendition of vs. 10:
"And have made (past tense) them (elect) 'a kingdom' and
priests to our God, and 'a kingdom' shall reign (some
render this as "they reign" as in present tense) on the
earth."
In light of context, I would say that this is referring to the judgment to come when we shall also judge angels (see 1 Cor. 6)
Also, we are already reigning and overcoming the world, but not yet reigning in a sense of judgment... at the last day the judgment will come... this will be a ONE DAY event not a 1000 year event!

I say this because:

III. What is the Earth referring to?
Can this really imply a 1,000 yr reign?
I would say no, because of vs. 13b: "Blessing and
honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on
the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever."
Notice, it does not say He shall reign for a 1,000 yrs first
and then in heaven forever and ever.

Also, this millenium, is it this age or the age to come?
If this is suppose to be the age to come, what about
death, evil?

No where in the New Testament do we find anything but
eternal benefits attached to this phrase "the age to
come."

You MUST take "earth" to be figurative unless you can provide me with sound biblical answers to my questions :)

Mattingly: Yes indeed, we both take some things literally and some things figuratively. "When the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense; therefore, take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning unless the facts of the immediate context, studies in the light of related passages and axiomatic and fundamental truths, indicate clearly otherwise.” (Dr. D. A. Waite; I don’t really know anything about this guy, but this quote’s veracity is not dependent on the man who first said it). You might not admit it, but you usually follow this rule. That is unless of course it fails to fit with your theology. You know Jesus is not a literal root or a literal lion because you know He’s a man. It doesn’t make common sense to think He‘s a root or a lion. Let’s just look at the “new song“ of Revelation 5:9-10. It appears to be quite literal. Christ was literally slain. Was he not? He is literally worthy. Is He not? He literally purchased men with His blood. They are from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. However, you stop at the final passage when it says “they will reign on the earth“ and say that’s figurative. That’s not consistent my friend. I could only find one translation (ASV) that said “they reign upon earth.“ Every other translation I looked at included “shall” (KJV, NKJV, ESV, Amplified, Young's Literal Translation) or “will“ (NIV, NASB, CEV, Holman Christian Standard Bible) indicating future tense. However, even the ASV includes “shall” in Revelation 20:6, “they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” This sure does sound similar to Revelation 5:10: “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” What is the figurative meaning of earth in Revelation 5:10? What does it represent? The word “earth” is used 6 times in Revelation 5 (translated from the same Greek word every time). Why would you take it literally every time but one? It makes common sense to take it as the “earth” every time.As we covered last night you do take many parts of this passage in a literal sense. “The age to come” or “the world to come” (KJV) refers to the “time to come.” Apparently, it commonly refers to the eternal state (Luke 18:30; 20:35). Concerning the 1,000 years, let’s take this one thing at a time. Let’s start with the reality that Christ will reign on the earth. We’ll get to the length of His reign (1,000 years) after first establishing that He will reign. Add Acts 1:6-8 to the list. What will you do with Zechariah 14? We should do a verse-by-verse study of Ezekiel 40-48.

Ballmaier: Well there you have it... guess I lost... just kidding... lol.Look the thing is who ever that guy is... I do not think he has a proper understanding of hermeneutics. You cannot do that with apocolyptic language... as for your understanding of the greek, I would ask you this... how come many greater men who know greek way better than you don't see that passage the same way??? Just food for thought... chances are that if you have not taken a lot of semesters of greek and know how to interpret whole passages in greek than you are hardly qualified to be quoting greek... so lets keep the conversation in english. Secondly, even if you want to argue for a reign on earth, what kind of earth??? Where a glorified Christ is reigning yet there is evil, and sin, and death??? Or is it the new heavens on the new earth. If you want to make a case for an earth, I would say fine, but it will not be the earth you are thinking about. It will be the earth that is made new in glory. That is a reign that does not last for 1000 but forever and ever. Marcus, Jesus never came to give Israel an earthly kingdom back... that is why many of the Jews back then hated Him. He came for a heavenly and spiritual kingdom. Both Jew and Gentiles... the True Israel of God. When you imply what I know you are implying you are UNDERMINING the New Covenant.I have not had time to go through all of your passages... but you should really quote one at a time. You still got to tell me what kind of earth you THINK this is refering to... a partially renewed earth??? a glorified earth??? is there death??? is there a litteral political power??? (Even though He is the King of kings and Lord of lords reigning over all the nations)"My friend" you have a lot more qualifying to do than I do... but I will get to that Zachariah passage as well as the Revelation passage... but probably not until after the weekend... I have a lot to study as it is... but I will talk to you more about it tonight or tomorrow.

Mattingly: The first part of your first sentence was right. The only thing I mentioned about the Greek was that the “earth” of Rev. 5:10 was the same “earth” in the Greek as the other five that are mentioned in Revelation 5. Yet, you take all, but the one in Rev 5:10 literally. How do you determine what is literal and what is figurative in Revelation? Jesus came as the Lamb of God, but that doesn’t negate the reality that He will come again to reign. He will fulfill “all” that was written about Him (Luke 24:25-27). Don’t make the mistake some in the first century made by only looking at half of what the Scripture says concerning Christ. Zechariah 14 should help answer some of your questions about the earth. Take God at His word even if you cannot understand how He’s going to accomplish what He has said.

Mattingly: What is the common theme in these verses? Isaiah 11; Ezekiel 34:11-31; 36:16-38, 37:11-28; 39:21-29; Amos 9:11-15

Ballmaier: Marcus, I love how you quoted Amos 9:11-15, you should check out Acts 15... lol... dude, you gotta stop interpreting the New Testament with the Old... (psss its the other way around man). ;)

Mattingly: Do the “Gentiles who are called by My name” in Amos 9:12 refer to natural gentiles? If so, would you agree that the “captives of My people Israel” refers to natural Israel?

Ballmaier: Marcus, right now I do not have answers for you on some of these passages, and I do not know when I will have to time to actually study these out. I know this: That even in some of the cross references in my Bible the New Testament writers do not interpret all these passages the same way you do. Amos 9 is a clear case and point example. Also you should look at Acts 13 which gives a very interesting interpretation on some of these verses in Isaiah 11.

We talked about Ezekiel 36 yesterday, and you had to PRESUME that this chapter is a reference to a millenial reign??? lol sorry man that's rediculous. No where in the text does it suggest that... and notice the word "forever" or "forevermore" that keeps coming up in that passage does not suggest a period of 1,000 years sorry man... I am just taking that passage litterally because I "believer the Bible."

We march over to Ezekiel 37 and again I see a reference not once in the whole text to a period of 1,000 years. lol Not there man, just not there... just taking that passage litterally I suppose... and then the famous battle of Gog and Maggog in Ezekiel 39... the SAME battle as in Revelation 20 only different perspectives on it. You have to PROVE to me that these are not the same battles.

Here is something to think about:In Revelation 19:17-21 if you take that litterally like you claim you are really backing yourself into a corner. Why??? All the people on earth are wiped out! lol So who is left for a 1000 year reign that you take to be litteral in Revelation 20??? Are there some survivors??? If so, where in the text does it suggest that??? Sorry I guess I just take this litterally... "I just believe the Bible." So then here is a problem man:

Going back to the battle of Gog and Maggog in Ezekiel 39... my question to you is this: If all the population is wiped out in Revelation 19, then where do these nations come in??? Did they miraculously survive the judgment of Christ on the earth and now they are coming back for revenge in Revelation 20??? lol Where or how can you assume some of this??? These are things you have to reconcile.

You say you just "believe the Bible." The problem is that when you go by your line of thinking (which Darby and Scofield before you did) then you run into problems when coming to Revelation.

I would submit to you this: That due to the Apocolyptic language of Revelation that these are visions that John is seeing and they are not in any chronological order. We call it progressive parallelism. The idea is that these visions are in a sense happening at the same time, but you are seeing an unfolding of layers. In other words you are seeing in Revelation 12, 19, and 20 a "re- telling" of the same event from different camera angles. That the battle in Ezekiel 39 is the same battle in Rev 19 and 20.

Like the Gospels: Four accounts from different perspectives on the same event... a re- telling of the life of Christ. Each gives you a little bit different of an insight to the same events. (Matthew, Mark, and Luke very similar being the synoptic Gospels). Anyways... I was able to ramble on fo a while... yay. I will eventually get to all of these passages.

As I sum it up, a few things to take away from my little speech here ;) :

1- No mention of a 1,000 year period in ANY of the passage you just referenced.

2- Some of the Apostles in Acts see a few of these things differently then perhaps you do (Acts 13, Acts 15);

3- Again, how do the NT writers interpret OT prophecies???

4- If Christ wipes out the earth in Rev 19, then who is left to re- populate the earth in your 1000 year reign in chapter 20???

5- No where in Rev 20 does it say that Christ is reigning on earth, in fact you can make a case that He is reigning from heaven!

6- Where in the Scriptures can you make a case for a re- ferbreshed earth anywhere???

Let me know your thoughts man... be interested to see what you think and how you answer these questions.

All I am saying is that there is a reason why I take some of these things figuratively in one sense... because I just do not want to presume more on the text then there is in the actual text if that makes sense lol :)

Mattingly: Phil, I too don’t have all the details figured out, but I’m going to take God at His Word. I’m sure many people in the first century didn’t see how the Messiah would be a suffering sacrifice (Isaiah 52-53), a reigning King (Ezekiel 37:24) and not to mention God. We just have to believe in what God has declared. Concerning what you wrote: I couldn’t find any reference to Is. 11 in Acts 13. Ezekiel 36 doesn’t use the word “forever,“ but it does say that Israel will ‘never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations.’ When will this be? By the way, I don’t believe Ez. 36 is solely talking about the Millennial Reign of Christ. Look at the end of the battle of Gog in Ezekiel 39. Read Ezekiel 39:12-15 to see the clean up. I can’t see how you believe Revelation 12 and 20 are retelling the same event. To answer your questions…1. God only has to state something once for it to be true. In the case of 1000 years, Revelation 20 states that six times.2. In Acts the Apostles seem to have interpreted “Israel” to mean natural Israel. 3. Exegetically and correctly, thus they believed that Christ would ‘restore the kingdom to Israel’ (Acts 1:6). 4. I don’t think all people will be wiped out in Revelation 19. As it is written, “it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem”(Zechariah 14:16). However, even if you insist that all the wicked will be wiped out that still leaves the righteous who lived through the tribulation. 5. Read Rev 20. ‘they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years’(v. 4) and ‘they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years’(v. 6). Where will the resurrected martyrs be reigning from? 6. Christ will reign on the earth. Do you not believe that “…the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—’The LORD is one,’ And His name one.” (Zechariah 14:9) It’s recorded Zechariah 14 “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west…Then you shall flee through My mountain valley…And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.…Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited…And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain…Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts…” (Zechariah 14: 4-5, 9, 11, 16-17, 21) When do you believe this will take place? Ezekiel 37:21-22, 25 states “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.” Note it says ‘they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt.’ It says ‘dwelt’ not “dwell.” Is that not the land of Israel? When do you believe this will take place? Here is a portion of the Psalm I was telling you about that seems to be talking about the Reign of Christ. “He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth. In His days the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, Until the moon is no more. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him. For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight.” (Psalm 72:6-14)

Ballmaier: Marcus: Wow, there is a lot here... let's see if I can sort through some of these things.At least you are willing to admit that you do not have all the details figured out, so I guess I too can come to that confession as well. I do not know all the minute details nor do I have it all figured out. That is thing... one of the keys in end times is to leave it slightly open- ended, because it is a subject where the mystery will not be solved till the final consummation. So, therefore, I can say that I am pretty confident that the Amillenial position is the correct one, but like any other position it has its problems as well. Acts 13:23 is a reference to Isaiah 11:1 where it talks of Jesus coming from the seed of David. Now in the immediate context of the sermon in Acts 13 he is talking primarily of actual National Israel. However, I would ask you to move onto the remainder of that sermon. Acts 13, particularly the last half of it, is an excellent example of how the NT writers and preachers understood OT prophecies. In Acts 13, there are OT prophetical references, observe: Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 55:3, Psalm 16:10, Habakuk 1:5, Isaiah 42:6 and Isaiah 49:6. Look at how the writer or preacher here interprets these old testament prophecies in the fulfillment of the New Testament church (both elect Jews and elect Gentiles)Your question on Ezekiel 36? You know man, I don't know what to tell you on that one... some Reformers might take Israel here to be spiritual Israel, and I think that they have grounds look at the following verses:"But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, in Isaac your seed shall be called.That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed." (Romans 9:6,7) Marcus, who are the children of promise here???"And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the ISRAEL OF GOD." (Galatians 6:16) Who are the Israel of God Marcus???You talk about land man... what about Hebrews 12:22??? "But you HAVE COME to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, to an innumerable company of angels." (Hebrews 12:22)Marcus, is this NT writer who is addressing Jewish believers here, interpreting physical land??? Or is he interpreting these OT promises to be a spiritual fulfillment in the New Testament church???Finally, in dealing with your question on Ezekiel 36 I want to address Jesus Christ as being the TRUE ISRAEL. Look at two specific verses and I will move on after explaining where I am coming from :) "When Israel was a child, I loved him, And our of Egypt I called My son." (Hosea 11:1) Now Marcus, if you didn't have the New Testament yet, you might make a wrong conclusion about this verse, but look at how Matthew interprets this verse, go to Matthew 2:14-15:"When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying, "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON." Now Marcus, is Matthew interpreting this to mean for a future political prosperity for the nation of Israel or the incarnation account being the fulfillment of this prophecy???Even if you want to take Ezekiel 36 to be litteral landmass and political and national Israel, Marcus when do you see this being fulfilled???

Alright, lets see if I can crack the mystery of Ezek 39... now I will readily admit that like you I don't completely have all of the details worked out, but I do want to mention a few things here.

First off: The events of Ezek 39 and Rev 20 can be the same event only told from different camera angles. What do I mean by this??? Well through out Scripture the Bible retells the same event from different perspectives. Look at the life of Jesus in the gospels. You have four different camera angles focusing on the same event. Yet we conclude that even though there are some details that are not shared among these four gospels, but unique to the writer's perspective, yet we know this is not four different accounts, its one account looked at from four different perspectives:

In Matthew: Jesus is portrayed as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, therefore we get a glimpse of the kingdom and Jesus as the King of kings.

In Mark: Jesus is portrayed as a servant, and this is a book that focuses on His miracles.

In Luke: Jesus is portrayed as the Son of Man, and it is here that we really get a glimpse of His humanity. Here we see His childhood described in a lot more detail which the other Gospels do not give us.

In John: Jesus is portrayed as the Son of God, here John writes to show His diety.

Yet the same account told from 4 different perspectives.

Another example is how Judas was killed. The gospels tell us that he hung himself. However in Acts, Luke writes how his entrails gushed out.(see Acts 1:18) Does this mean that these are two different Judas's and two different deaths???

Lets now go to Ezek 39 and look at a few things in comparison with Rev 12, Rev 19, and Rev 20. I will give you this Marcus, the "clean up" is very interesting man, no doubt, however, why can't this still be the same battle??? We could just be seeing specific details in Ezek 39 that Rev 20 does not give us. Now lets do a comparison here...

Marcus I would like you to compare Ezek 39:17-20 with Rev 19:17-18. Notice how the birds come and eat the flesh of the men of this battle. Now okay, I know that Gog and Magog are not mentioned in Rev. 19, but these two nations are mentioned in Ezek 39 and Rev 20 causing problems.

Also, look at Rev 12 for a moment, look at verse 9:
"So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who DECEIVES THE WHOLE WORLD; he was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out."

Compare this verse with Rev 20:3:

"and he cast him into the bottomless it, and shut h im up, and set a seal on him, so that he should DECEIVE THE NATIONS no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while."

Compare this verse with Rev 20:7-8:

"Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to DECEIVE THAT NATIONS which are in the four corners of the earth, God and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea."

Notice that we have several comparisons in these texts, to suggest that this could be one big final battle before the end, only told from different camera angles, each giving us a little peace of the puzzle.

Also as to the survivors of Rev 19 battle... look at verse 18:

"that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and for those who sit on them, and the flesh of ALL PEOPLE, free and slave, both small and great." Marcus if you take this litterally, can there truly be any survivors left???

Okay, wow... I still got a lot more to go here... you loaded that last response lol :)

First off, to your first challenge: "Doesn't God only have to say something once for it to be true???" Okay fine, however, the Bible does say that He owns "all the cattle on a thousand hills." He said that once... does it mean that He only owns all the cattle on just a thousand hills??? Of course not man, you have poetical language there, and apocolyptic language is very similar to poetical language. Plus in light of all the comparisons I just made with four chapters from Scripture I can make a strong case that "1,000" is a symbolic number. Also, the number "10" in the Bible often refers to bountiful... 10 to the 3rd power is "1,000." This could just symbolize an "ultimate fulfillment."

Secondly: In reference to Acts 1, this is a classic example of proof texting. First off, we know that the disciples were at one point looking for a physical kingdom, but you have to remember that they were not yet baptized with the Holy Spirit, and didn't receive the full revelation of these promises until Pentacost. Look at some of the sermons preached by the Apostles after Acts 1, it doesn't indicate that they were still looking for a political/national kingdom. Read Galatians, it doesn't look like Paul was looking for a political/national kingdom. What about Peter in His first epistle 1 Peter 2:9:

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, A HOLY NATION, HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" Marcus, you would be dishonest with yourself if you said that Peter was only talking to Jews here... he is obviously addressing the church (elect Jews and elect Gentiles)

Third, in Revelation 20, nowhere can you find our Lord's throne being anywhere on earth. Can you find that in that text??? Can't you make a case that His throne is in heaven??? Look at Hebrews 12:1-2 Where is He seated there??? When Paul talks about us being raised with Christ and seated in the heavenlies... is that physical or spiritual??? Where would we be seated if that was physical??? Can't you make a case here that in Rev 20 He is reigning from heaven with the martyrs through out the centuries (their souls, not yet physical bodies) and those saints on earth who are "seated with Him in the heavenly places???"

Fourthly: Zachariah 14... It opens with these words: "Behold, the day of the Lord is coming," Which day of the Lord is this??? Compare this phrase "the day of the Lord" with the following passages: Isaiah 13:9-16, Isaiah 24 (although this phrase is not mentioned here, it definately has parallels with Isaiah 13), Joel 2:1-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10, 2 Peter 3:10-13, also look at Isaiah 66:14-24 (even though it does not reference this term "day of the Lord" I believe it definately has some relevance to our conversion topic here.)

Now in light of all of those verses, look at Zachariah 14:

Does the Day of the Lord happen before or after the 1,000 year reign of Christ according to your theology???

If it does, how do you reconcile this man??? Can you really take it to be litterally or do you have to take some of these things figuratively??? I am using the NT to interpret the OT, that is the clear to interpret what is unclear.

Ezekiel 37:21,22,25: The term 1,000 years is no where to be found here, however, the term "forever" is found here. So again I interpret the OT with the NT, or the clear with the unclear. Go back to a few verses here: I will hit 3 quick things that I think are so important: 1- Who is the nation??? 2- What is this land??? 3- What is the nature of this nation (there are STILL two branches being the natural and the grafted in... I do get that man)

1- The nation: Go to 1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." Here the Apostle is referring to the church, oh and that temple you make such a big deal about... look at what he says in 1 Peter 2:4-5:

"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as LIVING STONES, are being built up a SPIRITUAL HOUSE, A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to offer up SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Based on this passage Marcus is Peter taking Ezek 40-48 to be a litteral temple or a spiritual one???

2- What is this land? Go to Hebrews 12:22: "But you have come to Mount Zion adn to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are REGISTERED IN HEAVEN, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect... (Hebrews 12:22-23) Marcus, is the writer here hoping for physical land or a heavenly inheritance??? Its spiritual man, not physical. Abraham was looking for a city not made with hands whose builder and maker is God. Does the writer interpret that to be physical or spiritual land???

3-The nature of this nation: First it is a spiritual nation going back to 1 Peter 2:9, but we DO have two branches, the natural comprised of elect Jews, and the grafted in comprised of elect Gentiles. Now we know this from Ephesians 2:11-22, and Romans 4:13-25, and Galatians 3, and Romans 9:6-13

All I am doing man is using the clear (NT) to interpret the unclear (OT) and this is proper hermeneutics.

Finally man, Psalm 76, I will admit I do not have a good answer for this one... but I do want you to compare this Psalm with the Song of Mary which she sings in Luke 1:47-55, and there seem to be some comparisons, especially Psalm 76:17 with Luke 1:48. Again, the fulfillment could simply just be in Christ being the True Israel. You can make a case if I apply this same principle of interpreting the unclear with the clear, that I can make a case that this has a spiritual fulfillment in the Church... but again there are some verses in this text that would make it difficult to do so... however, I think I have given you plenty to study for our next talk on this and your next response on facebook. I hope I can give you better answers on this Psalm in our next talk... its just getting late for me now... lol... I am tired and have to go to bed... peace out dude :)

Mattingly: Phil,
This is fun stuff. More people should do it.

First off, it’s important to have a first century mindset when interrupting the New Testament. It seems that it was virtually universally accepted in the first century that there would be an earthy kingdom of the Messiah. Yet, can you name one passage that explicitly says there will be no future earthly kingdom? You show me passages that say there is a heavenly kingdom, but that doesn’t negate the fact that there will be an earthly one anymore than verses about Jesus’ humanity negates His divinity. Furthermore, when Jesus spoke with people who believed there would be a kingdom He didn’t correct their belief, He did correct their belief of when it would be however. Consider Luke 19:11-27, Luke 24:21-27 and Acts 1:6-8 (make sure to read this one with verses 4 and 5 in mind). Furthermore, Christ ruling the nations and the saints with him is seen as a future event. We see things like ‘he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations’ (Revelation 2:26-27), ‘He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron’ (Revelation 19:15), ‘we shall reign on the earth’ (Revelation 5:10), ‘they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years’ (Revelation 20:6), ‘in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel’ (Matthew 19:28 see also Luke 22:30) ‘If we endure, We shall also reign with Him’ (2 Timothy 2:12) and ‘Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?’ (1 Corinthians 6:2).

Consider what the early church fathers said concerning these things. I don’t affirm everything they wrote, but this I like.

Justin Martyr (who lived till about 165) stated in his “Dialogue with Trypho, “But I and others, who are right-minded Christians on all points, are assured that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a thousand years in Jerusalem, which will then be built, adorned, and enlarged, [as] the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah and others declare.” He then quoted a portion of Isaiah 65. Then partially cited 2 Peter 3:8 as further evidence of the thousand years. Then he went on to state “And further, there was a certain man with us, whose name was John, one of the apostles of Christ, who prophesied, by a revelation that was made to him, that those who believed in our Christ would dwell a thousand years in Jerusalem; and that thereafter the general, and, in short, the eternal resurrection and judgment of all men would likewise take place.”

Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons (died 202) was apparently a disciple Polycarp who was a disciple of John (the one who recorded Revelation 20). Irenaeus recorded in book 5 of “Against Heresies” “But when this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending this man and those who follow him into the lake of fire; but bringing in for the righteous the times of the kingdom, that is, the rest, the hallowed seventh day; and restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance, in which kingdom the Lord declared, that "many coming from the east and from the west should sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

Tertullian (died 220) a defender of the Trinity recorded “But we do confess that a kingdom is promised to us upon the earth, although before heaven, only in another state of existence; inasmuch as it will be after the resurrection for a thousand years in the divinely-built city of Jerusalem…”(Against Marcion, book 3).

Concerning what you wrote, I don’t have a problem with Acts 13. Jews means natural Jews in that passage and Gentile mean non-Jews. The Old Testament was constantly interpreted the way it was written. Concerning “not all Israel” being “Israel,” that is true, not all natural Israel (descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) is Spiritual Israel. Many were broken off because of unbelief. Apparently, ‘God has given them a spirit of stupor.’
That however, does not mean that natural Israel isn’t natural Israel. God’s word made promises to Israel that will come to pass. Would you not agree that even in the O.T. not all Israel was Israel? Jesus came with a major focus on natural Israel (Matthew 10:5-6; 15:23-28). You cited Romans 9:6-7, which is by the way, good proof that a person isn’t merely saved because he is a Jew. That however, doesn’t mean God is finished with natural Israel. As Paul goes on to state in Romans 11 “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew.” Note, Paul calls them “His people…whom He foreknew.” In Romans 11:25 he goes on to say ‘I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.’ God’s not done with natural Israel. By the way, Jesus even referred to the Jews who were going to hell as “sons of the kingdom” (Matthew 8:12).

Concerning Hebrews 12:22, there is a spiritual baptism, but that doesn’t negate the physical baptism. Because we raise spiritual that doesn’t negate that we shall raise physically. Because we were made to ‘sit together in the heavenly places’ (Ephesians 2:6) in a spiritual sense doesn’t mean that we won’t sit down in heavenly places in a literal sense. Because there is a heavenly and spiritual land (Hebrews 11:16; 12:22), that doesn’t negate the earthly land. As far I know there is never a passage in Hebrews citing an O.T. land verse that spiritualizes it. The writer doesn’t cite Ezekiel 36 and then say this is speaking of the heavenly Jerusalem. The heavenly things are a reality, but that doesn’t negate the earthly things.

Concerning Hosea 11:1, Jesus is a son of Israel and by natural birth a child of Israel. That doesn’t mean every passage that speaks of Israel or even all of Hosea 11 is speaking of Jesus. Just read Hosea 11:1 and 2: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. As they called them, So they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, And burned incense to carved images.” Clearly, this whole passage isn’t about Jesus.

Ezekiel 36 will be fulfilled in the last days. I believe this will be done after the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (Romans 11:25). Consider Luke 21:24: “And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

Concerning parallel passages, often seemingly parallel passages in Scripture that at a surface level glance seem to be the same event turn out to be with closer examination not the same at all. The genealogies of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-16 and in Luke 3:23-38 are similar, but not the same genealogy. Jesus driving out the money changers in John 2:11-16 and in Matthew 21:12-13 have many similarities, but two different events. Jesus’ teaching of the Lord’s prayer/ disciple’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 and in Luke 11:1-4 took place on two different occurrences. They sound the same though. There are many more examples.

Concerning Ezekiel 38-39, God says “You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall on the open field; for I have spoken…” (Ezekiel 39:4-5). Then God warns that He will send fire on the land of Magog and those who live in security in the coastlands. “And I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in security in the coastlands…” (Ezekiel 39:6). However, Revelation 20:9 says “They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” The birds and beast “devoured” the attackers in Ez 39, but fire from heaven “devoured” the attackers in Revelation 20. Then Ezekiel 39 says “Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years.” Ezekiel 39:11-12 goes further to say “It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place there in Israel, the valley of those who pass by east of the sea; and it will obstruct travelers, because there they will bury Gog and all his multitude. Therefore they will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog. For seven months the house of Israel will be burying them, in order to cleanse the land.” After the so-called battle of Ez 39, there will be a burning of weapons for seven years. The path of future travelers will be hindered by the burial place of Gog, the burial place of Gog being called the place the Valley of Hamon. Gog and ‘seven months the house of Israel will be burying’ the dead. This doesn’t sound like the end of the world. From what Revelation 20:11 says, it looks like after fire consumes the enemies the Great White Throne Judgment begins. I thought you believed this as well. After all, Satan has been cast into the lake of fire, then verse 11 says ‘Then I saw a great white throne,’ but wait Revelation 20:1 begins with the words ‘Then I saw,‘ but you don’t believe that means the event that follows comes next chronologically. My question to you is, what happens after the so-called battle, the end of the world or at least seven more years of life on earth? This is not a rhetorical question. Something else, neither Rev 20:7-10, nor Ezekiel 39 mention Christ coming back as you believe He will do at that time. It just makes more sense to read it as is, that Christ returned in Revelation 19 and will be here during Revelation 20. By the way, what do you believe ‘the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate‘ (Ezekiel 38:8) are? Ezekiel 38-39 doesn’t match with Revelation 20:7-10. Revelation 20:7-10 is the end and Ezekiel 38-39 is not. Consider also Zechariah 14, we see “For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.” The city is taken and the people cut off. Then Christ comes (v. 3-4). In the final battle of Revelation 20 we see “They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” A battle isn‘t even mentioned. How do you reconcile these two? Further, Zechariah 14:16 says: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”

Revelation 19 and 20 are not a retelling of the same event. In Revelation 19:20 ‘the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet’ and they are then cast into the lake of fire. In Revelation 20 they are still in the lake of fire. “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are…” (Revelation 20:10).

Revelation 12:9 and Revelation 20:3 are not parallel passages just because they both mention Satan and use the word “deceive.” Rev. 12:9 speaks of Satan being cast to the earth with his angels after losing a war in heaven and that Satan ‘deceives the whole world.’ Revelation 20:2-3 speaks of Satan being bound by an angel in the ‘bottomless pit’ having a ‘seal’ set on him so that ‘he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished.’

Concerning ‘the cattle on a thousand hills,‘ Psalm 50:10 says: “For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.” We know everything belongs to God because all of scripture declares that. Something else you said “does it mean that He only owns all the cattle on just a thousand hills???” No of course not, the passage doesn’t say “only.” That was imposed on to the verse. Unfortunately , that happens a lot that when we discuss Limited Atonement. You take a passage like John 10:15 where Jesus said ‘I lay down My life for the sheep’ and then you take the passage as if the word ‘only’ ‘singularly,’ ‘exclusively’ or ‘solely’ were in it. As if Jesus said “I lay down My life for the sheep only.” What are you saying “1,000 years” means? You mentioned “ultimate fulfillment.” Would that mean at the end of the “ultimate fulfillment,” Satan will be released to deceive the nations? Can you give me an example from Scripture when “year” is used with a number (and is not a simile) in which it isn’t a literal amount of time?

You said that ‘in Revelation 20, nowhere can you find our Lord's throne being anywhere on earth.‘ This is similar to your criticism that Ezekiel 37 doesn’t specifically mention the “1,000 years.” Every passage doesn’t restated every detail. It’s like you mentioned concerning the Gospels, they each give bit information. As you had put it when discussing Revelation “…each giving us a little peace of the puzzle.” Take all of Scripture. Nevertheless, I would say Revelation 20 makes clear that Christ will be here. In Revelation 19 He returns, then as I said before, Revelation 20 says ‘they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years’(v. 4) and ‘they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years’(v. 6). Where will the resurrected martyrs of Revelation 20 be reigning from? It says they “reign with Him.”

Consider Revelation 20:4 in the ESV “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” If they were “souls” who were martyred in Christ because their witness to Jesus they were already alive spiritually. This is speaking of a physical resurrection. That is so clear based on the context. Consider the next verse “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.” Note also that there seems to be two groups in Revelation 20:4, one in the first sentence, then the resurrected martyrs in the rest of the passage.

The “bottomless pit” (also translated as the “deep” and the “abyss”) is a literal place. Legion didn’t want to go there in Luke 8:31. Paul spoke about it in Romans 10:7. It’s mentioned in other places in Revelation such as 9:1-2, 9:11, 11:7 and 17:8. This is a real place where Satan will really be bound. Right now he is going about deceiving the world. Read Revelation 19:12; Acts 5:3; 26:18; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 7:5; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 4:3-4; 11:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:25-26; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; 1 John 5:19. He appeared to be more bound in the Old Testament when he couldn’t so much as attack Job without direct permission from God.

Concerning 1 Peter 2:9, I agree completely that God‘s elect are a special people meaning they are God’s people. Nonetheless, I point again to Romans 11. Yes, the natural Jews as a whole have rebelled against their God and their Messiah, but does that change God’s plan? Is God done with the natural nation of Israel? Romans 11:25-27 says “ For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.’” Be consistent with this passage. Don’t take the first mentioned ‘Israel,’ the mention of ‘Zion’ and the ‘Gentiles’ as natural and the second mention of ’Israel’ and then ’Jacob’ (who, as we know is Israel) as spiritual. Consider the next verse, “Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.“ Paul does talk about spiritual Israel, but this portion is evidently referring to the natural Israel, whom God isn’t finished with. Read chapters 9-11.

Concerning 1 Peter 2:4-5, you asked “Based on this passage Marcus, is Peter taking Ezek 40-48 to be a literal temple or a spiritual one?” This passage isn’t even talking about Ezekiel’s Tempe. It’s one thing to not know what Ezekiel’s Tempe is or will be, but it’s another to try and make it out to be something it’s clearly not. 1 Peter 2:4-5 is clearly speaking of spiritual things. Examine Ez 40-48.

Concerning the Day of the Lord, consider 2 Thessalonians 2. Paul doesn’t seem to think it will be the very end of world, nor did the Thessalonians. Paul wrote and told them that it had not yet come, which if the Day was automatically the end of the world, that would be obvious. You cited Isaiah 24 concerning the Day of the Lord. That passage ends by saying “…For the LORD of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem And before His elders, gloriously.”

Concerning Ezekiel 36-37, who were these passage written to and about? As we have gone over, the context is clearly talking to and about the natural Nation of Israel.

Concerning the Hebrew word for “forever,“ John Macarthur notes on Micah 4:7 (which speaks of Christ‘s reign from Zion)that it doesn’t also mean “without end,” but “signifies a long , indefinite period of time, the length of which is always determined by the context.” Consider the use of “forever” in Genesis 13:15; 1 Chronicles 22:10; 23:13; 28:4; Joel 3:20.

Psalm 72, Isaiah 11, Zechariah 14, Ezekiel 36-37 Amos 9:11-15; and Revelation 20 are clear. Remember, when the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense.

Love u

St. Patrick's Day/ Flogging Molly Concert Evangelism (2010)

2010-03-21T07:14:00.000-07:00

Salvation does not Precede Faith

2010-03-20T06:44:00.011-07:00

Saving faith and repentance are give by God (2 Timothy 2:25; Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8) to the elect (Acts 13:48). Salvation, justification and sonship come ‘through faith’ (Romans 3:22, 30; 5:1; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:9). As it is written: “…God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Acts 11:17). The key word is “when.” According to Ephesians 1:13, "...having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise." In this case, the key phrase is “having believed.“ "...He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:" (John 1:12). He didn’t give the “right to become children of God” to unbelievers, but rather to “those who believe.” “…you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him…” (Colossians 2:12-13). A person is raised “through” or "by" faith. Galatians 3:26 states “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” It’s “through" faith, not “before” or “apart” from faith.

A Conversation with a Mormon Missionary about Salvation

2009-12-29T18:58:00.003-07:00

This was from 12-21-09 at the LDS Temple.

Will you go to Heaven?

2009-11-27T02:21:00.007-07:00

Will you go to heaven? This question is too important to get wrong. Therefore, don't go by opinions or feelings to find the answer. Go by what God has told us in His Word. Hebrews 9:27 states, "...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." How will you do on Judgment Day? Many people think they will get to heaven by being a "good" person. Let‘s take a look at a few of God's commands and see if you've obeyed them. Have you ever lied (Leviticus 19:11)? Revelation 21:8 warns, "...all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Have you ever looked with lust? Jesus said "...whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28). Have you ever taken God's name in vain (Deuteronomy 5:11)? Exodus 20:7 states, “…the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” Ever stolen anything (Exodus 20:15; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)? Ever gotten drunk (Ephesians 5:18, 1 Timothy 3:3; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)? Ever consulted a medium or person who claims to talk to the dead (Leviticus 19:31)? Ever dishonored your father or mother (Exodus 20:12)? You can also sin by omission, by not doing something that you should do (James 4:17). Have you always loved your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18)? Have you always loved God with all your heart, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5)? Romans 3:11 states, "...there is none who seeks after God." It only takes one sin... James 2:10 warns, "For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." Without a doubt, God's standard is high. In Matthew 5:48, Jesus commanded, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your father in Heaven is perfect." Based on what God has told us, do you think you'll be innocent or guilty on Judgment Day? Will you go to Heaven or Hell? God is good (Mark 10:18) and He is also just (2 Thessalonians 1:6). Therefore, "...he does not leave the guilty unpunished..." (Numbers 14:18). There are many who make the mistake of thinking that they will be forgiven because of good deeds they have done, but the Bible warns that "...all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." (Isaiah 64:6). Good deeds don't erase bad ones. The sad truth is that we have nothing to offer God. 'Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin' (Romans 3:20). WE HAVE ONLY ONE HOPE... Although we deserve to "...be punished with everlasting destruction..." (2 Thessalonians 1:9), God made a way that we could be forgiven and made right with Him. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." (John 3:16). He sent Jesus to take our punishment upon the cross (Isaiah 53:5-6; 1 Peter 2:24). The Good News is "...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again according to the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). If you want to be saved you must have "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21). Repentance is a "change of mind." It's a change in attitude toward God and sin. According to 2 Corinthians 7:10, “…godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” Repent and place your trust in Jesus Christ (John 14:1). Trust in Christ more than you would in a parachute if you were to jump from a plane that was flying at 20,000 feet. You would be counting on that parachute alone to save you. It would be your only hope. Do the same and more with Jesus, trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins. Attending church, being water baptized and doing good deeds are all good things and we should do them; but they cannot save you. God's Word says it's "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Christ Jesus our Savior" (Titus 3:5-6). Eternal life through Jesus Christ is a free gift of God (Romans 5:15; 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9). If you truly do repent and trust in the Lord, God will save you and He will transform you. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "...if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." A Born Again Christian lives a life of habitual obedience to the God He loves (John 14; 1 John 1-2). He does this not to be reconciled to God, but rather because God has saved him. After you get right with God, read the Bible daily (1 Peter 2:2) and obey it, see 1 John 2:3; 5:3.

Are the Sabbath laws binding on Christians today? (John MacArthur/ GTY)

2009-11-26T20:08:00.009-07:00

Taken from http://www.gty.org/Resources/Questions/QA135

We believe the Old Testament regulations governing Sabbath observances are ceremonial, not moral, aspects of the law. As such, they are no longer in force, but have passed away along with the sacrificial system, the Levitical priesthood, and all other aspects of Moses' law that prefigured Christ. Here are the reasons we hold this view.

In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul explicitly refers to the Sabbath as a shadow of Christ, which is no longer binding since the substance (Christ) has come. It is quite clear in those verses that the weekly Sabbath is in view. The phrase "a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day" refers to the annual, monthly, and weekly holy days of the Jewish calendar (cf. 1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 31:3; Ezekiel 45:17; Hosea 2:11). If Paul were referring to special ceremonial dates of rest in that passage, why would he have used the word "Sabbath?" He had already mentioned the ceremonial dates when he spoke of festivals and new moons.
The Sabbath was the sign to Israel of the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 31:16-17; Ezekiel 20:12; Nehemiah 9:14). Since we are now under the New Covenant (Hebrews 8), we are no longer required to observe the sign of the Mosaic Covenant.
The New Testament never commands Christians to observe the Sabbath.
In our only glimpse of an early church worship service in the New Testament, the church met on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
Nowhere in the Old Testament are the Gentile nations commanded to observe the Sabbath or condemned for failing to do so. That is certainly strange if Sabbath observance were meant to be an eternal moral principle.
There is no evidence in the Bible of anyone keeping the Sabbath before the time of Moses, nor are there any commands in the Bible to keep the Sabbath before the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai.
When the Apostles met at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15), they did not impose Sabbath keeping on the Gentile believers.
The apostle Paul warned the Gentiles about many different sins in his epistles, but breaking the Sabbath was never one of them.
In Galatians 4:10-11, Paul rebukes the Galatians for thinking God expected them to observe special days (including the Sabbath).
In Romans 14:5, Paul forbids those who observe the Sabbath (these were no doubt Jewish believers) to condemn those who do not (Gentile believers).
The early church fathers, from Ignatius to Augustine, taught that the Old Testament Sabbath had been abolished and that the first day of the week (Sunday) was the day when Christians should meet for worship (contrary to the claim of many seventh-day sabbatarians who claim that Sunday worship was not instituted until the fourth century).
Sunday has not replaced Saturday as the Sabbath. Rather the Lord's Day is a time when believers gather to commemorate His resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week. Every day to the believer is one of Sabbath rest, since we have ceased from our spiritual labor and are resting in the salvation of the Lord (Hebrews 4:9-11).

So while we still follow the pattern of designating one day of the week a day for the Lord's people to gather in worship, we do not refer to this as "the Sabbath."

John Calvin took a similar position. He wrote,

There were three reasons for giving this [fourth] commandment: First, with the seventh day of rest the Lord wished to give to the people of Israel an image of spiritual rest, whereby believers must cease from their own works in order to let the Lord work in them. Secondly, he wished that there be an established day in which believers might assemble in order to hear his Law and worship him. Thirdly, he willed that one day of rest be granted to servants and to those who live under the power of others so that they might have a relaxation from their labor. The latter, however, is rather an inferred than a principal reason.

As to the first reason, there is no doubt that it ceased in Christ; because he is the truth by the presence of which all images vanish. He is the reality at whose advent all shadows are abandoned. Hence St. Paul (Col. 2:17) that the sabbath has been a shadow of a reality yet to be. And he declares elsewhere its truth when in the letter to the Romans, ch. 6:8, he teaches us that we are buried with Christ in order that by his death we may die to the corruption of our flesh. And this is not done in one day, but during all the course of our life, until altogether dead in our own selves, we may be filled with the life of God. Hence, superstitious observance of days must remain far from Christians.

The two last reasons, however, must not be numbered among the shadows of old. Rather, they are equally valid for all ages. Hence, though the sabbath is abrogated, it so happens among us that we still convene on certain days in order to hear the word of God, to break the [mystic] bread of the Supper, and to offer public prayers; and, moreover, in order that some relaxation from their toil be given to servants and workingmen. As our human weakness does not allow such assemblies to meet every day, the day observed by the Jews has been taken away (as a good device for eliminating superstition) and another day has been destined to this use. This was necessary for securing and maintaining order and peace in the Church.

As the truth therefore was given to the Jews under a figure, so to us on the contrary truth is shown without shadows in order, first of all, that we meditate all our life on a perpetual sabbath from our works so that the Lord may operate in us by his spirit; secondly, in order that we observe the legitimate order of the Church for listening to the word of God, for admin-istering the sacraments, and for public prayers; thirdly, in order that we do not oppress inhumanly with work those who are subject to us. [From Instruction in Faith, Calvin's own 1537 digest of the Institutes, sec. 8, "The Law of the Lord"].

Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation? (John MacArthur/ GTY)

2009-11-26T19:17:00.005-07:00

Taken from www.gty.org/Resources/Questions/QA79

Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?

No. Let's examine what the Scriptures teach on this issue:

First, it is quite clear from such passages as Acts 15 and Romans 4 that no external act is necessary for salvation. Salvation is by divine grace through faith alone (Romans 3:22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30; 4:5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 3:9, etc.).

If water baptism were necessary for salvation, we would expect to find it stressed whenever the gospel is presented in Scripture. That is not the case, however. Peter mentioned baptism in his sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38). However, in his sermon from Solomon's portico in the Temple (Acts 3:12-26), Peter makes no reference to baptism, but links forgiveness of sin to repentance (3:19). If baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sin, why didn't Peter say so in Acts 3?

Paul never made water baptism any part of his gospel presentations. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul gives a concise summary of the gospel message he preached. There is no mention of baptism. In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul states that "Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel," thus clearly differentiating the gospel from baptism.

Those passages are difficult to understand if water baptism is necessary for salvation. If baptism were part of the gospel itself, necessary for salvation, what good would it have done Paul to preach the gospel, but not baptize? No one would have been saved. Paul clearly understood water baptism to be separate from the gospel, and hence in no way efficacious for salvation.

Perhaps the most convincing refutation of the view that baptism is necessary for salvation are those who were saved apart from baptism. The penitent woman (Luke 7:37-50), the paralytic man (Matthew 9:2), the publican (Luke 18:13-14), and the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43) all experienced forgiveness of sins apart from baptism. For that matter, we have no record of the apostles' being baptized, yet Jesus pronounced them clean of their sins (John 15:3--note that the Word of God, not baptism, is what cleansed them).

The Bible also gives us an example of people who were saved before being baptized. In Acts 10:44-48, Cornelius and those with him were converted through Peter's message. That they were saved before being baptized is evident from their reception of the Holy Spirit (v. 44) and the gifts of the Spirit (v. 46) before their baptism. Indeed, it is the fact that they had received the Holy Spirit (and hence were saved) that led Peter to baptize them (cf. v. 47).

One of the basic principles of biblical interpretation is the analogia scriptura, the analogy of Scripture--we must compare Scripture with Scripture in order to understand its full and proper sense. Since the Bible doesn't contradict itself, any interpretation of a specific passage that contradicts the general teaching of the Bible is to be rejected.

Since the general teaching of the Bible is, as we have seen, that baptism and other forms of ritual are not necessary for salvation, no individual passage could teach otherwise. Thus we must look for interpretations of those passages that will be in harmony with the general teaching of Scripture.

With that in mind, let's look briefly at some passages that appear to teach that baptism is required for salvation.

In Acts 2:38, Peter appears to link forgiveness of sins to baptism. But there are several plausible interpretations of this verse that do not connect forgiveness of sin with baptism. It is possible to translate the Greek preposition eis--"because of," or "on the basis of," instead of "for." It is used in that sense in Matthew 3:11; 12:41; and Luke 11:32.

It is also possible to take the clause "and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" as parenthetical. Support for that interpretation comes from that fact that "repent" and "your" are plural, while "be baptized" is singular, thus setting it off from the rest of the sentence. If that interpretation is correct, the verse would read "Repent (and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ) for the forgiveness of your sins." Forgiveness is thus connected with repentance, not baptism, in keeping with the consistent teaching of the New Testament (cf. Luke 24:47; John 3:18; Acts 5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 26:18; Ephesians 5:26).

A third possibility exists, as Wallace explains in Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics:

It is possible that to a first-century Jewish audience (as well as to Peter), the idea of baptism might incorporate both the spiritual reality and the physical symbol. In other words, when one spoke of baptism, he usually meant both ideas--the reality and the ritual. Peter is shown to make the strong connection between these two in chapters 10 and 11. In 11:15-16 he recounts the conversion of Cornelius and friends, pointing out that at the point of their conversion they were baptized by the Holy Spirit. After he had seen this, he declared, "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit..." (10:47).

The point seems to be that if they have had the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit via spiritual baptism, there ought to be a public testimony/acknowledgment via water baptism as well. This may not only explain Acts 2:38 (viz., that Peter spoke of both reality and picture, though only the reality removes sins), but also why the NT speaks of only baptized believers (as far as we can tell): Water baptism is not a cause of salvation, but a picture; and as such it serves both as a public acknowledgment (by those present) and a public confession (by the convert) that one has been Spirit-baptized.

Mark 16:16, a verse often quoted to prove baptism is necessary for salvation, is actually a proof of the opposite. Notice that the basis for condemnation in that verse is not the failure to be baptized, but only the failure to believe. Baptism is mentioned in the first part of the verse because it was the outward symbol that always accompanied the inward belief.

I might also mention that many textual scholars think it unlikely that vv. 9-20 are an authentic part of Mark's gospel. We can't discuss here all the textual evidence that has caused many New Testament scholars to reject the passage. But you can find a thorough discussion in Bruce Metzger, et al., A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, pp. 122-128, and William Hendriksen, The Gospel of Mark, pp. 682-687.

Water baptism does not seem to be what Peter has in view in 1 Peter 3:21. The English word "baptism" is simply a transliteration of the Greek word baptizo, which means "to immerse." Baptizo does not always refer to water baptism in the New Testament (cf. Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; 7:4; 10:38-39; Luke 3:16; 11:38; 12:50; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 1 Corinthians 10:2; 12:13).

So Peter is not talking about immersion in water, as the phrase "not the removal of dirt from the flesh" indicates. He is referring to immersion in Christ's death and resurrection through "an appeal to God for a good conscience," or repentance. Again, it is not the outward act that saves, but the internal reality of the Spirit's regenerating work (cf. Titus 3:4-8).

I also do not believe water baptism is in view in Romans 6 or Galatians 3. I see in those passages a reference to the baptism in the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:13). For a detailed exposition of those passages, I refer you to my commentaries on Galatians and Romans, or the transcripts my sermons on Galatians 3 and Romans 6.

In Acts 22:16, Paul recounts the words of Ananias to him following his experience on the Damascus road: "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name." It is best to connect the phrase "wash away your sins" with "calling on His name." If we connect it with "be baptized," the Greek participle epikalesamenos ("calling") would have no antecedent. Paul's sins were washed away not by baptism, but by calling on His name.

Water baptism is certainly important, and required of every believer. However, the New Testament does not teach that baptism is necessary for salvation.

Crazy & Perverse Halloween Night of Evangelism on Mill Ave.

2009-11-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

Did Jesus Die for a Few or for All?

2009-10-26T23:51:00.018-07:00

Definite Atonement? Particular Redemption? Limited Atonement?
Christ died for all, but few will appropriate His sacrifice.

Often, verses such as John 10:15 will be used to argue that Christ died for the elect only. However, the passage doesn’t say 'only.' It’s true that Christ laid down His life for His sheep, but it doesn’t say Christ laid down His life just, only, singularly, exclusively or solely for his sheep. Consider this, in Romans 10:1 Paul recorded “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” Does that mean Paul doesn’t desire non-Jews to be saved? No, Paul didn’t address non-Jews in this statement, he only mentioned Israel. In the same way in John 10:15 when Jesus said “…I lay down My life for the sheep...” He didn’t address those for whom He did not lay His life down for, but only for those whom He did lay His life down for. Some might argue it’s implied. However, there are many passages that explicitly state that Christ died for all men.

It’s true, the words and phrases ‘all,’ ‘whole world’ and ‘everyone’ don’t always refer to every single individual (e.g. Romans 1:8), thus as always context is important when interpreting meaning. Consider the following:

Hebrews 2:9-10 states “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Note the passage goes from referring to Christ tasting death for “everyone” to referring to only bringing “many” sons to glory. The person who says “everyone” means only “some” has the burden of proof.
1 John 2:2 states “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” The only other time the phrase “holos cosmos” (English ‘whole world‘) appears in 1 John is in 1 John 5:19: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” One common excuse some will use to explain this passage is that John was saying that Christ is the proposition not just for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles. However, 1 John continually mentions the “world,” referring to it as an evil system which opposes God and believers (1 John 2:15-17; 3:1, 13; 5:4-5). The one other time in the epistle that John uses the phrase ‘whole world’ he refers to it as being “…under the sway of the wicked one.” If John wanted to say Christ is the propitiation not just for the elect Jews, but also for the elect Gentiles, he could have just said that. Besides, I think it was likely pretty evident by the last decade of the first century (in which 1 John was likely written) that Gentiles were believers too.
2 Peter 2:1 states “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” The Lord bought even those who will reject Him. They will die in their sins because they rejected the Lord and thus the salvation which comes through Him. The word for ‘bought’(which is also translated ‘redeemed‘) is used in 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Revelation 5:9.
1 Timothy 2:3-7 states “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.”
Romans 5:17-19 states “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Scripture clearly teaches that all men won’t be saved from damnation, but the offer is available to all men (Romans 10:13).
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 states “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”
Isaiah 53:6 states "All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Objections and Answers

Did God fail when it comes to those who Christ died for that are going to hell?

First off, this would be a philosophical argument, if the Bible states that Christ died for everyone, then He did. Second, Christ did not fail, His death is sufficient, those going to hell didn’t appropriate the forgiveness through faith which is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). One could ask, did God fail with Adam and Eve, with Lucifer and his angels or with rebellious Israel? Concerning Jerusalem the Lord said “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37) Stephen said to the Jews “’You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.’” (Acts 7:51) Did God fail? The answer is of course no, man did, but God will be glorified even in that.

If Christ died for everyone, why will most people be going to hell?

Few find the way which leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14) Christ died for all, but few will appropriate His sacrifice by repenting and believing. Ultimately, God is in control.

Indecent Exposure, a Bar Fight with a Call to 911 and More Evangelizing

2009-10-13T23:35:00.019-07:00

October 10-11, 2009: Phil and I met up to do some evangelizing while on Mill Avenue. To begin our night, we went to the front of the post office. Al Gordon, David Ardito and Richard were out there. Dave (who is with Jews for Jesus) and Shawn Williams also eventually appeared. Shortly after we showed up, Al and Richard went down the road a little further. Phil and David did some open airing, we handed out some tracts and had some conversations. I believe it was around 11 pm when we started heading toward the bars to do some witnessing. Shawn, David and Dave came with us. Along the way, a man pointed out to me a guy who while facing oncoming traffic was peeing in the street. I told the others. There was a police officer nearby and Shawn and David told him. He asked them if they wanted to be the victims of indecent exposure, they said no. The officer said he couldn’t do anything, but talk to the man then. Phil just figured the guy was drunk. We continued on our way. In front of Urban Outfitters, there were some people with some snakes. I gave one of them a tract and got some pictures. When we arrived near the front of the Mill Cue Club, we set up. I believe I started the open airing. Then Phil, David and Shawn took turns open airing as well. As I was talking with an atheistic man, another gentleman named Hector came over to join the conversation. A little later into the evening, he came and asked me for prayer about something specific. I asked Dave to join me and pray with him about his situation. If you are a believer, I request that you also pray for Hector. Eventually, Dave, Shawn and David took off. Not too much later while Phil was open airing, a man came up to him acting like he was ready to pummel him into the ground. Someone who was apparently with him was trying to pull him away (Luke 6:22; 1 Peter 4:14). Eventually, he did leave.

As the night continued, I noticed that a fight was going on in front of the Zuma Grill, a bar right next to the Mill Cue Club. I got out the camera and took some pictures. Then, I thought to myself, blessed are the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and went to see if I could do anything. I believe Phil was engaged in a conversation at this point. It seemed as if things were starting to clam down. However, it didn’t take long before the fighting started back up again. The security guy from the bar was getting involved. I decided to call 911 after realizing there wasn’t much I could really do. After I got off the phone, it looked a little like things had calmed down again. However, in actuality the guys who were fighting were just relocating to the right side of the Mill Cue Club. The police showed up and I took some pictures. The officers worked fast at neutralizing the situation and I praise God they did. Phil and I left a bit after 1:30 am.

Our trip to the University of Arizona and a Gay Pride Parade

2009-10-12T23:14:00.018-07:00

October 9, 2009: Grace Covenant Church (a Reformed Baptist Church) planned a trip to Tucson, Arizona to do some evangelizing at the University of Arizona and 4th Ave. (a mild party street). Unbeknownst to them, there was a gay pride parade planned that day on 4th Ave. Though Grace Covenant isn’t Jennifer’s or my church (I don‘t even really have a church at the moment), we came along. Rob-roy Nelson, Steven Gonzales, Phil Ballmaier, David Ardito, Pastor John Giarrizzo, Mike (not sure of last name), Jennifer and I met at Grace Covenant at about 7:45 am., we prayed and then took off to go to Tucson. We got to U of A around 10 am and set up a table with tracts, Bibles and booklets. A little after that, Josh (not sure of his last name) arrived. Phil did some open air preaching (with and without the amp), we had a lot of conversations (some long, some short) and handed out lots of tracts and some booklets and Bibles. There were atheists, Muslims, professing Christians and many others. About 3:00 pm, we packed up and went to get some food. We went to a place called Brooklyn Pizza which was pretty good. I got to talk a lot of theology with the group, particularly with Rob-roy and his pastor. I love discussing the things of Scripture and of God. We talked about Calvinism/ Reformed theology, particularly, Limited Atonement which is the belief that Christ died merely for the sins of the elect and not for the sins of the whole world. I certainly believe that Christ died for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). However, it’s clear that forgiveness will only be applied to those who believe. Josh eventually had to take off. After some more conversing and eating we headed outside to do some evangelizing on 4th Ave.

The University of Arizona

The Gay Pride Parade

There was a gay pride parade scheduled. Again we set up a table with booklets, Bibles and tracts. Rob-roy had some cases of bottled water with the gospel on them to give away (they always seem to be popular). Mike went across the street handing out tracts, so I decided to join him for a bit. I eventually saw Phil open airing without the amp, so I ran and got it from the car. Rob-roy suggested we go across the street cattycorner from where I had been with Mike. I suggested that Jennifer stay with Rob-roy and the others handing out water and tracts at the table. Phil, Dave and I headed over to open air. Phil began and within about 30 seconds, three men were surrounding him. Things remained tense for the remainder of the evening. I was filming virtually the whole time. Steven joined us as things escalated and it was great to have him there; safety in numbers. Steven also did some filming. One man came up at one point and kicked the amp, then a police officer stopped him and asked us if we wanted anything done. We said no, but asked if he could stay nearby. He did. Phil was holding a sign that Jennifer had made that said “Jesus is Lord.“ Some passersby spit on it, and later on, it got spit on again. People continued to yell and get up into the face of whoever was on the mic. A little while later, we packed up the table as well as the waters and went down the road aways. Rob-roy did an open air which I was ecstatic about. He's a great teacher. We got more hostility along the way, but the Lord blessed us with safety. I believe we started to head out at about 8 pm. This was a great time of fellowship. All glory and praise be to God!

Mill Ave. and Oktoberfest with zombies, sexual perversion, lots of water bottles, and more

2009-10-04T23:18:00.026-07:00

October 3-4, 2009: Jennifer (my sister) and I got to Mill Ave. a bit after 9 p.m. Rob-Roy had a table set up where he and other believers were handing out free water bottles with the gospel on them, pizza and tracts. On his table, he had free Bibles and booklets. Rob Tewart, Zoey (Rob’s daughter) Nathan Johnson, Steven and Kelly Gonzales and a few other believers were out there. There was supposedly an ASU football game and Oktoberfest event going on. There were a lot more people out there than I had expected. At one point, a horde of people dressed like zombies ran by. I did get some pictures. They were acting a bit crazy. At about 10:30, Jennifer and I decided to headed up the road toward Tempe Beach Park where there were a lot of people. As we were walking, a man stopped us and asked what church we were from. We talked to him about salvation and the perseverance of the saints. Unfortunately, He believed that a Christian could go on sinning after he got saved. I asked he how he reconciled that belief with the Bible and places like 1 John specifically 1 John 3:9; 5:18. I asked him to search the Scriptures and I encouraged him to examine his life in light on 1 John as I’ve done with other professing Christians. People who reject the perseverance of the believer, often unintentionally make works a requirement to keep one’s salvation, thus teach a false works righteousness Gospel (Galatians 1:8-9). After we walked further along, we stopped and did some preaching. There were larger crowds of people and sadly many of them hated the Gospel so much. While preaching, one woman asked me if she could touch my butt, another asked if she could hug me and later tried to pull my shirt up. I told her that the police were nearby, but she said she didn’t care. Later on into the night, a man claiming to be a homosexual kept saying perverse and just plan disgusting things to me. He then kept attempting to unplug the amplifier. This was yet another night in which the Lord blessed us with mercy and protection. We ended up leaving at about 1:00 a.m.. Praise be to God eternally!

First Friday and then Mill Avenue

2009-10-03T05:08:00.015-07:00

October 2-3, 2009: Phil, Jennifer and I went to evangelize at First Friday and Mill Ave. again last night. First Friday is kind of like an art festival in Phoenix of which thousands of people visit. We got out to FF a little after 8:00 P.M.. As we were walking to Garfield and 5th street where we usually set up, we were preaching along the way. We passed by the Atheist group (I’m not certain all of them are Atheistic) and four or so of them began following us with their amplifier as we walked and preached. As usual, it was packed on Garfield and 5th street and we had a crowd quite quickly. Jonathan Myers was out there and he talked with the Atheists to give us a chance to focus on the crowds. About a half hour or so into being there, a woman claiming to be associated with the event approached us and said we were not allowed to set up as we had unless we paid a vendor fee. We had gone to this event for about the past six months and hadn’t been stopped by police. We were skeptical and told her that we would stop only if the police asked us to. Shortly after that, two officers came by and told us we couldn’t set up at one place for more than 5 or 10 minutes. We filmed and asked them more information and eventually agreed to move. They came directly to us and not the Atheists, which I think was a little telling. We went to the end of the street and did some more preaching. We did have a few more brief interactions with the police. At about 10 p.m., we are usually told we have to stop preaching with the amp, so that was about the time we headed out.

First Friday

We went to Mill Ave. next. We pretty much went directly to the front of the Mill Cue Club to preach. We had many of the normal reactions. Many times during the night, Phil quoted Proverbs 23:29-35 while preaching, which is a great passage for the bars. We had few conversations, some positive and some negative. Somebody actually thanked me for calling 911 last week. There had been a man passed out in front of the bar and the people in line were shouting things like heal him. Somebody threw a lit cigarette at him, others were acting just as unruly toward this man who was just lying there. I called 911 and they quickly came and took him away in an ambulance. Near the end of our night, I spoke to a young man named Shawn who says he was raised a Christian, used to fear God and sin, but just lives for the sake of living now. He did admitted that he been drinking. I went over the Gospel as well as the justice of God with him among other things. I think it was a positive encounter. He even hugged me at the end. Saints, please pray for Shawn. We headed out a bit after 1:00 a.m.. The fight goes on. To God be all the Glory!

Mill Ave.

Proclaiming the Gospel with the Gospel Gorilla and More on Mill Ave.

2009-09-27T21:09:00.054-07:00

I’ll try to be somewhat brief, a lot happened last night (September 26) and it would take too long to record it all. We got out to the Mill Ave. area a little after 7:00 pm. Jennifer and I met up with Phil Ballmaier and then Jeremy, Tish and Joshua Bowling . Phil had been talking with some Muslims by the mosque, which is just off Mill Ave. Jeremy was wearing a gorilla suit. The purpose of course is to draw a crowd and somewhat mock the ridiculousness of particles-to-people evolution (I say particles-to-people evolution because we do believe in changes in animals, just not new genetic information coming about in the animal). We came together and formed a circle not far from the mosque and prayed concerning the evening. After we finished praying, two men (probably in there twenties) asked us what we were doing. They were apparently Muslim one of which said he was from Afghanistan. We explained that we were praying. We talked to them for a bit about Christianity and the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus. While we were talking, a lady came and asked us if we had any money. We talked with her a bit and even prayed with her. Phil ended up buying her a sandwich/ wrap. One of the guys we were talking to gave her a dollar and Jennifer found some change in her purse to give her. Veronica expressed an interest in reading about Moses, so Jennifer also gave her a Bible. Tish gave her a gospel booklet. Eventually, we got on Mill Ave. People really seemed to like the gorilla suit. We also saw Tom Fusco and Al Gordon looking for a place to set up out there. Phil did some open airing and then Jeremy did (see video), which was actually really funny with the gorilla suit. Richard stopped by and handed out some tracts.

Not long after Jeremy finished preaching, Steven and Kelly showed up. Around that time Jeremy, Tish and Joshua headed out. Jennifer and I walked them to their truck. It was great fellowshipping and spending time with them. When Jennifer and I got back to Phil, Steven and Kelly, they were sharing the gospel with a man (see pictures) who I later saw with the lady Phil had earlier bought the sandwich/wrap for. Nathan also eventually came out.

There were various encounters, public Scripture/tract readings and open airings.

After a while, Nathan took off as did Steven and Kelly. As always, they were all such joy to serve with. It was about 10:30 at this point. Phil, Jennifer and I went over to the bars to preach. I was kind of down at this point, but the Lord picked me up. We did a lot of open airing, Scripture readings and had some more conversations. Phil did a great sermon in the book of Ephesians. We stayed out till a little after 1:00 am. It was an interesting evening. Praise God for his protection.

Blink 182 Concert and an ASU Football Game

2009-09-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

As usual, last Saturday evening, we went evangelizing on Mill Ave. It was really crazy out there. There was a Blink 182 concert and an ASU football game, so it was packed. Admitted drunkards, homosexuals and fornicators were out there as usual. There were people trying to grab the mic, take Phil’s cross, burn his cross, drown the preaching out with yelling and motorcycles, filthy language (Colossians 3:8), coarse jesting (Ephesians 5:4) and one man even followed us as we were heading to the car at the end of the night. The Lord truly blessed us with protection. Praise God!

Threatened with Arrest at City Park

2009-09-08T22:44:00.001-07:00

For Amillennialists: If Satan is bound now, how can he do so much? How is this any different from O.T. times?

2009-08-17T02:12:00.005-07:00

Acts 5:3- “…why has Satan filled your heart…”
Acts 26:18- “…the power of Satan…”
1 Corinthians 5:5- “deliver such a one to Satan…”
1 Corinthians 7:5 - “…come together again so that Satan does not tempt you…”
2 Corinthians 2:11- “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
2 Corinthians 4:3-4- “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded…”
2 Corinthians 11:14- “…For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
1 Thessalonians 2:18- “…but Satan hindered us.”
2 Thessalonians 2:9 -“…the working of Satan…”
1 Timothy 1:20- “…I delivered to Satan…”
2 Timothy 2:25-26- "...God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."
James 4:7- "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
1 Peter 5:8- "...your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
1 John 5:19- "...the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one."

Christians cannot lose their salvation.

2009-08-09T22:52:00.019-07:00

When a person truly repents and places his trust in the Savior for forgiveness and everlasting life he is changed by God; born again. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24). Keeping salvation is not dependent on the Christian. As it is written: “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22) and "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” (Philippians 1:6; cf. Ephesians 1:13-14). If He began the work, He will complete it. That’s “if” He began the work. It’s quite prideful and arrogant to think you can be good enough or do something to keep that which you couldn’t earn in the first place. You didn’t deserve/merit it when you got it and you never will be able to.

Nonetheless, those who are born again will endure to the end. If they don’t, then that’s proof that they weren’t truly born again (1 John 2:19). By the way, if you teach that a person can lose his/her salvation, you’re essentially teaching that a person can/ is able to go on sinning. Granted they might eventually lose their salvation, but nonetheless they can go on sinning according to that false theology. However, the Bible clearly teaches that a true saint will not and can not go on living in habitual unrepentant sin (1 John 3:9; 5:18; Romans 6:1-2).

Some Questions to Consider

How many sins do you have to commit before God takes your salvation away (how many are covered by the blood of Christ)? We are told, “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20; read in context of Romans 6:1-2). How many sins before God remembers your sin and lawless deeds again (Hebrews 10:17; Jeremiah 31:34)? What trespass separates us from God? We are told He has forgiven “all trespasses” (Colossians 2:13) when He made us alive with Christ. Didn’t Christ die for all our sins (past, present and future)? At what point does Jesus stop acting as our Advocate (1 John 2:1)? If God gives a person everlasting life, then it ends, was it everlasting (John 3:36)? If a person is born again of “imperishable” seed (1 Peter 1:23), then that person perishes, was the seed really imperishable? Does God unforgive a person’s sin (Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12)? Does God remove His wrath from a person then reapply it when that person loses their salvation; or does a saved person have the wrath of the wrath of God abiding on him? Doesn‘t God know who‘s going to stay justified? Isn’t God able to put His “fear in their hearts so that they will not depart” as Jeremiah 32:40 speaks of? In John 10:27-29 Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.” Who shall never perish? Jesus didn’t say “follow Me to become one of My Sheep.” He said His Sheep listen to and follow Him. He didn’t say they might follow Him, He said they do follow Him. Also, consider Isaiah 43:13 with John 10:27-29. One more question to consider, are you trying to live your life in a way so that you will go to heaven or are you simply depending/relying on God for eternal life?

Those whom God “foreknew, He also predestined” (Romans 8:29) and those “He predestined, these He also called” (Romans 8:30) and the ones “He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:30). This is an indivisible chain of events. If God foreknew a person, that person will ultimately be glorified.

“Are you saying a person can get saved, then go rob banks, fornicate, murder and sin all they want and still be saved?”

Paul put it like this, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). The true Christian won’t go on sinning because he has been born again. As it is written, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9) and “We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him” (1 John 5:18). We know from the Greek that these refer to continuing in sin; making a practice of sin. Thus, if you continue in unrepentant sin, all evidence indicates that you didn’t get saved in the first place.

“Don’t Christians have free will; can’t they turn away from God (choose not to be saved)?”

Christian have a degree of free will, but they also have the fear of God so that they will not turn away. As it is written in Jeremiah 32:40, “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.” Thus, if you turn away from God and the faith, then you weren’t saved to begin with. As it is written, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (1 John 2:19).

Jesus is God the Son

2009-08-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23 also see Isaiah 7:14)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14)

NIV:”... and the Word was God.”

NASB: “...and the Word was God.”

NKJV:”...and the Word was God.”

AMP: “...and the Word was God Himself.”

ESV:”...and the Word was God.”

CEV: “...The Word was with God and was truly God.”

KJ21: "...and the Word was God.”

ASV”...and the Word was God.”

YLT: “...and the Word was God;”

DARBY:”...and the Word was God.”

NLV:”...The Word was God.”

HCSB”...and the Word was God.”

NIRV “...and the Word was God.”

WYC “...and God was the word.”

Worldwide English: “...The Word was God.”

NIVUK: “...and the Word was God.”

WEB:”...and the Word was God.”

WEY: “...and the Word was God.”

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God (John 5:18)

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)

NIV: “…I am!"”

NASB: “...I am."

NKJV: “...I AM.””

ESV: “…I am."”

ASV: “...I am.”

DARBY: “...I am.”

WEY: “...I am."

WBS: “...I am.”

WEB: “...I AM.”

YLT: “...I am;'”

Note: And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14) The Septuagint (a Greek translation of the Old Testament that dates prior to the birth of Christ) renders the Hebrew phrase for “I AM” in Exodus 3:14 as ego eimi. In John 8:58 this is the same phrase Jesus uses the same words translated as “I am”.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty [gibbo^r gibbo^r] God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) Note: The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty [gibbo^r gibbo^r] God. (Isaiah 10:21, also see Jeremiah 32:18)

For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (Colossians 1:19)

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9)

I and my Father are one. (John 10:30) Note: Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. (Galatians 3:20)

The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. (John 10:33)

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:28-29)

"... feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.(1 John 5:20)

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: (Hebrews 1:8-10)

...lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them... the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4, 6) Note: I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (Isaiah 42:8)

Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 9:5)

No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known. (John 1:18 NIV)

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: (2 Peter 1:1) According to John MacArthur "The Gr. construction has only one article before this phrase, making the entire phrase refer to the same person. Thus, Peter is identifying Jesus Christ as both Savior and God." (1)

looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:13 NKJV)

The burden of the word of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD [YHWH], who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:1, 10 NKJV)

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: (Hebrews 1:1-3)

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:14-18)

The First and the Last

God-

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 1:8; 22:13, see also Isaiah 41:4; 44:6)

Jesus-

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; (Revelation 2:8)

Prepare ye the way of the LORD [YHWH]

God expected-

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD [YHWH], make straight in the desert a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:3)
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD [adonai], whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD [YHWH] of hosts. (Malachi 3:1)

Jesus arrived-

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Matthew 3:3)
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (Mark 1:1-3)
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (Matthew 11:10)
He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. (John 1:23)

Creator

God alone-

Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; (Isaiah 44:24)
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11, see also Genesis 1:1; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 95:5-6; 102:25 Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 40:12-14, 28; Malachi 2:10; Hebrews 3:4)

Jesus-

The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:2-3)
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:15-17, see also John 1:10; Hebrews 1:1-3, 10 )

Savior

God (besides Him there is none)-

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:11)
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. (Isaiah 45:21, see also Hosea 13:4; Isaiah 45:22; 1 Timothy 2:3; 4:10; Titus 2:10 )

Jesus-

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord” (Luke.2:11)
“That the Father sent the Son as the Savior of the world.” (1 John.4:14, see also Matthew 1:21; Luke 1:47; John 4:42; Acts 4:12; Titus 1:4; 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 3:18)

Worshiped

God alone-

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:10)
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. (Revelation 22:8-9, see also Deuteronomy 5:7-9; Acts 10:25-26; Romans 1:25)

Jesus-

Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. (Matthew 28:9)
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Hebrews 1:6, see also Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 28:17; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 9:35-38; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 5:8-14)

The Shepherd

God-

The LORD [YHWH] is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1, see also Psalm 80:1; Genesis 49:24)

Jesus-

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:11, 16)
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Hebrews 13:20, see also 1 Peter 5:4)

1: MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1997.

Examine Yourself

2009-08-03T13:36:00.000-07:00

“If you didn’t come to Jesus Christ broken over your sin, if you haven’t come to Jesus Christ literally shattered to the very depths of your being over your sinfulness, if you haven’t mourned over your sinfulness, if you don’t hunger and thirst after righteousness more than anything else, there is a good probability that your not even a Christian. That’s the criteria our Lord gives.”
-Dr. John MacArthur

Church Discipline

2009-08-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

“We don’t discipline for sin, we discipline for unrepentant sin.”
-Jeff Noblit

Part One

Part Two

Saved by Grace through Faith/ Salvation is a Gift of God

2009-08-01T06:28:00.000-07:00

Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (Luke 8:12)
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:14-16)
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40)
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:38-39)
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26)
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? (Acts 11:17)
And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48)
God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." (Acts 15:8-11)
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31)
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18)
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17)
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22)
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24)
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. (Romans 3:28-30)
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (Romans 4:2-6)
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (Romans 4:16)
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Romans 5:15)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (Romans 8:24)
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 9:30-33)
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:4)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:9-13)
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. (Romans 11:6)
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.(1 Corinthians 1:21)
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (Galatians 3:5-8)
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (Galatians 3:22)
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:14)
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26)
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Philippians 3:9)
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5)
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:16)
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Timothy 4:10)
who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, (2 Timothy 1:9)
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39)
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.(Revelation 21:6)
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)

Preaching a “Wonderful Plan for your Life”

2009-07-29T00:29:00.000-07:00

Bill Bright, the man who popularized the “4 Spiritual Laws” method stated the following (please don‘t end up with the same regret),
"In his approximately 42 months of public ministry, there are 33 recorded instances of Jesus speaking about hell. No doubt He warned of hell thousands of times. The Bible refers to hell a total of 167 times. I wonder with what frequency this eternal subject is found in today's pulpits. I confess I have failed in my ministry to declare the reality of hell as often as I have the love of God and the benefits of a personal relationship with Christ. But Jesus spent more of His time warning His listeners of the impending judgement of hell than of speaking of the joys of heaven....I have never felt the need to focus on telling people about hell. However, as a result of a steady decline in morals and spiritual vitality in today's culture and a growing indifference to the afterlife, I have come to realize the need for greater discussion of hell....I have thus come to see that silence, or even benign neglect on these subjects, is disobedience on my part. To be silent on the eternal destinations of souls is to be like a sentry failing to warn his fellow soldiers of impending attack." [Bill Bright, Heaven or Hell - Your Ultimate Choice (Orlando, Fla.: New Life Publications, 2002), 32, 48 as quoted by The Way Of The Master, by Ray Comfort, Chapter 10, page 78]

Quiz: Islam or Mormonism?

2009-07-23T22:28:00.000-07:00

Their first prophet practiced and approved of polygamy
Their first prophet was married to at least one girl under the age of 18
Their first prophet was supposed to have been uneducated and not knowledgeable enough to have written their “holy” book
Their first prophet supposedly had an angel appear to him who told him of their “holy” book
Their first prophet is highly praised and exalted
After the death of their first prophet the religion had a division on who to follow
Their “holy” book praises Jesus as well as others in the Bible
Their religion claims their prophet was prophesied about in the Bible
Their religion claims that the Bible is the Word of God but that it has been corrupted
Their religion claims to have brought a restoration of the truth
Their religion claims works of righteousness are required to be right with their god
Their religion denies the eternality of the divinity of Jesus

Answer: Both

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” -Ecclesiastes 1:9

Praying about the Book of Mormon

2009-07-21T23:16:00.005-07:00

“Test all things; hold fast what is good“. -1 Thessalonians 5:21

Oftentimes, when Mormons talk to non-Mormons after they tell them the wonderful aspects of Mormonism (being with your family forever, exaltation, etc.), they will encourage them to pray about the Book of Mormon citing a passage from the end of the Book of Mormon in the book of Moroni chapter 10 telling them that if it’s true, they will get a feeling from God. Is this a legitimate test to see if the Book of Mormon is the Word of God? Should you pray about it?

We are told not to test God (Deuteronomy 6:16; Luke 4:12).
Alma 32:17-21 and Doctrine and Covenants 63:7-11 discourage asking God for a sign. Essentially stating that if you have a sign you don’t need faith.
The Bible warns that our feelings can deceive and mislead us. Jeremiah 17:9 states “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Proverbs 28:26 states “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” (see also Ecclesiastes 9:3) How much easier would it be for our heart to deceive us if we want something to be true?
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” -Proverbs 14:12 see also Proverbs 16:25
It’s recorded in the Bible that demons possess and control unsaved people, it doesn’t seem that it would be hard for Satan or one of his demons to give you a feeling if you ask. “…For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)
Are you more discerning than Joseph Smith? “Joseph …received a revelation that some of the brethren should go to Toronto, Canada, and that they would sell the copy-right of the Book of Mormon… they failed entirely to sell the copy-right, returning without any money… we asked Joseph how it was that he had received a revelation…and the brethren had utterly failed in their undertaking. Joseph did not know how it was, so he enquired of the Lord about it, and behold the following revelation came through the stone: ‘Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of man: and some revelations are of the devil.’ So we see that the revelation to go to Toronto and sell the copy-right was not of God, but was of the devil or of the heart of man.” (An Address to All Believers in Christ by David Whitmer, 1887, p. 31) By the way, how do you know that Joseph’s revelation of the Book of Mormon or anything else he said wasn’t from the devil or from man? He didn’t even know.
In Acts 17:11, the Bereans are said to be more nobler than the Thessalonians because “…they examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” It doesn’t say they prayed about it.
Have you prayed about the Koran, the satanic bible, the Hindu Vedas or other supposed sacred writings?
Which Book of Mormon do you pray about? There have been many changes and many editions; the 1830, the 1920, the 1964, the 1981 etc.
Which church do you follow? Many claim to follow the Book of Mormon, such as the LDS, the RLDS aka the Community of Christ, the Hedrickites (Church of Christ), the FLDS, the Strangites (the original Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), etc. If you choose based on majority, logically you would become a Catholic or Muslim. Still, how do you even know there is still a true church on the earth to follow? How do you know there hasn’t been a new apostasy and after Joseph died the church fell away from the truth? According to the LDS church, it happened once before even though Jesus said “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

Are you discouraging prayer?

A true Christian can and will pray to God regularly. Some things however, don’t need to be prayed about. Open God’s Word to see what’s right and what’s wrong, what’s true and what’s false. You don’t need to pray about whether or not Mohammad was a prophet of God, whether you should look at pornography, whether you should love your wife, whether a woman should be a pastor or whether you should steal from the rich and give to the poor. Often homosexuals, adulterers as well as many others claim that what they feel leads them to believe that what they are doing is right. Some homosexuals even say God gave them the feelings and peace about it. The Bible never exhorts us to pray about a book or person to see whether they are true. You may say James chapter one says “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally…” (James 1:5). As stated before, a true Christian should pray to God. James was written to believers, the “brethren” (James 1:2), not to unbelievers who were searching. He doesn’t tell them to pray for a feeling to know whether a book is true. Whom do you pray to? God. Who is the only one through whom we can pray through to get to God? Jesus said,“…no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5). We must go through Jesus Christ the Son. Which Jesus? Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22 warns about false Christs. In 2 Corinthians 11:4 the apostle Paul warned of “another Jesus,” a false Jesus. Consider the Jesus of Islam who is only a prophet of god, not the Son of God, not God the Son and not the true Jesus. You have to go through the true Jesus to pray to the true God. The Jesus of Mormonism is not the true Jesus. He is a created being, like you and I. Just another man who worked His way to godhood.

Pray to a false god-Through a false Jesus-About a false book

Expect a false answer

Here is what it comes down to, you do not need to pray about something that is contrary to the Word of God, and time and time again the Book of Mormon is. Not to mention, being contrary to archeological, historical, anthropological, and biological evidence.

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” -Galatians 1:8-9

Police threatened to arrest us for Witnessing at Freestone Park

2009-07-12T04:54:00.000-07:00

2009-06-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

From http://alreadygonebook.wordpress.com/

Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis commissioned America’s Research Group to investigste why young people leave the church. The findings are published in Ken Ham’s new book, Already Gone. Some insights include:
Among 20- to 29-year-old evangelicals
95% attended church regularly during elementary school
95% attended church regularly during middle school
>> 40% first had doubts about the Bible in middle school
55% attended church regularly during high school
>> 43.7% first had doubts about the Bible in high school
11% attended church regularly during college
>> 10% first had doubts about the Bible in college
Oddly, the study discovered that those who attended Sunday school (61%) are actually more likely than non-attendees (39%):
to not believe that all the accounts and stories in the Bible are true
to doubt the Bible because it was written by men
to defend keeping abortion legal
to accept the legalization of gay marriage
to believe in evolution
to believe that good people don’t need to go to church
Clearly, most children’s ministries are failing at producing long-term disciples. So what will it take to change this?
On the one hand, I believe that every children’s ministry can absolutely improve what they do. There is always room for improvement, but I also think these failed children’s ministries are the byproduct of failed churches.
If you want to reach and disciple children, you must reach and disciple their parents.

Church going kids spend only 1% of their time at church, 20% at school, 30% sleeping, and much of the rest watching TV and playing. Children’s ministers can determine the 1%, but it is the parents who have the power to decide what reaches their kids during the other 99%. If you disciple the parents, you disciple the kids.

The Impossible Mormon Gospel

2009-06-21T03:12:00.002-07:00

To see just how good a Mormon must be to be right with God let’s go directly to the LDS scriptures and prophets.

“For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven; And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:31-33)
According to D&C 1:31-33, what degree of sin can God look upon?

"Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins--behold, he will confess them and forsake them." (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42-43)
Have you forsaken all of your sins?

“There is one crucial test of repentance. This is abandonment of the sin… In other words, it is not real repentance until one has abandoned the error of his ways and started on a new path.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, p.163)
Have you really repented and thus abandoned your sin?

"…unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God." (Doctrine and Covenants 82:7)
According to D&C 82:7, what happens to you if you do sin again?

“The Lord cannot save men in their sins but only from their sins, and that only when they have shown true repentance.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, p.166)

“The Lord will indeed forgive, but he will not tolerate repetitions of the sin:” (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, p.357; refers to Ether 2:15)

“An incomplete repentance never brought about complete forgiveness” (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, p.212)

“And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.” (Alma 11:37)
Can God save you? Yes, according to the Book of Mormon but, you cannot be saved in your sins. You can only be saved if you genuinely repent, which is to completely and permanently stop sinning.

“Discontinuance of sin must be permanent” (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, p.176)
It’s been said “I’ll try my best and God will make up for the rest.”

“Trying is not sufficient Nor is repentance complete when one merely tries to abandon sin…To ‘try’ is weak. To ‘do the best I can’ is not strong. We must always do better than we can.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, pp.164-165)

“And if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then his grace sufficient for you…” (Moroni 10:32)
According to Moroni 10:32, when does God make up for the rest (the times we‘ve fallen short)? When is God’s grace sufficient? Is it not after you’ve denied yourself “all” ungodliness? Have you denied yourself all ungodliness? Do you ever lie, lust, get angry without cause, commit any sin or do anything that is ungodly?

“Those who feel that they can sin and be forgiven and then return to sin and be forgiven again and again must straighten out their thinking. Each previously forgiven sin is added to the new one. Thus, when a man has made up his mind to change his life there must be no turning back.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, p.170)

“daily transgression and daily repentance is that which is not pleasing in the sight of God.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 148)

“We can hardly be too forceful in reminding people that they cannot sin and be forgiven and then sin again and again and expect repeated forgiveness” (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, p.360)

"In the context of the spirit of forgiveness, one good brother asked me, "Yes, that is what ought to be done, but how do you do it? Doesn't that take a superman?' 'Yes,' I said, 'but we are commanded to be supermen. Said the Lord, 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.' (Matt. 5:48.) We are gods in embryo, and the Lord demands perfection of us.'" (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, p. 286)
God commands you to stop sinning and be perfect. Note, it says “be” perfect not “become” perfect.

“…for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” (1 Nephi 3:7)
Does God give a command you can’t keep? Wouldn’t your best be sinless perfection?

“Being perfect means to triumph over sin. This is a mandate from the Lord. He is just and wise and kind. He would never require anything from his children which was not for their benefit and which was not attainable. Perfection therefore is an achievable goal." (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, p. 209)

“…for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” (2 Nephi 25:23)

Are you doing “all” that you can do? Are you perfect? According to the prophet and the Book of Mormon you can be perfect. God commands perfection of you and you’ll only be saved by grace after you do all you can do. (2 Nephi 25:23)

You must stop sinning before death

“Men and women who live in mortality and who have heard the gospel here have had their day, their seventy years to put their lives in harmony, to perform the ordinances, to repent and to perfect their lives…spirit world repentance cannot recompense for that which could and should have been done on earth.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer Kimball, pp.314-315)

“…this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God… For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked” (Alma 34:30-35, see also Mosiah 2:36-39; Alma 12:24; 2 Nephi 9:38)

Letter to my LDS friend by Rob-roy

2009-06-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend,

I love you. Please take time to read this very important letter. Since you are so devoted to your faith it is important for you to know that according to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), true repentance means sinless perfectionism. Since no one can completely stop sinning in this life the teaching of the LDS Church is indeed the Impossible Gospel. This is the reason you and other LDS I talk with consistently respond that you do not know for sure that you have eternal life because you must rely on your own ability to keep the commandments and stop sinning in order to earn the grace of God.

If you don’t believe me then see for yourself. Here are the requirements of true repentance for salvation as defined by the LDS Church:

Must forsake all sin and deny all ungodliness
"Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins--behold, he will confess them and forsake them." (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42-43)

“And if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you…” (Moroni 10:32)

“Repentance is for every soul who has not yet reached perfection” (Miracle of Forgiveness [MoF] by Spencer Kimball, p.33)

Must keep all the commandments.
“For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven; And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:31-33)

Must stop all sinning.
“Being perfect means to triumph over sin. This is a mandate from the Lord. He is just and wise and kind. He would never require anything from his children which was not for their benefit and which was not attainable. Perfection therefore is an achievable goal” (MoF by Spencer Kimball p. 209)

“the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” 1 Nephi 3:7

“Discontinuance of sin must be permanent” (MoF, p.176)

Must never repeat any sin again or commit new sins for the first time.
"Unto the soul that sins the former sins return" (Doctrine and Covenants 82:7).

“daily transgression and daily repentance is that which is not pleasing in the sight of God.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 148)

“no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot saved in your sins” (Alma 11:37)

“Those who feel that they can sin and be forgiven and then return to sin and be forgiven again and again must straighten out their thinking. Each previously forgiven sin is added to the new one. When a man has made up his mind to change his life there must be no turning back.” (MoF by Spencer Kimball, p.170)

Trying not to sin is not enough

“Desire and Trying to abandon sins is not sufficient, only abandoning sin is sufficient” (MoF by Spencer Kimball, p.163-164)

“We can hardly be too forceful in reminding people that they cannot sin and be forgiven and then sin again and again and expect repeated forgiveness” (MoF by Spencer Kimball, p.360)

“There is one crucial test of repentance. This is abandonment of the sin.” (MoF by Spencer Kimball, p.163)

“An incomplete repentance never brought about complete forgiveness” (MoF by Spencer Kimball, p.212)

Must stop sinning before death (No second chances)

“spirit world repentance cannot recompense for that which could and should have been done on earth” (MoF by Spencer Kimball, p.315)

“…this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God… For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked” (Alma 34:30-35)

Friend, the Impossible Gospel of Mormonism is not only impossible but also false. It is based on fear and works righteousness. Grace only applies after all you can do (2 Nephi 25:23). Unless you never commit any sin ever again you are still in sin and not truly repentant. Trying to stop sinning is not enough. The time to deny all ungodliness is now because at death there is no second chance from being sealed to the devil who is in Outer Darkness. That is the final state of your soul for all eternity without end. Have you stopped sinning completely? If not then Grace does not apply to you. You will die in sin and will not be saved to be in the presence of the Father according to the LDS Teaching you just read. The LDS gospel is not good news.

For the Christian the requirement to be perfect still exists but it exists not in ourselves but in Jesus Christ completely. It is by the Cross we who are not perfect are made perfect forever (Hebrews 10:14). There is no other way for the Bible tells us that there is no one who is good (Romans 3:10). A person who thinks they can get to Heaven by being good and keeping the commandments does not understand how God sees sin, punishment, or Hell (John 3:18, 36). On Judgment Day every thought, word and deed will be exposed.

When we look at ourselves in the mirror of God’s standard we see that God views lust as adultery (Matthew 5:28), hatred as murder (1 John 3:15), and that no secret sin is hidden from Him of whom we will give an account (Hebrews 4:13). We see our sin in all its ugliness and realize that there is nothing we can do to remedy it. The more we see the depth of our sin the more we realize the extent of God's love to save us, making grace truly amazing (Romans 2:4, 5:8).

That’s the bad news. The law cannot save us. It simply teaches us (Romans 3:20, 7:13; Galatians 3:24) to not trust in our own goodness and leads us to trust by grace through faith in the goodness of Jesus alone for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:4). Because of sin we deserve Hell, but God showed His love by pouring His wrath toward our sin on His only Son. Jesus alone does the “perfecting” (Heb. 10:14). He suffered and died on the cross in our place and rose again so that we who deserve such punishment could be pardoned and God glorified. That is the good news. God’s love is amazing. Will you reject His amazing gift of undeserved kindness?

God commands you to repent and put all trust in Jesus Christ alone to save you (Acts 17:30-31). Stop attempting to gain your own salvation through works that cannot save (Rom. 10:3-4). It cheapens Christ’s sacrifice to be only a partial payment and insults God. You can do nothing to save yourself (Eph. 2:8-9). You must put all your faith in Jesus alone and place zero trust in yourself. Cry out to God and beg him to save you from your sin, and trust ONLY in His death and resurrection as full payment.

However, to die in sin apart from God's complete and undeserved mercy will bring a fearful day of wrath, judgment and a destination of Hell (Revelation 21:8). Don't wait another moment. Surrender all to the Savior for He is worthy and this day may be your last. There is no other way. Please repent and trust in the true Jesus. He is merciful to save.

I love you Friend. That is why I wanted to share this most important message of God’s kindness. Let’s talk more as soon as possible.

Love,

Rob-roy

From the Skate Park to Mill Ave.

2009-06-07T04:41:00.001-07:00

From Saturday June 6, 2009- The evening of evangelism started out at Freestone skate park. I met Jeremy, Tish and Josh there. Tish was doing the Intelligence Test for candy. The test of course included the gospel. She was 10 for 10 with those, she asked ten people to take it and she got ten willing participants. Jeremy was doing his blog talk radio show live through his cell phone. Josh and I went in to open air preach, and I must say it was depressing to see the hatred that kids so young have for the Bible and the Gospel, as well as the language they use. We preached the gospel and answered their questions. Things were hostile, I had a water bottle thrown at me which did manage to hit me in the side of the face. Praise God though, it didn’t have much water in it. Josh did a great job of opening air. He is an awesome brother in the Lord.
After we left the skate park, from there I went to Mill Ave. where I met up with Rob-roy and others. Not much later, Jennifer came out. I got to spend some time talking with Justin again. He is growing in the Lord so fast. It was nice getting to meet some of the other fellow believers that came out with Rob-roy. Around eleven, we headed to Rob-roy’s car and ended up talking about the things of God till after 1am. Rob-roy has such an abundant knowledge of the Word of God. Before the night ended, Jennifer and I headed back out to Mill ave., where I briefly open aired.

The back of Rob-roy, who is witnessing.

One of the "Got Thirst?" water bottles.

Jennifer (my sister) handing out the water bottles with the gospel on them.

If you claim to be a Christian, PLEASE watch/listen to this

2009-06-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

Or if you're short on time, check this one out:

More Mill and our trip to Prescott

2009-06-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

It’s been a bit since I last posted anything (sorry). We’ve been going to Mill Ave. to share the Gospel. Jennifer and I met a couple, Brandt and Haleh who were also out there evangelizing . We talked to them for a while, they seemed to be very nice and doctrinally sound. Praise God! On May 9, Jennifer and I had company: Jeremy, Tish, Josh, Tony and Mark came along to evangelize with us. Here’s a clip from the night.

I’ll be posting a video from last Saturday, May 30. Jennifer and I were out there and I got smacked by a lady. I’m okay, but it was a surprise. I thank God yet again for His protection.
The next day a group of us went up to Mayer, AZ to hear Jeremy give a sermon at a church up there. He did a nice job. While we were there, we got to do some evangelizing in Prescott. Those who went to hear the sermon were Tish, Josh, Tony, Gloria, Bill, Jean, Gary, Harmony, myself and of course Jeremy. Below is a clip of Josh and I open airing there.

Barack Obama ASU Commencement Outreach

2009-05-14T02:07:00.000-07:00

Some guys who were working at the ASU graduation event.They heard me preaching and prayed for me. Some were with Teen Challenge. It was a blessing to meet and talk with them.

Last Night

2009-05-10T02:16:00.000-07:00

Second Day Laborer Outreach

2009-05-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday a group of people from Calvary Chapel Saving Grace got together and made about 300 lunches. Then the next day we (Melinda, Tish, Jennifer, Jean, Josh, Bill, Jeremy, Tony and I) went to Mesa and Chandler to give out the lunches to day laborers along with Gospel tracts. This was the second time we have done this. It was awesome.

Mormon doctrine, missionaries, evangelism, fellowshipping, preaching and police coming to my aid all in one long evening

2009-05-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, we started out the evening by going to an event that Jeff Durbin, a Christian apologist from LifeQuest Church was having called “Is Mormonism Christian?” Jeff did a great job teaching (see the YouTube of a portion of the event below). We left before the Q&A portion to head out to Mill Ave. to meet up with Rob-roy Nelson, a good friend and brother in the Lord, along with others to speared the Gospel.

As we drove up to park, I saw what appeared to be two Mormon missionaries passing by. I wanted to run over and talk with them, so I jumped out of the car, grabbed my Bible and hurried towards them. After I caught up to where they were and I asked if they were LDS missionaries, they said yes. I then asked them why there had been so many changes to the Book of Mormon. Since 1830 there have been over 3,900 changes excluding punctuation marks to the book that the Mormon Church claims is the word of God. Elder Davis wanted more information and likely proof of the changes, so I gave him my e-mail address. After talking about the changes, we discussed what is sometimes called “The Impossible Mormon Gospel.” It’s basically the Mormon teaching of how one is made right with God. Which basically amounts to being perfect and sinless in this life. I cited Book of Mormon passages like Moroni 10:32 and 2 Nephi 25:23. “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God” (Moroni 10:32 of the Book of Mormon) “…for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23 of the Book of Mormon). I asked them if they had denied all ungodliness and do all they can do. After all only then is the grace sufficient. I asked them if they achieved this and they said “no” and denied that it was possible. I then pointed out to them that the Book of Mormon states “…the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7). They didn’t have many answers concerning these thing. They asked if I had kept that standard, I replied “no” and that if the Book of Mormon is true, I’m going to Hell, but thank God it’s not. I got to tell them the true Gospel which is that grace is unmerited favor and that salvation is a gift of God (See Romans 4:1-7; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6). Repentance is granted by God, it’s not a work(Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25). We must turn from sin to God and trust in Christ and He will save us. At one point I did tell them that according to the Bible we are not all children of God (See Acts 13:9-11; 1 John 3:10). Note what Jesus said “Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me…Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do…” (John 8:42, 44). Overall it was a great conversation.

Afterwards, Jennifer and I walked over to Rob-roy’s table on Mill Ave. where he gives away tracts, Bibles, booklets, pizza and water bottles with the gospel on them. When we got there, he was speaking with some cabbies, I think they were Muslim. Steven, his wife Kelly and Justin were there as well. I think that it’s great that Steven and Kelly come out together. They are truly acting as one flesh. I got to spend some time talking with Justin, he’s a wonderful brother in the Lord. He and I witnessed to two ladies. One claimed to be an atheist and the other a Presbyterian. The Presbyterian was willing to take a booklet and a Bible. Later into the evening, we gathered to pray about the night and other things. Overall, the fellowshipping with all of them was great and encouraging. Pictured from left to right is Steven, Justin, Marcus (me) and Rob Roy. Not pictured are the are the ladies Kelly and Jennifer.

Jennifer and I walked the others to their vehicles. Then Jennifer and I went back out to open air in front of the bars/ night clubs. I began to preach about sin and salvation. Only about five minutes into preaching someone threw liquid (perhaps water or beer) onto the box that amplifies the sound on the portable P.A. we use. Praise God, it was all right. I just continued preaching. Jennifer said at one point I did so for a half hour. At times it was a little frightening. At one point two guys came over and talked/argued. One of them closely circled Jennifer. They got too close for my comfort. I tried to stay within arm‘s length of Jennifer. I thank God for His protection as they did eventually leave. As we were leaving, I decided to preach while we walked. Anyway, a man came up to me saying that I was blasphemes. The man didn’t seem to be in his right mind. He kept coming closer to me and I tried to get away. I was thinking this man might be demon possessed or drunk. I just kept declaring that Jesus is Lord and God. Just then, out of nowhere it seemed, police officers road up on bikes and told him to leave. It seem they had warned the man about his conduct before. He moved away and the officers said to call them if we have any trouble. We thanked them and headed out, it was past midnight. It was a lot to consume. God showed us grace and mercy throughout the night.

Pray

2009-05-06T03:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.nps.gov/grca/parknews/two-still-missing.htm

First Friday

2009-05-06T02:19:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, Jennifer (my sister) and I went to an event in Phoenix known as First Friday. Thousands of people gather to display art, dance, play music, sell items and hang out. This was the second time we went to this event. We did some open airing and had some conversations with people about the Bible and atheism, among other topics.

We started the night off with open airing for awhile about the standard God has set for those who want to be right with Him and enter into His Kingdom. After all, Heaven is His kingdom not ours. He decides Who gets in, not me, not Obama, not Bush, but God. God has told us that His standard is perfection. Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). However, God’s Word also tells us that we have not kept that standard. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:10-11). God lovingly made a way whereby we could be made right with him and not go to Hell. That way is Jesus. He suffered the punishment we all deserve and died on the cross, then he rose again on the third day. Now God commands men everywhere to repent and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins for He has appointed a day in which He will Judge the world in righteousness.

During the night a young man came over to ask me if God was going to send the one billion Muslims to Hell. I discussed the issue with Him for a bit. I asked him who would be the one that decides who goes to Heaven. Would it be me, him or God the Creator of all of us? He agreed that it would be God. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23). God has made away for us to be saved from hell and damnation. Furthermore, the law is written on our hearts (Romans 2:15). Man is without excuse.

Near the end of our night, Jennifer and I spoke to a young man named Michael. He had been standing nearby while I was open airing. He said that he had recently arrived at the conclusion that Christianity and the Bible are true; though I don’t know if he has repented and trusted in Christ as His savior. Pray for Him and us as well.

By the way, there was a guy there that was dressed up like Captain Jack Sparrow of the Pirates of Caribbean movies.

I'm Hit

2009-04-27T00:04:00.000-07:00

Just a little over a week ago (April 17 and 18), Jennifer and I went out to Mill Ave. to evangelize at night. I did some open airing in front of some of the bars and talked with some people. I got some of the normal reactions; people asking things like why we were out there and people yelling. However, on Saturday night (April 18) things got a little different. Some of the people threw a few lemon parts at me (I think only two hit me) and apparently a lit cigarette. I would hardly call this persecution however, compared to what the saints of old and those in other counties suffer. I do think that it was a good sign that someone was listening. Overall, aside from the bits of fearfulness, it is awesome to get to tell people the good news of Jesus; that He saved me and He can do the same for them.

Police Stop Amplified Preaching

2009-04-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

Police Stop Amplified Preaching before Mormon Easter Pageant

RepentTrust

Evangelism on March 4, 2011

8 year old Open Airs the 10 Commandments

Waning about Dangerous Men

Friday to Saturday, then Saturday to Sunday on Mill

June 10 into 11, 2010

Two Vitally Important Messages

Is it Biblical to Lead a Person in a Sinner's Prayer?

From the Skatepark to Mill Ave. Art Festival *Caution Profane Language*

Premillennialism Vs. Amillennialism

St. Patrick's Day/ Flogging Molly Concert Evangelism (2010)

Salvation does not Precede Faith

A Conversation with a Mormon Missionary about Salvation

Will you go to Heaven?

Are the Sabbath laws binding on Christians today? (John MacArthur/ GTY)

Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation? (John MacArthur/ GTY)

Crazy & Perverse Halloween Night of Evangelism on Mill Ave.

Did Jesus Die for a Few or for All?

Indecent Exposure, a Bar Fight with a Call to 911 and More Evangelizing

Our trip to the University of Arizona and a Gay Pride Parade

Mill Ave. and Oktoberfest with zombies, sexual perversion, lots of water bottles, and more

First Friday and then Mill Avenue

Proclaiming the Gospel with the Gospel Gorilla and More on Mill Ave.

Blink 182 Concert and an ASU Football Game

Threatened with Arrest at City Park

For Amillennialists: If Satan is bound now, how can he do so much? How is this any different from O.T. times?

Christians cannot lose their salvation.

Jesus is God the Son

Examine Yourself

Church Discipline

Saved by Grace through Faith/ Salvation is a Gift of God

Preaching a “Wonderful Plan for your Life”

Quiz: Islam or Mormonism?

Praying about the Book of Mormon

Police threatened to arrest us for Witnessing at Freestone Park

The Impossible Mormon Gospel

Letter to my LDS friend by Rob-roy

From the Skate Park to Mill Ave.

If you claim to be a Christian, PLEASE watch/listen to this

More Mill and our trip to Prescott

Barack Obama ASU Commencement Outreach

Last Night

Second Day Laborer Outreach

Mormon doctrine, missionaries, evangelism, fellowshipping, preaching and police coming to my aid all in one long evening

Pray

First Friday

I'm Hit

Police Stop Amplified Preaching

From the Skatepark to Mill Ave. Art Festival Caution Profane Language