Truth ...it really is true.

Romans 9 Discovered, Rediscover Roman 9

2012-01-18T18:28:00.001-09:00

The Deluded Atheist By Douglas Wilson

2012-01-16T23:33:00.000-09:00

Pushing the antithesis: the apologetic methodology of Greg L. Bahnsen

2012-01-16T23:26:00.001-09:00

Hey Discovery Channel - How About a Show Called The All Arabian Christian?

2012-01-07T16:12:00.000-09:00

Arab Christians have been around since the very early days of Christianity. Islam is in fact a foreign element introduced circa 600 A.D. Historical precedent thus places the burden of proof upon Islam. Christianity had already been well established when Muhammad began receiving his alleged revelations. All the issues regarding the closing of the Christian canon had been dealt with 300 years prior to the existence of the Quran. I had the great privilege and honor of meeting the Arab Christian seen in this video on a number of occasions. When we lived in the Cleveland, Ohio area back in the late 80s, a Muslim friend was converted to Christianity at a Billy Graham crusade. He belonged to a large and growing Muslim population in the Cleveland area. He new full well the consequences of proclaiming his faith in Christ. He was threatened by the Islamic community in which he lived and worked. His wife and children were threatened as well. He remained resolute and did not recant his faith in Christ. I was privileged to be one of the Christian men who discipled him as he began to grow in his new found faith in Christ. He contacted Dr. Anis Shorrosh, who visited the Cleveland area occasionally. I have never forgotten the fearlessness of these dear believers. The fact that most American Christians couldn't argue their way out of a wet paper heresy is a complete shame. It is also an indicator of spiritual deadness. Claiming to be a Christian does not make a person a Christian. The marks of true conversion are clearly described in Scripture. Primarily, agreement with, belief of and obedience to what the Bible says and teaches. The video has Islamic advertisements interspersed throughout but the fearless character of Dr. Shorrosh overpowers the petty attempt to undermine the Gospel of Grace. Enjoy.

Resolved to Read the Revelation of the True and Living God

2011-12-28T10:32:00.001-09:00

Maketh haste to copy and paste.
Time spent in God's Word is never a waste.
Take heed to what it doth sayest,
and to the context remaineth ever chaste.
Disregard not its doctrine with distaste,
Perchance in hell thy soul shalt be placed.
Perchance with salvation thy soul shalt be graced,
If divinely enabled its message is embraced.

Bible Reading Schedule:
Jan 1 Gen 1_2, Ps 1, Matt 1_2
Jan 2 Gen 3_4, Ps 2, Matt 3_4
Jan 3 Gen 5_6, Ps 3, Matt 5
Jan 4 Gen 7_8, Ps 4, Matt 6
Jan 5 Gen 9_10, Ps 5, Matt 7
Jan 6 Gen 11_12, Ps 6, Matt 8
Jan 7 Gen 13_15, Ps 7, Matt 9
Jan 8 Gen 16_17, Ps 8, Matt 10
Jan 9 Gen 18_19, Ps 9, Matt 11
Jan 10 Gen 20_21, Ps 10, Matt 12
Jan 11 Gen 22_23, Ps 11, Matt 13
Jan 12 Gen 24, Ps 12, Matt 14
Jan 13 Gen 25_26, Ps 13, Matt 15
Jan 14 Gen 27, Ps 14, Matt 16_17
Jan 15 Gen 28_29, Ps 15, Matt 18
Jan 16 Gen 30, Ps 16, Matt 19
Jan 17 Gen 31, Ps 17, Matt 20
Jan 18 Gen 32_33, Ps 18:1_24, Matt 21
Jan 19 Gen 34_35, Ps 18:25_50, Matt 22
Jan 20 Gen 36, Ps 19:1_6, Matt 23
Jan 21 Gen 37_38, Ps 19:7_14, Matt 24
Jan 22 Gen 39_40, Ps 20, Matt 25
Jan 23 Gen 41_42, Ps 21, Matt 26
Jan 24 Gen 43_44, Ps 22:1_18, Matt 27_28
Jan 25 Gen 45_46, Ps 22:19_31, Mark 1
Jan 26 Gen 47_48, Ps 23, Mark 2
Jan 27 Gen 49_50, Ps 24, Mark 3
Jan 28 Ex 1, Ps 25, Mark 4
Jan 29 Ex 2_3, Ps 26, Mark 5
Jan 30 Ex 4_5, Ps 27, Mark 6
Jan 31 Ex 6_7, Ps 28, Mark 7
Feb 1 Ex 8_9, Ps 29, Mark 8
Feb 2 Ex 10_11, Ps 30, Mark 9
Feb 3 Ex 12, Ps 31, Mark 10
Feb 4 Ex 13_14, Ps 32, Mark 11
Feb 5 Ex 15_16, Ps 33, Mark 12
Feb 6 Ex 17_19, Ps 34, Mark 13
Feb 7 Ex 20_21, Ps 35, Mark 14
Feb 8 Ex 22_23, Ps 36, Mark 15
Feb 9 Ex 24_25, Ps 37:1_22, Mark 16
Feb 10 Ex 26_27, Ps 37:23_40, Luke 1
Feb 11 Ex 28, Ps 38, Luke 2
Feb 12 Ex 29_30, Ps 39, Luke 3
Feb 13 Ex 31_32, Ps 40, Luke 4
Feb 14 Ex 33_34, Ps 41, Luke 5
Feb 15 Ex 35_36, Ps 42, Luke 6
Feb 16 Ex 37_38, Ps 43, Luke 7
Feb 17 Ex 39_40, Ps 44, Luke 8
Feb 18 Lev 1, Ps 45, Luke 9
Feb 19 Lev 2_4, Ps 46, Luke 10
Feb 20 Lev 5_6, Ps 47, Luke 11
Feb 21 Lev 7, Ps 48, Luke 12
Feb 23 Lev 10_11, Ps 50, Luke 14
Feb 24 Lev 12_13, Ps 51, Luke 15
Feb 25 Lev 14, Ps 52, Luke 16
Feb 26 Lev 15_16, Ps 53, Luke 17
Feb 27 Lev 17_18, Ps 54, Luke 18
Feb 28 Lev 19_20, Ps 55, Luke 19
Mar 1 Lev 21_22, Ps 56, Luke 20
Mar 2 Lev 23_24, Ps 57, Luke 21
Mar 3 Lev 25, Ps 58, Luke 22
Mar 4 Lev 26, Ps 59, Luke 23
Mar 5 Lev 27, Ps 60, Luke 24
Mar 6 Num 1, Ps 61, John 1
Mar 7 Num 2, Ps 62, John 2
Mar 8 Num 3, Ps 63, John 3
Mar 9 Num 4, Ps 64, John 4
Mar 10 Num 5_6, Ps 65, John 5
Mar 11 Num 7, Ps 66, John 6
Mar 12 Num 8_9, Ps 67, John 7
Mar 13 Num 10_11, Ps 68:1_18, John 8
Mar 14 Num 12_13, Ps 68:19_36, John 9
Mar 15 Num 14, Ps 69:1_18, John 10
Mar 16 Num 15, Ps 69:19_36, John 11
Mar 17 Num 16, Ps 70, John 12
Mar 18 Num 17_18, Ps 71, John 13
Mar 19 Num 19_20, Ps 72, John 14
Mar 20 Num 21_22, Ps 73, John 15
Mar 21 Num 23_24, Ps 74, John 16
Mar 22 Num 25_26, Ps 75, John 17
Mar 23 Num 27_28, Ps 76, John 18
Mar 24 Num 29_30, Ps 77, John 19
Mar 25 Num 31, Ps 78:1_39, John 20_21
Mar 26 Num 32, Ps 78:40_72, Acts 1
Mar 27 Num 33_34, Ps 79, Acts 2
Mar 28 Num 35_36, Ps 80, Acts 3
Mar 29 Deut 1, Ps 81, Acts 4
Mar 30 Deut 2_3, Ps 82, Acts 5
Mar 31 Deut 4, Ps 83, Acts 6
Apr 1 Deut 5_6, Ps 84, Acts 7
Apr 2 Deut 7_8, Ps 85, Acts 8
Apr 3 Deut 9_10, Ps 86, Acts 9
Apr 4 Deut 11_12, Ps 87, Acts 10
Apr 5 Deut 13_14, Ps 88, Acts 11
Apr 6 Deut 15_17, Ps 89:1_29, Acts 12
Apr 7 Deut 18_20, Ps 89:30_52, Acts 13
Apr 8 Deut 21_22, Ps 90, Acts 14
Apr 9 Deut 23_24, Ps 91, Acts 15
Apr 10 Deut 25_27, Ps 92, Acts 16
Apr 11 Deut 28, Ps 93, Acts 17
Apr 12 Deut 29_30, Ps 94, Acts 18
Apr 13 Deut 31_32, Ps 95, Acts 19
Apr 14 Deut 33_34, Ps 96, Acts 20
Apr 15 Josh 1, Ps 97, Acts 21
Apr 16 Josh 2_4, Ps 98, Acts 22
Apr 17 Josh 5_7, Ps 99, Acts 23
Apr 18 Josh 8_9, Ps 100, Acts 24_25
Apr 19 Josh 10_11, Ps 101, Acts 26
Apr 20 Josh 12_13, Ps 102, Acts 27
Apr 21 Josh 14_15, Ps 103, Acts 28
Apr 22 Josh 16_18, Ps 104, Rom 1
Apr 23 Josh 19_20, Ps 105:1_25, Rom 2
Apr 24 Josh 21_22, Ps 105:26_45, Rom 3_4
Apr 25 Josh 23_24, Ps 106:1_23, Rom 5_6
Apr 26 Judg 1, Ps 106:24_48, Rom 7
Apr 27 Judg 2_3, Ps 107:1_22, Rom 8
Apr 28 Judg 4_5, Ps 107:23_43, Rom 9_11
Apr 29 Judg 6_7, Ps 108, Rom 12_13
Apr 30 Judg 8, Ps 109, Rom 14_15
May 1 Judg 9, Ps 110, Rom 16
May 2 Judg 10_11, Ps 111, 1 Cor 1
May 3 Judg 12_14, Ps 112, 1 Cor 2_3
May 4 Judg 15_16, Ps 113, 1 Cor 4_5
May 5 Judg 17_18, Ps 114, 1 Cor 6_7
May 6 Judg 19_21, Ps 115, 1 Cor 8_9
May 7 Ruth 1, Ps 116, 1 Cor 10
May 8 Ruth 2_4, Ps 117, 1 Cor 11
May 9 1 Sam 1_2, Ps 118, 1 Cor 12_13
May 10 1 Sam 3_5, Ps 119:1_8, 1 Cor 14
May 11 1 Sam 6_8, Ps 119:9_16, 1 Cor 15_16
May 12 1 Sam 9_10, Ps 119:17_24, 2 Cor 1_2
May 13 1 Sam 11_13, Ps 119:25_32, 2 Cor 3_4
May 14 1 Sam 14, Ps 119:33_40, 2 Cor 5_6
May 15 1 Sam 15_16, Ps 119:41_48, 2 Cor 7_8
May 16 1 Sam 17, Ps 119:49_56, 2 Cor 9_10
May 17 1 Sam 18_19, Ps 119:57_64,2 Cor 11_13
May 18 1 Sam 20_21, Ps 119:65_72, Gal 1_2
May 19 1 Sam 22_23, Ps 119:73_80, Gal 3_4
May 20 1 Sam 24_25, Ps 119:81_88, Gal 5_6
May 21 1 Sam 26_28, Ps 119:89_96, Eph 1
May 22 1 Sam 29_31, Ps 119:97_104, Eph 2_3
May 23 2 Sam 1_2, Ps 119:105_112, Eph 4
May 24 2 Sam 3_4, Ps 119:113_120, Eph 5_6
May 25 2 Sam 5_6, Ps 119:121_128, Phil 1_2
May 26 2 Sam 7_9, Ps 119:129_136, Phil 3_4
May 27 2 Sam 10_11, Ps 119:137_144,Col 1_2
May 28 2 Sam 12_13, Ps 119:145_152,Col 3_4
May 29 2 Sam 14_15, Ps 119:153_160,1 Thess 1_2
May 30 2 Sam 16_17, Ps 119:161_168,1 Thess 3_5
May 31 2 Sam 18_19, Ps 119:169_176,2 Thess 1
Jun 1 2 Sam 20_21, Ps 120, 2 Thess 2_3
Jun 2 2 Sam 22, Ps 121, 1 Tim 1_3
Jun 3 2 Sam 23_24, Ps 122, 1 Tim 4_6
Jun 4 1 Kgs 1, Ps 123, 2 Tim 1_2
Jun 5 1 Kgs 2, Ps 124, 2 Tim 3_4
Jun 6 1 Kgs 3_4, Ps 125, Titus 1_3
Jun 7 1 Kgs 5_6, Ps 126, Philem
Jun 8 1 Kgs 7, Ps 127, Heb 1_3
Jun 9 1 Kgs 8, Ps 128, Heb 4_6
Jun 10 1 Kgs 9_10, Ps 129, Heb 7_8
Jun 11 1 Kgs 11, Ps 130, Heb 9
Jun 12 1 Kgs 12_13, Ps 131, Heb 10
Jun 13 1 Kgs 14_15, Ps 132, Heb 11
Jun 14 1 Kgs 16_17, Ps 133, Heb 12_13
Jun 15 1 Kgs 18, Ps 134, Jas 1_2
Jun 16 1 Kgs 19_20, Ps 135, Jas 3_5
Jun 17 1 Kgs 21_22, Ps 136, 1 Pet 1_2
Jun 18 2 Kgs 1_2, Ps 137, 1 Pet 3_5
Jun 19 2 Kgs 3_4, Ps 138, 2 Pet 1_3
Jun 20 2 Kgs 5_6, Ps 139, 1 Jn 1_2
Jun 21 2 Kgs 7_8, Ps 140, 1 Jn 3_5
Jun 22 2 Kgs 9_10, Ps 141, 2 Jn, 3 Jn, Jude
Jun 23 2 Kgs 11_13, Ps 142, Rev 1
Jun 24 2 Kgs 14_15, Ps 143, Rev 2_3
Jun 25 2 Kgs 16_17, Ps 144, Rev 4_6
Jun 26 2 Kgs 18, Ps 145, Rev 7_9
Jun 27 2 Kgs 19_20, Ps 146, Rev 10_12
Jun 28 2 Kgs 21_22, Ps 147, Rev 13_15
Jun 29 2 Kgs 23_24, Ps 148, Rev 16_17
Jun 30 2 Kgs 25, Ps 149, Rev 18_19
Jul 1 1 Chron 1, Ps 150, Rev 20_22
Jul 2 1 Chron 2, Ps 1, Matt 1_2
Jul 3 1 Chron 3_4, Ps 2, Matt 3_4
Jul 4 1 Chron 5, Ps 3, Matt 5
Jul 5 1 Chron 6, Ps 4, Matt 6
Jul 6 1 Chron 7, Ps 5, Matt 7
Jul 7 1 Chron 8, Ps 6, Matt 8
Jul 8 1 Chron 9_10, Ps 7, Matt 9
Jul 9 1 Chron 11, Ps 8, Matt 10
Jul 10 1 Chron 12_13, Ps 9, Matt 11
Jul 11 1 Chron 14_15, Ps 10, Matt 12
Jul 12 1 Chron 16_17, Ps 11, Matt 13
Jul 13 1 Chron 18_20, Ps 12, Matt 14
Jul 14 1 Chron 21_23, Ps 13, Matt 15
Jul 15 1 Chron 24_25, Ps 14, Matt 16_17
Jul 16 1 Chron 26_27, Ps 15, Matt 18
Jul 17 1 Chron 28_29, Ps 16, Matt 19
Jul 18 2 Chron 1, Ps 17, Matt 20
Jul 19 2 Chron 2_4, Ps 18:1_24, Matt 21
Jul 20 2 Chron 5_6, Ps 18:25_50, Matt 22
Jul 21 2 Chron 7_9, Ps 19:1_6, Matt 23
Jul 22 2 Chron 10_12, Ps 19:7_14, Matt 24
Jul 23 2 Chron 13_15, Ps 20, Matt 25
Jul 24 2 Chron 16_18, Ps 21, Matt 26
Jul 25 2 Chron 19_20, Ps 22:1_18,Matt 27_28
Jul 26 2 Chron 21_23, Ps 22:19_31, Mark 1
Jul 27 2 Chron 24_25, Ps 23, Mark 2
Jul 28 2 Chron 26_28, Ps 24, Mark 3
Jul 29 2 Chron 29_30, Ps 25, Mark 4
Jul 30 2 Chron 31_32, Ps 26, Mark 5
Jul 31 2 Chron 33_34, Ps 27, Mark 6
Aug 1 2 Chron 35_36, Ps 28, Mark 7
Aug 2 Ezra 1_2, Ps 29, Mark 8
Aug 3 Ezra 3_5, Ps 30, Mark 9
Aug 4 Ezra 6_7, Ps 31, Mark 10
Aug 5 Ezra 8_10, Ps 32, Mark 11
Aug 6 Neh 1, Ps 33, Mark 12
Aug 7 Neh 2_3, Ps 34, Mark 13
Aug 8 Neh 4_6, Ps 35, Mark 14
Aug 9 Neh 7, Ps 36, Mark 15
Aug 10 Neh 8_9, Ps 37:1_22, Mark 16
Aug 11 Neh 10, Ps 37:23_40, Luke 1
Aug 12 Neh 11, Ps 38, Luke 2
Aug 13 Neh 12_13, Ps 39, Luke 3
Aug 14 Est 1_2, Ps 40, Luke 4
Aug 15 Est 3_5, Ps 41, Luke 5
Aug 16 Est 6_10, Ps 42, Luke 6
Aug 17 Job 1, Ps 43, Luke 7
Aug 18 Job 2_4, Ps 44, Luke 8
Aug 19 Job 5_6, Ps 45, Luke 9
Aug 20 Job 7_8, Ps 46, Luke 10
Aug 21 Job 9_10, Ps 47, Luke 11
Aug 22 Job 11_12, Ps 48, Luke 12
Aug 23 Job 13_14, Ps 49, Luke 13
Aug 24 Job 15_16, Ps 50, Luke 14
Aug 25 Job 17_19, Ps 51, Luke 15
Aug 26 Job 20_21, Ps 52, Luke 16
Aug 27 Job 22_23, Ps 53, Luke 17
Aug 28 Job 24_26, Ps 54, Luke 18
Aug 29 Job 27_28, Ps 55, Luke 19
Aug 30 Job 29_30, Ps 56, Luke 20
Aug 31 Job 31_32, Ps 57, Luke 21
Sep 1 Job 33_34, Ps 58, Luke 22
Sep 2 Job 35_36, Ps 59, Luke 23
Sep 3 Job 37_38, Ps 60, Luke 24
Sep 4 Job 39_40, Ps 61, John 1
Sep 5 Job 41_42, Ps 62, John 2
Sep 6 Prov 1_2, Ps 63, John 3
Sep 7 Prov 3_4, Ps 64, John 4
Sep 8 Prov 5_6, Ps 65, John 5
Sep 9 Prov 7_8, Ps 66, John 6
Sep 10 Prov 9_10, Ps 67, John 7
Sep 11 Prov 11_12, Ps 68:1_18, John 8
Sep 12 Prov 13_14, Ps 68:19_36, John 9
Sep 13 Prov 15_16, Ps 69:1_18, John 10
Sep 14 Prov 17_18, Ps 69:19_36, John 11
Sep 15 Prov 19_20, Ps 70, John 12
Sep 16 Prov 21_22, Ps 71, John 13
Sep 17 Prov 23_24, Ps 72, John 14
Sep 18 Prov 25_26, Ps 73, John 15
Sep 19 Prov 27_28, Ps 74, John 16
Sep 20 Prov 29_31, Ps 75, John 17
Sep 21 Eccles 1_3, Ps 76, John 18
Sep 22 Eccles 4_6, Ps 77, John 19
Sep 23 Eccles 7_9, Ps 78:1_39, John 20_21
Sep 24 Eccles 10_12, Ps 78:40_72, Acts 1
Sep 25 Song 1_4, Ps 79, Acts 2
Sep 26 Song 5_8, Ps 80, Acts 3
Sep 27 Isa 1, Ps 81, Acts 4
Sep 28 Isa 2_4, Ps 82, Acts 5
Sep 29 Isa 5_7, Ps 83, Acts 6
Sep 30 Isa 8_9, Ps 84, Acts 7
Oct 1 Isa 10_12, Ps 85, Acts 8
Oct 2 Isa 13_14, Ps 86, Acts 9
Oct 3 Isa 15_19, Ps 87, Acts 10
Oct 4 Isa 20_22, Ps 88, Acts 11
Oct 5 Isa 23_25, Ps 89:1_29, Acts 12
Oct 6 Isa 26_28, Ps 89:30_52, Acts 13
Oct 7 Isa 29_30, Ps 90, Acts 14
Oct 8 Isa 31_33, Ps 91, Acts 15
Oct 9 Isa 34_36, Ps 92, Acts 16
Oct 10 Isa 37_38, Ps 93, Acts 17
Oct 11 Isa 39_41, Ps 94, Acts 18
Oct 12 Isa 42_43, Ps 95, Acts 19
Oct 13 Isa 44_45, Ps 96, Acts 20
Oct 14 Isa 46_48, Ps 97, Acts 21
Oct 15 Isa 49_51, Ps 98, Acts 22
Oct 16 Isa 52_55, Ps 99, Acts 23
Oct 17 Isa 56_58, Ps 100, Acts 24_25
Oct 18 Isa 59_62, Ps 101, Acts 26
Oct 19 Isa 63_66, Ps 102, Acts 27
Oct 20 Jer 1, Ps 103, Acts 28
Oct 21 Jer 2_3, Ps 104, Rom 1
Oct 22 Jer 4_5, Ps 105:1_25, Rom 2
Oct 23 Jer 6_7, Ps 105:26_45, Rom 3_4
Oct 24 Jer 8_9, Ps 106:1_23, Rom 5_6
Oct 25 Jer 10_12, Ps 106:24_48, Rom 7
Oct 26 Jer 13_14, Ps 107:1_22, Rom 8
Oct 27 Jer 15_17, Ps 107:23_43, Rom 9_11
Oct 28 Jer 18_20, Ps 108, Rom 12_13
Oct 29 Jer 21_22, Ps 109, Rom 14_15
Oct 30 Jer 23_24, Ps 110, Rom 16
Oct 31 Jer 25_26, Ps 111, 1 Cor 1
Nov 1 Jer 27_29, Ps 112, 1 Cor 2_3
Nov 2 Jer 30_31, Ps 113, 1 Cor 4_5
Nov 3 Jer 32, Ps 114, 1 Cor 6_7
Nov 4 Jer 33_34, Ps 115, 1 Cor 8_9
Nov 5 Jer 35_36, Ps 116, 1 Cor 10
Nov 6 Jer 37_38, Ps 117, 1 Cor 11
Nov 7 Jer 39_41, Ps 118, 1 Cor 12_13
Nov 8 Jer 42_44, Ps 119:1_8, 1 Cor 14
Nov 9 Jer 45_47, Ps 119:9_16, 1 Cor 15_16
Nov 10 Jer 48, Ps 119:17_24, 2 Cor 1_2
Nov 11 Jer 49, Ps 119:25_32, 2 Cor 3_4
Nov 12 Jer 50, Ps 119:33_40, 2 Cor 5_6
Nov 13 Jer 51_52, Ps 119:41_48, 2 Cor 7_8
Nov 15 Lam 2_3, Ps 119:57_64, 2 Cor 11_13
Nov 16 Lam 4_5, Ps 119:65_72, Gal 1_2
Nov 17 Ezek 1_3, Ps 119:73_80, Gal 3_4
Nov 18 Ezek 4_6, Ps 119:81_88, Gal 5_6
Nov 19 Ezek 7_9, Ps 119:89_96, Eph 1
Nov 20 Ezek 10_11, Ps 119:97_104, Eph 2_3
Nov 21 Ezek 12_13, Ps 119:105_112, Eph 4
Nov 22 Ezek 14_15, Ps 119:113_120, Eph 5_6
Nov 23 Ezek 16, Ps 119:121_128, Phil 1_2
Nov 24 Ezek 17_18, Ps 119:129_136, Phil 3_4
Nov 25 Ezek 19_20, Ps 119:137_144, Col 1_2
Nov 26 Ezek 21_22, Ps 119:145_152, Col 3_4
Nov 27 Ezek 23, Ps 119:153_160, 1 Thess 1_2
Nov 28 Ezek 24_26, Ps 119:161_168,1 Thess 3_5
Nov 29 Ezek 27_28, Ps 119:169_176,2 Thess 1
Nov 30 Ezek 29_31, Ps 120, 2 Thess 2_3
Dec 1 Ezek 32_33, Ps 121, 1 Tim 1_3
Dec 2 Ezek 34_35, Ps 122, 1 Tim 4_6
Dec 3 Ezek 36_37, Ps 123, 2 Tim 1_2
Dec 4 Ezek 38_39, Ps 124, 2 Tim 3_4
Dec 5 Ezek 40_41, Ps 125, Titus 1_3
Dec 6 Ezek 42_44, Ps 126, Philem
Dec 7 Ezek 45_46, Ps 127, Heb 1_3
Dec 8 Ezek 47_48, Ps 128, Heb 4_6
Dec 9 Dan 1, Ps 129, Heb 7_8
Dec 10 Dan 2_3, Ps 130, Heb 9
Dec 11 Dan 4_5, Ps 131, Heb 10
Dec 12 Dan 6_7, Ps 132, Heb 11
Dec 13 Dan 8_9, Ps 133, Heb 12_13
Dec 14 Dan 10_12, Ps 134, Jas 1_2
Dec 15 Hos 1, Ps 135, Jas 3_5
Dec 16 Hos 2_5, Ps 136, 1 Pet 1_2
Dec 17 Hos 6_9, Ps 137, 1 Pet 3_5
Dec 18 Hos 10_14, Ps 138, 2 Pet 1_3
Dec 19 Joel 1_3, Ps 139, 1 Jn 1_2
Dec 20 Amos 1_5, Ps 140, 1 Jn 3_5
Dec 21 Amos 6_9, Ps 141, 2 Jn, 3 Jn, Jude
Dec 22 Obad, Jonah 1_4, Ps 142, Rev 1
Dec 23 Mic 1_3, Ps 143, Rev 2_3
Dec 24 Mic 4_7, Ps 144, Rev 4_6
Dec 25 Nah 1_3, Ps 145:1_13, Rev 7_9
Dec 26 Hab 1_3, Ps 145:14_21, Rev 10_12
Dec 27 Zeph 1_3, Hag 1_2, Ps 146, Rev 13_15
Dec 28 Zech 1_5, Ps 147, Rev 16_17
Dec 29 Zech 6_9, Ps 148, Rev 18_19
Dec 30 Zech 10_14, Ps 149, Rev 20_21
Dec 31 Mal 1_4, Ps 150, Rev 22

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

An Exegetical Explanation for Cessationism

2011-12-25T15:12:00.000-09:00

Reformed Continuationism seems to be gaining popularity of late. The view that the charismatic gifts are still given by the Holy Spirit to believers today, while also holding to orthodox Reformed theology. After listening to a popular radio speaker defend this position, I wanted to respond while the views he expressed were fresh in my mind. In short this Reformed charismatic asserted that we would have to discard large portions of Scripture if we were to make the claim that the revelatory charismatic gifts had ceased. He made the statement that the ceasing of the gifts was to be found nowhere in Scripture, therefore he could not hold a cessationist position. "Show me in Scripture and I will believe it..." was the mantra of the day. Interestingly enough this same teacher holds to paedobaptism. Also of interest is the fact that when he attempts to defend infant baptism the first thing he says is that the New Testament does not say anywhere to baptize infants. He then proceeds to the Abrahamic covenant as the foundational defense for this position. This is quite inconsistent with his "show me in the Bible" conviction. Ironically, as he was defending his position, he quoted 1 Cor 1:7 which states "so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ..." Therefore according to Reformed charismatics the gifts must continue as the norm for every church and every individual believer (as the Spirit wills) until the parousia (final return) of Christ. Even more interestingly, the word for "revealing" in 1 Cor 1:7 is the same greek word in Revelation 1:1, the last letter of the canonical Scriptures: αποκαλυψιν / αποκαλυψις or apokalypsis. Thus a possible exegetical defense of the cessationist position may legitimately include 1 Cor 1:7 and Rev 1:1. That is, the gifts would be active and necessary until the "revelation" of Jesus Christ. This "revelation" is written down for the Church in the final letter of the Apostle John. The historical context of the early church would also dictate the necessity of the revelatory gifts due to the lack of written revelation available which would confirm the truth of the gospel. These extraordinary manifestations are simply no longer a necessity. They must also of necessity be redefined in order to fit contemporary conceptions. Tongues can no longer be actual human languages, but unintelligible gibberish. Prophets are not held to the same standards as the Old Testament prophets but are said to have a mixture of error, or human thought mixed with whatever prophecy they may make. This must be carefully discerned by the listener. My concern is that if we are in the period of the New Testament, which Hebrews teaches us is "a better covenant", should we not be even more sure of any alleged prophecies?

1 Corinthians 1:7 ωστε υμας μη υστερεισθαι εν μηδενι χαρισματι απεκδεχομενους την αποκαλυψιν του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου

Revelation 1:1 αποκαλυψις ιησου χριστου ην εδωκεν αυτω ο θεος δειξαι τοις δουλοις αυτου α δει γενεσθαι εν ταχει και εσημανεν αποστειλας δια του αγγελου αυτου τω δουλω αυτου ιωαννη

This may not explain all the difficulties of 1 Corinthians 13:8 ff Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

But note that it does teach cessationism at some point before the consummation of human history. It would be foolish to assert that we will not "know" anything at the return of Christ, or that we will not all speak in a "tongue" of some sort in eternity. Better to focus on those things the Scripture tells us will remain. Faith, hope and love. A carnal mind may be carried away with excesses and a desire for "miraculous" manifestations, but a spiritually mature Christian can rest in God's final word, the Bible.