Prepared by Dave Smith, D.Min. Spring, TX

Prepared

by Dave Smith, D.Min.

Spring, TX

“Stairway to Paradise”as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great

God and Savior, Jesus Christ Titus 2:13

"Relevant Answers to Tough Bible Questions”( TH 325 )

2 Main Groupings : Theological and Life's Applications

Theological Topics : God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, sin, man, church, Bible interpretation, end times, etc.

Life’s Applications Topics : God’s will, marriage, suffering, etc.

Delighting in His Word

Ps 111:2 Great are the works of the LORD; they are studied

by all who delight in them.


Ps 111:7, 10 The works of His hands are truth and justice; all

His precepts are sure.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.


1 Pet 3:15 but sanctify ( aor. imper. ) Christ as Lord in your

hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;


2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a

workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.

Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in

Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.

Some Principles Of Bible Interpretation

When the normal sense makes good sense, seek no other sense.

Remember that the context is most important - both near and far.

Always interpret a seemingly vague passage in light of a clear passage related to it.


Interpret the passage in light of the grammatical-historical and theological context.

Israel and the Church are not the same

Take the words of prophecy in their normal literal, grammatical sense.


Recognize the importance of the biblical covenants : Ex. The Abrahamic Covenant is unconditional, eternal, unilateral, literal.

Be aware of time gaps.

THEOLOGICAL GOD - His Immutability

Mal. 3:6; Jas. 1:17

Compare : Jonah 3:10 Does God repent? See Gen 6:6 -

God's mind - an anthropomorphism ( a human term to refer to something about the person of God, ex. emotion in reference to God's wrath

Dt. 6:15; Ps 119:13 ) God's purposes & plans do not change 1 Sam. 15:11

GOD - His Immutability

In the original language, the word that is translated as “repent” ( nacham - be sorry ) is the same in both verses ( Gen. 6:6; Jonah 3:10 ). The word is the Hebrew expression of “to be sorry for.” Being sorry for something does not mean that a change has occurred in a person, it simply means that there is regret on their part for something having taken place.

GOD - His Immutability

Consider in Genesis 6:6, that “…it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth,” This verse even goes on to say “…it grieved him at his heart.” This verse comes right out and says that God had regret for creating man. However, obviously He did not reverse his decision; instead, through Noah, he allows man to continue to exist.

Trinity - Definition

Is There 3 Gods? There is only one God, but in the unity of the

Godhead there are three eternal and coequal Persons, the same in substance but distinct in subsistence. Each has a different role or function.

Jesus Cries : My God, My God ...........Mt. 27:46 Jesus Cries : Father, into Thy hands..... Lk. 23:46

Trinity - Definition

a. The Father is God (John 6:27; Eph. 4:6).

b. Jesus Christ is God (Heb. 1:8).

c. The Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4).

d. The three Persons are associated equally and as one (Matt. 28:19, "name''; 2 Cor. 13:14).

CHRIST

Is Christ God

He is God in flesh ( Cf. John 1:1, 14; 8:58 with Exodus 3:14; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:8 ). Speaks of His Incarnation and His Deity

Christ Hypostatic Union

Jesus has two natures in one person. He was not half God and half man. He is both Human and Divine. He was completely God and completely man. This is the correct position concerning His two natures. See Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8; John 8:58 and Exodus 3:14.

Is The Father Greater than The Son?

Explain : You heard that I said to you, `I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. Jn 14:28

Compare 10:30. Not a distinction in nature or essence but in rank in the Trinity. Speaking of His position while on earth, in his humanity.

The Impeccability of Christ

Which is correct : Christ was not able to sin OR Christ was able not to sin? ( Answer = 1st one )

Consider : The sinless nature of the whole person of Christ


Heb 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact

representation of His nature ( hupostaseos - speaks of the unique union of Christ's deity & humanity in one person - both undiminished deity and perfect humanity united in one person forever), and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;


He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21

And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 1 Jn 3:5

who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 1 Pet 2:22

Christ's temptation was totally apart from sin.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:14-16


V. 15 - "who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses "-- Greek, "cannot sympathize with our infirmities": our weaknesses, physical and moral (not sin, but liability to its assaults). He, though sinless, can sympathize with us sinners; His understanding more acutely perceived the forms of temptation than we who are weak can; His will repelled them as instantaneously as the fire does the drop of water cast into it.

V. 15 Cont’d.

He, therefore, experimentally knew what power was needed to overcome temptations. He is capable of sympathizing, for He was at the same time tempted without sin, and yet truly tempted .

In Him alone we have an example suited to men of every character and under all circumstances. In sympathy He adapts himself to each, as if He had not merely taken on Him man's nature in general, but also the peculiar nature of that single individual.


without sin--Greek, "choris," "totally, wholly, apart & separate from sin" (Heb 7:26). If the Greek "aneu" had been used, sin would have been regarded as the object absent from Christ the subject; but “choris” here implies that Christ, the subject, is regarded as separated from sin the object. Thus, throughout His temptations in their origin, process, and result, sin had nothing in Him; He was apart and separate from it.


Compare :

For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Heb 2:18

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. James 1:13-14

James 1

V. 13. when . . . tempted--tried by solicitation to evil. Previously in this chapter the "temptation" meant was that of trial by afflictions. Let no one think that God lays upon him an inevitable necessity of sinning. God does not send trials on us in order to make us worse, but to make us better (Jas 1:16, 17). We need not sink under the pressure of evil (1Co 10:13).

James 1

by God--by agency proceeding from God. The Greek is not "tempted by," but, "from," implying

indirect agency.

cannot be tempted with evil, --"Neither do any of our sins tempt God to entice us to worse things, nor does He tempt any of His own accord" (literally, "of Himself"; compare the antithesis, Jas 1:18,

James 1

"Of His own will He begot us" to holiness, so far is He from tempting us of His own will). Jas 1:18

God is said in Gen. 22:1 to have "tempted Abraham"; but there the tempting meant is that of

trying or proving, not that of seducing. This can be translated according to the ordinary sense of the Greek, "God is totally unversed in evil".

CHRIST - THE VIRGIN BIRTH

Is the virgin birth of Christ taught in the Bible?

Matt 1:16 and to Jacob was born ( gennavw (gennaw)

Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom ( feminine - clearly stating Christ was born of Mary only, Not Mary & Joseph ) was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

CHRIST - THE VIRGIN BIRTH

This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: 1:23 “Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.”

parqevno" = virgin ( Gk.)

Was Christ a created being?

First-born, not first-created - Col 1:15 prwtovtoko" ; Not prwtoktisis

Speaks of His Pre-eminence

Did Christ go to Hell after His death?

but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison 1 Pet 3:18-19

V. 18 : made alive by the Spirit - refers most likely to the HS, the agent of His resurrection


V. 19 Two Views Regarding : #1) Probably the best view : The Pre-incarnate Christ Preached Through Noah To Those Who Are Now Spirits In Prison ( Hades ) awaiting final judgment after the millennium at the Great White Throne judgment. 1 Peter 1:11 supports this view when it speaks of the Spirit of Christ which was within the prophets. Also note that Christ's spirit was in Heaven when his body was in the grave. ( Lk. 23:43,46 )

#2) A POSSIBLE VIEW : Christ announced to fallen angels in Hades : 1)His victory via His pending bodily resurrection, 2) His judgment on them which he accomplished & sealed at the cross. He did this in the interim between His death & resurrection.



Compare : Eph. 4:7-12 On Eph. 4:8 : Paul's paraphrase of Psalm 68:18

confirms his statement that God gives gifts to people. A military victor has the right to give gifts to those identified with him. Christ, the victor over sinful people, i.e., having captivated them by redeeming them, has the right to give those people to the church as gifts.


In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 Paul spoke of gifts given to people (cf. v. 7), but here he spoke of people given to the church as gifts. So in His death Jesus Christ gained the victory over sin, and He redeemed those whom He would give as gifts to the church.


In Eph. 4:9 "0f the earth" is an appositional phrase-Christ descended to the lower parts of his creation,i.e.,the earth.....speaking of His Incarnation. He came to earth to die for sinful mankind.


Also in Lk.16 Abr. bosom is not said to be in Hades but instead far from it. Remember the repentant thief at Calvary. He went to Paradise.See Lk.23:43,46. this is the same Gk. word used by Paul who was caught up into Paradise(2 Cor. 12:4).

Christ emptied Himself

Phil 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-

servant He limited himself to the voluntary non-use of the

attributes of deity. ( Walvoord )


Christ voluntarily set aside the use of some of his attributes of deity. His preincarnate glory was veiled while on earth. His non-moral attributes were not set aside or surrendered, just suspended. He did not stop being God or surrender any of His divine attributes at any time while on earth.

His Divine attributes were "concealed under a veil of flesh." (Calvin)


Christ Did no sin ( 1 Pet. 2:22 ); Knew no sin ( 2 Cor. 5:21 ); in Him there is No sin ( 1 Jn. 3:5 ). He was the perfect , sinless Lamb of God. Christ is no less God because He is man and no less man because He is God. Christ is undiminished deity united with true humanity in one person forever ( This is known as the hypostatic union of Christ. ).

Christ crucifixion day

If Christ was in the grave for three days and three nights, how did He rise on the third day?

In the Jewish culture any part of a day was typically seen as the whole day.

To us, three days and three nights generally means 72 hours, but we must understand the Bible historically and culturally. For the Jewish mind, this could mean any part of the first day, all of the second day, and any part of the third day.


This is obvious by comparing Esther 4:16 and 5:1. Esther mentioned fasting for three days and nights and said that she would then go into the king, which she did, but 5:1 tells us clearly that it was on the third day that she went into the king, not after three days or on the fourth. This simply illustrates the way the Jews reckoned time.


Further, the statement “after three days” could mean to the Jewish mind “on the third day” since any part of that day was considered the third day (cf. Matt. 27:63-64). Note the statements, “after three days” and securing the tomb until the third day.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

On the tongues and healing gifts : I believe the gifts of tongues and healing as

used in the early church from Pentecost to about 70 A.D. as normal and common then are no longer normal and common today. Then they were used to confirm His message and His messenger. I think these gifts ceased 70 A.D. They had their purpose at that time, (I Cor. 14:20-23).

THE HOLY SPIRIT - Tongues

The Greek grammar makes it clear in I Cor. 13:8-10 that tongues is one of the gifts that ceased in and of itself when its purpose was fulfilled. These gifts were abused even in the early church. We can appreciate Paul's response in I Cor. l4:12,l8,19. The Charismatic movement is divisive and unscriptural.

THE HOLY SPIRIT - Tongues

It even borders on the blasphemous,i.e, they say there is still further revelation from God. To the extreme it marries itself with some of the New Age thinking I believe !

The Unpardonable Sin

Matt 12:31 see v. 23 unpardonable sin "Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy

shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

It is a attributing some evil to God, or denying Him some good that we should attribute to Him. This case of blasphemy however is a specific one, called "the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost" in Matthew 12:31.


In Matthew 12:31-32 the Pharisees, having witnessed irrefutable proof that Jesus was working miracles in the power of the Holy Spirit, claimed instead that the Lord was possessed by the demon "Beelzebub" (Matthew 12:24).


Now notice that in Mark 3:30 Jesus is very specific about what exactly they did to commit "the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost."

This blasphemy then has to do with someone accusing Jesus Christ (in person, on earth) of being demon-possessed. It was done by the Jewish religious leaders. This sin cannot be committed today


This means that this unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit cannot be duplicated today because Jesus Christ is not on earth but seated at the right Hand of God;

SALVATION

On Lordship salvation I hold to Charles Ryrie's position which I

believe is the biblical one - see " So Great Salvation". I believe this about salvation : "....confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord...." Rom. 10:9 - that in a presentation of the gospel message context this means acknowledge that Jesus is God (the Son), sovereign over all.

SALVATION

¶ It does NOT mean as a condition to salvation I must submit to His lordship first. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Repentance & faith are simultaneous events. As a young Christian grows in his faith, he submits more & more to the Lordship of Christ because he is a new creation - 2Cor. 5:17. See also Eph. 2:8,9; Acts 16:31; Rom. 4:5.

SALVATION

2 Sam. 12:23 - the death of David's baby : where did it go?

We can be assured that the Judge of all the earth will do right ( Genesis 18:25 ).

Although infants are not capable of conscious sin in the same way as someone older, they have inherited natures that are contaminated by sin and in need of transformation and salvation ( Psalm 51:5; Rom. 5:12; Ephesians 2:3 ).

SALVATION

I do not think 2 Sam. 12:23 is a theological proof text for babies going to heaven. The passage speaks of death - not destination.

Also, the only comfort I see is David comforting his wife for their loss.

The child could not come back to life, but David would someday join him in death. Scripture is silent on the eternal state of dead infants.

What about those who have never heard the gospel?

Rom 1:19-21 because that which is known about God is evident

within them; for God made it evident to them.

What about those who have never heard the gospel?

For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks,

How were OT people saved?

A good, safe rule of thumb to practice when faced with difficult Bible questions is to always interpret a seemingly vague passage in light of a clear passage related to it. Ex., on the issue of salvation : Compare Eph. 2:8,9 and Rom.4:1-5 with Phil. 2:12. It is clear salvation is not based on works!


Note Paul's statement on salvation in regards to justification. He says we are justified by faith, Rom. 5:1. He says we are justified by grace, Rom. 3:24. He also says we are justified by Christ's blood. Well, which is it Paul? Paul would say the blood of Christ has always been the basis for every believer's salvation.


The grace of God has always been the source of every believer's salvation. Finally Paul would say faith has always been the means for every believer's salvation.

People have always been saved by their faith in God rather than by merit earned through good works ( Hebrews 11:6 ).


While God gave Israel the Law of Moses, it was never designed to provide eternal salvation. "Therefore, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Rom 3:20). No one ever gained, or ever will gain, eternal salvation by keeping God's commandments.


In conclusion, the means of salvation has always been by faith alone. In the OT the object of faith was always the one true God who progressively revealed more about His Son. In the New Testament church age and Tribulation time it is Jesus Christ. Only the content of that faith varies in different time frames. In what or who has one always had to place their trust?


The answer, in God and in His promises or commands he made. This is what is meant by the content of faith. That content of what God asked of those who would be believers before the Law, during the Law, during the church age and during the Tribulation will vary.


Today He asks us to believe Him regarding the necessity to put our trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of sin. In Abraham's day it was believe God regarding the promises He made. Under the Law is was believe God regarding the need for sacrifices. In the Tribulation it will be believe God regarding the necessity to accept the gospel of the kingdom ( Mt. 24:14 ).

Are Faith & Works Needed for Salvation? No

Jas. 2:14,20

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him? But would you like evidence, you empty person, that faith without works is useless?

Are Faith & Works Needed for Salvation? No

V.14 expects a NO answer Can that kind of faith save ( result in eternal life ) -

issue of hypocrisy & self-deception It can be translated this way : This kind of faith

can't save him, can it? (expects a No answer) Salvation results in new life ( 2 Cor. 5:17 ) and life

produces fruit.

Baptism for the dead

Remember a rule of interpretation : Always interpret a seemingly vague passage in light of a clear passage related to it.

"Otherwise, what will those ( the living ) do who are baptized ( to be identified with ) for ( uJper w/gen. - in the place of,on behalf of ) the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?" 1 Corinthians 15:29


Mormon teaching : Many Mormons died without baptism. What, then,

is the way of their deliverance? The living may be baptized for the dead!!


The True Biblical meaning The context of chapter 15 is that the bodily

resurrection of Christ guarantees the bodily resurrection of Christians. Rom. 1:4 and 4:25 indicate that the resurrection of Christ is proof that God the Father was totally satisfied that His Son's death was sufficient payment for the sin debt of mankind.


Baptizing for the dead was a pagan practice in Paul's day also. Note that Paul said "they" and not "we" : "why then are they baptized for them?". Paul's point was simple. The resurrection is a reality. It is going to happen to believers & non-believers.....but going to different destinations.


Even the pagans believe in some sort of a non-biblical view of a resurrection, otherwise, why would they baptize for the dead? Also, as Paul says, why would one be willing to suffer or even die if there is no resurrection. This is Paul's point.

On the extent of the atonement

I believe in a limited atonement view ( particular redemption, definite atonement ). Christ vicarious sacrifice was to render certain the salvation of those who had been given to Him by the Father. If Christ had died for all mankind, then one would have to say His death was an insufficient sacrifice since obviously not all mankind is going to heaven.

On the extent of the atonement

And of course Christ death was completely sufficient to effect salvation of His elect ones. The value of His suffering was of course infinite. Mark 10:45; John 6:37; John 10:15,16; John 17:6,9,19; Eph. 5:25-27; Titus 2:14.

The Lord wants no one to perish

2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some

count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing ( bouvlomai ) ( bouvlomai ) for any ( believers ) to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Qelw - qelw not used here = wish,desire bouvlomai = decree

All will be saved??

What does "all" mean? For the grace of God has appeared, bringing

salvation to all men Titus 2:11 Jn 6:37, 44; 12:32 - draw ( drag ) all men Draw = coerce as dragging in with a net -

helkw ( Gk.) "No one can come to Me, unless the Father

who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44

All will be saved??

All can mean "all without distinction of class, race, sort, situations, etc." or "all w/o exception" based on context and correct hermeneutics.

All will be saved??

John 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will

draw all men to Myself." ( All cannot mean all w/o exception obviously. )

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing

salvation to all men,

All will be saved??

For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially ( in particular - “malista” - Gk. ) of believers. ( Paul is explaining that Christ is the Savior for only believers. That is why he says "malista" ) 1 Tim 4:10

Baptism now saves you?

1 Pet 3:20, 21 Remember a rule of interpretation : Always

interpret a seemingly vague passage in light of a clear passage related to it. Ex., on the issue of salvation : Compare Eph. 2:8,9 with Phil. 2:12. It is clear salvation is not based on works!

Baptism now saves you?

It must be determined if he is referring to water or Spirit baptism.

Just as the Ark delivered Noah's family from divine judgment, so too will baptism deliver us from divine judgment. But there is only one baptism ( Eph. 4:5 ) that can deliver one from divine judgment and it is not water baptism but the baptism of the Holy Spirit as seen in 1 Cor. 12:13! This baptism takes place immediately at the moment of salvation.

Wash away your sins?

Acts 22:16 note the aor. participles ( which express

antecedent action relative to the main verb ) And now why do you delay? Arise ( aor.part.), and

be baptized ( aor. imp. ), and wash away ( aor. imp, ) your sins, calling ( aor. part. ) on His name. They called on the Lord Before sins were washed. Water baptism is an outer symbol of an inward act which had already taken place.

Baptism forgives sins??

Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent ( aor. act. imp.,

2d person plural), and let each of you be baptized ( aor. pass. imp., 3d person singular ) in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


They were to have a complete change of mind about who they thought Jesus was, the Messiah whom they crucified. "and let each of you be baptized ( aor. pass. imp., 3d person singular ) in the name of Jesus Christ" - this phrase is actually parenthetical. The verse should read "repent for the forgiveness of your sins", and then next would be: "and let each of you be baptized..."


Repent is plural and therefore goes with the plural "your sins" phrase explaining the purpose of

forgiveness of your sins. "Be baptized" is singular setting it apart from the rest of the sentence.

Cf. Acts 10:43 where the same phrase occurs "forgiveness of sins"

Are All Sinners?

Results of the Sin Nature.

1. Total depravity (unmeritoriousness of man in the sight of God).

2. Spiritual death.

Transmission of the Sin Nature -- from parents to children (Ps. 51:5).

Called Inherited Sin

Are All Sinners?

E. Remedy.

1. Redemption, which brings a new nature or new capacity to

serve Christ.

2. The power of the indwelling Holy Spirit to give victory

over the judged sin nature.

IMPUTED SIN

A. Meaning. That which resulted from man's participation in Adam's

first sin. All sinned when Adam sinned.

B. Scripture. Romans 5:12. All mankind was in Adam participating in

his sin and bearing the resultant guilt.

C. Transmission of Imputed Sin. Transmitted directly from Adam to

each individual member of the race.

IMPUTED SIN

D. Penalty -- physical death. Rom. 5:13,14

.

E. Remedy -- imputed righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).

BIBLE INTERPRETATION / TRANSLATION

Gal 6:2 - burdens - Baro"; 5 - load – fortion

For My yoke is easy ( i.e., kind, loving, good merciful - Gk. ), and My load is light

(a light burden we ourselves can bear - fortivon). Mt. 11:28-30

Dispensationalism

Definition : "Dispensationalism is a system of theology that

has two primary distinctives. (1) A consistently literal interpretation of Scripture, especially Bible prophecy. (2) A distinction between Israel and the Church in God's program.

Dispensationalism

Dispensationalists understand the Bible to be organized in seven dispensations: Innocence (Genesis 1:1 – 3:7), Conscience (Genesis 3:8 – 8:22), Human Government (Genesis 9:1 – 11:32), Promise (Genesis 12:1 – Exodus 19:25), Law (Exodus 20:1 – Acts 2:4), Grace (Acts 2:4 – Revelation 20:3), Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20:4 – 20:6).

Dispensationalism

Again, these dispensations are not ways of salvation, but manners in which God relates to man. Dispensationalism, as a system, results in a premillennial interpretation of Christ’s Second Coming, and usually a pretribulational interpretation of the Rapture."

Recommended Resource: Dispensationalism by Charles Ryrie.

On 6 Days of Creation

The account in Gen. 1 refers to literal 24 hour days of active creation by God (Exodus 20:9-11). Verse 11 needs to be understood in the light of verse 9 which is clearly referring to 24 hour periods ! Also, the phrase "and there was evening and there was morning" is simple enough to understand what God meant.

On 6 Days of Creation

Also, the Hebrew term "yom" with an ordinal adjective always means a 24 hour period in the Old Testament.

2 Tim 2:11-13 He will deny us ?

All 4 if clauses are1st class, the protasis ( if clause ) portrays, assumes something as true for the sake of argument (i.e., it may or may not be true in fact); apodasis ( the main clause that follows).

2 Tim 2:11-13 He will deny us ?

This is speaking to believers ( we ). Since there is no object that follows “us”, i.e., we do not know what will be denied to believers – perhaps rewards.

God allows suffering – see James 1 and 1 Peter

James1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.


In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 1:6-7


1 Peter 2:21-22

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

Forgiveness

Luke 23:34 But Jesus was saying, " Father, forgive them; for

they do not know what they are doing.” withhold your wrath from those soldiers

nailing Him to the cross ( Jn 19:23), permit it to happen Cf. Matt 3:15; Lk. 13:8

LIFE’S APPLICATIONSOn Wisdom In Determining God's Will

Acknowledge God's will - the Bible speaks of God's will in 2 ways : His Sovereign Will and Moral Will

His Sovereign Will : This is God's secret plan to determine everything

that happens in the universe. Mostly hidden Cannot be learned in advance Cannot be missed - should be humbly accepted

On Wisdom In Determining God's Will

At times it includes evil acts & foolish decisions, but will ultimately lead to God's glory Gen. 50:20


His Moral Will: This consists of the revealed commands in the

Bible that teach how men ought to believe & live.

Totally revealed Should be learned for guidance Can be missed through ignorance or

disobedience


Includes only those behaviors & attitudes that conform to God's character thereby glorifying Him

Divorce & Remarriage

Key Verses :

Mt. 5:31-32; 19:3-11; 1 Cor.7:10-15, 39


The believer is “not bound in regard to marriage,” i.e., free to remain single or to remarry. The argument for this view is the conceptual parallel with vv. 39-40, where a wife is said to be “bound” (a different word in Greek, but the same concept) as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies, she is “free” to marry as she wishes, only in the Lord.


If the parallel holds, then not bound in v. 15 also means “free to marry another.”

Also, God allows divorce and remarriage for three

circumstances: (1) adultery, (2) desertion of a believing spouse by an unbelieving spouse, and (3) if a person becomes saved after they were divorced, etc. because they are beginning life anew.


Ephesians 5 and 1 Corinthians 7 are key Pauline texts on marriage. From these passages, especially 1 Corinthians 7, it seems evident that Paul’s view is that: (1) a believer whose unbelieving spouse has deserted him is free to divorce and remarry; (2) a believer who was divorced when an unbeliever is free to remarry; and


(3) a believer who is the innocent party in a divorce involving adultery is free to remarry.

What about a marriage & divorce prior to salvation? Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [he is] a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Cor 5:17


“New” here in Gk. Means new in quality and kind, not new in time. All sins are forgiven at salvation. Why single out a non-biblical divorce?

Date post:	08-Jan-2016
Category:	Documents
Upload:	elia
View:	24 times
Download:	1 times

Prepared by Dave Smith, D.Min. Spring, TX

Documents