Joey Ferrell 11/1/17 Joey Ferrell 11/1/17

Article - Islam Is Very Dangerous!

Maybe, like me, you have been told that Islam is a religion of peace and love. Maybe you have been told it is a friendly religion that can co-exist in the USA. If you have been told these things you have been greatly and purposefully deceived. True Islam that follows the Koran is a deadly and dangerous religion. This is (verbatim from the Quran) how Muslims really feel about you—the infidel.

Quran 2:191 "And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. And disbelief is worse than killing" (Speaking of Christians)

Quran 5:54 "O believers, take not Jews and Christians as friends; they are friends of each other. Those of you who make them his friends is one of them. God does not guide an unjust people." (Muslims not to befriend Christians)

Quran 8:12 "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" (Context is Christians/Non-believers)

Quran (9:30) "And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!"

Quran 41:14 "Unbelievers are enemies of Allah and they will roast in hell." (This is how they really feel about Christians)

Quran (61:4) "Surely Allah loves those who fight in His way"

Quran (66:9) "O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Hell will be their home, a hapless journey's end."

Quran (3:157-158) "If you should die or be killed in the cause of Allah, His mercy and forgiveness would surely be better than all the riches they amass. If you should die or be killed, before Him you shall all be gathered." (This explains why they strap bombs to themselves)

Quran 98:51 "The unbelievers among the People of the Book and the pagans shall burn forever in the fire of hell. They are the vilest of all creatures." (This is what every true believer in the Koran thinks about you as a Christian).

After reading these passages directly from the Koran, one can see how Muslims who are faithful to Muhammad really feel about you. Don't be deceived; this is not a religion of peace!

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Joey Ferrell 11/1/17 Joey Ferrell 11/1/17

Article - What Path Should I Take? (part 3)

In part one and two of our series we learned that Christ/Christianity is the only path of life acceptable to God (Matthew 28:18; John 12:28; 14:6; Colossians 3:17). One might, then, ask, "Are all the hundreds of sects of Christianity different paths to the same ultimate destiny?" Answer: No more than were the religious sects under the Old Testament. For example, Jesus clearly stated to the woman at the well who was of the Samaritan sect, "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). With the same force and simplicity Jesus stated that He came to build only one church (not a sect or a sect of sects) -- His church (Matthew 16:18)! Paul made it clear that just as there is only one Holy Spirit, one hope of heaven, one Lord Jesus Christ, one Christian faith/body of truth, one acceptable baptism and one God the Father, so also there is only one body (Ephesians 4:4-6) -- the church of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23)! God demands true worshipers to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Vain or empty/useless worship is caused when you teach as doctrines the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9). The apostle John emphatically says, "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God" (2 John 1:9). Paul accurately predicted that there would be "departures" from the one true faith/church of the New Testament (1 Timothy 4:1-5). The first departure was Catholicism, then Protestantism. In fact, departures continue to multiply to this day. Paul pleads "that there be no divisions/denominations among you" (1 Corinthians 1:10). Let's get back to being Christians only and only a member of the true church of the Bible – the church of Christ!

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Joey Ferrell 11/1/17 Joey Ferrell 11/1/17

Article - What Path Should I Take? (part 1)

There are many paths one can take in life. A person can be an atheist and choose not to believe in God (Psalm 53:1: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'."). Or a person can be an agnostic and take the position that he does not know whether there is a God or not (Jesus does not tolerate lukewarmness, Revelation 3:16). Or a person can be a humanist and believe that he is a god unto himself (this results in exchanging the truth of God for the lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator, Romans 1:25). Then, on the other hand, there are those who choose to believe in God (and/or gods), but they choose to define Him and approach Him in different and sometimes contradictory ways. What is the true path? Unlike the writings of major world religions such as Hindu (a collection of Vedic literature) and Islam (the Koran), the writings of the Jewish religion and the Christian religion (the Bible) contain objective, historical events that have been and continue to be verified by archaeology, geography, ancient history and literature. The Bible was written by over 40 different men on three continents in three languages over a period of 1500 years without one single contradiction! God's Word is truth (John 17:17)! His truth is what sets you free (John 8:32)! What path should you take? Since all authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), I will let Jesus answer the question: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" (John 14:6).

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Joey Ferrell 11/1/17 Joey Ferrell 11/1/17

Article - The Power of Prayer

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Prayer is one of the most powerful tools the Christian has as his possession. Yet, it is sadly one of the most overlooked and under-used tools God has given us. Just imagine how long we would stay on the phone if we could call God directly from our home phone and talk to Him. In essence, we do have this kind of communication. Jesus said, “Men ought to pray always and never lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Jesus tells us, “If you ask anything in my name I will do it” (John 14:14). Since prayer is such a powerful tool, how can we become a more prayerful people? Let me suggests three principles to strengthen our prayer life.

Realize the Power of Prayer. In times of trouble and distress of heart God’s people always turned to Him. Peter tells us to “cast all our cares upon Him for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Until we realize that “prayer moves the hand the moves the world” we will not use it regularly.
Realize the Purpose of Prayer. All too often prayer becomes a “gimme-session” where all we do is ask God to give us certain things and tell Him what we need. In the Bible, prayer is more often than not a time for God’s people to praise and magnify His holy name (Read Daniel 8:4, Matthew 6:9). Instead of jumping right into telling God what we need, we should take the time to laud His holy name. When we do praise God in our prayers it should humble us and cause us to realize the proper priorities in life.
Realize the Patience of Prayer. Many people give up on prayer because they do not get an immediate response, or so they think. Garth Brook’s song “ I thank God for unanswered prayers” has done more harm to prayer than we realize. Many people have not yet realized that song is unscriptural. There is NO unanswered prayer. The response may be different than what we expect. It may come at a later time. Or, the answer may be no. Please realize that God knows what is best for us and when it is best (Romans 8:28).

If we truly realize that prayer is one of the most powerful tools we have to praise God then we will begin to use it more. May God give us the strength to be a more prayerful people!

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Joey Ferrell 11/1/17 Joey Ferrell 11/1/17

Article - ABC’s of the Gospel

In an article produced by LifeWay, a Baptist publishing house, it was stated that to be saved one simply needs to obey the ABC’s of the Gospel1. While it is true that the gospel plan of salvation is simple (Ephesians 3:4), some are distorting the simplicity of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:3). For example, LifeWay stated that the ABC’s of the Gospel are: Admit your sin (Romans 3:23), Believe in Christ (Romans 10:9), & Confess your faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10). While these three steps are indeed necessary in the plan of salvation, to say they are the gospel plan of salvation in full is like saying the first three letters of the alphabet are the full alphabet. So much is left out with this plan of salvation that it is indeed a false gospel. Allow me to explain from Scripture.

One of the key letters in the gospel alphabet that has been left out is the letter “R” for repentance. Jesus teaches us that we must not only acknowledge our sin but repent of it to be saved. When asked about certain people who seemed to be receiving the vengeance of God for their sins Jesus said, “Unless you repent you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Peter told first century Christians to “repent and be converted…” (Acts 3:19). Repentance is an essential letter in the ABC’s of the gospel that is left out by many.

Another importance letter in the ABC’s of the gospel that is left our by so many in our religious world today is the letter “B” for baptism. All of us agree that belief is an important step in the plan of salvation. However, the Lord made it very clear that baptism was just as essential to salvation as belief. Jesus Himself said, “He that believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). When asked how to relieve themselves of the sin of crucifying Christ, Peter told the crowd at Pentecost to “repent and be baptized every one of you for the remission of your sin…” (Acts 2:38). Peter later emphasized the essentiality of baptism when he said, “…baptism does now also save us” (1 Peter 3:21). As we noted earlier one of the ABC’s of the gospel that has been purported among us is the letter “C” for call on Jesus. We need to ask the question, “How does one call on Jesus biblically?” The answer is very clearly found in Acts 22:16. Ananias told Paul to “arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord.” How does one call on the name of the Lord biblically? One calls on the Lord’s name by submitting to His will in baptism. Many miss the ABC’s of the gospel and salvation itself because the leave out the essentiality of baptism.

Another letter that is left out of the ABC’s of the gospel is the letter “F” for faithfulness. Not only must one initially become a child of God, but he must also remain faithful to be saved. Jesus said, “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Jesus also said, “He that endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22). Faithfulness is also an important step in the ABC’s of the gospel.

Dear friends, the gospel plan of salvation is not a difficult plan to understand. It is simple like the alphabet, but we must not leave any letters out of the alphabet or the plan of salvation to be correct. If you have been duped in the past by some who were not telling the full truth of the gospel, we would love to help you at THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Please email, call us or write to us and we would love to study with you about what the Bible says about salvation.

1 http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_crd_ss_EforESpec_ABCs-of-Salvation_pdf.pdf (Retrieved 11/25/14)

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Joey Ferrell 11/1/17 Joey Ferrell 11/1/17

Article - How Does the New Testament Define “Fellowship” (part 2)

From the previous article we learned that spiritual fellowship is, first and foremost, a “sharing in common” with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Philippians 2:1; 1 John 1:3). In this article we will establish that, second, spiritual fellowship is a “sharing in common” with other faithful Christians. The New Testament teaches that Christians are in constant fellowship with one another because we are all part of the household of faith (1 John 1:3, 7; Galatians 6:10; 1 Timothy 3:15). We enjoy this fellowship with one another when we as faithful brethren worship God together (Acts 2:42), such as in the “sharing” of the blood and body of Jesus in partaking of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 10:16) or in “sharing” in the service of evangelism or benevolence through contributions, whether it be in aiding evangelists (2 Corinthians 11:7-9; Philippians 1:5; 4:15) or helping needy Christians (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:4; 9:13; Romans 15:26). Faithful Christians are to extend the right hand of “fellowship” to other faithful Christians (Galatians 2:9) and are to work together as “partners” in the kingdom of God’s dear Son (2 Corinthians 8:23; Philemon 1:17). Instead of printing “A friendly, loving, caring church” in your church bulletins, just “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). “Let love be without hypocrisy….Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another…serving the Lord…continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Romans 12:9-16).

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Joey Ferrell 11/1/17 Joey Ferrell 11/1/17

Article - Do Not Separate A God-Joined Marriage! (part 2)

From our previous article we learned that divorce violates Jesus’ clear command, “What God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6). Some take the position that if a non-Christian divorces his spouse (which is a sin, unless it for the reason of fornication) and marries another (another sin according to Matthew 19:9), he has not violated Jesus’ command because a non-Christian is not held accountable to Jesus’ laws until he becomes a Christian. Such a position, however, is false for the following reasons: (1) When Jesus stated His commands concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage, He was talking to a pre-Christian audience that also consisted of unbelievers who were His enemies, Matthew 5:1; 19:2-3; Mark 10:1-2,10; Luke 16:1,14. (2) God’s law that joins marriages is universal and applies to everyone, including non-Christians (notice the universal words “male, female, man, wife” in Matthew 19:4-6). So also God’s law concerning divorce and remarriage applies to everyone universally as indicated by the word “whoever,” Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18. (3) John the immerser told Herod it was not lawful for him to have his brother Phillip’s wife, clearly implying that though Herod was not a believer, yet he was held accountable to God’s law, Matthew 14:3-4. (4) When Peter stood before a non-Christian audience, he told them to repent and be converted, Acts 3:19. Hence, a non-Christian is held accountable for his sins (including, divorce and adultery) and must repent of them (and be baptized) in order to be saved, Acts 2:38. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

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Joey Ferrell 11/1/17 Joey Ferrell 11/1/17

Article - Raising Godly Children

I never knew how true the old phrase was “everybody’s an expert on raising children until they have their own” until, of course, I had my own children. To say the least, raising godly children is a challenging and at times exhausting task. However, the rewards of molding someone to live a life that is heaven-bound are surely worth all the time, toil, and tears. Since the Bible is our guide for life (Colossians 3:17), we must look to it as the perfect manual for raising children (2 Peter 1:3). What does the Bible say one must do to raise godly children?

Emphasize God from Infancy. The one thing parents can do that will help their children be godly is to emphasize the person and power of God from infancy. This very idea comes from the Scriptures themselves. Paul encouraged Timothy by saying, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15). An interesting fact about this verse is the word used for childhood is the Greek word which describes the earliest stages of life, and can even describe the baby before it is born (See Luke 1:41). Thus, it is clearly emphasized in this passage that the earlier one starts teaching his child about the Bible and God, the better off he will be spiritually. Recent medical studies have shown the importance of teaching children at a very young age. For example, “During the first eight months after birth, neurons link up at an amazing pace. By the end of that period, a baby can have as many as 1,000 trillion synapses. These synapses, however, operate on a “use it or lose it” principle. In order to become permanent, the connections must be reinforced through everyday experience and stimulation. Many of those early connections end up in the discard pile, and by age 10 a child has about half as many (500 trillion) synapses, roughly the same number as an adult” (The Facts About Baby’s Brain). What is so important about this information is the “use it or lose it principle” that is reinforced and made permanent by everyday experience and reinforcement. Parents, we are that everyday stimulation that can create a permanent link to godliness for our children! We must emphasize God from infancy.

Emphasize Godliness All the Time. To raise godly children, parents must emphasize the importance of God in every part of their life. God gives this instruction to parents when He says, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). From this text, several important points jump off the page of the Bible for raising children. For example, the fact that Godliness is taught sitting down, walking, lying down and rising up should emphasize the supreme importance of teaching about God and the Scriptures at every opportunity. Let me illustrate. Suppose a father and son are out walking and they come upon a covey of birds feeding. What kind of practical lesson can be taught from this scene? This is the prime opportunity to teach a child about God’s providential care for the birds and more importantly for those who put God first (Read Matthew 6:25-34). Or, maybe you have someone in your family who is very sick and will likely die. What lessons can be taught from this life experience? This would be a wonderful opportunity to teach them about things like the importance of prayer in healing the sick (James 5:14), about the brevity of life (James 4:14) and about life after death (John 14:1-6). A second lesson that jumps off the pages of this text is that parents must make Bible study a regular part of home life. What a powerful lesson it is to children when from infancy they see mom and dad studying the Bible and making it the most important priority in the home. Just imagine, if we turned off the old tube, and spent more time studying the Bible what an impact we could make on our children’s lives.

What can parents do to raise godly children? Emphasize God from infancy and emphasize God in everyday life. May God give us the strength and courage to be the best parents and grandparents we can be!

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Joey Ferrell 11/1/17 Joey Ferrell 11/1/17

Article - The Claus Vs. The Christ

Recently I have been amazed by the number of religious groups that are canceling services this Sunday due to Christmas. These cancellations present a great dilemma: Are we honoring Santa Claus over Jesus Christ? The very fact that some are canceling their services says they think the Christmas holiday is more important than gathering to worship God & His Son. The Christmas holiday has not only presented problems for some canceling their services this Sunday, but has caused mass confusion over whether or not Christmas should be observed as a religious holiday. Does the Bible authorize us to remember the birth of God’s son as a religious holiday? Was Jesus born on December 25? Should we ever cancel worship services because they conflict with our holidays? Let’s look to the Bible to answer these questions.

First, we must determine from the Scriptures if we are to remember the birth of Jesus as a religious holiday. Does God authorize His people to remember His Son’s birthday? If so, how and when are we to remember it? As a person takes his Bible and looks for words like Christmas & religious holiday he will very quickly notice they are not in the Bible. Christmas is not mentioned one time in the entire Bible. As one studies the birth of Christ, he will also notice that while it was a wonderful event of hope, we are never commanded to remember his birth (Luke 2:1ff). Instead, Christians are commanded to remember the death of Christ every first day of the week by taking the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25; Acts 20:7). As you are reading this you may be thinking to yourself, “It doesn’t say we can’t do it.” To this objection I would ask, “Must the Christian have Bible authority for religious acts, like remembering the birth of Christ?” To answer this question we need only look at a few passages in the Bible that affirm its truthfulness. For example, Paul told Christians not to go beyond what is written in the Bible (1 Corinthians 4:6). Must a person go beyond the Word of God to celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday? Yes! Toward the close of the Bible we are told not to add to or take away from God’s word or divine condemnation will be pronounced upon us (Revelation 22:18-19). Does one have to add to the Word of God to observe the birth of Jesus as a religious holiday? Yes! Paul told Christians, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:17). Can we find one shred of evidence where Jesus authorized his birth to be remembered today? No! Friends, if God doesn’t tell us to do something and we do it anyway, are we going to please God? No. If you think it is possible to add to God’s Word and still please Him, just turn in your Bible and read the example of Nadab & Abihu in Leviticus 10:1-2. God did not authorize these men to offer a strange fire, and as a result they perished because of it. God has not authorized Christians to remember His son’s birth, and we must not add to His Word!

Secondly, we must consider the time of Jesus’ birth. Was Jesus born on December 25? Not likely. There are two very strong evidences that suggest Jesus’ birth was not in December. First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:7-8). Shepherds were not in the fields during December. Concerning this evidence, commentator Albert Barnes notes, “It is probable from this that our Saviour was born before the 25th of December, or before what we call "Christmas." At that time it is cold, and especially in the high and mountainous regions about Bethlehem.” (Barnes, Luke 2:8). Second, Jesus' parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke 2:1-4). Such censuses were not taken in winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and roads were in poor condition. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating. No one really knows the exact time of Jesus’ birth. If God had wanted us to remember the birth of Jesus as a religious holiday he surely would have told us when He was born!

Since we are not commanded to remember the birth of Christ and we do not know when His birthday was, we should not cancel services. At this point someone may exclaim, “ba-humbug you ole’ scrooge. You’re just trying to ruin Christmas!” This is not the case at all. I enjoy the holiday season as a time to give gifts, spend time with friends and family and take a break from the routine of life. However, the Bible doesn’t authorize me to remember this time of year as Jesus’ birth, nor does it authorize me to cancel services because of the holidays, New Year’s, a football game or any other event that happens to fall on a Sunday. May each of us ask ourselves, “Are we pitting the Claus against the Christ when we cancel services?” And may we remember the words of the wise sage, “Do not add to His Word lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:6).

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Joey Ferrell 10/30/17 Joey Ferrell 10/30/17

Article - A Better Covenant

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). One of the main points of the book of Hebrews and the New Testament is the Superiority of Christ and the New Covenant. Notice a couple of ways the Book of Hebrews illustrates the Superiority of Christianity.

A Better Offering

Under the Old Testament system, the priests were commanded to take offerings of animals and grain (Leviticus 1-5). Yet, with these bloody sacrifices, there was the ever-present reminder that they could never take away sin. Of this the Hebrew writer says, “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3-4). The great thing about the priesthood of Christ is His offering is once for all. Of Jesus it is said, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). Imagine what it would have been like to live under the Levitical sacrifice system. If a man sinned (and all did!—Rom. 3:23), he would go out to the field and get a spotless bull from the flock take it to the door of the tabernacle and kill it before the Lord. Then, the priest would slaughter the animal placing its blood on the altar and it’s entrails as a burnt offering for sin (Leviticus 4:1ff). And, if he sinned the next day, the whole process started all over again. How thankful to God we ought to be that Jesus is our once for all sacrifice for sins! Why would anyone want to go back to an inferior system of sacrifice that could never really save?

A Better Priestly Order

It is impossible for Jesus Christ to be a priest on earth today (Hebrews 8:3-4). He does not fit the divine pattern for the Levitical priest. He came from the wrong tribe (Hebrews 7:14). His parents were not of the proper genealogy. His priestly service would have began and ended at a certain age (Hebrews 7:3). Thank God Jesus is High Priest according to a better order. As God Himself said, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4). This order far exceeds the priestly order of Aaron because it is not dependent upon genealogy (7:3), has no beginning or ending point (7:3) and is superior to Levi from its inception (7:1-10). And, since Jesus is of a “new” priestly order the Hebrew writer says, “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law” (Hebrews 7:12). This idea of a change in the priesthood necessitating a change in the law naturally turns the Hebrew writer’s attention to the “better” covenant.

How wonderful it is to live in the New Testament Age! Friend, have you taken advantage of the great salvation that can only be found in Jesus? If not, you can do so today. You can do so very simply by believing in Jesus as God’s son (John 8:24), repenting of your past sins (Luke 13:1-5), confessing him as Lord (Romans 10:10; Matthew 10:32-33), and being baptized in water for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16).

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Joey Ferrell 10/30/17 Joey Ferrell 10/30/17

Article - Acts 2:38: Not A Causal View of Eis

The Greek word translated “for” in Acts 2:38 is the word eis. This Greek word is used primarily to represent a going into, an indication of purpose, or the going in the direction of a goal. Hence, the purpose or goal of baptism is the forgiveness of one’s sins. Due to false teaching, it is important for us at this time to discuss a major false doctrine involving Acts 2:38. Certain false teachers have tried to make the word “for” (Gr. eis) mean “because of”. In the context of Acts 2:38 the Jews had just asked Peter what they needed to do to be saved (Acts 2:37). If the causal view of eis means “because of” Peter would be saying to the Jews, repent and be baptized because you have already received the remission of sins. If this view of eis is correct, then Peter completely ignored their question. Is Acts 2:38 really a causal usage of the word eis? Let us examine why this passage can not be a causal view of the word eis.

While this view may sound good to those trying to propagate faith only doctrine, it has several glaring errors that prove it false. (1). Logic demands that this view of Acts 2:38 cannot be true. Is Peter here telling the Jews that they need to repent and be baptized because they have already been forgiven of their sins? Wait just a minute Peter. If I have already been forgiven of my sins, I do not have to do anything. It is highly illogical for someone to ask you what do to be saved (The question of Acts 2:37), then you tell them two things to do because they are already saved. (2) This view of Acts 2:38 is in contradiction with the very words of Jesus. Jesus taught that for a man to be saved he had to repent before, not after he had been forgiven of his sins. In Luke 13:3 Jesus told certain people who were still in sin that they had to repent to get out of sin. Jesus simply said, “I tell you no, but unless you repent you shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). If the causal view of Acts 2:38 is true then Peter and Jesus are in disagreement on what one must do before salvation. Does the Bible contradict itself? No. The false doctrines of men contradict the Bible! (3). The linguistics and semantics of Acts 2:38 will not support the causal view of eis. The Greek words used in this passage under consideration are ei)$ a&fesin tw=n a(martiw=n. The usage of this exact same phrase in a similar passage helps us to see its meaning. In Matthew 26:28 Jesus said, “This is My blood of the New Covenant which was shed for many, for the remission of sins (ei)$ a&fesin a(martiw=n). What exactly was Jesus saying in this context? Was he saying, “I went to the cross and shed my blood because your sins are already forgiven.” Of course not! Jesus was saying the purpose of Me shedding My blood was to forgive your sins. Likewise, when Peter uses this exact same phraseology in Acts 2:38 it is to show the purpose of repentance and baptism in salvation. In fact, the Greek word eis is used some 1,768 times in the New Testament. Of all the uses of this Greek word, there are only about five instances where the causal case might possibly make sense and be grammatically correct. Do you know what kind of a statistic that is? These numbers tell us that the chance of the causal view of eis occurring is about .3 percent. 99.7% of the time this word does not mean “because of”. Therefore, for a person to translate “for” as “because of” there would have to be strong textual indicators and justifiable evidence for doing so. In Acts 2:38 there is no evidence or indicators to base a causal view of eis on. In fact, when the evidence is gathered it is against this view. Therefore, we can truly say that baptism is for (i.e. in order to receive) the remission of past sins!!

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Joey Ferrell 10/30/17 Joey Ferrell 10/30/17

Article - Does Forgiveness Remove All Consequences? (Part 2)

From the previous article we learned that although the consequences of the sins of Adam, Eve, Moses and David continued to affect them until their death, they were forgiven of their sins by God and are likely enjoying the bliss of Paradise to this day (Luke 23:43; Hebrews 11). The Bible says that the blood of Jesus cleanses sins (not the consequences of those sins, Revelation 1:5). However, the cleansing blood of Jesus only comes after one has repented of those sins (and been baptized, if not a Christian, Acts 2:38). If any one of these Old Testament characters had asked God to forgive him but were not genuinely sorry, did not have a change of heart and did not intend to cease their sinful activity, God would not have forgiven him. God does not forgive anyone who is not willing to repent (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9). Furthermore, if a Christian or non-Christian asks God to forgive him of his adulterous marriage, but then enters right back into that same unscriptural marriage, God has not forgiven him. Repentance must precede forgiveness (Luke 17:3). Repentance is not just being pricked in your heart and saying you are sorry (Acts 2:37-38). It involves a genuine change of heart which results in changing any unscriptural action and/or activity (Acts 26:20). Can a thief repent and still keep the car he stole (Mark 6:17-18)? Are you willing to gain or hold on to an unscriptural marriage that you say makes you happy and lose your own soul by exchanging it for the passing pleasures of sin (Mark 8:34-38; Hebrews 11:25)?

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Joey Ferrell 10/5/17 Joey Ferrell 10/5/17

Bible Class Curricula - Denominational Doctrines - Lutheran

History of the Lutheran Religion
1. When did this movement start? October 31, 1517
2. Where did it start? Wittenberg, Germany
3. Where is their official headquarters? The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois; formed in 1988 by the merging of three churches and having about 4 million members, it is the largest and most liberal of all the Lutheran denominations in the United States.123
4. Who founded this movement? Martin Luther
5. Origin of this movement. The history of this movement began with a reformation spirit:
  Luther observed that many people in Wittenberg were not coming to him for confession any more. They were going to towns in Brandenburg or Anhalt like Jüterbog or Zerbst to buy Indulgences (primarily the Peter’s Indulgence).
  The practice of buying indulgences, which quasi replaced confession and allowed people to buy their salvation, was completely repulsive to Luther. He strongly believed that one lived a life of humility in order to receive God’s grace.
  After 1507, trade in Indulgences took a steep climb because both the Papal Court and Bishop Albrecht von Brandenburg, Germany’s representative for the sale of indulgences were in great financial trouble.
  In addition, the Dominican monk, Johann Tetzel, sold indulgences in the region around Wittenberg in a very ostentatious manner. Many stories started poping up about him such as, that Tetzel could redeem the sins of the deceased.
  Further sayings of Tetzel, such as, "When the money clangs in the box, the souls spring up to heaven," also brought protests from Luther.4
6. What is their authority? The Bible is claimed to be the only source. However, one must learn the creeds and catechism of Martin Luther in order to be a Lutheran.
Reviewing Some of Luther’s 95 Theses
1. The pope neither desires nor is able to remit any penalties except those imposed by his own authority or that of the canons. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring and showing that it has been remitted by God; or, to be sure, by remitting guilt in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in these cases were disregarded, the guilt would certainly remain unforgiven.5
2. Those priests act ignorantly and wickedly who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penalties for purgatory. Those tares of changing the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory were evidently sown while the bishops slept (Matthew 13:25).6
3. They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory. It is certain that when money clinks in the money chest, greed and avarice can be increased; but when the church intercedes, the result is in the hands of God alone.7
4. Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teachers. Men must especially be on guard against those who say that the pope’s pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to him.8
5. To say that the cross emblazoned with the papal coat of arms, and set up by the indulgence preachers, is equal in worth to the cross of Christ is blasphemy. The bishops, curates, and theologians who permit such talk to be spread among the people will have to answer for this.9
6. Why does not the pope empty purgatory for the sake of holy love and the dire need of the souls that are there if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a church? The former reason would be most just; the latter is most trivial.10
False Doctrines of the Lutheran Denomination
1. Sola Gratia – "God forgives, loves and saves us completely apart from anything we do or do not do."11
2. The phrase grace alone never occurs in the Bible – nor does the concept of salvation by grace alone. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).
3. Sola Fide – "[T]o our ‘sola fide’ (by faith alone) Lutheran ears, the idea that our Lord would draw a line separating the damned from the saved based on works should be troubling."12
4. The phrase faith only occurs only one time in the Bible (James 2:24), and it is the exact opposite of what Lutherans teach. Incidentally, don’t sola gratia and sola fide contradict each other? Is it possible to have both?
5. Sola Scriptura – "The Bible is the only norm of doctrine and life."13 While this certainly is a correct biblical principle (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 4:6), it is not one that Lutherans today actually follow.
6. Luther has a checkered history in relation to the Canon of the Bible. "Luther was also frustrated by the works-emphasis of the book of James, calling it the Epistle of Straw," and questioning its canonicity. Also irritated with the complex symbolism of the Book of Revelation, he once said that it, too, was not canon, and that it should be thrown into the river!"14
7. Lutherans believe in sprinkling babies�a practice that is in violation of both of the mode and meaning of baptism as found within Scripture (Mark 1:9-11; John 3:23; Romans 6:1-4; Acts 8:37ff.).
8. Lutherans use instrumental music in their worship even though it is an unscriptural practice (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16-17) and one against which Martin Luther himself cautioned. Luther said, "The organ in the worship is the insignia of Baal. The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews."15
Reasons Why I Cannot be a Lutheran
1. The Lutheran Church has a human founder, Martin Luther, rather than Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18).
2. The Lutheran Church began at the wrong time and place to be the Christ’s church (Acts 2).
3. Lutherans follow such things as the Augsburg Confession, the Nicene Creed, the Apostles’ Creed, the Athanasian Creed, the Smalcald Articles of Faith, and the Formula of Concord instead of the Bible alone (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
4. Members of the Lutheran Church refer to themselves as "Lutherans" rather than "Christians" (Acts 4:12; 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16). Luther himself pleaded, "I pray you leave my name alone and do not call yourselves Lutherans, but Christians" (Michelet, Life of Luther, p. 262).
5. Lutherans also have the wrong name for the church (see Matthew 16:18; Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 1:2; John 10:30).
6. Lutherans hold that the Ten Commandments are binding today, even though those commandments were "nailed to the cross" (Colossians 2:14-17; 2 Corinthians 3:7-11; Galatians 5:1-4; Romans 7:1-4).
7. Lutherans teach that Sunday is the “Christian Sabbath” and observe numerous “holy days” such as “Lent,” “Easter,” “Christmas,” etc. (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 22:18-19; Exodus 20:8-11).

Study Questions

Who founded the Lutheran church? What is wrong with Martin Luther founding a church?
When was the Lutheran church started? Is that when the New Testament church started?
Where was the Lutheran church started? Where was the New Testament church started?
Did Martin Luther have good motives in his reformation movement? Did he go far enough?
Is salvation available by grace alone (See Titus 2:11-13)? Is salvation attainable by grace alone (see Ephesians 2:8-9)?
The phrase faith only occurs one time in the Bible. Where is that phrase located in Scripture, and what does the passage actually teach?
Incidentally, can one have sola gratia (saved by grace alone) and sola fide (saved by faith alone) at the same time? Aren’t these two ideas in conflict?
How did Martin Luther view the books of James and Revelation? Why did he view them this way?
Is sprinkling an acceptable mode of baptism? Support your answer from Scripture.
Did Martin Luther approve of instrumental music?
Did Martin Luther want people to be called "Lutherans" today?

References

1Online: (http://www.elca.org/About/History), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
2Online: (http://www.elca.org/en/About/Churchwide), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
3Online: (http://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/ELCA-Facts), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
4Online: (http://www.luther.de/en/anschlag.html).
5Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, (Wittenberg, Germany, 1517), theses 5 and 6.
6Ibid., theses 10 and 11.
7Ibid., theses 27 and 28.
8Ibid., theses 32 and 33.
9Ibid., theses 79 and 80.
10Ibid., thesis 82.
11Online: (http://www.elca.org/en/Living-Lutheran/Ask-a-Pastor/2013/07/~/link.aspx?_id=48C112411847489194AB6ADA0C845F78&_z=z), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
12Online: (http://www.elca.org/en/Living-Lutheran/Ask-a-Pastor/2013/11/~/link.aspx?_id=72E3B65A516F4CB89627FE7BEBC56F57&_z=z), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
13Online: (http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Confessing_Our_Faith_Together_A_Proposal.pdf.pdf), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
14Online: (http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/martin-luther.html), retrieved Tuesday, March 25, 2014 .
15Martin Luther, McClintock and Strong’s Encyclopedia, Volume VI, p. 762.

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The Gospel of Christ

This material is copyrighted by The Gospel of Christ and its authors. This information is free to use in its entirety without further consent, however, modifications should not be made without contacting mail@thegospelofchrist.com for permission. Any and all images contained herein are believed to be free for all distribution and content.

Joey Ferrell 10/5/17 Joey Ferrell 10/5/17

Bible Class Curricula - Denominational Doctrines (Part 1) - Lesson #1 - The Catholic Religion

Introduction
1. Catholicism is the largest manmade religion today (claiming one billion adherents).
2. It is my belief that Catholicism – with its ritualism, formality, and false doctrines – has done more to harm the cause of Christ than any other religion.
History of the Catholic Religion
1. When did the Catholic religion begin? The Catholic religion is officially recognized as starting in A.D. 606 – not in A.D. 30 (Acts 2:47). However, one can easily see the seeds of apostasy in the New Testament that led to Catholicism.
  1. The concept of placing the teachings of men (both oral and written) above the commandments of God is found even in the times of Jesus (Matthew 15:7-9).
  2. The practice of forbidding people to marry and to eat certain foods was begun by the Gnostics in the first century (1 Timothy 4:1-4).
  3. Diotrophes started the seeds of the papacy by his thirst for power and his “chief elder” mentality (3 John 9-11). Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 100-150) made the first known distinction between bishops and elders. This doctrine was later carried over to the papacy by Origen and others who followed.1
  4. In the first century, the apostles clearly preached against the seeds of apostasy currently found in the Catholic religion (Acts 20:28-30; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 4:3-4).
2. Where did the Catholic religion begin? Rome – not Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-4; Acts 2).
3. Where is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic religion? Rome – not Heaven (Psalm 119: 89).
4. Who is the head of the Catholic religion? The pope is considered the head of the Catholic Church and the “vicar of Christ.” Jesus definitely is not the Head of the Catholic Church (Ephesians 1:21-23).
5. Who founded Catholicism? Boniface III is officially recognized as the founder, although it was a gradual process of apostasy. It is evident from history that Jesus is not the founder of this religion (1 Corinthians 3:11).
6. What is their authority? The Bible, the Catholic Church, papal edicts, and oral tradition. It is likely that, to a devoted Catholic, none of these would outweigh the other in the importance of authority.
Catholic Authority Examined
1. Catholics are told that they cannot understand the Bible by reading it (see Ephesians 3:4). Concerning this idea, Catholic writer John O’Brien says, From all of which it must be abundantly clear that the Bible alone is not a safe and competent guide because it is not now and has never been accessible to all, because it is not clear and intelligible to all, and because it does not contain all the truths of the Christian religion.2
  1. The Bible alone, however, is to serve as our sole authority in religious matters (Colossians 3:17; John 17:17; John 16:13; Acts 20:32; James 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 3:4; 2 Peter 1:3; Psalm 119:160).
  2. The Bible is a book that can be read, understood, and obeyed by all people (Ephesians 3:4; Ephesians 5:17; John 8:32).
2. The Catholic Church also is a source for authority. O’Brien illustrates this point when he says, The simple fact is that the Bible, like all dead letters, calls for a living interpreter … . Just as the Supreme Court is the authorized living interpreter of the Constitution, so the Catholic Church is the living authoritative interpreter of the Bible.3 The Pope also has authority in religious matters. Catholics believe, When the Pope in his official capacity … proclaims a doctrine on faith or morals binding on the whole Church, he is preserved from error.4
  1. The Bible, however, teaches that no man is perfect (Romans 3:23).
  2. The main answer to the false doctrine of Catholic popes being preserved from error is the Bible’s complete silence on the subject!
The Seven Sacraments of Catholicism
1. What is a sacrament? Catholics define a sacrament as a visible sign instituted by Christ by which grace is conveyed to our souls. Three things are necessary to constitute a sacrament – a visible sign, invisible grace and the institution by our Lord Jesus Christ.5
2. The first of the seven sacraments is that of baptism. Catholics teach, Baptism effects the remission of original sin and actual sins and of all punishment due to sin; it confers sanctifying grace, membership in Christ and in the Church and the obligation to obey the Church’s laws, and give an indelible character.6
  1. With part of this teaching the New Testament agrees. Baptism is for the remission of actual sins and is essential to enter the church (Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 12:13).
  2. The problem with the Catholic view of baptism has to do with the erroneous idea of original sin (Matthew 18:1-5; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ezekiel 28:15) and the Catholic mode of baptism (Mark 1:9-11; John 3:23; Acts 8:38-39; Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12).
3. The second sacrament is penance. Catholics believe The Church has the power to forgive all sins. This forgiveness of sins is a true sacrament instituted by Christ, different from baptism, particularly on account of its judicial form. Sins are forgiven only by the sacrament of penance. Sins are forgiven by absolution which can only be given by an authorized priest. It is a real judicial pardon. The Church has the power to reserve certain cases.7
  1. The problem with this sacrament is the emphasis upon whom forgives sin. Nowhere in the New Testament will you find the church forgiving anyone of sin. The church does not forgive sin; God does! The psalmist stated correctly, Against you and you only have I sinned (Psalm 51:4). God is the One Who forgives sins (Luke 23:34; Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:9).
  2. In the New Testament, you will never find a Christian confessing his or her sins to a priest (James 5:16-17).
4. The third sacrament is confirmation. Catholic doctrine says, Confirmation is a true sacrament instituted by Christ and different from baptism. It is administered by laying-on of hands and anointing with chrism accompanied by prayer. The chrism is blessed by the bishop and the bishop administers the sacrament. All baptized persons can and should be confirmed. The effect of the sacrament of confirmation is to give strength in faith and for the confession of faith and to impress an indelible character.8
  1. This sacrament often is performed with oil directly after one’s baptism as a confirming sign of membership into the Catholic community. However, the Bible teaches that if a person obeys the Gospel, then God confirms him or her as a member of the kingdom (Acts 2:47).
  2. How does the anointing with oil strengthen anyone’s faith (Romans 10:17)?
5. The fourth sacrament is the Eucharist. The Catholic Eucharist can be understood better as we look at “The Real Presence” and “Transubstantiation.”
  1. The Real Presence declares that during the partaking of the Lord’s Supper the body and blood of Jesus are actually present. Catholic teaching says In this sacrament are present the living body and blood of Christ; therefore also his soul which gives them life, therefore also his divine nature which is indissolubly united with his sacred humanity.9
  2. To explain how Jesus is literally and physically a part of the Lord’s Supper, Catholics have developed the doctrine of Transubstantiation. The Council of Trent said, By the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation.10
    1. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Jesus’ death. The context of the institution of the Lord’s Supper teaches the elements are figures of the blood and body (Matthew 26: 28-29; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25; John 6:63, 68).
    2. For transubstantiation to exist, we would still have to be in the age of miracles. However, passages such as 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 teach that we are not still in the age of miracles.
6. The fifth sacrament is the sacrament of ordination. This is the sacrament by which men become a part of the priesthood of the Catholic religion. Concerning this sacrament Catholic author McSorley says, The hierarchal organization of the Church is in three grades – the episcopate, the priesthood, and the diaconate – although of divine origin, is not clearly described in the New Testament. Nor does the Gospel say that our Lord indicated the precise way in which He intended His Church to be governed and administered.11
  1. The main problem with this teaching lies in a “separation of terms” that the Bible does not make. For example, all Christians have been called by the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14-15). In the New Testament, there is no clergy/laity system.
  2. The episcopate comes from the Greek word episkopos, meaning overseer or bishop. This word is one of the three synonymous terms used in Acts 20:28-32 to describe the eldership.
  3. In the New Testament, every Christian is a part of the priesthood (Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:9).
  4. The diaconate comes from the Greek word diakonos, meaning deacon or servant. There is a clear distinction made in the New Testament between the qualifications and duties of elders and deacons.
7. The sixth sacrament of Catholicism is marriage. While marriage is indeed a God-ordained union, nowhere do we find it to be sacramental in nature. Concerning this sacrament, the Catholic Church says:
  The sacrament of matrimony consist of the marriage contract, so that for Christians the contract and the sacrament are inseparable. Therefore marriage comes into the legal competence of the Church. The Church may establish impediments, including diriment impediments which invalidate a marriage and forbidding impediments which make marriage illegal. She may determine the form and rite to be observed. Matrimonial causes fall to ecclesiastical courts.12
  1. While Catholics should be commended for their view of the sanctity of marriage, the church is not the decision-maker of whom can and cannot marry.
  2. God gave the principles of marriage in Genesis 2, and Jesus further illustrates these in Matthew 19:1-10. The church should only follow that which the Bible teaches – not make laws or impediments to annul marriages.
8. The final sacrament is extreme unction. This sacrament is also known as the “last rites” and is performed by the anointing of oil upon sickness or death to help ensure eternal life. The proof text that Catholics use for this teaching is James 5:14-15. Concerning this rite, Catholics teach:
  Extreme Unction is a sacrament in which the sick, by the anointing with holy oil and the prayers of the Priests, receive spiritual succor and even corporal strength when such is conducive to salvation. This unction is called extreme, because it is usually the last of the holy unction administered by the Church.13
  1. There are several things that Catholics overlook in James 5:14-15. First, the elders – not priests – are to perform this action.
  2. Second, James says this is done to heal – while Catholics usually perform it right before death.
  3. Third, the emphasis in the text is placed upon the prayers of the faithful that save – not the oil.
  4. Finally, one must determine if this is a spiritual or physical sickness. Some evidence suggests that the healing is spiritual – not physical.
7 Reasons Why a Christian Cannot Be a Catholic
1. Catholics exalt people such as Mary, Peter, “Mother” Theresa, and others. The Bible, however, says that we should not worship people (Psalm 111:9; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 19: 10; Acts 10:26).
2. The Catholic hierarchy or clergy/laity system is not found within the Scriptures (Matthew 23:9; Philippians 1:1; 2:3-4; Romans 12:3-4; 1 Peter 5:1-5).
3. Infant baptism is foreign to the teachings of the New Testament (Mark 1:9-10; John 3:23; Acts 8:38; Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2:12).
4. Catholicism is too complicated (Mark 12:37; John 8:32; Ephesians 4:3; 5:17).
5. Catholics do not believe that the Bible is suitable to serve as our only guide; rather, tradition must come into play as well (Matthew 15:7-9; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3).
6. Cold formalities replace heartfelt worship and fruitful service (Mark 12:32-37; Revelation 2:4).
7. A sinner would have to seek forgiveness from men – not God (Psalm 51:4; 86:5; 1 John 1:7-10).
How to Convert a Catholic
1. Help the person to understand when the church began (Acts 2:47), Who founded the church (Matthew 16:18), where the church began (Isaiah 2:1-2; Acts 2), and how the church began (Acts 20:28).
2. Help the person to understand that God’s Word must serve as man’s sole source for religious authority (Proverbs 30:61; Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18-19; Leviticus 10:1-2).
3. Help the person see the fallacious nature of such statements as We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.14 Papal edicts (e.g., papal bulls, ex cathedra statements, etc.) are nothing more than mere human assertions, and as such they are not authoritative.
4. Help the person see how human traditions have always led to people being lost (Matthew 15:7-9; 2 Kings 5).

Study Questions

Discuss the “Who, When, & Where” of this denomination’s origin. Does their origin match the divine blueprint in the New Testament?
What seeds of apostasy were present in the New Testament era that led to the beginning of Catholicism?
Catholic scholar John O’Brien states that the Bible is not clear, intelligible, and sufficient to all people. What verses in the Bible prove this claim to be false?
How do we know that original sin is not a biblical teaching?
Can the church or any human being alive today forgive sins? Support your answer from Scripture.
How is a person “confirmed” into God’s church? (See Acts 2:38-47).
Catholic scholar McSorley says the hierarchal organization of the Catholic religion is of divine origin although not clearly described in the New Testament. Can a teaching or doctrine of the church be of “divine origin” and not be found in Scripture?
Can the church make laws prohibiting, allowing, or annulling marriage? Explain your answer.
Does James 5:14-15 teach extreme unction? What is wrong with this type of death bed salvation?
List some Scriptures that teach us not to exalt other human beings.
Give Scriptural proof that infant baptism is not a biblical teaching.
Discuss the relationship between the destructive teachings of the Pharisees in Mt. 15:7-9 and the damnable teachings of the Catholic religion today.

References

Ferguson, Everett, Early Christians Speak (ACU Press, Abilene, TX,) p. 168.
O’Brien, John, The Faith of Millions (Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, IN, 1938), p. 148.
Ibid., p. 148.
Ibid., p. 126.
Gibbons, James, The Faith of Our Fathers (P.J. Kennedy & Son, New York, 1917), p. 218.
Online: (http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/sacrament.php?id=1), retrieved January 10, 2006.
Online: (http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/sacrament.php?id=4), retrieved January 10, 2006.
Online: (http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/sacrament.php?id=3), retrieved January 10, 2006.
The Teaching of the Catholic Church, VII, p. 843.
DS 1642; Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1376.
Quoted in D’Aubigne, History of the Reformation (Worthington, New York), p. 17.
Online: (http://www.catholic.org/prayers/sacrament.php?id=7), retrieved January 11, 2006.
Gibbons, James, History of the Christian Church (Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1913), p. 314.
Pope Boniface VIII, Papal Bull Unam Sanctam, 1302

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The Gospel of Christ

This material is copyrighted by The Gospel of Christ and its authors. This information is free to use in its entirety without further consent, however, modifications should not be made without contacting mail@thegospelofchrist.com for permission. Any and all images contained herein are believed to be free for all distribution and content.

Joey Ferrell 10/5/17 Joey Ferrell 10/5/17

Is The “Daniel” of Ezekiel 28 The Same Person As The Book of Daniel?

When discussing the evidence for the early date of Daniel in the sixth century B.C., one of the points that are raised is this same Daniel (of the book of Daniel) was a contemporary with Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:20; 28:3). Since Ezekiel lived in the sixth century B.C., then it would be the case that Daniel lived during the same time period. Those who oppose that the book of Daniel was written during the sixth century B.C. will appeal to another man named Danel (no misspelling here).

Yes.

When discussing the evidence for the early date of Daniel in the sixth century B.C., one of the points that is raised is this same Daniel (of the book of Daniel) was a contemporary with Ezekiel (Ezekiel 14:20; 28:3). Since Ezekiel lived in the sixth century B.C., then it would be the case that Daniel lived during the same time period. Those who oppose that the book of Daniel was written during the sixth century B.C. will appeal to another man named Danel (no misspelling here).

Even though Block identifies Daniel as the same person from the book of Daniel (as is demonstrated in his book), he asks several questions that those who do not believe it to be the same Daniel of the book of Daniel would ask such as: “Although Ezekiel’s Daniel has traditionally been identified with the Daniel of the biblical book, this interpretation raises several questions. How could a younger contemporary of Ezekiel earn the right to stand alongside traditional paragons of piety like Noah and Job within such a short period of time. What is Daniel the contemporary Hebrew doing in the company of two non-Israelite heroes of long ago? Why does Ezekiel spell the name dn}l, rather than dny}l?” [Daniel I. Block, The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 447-448.]

This is why some (such as Nelson) believe it to be a different Daniel. In Nelson's article on the name “Daniel,” Nelson reports that Daniel is not a fairly common name as it is only used with four names as he argues from the OT. According to Nelson: “David’s second son, according to the Chronicler (1 Chr. 3:1). The author of the books of Samuel remembers his name as Chileab. Since he does not figure in the struggle for succession to David’s throne (2 Sam. 9—1 Kgs. 2), he possibly died before reaching maturity or was physically or mentally incapacitated. 2. A postexilic priest who returned to the land of Israel in the time of Ezra (Ezra 8:2). He was a descendant of Ithamar and is possibly the same Daniel as the priest who supported Nehemiah’s covenant (Neh. 10:6). 3. A righteous and wise individual whom Ezekiel places in the company of Noah and Job (Ezek. 14:14, 20; 28:3). Although the name is vocalized “Daniel” by the Masoretes and by most English translations, the Hebrew spelling suggests “Danel” is more correct. Thus, there may be a connection between Ezekiel’s Danel and the Danel of the Aqhat text from Ugarit (2nd millennium B.C.), an esteemed judge who protected the rights of widows and orphans. The connection is more plausible when one considers that Ezekiel alludes to Daniel in an oracle against Tyre (Ezek. 28), for the cultures of Ugarit and Tyre were both Canaanite (emp. mine). 4. The hero of the book that bears his name. The book of Daniel tells of a Jewish youth who was taken into exile in Babylon, where the Babylonians trained him to serve as one of the king’s counselors.” [William B. Nelson, Jr. “Daniel.” Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. ed. David Noel Freedman (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000), 311.]

1. First, the spelling of the name is of no consequence since these are variant spellings of the same name. [Daniel I. Block, The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24, 448.]

2. Second, Daniel was a righteous man and he was delivered because of his righteousness. Petrillo states: “These three men are specially mentioned to show that a righteous few will not prevent the destruction of the many. Noah, Daniel, and Job would only deliver themselves by their own righteousness. Their righteousness would not avail for others. The righteousness of Noah (Gen. 6:9; Heb. 11:7), Daniel (Dan. 6:4, 5, 22), and Job (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3) delivered each of them, respectively, out of danger; but they succeeded only in delivering themselves.” [Denny Petrillo, Ezekiel, Truth For Today Commentary, (Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2004), 205.]

Archer points out that this Daniel of the legend of Aquat is an idol-worshipper and his spiritual condition was very low. [Gleason Archer, “Modern Rationalism and the Book of Daniel,” (Bibliotheca Sacra 136 [1979] 133-134.] This is in great contrast to the Daniel the Hebrew prophet who served the true and living God.

3. Third, Daniel was known for his supernatural wisdom. Petrillo states in regards to the pride of the king of Tyre in Ezek 28:3: “Daniel was noted for his righteousness and his wisdom, and both of these qualities are stressed (see Daniel 1:17–20; 2:47; 4:18). [Petrillo, Ezekiel, 415.]

4. Fourth, Daniel might have been well-known because of he was a part of the royal family that was taken in the first deportation to Babylon in 606 B.C. Although this is not for certain, it is historically plausible. The first two references come from the Bible while the other two sources are extra-biblical.

(1) Daniel 1:1–6.

(2) Isaiah 39:5–7.

(3) D.R.A. Hare, The Lives of the Prophets, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha,Vol. 2, ed. James Charlesworth (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1983), 379–400. Lives of the Prophets 4:1-2: “Daniel. This man was of the tribe of Judah, of the family of those prominent in the royal service, but yet while a child he was taken from Judea to the land of the Chaldeans. He was born in Upper Beth-horon, and he was a chaste man, so that the Judeans that that he was a eunuch.”

(4) Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 18:186–189: “Now Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took some of the most noble of the Jews that were children, and the kinsmen of Zedekiah their king, such as were remarkably for their beauty of their bodies and comeliness of their countenances, and delivered them into the hands of tutors... He also made some of them to be eunuchs... Now among these there were four of the family of Zedekiah, of the most excellent dispositions, the one of whom was called Daniel.”

This is why it is the case that “he was a contemporary of Ezekiel. Daniel was in the place in Babylon, and Ezekiel was with the common people.” [Petrillo, Ezekiel, 205.] This also proves that if Daniel was written early, then he, under the supervision of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20,21) wrote prophecies that were far in advance of the future showing forth that his book is inspired of God since only Deity can foretell the future in such specific details and precise timing! (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

Works Cited

Archer, Gleason L. Jr., “Modern Rationalism and the Book of Daniel.” Bibliotheca Sacra 136:542 (1979) 129-147.

Block, Daniel I. The Book of Ezekiel Chapters 1-24. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.

Hare, D.R.A. The Lives of the Prophets, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha,Vol. 2, ed. James Charlesworth. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1983.

Nelson, Jr. William B. “Daniel.” Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. ed. David Noel Freedman. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000.

Josephus. Translated by H. St. J. Thackeray et al. 10 vols. LCL. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1926-1965.

Petrillo, Denny. Ezekiel. Truth For Today Commentary. Searcy, AR: Resource Publications, 2004.

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Joey Ferrell 9/25/17 Joey Ferrell 9/25/17

Does 1 Corinthians 3:14,15 Teach Once Saved, Always Saved?

Some people have misused 1 Corinthians 3:15 to allege the "once-saved, always saved" doctrine of Calvinism. 1 Corinthians 3:14,15 states: "If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

In 1 Corinthians 1-4, Paul had been dealing with the issue of divisions in the church at Corinth. The congregation had been divided into various factions such as the group of Apollos, the group of Cephas, the group of Paul, and the group of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:12). Paul was appalled by this division because brethren should be striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:1-6).

Paul helped start the congregation at Corinth (Acts 18:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:10). He was building it on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10,11). He himself was only a minister (1 Corinthians 3:6-8).

In the remote context of 1 Corinthians Paul states that his work was to make disciples of the Lord. Paul is not talking about a person's personal deeds, but the converts he is able to bring to the Lord. Paul uses the same word "work" in 1 Corinthians 9:1.

Some converts are going to be built with flimsy materials such as hay and straw because they will mature in Christ and sadly retreat back into the world and fall away. Some converts are built with more durable materials such as silver and gold. The "loss" to which Paul is referring is the toil of winning souls to Jesus. Those who have studied the Bible with people know how much dedication, time, and effort is involved in helping that person to render faith and obedience to the gospel. It is a tragedy when that person after a period of time turns away from the faith.

"If anyone's work (converts) which he has built on endures, he will receive a reward (enjoying eternal life with those whom he has converted). If anyone's work (converts) is burned (impenitent converts who ultimately spend eternity in hell and the soul-winner's loss of effort, John 17:12; 2 Peter 2:20-22, he will suffer loss (the soul-winner's loss of effort, Galatians 4:11); but he (the soul winner) himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

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Joey Ferrell 9/25/17 Joey Ferrell 9/25/17

What Is The One Baptism That Is Now In Effect?

This question comes from Ephesians 4:1-6: "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

As you read through the New Testament, there are various baptisms that are mentioned. Which one is the "one baptism" of Ephesians 4:5?

1. It cannot be the baptism of fire because that is in reference to hellfire as you look closely at the context of Matthew 3:10-12, which will occur in the future. The "one baptism" that Paul is writing about was presently occurring.

2. It cannot be the baptism of suffering (Matthew 20:20-23) because Jesus was speaking to James and John. This "one baptism" is a baptism that all Christians have experienced and are united into one body, the church of Christ.

3. It cannot be the baptism in the Holy Spirit because it was for a select few (Acts 1:4,5; 2:1-4; John 14-16). The one baptism mentioned in Ephesians 4:1-6 is something that all Christians have experienced.

4. It cannot be the water baptism administered on Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17) because this baptism was only reserved for Jesus who had no sin and the reason He was baptized was to fulfill all righteousness. He was to do the complete will of God. The "one baptism" was a baptism that all Christians have experienced because they were in all need of salvation from sin.

5. It cannot be the baptism of Moses because that was a "baptism" that the children of Israel experienced through the Red Sea before entering into the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:1-4). No Christian experienced this baptism.

6. It cannot be the water baptism administered by John the Immerser and Jesus during their personal ministries (Mark 1:4; John 4:1-2). That baptism of repentance was for the remission of sins and while it was in effect, those who underwent that baptism would have been added to the kingdom of God that was given to Jesus from God the Father. After the cross, John's baptism was no longer in effect because one of the qualifications of it was to believe on Him (Jesus) who was to come (Acts 19:4). The twelve men at Ephesus were baptized with the baptism of John after it had become null and void and needed to be baptized under the water baptism of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Therefore, the only other baptism that is left is the water baptism under the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). All Christian can unite around this one baptism because all were baptized into Christ and into His body (Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13). The element is "water" as is seen in Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 3:21.

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Joey Ferrell 9/25/17 Joey Ferrell 9/25/17

Why Is Covenant Eschatology A False and Dangerous Doctrine?

"Covenant Eschatology" is defined by one of its former advocates (Max King) as "that the second coming of Christ, including the establishment of the eternal kingdom, the day of judgment, the end of the world, and the resurrection of the dead occurred with the fall of Judaism in A.D. 70." Advocates of this doctrine claim they believe in the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ; but the logical end to their doctrine implicitly denies such. In the first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul addresses the resurrection from the dead and its relationship to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Notice what Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. He begins with the premise: "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen" (1 Corinthians 15:13). Paul has already proven that Jesus was raised bodily from the dead in the earlier verses, pointing to the over five hundred witnesses who "saw" the physical body of Jesus after He had been raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). Therefore, it is false to explicitly or implicitly teach that there is no resurrection of the dead.

What if Jesus had not been raised? What are the logical implications of saying there is no resurrection of the dead? What if Christ is not risen? For if there is no physical, bodily resurrection of the dead (whether it be good or evil persons who are in the graves- John 5:28, 29), then Christ is not risen .

In 1 Corinthians 15:13-19 Paul argues that if there is no physical, bodily resurrection of the dead, then the following conclusions/consequences must follow:

#1 Consequence: " not even Christ has been raised;"

Major Premise: If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been r aised from the dead.

Minor Premise: There is no resurrection from the dead.

Conclusion: Therefore, Christ has not been r aised from the dead.

#2 Consequence: " if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain,"

Major Premise: If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then our preaching is vain.

Minor Premise: Christ has not been raised from the dead.

Conclusion: Therefore, our preaching is vain.

#3 Consequence: " your faith also is vain."

Major Premise: If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then our faith is vain.

Minor Premise: Christ has not been raised from the dead.

Conclusion: Therefore, our faith is vain.

#4 Consequence: " Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised."

Major Premise: If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then Paul (and the other apostles) are false witnesses of God.

Minor Premise: Christ has not been raised from the dead.

Conclusion: Therefore, Paul (and the other apostles) are false witnesses of God.

#5 Consequence: " For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins."

Major Premise: If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then we are still in our sins

Minor Premise: Christ has not been raised from the dead.

Conclusion: Therefore, we are still in our sins.

#6 Consequence: " then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished."

Major Premise: If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

Minor Premise: Christ has not been raised from the dead.

Conclusion: Therefore, those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

#7 Consequence: " If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied."

Major Premise: If Christ has not been raised from the dead, we are of all men most to be pitied.

Minor Premise: Christ has not been raised from the dead.

Conclusion: Therefore, we are of all men most to be pitied.

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Joey Ferrell 9/25/17 Joey Ferrell 9/25/17

Why Does The New Testament Even Exist?

There are those in the academic community who conduct canonical studies who have posed the question: "Why is there a New Testament at all?" Some have made the error that the early church produced the canon as a reaction against false teachers such as Marcion (who was making his own canon) in the second and third centuries A.D. These scholars believe the New Testament canon to be an afterthought to help equip the life of the church.

There are several answers to addressing this very question that can be found in the Scriptures:

First, Jeremiah prophesied that there would be a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). The new covenant states: "I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." It is very important to realize that a covenant had written documentation. If the old covenant had written documentation, and the new covenant is superior to the old covenant, then it would be the case that the new covenant would also have written documentation. We see that Paul describes Himself as a minister of the new covenant in 2 Corinthians 3 where he wants to see God's law written upon the hearts of His people.

Second, the Jews living in the first century A.D. were expecting God to fulfill promises He had made in the old covenant. Israel was still in spiritual exile and needed to return to God. We see in the New Testament that there were many Jews who had these expectations (Luke 2:38; 24:21; Acts 1:6). The Old Testament story was incomplete and needed to be finished. It is very interesting that the Hebrew arrangement of the Old Testament consists of having 1 & 2 Chronicles together as the last book where we see there are genealogies, a hope of a return to the Davidic throne, and returning from exile. Matthew starts off with a genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17), Jesus would be the legal heir to the throne of David (Matthew 1:1,6,17,20), and Jesus is the One who will deliver Israel from spiritual exile (Matthew 1:21). Matthew (along with the other New Testament writers) continues the narrative of God's great plan of redemption.

Third, Jesus commissioned the apostles to be guided by the Holy Spirit into all truth (John 14-16). First, this started out as an oral proclamation, but eventually the apostles (along with other prophets) wrote down epistles unto the congregations that they ministered. These epistles were considered inspired and authoritative (1 Corinthians 14:37; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 2 Peter 3:15,16; 1 Timothy 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:14). The early church received what was known as Scriptures that were on par with the authoritative Old Testament canon (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Since all authority is given to Jesus and since we will be judged by the words of Jesus (the New Testament) in the last day (John 12:48), it stands to reason that we would need the written words of Jesus as a guide to eternal life (Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 John 5:13).

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Joey Ferrell 9/25/17 Joey Ferrell 9/25/17

What Does Freedom Mean In The Bible?

In Jude 1:4 the Bible states: "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ." Many people think that once they become Christians, they can act in any way that they so choose because they now have obtained freedom. Such thinking is a delusion and not true freedom at all. It is the freedom to want to live in the boundaries that God has set forth because He knows what is best for all of us. Christian freedom is worth more and cost more than any other freedom.

The freedom from sin cost our heavenly Father His dear Son: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." (John 3:16). Since Christ did die for our sins, we can now have freedom from sin in Christ. "And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness" (Romans 6:18). Paul further elaborates on our freedom and says, "Stand fast therefore, in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1). Real freedom is about knowing that we have escaped the ultimate consequences and guilt of our sin through Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said, "Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). We need to be reminded of the cost for our spiritual freedom by remembering Jesus and His worthy sacrifice. It will help us to not want to return to a life of sin.

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Bible Class Curricula - Denominational Doctrines - Lutheran

The Gospel of Christ

Bible Class Curricula - Denominational Doctrines (Part 1) - Lesson #1 - The Catholic Religion

The Gospel of Christ

Is The “Daniel” of Ezekiel 28 The Same Person As The Book of Daniel?

Does 1 Corinthians 3:14,15 Teach Once Saved, Always Saved?

What Is The One Baptism That Is Now In Effect?

Why Is Covenant Eschatology A False and Dangerous Doctrine?

Why Does The New Testament Even Exist?

What Does Freedom Mean In The Bible?

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