Creation-Ed Ministry

Some Changes to the C-Ed Blog

2011-10-15T00:04:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you are a repeat visitor and noticed some posts are missing? The C-Ed blog has now been divided into three separate blogs:

C-Ed Blog will now address issues of Creation, from Creation to Christ; A new blog, Rescue the Church Mission has been created to address more personal issues of faith; and for matters pertaining to the King James Bible, please refer to the Why We Use The King James Bible blog.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement!

- Dr. J.F. Smith

Invitation to Check Out Creation-Ed Ministry

2011-09-15T15:54:00.001-07:00

We would like to invite our visitors to check out Creation-Ed Ministry, and if we are in proximity, perhaps you would be interested in allowing Dr. Smith to do an educational, evangelical, and edifying presentation in your church or organization. Please follow the links for a pamphlet, a letter of introduction, and a free "gift," an unpublished text: "Why We Use The King James Bible."

Just click on the links and download

INTRODUCTION TO C-ED MINISTRY

PAMPHLET

WHY WE USE THE KJB

“IN THE BEGINNING GOD … ”

2011-07-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

We know the verse, we quote it, but how much do we really understand these first words of the Bible?

These words bear foundational truth that everything else in the Bible flows from regarding the whole of Creation.

GOD TELLS US HERE THAT HE MADE TIME, SPACE, AND MATTER

      In the beginning [time], God created the heaven [space] and the earth [matter].

            EVERYTHING that we see, feel, smell, hear, and taste began with GOD.

                  There was NO Big Bang

God didn’t spend time making long detailed explanations on HOW He did it; just that He did it, and did it in SIX literal days.

GOD TELLS US THAT ALL THINGS COME FROM HIM

Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD … I am the LORD that maketh all things …

Col 1:16 For by him [Jesus Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

GOD TELLS US THAT HE CREATED MAN

Ge 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground …

      And placed him in the Garden, to take care of it (we were made to work)

      Ge 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

      And gave him an helpmeet (the first marriage)

Ge 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Mr 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female

Clearly man did not evolve from ape-like creatures

GOD TELLS US THAT LIFE COMES FROM HIM

      Man and beast:

Ge 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Ge 7:22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life

Ac 17:25 … seeing he giveth to all life …

GOD TELLS US HOW MAN DISOBEYED HIS COMMAND

How Adam ate of the tree, and sinned, bringing sin into God’s Creation, passing death unto ALL men:

Ro 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Causing all of Mankind to be separated from God from birth

Ps 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Introducing us to the first prophecy of a Redeemer

      How God covered Adam and Eve in animal skins – something had to die, for their sin.

Yet that was only temporary, in the fullness of time, God would send forth His Son to be made a propitiation for sin.

      He sent His only begotten Son to shed His blood and die a cruel death on a cross;
      The price for our sin would be paid in FULL;

And we could be FREE to worship Him in spirit and in truth in a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ.

            Those to whom the Lord chooses to reveal Himself
            Those who He would regenerate (give a new heart)
            Those who would respond to His Gospel:

Those who will turn from self and sin unto the Lord Jesus Christ as their only Hope

      Become FREE in Christ

TO DENY THESE TRUTHS IS TO DENY GENESIS 1:1, THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FAITH

But what we DO NOT so readily see in this first verse, amidst these foundational truths, are the first FOUR Words: “In the beginning God …”

            Which tell us something AMAZING about the character of God.

In fact, these first four words reveal several FASCINATING characteristics of the God of the Bible

            (and it’s only FROM the Bible where we can learn ABOUT the God of the Bible):

FIRST “In the beginning God …” is ETERNAL (Ps 90:2)

      Ps 90:2 … from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

In the beginning was GOD, which means BEFORE the beginning God was

And so, He is BEFORE all things:

            Col 1:17 And he is before all things …

This naturally implies that God is UNCREATED, therefore cannot be compared to anything of man’s hands (created)

Ac 17:24 … dwelleth not in temples made with hands [or imaginations]

NEXT they tell us that God can do the IMPOSSIBLE (Lk 18:27)

      Lu 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

            Can anyone here make something from nothing? Of course not!
            We NEED something to make something.

            But God spoke the universe into existence from nothing:

      Ps 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his      mouth.

THEY ALSO TELL US that God is of infinite UNDERSTANDING (Is 46:10)

      Ps 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

      Isa 40:28 … there is no searching of his understanding.

The amazing design in nature attests to this fact.

There are so many incredibly designed organisms and structures such as DNA, a human cells, bacterial flagellum, animals, and humans

ANOTHER THING they tell us is that God doesn’t NEED us

      The fact that God created us, means that in eternity past, He was fine without us

Ac 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

      Not even our PRAISES

Neh 9:15 … Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

Or WORSHIP

Lu 3:8 … begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Ps 148:13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

      That being the case, clearly He made us for HIS PLEAURE just as Rev 4:11 proclaims

Re 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

FINALLY they tell us that God was ALONE (Job 38:4)

Before all that was made was made, God was without ANYONE else but Himself and He was SATISFIED and SELF-SUFFICIENT, in need of NOTHING

      Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? …

Compare that with us, we who need EVERYTHING: the elements of the earth to form our bodies, life from God, oxygen in the air to breathe, water to function, and food for energy

From Scripture we know that God is the great I AM [period] . . . yet we, when we speak, we cannot stop there, we say “I am . . . hungry,” “I am thirsty,” “I am sick,” “I am tired,” “I am dying.”

      None can escape these words, yet God is NEVER tired, hungry, sick, thirsty, or dying

Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?

IN THE BEGINNING GOD …

There was a time when there was no time; a time when God was alone: No heaven, no angels singing God’s praises, no universe, no earth, no animals, no people . . . Only GOD.

CREATION ADDED NOTHING TO GOD NOR DID IT BENEFIT HIM:

      He changes not

            Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not

      He is the same yesterday, today, and forever

            Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Nothing changed in Him before, during, or after creation: He is still God with His perfect holiness, triunity, perfections, and attributes

CREATION WAS A CHOICE OF HIS OWN SOVEREIGN WILL

Not because He had NEED of something, something was missing in His being, or He longed for something - He is complete in Himself

            No, we were created for His own good PLEASURE (Eph 1:11)
            Who gave to God and He must repay it? (Ro 11:34-35)

GOD GAINS NOTHING FROM US:

            What givest thou Him O man (Job 35:7-8)

WE ARE AT BEST UNPROFITABLE SERVANTS (LU 17:10)

            All our efforts, sacrifices, and labor profits God NOTHING

GOD IS GLORIFIED IN HIS CREATION and in His salvation, but nothing is added to Him

            He is recognized, acknowledged and glorified, but not BUILT-UP

AND WE MUST REMEMBER, THAT BY HIS CHOICE HE REVEALS HIMSELF TO ANYONE

He could have remained the unknown God to the entire earth (Ac 17:23), to many, some, or none if He so chooses – and nothing will change

      The only was we CAN know Him, is that He has REVEALED Himself to us by His Holy Spirit.

We are flesh, God is Spirit, how then can we see Him (2Co 4:6, Jo 3:3, 1Co 2:14)? From His solitariness, He must reveal Himself to us if we are to know Him.

We who were DEAD in our sins could NOT see the SOLITARY God unless He made the first move.

THESE CHARACTERISTICS reveal to us an ATTRIBUTE OF GOD known as His SOLITARINESS

      And it is here that we must spend more time meditating, as it is an attribute often overlooked.

CONCLUSION

GOD IS TO BE WORSHIPPED IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

Let us therefore go beyond our feelings and imaginations, casting down our vain imaginations and look to His WORD which He choses to use to reveal Himself to us, into the beauty of His attributes, the beauty of His Triune Person (Ps 18:3)

IS THE SOLITARY GOD, THE GOD OF YOUR PULPITS?

      This is the TRUE God of Scripture

We must go beyond our reach, beyond our thoughts to the God who is beyond our understanding, and whose ways are beyond our ways

We must increase in the knowledge of God beyond our traditions, beyond “common” knowledge, beyond superficial readings.

MAY THE LORD BE PLEASED TO REVEAL MORE OF HIMSELF TO US

That we might decrease, and His praises increase in our hearts, minds, perspectives, worship, and messages. It is a humble submission and admission to the God of the Bible, the ONE TRUE GOD, and His SON JESUS CHRIST.

Evolution IS Impossible

2011-05-31T14:43:00.000-07:00

At this time, we’re not discussing supposed “evidences” which favor or negate the so-called “theory” of evolution, or any other old-earth notions which promote the (sudden) “natural” emergence of the universe and the gradual development of everything as we know it (star systems, galaxies, our solar system, earth, life on earth), over millions or billions of years.

Clearly from Scripture we read that God spoke the worlds into existence, “the worlds were framed by the word of God” (Hebrews 11:3); “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made” (Psalm 33:6).

When we compare Scripture with Scripture, and discover the revealed characteristics of God, we see that when God commands (in the essence of “creating” or “healing”) it happens immediately. Take for example, the following passages:

Mark 2:10 “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) (11) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. (12) And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth…”

Mark 10:51 “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. (52) And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way…”

Luke 4:39 “And he [Jesus] stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them…”

John 11:43 “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. (44) And he that was dead came forth…”

When Jesus spoke words of healing, people were healed immediately. There is no lengthy time associated with the Lord’s healing miracles (or any other for that matter). We should not therefore assume that God speaking the worlds into existence – the six days of creation would be anything less than an “immediate” response to the spoken word of God. Surely these were immediate events:

Genesis 1:3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

Genesis 1:9 “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.”

Genesis 1:11 “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.”

Genesis 1:24 “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.”

Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ... (27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

It seems contrary to the "word" and Word of God that He would command something, and it would take "billions" of years to happen.

However, my appeal is not to more “evidence,” but to the greatest evidence every believer has been given . . . FAITH . . . the testimony God has given us in His written Word which tells us, “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is” (Exodus 20:11) – God-given, Spirit-empowered FAITH in what God has told us.

Before you dismiss this “perfect” evidence as “childish,” let us not forget that it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie (Titus 1:2). Do we really believe that? The Lord said, in Matthew 18:3, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Are we able to trust the Lord in childlike faith for the salvation of our souls, yet unable to trust Him in childlike faith for everything else He has told us?

Since therefore, it is impossible for God to lie, can evolution (or any other notion of gradual development of stars and life) be possible, dear Christian? No. Since it impossible for God to lie, evolution must be IMPOSSIBLE.

Any other speculation contrary to, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth;” “in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is;” “from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female” (Genesis 1:1, Exodus 20:11, Mark 10:6) and the like is inherently false.

All the “illusion” of “scientific” evidence (c/w 1Timothy 6:20) for evolution PALES in the face of this God-given FAITH-appropriated FACT of God’s Word.

These arguments which never cease (even among “brethren”) serve no other purpose than to distract us from the work of the Lord – pointing people to Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins and an eternally-blessed personal relationship with Him, in Him, through Him. Well says Paul to Timothy, “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith” (1Timothy 1:4; see also 2Timothy 2:16, 23).

This fact of faith is the same for unbelievers as well. Whether they accept the literal Genesis account as true or not is irrelevant. The Scriptures tell us, “let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). The truth is still the truth, whether it is believed or not. Thus, even those who refuse to believe, are living in a universe that was created by God, and who commands repentance toward Him from sin, and belief of the saving Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15).

Before you go off chasing “smoke,” remember, the Scriptures are plain, and the Scriptures are clear regarding the foundational truth of fiat creation. God created everything in six literal days and it was perfect (Genesis 1:31). It is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie – therefore evolution is IMPOSSIBLE. It is a matter of faith, not to be measured by “science” so-called (c/w 1Timothy 6:20), but received and believed as what God says, He is able to do:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report. (3) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:1-3).

“Christian” Apologists – Return to the Bible!

2011-04-02T03:54:00.000-07:00

Due to recent revelations C-Ed will no longer take the "defensive" apologetic stance in this ministry. Apologists have gone from an outward defense of the faith, but an inward one, with one another.

Now, I have studied the subject of Creation extensively (15 years); have studied the research, both FOR and AGAINST fiat Creation in six literal days, as well as the evolutionary hypothesis, old-earth hypotheses, and progressive Creationism. And as a result, I am STILL a firm believer in six literal days of Creation, that God created ALL things, meaning heaven and earth and ALL that in them there is (Ex 20:11), and what God says clearly and simply is exactly what He means.

What we see is what God created, ex nihilo, time, space, and matter. Apologists using modern versions read Genesis 1:1 as “heavens,” but the King James uses “heaven” meaning space. But, how can you make your point to one who is using a faulty Bible, faulty information from the git-go (see my posts on the NKJV and Modern Versions) as their reference?This is one of many of the distracting dilemmas among Christian apologists.

Furthermore, I STILL firmly believe as it is written that the whole earth was flooded by a worldwide catastrophe (2Pe 2:5) some 4,000 years ago and we see the results of it all around the world. Yet there are Christian apologists today who promote a “local” flood, not from what the Bible says, but from what supposed ancient writings make mention. But the internal evidence for a worldwide flood is inescapable (Ge 6:17, 7:6, 7:10, 7:17, etc.). World in 1611 is the same as world today in this context.

Wait a minute, doesn’t God say we are liars from birth (Ps 58:3), and that God is true and every man a liar (Ro 3:4)? So, is it possible that these writings could be in error? Apologist, won’t you trust God’s clearly-written, plain Word in this matter over man’s? Are you seeking to promote your own intelligence or are you seeking the glory of God in a worldwide flood -- the fact that He hates sin, and judged it universally then and there? The Flood was a shadow of what will happen one day soon, when God will judge every man. Will God judge men locally? If so, what area will be judged so we can warn men to get out of there.

How can Christian apologists have fallen so far? Yes, the so-called “evidence” may now appear contrary to what God says, but where is that “childlike faith” which says, God is right, man is incorrect, there must be something "off" with this “evidence?”

But what is making me more and more sick to my stomach, to the point of heaving, is that we are missing the point: God gave us His Word that we may KNOW. He gave us His infallible Word (He cannot lie, He inspired men to write it, and He preserved it - every jot and tittle) that we might know Him.

What I am seeing “Christian” apologists do, is twist the Word of God to make it fit, or neglect the Word of God in their postulations with OTHER Christians, and THAT from professing Christians, who would rather take the word of errant man over the Word of inerrant God in their conclusions (let God be true and every man a liar). The evidence must be viewed in light of the Word of God.

Where is the “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God”? Where is the taking what God says as true and accurate in its plainly written form? Yes there are times when metaphor is used, but that is "clearly" metaphor. Most of what I read in so-called Christian scientific literature is void of biblical internal evidence (comparing Scripture with Scripture) in order to see the correct interpretation. Instead of comparing Scripture with Scripture, we are comparing Scripture with "science" to understand what God says.

Men are putting so much faith in “science” and seeking to make their points based on scientific “facts” that we are missing the point! God can only be seen by eyes of faith. His Word can only be understood by faith. And THAT must come from GOD. Apologist, where is your faith that God can do the impossible?! That's the point. If we could "explain" everything, then God isn't much of a God at all. Some things we cannot explain because they belong to God. Ours is to trust Him, and obey what we do know.

How these same apologists forget the fraud of Ernst Haeckel’s embryo drawings, or the Piltdown Man fraud, or Nebraska Man being made from a pig’s tooth, and there are more. How often “scientists” make a claim only to be corrected? Couldn’t it be the same with your so-called “evidences” that are contrary to the clear and plain reading of the Word of God?

The doubt and confusion among Christians isn’t coming from the outside anymore, but is being produced by “Christians" on the inside. What is to be gained by indirectly or directly telling Christians to question the Bible by way of your misleading evidences? I know they are misleading because you are presenting them as contrary to the clear and plain teaching of Scripture, causing people to question what God says. Sounds very much like, "Yea, hath God said..." in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:1).

We are spending so much time outside the Bible, neglecting “what saith the Lord” that we do nothing more then debate each other about the age of the earth, the Flood, and the evidences for or against it. But, “To the law and to the testimony” the Lord says (Isa 8:20), “if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Apologist, where is the Word of God in your conclusions? Is it absent because it doesn't "fit" fickle science of today?

For this cause, Creation-Ed Ministry will be redirected to a more realistic endeavor – from "defense" to "proclamation" in order to present the Glory of God from the Bible in His Creation and point people to Christ. Apologist, what is your purpose, your focus, your goal? You know so much, how about proclaiming the glory of God instead of defending Him.

How arrogant we have become! We DO NOT need to “defend” God beyond what He says in His Word so that people will believe Him. We can’t PROVE GOD exists, though His glory is seen in creation all around us (Ro 1:19-20). HE MUST reveal HIMSELF to us, and He has in His Creation, but we are so busy "defending” Him, that we can’t see the forest for the trees! Let’s simply tell of the glory of God as it is written, that people may come to an acknowledgment of Him (Ro 1:21).

Creation won’t SAVE anyone. We need to preach His Word – We need to preach that men are sinners in the hands of an angry God – We need to preach Jesus Christ as the ONLY way, truth, and life. . . and that no one comes to Father but by Him! We need to get busy doing the Lord’s business – bringing / pointing souls to Christ. God has given you a forum for this in your “stage time,” use it wisely.

May people see God’s handiwork in His Creation, acknowledge Him, repent and be saved. May believers get excited about God, be built up in the faith by seeing the awesome beauty in God’s Creation without trying to “prove” that it is really HIS creation – because it IS a matter of the heart, of faith. And if you don’t have the faith to see it, or agree with God in His Word, maybe you don’t have the faith of God in you.

Regarding C-Ed Classes:

Bible & Science will now be geared toward that end . . . toward revealing the glory of God in His Creation as it relates to the Word of God, to the end that people everywhere will acknowledge God as Creator, Lord and, one day Saviour – all as it is written in God’s Word which is so neglected.

Apologists and apologetics has reduced the Word of God to nothing more than a reference book placed along with journals and other writings, and it is sickening to see this. I cant’ bear it anymore, it is atrocious.

Instead of taking God’s Word at face value, as it was written to the common man, to everybody; theologians and scholars have knowingly or unknowingly led people into thinking that there is some hidden meaning in the Scriptures which only they can extract by way of ancient languages and lofty theological dialogue.

How grievous we must be to God in neglecting the fundamentals of the faith . . . FAITH in Him and His Word (Ro 4:3, Ga 3:6, Js 2:23). He that cometh to God must believe that HE IS! By God’s grace, this class will demonstrate from God’s Word that the world and universe around us are filled with tangible displays of God’s glory, wisdom, and power.

Evolution & Science will now be geared toward revealing inaccurate information that has been pushed upon us since childhood via school textbooks and the media – incorrect information that leads people AWAY from their Creator instead of toward Him. This is NOT pushing “religion” or “faith” on people, but rather standing up and pointing out the fallacies being told us.

Christian brother be warned: if you are buying into evolution as an explanation of our origins and development, than you are being deceived, along with millions of other people. The manifold so-called evidence for this falsifiable hypothesis is bad science. And as long as God grants me the breath in my body, I’m going to keep exposing these inaccuracies, and present the truth. By God’s grace, this class will demonstrate through the facts, that evolution and science DO NOT fit as nicely together as we’re led to believe.

As for Genesis & Science: It will now be redirected to revealing what the world may have been like in the beginning, based FIRST on what GOD says, then showing the facts of science which support it, to the end that Christians would be better able to understand what we see today in the world around us.

To conclude, apologists, God does NOT NEED us to “defend” Him. He is quite capable of doing it Himself. Our part is to proclaim the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and I fear we have missed this point, because we are so busy trying to make OUR points.

Apologists, don’t stop admiring the beauty of God in His creation, but think, how does this reveal to people their awful, condemned condition as sinners; and how does this point these same people to Christ for a Saving personal relationship with the Creator?

Yes, let us equip the saints, and build up the church of God, but let us stop this ridiculous extension beyond the pages of God’s Word in order to make your point against the clear and plain reading of it. God’s Word is what it is. Some areas He is silent, and others He is very clear. One particular point which happens to run throughout the entire Bible though, is the Lord Jesus Christ. How then dear apologist does your argument present and glorify Christ?

Ask yourself this question the next time you want to go outside the Bible and contradict what the Word of God clearly says. You have these two-letter titles and multi-letter degrees, but you still miss the Word of God written as plain as the nose on your face in so many things. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” Are we doing that, or are we growing only in "knowledge" of MEN?

I ask it again, how does what you are promoting accomplish this goal? Is what you are teaching / saying / arguing drawing people closer to the God of the Bible, or further from Him? Let that be your gauge of how true your information is.

With confidence in the Lord, I can say, if it draws people closer to the Lord in Spirit and in truth, builds brethren up in the faith, then you are teaching right. But, if what you are teaching causes them to doubt the clearly written truth of the Bible, causes them to question other passages of the written Word of God, and their faith in the Lord, then you sir / ma’am are severely off target, and I again return to the Garden of Eden, "Yea hath God said..." And I suspect that somewhere along the line, pride has risen in your heart and drawn you away from God as evidenced by the fact that you are teaching others to distance themselves also by way of your so-called science.

Let me end this with one point: Men make mistakes; people lie, evolutionary scientists "doctor" their facts to promote their worldviews and sweep under the carpet evidence contrary to their views. Could that be the case with YOUR evidence?

In matters of "contradiction" the Bible wins! You know this to be true. Consider that before you debate your own brethren in matters of the clearly written word of God. Trust God first, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Pr 3:5-6).

C-Ed will no longer conduct apologetic-oriented lectures because it has become nothing more than a debate which “minister[s] questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith” (1Tim 1:4). By the grace of God through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I will faithfully present only the glory of God and expose fallacy, and stand back and watch God do what He pleases to do.

Sincerely,
Jerry F. Smith

Dinosaurs: Not "Millions" of Years Ago - part 3

2010-12-25T00:31:00.000-08:00

There are many books about this subject. So why don’t we read about this in the news, or hear about them in the evening news? Hhmmmm? For instance, records of Marco Polo in China show that the royal house kept dragons for ceremonies and dragons were hunted for meat and medicine in the Province of Karazan. Records of the Greek historian Herodotus and the Jewish historian Josephus describe flying reptiles in ancient Egypt and Arabia. In other cultures, it was a great honor to kill these creatures. There are numerous records of warriors killing great beasts in order to establish credibility in a village. Gilgamesh, Fafnir, Beowulf and other famous legends, including the mythology of Egypt, Greece and Rome, include specific descriptions of dragons and other dinosaur-like creatures. http://www.allaboutcreation.org/dragon-history.htm

Sue McKay of Kamloops, BC- Saw Ogopogo for about a minute in 1975 from bridge into Kelowna. It appeared to her and her husband that it looked like three tires on edge about 4-500 yards away. Head looked like house/lamb/dog.

"Paul LeBlond and Ed Bousfield are two credible scientists with impeccable academic pedigrees (both are Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada) who have an unusual hobby - they are the spokesmen for a marine anomaly which inhabits the waters of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest which has been dubbed Cadborosaurus or Caddy for short ... " http://www.bcscc.ca/cadborosaurus.htm

"This famous photo of the Lake Champlain monster was taken by Sandi Mansi in 1977. Thousands of people, dating all the way back to the Abenaqi Indians, claim to have seen the creature. This very deep lake lies on the border of New York and Vermont and is accessed by sea through the St. Lawrence Seaway. The first recorded sighting took place when Samuel de Champlain came upon the lake in July 1609. During this expedition, the French explorer noted "a 20-foot serpent, with a horse-shaped head and body as thick as a keg." Since then, sightings of the strange aquatic beast have been reported by over 300 people, many documented in Joseph Zarzynski’s definitive book Champ--Beyond the Legend written in 1984. ... " http://www.genesispark.org/genpark/champ/champ.htm

I've personally seen these tracks and the evidence of man and dinosaur living together is there.

Not only do we have footprints together (man and dinosaur), but also human remains have been found together, in the same rock layer, with dinosaurs. The evidence is overwhelming, and would hold up in any non-biased court of law, where the truth is being pursued.

www.bible.ca/tracks/malachite-man.htm

Man and dinosaurs lived together as evidenced by art, historical records, carcasses, archaeological finds and eye-witness accounts. The evolutionary geologic column is clearly false, and therefore evolution an invalid theory. It's time to replace that theory of our origins, beginnings, and development with one that fits.

Yet children’s books present false information to impressionable minds.

The Bible tells us EXACTLY what we need to know about our beginnings and even tells us the future: what will happen, and where we are going -- either one of two places:

Revelation 20:11 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Revelation 21:1 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."

The Lord says:

John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Why? Because every one of us was born in sin:

Psalm 51:5 "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."

Psalm 58:3 "The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies."

Every one of us has fallen short:

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

James 2:10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

Isaiah 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

We are born in sin, we sin, and even our good deeds fall short. But GOD made a WAY - the ONLY WAY:

1Timothy 1:15 "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

If you are a sinner - in need of forgiveness, then Jesus Christ died for you. Turn from your sin and self, and trust Christ today as your only hope to be saved from God's sure wrath.

Mark 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

1Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit."

Acts 16:30 "... what must I do to be saved? (31) ... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ..."

Dinosaurs: Not "Millions" of Years Ago - part 2

2010-12-24T23:58:00.000-08:00

There have been numerous pictures of "Champ" (below right) which looks to be a Plesiosaur which lives in Lake Champlain, New York.

Here's another picture of a Plesiosaur that washed up on Moore's Beach in Monterey, California in 1925. The neck of this animal was 20 feet long!

http://www.zimbio.com/TheConspiracyZone/articles/22/THERE+LIVING+DINOSAURS+STILL+ROAMING+EARTH

In 1961, a business man flying his own plane over the Hudson River Valley was ‘buzzed’ by what he said could only be described as a pterodactyl type creature. In 1976 there were at least three very similar sightings in Texas, including one in which three elementary teachers in San Antonio all reported seeing the same creature. One of the most fascinating sightings occurred in 1856 when a railway tunnel was being dug between St.-Dizier and Nancy, France. The Illustrated London News on February 9, 1856, reports that when a large limestone boulder was split open, a creature with a wingspan of 10’ 7” spilled out, flapped its wings, then died, leaving a precise mold of its body in the stone. http://www.allaboutcreation.org/dinosaur-sightings-faq.htm

Consistently over the past 100 years natives talk about mokele-mbembe (blocker-of-rivers). These dinosaur sightings come from varied areas, but are startlingly similar. All of them involve a creature that spends most of its time in the water, though it climbs ashore during the day in search of food. Its size is approximately between an elephant and hippopotamus but with a long neck and small head. And the mokele-mbembe feeds off of specific vegetation and fruit growing along the water’s edge. No matter where they have been spotted in Africa, the natives all say that hippopotamus and alligators quickly leave the section of the river where this creature roams. It is very territorial and aggressively protects its area. Every time natives are shown pictures, they quickly identify a sauropod-type dinosaur, similar in shape to a small Apatosaurus.

Dinosaurs: Not "Millions" of Years Ago - part 1

2010-12-24T23:34:00.000-08:00

The Bible tells us in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." And that, "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is" (Exodus 20:11). That's pretty all-inclusive wording. The Bible does not talk about "millions" or even "billions" of years of evolution, nor does it indicate anything else than that dinosaurs were part of the six-day Creation.

However, evolutionists claim that man and dinosaurs did not live together; that in fact, NO ONE has ever seen one. If they did, the theory of evolution would once AGAIN be falsified. Therefore, let's have a look at the evidence that evolutionists would probably prefer you not see.

Movies like Jurassic Park and a variety of others, try to get us to believe that men and dinosaurs were separated by millions of years of evolution.

As seen here, the evolutionary geologic column presents this separation. But, as we will see, this column is falsifiable, and therefore disproving the theory of evolution, in favor of a more reasonable answer to our beginnings.

Dinosaur-like creatures are featured on Babylonian landmarks, Roman mosaics, Asian pottery and royal robes, Egyptian burial shrouds and government seals, Peruvian burial stones and tapestries, Mayan sculptures, Aboriginal and Native American petroglyphs (carved rock drawings), and many other pieces of ceremonial art throughout ancient cultures.

Ica burial stones, ca 500-1500 AD

Another amazing discovery was made in 1925 by a the German archeologist Waldenar Julsrud, when he discovered numerous dinosaur figurines buried at the foot of El Toro Mountain in the Valley of Acambaro about 180 miles North of Mexico City. This was positive proof that the ancient civilizations of people who lived in these areas over four thousand years ago, had intimate first hand knowledge of what these dinosaurs looked like.

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- Philemon

2010-12-23T13:03:00.000-08:00

Author: The author of the Book of Philemon was the apostle Paul (v1).

Date of Writing: The Book of Philemon was written in approximately A. D. 60.

Purpose of Writing: The letter to Philemon is the shortest of all Paul's writings and deals with the practice of slavery. The letter suggests that Paul was in prison at the time of the writing. Philemon was a slave owner who also hosted a church in his home. During the time of Paul's ministry in Ephesus, Philemon had likely journeyed to the city, heard Paul's preaching and became a Christian. The slave Onesimus robbed his master, Philemon, and ran away, making his way to Rome and to Paul. Onesimus was still the property of Philemon, and Paul wrote to smooth the way for his return to his master. Through Paul’s witnessing to him, Onesimus had become a Christian (10) and Paul wanted Philemon to accept Onesimus as a brother in Christ and not merely as a slave.

Key Verses:

6 "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

16 “Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?"

18 "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account."

Summary: Paul had warned slave owners that they had a responsibility towards their slaves and showed slaves as responsible moral beings who were to fear God. In Philemon, Paul did not condemn slavery, but he presented Onesimus as a Christian brother instead of a slave. When an owner can refer to a slave as a brother, the slave has reached a position in which the legal title of slave is meaningless. The early church did not attack slavery directly but it laid the foundation for a new relationship between owner and slave. Paul attempted to unite both Philemon and Onesimus with Christian love.

Perhaps nowhere in the New Testament is the distinction between law and grace so beautifully portrayed. Both Roman law and the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament gave Philemon the right to punish a runaway slave who was considered property. But the covenant of grace through the Lord Jesus allowed both master and slave to fellowship in love on an equal basis in the body of Christ.

Practical: Employers, political leaders, corporation executives and parents can follow the spirit of Paul's teaching by treating Christian employees, co-workers and family members as members of Christ's Body. Christians in modern society must not view helpers as stepping stones to help them achieve their ambitions but as Christian brothers and sisters who must receive gracious treatment. In addition, all Christian leaders must recognize that God holds them accountable for the treatment of those who work for them, whether the helpers are Christians or not. They must eventually answer to God for their actions (Colossians 4:1).

Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- Titus

2010-12-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

Author: Titus 1:1 identifies the apostle Paul as the author of the Book of Titus.

Date of Writing: The Epistle to Titus was written in approximately A.D. 66 Paul’s many journeys are well documented and show that he wrote to Titus from Nicopolis in Achaia, or possibly Macedonia.

Purpose of Writing: The Epistle to Titus is known as one of the Pastoral Epistles as are the two letters to Timothy. This epistle was written by the apostle Paul to encourage his brother in the faith, Titus, whom he had left in Crete to lead the church which Paul had established on one of his missionary journeys (1:5). This letter advises Titus regarding what qualifications to look for in leaders for the church. He also warns Titus of the reputations of those living on the island of Crete (1:12).

In addition to instructing Titus in what to look for in a leader of the church, Paul also encouraged Titus to return to Nicopolis for a visit. In other words, Paul continued to disciple Titus and others as they grew in the grace of the Lord (3:13).

Key Verses:

1:5 “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee."

1:16 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

2:15 “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."

3:3-6 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”

Summary: How wonderful it must have been when Titus received a letter from his mentor, the apostle Paul. Paul was a much-honored man, and rightly so, after establishing several churches throughout the eastern world. This famous introduction from the apostle would have been read by Titus: “To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (1:4).

The island of Crete where Titus was left by Paul to lead the church was inhabited by natives of the island and Jews who did not know the truth of Jesus Christ (1:12-14). Paul felt it to be his responsibility to follow through with Titus to instruct and encourage him in developing leaders within the church at Crete. As the apostle Paul directed Titus in his search for leaders, Paul also suggested how Titus would instruct the leaders so that they could grow in their faith in Christ. His instructions included those for both men and women of all ages (2:1-8).

To help Titus continue in his faith in Christ, Paul suggested Titus come to Nicopolis and bring with him two other members of the church (3:12-13).

Once again, Paul finds it necessary to instruct the leaders of the church to be on guard against the Judaizers, those who sought to add works to the gift of grace which produces salvation. He warns against those who are rebellious deceivers, especially those who continued to claim circumcision and adherence to the rituals and ceremonies of the Mosaic Law were still necessary (1:10-11). This is a recurring theme throughout the epistles of Paul, and in the book of Titus, he goes so far as to say their mouths must be stopped.

Practical: The book of Titus teaches us to look to the Bible for instruction on how to live a life pleasing to our Lord. We can learn what we should avoid as well as that which we are to strive to imitate. Paul suggests we seek to be pure as we avoid the things which will defile our minds and consciences. And then Paul makes a statement which should never be forgotten: “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him” (1:16). As Christians, we must examine ourselves to be sure our lives line up with our profession of faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Along with this warning, Paul also tells us how to avoid denying God: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.” (3:5-6). By seeking a daily renewal of our minds by the Holy Spirit we can develop into Christians that honor God by the way we live.

Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- Timothy

2010-12-23T12:57:00.000-08:00

Author: The Book of 1 Timothy was written by the apostle Paul (1:1).

Date of Writing: The Book of 1 Timothy was written in A.D. 62-66.

Purpose of Writing: Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him in his responsibility for overseeing the work of the Ephesian church and possibly the other churches in the province of Asia (1:3). This letter lays the foundation for ordaining elders (3:1-7), and provides guidance for ordaining people into offices of the church (3:8-13). In essence, 1 Timothy is a leadership manual for church organization and administration.

Key Verses:

(2:5) "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

(2:12) "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."

(3:1-2) "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach.”

(4:9-10) "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."

(6:12) "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

Brief Summary: This is the first letter Paul wrote to Timothy, a young pastor who had been a help to Paul in his work. Timothy was a Greek. His mother was a Jewess and his father was Greek. Paul was more than just a mentor and leader to Timothy, he was like a father to him, and Timothy was like a son to Paul (1:2). Paul begins the letter by urging Timothy to be on guard for false teachers and false doctrine. However, much of the letter deals with pastoral conduct. Paul instructs Timothy in worship (chapter 2) and developing mature leaders for the church (chapter 3). Most of the letter deals with pastoral conduct, warnings about false teachers, and the church’s responsibility toward single members, widows, elders, and slaves. All throughout the letter, Paul encourages Timothy to stand firm, to persevere, and to remain true to his calling.

An interesting link to the Old Testament in the book of 1 Timothy is Paul’s citation of the basis for considering church elders to be worthy of “double honor,” and deserving of respect when it comes to being accused of wrongdoing (5:17-19). Deuteronomy 24:15; 25:4; and Leviticus 19:13 all speak of the necessity to pay a worker what he has earned and to do it in a timely manner. Part of the Mosaic Law demanded that two or three witnesses were necessary to bring an accusation against a man (Deuteronomy 19:15). The Jewish Christians in the churches Timothy pastored would have been well aware of these Old Testament connections.

Practical Application: Jesus Christ is presented by Paul as the mediator between God and man (2:5), the Savior to all who believe in Him. He is Lord of the church, and Timothy serves Him by pastoring His church. Thus, we find the main application of Paul’s first letter to his “son in the faith.” Paul instructs Timothy on matters of church doctrine, church leadership, and church administration. We can use those same instructions in governing our local assembly today. Likewise, the work and ministry of a pastor, the qualifications for an elder, and the qualifications of a deacon are just as important and pertinent today as they were in Timothy’s day. Paul’s first letter to Timothy amounts to an instruction book on leading, administrating, and pastoring the local church. The instructions in this letter apply to any leader or prospective leader of Christ’s church and are equally relevant today as they were in Paul’s day. For those not called into leadership roles in their church, the book is still practical. Every follower must contend for the faith and avoid false teaching. Every follower must stand firm and persevere.

Second Timothy

Author: 2 Timothy 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of 2 Timothy as the apostle Paul.

Date of Writing: The Book of 2 Timothy was written in approximately A.D. 67, shortly before the apostle Paul was put to death.

Purpose of Writing: Imprisoned in Rome yet again, the apostle Paul felt lonely and abandoned. Paul recognized that his earthly life was likely coming to an end soon. The Book of 2 Timothy is essentially Paul’s “last words.” Paul looked past his own circumstances to express concern for the churches and specifically for Timothy. Paul wanted to use his last words to encourage Timothy, and all other believers, to persevere in faith (2 Timothy 3:14) and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 4:2).

Key Verses:

1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Brief Summary: Paul encourages Timothy to remain passionate for Christ and to remain firm in sound doctrine (1:1-2, 13-14). Paul reminds Timothy to avoid ungodly beliefs and practices and to flee from anything immoral (2:14-26). In the end times there will be both intense persecution and apostasy from the Christian faith (3:1-17). Paul closes with an intense plea for believers to stand firm in the faith and to finish the race strong (4:1-8).

So concerned was Paul to warn Timothy and those he pastored of the dangers of false teachers that he cited the story of the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses (Exodus 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18, 19; 9:11). Paul predicts the same fate for those who resist the truth of Christ, their folly eventually being made “clear to everyone” (3:9).

Practical Application: It is easy to get side-tracked in the Christian life. We have to keep our eyes on the prize — being rewarded in heaven by Jesus Christ (4:8). We must strive to avoid both false doctrine and ungodly practices. This can only be accomplished by being grounded in our knowledge of God’s Word and firm in our refusal to accept anything that is unbiblical.

Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- Thessalonians

2010-12-23T12:54:00.000-08:00

Thessalonica (Thessaloniki): The city was a major sea trade port of the Roman Empire and a commercial center of great importance. Being the capital city of the area and a major military station and commercial center, Thessalonica was host or home to many different people from all regions of the Roman Empire -- Roman officials, Roman soldiers and sailors, shippers and merchants, travelers and visitors, Gentiles in great numbers as well as Jews. The church in Thessalonica was the second place where the Gospel was preached in Europe.

1 Thessalonians

Author: The Book of 1 Thessalonians was written by the apostle Paul, probably along with Silas and Timothy (1:1).

Date of Writing: Written in approximately A.D. 50.

Purpose: Because the preaching of the Gospel depleted the ranks of the synagogue, the Jews accused Paul’s host, Jason with harboring traitors to Caesar. The rulers of the city took Jason as security (Ac 17:1-14). When they arrived at Athens, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica (3:1-2, 5) to encourage the believers and then report back on the condition of the church. Timothy rejoined Paul in Corinth (3:6), where the two Thessalonian letters were written. Paul was concerned about his sudden departure and leaving the church without experienced leadership. Timothy’s report gave Paul cause for praise at the healthy state of the church. This is a letter from a relieved and grateful pastor to his growing flock.

Key Verses:

3:7 “Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith.”

4:14-17 " For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him…"

5:16-22 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Brief Summary: Nevertheless, in the church of Thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of Christ. Paul desired to clear them up in his letter. He also writes it as an instruction in holy living and not to cave in under persecution and return to there former pagan ways (3:2-3, 4:1-12). Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the persecution they were receiving from their “own countrymen” (2:15), the Jews who rejected their Messiah, is the same that the Old Testament prophets suffered (Jer2:30; Matt 23:31). Jesus warned that true prophets of God would always be opposed by the unrighteous (Lu11:49). In Colossians, Paul reminds them of that truth. He also presents a defense of himself against those who were slandering his name and ministry – saying he was doing it only for profit (2:9-10). He also answered the question about what happens to Christians who die before the return of the Lord (4:13-18); and finally addressed some problems in their church life that needed to be dealt with (5:12-13, 19-20).

The first three chapters are about Paul longing to visit the church in Thessalonica but not being able to because Satan stopped them (2:18), and how Paul cared for them and was encouraged to hear how they had been. Paul then prays for them (3:11-13). In chapter 4, Paul is instructing the believers in Thessalonica on how to live, in Christ Jesus, a holy life (4:1-12). Paul goes on to instruct them of a misconception they had. He tells them that the people who have died in Christ Jesus will also go to heaven when He comes back (4:13-18, 5:1-11).

Practical: This book can be applied to many life situations. It gives us the confidence as Christians that dead or alive when Christ comes back we will be together with Him (4:13-18). It assures us as Christians that we won’t receive God’s wrath (5:8-9). It instructs us how to walk the Christian life daily (Ch 4–5).

2 Thessalonians

Author: 2 Thessalonians 1:1 indicates that the Book of 2 Thessalonians was written by the apostle Paul, probably along with Silas and Timothy.

Date of Writing: The Book of 2 Thessalonians was likely written in AD 51-52.

Purpose of Writing: The church in Thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the Day of the Lord. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work. They were being persecuted badly. Paul wrote to clear up misconceptions and to comfort them.

Key Verses:

1:6-10 “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you...”

2:13 “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”

3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”

3:10 “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.”

Brief Summary: Paul greets the church at Thessalonica and encourages and exhorts them. He commends them for what he hears they are doing in the Lord, and he prays for them (1:11-12). In chapter 2, Paul explains what will happen in the Day of the Lord (2:1-12). Paul then encourages them to stand firm and instructs them to keep away from idle men who don’t live by the gospel (3:6).

Paul refers to several Old Testament passages in his discourse on the end times, thereby confirming and reconciling the OT prophets. Much of his teaching on the end times in this letter is based on the prophet Daniel and his visions. In 2:3-9, he refers to Daniel’s prophecy regarding the “man of sin” (Daniel 7–8).

Practical: The Book of 2 Thessalonians is filled with information that explains the end times. It also exhorts us not to be idle and to work for what we have. There are also some great prayers in 2 Thessalonians that can be an example for us on how to pray for other believers today.

Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- Colossians

2010-12-23T12:51:00.000-08:00

Colossae: About 100 miles east of Ephesus, near Laodicea. It was an ancient but declining commercial center. In New Testament times Colossae was a small city with a mixed population of Phrygians, Greeks, and Jews. It is likely that under Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (Ac 19:10, 20:31) that Epaphrus and others from Colossae heard the Gospel and began a church there (1:7,8; 4:12,13). Apparently, the church gathered in the house of Philemon (Philemon 2). Paul was not personally familiar with the believers there (2:1), as it was likely Epaphras, who did much of the work there.

Author: The apostle Paul was the primary writer of the Book of Colossians, Timothy is also given some credit (1:1). Tychicus apparently carried the letter (4:7).

Date of Writing: The Book of Colossians was likely written between A.D. 58-62 (61).

Purpose of Writing: Epaphras, a leader in the church at Colosse, visited Paul in prison in Rome and told him about the church's situation (1:7; 4:12). Epaphras was later imprisoned with Paul (Philemon 23). Paul wrote to the Colossians to address the concerns raised by Epaphras at the same time he wrote to the church about Onesimus.

Key Verses:

1:15-16 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:"

2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

3:12-13 "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

4:5-6 "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."

Brief Summary: Colossians was written explicitly to defeat the heresy that had arisen in Colossae which endangered the existence of the church. While we do not know what was told to Paul, this letter is his response. The Book of Colossians contains doctrinal instruction about the deity of Christ and false philosophies (1:15-2:23), as well as practical exhortations regarding Christian conduct, including friends and speech (3:1-4:18).

The Book of Colossians is a mini-ethics course, addressing every area of Christian life. Paul progresses from the individual life to the home and family, from work to the way we should treat others. Apparently there was some false teaching at Colossae which fused legalism, philosophy, and mysticism with Christianity that included: dietary and Sabbath observance, circumcision rites (2:11, 16), worship of angels (2:18), and renunciation of worldly pleasures (asceticism) (2:21-23).

Paul teaches that any teaching or practice that detracts from the uniqueness and centrality of Christ, is against the faith. The theme of this book is the supremacy and all-sufficiency of Christ, in meeting our needs in every area. Important subjects include Christ’s person and work (1:15-23), heresy (2:8-23), and believers’ union with Christ (3:1-4). Paul proclaims the lordship of Christ in three basic ways, while declaring his sufficiency. First, Christ is the LORD of all creation. His creative authority covers all the material and spiritual universe (1:16). Third, Jesus Christ is the supreme Savior (3:11). Second, Christ is the head of the Church as its Creator and Savior (1:18). No other book of the New Testament more completely or more thoroughly defends the universal kingdom of Christ than this epistle.

Practical: Although Paul addresses many areas, the basic implication for us today is the total and complete sufficiency of Christ in our lives, both for our salvation and our sanctification. We must know and understand the gospel so as not to be led astray by subtle forms of legalism and heresy. We must be on guard for any deviation that would diminish the centrality of Christ as Lord and Savior. Any “religion” that tries to equate itself with the truth using books that claim the same authority as the Bible, or which combines human effort with divine accomplishment in salvation must be avoided. Other religions cannot be combined with or added to Christianity. Christ gives us absolute standards of moral conduct. Christianity is a family, a way of life, and a relationship—not a religion. Good deeds, astrology, occultism and horoscopes do not show us God’s ways. Only Christ does. His will is revealed in His word, His love letter to us; we must get to know it!

Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- Philippians

2010-12-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

Philippi: Was a Roman colony in Macedonia (Northern Greece), and a small, but leading city in that area. The church was established on Paul’s Second Missionary journey (Ac 16:11-40), was comprised of mostly Gentile believers, and was the first church to be established by Paul in Europe.

Author: Philippians 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of Philippians as the apostle Paul.

Date of Writing: The Book of Philippians was written in approximately A.D. 61.

Purpose of Writing: The reason of the epistle was to acknowledge a gift of money from the church at Philippi, brought to the apostle by Epaphroditus, one of its members (4:10-18). This is a tender letter to a group of Christians who were especially close to the heart of Paul (2Cor 8:1-6), and comparatively little is said about doctrinal error.

The Epistle to the Philippians, one of Paul’s prison epistles, was written in Rome. It was at Philippi, that Lydia, a business woman, and the Philippian jailer and his family were converted to Christ (Ac 16:14, 30-34) (Paul cast out an evil spirit from slave girl who had a spirit of fortune-telling (Ac 16: 16-18), and Paul and Silas were thrown in to prison because the owners of the girl lost money.) Now, some few years later, the church was well established (1:1).

Key Verses:

1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

3:7 “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."

4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Brief Summary: Philippians is Paul’s most joyful letter. Paul was Nero’s prisoner, yet the epistle is filled with triumph, the words “joy” and “rejoice” appearing frequently (1:4, 18, 25, 26; 2:2, 28; 3:1, 4:1, 4, 10). In 2:5-11 there is the profound declaration regarding the humiliation and exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul also warns new believers in the church of Philippi to beware of the tendency toward legalism which continually crept into the early churches. So tied to the Old Testament law were the Jews that there was a constant effort on the part of the Judaizers to return to the teaching of salvation by works. But Paul reminds them that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone and branded the Judaizers as “dogs” and “evil workers” (3:2). These legalists were insisting that new (Jew) believers in Christ should be circumcised according to the requirements of the Old Testament Law. In this way, they were teaching them to try to please God by their own efforts and elevate themselves above the Gentile Christians who did not participate in the practice. Paul explained that those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb were no longer to perform the ritual that symbolized the need for a clean heart.

One of the most important doctrinal passages in the New Testament is 2:5-8, where Paul presents the doctrine of kenosis – the humiliation of Christ (“the Word became flesh”) for our sakes. There are also important verses prayer (4:6-7), as well as a mini autobiography of Paul (3:4-14).

Practical Application: Philippians can be considered a “resource in times of suffering.” It is about Christ in our life, Christ in our mind, Christ as our goal, Christ as our strength, and joy through suffering. But joy is not a word we can understand by looking it up in the dictionary. It is the result of knowing Christ, and that His righteousness is sufficient for us in the Day of Judgment, and that He is able to deliver us. Right Christian attitudes, thinking, and behavior whatever our circumstances may be, are the result, of the life, nature, and mind of Christ living in us (1:6, 11; 2:5, 13).

Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- Ephesians

2010-12-23T12:46:00.000-08:00

Ephesus: On the continent of Asia Minor (Turkey), and the Roman capital of Asia Minor. It was a large, port city and an excellent base for trading, to many parts of the world. The local population was around 250,000 and a mix of cultures including Jews. Its main industry was silversmithing, and their main products were idols (statues, jewelry, and souvenirs for travelers). Among its most impressive features was the huge Temple of Artemis where sacrifice and prostitution were practiced. Ephesus was engulfed in immorality.

Author: Ephesians 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of Ephesians as the apostle Paul.

Date of Writing: The Book of Ephesians was very likely written around 61 A.D. It is one of Paul’s prison epistles (3:1; Ac 28:30-31) (along with Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon).

Purpose of Writing: There is an absence of controversy in this letter, and it does not deal with any specific problems in any one church. It is therefore considered an encyclical epistle (intended for wide distribution) meant to encourage, teach, and edify the brethren in the churches.

Key Verses:

1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"

2:8-10 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

4:4-6 "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are 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."

5:21 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

6:10-11 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

Brief Summary:

The Apostle Paul with Aquila and Priscilla stopped in Ephesus during his second missionary journey (Ac 18:19-21), but it was, just a stopover on his way to Antioch, Syria to visit churches he had established in Galatia and Phrygia. On Paul’s 3^rd missionary journey he returned to Ephesus (Ac 19:1) and there he and his traveling companions settled down for over the next 2 years (possibly three) to conduct ministry (Ac 19:8-10). After stopping his regular preaching in the synagogue after three months, because they refused to hear him (Ac 19:9), he began teaching at a school.

Miraculously, and providentially, “all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus Christ, both Jews and Greeks” (Ac 19:10). Paul also did many miracles there (Ac 19:12), and from the testimony of the miracles and the preaching and teaching of the Word of God concerning Jesus Christ, there were many who repented of their idolatry and believed, and burned their “sorcery” books (Ac 19:11-19). This affected the silversmith trade and caused an uproar in the city among the “craftsmen” (Ac 19:23-29). As a result, Paul left and went into Macedonia (Ac 20:1).

Doctrine occupies the greatest portion of the Book of Ephesians. Half of the teaching in this epistle relates to our standing in Christ, and the remainder of it affects our condition. Paul’s writing breaks down into three main segments. (1) Chapters one through three introduce principles with respect to God's accomplishment. (2) Chapters four and five put forth principles regarding our present existence. (3) Chapter six presents principles concerning our daily struggle.

The great theme of this letter is God’s eternal purpose to establish and complete His body, the church of Christ. In developing this theme, Paul discusses predestination (1:3-14); Christ’s headship over the body (1:22-23; 4:15-16); the church as the building and temple of God (2:21-22); the mystery of Christ (3:1-21), a truth not previously revealed of the church, that “the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).; spiritual gifts (4:7-16); and the church as the bride of Christ.

Practical Application: Perhaps more than any other book of the Bible, the Book of Ephesians emphasizes the connection between sound doctrine and right practice in the Christian life. Far too many people ignore "theology" and instead want to only discuss things that are "practical." In Ephesians, Paul argues that theology is practical. In order to live out God's will for us in our lives practically, we must first understand our position in Christ doctrinally.

Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- Galatians

2010-12-23T12:43:00.000-08:00

Galatia: Not a city, but a region in Asia Minor (Turkey), consisting of several cities (Antioch, Lystra, Iconium, Derbe).

Author: Galatians 1:1 clearly identifies the Apostle Paul as the writer.

Date of Writing: Most believe that the Book of Galatians was written from Antioch of Syria or from Corinth shortly after Paul founded churches in Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Ac 14), during his first missionary journey (48-53 A.D.), and it would have been his first epistle written.

Purpose of Writing: The churches in Galatia were formed partly of converted Jews and partly of Gentile converts, as was generally the case. Paul asserts his apostolic character (1:1) and the doctrines he taught (1:8-9), that he might edify the Galatian churches in the faith of Christ, especially regarding justification by faith alone. In that way, it is similar to the book of Romans. In this epistle however, attention is directed to the point that men are justified by faith without the works of the Law (of Moses).

Galatians was to correct the corruption of the gospel of Christ at the hand of the Judaizers. The essential truth of justification by faith rather than by the works of the law had been confused by the Judaizers’ insistence that believers in Christ must keep the law if they expected to be perfect before God. When Paul learned that this teaching had begun to penetrate the Galatian churches and that it had distanced them from their life of liberty in Christ, he wrote this epistle.

Key Verses:

2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

2:20 " I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

3:11 “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."

4:5-6 “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Brief Summary: The result of justification by grace through faith is spiritual freedom (liberty in Christ). Paul appealed to the Galatians to stand fast in their freedom, and not get "entangled again with the yoke of bondage [the Mosaic law]" (5:1). Christian freedom is not an excuse to gratify one's fleshly desires; but rather, an opportunity to love one another (5:13; 6:7-10). The flesh has been crucified with Christ (2:20); and, as a consequence, the Spirit will bear His fruit such as love, joy, and peace in the life of the believer (5:22-23) as he walks in the Spirit (5:16).

For Paul, the issue was not whether a person was circumcised, but whether he had become "a new creature" (6:15) in Christ (2Cor 5:17).

The Judaizers, those who would return to the Mosaic law as their source of justification, were prominent in the early church, even temporarily drawing such a prominent Christian as Peter into their corrupt practices (2:11-13). So attached were the early Christians to the law that Paul had to continually reiterate the truth that salvation by grace had nothing to do with law-keeping.

The themes of Galatians center around the law vs. grace: the inability of the law to justify (2:16); the believer’s deadness to the law (2:19); Abraham’s justification by faith (3:6); the law bringing not salvation but God’s wrath (3:10); and love, not works, fulfilling the law (5:14).

Practical Application: One of the main themes of the Book of Galatians is found in 3:11: “The just shall live by faith.” Not only are we saved by faith (Eph 2:8-9), but the life of the believer in Christ — day-by-day, moment-by-moment — is lived by and through that faith which God has given us by grace (2:20). And, as a result of walking in the Spirit -- yielding to His leading, we will exhibit our faith so that others will see the work of Christ in us in the resulting fruit.

Jesus said we would be known by our fruit (Mt 7:16) which gives evidence of the faith within us. All Christians should be diligent in striving to build upon the saving faith within us so that our lives will reflect Christ and others will see Him in us and “glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Mt 5:16).
Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- 2Corinthians

2010-12-23T12:39:00.000-08:00

Author: 2 Corinthians 1:1 identifies the author as the apostle Paul, possibly along with Timothy.

Date of Writing: The Book of 2 Corinthians was very likely written approximately A.D. 55-57.

Purpose of Writing: The church in Corinth began in A.D. 52 when Paul visited there on his second missionary journey. It was then that he stayed one and a half years, the first time he was allowed to stay in one place as long as he wished. A record of this visit and the establishment of the church is found in Acts 18:1-18.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul expresses his relief and joy that the Corinthians had received his “severe” letter in a positive manner. That letter addressed issues that were tearing the church apart, primarily the arrival of self-styled (false) apostles (11:13) who were assaulting Paul’s character, sowing discord among the believers, and teaching false doctrine. They appear to have questioned his veracity (1:15-17), his speaking ability (10:10; 11:6), and his unwillingness to accept support from the church at Corinth (11:7-9; 12:13). There were also some people who had not repented of their licentious behavior (12:20-21).

Paul was overjoyed to learn from Titus that the majority of Corinthians repented of their rebellion against Paul (2:12-13; 7:5-9). The apostle encourages them for this in an expression of his genuine love (7:3-16). Paul also sought to vindicate his apostleship, as some in the church had likely questioned his authority (13:3).

Key Verses:

3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.”

3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

13:4 "For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you."

Summary: After greeting the believers in the church at Corinth and explaining why he had not visited them as originally planned (1:3–2:2), Paul explains the nature of his ministry. Triumph through Christ and sincerity in the sight of God were the hallmarks of his ministry to the churches (2:14-17). He contrasts the glorious ministry of the righteousness of Christ to the “ministry of condemnation” which is the Law (v. 3:9) and declares his faith in the validity of his ministry in spite of intense persecution (4:8-18). Chapter 5 outlines the basis of the Christian faith — the new nature (v. 17) and the exchange of our sin for the righteousness of Christ (v. 21).

Chapters 6 and 7 find Paul defending himself and his ministry, assuring the Corinthians yet again of his sincere love for them and exhorting them to repentance and holy living. In chapters 8 and 9, Paul exhorts the believers at Corinth to follow the examples of the brothers in Macedonia and extend generosity to the saints in need. He teaches them the principles and rewards of gracious giving.

Paul ends his letter by reiterating his authority among them (chapter 10) and concern for their faithfulness to him in the face of fierce opposition from false apostles. He calls himself a “fool” for having to reluctantly boast of his qualifications and his suffering for Christ (chapter 11). He ends his epistle by describing the vision of heaven he was allowed to experience and the “thorn in the flesh” he was given by God to ensure his humility (chapter 12). The last chapter contains his exhortation to the Corinthians to examine themselves to see whether what they profess is reality, and ends with a benediction of love and peace.

Throughout his epistles, Paul frequently refers to the Mosaic law, contrasting it with the surpassing greatness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation by grace. In 2 Corinthians 3:4-11, Paul contrasts the Old Testament law with the new covenant of grace, referring to the law as that which “kills” while the Spirit gives life. The law is the “ministration of death, engraven in stones” (v. 7; Exodus 24:12) because it brings only the knowledge of sin and its condemnation. The glory the law is that it reflects the glory of God, but the ministry of the Spirit is much more glorious than the ministry of the law, because it reflects His mercy, grace and love in providing Christ as the fulfillment of the law.

Practical: This letter is the most biographical and least doctrinal of Paul's epistles. It tells us more about Paul as a person and as a minister than any of the others. That being said, there things we can get from this letter which relate to our lives today. One thing is stewardship, not only of money, but of time as well. The Macedonians not only gave generously, but “first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” (8:5). In the same way, we should dedicate not only all we have to the Lord, but all that we are. He really doesn't need our money. He is omnipotent! He wants the heart, one that longs to serve and please and love. Stewardship and giving to God is more than just money. God wants 100%. He wants us to give Him our all. Everything we are. We should spend our lives living to serve our Father. We should not only give to God financially, but our very lives should be a reflection of Him. We should give ourselves first to the Lord, then to the church and the work of the ministry of Jesus Christ. But, these things can only happen if we are yielded to, and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- 1Corinthians

2010-12-23T12:34:00.000-08:00

Author: Chapter 1:1 identifies the author as the apostle Paul.

Date of Writing: Approximately A. D. 55.

Purpose of Writing: The apostle Paul founded the church in Corinth. A few years after leaving the church, he heard some disturbing reports about the Corinthian church. They were full of pride and were excusing sexual immorality. Spiritual gifts were being used improperly, and there was rampant misunderstanding of key Christian doctrines. The apostle Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians in an attempt to restore the Corinthian church to its foundation — Jesus Christ.

Key Verses:

3:3 “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

12:7 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

13:4-7 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

15:3-4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

Brief Summary: The Corinthian church was plagued by divisions. The believers in Corinth were dividing into groups loyal to certain spiritual leaders (1:12; 3:1-6). Paul exhorted the Corinthian believers to be united because of devotion to Christ (3:21-23). Many in the church were essentially approving of an immoral relationship (5:1-2). Paul commanded them to expel the man from the church (5:13). The Corinthian believers were taking each other to court (6:1-2). Paul taught the Corinthians that it would be better to be taken advantage of than to damage their Christian testimony (6:3-8).

Paul gave the Corinthian church instructions on marriage and celibacy (chapter 7), food sacrificed to idols (chapters 8 and 10), Christian freedom (chapter 9), the veiling of women (11:1-16), the Lord’s Supper (11:17-34), spiritual gifts (chapters 12-14), and the resurrection (chapter 15). Paul organized the book of 1 Corinthians by answering questions the Corinthian believers had asked him and by responding to improper conduct and erroneous beliefs they had accepted.

In chapter 10 of the Book of 1 Corinthians, Paul uses the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness to illustrate to the Corinthian believers the folly of the misuse of freedom and the danger of overconfidence. Paul has just warned the Corinthians about their lack of self-discipline (9:24-27). He goes on to describe the Israelites who, despite seeing God’s miracles and care for them — the parting of the Red Sea, the miraculous provision of manna from heaven and water from a rock — they misused their freedom, rebelled against God, and fell into immorality and idolatry. Paul exhorts the Corinthian church to note the example of the Israelites and avoid lusts and sexual immorality (vv. 6-8) and putting Christ to the test and complaining (vv. 9-10). See Numbers 11:4, 34, 25:1-9; Exodus 16:2, 17:2, 7 for more.

Practical: Many of the problems and questions the Corinthian church were dealing with are still present in the church today. Churches today still struggle with divisions, with immorality, and with the use of spiritual gifts. The Book of 1 Corinthians very well could have been written to the church today and we would do well to heed Paul’s warnings and apply them to ourselves. Despite all the rebukes and corrections, 1 Corinthians brings our focus back to where it should be — on Christ. Genuine Christian love is the answer to many problems (chapter 13). A proper understanding of the resurrection of Christ, as revealed in chapter 15, and thereby a proper understanding of our own resurrection, is the cure for what divides and defeats us.

Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: Pauline Epistles -- Romans

2010-12-23T12:28:00.000-08:00

Author: Romans 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of Romans as the apostle Paul. Romans 16:22 indicates that Paul used a man name Tertius to transcribe his words.

Date of Writing: The Book of Romans was likely written A.D. 56-58.

Purpose of Writing: As with all Paul’s epistles to the churches, his purpose in writing was to proclaim the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ by teaching doctrine and edify and encourage the believers who would receive his letter. Of particular concern to Paul were those to whom this letter was written—those in Rome who were “loved by God and called to be saints” (1:7). Because he himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.

Key Verses:

1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

3:9-11 “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”

3:21 “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.”

3:23 “For For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

5:8 “But But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

8:37-39 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

16:17, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

Summary: Paul was excited about being able to minister at last to this church, and everyone was well aware of that fact (1:8-15). The letter to the Romans was written from Corinth just prior to Paul’s trip to Jerusalem to deliver the alms that had been given for the poor there. He had intended to go to Rome and then on to Spain (15:24), but his plans were interrupted when he was arrested in Jerusalem. He would eventually go to Rome as a prisoner. Phoebe, who was a member of the church at Cenchrea near Corinth (16:1), most likely carried the letter to Rome.

The Book of Romans is primarily a work of doctrine and can be divided into four sections: righteousness needed, 1:18–3:20; righteousness provided, 3:21–8:39; righteousness vindicated, 9:1–11:36; righteousness practiced, 12:1–15:13. The main theme of this letter is obvious of course — righteousness. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul first condemns all men of their sinfulness. He expresses his desire to preach the truth of God’s Word to those in Rome. It was his hope to have assurance they were staying on the right path. He strongly points out that he is not ashamed of the gospel (1:16), because it is the power by which everyone is saved.

The Book of Romans tells us about God, who He is and what He has done. It tells us of Jesus Christ, what His death accomplished. It tells us about ourselves, what we were like without Christ and who we are after trusting in Christ. Paul points out that God did not demand men have their lives straightened out before coming to Christ. While we were still sinners Christ died on a cross for our sins.

Paul uses several Old Testament people and events as illustrations of the glorious truths in the Book of Romans. Abraham believed and righteousness was imputed to him by his faith, not by his works (4:1-5). In Romans 4:6-9, Paul refers to David who reiterated the same truth: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." Paul uses Adam to explain to the Romans the doctrine of inherited sin, and he uses the story of Sarah and Isaac, the child of promise, to illustrate the principle of Christians being the children of the promise of the divine grace of God through Christ. In chapters 9–11, Paul recounts the history of the nation of Israel and declares that God has not completely and finally rejected Israel (11:11-12), but has allowed them to “stumble” only until the full number of the Gentiles will be brought to salvation.

Practical: The Book of Romans makes it clear that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. Every “good” deed we have ever done is as a filthy rag before God. So dead in our trespasses and sins are we that only the grace and mercy of God can save us. God expressed that grace and mercy by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place. When we turn our lives over to Christ, we are no longer controlled by our sin nature, but we are controlled by the Spirit. We need to live our lives offered to God as a living sacrifice to Him. Worship of the God who saved us should be our highest desire. Perhaps the best application of Romans would be to apply Romans 1:16 and not be ashamed of the gospel. Instead, let us all be faithful in proclaiming it!

Source: Got Questions Ministries. Edited by J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: The Pentateuch -- Deuteronomy

2010-12-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

Author: Moses wrote the Book of Deuteronomy, which is in fact a collection of his sermons to Israel just before they crossed the Jordan. “These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel” (1:1). Someone else (Joshua, perhaps) may have written the last chapter.

Date of Writing: These sermons were given during the 40-day period prior to Israel’s entering the Promised Land. The first sermon was delivered on the 1st day of the 11th month (1:3), and the Israelites crossed the Jordan 70 days later, on the 10th day of the 1st month (Joshua 4:19). Subtract 30 days of mourning after Moses’ death (Deuteronomy 34:8), and we’re left with 40 days. The year was 1410 B.C.

Purpose of Writing: A new generation of Israelites was about to enter the Promised Land. This multitude had not experienced the miracle at the Red Sea or heard the law given at Sinai, and they were about to enter a new land with many dangers and temptations. The book of Deuteronomy was given to remind them of God’s law and God’s power.

Key Verses:

4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.”

6:4-7 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

32:46-47 “And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”

Brief Summary: The Israelites are commanded to remember four things: God’s faithfulness, God’s holiness, God’s blessings, and God’s warnings. The first three chapters recap the trip from Egypt to their current location, Moab. Chapter 4 is a call to obedience, to be faithful to the God Who was faithful to them.

Chapters 5 through 26 are a repetition of the law. The Ten Commandments, the laws concerning sacrifices and specials days, and the rest of the law are given to the new generation. Blessings are promised to those who obey (5:29; 6:17-19; 11:13-15), and famine is promised to those who break the law (11:16-17).

The theme of blessing and cursing is continued in chapters 27-30. This portion of the book ends with a clear choice set before Israel: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing.” God’s desire for His people is found in what He recommends: “choose life” (30:19).

In the final chapters, Moses encourages the people; commissions his replacement, Joshua; records a song; and gives a final blessing to each of the tribes of Israel. Chapter 34 relates the circumstances of Moses’ death. He climbed Mt. Pisgah, where the Lord showed him the Promised Land that he could not enter. At 120 years old, but still with good eyesight and the strength of youth, Moses died in the presence of the Lord. The book of Deuteronomy ends with a short obituary on this great prophet.

Many New Testament themes are present in the Book of Deuteronomy. The foremost among them is the necessity of keeping perfectly the Mosaic Law and the impossibility of doing so. The endless sacrifices necessary to atone for the sins of the people — who continually transgressed the Law — would find their fulfillment in the final “once for all” sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:10). Because of His atoning work on the cross, we would need no further sacrifices for sin.

God’s choosing of the Israelites as His special people foreshadows His choosing of those who would believe in Christ (1 Peter 2:9). In Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Moses prophesies of another prophet — the ultimate Prophet to come who is the Messiah. Like Moses, He would receive and preach divine revelation and He would lead His people (John 6:14; 7:40).

Practical: The book of Deuteronomy underscores the importance of God’s Word. It is a vital part of our lives. Although we are no longer under the Old Testament law, we are still responsible to submit to the will of God in our lives. Simple obedience brings blessing, and sin has its own consequences.

None of us is “above the law.” Even Moses, the leader and prophet chosen by God, was required to obey. The reason that he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land was that he disobeyed the Lord’s clear command (Numbers 20:13).

During the time of His testing in the wilderness, Jesus quoted from the book of Deuteronomy three times (Matthew 4). In so doing, Jesus illustrated for us the necessity of hiding God’s Word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11).

As Israel remembered God’s faithfulness, so should we. The crossing of the Red Sea, the holy presence at Sinai, and the blessing of manna in the desert should be an encouragement to us as well. A great way to keep going forward is to take some time to look back and see what God has done.

We also have a beautiful picture in Deuteronomy of a loving God Who desires a relationship with His children. The Lord names love as the reason that He brought Israel out of Egypt “with a mighty hand” and redeemed them (Deuteronomy 7:7-9). What a wonderful thing to be free from the bondage of sin and loved by an all-powerful God!

Source: Gotquestions.org. Edited by Dr. J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: The Pentateuch -- Numbers

2010-12-23T12:04:00.000-08:00

Author: Moses was the author of the Book of Numbers.

Date of Writing: The Book of Numbers was written between 1440 and 1400 B.C.

Purpose of Writing: The message of the Book of Numbers is universal and timeless. It reminds believers of the spiritual warfare in which they are engaged, for Numbers is the book of the service and walk of God's people. The Book of Numbers essentially bridges the gap between the Israelites receiving the Law (Exodus and Leviticus) and preparing them to enter the Promised Land (Deuteronomy and Joshua).

Key Verses:

6:24-26 "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."

12:6-8 "And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

14:30-34, "Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised. But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness. And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise."

Brief Summary: Most of the events of the Book of Numbers take place in the wilderness, primarily between the second and fortieth years of the wandering of the Israelites. The first 25 chapters of the book record the experiences of the first generation of Israel in the wilderness, while the rest of the book describes the experiences of the second generation. The theme of obedience and rebellion followed by repentance and blessing runs through the entire book, as well as the entire Old Testament.

The theme of the holiness of God is continued from the book of Leviticus into the book of Numbers, which reveals God's instruction and preparation of His people to enter the Promised Land of Canaan. The importance of the Book of Numbers is indicated by its being referred to in the New Testament many times. The Holy Spirit called special attention to Numbers in 1 Corinthians 10:1-12. The words "these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted" refers to the sin of the Israelites and God’s displeasure with them.

In Romans 11:22, Paul speaks about the "goodness and severity of God." That, in a nutshell, is the message of Numbers. The severity of God is seen in the death of the rebellious generation in the wilderness, those who never entered the Promised Land. The goodness of God is realized in the new generation. God protected, preserved, and provided for these people until they possessed the land. This reminds us of the justice and love of God, which are always in sovereign harmony.

God’s demand for holiness in His people is completely and finally satisfied in Jesus Christ, who came to fulfill the law on our behalf (Matthew 5:17). The concept of the promised Messiah pervades the book. The story in chapter 19 of the sacrifice of the red heifer “without defect or blemish” prefigures Christ, the Lamb of God without spot or blemish who was sacrificed for our sins. The image of the bronze snake lifted up on the pole to provide physical healing (chapter 21) also prefigures the lifting up of Christ, either upon the cross, or in the ministry of the Word, that whoever looks to Him by faith may have spiritual healing.

In chapter 24, Balaam’s fourth oracle speaks of the star and the scepter who is to rise out of Jacob. Here is a prophecy of Christ who is called the "morning star" in Revelation 22:16 for His glory, brightness, and splendor, and for the light that comes by Him. He may also be called a scepter, that is, a scepter bearer, because of his royalty. He not only has the name of a king, but has a kingdom, and rules with a scepter of grace, mercy, and righteousness.

Practical: A major theological theme developed in the New Testament from Numbers is that sin and unbelief, especially rebellion, reap the judgment of God. First Corinthians specifically says — and Hebrews 3:7-4:13 strongly implies — that these events were written as examples for believers to observe and avoid. We are not to “set our hearts on evil things” (v. 6), or be sexually immoral (v. 8), or put God to the test (v. 9) or gripe and complain (v. 10).

Just as the Israelites wandered in the wilderness 40 years because of their rebellion, so too does God sometimes allow us to wander away from Him and suffer loneliness and lack of blessings when we rebel against Him. But God is faithful and just, and just as He restored the Israelites to their rightful place in His heart, He will always restore Christians to the place of blessing and intimate fellowship with Him if we repent and return to Him (1 John 1:9).

Source: Gotquestions.org. Edited by Dr. J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: The Pentateuch -- Leviticus

2010-12-23T12:02:00.000-08:00

Author: Moses was the author of the Book of Leviticus.

Date of Writing: The Book of Leviticus was written between 1440 and 1400 B.C.

Purpose of Writing: Because the Israelites had been held captive in Egypt for 400 years, the concept of God had been distorted by the polytheistic, pagan Egyptians. The purpose of Leviticus is to provide instruction and laws to guide a sinful, yet redeemed people in their relationship with a holy God. There is an emphasis in Leviticus on the need for personal holiness in response to a holy God. Sin must be atoned for through the offering of proper sacrifices (chapters 8-10). Other topics covered in the book are diets (clean and unclean foods), childbirth, and diseases which are carefully regulated (chapters 11-15). Chapter 16 describes the Day of Atonement when an annual sacrifice is made for the cumulative sin of the people. Furthermore, the people of God are to be circumspect in their personal, moral, and social living, in contrast to the then-current practices of the heathen roundabout them (chapters 17-22).

Key Verses:

1:4 "And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him."

17:11 "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."

19:18 "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD."

Brief Summary: Chapters 1-7 outline the offerings required of both the laity and the priesthood. Chapters 8-10 describe the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood. Chapters 11-16 are the prescriptions for various types of uncleanness. The final 10 chapters are God’s guidelines to His people for practical holiness. Various feasts were instituted in the people's worship of Jehovah God, convened and practiced according to God's laws. Blessings or curses would accompany either the keeping or neglect of God's commandments (chapter 26). Vows to the Lord are covered in Chapter 27.

The primary theme of Leviticus is holiness. God's demand for holiness in His people is based on His own holy nature. A corresponding theme is that of atonement. Holiness must be maintained before God, and holiness can only be attained through a proper atonement.

Much of the ritualistic practices of worship picture in many ways the person and work of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10 tells us that the Mosaic Law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming by which is meant that the daily sacrifices offered by the priests for the sin of the people were a representation of the ultimate Sacrifice — Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice would be once for all time for those who would believe in Him. The holiness imparted temporarily by the Law would one day be replaced by the absolute attainment of holiness when Christians exchanged their sin for the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Practical: God takes His holiness very seriously, and so should we. The trend in the postmodern church is to create God in our own image, giving Him the attributes we would like Him to have instead of the ones His Word describes. God’s utter holiness, His transcendent splendor, and His “unapproachable light” (1Timothy 6:16) are foreign concepts to many Christians. We are called to walk in the Light and to put away the darkness in our lives so that we may be pleasing in His sight. A holy God cannot tolerate blatant, unashamed sin in His people and His holiness requires Him to punish it. We dare not be flippant in our attitudes toward sin or God’s loathing of it, nor should we make light of it in any way.

Praise the Lord that because of Jesus' death on our behalf, we no longer have to offer animal sacrifices. Leviticus is all about substitution. The death of the animals was a substitute penalty for those who have sinned. In the same way, but infinitely better, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was the substitute for our sins. Now we can stand before a God of utter holiness without fear because He sees in us the righteousness of Christ.

Source: Gotquestions.org. Edited by Dr. J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: The Pentateuch -- Exodus

2010-12-23T11:59:00.000-08:00

Author: Moses was the author of the Book of Exodus (Exodus 17:14; 24:4-7; 34:27).

Date of Writing: The Book of Exodus was written between 1440 and 1400 B.C.

Purpose of Writing: The word “exodus” means departure. In God's timing, the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt marked the end of a period of oppression for Abraham's descendants (Genesis 15:13), and the beginning of the fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham that his descendants would not only live in the Promised Land, but would also multiply and become a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3, 7). The purpose of the book may be expressed as tracing the rapid growth of Jacob's descendants from Egypt to the establishment of the theocratic nation in their Promised Land.

Key Verses:

1:8 "Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph."

2:24-25 "And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them."

12:27 "That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped."

20:2-3 "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

Brief Summary: Exodus begins where Genesis leaves off as God deals with His chosen people, the Jews. It traces the events from the time Israel entered Egypt as guests of Joseph, who was powerful in Egypt, until they were eventually delivered from the cruel bondage of slavery into which they had been brought by "...a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph" (Exodus 1:8).

Chapters 1-14 describe the conditions of oppression of the Jews under Pharaoh, the rise of Moses as their deliverer, the plagues God brought upon Egypt for the refusal of their leader to submit to Him, and the departure from Egypt. God’s sovereign and powerful hand is seen in the miracles of the plagues — ending with the plague of death of the firstborn and the institution of the first Passover — the deliverance of the Israelites, the parting of the Red Sea, and the destruction of the Egyptian army.

The middle portion of Exodus is dedicated to the wandering in the wilderness and the miraculous provision by God for His people. But even though He gave them bread from heaven, sweet water from bitter, water from a rock, victory over those who would destroy them, His Law written on tablets of stone by His own hand, and His presence in the form of pillars of fire and cloud, the people continually grumbled and rebelled against Him.

The last third of the book describes the construction of the Ark of the Covenant and the plan for the Tabernacle with its various sacrifices, altars, furniture, ceremonies, and forms of worship. The numerous sacrifices required of the Israelites were a picture of the ultimate sacrifice, the Passover Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

The night of the last plague on Egypt, an unblemished lamb was killed and its blood applied to the doorposts of the houses of God’s people, protecting them from the angel of death. This foreshadowed Jesus, the Lamb of God without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19), whose blood applied to us ensures eternal life. Among the symbolic presentations of Christ in the book of Exodus is the story of the water from the rock in Exodus 17:6.

Just as Moses struck the rock to provide life-giving water for the people to drink, so did God strike the Rock of our salvation, crucifying Him for our sin, and from the Rock came the gift of living water (John 4:10). The provision of manna in the wilderness is a perfect picture of Christ, the Bread of Life (John 6:48), provided by God to give us life.

Practical: The Mosaic Law was given in part to show mankind that they were incapable of keeping it. We are unable to please God by law-keeping; therefore, Paul exhorts us to put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified (Galatians 2:16).

God’s provision for the Israelites, from deliverance from captivity to the manna and quail in the wilderness, are clear indications of His gracious provision for His people. God has promised to supply all our needs. “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).

We are to trust in the Lord, for He can deliver us from anything. But God does not allow sin to go unpunished forever. As a result, we can trust Him in His retribution and justice. When God removes us from a bad situation, we should not seek to go back. When God makes demands of us, He expects us to comply, but at the same time He provides grace and mercy because He knows that, on our own, we will not be able to fully obey.

Source: Gotquestions.org. Edited by Dr. J. F. Smith, Creation-Ed Ministry 2010

Bible Survey: The Pentateuch -- Genesis

2010-12-23T11:54:00.000-08:00

Author: The author of the Book of Genesis is not identified. Traditionally, the author has always assumed to have been Moses. There is no conclusive reason to deny the Mosaic authorship of Genesis. It may also be that Moses collected the writings of the patriarchs and put them together in a book.

Date of Writing: The Book of Genesis does not state when it was written. The date of authorship is likely between 1440and 1400 B.C., between the time Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and his death.

Purpose of Writing: The Book of Genesis has sometimes been called the "seed-plot" of the entire Bible. Most of the major doctrines in the Bible are introduced in "seed" form in the Book of Genesis. Along with the fall of man, God's promise of salvation or redemption is recorded (Genesis 3:15). The doctrines of creation, imputation of sin, justification, atonement, depravity, wrath, grace, sovereignty, responsibility, and many more are all addressed in this book of origins called Genesis.

Many of the great questions of life are answered in Genesis. (1) Where did I come from? (God created us - Genesis 1:1) (2) Why am I here? (we are here to have a relationship with God - Genesis 15:6) (3) Where am I going? (we have a destination after death - Genesis 25:8). Genesis appeals to the scientist, the historian, the theologian, the housewife, the farmer, the traveler, and the man or woman of God. It is a fitting beginning for God's story of His plan for mankind, the Bible.

Key Verses:

1:1 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

3:15 "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

12:2-3 "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

50:20 "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

Brief Summary: The Book of Genesis can be divided into two sections: Primitive History and Patriarchal History. Primitive history records (1) Creation (Genesis chapters 1-2); (2) the Fall of man (Genesis chapters 3-5); (3) the Flood (Genesis chapters 6-9); and (4) the dispersion (Genesis chapters 10-11). Patriarchal history records the lives of four great men: (1) Abraham (Genesis 12-25:8); (2) Isaac (Genesis 21:1-35-29); (3) Jacob (Genesis 25:21-50:14); and (4) Joseph (Genesis 30:22-50:26).

God created a universe that was good and free from sin. God created humanity to have a personal relationship with Him. Adam and Eve sinned and thereby brought evil and death into the world. Evil increased steadily in the world until there was only one family in which God found anything good. God sent the Flood to wipe out evil, but delivered Noah and his family along with the animals in the Ark. After the Flood, humanity began again to multiply and spread throughout the world.

God chose Abraham, through whom He would create a chosen people and eventually the promised Messiah. The chosen line was passed on to Abraham's son Isaac, and then to Isaac's son Jacob. God changed Jacob's name to Israel, and his twelve sons became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel. In His sovereignty, God had Jacob's son Joseph sent to Egypt by the despicable actions of Joseph's brothers. This act, intended for evil by the brothers, was intended for good by God and eventually resulted in Jacob and his family being saved from a devastating famine by Joseph, who had risen to great power in Egypt.

Many New Testament themes have their roots in Genesis. Jesus Christ is the Seed of the woman who will destroy Satan’s power (Gen. 3:15). As with Joseph, God’s plan for the good of mankind through the sacrifice of His Son was intended for good, even though those who crucified Jesus intended it for evil. Noah and his family are the first of many pictures of salvation in the Bible. Despite overwhelming odds and difficult circumstances, God always preserves His people for Himself. The faith displayed by Abraham would be the gift of God and the basis of salvation for both Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11).

Practical: The overriding theme of Genesis is God’s eternal existence and His creation of the world. There is no effort on the part of the author to defend the existence of God; he simply states that God is, always was, and always will be, almighty over all. In the same way, we have confidence in the truths of Genesis, despite the claims of those who would deny them. All people, regardless of culture, nationality or language, are accountable to the Creator. But because of sin, introduced into the world at the Fall, we are separated from Him. But through one small nation, Israel, God’s redemptive plan for mankind was revealed and made available to all. We rejoice in that plan.

God created the universe, the earth, and every living being. We can trust Him to handle the concerns in our lives. God can take a hopeless situation, e.g. Abraham and Sarah being childless, and do amazing things if we will simply trust and obey. Terrible and unjust things may happen in our lives, as with Joseph, but God has a plan that will not be thwarted, and what others mean for evil, God means for good.

Source: Gotquestions.org. Edited by Dr. J. F. Smith, C-Ed Ministry 2010