Objections To the Doctrine of Everlasting Security Answered (Objection 5)
November 29, 2021 at 11:20 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 5 CommentsTags: Biblical Q&A, Calvinism, Charles Spurgeon, eternal security, eternal security of the believer, everlasting security, John Calvin, once saved always saved, perseverance of the saints
Objection: How can you believe in the doctrine of “once saved always saved” when John Calvin taught that doctrine and he was partly responsible for having someone burned at the stake?
Answer to Objection: My belief in the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer is not based on John Calvin or any other theologian. It is based on what the Bible explicitly says.
Think about the premise of what you are saying. I’m not a Calvin apologist, but let’s assume he did awful, horrible things, and, that, like you say, he taught that, once God saved a person, that person would persevere to eternal salvation. A Bible teacher’s actions do not disprove what the Bible says. I haven’t read everything Calvin wrote, but he did believe that Jesus was the Son of God. By your logic, you now have to reject the belief that Jesus was God’s Son because Calvin taught it. Do you see how what you are saying doesn’t make sense?
Under your system, you must reject all Biblical truth that is taught by people of whose personal actions you disapprove. But then what do you do when someone who did NOT do something bad teaches eternal security? For instance, Charles Spurgeon believed in eternal security and he was never involved with anyone being burned at the stake. Now what do you do?
When evaluating theological doctrine, the Bible is where you go to determine whether it’s true or not. Neither the personal honor, nor the personal sins, of those who are known for teaching a particular doctrine are relevant in evaluating the absolute Truth of Scripture (Acts 10:34; Colossians 3:25; Romans 3:4).
Thomas Watson: S.W.I.M. to Repent
November 19, 2021 at 11:44 am | Posted in II Peter, Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: Biblical repentance, Biblical swimming, repentance, swim quotes, swimming quotes, Thomas Watson, Thomas Watson quotes
In Adam we all suffered shipwreck and repentance is the only plank left us after shipwreck to swim to heaven.
Thomas Watson, The Doctrine of Repentance (1668)
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Romans 5:14
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 5:32
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
II Peter 3:9
Speaking from the Heart
November 17, 2021 at 3:37 pm | Posted in II Corinthians | 3 CommentsTags: 2 Corinthians 6, Biblical separation, commentary on 2 Corinthians, common expressions from the Bible, Deuteronomy 22, sufficiency of Christ, Sunday School lessons on 2 Corinthians, the doctrine of separation
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
II Corinthians 6:10 (emphasis added)
Christians have nothing of ultimate value which can be taken away from us. Our true treasure and our truest blessings are in Christ. Therefore, having “all things” in Him, the world should not be able to successfully tempt us with a bribe.
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
II Corinthians 6:11
We sometimes say we are “speaking from the heart.” Paul was being very open about his feelings toward the Corinthians, but they were not reciprocating.
Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
II Corinthians 6:12
Let me encourage you not to get too easily offended, to not get your feelings hurt by the coldness of other believers, especially newer believers.
Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
II Corinthians 6:13
As parents, one of the things you learn to live with is your children seldom responding to the love you show them with equal measures of love being returned. It was important for Paul – as it should be important for us – to establish our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ, for several reasons, including the fact that we will at times have to show them “tough love.” We will have to tell them the truth for their own good.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
II Corinthians 6:14
Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
Deuteronomy 22:10
The ox and the donkey are fundamentally different types of animals. They don’t respond to the same type of encouragement. They are not the same size. They have different motivations. Christians and non-Christians shouldn’t intermarry. In many cases they shouldn’t form a business partnership. They shouldn’t irrevocably link their lives together in such a way that they depend on each other’s fundamental beliefs to accomplish something. These Corinthian believers had come out of darkness, and it was crucially important that they not go back into it. They had come out of unrighteousness; they must not go back into it.
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
II Corinthians 6:15-16
Fellowship, communion, concord, part, agreement: these are words of unity, harmony, and symphony. Musicians can’t all play their own song at the same time and have it sound melodious, pleasing, and beautiful. A football team can’t gain yardage unless everybody comes out of the huddle planning to run the same play. God’s Kingdom is not advanced through church chaos. It is advanced and He is glorified through common unity – diversity, but unity.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
II Corinthians 6:17
The nature of the believer is fundamentally, ontologically different from an unbeliever. The ox was a clean animal; the donkey was not (Deuteronomy 14). The doctrine of separation for Christians is based here on three key principles, and we just saw the first two:
- The nature of the believer
- The command of Scripture
Here is the third: The promise of blessing.
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
II Corinthians 6:18
Fathers long to bless their children, but good fathers don’t bless disobedience when it will hurt their children. That’s not real blessing. We must remember to Whom we belong. We were not set free to serve ourselves, or our Father’s enemies. We were set free to serve our Father with joy.
Joshua: Courage, Carnage, and Conquest
November 12, 2021 at 11:07 am | Posted in Joshua | 4 CommentsTags: Biblical Violence, Book of Joshua, commentary on Joshua, conquest of Canaan, God's immutability, immutability, Joshua, Marcionism, Sunday School lessons on Joshua
The Book of Joshua is a a book about courage, and a book about the conquest of Canaan, but it also a book that features unapologetic carnage. The idea that God would command the violent conquest of people (even abominably evil people) is a difficult subject to grapple with and grasp for modern readers and many commentators. An all-too-common attempt at rationalization is to claim that the God of the Old Testament was cruel, vindictive, barbaric, and even bloodthirsty, as opposed to the God of the New Testament Who is kind, loving, peaceful, and indulgent. This false dichotomy does not withstand even cursory scrutiny, however. The true God of the Bible (the only real God) is immutable. He did not change from a God Who deals in barbaric death to a God Who promotes a shallow, unjust peace and love, and to say that the Bible presents two different Gods is to be guilty of a heresy known as Marcionism. The Cross of Christ, if nothing else, proves that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Below are links to a series of lessons on Joshua:
1. Introduction to Joshua (1:1-13)
2. Where to Find Courage (1:1-9)
3. A Heroic Harlot’s Hidden Highlights (2:1-3)
4. Rahab’s Confession of Faith (2:9-18)
5. Lying about Spying (2)
6. A More Meaningful Kind of Social Distancing (3)
7. The Stones of Curiosity (4:5-6) *
8. Redemption Completed and Beginning (4:19 – 5:8)
9. Beware of Forsaking Formalities (5:5)
10. Fighting the Battle that Has Already been Won (5:14 – 6:20)
11. Passing over the Passover (5:5-15)
12. The Lord’s Kindling (7:1-11)
13. The Stones that Put Out a Conflagration (7:12-26)
14. A Do-Over Against Ai (8)
15. The Devil’s Favorite Children (9:1-23)
16. Watch Out for Pretenders (9:15-16)
17. Canaanite Daylight Savings Time (10)
18. Divide and Conquer (11)
19. When Recitation Time Becomes Shoutin’ Time (12)
20. Claiming Your Inheritance (13)
21. Spending Your Retirement on Your Children (14:10-12; 15:18-19)
22. Crossing Your Arms before God (16)
23. Bold Requests (17)
24. Your Lot in Life (18)
25. God Remembers and Rewards Faithfulness (19)
26. The Real Avengers (20)
27. Visible and Audible Reminders and Proofs of God’s Faithfulness (21)
28. The Wisdom of Investigating Potential Problems (22)
29. What Do You Have to Do with God? (22:24)
30. What the Old Need to Tell the Young (23)
31. A Pointed Preamble and a Dependent Decision (24)
*most-viewed post in category
Introduction to Joshua
November 10, 2021 at 11:52 am | Posted in Joshua | 3 CommentsTags: Biblical courage, Biblical rest, Canaan, commentary on Joshua, conquest of Canaan, Joshua, Joshua 1, Sunday School lessons on Joshua, the promised land
The Book of Joshua begins by mentioning the death of Moses, which had just happened at the end of Deuteronomy. Most Christians today hold Moses in high esteem because of his important role in being used by God to deliver God’s people from bondage in Egypt, in promulgating God’s Law, and in leading the people through the wilderness for nearly 40 years. For the Jewish people in Joshua’s day, it’s difficult to overstate the place of prominence held by Moses, and the uncertainty and anxiety that his death would have caused. In Joshua Chapter 1 Moses’s name is mentioned 11 times! (By comparison, Joshua himself is only named four times.) Keeping this in mind, we will see that God commanded Joshua to be courageous, but he also instructed him on how to be courageous. If you ever find yourself in fearful situations (and, if we’re being honest, all of us do from time to time), then you will want to study the Book of Joshua in order to be enCOURAGEd.
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
Joshua 1:1
Joshua was born a slave in Egypt. You might have heard the well-worn preacher joke that asks who was the only person in the Bible without any parents, with the predictable response being Adam or Eve, only to be met with the punchline that it was actually Joshua, since he was the “son of Nun (“none” – insert laugh or groan here). He was possibly the firstborn son of Nun, so he might have been killed on the night of the Passover if not for the faithfulness of his parents. His original name was Hoshea – which meant salvation – another evidence of his family’s faith – but Moses changed his named to Joshua which meant “Yahweh is salvation,” the Hebrew form of “Jesus.”
Joshua’s first significant action recorded in Scripture was when he led the Israelites in defeating the Amakelites who had attacked them about two months after leaving Egypt. This leads us to believe that Joshua may have had some military training in Egypt. He became Moses’s general and he personally guarded the mini-tabernacle where Moses sometimes met with God just outside the encampment.
In addition to being a slave, a soldier, and a servant, he was also a spy. Moses sent Joshua and 11 other spies from Kadeshbarnea to check out the land of Canaan before crossing over, but only Joshua and Caleb encouraged the people to trust the Lord. They were the only two Israelites of their generation to survive the wilderness wandering.
Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Joshua 1:2
This sets the scene for the major action in Joshua. It is the first book in the Bible after the Pentateuch, sometimes included in a grouping called the Hexateuch. Its genre is historical narrative. Some think that it was finally compiled or written during the period of the Judges to remind the people of God’s faithfulness to give them the land of Canaan, and of the consequences of breaking the covenant given to them by God and getting into idolatry.
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
Joshua 1:3-4
This was an amazingly large area. Canaan is referred to as the promised land because it had been promised to the people by God – they just needed to take possession of it. This will be important to remember later on, when we see the violence employed in order to claim it. It had been promised by God to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses – to all of Abraham’s descendants. Not only was it a huge area, and a far richer land – “flowing with milk and honey” – than Egypt or other lands in the Middle East, it was also to be the place where God’s presence would symbolically reside, where the Messiah would be born, live, and be crucified.
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:5-9
Fear must be present for courage to exist, but courage does not have to be accompanied by some type of struggle for conquest (war, fighting). No, sometimes it’s associated with overcoming personal fears, or being steadfast in the face of pressure to conform to ways which violate personal standards or a belief in what is right. The Biblical definition of the type of courage that God commanded Joshua to have, though, is a little more specific. In God’s economy courage is:
1. Believing and acting upon the promises of God
2. Rallying or standing together with God’s people in a unity based on Truth
3. Meditating on God’s Word in order to draw strength and hope
4. Remembering, paradoxically, to depend on God and not self
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it. And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
Joshua 1:10-13
Here we see the importance of unity. None of the tribes would be allowed to sit out the conquest and wait to see the outcome. We are are also introduced to the concept of rest. Canaan would be a land of “rest” – not relaxation and inactivity – but a resting in God, knowing that they were living out His will. Canaan is not a symbol of Heaven – it is a foreshadowing of New Testament Christians seizing the promises of God and resting in Him: “laboring to enter into rest.”
With Enemies Like You, Who Needs Friends?
November 4, 2021 at 3:25 pm | Posted in Biblical friendship, II Samuel | 2 CommentsTags: 2 Samuel 19, Biblical friendship, commentary on 2 Samuel, Joab, King David, Sunday School lessons on 2 Samuel, true friendship
I have heard it said that your best friend is the person who tells you the most truth. My old Sunday School teacher used to say it another way: “A real friend is someone who stabs you in the front.” Certainly, the Bible bears this out:
Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 27:5-6
In II Samuel 19 King David was not acting like a king. Overcome with grief at the death of his son, he failed to do something that he had probably never failed to do before. He failed to give recognition and honor to those who had fought bravely on his behalf.
And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
II Samuel 19:2
Thankfully, David had someone who was willing to tell him the truth, as painful as that truth might be, and to sternly remind him of his duty.
And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines; In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
II Samuel 19:5-7
Do you have someone in your life who is willing to hold you accountable, and to remind you when your behavior is affecting those whom the Lord has placed into your care?
Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
II Samuel 19:8
Hardship Cubed
November 1, 2021 at 4:14 pm | Posted in II Corinthians | 2 CommentsTags: 2 Corinthians 6, Apostle Paul, Biblical hardships, Biblical trials, commentary on 2 Corinthians, enduring hardship, suffering, Sunday School lessons on 2 Corinthians, tribulation
Working in cooperation with God, Paul and his ministry partners begged the Corinthians to be cooperative with God’s grace.
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
II Corinthians 6:1
There should be a sense of immediacy whenever we talk about God’s salvation.
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
II Corinthians 6:2
We must not put up any barriers to belief in Christ, nor place any stumbling-blocks of unbelief as we minister.
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
II Corinthians 6:3
Paul presented evidence of his own Apostleship and encouraged them to endure difficulties and hardships.
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
II Corinthians 6:4
He grouped these hardships into three categetories and three examples of each.
GENERAL
1. Afflictions: These were times of pressure and discomfort
2. Necessities: These were things forced upon Paul and his missionary team
3. Distresses: This refers to mental exhaustion
SPECIFIC
1. Stripes: Paul was beaten with whips on at least eight occasions, resulting in an estimated 513 lashes/blows.
2. Imprisonment: He was imprioned at least four times.
3. Tumults: These included violent riots and the times he was forced to travel for his own safety because of them.
VOLUNTARY
1. Labors: This included work done to earn money to live on, and ministerial work.
2. Watchings: Long periods of sleeplessness.
3. Fastings: Intense hunger.
He went from stating evidence of his hardships and Apostolic authority to naming some of the virtues he had developed as a result of these tribulations.
By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
II Corinthians 6:6-7
Paul’s purity was evident in his holiness and integrity. His knowledge had come through Bible study. He learned to be longsuffering so that he was willing to put up with wrongdoing or injustice committed against him for a long time. He showed kindness by doing good to others. All these things were done through the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit. He was motivated by unfeigned love, not flattery or self-interest. The word of truth made him honest. The power of God was manifested whenever he exercised the miraculous sign-gifts. His armor of righteousness protected him against the attacks of the unrighteous. He often received negative criticism, but also occasionally postive praise.
The Deep End 
Samuel the Sequel
November 23, 2021 at 3:41 pm | Posted in II Samuel | 4 CommentsTags: 2 Samuel, commentary on 2 Samuel, David, King David, life of David, Sunday School lessons on 2 Samuel
The Book of I Samuel introduces King David, that key figure in the Biblical narrative, who was used by the Lord to illuminate and point toward the greater King over all the kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. In II Samuel, the true historical record of David’s reign reaches its zenith, but, alas, David, despite all his magnificent accomplishments, accolades, and acquisitions for God’s Kingdom was still – just like you and me – a human sinner. Therefore, there are both examples to emulate, and cautionary lessons, in II Samuel. Below is a list of links to posts in this category:
1. Fall in All (1)
2. The Transfer of the Kingdom (3 – 5)
3. Dancing, Prancing, and a Lack of Romancing (6)
4. When the Worship Wars become Domestic (6:12-23)
5. A Much Better King (7 – 9)
6. Graded by God: Turning Your “F”s into “A”s (Part One) (8 – 9)
7. Graded by God: Turning Your “F”s into “A”s (Part Two) (9:1-13)
8. Warning Sign #4: Fear of Curses (9:5-7)
9. An Idle Moment with Disastrous Consequences (10 – 13)
10. You the Man! (12:1-7)
11. Clean and New (12:1-13)
12. The Consequences of Forgiven Sins (12:18-19)
13. Foreshadowing a Greater Rebellion and Its Resolution (13:20-39; 16:7)
14. The First Rock Star (14:25 – 15:6)
15. With Enemies Like You, Who Needs Friends? (19:2-8)
16. Respect Your Elders (19:30-39)
17. A Kite that Soars (22:1-11)
18. Stand Your Ground (23:11-12)*
*most-viewed post in category