Posts Tagged ‘CHRISTIANITY’
A.W. PINK: THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD – CHAPTER 6
The sovereignty of God may be defined as the exercise of His supremacy — see preceding chapter. Being infinitely elevated above the highest creature, He is the Most High, Lord of heaven and earth. Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases always as He pleases. None can thwart Him, none can hinder Him. So His own Word expressly declares:
A HANDBOOK OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH: 4. THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE
The Study of the Bible
The Christian life is lives out by men of flesh and blood. Just as nourishment is required for the continuance of physical life, so it is needed for the development of spiritual life. Food, exercise, and rest are required for physical health. For spiritual health the exercise is service; the renewal of expended energies is through prayer; but the food supply is the Word of God. The question arises: “How can people who love God and want to be used of God make the Bible their own personal possession?” The answer is clear: By studying the Word.
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WEEKLY BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH EXCERPT: CHAPTER 5 OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH 1689 SPURGEON EDITION
CHAPTER 5 OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
Paragraph 1. God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things,1 from the greatest even to the least,2 by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.3
1 Heb. 1:3; Job 38:11; Isa. 46:10,11; Ps. 135:6
2 Matt. 10:29-31
3 Eph. 1;11
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A HANDBOOK OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH: 3. WHY BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE?
Why Believe the Bible?
The pivotal question of Christianity centers around the Bible itself. If this book is only a record of the religious quest of the Hebrew peoples, and if it deals only with their hopes, aspirations, and accomplishments in their upward search for God from polytheism to monotheism, then it cannot be the Word of God as we use that term here.
We believe that the Bible is God’s word to man. We hold that from cover to cover, from Genesis to Revelation, the book is God’s whole counsel to man and that it is without error in whole and in part.
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A HANDBOOK OF CHRISTIAN TRUTH: 2. THE INSPIRATION OF THE BIBLE
The Inspiration of the Bible
The Author of the Bible is the Holy Spirit of God. Its pages are an authoritative revelation, in written form, of the divine nature and purposes.
A. The Crucial Nature of Inspiration.
The most divisive, Biblical theme is the inspiration of the Scriptures. In the first centuries after Christ the issue which absorbed the interest of the church concerned the persons of the Trinity; in the sixteenth century the vexing problem was whether ultimate authority rested in the Word of God or in the papacy; in the twentieth century the inspiration of the Bible is the focal, determinative point of conflict.
The view of inspiration which the church has always held has been widely abandoned today. In its place men have substituted a pale, emasculate, sinewless view that the Bible merely contains the Word of God. We believe that the Scriptures not only contain the Word of God, but that in their entirety they are the Word of God.
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Deception in The Body of CHRIST: Contemplative / Centering Prayer (CCP) Part 3
Part 3
Like Spiritual Formation, Contemplative /Centering Prayer (CCP) entertains several definitions as well. Remember what we learned from the link above from GotQuestions.org:
Contemplative prayer, also known as “centering prayer,” is a meditative practice where the practitioner focuses on a word and repeats that word over and over for the duration of the exercise. While contemplative prayer is done differently in the various groups that practice it, there are similarities. Contemplative prayer involves choosing a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.
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WEEKLY BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH EXCERPT: CHAPTER 4 OF CREATION
BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH 1689 SPURGEON EDITION
CHAPTER 4 OF CREATION
Paragraph 1. In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,1 for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power,2 wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.3
1 John 1:2,3; Heb. 1:2; Job 26:13
2 Rom. 1:20
3 Col. 1:16; Gen. 1:31
Paragraph 2. After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female,4 with reasonable and immortal souls,5 rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness;6 having the law of God written in their hearts,7 and power to fulfill it, and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.8
4 Gen. 1:27
5 Gen. 2:7
6 Eccles. 7:29; Gen. 1;26
7 Rom. 2:14,15
8 Gen. 3:6
Paragraph 3. Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil,9 which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.10
9 Gen. 2:17
10 Gen. 1:26,28
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David Barton Tour
Very few people are aware and really understand that our country The United States of American was founded on J
udeo-Christian principles. We boast about our ‘freedom’ as afforded to us by living here, but are desperately ignorant of where this freedom is derived. The rights that we hold so dear, that we onced enjoyed, given to us by GOD, are quickly and systematically being disolved. Few people realize that, what we once enjoyed, we no longer. Our world is changing and proceeding just as Our Heavenly LORD JESUS said it would.
I came across something that will be of great interest to you. This is a video from David Barton, Founder and President of WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization that presents America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage. He is conducting a tour of the Nations Capital detailing forgotten history, our Christian heritage. So the next time someone mentions separation of Church and State, you’ll know how to respond
David Barton Tour:
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WEEKLY BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH EXCERPT: CHAPTER 3 OF GOD’S DECREE
BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH 1689 SPURGEON EDITION
CHAPTER 3: OF GOD’S DECREE
Paragraph 1. God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass;1 yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein;2 nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established;3 in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.4
1 Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11; Heb. 6:17; Rom. 9:15,18
2 James 1:13; 1 John 1:5
3 Acts 4:27,28; John 19:11
4 Num. 23:19; Eph. 1:3-5
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WEEKLY BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH EXCERPT: Chapter 2 OF GOD AND OF THE HOLY TRINITY
BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH 1689 SPURGEON EDITION
CHAPTER 2: OF GOD AND OF THE HOLY TRINITY
Paragraph 1. The Lord our God is but one only living and true God;1 whose subsistence is in and of Himself,2 infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself;3 a most pure spirit,4 invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto;5 who is immutable,6 immense,7 eternal,8 incomprehensible, almighty,9 every way infinite, most holy,10 most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will,11 for His own glory;12 most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him,13 and withal most just and terrible in His judgments,14 hating all sin,15 and who will by no means clear the guilty.16
1 1 Cor. 8:4,6; Deut. 6:4
2 Jer. 10:10; Isa. 48:12
3 Exod. 3:14
4 John 4:24
5 1 Tim. 1:17; Deut. 4:15,16
6 Mal. 3:6
7 1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:23
8 Ps. 90:2
9 Gen. 17:1
10 Isa. 6:3
11 Ps. 115:3; Isa. 46:10
12 Prov. 16:4; Rom. 11:36
13 Exod. 34:6,7; Heb. 11:6
14 Neh. 9:32,33
15 Ps. 5:5,6
16 Exod. 34:7; Nahum 1:2,3
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The Grace of GOD saves …… ?
I received, no I heard I believe a promo for a site called JESUS.org . So, I checked it out. From what I can tell, it appears to be Theologically sound, and if I find something different, I’ll let you know. Anyway, I came across this video, presented by Pastor John MacArthur, Grace Community Church Sun Valley, Ca. Take a look and give a comment on what you think
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tHIS jUST cOULDN’T bE AMERICA?
oR cOULD iT!
The following occured in June 2010:
Not more than I’d say 30 minutes ago, a friend of mine gave me a call. Our topic of conversation: an evangelism trip to New York and Washington D.C., where we are leaving in less than 11 hours from now. The conversation was pleasant, as we both expressed zeal for what lied ahead. I was particularly looking forward to visiting some of the sites in D.C. where pictures of our founding fathers are displayed, and getting a look @ the founding documents.
Towards the end of the conversation, she mentions that someone alerted her that Christians had been arrested for witnessing to muslims. In the back of my mind, I remembered a day or so ago hearing something about this in passing. I thought to myself, these are the signs of the times. We as Christians should be aware that our persecution will come because Our LORD said it would. But I believe Christians in America are woefully under the impression that it couldn’t happen to them.
I receive updates from various persecution blogs, as I try to keep abreast of my brothers and sisters as they stand in faith for the faith. I will admit, being honest to my shame, that I have not been as attentive to their plight, being pre-occupied with this, that and the other, and feelings of fear for myself if I had to endure such torture wondering if I would be able to stand so boldly as they. You see, it didn’t occur to me to check this out because somehow I assumed it happened some place else, you know like in the Middle East, because Christians are being persecuted, arrested, and brutally killed all over the world. So I went online to check it out, and this is what I discovered:
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Deception in The Body of CHRIST Part 3: Lectio Divina
COMING SOON
PART 3 in the
Deception in The Body of CHRIST Series:
Lectio Divina
ABBA, ……… FATHER
I originally wrote this, I believe several weeks after this event took place. In reflecting upon it, I am reminded how Our LORD, Our FATHER, and The HOLY SPIRit are faithful in caring for us. Sometimes we don’t recognize the Hand of GOD @ work until we are out of the storm that we were in. It was that way with me, during what would seem to be a very difficult time in anyone’s life regarding the circumstances. But, all I can remember was perfect peace. Maybe, you have experienced that peace as well. This all took place Tuesday 21 April 2009, a day I will never forget …
to disregard, exploit, or misuse the words given to us of Our Heavenly FATHER, Our LORD, and written by The HOLY SPIRIT, is being disdainful toward the heart of GOD, and HIS love. For HIS words show HIS love to us. We are GOD’s dearly beloved children, and HIS heart is always for us………..
I woke this morning with something. I don’t know what, something not quite right. You know, one of those things back in the corner of your mind, with you not quite being able to pull it out? Usually, in the morning, I greet FATHER, The LORD, and The HOLY SPIRIT, commune a little, then start my bible study. But like I mentioned, this morning was different, it wasn’t the same, (my recollection of the events are as best as I can remember them, for my thoughts, and conversations were somewhat chaotic, familiar, but not usual) this morning was eventful, which I’ll explain later….
Deception in The Body of CHRIST: Contemplative / Centering Prayer (CCP) Part 2
Part 2
__________
GNOSTICISM: WHAT WAS OLD, IS NOTHING NEW
__________
What is Gnosticism?
Gnosticism, was/is (‘was’, in the sense of its origins, and ‘is’, in the sense of what it still is today) set of heretical views set against Orthodox Christianity which began in the late 1st, early 2nd centuries. Gnosticism comes from the Greek word ‘gnosis which means “to know.” During the early years of Christianity form the late 1st to the 2nd Century, people began to form their own views of who JESUS was, and the message HIM and the Apostles taught. These views were heretical, to outright full blown apostacy. Like cancer, it spead which eventually paved the way for the Canon of Scripture.
Gnostic’s, as they were called, claim to possess a higher knowledge of the truth about GOD and Our LORD. They claim that Our LORD JESUS’ word contained secret knowledge, only known to the initiated. They even wrote what they claim to be ’inspired’ scripture supporting this supposed higher knowledge (see explanation of Gnostic gospels). What they wrote in no way resembles any biblical treatise on atonement, salvation, justification, etc…
@ it’s very basic level, salvation for the Gnostics was this: being able to decipher what JESUS said in the gnostic documents, in order to escape the cycle of endly ignorance from this existance upon the death of the individual in which what it really amounts to, is reincarnation. They attribute to HIM esoteric sayings, that if one was to figure out what they meant, or gnosisthen that individual could enter into the pleroma(more details on pleroma) upon death. This knowledge was acquired on some mystical higher plain of existence, by being able to decipher what JESUS really meant. So Gnostic’s see themselves as a privileged class elevated above everybody else by their higher, deeper, mystical knowledge of God, and foregoing Scripture entirely for this knowledge…….
Deception in The Body of CHRIST: Contemplative / Centering Prayer (CCP) Part 1
Part 1
What are we doing when we pray? Ever thought about it? What does the word ‘pray’ actually mean? How should we pray? Do we have examples on how to pray? Who taught us how to pray? A myriad of questions, that have answers.
In Deception in The Body of CHRIST: Spiritual Formation Part 1 and 2, we addressed Spiritual Formation, centering on the advocacy of the practice, i.e. that Christians need to ‘do’ something to assist so to speak, in their sanctification, which I and many others have stated, is an all out lie. The discussion centered on defining Spiritual Formation, the dangers it poses to your Christian walk, and whether or not there is direct Biblical authority to engage in this discipline. Yes, we do have free will, and we can and do make choices in our Christian walk. But we do not ‘assist’ GOD, so to speak in the process of our Salvation. Which includes our sanctification, justification, and glorification, which is all of GOD, not of man. If man helps in his Salvation, them man would receive the Glory, and not GOD.
Deception in The Body of CHRIST: Spiritual Formation Part 2
Part 2
So, let’s fully understand what’s happening here. Primarily, all definitions regarding Spiritual Formation center around this one theme: the steps one takes to develop oneself spiritually, usually initiated by the individual seeking this ’oneness’ with GOD, and ignoring what has 
already been established by GOD, probably due to a suggestion coming from within their church, promoted by someone designated in the “role” of Spiritual Formation Pastor or Director. Possibly, they have friends or family who are involved in a formation program, or may have heard or read about. In any event herein lies the problem, the ‘steps we take’.
Many notable leaders in the Evangelical, Emergent, communities have come out and have highly endorsed this teaching. They have preached, written books and articles, developed websites, and held training seminars, all geared toward one primary purpose, to inundate Evangelical Christianity with a non-biblical practice they believe all self-professing Christians need. And along the way citing Scripture, taken out of context in order to support these beliefs.
Question, why would they do this? Answer, there are several reasons including they themselves are being deceived, or they are ignorant of the Scriptures 1 Tim 1:7, they pull practices from a former religion, or they are not submitting to the leading of The HOLY SPIRIT Gal 5:17. Then I would have to question whether or not they are indeed Christian because the advocate to disobey GOD. Someone who is your brother or sister in The LORD, is not going to lead you to danger, on the contrary away from it!