By Bob Jackson
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 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.” 2 Corinthians 5:14–21
This word “constraineth” is talking about being compelled or preoccupied. Receiving the love of God through Jesus Christ has an effect on the lives of those who genuinely receive Him as their own Saviour. Our whole attitude and purpose for living are transformed from mere temporal existence to eternal concern and usefulness.
The Recognition of Christ’s Love
In verse 14 the Lord refers to something we must recognize in Christ’s love. We understand that Christ died for all because of God’s great love, John 3:16–17. Jesus Christ became the sinner’s substitute, verse 21; Hebrews 2:9. He is the only source of eternal salvation, Acts 4:12; John 14:6. He will save anyone who comes to Him in true repentance and faith, Hebrews 7:25; Acts 3:19; 20:21; Romans 10:9–10. We also see the condition of everyone who is outside of Christ. Everyone outside of Christ is spiritually dead and without hope, Ephesians 2:1–3,12. We must remember that we were all in this very same condition before we received Jesus Christ as our own personal Saviour, Ephesians 2:1; Psalm 40:2. We must never forget this fact. We must recognize that all human beings who have yet to receive Jesus Christ as their own personal Saviour are spiritually dead.
The Reason for Christ’s Love
In verse 15 we are told the supreme reason for Christ’s love. God gives eternal life to those who receive Jesus Christ. These are the people who are said to be living, “they which live... “ This eternal life is only given to those who receive Jesus Christ, John 3:16; 5:40. The life that is received in salvation is eternal and everlasting, John 3:36; Hebrews 7:25. However, this gift of eternal life is not for our own personal and private enjoyment, but this life is to be used for our Saviour, “they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” We now belong to the Lord Jesus Christ as His purchased possession, 1 Corinthians 6:19–20. “Henceforth,” now that we have received this new life in Christ, we are not to live just for ourselves anymore. We now have His life in us, and we are to let Him live through us, Galatians 2:20 . We must be what He wants, go where He leads, say what He desires, live like He directs, etc.
Involved in this new life is that now we are to view people from an eternal perspective rather than a physical, temporal perspective, verse 16; 4:18. Now we do not look at our family, friends, acquaintances, even strangers just as people or as clerks or whatever occupation they may do, but we now see them as eternal souls on their way to eternity. This will produce a very different kind of life when it is lived from an eternal perspective, verse 17.
The Responsibility of Christ’s Love
According to verse 18 we now have a ministry because of our relationship with Christ. We who are saved have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, John 1:12–13. He removed the sins from our account through the cleansing of the blood of Christ, verse 19; Romans 4:3–8. Now He adds the righteousness of Christ to our account in place of our sins, verse 21. The ministry that we all now have is the ministry of reconciliation, to reconcile lost sinners to God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In order to accomplish this ministry, we have the responsibility of sharing the word of this reconciliation that has been accomplished through the work of Jesus Christ. The word of reconciliation is referring to the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ that has been “committed unto us” Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15. There are many things that are called “ministry” that have nothing to do with this ministry that the Lord has given to every believer in Jesus Christ.
We have now become an ambassador for Christ in this ungodly world because of this salvation we have received and this ministry we have been given, verse 20; Philippians 2:14–16. As an ambassador, we represent Jesus Christ in this sin-darkened world, Matthew 5:16. The difference between an ambassador of Jesus Christ and those people living for this world needs to be evident if we are going to properly represent Him, verses 17,20; Titus 2:14. As ambassadors we are to direct people to receive Christ and be reconciled to God; this is our responsibility, John 1:29,40–42. This is the responsibility of every truly born again believer in Jesus Christ, verses 18–20,14; John 14:15,23–24.
By E. L. Bynum
AIDS continues to devastate millions of people the world over. It is deadly and there is, to this date, no known cure, in spite of the many millions of dollars spent while seeking one. Read the following quote from Wikipedia Encyclopedia to see the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS upon our world. They say there is no cure for AIDS, and they are right. However, there is a cure for the world’s problem, but it is a cure they dare not promote. More about that later.
“Most researchers believe that HIV originated in sub-Saharan Africa during the twentieth century; it is now a pandemic, with an estimated 38.6 million people now living with the disease worldwide. As of January 2006, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized on June 5, 1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. In 2005 alone, AIDS claimed an estimated 2.4-3.3 million lives, of which more than 570,000 were children. A third of these deaths are occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, retarding economic growth and destroying human capital.” (Emphasis added)
It Is an Epidemic Among Blacks in the U.S.
Lest I am accused as a racist bigot, I am quoting from a recent article in the LAJ. Mr. Pitts is a black columnist who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2004. He would not be considered to be a conservative by any stretch of the imagination
“Deaths mount while black community silently ignores the dangers of AIDS ... Eight years ago, the statistics were terrifying: 9,526 African-Americans dead of AIDS in 1997, the latest year for which figures were then available. At 13 percent of the nations population, blacks accounted for 36 percent of its AIDS cases.
“Eight years ago, I wrote this: ‘The silence, the absence of voices raised in fear, raised in warning, raised in alarm — raised — is deafening.’
“Eight years later, the silence is still loud and the numbers are worse. Blacks now account for nearly half of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses and contract AIDS at a rate 10 times that of whites. Sixty-four percent of all American women living with HIV/AIDS are black. AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women, 25 to 34.
“While poverty plays a role in those ghastly numbers, while access to health care and lack of information are factors, who can deny that the main reason for this plague is the silence, the closed-mouth social conservatism, the priggish moral rectitude, of a people still ill at ease discussing sexuality, homosexuality, drug use and other realities. Instead, we mouth piety, prayers and platitudes while the world burns down around us... Black America needs to quit pretending homosexuality does not exist, intravenous drug use does not exist. It needs to pull its collective head out of the sand.” —Leonard Pitts Jr., a columnist for the Miami Herald.
No one should doubt that Mr. Pitts is genuinely concerned about what is happening in the black community, but I doubt that he along with many other interested parties will ever come to the conclusion as to how this epidemic could be stopped.
I was Naive About AIDS
In the early 80's when AIDS and its cause were made public, I was so naive that I thought that the evils of homosexuality would be recognized by all. Instead of turning against and exposing homosexuality, there was an outpouring of sympathy and toleration for this deviate lifestyle. AIDS in reality, gave a boost to their practices, and helped them to make their deviate lifestyle more popular and more acceptable than before. Politicians, courts, educators, religious leaders, news media, TV and Hollywood are going at full throttle to make homosexuality and every deviate way of life acceptable and popular.
Meanwhile they pretend to be concerned about the welfare of blacks while blacks as 13% of the population produce 36% of the AIDS cases in the United States of America. In Africa, in nation after nation, there is a holocaust of death and distress from AIDS.
Hypocrisy Over HIV/AIDS
Liberals, in all the areas of life mentioned above, pretend to care for blacks and whites affected by AIDS. Yet, all they can do is offer a band-aid to the suffering and plead for more money to seek a cure for this awful disease, even though multiplied millions of dollars have been spent seeking a cure. All they have done so far is to prolong the suffering of the afflicted. At the same time they are laboring fervently to make the deviate lifestyle accepted and even popular. Children are being indoctrinated in many schools to not only accept this way of life, but to actually try it to see if they like it. What hypocrisy, what cruelty, and what ignorance they display in doing this. What is taking place in this country is nothing short of criminal.
There Is a Way to Stop this Epidemic
Everyone should know that this scourge is caused by homosexuality and promiscuity. If people would stop these evils, then it would be only a matter of time before HIV/AIDS would be stopped in its tracks. This is the cure they dare not promote. AIDS came to the USA via the homosexual lifestyle, and then spread quickly among them. Drug use with used needles spread it quickly to others. Then promiscuous sexual activity through fornication and adultery helped it to spread quickly through heterosexuals.
HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases are the result of immoral behavior on the part of mankind. Gonorrhea and a host of other sexual diseases are spread through illegal drug use, fornication, adultery and homosexual activity. Most of these diseases can never be cured. They can only treat the symptoms. People that acquire these diseases will carry them in their bodies for the rest of their lives. In the mean time, many of them get married and spread these awful diseases to innocent spouses. Then babies are born, and many of them are afflicted from the womb.
The Cure They Dare Not Promote
Venereal diseases have always come into a society through promiscuity. Now AIDS in our lifetime has come the same way. The greater the immorality, the greater number of people who will be afflicted. Even if they could find a cure for AIDS, who knows what other dread disease will come.
Fornication, adultery and homosexuality are clearly mentioned in the Bible as sins against God. I could quote pages of Bible verses to prove this, but I will only quote a few. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14) “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” (Proverbs 6:27) “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.” (Proverbs 6:32) “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4)
These verses cover adultery and fornication, but what about homosexuality? “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22) “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” (Romans 1:26-27)
There is not one verse of Scripture in all the Bible that teaches that adultery, fornication, homosexuality or bestiality are acceptable to God. These sins are always condemned and never condoned.
Natural but Deadly Consequences for These Sins
In this life there are natural consequences for reckless and sinful behavior. It would be wrong for you to jump off of a 20-story building. In this life God does not have to punish you for this. Your early death is self-inflicted. It is wrong to shoot yourself, but the bullet will do the punishment for this life.
This is true for homosexuality in this life. There are natural consequences such as AIDS and venereal diseases. God does not have to cause you to suffer in this life. People bring these afflictions upon themselves. There are instances when God sends special judgment upon individuals and whole societies in this life. The following Scripture tells us of one event like this. “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7)
However there is a day when God will judge sinners for their sin. There is a judgment day when sinners will face God, and there will be eternal punishment for sin. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) There is a way to escape the judgment of sin and the eternal hell. Christ the Son of God paid the price on the cross and if you will believe in Him with all your heart, repent of your sin and put your trust in Him, you can escape. When we have true repentance, we will turn from those sins and live as a child of God.
By Jerry Jackson
Today there are only two roads to follow. There is the road of life and the road of destruction. The road of life leads to heaven, while the road of destruction leads to hell. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14)
Some people think that when a person dies his soul sleeps in the grave, or that he merely ceases to exist. Others believe that a person is reincarnated over and over again. Although many well-intentioned people believe these things, God teaches us differently. God teaches us that when a person dies, his soul and spirit go somewhere; depending on which road they have traveled. “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” (Luke 16:22–23) Other good people claim that no one can really know where they will go when they die until death. God tells us that every person can definitely know where they will go when they die. “These things have I written unto you... that ye may know that ye have eternal life...” (1 John 5:13)
So, Where Will You Go When You Die?
1. The road of destruction leads to hell.
Too often we think of our eternal destiny according to our own prejudices. We think that we know who is and who is not on this road of destruction. We know and believe that the “bad people” walk on this road of destruction, yet we must understand that there are many good and religious people on this road as well. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Simply being religious or “good” does not remove a person from the road of destruction and place him on the road of life. The truth is that everyone starts on this road of destruction, no matter their social standing, political affiliation, or upbringing. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)
Those who follow this road will die and their bodies will be buried, but immediately their soul will be in hell. “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” (Luke 16:22–23)
Hell is a terrible place:
• A place of fire. “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:44)
• A place of eternal pain. “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night... “ (Revelation 14:11)
• A place of no escape. “And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” (Luke 16:26)
2. The road of life leads to heaven
When this person dies, immediately his soul will be in heaven with the Lord. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)
Heaven is a wonderful place:
• A place of joy. There is no sorrow in heaven. “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.” (Revelation 21:4)
• A place of beauty. “In my Father’s house are many mansions...” (John 14:2)
God Does Not Want Anyone to Go to Hell
“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.” (2 Peter 3:9)
God Wants Everyone to Go to Heaven
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
How Can a Person Get on The Road of Life?
1. You must understand that it is your own sin that is keeping you out of heaven. “ 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 59:2 ) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God...” (Romans 3:23)
2. Jesus came to make a way for you to go to heaven. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
3. You must repent of your sin and place your trust totally in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21) “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord...” (Acts 3:19)
If you will repent of your sin and place your faith in Christ alone, God has promised to save you, and to take you to heaven when you die. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
The choice is yours. Only you can answer the question, “Where will you go when you die?”
[This article is available as a gospel tract:Tract C-420]
By Bill Mosley
It is nothing new that world systems disagree violently with God and His Word. However, the most hideous verbal crimes against God increase greatly as we near the return of our Lord. Science falsely so-called becomes bolder, and attacks against true Christianity step-up with new energy from Satan. Once profanity was quelled in the presence of women. Today it seems vocabularies are so deficient that the name of God is the only statement of exclamation available.
This should not seem difficult to explain. It cannot be denied, as reliance upon earthly knowledge increases, dependance upon God decreases. The law of physics has clouded the vision of the ‘intellectual only’ crowd to the point of never considering the design of the Creator God. In the mind of the faithless, actions of God can only be explained by inventing misnamed interactions of the elements as being the cause. “And God said,...and God called,...and God made,” is strictly ignored. He that “maketh the clouds His chariot: who walketh upon the wind:” will one day make clear Who indeed is in charge. High-mindedness will soon give way to the One “who setteth the mountains on fire.” Blame who we may, it is God Who causes men to be “afraid with [His] storm.” FEMA may well shortchange victims, while turning from sin to the Savior has eternal rewards.
Science has made endless experimental investigations of the origin of all things. It should be added that it is with no success since their own disagreements span myriads of millenniums. This has resulted in some believers falling into the trap of the gap theory explanation of creation. It only takes a look at the petrified forest in Arizona to convince shallow believers that God is not capable of creating by His spoken Word. Yet these same creation doubters may have no problem with the breath of God giving instant life to a lump of clay.
Reading the ten commandments should be enough to assure any mind of faith that six days has been six days from the beginning. God worked the same length of time in creation that man is commanded to labor for his own welfare. (Exo. 20:9–11) “Six days” in verse 9 is the same span of time as “six days” in verse 11. Although it seems that too many have started their Sabbath of rest before laboring six days.
The false assumption by some that God made a grave mistake in the initial creation (Gen.1:1,2), has given life to creation evolution. To say that “without form, and void; and darkness” was an error on the part of God is more than ludicrous. It would be akin to God making “man of the dust of the ground,” then walking around this image for eons waiting for Adam’s first movement. The same instantaneous breath of the Spirit that gave life to Adam gave life to the universe. “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,” is the same Spirit that gave instantaneous life to Adam. Being born of the Spirit doesn’t require the same gestation period as being born of the flesh. (John 3) The mind of science still sounds the cry of Nicodemus, “How can these things be?”
It would be an unbearable thought that God could have made a mistake in creation! God is to be praised that He did NOT, or our security in Christ would be unsure. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are now, and have always been impeccable!
God, our Creator, need not wait for any defense of His powerfulness. Daniel’s confession should sound out to all humanity. “O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day;” (Dan. 9:7). Such shame clouds the faces of learned men who have only “darkened counsel by words without knowledge” of God. (Job 38:2) This is exposed in an article entitled “A Free-for-All on Science and Religion,” by George Johnson in The New York Times, 11/21/06. Mr. Johnson reports on a meeting of scientist and religionist. The alarming defamation against God and true religion is more than indicated.
Steven Weinberg, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979, had this to say: “...the world needs to wake up from its long nightmare of religious belief.” Harold Kroto, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1996, “...called for the John Templeton Foundation to give its next $1.5 million prized for ‘progress in spiritual discoveries’ to an atheist — Richard Dawkins.” Dawkins is an “evolutionary biologist.” The online Wikipedia gives this information about Dawkins’ book, “The God Delusion.” “Dawkins prefaces the book by stating his definition of ‘delusion: ‘a persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence, especially as a symptom of psychiatric disorder.’” According to Wikipedia, Dawkins received some of this sentiment from Robert Pirsig, who said, “...when one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called Religion.” Dawkins’ theory on religious education is “brainwashing” and “child abuse.”
The NYT article stated that Neil deGrasse Tyson, “...director of the Hayden Planetarium in NY...hushed the audience with heartbreaking photographs of newborns misshapen by birth defects...” He offered this suggestion: “...blind nature, not an intelligent overseer, is in control.” Such intelligence(?) is burnished with the human ignorance of sin and its deforming effect on humanity. This does not imply that personal moral failures of such unfortunate parents and offspring have caused such maladies. A far greater disaster is the eternal destiny of the misshapen souls that refuse the corrective operation of the Great Physician. It is indeed a saddening sight to see birth defects. Yet few take time to even consider the “blind nature” of fallen man. If the thought ever entered the mind of the above intellects, it would likely have no effect. They have no faith of an intelligence greater than man.
Death was pronounced upon Adam and his every descendants because of sin. The lasting result has damaged morality and diminished mobility. Yet God never designed sin or its results. David “was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did (his) mother conceive (him). ” (Psa. 51:5) Yet David’s mother was not present when David looked, lusted, and gratified his desire at the expense of others. (2 Sam. 11) Fallen humanity is constantly blinded by lust to the consequences of sin.
Another repulsive argument, in behalf of scientific enlightenment, was made by Carolyn Porco. Ms. Porco is a planetary scientist, and made this available in her article, “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” “And we don’t have one god, we have many of them. We find gods in the nucleus of every atom, in the structure of space/time, in the counter-intuitive mechanisms of electromagnetism. What richness! What consummate beauty!” In the confrontation between science and religion she said, “We should let the success of the religious formula guide us. Let’s teach our children from a very young age about the story of the universe and its incredible richness and beauty. It is already so much more glorious and awesome — and even comforting — than anything offered by any scripture or God concept I know.”
This planetary scientist knows nothing concerning the beauty of God or His creation, and she may never know. The reason being, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9) Ms. Porco will likely never qualify to see the real beauty afforded to those who love God and His Son. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” (1 Cor. 3:19) Even the nucleus of an atom’s beauty cannot be seen except God reveals it by His Spirit. No doubt she is seeing something, but it is not the God of the universe.
Settling weakly on the side of religion was a “doctoral student in neuroscience,” Sam Harris. He authored the book, “Letter to a Christian Nation,” in which he wrote: “We desperately need a public discourse that encourages critical thinking and intellectual honesty. Nothing stands in the way of this project more than the respect we accord religious faith. Recommendations for Mr. Harris to correct neurological disorders are not forthcoming from this writer.
Much more could be written on this subject. There is no lack of persons who, with no limitations, condemn true Christianity. The ones who mocked our Savior have descendants with equal intensity. There will always be that montage of fools who say, “There is no God.” They will always appear in their full regalia of spiritual ignorance of our Creator God. Such can always be identified by the fruit they produce. These scientific over-achievers need the prayers of those they feel are so inferior to their seeming understanding of all things. Pray that these will open their understanding to eternal truth.
“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? there is no searching of his understanding.” (Isa. 40:28)
By Louis Entzminger
The Church was built before Pentecost because:
1. Jesus said He would build it. Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church.” The Holy Spirit “filled” it — He couldn’t fill what didn’t exist, Acts 2:1–4.
2. He had a large group of disciples long before Pentecost, (John 1:33–51).
3. He chose the twelve Apostles before Pentecost, Luke 6:12–16; Mark 3:18–19. They had a treasurer, which shows at least a simple form of organization. Though he proved a traitor, that doesn’t change the fact.
4. He taught them and trained them for three years, beginning with Matt. 5, 6, and 7. See also Luke 24:27.
5. He sent them out to the work, Matt. 10:1–16, etc.
6. Dr. C. I. Scofield who claims the Pentecost theory says of Matthew 18:20, “The simplest form of a local church,” and Jesus had at least 12 and maybe more He sent forth to preach “The Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” Seventy (“other seventy”) in Luke 10:1, in addition to the twelve apostles. This makes 82 preachers, a very good-sized church, at least 25 times as large as Dr. Scofield’s “simplest form of a church.”
7. All the above were baptized by John the Baptist or Jesus’ disciples. (Acts 1:22 and John 4:1–2), and John’s baptism was from heaven, (Matt. 21:25). Jesus and the twelve had no other.
8. He instituted the Lord’s Supper which every protestant denomination, as well as Baptists and Catholics, claim is a church ordinance, Matt. 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:19–20.
9. He gave them the great commission before Pentecost, (Matt. 28:18–20) and this includes “make disciples and baptize them.” This was to continue until the end of the age according to His promise to be with them.
10. This church met together on the first Lord’s day and received the Holy Spirit as the Comforter (John 20:19–23). This was fifty days before Pentecost.
11. They were assembled together (Acts 1:4), and received other commandments (Acts 1:8), and saw Him ascend (Acts 10:11), and continued in prayer (v. 14), and there were about 120 of them (v. 15). This was before Pentecost.
12. They held a business meeting and elected a successor to Judas (v. 15–26) before Pentecost.
13. It was to this church about 3,000 were “added unto” after they were saved and then baptized, (Acts 2:41). You couldn’t “add” to something that didn’t already exist.
14. This church Jesus said “I will build” in Matt. 16:18 is already built in Matt 18:17, else how could you “tell” something to a church not in existence. It was a business body that early. Its actions were final. It was built before Pentecost, or Jesus never did build a church, because He went to heaven and was not here on earth to build a church at Pentecost.
(This is Chapter III in “Studies in the New Testament Church” by Louis Entzminger who was one of my teachers in Seminary. This 89 page book is in print today. I am adding three more reasons why we know the Church was in existence before Pentecost. —ELB)
15. In Hebrews 2:12 the Bible speaks of Christ singing in the midst of the church. This literally happened. (Mark 14:26)
16. The apostles were the first in the Church, 1 Cor. 12:28; Mark 3:13–19.
17. The Tabernacle was built before the cloud and the glory of the Lord filled the house, (Ex. 40:34–38). The Temple was built before the cloud and the glory of the Lord filled the house, (1 Kings 8:10–11). The church was built by the Lord Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry (Matt. 16:17–18), before the glory of the Lord in the person of the Holy Spirit filled the church, (Acts 2:1–4).
Dear Bro. Bynum, Just wanted to drop you a line to wish you and yours at this blessed time of the year. We here at Lighthouse Baptist Church appreciate your faithfulness through the years which has been a great encouragement to me. Our prayers go out to you and your ministry. May the Lord give you strength to keep fighting the battle as the Lord’s return seems to be coming closer and closer. Bro. Shirey, Luke 2:11
Bro. Bynum, My wife &I are visiting our grandchildren here in Dania Beach, Fla. &this the only reason I heard about it. For your information my wife &I visited the “Church” that my son-in-law &stepdaughter go to, my gosh what a shock. That will be my first &last time going there. It is one of those mega churches. Non-denomintional. Cavalry Church of Ft. Lauderdale, Pastor Bob Coy. Talk about “worldly.” Music that is close to a night club. No dress standards, come as you are: jeans, shorts, whatever. References to 4 -5 different perversions of the Bible. They have a web site which broadcasts live. They hold 3 services in the morning &2 in the evening. Also they have a Saturday evening service. The parking lot is so large that they have a Tram running to pick up people. When you first walk into the building it is like walking into a mall with different “shops” for lack of better word all the way down on the right with the auditorium on the left. The pastor can deliver a fairly decent message. But I reckon what you win with is what you win them to. Looking forward to getting back to N.C. to our small church there where everyone knows how to dress and the KJV is used. Well my brother take care, God Bless You. Mike &Donna Dirnberg
Just want you to know I enjoy your website and your theology. I have been studying the KJV along with books written by Gail Riplinger namely “In Awe of Thy Word.” In the process I was doing some web searches on definitions and the Oxford English Dictionary when I came across your website. Most of the churches around here are becoming more and more liberal in their treatment of God’s Word plus they are all buying in to the Contemporary movements such as the Purpose Driven movements. Even our little country church is following suit. Its becoming difficult to find a church that has not been seduced by the World.
Thanks again for your stand and courage. God Bless You. In Jesus’ Name, Mick Strange Wabash, IN
The old Roman Catholic Harlot is busy trying to get her children back in the fold. This has been the plan of Rome for many years. Protestantism came out of Rome, and they will go back into Rome. Unfortunately the BWA is nothing but a Protestant apostate organization, and they are ripe for Roman Catholic unity. Read the following quoted from Foundation.
The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Is Continuing its Official Dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church in an effort to encourage “faithful Christian witness and mission.” A team of Baptists led by the BWA met with a delegation of Roman Catholics at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, AL, in December 2006. According to a December 15, 2006 Christianpost.com report, the group discussed the authority of Christ in Scripture and tradition, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and hearing the Word of God in the contemporary context. The December meeting was preceded by a Baptist dialogue with the Vatican Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in 1990 and a BWA visit to the Vatican in March 2006. Denton Lotz, general secretary of the BWA, assured concerned Baptists, “Theological conversations are not for the purpose of compromise, but for clarification and mutual edification.” He added, “Bilateral conversations are not a hindrance, but an encouragement to faithful Christian witness and mission.” Lotz is so certain that dialogue with other “Christian” communions will increase mutual edification and joint witness that he plans on holding official conversations with Methodists and Pentecostals soon. The BWA has held official dialogue encounters with Reformed, Lutheran, Mennonite, Orthodox and Anglican churches in the past. The Christianpost.com report said, “Baptists hope to further action together on ethical issues such as justice, peace and the sanctity of life, ‘in accord with God’s purpose and to the praise of God’s glory’ through the series of talks.” The belief that joint edification or ministry endeavor with those who preach false doctrine or embrace a false gospel is “in accord with God’s purpose and to the praise of God’s glory” is completely inconsistent with the Word and will of God.
Pope Benedict XVI Recently Reaffirmed His Commitment to Strive for Full Visible Christian Unity. According to a November 17, 2006 Zenit report, the pope addressed a plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and told participants, “The Second Vatican Council considered as one of its main objectives the reestablishment of full Christian unity. This is also my objective.” Benedict XVI
reminded the assembly that his first speech as head of the Roman Catholic Church spelled out his pledge to “work without sparing energies for the reconstitution of the full and visible unity of all the followers of Christ.’ He said he is currently “prepared to do all that is in his power to promote the fundamental cause of ecumenism.” The pope said a “new situation...has been created among Christians” of late as Christians of all ecclesial communities are now finding common ground and moving closer toward visible unity. —Foundation, A Magazine of Biblical Fundamentalism
Have you ever watched a bird sleeping on its perch and never falling off? How does it manage to do this? The secret is the tendons of the bird’s legs. They are so constructed that when the leg is bent at the knee, the claws contract and grip like a steel trap. The claws refuse to let go until the knees are unbent again. The bended knee gives the bird the ability to hold on to his perch so tightly.
Isn’t this also the secret of the holding power of the Christian? Daniel found this to be true. Surrounded by a pagan environment, tempted to compromise with evil, urged to weaken his grip on God, he refused to let go. He held firm when others faltered, because he was a man of prayer. He knew the power of the bended knee.
From sleeping birds we can learn the secret of holding things that are most precious to us — honesty, purity, thoughtfulness, honor, character. That secret is the knee bent in prayer, seeking to get a firmer grip on those values that make life worth living. When we hold firmly to God in prayer, we can rest assured that He will hold tightly to us.
—Copied Author Unknown
The blood evidence at an abortion clinic reveals “shop of horrors.” In a pro-life movement first, Operation Rescue uses crime scene technology on an empty Wichita abortion mill with shocking results.
WICHITA, KS, Aug. 7 — Christian Newswire — Three members of Operation Rescue have become the first pro-lifers to use crime scene technology to conduct blood trace tests at a former abortion mill. Tested were rooms inside the former Central Women’s Services, which was recently purchased by Operation Rescue. The staff members who conducted the testing are saying that the results were stunning and disturbing.
The group decided to test certain surfaces inside the facility, which has remained unchanged since its purchase in June 2006, after OR refused continuation of tenancy to the abortion business that had occupied that location for 23 years. A substance called luminol was used, which is a reagent that brightly glows in the dark when it comes in contact with even minute traces of human blood.
Brenna Sullenger sprayed the luminol in the areas to be tested while Keith Mason documented the results with a digital still camera and Cheryl Sullenger video taped the testing and the results.
“[T]he walls looked like there had been a chain saw massacre in there,” said Cheryl Sullenger. “We couldn’t believe our eyes. We were absolutely shocked.”
“It is no wonder abortion mills smell so nasty,” said Cheryl Sullenger. “The blood and God knows what else simply flies during an abortion and that stuff all soaks into the dry wall and gets tracked into the carpeting where it putrefies. There is no way to get rid of it aside from major demolition. From what we observed, there can be no such thing as a ‘safe clean’ Abortion clinic.”
Results in what has become known as the “Bone Crusher” room were even more pronounced. The “Bone Crusher” room is a tiny sink area off the clinic’s two abortion rooms that features a massive garbage disposal, a Sinkmaster 850, also known in the disposal industry as the ‘Bone Crusher 8509.’ Aborted baby remains were packed for shipment in that room and the sink was used to wash the abortion machine parts.
“It was a shop of horrors,” said Sullenger.
Operation Rescue plans extensive renovations to the abortion mill to make it into a memorial for the pre-born and an office suite for Operation Rescue.
For the full story, photos, and video clips go to: www.operationrescue.org
If you have children or grandchildren or you have neighbor children whose parents you know, please take note of the info below or pass it along to others. Schools are a distribution point to children for this book through the Scholastic Book Club.
Beware of the book, Conversations with God. Dr. James Dobson warned about this book twice this week. It is devastating and parents and Christian schools need to be aware of this. Do pass it on to church/e-mail addressees, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Please pay special attention not only to what your kids watch on TV and in movie theaters and the music they listen to, but we must also be alert regarding the books they read.
Two particular books, Conversations with God and Conversations with God for Teens, written by Neale D. Walsch, sound harmless enough by their titles alone. These books have been on the New York Times best seller’s list for a number of weeks, and these publications make truth of the statement, “Don’t judge a book by its cover/title.”
The author purports to answer various questions from kids using the “voice of God.” However, the “answers” that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible Word of God. For instance (and I paraphrase), when a girl asks the question “Why am I a lesbian?” His answer is that she was born that way because of genetics (just as you were born right-handed, with blue eyes, etc.). Then he tells her to go out and “celebrate” her differences.
Another girl poses the question “I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?” His reply is, “Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong.”
Another question asks about God’s forgiveness of sin. His reply “I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is ‘judge not lest ye be judged.’”
And the list goes on. Not only are these books the false doctrine of devils, but in some instances even quote (in error) the Word of God. These books (and others like it) are being sold to school children through The Scholastic Book Club, and we need to be aware of what is being fed to our children.
Our children are under attack. So I pray that you be sober and vigilant about teaching your children the Word of God, and guarding their exposure to worldly mediums, because our adversary, the Devil, walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).
And how many of us know that lions usually hunt for the slowest, and weakest and YOUNGEST of its prey.
Pass this on to every Believer you know. God bless! And, if in doubt, look at the books yourself.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)
(Editor’s Note: Many times we disagree with James Dobson, but this time he is right on the mark with this timely warning. Parents had better wake up and be aware of what their children are being exposed to in our day. Keep your children away from movies is my advice.)
Edited by E. L. Bynum
(Editor’s Note: In our News & Views column we quote from many different sources. Please understand that this does not necessarily mean that we approve of all of the publications from which we quote.)
The President of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Has Called upon All Southern Baptists to forget their doctrinal, philosophical and methodological differences in order to unify around a “cooperative mission task.” Frank Page said although he has “become increasingly aware of deepening factions” within the SBC, he believes all Southern Baptists should consider evangelism to be the common denominator to unite the Convention. “Is there not a common bond that should pull us powerfully together in a common direction?” Page asked in a November 20, 2006 Baptist Press column. He continued, “I believe the answer to that question lies in the cooperative mission task God has set forth for us. Can we not agree that this mission task is the common denominator for Southern Baptists?” — Foundation, A Magazine of Biblical Fundamentalism. This is the same course that Southern Baptists followed that resulted in the apostasy. How can those in the SBC who still proclaim that they believe the Bible get together with those who do not believe the Bible? You cannot mix the gospel with the false social gospel. When it is tried, it always leads to apostasy. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) —ELB
Jazz Worship Sunday. This was the headline in the Vista section of the LAJ 2/10/07. The Jazz Worship will be on 2/11/07 at the First Christian Church. This is another way mark on the road of apostasy today. Never mind that Jazz music originated in New Orleans, one of America’s premier cities of sin. It did not originate in the churches of New Orleans, but in the dance halls, nightclubs and other places of impurity. The Jazz music instruments will include saxophone, piano, drums and bass. “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen....” (Jeremiah 10:2) No doubt the building will be filled, but the question is, what does God think about this? —ELB
BBFI to Feature Jimmy DeYoung Prophecy Speaker. The Baptist Bible Fellowship in their May meeting will focus on prophecy by inviting this Bible Prophecy expert. By checking the web page of DeYoung you will find that he speaks for an array of different kinds of churches including Bible churches. DeYoung may have a Baptist background, but he is no separatist. However, we should not be surprised since such people as Jerry Falwell claim membership in the BBFI and the SBC at the same time. They also gladly invited Bob Harrington, the notorious Chaplain of Bourbon Street into their pulpits. Harrington was a master at telling jokes with a double meaning. That was some years back, but this group has an amazing ability to fail in practicing discernment. —ELB
Gay Nativity Scene Sparks Outrage— “Two Italian politicians outraged fellow lawmakers by placing dolls representing homosexual couples near the baby Jesus in the parliament’s official nativity scene.” The two politicians “said their gesture was to promote the legalization of gay marriage and granting legal recognition to unmarried couples.” (Australian Ind. Bapt. News, 12/21/06) AIBN Editor: It is interesting this took place under the shadow of Rome’s Pope. 2 Peter 2:6 “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.”
Senate Pastor Fired— Pastor Vincent Fields offered the opening prayer at the beginning of the NJ Senate. He prayed contrary to the whims of some senate members when he cursed “...the spirit that would come to bring about same-sex marriage.” (The Star-Ledger, 12/13/06) The president of the senate said the invocations were not supposed to be political or divisive. He said the pastor would not be asked back. Sin is not a political issue, although much of politics is sin oriented. God has already passed a law against homosexuality. Even the righteous who live among them for advantage will in the end lose everything. Sin is a reproach to any people. (Prov. 14:34) —WWM
Robertson’s Message From God— It is reported that Pat Robertson has said God told him that the U.S. was in for a mass killing late in 2007. He makes the claim of a fairly good track record on such prophesying, but he has missed more than once &that is too many. (Deut. 18:21,22) “And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” —WWM
James Three &One— “Famed Saddleback Valley Community Church Pastor Rick Warren is permitting pro-abortion Dem. Sen. Barack Obama to speak at his church at the upcoming Global Summit on AIDS and the Church. It is highly inappropriate for a Christian church to give a pedestal to someone who supports what the church teaches is murder of the innocent.” (LifeSiteNews, 11/30/06) LSN, 1/18/07 reports a Chicago Catholic priest praising the Senator for being pro-abortion, pro-homosexual marriage and says “he is the best thing to come across the political scene since Bobby Kennedy.” (Isa. 5:20) “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” —WWM
Tax $s at Work— Capitol Police Chief Phillip Morse ordered his officers to fall back and allow the [Iraqi war] protesters to exercise what he called “their First Amendment rights” to spray paint the Capitol steps with graffiti. Defending his actions, Morse said, “The graffiti was easily removed by the staff. It is our duty and responsibility to protect the Capitol complex, while allowing the public to exercise their freedom of speech.” He even ordered his officers not to arrest anyone! (American Family Assoc., 1/31/07) It is good and acceptable in the sight of God that believers pray in behalf of all in authority. (1 Tim. 2:1–4) The end result is that believers “may lead a quiet and peaceable life” in a godly and honest manner. Paying staff officials to clean up after malicious acts against government is not what Paul had in mind. 2 Peter 3:3–7 describes such ungodliness and the fate of those involved. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20) —WWM
Christian(?) Smokers— The number of smokers in America drops about 1–2% a year, according to a NYT, 1/31/07 report. Yet investors in one tobacco stock are benefitting from a 10% surge in the last 4 months. Smoking is a sin, more so for anyone who treats the “temple of the living God” with such dishonor. (2 Cor. 6:16) Such diminish their witness to others as they damage the testimony of the church where they are members. Don’t use the argument of not smoking while witnessing. Believer’s lives are a constant witness. Non-smokers can smell this sin from a distance. God’s awareness is far greater. —WWM
Media Bias— “...the networks believe some demonstrators are more newsworthy than others. It might just depend on whether the cause is liberal or conservative. On Monday, January 22, none of the networks sent a Washington reporter a few blocks down to the March for Life. CBS and NBC offered brief anchor snippets noting ‘both sides’ of the abortion debate would protest on the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision, ignoring that one side brings tens of thousands to Washington, and the other side numbers in the tens. ABC did nothing.” (LifeSiteNews, 1/31/07) Protesters against the war in Iraq got much attention. The ‘Big Three’ liberal news anchors, if they recognized the truth, slanted it too much for a Mac truck to climb. “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” (Isa 59:14) —WWM
One Scientist’s View On Embryo Research— Dr. James Sherley—recently denied tenure at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he says for his views on embryo research-accused some of his colleagues of deliberately misleading the public about the beginnings of human life in order to justify embryonic research. “I am upset when I hear knowing scientists needlessly confuse and mislead people who look to them for objectivity and integrity,” he said. “The world is a complicated place and there is a vast amount that we do not know about how it works and how we in it work,....” “Whether or not the embryo has yet developed spinal nerves or self-awareness is an irrelevant point made to distract and confuse. I challenge the promoters of human embryonic stem cell research to justify why another human embryonic life is less worthy than their own was.” (LifeSiteNews, 1/31/07)
Gay Partner Benefits— “Public universities and governments can’t provide health insurance to the partners of gay employees without violating the state constitution, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled Friday.” (WILX, 2/2/07) Continue to pray for lawmakers who use common sense in recognizing the senseless cohabitation between homosexuals. Whether or not the members of this MI court have biblical convictions, they have exhibited common sense. Paul describes this abhorrent action in this manner. (Rom. 1:26,27) “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” —WWM
Home Schooling Illegal In Germany— “...a 17-year-old homeschooled girl, Melissa Busekros, was forcibly removed from her parent’s custody by over 15 police officers. The homeschooled girl has been placed in the child psychiatry unit of the Nuremberg clinic. Home school legal defense explains the situation stressing that this is a case of Germany attempting to keep down a surge in the popularity of homeschooling which remains illegal in Germany. Homeschooling was first banned under Adolf Hitler, and that ban is still enforced today.” (LifeSiteNews, 2/5/07) Many home schooled young people are doing well in college. Some exceeding their counterparts in public schools. A Christian parent certainly knows much more about creation than the public school system. Pray for Christian teachers who teach the truth about our Creator, God the Father, Son, &Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1:1,2; John 1:1–3,10; Col. 1:16,17) —WWM