Read Matthew 27:27-44, The Testimony of a Dying Thief

Written by Dr. McCain, edited 10/5/19

The Crucifixion Of The Savior: A long stream of travelers flowed steadily into Jerusalem, some carrying lambs and many worshipers were absorbed in debate. The religious leaders seemed distracted from the Passover. The restless atmosphere was like the edge of a storm, waiting for the thunder to sound.

A lonely man slumped low in his jail cell, hopeless, and depressed. All consciousness of time was lost as he stared at the stone walls of his cell. Fighting despair, he wondered at the large milling crowds. No one seemed to care whether he lived or died. His breath was labored, his stomach churned, and his chest quivered as a deepening fear welled up within him. He felt his sweaty palms, wondering if he could bear the great tension. Startled by footsteps approaching, his heart pounded. Fighting to gain composure, his mind raced for ideas on how to escape. "Is there anyone who can help me?" Suddenly, the guard opened the door to his cell and led him to an old wooden beam. Motioning harshly, he growled, "Pick it up!" His knees shook. Stooping down, his shaking hands lifted the crossbeam. His death march had started.

“People line the streets as far as the eye can see. I stare into the faces of the thronging and angry crowd. It seems that this procession of crosses is marching toward the very edge of eternity - death lingers in the air. We struggle toward the place of the skull, Calvary's mountain, to begin our final assent. Just as I am gasping for breath, I see that I am walking on a blood‑stained road. Looking down, I stared at a fresh stain where a wounded body must have fallen. Weary and dizzy, I raise my head to focus on the prisoner ahead. His appearance terrifies me and chills course down my back! How can this Man stand? For a moment, my own misery is nearly forgotten.

Long thorns had been forced into his scalp. His facial features are not clear through the blood. He looks familiar, but his face is swollen and bruised. 'So this is Barabbas the revolutionary and murderer,' I reason. But no! A priest gloats, 'This is Jesus, the lowly carpenter from Nazareth! Does He look like a King to you?

Now some soldiers, seeing that Jesus had fallen under the load, force a man from Cyrene to carry the cross to Golgotha. We march on, climbing to our death on Golgotha. My face is drawn tight and my stomach churns in terror! The place of our execution looms ahead! Women are weeping. The Nazarene stops. I strain to listen. 'Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me,' He says, 'but weep for yourselves, and for your children

We've reached the summit!' I panic and recklessly strike out with all my strength as I battle for my life! The soldiers knock me to the ground. Knees crush me into the dirt. I see the hammer and spikes. Terrified, I shriek for mercy! I nearly faint as my limbs are anchored to the wood! I groan and sigh, nauseous with pain shooting from my legs and arms. The agony is nearly unbearable as the cross is lifted from the earth! I understand the death penalty, but not this kind of death! My bones and joints are in so much pain, and the humiliation is obvious to all.

Menacing and angry looks are in the eyes of the crowd. Looking toward the Christ my heart is strangely stirred. I've never seen such eyes! They appear compassionate, firm, courageous, but in great pain! His sorrow seems to be for others, rather than for Himself!

A group gathers at the center cross. Religious leaders yell, 'He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.' I join in, mocking and cursing Him! Perform a miracle to set us free! Jesus must be a liar; yet He is silent. The sign above Him does read, 'THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.'

Somehow He is not intimidated by the threats. He is naked, suspended high as they gamble for his clothing. I am shocked as He looks toward Heaven; I have never heard or seen such compassion and great love! A lump forms in my throat as I hear Him cry out. It sounds like a sob drawn from the depths of His soul, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' This Jesus is a Man of honor! To forgive under these circumstances is more than I can humanly imagine. Surely, I am a guilty sinner; but could it be that Jesus is really the Lord? Jesus speaks again. Tenderly He bids farewell to His weeping mother! He entrusts her to a friend. Absorbed in self‑pity, I've been numb for so long toward the needs of other people. My guilt is so great!

We, as criminals, see His torn body ‑ the dried blood, the bright flowing droplets and swelling pools of blood beneath His cross! Suddenly, a new awareness! Jesus is the Messiah! I recognize Him now; He's the Lord that taught and healed in the city.

The man on the far cross mocks, challenging Christ to save Himself and us! I force myself higher upon the nails. Breathing deeply, I rebuke him! We must fear God! Our guilt deserves condemnation; but Jesus has done nothing wrong! I have nothing to offer God to satisfy Him; no good works, no lamb, no reputation! How is it that God saves sinners?

What was it the priests said to Jesus? ‑ '...then we will believe!' That's it! My body trembles with a new excitement as hope rushes into my soul! I can hardly speak. I choked out the words, 'Lord, remember me when thou comest to thy kingdom!'

Tears flow freely down my face and I cry as I have never cried, hearing Jesus respond, 'Verily, I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise!' I've been forgiven! What love I feel now. My skin tingles as I realize what has taken place in my life. Imagine! Jesus came to die so I will be able to live! As my substitute, He bears my sin to set me free! Known criminals, revolutionaries, and murderers are executed on this mountain. Yet the One who walked to Calvary identifies with me! 'Thank You, Lord Jesus! Who am I that You are mindful of me? Thank You! Oh my God, thank You! Lord, I will praise You forever!' As I turn toward Him, the earth is veiled in darkness. Chaos breaks out across the hill as men call to each other from the darkness. Then I hear the lonely orphaned cry of the only‑begotten Son of God, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' He suffers alone! I hear the Lord cry, 'I thirst!'

The One who made the rivers and seas agonizes without a drop to cool His tongue! It's as if the judgment of God is upon Him. I feel the battle of the ages taking place! All the evil of hell have converged on Mount Calvary! Jesus battles alone. The holy One is bearing the iniquity of us all! No gladiator ever fought so bravely. The world hangs in the balance!

As Satan takes his final blow, I hear the cry of the Champion, 'It is finished! Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!'

As the darkness lifts, my heart is breaking! What have we done? Beside me hangs the limp and tortured form of the greatest Man who ever lived! For the first time in my life I have realized true love! An eruption of movement rocks the ground! The earth quakes, and heaves! Great stones are broken into pieces! People are running for safety! Who will escape the wrath of God by fleeing to Christ for mercy! God is satisfied with the work of His Son!

An awe‑stricken soldier is looking up from the foot of the cross. He testifies, 'Surely this was a righteous man!' I hang in awful pain, but I am grateful as I overlook Jerusalem. I wonder, who will tell the city how the Passover Lamb bore our sin on this altar? A fever builds in my body. I think I see the one who hammered the nails. I hear the other thief pleading, 'Please! Not my legs!' followed by a sickening thud, the howl of pain and breaking bone. A soldier spears Jesus' body! Blood and water flow from the broken heart of the Lamb of God!

Death was approaching; You showed me that it wasn't too late! Rejection was breaking my heart; You accepted and forgave me! I was overwhelmed with loneliness; You became my companion and friend for life! I hated You; but You loved me to Yourself! Sin brings death; but You gave me eternal life!'"

My breath catches as I gasp, "'You have set me free! Lord Jesus, You suffered alone; so I will never suffer again! My destiny is in Your precious hands! It's hard to ... breath. It won't be long now ...I am coming ... to Paradise ... home‑to You, Lord Jesus!"'

*Friend, does this account move you to greater thankfulness for the work of Christ? Are you saved from your sin and despair?

The Distinctive Doctrine of Baptists - "Why We Are a Baptist Church"

What Makes a Baptist a Baptist?

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. - I Peter 3:15-16

“I just believe in being a Christian--I don’t want to be part of a denomination.” Have you ever heard a statement such as this? It seems very pious, but it makes it sound like there is something wrong with being part of a denomination of Christians.

What Is a “Denomination”? “Denomination” describes a set of beliefs and practices held in common by a group of people who are joined together. Denominations usually develop various organizations to help fulfill the values and beliefs of the denomination, but the organizations are not the denomination, they are just an expression of it. For example, the Baptist General Convention of Texas, the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist World Alliance are not separate denominations; they are organizations within the Baptist denomination.

Some people believe that it would be ideal if all Christians held exactly the same doctrine, and also followed the same practices. It is not that way and it never has bee. From the beginning of the Christian movement, various opinions have existed about different matters such as the nature of the church, the way of salvation, the meaning of baptism, and the polity of the church. The trend in Christian circles today is to be non-denomination, and still indicate that you hold a specific believe. For instance, more than one church in the area has changed its name, adding community, Bible, but when you call them, they indicate that they are really Baptist, but without the name. My sense is, that if you are a Baptist, why not be honest and call yourself a Baptist. We have nothing to be ashamed of.

Denominations are a fact. They exist and they are not vanishing. In fact, some, such as the Baptist denomination, are growing throughout the world. And denominations are important. They make a big difference in the lives of people throughout the world. A person’s denominational belief has an impact on that person’s life. So it is important to know what denominations believe and practice.

What Makes Baptists Distinctive? If someone were to ask you, “What is the one thing that makes the Baptist denomination different from other Christian denominations?” what would you say? Is it baptism by immersion of persons who have believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Is it a strong commitment to the concept of the priesthood of the believer? Is it an enduring belief in religious freedom?

Each of these is certainly held by nearly all Baptist Christians. But Christians of other denominations also hold them, but in some cases there is a different interpretation. The fact is that there is no single belief or practice that makes Baptists distinctive from other Christians. So what makes a Baptist a Baptist?

A combination of beliefs and practices sets Baptists apart from other Christian groups. There is a distinctive group of doctrines and polities for Baptists, a sort of Baptist recipe. Like most recipes, each of the ingredients is not unique to Baptists, but the total mix is distinctively Baptist. Although some of those ingredients are part of the recipe for other Christian groups, no other Christian group has the same combination of beliefs and practices as Baptists do.

Baptists come in a variety of “flavors.” They hold different interpretations and views on certain issues, such as the Second Coming of Christ, worship styles and denominational organization. But all Baptists have the same basic ingredients. There are certain ingredients that must be included, or the recipe does not produce a Baptist. Leave the cornmeal out of cornbread and substitute white flour, and you do not get cornbread. Similarly, leave out a key ingredient of the Baptist recipe, and you do not get a Baptist.

The Baptist Recipe - What are these key ingredients in the Baptist recipe? Some of them we have in common with Christians of most all denominations, such as belief in God and in Jesus Christ as Savior. However, Baptist beliefs about some major matters differ from those held by certain other groups.

For example, although practically all Christian groups declare that baptism is significant for Christians, Baptists hold a different view of baptism than most.

The Baptist recipe includes several key beliefs or doctrines:

1. The Lordship of Jesus Christ

2. The Bible as the sole written authority for faith and practice

3. Soul competency or soul liberty

4. The priesthood of each believer and of all believers in Christ

5. Believer’s Baptism

6. Salvation only by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

7. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as symbolic but not essential for salvation

8. Church membership composed only of persons who have been born again

9. Religious freedom and its corollary, the separation of church and state

10. Built upon the foundation of these beliefs are certain practices or polities that are part of the Baptist recipe:

11. Congregational church governance under the Lordship of Christ

12. The autonomy of churches

13. Voluntary cooperation for various causes

Closely related to these beliefs and practices are a number of emphases that characterize most Baptists: evangelism, missions, Christian education, ministry, social concern.

In order to carry these out, Baptists have organized beyond local congregations, such as associations of churches, societies, conventions, fellowships, unions and alliances. Baptists have also established numerous institutions such as those for education, missions, and the care of children, the aged and the ill. The common ingredient in all of these is voluntary cooperation.

Baptists endeavor to base each belief, practice, emphasis and organization on the teachings of the Bible. The desire of Baptists is to be as close to the New Testament model for an individual Christian and for a church that is humanly possible with God’s help through the instruction and empowering of the Holy Spirit.

What Difference Does It Make? What difference does a person’s denomination make? There are wonderfully dedicated people and Christians in other denominations, but there are distinctive beliefs which we hold dear as Baptists that are compelling reasons to be part of the Baptist denomination.

Baptists insist that a church ought to determine who its pastor will be rather than having a pastor assigned by a person or a group outside of the local congregation.

The Baptist denomination has made and continues to make a difference in the world. For example, we are free to worship in our country due in large measure to the sacrificial and unselfish efforts of persons who were part of the Baptist denomination. Baptists have championed religious freedom for all to worship according to the dictate of conscience without interference of government or religious organizations. They have done this in spite of persecution. Baptists continue to work for religious freedom for all persons throughout the world.

“As Baptist principles are peculiar to Baptists, every Baptist church, with all its appointments, from preacher to Sunday-school teacher, ought to stand, in the community where it holds forth the word, for something different from any other congregation.” J. B. Gambrell (1841- d.1921) Baptist pastor, university president, editor, seminary professor, denominational leader/statesman

For example, did you know…

…a Baptist pastor established the first form of governance in America that provided complete religious freedom for all ROGER WILLIAMS

…the first Baptist missionaries from America were not Baptists when they set sail for the mission field but became Baptists on the way to the mission field - ADONIRAM AND ANN HASSELTINE JUDSON

…the first Baptist pastor on English soil was imprisoned by King James I (of King James Bible fame) for insisting that all persons should have freedom to worship - THOMAS HELWYS

…the first elected president of the Republic of Texas became an outstanding Texas Baptist layman SAM HOUSTON

…some of the earliest Baptists practiced baptism by pouring and not by immersion but soon determined that the Bible taught immersion is the correct way to baptize EARLY GENERAL BAPTISTS

…some early Baptists in America were publicly whipped for including singing in a worship service because such singing was viewed as unspiritual and unbiblical.

BAPTISTS IN COLONIAL AMERICA

…the first Baptist missionary from the United States to another country was an African-American who had been a slave GEORGE LEILE

…a Baptist pastor from Texas preached a sermon from the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington D. C. on religious liberty GEORGE W. TRUETT

…A Baptist pastor in Virginia met with James Madison to encourage an amendment to the Constitution of the United States guaranteeing freedom of religion JOHN LELAND

…the best known evangelist in the world is a Baptist whose church membership is in Texas BILLY GRAHAM

…that the first person baptized in the Gulf of Mexico as a Baptist when Texas was still an independent nation founded a major milk company GAIL BORDEN JR.

…that a former President of the United States of America and a Nobel Prize recipient is a Baptist layman Sunday School teacher JIMMY CARTER

…that a generous Baptist businessman was the first to develop an effective process for pasteurizing cheese. JAMES L. KRAFT

…that the author of the widely used devotional book My Utmost for His Highest was a Baptist from a devout Baptist family, his father and brother being Baptist pastors OSWALD CHAMBERS

The Baptist distinctives are those teachings, which distinguish us from other denominational groups. These distinctives are the primary beliefs of doctrine, polity and practice. Other churches may hold to some of these distinctives, but not all of them. These distinctives have been true of Baptists historically, but some Baptist churches have become so liberal today that they no longer believe what Baptists historically have taught.

These teachings emerged as distinctives of Baptists because Baptists have interpreted the Bible literally and practiced these teachings faithfully while many other churches' have not. In time these distinctives became the distinguishing marks of Baptists around the world. Technically, the Baptist Distinctives should really be called the Biblical Distinctives of Baptists. They are not just denominational ideas, but biblical principles, which we hold dear to our hearts.

QUOTED AND MODIFIED FROM THE ARTICLES TAKEN FROM www.baptistdistinctives.org

B. BIBLE AS THE FINAL AUTHORITY: We believe that the Bible is the final authority. No word of man or council of men can ever supersede the Bible.

The things that I write unto you are the commandment of the Lord." I Cor. 14:37

"The gospel which was preached unto me is not after man…but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Gal. 1:11 – 12

"...ye received the word of God...not was the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God." I Thess. 2:13

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God" 2 Tim. 3:16

BAPTISTS through the centuries have insisted that the Bible is the sole ultimate written authority for Christian faith and practice. They have resisted those who claimed otherwise, including popes, kings, bishops, pastors and teachers. Both religious and secular powers have persecuted Baptists for this commitment to the authority of the Bible.

Baptists Consider the Bible Authoritative: Basically, Baptists have considered the Bible as authoritative for faith and practice because of its very nature. Baptists have insisted that the divine nature of the Bible is the basis of its authority. No other writing compares to the Bible. The Bible stands alone among all other writings in that it is uniquely from God and about God.

Baptists see the authoritative nature of the Bible: unity of the Bible written by a variety of persons over thousands, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, the continuing relevance of the Bible’s message over centuries, the power of its message to transform lives and society, and the repeated claims within the Bible to be the word of God.

The Nature of the Authority of the Bible: Baptists emphasize that the Bible is the sole written authority for Christian faith and practice and deny that other writings such as creeds, confessions of faith, traditions, the teachings of theologians and the statements by founders of denominations have such authority. Although Baptists may gain insight from and express appreciation for some of these documents, they refuse to accept them as authoritative.

This is one reason why Baptists often refer to the Bible as our sole written authority. God is our ultimate authority.

The Holy Spirit inspired persons to write the Bible so that, as The Baptist Faith & Message states, it is a “perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.” As such, the Bible becomes for us a revelation of God.

Jesus Christ is the most complete revelation of God. The Bible reveals Jesus Christ as the Lord of all. The Lordship of Christ and the authority of the Bible go hand in hand; they are not contradictory but rather they are complementary.

The Authority of the Bible Relates to Other Basic Baptist Beliefs: Because Baptists regard the Bible as the sole written authority for faith and practice, the Bible is foundational for Baptist doctrine and church polity. Baptist statements of belief through the centuries have always cited Scriptures for each belief set forth.

For example, belief in individual soul liberty and the priesthood of all believers leads Baptists to insist that each believer-priest is competent to read and understand the Bible and that the opportunity and responsibility of each believer priest for reading and interpreting the Bible ought not be delegated to others.

Similarly, Baptists insist that no other person or group of persons ought to attempt to assume the right to dictate to others what to believe.

Baptists declare that all people should have the freedom to possess, read and interpret the Bible for themselves. Based on the life and teachings of Jesus, Baptists insist that faith cannot be coerced and no one should try to do so. Neither should a particular interpretation of the Bible be forced on another.

Interpreting the Bible’s Teachings: Is there danger in declaring that all believers should be free to interpret the Bible for themselves? Of course, there is danger; strange, even bizarre interpretations may result because not all persons are equally mature in their Christian growth or equally knowledgeable about principles of biblical interpretation.

But the alternative is even more dangerous: believing that a few persons have the authority to determine what the Bible teaches. After all, who has the authority to place such responsibility in the hands of another person or of a group? Furthermore, Bible scholars differ widely in their interpretations of some parts of the Bible. Who is to determine which interpretations are indeed the correct ones?

Does this mean that a person is free to believe anything he or she wants to about the Bible and its teachings? Baptists declare that they are free to do so, but this does not mean that every interpretation is correct. Baptists insist that a heavy responsibility accompanies this freedom to interpret the Bible.

People should study the Bible prayerfully and humbly, depending on guidance from the Holy Spirit. Interpretations of the Bible should be shared with a fellowship of believers to gain insight.

A. AUTONOMY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH: We believe that the local church is an independent body accountable to no one but our Lord. There is no person or organization on earth that can dictate what a local church can or should do.

1. No higher appeal in discipline - Each local church should solve its own problems: Man. 18:15-17

2. Chooses its own officers: Acts 6:1-7

3. Local church alone sends missionaries: Acts 13:1-3; 14:26-27

4. The church at Antioch did not appeal to a head¬quarters or to the apostles. The judgment of the church in Jerusalem was advisory, not binding. Acts 15:1-35

5. The local church has final authority in matters of church discipline. I Cor. 5:1-5,12,13; 2 Cor. 2:6

P. PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS: Every believer today is a priest and may enter the presence of God directly through the only Mediator, our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. Further, that Christ's work and ministry, as High Priest is the basis for our eternal security.

1. Believers are to come confidently to the throne of grace. Heb. 4:14-16

2. We are to draw near in full assurance when we come to God in prayer. Heb. 10:19-22

3. Believers are to offer spiritual sacrifices to God to praise Him. I Peter 2:5,9

4. Believers are saved for eternity by work of Christ. John 10:28-30; Eph. 2:8-9; John 17:11-12; I Pet. 1:4-5; I John 5:12-13; Heb. 7:24-25; Rom. 8:37-39; Eph. 1:13

T. TWO ORDNANCES: We believe that there are two ordinances for the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper.

1. Baptism: Man. 28:19-20; Acts 8:26-40; 10:48; 16:15; 16:33; 22:16; 2:42

2. The Lord's Supper: Matt. 26-28; Mark 14-16; Luke 22-24; John 19:20; 1 Cor. 11:23-32

I. INDIVIDUAL SOUL LIBERTY: We believe that every person has the liberty to believe as his own conscience or soul dictates and interpret Scripture to the best of his/her understanding. A person should not be forced to believe anything against his will.

1. Each person must choose, and Paul did not interfere with the choice of the individual in matters of understanding. Romans 14:5-12

2. Jesus did not force people to believe, but wept over Jerusalem. Luke 13:34

3. Jesus offered eternal life, but it was the woman's choice. John 4:1-29

4. Paul and Barnabas differed on a decision regarding the taking of John Mark with them, but they simply departed and went their own ways. Acts 15:36-41

*One person's liberty ends where another's liberty begins

*Liberty does not mean a believer does what he wants, and does not care about others.

*Individual liberty is not a justification for disobedience to Scripture.

S. SALVATION BY GRACE AND REGENERATE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Every person who is saved should be baptized and join a local church. Only saved and baptized individuals should be allowed into membership of the local church.

1. People received the Word of God and were baptized. Acts 2:41-42 - These people immediately identified themselves with the local church.

2. They were "in Christ", called saints, and were baptized. I Cor. 1:1-16

3. The Christians at Thessalonica were called brethren & the "church"' by Paul.

4. The passage implies that the membership of the church was known since a list of certain people was compiled. I Tim. 5:9

5. Members should meet regularly with other members. Heb. 10:25

T. TWO OFFICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCH: We believe that there are two offices in the local church: pastor/s and deacons. There is no scriptural support for the hierarchy of offices in many churches today.

1. Pastor: Acts 20:17,28; Titus 1:5-7; I Peter 5:l-4

2. Deacons: Acts 6:1-7; Rom. 15:25; Phil. 1:1 ; Eph.6:21; I Tim. 3:1-13

S. SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE: The church and the state are two separate entities and one should never control the other.

1. The earthly sphere (government) and the heavenly sphere (God) are separate. Each has authority and is to be obeyed. The church is the visible form of God's realm today. Matthew 22:31

2. When the state makes a demand that conflicts with what Christ demands, we must obey God rather than the state. Acts 5:29

March 1995 Sunday School

The Revelation of God (Bible Manuscripts, English Translations)

INTRODUCTION: The Bible is not an ordinary book - It is extraordinary in nature. How do we know which translation to use for our study? Do other translations have merit? should we refer to other translations once we have decided which one to use. These questions and many more I hope to answer in the coming weeks.

INSPIRATION

1. It is given by revelation from the mind of God to His people through the mind of mortal men. This process of God giving us His Word is called inspiration (Lit. "God-breathed"). The word inspiration is from two Greek words qeoV, meaning God and pneuma, meaning breath. Dr. Warfield says of inspiration that is "the product of the creative act of God."

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God..." 2 Timothy 3:16

Cross references: 2 Peter 1:20-21; I Cor. 2:9-13

POINT OF LOGIC: God would not give His Word by inspiration and then not preserve it! INSPIRATION WITHOUT PRESERVATION is not reasonable or logical. God preserved the Greek text from which our English translations are derived (and every other language as well). The issue is not which translation, but which Greek text should be used to translate the Bible into our language.

"All"/ The whole entire collection called the Bible

"scripture"/ 50X in the N.T. and has the same meaning each time: the "writings" of the O.T. or N.T.

There are about 200+ English translations of the Bible. All English translations are from Greek texts other than the one used to translate the KJV (also the New King James). There many significant differences in the translations. Can they all be right? How do I know which part of the Bible is translated best in my English translations. (Confusion results).

Satan wants to confuse us, and cause us to think that we do not have any translation which is the Word of God. See Gen. 2:16-17

Is the Bible the Word of God. The Scripture says: Prov. 30:5 and Jesus said, Matthew 24:35

HISTORY OF THE BIBLE

Realizing that the words of the Bible did not begin with the minds of the apostles, they came from God through men, let's see how God protected His Word through history.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that while he was writing there were men who were trying to corrupt the Word (see II Cor. 2:17).

The apostles placed the manuscripts into the hands of true believers. As time passed these Christians made copies of the mss with godly fear and great care. See warnings from God's Word regarding the changing of the text (Rev. 22:19; ).

About that time Rome ruled the world and began a persecution of those who named Christ as Savior (Nero). The Roman emperor's religion was form of Baal worship, thinking also that he was Divine. Jesus had warned the disciples that this would happen (Matthew 24:9) to them and those who would follow them.

Christians were thrown to wild animals, crucified, torn by dogs, burned alive, and many other ghastly atrocities. Under the city Christians met in a network of secret passages that went on for miles. They worshipped and buried their dead in the Catacombs.

Instead of wiping out Christianity, persecution made it grow even stronger (Roman soldiers were coming to Christ as they tortured these Christians.

After time the Roman Empire was crumbling, the son of a Roman emperor, Constantine, felt that he had the right to rule on the throne of Rome. He took his army and marched against Rome. Tradition says that Constantine and his troops saw the sign of the cross in the sky. He determined that he would win his battle because of this sign.

Constantine declared himself a Christian and ordered all his soldiers to be baptized. This influx of false Christians weakened the church for years. Constantine wanted 50 Bibles made up from the area of Alexandria, the seat of gnosticism. These men thought they had great wisdom and superior knowledge. Paul warns about them in Col. 2:8; I Tim. 6:20.

In the mean time true Christians, living in Antioch of Syria, were making copies of the original mss. By the way, Christians from Antioch sent missionaries to Alexandria to reach these people for Christ (Acts 13:1-4; 11:26).

Parenthetical statement: Gnostics did not believe in Heaven or hell, or that the Bible was the Word of God. These gnostics took good manuscripts and changed them to suit their ideas and theology. One of these gnostics was a man named Origen (184 A.D. - 254 A.D.) who made copies of the original mss, but he made changes. He believed that Jesus was a lesser god.

Constantine worshipped the sun god of Egypt. He ordered Eusebius to make 50 Bibles using the texts from Alexandria. From these mss the Latin Vulgate was derived (written by Jerome in About 400 B.C.). These mss are called "Alexandrian mss" by theologians.

Some true Christians (Waldensians, etc.) had copies of the mss from Antioch, and hid in the Alps to protect them. Many mss were saved from destruction. These mss are "Eastern mss" or sometimes "Byzantine Texts."

The two basic classifications of Greek mss are Alexandrian and Byzantine. The Byzantine mss are often called the "Majority Text" or the Textus Receptus, "Received Text." This is the text which was used in the translation of the KJV.

While studying a ms from Antioch Luther came to Christ and a movement called the Reformation began. (1511)

In 1611 King James, King of England, brought together the best linguistic scholars and they choose the "Received Text" or "Majority Text" as the basis for their translation. From that work we now have the KJV.

In 1875 there were some scholars who desired to update the old words of KJV. A committee was formed headed by F.J. Hort and B.F. Westcott. They believed that the Alexandrian mss were the best for their revision of the Bible.

There are now 100 + English Bibles and paraphrases available and each of them has chosen to use the Alexandrian Text as the basis for their revision. Many of these mss do not agree among themselves.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

*Which English translation you chose is not as important as the which Greek text was used as its source.

*There is a difference between a translation and a paraphrase.

*If God did reveal His Word by direct revelation, He also preserved it down through the ages, so that what we have is the correct Greek text upon which to base our translation.

*I do not have a problem with a translation updates the older and archaic words of the KJV, but I do have a problem with removing words and changing the text.

*There are over 1500 changes suggested by the Westcott and Hort committee. (Show Metzger's book and the W & H Greek N.T.).

*Those recommending the switch to other translations from the KJV state:

1. that the changes make no doctrinal changes in the Bible - But they do!

2. that the oldest mss must be the best. But this is not necessarily so. Should we change the text of the Bible based upon man's wisdom?

3. that there is no English translation which is really the Word of God, because we cannot be sure of which Greek Text is the right Greek Text for translation. Then why change it all?

*Show the TR Greek N.T. and explain why no changes are listed

*Show copies of the Greek mss and explain

*Some English translations other than the KJV have good merit, possess linguistic beauty, and in some passages are translated very well. But do they make the changes or suggest them?

*If the Holy Spirit wants you to be convicted in an important area of your life, but that particular passage of the Bible has been removed, you can miss out on the important truths which can change your life.

*Every great revival in England and America took place under the preaching of the KJV.

COMPARISON OF TRANSLATIONS

I Peter 2:2 I Timothy 3:16

Luke 1:34 Romans 14:10-12

Acts 20:28 John 9:35

Revelation 22:8-9 Matthew 10:20

Luke 24:6 Mark 5:6

John 7:53 - 8:11 Acts 8:37

Mark 16:9-20 Romans 9:15

Col. 1:14 Isaiah 7:14

Matthew 1:16 (RSV note)

I Samuel 20:30 (LB)

John 1:14,18; 3:16,18; I John 4:9 (TEB)

Acts 13:48 (LB) *emphasizes the will of man

Drunkenness In The Scripture

Gen. 9:21-23 Caused family problems

Gen. 19:32-34 Associated with immorality and incest

Lev.10:9-11 Abstinence required of priest

Num. 6:5 Abstinence while making important decisions

Deut. 29:6 Abstinence for a deeper love and knowledge of God

Judges 9:27 Associated with idol worship, cursing

Judges 13:4,7,14 Abstinence with dedicated unborn children

Job 12:25 Staggering and spiritually drunk

Ps. 107:27 Staggering and faulty

Prov. 20:1 Condemned

Prov. 23:29-30 Causes sorrow and strife

Prov. 31:4-5 No kings or leaders should drink

Prov. 31:6-7 Causes us to forget the worries of life

Isa. 5:11,22 Warning regarding drink

Isa. 19:14 Unable to care for himself

I Kings 16:9-10 Associated with a plot to murder

Hab. 2:15 Warning not to give drink to a neighbor

Rom. 14:21 Best choice is abstinence

I Tim. 3:3,8 Same

Tit. 1:7 Same

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
Enfield, Connecticut July 8, 1741

…Their foot shall slide in due time. - Deuteronomy 32:35

In this verse is threatened the vengeance of God on the wicked unbelieving Israelites, who were God's visible people, and who lived under the means of grace; but who, notwithstanding all God's wonderful works towards them, remained (as verse 28.) void of counsel, having no understanding in them. Under all the cultivations of heaven, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruit; as in the two verses next preceding the text. -- The expression I have chosen for my text, their foot shall slide in due time, seems to imply the following things, relating to the punishment and destruction to which these wicked Israelites were exposed.

That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall. This is implied in the manner of their destruction coming upon them, being represented by their foot sliding. The same is expressed, Psalm 72:18. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction."

It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18,19. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!"

Another thing implied is, that they are liable to fall of themselves, without being thrown down by the hand of another; as he that stands or walks on slippery ground needs nothing but his own weight to throw him down.

That the reason why they are not fallen already and do not fall now is only that God's appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then, at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost.

The observation from the words that I would now insist upon is this. -- "There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God." -- By the mere pleasure of God, I mean his sovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God's mere will had in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment. -- The truth of this observation may appear by the following considerations.

There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Men's hands cannot be strong when God rises up. The strongest have no power to resist him, nor can any deliver out of his hands. -- He is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it. Sometimes an earthly prince meets with a great deal of difficulty to subdue a rebel, who has found means to fortify himself, and has made himself strong by the numbers of his followers. But it is not so with God. There is no fortress that is any defence from the power of God. Though hand join in hand, and vast multitudes of God's enemies combine and associate themselves, they are easily broken in pieces. They are as great heaps of light chaff before the whirlwind; or large quantities of dry stubble before devouring flames. We find it easy to tread on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; so it is easy for us to cut or singe a slender thread that any thing hangs by: thus easy is it for God, when he pleases, to cast his enemies down to hell. What are we, that we should think to stand before him, at whose rebuke the earth trembles, and before whom the rocks are thrown down?

They deserve to be cast into hell; so that divine justice never stands in the way, it makes no objection against God's using his power at any moment to destroy them. Yea, on the contrary, justice calls aloud for an infinite punishment of their sins. Divine justice says of the tree that brings forth such grapes of Sodom, "Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground?" Luke 13:7. The sword of divine justice is every moment brandished over their heads, and it is nothing but the hand of arbitrary mercy, and God's mere will, that holds it back.

They are already under a sentence of condemnation to hell. They do not only justly deserve to be cast down thither, but the sentence of the law of God, that eternal and immutable rule of righteousness that God has fixed between him and mankind, is gone out against them, and stands against them; so that they are bound over already to hell. John 3:18. "He that believeth not is condemned already." So that every unconverted man properly belongs to hell; that is his place; from thence he is, John 8:23. "Ye are from beneath:" And thither he is bound; it is the place that justice, and God's word, and the sentence of his unchangeable law assign to him.

They are now the objects of that very same anger and wrath of God, that is expressed in the torments of hell. And the reason why they do not go down to hell at each moment, is not because God, in whose power they are, is not then very angry with them; as he is with many miserable creatures now tormented in hell, who there feel and bear the fierceness of his wrath. Yea, God is a great deal more angry with great numbers that are now on earth: yea, doubtless, with many that are now in this congregation, who it may be are at ease, than he is with many of those who are now in the flames of hell.

So that it is not because God is unmindful of their wickedness, and does not resent it, that he does not let loose his hand and cut them off. God is not altogether such an one as themselves, though they may imagine him to be so. The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them.

The devil stands ready to fall upon them, and seize them as his own, at what moment God shall permit him. They belong to him; he has their souls in his possession, and under his dominion. The scripture represents them as his goods, Luke 11:12. The devils watch them; they are ever by them at their right hand; they stand waiting for them, like greedy hungry lions that see their prey, and expect to have it, but are for the present kept back. If God should withdraw his hand, by which they are restrained, they would in one moment fly upon their poor souls. The old serpent is gaping for them; hell opens its mouth wide to receive them; and if God should permit it, they would be hastily swallowed up and lost.

There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning, that would presently kindle and flame out into hell fire, if it were not for God's restraints. There is laid in the very nature of carnal men, a foundation for the torments of hell. There are those corrupt principles, in reigning power in them, and in full possession of them, that are seeds of hell fire. These principles are active and powerful, exceeding violent in their nature, and if it were not for the restraining hand of God upon them, they would soon break out, they would flame out after the same manner as the same corruptions, the same enmity does in the hearts of damned souls, and would beget the same torments as they do in them. The souls of the wicked are in scripture compared to the troubled sea, Isa. 57:20. For the present, God restrains their wickedness by his mighty power, as he does the raging waves of the troubled sea, saying, "Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further;" but if God should withdraw that restraining power, it would soon carry all before it. Sin is the ruin and misery of the soul; it is destructive in its nature; and if God should leave it without restraint, there would need nothing else to make the soul perfectly miserable. The corruption of the heart of man is immoderate and boundless in its fury; and while wicked men live here, it is like fire pent up by God's restraints, whereas if it were let loose, it would set on fire the course of nature; and as the heart is now a sink of sin, so if sin was not restrained, it would immediately turn the soul into fiery oven, or a furnace of fire and brimstone.

It is no security to wicked men for one moment, that there are no visible means of death at hand. It is no security to a natural man, that he is now in health, and that he does not see which way he should now immediately go out of the world by any accident, and that there is no visible danger in any respect in his circumstances. The manifold and continual experience of the world in all ages, shows this is no evidence, that a man is not on the very brink of eternity, and that the next step will not be into another world. The unseen, unthought-of ways and means of persons going suddenly out of the world are innumerable and inconceivable. Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering, and there are innumerable places in this covering so weak that they will not bear their weight, and these places are not seen. The arrows of death fly unseen at noon-day; the sharpest sight cannot discern them. God has so many different unsearchable ways of taking wicked men out of the world and sending them to hell, that there is nothing to make it appear, that God had need to be at the expense of a miracle, or go out of the ordinary course of his providence, to destroy any wicked man, at any moment.

All the means that there are of sinners going out of the world, are so in God's hands, and so universally and absolutely subject to his power and determination, that it does not depend at all the less on the mere will of God, whether sinners shall at any moment go to hell, than if means were never made use of, or at all concerned in the case.

Natural men's prudence and care to preserve their own lives, or the care of others to preserve them, do not secure them a moment. To this, divine providence and universal experience do also bear testimony. There is this clear evidence that men's own wisdom is no security to them from death; that if it were otherwise we should see some difference between the wise and politic men of the world, and others, with regard to their liableness to early and unexpected death: but how is it in fact? Eccles. 2:16. "How dieth the wise man? even as the fool."

All wicked men's pains and contrivance which they use to escape hell, while they continue to reject Christ, and so remain wicked men, do not secure them from hell one moment. Almost every natural man that hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for his own security; he flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is now doing, or what he intends to do. Every one lays out matters in his own mind how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail. They hear indeed that there are but few saved, and that the greater part of men that have died heretofore are gone to hell; but each one imagines that he lays out matters better for his own escape than others have done. He does not intend to come to that place of torment; he says within himself, that he intends to take effectual care, and to order matters so for himself as not to fail.

But the foolish children of men miserably delude themselves in their own schemes, and in confidence in their own strength and wisdom; they trust to nothing but a shadow. The greater part of those who heretofore have lived under the same means of grace, and are now dead, are undoubtedly gone to hell; and it was not because they were not as wise as those who are now alive: it was not because they did not lay out matters as well for themselves to secure their own escape. If we could speak with them, and inquire of them, one by one, whether they expected, when alive, and when they used to hear about hell, ever to be the subjects of misery: we doubtless, should hear one and another reply, "No, I never intended to come here: I had laid out matters otherwise in my mind; I thought I should contrive well for myself -- I thought my scheme good. I intended to take effectual care; but it came upon me unexpected; I did not look for it at that time, and in that manner; it came as a thief -- Death outwitted me: God's wrath was too quick for me. Oh, my cursed foolishness! I was flattering myself, and pleasing myself with vain dreams of what I would do hereafter; and when I was saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction came upon me."

God has laid himself under no obligation, by any promise to keep any natural man out of hell one moment. God certainly has made no promises either of eternal life, or of any deliverance or preservation from eternal death, but what are contained in the covenant of grace, the promises that are given in Christ, in whom all the promises are yea and amen. But surely they have no interest in the promises of the covenant of grace who are not the children of the covenant, who do not believe in any of the promises, and have no interest in the Mediator of the covenant.

So that, whatever some have imagined and pretended about promises made to natural men's earnest seeking and knocking, it is plain and manifest, that whatever pains a natural man takes in religion, whatever prayers he makes, till he believes in Christ, God is under no manner of obligation to keep him a moment from eternal destruction.

So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell, and they have done nothing in the least to appease or abate that anger, neither is God in the least bound by any promise to hold them up one moment; the devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up; the fire pent up in their own hearts is struggling to break out: and they have no interest in any Mediator, there are no means within reach that can be any security to them. In short, they have no refuge, nothing to take hold of; all that preserves them every moment is the mere arbitrary will, and uncovenanted, unobliged forbearance of an incensed God.

Application

The use of this awful subject may be for awakening unconverted persons in this congregation. This that you have heard is the case of every one of you that are out of Christ. -- That world of misery, that take of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you. There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell's wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor any thing to take hold of; there is nothing between you and hell but the air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.

You probably are not sensible of this; you find you are kept out of hell, but do not see the hand of God in it; but look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation. But indeed these things are nothing; if God should withdraw his hand, they would avail no more to keep you from falling, than the thin air to hold up a person that is suspended in it.

Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a falling rock. Were it not for the sovereign pleasure of God, the earth would not bear you one moment; for you are a burden to it; the creation groans with you; the creature is made subject to the bondage of your corruption, not willingly; the sun does not willingly shine upon you to give you light to serve sin and Satan; the earth does not willingly yield her increase to satisfy your lusts; nor is it willingly a stage for your wickedness to be acted upon; the air does not willingly serve you for breath to maintain the flame of life in your vitals, while you spend your life in the service of God's enemies. God's creatures are good, and were made for men to serve God with, and do not willingly subserve to any other purpose, and groan when they are abused to purposes so directly contrary to their nature and end. And the world would spew you out, were it not for the sovereign hand of him who hath subjected it in hope. There are the black clouds of God's wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the dreadful storm, and big with thunder; and were it not for the restraining hand of God, it would immediately burst forth upon you. The sovereign pleasure of God, for the present, stays his rough wind; otherwise it would come with fury, and your destruction would come like a whirlwind, and you would be like the chaff on the summer threshing floor.

The wrath of God is like great waters that are dammed for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is given; and the longer the stream is stopped, the more rapid and mighty is its course, when once it is let loose. It is true, that judgment against your evil works has not been executed hitherto; the floods of God's vengeance have been withheld; but your guilt in the mean time is constantly increasing, and you are every day treasuring up more wrath; the waters are constantly rising, and waxing more and more mighty; and there is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, that holds the waters back, that are unwilling to be stopped, and press hard to go forward. If God should only withdraw his hand from the flood-gate, it would immediately fly open, and the fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God, would rush forth with inconceivable fury, and would come upon you with omnipotent power; and if your strength were ten thousand times greater than it is, yea, ten thousand times greater than the strength of the stoutest, sturdiest devil in hell, it would be nothing to withstand or endure it.

The bow of God's wrath is bent, and the arrow made ready on the string, and justice bends the arrow at your heart, and strains the bow, and it is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, and that of an angry God, without any promise or obligation at all, that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood. Thus all you that never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all you that were never born again, and made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin, to a state of new, and before altogether unexperienced light and life, are in the hands of an angry God. However you may have reformed your life in many things, and may have had religious affections, and may keep up a form of religion in your families and closets, and in the house of God, it is nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction. However unconvinced you may now be of the truth of what you hear, by and by you will be fully convinced of it. Those that are gone from being in the like circumstances with you, see that it was so with them; for destruction came suddenly upon most of them; when they expected nothing of it, and while they were saying, Peace and safety: now they see, that those things on which they depended for peace and safety, were nothing but thin air and empty shadows.

The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you was suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God's hand has held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell.

O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you, as against many of the damned in hell. You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no interest in any Mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. -- And consider here more particularly,

Whose wrath it is: it is the wrath of the infinite God. If it were only the wrath of man, though it were of the most potent prince, it would be comparatively little to be regarded. The wrath of kings is very much dreaded, especially of absolute monarchs, who have the possessions and lives of their subjects wholly in their power, to be disposed of at their mere will. Prov. 20:2. "The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: Whoso provoketh him to anger, sinneth against his own soul." The subject that very much enrages an arbitrary prince, is liable to suffer the most extreme torments that human art can invent, or human power can inflict. But the greatest earthly potentates in their greatest majesty and strength, and when clothed in their greatest terrors, are but feeble, despicable worms of the dust, in comparison of the great and almighty Creator and King of heaven and earth. It is but little that they can do, when most enraged, and when they have exerted the utmost of their fury. All the kings of the earth, before God, are as grasshoppers; they are nothing, and less than nothing: both their love and their hatred is to be despised. The wrath of the great King of kings, is as much more terrible than theirs, as his majesty is greater. Luke 12:4,5. "And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that, have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: fear him, which after he hath killed, hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say unto you, Fear him."

It is the fierceness of his wrath that you are exposed to. We often read of the fury of God; as in Isa. 59:18. "According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay fury to his adversaries." So, Isa. 66:15. "For behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire." And in many other places. So, Rev. 19:15, we read of "the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." The words are exceeding terrible. If it had only been said, "the wrath of God," the words would have implied that which is infinitely dreadful: but it is "the fierceness and wrath of God." The fury of God! the fierceness of Jehovah! Oh, how dreadful that must be! Who can utter or conceive what such expressions carry in them! But it is also "the fierceness and wrath of almighty God." As though there would be a very great manifestation of his almighty power in what the fierceness of his wrath should inflict, as though omnipotence should be as it were enraged, and exerted, as men are wont to exert their strength in the fierceness of their wrath. Oh! then, what will be the consequence! What will become of the poor worms that shall suffer it! Whose hands can be strong? And whose heart can endure? To what a dreadful, inexpressible, inconceivable depth of misery must the poor creature be sunk who shall be the subject of this!

Consider this, you that are here present, that yet remain in an unregenerate state. That God will execute the fierceness of his anger, implies, that he will inflict wrath without any pity. When God beholds the ineffable extremity of your case, and sees your torment to be so vastly disproportioned to your strength, and sees how your poor soul is crushed, and sinks down, as it were, into an infinite gloom; he will have no compassion upon you, he will not forbear the executions of his wrath, or in the least lighten his hand; there shall be no moderation or mercy, nor will God then at all stay his rough wind; he will have no regard to your welfare, nor be at all careful lest you should suffer too much in any other sense, than only that you shall not suffer beyond what strict justice requires. Nothing shall be withheld, because it is so hard for you to bear. Ezek. 8:18. "Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet I will not hear them." Now God stands ready to pity you; this is a day of mercy; you may cry now with some encouragement of obtaining mercy. But when once the day of mercy is past, your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain; you will be wholly lost and thrown away of God, as to any regard to your welfare. God will have no other use to put you to, but to suffer misery; you shall be continued in being to no other end; for you will be a vessel of wrath fitted to destruction; and there will be no other use of this vessel, but to be filled full of wrath. God will be so far from pitying you when you cry to him, that it is said he will only "laugh and mock," Prov. 1:25,26,&c.

How awful are those words, Isa. 63:3, which are the words of the great God. "I will tread them in mine anger, and will trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment." It is perhaps impossible to conceive of words that carry in them greater manifestations of these three things, viz. contempt, and hatred, and fierceness of indignation. If you cry to God to pity you, he will be so far from pitying you in your doleful case, or showing you the least regard or favour, that instead of that, he will only tread you under foot. And though he will know that you cannot bear the weight of omnipotence treading upon you, yet he will not regard that, but he will crush you under his feet without mercy; he will crush out your blood, and make it fly, and it shall be sprinkled on his garments, so as to stain all his raiment. He will not only hate you, but he will have you in the utmost contempt: no place shall be thought fit for you, but under his feet to be trodden down as the mire of the streets.

The misery you are exposed to is that which God will inflict to that end, that he might show what that wrath of Jehovah is. God hath had it on his heart to show to angels and men, both how excellent his love is, and also how terrible his wrath is. Sometimes earthly kings have a mind to show how terrible their wrath is, by the extreme punishments they would execute on those that would provoke them. Nebuchadnezzar, that mighty and haughty monarch of the Chaldean empire, was willing to show his wrath when enraged with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; and accordingly gave orders that the burning fiery furnace should be heated seven times hotter than it was before; doubtless, it was raised to the utmost degree of fierceness that human art could raise it. But the great God is also willing to show his wrath, and magnify his awful majesty and mighty power in the extreme sufferings of his enemies. Rom. 9:22. "What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction?" And seeing this is his design, and what he has determined, even to show how terrible the unrestrained wrath, the fury and fierceness of Jehovah is, he will do it to effect.

There will be something accomplished and brought to pass that will be dreadful with a witness. When the great and angry God hath risen up and executed his awful vengeance on the poor sinner, and the wretch is actually suffering the infinite weight and power of his indignation, then will God call upon the whole universe to behold that awful majesty and mighty power that is to be seen in it. Isa. 33:12-14. "And the people shall be as the burnings of lime, as thorns cut up shall they be burnt in the fire. Hear ye that are far off, what I have done; and ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites."

Thus, it will be with you that are in an unconverted state, if you continue in it; the infinite might, and majesty, and terribleness of the omnipotent God shall be magnified upon you, in the ineffable strength of your torments. You shall be tormented in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and when you shall be in this state of suffering, the glorious inhabitants of heaven shall go forth and look on the awful spectacle, that they may see what the wrath and fierceness of the Almighty is; and when they have seen it, they will fall down and adore that great power and majesty. Isa. 66:23,24. "And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord. And they shall go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me; for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."

It is everlasting wrath. It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity. There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery. When you look forward, you shall see a long for ever, a boundless duration before you, which will swallow up your thoughts, and amaze your soul; and you will absolutely despair of ever having any deliverance, any end, any mitigation, any rest at all. You will know certainly that you must wear out long ages, millions of millions of ages, in wrestling and conflicting with this almighty merciless vengeance; and then when you have so done, when so many ages have actually been spent by you in this manner, you will know that all is but a point to what remains. So that your punishment will indeed be infinite. Oh, who can express what the state of a soul in such circumstances is! All that we can possibly say about it, gives but a very feeble, faint representation of it; it is inexpressible and inconceivable: For "who knows the power of God's anger?"

How dreadful is the state of those that are daily and hourly in the danger of this great wrath and infinite misery! But this is the dismal case of every soul in this congregation that has not been born again, however moral and strict, sober and religious, they may otherwise be. Oh that you would consider it, whether you be young or old! There is reason to think, that there are many in this congregation now hearing this discourse, that will actually be the subjects of this very misery to all eternity. We know not who they are, or in what seats they sit, or what thoughts they now have. It may be they are now at ease, and hear all these things without much disturbance, and are now flattering themselves that they are not the persons, promising themselves that they shall escape. If we knew that there was one person, and but one, in the whole congregation, that was to be the subject of this misery, what an awful thing would it be to think of! If we knew who it was, what an awful sight would it be to see such a person! How might all the rest of the congregation lift up a lamentable and bitter cry over him!

But, alas! instead of one, how many is it likely will remember this discourse in hell? And it would be a wonder, if some that are now present should not be in hell in a very short time, even before this year is out. And it would be no wonder if some persons, that now sit here, in some seats of this meeting-house, in health, quiet and secure, should be there before tomorrow morning. Those of you that finally continue in a natural condition, that shall keep out of hell longest will be there in a little time! your damnation does not slumber; it will come swiftly, and, in all probability, very suddenly upon many of you. You have reason to wonder that you are not already in hell. It is doubtless the case of some whom you have seen and known, that never deserved hell more than you, and that heretofore appeared as likely to have been now alive as you. Their case is past all hope; they are crying in extreme misery and perfect despair; but here you are in the land of the living and in the house of God, and have an opportunity to obtain salvation. What would not those poor damned hopeless souls give for one day's opportunity such as you now enjoy!

And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stands in calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and pressing into the kingdom of God. Many are daily coming from the east, west, north and south; many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in, are now in a happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him who has loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. How awful is it to be left behind at such a day! To see so many others feasting, while you are pining and perishing! To see so many rejoicing and singing for joy of heart, while you have cause to mourn for sorrow of heart, and howl for vexation of spirit! How can you rest one moment in such a condition? Are not your souls as precious as the souls of the people at Suffield, where they are flocking from day to day to Christ?

Are there not many here who have lived long in the world, and are not to this day born again? and so are aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and have done nothing ever since they have lived, but treasure up wrath against the day of wrath? Oh, sirs, your case, in an especial manner, is extremely dangerous. Your guilt and hardness of heart is extremely great. Do you not see how generality persons of your years are passed over and left, in the present remarkable and wonderful dispensation of God's mercy? You had need to consider yourselves, and awake thoroughly out of sleep. You cannot bear the fierceness and wrath of the infinite God. -- And you, young men, and young women, will you neglect this precious season which you now enjoy, when so many others of your age are renouncing all youthful vanities, and flocking to Christ? You especially have now an extraordinary opportunity; but if you neglect it, it will soon be with you as with those persons who spent all the precious days of youth in sin, and are now come to such a dreadful pass in blindness and hardness. -- And you, children, who are unconverted, do not you know that you are going down to hell, to bear the dreadful wrath of that God, who is now angry with you every day and every night? Will you be content to be the children of the devil, when so many other children in the land are converted, and are become the holy and happy children of the King of kings?

And let everyone that is yet out of Christ, and hanging over the pit of hell, whether they be old men and women, or middle aged, or young people, or little children, now hearken to the loud calls of God's word and providence. This acceptable year of the Lord, a day of such great favour to some, will doubtless be a day of as remarkable vengeance to others.

Men's hearts harden, and their guilt increases apace at such a day as this, if they neglect their souls; and never was there so great danger of such persons being given up to hardness of heart and blindness of mind. God seems now to be hastily gathering in his elect in all parts of the land; and probably the greater part of adult persons that ever shall be saved, will be brought in now in a little time, and that it will be as it was on the great out-pouring of the Spirit upon the Jews in the apostles' days; the election will obtain, and the rest will be blinded. If this should be the case with you, you will eternally curse this day, and will curse the day that ever you was born, to see such a season of the pouring out of God's Spirit, and will wish that you had died and gone to hell before you had seen it. Now undoubtedly it is, as it was in the days of John the Baptist, the axe is in an extraordinary manner laid at the root of the trees, that every tree which brings not forth good fruit, may be hewn down and cast into the fire.

Therefore, let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the wrath to come. The wrath of Almighty God is now undoubtedly hanging over a great part of this congregation. Let every one fly out of Sodom: "Haste and escape for your lives, look not behind you, escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed."

https://www.tbsbibles.org

Old Testament Tithing

TITHING INVOLVED EVERY AREA OF POSSESSION

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. Lev 27:30-32

THE LEVITES WERE TO SHOW APPRECIATION OF THE TITHE

Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. Num 18:26

THE TITHE INVOLVED MORE THAN MONEY

Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always. Deut 14:22-23

And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps. 2 Chronicles 31:5-6

THE TITHE WAS EVIDENCE OF NOT FORSAKING THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God. Neh 10:38-39

JESUS TAUGHT THAT TO TITHE WITHOUT HONORING GOD WAS HYPOCRISY

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matt 23:23

ABRAM TITHED TO MELCHIZEDEK

Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. and verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. Heb 7:4-6

THE TITHE WAS USED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE LEVITICAL PRIESTS

And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. Neh 12:44

GOD’S VIEW IS THAT THEFT OCCURRED WHEN THE JEWS KEPT HIS TITHE

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mal 3:8-10

GOD PROMISED ISRAEL PROTECTION FROM SATAN A TESTIMONY OF HIS GREATNESS IN THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY TITHED

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. Mal 3:11-12

THERE IS A GREATER PRINCIPLE THAT GOES BEYOND TITHING, IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. Heb 7:5-10

NEW TESTAMENT GIVING AND TITHING

GIVING AND TITHING IS FOR EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF INCOME

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 2 Cor 8:1-2

BIBLICAL GIVING IS BASED UPON A WILLING HEART

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 2 Cor 8:4-5

BIBLICAL GIVING IS DESCRIBED AS GRACE: Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 2 Cor 8:6; cf. 8:1

BIBLICAL GIVING IS AS IMPORTANT AS OTHER CHRISTIAN GRACES

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 2 Cor 8:7

BIBLICAL GIVING DEMONSTRATES YOUR SINCERITY AND LOVE

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Cor 8:8-9

Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. 2 Cor 8:23-24

BIBLICAL GIVING IS NOT COMMANDED BASED UPON THE HOPE OF FUTURE FINANCES

Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
2 Corinthians 8:11-12

BIBLICAL GIVING IS ALSO FOR EVERYONE IN EQUALITY

For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. 2 Cor 8:13-15

MONEY RECEIVED FROM GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY MORE THAN ONE PERSON FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: 2 Cor. 8:16-20

WHEN EVERYONE GIVES BIBLICALLY, THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE

Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
2 Corinthians 8:21

BIBLICAL GIVING SETS AN EXAMPLE TO STIMULATE OTHERS TO GIVE

For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
2 Corinthians 9:1-2

BIBLICAL GIVING REAPS BIBLICAL BOUNTY

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Cor. 9:6

BIBLICAL GIVING IS FROM THE HEART OF THE BELIEVER: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Cor 9:6-7

GOD HONORS AND SUPPLIES FOR THOSE WHO GIVE

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 2 Cor. 9:8-11

BIBLICAL GIVING ALSO SUPPLIES NECESSITIES FOR THE SAINTS AND EXPRESSES OBEDIENCE TO THE GOSPEL

For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 2 Cor 9:12-13

BIBLICAL GIVING SHOWS THE GREATNESS OF CHRIST’S GIFT: And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Cor 9:14-15

CONCLUSION: The OT principle of giving involved much more that a 10% gift back to God. It amounted to almost 30%.

The NT principle of giving shows giving out of a willing heart, to show the greatness of God, in His provision for the wealthy and the poor.

I believe that the tithe of 10% is the minimum for believers and a good starting point for new Christians. Christians who have given their tithes for years can give testimony to God’s provision and supply for all their needs.

The Atonement

The Crucifixion

The Dispensations

The Everlasting God

Holiness

How to Study the Bible

Separation

The Trinity (College Curriculum)

The Trinity (Trinitarian Bible Society)

TEXT: Psalm 90:1-2 “Everlasting God”

Gen. 21:33; Psalm 93:2; Is. 9:6; 63:16-19; Rom. 16:25-27; Heb. 9:14; I Tim. 1:17

FROM THE EVERLASTING GOD COMES:

Everlasting Covenant: Gen. 9:16; Isa. 24:5; Heb. 13:20-21; Isa. 45:17; Heb. 5:9; 9:12

Everlasting Kingdom and Inheritance: Psa. 145:13; Dan. 4:3; Gen. 17:8; Heb. 9:15

Everlasting Priesthood: Ex. 40:15; Heb. 7:11-28; 8:1-6; 9:24-28

Everlasting Arms: Deut. 33:27; Isa. 26:4; I Tim. 6:16

Everlasting Mercy: Ps. 100:5; 103:17

Everlasting Doors: Ps. 24:7-10

Everlasting Righteousness: Ps. 119:142

Everlasting Joy: Is. 35:10; 51:11

Everlasting Way: Ps. 139:24; Eph. 3:11

Everlasting Name: Isa. 56:5

Everlasting Light: Isa. 60:19-20

Everlasting King: Jere. 10:10

Everlasting Life: Dan. 12:2; Lk. 18:30; John 3:16,36; 4:14; 5:24; 6:27,40,47; 12:50

Everlasting Punishment: Jude 7; Mark 3:29; Heb. 6:2; 2 Thess. 1:9

Everlasting Gospel: Rev. 14:6

GREAT CREATION STATS

****I light year = 6 trillion miles (the speed of light for one year)

Our Milky Way galaxy is a spiral galaxy that is 100,000 light years across with 200 billion stars

M-84 galaxy is eliptical in the constellation Virgo.. It is 40X the mass of the Milky Way and is 4 million light years across with 30 trillion stars.

The earth is 8,000 miles in mass (diameter), Jupiter is 88,000 and Orion in 93 million miles across.

The closest galaxy to the Milky Way is Andromeda which is 2X larger and is 2.4 million light years away, or 15 trillion miles.

Quasars are 12-15 billion light years away

Scientists guess that the end of the universe is 20 billion light years away.

CHAPTERS 1-6 TO BE ADDED AT A LATER DATE

From Death To Life Luke 7:11-18

Shall We Look for Another? Luke 7:19-23

Least In The Kingdom Luke 7:24-28

Great Forgiveness Luke 7:36-50  

Be Careful Where You Fall Luke 8:4-15

Honored Position Luke 8:15-21 

Sequence of Faith Luke 8:22-25

Sin, Leading To Thankfulness Luke 8:26-39

Faith Made Thee Whole Luke 8:40-48  

Jairus and His Daughter 8:41-42, 49-56

The Christ of God Luke 9:18-22

Take Up Your Cross Luke 9:23

My Beloved Son Luke 9:28

Let It Sink In Luke 9:37-44

The Focus and Determination of Christ Luke 9:51-56

Wrong Thinking About Salvation Luke 10:25-37

The Value of A Soul Luke 12:1-9

Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit Luke 12:10-12

The Priorities of Life Luke 12:15-21

Your Father Knows Luke 12:22-34

The Son is Coming Luke 12:35-40

How Much Have We Been Given Luke 12:42-48

Are There Few That Be Saved? Luke 13:23-30

True Humility Luke 14:11

One Sinner That Repenteth Luke 15:1-10

The Accounting Department of God Luke 16:1-2

2 Contrasting Lives, 2 Contrasting Destinies Luke 16:19-31

Increase Our Faith Luke 17:1-6

Being A Servant Luke 17:7-10

The Warning of The Second Coming Luke 17:22-37

Impressing God Luke 18:10-14

Who Then Can Be Saved? Luke 18:18-26

The Rich Small Man Who Gained Stature Luke 19:1-10

Occupy Until I Come. Luke 19:11-28 (January 30, 2005)

The Compassion of Christ Luke 19: 37-44 (February 13, 2005)

Jesus, The Cornerstone Luke 20:9-19 (February 20, 2005)

The Irrefutable Question Luke 20:39-47 (March 6, 2005)

His Blood Shed For You Luke 22:11-20

The Difference Between Three Men, Part I Luke 23:33-37 (April 10)

The Difference Between Three Men, Part II Luke 23:38-43 (April 17)

Darkness Over All The Earth - Luke 23:44-48 (April 24)

Resurrection Appearances Luke 23:55-24:1 (Easter, 2005)

The Find Of A Life Time Luke 24:1-10 (May 1, 2005)

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5

Introduction
Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Symbols
Alpha and Omega, 1::1-8
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
7 Churches Chart
7 Churches Comparison
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22

HOSEA
JOEL
AMOS
OBADIAH
JONAH
MICAH
NAHUM
HABAKKUK
ZEPHANIAH
HAGGAI
ZECHARIAH
MALACHI

So many things in life are beautiful and wondrous to contemplate. To think on these great things would change our outlook on life and let us more easily see the greatness of God in His glory. To walk in newness of life is to think on the marvelous aspects of victory in Christ and to direct our eyes onto the goal and purpose of our lives - to honor the glorified Christ. The enemy would want us to concentrate on the negative and sinful things around us. To focus on sin and degradation will cause us to turn away from the work of God in our lives. Through all the difficulty of life itself, and the wickedness around us, let us keep looking up, pressing toward the mark, seeking those things which are above, and seeing the beauty of what God has planned for His people in eternity. DEM

“I am an enlisted soldier in the army of my God for eternity! The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer! The Holy Bible is my code for conduct! Faith, prayer and the Word of God are my weapons! I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable! I am in place, obeying His orders, taking my place with the Pastor to follow him around the fortified city. I am committed! Together we are conquerors through Christ, the Great Commander. I will always triumph when obeying Christ. I can do all things through Christ! Battles cannot stop me and I will stay away from any sinful thing. For when my Commander calls me to the battlefield, I will come armed with the weapons of spiritual warfare, marching and claiming victory! I will not give up! I will not turn around! I am a soldier! Blow The Trumpet!! Watch the walls fall!

"A birthday is a day to remember. The name is somewhat ridiculous because who can remember their actual "birth" day? Most people, when they are older, want to forget their birthdays anyway! So why have a birthday? It is so we, the ones who really celebrate, can appreciate the gift of God in birth. This gift of God reminds us of the new birth that is offered in Christ. It has a beginning point of birth (which we never forget), we look forward to the next "Spiritual" birthday (contemplating spiritual maturity), and we anticipate the aging process in Christ because it brings us one day nearer to the One who brought about our birth in the first place. So you see, physical and spiritual birth are both necessary. Without the realization of aging (at each birthday) we may not contemplate the real necessity of death and neglect the need for a spiritual birthday." John 3:5-6 DEM

It must have been incredibly exciting as the Jesus and the disciples walked toward Jerusalem and up the Mt. of Olives. The anticipation must have been immense. Jesus, walking the path of entry into the Great City of His ancestors, His knowledge of His fulfillment of prophecy, knowing His future of sitting upon the throne of David, the events which would lead to His death, burial and resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the beginning of the New Testament Church, and His ascension into Glory. These events would reshape the entire world and the future of mankind on earth. It was not just a “walk into town” but the entry into Jerusalem signaled a succession of cascading events which would emancipate the world. DEM

Don’t you love watching a good movie. We just sit back with a bag of popcorn and a glass of tea, and let our minds absorb the scenes of beauty, and story that unfolds before us. Most films are fictional, and if they are based on fact, usually are changed to sell the movie. The light is projected on the screen and we are affected by the characters we see, and often times, cry as tragedy unfolds, or laugh when a joyful moment occurs. If there were a camera filming your life, what would others see. Would they see a true life of devotion and integrity, or would the story seem like fiction to those who view the film. Our lives are an open book to the Lord, who knows every idle word and every event in our lives. Let’s make a good film for others to watch, and a good account as we stand before the Bema Seat of our Savior. DEM

“Faithful men have always been a blessing, not only to the church through the centuries, but to their families, friends, employers, and those that admire that faithfulness from a distance. The quality of faithfulness involves more than just the consistent attendance at regular events for church and family. Faithfulness has its root meaning in the Greek word for faith. The obvious implication of this faith clearly reveals itself in loyalty, diligence, spiritual insight, personal motivation and love, and the great qualities of meekness and wisdom. I have set about to examine my life, to see if it follows this powerful pattern for living. I realize that we must evaluate our lives regularly and determine the changes which will lead to faithful living. Let us strive in this task with all diligence, being perceptive to the needs of those who follow after us. Let us also set the example for our children, grandchildren, and other men.” DEM

Pastor’s Corner: Going to the dentist has never been my favorite thing to do. Last week I had a dental appointment to have my teeth cleaned. This week I have another appointment for a crown and a filling. I thought of this sequence while studying last week, in relation to our spiritual lives. We are so in need of continued cleaning. The cleaning had to be done prior to receiving the crown and the filling. How true this is for us. We need the cleansing work of Christ before we can receive the filling of the Holy Spirit and the Crown of Righteousness, which He has promised to His children. May I encourage you to stay clean! Apply the principles of I John 1:9 and confess your sin daily. Pray for His filling so that you might enjoy the greatness of His power and strength in your life. Remember, there is a crown that awaits the faithful. Let’s be clean and filled, and ready for the Master’s use. DEM

Mother’s Day Poem by DEM

Each of us, like children, emerge to life with no concern;

We search the minds of great men and mothers to learn.

Trepidation often follows experience;

While experience brings knowledge and wisdom.

We emerge from the blossom, our lips wet with dew;

We gaze intently upon the confines of our “ROSE.”

Bewilderment softens the steps we take;

While the steps we take draw us closer to knowing God.

We sense the greatness of life and the softness of each petal;

We pass from the caress of the sweet smell of roses.

Enjoyment of knowing God and His world around us pervades our life;

With this knowledge and wisdom we recognize our mother.

During the month of April, we will be looking at the life of Christ: through His birth, entry into Jerusalem, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into heaven. The theme song is “One Day.” Because of the Savior’s birth, we can have a rebirth; because of the King’s entry into Jerusalem, we can have entry into the New Jerusalem; because of the Lamb’s death at Calvary, we can have life everlasting; because of the Son of God’s resurrection from the dead, we can be justified and set free from the death the law brings; and because of the ascension of our High Priest into Glory, we can have an eternal intercessor for us in the presence of the Father. These glorious truths are set forth as “lights” of the greatness of God and of His Christ. DEM

Mother’s Day: a special day for the family. “It is special because the family is a shadowy reflection of mom! A MOTHER is a jewel with many facets to her life, a gem of wealth to her children, and a precious stone cut by God for His honor. To honor God, she pervades her life with the knowledge of His Word, the greatness of His grace and the humility of His Divine purpose. Mothers are a diamond to shine forth Christ, a ruby to show His redemption and a jewel on earth to demonstrate the great faithfulness of God.” DEM

“Regarding Ephesians 1:11, the word rendered “worketh” means to be active, to produce (Gal. 2:8; Phil. 2:13). The same God which “worketh” all in all (1 Cor. 12:6), works also in causing the emotions of our hearts. “God, who worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). He has the agency in distributing to people their various spiritual gifts and blessings; “All these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Cor. 12:11). The work of God is seen everywhere. Every leaf, flower, rose-bud, spire of grass; every sun-beam, and every flash of lightning; every cataract and every torrent, all declare His work and personal touch. It is this touch of His hand in the scheme of things that demonstrates His greatness. He concerns Himself with the “little things” of life that involve His children. He shows Himself great in working all things according to His perfect and unfathomable will. What joy to see His presence and purpose in our lives.” DEM