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"Lordship Salvation" Theology Refuted

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen

     For many years there has been a debate among Christians about what a non-Christian must do to become a Christian. This has led to an re-examination of what classic evangelistic Biblical statements mean. For example, Acts 16:31 says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." Historically this has has been understood to mean, "Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, and you shall be saved." But those who have become known as "Lordship-salvationists" say it means more than that. They say it means, "Trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and dedicate yourself to him without any reservations, and you shall be saved."

     The result of the "Lordship-salvationist" view is that if someone claims to be a Christian but does not seem to be dedicated to the Lord, their profession of faith in Jesus Christ is questioned. Perhaps an example will make this plain. The Bible clearly teaches that after someone has become a Christian, they are to get baptized as a public demonstration of their faith. But does a non-Christian who is considering becoming a Christian need to be told that they must agree to be baptized after their conversion, or they cannot become a Christian? How we answer the question depends on what we think it means to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

     The differences between "Lordship-salvation" theology and its opposite are great. Charles Ryrie has written an excellent book refuting "Lordship-salvation." I have read this book 5 times. It is good for personal reading, use by Bible study groups and Sunday school classes, and as a series of sermons. Click on the following link, and look it over. Then, get it, read it, believe it, and tell others about it. The book is called "SO GREAT SALVATION." Here's the link: http://www.christianbook.com/so-great-salvation-charles-ryrie/9780802478184/pd/78182?product_redirect=1&Ntt=78182&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

"GOD'S SIMPLE PLAN OF SALVATION"

The following excellent Gospel message was written by Ford Porter many years ago, and updated by his son. If want to learn how to make sure your soul will go to heaven at death, read it and do what it says. Here is a link to the website from which it was taken: www.godssimpleplan.org.   God’s Simple Plan of Salvation My Friend: I am asking you the most important question of life. Your joy or your sorrow for all eternity depends upon your answer. The question is: Are you saved? It is not a question of how good you are, nor if you are a church member, but are you saved? Are you sure you will go to Heaven when you die? God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7, Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” In the Bible God gives us the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is simple! You can be saved today. How? First, my friend, you must realize you are a sinner. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because you are a sinner, you are condemned to death. “For the wages [payment] of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in Hell. “ . . . it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). But God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your sin and die in your place. “ . . . He hath made Him [Jesus, Who knew no sin] to be sin for us . . . that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus had to shed His blood and die. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood” (Lev. 17:11). “ . . . without shedding of blood is no remission [pardon]” (Hebrews 9:22). “ . . . God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute. It is true. God cannot lie. My friend, “God . . . commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). This repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner, and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the Cross. In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: “ . . . ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . . .’ ” Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall be saved. Surely, you realize you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are, repenting, lift your heart to God in prayer. In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Just pray: “Oh God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was my substitute when He died on the Cross. I believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. I now receive Him as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace. Amen.” Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it! God’s simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith. You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple.” Yes, that simple! It is scriptural. It is God’s plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today. If His plan is not perfectly clear, read this tract over and over, without laying it down, until you understand it. Your soul is worth more than all the world. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul, you miss Heaven and lose all. Please! Let God save you this very moment. God’s power will save you, keep you saved, and enable you to live a victorious Christian life. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Do not trust your feelings. They change. Stand on God’s promises. They never change. After you are saved, there are three things to practice daily for spiritual growth: Pray -- you talk to God. Read your Bible -- God talks to you. Witness -- you talk for God. You should be baptized in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ as a public testimony of your salvation, and then unite with a Bible-believing church without delay. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord . . . .” (2 Timothy 1:8) “Whosoever therefore shall confess [testify of] Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).
		Copyright: Robert Ford Porter, 1991

"The Final Drama: 14 Keys To Understanding The Prophetic Scriptures"

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen and Dr. John F. Walvoord

    Bible prophecy is interesting and important. To understand it, we need help from prophecy experts. Such an expert was the late Dr. John Walvoord, who wrote many good books, including "The Final Drama: 14 Keys To Understanding The Prophetic Scriptures."  

    Having carefully read this book by John Walvoord, I highly recommend it to others. It is good reading for anyone interested in Biblical prophecy from a dispensationalist perspective. But as a pastor I recommend it for a series of sermons or Bible studies. It covers 14 prophetic themes in a well-organized, thorough, yet concise manner.It would be excellemt for use in a Bible institute.Get it! Read it! Enjoy it! Share it!

    Below is a link to one source for it. If you click on the link, you see its cover, and look at its chapter titles and other features.

http://www.christianbook.com/final-drama-fourteen-understanding-prophetic-scriptures/john-walvoord/9780825439711/pd/3971X?item_code=WW&netp_id=104544&event=ESRCG&view=details

"How We Got The Bible"

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen and Dr. Neil R. Lightfoot

   You might have noticed that the title to this posting is in quotation marks. That is because "How We Got The Bible" is the title of an excellent book by Dr. Neil R. Lightfoot. His book, though only 224 pages long, is a goldmine of information and inspiration about how we got the Bible. One of its many virtues is that the questions at the end of each chapter make it a ready-made book for Bible study classes and Bible institute classes.

    Here is one of many good  statements by the author: "The claims of the Bible, plus the contents of the Bible equal a convincing case for the Bible as the inspired Word of God."

   I encourage you to get it, read it, and tell others about it. Below is a link to one source for it. If you click on the link, you can then look at the cover, the Table of Contents, and other features.

http://www.christianbook.com/how-got-the-bible-third-edition/neil-lightfoot/9780801072611/pd/072611?product_redirect=1&Ntt=072611&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

The King James Version And The Texts Upon Which It Is Based

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen

The theme of this posting

      My theme is "The King James Version And The Texts Upon Which It Is Based." Most readers of the English Bible are at least somewhat familiar with the King James Version.  The King James Version's Old Testament is mostly based upon the Hebrew Masoretic text, and its New Testament is mostly based on the Greek Received Text
My goal in this posting.
    My goal in this posting is to point out that there are significant differences between the King James Version and the texts upon which it is based. These differences prove we cannot say the translators always followed the Masoretic text or the Received text.
Proof the translators did not always follow the Masoretic text or the Received text

    We can see many of the differences between the King James Version and its textual base by paying close attention to the use of italicised words in this translation. The italicised words prove it does not always follow its textual base. Some examples are given below. I have put the key verses in in red. Sometimes I copied the verses from this website: www.biblegateway.com. Sometimes I copied them from my own King James Version.

2 Samuel 21:19
     One example is 2 Samule 21:19, given here in its context: ^"15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. ¹⁶ And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. ¹⁷ But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel. ¹⁸ And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant. ¹⁹ And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Beth-lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. ²⁰ And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. ²¹ And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him. ²² These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants."

     Note that verse 19 has three  words in italics (the brother of ) because they were not in the text from which the translation was made. These words seem to have been borrowed from 1 Chronicles 20:5, in which verse they are not in italics. If the King James Version's translators had translated the text just as it is, the verse would say Elhanan slew Goliath. But we know from 1 Samuel 17:1 - 54 that David slew him. Therefore, this defect in the Masoretic text was dealt in this way by the translators.

Matthew 12:31

     Another example is Matthew 12:31, which says this: "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men."  Note the italicised word "Holy" in this verse. It was added by the translators because the verse would seem very strange if it referred to "blasphemy against the Ghost," so they added the word "Holy" to make it sound better. Therefore, it says "blasphemy against the Holy Ghost."     But, instead of adding the word "Holy," they could have done what they did with the Greek word for "Ghost" in many other verses in the King James Version New Testament. That is, they could have translated it as "Spirit." This was done, for example, in Mark 1:12, which says "And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness." The verse would then read this way: "but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men." He is "the Holy Ghost" or "the Holy Spirit," but that is not what the Greek text of this verse says. It simply calls him "the Spirit."

1 John 2:23
Another example is 1 John 2:23, given here in its context. It says this: ^"22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. ²³ Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. ²⁴ Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."

      The ten italicised words in verse 23 were not in the text from which the King James Version was made. But the translators felt they had compelling reasons to add them to their translation. It is not my intention to question the italicised words. Rather, it is to give an example of the fact that the King James Version New Testament sometimes departs from its textual base. If the translators had felt the Received Greek text was just as it should be, they would not have added the words in italics.

2 Peter 1:21.
     Another example is 2 Peter 1:21. The verse says this: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

     This verse is an important proof text for the doctrine of the divine origin of the Bible. It relates to 2 Timothy 3:16, which tells us that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God." These verses and others teach us that we should believe that the Bible is the Word of God.

     But what I want to point out is that in 2 Peter 1:21, the Received Text of the New Testament does not say those men were "holy men of God." It simply says they were "men of God" who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. No doubt, they were holy men. But the Greek text does not say that. If one looks up the word "holy" for this verse in the Strongest Strong's Concordance, it says "NIG, which means "Not in Greek." The Greek Received Text itself proves it does not say the men were "holy men of God," but simply "men of God." Here is the verse from this Greek text: οὐ γὰρ θελήματι ἀνθρώπου ἠνέχθη ποτέ προφητεία ἀλλ' ὑπὸ πνεύματος ἁγίου φερόμενοι ἐλάλησαν οἱ ἅγιοι θεοῦ ἄνθρωποι. (This quote from the Received Text was taken from this website: http://biblehub.com/tr/matthew/1.htm. It is the same as my own copy of this text. ) For some unknown reason, the added word, "holy," was not italicised in the King James Version to indicate it was not in the Greek text.

What, then, is a good view of the King James Version, and of the texts from which it was made?

    The facts above prove that the King James Version sometimes differs from the Hebrew and Greek texts from which it was made.   What, then, is a good view of these facts about these Hebrew and Greek texts? It is that they are generally reliable texts. What, then, is a good view of  the King James Version itself? It is that it is a generally reliable translation. There are weaknesses in both the texts and the translation, but they are generally reliable. In spite of any weaknesses, both the texts behind the King James Version, and this version itself, are the Word of God.

What did King James and the translators think of most Bible translations? Of their own translation? 

     What follows in red is taken from the preface of the 1611 KJV. The whole preface is also available online at www.bible-researcher.com.  It is proof that King James and his translators did not believe anything but the original writings of the Bible were perfect. It also is proof that they did not think a translation had to be perfect for it to be considered the Word of God.  Read carefully the first and last sentences.      

"An Answer to the Imputations of Our Adversaries"

"Now to the latter we answer; that we do not deny, nay we affirm and avow, that the very meanest translation of the Bible in English, set forth by men of our profession, (for we have seen none of theirs of the whole Bible as yet) containeth the word of God, nay, is the word of God. As the King's speech, which he uttereth in Parliament, being translated into French, Dutch, Italian, and Latin, is still the King's speech, though it be not interpreted by every Translator with the like grace, nor peradventure so fitly for phrase, nor so expressly for sense, everywhere. For it is confessed, that things are to take their denomination of the greater part; and a natural man could say, Verum ubi multa nitent in carmine, non ego paucis offendor maculis, etc. A man may be counted a virtuous man, though he have made many slips in his life, (else, there were none virtuous, for in many things we offend all) [James 3:2] also a comely man and lovely, though he have some warts upon his hand, yea, not only freckles upon his face, but also scars. No cause therefore why the word translated should be denied to be the word, or forbidden to be current, notwithstanding that some imperfections and blemishes may be noted in the setting forth of it. For what ever was perfect under the Sun, where Apostles or Apostolic men, that is, men endued with an extraordinary measure of God's spirit, and privileged with the privilege of infallibility, had not their hand?"
Statements by E. F. Hills about the King James Version (added after the original posting was made)
     E. F. Hills was a dedicated and well-educated Chrsitian man who was a  strong advocate of the King James Version. He wrote a book called, "The King James Version Defended," which I have read very carefully. I have also carefully read his book called "Believing Bible Study." In it, Hills covers some of the same material as in the book "The King James Version Defended." What follows (in red) are some quotes from the third edition of this book, published in 1979 by The Christian Research Press. They support what was stated previously in this posting. An online edition of the book can be read at http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/kjvdef.htm.
     On page 216, Hills wrote: "As the marginal notes indicate, the King James translators did not regard their work as perfect or inspired, but they did consider it to be a trustworthy reproduction of God's holy Word, and as such they commended it to their Christian readers."
     On page 217, Hills wrote: "Two editions of the King James Version were published in 1611. The first is distinguished from the second by a unique misprint, namely, Judas instead of Jesus in Matthew 26:36. The second edition corrected this mistake and also in other respects was more carefully done. Other editions followed in 1612, 1613, 1616, 1617, and frequently thereafter. In 1629 and 1638 the text was subjected to two minor revisions. In the 18th century the spelling and punctuation of the King James Version were modernized, and many obsolte words were changed to their modern equivalents. The two scholars responsible for these alterations were Dr. Thoams Paris (1762), of Cambridge, and Dr. Benjamin Blayney (1769), of Oxford, and it is to their efforts that the generally current form of the King James Version is due."
     On page 220, after giving the textual sources of the King James Version's New Testament, Hills wrote: "Hence the King James Version ought to be regarded not merely as a translation of the Textus Receptus but also as an independent variety of the Textus Receptus."
     On page 221, Hills wrote: "Sometimes the translators forsook the printed Greek text and united with the earlier Englsih versions in following the Latin Vulgate."
     On page 221, Hills wrote: "Similarly, at 1 John 2:23, the King James translators followed the Great Bible and the Bishop's Bible in adding the clause, he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also, and in placing the the clause in italics, thus indicating that it was not found in the majority of Greek manuscripts or in the earlier editions of the Textus Receptus."
     On page 221, Hills wrote: "The differences between the various editions of the Textus Receptus have been carefully lissted by Scrivener (1884) and Hoskier (1885)."
     On page 224, Hills wrote: "Also, as we have seen, sometimes the several editions of the Textus Receptus differ from each other and from the King James Version. And, as we have just observed, the case is the same with the Old Testament text. Here it is hard at times to decide between the kethibh and the keri and between the Hebrew text and the Septuagint and Latin Vulgate Versions. Also, there has been a controvery concerning the headings of the Psalms. In other words, God does not reveal every truth with equal clarity. In Biblical textual criticism, as in every other department of knowledge, there are still some details in regard to which we must be content to remain uncertain."

The New Covenant Applies To The Nation Israel And To Church-Age Christians

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen

The purpose of this posting

     Some Christians believe the New Covenant applies only to the nation Israel, and, therefore, does not apply to church-age Christians. The purpose of this posting is to give evidence from the Bible and from Bible study helps that the New Covenant does, in fact, apply to church-age Christians. But we first must consider some practical information about the New Covenant.

Who predicted the New Covenant?

     The New Covenant was predicted by the prophet Jeremiah, long before Jesus Christ walked throughout the land of Israel. The Zondervan KJV Study Bible (that is its exact name, and not to be confused with other study Bibles with similar names) says this: "Jeremiah's prophetic ministry began in 626 B. C. and ended sometime after 586." The one-volume MacArthur Bible Commentary has a helpful chart called "The Progress of Revelation," in which are given the approximate dates when the Bible's books and epistles (letters) were written. It It gives this date for the book of Jeremiah: 586 - 570 B. C. Jeremiah wrote about the New Covenant in chapter 31, verses 31 - 34, of his book. Here ( in red) are these verses, quoted from the King James Version:

³¹ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

³² Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

    (All further quotes from the Bible are from the King James Version, unless otherwise indicated. They are taken from this website: www.biblegateway,com)

With whom was the New Covenant made?

      It is clear from verse 31 that God said this: "I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:" And verse 33 says God said this: "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel;" So, we cannot debate this point. What is debated is whether or not this covenant applies to Christians, whether they are Jews or Gentiles, in this church age. As stated in my first paragraph, the purpose of this posting is to give evidence from the Bible and Bible study helps that the New Covenant does, in fact, apply to church-age Christians. This evidence will be given later.

When was the New Covenant instituted, and by whom?

     It was instituted in the first century A. D. by Jesus Christ. It was done symbolically shortly before his death when he instituted the Lord's supper. And it was done literally when his blood was shed on the cross.

     The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke give us the details of the institution of the New Covenant, as does Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Here is a quote from Matthew 26: 26 - 28:

²⁶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

²⁷ And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

²⁸ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

    Verse 28 makes it very clear that his shed blood was/is the basis for the New Covenant/Testament. When he said those words to those men, they understood that he was referring to Jeremiah 31, quoted above. What Jeremiah had predicted some hundreds of years before was being brought to pass in their lifetime.

Is there Biblcal evidence that the New Covenant applies to anyone but the nation of Israel?

     My answer to this question is short and simple: YES! While its primary application is to Israel, that is not its only application. Consider some Biblical evidence for this claim.

     Evidence from 1 Corinthians 11:23 - 26. In his letters to the Corinthian, the apostle Paul wrote to a church composed of Jews and Gentiles who had become Christians. From the subjects Paul addressed in these letters, it seems that the majority of those converts to Christ were Gentiles. And the historical background, found in Acts 18, concerning the founding of the Corinthian church also indicates the majority were Gentile converts. But even if the majority were Jews, it still was a church made up of Jews and Gentiles. And it was to such a church that Paul wrote the following things in chapter 11, verses 23 - 26:

^"23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

²⁴ And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

²⁵ After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

²⁶ For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."   

       Now, a careful reading of these verses reveals that Paul applied to a church composed of Jews and Gentiles what both Jeremiah and Jesus called the New Covenant/Testament. It was to this mixed church that Paul made this comment: ²⁶ For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."    The cup to which Paul referred was the cup of the New Covenant. If the New Covenant had no application to Gentiles, Paul would have not have made such a statement.

     Evidence from 2 Corinthians 3:4 - 6. One of the subjects Paul brought to the attention of the Corinthians was some differences between the Old and New Covenants. He also defended himself because of criticisms from his opponents who sought to undermine his apostolic ministry. One of his defenses is found in 2 Cor. 3:1 - 6, which says this:  Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

² Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

³ Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

⁴ And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

⁵ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

⁶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

     It is very important to note what Paul said in verse 6: "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." If the New Testament/Covenant had no application to anyone but the nation of Israel, Paul would not have said God had made him and others who ministered to Gentiles and Jews who had become Christians, able ministers of it. They had been made able minsiters of the New Covenant in order to build up the church, not the kingdom of Israel.

Do any commentaries or study Bibles say that the New Covenant applies to the church?

     The answer is an enthusiastic "Yes!" Consider a few of many that could be cited. Bible scholar, Gleason L. Archer, wrote a book called "Encyclopedia Of Bible Difficulties. What follows is part of Archer's first paragraph of his lengthy answer to a question on Jeremiah 31:31. The question was this: "Does this prophecy refer only to the New Testament church, or does it await fulfillment in the days when Israel will be converted to faith in Christ on a national level?" Archer said this: "This remarkable prediction very clearly found its first fulfillment in the raising up of the New Testament church in the days of the apostles, beginning with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the 120 believers at the Feast of Pentecost, after the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ." Here is the complete concluding paragraph of his answer to the foregoing question: "Here, then, we have a clear case of two-stage fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy: Jeremiah 31:31 - 33 has been fulfilled in the New Testament church; and it will be consummated in the last days when there shall be a major national awakening among the Jewish people, and they turn to the Lord Jesus as their true Messiah and Savior (Zech. 12:10)." 

     Here is some of  what "The Believer's Bible Commentary," by William MacDonald and Art Farstad, says on Jeremiah 31: "God made the new covenant primarily with Israel and Judah (v. 31).......It will not become effective for Israel as a nation until Christ's Second Coming. In the meantime, however, individual believers enjoy some of its benefits........"

     Here is some of what The New Scofield Bible says on the Jeremiah passage: "Although certain features of this covenant have been fulfilled for believers in the present Church Age.....the covenant remains to be realized for Israel according to the explicit statement of v. 31."

     Here is some of what The King James Study Bible, by Thomas Nelson Publishers, says on the Jeremiah passage: "Although the New Covenant is now operative.........and is attended by the ministry of the Holy Spirit who is resident in believers' lives........, the full realization of the new covenant, as the capstone of all the covenants, awaits the second coming of Christ. He will give to Israel the promises distinctive to that nation, and will rule over the earth in an unprecedented period of universal peace......, prosperity......, and the full knowledge (v. 34) of the abiding presence of God....."

An Important And Helpful Website For Bible Study

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen

      I want to recommend an important and helpful website for Bible study. It is produced by my good friend,  Dr. Jim Steel. Before giving the link to the website, consider some facts about Dr. Steel:

• He has been a church planter.
• He has been a pastor.
• He has been a member of mission boards.
• He was for many years President of Cornerstone Bible Institute in Hot Springs, SD.
• He is currently busy with an itinerant Bible conference ministry.
• He believes in the importance of the local church.
• He is a  solid Bible-believer in doctrine and practice.
• He is a dispensationalist.
• He has a growing internet ministry.
• He is a friend to and helper of pastors.
• He is actively involved in spreading the Gospel of Christ.

    Here is the link to one of his websites: http://www.mynewcovenantlife.com/

Christians Should Not Be Freemasons

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen and Dr. Donald Prout

Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

      Many good and likeable persons are Freemasons. But they have been drawn into an organization and religion that, when it is compared to historic, orthodox Christianity that is based on the Bible, it is seen to oppose some fundamental teachings of the Bible. Therefore, Christians should not be Freemasons.

      In his fine publication called "The Biblical Evangelist," Dr. Robert L. Sumner has printed a good article by Dr. Donald Prout on Freemasonry. What follows is a link to it. Please read it with an open mind.

     Here's the link: http://www.biblicalevangelist.org/index.php?id=1373&view=Articles+of+Interest

      

Practical Lessons From Corrupt Politicians

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen

Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

     

       My theme is "practical lessons from corrupt politicians." "Which ones?," you might ask. Well, you be the judge. Corruption in politicians is so common that one need not look far to find it. And what is true of many politicians is true of a lot of others, too.

       What lessons might we learn from corrupt persons, whether they be politicians or something else?

• Always tell the truth, no matter how personally painful or embarrassing it might be. It is human nature to try and make ourselves look better than we are, and we resort to lying to do so. But we should always tell the truth.
• We dig ourselves into a hole by dishonesty, and it gets deeper and deeper the longer the dishonesty continues. It doesn't take long before we are in a hole over our heads.
• The only way out of the hole we have dug by dishonesty is by telling the truth. Sometimes that requires revealing who else, by joining in the dishonesty, has helped us dig the hole we are in. We might not want to get others in trouble, but sometimes honesty compels us to do so. 
• Never forsake moral principles to advance an agenda or get ahead.  We Christians believe the Bible to  be God's Word. And as such, it gives us absolute moral standards by which to guide our lives.  But we have to be careful to not allow ourselves to forsake the Bible's moral absolutes in order to make more money, to get a better job, to advance an agenda. or to be elected to a political office.
• We need to remember that, even if we go to the grave without getting caught in our dishonesty, God will hold us accountable after death, and on a day of final judgment. Just read Revelation chapter 20 to learn about the comng day of reckoning before God.
• The Bible says in Deuteronomy 32:4 that God is "A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." That is why he expects us to be truthful persons.
• The Bible says in Ephesians 4:15 that we are to speak the truth in love.
• If we Christians do something or say something dishonest, we need to straighten it out with those with whom we have been dishonest. But we need also confess it to God, for the Bible says in 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
• If you are not a Christian and want to learn how to bcome one, click on the following link to an excellent, brief article that will tell you what you need to know: http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html

What A Respected Bible Scholar Says About Wine In Bible Times

By Pastor Bruce Oyen and Pastor David Brumbelow
Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

     Some Bible scholars point out that the Bible's references to wine do not always mean that the wine had alcohol in it. But when we Americans hear of wine, or speak of wine, we usually mean alcoholic wine. The result of our view of wine has caused us to assume that when the Bible refers to wine, it refers to alcoholic wine. But this is a big mistake.

     Southern Baptist pastor, David Brumbelow, has provided a good quote on this subject from a respected Bible scholar. It can be read on Pastor Brumbelow's blog spot. I hope you will read it with an open mind. Here is a link to it
http://gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com/2013/05/john-kitto-on-wine-in-bible-times-and.html

Jesus Christ Turned Water Into Non-alcoholic Wine

By Pastor Bruce  Oyen and Pastor David Brumbelow
Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

     It might shock some of you to read the title to this posting. After all, does not the Bible say that Jesus Christ turned water into wine? And does not wine always contain alcohol?

     Yes, the Bible does say the Lord turned water into wine. You can read it yourself by reading the second chapter of John's Gospel. But, the little-known fact is that wine does not always contain alcohol. It doesn't always contain it NOW, and it didn't always contain it BACK IN ANCIENT BIBLE TIMES.

     Pastor David Brumbelow has a good posting about this subject on his blog spot. I hope you will read it with an open mind. Here is a link to it:
http://gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com/2013/04/jesus-turned-water-to-wine-not-alcohol.html

What Should We Think About?

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen

Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

     My theme for this posting is simple: "What should we think about?" We all know the impact that our thoughts have on our conduct. Here is only one example of many that could be given: after the somewhat- recent terrorist bombings during the Boston marathon, it was discovered that the killers had been feeding their minds with radical Islamic anti-American ideas. Eventually they did what they had been thinking about.

     The opposite is also true. That is, if we put good things into our minds it will influence us to do good things. Many of us have seen on TV the touching reports of individuals who have helped others after a disaster such as a tornado, and we have been inspired to help others in their time of need. Perhaps it motivated you to send money to help them, or to volunter to go to where the help was needed.

      Yes, what we put into our minds has great impact on our lives, for good or evil. The apostle Paul understood this principle and brought it to the attention of the Christians in the city of Philippi. In the eighth verse of the fourth chapter of his letter to the Philippians he made this statement: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." This verse is from the King James Version, and is taken from  this website that has many Bible translations on it: www.biblegateway.com.

      In this one verse we find eight characteristics that should be true of the things we think about:

• whatsoever things are true,
• whatsoever things are honest,
• whatsoever things are just,
• whatsoever things are pure,
• whatsoever things are lovely,
• whatsoever things are of good report;
• if there be any virtue,
• and if there be any praise, think on these things.

      This is important Biblical guidance for our thought-life. As has been said, "Garbage in, garbage out. Good in, good out."

      Perhaps you will profit from what Albert Barnes wrote about these statements by Paul. Albert Barnes was a Bible-believing Presbyterian scholar who lived in the 1800's. He wrote very practical commentaries on many books of the Bible, and they are still in print.  Here are his notes on Philippians 4:8, taken from this website: www.studylight.org.

"Whatsoever things are true - In this exhortation the apostle assumes that there were certain things admitted to be true, and pure, and good, in the world, which had not been directly revealed, or which were commonly regarded as such by the people of the world, and his object is to show them that such things ought to be exhibited by the Christian. Everything that was honest and just toward God and toward people was to be practiced by them, and they were in all things to be examples of the highest kind of morality. They were not to exhibit partial virtues; not to perform one set of duties to the neglect or exclusion of others; not to be faithful in their duties to God, and to neglect their duty to people, not to be punctual in their religious rites, and neglectful of the comment laws of morality; but they were to do everything that could be regarded as the fair subject of commendation, and that was implied in the highest moral character. The word true refers here to everything that was the reverse of falsehood. They were to be true to their engagements; true to their promises; true in their statements; and true in their friendships. They were to maintain the truth about God; about eternity; about the judgment; and about every man‘s character. Truth is a representation of things as they are; and they were constantly to live under the correct impression of objects. A man who is false to his engagements, or false in his statements and promises, is one who will always disgrace religion.

Whatsoever things are honest - σεμνὰ semna Properly, venerable, reverend; then honorable, reputable. The word was originally used in relation to the gods, and to the things that pertained to them, as being worthy of honor or veneration - Passow. As applied to people, it commonly means grave, dignified, worthy of veneration or regard. In the New Testament it is rendered “grave” in 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 3:11, and Titus 2:2, the only places where the word occurs except this; and the noun ( σεμνότης semnotēs) is rendered “honesty” in 1 Timothy 2:2, and “gravity” in 1 Timothy 3:4, and Titus 2:7. It occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The word, therefore, does not express precisely what the word “honest” does with us, as confined to dealings or business transactions, but rather has reference to what was regarded as worthy of reputation or honor; what there was in the customs of society, in the respect due to age and rank, and in the contact of the world, that deserved respect or esteem. It includes indeed what is right in the transaction of business, but it embraces also much more, and means that the Christian is to show respect to all the venerable and proper customs of society, when they did not violate conscience or interfere with the law of God; compare 1 Timothy 3:7.

Whatsoever things are just - The things which are right between man and man. A Christian should be just in all his dealings. His religion does not exempt him from the strict laws which bind people to the exercise of this virtue, and there is no way by which a professor of religion can do more injury perhaps than by injustice and dishonesty in his dealings. It is to be remembered that the people of the world, in estimating a person‘s character, affix much more importance to the virtues of justice and honesty than they do to regularity in observing the ordinances of religion; and therefore if a Christian would make an impression on his fellow-men favorable to religion, it is indispensable that he manifest uncorrupted integrity in his dealings.

Whatsoever things are pure - Chaste - in thought, in feeling, and in the conversation between the sexes; compare the notes at 1 Timothy 5:2.

Whatsoever things are lovely - The word used here means properly what is dear to anyone; then what is pleasing. Here it means what is amiable - such a temper of mind that one can love it; or such as to be agreeable to others. A Christian should not be sour, crabby, or irritable in his temper - for nothing almost tends so much to injure the cause of religion as a temper always chafed; a brow morose and stern; an eye that is severe and unkind, and a disposition to find fault with everything. And yet it is to be regretted that there are many persons who make no pretensions to piety, who far surpass many professors of religion in the virtue here commended. A sour and crabby temper in a professor of religion will undo all the good that he attempts to do.

Whatsoever things are of good report - That is, whatsoever is truly reputable in the world at large. There are actions which all people agree in commending, and which in all ages and countries are regarded as virtues. courtesy, urbanity, kindness, respect for parents, purity between brothers and sisters, are among those virtues, and the Christian should be a pattern and an example in them all. His usefulness depends much more on the cultivation of these virtues than is commonly supposed.

If there be any virtue - If there is anything truly virtuous. Paul did not suppose that he had given a full catalogue of the virtues which he would have cultivated. He, therefore, adds, that if there was anything else that had the nature of true virtue in it, they should be careful to cultivate that also. The Christian should be a pattern and an example of every virtue.

And if there be any praise - Anything worthy of praise, or that ought to be praised.

Think on these things - Let them be the object of your careful attention and study, so as to practice them. Think what they are; think on the obligation to observe them; think on the influence which they would have on the world around you."

Looking At Life When Facing Death

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen

Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

Age is partly a state of mind

     There is truth to the saying that age is partly a state of mind. We all know individuals who, though young, act and feel old. We know individuals who, though old, act and feel young. It seems it has to do with one's perspective on life in general.

The 100 year old lady 

     We new one dear Christian lady who lived to be over 100 years old. She could not see well, hear well, or walk well, but she kept a good perspective on life, in spite of all her ailments.This was largely due to her faith in the grace and goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Her daughter held an open house for her 100th birthday. We and many others went to celebrate with her. When it was time to leave, I told her we would be back for her 200th birthday. She said, "Don't wait that long to come back for a visit!" She hadn't let her health problems completely rob her of  the ability to have a good time. But even though she had lived a very long life, it still seemed short.

A famous king's reflections on the brevity of life 

     It was that way with a famous king, who, though he died at the much younger  age of 70, looked back on his life and said it seemed short. I am referring to Israel's favorite leader of long ago, King David. Most know him as the writer of some the Old Testament's book of Psalms. He wrote maybe 73 of the 150 Psalms in that favorite part of the Bible. Some of his writings and sayings are found in other books of the Old Testament, as well as in the Psalms. Some are found in the New Testament. One example from the Old Testament is found in 2 Chronicles 29, a lengthy part of which is quoted at the end of this posting. In that quote, verse 15 has been put in bold print.

Some thoughts on 2 Chronicles 29:15

      I want give some thoughts on 2 Chronicles 29:15, which says this: "For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding."

     It is striking what was on David's mind in his last days. He said,  "our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding." Certainly this refers to King's David's sense of the brevity of life. Read it again: "our days on the earth are as a shadow............."  

     It is common for individuals to look back on their lives and say to themselves and to others, "The years have gone by so fast!" King David also wrote Psalm 37. Part of verse 25 says, "I have been young, and now am old." I assume he felt he the years had flown by.

    Since life is short and unpredictable, we must make sure that we will go to heaven at death.

     God wants everyone to go to heaven, but we have to do our part to make sure we will get there. Death ends all further opportunity to make reservations for heaven. To find out what we must do to get to heaven, read the first five chapters of the apostle Paul's letter to the Roman Christians, and also the Book of Acts. These are found in the New Testament portion of the Bible. You can also click on the following link and read an excellent salvation article: http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html. Acts 16:31 says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved."

Other important matters.

     Now, since it is true that life is short even when it is long, we should concentrate on other important matters. Making reservations for heaven is the most important we can do, but other things are important. It is a sad thing to come to the end of one's life and have to admit that what was really important was neglected for things of much lesser importance. Many subjects deserve our attention, but consider just a few of them.

      We should take time for regular Bible reading. The Bible is God's Word. What a shame to come to the end of life and not know what God says about many important subjects. An unknown author wrote this about the Bible: "The Bible reveals the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are unchangeable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of Hell disclosed. CHRIST is its Grand Subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully, It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened in the Judgment, and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents."

     We should take time for prayer. True prayer is directed to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is God's appointed means for us to tell him what is on our hearts. It is the means by which we worship, praise, and adore him. It is the means by which we bring our needs to him, and the needs of others. It is the means by which we confess our sins to him, and receive his forgiveness. Of course, we can also pray directly to the Lord Jesus Christ in his name.

     We should take time for regular church attendance. Regularly attending a church that believes the Bible to be God's Word, and that preaches and teaches it,  is one of the most important things we can do if we want to live for Jesus Christ. Church attendance opens up doors for us to get involved in the work of the church. It also gives us opportunity to develop friendships with other Christians who can help us live for the Lord.

      We should take time for wholesome personal relationships with family and friends. Jobs, careers, and hobbies are not nearly as important as relationships with family and friends. Many workaholics come to the end of life and regret that they have neglected their spouses, children, and friends. They might have made a fortune by all their hard work, and risen to the top in business, but learn that they are poverty-stricken when it comes to personal relationships. It has wisely been said that no one comes to the end of life and wishes he or she had spent more time at work.

1 Chronicles 29

(King James Version)

  Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God.

² Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

³ Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house.

⁴ Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:

⁵ The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?

⁶ Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,

⁷ And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.

⁸ And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the Lord, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.

⁹ Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

¹⁰ Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

¹¹ Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

¹² Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

¹³ Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

¹⁴ But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

¹⁵ For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

¹⁶ O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.

¹⁷ I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

¹⁸ O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

¹⁹ And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

²⁰ And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king.

(This quote from 2 Chronicles was taken from this website: http://www.biblegateway.com/. Those who struggle with the old English of the King James Version should consider reading the New King James Version, which is in modern English.)

Fooling The People About Alcoholic Beverages

For an interesting article by an M. D. about the negative affects of  alcoholic beverages, click on this link to it: http://www.biblicalevangelist.org/index.php?id=310&issue=Volume 36, Number 3

Some Thoughts About Evangelism

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen

Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

   I have written on this subject before, but it is good to be reminded of it from time-to-time.

What isn't evangelism?

     We need to know what evangelism is. Perhaps telling what it isn't will help us know what it is. Evangelism is not converting others to our political views. It is not convincing others to join our our local church. It is not arguing for the supposed superiority of our denomination. It is not telling someone to quit drinking alcoholic beverages, to quit smoking tobacco (or something else), to quit gambling, to quit using profanity, or to quit some other bad habit.

What is evangelism?

     Evangelism is making known to others the good news that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, died on the cross in our place in order to pay the penalty of our sins. It  involves telling them that the Lord was raised again from the dead. It involves telling them that he offers full and free forgiveness of sins to anyone who will believe on him as Savior and Lord. It involves telling them that no one can merit salvation by being good. It involves telling that this life is the only opportunity they have to be saved, and that death ends all further opportunity to believe in Jesus Christ. It involves telling them that if they die without having first believed in him, they will spend eternity in a horrible place called hell.

Evangelism in the Book Of Acts  

     The points just made can be verified by carefully reading the New Testament's Book Of Acts. That book is a record of the evangelistic efforts of the Christians of the first century A. D. It can be verified, also, by reading other parts of the New Testament. But the Book Of Acts is key to the subject because it is a record of the theology behind evangelism worked out in the lives of others. In other words, it tells us of Christians being evangelistic.

     Consider a few examples. We read in Acts 8 that Philip the evangelist had opportunity to evangelize people in a certain location, and it says in verse 5 that he "preached Christ unto them." Later in Acts 8, we read that Philip had opportunity to evangelize one man.We are told that in doing so he "preached unto him Jesus."   One more example: We read in Acts 16 that a man asked two Christians (Paul and Silas) what he needed to do to be saved. Their answer was simple: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved......"

Pastors should be evangelistic

     Even though pastors might not be gifted to be evangelists, they should be evangelistic. They can and should make the Gospel known through their sermons and Bible studies. They can and should at those times give non-Christians an opportunity to act on the Gospel message by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, And those persons should be given opportunity to make it known at once that they have accepted him as their Savior.

     Pastors can and and should try and reach others with the Gospel outside of the church services. This can be done in a variety of ways and settings. But it can and should be done. Pastors should challenge their congregations to be involved in reaching others with the Gospel, and should set an example of doing so themselves.

Christians in general should be evangelistic.

     Evangelism is not just the privilege and responsibility of pastors and evangelists. Every Christian should make effort to win others to faith in Jesus Christ. This can be done in a variety of ways. Here are a few examples: by speaking to others about salvation, by giving away Gospel tracts, by inviting non-Christians to church services and home Bible studies, at which they can hear the Gospel.

Living a good Christian life is not enough

    Every Christian should seek to live a good Christian life, and with God's help we can do so. But non-Christians need more than good examples to follow. They need the Gospel message to believe. A good example can prepare the way for non-Christians to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. But we must not stop with a good example. We must give them the Gospel message.

Perhaps you are not a Christian

    Perhaps you are not a Christian, but want to learn more about becoming one. If so, please click on the following link. It will tell you what you need to know. http://www.godssimpleplan.org/gsps-english.html

Why Is There Now So Much Acceptance Of Homosexuality?

By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen

Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com

Homosexuality becoming more common

      Quite regularly, it seems, we hear of another well-known person announcing he or she is a homosexual, or is a homosexual who is getting or gotten married. A weather man on a major TV network did so earlier this year (2013). And, we also regularly hear of other influential persons coming out in defense of gay marriage. President Obama is an example.

Common acceptance of moral relativism

      This has led to a question: why is there now so much acceptance of homosexuality, even by those who reject for themselves? The answer is simple: it is because there is wide spread acceptance of moral relativism. More and more persons live by the principle that there are few moral absolutes that apply to all persons in all times and under all circumstances. However, they generally have not thrown all moral absolutes to the winds. They have enough sense to know that if that is done, they will have to accept murder, rape, theft, lying, and all other behavior as acceptable, too. So, they pick and choose which behavior to accept and which to reject. At this point in history, moral relativists say murder is wrong, but homosexuality is right for those who like it.

Christians believe in moral absolutes 

     But if we had a set of moral standards that apply to all persons, in all times, and under all circumstances, how differently we would live our lives! Well, the fact is that Christians do have such a set of standards. And Christians do not consider these moral standards to have been dreamed up by one person. or by many persons, who then have attempted to govern the world by them. Rather, Christians believe these moral standards have been set by Almighty God, who has made them known to us in the pages of one book, the Bible, which they consider to be God's infallible Word in written form. And it just so happens that the Bible clearly condemns homosexuality a number of times. The Bible addresses this subject, as it does many subjects, in a way that it is beyond justifiable dispute that God considers homosexuality to be wrong for all persons, in all times, and under all circumstances.

Moral relativists will dismiss this view of homosexuality and the Bible.

     But for those of us who know the Bible is the Word of, we must accept what it says on this and any other subject subject. The Bible is the Christian's moral standard. We might not always live up to it, but we believe it is always right.

Read what the Bible says about homosexuality

     Those who want to read for themselves what the Bible says about homosexuality should start with the first chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans. He discusses the matter in verses 18 - 32. If you are new to the Bible, the index will help you locate this letter by Paul.