Archive for category Bible Study
Let’s Talk About Lucifer
Posted by Christoferl in Bible Study on August 10, 2010
Ok – so one of the things I keep hearing from KJVOnlyist is how the modern translations, such as the NIV calls Lucifer ‘Jesus’. The argument goes as follows…
KJV – 12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
NIV: 12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, ? you who once laid low the nations!
So it would seem to any serious Bible reader that there is a problem with the NIV, because 2 Peter 1:19 and Revelation 22:16 refer to Jesus as the Morning Star… how dare those guys at Zondervan?! Right?
Well, no… in fact… neither is really ‘wrong’ – but the truth is, the KJV should have never used the word ‘Lucifer’ there and despite what the KJVOnlyists might tell you – it is not the only Bible to use the word LUCIFER… notice, by the way – that I called it a word, and not a name…
You see, Lucifer also appears in the Douay Rheims Bible! Thats right – the KJV agrees with the official Catholic Bible! One of the same Bibles they declare corrupt! One of the so-called Catholic corruptions even!
Now a KJVOnlyist might say, “Big deal though right? The DR is bound to be right about some things, right?”
The problem here is the word Lucifer is not of Hebrew origin… IT IS LATIN! Jerome, the man who translated the Hebrew to Latin for the RCC, translated ‘heylel’ as Lucifer…
The KJVO who freaks out about the difference between the KJV and modern translations with Isaiah 14:12 needs to bone up a bit and check out the Strong’s concordance… do you know what ‘Lucifer’ means? It means shining one, morning star!
The fact is – Jewish scholars laugh at our creation of the word ‘Lucifer’ from the word ‘Heylel’. Satan’s name was never Lucifer until we, than is man, made it so. The rendering of the word ‘lucifer’ was not ‘wrong’ in the Latin anymore than dawn star, morning star, or day star is wrong in English.
So essentially, the KJV is partly responsible for the distortion created by the Latin because not only did it carry over the Latin word for morning star, it embraced this Catholic ‘name’ and ran with it. Of course, it doesn’t help that it mistranslates ‘sheol’ as ‘hell’ in Isaiah 14:15, adding to the confusion.
The passage is actually about the rise and fall of the King of Babylon. Christians are taught that this as the fall of Satan, but it actually has a duel meaning that many Christians aren’t aware of. Personally, I think it is about the rise and fall of the king of Babylon who was possessed by Satan… but thats kust my way of understanding it as I believe God has led me to understand it, ya know?
So – KJVOnyists – please – explain to me how it is that the KJV came to use a Latin word in Isaiah 14:12 that is absolutely alien to the Hebrew… a word that the Catholic Church completely agrees with and embraces. And how is it you criticize modern translations for properly translating Heylel into English. Sure – the Bible calls Jesus the Morning Star – but the Bible also calls many men the sons of God and yet we know they are not the same kind of son as Jesus is either.
The KJV rocks – but the Onlyists have got it all mixed up.
Adding and Taking From the Word
Posted by Christoferl in Bible Study on June 21, 2010
“I’ve always wondered what classified as adding to or taking away from the Bible spoken of in Rev 22 Verse 18-19. But what classifies as adding to or taking away from the word? Is it mentally adding to a verse, is it writing it down differently, or does it simply apply to those who translated the scriptures long ago?”
OK, now, I’m no expert – but here’s how I would answer that question. First – let’s look at the passage…
NIV – 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
KJV – 18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
One of the first things I notice which most Christians get upset with when I mention it is that this particular passage is written about THIS specific book – in other words, it was written about the book we call Revelation and not the entire Bible as the Bible was not yet assembled and wouldn’t be for at least another 200 years.
Still, that is beside the point, isn’t it? The fact is – we should not take away or add to the Scriptures. That is a sound teaching; “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:2; “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6 – so what does this mean? How careful should a translator be? Very careful I would assume… I pray they are inspired by the Holy Spirit and that God’s grace is with them – but I think the passage refers to our own individual testimonies and the way we use our knowledge on scripture.
Let me explain what I mean…
When I was growing up – I don’t remember who – but someone always reminded me that Jesus says not to swear in the Bible… what I wasn’t told and I didn’t realize until years later us that Jesus wasn’t speaking about cussing in the verse referenced for this statements… He was referring to swearing oaths… someone added AND took away on that interpretation…
We aren’t to manipulate scripture – twist it – add to something – or detract from something else from within it. We are allowed to loosely quote scripture as we see that happen all the time in the New Testament… so long as we aren’t trying to distort it to mean something it doesn’t I think we are good to go.
I see examples of this all the time – from atheists, muslims, pagans, but mostly, from Christians themselves. I don’t know if it is intentional or out of ignorance, but its all over the place. Just be true to God and let the Holy Spirit give you words to speak…
John 19:14 – Was Jesus Crucified in the 6th Hour?
Posted by Christoferl in Bible Study on February 18, 2010
Ok – Here’s the something I stumbled onto while researching ‘Brief Bible Blunders #3′…
The question was – when was Jesus crucified?
Marks answers – The first day of Passover 9 am
Mark 14:12 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover
Mark 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
John answers – The day before passover – afternoon
John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
Most people believe that John was using the Roman measurement of time when dealing with the crucifixion. Mark used the Hebrew system of measuring time. This is both plausible and possible, and if one compares the two times – then low and behold both accounts really seem to be lining up! Why is that? Well, to put it simply – there is another reason for the difference between John and Mark that the external evidence points to…
In the 200’s ad, one of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, wrote about the problem with John 19:14 in section 6 of a work entitled:That up to the Time of the Destruction of Jerusalem, the Jews Rightly Appointed the Fourteenth Day of the First Lunar Month: (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf06.ix.vi.v.html)
“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the third hour,” as the correct books render it, and the copy itself that was written by the hand of the evangelist, which, by the divine grace, has been preserved in the most holy church of Ephesus, and is there adored by the faithful. (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf06.ix.vi.v.html)
When Peter of Alexandria wrote this, he was not trying to prove any kind of point about the timing of Jesus’ death, he was quoting the verse for other reasons. However, he notes in passing that the original manuscript, which was still available at that time, had it correct. There seems to be no motivation whatsoever for Peter of Alexandria to have made up this idea.
Even today, a few ancient manuscripts still say “third hour” in John 19:14, but because the number is small, most of the master Greek texts that are the basis of English Bible translations say “sixth hour”.
The Adam Clarke Commentary discusses the “third hour” manuscripts.(http://www.studylight.org/com/acc/view.cgi?book=joh&chapter=019)
The sixth hour—Mark says, Mark 15:25, that it was the third hour. trith, the third, is the reading of DL, four others [other manuscripts], the Chron. Alex., Seuerus Antiochen., Ammonius, with others mentioned by Theophylact. Nonnus, who wrote in the fifth century, reads trith, the third. As in ancient times all the numbers were written in the manuscripts not at large but in numeral letters, it was easy for g three, to be mistaken for v six. The Codex Bezae has generally numeral letters instead of words. Bengel observes that he has found the letter g gamma, three, exceedingly like the vepisemon, six, in some MSS. {Episemon = greek ‘st’ combined, similar appearance to final form sigma with a nearly flat top. Similar appearance to upper case gamma G.} The major part of the best critics think that trith, the third, is the genuine reading. See the note on Mark 15:25.
The only other Bible translation I could find that says “third hour” for John 19:14 is the Concordant Literal New Testament. Yet I believe “third hour” (9 a.m.) is the right translation. Why? It is consistent with the other books of the Bible, some ancient manuscripts actually contain this reading, the ancient writer Peter of Alexandria claims it is correct, a copying mistake seems likely and there seems to be no doctrinal reason why John 19:14 would have been altered.”
Though Adam Clarke thinks it was a mistake – it seems just as likely to me that it was done to intentionally make the hour known to Roman reader’s… thats my opinion, of course.
America – Where We Really Founded On Christianity?
Posted by Christoferl in Bible Study, Commentaries on January 31, 2010
First to clear up a misconception –
When I spoke of rebellion in my video – America – a Christian Foundation?
ORIGINAL VIDEO HERE:
I wasn’t referring to the Pilgrims who did all they could to peacefully find their freedom to worship. As far as I understand the story – King James the 1st was trying to force his will through the church of England – forcing Protestants and Catholics alike to conform to his own beliefs… In fact – they fled in a time when the King was demanding that all citizens took an Oath against the Pope and that the citizens worshiped as the Church of England deemed appropriate which ultimately led to them fleeing Europe and risking their lives to come to the ‘New World’. I don’t think the Pilgrims were wrong for leaving. I wouldn’t follow a leader who forced false religion on me either.
When I spoke of rebellion I was speaking of the men who actually broke away from the authority of England and declared America an independent nation. As far as I understand it – in a nut shell – the nation rebelled over unfair taxation without representation. As unfair as it may have been – I have a hard time proclaiming the rebellion as justified when I realize that Jesus, the Apostles, and their disciples did not revolt against the Roman occupation of Israel, or the oppression and persecution of the faith throughout the early centuries of Christianity.
Romans 13:1-7 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Despite the general Christian sentiment to paint the American Revolution as a Godly event – we should not forget Romans 13! Our rebellion from England based on tyranny carried out through taxation without representation is not based on anything Christ and the Apostles taught. People say God ordained this new government but we sure would have a hard time sating this looking at the fruits of this nation. The revolution really wasn’t about religious freedom – even though this was something that was important to America as they formed a new nation. Our colonies were already enjoying freedom of religion before the start of the Revolution. Now before we go any further I think we should also remember 1 Timothy Chapter 2 verse 1-8:
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle I am telling the truth, I am not lying as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
We are called to pray for the kings so we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in ALL Godliness and dignity… This is good according to God who ransomed Himself for us despite all the bad governing that was going on in the time that Jesus walked the earth. Its a higher calling for us to rise above the idea of rebelling. Paul finished verse eight with four words that are too curious to ignore… we are to pray without wrath or dissension… Again – I can’t state this enough – I have a hard time proclaiming the rebellion as justified when I realize that Jesus, the Apostles, and their disciples did not revolt against the Romans. Was the American Revolution an act without wrath or dissension? Is that even possible? I would say the early Pilgrims acted without wrath or dissension, but can the same be said for American Revolutionaries? I don’t think so.
Now another thing that troubles me concerning the claim that this nation was founded on Christianity is that Jesus wasn’t mentioned in the Declaration of Independence by name. Many have argued that those who signed the declaration understood the Trinity – and thus – Jesus is mentioned by way of mentioning God. While I agree that many – if not most of those who signed the declaration were indeed Trinitarians, the exclusion of Jesus’ name brings me to a startling conclusion which many American Christians do not accept, which is the declaration wasn’t written for Christians but for people of all religions – the declaration fits most religions just fine; Judaism, Islam, even Hinduism in a way. I also believe this because – there are other writings in America from the same time period the Declaration of Independence was written that plainly mention Jesus, the Holy Spirit and even Christianity, the religion – in the 1600′s there are many mentions of Jesus in official writings…
For instance – The Constitution of the New England Confederation (May 19, 1643) actually says Whereas we all came to these parts of America with the same end and aim, namely, to advance the Kingdome of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to injoy the liberties of the Gospell thereof with purities and peace, and for preserving and propagating the truth and liberties of the gospell.
The Fundamental Constitutions of Pennsylvania (1682), written by William Penn, says – that every Person that does or shall reside therein shall have and enjoy the Free Possession of his or her faith and exercise of worship towards God; in such way and manner as every Person shall in Conscience believe is most acceptable to God and so long as every such Person useth not this Christian liberty to Licentiousness, that is to say to speak loosely and prophainly of God, Christ or Religion, or to Committ any evil in their Conversation.
The Constitution of the State of North Carolina (1776), stated: Article XXXII That no person who shall deny the being of God, or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority of the Old or New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State. (until 1876) In 1835 the word “Protestant” was changed to “Christian.”
The Constitution of the State of Maryland (August 14, 1776) That, as it is the duty of every man to worship God is such a manner as he thinks most acceptable to him; all persons professing the Christian religion, are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty; wherefore no person ought by any law to be molested… on account of his religious practice; unless, under the color [pretense] of religion, any man shall disturb the good order, peace or safety of the State, or shall infringe the laws of morality… yet the Legislature may, in their discretion, lay a general and equal tax, for the support of the Christian religion. (until 1851)
And the list goes on! State constitutions once said things that were exclusively Christian such as these… yet the national declaration painstakingly ignores Jesus? Obviously there was deliberate effort to avoid mentioning anything that would be expressly considered Christian even as the states included Christ in their own constitutions. Why was this? I believe it was so that down the road – the Supreme Court could force the states to remove Jesus from their Constitutions claiming that it violated separation of Church and State. Had Jesus been mentioned by name in the Declaration of Independence, this never would have been tolerated. While its obvious that Christianity was here from the start of America in a big way – be it through good intentions or devious deception – we were lulled into a system that has allowed opponents of Christianity to actually suppress its influence on our Land.
I also said I thought it was wrong how we killed the Indians as we ventured towards the West coast. I still believe this.
One other thing I’d like to address is people say we should focus on the good for God that our constitution has done – and that God created it and that Satan is trying to destroy it… Really? Why would Satan seek to destroy the one system that has given him the power to spread filth and greed across this land and ultimately the world? Whether we are willing to admit it or not – America has promoted a love for money that has brought on everything from a huge porno industry to the incredible illegal drug market to exploitation of third world nations. People complain that America has lost its jobs – and that nothing is made in America anymore – but thats because things are made cheaper elsewhere – and the bottom line is corporations want to make more money and consumers want to pay less money. Despite all the perceived good we can claim – we can’t ignore that our national freedom has done as much harm as it has good. Sure, we can worship in freedom, but so can the Satanist. Yes, we are free to spread the Gospel through freedom of speech but that also means that the sex and violence of Hollywood in the form of music and movies is free to infect society. Furthermore, our freedom has become a breeding ground for Christian division. I mean, how many thousands of denominations got their start right here? How many cult from false prophets such as the Mormons, the Jehovah Witnesses – the Seventh Day Adventists have come from America? We are the one and only nation ever to nuke another and don’t even get me started on abortion. Jesus said no good tree can produce bad fruit so what does this say about our nation? I know He was speaking about individuals but the principal can apply to our nation as well. Its a doubled edged sword that we have in America and that isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Now this may seem like I am being anti-America – and to that I say perish the thought! God put me here in this nation, I have grown up in the system – and I love my country… I view our nation as a body of people – one unit – and looking back at our life as one body – we have done things that have not been Christlike. Our insistence that the US was a Christian country as a way of trying to make it a Christian country again is misguided. From the time of the Declaration of Independence it can easily be demonstrated that ‘freedom’ has been chipping away at the foundation of Christianity that existed before the revolution. Denying these truths undermine our efforts to change anything in the hear and now. It would be like a Christian trying to go back and change the fact that they were an unrepentant sinner before they knew Christ… the past can’t be changed – it shouldn’t be denied – but by recognizing the problems today we can hopefully do better at making things right for tomorrow… Our denial of our past simply means doomed to repeat it…
Which leads me to the next issue at hand – and that is the NWO – which I am absolutely not in favor of… but we have to ask ourselves – how should we – as american christians – deal with it? If it should come about that tomorrow our nation joins such an unHoly alliance, how will we meet it?
It seems to me that many will just accept it. They don’t give much thought to these things. And even if that means that they will have to accept some marking – perhaps the mark of the beast – so be it… anything for the benefit of the whole right? This would be a sad mistake.
It seems to me that Americans on the other hand – will fight it. They will form militias, arm themselves to the teeth, kill and die for this system which has promoted this freedom that we are under. To me – this is repeating the same mistakes our founding fathers did. Killing for our so-called freedom. We should never forget that King David – a man who’s heart was after God’s own heart – was not permitted to build the Temple because of the blood on his hands…
1 Chronicles 28:2-3 King David rose to his feet and said: “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’
The wrath of God is His alone… He will deal with the wicked – its simply not our calling. It seems to me that a Christian would resist the NWO just as the early Christians resisted the Romans. We can run – we can hide – but we most certainly can’t take up arms and fight the NWO because that’s not how the Christians handled oppression before the fourth century.
But what if you are an American Christian? Well, now you have some real choices to make… If you lean towards following the way the founding fathers of America – you will fight for the sovereignty of our nation. Yet – if the NWO – the One World Government – is part of the end of world that God has said will come – will you not then be fighting the will of God? If you simply accept the NWO then you are being bound to the anti-Christ and his system if the end of the world is soon to pass… but what would Jesus and the Apostles have done? Can there be any doubt that they would have fled – hidden – and died for the truth without killing their enemy? Is this not what they did? Now I know I am going to hear about how Jesus told the Apostles to get swords – and how there is a season for peace and for war – and so on – but I am asking – how did Jesus face those who killed Him? How about Stephen? Did the Apostles take up arms against the Jews who persecuted them? Did the disciples of the Apostles fight Nero and the Romans when they were burned at the stake or fed to the lions?
I’m not expecting this article to win me any friends – and I am sure it will anger many of you – even frustrate those of you who have heard me touch on these subjects previously – but consider these passages of scripture before you rip into me…
Matthew 6: 33-34 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We are first to seek HIS kingdom – and HIS righteousness…
Mark 13 5-11
Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.”You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Notice when Jesus speaks of being arrested – He doesn’t council us to fight – resist – and kill – He tells us not to worry about what we will say. In fact,- when speaking of how we are to deal with an evil man, He says…
Matthew 5:38-42″You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Now I have heard many ways of looking at this passage – but the bottom line is we are called to be so good it brings shame to those who are evil. So the NWO is at the front door, they’ve got guns and are ready to use them… are you going to shoot and kill as many as you can – or are you willing to trust God – even if that means you will lose your life and maybe even the lives of others?
Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Finally – I am very familiar with the argument that if we do not fight – then all the Christians will be dead and there will be no one left to preach the Gospel to the Lost… I am instantly reminded of the time Peter walked on water – but began to sink…
Matthew 14:31?Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
If we truly believe its all in God’s hands then why don’t we trust Him in all ways?
Biblical Divorce
Posted by Christoferl in Bible Study, Commentaries on November 21, 2009
Divorce is a horrible thing that has touched virtually each and every one of us in one way or another. Its appalling that our marriages fail at a rate of 50%! Whether it’s our parents – our own marriages – our children – or our friends – we all have witnessed the terrible destruction that is eating away at our lives called divorce. I want to look at some scriptures in an effort to bring understanding to this problem.
Matthew 19:3-12 Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”
“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from tI tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, n for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
I am so excited – there is so much here in this passage that it’s almost too much to grasp…
First we see that the Pharisees came and challenged Jesus with the fact that Moses allowed a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason… and we Jesus responds that Moses wrote that because their hearts were hard… Our divorce rates show us that the love is growing cold – even among Christians.
Matthew 24:10-13 says – At that time (meaning the end times) many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Ok – stop right there a second… first of all – most Christians believe these are the end times… and we can clearly see the turning away from the way of Jesus and the hatred, and the lack of love, among the so-Christians due to the wickedness. Seriously – think of the things that break up marriages – the love of money – pornography – lust and adultery – physical, psychological, and emotional abuse – selfishness – pride – all the wickedness that makes people say – I can’t be with him anymore because he does this – or I can’t stay married to her because she did that… they cuss at each other – and throw hateful hurtful words at each other – ripping through the very person God has put in their lives as a partner as if they were a deadly enemy – there is no humility or humbleness – there is no seeking of God in the hard times – its all a battle about the self – and not the family that God has blessed people with… we are still in the ‘me’ generation! How can we survive this age? How can we save our marriages and families? We must stand firm in Christ – making Him number one – before husbands or wives – before our children – and more than anything else – more than ourselves.
Next, notice the clear definition of marriage given by Jesus in Matthew 19 – a man leaves his mother and father – male and female – the only kind of couple able to have children – and that man is to be united with his wife – again male and female – and the two become one flesh! man and man – or woman and woman – cannot produce life – still another indicator of the definition of marriage…
There can be no doubt in that statement that marriage is between a man and a women yet the homosexual agenda is one that is slowly but surely eroding the very definition of marriage… this erosion of the definition of marriage is working against the value and commitment people have concerning marriage. It is no longer a sacred God given institution between a man and a woman to be valued – but instead – its becoming little more than a contract that can be broken for any and every reason in the eyes of the world – any and every reason – the same reason Moses wrote what he did to the Jews concerning divorce.
Another thing that seems obvious to me is that since man and woman become one flesh in marriage – they are a new creation – a precious life-form all their own – united by the will of God. Divorce is like murder in that it destroys that life.
Many times I hear people say it was a mistake to get married and for that reason they will divorce in order to make things ‘right’ – but that is a terrible lie from Hell itself… saying that you made a mistake so you’re going to get a divorce – thus killing this new creation of two becoming one – is like a man who impregnates a woman – and he says is going to take care of it – make it right – but then finances to have the baby aborted… to fix it and make it right – he would have to come along side that woman and raise his child in the ways of the Lord – killing the baby doesn’t make it right it makes it worse… so destroying a marriage because it was a mistake to get married is the same thing.
Even if you feel like you don’t love your spouse – as a Christian – you are called to make your marriage work – put Jesus first – be selfless – submit yourself to the fact that you are living with the consequences of your own choices which came under the will of God who has a purpose for putting you were you are today. Put Jesus first and all other things will follow – even the healing and restoration of your marriage.
There are really only three ways out of a marriage that I know of as a Christian…
the first way out would be the death of one’s spouse – and I don’t mean the murder of a spouse – but the natural passing of the spouse…
the second way out is if your spouse is an unbeliever and he or she wants to leave…
1 Corinthians 7:10-16 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Notice – we can’t kick an unbelieving spouse out – for our testimony and witness might yet save an unbelieving spouse – but if they want to leave we are free from them as we are called to peace as Children of God.
The final way out of a marriage is found back in Matthew 19 verse 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
In other words – we can divorce if we are cheated on… there is no other acceptable reason given in the scriptures!
What about cases of abuse? I don’t know. I would assume God would allow for a divorce in extreme cases, but that is my assumption and it is unsupported by any scripture that I am aware of. We are basically called to endure to the end. If anything – a rocky marriage could be a wonderful way to prove to the Lord how willing we are to be obedient to His Way.
Are you a Christian and troubled by the reality of what I’ve written here? As troubling as it is for us to swallow at times – the Gospel is not always something that settles well with the worldly and sinful nature of men… the real question comes down to this – are you going to obey God – or are you going to rebel against the Lord? Will you embrace His blessings – or bring on His wrath?
These are just some thoughts I’ve had recently while praying and reading up on divorce… there is surely more to be said and more to be learned – so I welcome you all to add your thoughts and comments to this post so that we can learn together.
Give It to Him
Posted by Christoferl in Bible Study, Commentaries on November 5, 2009
1 Peter 5:6-11
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Glory be to God! Don’t let anyone tell you that there is no devil out there – that is a lie – as the devil is seeking to devour us like a lion! Never-the-less – despite Satan’s desires – our God loves us – and if we simply humble ourselves into His hands – He will He will exalt us at the proper time which is His time – we need not fight a fight He has already won – but instead we must cast our anxieties on Him – maintaining self control – while keeping watch so not to be snatched by the enemy…
While we may suffer through the enemies attacks – we have to keep faith – knowing we are not suffering alone – and knowing that God has called us to Him because He has led us to Jesus Christ – and He will
restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast. It’s all by His power – not our own…
Go Ahead – Keep Telling Yourself Halloween Is Ok…
Posted by Christoferl in Bible Study, Commentaries on November 3, 2009
“The LORD your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.” You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates.” Deuteronomy 12:29-31
“… teach my people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 34:23
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priests for Me; because you have forgotten the Law of your God, I will also forget your children.” Hosea 4:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go, then when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
“That whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone was hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matthew 18: 6 – 7
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9
“Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the Armour of Light.” Romans 13:12
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s Table and of the table of demons.” 1 Corinthians 10:21
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? What communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? For what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?… Therefore, come out from among them and be separate says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 17
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the Faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.” 1 Timothy 4:1 – 2
“Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27
“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” 3 John 11
Tom Sanguinet, a former high priest in Wicca has said: “The modern holiday that we call Halloween has its origins in the full moon closest to November 1, the witches’ new year. It is a time when the spirits (demons) are supposed to be at their peak power and revisiting planet earth… Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have, or will do, that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus.”
Former Christians FAIL!
Posted by Christoferl in Bible Study, Commentaries, Testimonies, YT Related on March 9, 2010
1 John 2
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
How long is an hour? In this case – it doesn’t define a sixty minute time period, for if it had the hour would’ve been up before the ink could have dried on the parchment John was writing on. Instead, we know that this hour refers to the time from when Jesus ascended to heaven till He returns.
These days – as seen on Youtube – there are quite a few atheists boldly stating they were former Christians who have forsaken the way because they have read the Bible cover to cover and realized that it is ludicrous… and indeed, many of them seem well versed in it, don’t they? The truth is – they could commit the Bible to memory – word for word – and they still wouldn’t understand it. When we hear them trying to attack God and the Bible – we have to remember they are speaking out of complete and total ignorance… they complain about the way Christians misunderstand science all the time – but they never seem to recognize that they are doing the same thing when they speak out against Jesus Christ…
We know from 1 John that they are anti-Christs! How can we know this? They left the faith, thus showing they were never truly part of the faith. Now don’t get me wrong – I am not saying these guys are necessarily evil incarnate, because many of them seem to be quite reasonable… but the fact of the matter is that they claim to know of something they never knew. It’s almost funny to hear them declare pwnage over Christians when it’s they who have failed.
This isn’t the same as a former atheist becoming a Christian who testifies against atheism. A Christian who is full of the Holy Spirit once wasn’t full of the Holy Spirit – so he can look back and relate to certain situations through his own experiences… but when someone claims to have been a former Christian, they can only go back to a superficial religious form of Christianity. They cannot claim to have known the Holy Spirit, thus, all their conclusions on our Lord and Savior are based on ignorance.
Now I know they get truly irritated at times when this is brought up, because several of them really believed that they believed… and indeed – they may have believed… but they were obviously not anointed by the Holy One. Had they been they would not have been swayed away from the glorious grace of God.
Matthew 13
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”They would turn to God for answers, and they would understand that we don’t have all the answers, nor should we.
Jesus describes four kinds of people who hear the word in this parable. Of these four, the former Christians belong to three of the categories. They are seeds sown along the path, seeds on rocky places, or seeds cast in thorns. Its sad, but true. Unless they humble themselves, which is to say, prepare themselves as soil to receive the seed, they will never receive the seed. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to help them understand, but we ought not be surprised when they make ridiculous statements and assertions concerning God.
I thought I should write this article so that Christians everywhere might think about what they are watching on Youtube when they view atheists who claim to be former Christians, who say they’ve read and studied the Bible cover to cover… you aren’t watching someone who has succeeded in Christ… you are someone who failed. They need our prayers more than our arguments, as they will never turn from their sins unless the Lord leads them from the places of darkness in which they have fallen.
Romans 1
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Just something to remember next time you hear them attack God, the Bible, and Christianity.
former Christians
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