"Pastor" Ben Heath, and the Serpent Seed doctrine.

I have been out of the blog-o-sphere and forum discussions for a bit so I'm a little behind on the current events going on at Shepherd's Chapel. I learned that Arnold Murray passed away back in February of this year. Dennis Murray has taken over the teaching full time. Unfortunately he teaches the same heresies as his dad did. I pray Dennis repents before it is too late for him as well. I find it odd that the Shepherd's chapel website doesn't mention Arnold Murray's passing and most of his students don't seem to want to talk about it.

Also I have noticed a new Murrayite named "Pastor" Ben Heath, I put his title in quotations because he is not a Christian pastor. He seems to teach most of the same errors as Shepherd's Chapel does. He is a strong proponent of the serpent-seed doctrine heresy and has many articles that deal with it. I wanted to take a minute and look at some of his errors.

In his article called The Serpent Seed, Mr. Heath lays out a brief argument trying to prove the Serpent Seed doctrine heresy. He labors the point that the serpent in the Garden of Eden was Satan. I tend to agree with that, it was probably Satan in some form or manifestation. Then he goes with Genesis 3:15 (I will use the KJV since that is what he is using)

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15, KJV)

Ben Heath labors to try and prove that this verse is teaching a literal seed of the serpent. In other words, Eve had sex with Satan and produced Cain and Cain's offspring are with us today known by Shepherd's Chapel students as "Kenites". They teach that these Kenites pretend to be what we call Jews today.

Ben is right, this is a prophecy. This verse is often called the “Protoevangelium,” the first announcement of the gospel. The seed of Satan isn't the Kenites or Jews, it is anybody that denies Jesus as Christ. And Christ destroyed the power of Satan and his seed on the Cross!

Of course this is all very easily cleared up if one simply reads Genesis 4:1. We see very clearly who Cain's daddy is:

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. (Genesis 4:1, KJV)

The KJV uses the euphemism of "knew" his wife to refer to sexual intercourse. So we see quite clearly and Biblically that Cain is the literal, physical son of Adam. 

Next Mr. Heath tries to prove the serpent-seed doctrine by twisting some New Testament texts. He starts with the Parable of the Tares and states the children of the wicked one spoken of in Matthew 13:36-38 are literally Satan's literal offspring. Let us take a look at the texts in question, and in context:

Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:36-43, KJV)

We see the great reaping of the world at the last day here in these verses. We clearly see that all unbelievers are cast into the furnace of fire and all believers remain in the Kingdom of God! Now let us take a closer look at verse 38:

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (Matthew 13:38, KJV)

We see that the good seed are the children of the kingdom. This is obviously not talking about literal seed but the same type of seed John speaks of in 1 John 3:9. So the children of the wicked one are not literal kids of Satan but rather all unbelievers. The context is extremely clear if one reads the passages.

Mr. Heath goes on to state that this interpretation is refuted by Matthew 13:35. The secret or mystery spoken of there, though, isn't the seed of Satan but the mystery of the Gospel of Christ that the Jews simply didn't understand.

Ben Heath then goes on to other texts to try and prove Jesus taught serpent-seed doctrine. One of the texts he uses is a favorite of Shepherd's Chapel, John 8:44. 

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44, KJV)

Jesus is speaking that the spiritual father of these Jews is the devil because he earlier identified them as literal sons of Abraham in John 8:37.

 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you (John 8:37, KJV)

 Afterward, in John 8:56, Jesus again identifies that these Jews of John 8:44 are literal sons of Abraham. The context is clear.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56, KJV)

From these passages we can clearly see that Jesus did not think these people were literal, physical sons of Satan, but rather their works proved that they were spiritually the offspring of the devil. Jesus specifically identifies them as Abraham's offspring not Satan's!

In the last section of the Ben Heath's article he claims the Apostles taught serpent-seed and again twists some scripture to try and prove it. One text he uses is again one I've heard Arnold Murray use a lot to prove the sexual union between Satan and Eve. The text is 2nd Corinthians 11:3

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2nd Corinthians 11:3)

The word beguiled used in this verse is claimed by Ben Hearth  to mean sexually seduced. The Greek word used here is exapataō. Interpreting the word exapataō sexually brings up problems in other passages written by Paul. 1st Corinthians 3:18 uses the same word in a similar context.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. (1st Corintians 3:18, KJV)

The word deceive in this verse is the same Greek word exapataō. It is obvious this isn't speaking of anything remotely sexually.

 Romans 16:18 also uses the same word in context with the word kardia, meaning inner self.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16:18, KJV)

Again in this verse the word deceive is the Greek word exapataō and proves the word has no sexual connotation with it. The attempt to force this serpent-seed sexual meaning of exapataō into 2nd Corinthians 11:3 makes no more sense than it would in those two passages. 2nd Corinthians 11:3 is simply stating that Eve was deceived by the serpent.

If Ben Heath ever reads this I would love to have a discussion with him about these things. If he would like to I encourage him to contact me. In the meantime I will pray for his repentance and hope that he leaves these doctrines of demons.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Judging, Trinity, Millennium, Kenites, and more on Shepherd's Chapel.

Back again after a very long hiatus. I haven't been on this blog in a while and seen there were a lot of comments that needed to be moderated and replied to. One of the recurring themes in these posts was people saying I should not judge other Christian teachers. A person would have a hard time with Paul then. In 1st Corinthians 5:12-13 we see the following:

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
(1 Corinthians 5:12-13 ESV)

The late Arnold Murray claimed to be a Christian teacher/pastor and his son Dennis Murray continues to teach at Shepherd's Chapel. Since they claim to be Christian, then it is right and proper to judge what Shepherd's Chapel teaches and call them out on the errors and heresy they teach and warn other to stay away.

Not to mention the multiple times Jesus and the apostles rebuked and judged those teaching false doctrine. So it is not only a good thing but it is a commandment to call out false teachers and prophets. For that I will never apologize. Murray may never use a group, person or church by name when he criticizes a belief, but Jesus sure did. How can you warn somebody of a false prophet or a false church if you don't use their name?

Shepherd's Chapel, now lead by Dennis Murray, teach false doctrines and a false gospel. How so?

One, Murray teaches that a person has earned their election and justification in a former age based on something they did. Ephesians chapter 2 refutes this completely. If you think you earned your election and thus were judged in a former age then you believe in a works based form of salvation and Paul himself would condemn you based on Galatians chapter 1 and most of Romans.

Two, even though Murray may use some of the same language and even the word Trinity his teachings are purely modalistic. The scriptures teach of three co-existent, co-eternal persons of the one true God. Wrong God, wrong gospel.

Thirdly, Murray teaches an odd form of premillennialism that says that those deceived in this earth age will get a second chance to accept Christ in the millennium. 2nd Corinthians 5:10 refutes this: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." After you die that is it. Hebrews 9:27 shows that. Sorry no second chance. I too am not a fan of the pre-trib rapture doctrine and dispensational theology, but the Scriptures never say that a person will be deceived into following Satan in the end-times if they do believe in pre-trib rapture. As a matter of fact there are lots of scripture that speak otherwise: Revelation 13:8 and Matt. 24:22 and John 10:28-29 just to name a few. True Christians will not be deceived into following Satan. The errors of Shepherd's Chapel far outweigh the errors of dispensational theologians.

Fourthly, the serpent seed doctrine is bad, very bad. There are no physical descendants of Satan running around today. In scripture it is quite obvious that anybody that denies Jesus is a spiritual son of Satan, not literal. Although Cain was a spiritual son of Satan, Genesis 4:1 proves that Cain was the physical son of Adam. I know Murray loves to use John 8 to prove his serpent seed theory. He will quote John 8:44 to prove the Jews Jesus was talking to were literal sons of Satan. Jesus is speaking spiritually in 8:44 because he earlier identified them as literal sons of Abraham in John 8:37 and again afterward identifies they are literal sons of Abraham in John 8:56. The context is clear.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Refuting Shepherd's Chapel - Hell (Matthew 10:28)

Shepherd's Chapel denies eternal punishment in hell (Matthew 25:46). This view is commonly called annihilationism and is very popular in heretical groups (Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah Witness, etc.). Although it is a deep topic and needs much to be said, in this post I want to address just some of the errors that Shepherd's Chapel teaches. 

If one discusses the subject of hell with a student of Shepherd's Chapel probably the first verse that they will quote to defend annihilationism is Matthew 10:28. 

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matt. 10:28, KJV)

 Arnold Murray along with his followers will latch on to the word "destroy" in this verse and claim that it means blotted out or annihilation. Thus, to them, this verse teaches annihilationism straight from Jesus' mouth. The word destroy used in this verse is the Greek work apollymi (#G622). A few words must be said about this word. First, as used in Scripture the words “destroy,” “destruction,” “perish” etc. never signify cessation of existence. Second, you can go back in this same chapter in verse 6 and see how this word is used:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matt. 10:6, KJV)

 The word "lost" used in this verse is the exact same Greek word apollymi that is used in verse 28 for "destroy". As you can tell the word does not mean blotted out or annihilated. These sheep (Israelites) that Christ is talking about were not obliterated or blotted out, they were rather lost or separated from the true Shepherd (Christ). This is similar to those "destroyed" in hell, they are separated from Christ for all eternity (Rev. 22:15). This refutes Shepherd's Chapel's claim that the meaning of apollymi in Matthew 10:28 teaches annihilation. The Greek word apollymi is also used in the following verses (the bolded word is the Greek word apollymi):

 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11, KJV)

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? (Luke 15:4, KJV)

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.(Luke 15:24, KJV)

As can be seen the Greek word apollymi does not mean total annihilation, blotted out, or cessation of existence. Arnold Murray, as he has done many times, misuses the Greek or shows lack of understanding of how the Greek language works.

So, briefly, what does the Bible teach on hell? Well here is one thing that Christ said about it:

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matt. 25:46, KJV)

This punishment of hell Christ describes as everlasting. I have heard Shepherd's Chapel students claim that since annihilation is everlasting then it is everlasting punishment. This is not possible in the Greek syntax. the word for everlasting is aionios in the Greek and it modifies the nature of the punishment, not the results of the punishment. In this verse aionios modifies kalasis "punishment", which is an action noun. Greek nouns that end with –sis will focus on the action of the noun and not it's results. You can compare 2 Thess. 2:16 to see a parallel. In that verse aionios modifies paraklesis “comfort”, another –sis ending action noun. So this verse proves that Christ taught an everlasting hell of punishment. Also we have this:

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Rev. 14:11, KJV)

This again is another favorite verse for Shepherd's Chapel. When you use this verse to prove the Biblical view of everlasting hell then they will jump on you and say "look it says the smoke of their torment ascendeth for ever and ever. Only the smoke.". Ha! Gotcha right? Well no.

First, what is the smoke? It is of their "torment". It doesn't say it was the smoke of their annihilation, but the smoke of their torment. If the smoke ascends forever and ever, and the cause of the smoke is the torment, then it stands to reason that the torment lasts forever and ever. Second, if you continue to read this verse it states clearly that they have no rest day nor night. It does not say they were annihilated and the smoke rose for eternity. This verse clearly teaches that they are tormented for eternity and have no rest day or night.

This verse is very similar to Revelation 20:10

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev. 20:10, KJV)

After judgment is passed down to Satan and his minions they are all thrown into the lake of fire and tormented day and night forever and ever. If this verse teaches anything, it at least teaches that Satan is tormented in hell for eternity. If you continue reading Revelation chapter 20 then you will see that all those in hell are cast into this exact same lake of fire (Rev. 20:14, also Matt 25:41). Again since they are cast into the same lake of fire the Devil is then the same punishment is dealt out. Also if you continue reading Revelation and in the last chapter (after all this has taken place) you see that the unsaved were not annihilated in Revelation chapter 20 but cast outside the Great City:

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Rev. 22:14-15, ESV)

I have heard the students of Shepherd's Chapel claim that "forever and ever" does not mean eternity but simply a period of time. This is absolutely impossible in the Greek. The Greek phrase is eis tous aionas ton aionon and is often translated as forever, forevermore, and forever and ever. It is also used of the attributes of God which we know are unchangeable and are eternal. Please compare how this Greek phrase is used in the following verses of Scripture especially the ones in Revelation: Gal. 1:5, Phil. 4:20, 1 Tim. 1:17, 2 Tim. 4:18, Heb. 13:21, 1 Pet. 4:11, Rev. 1:6, Rev. 1:18, Rev. 4:9, Rev. 4:10, Rev. 5:13, Rev. 7:12, Rev. 10:6, Rev. 11:15, Rev. 15:7, Rev. 22:5

If you do your research and actually read those verses you will see that eis tous aionas ton aionon does not mean a temporary amount of time, but is basically the Greek way of saying eternity.

 One last note, even Daniel in the Old Testament saw that evil people are not annihilated at end of this age:

 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2, KJV)

Notice this verse says that in the end at the resurrection and judgement (Revelation 20) the saved receive everlasting life and the damned everlasting contempt (not annihilation).

So in conclusion we have shown that Shepherd's Chapel view of hell cannot be supported exegetically nor systematically from Holy Scripture.

Soli Deo Gloria! 

Refuting Shepherd's Chapel - Good & Bad Figs (Jeremiah 24)

In continuing my critique on Shepherd's Chapel teaching, I'll be turning my attention to the Good and Bad Figs. A basic rundown of this teaching of Shepherd's Chapel is that the Good & Bad Figs of Jeremiah chapter 24 is talking about Kenites¹ (the bad figs) and true Jews² (the good figs) returning to the land of Israel (which they say happened in 1948³) thus beginning what they call "the generation of the figtree⁴". Of course this is pure eisegesis and a real exegesis of the text shows that nothing of this sort is taught in Jeremiah chapter 24.

First let's just take a quick read of Jeremiah 24:

Jeremiah 24
The Good Figs and the Bad Figs 

24 After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile from Jerusalem Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen, and the metal workers, and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me this vision: behold, two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the Lord. 2 One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. 3 And the Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.”

4 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 6 I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.

8 “But thus says the Lord: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. 9 I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them. 10 And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.” (ESV)

A brief overview shows a vision of two baskets of figs. The basket of good figs represents those that were exiled to Babylon. The basket of bad figs represents those that will resist the exile. It also shows that the Lord's purpose of the exile is for judgment and salvation. This prophecy simply shows that it is too late for repentance to change the course of what God has planned for the exile. (compare to Jeremiah 21:9).

Now let's break this down, as they say, verse-by-verse:

Verse 1 - shows us that Nebuchadnezzar had taken the king and useful persons (officials, craftsmen and metal workers) into exile (597 b.c.). Then the Lord showed Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs (cp Jer. 1:11-16).

Verses 2 and 3  - Jeremiah describes the condition of these two basket of figs. One basket containing good figs (the exiles, v. 5) and one containing bad figs (those that remain in the land, v.8).

Verses 4 and 5  - The Lord identifies that the good figs are those whom He sent away to exile in the land of the Chaldeans. (cp Jer. 29:10-14).

Verse 6  - The Lord promises to restore the exiles. (cp Jer. 1:10; 12:2; 18:9).

Verse 7 - God promises to sovereignly dispense His grace on them so that they will repent and turn to Him. God will again have a covenantal relationship with His people.

Verse 8 - The Lord identifies the identity of the bad figs as the king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remained in the land. Notice that it is not Kenites.

Verse 9 and 10 - The Lord describes the punishment of those that remained as well as those in Egypt. (cp Jer. 15:2-4)

So, as long as somebody does not import their false presuppositions into the text, this text is not describing Kenites and true Jews returning to Israel in 1948. The text is simply explaining the judgment upon those that refused to go into exile as well as the repentance and restoration of those that did go into exile.

Soli Deo Gloria!

-------------
notes:

1. Shepherd's Chapel teaches that kenites are the sons of cain that are alive today claiming to be Jews.
2. Shepherd's Chapel follows the false doctrine of British-Israelism and claim that real Jews (or the 10 lost tribes) are from European Caucasian descent. 
3. They also claim this may have happened in 1967 after the Six-Day War.
4. This is the final generation before the second advent according to Shepherd's Chapel teaching.

Refuting Shepherd's Chapel - Katabole

About a year ago I posted a couple of videos on YouTube. In those videos I tried to refute and show some of the errors of Shepherd's Chapel teachings. I also had a post on this blog because Shepherd's Chapel students where accusing me of lying. In the videos and blog posts I very briefly tried to list and refute some of the false teachings of Arnold Murray. I feel that to properly refute the claims more needs to be said. So, Lord willing, I will post a few tidbits here and there in the next few weeks refuting some of Arnold Murray's teaching.

One of the big oversights I can point out is how Shepherd's Chapel followers misuse the Greek word katabolē (Strongs #G2602). Using hyper-dispensationalist E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible, Arnold Murray weaves a false system of belief that there was an "earth age" before the one we live in now and in that age Satan rebelled and caused God to destroy it in what they call the "katabole" or the "destruction of the world that was".

In the New Testament, Arnold Murray claims that when the word katabolē is used in the Greek it is actually a mis-translation in the KJV and should be translated as "destroyed" or "overthrow". For example in Ephesians 1:4 when you see the word foundation (which in the Greek is the word katabolē) used in "before the foundation of the world" it should be translated as "before the overthrow (or destruction) of the world". Thus, in their mind, validating their aberrant doctrine.

In the New Testament the word katabolē is used 11 times. 10 of those times it is translated in the KJV as foundation. The other one is the most interesting to our discussion and it appears in Hebrews 11:11.

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. (Hebrews 11:11 KJV)

The word conceive in this verse is the same Greek word katabolē that Shepherd's Chapel claims should be translated "overthrow" or "destroyed". This verse shows that the proper understanding of katabole does not follow Shepherd's Chapel view but instead is consistent with the traditional renderings.

In the other uses of katabolē in the New Testament it is translated as foundation and is always in connection with the world. In Hebrews 11:11 when the word is used in connection with the birth of a child it carries the meaning of conceive. When used in the connection with the world it carries the meaning of founding or creating (conceiving the world). It does NOT carry the meaning of destruction, overthrow, destroyed, or ruin in any circumstance. The use of "laying down" or "throwing down" is only correct in the connotation of laying a foundation or creating not in the sense of destroying or judgment.

In fact the proper Greek words used for "destruction" is apōleia (#G684) and the Greek for "overthrow" is either katastrophē (#G2692) or anatrepō (#G396). In Luke 6:49 we have the Greek word rhēgma (#G4485) used for "ruin". If Paul wanted to stress some sort of judgment, satanic overthrow, or ruined state he would have used one of those Greek terms.

A simple survey of how the word katabolē is used in the New Testament gives us a very clear understanding of its meaning.

All verses that use the Greek word katabolē in the New Testament:

Mat 13:35, Mat 25:34, Luk 11:50, Jhn 17:24, Eph 1:4, Heb 4:3, Heb 9:26, Heb 11:11, 1Pe 1:20, Rev 13:8, Rev 17:8 

Here are some notes concerning the supposed "gap theory" of Genesis 1:1-2:

Shepherd's Chapel students often argue that the word translated as “was” in the KJV and most English Translations of Genesis 1:2 should actually be translated “became” as in “the Earth became formless and void.” This, to them, proves the supposed katabole.

This theory of creation is commonly called the gap theory and it suffers from a number of hermeneutical problems:

Time cannot be inserted between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 because verse 2 does not follow verse 1 in time. Verse 2 uses a Hebrew grammatical device that is called a waw-disjunctive. This is where a sentence begins with the Hebrew word for and (waw) followed by a noun such as the earth (erets). A waw-disjunctive indicates that the sentence is describing the previous one and does not follow in time. In other words, verse 2 is describing the conditions of the earth when it was first created. Hebrew grammar simply will not allow for the insertion of vast periods of time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 in which a supposed satanic fall took place.

Exodus 20:11 clearly teaches that everything was created in the span of six literal days. This passage clearly refutes any possibility of vast periods of time between any of the days of creation.

This theory suffer from the problem of death and suffering long before Adam’s sin. Romans 5:12 states that death came by Adam’s sin. God himself said on the sixth day that creation was very good (Gen. 1:31), how could it be very good if there was sin and death before the fall of Adam?

*updated 5-21-2013

Soli Deo Gloria! 

Whosoever Will?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

– John 3:16 KJV

In John 3:16 Jesus loved the world (all mankind including Jew and Gentile) in such a way that he redeemed a particular people (Titus 2:14, Heb. 10:14) for himself that includes all people from all nations and tongues (Rev. 5:9). John 3:16 does not say "whosoever will", it simply says whosoever or whoever believes. This "whosoever" (KJV) is best translated as "whoever believes" (NKJV, ESV, NASB, et al.) or "the believing ones". This verse in no way is teaching universal atonement. It is true that all that believe in Christ will be saved, both Reformed and Arminian are in agreement with that. Those of us that are Reformed truly believe in the free offer of the Gospel, and are commanded to share the Gospel with all sinners. Any sinner that repents and turns to Christ will be saved!

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. – John 6:44 KJV

The question is how do sinners get to the point of belief? Is it free-will (Arminian) or sovereign election (Reformed)? The Bible makes it very clear it is not the will of man (John 1:13, Rom. 9:16) but the divine choice of God (Rom. 8:29; 9:15, Eph. 1:4-5; 11) as to who gets saved. Man is unable to seek God (Rom. 3:10-18), cannot come to Christ (John 6:44, 65), and is dead in sin (Eph. 2:1). Since we are in such a dire situation the only hope for salvation is God changing our hearts (Eze. 36:26) and doing all the work of salvation for us. We can not boast in our own works and even the faith we have is by grace and is a gift from God (Eph. 2:8-10). We do come to Christ freely, not forced, but it is God that gives us the ability to come to Christ freely. Just like how God had to first opened Lydia's heart before she could believe (Acts 16:14), he must do the same for all of us. As John 6:37 states, all that the Father gives to Christ will come to Christ. Verse 39 shows plainly that those given to Christ will be raised up on the last day, and verse 40 shows it is the Fathers will that those that believe on Christ get raised up. All those that receive this changed heart and work of the Spirit will come to Christ, it is guaranteed (John 6:37).

So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills – Romans 9:18 ESV

It is only Christ's "sheep" that can hear his voice and those that are not of his "flock" do not have the ability to believe (John 10:26-27). Paul in Romans 9:19-23 explains after answering an objection, similar to the one Arminians ask, that God makes one people for "honorable use" and another for "dishonorable use" (v. 21). He explains that certain people are "prepared for destruction" (v. 22), and others "prepared beforehand" for glory (v. 23). This is how God can hate Esau and love Jacob (Rom. 9:13) even before they are born or done good or evil (Rom. 9:11). Paul even explains that this is the case "in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls" (Rom. 9:11). Peter also says that those that reject Christ do so because they were destined to (1 Peter 2:8). Jude even mentions people "ordained" to condemnation (Jude 1:4 KJV), and Acts mentions those "ordained" to eternal life (Acts 13:48 KJV).

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: – Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV

I believe the problem lies in the inability of people to grasp God's sovereignty. Ask any Christian (Arminian or Reformed) if they believe in God's sovereignty and both would agree wholeheartedly. Ask them if they believe that God knows all events past, present and future and both will still agree. Ask them if God ordains every event that comes to pass and they might agree (some Arminians would say yes and all Reformed would say yes). Ask them if God ordains the salvation of the elect and the damnation of the reprobate and you will get a heated debate (Arminians saying no and Reformed saying yes). The Bible teaches us in Isaiah 46:9-11 that God declares the "end from the beginning" (v. 10) and that he will bring to pass all that he purposed (v. 11). There is simply no event in time or space that has come to pass unless the Lord has ordained it and given a purpose for it. As Romans 9 and others declare that even includes the reprobate (those going to hell).

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory – Romans 9:22-23 ESV

You must understand that even those that believe in an autonomous "free-will" have a problem with those destined for hell. Since God knows all things even before one molecule of the universe is created then he must know who will go to heaven and who will go to hell. Could not God have only created people that would choose him out of their free will? Since God created people that he knew would not free-will love him, then he still created people knowing beforehand they would go to hell. God could have chosen not to create these people but he did. In the Reformed view we see a purpose in the reprobate. God, from eternity passed, elected some to salvation and others to reprobation. He actively works faith and salvation in the elect, but passes over the reprobate so that they will stay in their sins. God is not producing unbelief in the reprobate, since we all reject Christ by nature (Eph. 2:3), he is simply leaving them in their sins and rebellion. God actively works in the elect, passively works in the reprobate. The elect receive mercy, the reprobate receive justice. Nobody gets injustice.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. – 2nd Peter 3:9 KJV

Alas the problems of taking a verse out of context! 2nd Peter 3:9 seems to be the go-to Arminian verse. There are some questions and context that need to be resolved. First who is Peter talking to? The answer is the "beloved" (v. 3:1, 8, 14) or "those who have obtained faith" (1:1) in other words believers. So in 2nd Peter 3:9 when it says God is not willing that "any" should parish and "all" come to repentance who is the "any" and "all"? The answer is quite simple. It is the ones that he is “longsuffering” for, the "you" or "us-ward" (KJV), in other words believers. In following the context and seeing who Peter is talking to it is easy to see that he is addressing believers here. 2nd Peter chapter 3 is stating that God is willing to wait millennia (v. 8) until all the elect are brought to faith (v. 9) before the second coming of Christ (v. 10-13).

In conclusion we as Reformed believe the Gospel message is open to all. We don't know who the elect are and so we proclaim the Gospel liberally to all sinners everywhere (Matt. 28:19). God has ordained the method in which people are drawn to faith and that is through the preaching of the Gospel (Rom. 10:14-17). We can join our Arminian brothers and sisters in proclaiming that whoever believes in Christ will be saved (John 3:16)!

To the Glory of God,

Colby Braden

Forgotten Trinity

My previous post was constructed from my notes on this video by Dr. James White

Trinity

Within the one being that is God there exist eternally three co-equal, co-eternal persons.

Foundations
1. Monotheism - Only one true God
2. Three Divine Persons - Father, Son, Holy Spirit
3. These Three Persons are Co-Equal, Co-Eternal

1. Monotheism - Deut. 6:4, Deut. 4:35, Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 45:5-6, Isaiah 44:1-8, Psalm 96:5
2. Deity of Christ - John 1:1-3,18, John 17:3-5, Phil 2:5-7, Col. 2:9
3. Jesus is Yahweh - (Psalm 102:25-27, Hebrews 1:6-10) (John 12:39-43, Isaiah 6:10)
4. Relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - John 14:15-31, John 16:1-15

Who does the whole of Scripture proclaim to be God?
Ephesians 4:6 proclaims the Father to be God.
Titus 2:13; John 1:1,14; 20:28 proclaim the Son to be God.
Acts 5:3-4 proclaims the Holy Spirit to be God.

And of course Deuteronomy 4:35 proclaims God to be the one, true God.

If you take away Monotheism you have Polytheism
If you take away the Three Persons you have Modalism
If you take away the Equality of the Persons you have Subordinationism

Only with all three (Monotheism, Three Persons, Equality of Persons) do you have the Biblical Trinity

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV)

Covenant Theology Chart

Shepherd's Chapel - My Story

Like I said in a previous post I use to be a student of Shepherd's Chapel. I figured if the people viewing my YouTube video stumble across this blog I wanted to show them and anybody else my testimony. It was commented on my video (and in the comments from this post) that I never was a student of Shepherd's Chapel and am a liar..

So here is my history:

My Grandfather stumbled across Shepherd's Chapel when I was about 11 or 12 years old (I'm 34 now). He started sending my parents some of Shepherd's Chapel's tapes and teachings. We started doing Bible studies at my Grandfather's house and his doctrines were heavily influenced by Arnold Murray's teachings. A couple of years later my Dad purchased a C-band Satellite (the big dish). I was able at that point to watch Pastor Murray anytime I wanted (they have a 24-7 channel on C-Band). I got one of my best friends and my brother involved with the group and we studied with Shepherd's Chapel. I have been to 3 Passover meetings (annual meetings they hold usually in Branson, MO). I studied and believed in the doctrines of Shepherd's Chapel until around February of 2011. That would put me at about 20 years knowledge of their doctrines and teachings. God opened my eyes to the false teachings of that group and I was convinced of Reformed Theology though my personal Bible studies. I attend a Reformed Church.

I renounce Shepherd's Chapel as a heretical cult that is outside the scope of Christianity!

Here is a list of some of the heretical and unorthodox teachings of Shepherd's Chapel:

• They teach we existed before we where born in the flesh and there was a first earth age that we all lived in. (Zechariah 12:1 and 1 Cor. 15:46 refutes preexistence and no scriptural support for a "first earth age". The 'gap theory' cannot be supported with sound Hebrew exegesis.)
• Satan rebelled in that first earth age and God destroyed it. (nowhere in scripture mentions this supposed satanic rebellion. They will misuse and strip out of context Jeremiah chapter 4 to try and prove it but it is exegetically and contextually impossible.)
• The elect where chosen because they stood against Satan in the first earth age. (Romans 8 and 9, Ephesians 1 and 2 refutes this claim. This is justification by works and is heresy. The elect where chosen not based on any works but on God's sovereign and free choice, Romans 9.)
• Satan had literal sex with Eve and Cain was the offspring of Satan and Eve. (Genesis 4:1 refutes this claim.)
• Cain's decedents are called Kenites and they are still alive today (claiming to be Jews) and controlling the world behind the scenes. (No scriptural support. This is a scare tactic and breeds racism.)
• Kenites wrote the book of Esther. (No scriptural or historical support and it blatant denial of Holy Scripture, Revelation 22:19.)
• Caucasians are the true descendants of the 10 lost tribes of Israel. (No scriptural or historical support. This doctrine stems from the British Israelism heresy which has close ties to racist groups.)
• Anybody that believes in the Rapture will be deceived by the Antichrist. (Revelation 13:8 and Matt. 24:22 and John 10:28-29 refutes that Christians can be deceived by Antichrist or his system.)
• The Antichrist is Satan himself and not a man. (2nd Thess. chapter 2 distinguishes between the man of sin and Satan.)
• They teach Annihilationism. (Matt. 25:46, Rev. 14:9-11 and many others refutes this.)
• They are unclear as to the Trinity and teach modalism (God uses three offices not that God is three persons). I've heard Pastor Murray say "a smart man doesn't discuss the Trinity". They leave it ambiguous, but Pastor Murray's teachings are clearly modalistic and thus heretical.
• Christians must uphold the kosher food laws (Romans 14:17, 1st Timothy 4:3-4, Mark 7:19 refutes this claim).
• We are in the end-times because in 1948 the good and bad figs returned and created the state of Israel. (This is dispensational stuff with a twist. They say the bad figs are Kenites. There is no scriptural support for this position. If one simply reads Jeremiah 24 you will see they are taking this way out of context. Scripture makes it clear that the 'last days' began in the first century. Hebrews 1:1-2, Acts 2:17 et. al.).
• If your church doesn't teach who the Kenites are they are not a true church. (They try to use Smyrna and Philadelphia from Revelation to try and prove that but there is no scriptural or exegetical support for their assertions. Romans 2:28-29 shows that a true Jew is a one that is inwardly a Jew, in other words a Christian).
• They teach there is a distinction between free will Christians and elect Christian. (absolutely no scriptural support for this position. Romans 8 and Ephesians 1 disproves this heresy. All Christians are elect and all elect are Christians. The Bible makes no difference between so-called free-will and elect Christians.)

Why is Shepherd's Chapel dangerous? Well as you can see there is no scriptural support for a first earth age that the elect where chosen in. To teach that you are elect because of something you did is heretical and against everything written in the New Testament. I have heard repeatedly Pastor Murray when teaching through Romans 8 say the elect where justified, elected and chosen because they stood with God in the first earth age. This is essentially justification by works which the Bible strongly condemns (Ephesians 2:8-10). There is no distinction anywhere in the Bible where there are special separate elect Christians apart from other Christians. All true Christians are elect! Once a person realizes that simple truth, the whole Shepherd's Chapel system of doctrine falls apart. That is what started my journey out of Shepherd's Chapel and I pray that if you are lost in this cult that you consider the ramifications of your doctrines.

Consider this: the doctrines they teach were not taught by Christ, Paul, or any of the Apostles. Their doctrines are not found in any early church writings and was never taught by the Christian church. Would God wait until some man in Arkansas almost 2000 years after Christ to reveal the truth (this is similar to what Mormons teach concerning Joseph Smith)? Again there is no scriptural support for their aberrant doctrines.

Arnold Murray denies the Trinity even though he may claim he doesn't (he simply redefines it to fit his heretical views). The simple fact is that Murray does not teach that the one God has eternally existed as three co-equal, co-eternal persons. Shepherd's Chapel teaches a false gospel and false gospels cannot save!

As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:9 ESV)

Soli Deo Gloria!

*updated 3/08/2013

A sad state.

Debating those that are so indoctrinated with falsehoods can be tedious. Just check out  This video I posted. I provided a challenge to those that are caught up in Shepherd's Chapel cult to prove their doctrines. The essence of my challenge was for them to prove that the "elect" were chosen because of something they did in the "first earth age". Of course there is no Scripture to back that claim up and if one reads Romans chapter 8 and 9 and Ephesians 1 and 2 one will see that the elect are ALL believing Christians and that no work we have ever done or will do is what made us "elect".

I was a former 'student' of this cult for many years. Of course those posting on my youtube video don't believe me and say I'm from CARM. I respect CARM but I'm not from them nor have any affiliation with them. I think CARM is doing a wonderful job exposing cults.. not just Shepherd's chapel but also Mormon, Jehovah Witness, and Roman Catholics.

Shepherd's Chapel is a very dangerous cult. They believe that a person is "elect" because they stood with God in the first earth age against Satan. That is Un-Biblical! To say that you were elected and justified by actions you committed (in this age or any other) is heresy and works based salvation.. That is not the Gospel.. and false gospels won't save you.

You will not see much of the Love of Christ trying to speak to these people. They usually get angry and result to personal attacks when they cannot document their false doctrines.

I thank God that he opened my eyes to the Truth and brought me out of the Shepherd's Chapel cult.

Soli Deo Gloria!

All the Host of Them.

You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. -- Nehemiah 9:6 ESV

shows that God created the angels in the beginning. The heaven of heavens is what Paul refers to as 3rd heaven or God’s throne. We see this host of heaven worships God and even though they are not specifically mentioned in Genesis that includes the creation of the angels.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. -- Genesis 2:1 ESV

Particularly Redeemed

For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14 ESV)

That single offering was Christ of course and it perfected for all time the salvation of the Elect.

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14 ESV)

He gave himself for us. He redeemed us. the "us" is believers, it is the elect just check Titus 1:1. That sacrifice was to purify for Him a particular people for his possession.. they are His and His alone!

God Bless!

With Child from the Holy Spirit

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 1:18 ESV)

I've heard it argued by Trinity deniers that if you believe that God the Father was Jesus' Father then why does it say that Mary was with Child from the by the Holy Spirit.

there presuppositions have guided their interpretation though. They assume that Jesus didn't exist before his incarnation but God the Son was always with God the Father in eternity past.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-3 ESV)


They simply overlook that Jesus was Eternally the Son with the Father in all of eternity and the Holy Spirit simply brought about Jesus' incarnation in the flesh.

Strength of Amillennialism

1. It is highly Christocentric: it makes Christ the center of all the biblical covenants (even the “Land” covenant or Siniatic)
2. It notes the universal scope of the Abrahamic Covenant (as key) to interpreting the rest of the biblical covenants 
3. It sees salvation history oriented to a person (Christ), instead of a people (the nation of Israel)
4. It emphasizes continuity between the “people of God” (Israel and the Church are one in Christ Eph. 2:11ff)
5. It provides an ethic that is rooted in creation, and “re-creation” (continuity between God’s redemptive work now, carried over into the eternal state then)
6. It emphasizes a trinitarian view of God as it elevates the “person”, Christ Jesus, the second person of the trinity as the point and mediator of all history
7. It flows from a hermeneutic that takes seriously the literary character of the Scriptures (esp. the book of Revelation)

Originally by: Bobby Grow