tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12574335096540330962024-03-08T16:24:06.327-08:00A Reformed Thinker:Former Shepherd's Chapel Student refuting Shepherd's Chapel teachings.Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-58598889396572004892019-01-14T09:35:00.001-08:002019-01-14T09:45:14.392-08:00Are people who follow Shepherd's Chapel going to hell?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AKH5rxxPjZQ" width="480"></iframe>Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-10330701566814408892018-01-02T09:10:00.001-08:002018-01-12T13:56:39.836-08:00Refuting Shepherd's Chapel: Angel and Humans<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4owhmvmzCRI" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Here is a very brief video I did using Hebrews chapter 1 and 2 to refute the idea that we were the angels in the "first earth age".<br />
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There is amble evidence in Hebrews chapters 1 and 2 to disprove the notion that we were angels from the <i>first earth age</i> that simply were born into flesh bodies in this <i>earth age</i>. Here are some of the verses in discussion:<br />
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Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? <i>(Heb. 1:14 <span style="font-size: x-small;">NKJV</span>)</i><br />
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For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. <i>(Heb. 2:16 <span style="font-size: x-small;">NKJV</span>)</i>Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-86016421057104687272017-05-06T14:19:00.002-07:002017-05-06T19:41:05.811-07:00Jeremiah Chapter 4 and the World that WasAs I have stated in a couple of post on my blog concerning the <a href="https://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2013/04/refuting-shepherds-chapel-katabole.html" target="_blank">Katabole/3 Earth Ages</a> and also the <a href="https://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2016/08/refuting-shepherds-chapel-elect.html" target="_blank">Elect</a>, Shepherd's Chapel teaches there was a <i>world that was</i>. In that world Satan fell and 1/3 of the angels <span style="font-size: x-small;">(they claim we were the angels)</span> followed him, 1/3 followed God <span style="font-size: x-small;">(thus earning the status of elect in this age)</span>, and 1/3 were undecided.<br />
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There is nothing in the Bible that describes this event or even alludes to it. Shepherd's Chapel, on the other hand, will disagree with that and claim Jeremiah 4:19-31 aptly describes the <i>katabole</i> or the destruction of the <i>world that was</i>. However a thorough verse by verse look at the relevant portions of this chapter and context simply will not support such a thesis that it is describing some destruction of a prior age.<br />
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briefly put the events in Jeremiah 4:19-31 describe God's judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. The use of "without form and void",or <i>tohu wabohu</i> in the Hebrew, is likening this judgment to the reversal of the creation order. It is as if the entire universe has been returned to a state of barren uncreation. There is no way contextually or grammatically linking those verses to anything other than a judgment on Judah. To say this is somehow speaking of a judgment in the <i>world that was </i>is to simply ignore the context and read your preconceived theology into the text.<br />
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In Jeremiah 4:5-6 we see the context:<br />
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Declare ye in <u>Judah, and publish in Jerusalem</u>; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities. Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: <u>for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction</u>. (Jer. 4:5-6 KJV)</blockquote>
This is God foretelling the destruction to come upon Jerusalem. The "from the north" is the direction from which the Assyrian armies came and the Babylonian armies will come.<br />
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Again we get a clear note as to the context in verse 9:<br />
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And it shall come to pass <u>at that day</u>, saith the Lord, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder. (Jer. 4:9 KJV)</blockquote>
The "at that day" is when the prophecy of Judah and Jerusalem's destruction takes place. There is no mention that this can be anything other than God's dealing with Judah and Jerusalem.<br />
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And again in 4:11-12 we see:<br />
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<i>At that time</i> shall it be said to <b>this people and to Jerusalem</b>, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people,not to fan, nor to cleanse, Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will <u>I give sentence against them</u>. (Jer. 4:11-12)</blockquote>
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We see the phrase "at that day" in verse 9 and "at that time" in verse 11. This all proves that the prophecy is very specifically talking about the time in which God destroys Judah and Jerusalem. It can not be speaking of some prior earth age where there was some sort of judgment.<br />
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As you continue to read through the chapter (Verse 13-18) you see some pleas for repentance and warning to flee the destruction.<br />
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Now we come to verse 19:<br />
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My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart;my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace,because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. (Jer. 4:19 KJV)</blockquote>
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This judgment upon Judah has reached even the bowels (heart). The prophet Jeremiah himself is the first to register the pain of this coming judgment, causing Jeremiah great agony.<br />
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For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. (Jer. 4:22 KJV)</blockquote>
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We know from Proverbs 1:7 that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge". Those who reject the Lord are "foolish", this applies to moral deficiency as much as intellectual weakness, "sottish" used here. So we see that Judah has abandon the Father (Jer. 3:19) and now face the consequences and judgment that God warned them about if they refused to obey him.<br />
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Now that we have established a clear context from the text we get to the verses used by Shepherd's Chapel to try and claim this is speaking of the destruction of the <i>world that was</i>.<br />
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I beheld the earth, and, lo,<u> it was without form, and void</u>; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger. (Jer 4:23-26)</blockquote>
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Here is where we get the Hebrew "<i>Tohu Wabohu</i>", the same phrase used in Genesis 1:2. This is where Shepherd's Chapel likes to claim that since this is using the imagery of Genesis 1:2 that it is talking about the destruction of the <i>world that was. </i><br />
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However, as context dictates, this coming judgment on Judah is likened to Genesis 1:2 because it will be so great as if the entire universe has returned to a state of barren uncreation. Jeremiah portrays the coming judgment as a reversal of the creation process. The earth is once again <i>without form and void</i> (Gen. 1:2), the <i>heavens have no light</i> (Gen. 1:3), the <i>mountains and hills quake</i> (Gen. 1:9–11), and <i>mankind</i> (Gen. 1:26–31) and <i>birds </i>(Gen. 1:20–23) disappear. In other words, the destruction will make land as if Genesis chapter 1 had never happened. That is powerful imagery to describe their punishment!<br />
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But there is hope! in 4:27 we see the phrase "yet I will not make a full end". God will keep a remnant of Judah faithful which ultimately is fulfilled in the Christian Church of the New Covenant.<br />
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Shepherd's Chapel, like most cults, will try twist many scriptures to fit into their preconceived theology. You have to derive your theology from (exegete) the text not read it into (eisegete) the text. Shepherd's Chapel has tried to fit a meaning to these passages that is not present in the text. The context and substance is clear, this is about the judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. It is not describing the events of a <i>first earth age</i>.<br />
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<i>Soli Deo Gloria!</i><br />
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<br />Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-56948064016668063842016-08-06T06:26:00.002-07:002017-05-06T07:27:08.634-07:00Refuting Shepherd's Chapel - The ElectI briefly went over my history with Shepherd's Chapel in <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2012/02/shepherds-chapel-my-story.html" target="_blank">this post</a>. I stated that what first brought some doubts to my mind about the truth of Shepherd's Chapel was their doctrine of election. As I studied what Shepherd's Chapel claimed about election and then compared that to what the Scriptures teach about election I learned there was an irreconcilable contradiction between the two. When their doctrine of election was refuted by Scripture the whole system collapsed. I knew, at that point, Shepherd's Chapel was a non-Christian cult.<br />
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Pastor Arnold Murray always said to<i> "check him out"</i> so I encourage you to do that. Unfortunately when you do check him out his interpretations are far from Biblical and some are actually heretical. I believe the most heretical teaching from Shepherd's Chapel (other then denying the Trinity) is their doctrine of election. I will explain why I believe that as we examine the Biblical texts, especially Romans chapter 8 and Ephesians chapter 1.<br />
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So what is Shepherd's Chapel view of election?<br />
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Shepherd's Chapel teaches that, millions of years ago, there was a <i>first earth age</i> in which we all lived and we were in <i>spiritual bodies</i>. At some point Satan rebelled against God and convinced a third of the angels (us in spiritual bodies) to follow him. Others followed faithfully after God, and still others were undecided. God then destroyed the first earth age with the <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2013/04/refuting-shepherds-chapel-katabole.html" target="_blank"><i>Katabole</i> </a>and created this present earth age. <i>(See Shepherd's Chapel's studies: #30417, "Elect"; #30146, "Genesis, Chapters 1-6")</i><br />
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According to Shepherd's Chapel we are all now being born into this earth age so that we can choose to follow God or follow Satan. The ones that followed God, in the first earth age, are what the Bible calls <i>elect</i> and they were<i> justified</i> and <i>glorified</i> in the first earth age <i>(see Arnold Murray's study in Romans chapter 8)</i>. They earned the right to be the <i>elect of God</i> in this earth age and are the only ones that can discern the deeper truths of Scripture. These elect have no free will, but all others have free-will to follow God or follow Satan. This sets a hard distinction between <u>Elect Christians</u> and <u>Fee-Will Christians</u>.<br />
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Does the Bible actually teach this version of the doctrine of election?<br />
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There is quite a heated debate among Christians as to the nature of the elect. Yet both sides of the argument (Arminian and Calvinist) agree that when the Bible speaks of the elect it is talking about all true believing Christians. I take the Calvinist (Reformed) understanding of the nature of the elect but I'm not specifically defending that view in this post. I'll be focusing on Romans chapter 8 to see if Shepherd's Chapel's view of election contradicts Scripture.<br />
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Romans 8:29 is one of the verses Shepherd's Chapel will use to substantiate their peculiar doctrine of election. Before we look at Romans 8:29 to see if it is speaking of all Christians or just a group chosen in the <i>world that was</i> we must look at the context of Romans 8 and follow Paul's thought.<br />
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Romans chapter 8 follows after Paul's writing about our struggle as Christians with sin in Romans chapter 7. Romans 8:1 is very important to our discussion as it sets the context of the whole of Paul's argument in Romans chapter 8.<br />
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There is therefore now no condemnation for <u>those who are in Christ Jesus</u>. (Romans 8:1)</blockquote>
Paul states here that there is no condemnation (no fear of judgment) for those who are in Christ Jesus. This sets to context of what follows and show that we are talking about <u>all</u> believers in Christ and not just some separate<em> </em>group of <em>special </em>Christians.<br />
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Paul goes on in verse 9 to say:<br />
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You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28110Q" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28110Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup>the Spirit of God dwells in you. <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28110R" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28110R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup>Anyone who does not have <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28110S" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28110S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup>the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (Romans 8:9)</blockquote>
Again pretty clear language that the whole subject of this chapter is about ALL that belong to Christ. <br />
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The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that <u>we are children of God</u>, <span class="text Rom-8-17" id="en-ESV-28118"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>and if children, then <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28118AE" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28118AE" title="See cross-reference AE">AE</a>)"></sup>heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28118AF" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28118AF" title="See cross-reference AF">AF</a>)"></sup>provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:16-17)</span></blockquote>
Paul is talking about those that are the children of God.. ALL Christians are the children of God! I cannot stress enough that if you simply read Romans chapter 8 you see it is talking about ALL Christians and not just a sub-group of elect Christians.<br />
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Now let's take a look at the verse in question:<br />
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For those whom he <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28130BC" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28130BC" title="See cross-reference BC">BC</a>)"></sup>foreknew he also <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28130BD" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28130BD" title="See cross-reference BD">BD</a>)"></sup>predestined <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28130BE" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28130BE" title="See cross-reference BE">BE</a>)"></sup>to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28130BF" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28130BF" title="See cross-reference BF">BF</a>)"></sup>the firstborn among many brothers. <span class="text Rom-8-30" id="en-ESV-28131"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28131BG" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28131BG" title="See cross-reference BG">BG</a>)"></sup>justified, and those whom he justified he also <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28131BH" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28131BH" title="See cross-reference BH">BH</a>)"></sup>glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)</span></blockquote>
Shepherd's Chapel will claim the "those whom he foreknew" means those God knew in the first earth age (see also <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2013/04/refuting-shepherds-chapel-katabole.html" target="_blank">this post</a>). Yet look at what the verse is actually saying. God foreknew (new beforehand who he would choose). He predestined this group for a purpose. What is the purpose? "to be conformed to the image of his Son"(verse 29). Compare this to Phil. 3:21, 1 Cor. 15:49, Col. 3:10, 1 John 3:2. The predestined or elect group talked about here is all Christians. This group is foreknown, predestined, called, justified and glorified. Those terms, when taken in context to Romans 8, are talking about all believing Christians. There is no distinction in the text between a group of free-will believing Christians and elect believing Christians.<br />
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Christians are <u>justified</u> by the predestined choice of God and <strong>not</strong> by any action we performed in this earth age or any fabricated previous earth age.<br />
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Shepherd's Chapel has to force this separation of the body of Christ by saying there are two types of Christians, an elect group and a free-will group. They then read this unscriptural concept back into the Bible when the Bible does not teach that concept at all in the first place!<br />
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As if we needed any more proof that this is talking about all Christians Paul continues:<br />
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What then shall we say to these things? <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28132BI" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28132BI" title="See cross-reference BI">BI</a>)"></sup>If God is for us, who can be<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-28132i" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-28132i" title="See footnote i">i</a>]"></sup> against us? <span class="text Rom-8-32" id="en-ESV-28133"><sup class="versenum hide"> </sup><sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28133BJ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28133BJ" title="See cross-reference BJ">BJ</a>)"></sup>He who did not spare his own Son <u>but <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28133BK" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28133BK" title="See cross-reference BK">BK</a>)"></sup>gave him up for us all</u>, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?</span> <span class="text Rom-8-33" id="en-ESV-28134">Who shall bring any charge against <u>God's elect</u>? <sup class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28134BL" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28134BL" title="See cross-reference BL">BL</a>)"></sup>It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:31-33)</span></blockquote>
<b>Paul very bluntly proclaims that God's elect are <u>all</u> Christians.</b><br />
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It has been shown that in the full context of Romans chapter 8 that the Shepherd's Chapel view of election is completely false and heretical.<br />
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Another part of Scripture that Shepherd's Chapel uses to defend their false belief is Ephesians chapter 1. Let us take a quick look at what it has to say.<br />
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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:(Eph. 1:1)</blockquote>
Here we see the context and to whom the book is written to. It clearly states that Paul is writing this letter to the the saint who are faithful in Christ Jesus. That is Christians, all Christians.
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even as<u> he chose us in him before the foundation of the world</u>, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he <u>predestined</u> us <u>for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will</u>, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.<u> In him we have redemption through his blood</u>, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,(Eph 1:4-7)</blockquote>
Ephesians 1:4-5 is very common verses used by Shepherds chapel to try and prove their view of election. If you read verses 4-7 very carefully you will see the context and meaning extremely clearly and it is at odds with the teachings of Shepherd's Chapel.<br />
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First off God chose us before the creation of the world, for a fuller explanation of <i>katabole</i> and that teaching of Shepherd's Chapel see my post <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2013/04/refuting-shepherds-chapel-katabole.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Notice what is says next after it shows we are chosen. The text says we were chosen to be holy and blameless before Him (God). That is all Christians not just some sect of special elect Christians chosen in a first earth age.<br />
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now in verse 5 it says we were predestined. What does it immediately say after predestined? The text explains itself. <b>We were predestined FOR adoption as sons through Jesus Christ. </b>The purpose of being chosen and predestined is to be HOLY and to be adopted as SONS. That is descriptive of ALL Christians.<br />
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The next statement gives how. "according to the purpose of his will". That is God's will. It goes on to state that those that are chosen and predestined are the ones that have <u>redemption through his (Christ's) blood</u>.<br />
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Romans chapter 8 and Ephesians chapter 1 does not teach that there is a special group of "elect" Christians that were chosen in a first earth age because they sided with God. Both Romans and Ephesians proclaim very loudly that it is ALL true believing Christians that are Elect and Predestined. The purpose of Election and Predestination is clearly taught in Ephesians chapter 1 to be chosen for holiness and predestined for adoption as Sons (in other words to be Christians!).<br />
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Shepherd's Chapel false teaching of election is thoroughly refuted by Scriptures.<br />
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But how do we know we are Elect? How can you have confidence that you are an Elect? Is it by knowing some special eschatological position? Thankfully God has provided an answer for that in 2nd Peter chapter 1:3-12<br />
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His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. <u>For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.</u> For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the <b>more diligent to confirm your calling and election</b>, for<u> if you practice these qualities you will never fall</u>. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2nd Peter 1:3-12)</blockquote>
Peter tells us the way a Christian can know he is an elect is by following the qualities he outlines in verse 5-7! Notice it doesn't mention anything about making sure you know Satan is coming first.. <br />
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Soli Deo Gloria!!<br />
<br />Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-45062306445645691782016-01-30T16:21:00.000-08:002016-02-01T11:48:17.942-08:00Shepherd's Chapel Kenite & Serpent Seed Refuted!!In this brief podcast I deal with Shepherd's Chapel Kenite doctrine. Listen and share.<br />
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Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-85405231829646741162014-10-09T11:53:00.000-07:002017-05-04T09:49:18.849-07:00Refuting Shepherd's Chapel - KenitesOne of the defining false doctrines of Shepherd's Chapel is their twist on the Serpent Seed heresy. I have dealt with this topic in other posts in one form or another (See: <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2014/07/pastor-ben-heath-and-serpent-seed.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2014/06/judging-trinity-millennium-kenites-and.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2013/04/refuting-shepherds-chapel-good-bad-figs.html" target="_blank">here</a>). My desire for this post, Lord willing, is to expand on what I've already posted and make as concise a refutation as I can.<br />
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If one orders Shepherd's Chapel's free introductory CD called <i>The Mark of Beast</i> they will be introduced to the Kenite doctrine. Shepherd's Chapel also has several study CD's that deal with this doctrine in more depth, see their studies entitled <i>Seed of the Serpent <span style="font-size: x-small;">#30461</span></i>, <i>Genesis, Chapters 1-6 <span style="font-size: x-small;">#30146</span></i>, and <i>Kenites <span style="font-size: x-small;">#30436</span></i>. I will give a brief definition of this doctrine, as they believe it, but feel free to order the material from Shepherd's Chapel to get a fuller explanation from their point of view.<br />
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So what is this doctrine of the Kenite? Simply put, Shepherd's Chapel teaches that Eve had sex with Satan. Eve then conceived and gave birth to Cain. Cain's biological father was Satan, and Cain's offspring are what the Old Testament identifies by the term <i>Kenite</i>. Jesus, in the New Testament, identifies the scribes and Pharisees as these same literal sons of Cain. Kenites are still in the world today claiming to be Jews. Behind the scenes they control the world by, what Shepherd's Chapel calls, the <i>four hidden dynasties</i> (political, religious, economic, and education). Utilizing their control of these <i>four hidden dynasties</i>, Kenites will bring about the <i>one world system</i>. Only churches that teach the true identity of these Kenites hold the <i>Key of David</i>, know the <i>truth,</i> and will not be deceived in the end-times.<br />
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Can any of that be substantiated from the Bible? Shepherd's Chapel does, of course, try to defend these beliefs by selectively utilizing Scripture. I will examine these proofs and show that the doctrine of the Kenite cannot hold up to close scrutiny. <br />
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In reality the whole doctrine hinges on the interpretation of Genesis chapter 3. Does this chapter describe a sexual encounter between Satan and Eve? A straight read-though of this chapter would not lead to that conclusion, thus Shepherd's Chapel is forced to take a completely allegorical interpretation of Genesis 3. We read the following in Genesis 3:3-6:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:3-6 ESV)</blockquote>
Shepherd's Chapel claims that this <i>eating of the fruit</i> is used here as an analogy for sex. They claim this is describing sex between Satan and Eve; I suppose Adam as well sense it states he took the fruit too. There are, however, some serious problems with this interpretation.<br />
<br />
The serpent is using what God said in Genesis chapter 2.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:15-17 ESV)</blockquote>
Now if we are to take that <i>eating of the fruit of the tree</i> is an analogy for sex then we would be forced to conclude that God gave Adam permission to have sex with anything in the garden except the<i> tree of the knowledge of good and evil</i>. That is simply not true. We see from this text that God is giving Adam permission to literally eat of any tree in the garden he wishes. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil, however, is forbidden. Sex is not the topic of discussion. Even if one takes the scene in the garden of Eden as allegory we see that sex is not in view here.<br />
<br />
You would also have to identify the <i>tree of the knowledge of good and evil</i> as Satan for Shepherd's Chapel's view to work. The problem is Satan is not identified as the tree but as the serpent, see Revelation 12:9. Even if sex was in view it was not with Satan. There are other problems as well. Take a look at Genesis 3:17.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; (Genesis 3:17 ESV)</blockquote>
We have read in Genesis 2:16 that God gave permission for Adam to eat of any tree. Now that Adam has sinned in eating the forbidden tree, God curses the ground. Since he ate fruit he wasn't allowed to eat, Adam will have to work hard for his food. We see how the analogy of <i>eating the fruit = sex </i>simply does not work with the point God is making in Genesis 2 and 3. <br />
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The most serious and heretical problem with the view of Genesis 3 describing sex is in Genesis 3:22.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. (Genesis 3:22-23 ESV)</blockquote>
Arnold Murray,<i> in his study #417 Elect</i>, states that the<i> tree of life</i> is Jesus and the <i>tree of the knowledge of good and evil</i> is Satan. Now in verse 22 God states that eating of the tree of life brings eternal life. This verse specifically says <i>"and take also"</i> which means the same action that was done to the <i>tree of the knowledge of good and evil</i> must also be done with the <i>tree of life</i> in order for someone to have eternal life. Are we really to conclude that God is talking about having sex with the <i>tree of life</i> instead of sex with the <i>tree of the knowledge of good and evil</i>? That we are to have sex with the <i>tree of life</i> in eternity, see Revelation 2:7? Of course Shepherd's Chapel would deny that, but that is the logical conclusion to their interpretation of Genesis chapter 3.<br />
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It is quite obvious from reading the passages in Genesis 2-3 that sex is not in view. The scene in Genesis 3:3-6 is not describing a sexual encounter with Eve and Satan. The point of the story in Genesis 3 is to show the disobedience of Adam & Eve, the fall of mankind, and the consequence of that disobedience.<br />
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A student of Shepherd's Chapel may raise the objection that Genesis 3:15 does prove the Serpent Seed doctrine.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 ESV)</blockquote>
It has been shown by reading the texts that it was not the serpent that Eve took the fruit of but rather the tree of the <i>knowledge of good and evil</i>. So even in their own view of <i>eating the fruit = sex</i> it was not the serpent that Even could have had sex with.<br />
<br />
We see in Genesis 3:15 the enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of Eve. It is clearly shown that the serpent has a seed <i>completely separate</i> from Eve, not coming from Eve. Eve has no part in the serpent's seed and does <i>not</i> give birth, in any way, to the serpent's seed.<br />
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We read in Genesis 3:14-19 God hands down his punishments to the Serpent, Eve, and Adam. So <i>literally</i> serpents are cursed after the fall to no longer be as cunning and must go in shame on their bellies eating dust. Serpents and humans will always be at odds with each other with humans having the victory over them.<br />
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<i>Allegorically</i> we read in Genesis 3:15 what is called the <i>Protoevangelium</i>, the first announcement of the Gospel. The serpent would be identified as Satan, see Revelation 12:9 and 20:2. His seed would be that of anything that opposes the Gospel and Christ. The ultimate seed of the Eve would be Christ. The statement "<i>he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel</i>" would be Christ's victory over the Devil and death at the Cross.<br />
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We see this dual-seed and its meaning most clearly presented in 1st John 3:8-10:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the <u>children of God</u>, and who are the <u>children of the devil</u>: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. <br />
(1 John 3:8-10 ESV)</blockquote>
Again sinners are the <i>children of the devil</i> and believers are the <i>children of God</i>. This alludes back to Genesis 3:15 so its meaning is very clear. Genesis 3:15 is not and cannot be talking about literal physical seed of Satan produced by a sexual encounter with Eve. If you read 1st John 3:1-3 you see believers being called the <i>children of God</i> set against the world of unbelievers (<i>children of the devil</i>).<br />
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So who is Cain's father? It is claimed by Shepherd's Chapel to be Satan. We see in Genesis 4:1 who Scripture claims Cain's father to be.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” (Genesis 4:1 ESV)</blockquote>
The statement "<i>Adam knew Eve</i>" is<i> </i>a figure of speech for sex. We see, very clearly, that Adam consummated his marriage with Eve and she conceived and bore Cain. The statement "<i>and she conceived and bore Cain</i>" coming directly after the statement <i>"Adam knew Eve his wife"</i> proves the conception of Cain is in view. Cain was not conceived at some prior time before this.<br />
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Shepherd's Chapel will claim that Genesis 4:2 shows that Cain and Abel were twins. Abel was born at the same time as Cain with Cain being conceived at a prior point. This was already refuted in Genesis 4:1 but we will take a look at this claim.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. (Genesis 4:2 ESV) </blockquote>
Shepherd's Chapel will claim word <i>"again"</i> used in Genesis 4:2 means <i>"to continue to do a thing"</i>. In other words Eve continued in labor and bore Able. The Hebrew word here is <i id="yui-gen118">yacaph </i>and its meaning is<i> to add, increase, do again</i><i id="yui-gen118">. </i>Here are a couple more verses, from Genesis, that use<i> yacaph</i> in a similar context:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And she called his name Joseph, saying, “May the LORD <b>add</b> to me another son!” (Genesis 30:24 ESV)<br />
<br />
Yet <b>again</b> she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him. (Genesis 38:5 ESV)</blockquote>
The bold words are the Hebrew word <i>yacaph. </i>It does not mean to continue in labor, but is a connector word indicating two separate events. Not the same event.<br />
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Shepherd's Chapel also claims that since Cain isn't listed in the genealogy of Adam in Genesis chapter 5 then he is not Adam's son.<br />
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Cain could be included, in sorts, in Genesis 5:4 when it says of Adam <i>"he had other sons and daughters"</i>. More importantly the genealogy of Genesis 5 starts with Seth so it is perfectly normal to leave Abel and Cain out.<br />
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Genealogies in Old Testament times were often deliberately <i>truncated</i> to remove <i>cursed </i>generations or included only those of note. In the case of the Genesis 5 genealogy only those descendants leading to Noah are mentioned because only those are pertinent to the story. That the Bible does not list every single twig on a family tree does not mean that Kenite theory is a valid doctrine.<br />
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Also note in Genesis 5 Abel is not listed either yet Shepherd's Chapel doesn't say he wasn't Adam's son. Cain's genealogy is listed separately because he’s not part of the lineage or Noah, not because he’s the literal biological son of the devil. Like I said before the genealogy starts with Seth and leaves out <i>both</i> Abel and Cain!<br />
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It has been fully shown that Genesis 3 is not talking about sex between Satan and Eve, Genesis 4:1 shows exactly who Cain's father is, and Genesis 3:15 is not talking about a Kenite seed set loose in the world.<br />
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That leaves us with one question. Who are the Kenites? They are mentioned in 10 verses in the Old Testament and never mentioned in the New Testament.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(Genesis 15:19, Numbers 24:21, Judges 1:16; 4:11; 4:17; 5:24, 1 Samuel 15:6; 27:10; 30:29, 1 Chronicles 2:55)</blockquote>
Nowhere in the Bible are Kenites identified as descended from Cain. We do, however, see in two of these verses how they can be identified.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad, and they went and settled with the people. (Judges 1:16 ESV)<br />
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Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh. (Judges 4:11 ESV)</blockquote>
We read from these texts that Kenites are the descendants of Moses' father-in-law, see Exodus 3:1. Kenites are part of the Midianites and came out of Rachab. The name Kenite is probably derived from the name of Kenan the son of Enosh (the grandson of Seth and the great grandson of Adam).<br />
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We have already refuted the possibility that Cain was the biological son of Satan. Now we have shown that there is no warrant at all to identify Kenites as sons of Cain. It is known that Cain fathered children, but they all would have died in the flood of Noah. 2nd Peter 2:5 makes the statement that only eight people survived the flood; only Noah and his family.<br />
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No we will turn our attention to the New Testament. Shepherd's Chapel uses several New Testament texts to try and prove their Kenite doctrine. One of these texts is what is commonly called the<i> Parable of the Tares</i> and is located in Matthew 13:24-30. Shepherd's Chapel claims that the<i> tares, </i>or <i>weeds</i>, in this parable are identified as Kenites. Lucky for us Jesus explains this parable in Matthew 13:36-43.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13:36-43 ESV)</blockquote>
Here Jesus does give us the true interpretation of the dual-seed or, if you will, serpent seed doctrine. The <i>good seed</i> is planted by the <i>Son of Man </i>(Jesus). The<i> good seed</i> are the <i>sons of the kingdom</i>. These <i>sons of the kingdom</i> are believers. They are called the <i>righteous</i> in verse 43. The good seeds are Christians, not the literal seed of Jesus. The <i>field</i> where the seeds are sown is the <i>world</i>. The tares, or <i>weeds,</i> are sown by the <i>devil</i>. The <i>harvest</i> is the<i> end of the age, </i>what we would call judgment day (Rev. 20:11-15). Verse 41 identifies the seed of the devil as <i>"all causes of sin and all law-breakers". </i>So the seed of the devil is unbelievers, not the physical descendants of Cain. This is basically the same thing we see in 1st John 3:1-10.<br />
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Simply put, the <i>Parable of the Tares</i> describes the activity of God’s kingdom in the world. The enemies of the kingdom (<i>weeds</i>) will always coexist with the sons of the kingdom (<i>good seed</i>). It is talking about believers and unbelievers not physical offspring.<br />
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John 8:44 is also a popular text that Shepherd's Chapel uses in an attempt to prove the Kenite theory. Jesus is speaking to the Jews when He says this:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44 ESV)</blockquote>
Shepherd's Chapel claims this text teaches that these Jews are literally the sons of Satan (via Cain). The contrast is being <i>"of the devil"</i> or being "<i>of God"</i> (see verse 47). Jesus is, however, speaking that the spiritual father of these Jews is the devil, not their physical father. Jesus identifies who their physical father is a few verses up in John 8:37.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. (John 8:37 ESV)</blockquote>
These are the same Jews Jesus is speaking to in verse 44. Jesus here identifies them as being offspring of Abraham not Cain. So Jesus in John 8:37 identifies who their physical father is and then in John 8:44 identifies their spiritual father. Later in this chapter (John 8:56) Jesus again identifies who these same Jews physical father is.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56 ESV)</blockquote>
These passages clearly teach that Jesus did not think these Jews were literal, physical sons of Satan. What they do teach, however, is that the works of these Jews proved that they were <i>spiritually</i> the offspring of the devil. Jesus specifically identifies them as Abraham's physical offspring (twice) and not Cain's!<br />
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One New Testament text that Shepherd's Chapel will claim proves a sexual encounter happened between Satan and Eve is 2nd Corinthians 11:3.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3 ESV)</blockquote>
The Greek word for <i>deceived</i> used here (beguiled in the KJV) is claimed by Shepherd's Chapel to mean <i>sexually seduced</i>. So, to Shepherd's Chapel, this verse says the serpent <i>sexually seduced</i> Eve in the garden of Eden.<br />
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The Greek word used here is<i> exapataō, </i>and simply means to deceive. Interpreting the word <i>exapataō</i> sexually brings up problems in other passages written by Paul. 1st Corinthians 3:18 uses the same word in a similar context.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” <br />
(1 Corinthians 3:18-19 ESV)</blockquote>
The word <i>deceive</i> in this verse is the same Greek word <i>exapataō</i>. You can read by the context that <i>exapataō </i>has no sexual meaning whatsoever. Just try replacing <i>deceive</i> in this verse with <i>sexually seduce</i> and you see how ridiculous the assertion by Shepherd's Chapel is. Paul also uses <i>exapataō </i>in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, (2 Thessalonians 2:3 ESV) </blockquote>
The word <i>deceive</i> is also the Greek word <i>exapataō </i>and shows that it is not used in a sexual manner. Again try to replace <i>deceive</i> with <i>sexually seduced</i> in this verse, it won't work. In fact the Greek word <i>exapataō </i>is only used 5 times in the New Testament, all by Paul, and it is never used in a sexual context to describe sexual seduction. (See: Rom. 7:11; 16:18, 1 Cor. 3:18, 2 Cor. 11:3, 2 Thes. 2:3)<br />
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These kinds of arguments are common with Shepherd's Chapel. They will take a Greek word and using a Strong's Concordance try and redefine what the word means, twisting it to fit their doctrines. Although Arnold Murray claimed to be a Greek scholar he was not. It has been shown that he did not know how Greek or Hebrew grammar works and deceived his students by twisting the meaning of Scripture. This is the same kind of tactic that Charles Taze Russell, founder of Jehovah's Witnesses, used.<br />
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Another claim one may hear from Shepherd's Chapel is that there are only 2 churches that Christ's finds no fault with and those are the churches that teach the Kenite doctrine. To defend this view Shepherd's Chapel will quote Revelation 2:9 and 3:9. Let's take a look at one of these texts.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Revelation 2:9 ESV)</blockquote>
Jesus is speaking to the church of Smyrna, see verse 8. Smyrna was known as the <i>crown of Asia </i>where the Greeks held to strong emperor worship. They also had a large Jewish community and both the Romans and the Jews strongly persecuted Christians in this city. Although these Jews were Jews physically they spiritually aligned themselves with the Greek pagans in putting Christians to death. This is similar in the church of Philadelphia (briefly named <i>Caesar’s New City</i>) in Revelation 3:9. The Roman imperial cult and a large synagogue were known to be in Philadelphia around this time. Both Smyrna and Philadelphia were dangerous places for Christians to be.<br />
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Jesus' statement <i>"they say they are Jews and are not"</i> is not Jesus denying their Jewish genealogy but rather their spiritual genealogy. Romans 2:28-29 declares "<i>For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly... But a Jew is one inwardly...". </i>These Jews denied the Messiah and aligned with the emperor worshipers; thus Judaism became a <i>"synagogue of Satan"</i>. The New Testament defines God's people in relation to Jesus, not genealogy. The<i> "key of David" </i>mentioned in Revelation 3:9 is simply Jesus' authority to admit to or exclude from God’s kingdom (see Isaiah 22:22, Mark 16:19).<br />
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Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 does not teach or promote the Kenite or serpent seed theory.<br />
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We have shown from Genesis to Revelation that the Kenite or serpent seed theory is not taught in the Bible. Cain was the physical son of Adam not Satan (Genesis 4:1). Yet we are to head the warning of 1st John 3:12 and <i>"not be like Cain, who was of the evil one"</i>. Yes Cain's spiritual father is Satan, just like our spiritual father is God. Our righteous seed is from God and unbeliever seed is from the Devil just as 1st John 3:10 states <i>"By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother"</i>. The point of all these Scriptures (starting with Genesis 3:15) is to differentiate believers from non-believers, not physical sons of Cain from sons of Adam. <br />
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Shepherd's Chapel does not condone racism and claims not to teach racism. The fact is, however, the Kenite doctrine breeds this <i>us versus them</i> mentality. Saying that the people we identify as Jews are really literal sons of Cain will, inherently, cause racism and hatred. There are many evil people today in power but it is not Kenites behind the scenes controlling the world. <br />
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The Kenite false doctrine of Shepherd's Chapel is dangerous and heretical. It needs to be avoided and Christians warned against it. I pray that if you are stuck in the false teachings of Shepherd's Chapel that you will take serious these warning and that the Lord will open your eyes. <br />
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<b><i>** Addendum 5/3/2017 **</i></b><br />
I've had some feedback and criticisms that I did not deal with the "trees" in Daniel chapter 4 and Ezekiel 31 and how they relate to the attributes of Satan and that links Satan to the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil in Eden. Here is a very quick addendum and hopefully I can do a proper post dealing with these texts explicitly.<br />
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First let's look at Daniel Chapter 4:<br />
you will see in verses 4-18 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream and wants it to be interpreted. He has as dream about a tree that grew and became strong. Somehow I suppose SC students seem to think this links back to Satan. However we see Daniel interpret the dream in verses 19-27 and Daniel specifically says in verse 22 that the Tree was Nebuchadnezzar. Let's look at the passage<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: <b>It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong</b>: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. (Daniel 4:20-22 KJV)</blockquote>
</blockquote>
We see specifically in verse 22 that Nebuchadnezzar is the "tree" in his dream.<br />
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Ezekiel Chapter 31 is a very popular chapter that SC students love to quote and show some of the attributes of Satan. Ezekiel 31 (also 28) is about judgment on nations. Context begins in chapter 25 about judgment on nations (chapter 26 about King/Prince of Tyre specifically) and Chapter 31 begins the judgment on Pharaoh and Assyria.<br />
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The context (starting in chapter 25) is judgment on nations (Ammon 25:1, Moab and Seir v.8, Edom v. 12, Philistia v. 15, Tyre chapter chapter 26-27, prince of Tyre in 28 and Pharaoh/Assyria in Chapter 31 )<br />
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The Prince/King of Tyre in chapter 28 is described using Hebrew Poetic imagery which is common in the Hebrew prophetic books. “<b>in Eden</b>” simply shows that the king of Tyre owes his entire existence to the Sovereign God. “<b>Guardian cherub</b>” shows the ordained purpose of a King is likened to the cherub in Eden guarding the way to divine Presence. We see in the prophetic books in the OT use these vivid Hebrew Poetic devices to describe people and nations all the time.<br />
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We see similar language used in Chapter 31 to describe Pharaoh and Assyria. The context is clear if you read Ezekiel 31:1-3<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak unto <b>Pharaoh king of Egypt</b>, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? <b>Behold, the Assyrian</b> was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. (Eze 31:1-3 KJV)</blockquote>
</blockquote>
And again poetic allusion in Ezekiel likens Assyria to the trees in Eden. It is not saying Satan was the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But if you go the last verse in this chapter it makes it absolutely clear who this prophecy is talking about:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. <b>This is Pharaoh and all his multitude</b>, saith the Lord God. (Eze. 31:18 KJV)</blockquote>
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Even if there is a dual meaning in these verses that is attributed to Satan (although I see no contextual reason for that interpretation) they still in no way prove a sexual encounter with Eve. Again even if Satan was the serpent and the tree in Eden it is a long way from saying Eve had sex with him.<br />
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<i>Soli Deo Gloria!</i>Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-78360700168299587752014-07-12T11:33:00.002-07:002017-11-14T09:28:59.367-08:00"Pastor" Ben Heath, and the Serpent Seed doctrine.<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>* * Please note</b> Ben Heath contacted me and asked that I remove this article. He stated he has changed his beliefs on this subject. I am leaving this article up because it still deals with the issue of serpent seed and Heath's former arguments are still used by Shepherd's Chapel students<b>**</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <a href="http://www.worldeventsandthebible.com/2014/02/pastor-arnold-murray-of-shepherds.html" target="_blank">passed away</a> 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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also I have noticed a <a href="http://christianovercomers.com/blog/" target="_blank">new Murrayite</a> 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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In his article called <a href="http://christianovercomers.com/blog/2011/10/24/the-serpents-seed/" target="_blank">The Serpent Seed</a>, 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)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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<i>. </i>(Genesis 3:15, KJV)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next Mr. Heath tries to prove the serpent-seed doctrine by twisting some New Testament texts. He starts with the <i>Parable of the Tares</i> and states the children of the <i>wicked one</i> 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:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <i>furnace of fire</i> and all believers remain in the Kingdom of God! Now let us take a closer look at verse 38:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We see that the <i>good seed</i> 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 <i>children of the wicked one</i> are not literal kids of Satan but rather all unbelievers. The context is extremely clear if one reads the passages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 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)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Afterward, in John 8:56, Jesus again identifies that these Jews of John 8:44 are literal sons of Abraham. The context is clear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56, KJV)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The word <i>beguiled </i>used in this verse is claimed by Ben Hearth to mean <i>sexually seduced. </i>The Greek word used here is <i><span style="line-height: 22.39px;">exapataō</span>. </i>Interpreting the word <i id="yui-gen121" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">exapataō</i> sexually brings up problems in other passages written by Paul. 1st Corinthians 3:18 uses the same word in a similar context.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The word <i>deceive</i> in this verse is the same Greek word <i id="yui-gen121" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">exapataō. </i><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is obvious this isn't speaking of anything remotely sexually.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Romans 16:18 also uses the same word in context with the word </span><i>kardia</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, meaning inner self.</span><br />
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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)</blockquote>
Again in this verse the word deceive is the Greek word <i id="yui-gen121" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">exapataō </i><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and proves the word has no sexual connotation with it. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The attempt to force this serpent-seed sexual meaning of </span><i id="yui-gen121" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">exapataō</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> 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.</span><br />
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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.<br />
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<strong>*For a fuller refutation of the Kenite theory see my post </strong><a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2014/10/refuting-shepherds-chapel-kenites.html" target="_blank"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong> <br />
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<i>Soli Deo Gloria!</i>Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-9979887335234625012014-06-10T19:32:00.000-07:002014-10-09T11:56:03.705-07:00Judging, 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:<br />
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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.”<br />
(1 Corinthians 5:12-13 ESV)<br />
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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.<br />
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Not to mention the multiple times Jesus and the apostles rebuked and <i>judged</i> 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?<br />
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Shepherd's Chapel, now lead by Dennis Murray, teach false doctrines and a false gospel. How so?<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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: <i>"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he <u>has done in the body</u>, whether good or evil." </i>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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<i>Soli Deo Gloria!</i><br />
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<br />Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-53034241855871640942013-05-28T08:09:00.000-07:002014-07-12T11:34:06.693-07:00Refuting Shepherd's Chapel - Hell (Matthew 10:28)<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shepherd's Chapel denies eternal punishment in hell (</span>Matthew 25:46<span style="font-family: inherit;">). 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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">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)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Arnold Murray along with his followers will latch on to the word "destroy" in this verse and claim that it means <i>blotted out </i>or annihilation. Thus, to them, this verse teaches annihilationism straight from Jesus' mouth. The word destroy used in this verse is the Greek work <span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><i>apollymi</i></span><em style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"> </em><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;">(</i><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G622" style="font-size: small; font-style: italic;" target="_blank">#G622</a><i style="font-size: small;">). </i>A</span></span> few words must be said about this word. First, as used in <span style="text-align: center;">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:</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matt. 10:6, KJV)</span></blockquote>
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The word "lost" used in this verse is the exact same Greek word <i style="text-align: center;">apollymi </i><span style="text-align: center;">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 <i>apollymi</i> in Matthew 10:28 teaches annihilation. The Greek word </span><i style="text-align: center;">apollymi </i><span style="text-align: center;">is also used in the following verses (the bolded word is the Greek word <i>apollymi</i>):</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> For the Son of man is come to save that which was<b> lost</b>. (Matthew 18:11, KJV)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="text-align: center;">What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he <b>lose</b> one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is <b>lost</b>, until he find it? (Luke 15:4, KJV)</span></blockquote>
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<span style="text-align: center;">For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was <b>lost</b>, and is found. And they began to be merry.(Luke 15:24, KJV)</span></blockquote>
As can be seen the Greek word <i>apollymi</i> 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.<br />
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So, briefly, what does the Bible teach on hell? Well here is one thing that Christ said about it:<br />
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And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matt. 25:46, KJV)</blockquote>
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 <i>aionios </i>in the Greek and it modifies the nature of the punishment, not the results of the punishment. In this verse <i>aionios</i> modifies <i>kalasis </i>"punishment", which is an action noun. Greek nouns that end with<i> –sis</i> 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 <i>aionios</i> modifies <i>paraklesis</i> “comfort”, another <i>–sis </i>ending action noun. So this verse proves that Christ taught an everlasting hell of punishment. Also we have this:<br />
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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)</blockquote>
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 <i>smoke</i> of their torment ascendeth for ever and ever. Only the <i>smoke</i>.". Ha! Gotcha right? Well no.<br />
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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 <i>they have no rest day nor night</i>. 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.<br />
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This verse is very similar to Revelation 20:10<br />
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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)</blockquote>
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:<br />
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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)</blockquote>
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<i> eis tous aionas ton aionon</i> 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<br />
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If you do your research and actually read those verses you will see that <i>eis tous aionas ton aionon</i> does not mean a temporary amount of time, but is basically the Greek way of saying eternity.<br />
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One last note, even Daniel in the Old Testament saw that evil people are not annihilated at end of this age:<br />
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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)</blockquote>
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).<br />
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So in conclusion we have shown that Shepherd's Chapel view of hell cannot be supported exegetically nor systematically from Holy Scripture.<br />
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<i>Soli Deo Gloria! </i><br />
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Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-69458810628551779182013-04-26T13:54:00.002-07:002014-10-08T11:53:06.567-07:00Refuting Shepherd's Chapel - Good & Bad Figs (Jeremiah 24)In continuing my <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2012/02/shepherds-chapel-my-story.html" target="_blank">critique</a> 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 Kenites<sup>1</sup> (the bad figs) and true Jews<sup>2</sup> (the good figs) returning to the land of Israel (which they say happened in 1948<sup>3</sup>) thus beginning what they call "the generation of the figtree<sup>4</sup>". 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.<br />
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First let's just take a quick read of <i class="esv-ignore">Jeremiah 24</i>:<br />
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<b class="esv-ignore">Jeremiah 24</b><br />
<i>The Good Figs and the Bad Figs </i></blockquote>
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<b>24</b> 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. <b>2</b> 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. <b>3 </b>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.”</blockquote>
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<b>4</b> Then the word of the Lord came to me: <b>5</b> “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. <b>6</b> 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. <b>7</b> 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.</blockquote>
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<b>8</b> “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. <b>9</b> 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. <b>10</b> 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.” <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(ESV)</i></span></blockquote>
A brief overview shows a vision of two baskets of figs. The basket of <i>good figs</i> represents those that were exiled to Babylon. The basket of <i>bad figs</i> 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).<br />
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Now let's break this down, as they say, <i>verse-by-verse</i>:<br />
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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).<br />
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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).<br />
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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).<br />
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Verse 6 - The Lord promises to restore the exiles. (cp Jer. 1:10; 12:2; 18:9).<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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 <i>is not</i> Kenites.<br />
<br />
Verse 9 and 10 - The Lord describes the punishment of those that remained as well as those in Egypt. (cp Jer. 15:2-4)<br />
<br />
So, as long as somebody does not import their false presuppositions into the text, this text is <i>not</i> 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.<br />
<br />
<i>Soli Deo Gloria!</i><br />
<br />
-------------<br />
notes:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Shepherd's Chapel teaches that kenites are the <a href="http://carm.org/serpent-seed-and-kenites" target="_blank">sons of cain</a> that are alive today claiming to be Jews.</li>
<li>Shepherd's Chapel follows the false doctrine of <a href="http://carm.org/christian-identity-movement" target="_blank">British-Israelism</a> and claim that real Jews (or the 10 lost tribes) are from European Caucasian descent. </li>
<li>They also claim this may have happened in 1967 after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War" target="_blank">Six-Day War</a>.</li>
<li>This is the final generation before the second advent according to Shepherd's Chapel teaching.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-71699578565231103412013-04-16T13:19:00.000-07:002017-05-05T06:43:41.241-07:00Refuting Shepherd's Chapel - Katabole and 3 Earth Ages<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">A couple of years ago I posted some </span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/colbybraden/videos" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8b5819; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;">videos</span></a></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> on YouTube. In those videos I tried to show some of the errors of </span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://carm.org/shepherds-chapel" target="_blank"><span style="color: #8b5819; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none;">Shepherd's Chapel</span></a></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> teachings. I also
have a <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2012/02/shepherds-chapel-my-story.html" target="_blank">post</a> on this blog where I briefly list and refute the false teachings of
Arnold Murray. I believe more needs to be said to refute their claims more
clearly. I have some posts that deal with their doctrine on <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2013/05/refuting-shepherds-chapel-hell-matthew.html" target="_blank">Hell</a> and <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2014/10/refuting-shepherds-chapel-kenites.html" target="_blank">Kenites</a>
(serpent seed) in more depth. In this post I want to discuss their doctrine of
the Katabole and the Three Earth Ages.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the big oversights I can point out is how Shepherd's Chapel followers misuse the Greek word <i>katabolē </i><span style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2602&t=KJV" target="_blank">(Strongs #G2602)</a></span>. Using </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperdispensationalism" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;">hyper-dispensationalist</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> E.W. Bullinger's <i>Companion Bible, </i>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".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the New Testament, Arnold Murray claims that when the word <i>katabolē </i>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 <i>katabolē</i>) used in "before the foundation of the world" it should be translated as "before the overthrow (or destruction) of the world". This, to them, validates their aberrant doctrine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the New Testament the word <i>katabolē </i>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.</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through faith also Sara herself received strength to <i>conceive</i> seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. (Hebrews 11:11 KJV)</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The word translated as <i>conceive</i> in this verse is the same Greek word <i>katabolē </i>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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the other uses of <i>katabolē </i>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.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact the proper Greek words used for "destruction" is <i>apōleia </i><span style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">(<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G684&t=KJV" target="_blank">#G684</a>) </span>and the Greek for "overthrow" is either <i>katastrophē <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2692&t=KJV" target="_blank">#G2692</a>)</span> </i>or <i>anatrepō </i><span style="font-size: x-small; font-style: italic;">(<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G396&t=KJV" target="_blank">#G396</a>)</span>. In Luke 6:49 we have the Greek word <i>rhēgma <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4485&t=KJV" target="_blank">#G4485</a>)</span> </i>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.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Also see HELPS word studies entry on the use of Katabole: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>katabolḗ</em> (from <a data-mce-href="http://biblehub.com/greek/2596.htm" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/2596.htm"><span data-mce-style="color: #0066cc;" style="color: #0066cc;">2596</span></a> <i>/katá</i>, "exactly according to," down from the most general to the most specific detail, "following all the way along," and <a data-mce-href="http://biblehub.com/greek/906.htm" href="http://biblehub.com/greek/906.htm"><span data-mce-style="color: #0066cc;" style="color: #0066cc;">906</span></a> <i>/bállō</i>, "to cast") – properly, a <i>foundation</i>, cast according to a blueprint (original design); the <i>substructure</i> which determines the entire direction (destination) of all that follows; the foundation-plan, upon which the entire super-structure is built; (figuratively) the <i>beginning</i> (<i>founding</i>) that purposefully designs all that follows. </blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A simple survey of how the word <i>katabolē </i>is used in the New Testament gives us a very clear understanding of its meaning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>All verses that use the Greek word <i>katabolē </i>in the New Testament:</strong></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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 </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some notes concerning the supposed "gap theory" of Genesis 1:1-2:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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<i> became</i> formless and void.” This, to them, proves the supposed <i>katabole</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This theory of creation is commonly called the <i><a href="http://carm.org/gap-theory" target="_blank">gap theory</a></i> and it suffers from a number of hermeneutical problems:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">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 <i>waw-disjunctive</i>. This is where a sentence begins with the Hebrew word for <i>and</i> (waw) followed by a noun such as the <i>earth</i> (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 <i>satanic fall</i> took place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Exodus 20:11 clearly teaches that everything was created in the span of six
literal days. This passage refutes any possibility of vast periods of
time between any of the days of creation. This theory suffers from the problem
of death and suffering long before Adam’s sin. Romans 5:12 teaches that death
came by Adam’s sin. God himself said on the sixth day that creation was <i>very
good</i> (Gen. 1:31), how could it be very good if there was sin and death
before the fall of Adam?</span><br />
<br />
Another argument you may encounter when dealing with Shepherd's Chapel students is they will claim Isaiah 45:18 substantiates their view:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For thus saith the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:18 KJV)</blockquote>
The word <em>in vain</em> is the same Hebrew word <em>tohu </em>as used in Geneses 1:2 <em>"without form".</em> Shepherd's Chapel students will claim that God didn't create the earth <em>tohu</em> but it became <em>tohu</em> (that is it became <em>tohu</em> "vian / without form" by the Katabole). But we must look at the context. The context here requires us to translate tohu as <em>"in vain" </em>instead of <em>"without form".</em> Isaiah's point here is that God did not create the earth without a purpose; He formed the earth to be inhabited by man. Genesis chapter one goes on to tell us how God formed the earth and created man and living creatures to fill the earth. Genesis chapter one records for us the whole act of creation and it was not completed until after the 6th day. Isaiah is not saying that God didn't originally create the earth tohu "without form" on the first day, as Genesis 1:2 states, but that he didn't create it without a purpose. God didn't let the earth stay tohu but had a purpose and formed the earth for that purpose. The whole act of creation (from day 1-6) had a purpose and was not vain <em>"tohu".</em><br />
<em></em><br />
The word <em>tohu</em> is used in several places in the Old Testament and it is translated 10 different ways in those places. In the Hebrew language it depends on the context as to how to precisely translate a word. <em>Tohu</em> is no exception. In Genesis 1:2 the context shows that the earth had no form to it yet so <em>tohu </em>is use to describe this state. In Isaiah 14:18 <em>tohu </em>is use to show that the whole act of creation had a purpose and was not in vain. There is no contradiction and this verse does not prove there was an earth age prior to this one.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">*updated 8/28/2015</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Soli Deo Gloria! </span></i>Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-72317428382393164252013-01-31T05:31:00.000-08:002018-09-03T19:53:25.267-07:00Whosoever Will?<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.99in;">
<i>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. </i>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 1.01in;">
– <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">John 3:16 KJV</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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 <i>"whosoever will"</i>, it simply
says whosoever or whoever believes. This <i>"whosoever"</i>
(KJV) is best translated as <i>"whoever believes"</i>
(NKJV, ESV, NASB, et al.) or <i>"the believing ones"</i>.
This verse in no way is teaching universal atonement. It is true that
all that believe in Christ will be saved, both Calvinist and Arminian
are in agreement with that. Those of us that are Calvinist in our soteriology 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!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.99in;">
<i>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. – <span style="font-size: x-small;">John
6:44 KJV</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The question is how do
sinners get to the point of belief? Is it free-will (Arminian) or
sovereign election (Calvinist)? 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 <i>will</i>
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 <i>will</i>
come to Christ, it is guaranteed (John 6:37).</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever
he wills – <span style="font-size: x-small;">Romans 9:18 ESV</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is only Christ's
<i>"sheep" </i>that can hear his voice and those that are
not of his <i>"flock"</i> 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 <i>"honorable use"</i> and another for
<i>"dishonorable use"</i> (v. 21). He explains that certain
people are "<i>prepared for destruction"</i> (v. 22), and
others <i>"prepared beforehand"</i> 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 <i>"in order that God's </i><i><u>purpose of
election</u></i><i> might continue, not because of works but because
of him who calls"</i> (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 <i>"ordained"</i> to condemnation
(Jude 1:4 KJV), and Acts mentions those <i>"ordained"</i>
to eternal life (Acts 13:48 KJV).</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<i>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: –
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I believe the problem
lies in the inability of people to grasp God's sovereignty. Ask any
Christian (Arminian or Calvinist) 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 Calvinists 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 Calvinist saying yes). The Bible teaches us
in Isaiah 46:9-11 that God declares the <i>"end from the
beginning"</i> (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).
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.49in; margin-right: 0.99in;">
<i>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 –
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Romans 9:22-23 ESV</span></i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
You must understand that
even those that believe in an autonomous <i>"free-will"</i>
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 Calvinist 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.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>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. – <span style="font-size: x-small;">2nd
Peter 3:9 KJV</span></i></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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 <i>"beloved"</i>
(v. 3:1, 8, 14) or <i>"those who have obtained faith"</i>
(1:1) in other words believers. So in 2nd Peter 3:9 when it says God
is not willing that <i>"any"</i> should parish and <i>"all"</i>
come to repentance who is the <i>"any"</i> and <i>"all"</i>?
The answer is quite simple. It is the ones that he is “<i>longsuffering”</i>
for, the <i>"you"</i> or <i>"us-ward"</i> (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).
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In conclusion we Calvinists 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)!</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
To the Glory of God,</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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Colby Braden</div>
Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-35956409791854825812012-07-17T08:44:00.000-07:002014-10-08T08:41:56.586-07:00Trinity<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5384394687134773"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Within the one </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">being</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that is God there exist eternally three co-equal, co-eternal </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">persons</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Foundations</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Monotheism - Only one true God</span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Three Divine Persons - Father, Son, Holy Spirit</span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. These Three Persons are Co-Equal, Co-Eternal </span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monotheism</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - Deut. 6:4, Deut. 4:35, Isaiah 43:10, Isaiah 45:5-6, Isaiah 44:1-8, Psalm 96:5</span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deity of Christ</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - John 1:1-3,18, John 17:3-5, Phil 2:5-7, Col. 2:9</span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is Yahweh</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - (Psalm 102:25-27, Hebrews 1:6-10) (John 12:39-43, Isaiah 6:10)</span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - John 14:15-31, John 16:1-15</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who does the whole of Scripture proclaim to be God?</span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 4:6</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> proclaims the </span>Father<span style="font-weight: normal;"> to be God.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Titus 2:13; John 1:1,14; 20:28</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> proclaim the </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Son</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to be God.</span><br /><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acts 5:3-4</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> proclaims the </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Holy Spirit</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to be God.</span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5384394687134773"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5384394687134773" style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And of course </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deuteronomy 4:35</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> proclaims God to be the </span>one, true God<span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="background-color: white; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><img height="318px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/iBac0REjxoqddeUeV0XDypALZgDtGYwFtVI9uTWXCnQJOEYc0wrqdI3oG4fr_RssJKJ-B8yKVV88NYdz4Rd7ol4LXoxfj2NmJNF09Jb-pPBUSaW6pA4" width="492px;" /></b></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5384394687134773" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you take away </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monotheism</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you have </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Polytheism</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you take away the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three Persons</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you have </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Modalism</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you take away the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Equality of the Persons</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you have </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Subordinationism</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Only with all three </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Monotheism, Three Persons, Equality of Persons)</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> do you have the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biblical Trinity</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV)</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C</span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5384394687134773" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">onstructed from my notes on this video by <a href="http://www.aomin.org/" target="_blank">Dr. James White</a><b>:</b></span></b>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_ecgkxevoYI" width="420"></iframe>Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-34795459346283500442012-02-01T11:01:00.000-08:002017-05-05T07:18:40.505-07:00Shepherd's Chapel - My Story<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
have stated on this blog and on my<a href="http://youtu.be/lw9VY11KIdM"><span style="color: blue;"> YouTube video</span></a> that I use to be a <i>student</i>
of Shepherd's Chapel. It was commented on YouTube and posts on this blog that I
am a liar and was never a student of Shepherd's Chapel.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<span class="MsoNormal" div="" s="" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So
here is my history:</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<span msonormal="" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
the late 1980's my Grandfather, a Baptist preacher for many years, stumbled
across Shepherd's Chapel on his old C-band satellite dish (I was quite young at
the time). As he listened and studied with Shepherd's Chapel he slowly changed
his doctrines to align with the teachings of Arnold Murray. My Grandfather
started sending my parents some of Shepherd's Chapel's tapes and trying to
explain to us the <i>truths</i> that Murray was teaching. Then a few years
later, when I was at about the age of 11 or 12, we started doing weekly Bible
studies at my Grandfather's house. This was my first real contact with any <i>Christian</i>
teaching. Unfortunately, by this time, my Grandfather's beliefs had changed
to closely align with Shepherd's Chapel. My Dad, Mom, Brother, and I became
convinced that Shepherd's Chapel was teaching the truth and we started
following Arnold Murray's teachings.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<span msonormal="" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A
few years later, when I was about 14 or 15, my Dad purchased a C-band satellite
dish (the big dish). I was able to watch Pastor Murray anytime I wanted (they
have a 24-7 channel on C-band). I watched Shepherd's Chapel as much as I could
for the next few years and learned most of the specifics of Murray's teachings
during that time. At around the age of 18 I got one of my best friends involved
with Shepherd's Chapel's teachings. We started handing out tracts, having Bible<i>
</i>studies, and trying to spread the doctrines of Shepherd's Chapel any way we
could. I was extremely passionate about my beliefs during this time and even
went to three <i>Passover</i> meetings (annual meetings they hold usually in
Branson, MO around Easter time). I was a fairly avid poster on some unofficial
Shepherd's Chapel forums and tried to defend my beliefs with people on the
internet (chat rooms, forums, websites, etc.).</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span msonormal="" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span msonormal="" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During
that time I displayed a lot of the same behavior that is common with Shepherd's
Chapel students. I could be quite harsh with anybody that challenged my beliefs
and I ridiculed Churches and people that I thought were <i>deceived</i> by
Satan and his Kenites.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><sp class="MsoNormal" div="" style="line-height: normal;">In
2008 I got married and tried to slowly introduce my wife to the doctrines
taught by Shepherd's Chapel. Fortunate for me she was stubborn and would not
give on much so I didn't try to push it too hard on her. I figured I would just
<i>plant the seeds</i> and hope for the best. Around 2009 is when I started to
have some doubts about certain doctrines (especially election) taught by Shepherd's Chapel but I
suppressed those doubts as best I could. Then the Lord blessed me with a good
job in 2010 that allowed me some time to do more Bible studies and reading. I
made a conscious effort to read the Bible without listening to Murray or
anybody; I was having some doubts and didn't want anybody influencing my
studies. I read through the Old Testament once and the New Testament several
times over the course of a year. I took Murray's advice and "checked him
out" and I found that several of his doctrines were far from
Biblical.</sp></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="MsoNormal" div="" styl="" style="line-height: normal;">By
February of 2011 (I was 32 at the time) I had totally rejected Shepherd's
Chapel's false doctrines. That would put me at 20+ years of knowledge of
their doctrines and teachings. God opened my eyes to the false teachings of
Arnold Murray and I was convinced of <a href="http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/what_is_reformed_theology/" target="_blank">Reformed Theology</a> though my personal Bible
studies. I am a member of a Bible believing and teaching local Church, <a href="http://www.hbcky.org/" target="_blank">Hanson Baptist Church</a> (and yes, they teach verse-by-verse).</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span msonormal="" style="line-height: normal;"><b>I
renounce Shepherd's Chapel as a heretical cult that is outside the scope of
Christianity!</b></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span msonormal="" style="line-height: normal;">Here
is a list of just some of the heretical and unorthodox teachings of
Shepherd's Chapel:</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They teach we
existed before we were born in the flesh and there was a <i>first earth
age</i> that we all lived in. They teach the <a href="http://carm.org/gap-theory" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Gap
Theory</span></a>. Zechariah 12:1, Isaiah 44:2 and 1 Cor. 15:46 refute preexistence of the soul and the <i>gap theory</i> cannot be supported with sound Hebrew exegesis. (See <a href="https://answersingenesis.org/genesis/gap-theory/closing-the-gap/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a> and <a href="https://answersingenesis.org/genesis/gap-theory/what-about-the-gap-and-ruin-reconstruction-theories/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Satan rebelled
in that <i>first earth age</i> and God destroyed it. This
destruction is known in the New Testament by the Greek word<i> katabole</i>.
(See<a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2013/04/refuting-shepherds-chapel-katabole.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"> this post</span></a> for a
refutation.)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They teach that
there were a people on earth before Adam was created. These <i>pre-adamic</i>
people are call the <i>6th day</i> people and comprised different races. White people were created separately on
the <i>8th day</i>. However, if you read Genesis it is clear that chapter 2 is going back to describe the creation of man in chapter 1. We read in Genesis 2:4 the statement "<i>when they were created</i>" showing that what follows is describing the events of the previous chapter thus refuting a separate creation event. (See also <a href="http://creation.com/pre-adamic-man-were-there-human-beings-on-earth-before-adam" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <i>elect</i>
where chosen because they stood against Satan in the <i>first earth age</i>. This is a type of
justification by works and is a serious Gospel destroying heresy. The
elect where chosen not based on any works but on
God's sovereign and free choice (Romans 9). A simple reading of Romans 8 will show that the elect are <i>all</i> Christians
and we were not chosen based on works performed. (See also Romans 9:16, Ephesians
2:8-10, 2nd Timothy 1:9. and my post <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2016/08/refuting-shepherds-chapel-elect.html" target="_blank">here</a>) </span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Satan had
literal sex with Eve and Cain was the offspring of Satan and Eve. This is called
the <a href="http://carm.org/serpent-seed-and-kenites" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Serpent Seed</span></a> doctrine. A simple reading of Genesis 4:1 with refute
this claim. Cain is the offspring of Adam. (See my post <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2014/10/refuting-shepherds-chapel-kenites.html" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and</span></span> <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2014/07/pastor-ben-heath-and-serpent-seed.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cain's decedents are
called Kenites and they are still alive today <i>claiming to be Jews</i> and
controlling the world behind the scenes. This is a scare tactic and breeds racism. (See<a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2014/07/pastor-ben-heath-and-serpent-seed.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"> this post</span></a> for a
refutation.)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Kenites wrote
the book of Esther. They won't teach the book of Esther on the air, you
have to order the CD's from them. Why hide this teaching? Because it is a blatant
denial of Holy Scripture. (Revelation 22:19, Deut. 4:2; 12:32.)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Caucasians are
the true descendants of the 10 <i>lost tribes</i> of Israel. There is no
scriptural or historical support for this assertion. This doctrine stems from the <a href="http://british-israelism.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">British Israelism</span></a> / <a href="http://creation.com/ci-refutation" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Christian Identity</span></a> heresy which has close
ties to racist groups. Shepherd's Chapel does not out-right teach racism but many of their doctrines have stemmed from, and tend to breed, racism.</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christians that
believe in the Pre-tribulation Rapture will be deceived by the Antichrist. The Bible, to the contrary, teaches in Revelation
13:8 and Matt. 24:22 and John 10:28-29 that Christians can not be
deceived by the Antichrist or his system.</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Antichrist
is Satan himself and not a man. Scripture, however, distinguishes between the man of sin and Satan in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2. Also Revelation shows
the Devil as separate from the False Prophet and the Beast. (See also
Daniel chapters 9-11.)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They
teach Annihilationism. In other words, the denial of eternal conscious torment in hell. Matt. 25:46, Rev. 14:9-11 and many others
refute this. (See also <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2013/05/refuting-shepherds-chapel-hell-matthew.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">this post</span></a> for a
refutation.). Note I don't consider Annihilationism damnable heresy but it causes some theological and Biblical problems.</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They are unclear
as to the <a href="http://www.equip.org/PDF/DT250.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Trinity</span></a> and teach <a href="http://carm.org/modalism" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">modalism</span></a>
(God uses three <i>offices</i> not that God is three <i>persons</i>). I've
heard Pastor Murray say <i>"a smart man doesn't discuss the
Trinity"</i>. They leave it ambiguous, but Shepherd's Chapel's teachings are
clearly modalistic and thus heretical. Wrong God, wrong Gospel!</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christians must
uphold the kosher food laws. (Romans 14:17, 1st Timothy 4:3-4, Mark 7:19
refute this claim).</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are in the
end-times because in 1948 the <i>good</i> and <i>bad figs</i> returned and
created the state of Israel. They claim the <i>bad figs</i> of Jeremiah 24 are
Kenites. (See <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2013/04/refuting-shepherds-chapel-good-bad-figs.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">this post</span></a> for a
refutation). Scripture makes it clear that the <i>last days</i>
began in the first century. Hebrews 1:1-2, Acts 2:17. In other words,
the last days is the time between Christ's <i>first</i> advent and <i>second</i>
advent.</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If your church
doesn't teach who the Kenites are they are not a true church and don't posses the <i>Key of David</i>. They
try to use Smyrna and Philadelphia from Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 to try and
prove that, but only a false hermeneutic and presupposition would lead to such a statement. Romans 2:28-29 shows that a true Jew is a one that is inwardly a Jew, in
other words a Christian. (see <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2014/10/refuting-shepherds-chapel-kenites.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They teach there
is a distinction between <i>free will</i> Christians and <i>elect</i>
Christian. There is, however, 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 doe not teach there is a group called <i>free-will</i> Christians that are different from <em>elect</em> Christians.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span msonormal="" style="line-height: normal;">Why
is Shepherd's Chapel dangerous? Nowhere in Scripture does it teach that the
elect where chosen in a <i>first earth age, </i>that a Christian gained <i>elect</i>
status because they sided with God in that <i>first earth age</i>. To teach
that you are elect because of something you did is heretical and against
everything written in the New Testament. I have heard 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. In other words the elect
where justified (saved) in the first earth age because of something they did.
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 separate <i>elect</i> 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.</span></span> (for a more full explanation see my post <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2016/08/refuting-shepherds-chapel-elect.html" target="_blank">here</a>.) <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span msonormal="" style="line-height: normal;">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 were
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)? When the Scripture
they use to support their doctrines are closely examined it shows they are
clearly mishandling the Word of God. In fact their whole system of belief falls
apart under close scrutiny.</span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shepherd</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">'s
Chapel denies the </span><a href="http://creation.com/jesus-christ-our-creator-a-biblical-defence-of-the-trinity" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Trinity</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> even though they
may claim they don't. Like most cults they redefine terms to fit their
heretical views. The simple fact is that Shepherd's Chapel does </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">not</u><span style="font-family: inherit;">
teach that the one true and living God has eternally existed as three co-equal,
co-eternal persons (for more on the Trinity see this </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ecgkxevoYI" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">video</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shepherd's
Chap</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">el teaches a false gospel and false gospels cannot save! Take seriously
Paul's words in Galatians 1:9: </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">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.</i>Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com141tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-16804666945585884532012-01-26T09:44:00.000-08:002014-10-08T09:28:05.332-07:00A sad state.Debating those that are so indoctrinated with falsehoods can be tedious. Just check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw9VY11KIdM&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">this video</a> 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 <i>elect</i> were chosen because of something they did in the<i> first earth age</i>. These elect were<i> justified</i> in this <i>first earth age</i>. There is no Scripture to back that claim up. If one reads Romans chapter 8 and 9 and Ephesians 1 and 2 one will see that the elect are <i>all</i> believing Christians and that no work we have ever done or will do is what made us <i>elect</i>. Our justification, as Christians, being based on performance or work is completely against what the Bible teaches (Romans 9:16, Ephesians 2:8-10, 2nd Timothy 1:9). For the Christian view of Justification see <a href="http://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/justification_by_faith_alone/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/justification-by-faith-is-the-end-of-boasting" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/45-39/salvation-by-divine-powernot-human-effort" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I was a former <i>student</i> of this cult for many years, see <a href="http://reformedthinker.blogspot.com/2012/02/shepherds-chapel-my-story.html" target="_blank">this post</a>. Those posting on my YouTube video don't believe me and say I'm from <a href="http://www.carm.org/" target="_blank">CARM</a>. 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 only Shepherd's chapel but also Mormon, Jehovah Witness, and Roman Catholics.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
I thank God that he opened my eyes to the Truth and brought me out of the Shepherd's Chapel cult.<br />
<br />
Soli Deo Gloria!Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-82385711176603547532011-12-01T07:30:00.001-08:002014-10-08T10:59:09.859-07:00All the host of them, 3rd heaven, and the creation of angels.<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<div dir="ltr" id="internal-source-marker_0.5538460416719317" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">heaven of heavens</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with all their host,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">host of heaven worships you</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />(Nehemiah 9:6 ESV)</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This verse shows that God created the angels in the beginning. The </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">heaven of heavens</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is what Paul refers to as </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3rd heaven</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in 2nd Corinthians 12:2. We see this host of heaven worships God <span style="font-family: inherit;">and <span style="font-family: inherit;">the host of heaven is the <span style="font-family: inherit;">angels</span></span></span>. We see th<span style="font-family: inherit;">is host mention<span style="font-family: inherit;">ed in Genesis<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and all the host of them</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. <br />(</span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 2:1 ESV)</span></span></span></blockquote>
So we see the angels of the <i>host of heaven</i> are mentioned as being created with the heaven's and the earth in Genesis 1:1-2.<br />
<br />
What is Paul talking about in 2nd Corinthians 12:2? <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the <u>third heaven</u>—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up<u> into paradise</u>—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—<br />
(2 Corinthians 12:2-3 ESV)</blockquote>
This is not, like Shepherd's Chapel would claim, Paul being taken to the <i>third earth age</i>. This is the same heaven of heavens that is spoken of throughout the Old Testament (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chron. 2:6; Neh. 9:6; Ps. 148:4). Here is a the note on 2nd Corinthians 12:2 from the <i>ESV Study Bible </i>on the topic of <b>third heaven</b>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This phrase does not imply belief in a simplistic “three-story universe” but reflects a commonsense distinction between (1) the atmosphere where birds can be seen to fly, (2) the higher area where the sun, moon, and stars can be seen, and (3) the unseen realm where God dwells. This third area is equated with paradise (Gk. paradeisos, a Persian loan-word used in the Septuagint to refer to the garden of Eden [see Gen. 2:8–10; 13:10; Isa. 51:3; Ezek. 28:13; 31:8–9] but in the NT to refer to a place of blessedness where God dwells [Luke 23:43; Rev. 2:7]). Both terms would be recognized by Jewish readers as references to the realm of God’s direct presence. </blockquote>
<br /></div>
Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-82879036752476110962011-11-21T12:45:00.000-08:002011-11-22T08:00:25.206-08:00With Child from the Holy Spirit<b>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. </b><i>(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Matthew 1:18 ESV)</span></i><br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
<b>In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. <u>He was in the beginning with God</u>.</b> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">(John 1:1-3 ESV)</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;"><br />
</span></i><br />
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.Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-36029532502911445502011-09-13T07:16:00.000-07:002011-09-16T06:13:17.211-07:00He Caused it, and it Lasts Forever.<b>Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has <u>caused us</u> to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,</b><i> (1 Peter 1:3 ESV) </i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
It was according to God's Mercy that he <i>caused us</i> to be born again. It wasn't anything we deserved or did. We didn't cause it ourselves it was the work of God. Now since it was God that caused us to be born again and he did the work then guess what, it lasts forever!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. </b><i>(1 Peter 1:4-5 ESV)</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
The inheritance is imperishable, which means it cannot go away it will last forever. Our salvation is being guarded by God. That is powerful stuff!<br />
<br />
Since God caused our Salvation he will make sure it lasts forever!<br />
<br />
All Glory to God!Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-24454018396799817332011-08-11T10:58:00.000-07:002011-09-16T06:15:56.214-07:00Chosen by Grace<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Romans 11:5-6</span> So too, at the present time there is a<u> remnant chosen by grace</u>. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.</b> <i>(NIV)</i><br />
<br />
I have heard some argue that election is by faith and that is how God makes his choice. Here we see that election is by grace, and grace is given as a gift from God.<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Ephesians 2:8</span> For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves,<u> it is the gift of God</u></b><i> (NIV)</i><br />
<i><br />
</i>Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-38703116132383841312011-07-21T08:52:00.000-07:002011-09-16T06:14:59.758-07:00Last DaysAre we living in the Last Days? Yes! and we have been since the days of Acts Chapter 2:<br />
<br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Acts 2:16-17</span></i> But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ' And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Peter declares that the <i>Last Days</i> began some 50 days after the Resurrection of Jesus because of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.<br />
<br />
We also see this in Hebrews:<br />
<br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Hebrews 1:1-2</span></i> God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these <u>last days</u> spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b><br />
</b>Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-3860677264680603032011-06-02T11:07:00.000-07:002011-07-13T06:55:07.209-07:00Salvation in JesusOur belief is in Jesus Christ who is God. And has always been in all eternity with God.<br />
<br />
<strong>John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.</strong><br />
<br />
Jesus became flesh and walked among us.<br />
<br />
<strong>John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.</strong><br />
<br />
Christ was risen from the dead.<br />
<br />
<strong>Luke 24:34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"</strong><br />
<br />
His Resurrection has brought us Salvation.<br />
<br />
<strong>Acts 5:30-32 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." </strong><br />
<br />
Jesus died for us sinners.<br />
<br />
<strong>Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.</strong><br />
<br />
Salvation is only obtainable by Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
<strong>John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.</strong><br />
<br />
He bore our sins, he took the punishment for us.<br />
<br />
<strong>1 Peter 2:24-25 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness --- by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.</strong><br />
<br />
To have salvation you must believe that Christ was God in flesh, that he died for our sins, that he was buried and that he rose again.<br />
<br />
<strong>1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you --- unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,</strong><br />
<br />
Since we are Justified by this faith we can have peace.<br />
<br />
<strong>Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.</strong><br />
<br />
Whoever believes on Jesus will have eternal life.<br />
<br />
<strong>John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.</strong><br />
<br />
Amen!Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-27167275124331530512011-06-01T12:22:00.000-07:002014-10-10T06:26:27.979-07:00Then Comes the End - Millennium<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. <u>Then comes the end</u>, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after <u>destroying</u> every rule and every authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:22-24 ESV)</blockquote>
We read in this verse that we have the resurrection of believers when Christ returns. Did you notice what happens after that?<i> "Then comes the end"</i>. You will also notice that when the end comes Christ destroys all powers and authorities. This is clearly laid out in Rev 19:11-22. This event is vividly described by Peter as well in 2nd Peter chapter 3.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2 Peter 3:10 ESV)</blockquote>
We see that the coming of Christ will be immediately followed by the dissolving of the earth and the works in it. Where does that leave a literal 1000 year reign as some interpret Rev. 20:1-6? It doesn't, so there isn't. <br />
<br />
There is a major problem with premillennialism in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 1 as well.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, <u>when he comes on that day</u> to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 ESV)</blockquote>
We see very clearly in these verses the second coming of Christ. When he does come "on that day" he will punish unbelievers. These texts leave no room for a premillennial return of Christ. Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-67253794293702506222011-06-01T07:36:00.000-07:002011-07-13T06:53:57.486-07:00His Will, not our own.<strong>Jeremiah 17:9 ” The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: ” There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”</strong><br />
<br />
We as fallen humans are deceitful and desperately wicked. None of us is righteous, nobody seeks after God. Since we are so wholly and completely depraved and deserving nothing but the wrath of God how can we ever choose by our own free will to believe and have faith in Christ’s completed work on the Cross?<br />
<br />
<strong>John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.</strong><br />
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We can’t. We simply do not have the will to come to God. Only God can draw us to faith in Christ.. It is not our will but His!<br />
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<strong>John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.</strong><br />
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Our will will never lead to salvation. It is the Will of God that will bring us to that salvation. To have faith you must be born not of blood (our human will) but of Spirit (God’s Will).<br />
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<strong>John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’</strong><br />
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Being born again is not from us or our will but it is God who causes us to be born again.<br />
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<strong>1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy <span style="text-decoration: underline;">has caused us to be born again</span> to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,</strong><br />
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The Holy Spirit will regenerate us and draw us to Faith in Christ.<br />
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<strong>Ezekiel 36:27 I will put <span style="text-decoration: underline;">My Spirit </span>within you and cause you to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">walk in My statutes</span>, and you will keep My judgments and do them.</strong><br />
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God gives us His Spirit while we are still sinners and spiritually dead and on the way to hell.<br />
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<strong>Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> even when we were dead in trespasses</span>, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),</strong><br />
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And so salvation is not of our will, it is not something we can work for. It is the mercy and free gift from God.<br />
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<strong>Ephesians 2:8-10 For by <span style="text-decoration: underline;">grace you have been saved through faith,</span> and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not of works</span>, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.</strong><br />
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And it is God’s will that we are saved. It is His mercy, His grace. Not our will, not our desires, not our works. God decided this long before we were here. He chose us before the world began.<br />
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<strong>Ephesians 1:4-6 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.</strong><br />
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God’s mercy and grace are His sovereign right to give or to withhold.<br />
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<strong>Romans 9:15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion."</strong><br />
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And even though Christ’s Crucifixion was sufficient for all. It was only effective for His sheep, His elect, the Church.<br />
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<strong>John 10:14-16 I am the good shepherd; and I know <span style="text-decoration: underline;">My sheep</span>, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> I lay down My life for the sheep</span>. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.</strong><br />
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Christ died only for the ones God predestined to salvation. His blood purchased the Church.<br />
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<strong>Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which <span style="text-decoration: underline;">He purchased with His own blood</span>.</strong><br />
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The Church alone receives the salvation and sanctification from Christ’s sacrifice. He bore the sins of the elect, the saints so they can be blameless before God.<br />
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<strong>Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">gave Himself for her</span>, that He might <span style="text-decoration: underline;">sanctify</span> and <span style="text-decoration: underline;">cleanse </span>her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.</strong><br />
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Since we were predestined for salvation and bought with the Blood of Christ we will continue until the end. Our faith will persevere.<br />
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<strong>Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;</strong><br />
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We are given eternal life, we will not perish. And nothing or no one can take salvation away from us.<br />
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<strong>John 10:27-29 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall <span style="text-decoration: underline;">never perish</span>; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.</strong><br />
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<em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666;">Soli Deo Gloria</span></em>Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1257433509654033096.post-19774154279363754632011-05-31T06:49:00.000-07:002011-07-13T06:49:23.622-07:00Original Sin and Ezekiel 18<strong><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Ezekiel 18:20</i> </span>The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.</strong><br />
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Does this verse contradict original sin? First lets look at what original sin is. Original sin as viewed (briefly) by most Reformed/Calvinist is that we as humans are born into this world with sinful natures due to Adams sin.<br />
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<em>A sinful nature was not man's original state at his creation:</em><br />
<strong><i>Ecclesiastes 7:29</i> Truly, this only I have found: <span style="text-decoration: underline;">That God made man upright,</span> But they have sought out many schemes.</strong><br />
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<strong><i> Genesis 1:27</i> So God created man <span style="text-decoration: underline;">in His own image</span>; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.</strong><br />
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<em>Adam's fall brought sin and death:</em><br />
<strong><i>Romans 5:12</i> Therefore, just as through <span style="text-decoration: underline;">one man</span> sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned</strong><br />
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<em>And all humans are born into sin and have no righteousness:</em><br />
<strong><i>Psalms 51:5</i> Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.</strong><br />
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<strong><i> Ephesians 2:3</i> among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.</strong><br />
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<strong><i> Ecclesiastes 9:3</i> This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.</strong><br />
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<strong><i> Romans 3:10-11</i> As it is written: " There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.</strong><br />
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Now we are condemned by our own sins. But we are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. But if mankind's sinfulness comes from Adam what are we to think of Ezekiel 18:20? The key is in the next verse:<br />
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<strong><i>Ezekiel 18:21</i> "But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.</strong><br />
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God already laid out that <em>"the soul that sins shall die"</em>. We have seen that we all sin and none are righteous, therefore we all earn this death from the start. But God in his mercy allows us to repent and live even though we don't deserve it! You see the whole 18th Chapter of Ezekiel is about repentance and if we repent we can not be held accountable for the sins of our fathers. This chapter is not discussing the fact of the Fall of Adam and it's consequence on mankind, but it is showing repentance and how we don't deserve it!Colby Bradenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17344662438862899708noreply@blogger.com1