Fri, Apr 11th - 5:44PM

Fri, Apr 11th - 4:29PM

CORRECTING THEOLOGICAL ERRORS

THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH TEACHES  

 1) The observance of the Sabbath law

         The Sabbath Law was given to the Israelites. " ... They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed feasts, and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy (Ezek. 44: 24).

      When our Lord and Savior breathed his last, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom exposing the Holy of Holies (Matt. 27: 50 - 51). No longer was there need for a human high priest and animal sacrifices. Jesus was the final sacrifice. He is our heavenly high priest "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess" (Heb. 4: 14).

  When the first covenant became obsolete, Judaism had run its course. The new covenant was now in effect. Under the new covenant, there are no laws and regulations. Born again believers operate on the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22 - 23; Rom. 12: 6 - 8; 1 Cor. 12: 7 - 11).

  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law" (Gal. 5: 22 - 23).

 " We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully" (Rom. 12: 6 - 8).

       The Colossians had strict counsel from the apostle Paul:

CORRECTLY EXPLAINING THE WORD OF TRUTH ( 2 Tim. 2: 15; NLT)

   THE THOUSAND YEARS  (Rev. 20: 1 - 7)

   INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE

    We do not use our own understanding to interpret Scripture. We use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Dr. Luke tells us that Jesus must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything. He writes: 

     "He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets" (Acts 3: 21).

     The apostle Peter informs us that God will restore everything on the day of judgment by creating a new heaven and a new earth ( 2 Pet. 3: 13). 

  “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” ( 2 Pet. 3: 13).

      The conclusion is that Jesus will remain in heaven until the day of judgment; proving that the second coming and the coming down from heaven for the rapture are the same event ( Matt. 25: 31 - 46; 1 Thess. 4: 16 - 17; Heb. 9: 28).

       Since eternity will commence on the day of judgment at the coming of Jesus ( Matt. 25: 31 - 32, 46). therefore the thousand years recorded in Revelation 20 : 1 - 7 cannot follow the second coming as some teach. The thousand years must precede the second coming since time and eternity cannot coexist.

       The events of the end times are presented in the following diagram. The calculation shows that our LORD ministered for three and a half years. 

        Are the thousand years literal? 

       The thousand years are not literal. They are symbolic and cover an extended period of time. 

        Are both thousand years of the same duration (Rev. 20:2; Rev 20:4)?

       Both thousand years are of the same duration, since our calculation of the length of our LORD's ministry was shown to be three and a half years long and the tribulation period will be three and a half years long (Dan 7: 25; Rev. 13:5-8).

       When did the thousand years begin?

      In the case of Satan, the thousand years began at the commencement of our Lord’s ministry ( Rev. 20: 2; Matt. 12: 29), and they will end when he is set free for a short time ( Rev. 12: 12; Rev. 20: 3).

 Regarding our LORD, the thousand years began at his ascension ( Rev. 20: 4; Acts 1: 9 - 11), and they will end when he comes again (Matt. 25: 31; 1 Cor. 15: 22 - 23; 1 Thess. 4: 16 - 17; 2 Thess. 1: 6 - 10; Heb. 9: 27 - 28; 1 Pet. 4: 4 - 5; 2 Pet. 3: 7 - 10). 14)

 THE MILLENNIAL REIGN

    Since our Lord is reigning now ( 1 Cor. 15: 25 - 26), and since he will commence his eternal reign after he judges all nations ( Matt. 25: 31 - 32, 46; Rev. 11: 15 - 18), therefore his present reign must be his millennial. The millennial reign is now in progress. It is in heaven. Our Lord is reigning with his saints, those in heaven ( Rev. 6: 9 - 11) and those on earth (John 14: 20; Col. 3: 1 - 3).

Fri, Apr 11th - 4:17PM

HANDBOOK FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING

Dr. Charles F. Stanley

      Dr. Stanley was an excellent teacher but when writing on the end times he made several errors. He wrote:

 1)  Paul believed that Jesus' return was imminent ( p. 279).  FALSE

 In writing to the Thessalonian believers, the apostle Paul cautioned them about deceivers. He informed them that the coming of the Lord and the rapture will take place on the day of the Lord.  He also told them that those events will be preceded by two signs. 1) There will be a rebellion against God (many believers will fall away from the faith).   2) The man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) will be revealed.

    Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled  or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction (2 Thess. 2: 3).

 The apostle Peter states that the day of the Lord is the day of judgment (2 Pet. 3: 7, 10). He writes:

 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare ( 2 Pet. 3: 10).

     The conclusion is that Jesus will remain in heaven until the day of judgment. When he comes he will gather all nations before him. He will carry out the judgment. The righteous will go into eternal life and the unrighteous into eternal punishment. God will create a new heaven and a new earth and he will reign eternally (Matt. 25: 31 - 46; Rev. 11: 15 - 18).

  2)

4)   Dr. Stanley taught two future comings, one at the time of the rapture and the other at the end of the tribulation. Our Lord Jesus Christ taught one future coming.

 When Jesus comes in his glory with all the angels, he will sit on his heavenly throne. He will gather all nations before him. He will place the righteous on his right and the unrighteous on his left. ... The unrighteous will go away to eternal punishment and the righteous to eternal life (Matt. 25: 31 - 33, 46).

 The righteous will spend eternity in the Holy City, the new Jerusalem and the unrighteous in the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Rev. 21: 1 - 8).

 5)  Paul believed that Jesus' return was imminent, ... (p. 279).  FALSE

      The apostle Paul taught that Jesus' return and the rapture will take place on the day of the Lord (2 Thess. 2: 1 - 3). The apostle Peter informed us that the day of the Lord is the day of judgment (2 Pet. 3: 7, 10).

6)  In the premillennial scheme of things, Israel and the church are two distinct entities. (p. 276).

      Under the new covenant, the significant thing is to be a born again believer. There is no distinction between a Gentile born again believer and a Jewish  born again believer. The apostle Paul explained the mystery of Christ to the Ephesian believers. He wrote: This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus (Eph. 3: 6).

Fri, Apr 11th - 4:06PM

BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS

     Jesus loves you. He died for you. He wants you to spend eternity with him. Will you confess your sins, repent of them  and receive him into your heart?  Jesus said to Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin - the Jewish Ruling Council, You must be born again to get into heaven ( John 3: 3). Please read John 3: 3 - 18.

    The apostle Paul cautioned the Colossian church. Do not allow people judge you by what you eat or drink or regarding a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These were forerunners of the reality. The reality is found in Christ (Col. 2: 16 - 17).

 Born again believers are children of God. When Jesus came those who received him, those who believed in his name became children of God because they were born of God (John 1: 12 - 13).

 When a person is born again, Jew or Gentile, there is no ethnic distinction, no status distinction, and no gender distinction. "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile) , slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus . If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3: 26 - 29). Please read Ephesians 2: 13 - 22.

 Born again believers are temples of God. The apostle Paul communicated this truth to believers in Corinth. Your body is a temple of God. The Holy Spirit lives in you. You have received the Spirit from God (1 Cor. 6: 19).

 Since born again believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1: 13 - 14), they can cultivate and manifest the fruit of the Spirit.        The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Gal. 5: 22 - 23).

     The Holy Spirit gives gifts to born again believers. All believers are given the manifestation of the Spirit. The gifts which individuals receive are for the common good. Some of the gifts are the message of wisdom, the message of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in different kinds of tongues, the interpretation of tongues (tongues = unknown languages) (1 Cor. 12: 7 - 10). "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Cor. 12: 11).

 Born again believers do not celebrate holy days. We celebrate the Holy One - our Lord and Savior/Messiah, Jesus Christ. He loved us so much that he gave his life for us. He is interceding for us at the right hand of God the Father. "Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us" (Rom. 8: 34).

 Born again believers do not celebrate holy days, we celebrate  the Holy One, our heavenly high priest. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses because he was tempted just as we are and did not sin (Heb. 4: 14 - 15).

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK 

http://blogs.christiansunite.com/hpesoj

NOTE -   (italic - mine)   blue - scriptural quotation  purple - scriptural paraphrase  red - regular print (emphasis)

"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright c 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers."   

 CopyrightⒸ 2024 by Joseph E. Mahabir (B.A Hons. (York University), M.Ed. (University of Toronto), Divinity M. A, (magna cum laude), (Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA).

THE CHOSEN PEOPLE

THE FIRST COVENANT

 God made the first covenant with the Israelites as they were on their way to the promised land. The covenant contained laws, regulations, holy days, sacrifices with the blood of animals and the ten commandments. The majority of the Israelites were not faithful to the covenant and God allowed all who came out of Egypt to die except Joshua and Caleb. God promised the people that he would make a new covenant with them. Under the first covenant the Israelites were the chosen people (Exod. 19: 5 - 6; Psalm 33: 12).

  "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah" (Jer. 31: 31).

 THE NEW COVENANT

  The new covenant was put into effect through the precious blood of our Savior/ Messiah and LORD, Jesus Christ. Although God through the prophet Jeremiah, announced the new covenant  to the people of Israel and the people of Judah (Jer. 31: 31), Scripture asserts that the new covenant is for the world.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3: 16). 

IS SALVATION PERMANENT OR CONDITIONAL?

 A number of people including pastors, authors, ministries and Bible Colleges teach that once a person is saved, he or she is always saved. Dr. Charles F. Stanley wrote: "Eternal life is received by grace through faith. It is a once-and-for-all-transaction that can never be undone. Because of the nature of God's grace, once you become a Christian, you are always a Christian" (p. 191, Handbook For Christian Living).

 Our Lord Jesus Christ taught: "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matt. 24: 12).

 Jesus said: "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels" (Rev. 3: 5).

     The author of the Book of Hebrews recorded: We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first (Heb. 3: 14).

 

     Our Lord encouraged believers as follows - Hold on to what you have so that you will have your crown when I come. I am coming soon (Rev. 3: 11).

     Is salvation permanent or conditional? You be the judge.

Thu, Apr 10th - 8:04PM

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