Where faith is defective the result will be inward insensibility and numbness toward spiritual things. This is the condition of vast numbers of Christians today. No proof is necessary to support that statement. We have but to converse with the first Christian we meet or enter the first church we find open to acquire all the proof we need.
– A. W. Tozer
1897 – 1963
Q. What happens when you’re born a woman but you get an operation to be a man, but you elect to only do half the job, then you intentionally get artificially impregnated and everyone considers you the first man to ever become pregnant?
A. You get booked on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Duh! What else would a self-respecting society do?
You can read the article here or watch the entire Oprah interview below (if you can stomach it):
Part One:
Part Two:
Part Three:
Part Four:
Part Five:
Here’s a news flash Ms. Beatie:
No one has ever heard of a man giving birth because it doesn’t happen. Never has and never will. You’re no exception. You’re a woman. Always have been, always will.
Here’s two recent episodes of Crosstalk hosted by Ingrid Schlueter on the new rage of spirituality sweeping the nation and catching many “Christians” in its tentacles too.
I admit fully that man has many grand and noble faculties left about him, and that in arts and sciences and literature he shows immense capacity. But the fact still remains that in spiritual things he is utterly “dead,” and has no natural knowledge, or love or fear of God.
– J.C. Ryle
1816 – 1900
A Jehovah’s Witness by the name of TJ has been going “door to door” in cyberspace. Actually he’s been going “blog to blog” with his messages of Hath God really said?
I engaged him on one blog regarding the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ (which he denies occurred). If you’re interested in some good reading you can check out that interaction here. You can also find him spreading the poisonous doctrines of the Watchtower on the following topics as well:
Your Bible reference notes for today are on the topic of Hell and the eternal nature of the human soul. I composed this in 2006 during my four-week debate with Jehovah’s Witnesses as they argued that Hell is fictional and that the sinner’s soul simply ceases to exist after death.
Additionally, in light of the fact that more and more “theologians” are denying Hell’s existence, I figured this would be an important resource to pass on.
If you’re unsure of what Reformation Nation’s Bible Reference Notes are all about and how to use them, see my first installment for an explanation.
HELL AND THE ETERNAL SOUL
Hell
Daniel 12:2 Everlasting Abhorrence
Matthew 5:22 Go Into Fiery Hell
Matthew 5:29-30 Maimed / Heaven & Whole/ Hell
Matthew 8:12 Darkness, Weeping, Teeth Gnashing
Matthew 10:28 Fear Who Destroys Body/Soul in Hell
Matthew 24:51 Weeping, Teeth Gnashing
Matthew 25:30 Darkness, Weeping, Teeth Gnashing
Matthew 25:41 Eternal Fire
Matthew 25:46 Eternal Punishment / Eternal Life
Mark 9:42-48 Better Millstone Thrown Into the Sea
Mark 9:43-48 Unquenchable Fire Worm Doesn’t Die
Luke 3:17 Unquenchable Fire
Luke 16:19-28 Rich Man in Hell and Beggar
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 Eternal Destruction Away From God
Jude 7 Punishment of Eternal Fire
Jude 13 Darkness Reserved Forever
Revelation 14:10-11 Torment & No Rest
Revelation 19:20 Lake of Fire Burning With Brimstone
Revelation 20:1-3 The Abyss
Revelation 20:13-15 Lake of Fire
Degrees of Punishment
Matthew 10:15 More Tolerable for Sodom
Matthew 11:22, 24 More Tolerable for Sodom
Matthew 16:27 Repay According to Man’s Deeds
Luke 12:47-48 Many Lashes vs Few Lashes
Hebrews 10:29-31 Severer Punishment / Terrifying God
Revelation 22:12 Repay According to What Man Did
The Soul (nephesh): The Living Person or Being
Genesis 2:7 Adam a Living Soul
Ezekiel 18:4 Soul That Sins Dies
The Soul (nephesh): Separate Inner Man
Genesis 42:21 Is Distressed
Deuteronomy 28:65 Feels Sad
2 Kings 4:27 Troubled Within
Job 3:20 Is Bitter
Job 30:25 Is Grieved
Psalm 13:2 In Pain
Psalm 42:6 In Despair Within
Psalm 43:5 Despair & Disturbed Within
Psalm 86:4 Is Cheered
The Soul (nephesh): Survives After Death
Matthew 10:28 Fear Who Destroys Body/Soul in Hell
Acts 7:59 Receive my Spirit
Luke 16:19-28 Rich Man in Hell & Beggar
Luke 20:37-38 God of the Living…Live to Him
Romans 2:8-9 Evil Soul: Wrath, Distress, Tribulation, etc.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Home in Body / Absent in Lord
Philippians 1:21-23 To Die is Gain With Christ
Revelation 6:9-10 Souls of Those Slain Cry Out
It is quite true that faith cannot be reduced to mere assent to a finite set of propositions (James 2:19). . . . Saving faith is more than a merely intellectual nod of approval to the bare facts of a minimalist gospel outline. Authentic faith in Christ involves love for His person and willingness to surrender to His authority. The human heart, will, and intellect all consent in the act of faith. In that sense, it is certainly correct, even necessary, to acknowledge that mere propositions can’t do full justice to all the dimensions of truth.
– John MacArthur
The Cynical View:
Now that your kids are almost done polishing off all that “Christian” Easter candy, make sure your kids practice proper oral hygiene by brushing with “Christian” toothbrushes because those pagan, worldly toothbrushes just can’t get to those hard to reach places. What makes these better than worldly toothbrushes? Because the manufacturers of these plastic sticks with bristles on the end smacked a Bible verse* on the toothbrush, that why.
The Optimistic View:
These toothbrushes are useful in removing plaque from the teeth caused by all those sugary candy-coated sermons that the majority of American Christians swallow week after week. How is this done? Because the manufacturers of these plastic sticks with bristles on the end were kind enough to put a Bible verse* on the toothbrush; and in many cases that means these toothbrushes contain more Scripture than many sermons preached on any given Sunday in America.
* Granted, only the reference is printed on the toothbrush (not the actual Scripture) so you still have to look it up on your own . . . that is, if you’re not too busy.
No man knows the brightness of the gospel ’till he understands the blackness of those clouds which surround the law of the Lord.
– Charles Spurgeon
1834 – 1892
Interesting little video on evolution entitled: Evilution from the website Revolution in Christ.
Interesting five-minute video entitled How Atheism is very, very convenient.
Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
– Psalm 119:11
Once, on a 2,000-mile auto trip across the American West, I made it a point to listen to Christian radio all along the way. What I heard revealed much about the secret motivations that drive many Christians. Some of the broadcasts would have been hilarious if they weren’t exploiting the gullible–hawking health, wealth and success in the name of Christianity.
– Some speakers offered holy oil and lucky charms to those who sent in money and requested them.
– Some speakers offered prayer cloths that had blessed believers with $70,000 to $100,000, new cars, houses and health.
– One speaker said he would mail holy soap he had blessed. If used with his instructions, it would wash away bad luck, evil friends and sickness. Again he promised “plenty of money” and everything else the user wanted.
– K. P. Yohannan
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus . . .
2 Timothy 2:5
The Roman Catholic contention is that Saint Peter was the first Pope and the author of papal succession. Romanism also considers the pope to be the “head of the church” in spite of (and in direct contradiction to) that title already belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:23).
Romish tradition teaches that not only did the Apostle Peter visit Rome, but that he pastored a church in Rome, died in Rome, is buried in Rome, and St. Peter’s Basilica is standing where Peter is supposed to have been martyred and buried. The Bible never makes mention of any of these things and the word “pope” isn’t even found in the Bible.
Below I’ve posted seventeen evidences (not “traditions”) for your consideration. Some of these facts were adapted from this website but the majority of this following information came from John MacArthur’s profound sermon entitled Unmasking the Pope and the Catholic System.
So, was Peter the first pope or not? Let us examine this subject with the following points.
01- The Bible never claioms that Peter was a pope, nor does it say that he was the “head of the church.” The Roman Catholic Church (RCC) takes biblical texts out of their context to support this pretext. One would think that if Peter were a pope (especially the first) that the Scriptures would certainly recognize and reflect this fact.
02- The word “pope” is not even found in Scripture. (It also never mentions the words “monk” or “rosary” either.)
03- There’s no archeological or historical evidence that Peter was ever in Rome.
04- The Bible gives a reason why there’s no archeological or historical evidence that peter was ever in Rome. In Romans 15:20, the Apostle Paul says that he aspired “to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation.” Had Peter been in Rome, then Paul would not have evangelized there since Paul said he didn’t want to build on another man’s foundation.
05- Paul greets a myriad of people in Romans chapter 16, yet makes absolutely no mention of Saint Peter. If Peter was the pope or “head of the church” in Rome, this would be a grievous oversight/omission on Paul’s part.
06- Paul greets ten people in Rome throughout his letter known as 2 Timothy; none of them are Peter.
07- When mentioning the pillars of the Church (not the heads as Christ is the only head of the Church), the Apostle Paul mentions Peter before John, but after James (Galatians 2:9). Is this any way for a pope to be recognized?
08- Peter was never called to preach to the Gentiles (which would have been those in Rome). Peter was entrusted with the Gospel to the circumcised, the Jews. (Galatians 2:7-8).
09- There’s no mention in Scripture of Peter being the head of the Church in Rome. He wasn’t even the head of the Church in Jerusalem; James was. (Galatians 2 & Acts 15).
10- Peter never considered himself the head of the Church (i.e. the pope). In the introduction of his letter (1 Peter 1:1), he simply calls himself “an apostle of Jesus Christ.” Notice he did not call himself the apostle, pope, or even “head of the church.” And he didn’t even refer to himself with the name “holy father” (a title ascribed to popes).
11- Peter further clarified his view of himself when he referred to himself as a “fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ” (1 Peter 5:1). He equated himself on the same level as the others he was writing his letter to.
12- Who was calling the shots? Scripture reveals that it was not Peter, the supposed “head of the Church.” He was being told what to do by the elders of the Church (Acts 8:14). Shouldn’t the “head of the Church” be the one giving instruction and direction? See additional examples of the leaders and elders of the church giving directions, not Peter, in Acts 11:22, Acts 15:22-27, Acts 21:18, and Acts 21:23-24.
13- The Apostle Paul opposed Peter to his face (Galatians 2:11) because Peter “stood condemned.” Hardly the thing for someone to do to a pope, the supposed Roman Catholic “head of the Church.”
14- Jesus called Peter “Satan,” and said that he was a stumbling block to Jesus (Matthew 16:21-23). Is this any way to talk to a pope?
15- Peter acted cowardly and denied the Lord Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75). Is this any way for a pope to act?
16- The history of the early Church as accounted in the book of Acts makes absolutely no mention of Peter after chapter 15. For someone who is supposed to be the “head of the church” and the first pope, you’d think there’d be more mention of him in this inspired book of early Church history.
17- And finally, Peter was a married man (Matthew 8:14, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39 & 1 Corinthians 9:5), something a pope could not be.
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.
Colossians 2:8-10
We Christians too often substitute prayer for playing the game. Prayer is good; but when used as a substitute for obedience, it is nothing but blatant hypocrisy, a despicable Pharisaism.
– C. T. Studd
1860 – 1931
New lyrics to an old classic.
I could think of a few churches where this song would fit in rather perfectly.
The fairest babe that has entered life this year, and become the sunbeam of a family, is not, as its mother perhaps fondly calls it, a little “angel,” or a little “innocent,” but a “sinner.” Alas! as it lies smiling and crowing in its cradle, that little creature carries in its heart the seeds of every kind of wickedness! Only watch it carefully, as it grows in stature and its mind develops, and you will soon detect in it an incessant tendency to that which is bad, and a backwardness to that which is good. You will see in it the buds and germs of deceit, evil temper, selfishness, self-will, obstinacy, greediness, envy, jealousy, passion–which, if indulged and let alone, will shoot up with painful rapidity. Who taught the child these things? Where did he learn them? The Bible alone can answer these questions! Of all the foolish things parents say about their children, there is non worse than the common saying, “My son has a good heart at the bottom.” . . . The truth, unhappily, is diametrically the other way. The first cause of all sin lies in the natural corruption of the boy’s own heart . . . .
– J.C. Ryle
1816 – 1900
First, then, before you can speak peace to your hearts, you must be made to see, made to feel, made to weep over, made to bewail, your actual transgressions against the law of God. If you were to challenge me to boil down postmodern thought into its pure essence and identify the gist of it in one single, simple, central characteristic, I would say it is the rejection of every expression of certainty. In the postmodern perspective, certainty is regarded as inherently arrogant, elitist, intolerant, oppressive–and therefore always wrong.
– John MacArthur
Christ Alone Wyoming 