A sheep in wolf's clothing.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
(Genesis 1:1) KJV
Some people believe that Genesis 1:1 is a subheading which bookmarks the beginning of creation, not as a creative act. However, some people believe that it was a separate creative act.
Continue reading “Back to the Beginning”
The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
(Psalms 104:16-17) KJV
We’re continuing our leisurely stroll through the periods of geological time, lead by our guide Wilson N. Stewart. We find once again that the period is question is really a collection of geographic locations where similar plant and animal communities, an ecosystem, occurs. The real similarity is the aspect and elevation of the original geography.
Continue reading “August 16th”
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
( James 4:11-12 ) KJV
This brings us to the sermon on the mount.
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
( Matthew 7:1-5 ) KJV
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
(Psalms 150:1) KJV
We can calculate a distance to the firmament with the question: If GPS clocks are faster by 38,640 ns per day at an orbital radius of 26,541 km, what’s the orbital radius when the clocks are faster by 1,000 years?
Continue reading “Time Dilation Math”
Finishing up Acts Chapter 10 and moving on through chapter 11.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
( Acts 10:44-48 ) KJV
The first part of Acts Chapter 11 is a recounting of Chapter 10.
1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. 4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: 6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. 8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. 12 And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house: 13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
( Acts 11:1-18 ) KJV
Open Door Baptist Church
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
( Acts 10:34-43 ) KJV
Does this mean that people can come to the Lord without Jesus Christ?
Or does this mean that the name Jesus Christ has been given for these people?
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
( Acts 4:12 ) KJV
Muhammad exploits this nuance in the Qur’an by taking us back to the so-called pure religion of Abraham, and denouncing the worship of any false god – including Jesus.
This is the clarification. Cornelius was seeking some kind of assurance that God knew who he was and that he was saved. Peter comes with the explanation of how to get it.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
( James 4:7-10 ) KJV
I live in fear of my doublemindedness.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
( James 1:5-8 ) KJV
But I long to draw nigh to God
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
( Psalms 4:4 ) KJV
If we draw nigh to God he will draw nigh to us:
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
( Psalms 65:4 ) KJV
We frequently refer to words from the original Hebrew or Greek. It can be tricky knowing how to present this material at times so here is the guideline we will aim for in our use of the original languages:
This consists of 4 elements:
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
(John 1:4) ESV
When we combine a plain reading of the texts with deductive logic it’s easy to show that Jesus Christ, the Word and “the deep” are all synonyms for God the Son.
Continue reading “In Him was Life”
Continue reading “Strive Lawfully”And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
(2 Timothy 2:5) KJV
Matty (Headwind) 