Happy Labor Day!

Let us rest from our works and enter into His grace.

Unbelievable Radio Program - Hell Debate

I recently listened to this discussion about the nature of Hell on the Unbelievable Radio Program.

James White is upholding the eternal punishment view while talking with Roger and Faith Forester of Ichthus Christian Fellowship who take a conditional immortality/annihilation view.

Although I still think scripture points more to the view that I currently hold, Roger and Faith really make the other view sound quite reasonable and attractive. Maybe when it is all said and done, there will not be eternal punishment...I could go for that.

A very interesting discussion no matter which side one is on.

You can download the show here:
http://media.premier.org.uk/unbelievable/d150564b-b91d-4c94-9a96-e932b3515af3.mp3

Chuck Missler- Genesis 6

The Mr. and I have been watching this the last couple of nights on TV. I already knew most of what he is saying here, but if anyone is unfamiliar or unclear about the passage:

Genesis 6

 ¹And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
 ²That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
 ³And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
 ⁴There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

this is about as good as exposition of this as I have heard.  Regardless of what you think of Dr. Missler, it is worth the time if anyone is interested in this strange happening.  Here is part one:



The rest of the parts are here.

Romans Study VI - The Law Exposes Sin

^{Romans 3}

¹⁹Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

 ²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. For by the law is the knowledge of sin.

That was the purpose of the law, to show us what sin is, not to earn points with God. Of course God said that He would bless Israel if they kept His law and curse them if they didn't. It is interesting that Moses gave a detailed description of what Israel's future would be in Deuteronomy chapters 30-32 (not might be) due to them not keeping the covenant. One wonders if God really intended for them to keep it. He does say:

Deuteronomy 30:11-14

¹¹For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

 ¹²It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

 ¹³Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

 ¹⁴But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

But he knew that they wouldn't keep it. Since the fall, we are unable to do anything in our own flesh even with God's law given to us that would be pleasing to Him. We may be able to go through the motions, but even at our best we slip in some way, even if it is just in the attitude of our heart.

 

 ²¹But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

I take this to mean the righteousness of God without the law is faith is Jesus, who was promised to Israel by Moses

Deu 18:15  The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

 And the prophets:

http://www.carm.org/prophecy-bible-and-jesus

 ²²Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

 ²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

All, meaning Gentile and Jew and I think every single person who ever lived.

 ²⁴Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

 ²⁵Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Many religious systems will say that when a person comes to Jesus, their past sins are forgiven, but they have to do something about sins that come afterward. I wondered about this, too. It does seem that Paul is saying that Jesus justifies us, including sins that were committed previously and is our high Priest now making constant intersession for us. The book of Hebrews really explains this well. If we can get our sins remitted once we come to Christ and then are on our own for the rest, I don't know how anyone could stand. As I have heard many Bible teachers say...ALL of your sins were future at the time of the crucifixion.

 ²⁶To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

 ²⁷Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

 ²⁸Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Just as Abraham was justified before God before being circumcised or doing any works at all. His obedience in these things are proof that he was already justified and his trusting in God was proof of his faith.

 ²⁹Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

 ³⁰Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

 ³¹Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

 This verse is often pointed out to those of us who insist that we are not under the law. Paul is saying is that the law is good, righteous and holy. There is nothing wrong with the law... there is something wrong with us. The law is perfect in exposing our unrighteousness.

Psa 19:7      The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple

Did Boaz Break the Law?

This is something I have wondered about. Could it be that in the very genealogy of Christ is someone who went against the law of Moses by marrying a Moabitess?

Deu 23:3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever

 If this is the case, that the Law was broken here, what's the deal?

Here is an article I found about Ruth and Boaz that explains the types involved in this story.

However the author does say that Ruth's redemption was not a violation of the Torah. It seems like God did say not to let them (the Moabites) in.  Later in the book of Ezra, we learn of Jews who had to send away the foreign wives that the had married. So did God make an exception in the case of Ruth and Boaz? Are we reading the law too strictly?

Chuck Missler said that what the Law couldn't do, grace could. I like that.

Any thoughts?