From: Worth’s Scriptural Handbook of Proof
Texts Return to Home
By
Roland H. Worth, Jr. © 2012
Reproduction of this book for non-profit circulation by any electronic or print media means is hereby freely granted at no cost—provided the text is not altered in any manner.
Selected sections may be left out if desired. If accompanied by additional, supplemental material—in agreement or disagreement—it must be clearly and visibly distinguishable from the author’s original text.
Chapter4:
The Religious Fringe
041 Christian Science
042 “Communalism
/ Communism:” Did
the Early Church
Practice It?
043 Jehovah Witnesses
044 “Eternal,”
“Forever,” and “Everlasting:”
Jehovah Witness
Misuse of the Terms
045 Soul—Does
It Exist?
046 Mormonism
047 Apostles: Testing Today’s
048 Foot
Washing
049 Sinless
Perfection
050 Astrology
051 Reincarnation
052 Seances and
Other “Communications” with the Dead
# 041 #
Christian Science
1.
Christian Science errs by teaching that no one can rightly understand
the Bible without the insights of its religious philosophy.
Yet 1800
years earlier Paul could insist that the true Divine revelation was already
.understandable: Ephesians
Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
2.
Christian Science errs by teaching that the Bible is not fully inspired;
that there are many errors within it.
Timothy
3.
Christian Science errs by teaching that Jesus is not Deity.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made 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.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God,
thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself
of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men
4.
Christian Science errors by depersonalizing God into abstract qualities
such as “mind,” “love,” and “intelligence.”
God manifests such attributes because He is repeatedly described in
terms of being a “person,” a distinct, concrete being, which is what is
necessary to exhibit such traits. Even
the common “God said, commanded, warned, etc” manifest a being is under
discussion.
5.
Christian Science errs by saying that a virgin birth of Jesus did not
occur, that it is outright impossible.
Matthew
6.
Christian Science errs by teaching that evil and sin have no objective
reality; they are illusion produced by the wrong way of thinking.
Why then would we need forgiveness of sin if it doesn’t really exist?
Romans
Romans 3:9 What then? are we
better [than they]? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin.
1 John 1:8 If we say that
we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have
not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
7. Christian Science errs by
saying that sickness and death are illusionary and possess no objective
reality.
Hebrews
Ecclesiastes
Matthew
4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and
preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all
manner of disease among the people.
Matthew
# 042 #
“Communalism / Communism:”
Did the Early Church Practice It?
Some
sects require it. Some—out of political
ideology—also try to find precedent for a government run economy because of the
example found in the early chapters of Acts.
(Which, of course, was not an example of the government
doing anything in the first place!)
1.
Although a form of “communalism” was practiced in the
2.
The fact that a contribution was taken up in Corinth, for example (1
Corinthians 16:1-7), was possible only because individuals still had funds
left rather than everything being routinely pooled into a joint fund.
3.
The form of “communalism” that was practiced in
From
the modest size bad of original disciples, 3,000 were converted on the
day of Pentecost. Acts
Shortly
thereafter large numbers more were added:
Acts 4:4 Howbeit many of them which
heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Multitudes and no real income—a large / huge
percentage being of pilgrims to the city with limited funds. Drastic measures were naturally sought for an
unprecedented situation. Acts
4. The “communalism” related to surplus
property of individuals and not to the donation of their total resources.]
A.
If everything had been contributed, then one and all church members
would have stood in need of financial / food support and we know that was not
the case. Acts
B.
After their conversion, members were still selling property and donating
the income. This would have been
impossible if “communalism” had been required as a condition of discipleship.
Acts
5.
The “communalism” was voluntary:
until a person willingly gave the proceeds, the money was still his—to
give none, all, or whatever proportion he deemed appropriate. It was not deemed “group property,” with the
funds automatically going to the church.
Acts
5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And
kept back [part] of the price, his wife also being privy [to it], and brought a
certain part, and laid [it] at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter
said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back
[part] of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it
not thine own? and after it
was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine
heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell
down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these
things.
(
# 043 #
Jehovah Witnesses
The Jehovah
Witnesses teach so many false doctrines that even a brief review of all of them
would take too much space. So we have to
be content with a representative sampling.
(One cynic—not without a great deal of justification—once said that you
could always tell what the Witnesses believe by taking any Bible doctrine and reversing
it!)
1.
The Witnesses teach that the kingdom came into existence in the
twentieth century. The Bible teaches
that it happened in the first century.
Colossians
Revelation
1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in
the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called
2.
The Witnesses teach that Christ returned invisibly. The Bible teaches that the Second Coming will
be visible.
Acts
1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while
they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly
toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of
(
Revelation
1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye
shall see him, and they [also] which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
3.
The Witnesses teach Jesus is not Deity.
The Bible teaches that He is.
A.
Paul taught that before Jesus came to earth, that He existed in the
“form” of God and on an “equality” with Him.
Philippians
2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon
him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross.
B.
Jesus accepted rather than rebuked and rejected Thomas’ description of
Him as Deity.
John
4. The Witnesses teach that
Jesus is a created being. The Bible
teaches the opposite, that He was the creator of all things.
Colossians
(
John
1:3 All things were made by him; and
without him was not any thing made that was made.
1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us [there is but] one God, the
Father, of whom [are] all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by
whom [are] all things, and we by him.
(
5. The Witnesses teach that to
die is to cease to exist. The Bible
teaches that a part of us survives physical death.
Matthew
Ecclesiastes
12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it
was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
6.
The Witnesses delay the baptism of converts until conventions are
held. In the Bible, baptism was the
immediate result of men and women believing in the Lord; there was no delay.
Acts
Acts
(ASV)
Acts
7.
The Witnesses teach that even those who devote their full time to the
proclamation of the gospel, are not entitled to financial support for their
effort. The Scriptures clearly and
precisely contradict this claim.
1
Corinthians 9:3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4
Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to
lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and [as] the brethren
of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or I only
and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his
own charges? who planteth a
vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8
Say I these
things as a man? or saith
not the law the same also? 9 For it is
written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle
the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth
God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he
[it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [this] is written: that
he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that
thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11
If we have sown unto you spiritual
things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12
If others be partakers of [this] power over you, [are] not we rather?
Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should
hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which
minister about holy things live [of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the
altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which
preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
8.
The Jehovah Witnesses take great pride in their name “Jehovah
Witnesses.” New Testament believers did
not call themselves that: They simply
called themselves Christians.
Acts
The disciples were instructed to
glorify God through the name of “Christian,” not through the name
Jehovah Witness or any other,
1 Peter
(ASV)
1 Peter
9.
The Witnesses put great emphasis on the need to use the name “Jehovah”
from the Old Testament, even mutilating the New Testament text to include it
there, where it is not found at all. You
would find it hard to find many scholars of any religious persuasion who still
claim that “Jehovah” is the right English rendering of the Hebrew name,
however!
The best judgment today is that the Hebrew
should be rendered “Yahweh.” I continue
to use “Jehovah” a lot outside scholarly writings, because most folks have a
far better idea Who is being referred to than when
using the more obscure term “Yahweh.”
# 044 #
“Eternal,” “Forever,” and “Everlasting:”
Jehovah Witness Misuse of the Terms
These
terms are used in two senses in the scriptures:
(1) Literally—as indicated by their use and the absence
of any indication that there will be a time when something is no longer true or
present.
(2) From the practical standpoint
“forever,” because it extends far beyond our lifetime or ability to
imagine. This is the essential approach
to preserve the accuracy of scriptures in those cases where
(a) other passages
explicitly and clearly teach that the “forever” phenomena will cease to be and
(b) when “forever”
promises hinge upon obeying the prerequisites the scriptures themselves refer
to. (In human terms, think of the
Olympics: If you have a guaranteed spot
on the team, but then cease to meet their standards, you lose the spot.)
Jehovah Witnesses use
“forever” language to prove the current physical earth is eternal; Sabbatarians use it to prove the Sabbath (Saturday
observance) continues to be obligatory.
Both understand that other scriptures rule out the literal
“forever” being applied to what the other group teaches, but rebel
against the scriptures—though equally clear—being applied to their own
doctrine.
1.
The physical universe is described in terms of being eternal—for
example: the mountains.
Habakkuk
3:6 He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations;
and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did
bow: his ways [are] everlasting.
2.
The hills are also described in “eternal” terms.
Genesis
49:26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above
the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting
hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him
that was separate from his brethren.
Deuteronomy 33:15 And for the chief things of the
ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills.
(Jewish Publication Society, 1917) Deuteronomy
33:15 And for the tops of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of
the everlasting hills.
3.
The stones left in the
Joshua
4:4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the
children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: 5 And Joshua said
unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of
Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according
unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: 6 That
this may be a sign among you, [that] when your children ask [their fathers] in
time to come, saying, What [mean] ye by these stones? 7 Then ye shall
answer them, That the waters of
4.
Yet these things will all be destroyed and removed.
2
Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in
the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the
works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 [Seeing]
then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of
persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking
for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on
fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for
new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness. What
more needed to be said to make us take this literally? If it isn’t literal, please provide
the missing words that would have made it such!
The
writer of Hebrews—quoting Psalms 102:25-27—points out that unlike the heavens
and earth, the Lord will never come to an end.
Hebrews 1:10 And, Thou,
Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens
are the works of thine hands: 11 They
shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall
wax old as doth a garment; 12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but
thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
# 045 #
Soul—Does It Exist?
For groups such as the Jehovah
Witnesses, we are entirely mortal; there is nothing within us that survives
physical death. In order to uphold their
theory, Bible references to the “soul” are interpreted to mean the breath of
man or as a synonym for the person himself.
(The first seems the most common).
That in many passages neither approach fits can be seen in such
verses as those that follow—texts that clearly imply that there is a “part” of
us (call it what you will) that survives physical death.
1.
Part of us returns to God when we die.
Ecclesiastes
12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it
was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Either two things happen
at death—dust to earth and spirit to God—or the verse is doing a parallelism
and expressing the same idea in two ways. But if “dust” and “spirit” are parallel, then
“earth” and “God” must be parallel as well!
2.
Part of us can not be killed when the body is killed. This would be impossible if the “soul” was
only equivalent to the person himself.
Matthew
Some insist that it is only the memory
of man that can’t be killed. But we are
always in God’s thoughts / memory—throughout all of life. It doesn’t just happen at death! Psalms 139:7
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If
I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold,
thou [art there]. 9 [If] I take the wings of the morning, [and]
dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even
there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If
I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the
night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth
as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].
Also note that the argument of
the text is not about whether we will be remembered, but about whether
we will continue to exist. The
“explanation” introduces a subject not even under discussion.
3.
Jesus taught that both the righteous and the unrighteous have continued
existence after their physical bodies die.
Luke
16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine
linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a
certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's
table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it
came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into
Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And
in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24
And he cried and said, Father
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he
may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented
in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in
thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so
that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to
us, that [would come] from thence.
Even if we concede that this was
a parable—and I don’t—the reality is that parables teach truth, they
don’t distort and misrepresent truth.
Hence we must survive death if the very foundation assumption of
this “parable” is to be considered as true and valid.
4.
Spirits now exist imprisoned in the afterworld—that which doesn’t exist
can’t be imprisoned!
1
Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the
unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached
unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient,
when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark
was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Whether the
preaching was done in the days of Noah or after Christ’s death, those preached
to were, as of Peter’s writing, “spirits in prison”—long after their physical
death.
5.
Even while faithful Christians were being martyred on earth in the first
century, Christians who had already perished in that manner—i.e., were
physically dead—pleaded for vindication against their persecutor. In other words, they survived death
and were emotionally and “physically” (for lack of a better word) quite alive
and well.
Revelation
6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the
souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which
they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long,
O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that
dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one
of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little
season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be
fulfilled.
Interpret these words in any
time frame you wish, these Christians are still described as survivors of
physical death, with their reasoning ability and emotions quite intact.
# 046
Mormonism
1.
The Book of Mormon does not claim to be inspired.
Representative passages that directly or implicitly deny it:
1 Nephi 1:3; 1 Nephi 19:6
Jacob 1:2; Jacob 7:26
3 Nephi 8:2
Ether 5:1
Mormon
2.
The Book of Mormon extensively quotes from the King James Version even
though it supposedly predates the KJV by a thousand or more years.
3 Nephi
13:1-34, for example, quotes word for word Matthew 6:
3.
The Book of Mormon even quotes mistranslations found in the KJV.
2 Nephi 14:5 quotes Isaiah 4:5 including the word “defence. Modern translations correctly render the Hebrew “canopy,” “protective curtain,” or similar terms.
2 Nephi
4.
The Book of Mormon and their other modern “revelations” contradict the
Bible on clear and easily understood matters.
A.
They contradict as to the place of Jesus’ birth.
Luke
2:14-15; Matthew 2:1-6:
B.
They contradict as to when people were first called Christians.
According to their dating, at least by 73 B.C. (
In the New
Testament, however, it was after Jesus’ resurrection and the spread of the
gospel to
C.
They contradict as to the duration of darkness at Christ’s crucifixion.
1 Nephi 19:10-13: three days.
Matthew
27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44-45: three hours.
D.
They contradict concerning Adam and Eve:
The book of Mormon (2 Nephi
(1)
That children inherit the guilt of Adam: “he shewed unto all
men that they were lost because of the transgression of their parents (
It
contradicts the Book of Mormon itself:
It contradicts the Bible as well: Ecclesiastes 7:29; Ezekiel 28:15; Ezekiel 18:20.
(2)
That if both Adam and Eve had not eaten the forbidden fruit that they
would not have had any children.
So says: 2 Nephi 2:23, Moses 5:10-11 (part of the Pearl of Great Price).
In the
Bible, however, the command to have children was given before the sin of
eating the forbidden fruit. Therefore
they must have been fully capable of having children before the
transgression occurred. Furthermore,
there is nothing in the text to suggest that their child-bearing capacity had
anything to do with sinfulness or lack of it.
(3)
That a person can do no good unless they have sinned.
“. . . Doing no good for they
knew no sin (2 Nephi
In contrast
the Bible speaks of how Jesus did good (Acts
(4)
That the purpose of life is to have pleasure.
“ . . . Men
are that they might have joy” (2 Nephi
Nothing is wrong with joy, but the
central purpose of life is to serve God (Ecclesiastes
E. Since the Book of Mormon contradicts the genuine revelations found in the
New Testament, it can not be acceptable to God even if—which is utterly
unlikely—that an angel actually did reveal the book to Joseph Smith!
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
5. The most commonly cited Biblical “prediction” of the coming
of the Book of Mormon isn’t even talking about books at all!
Ezekiel 37:15 The word of the LORD came again
unto me, saying, 16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one
stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his
companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick
of Ephraim, and [for] all the house of Israel his companions: 17 And
join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. 18 And when the children of thy
people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew
us what thou [meanest] by these? 19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of
Joseph, which [is] in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of
Among the
things wrong with the Mormon “interpretation” of this text are these:
(1) The text itself makes plain that the joining
is of nations and not books. Even in the
part they most often quote the wording is:
Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph,
which [is] in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes
of
(2)
This interpretation is confirmed in the next verses, which Mormons are
most unlikely to read to you: Ezekiel 37:21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of
Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them
on every side, and bring them into their own land: 22 And I
will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one
king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations,
neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
(3) The word translated “stick” in Ezekiel 37 is the Hebrew ets. It is never translated “book” of “scroll.”
(4) Ezekiel was the only person instructed to write on the “sticks.” If the “sticks” are really “books”—and the Bible is one and the Book of Mormon is the other--why is it that there is nothing written by Ezekiel in the Book of Mormon? If the Book of Mormon is really being predicted by Ezekiel, then they must have cut out and censored his part of it!
# 047 #
Apostles:
Testing Today’s
We
use “apostle” here in the sense that Peter, Paul, and Thomas were apostles; we
are not concerned with it in the broader sense of “messenger” or
“representative”—such as in Philippians 2:25:
And I thought [it] necessary Epaphroditus--my brother, and fellow-workman, and
fellow-soldier, and your apostle and servant to my need--to send unto you
(Young’s Literal).
1. Since there were men falsely claiming to be apostles even in the first
century, it should not be surprising that there are such people today
2
Corinthians
2.
We should test the credentials of alleged apostles just like first
century Christians did.
Revelation
2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy
patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried
them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them
liars.
Same
principle but a slightly broader target that would include pseudo-apostles but
also others not willing to be that outrageous in their claims to
authority--1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe
not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many
false prophets are gone out into the world.
3.
No man alive today can meet the Biblical pre-requisite of being a
genuine apostle—being an eyewitness of Jesus.
A.
The replacement for Judas has to be an eyewitness.
Acts
1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and
said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16
Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which
the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before
concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 21 Wherefore
of these men which have companied with us all the time
that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning
from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us,
must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
B.
Even the apostle Paul was an eyewitness.
Whether he ever saw Jesus during His earthly ministry we don’t know;
we do know that he saw Jesus at least after the resurrection:
1
Corinthians 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas,
then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five
hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present,
but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James;
then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of
me also, as of one born out of due time.
1
Corinthians
4.
Miraculous Divine intervention was envolved in
the choosing of genuine apostles.
A.
The successor to Judas was chosen via the casting of lots that the
apostles prayed would reveal God’s will.
Acts
B.
Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, in part, so that he also
might qualify to be an apostle.
Acts
5.
A genuine apostle could perform miracles.
2
Corinthians
(
Acts
Acts
The miracles that genuine apostles performed
were immediately and completely successful as in the following
case of a man born lame--Acts 3:6 Then
Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took
him by the right hand, and lifted [him] up: and immediately his feet and ankle
bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked,
and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
6. A
genuine apostle was inspired; God’s will was miraculously revealed to him.
John
Hence
if a supposed apostle today does not teach what the first century apostles did,
they are self-proving counterfeits by the existence of such differences.
7.
An apostle was usually married.
Paul
appears to have been the only exception to this generalization--1 Corinthians 9:5 Have we not power to lead about a
sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and [as] the brethren of the
Lord, and Cephas?
(
(
# 048 #
Foot Washing
1.
Foot washing existed from at least the time of Abraham and
Genesis
18:4 Let a little water, I [Abraham] pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest
yourselves under the tree:
Genesis
19:2 and said, "Sirs, I [
2. In its normal usage, foot washing was a practical necessity—not a religious ritual. They wore sandals and not closed shoes like we do. In the course of a day’s work or travel the feet would get very dirty and need washing. It was a utilitarian and courteous act.
3.
When Jesus endorsed foot washing (see below), He did so because it was a
needed act rather than a ritual one.
There is not one iota of implication that it was to be done in the
church assembly rather than everyday dealings with others.
4.
Jesus washed His disciples’ feet to teach them humility, not to create a
church ritual.
John
5.
Feet (plural) were washed rather than foot (singular). Since it would have been done for
cleanliness, it would have been utterly silly to wash only one! The nomenclature change—from feet washing
(plural) to foot washing (singular), however--is a dead give away that what is
being done has been altered . . . from a humble act of everyday helpfulness to
others who needed it . . . to a religious act in a church ritual.
# 049 #
Sinless Perfection
Although sinlessness
is our goal, the Scriptures amply testify that it is one that we will
never reach: we’ll become better, even
much better, but never perfect. If we could
become sinless and perfect, would we even need a Savior any longer?
1.
The inspired apostle John severely rebuked anyone who believed that he
or she was living fully above sin.
1
John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
(
1 John
(International Standard Version) If we claim that we have
never sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.
(
2.
Sanctification does not produce sinlessness.
A.
The Corinthians were sanctified.
1
Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified
in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon
the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.
1
Corinthians
B.
Yet a reading of Paul’s epistles to that church clearly reveals that
they were far from perfect.
Of the many passages that could be cited—
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly [that there
is] fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named
among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2 And
ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done
this deed might be taken away from among you.
1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that [your] brethren.
1 Corinthians
1
Corinthians
# 050 #
Astrology
1.
To be afraid of heavenly signs is to fall for a popular belief but still
a delusion.
Jeremiah
10:1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto
you, O house of
2.
It is God who has all power and the capacity to intervene on earth for
or against us—not the stars.
Genesis
Luke
Revelation
19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of
many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings,
saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
(
3. All the advice of astrologers
will not save us if God decides to inflict His wrath.
Isaiah
47:13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the
astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save
thee from [these things] that shall come upon thee. 14 Behold, they shall be as stubble;
the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of
the flame: [there shall] not [be] a coal to warm at, [nor] fire to sit before
it. 15 Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, [even] thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall
wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.
(
# 051 #
Reincarnation
1.
The Scriptures teach that we die once, not many times.
Hebrews
2. The Scriptures teach that our
fate—for better or worse—is sealed at death and is unchangeable thereafter.
Luke
16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine
linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a
certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's
table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it
came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into
Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And
in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and
said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus,
that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for
I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember
that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things,
and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art
tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a
great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot;
neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence. 27 Then
he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest
send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that
he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one
went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said
unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
(1) No multiple deaths. If there were, then one would go to his destiny more than once and this picture only mentions it happens the single time. Would that “big” a fact be left out and the narrative have any claim to accuracy?
(2) Note that if one is to live on earth again it
would be by resurrection—“rose from the dead” (verse 31). Not a physical rebirth and new
lifespan from the first day on!
3.
To the extent that there is a concept of “salvation” at all among
believers in reincarnation, it is produced by one’s own works standing alone. It comes as the result of the gradual purging
of one’s evil habits over many reincarnations.
Divine grace; a Savior—such things are absolutely needless.
A.
The Scriptures condemn such a concept in the clearest salvation.
Ephesians
2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of
God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost
B.
Furthermore, it is a Christ-less salvation. His redemptive death is of no benefit to
us. It all hinges on what we ourselves
do.
In irrevocable contrast note the
words of John 14:6 Jesus saith
unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.
Hebrews
9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a
greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not
of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption [for us]. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats,
and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How
much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works
to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the
mediator of the new testament, that by means of death,
for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament,
they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
C.
Hence God and Christ are entirely left out, it is a salvation by
morality alone: The “better” a person
lives, the closer he progresses to his ultimate pleasant destiny.
(1)
The Pharisee who prayed in the Jewish
Luke
18:9 And he spake
this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous,
and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray;
the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee
stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee,
that I am not as other men [are], extortioners,
unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in
the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his]
eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a
sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified
[rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted.
(2)
The apostle Paul was a very righteous man prior to his conversion to
Christ, but he was still unacceptable to God.
If he couldn’t make it that way, how can we expect to?
Philippians
3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the
flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof
he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth
day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the
Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal,
persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law,
blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted
loss for Christ.
4.
Reincarnation is inherently a futile theory.
A.
Most people are unaware that they have been “reincarnated” even if the
theory be true. How then does it do
a person any good?
B.
There is no authoritative moral code of conduct to determine when one
has reached that level of excellence that reincarnation can cease. Hence the person is left to his own
self-serving prejudices to somehow work out—against all odds—what his or her
path must ultimately be.
(1)
The Bible warns us that mankind’s inclination to sin is too great for
him to be able to create a fully adequate moral code.
Isaiah
55:8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts,
neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Proverbs
Proverbs
(2)
Hence we should be extremely grateful that God has so loved us that He
has revealed all His moral standards to us through the Bible.
2
Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
[pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath
called us to glory and virtue.
2
Timothy
# 052 #
Seances and Other
“Communications” with the Dead
How these can be faked has been
exposed time and again. What we are concerned
with, however, is the scriptural evidence that the results of such
efforts are fraudulent.
1.
The afterlife that is pictured is different from that described in the
Bible. The Scriptures teach that most
mortals are living in rebellion against God and face vigorous retribution. In the “spiritualist” conception, post life
suffering borders on non-existent—certainly the non-ending type pictured in the
Bible.
Matthew
7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad
[is] the way, that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait [is]
the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it.
(American
Standard Version) Matthew
2
Thessalonians 1:6 Seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense
tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are
troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with
his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on
them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(English
Standard Version) 1:6 Since indeed God considers it just to repay
with affliction those who afflict you,
8 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.
Luke
2.
The next world that is pictured through séances and such like is a place
where God and Jesus Christ seemingly have no role. In contrast the Biblical portrait of that
world is one in which the presence of both is pivotal and central. Jesus returns from heaven, resurrects the
physically dead, and re-enters with those who had followed Him on earth, and
returns His kingdom to His Father. And neither
gets mentioned in supposedly “genuine” communications from the next world? Really?
3.
Even if séances and such like actually did place us in
communication with the next world, we could place no confidence in what is told
us if it is contrary to what the Scriptures reveal us about that world.
Galatians
1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven,
preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let
him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye
have received, let him be accursed.
4.
If the dead were allowed to communicate with their living
relatives, the message would be one calling for moral reform—not how
nice it is “on the other side” since, for so many, it would be anything but.
Luke
5.
The case of the Witch of Endor is often
appealed to as vindication of both the ability to communicate with the dead and
the propriety of doing so. This works
brilliantly—until you pay close attention to the text.
A.
Consulting a medium was an act of desperation by King Saul. It was not something he considered normal,
proper, and acceptable behavior.
1
Samuel 28:5 And when Saul saw the host of the
Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And
when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not,
neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a
familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of
her. And his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that hath a
familiar spirit at Endor.
B.
Saul was so ashamed to be seeking out a medium, that he did it secretly
and in disguise. Do those seeking out
such assistance have that attitude today?
Rarely!
1
Samuel 28:8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he
went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I
pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me [him] up, whom I
shall name unto thee. 9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou
knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off
those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore
then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to
die? 10 And Saul sware to her by the
LORD, saying, [As] the LORD liveth, there shall no
punishment happen to thee for this thing.
C.
The medium was shocked and astounded when she was successful in raising
Samuel! It was emphatically not
the expected result and she was stunned that—for once—she actually had
successfully contacted the dead.
1
Samuel 28:11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I
bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice:
and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou
deceived me? for thou [art] Saul. 13 And
the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest
thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14 And he said unto her, What form [is]
he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he [is]
covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it [was] Samuel, and he stooped
with [his] face to the ground, and bowed himself.
D.
Samuel did not like being disturbed by the living.
1
Samuel 28:15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast
thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore
distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from
me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets,
nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest
make known unto me what I shall do.
(Contemporary English Version) 1 Samuel 28:15
"Why are you bothering me by bringing me up like this?" Samuel asked. "I'm terribly worried," Saul
answered. "The Philistines are about to attack me. God has turned his back
on me and won't answer any more by prophets or by dreams. What should I
do?"
E.
Samuel did not engage in idle chatter designed to reassure Saul of his
own joy and happiness or that the living do, indeed, survive
death. Instead he pointedly rebuked him
for his sin.
1
Samuel 28:16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then
dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 17 And the LORD hath done to
him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the
kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, [even] to David: 18 Because thou obeyedst
not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce
wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this
thing unto thee this day. 19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver
F. Rather than being reassured by a
communication from the dead, Saul was horrified and terrified.
1 Samuel 28:20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. 21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
(New
International Version)
28:20 Immediately
Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of
Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day
and night. 21 When
the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said,
“Look, your maidservant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what
you told me to do.
G.
Consulting Samuel through the medium was one of the factors that cost
Saul his life.
1
Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed
against the LORD, [even] against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also
for asking [counsel] of [one that had] a familiar spirit, to enquire [of it]; 14 And enquired not of the LORD: therefore
he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
(NKJV)
6.
The Bible condemns mediums (and their equivalents) in their efforts to
communicate with the dead.
A.
The use of mediums defiled a person.
Leviticus
(NKJV) Give no regard to mediums and familiar
spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I [am] the LORD your
God.
(CEV)
Don't make yourselves disgusting to me by going to people who claim they can
talk to the dead.
B.
The use of mediums and their like made one an “abomination” to God. The use of such was one of the reasons the
prior inhabitants of
Deuteronomy
18:10 There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire,
[or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of
times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a
consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For
all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of
these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
(NKJV)
18:10 There shall not be found among you [anyone] who makes his son or
his daughter pass through the fire, [or one] who practices witchcraft, [or] a
soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one
who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or
one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things [are]
an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God
drives them out from before you.
C.
The use of mediums made one God’s enemy.
Leviticus
20:6 And the soul that turneth
after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after
them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from
among his people.
(NASB) As for the person who turns to mediums and to
spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will
also set My face against that person and will cut him
off from among his people.
D.
So serious was the offense of attempting to consult with the dead, that
to be a medium / intermediary was to be worthy of execution.
Leviticus
(NIV) A man or
woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be
put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.
E. Rather than consult mediums for
knowledge, we should consult God’s written law instead.
Isaiah
(NKJV)