Category Archives: New Testament
What is real?
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (NIV)
In what sense is the world “real”? What are we asking, when we ask that question?
Anna Salamon doesn’t know. I don’t know. Perhaps Jordan Peterson knows.
I’m going to talk to you today about a different way of looking at what real is.
It’s not easy to figure out what real is because we don’t really have infinite knowledge and so we’re always making some sets of presuppositions about what’s most real.
It really matters what you assume is most real because you base the decisions that you make, that run the entire course of your life, on those assumptions, whether you recognise it or not. And if you get the assumptions wrong, or even if you leave them incomplete, you’re going to pay a big price for it.
See also The Naturalist and the Supernaturalist.
Never confuse Christ’s ‘Great Commission’ to Peter to preach, with God’s comission to St Paul… they are two separate commissions with two separate gospels.
This was actually Christ’s commission to Peter and the eleven in respect to the Kingdom gospel…. which never got past stage 1…. Jerusalem, because the great % of the Jews Rejected Peters preaching of Christ as King, just as they had rejected Christ’s own ministry.
Peters commission ended in Failure at the Stoning of Stephen, and Christ was Sanding on the Right hand of the Father ready to return and crush those whom rejected the message… exactly as was warned in all the preaching of the Early book of Acts.
Yet instead Of the second coming… Something very different and unexpected happened.
God showed Absolute Grace towards Saul and appeared unto him, and forgave him, and made him an apostle with a completely new Gospel, and sent him to preach it to the Gentiles…. while the Jews were now set aside for terrible judgement.
And this is when *our Gospel* was first preached on the Earth… God gave St Paul a new Revelation That The Cross was not simply murder… as Peter had preached on the day of Penticost… but actually a secret plan of God to atone for the sins of all humanity, and that whosoever believes in this…. will be saved…. without works… without the Law.
When you go back and look at when Christ talked about being killed… the bible clearly teaches that the disciples didn’t understand this as it did’nt fit in with their understanding that Christ would redeem Israel from Roman oppression and Rule as King.
The Bible clearly teaches that the Real reason for the Cross was hidden from them.
They did not even understand the resurrection.
This is because they had been preaching to Jews that the Old testament promises of the Messiah were to be fulfilled by Christ… that the Kingdom was at hand…. and that was ‘the good news’ to the Jews living in subjection to Rome…
Some Differences…
Peter was sent to Baptise… Paul wasn’t
“I thank God I Baptized none of you…” St Paul. 1Cor1vs 14.
…For Christ sent me not to Baptize…. 1 Cor 1 17.
Peter was sent with signs and wonders… because the Jews require a sign, Yet St Paul said that Signs and wonders would cease… because after a remnant of the Jews accepted Paul’s Gospel. God was no longer going to give them special treatment… and they would have to simply believe the Gospel when offered to them …. just the same as the gentiles.
The Jews had a special place under The Kingdom Gospel of Peter “Unto your Fathers were the Promises Given”, yet this Nationalistic Gospel was set aside and the Kingdom postponed due the the rejection of Christ Twice offered…. once before the Cross, and again after by St Peter.
Under St Paul’s New Gosple… it had nothing to do with establishing a National Kingdom, but the focus was upon *Individual Salvation* from Divine Judgement for their sins.
This New Fellowship was not a Reformed Judaism… but a completely new thing…. the fellowship of the Mystery.
to enter Chrit’s kingdom a person had to keep the Law and ‘endure unto the End’, whereas under St Pauls gospel of grace, a person is 100% saved simply by belief alone…. without works…. without the Law, and no condition of having to ‘endure unto the end’.
These and many other things distinguish the vast differences between what St Paul Preached from what Jesus and Peter Preached.
Once a persons eyes have been opened to these important distinctions they will wonder how they ever missed them for years and years of reading the Bible…. it is because Satan has succeeded in hiding the True Gospel and the so-called Orthodox churches have been corrupted and now walk in utter darkness.
Tim Wikiriwhi.
1611 King James Bible believer, Protestant, Dispensationalist, Libertarian.
Read More…. The Irony. Why I follow St Paul… Not Jesus.
Dispensational Truth. 2Timothy2vs15, Ephesians 3vs1-9
“I thank God I Baptized none of you…” St Paul. 1Cor1vs 14.
The Rock of Divine Revelation.
The Christian Fellowship is a voluntary private society, not a theocratic political movement.
Hell is for the Self Righteous, Heaven is for Sinners.
Bear one another’s burdens
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
I’d like to help but I’m not sure how. So for now I guess I’ll just say be warm and well fed. 🙂
Let them eat worms
Behold the
fowls of the airbeneficiaries of welfare: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet yourheavenly Fatherwelfare State feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? (KJV)
Now, if I meant to sound particularly harsh, I’d add that
if any would not work, neither should he eat. (KJV)
But that was the instruction of the Apostle Paul to his brothers and sisters in Christ in the church of the Thessalonians. Whereas, the bread of life himself explicitly instructed us to give food to the hungry and also remarked that the poor we will always have with us. So, no excuses!
What about welfare state? The welfare state is the biggest excuse around for not giving food to the hungry! “It’s not my job, I pay my taxes, no one starves in New Zealand, we have government welfare handouts to which everyone is entitled in times of need …” No doubt, you’ve heard it all before.
Real Christian charitable giving has nothing to do with paying taxes to fund a welfare state. In his post on Real voluntary private Charity vs the evils of welfare and Political force my co-blogger Tim makes this point exceptionally well. I have little to add.
But I will say this much. It seems to me that the Bible implicitly instructs us not to fund the welfare state. Jesus famously told us to “render to Caesar [i.e., unto the government] the things that are Caesar’s.” (KJV) Does that mean that, to follow our Lord’s instruction, we should gladly pay our taxes? No, not at all! ‘Render’ means to give back. Give back to the government that which already belongs to the government. But what is that which already belongs to the government? Your hard-earned dollars? No, I don’t think so. I think your hard-earned dollars belong to you. And you must not give them under compulsion.
The Apostle Paul wrote
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (ESV)
We are to give generously, not grudgingly. Any gift of ours is to be given
as a willing gift, not as an exaction. (ESV)
Furthermore, the Apostle Peter wrote
I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (ESV)
We are to look after the sheeple not under compulsion, but willingly. And we are not to domineer over those in our charge. This brings me to a further and final point.
We are not to exact. Instead, we are to act. As examples.
Do not treat the poor and needy like trained circus seals! Do not seek to make welfare beneficiaries jump through hoops. Freely scatter your gifts to the poor! Dignity for dignity. (NIV)
Don’t be a Carol Gaither!
He has risen! He is not here.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. (NIV)
As Biblical as Easter. Russell Crowe’s Noah Movie.
I went to see the Noah movie last night.
I was not expecting it to be an accurate portrayal of the Biblical Noah, and was fully prepared for Hollywood licence…. why let the truth get in the way of a good story?
Thus I have been sceptical of the bleating s from Christian commentators…. so I did’t bother to read them… and was determined to make up my own mind…. hoping to find something positive… ie that perhaps it may at least get people thinking about the Book of Genesis.
I like Big Budget movies with Special effects.
I think the real Russell Crowe is a Plonker… yet he’s good at his trade and usually enjoyable to watch… yet his portrayal of Noah was disturbing… unpleasant.
I can appreciate that it was a necessary for the script for Crowe to portray Noah as absolutely single minded in his convictions that God intended to absolutely destroy Humanity… though this was a massive departure from what The Bible says… and as a consequence Crowe’s Noah comes across as absolutely heartless…. a religious Fanatic… and this is a great dis-service to the Biblical Noah whom preached to the world about the coming flood… only to be mocked and jeered at.
The Movie makes out Noah flatly refused anyone’s plea to enter the salvation of the Ark… which is Tantamount to Christ refusing to save sinners…. The Genesis Ark being a Type of God’s mercy and Salvation in Christ.
I will mitigate this criticism in that the Magnitude of the situation did call for Steel resolve and monumental… unwavering Faith in the justness of God’s judgement.
Crow’s Noah was that… and later in the movie Mrs Noah articulates the weight that Noah had Borne …esp being a Caring and Humane Man.
The movie Noah heartlessly leaves Ham’s Girlfriend to be crushed to death, just so they could stitch in another unpleasant and Anti-biblical construct… That in the post Deluvian world Ham and Japheth would take wives of their nieces.
No Doubt the producers relished this ‘innovation’ as it is patently designed to make audiences recoil at the idea that the Bible contains incest… re- procreation from the Children of Adam and Eve.
I will mitigate this critisism only for the shear fact that to believe the Book of Genesis is a literal historical account, it is necessary to accept that Adam and Eve’s children *did* pro-create together.
Yet there was no Law against it in that age, nor was there the same level of De-generation as is the case today… People lived 1000 years back then.
I do think that this part of the plot does evidence the producers desire to use this movie to discredit the Bible… not to enhance Faith… yet would you expect anything less from Hollywood these days?
It would be silly to go to a movie like this and yet feel you had been defrauded of your money.
Rabid Non-Christians like Ricard Dawkins would enjoy seeing Christians squirming in their seats!
Considering myself a more open mined, tolerant, and freer thinker than the average Christian I was hoping to find more virtue in this movie… they really did contrive things to such an extent that regretfully I must say that the bleetings of Evangelicals like Ray Comfort are not without substance.
One virtue which cannot be denied is that this movie is stimulating conversation on a very important subject… and no doubt some people will turn to Christ as a result.
Others may loose their faith…
Half way through the movie now, another interesting yet thoroughly contrary part of the plot was that the Fallen Angels of Genesis 6 had become ‘Watchers’…. Stoney Giants who contrary to the scriptures were benevolent beings who despite having to contend with the violence of humanity, still longed to be restored to communion with the Creator, and decided to help Noah build the Ark and protect it from being over-run by the Evil hordes.
They acted like the 300!
Brave warriors willing to face overwhelming odds to protect Noah’s family and the Ark.
The Highlight of the movie for me was when these Watchers began to be overpowered that they realised that God Almighty was merciful towards them and that upon death they were to be restored to Heaven!
Sitting alone amongst the crowd I was moved to silently shed a tear or two.
Heroic self-sacrifice and the hope of God’s mercy are themes which strike deep in my heart….. even though this part of the movie was an absolute fabrication.
I dont think it is necessary to dwell on the contrived storyline that Crowe’s Noah was determined to kill his own grandchildren…. a truly despicable portrayal… attempting to stitch in events of Abraham and Isaac… That Men of Faith are capable of the most inhumane atrocities.
It matters not that Isaac was spared… as were the grand daughters in this tale…. Hollywood’s purpose was served.
It was portrayed that Noah had to defy God, to save the innocent.
A Test?
Did Noah Fail?
No… not according to Emma Watson who played Shem’s wife.
Noah chose mercy and love… over blind obedience.
Maybe…. Ultimately… in the end Hollywood’s Noah learned the greatest Religious lesson of all.
A Straw man argument as far as the Book of Genesis is concerned.
Some positive yet grim aspects of the movie was that the Ark looked believably constructed.
They caused the Animals to drop into a Hibernation via the use of drugs…. a common speculation as to the logistics of how 8 people were able to tend to so many beasts…. not to mention inter-species conflicts.
They attempted to portray the depravity of The Godless… the justification for God’s Judgement.
I do not think the movie overstated the horror of the flood itself… it’s probably not possible to do that!… and so It was good to visualise the sort of terrible fate that consumed the lost… even if it makes some folk question the Love of God.
Ray Winstone’s portrayal of the Pride of Rebellious Humanity was awesome.
The seed of Cain…. ‘Why wont God commune with me?’
Hell bent, He determined to Dominate the world be shear lawless brutality… to spite God.
To kill was the mark of manhood.
Ultimately I think This Movie is what you would expect from people who dont believe the flood ever happened… don’t believe the Book of Genesis is anything more than fables… and so there can be no real harm done by bastardising the story.
Indeed the infidel no doubt considers the fact that this movie will work to discourage faith in the scriptures as it’s greatest virtue.
Anthony Hopkins as Methuselah.
I will Finnish my commentary simply by saying that I myself believe the Book of Genesis is Literal history… and that the flood did occur.
It is a well establish artefact of historic tradition… almost universally attested to… even if it is unpleasant to consider such all consuming Divine judgement.
Reality and truth are Objective… not determined by our sentiments, and i am appalled by modern liberal Christians whom attempt to sidestep the uncomfortable truths written in the Bible by simply pretending that they are myths… no flood… no massacres… no hell… etc.
The Story of the Flood is absolutely relevant today… and it is Ironic that I am writing these words on Easter Saturday… a festival which has dubiously … via the tides of history come to be associated with the Death Burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ… events which St Paul preached were God’s Grace in action.
The sinless Christ… the Scape Goat… took on the sins of Humanity and was Judged by God… the wages of sin being Death…. he was Crucified.
Yet after 3 days in the grave he rose victorious over sin and death… God via St Paul’s preaching the Good news that whosoever believes that Christ died for their sins and rose again the third day… calling upon the Name of the Lord… they shall be Saved from the coming judgement of God!
Christ is our Ark.
God’s judgement is again drawing near upon a corrupt and violent Mankind.
To pretend that God does not judge is a great lie… a terrible delusion.
The Story of Noah is a warning to be heeded…
Ignore it at your peril.
People surrounded by evil are looking for salvation…. they need to hear the Gospel of Gods Grace… Come to the Ark!
There is salvation in Christ!
God is not Heartless… yet he will judge the wickedness of humanity.
He has provided a way of salvation via faith.
He has given you the choice.
The power is in your own hands.
There is a terrible time approaching under the Anti-Christ, and God’s judgement will again be upon Humanity as he pours out his wrath upon a world which has rejected Christ.
So my friends Will you put your trust in the Word of God or in the vain imaginations of the infidel?
Tim Wikiriwhi
Protestant Christian, King James Bible believer, Dispensationalist, Libertarian
See FaceBook Page ‘Noah Movie Australia’ >>>Here<<< Jesus warns.... Matt 24vs21-5, 37-38 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before." "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." 2 Timothy 3 King James Version (KJV) 3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was. 10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. ****************************** Read more.... Noah’s Ark given the seaworthy seal of approval by physicists. NZ Herald
Hell is for the Self Righteous, Heaven is for Sinners.
Christ’s work of Salvation on the Cross… The Great Equaliser.
The Christian Fellowship is a voluntary private society, not a theocratic political movement.
The hope which is In Christ. Terrible grief shall be turned into great joy!
The Rock of Divine Revelation.
The end of all things is near
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Welcome to Death
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell[a].
a. Matthew 10:28 Greek Gehenna
A couple of years ago, I posted a 13-part series wherein I gave you Hell, a little booklet by the inimitable Dr. Jeff Obadiah Simmonds. And I posted an index to the instalments … elsewhere.
Everything you ever wanted to know about Hell (but were too afraid to ask)
I just discovered an awesome Christian death metal band called Antidemon with an awesome song about hell, so I figured now is as good a time as any to post the index … below.
Hell #1: Welcome to Hell
Hell #2: Hellish doctrines
Hell #3: The Immortality of the Soul (Part 1)
Hell #4: The Immortality of the Soul (Part 2)
Hell #5: Hell as Eternal Torment
Hell #6: Annihilation (Part 1)
Hell #7: Annihilation (Part 2)
Hell #8: Annihilation (Part 3)
Hell #9: Hell in the Teachings of Jesus (Part 1)
Hell #10: Hell in the Teachings of Jesus (Part 2)
Hell #11: Hell in the Teachings of Jesus (Part 3)
Hell #12: Hell in the Book of Revelation
Hell #13: Final Doom
Latest gossip
Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. (ESV)