One big lie

I Timothy 4
1   Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2   Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3   Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4   For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5   For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Our text says that the Spirit of God speaks very clearly on this matter.  In the latter days, the time preceding the Lord's return, there will be a departing from sound Bible doctrine.  Included in this departure is the mention of lying. 

Can I give you just a few things?

The matters covered in our text definitely speak of what is taught by Roman Catholicism, with the celibacy of the priesthood, and the practice of only fish on Friday.  But also mentioned is the matter of lying. 

Roman Catholicism gave us the day of December 25th for the birth of Christ.  There isn't space here to show that he was born in late September or early October, but some Bible study will show this.  To say that he was born on December 25th is a lie.  Our text says many are departing from what is right and are speaking lies.  If you know the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and you know about the birth of Christ not being in December, why would you go along with this lie?

So, Christian, if you are telling the lie about Christ and December 25th, the Bible calls you a hypocrite.  My Baptist brethren didn't go along with this lie for the first 1900 years after Christ ascended, and for those 1900 years over 50 million were put to death for the faith.  They stood boldly against anything that was connected to Roman Catholicism.  But now most Christians have joined hands with Rome to celebrate what was originally called "the Mass of Christ", later to be called "Christmass", and then the 's' dropped to just be known as Christmas. 

Not one

It was mentioned on another blog that my five year old daughter does not like trees. (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/diamondsintherough/634305/)  That attitude comes from living in the desert.  We don't have any trees in our yard.  Now that is not that strange.  But what I love to point out is that we don't have any grass.  Not one blade of grass.  Not one.  No need for the lawn mower, no need for the tree trimmer, no need for a rake.  No need for sprinkler systems.  Not one of those items here.  It also needs to be mentioned, no snow shovel.  Count your blessings, see what God hath done.  What a beautiful place, the desert. 

Soon we will be back to Ephesians 4 for those of you paying attention to our theological entries. 

One wife

The qualifications of a pastor are given in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1.  We don't call them suggestions, but rather qualifications, for the scriptures say, "A bishop then must..."

The most controversial one listed deals with the marital status. It says in both accounts that the pastor is to be the husband of one wife.  Now the liberal minded comes along and says that means one at a time.  Remember, the pastor is to be an example to the believer.  While many in our society have gone through the terrible heartache of divorce, it isn't God's will.  If God's preachers were allowed to divorce and remarry and continue to pastor the Lord's church, that would surely negate the plain statement of the Lord Jesus when he said in Mark 10
6   But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
7   For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
8   And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
9   What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

I would also direct you to Romans 7:2,3 which tell us that if you marry another while the one you married first is still alive, you have committed adultery.
2   For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3   So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

A man who married, then later is divorced, and then remarries while his first wife is alive is an adulterer.  He has disqualified himself from the ministry, though he will give account to the Lord for the ministry he did not fulfill, as the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  And no matter how you try to justify it, he has two wives, and he may be supporting both of them also (alimony).  What a mess.  That is what goes on in the world constantly, but is not to be the example that the man of God sets forth in a N.T. Baptist church.

Average of one

Well this blogging stuff gets on that to do list, and easily pushed down the list for other activities.  But I did notice I am averaging 1 comment per post, well a little more than one, more like 1.5  That's great, keeps with the number one theme.  So all one you commenting out there, thanks. 

Check back in one day, there may be more. 

One Spirit

Ephesians 4:4

"There is one body, and one Spirit..."

Let's continue from what we started two posts back. 

The doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit also is a rather controversial matter amongst professing Christians.  But the Bible warns us that some might receive another spirit.

II Cor 11
4   For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Simply put, the charismatic movement speaks of a spirit that is not in accordance with what the Bible says.  They claim that the Holy Spirit baptizes one into an invisible body, thus perverting the doctrine of the church, and perverting the promise the Lord made in Acts 1:5:
"For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
And that was fulfilled in Acts 2, when the first church in Jerusalem was empowered to do the work they were called to do, the great commission.  The signs given were proof of this, and the results also bore witness to the fact. 

Peter preached the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead, and the Holy Spirit drew men unto the Lord.  That was not the start of some movement making much of the Spirit of God, but rather fulfilling what the Lord had said.

John 16
13   Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14   He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

That is the one Spirit of Ephesians 4, briefly shown to you in his work in  the New Testament.  He is the third person in the Trinity, God Almighty. 

One out of 75

Well that is what I was on November 4th.  In Mohave County, which is located in the northwest corner of Arizona, 75 citizens cast their vote for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitutional Party.  No it was not a wasted vote just because he did not win.  You could say a vote for John McCain was wasted since he did not win.  But it was rather a vote for a man that stood for the constitution of the United States.  No longer will I be drawn in to those silly arguments of voting for the lesser of two evils.  Both major party candidates showed themselves to be socialists as they voted for the government hand out of tax payer money to failing companies. 

Now I ask you, why do we reward failures?  Car companies are having trouble, so instead of rewarding those that are making a profit in some way, the elected officials are trying to figure a way to give money to companies that are failing to make money. Banks are failing, so reward the failing banks with more money.  When it appears they were unable to handle what was already entrusted to their care, why would you give them more, especially billions more?  It makes no sense, but it is also unconstitutional.  Please read the 10th Amendment. 

Maybe in the next election some will have dusted off the constitution, and after reading it, they will see that most of the elected officials have really no idea of what ought to be taking place in government.  Then vote them out of office, and elect some that do understand. 

But then I fear that most of our nation's citizens are also becoming socialists, and sadly don't even realize it.