God's Decrees Are Eternal, Wise, and Free From Outside Influence

Well before the modern Open Theism heresy was on the scene (although known by other names in other times), AW Pink shows from Scripture how God's Decrees leave no room for a learning God. Arminianism also says that God must learn from man who to save and thus reacts (so you can say, really, that Open Theism is the logical conclusion of Arminian theology: that God learns as He goes, that the future is "Open" because it all depends on how man acts and thus how God reacts to man's decisions--it is really putting the cart before the horse). Arminianism / Free Willism teach that man is the one completely free from God (neutral), able to do whatever he wants to do. However Scripture states that it is God who does all that He pleases, whatever He wants to do.

Ps. 33: ^8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere Him. ^9 For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. ^10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. ^11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Dan. 4: ^35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to him: “What have you done?”

Of course the presupposition is found in the first chapter: the solitariness of God. God is unlike any creation in the universe; He is by definition, unique because He is the Creator.

Isa 40:18  To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?

Isa 40:25  To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. 26  Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.

Isa 46:5  "To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?

Here then, is more of Pink on God's decrees:

Let us now consider some of the properties of the Divine decrees. First, they are eternal. To suppose any of them to be made in time, is to suppose that some new occasion has occurred, some unforeseen event or combination of circumstances has arisen, which has induced the Most High to form a new resolution. This would argue that the knowledge of the deity is limited, an that He is growing wiser in the progress of time—which would be horrible blasphemy. No man who believes that the Divine understanding is infinite, comprehending the past, the present, and the future, will ever assent to the erroneous doctrine of temporal decrees. God is not ignorant of future events which will be executed by human volitions; He has foretold them in innumerable instances, and prophecy is but the manifestation of His eternal prescience. Scripture affirms that believers were chosen in Christ before the world began (Eph. 1:4), yea, that grace was "given" to them then (2 Tim. 1:9).

Second, the decrees of God are wise.

As the Psalmist declared, "O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom hast Thou made them all" (Ps. 104:24). It is indeed but a very small part of them which falls under our observation, yet, we ought to proceed here as we do in other cases, and judge of the whole by the specimen, of what is unknown, by what is known. He who perceives the workings of admirable skill in the parts of a machine which he has an opportunity to examine, is naturally led to believe that the other parts are equally admirable. In like manner should we satisfy our minds as to God’s works when doubts obtrude themselves upon us, and repel the objections which may be suggested by something which we cannot reconcile to our notions of what is good and wise. When we reach the bounds of the finite and gaze toward the mysterious realm of the infinite, let us exclaim. "O the depth of the riches! both of the wisdom and knowledge of God" (Rom. 11:33).

Third, they are free. "Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being His counselor hath taught Him? With whom took He counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of judgment, and taught Him knowledge, and showed to Him the way of understanding?" (Isa. 40:13,14). God was alone when He made His decrees, and His determinations were influenced by no external cause. He was free to decree or not to decree, and to decree one thing and not another. This liberty we must ascribe to Him who is supreme, independent, and sovereign in all His doings.

Fourth, they are absolute and unconditional. The execution of them is not suspended upon any condition which may, or may not be, performed. In every instance where God his decreed an end, He has also decreed every means to that end. The One who decreed the salvation of His elect also decreed to work faith in them (2 Thess. 2:13). "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure" (Isa. 46:10): but that could not be, if His counsel depended upon a condition which might not be performed. But God "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11).

Side by side with the immutability and invincibility of God’s decrees, Scripture plainly teaches that man is a responsible creature and answerable for his actions. And if our thoughts are formed from God’s Word the maintenance of the one will not lead to the denial of the other. That there is a real difficulty in defining where the one ends and the other begins, is freely granted. This is ever the case where there is a conjunction of the Divine and the human. Real prayer is indited by the Spirit, yet it is also the cry of a human heart. The Scriptures are the inspired Word of God, yet were they written by men who were something more than machines in the hand of the Spirit. Christ is both God and man. He is Omniscient, yet "increased in wisdom" (Luke 2:52). He was Almighty, yet was "crucified through weakness" (2 Cor. 13:4). He was the Prince of life, yet He died. High mysteries are these, yet faith receives them unquestioningly.

Finally, attempt to assume and then contemplate the opposite. To deny the Divine decrees would be to predicate a world and all its concerns regulated by undesigned chance or blind fate. Then what peace, what assurance, what comfort would there be for our poor hearts and minds? What refuge would there be to fly to in the hour of need and trial? None at all. There would be nothing better than the black darkness and abject horror of atheism. O my reader, how thankful should we be that everything is determined by infinite wisdom and goodness! What praise and gratitude are due unto God for His Divine decrees. It is because of them that "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). Well may we exclaim, "For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom he glory forever. Amen" (Rom 11:36).

The Decrees of God: let this bring peace to the true Christian

The Scriptures make mention of the decrees of God in many passages, and under a variety of terms. The word "decree" is found in Psalm 2:7, etc. In Ephesians 3:11 we read of His "eternal purpose." In Acts 2:23 of His "determinate counsel and foreknowledge." In Ephesians 1:9 of the mystery of His "will." In Romans 8:29 that He also did predestinate. In Ephesians 1:9 of His "good pleasure." God’s decrees are called His "counsel" to signify they are consummately wise. They are called God’s "will" to show He was under no control, but acted according to His own pleasure. When a man’s will is the rule of his conduct, it is usually capricious and unreasonable; but wisdom is always associated with "will" in the Divine proceedings, and accordingly, God’s decrees are said to be "the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11).

The decrees of God relate to all future things without exception: whatever is done in time, was foreordained before time began. 

God’s purpose was concerned with everything, whether great or small, whether good or evil, although with reference to the latter we must be careful to state that while God is the Orderer and Controller of sin, He is not the Author of it in the same way that He is the Author of good. Sin could not proceed from a holy God by positive and direct creation, but only by decretive permission and negative action. God’s decree is as comprehensive as His government, extending to all creatures and all events.

God did not merely decree to make man, place him upon the earth, and then leave him to his own uncontrolled guidance; instead, He fixed all the circumstances in the lot of individuals, and all the particulars which will comprise the history of the human race from its commencement to its close. 

~A.W. Pink

Rick Santorum: the "lesser evil" is still evil

Conservative Rick Santorum, who served two terms as a U.S. senator from Pennsylvania and was a Republican presidential candidate in 2012, criticized fellow conservative Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), saying his approach to defunding Obamacare “did more harm” than good, adding that Cruz did not have a plan to reach his goal. 

Santorum said, “You know, look, I would say that in the end he did more harm. I think it was not his objective. I think his objective [defunding Obamacare] was a laudable one. I think he didn`t do a very good job in pointing it out. It`s one thing to have a goal and another thing to have a plan to get you to that goal. And he didn`t –” 

~CNS News

Again proving that my convictions were right. 

If Santorum is willing to slam fellow GOPers for going against Obamacare (funding), then it merely proves just how evil the "lesser evil" really is. 

For all their whinning about Cruz having no plan, what was Santorum's plan?

Oh right, to cave to Obama.

The  Republican plan was to support Obamacare with just some modifications.

And most "Christians" and "Conservatives" were telling me that the "lesser evil" was better?? Apparently a slightly modified Obamacare is BETTER than...Obamacare.

(Sounds an awful lot like "some abortion is better than a lot of abortion" mentality---which is exactly the same justification spawned from fear of mere man and an utter lack of principles and values).

Such a notion is nothing short of valididating socialized medicine.

How about NO Obamacare is better than any Obamacare (that statist, socialist, unconstitutional bill).

Listen: Santorum and McCain and Boehner, etc. are all saying they would go along with Obama and his socialized medicine program--NOT FIGHT IT. There is no difference between them: the goal is to fund Obamacare.

What an utter down grade in principles and values.

What an uptick in fear of the opposition (which btw, is not opposition--its agreeing with the opposition)

Santorum parroting the other RINOS's (McCain anyone?) shows he's just a hypocrite and a coward. 

But hey, he gets to stay in front of the camera.

Yup if Santorum, like all the other GOP "leaders" really cared about the Constitution and the American citizens, they would've rejected Obamacare from the beginning with an unyielding fight.

Santorum and the GOP ARE the problem. 

Imagine if these RINOs were in power during King George III's time. There would've been no American Revolution and we'd be speaking the Queen's English and would be merely part of the British Commonwealth.

Matthew Shepard: Was He Killed For Being a Sodomite?

The media pushed the story that Matthew Shepard was killed for being a sodomite. It enraged all the right people. But was he really killed for being a sodomite?

New York Post reports:

Jimenez’s “The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard,” out last month, challenges every cultural myth surrounding Shepard’s short life and unspeakable death. After some 13 years of digging, including interviews with more than 100 sources, including Shepard’s killers, Jimenez makes a radioactive suggestion:

The grisly murder, 15 years ago this month, was no hate crime.

Shepard’s tragic and untimely demise may not have been fueled by his sexual orientation, but by drugs. For Shepard had likely agreed to trade methamphetamines for sex. And it killed him.

Heresy.

Why dredge this up now? Jimenez’s answer surprised me.

“As a gay man,” he said, “I felt it was a moral thing to do.”

...But Jimenez insists he’s willing to trade Shepard’s irreproachable image for a serious talk about drugs. Meth, he said, is haunting the gay scene, bringing with it a plague of ultra-violence, new HIV infection — and gay-bashing.

End quote.

According to the story, Jimenez has also been blackballed even by his own industry, proving yet again how liberals, particularly homosexual activists, are hypocrites with double standards.  Forget free speech especially for a journalist. They will push and bully their agenda as far as they can, without considering they might be wrong. It's not a matter of the truth of a matter ---its all about an agenda, pure and simple.

Imagine: this will be the way Obama's Socialized Medicine Will Run!

A government worker is 38 percent more likely to be absent from work for personal reasons or illnesses than a private-sector worker, and government workers miss 50 percent more of their usual work hours as a result of such absences than do private sector workers, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

~CNS News

Get ready for the wait while Obamacare workers idle their time away while you wait to get approved of needed surgery.

And you thought the DMV was bad!

Uplifting Abortion Stories?

On Monday, pro-abortion groups across the country launched an organized effort to feature women telling uplifting stories of their abortions. The so-called “1 in 3” week of action will feature 100 events in 32 states, and began in Washington D.C. According to the Advocates for Youth, one in three women in the United States will at some point have an abortion....

Tellingly, organizers suggest that their goal is to keep abortion “safe, legal, and affordable” – a marked change from the old pro-choice slogan from the Clinton years, “safe, legal, and rare.”

Helping to end that stigma includes recruiting celebrities to be part of the “1 in 3” campaign. MTV star Katie Stack of 16 and Pregnant will be joining the campaign. 

~Breitbart

There should be a stigma with abortion, just like there is for murder, because it's slaughtering a precious baby. And the fact remains that most women who have an abortion will suffer either physically and/or definitely emotionally because they know they just murdered their baby. Here is one story. (Blessedly there is hope for those who seek the forgiveness of the God of Scripture. Only in Christ is there forgiveness, restoration, healing, and peace. ONLY in Him.)

Promoting a lie won't turn it into a truth.

And let's talk about how "safe" abortion mills are.

Uplifting?

Let's talk about the facts of physical risk due to abortions:

Higher death risk, up to 7 times higher suicide
Compared to pregnant women who had their babies, pregnant women who aborted were …

** 3.5 times more likely to die in the following year
** 1.6 times more likely to die of natural causes
** 6-7 times more likely to die of suicide
** 14 times more likely to die from homicide
** 4 times more likely to die of injuries related to accidents(1)

Another study found that, compared to women who gave birth, women who had abortions had a 62% higher risk of death from all causes for at least eight years after their pregnancies. Deaths from suicides and accidents were most prominent, with deaths from suicides being 2.5 times higher.(2)

Self-destructive lifestyles, spiraling health problems. Increased risk of promiscuity, smoking, drug abuse, and eating disorders, which all put the woman at increased risk for other health problems.(8)

Abortion can damage reproductive organs and cause long-term and sometimes permanent problems that can put future pregnancies at risk. Women who have abortions are more likely to experience ectopic pregnancies, infertility, hysterectomies, stillbirths, miscarriages, and premature births than women who have not had abortions.(9)

Abortion puts women at risk of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) is a serious, life threatening disease and a major direct cause of infertility. PID also increases risk of ectopic pregnancies. Studies have found that approximately one-fourth of women who have a chlamydia infection at the time of their abortion and 5% of women who don’t have chlamydia will develop PID within four weeks after the abortion.(13)

Cervical and uterine damage may increase the risk of premature delivery, complications of labor, and abnormal development of the placenta in later pregnancies.(16) These complications are the leading causes of disabilities among newborns.

End quote.

Is that "uplifting"? Something to cheer about?

How about some  more statistics?

95% of Planned Parenthood counselors gave “little or no biological information about the fetus which the abortion would destroy.” And over 80% of the Planned Parenthood counselors gave little or no information about the potential health risks.

56% were dissatisfied with Planned Parenthood’s abortion services.

Of the women surveyed, 94% said they’d experience negative psychological effects, over 70% said that there was a time when they would’ve denied the existence of any negative reactions for their abortions. For some this denial stage lasted only a few months, for others it lasted over 10 or 15 years

If they had known what their lives would be today, over 95% said they would not have chosen abortion.

66% said they about their lives are worse because of their abortions, 8% said their lives were about the same.

~Source

It is reported among psychologists that women who have aborted their babies may not show grief and guilt until decades later (into their 50's or 60's) and are depressed as a result.

Or how women's testimonies of their abortion experiences via the do-it-yourself-abortion drug RU-486? Sever pain and depression isn't something to to cheer.

More testimonies of women who aborted their babies.

One woman's abortion of her 11 week old baby says:

The abortion was painful. But the worst was yet to come…  My nightmare was just beginning.

The following month was both grisly and  horrifying. What in the world was coming out of me? I languished alone in severe pain, for weeks, like labor pains, continually bleeding and passing large and small blood clots and torn pieces of what I now grimly realized (like a hard, cold slap in the face) was once my baby’s body, placenta, umbilical cord and amniotic sac. Skin, muscle, organ, brain matter, flesh…   A pink slurry of unidentifiable debris (some looked like cartilage, tiny fish bones and bone fragments)  where I could even see where there had been knife cuts made–what the abortion industry calls “retained products of conception”.  Over and over, I got to witness more abortion industry euphemisms, such as “pregnancy debris” or “decidua”....

In the years after that,  I became inconsolable, with severe depression and  suicide attempts. I developed adenomyosis, a form of endometriosis. I would mark the many days on my calendar lost to pain.

End quote.

Planned Parenthood Celebrates 97 Years of Murder With a BIRTHDAY cupcake

Apparently irony is lost on the Planned Parenthood abortion business — which marked 97 years today of doing abortions that take the lives of little unborn children by promoting an image with a cupcake.

The Planned Parenthood abortion company is the biggest abortion business in the United States. The most recent annual report the abortion giant issued — earlier this year — showed it did more abortions in its last year than ever before in its history.                              

The new report released by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) shows the abortion giant did a record 333,964 abortions on unborn children during the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Those abortions were estimated to have generated $150 million dollars for the “nonprofit” organization.

~Life News

"Care. No matter what."?

95% of Planned Parenthood counselors gave “little or no biological information about the fetus which the abortion would destroy.” And over 80% of the Planned Parenthood counselors gave little or no information about the potential health risks.

56% were dissatisfied with Planned Parenthood’s abortion services.

Of the women surveyed, 94% said they’d experience negative psychological effects, over 70% said that there was a time when they would’ve denied the existence of any negative reactions for their abortions. For some this denial stage lasted only a few months, for others it lasted over 10 or 15 years

If they had known what their lives would be today, over 95% said they would not have chosen abortion.

66% said they about their lives are worse because of their abortions, 8% said their lives were about the same.

~Source

History shows Planned Parenthood's founder, Margaret Sanger and other Pro-abortionists were actually racist.  

Reproductive Choice Is a Right.....Unless Its for Homosexuality

The Left and the libertarian right are all for “choice” in reproduction. Genetic enhancement? Check. Disability cleansing via eugenic abortion and IVF genetic engineering? Check. Choosing hair color and other physical attributes? Check. Even sex selection.

But what if a test is developed that can predict a predilection for homosexuality? Wait just a darn minute!

This is the scenario discussed in the left wing science/tech journal called Pacific Standard, based on an article in support of genetic engineering. From, “Should We Be Able to Choose the Sexual Orientation of Our Children?” by Alice Dreger:

~Go here for the article

Granted, the fact of the matter is, there is no homosexual gene (go here for more info), but even if there was (for the sake of argument), it seems that abortions for such genes hits a little too close to home and isn't hailed as the Great "Constitutional" Right quite as much.

Hypocrisy in liberalism.

Obama Lied, Insurance Coverage Died

Buried in Obamacare regulations from July 2010 is an estimate that because of normal turnover in the individual insurance market, “40 to 67 percent” of customers will not be able to keep their policy. And because many policies will have been changed since the key date, “the percentage of individual market policies losing grandfather status in a given year exceeds the 40 to 67 percent range.”  

That means the administration knew that more than 40 to 67 percent of those in the individual market would not be able to keep their plans, even if they liked them. 

Yet President Obama, who had promised in 2009, “if you like your health plan, you will be able to keep your health plan,” was still saying in 2012, “If [you] already have health insurance, you will keep your health insurance.”

~NBC's Lisa Myers and Hannah Rappleye

(That could not have been an easy admission for Myers, I'm sure.)

Was it not Nancy Pelosi who said they had to pass Obamacare in order to find out what was in it.

Surprised now?

Given the facts, you'd think the White House would've updated their website. I mean, isn't this the hip, fresh, happenin', technologically savy administration? Certainly it doesn't take a genius to update a website. So the answer that claim lie is still there must be because they think they can swindle the people.

According to the White House website as of a few minutes ago, it still says that you can keep your insurance if you like it:

                           

Avoiding Spiritual Deception

"All Scripture is . . . profitable for . . . reproof" (2 Tim. 3:16).

In November of 1978, United States Representative Leo Ryan of California visited the People's Temple (a California- based cult) in Guyana. He went to investigate reports that some of the people were being held there against their will. The world was shocked to learn that the congressman and his party had been ambushed and killed.

Even more shocking was the grim discovery that followed a few days later. Authorities who entered the compound at Jonestown, Guyana were horrified to find the bodies of 780 cult members who had been shot or had committed suicide by drinking cyanide-laced punch. Their leader, the Reverend Jim Jones, was found lying near the altar--dead from a single bullet wound to the head.

For many, it was the first time they had witnessed the deadly effect of satanic teaching. Editorials and articles for months attempted to explain how such appalling deception and genocide could occur in this day and age. But as tragic as the Jonestown deaths were, most observers missed the greatest tragedy of all: the spiritual damnation that Jim Jones and all other false teachers lead their followers into.

Spiritual deception is a very serious issue to God. That's why in Scripture He lays down the truth and reproves anything contrary to it. The Greek word translated "reproof" in 2 Timothy 3:16 means to rebuke or confront someone regarding misconduct or false teaching.

If you have a thorough grasp of Scripture, you have a standard by which to measure all teaching. Then you can easily recognize false doctrine and avoid spiritual deception. That's what John had in mind when he said, "I have written to you, [spiritual] young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one" (1 John 2:14).

False religions will always attempt to distort Scripture because they must eliminate God's truth before they can justify their own lies. Beware of their subtleties, and be strong in God's Word. 

~John MacArthur, Drawing Near Devotional

Knowing the Truth in Scripture

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16).

This month we've considered many benefits of Scripture. Second Timothy 3:16 lists four more that will be the focus of our studies as we draw this month to a close: teaching truth, reproving sin and error, correcting behavior, and training in righteousness. We've touched on each of those to some extent in our past studies, but they warrant additional discussion from this verse, which is Scriptures most concise statement on its own power and purpose.

First, the Bible is profitable for teaching. The Greek word translated "teaching" refers more to content than to the process of teaching. Scripture is God's manual of divine truth for patterning your thoughts and actions.

As a believer, you have the capacity to understand and respond to Scripture. That's because the Holy Spirit indwells you and imparts spiritual discernment, wisdom, and understanding (1 John 2:27). You have "the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16).

But having the ability to understand spiritual truth doesn't guarantee you'll exercise that ability. God said to the Israelites through the prophet Hosea, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (4:6). His truth was available to them, but they ignored it and lived in disobedience.

I've heard many people lament that they could have avoided much grief if only they had known the Bible more thoroughly--if only they had taken the time to learn what God expected of them in a particular situation. Perhaps you've felt that way. The best way to avoid making that mistake in the future is to faithfully, prayerfully, patiently, and thoroughly saturate your mind with biblical truth, then discipline yourself to live according to its principles. Now that's the challenge of a lifetime, but it's the only way to profit from biblical teaching and avoid unnecessary heartaches.

I pray you will be encouraged today as you study God's Word and diligently apply it to your life.

~John MacArthur, Drawing Near Devotional

How Much Do You Treasure the Holy Bible?

"The judgments of the Lord are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb" (Ps. 19:10).

I have a friend who has a beautiful collection of rare Bibles. My favorite is one of the earliest printed copies, dating back to sixteenth-century England. The first time I held it in my hands I noticed that the top third of every page was covered with a dark stain. Tears filled my eyes when I realized it was from the blood of its original owner.

My friend explained that when Bloody Mary ruled England, she delighted in terrorizing Protestants and murdering as many as she could. Her soldiers would execute their victims through some bloody means, then take his or her Bible and dip it into the blood. Some of those Bibles have been preserved and are known as Martyrs' Bibles. Scientists have confirmed that the dark stains on every page of my friend's Bible are, indeed, human blood.

That same Bible is well worn from being studied. And many of its pages have water stains on them--perhaps from tears. Obviously it was someone's most precious possession, and his or her blood is there to prove it. Psalm 19:10 captures the heart of such people, extolling the preciousness of God's Word. To David, Scripture was more valuable than the best gold and purest honey. Meditating on it meant more to him than the richest and sweetest things in life. He knew its ability to satisfy every spiritual appetite.

As precious as God's Word is, many Christians take it for granted and become complacent in their studies. Some go for long periods without gaining fresh insights from its pages.

Perhaps you know someone who is in that situation. If so, ask the Lord for wisdom as you gently encourage him or her toward greater faithfulness in the Word. At the same time be careful not to become negligent yourself.

~John MacArthur, Drawing Near Devotional

Saving Faith

Saving faith is not mere intellectual knowledge of gospel facts, but involves a wholehearted, permanent commitment to Jesus as Lord, Savior, Messiah, and God incarnate.

~MacArthur commentary on 1 John 5

Continual Faith Is the Result of the New Birth

1Jn 5:5  Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?


The tenses of the verbs in verse 1 reveal a significant theological truth. Believes translates a present tense form of the verb pisteuō, whereas gegennētai (is born) is in the perfect tense. The opening phrase of verse 1 literally reads, “Whoever is believing that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten of God.” The point is that, contrary to Arminian theology, continual faith is the result of the new birth, not its cause. Christians do not keep themselves born again by believing, and lose their salvation if they stop believing. On the contrary, it is their perseverance in the faith that gives evidence that they have been born again. The faith that God grants in regeneration (Eph. 2:8) is permanent, and cannot be lost. Nor, as some teach, can it die, for dead faith does not save (James 2:14–26). There is no such thing as an “unbelieving believer.”

~JM Commentary on 1John

2 Timothy 3:16: the Inspiration and Sufficiency of Scripture (but not according to Greg Koukl)

Gen 3:1  Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" Gen 3:4  But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6  So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

I was struck by the sloppiness of "apologist" Greg Koukl's handling of Scripture when trying to argue against the  sufficiency of Scripture. How he dealt with 2Tim. 3:16 was of particular interest to me. He states:

"Bible only" advocates rely on a handful of references to prove that Scripture provides the sole solutions to life's problems. These three are characteristic...

The passage in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is more substantial.

Paul writes in his last epistle, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

The reasoning of "Bible only" advocates goes something like this. Paul says that Scripture is adequate. If Scripture is adequate, then nothing more is required. If nothing more is required, then the use of outside material implies the inadequacy of the Bible, contradicting Paul's statement. Therefore, nothing in addition to Scripture can be used to equip us, because nothing else is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." This function is the sole province of the Bible.

That's the argument. Here's what's wrong with it. First, in the 2 Timothy passage the word "adequate" modifies the believer, not the Scripture. The words Paul uses to describe Scripture are "inspired" and "profitable." The Bible is useful to accomplish a certain end--an adequately equipped Christian--because it is the very counsel of God. Paul's teaching in Second Timothy was meant to qualify the nature of Scripture, not to disqualify the usefulness of other material.

Second, the argument proves too much. The Scripture Paul has in view is the Old Testament, specifically the sacred writings of Timothy's childhood (note verse 15). These are what Paul identifies as being able to "give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

If the Old Testament Scriptures are adequate, and if Paul means to suggest that the addition of any useful information about man is wrong, then how do we justify adding the words of the New Testament to the fully adequate Old Testament? Even Paul's words (as well as Peter's, John's, etc.) would be inadmissible, including the very words of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which make this claim.

Since this is ludicrous and self-defeating, the entire objection crumbles. Paul did not mean to convey that other sources of knowledge were an assault on the Scripture's completeness.

Third, and more debilitating to this view, 2 Timothy 3:15 doesn’t even teach that the Scripture is adequate. A close look at the text reveals that the words “inspired” and “profitable” describe the Scripture. However, the word “adequate” does not describe the Scripture, but rather “the man of God” who uses the inspired Scripture in a profitable way. Note carefully: “...that the man of God may be adequate , equipped for every good work.” Once again, the proof text itself has unwittingly been maligned to say something it just doesn’t say, given the context.

What does "adequate" mean here? It probably means what adequate usually means, that the man of God has everything that is essential. Food and air and water are adequate to keep one alive, but their adequacy doesn't imply that nothing else is beneficial.

Some have pointed out that my argument could be used to teach that Paul thought only the Old Testament was inspired, not the New. Not so. Paul's statement was about Scripture, which at that time was what we now call the Old Testament. He did not say that no more "God-breathed" writings would be forthcoming. The corpus of Scripture was expanded by the New Testament writes and therefore it's included under the claims of this verse.

The problem only arises if one imposes a foreign sense of adequacy on this passage, i.e., nothing else is allowed. If we hold that Paul and the Apostles wrote legitimate Scripture, then that proves Paul's didn't intend such a restriction. That's my point.

~Greg Koukl, Stand to Reason

Now, did he properly and faithfully deal  2 Tim. 3:16? Or did he commit a logical fallacy (these men pride themselves on logic and reasoning )?

(Consider this: Koukl has a low view of Scripture and so he must attack its inspiration and sufficiency in order to adhere to Natural Theology. (On the contrary, not all truth is God's truth; also go here for an excellent treatment of this notion. ))

Here is what faithful pastor-teacher John MacArthur said on the inspiration and sufficiency of Scripture in his sermon on "False Prophets and Lying Tongues":

That is precisely why modern evangelicalism's infatuation with extrabiblical revelation is so dangerous. It is a return to medieval superstition and a departure from our fundamental conviction that the Bible is our sole, supreme, and sufficient authority for all of life. In other words, it represents a wholesale abandonment of the principle of sola Scriptura....

Scripture itself is clear that the day of God's speaking directly to His people through various prophetic words and visions is past. The truth God has revealed in Christ including the complete New Testament canon is His final word (Heb. 1:1-2; cf. Jude 3; Rev. 22:18-19).

Scripture—the written Word of God—is perfectly sufficient, containing all the revelation we need. Notice 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Paul tells Timothy:

From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

That passage makes two very important statements that pertain to the issue we are looking at. First, "All Scripture is inspired by God." Scripture speaks with the authority of God Himself. It is certain; it is reliable; it is true. Jesus Himself prayed in John 17:17: "Your word is truth." Psalm 119:160 says, "The entirety of Your word is truth."

Those statements all set Scripture above every human opinion, every speculation, and every emotional sensation. Scripture alone stands as definitive truth. It speaks with an authority that transcends every other voice.

Second, The passage teaches that Scripture is utterly sufficient, "able to make you wise for salvation ... [and able to make you] complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." What clearer affirmation of the absolute sufficiency of Scripture could anyone ask for? Are extrabiblical messages from God necessary to equip us to glorify Him? Certainly not.

Those who seek fresh messages from God have in effect scorned the absolute certainty and absolute sufficiency of the written Word of God. And they have set in its place their own fallen and fallible imaginations.

If the church does not return to the principle of sola Scriptura, the only revival we will see is a revival of the superstition and darkness that characterized medieval religion.

Does this mean God has stopped speaking? Certainly not, but He speaks today through His Word.

End quote.

For a full exegesis of 2Tim 3:16 by MacArthur go to:

The Work of the Word, Part 1

In "The Work of the Word, Part 2"  (and these are but only two of MacArthur's dealing with this passage) MacArthur states: 

It is profitable to give you the necessary body of divine truth to live a godly life.  That's what he's saying.  The Bible provides for you what Paul calls to Timothy the deposit.  It gives you the truth, the deposit of truth to be guarded, 1 Timothy 6:20 and 21, 2 Timothy 1:13.  It is God's revelation of truth.  And it provides for you the substance to be believed...doctrine, the body of content upon which...mark this carefully...every thought and every action is to be built.  Did you get that?  The Bible provides for us the body of truth upon which every thought and every action is to be built.  So it is profitable for content.  It gives us the truth.  John 17:17, "Thy Word is truth."  If you're looking for a foundation to build your life on, it is this book.  It provides the principles that are to operate in the life of every individual at every point of need and demand, thought and action.  It's comprehensive.  Every single thing you will ever deal with in your spiritual existence is covered one way or another in the Scripture, probably many more than just one time.  It is replete with instruction for life...life in the way that God has designed it."

End quote.

Does not our spiritual life have everything to do with all of life? Is that not what Scripture repeatedly demands of us? To walk, practice, live in every area of our lives, in a manner worthy of Christ Jesus? Does Christ Himself not demand full obedience in all areas of life? 

And does not Scripture directly or indirectly deal with money, parenting, neighbors, loans, human sexuality, law and justice, childhood, friendships, how we are to think and speak, the language we use, the clothes we wear, politics? 

What is the spiritual life if not the Holy Spirit living in and through us in every moment?

I wonder if people like Koukl think that Scripture is just for "spiritual things" and the "real" issues of life are addressed by the wisdom of scholars and psychologists--the professionals? It sure seems that way; at least that's the implication. It's compartmentalization. It's dangerous. It also goes against the greatest command of all: Love God with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength.

MacArthur says elsewhere:

 I Corinthians, Chapter 2, verse 9: "Eye, hath not seen..." You can't discover truth by empiricism ‑‑"...nor ear heard, neither have entered in the heart of man..." You can't discover truth by rationalism. "...the things that God has prepared for them that love Him." "But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit." The Spirit is the one who searches the deep things of God. Science ‑ that's empiricism. Philosophy ‑ that's rationalism. According to 1 Cor. 2:9, neither of them will ever discover ultimate truth.

The historian Schlatter says, "Everything that had to do with theories about God and the world and the meaning of human life was called `philosophy' at that time, not only in the pagan schools but also in the Jewish schools of the Greek cities." He is saying that the term philosophy was used of every single theory about God and the world in that era. It was the common term. So, anyone who had any new theory about God, or any new theory about the world--its origins, its meaning, and its destiny--was considered a philosopher with a philosophy.

~End quote.

For more go here.

A.W. Pink said,

Nor is the testimony of the New Testament any different from that of the Old: how could it be, seeing that both have one and the same Author! There too we read, "Which in His times He shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords: Who only bath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man bath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting, Amen" (1 Tim. 6:16). Such an One is to be revered, worshipped, adored. He is solitary in His majesty, unique in His excellency, peerless in His perfections. He sustains all, but is Himself independent of all. He gives to all, but is enriched by none.

Such a God cannot be found out by searching; He can be known, only as He is revealed to the heart by the Holy Spirit through the Word. It is true that creation demonstrates a Creator, and that, so plainly, men are "without excuse;" yet, we still have to say with Job, "Lo, these are parts of His ways: but how little a portion is heard of Him? but the thunder of His power who can understand?" (26:14). The so-called argument from design by well-meaning "Apologists" has, we believe, done much more harm than good, for it has attempted to bring down the great God to the level of finite comprehension, and thereby has lost sight of His solitary excellence.

Analogy has been drawn between a savage finding a watch upon the sands, and from a close examination of it he infers a watch-maker. So far so good. But attempt to go further: suppose that savage sits down on the sand and endeavors to form to himself a conception of this watch-maker, his personal affections and manners; his disposition, acquirements, and moral character—all that goes to make up a personality; could he ever think or reason out a real man—the man who made the watch, so that he could say, "I am acquainted with him?" It seems trifling to ask such questions, but is the eternal and infinite God so much more within the grasp of human reason? No, indeed! The God of Scripture can only be known by those to whom He makes Himself known.

Nor is God known by the intellect. "God is Spirit" (John 4:24), and therefore can only be known spiritually. But fallen man is not spiritual, he is carnal. He is dead to all that is spiritual. Unless he is born again supernaturally brought from death unto life, miraculously translated out of darkness into light, he cannot even see the things of God (John 3:3), still less apprehend them (1 Cor. 2:14). The Holy Spirit has to shine in our hearts (not intellects) in order to give us "the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6). And even that spiritual knowledge is but fragmentary. The regenerated soul has to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus (2 Pet. 3.18).

End quote.

Let me interject with a passage of Scripture dealing with wisdom and its source and fruit:

Jas 3:11  Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 

Jas 3:12  Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. 

Jas 3:13  Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 

Jas 3:14  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 

Jas 3:15  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 

Jas 3:16  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 

Jas 3:17  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 

Jas 3:18  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 

Jas 4:4  You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 

Jas 4:5  Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? 

Jas 4:6  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 

Gil Rugh deals with friendship of the world here.

1Ti 6:20  O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," 21  for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you. 

Col 2:2  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 

Col 2:3  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

Col 2:4  I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 

Col 2:6  Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 

Col 2:7  rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 

Col 2:8  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 

Col 2:9  For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 

Col 2:10  and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 

For more messages on the sufficiency of Scripture, go here.

Sufficiency

Adding to  completed Scripture (either by tradition or by "revelation") is no different than adding to the finished work of Christ on the cross.

The Inerrancy and Sole Authority of Scripture Attacked by Peter Enns (former Westminster Theological Seminary Professor), Greg Koukl (Stand To Reason), and Michael Patton (The Theology Program)

The case is mournful. Certain ministers are making infidels. Avowed atheists are not a tenth as dangerous as those preachers who scatter doubt and stab at faith.

~Spurgeon

Psa 138:2 I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your name and Your word.

2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Mat 4:4 But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Peter Enns, an ex-professor at Westminster Theological Seminary  stabs at the inspiration of Scripture, claiming that some of the OT is borrowed from myths:

Here Greg Beale reviews Peter Enn's book and notes in part:

"After his introduction, in chapter 2 he discusses the parallels between ancient Near Eastern myths and accounts in the OT. He says that the OT contains what he defines as "myth" (on which see his definition later below), but, he affirms, this should not have a negative bearing on the OT's divine inspiration. God accommodates himself to communicate his truth through such mythological biblical accounts. 

Chapter 3 discusses what Enns calls "diversity" in the OT. He believes that the kinds of diversity that he attempts to analyze have posed problems in the past for the doctrine of "inerrancy." He asserts that this "diversity" must be acknowledged, even though it poses tensions with the inspiration of Scripture. This diversity is part of God's inspired word."

(More on Enns here.)

Enns sounds like Greg Koukl, of Stand To Reason when he too, attacks the inspiration and sufficiency of Scripture and claims that the authors of Proverbs borrowed from pagans (and he uses straw man arguments to make his argument against the inspiration and sufficiency of Scripture). 

He says in part:

"Bible only" advocates rely on a handful of references to prove that Scripture provides the sole solutions to life's problems....There are other problems with the "Bible only" view. Scripture itself seems to encourage us to take counsel from other sources of information. 

"The Wisdom Literature of the Amenomope is a body of work from the Middle East that pre-dates Proverbs. It's of interest because it contains a section of material almost identical to Proverbs 22:17-24:22. It seems evident that the authors of the latter part of Proverbs borrowed this material from the Amenomope and inserted it into the inspired text."

End quote.

By the way there is far more than a "handful" of verses to support Scripture alone. He uses only 4. He doesn't even touch the largest example of the sufficiency and inspiration of Scripture in all of Scripture: Psalms 119! It proclaims in 176 verses the truth of its sufficiency and inspiration, and Koukl, an "apologist" ignores that and claims there's but a "handful".  Besides that there is also the parallel chapter of Psalms 19 that also proclaims the same thing. He also ignored another tremendous verse regarding the absolute sufficiency of Scripture: Heb. 4:

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

And here is a verse about Scripture alone:

Isa 8:20  To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. 

It seems that Koukl largely also ignores the Person and work of the third Person in the Trinity: the Holy Spirit. It is He that uses the Scriptures to correct our thinking and behavior and to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. There cannot be a divorcing of the Scriptures from the Holy Spirit, which is really what Koukl is doing (1 Peter 1).

*For a fuller treatment of Koukl's article , go to Martin Bobgan's article here. (My article is not meant to be a thorough treatment of Koukl's argumentation or article, but merely to point out the grave error he has regarding Scripture.)

And then there's Michael  Patton of Credo House and author of The Theology Program (is your church using this program?):

Quote:

I believe that the Scriptures could contain error and the Christian faith remain essentially in tact. Why? Because Christianity is not built upon the inerrancy of Scripture, but the historical Advent of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Christ because man, lived a perfect life, died an atoning death, and rose on the third day not because the Scriptures inerrantly say that these events occurred, but because they did in fact occur. The truth is in the objectivity of the event, not the accuracy of the record of the event. 

Let me take this one more step further. The fact is that we don’t even need the Scriptures in order for Christianity to be true. Remember, the Christian worldview is Christocentric (centered around the Advent of Christ), not bibliocentric (centered around the Bible). 

Not only is it true that Christianity is not dependent upon inerrancy, inspiration, and recording of the events, but it is also not reliant upon our knowledge of the events. Theoretically speaking, God could have sent His Son to die for the world and raise from the grave and not told anyone at all and Christianity would still be true. The point is that Christianity stands or falls upon the historical truth of the Advent of the Son of God, not the record of these events through Scripture. How God decides to communicates these events, should He choose to do so, is not the issue. I suppose He could have used unwritten tradition, the testimony of angels, dreams and visions, or direct encounters.

But please be careful to not to create a false dilemma concerning a strict adherence to the Evangelical persuasion. While the authority of God’s word is of central importance, Christianity is Christocentric, not bibliocentric. Christ is still Lord, even if the Scriptures were never written.

What is the danger of inerrancy? Making it the doctrine upon which the Christian faith stands or falls.

End quote.

~Michael Patton

Patton goes on to say:

Let me further define the faulty presupposition of the “technically precise view of inerrancy.” The presupposition is this: All writers of Scripture, by virtue of divine inspiration and inerrancy, must have recorded everything in a technically precise way. I take issue with this presupposition. I do not believe that inspiration and inerrancy require technical precision. Why would it be so difficult to believe that the authors of Scripture would take liberties in their recording of the Gospel narrative? Does taking “liberties” in the way someone recounts an event mean that they are producing fabrications or lies? Can’t people tell the same story different ways and even nuance that story according to their purposes and still be accurate?

We would never place these types of restraints upon people today. The Gospel writers were simply telling the story of Christ as enthusiastic reporters of good news who were emotionally committed to the truths upon which they were reporting. This happens every day in our own news reporting system and we don’t hold their feet to the fire of technical precision.

End quote.

(Enns and Patton are not the only ones to have such heretical views of Scripture:  JP Moreland  decries the “over-committed to Scripture” of Evangelicals.)

Let me be clear: Scripture upholds the inspiration, infallability and inerrancy of Scripture as well as the historical facts of the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and all prophecies:

1Co 15:1  Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2  and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Imagine if Scripture was "sort of" right or "almost right" about the details of the historical events foretold by the prophets? Would not the God of Israel then, have no credibility regarding anything He said or did? Is that not what atheists continually try to do? In their willful ignorance they try to find flaws and inconsistencies in Scripture in order to dismiss the Bible, God, and Christianity. How is what Patton does any different? It seems athesists are at least more consistent than Patton who wants to dismiss the authority and perfection of Scripture while claiming that Christianity is still true. He has lost the battle with atheists from the start---if he even personally takes on atheists.

Consider that even the details of Judas' betrayal were part of prophecy right down to the amount of silver he would get for betraying the Lord, not to mention the way in which Jesus was crucified, or the way He had no bones broken at His death; indeed appearing to be"little" details of no importance to these "scholars" or "theologians", but of great importance to the triune God. HIS accuracy merely proves that He is God, and when He says a thing will happen, it will happen. Exactly as He said it would. That necessarily means we can rely on His faithfulness to save His elect, as well as bring down His righteous wrath and justice to the unrepentant people.


I have to stop and address something here that Patton said. The audacity of this "theologian" to say that accuracy doesn't matter ( that's what the Charismatics and Charismatic Reformers say today---prophets don't need to meet the requirement of 100% accuracy; a requirement God gave in order that the hearers would know that Yaweh has spoken and must be feared and obeyed), just as long as they were "emotionally committed to the truths upon which they were reporting" is quite an astounding and prideful attack against Scripture. What does that even mean? It sounds quite psychological and definitely not biblical at all. Surely its relying on emotionalism and we're supposed to rely on the writers' emotional committment? That's totally man-centered. He also sees Scripture as just a newspaper that gets the gist of the story right, even if some of the facts are wrong.

Understand what he is saying. He is saying that the Bible is no more accurate than your common newspaper written by mere man. Do you realize the insult and attack that truly is on the character, nature, and authority of God?

According to Patton, the man behind "The Theology Program" (do you really trust THIS guy's teaching when he has such and incredibly low view of Scripture?), Christianity is not bibliocentric, but Christcentric.

"Christianity is not bibliocentric"? Really? 

Christ Himself, the author of Scripture certainly was "bibliocentric":

Mat 4:4  But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Mat 4:7  Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

Mat 4:10  Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" 

Luk 16:31  He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Joh 17:8  For I have given them the words that You gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that You sent me.

Joh 17:14  I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Luk 24:44  Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45  Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 

Rev 3:14  "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 

Rev 19:9  And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God." 

Scripture is called the Sword of the Spirit. That's hardly a neutral view of Scripture:

Eph 6:16  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 

The Old Testament writers were "bibliocentric":

All the prophets were "bibliocentric", after all they all proclaimed what the Lord says. They were also recorders of history--both near and far history. Furthermore--and this is such an obvious point, but one these "experts" seem to ignore--- the prophecies were about events in history, so one can say that all prophecies are historical).

As a matter of fact, God often refers to the history of the Jews; and is not their future (as well as the historical and infallible covenants God made with them), contingent upon the power and faithfulness of God? Absolutely. God proclaims this repeatedly in Scripture. For example He repeated refers the Jews to the great historical event when He led them out of Egypt.

Jos 2:10  "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

Jdg 2:1  Now the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, "I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you, 

Hos 11:1  When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. 2  The more they called them, The more they went from them; They kept sacrificing to the Baals And burning incense to idols.

Mat 2:15  He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."

Psa 1:1  How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4  The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.

Psa 119:89 Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.91 By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 

Pro 30:5  Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6  Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. 

The apostles were "bibliocentric":

1Co 10:11  Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 

Rom 9:6  But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7  nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED."  (Paul is quoting Gen. 21:12).

Rom 10:8  But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10  for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11  For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." 

(Paul quotes Deut. 30:12-14 and Is. 28:16).

Rom 15:4  For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 

1Pe 1:23  for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24  For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, 25  BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you. (Peter is quoting Is. 40:6-8).

2Pe 1:19  And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20  knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

1Th 2:13  For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

Is it any reason he has less answers now than he did years ago, and that he has had depression for years? When one relegates the Scriptures so a low place, merely one of among other sources of truth, as Eve and Adam did in Eden in Genesis 3, one ends up in chaos, confusion, discontentment, disobedience. In short to have such a horrible view of Scripture is to have unbelief. 

It is to say with the ancient serpent, "Hath God said?" It's to question God's Word and authority.


Gen 2:16  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." 

Gen 3:1  Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" ...4  But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 

God's commands to Adam and Eve were sufficient for their lives. To go beyond that, to the (ironically named) Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, was to deny God's sufficient words already spoken to them, and to consider that there was more that they needed to know in order to live better lives; that God left out some important things for them to know.

Like today's "Christians" who go to the world's tree of knowledge which feeds the flesh with nothing but death.

It's that simple.

Walking away from the sole source of authority for all things pertaining to life and godliness (that includes, right thinking which then leads to right behavior), can only lead to that which is deadly.


Col 3:1  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col 3:2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

If Scripture is sort of right, then we don't need worry about our sort-of obedience.

Right?

That's what happens when a person lowers the standard  of Scripture; they lower it for themselves as well. Conveniently they can easily justify their lack of obedience.