I believe in God. I also believe God. “Discernment is not simply a matter of telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather it is the difference between right and almost right.” -Charles Spurgeon. Scripture is my authority for all things regarding to life and godliness. 2 Cor.10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
Deut. 11, the Abrahamic Covenant is everlasting as long as the heavens are above the earth which specifically is about land flowing with milk and honey, hills and valleys, streams and good pastures, wine, oil, and thriving livestock. Land that God cares for and watches over.
Deu 11:10 For the land that you are entering to take possession of it is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated it, like a garden of vegetables.
Deu 11:11 But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven,
Deu 11:12 a land that the LORD your God cares for. The eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
Deu 11:18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
Deu 11:19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deu 11:20 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,
Deu 11:21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.
Did King David create a new doctrine of infant salvation when he said:
2Sa 12:23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
No. He was talking about one day he'll join his son in the grave--a reversal of the normal course of life--father dies then son. Verses that show this was a common way of speaking but was in no way making a salvific declaration of the deceased loved one:
Gen 15:15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.
Deu 31:16 And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them.
2Sa 7:12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
There's only one way to go to Heaven: by grace through faith in Christ Jesus who regenerates the heart. If God wants to save a person, He will make sure they hear, believe, and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, just like anyone else: if God wants a person in the deep Amazon forest to get saved, He will make sure He sends a Christian there to evangelize him. I see absolutely no difference.
Rom 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
The logical conclusion of the salvation of all babies is that, besides denying the only way of salvation, denying Total Depravity, denying Limited Atonement, etc, is that the killing of babies would ENSURE their salvation, thus making even the demonic heinous act of abortion as a GOOD thing. And surely no one in their right mind would agree. Therefore, ultimately most don't believe that if they are unwilling to be consistent in their application of their doctrine. Or perhaps, like "pro-lifers" do with abortion being acceptable in "certain circumstances" like rape and incest, they WOULD be ok with it (thus belying their view of all life is precious and thus all abortion regardless of circumstance is murder and is a serious sin. Today, most "pro-lifers" are NOT pro-life but pro-Circumstantial Abortion.
Scripture doesn't say what happens to infants when they die and therefore we cannot either and leave that with God. Giving comfort to grieving believing parents is important and must be centered on their faith in God and HIS comfort (2 Cor 1), not their situation. For the unbelieving parents, it's a time to share the Gospel and call them to be at peace with God and that that is the only way to have true peace and true comfort.
Jas 4:1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 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.
"Pleasure"= in the Greek is "hedone" = sensual delight
Hedone was the Greek goddess of pleasure, desire, lust. Hedone is where we get "hedonism" which even to this day has the connotation of absolute, physical pleasure (there is even a couples' resort in Jamaica (clothing optional) called Hedonism II).
Hedone was the daughter of Eros and Psyche. She was most often associated specifically with sensual pleasure. That is in line with Eros which is where we get the term "erotic" (sexual love).
Also, it just came to my attention by a brother that in the Q&A of ShepCon 2024, Piper said (time mark 11:17):"You know um CS Lewis made the distinctions about the four kinds of loves and uh eros love lovers are are looking at each other in the face and they're telling each other how delicious they are."
Considering that CS Lewis was a heretic, it's no surprise that Piper used Lewis instead of Scripture and the actual definition of the words to use the proper terms for love.
Piper originally married Christ Jesus to hedonism in his "Desiring God" book on "Christian hedonism". That was horrific, blasphemous, and anti-Christ demonic talk. But in March 2024 at ShepCon, he went FURTHUR DEEP into the dunghill of the paganism of Greek mythology and pulled out Hedone's father Eros and applied that tooo loving God.
Isa 6:3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
1Pe 1:15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
In all uses of "hedone" in the NT (twice in James 4), the word is of sinful fleshly behavior Christians are meant to war against:
Luke 8:14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
Tit 3:3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
2Pe 2:13 suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!
Isa 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Piper might as well have said that temple prostitution is our spiritual act of worship. It is that insidious. It is worldly philosophy, it is of the Epicureans of Paul's day (Acts 17) that God righteously condemns. So to use the world's ways and means:
Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Eph 4:17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
Eph 4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
Eph 4:19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Eph 4:20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
Eph 4:21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
Eph 4:22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
Eph 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Interestingly in Titus 1:14 God condemns being devoted to Jewish myths. How much more Greek mythology?
"Eros" is self-centered, self-satisfying love, which is wholly contrary to "agape" which is selfless, self-sacrificing love. Words are precise in Scripture.
Piper doubled down DEEPER into paganism through Greek mythology which has absolutely nothing to do with biblical Christianity in any way, married it to Christ and the Christian as if sexual love and hedonism is holy, spiritual, and pleasing to God. This is a demonic attack on God and His Word.
Given Steve Lawson's whole sinful saga of having an adulterous relationship with a young woman for five years (Phil Johnson gave info on this in September), and how Lawson hasn't yet repented visibly and publicly as his sin and his position would require him to do (1Ti 5:20 "As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear"); and given that he's got a sea of men (all with vested interests in his name and ministry) being his PR team, given that his One Passion ministries today is still taking donations while hiding in Nashville with his brother, I believe (and have done for months now), that Steve Lawson is making a plan to return. Like those before him (Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, Matt Chandler), he'll make a comeback because these men are self idolators who live the premium seats, the praise of men, the titles, the position, the money offered to them in Modern Evangelicalism.
He'll likely write a book about his "trial" and "sin" (which he lied about to the woman's father, TBC's elders, the public about it merely being "inappropriate" but "not sexual in nature") and now, four months late, those around him are admitting it was indeed sexual (Clint Archer at "Cripplegate" claims now that it was only at the end of the relationship that it was sexual); he'll likely tell us about how he's been "humbled" and will teach us to be like him, bla bla bla. I figure it will come out in next year I suspect, and then he'll go on speaking engagements to promote the book (publishers demand that), and then of course star in conferences for men about purity and humility. The fact that Lawson is speaking through his minions seems to indicate he's testing the waters to see if enough people have "compassion" on him to get out of his hidey-hole all the way. It's a PR stunt with a plan.
True repentances is visible with works that prove repentance:
Mat 3:8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Act 19:18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.
Act 19:19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Act 19:20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
Because Lawson has been a high profile public speaker and a board member on various organizations, his repentance should've also been just as public. It should've been immediate IF the Holy Spirit was indwelling him. But even John MacArthur admitted to Lawson's heart being calloused (time mark 4:43).
Contrary to those around him saying so, repentance is by evolution--a gradual change. Repentance, like faith, is a gift from God granted by Him & has immediate fruit that lasts. Both are visible. A seared conscience is proof of NOT being regenerated. To deny immediate visible fruit of repentance for the sake of keeping your fallen and apostate "brother" propped up because you've got a vested interest in his successful comeback (TBC's elder Stainback (in-law to MacArthur) is on the One Passion board.
True repentance rather, would be a very open and public confession (agreeing with God's judgement upon his sins which include adultery, lies, hypocrisy, selfish ambition, and partiality), to the same extent he was publicly teaching and on all those platforms and organizations. Then he would never teach again nor write any books, but quietly live a life that actually shows fruit in keeping with repentance (and really, salvation at this point). Visible, consistent, and growing good fruit that is in keeping with a profession of faith and repentance is biblically require and therefore measurable.
Today TBC announced that Steve Lawson is removed from all ministries at Trinity Bible Church in Dallas:
ANNOUNCEMENT
The elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas regretfully announce that effective immediately, Steven J. Lawson has been removed indefinitely from all ministry activities at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas. Several days ago, the elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas were informed by Steve Lawson of an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a woman. The elders have met with Steve and will continue to come alongside him and pray for him with the ultimate goal of his personal repentance. Steve will no longer be compensated by Trinity Bible Church of Dallas.
In light of this, may we be reminded that we are ALL sinners, and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners - and Christ remains Head of His Church, which is bigger than any fallen man. In fact, Jesus Christ will continue to lead His Church, including Trinity Bible Church here in Dallas, just like He has from the start of this work on January 5, 2018. Since that time, the elders have focused on the primacy of biblical exposition knit together by various men filling the pulpit each week. The Lord was building Trinity Bible Church of Dallas well before Steve became our Lead Preacher, and He will continue to build this church long after Steve Lawson, or any other man for that matter. We would ask for your prayers for the elders, for our Body, and for Steve and his family. Let us always be mindful of the words of 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall."
~ TBC announcement, bold, original
He preached last Sunday and then the week prior, at Bible study. He taught on "Defining True Greatness" (Luke 7:24-30) on Sept. 15,2024 and the Thursday prior, Sept. 12, 2024 he taught "Being Truthtellers" at the men's Bible Study. Photo is here (having technical issues getting photos to upload on this blog).
I will have to now go back and remove all posts that promote him in a good way. The one that I will keep up is where he lauded false teacher Billy Graham.
Dear Christian, do not fear what you see around you and toss
aside your biblical convictions for a temporary win. Stay faithful to Christ
and His Word. He is sovereignly in control of everything that happens in this
world
I saw a huge tirade by a conservative on X today, cussing & angry at
conservatives who won't compromise their values by voting for Trump. The man
was BIG MAD and condemned such people.
God knows that NOT voting for a moderate literally means NOT VOTING FOR A
MODERATE. This angering fearful pragmatism does not influence me; Scripture
& trusting a Sovereign God, does. My freedom in Christ keeps me from being
enslaved to other's pragmatic consciences.
Remember, running to Egypt didn't help nor bless Israel in the least. God
caused Egypt to be Israel's shame. Their hope for a temporal gain didn't happen. Don't do the same. Don't give up what you know is biblical for the same of a temporary fix.
How much more blessed to stand true to biblical principles and values with a
clear conscience before God and see Him protect and bless you for being loyal
to Him and His Word. It's trusting Him by faith, not by sight.
God will raise up and bring down our leaders; He raised up Pharaoh, and He’ll
raise up the Lawless One, for HIS righteous purposes. Pragmatism isn't of faith--it's of fear in
this case. Do the right thing and trust the outcome to the God Who Sees, like
Daniel who kept faithful to the Lord in everything despite the persecution.
Prov. 16, Dan. 2:20-22; 4:35, Is 40:23; John 14:27.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Heb 11:14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
Heb 11:15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
Heb 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
