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Is The Revoice Conference Really Necessary (or even biblical)?

6/17/2018

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I am having a difficult time wrapping my head around the fact that this is even an issue in the Christian Church. I really am. I have already resigned myself to the fact that the world has lost its ever-lovin' mind; but I have always believed – at least since becoming a Christian, that the one place we as Christians could always look to for sanity in an insane world, is the Church. The Christian Church, that is, not those ostensibly Christian churches which profess to be Christian while at the same time engaging in such practices as ordaining non-celibate homosexuals, condoning abortion, and allowing witchcraft rituals to be performed in the sanctuaries of their affilited churches (i.e. the Presbyterian Church, USA; the United Methodist Church; the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; the Episcopal Church of America; and the United Church of Christ). No, I mean the actual Christian Church. The Church who believes the Bible to be the actual, inerrant, infallible Holy Word of God. ] Apparently I was wrong, because now there is Revoice.
The Revoice Conference is a pro-LGBT conference designed to “revoice” (or “to update or refurbish with a new, fresh voice.” – according to their website) the “conversation” between heterosexual Christians and “celibate LGBT Christians,” and Christians who experience same-sex attraction. Do you sense a problem with this? Yeah, I thought so, and I sense it as well. The conference is being held next month in St. Louis, Missouri at Memorial Presbyterian Church (PCA). Yes, PCA. The Presbyterian Church in America. If the PCA denomination endorses this conference, then the problem is more widespread than I thought.
Same-sex attraction is a cleaned up, dressed up, politically correct term for homosexual attraction. Nothing more, nothing less. The problem I see with the concept behind Revoice is, that homosexuality is a sin. So, in reality Revoice is a conference that is centered around an examination of, and a discussion of, and an embracing of sin. In this case, the sin of homosexuality. Some are saying this conference is a bad idea, some say it is a good idea and long overdue as there are professing Christians who experience same-sex (homosexual) attraction
According to the Revoice Conference website, Revoice 2018 is designed around, “Supporting, encouraging, and empowering gay, lesbian, same-sex-attracted, and other LGBT Christians so they can flourish while observing the historic, Christian doctrine of marriage and sexuality” the conference bills itself as offering:
  • New Community. “Gather together with other gender and sexual minorities and those who love them and experience a new kind of gospel community.”
  • Better Conversation. “Listen to, learn from, and participate in conversations with speakers who bring a nuanced perspective to the table of discussion.”
  • Diverse Collective. “Benefit from curated presentations on a wide variety of topics related to LGBT experience and the historic, Christian sexual ethic.”
The three keynote speakers (Wesley Hill, Eve Tushnet, and Nate Collins) all identify as “homosexual Christians.” Wesley Hill states he is celibate; Eve Tushnet states, “I really think the most important thing is, I really like being gay and I really like being Catholic” (thus demonstrating the ecumenical aspect of the conference); and Nate Collins states he is “a gay man in a mixed orientation marriage.” The conference worship leader, Gregory Coles is the author of “Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity.” Of the 28 (and counting) workshop presenters, most of them identify as either “homosexual Christians,” or as being pro-LGBT, including one who is a good friend of a well known “drag queen.” The 20 conference “workshops” include:
Rekindling Hope as a Sexual Minority in the Church
How can we fight back against the temptation towards despair of being a sexual minority committed to historic Christian teachings on sex? How might we engage our longings as we await our King's return? Join me as we consider what it may look like to abound in hope, together
Journey to Embrace: A Conversation on Empowering the Church to Embrace the LGBT+ Community in Fresh Ways
How can we live in harmony with the historic Christian sexual ethic while also radically embracing the LGBT+ community?
Redeeming Queer Culture: An Adventure
For the sexual minority seeking to submit his or her life fully to Christ and to the historic Christian sexual ethic, queer culture presents a bit of a dilemma; rather than combing through and analyzing to find which parts are to be rejected, to be redeemed, or to be received with joy (Acts 17:16-34), Christians have often discarded the virtues of queer culture along with the vices, which leaves culturally connected Christian sexual minorities torn between two cultures, two histories, and two communities. So questions that have until now been largely unanswered remain: what does queer culture (and specifically, queer literature and theory) have to offer us who follow Christ? What queer treasure, honor, and glory will be brought into the New Jerusalem at the end of time (Revelation 21:24-26)?


What if, however, Revoice was about a sin other than the sin of homosexuality? Would it still be as attractive? Would people really want to be associated with such a thing? When you replace the sin of homosexuality with a different sin in the Revoice literature, the reality of what Revoice actually is (in spite of all the assurances given by its supporters) soon becomes clear. An acceptance of sin. So let's do that. What if Revoice was about liars? What happens if we revise the Revoice website to be a conference about “Christian liars?”


Revoice 2018
Supporting, encouraging, and empowering liars, those who lie, those attracted to lying, and other lying Christians so they can flourish while observing the historic, Christian doctrine of telling the truth.
New Community. Gather together with other liars and truth-challenged minorities and those who love them and experience a new kind of gospel community.
Better Conversation. Listen to, learn from, and participate in conversations with liars who bring a nuanced perspective to the table of discussion.
Diverse Collective. Benefit from curated presentations on a wide variety of topics related to the liar experience and the historic, Christian truth ethic.
Workshops
Rekindling Hope as a Truth-Challenged Minority in the Church
How can we fight back against the temptation towards despair of being a truth-challenged minority committed to historic Christian teachings on truth? How might we engage our longings as we await our King's return? Join me as we consider what it may look like to abound in hope, together.
Journey to Embrace: A Conversation on Empowering the Church to Embrace the Liar Community in Fresh Ways
How can we live in harmony with the historic Christian truth ethic while also radically embracing the liar community?
Redeeming Liar Culture: An Adventure
For the truth-challenged minority seeking to submit his or her life fully to Christ and to the historic Christian truth ethic, liar culture presents a bit of a dilemma; rather than combing through and analyzing to find which parts are to be rejected, to be redeemed, or to be received with joy (Acts 17:16-34), Christians have often discarded the virtues of the liar culture along with the vices, which leaves culturally connected Christian truth-challenged minorities torn between two cultures, two histories, and two communities. So questions that have until now been largely unanswered remain: what does the liar culture (and specifically, liar literature and theory) have to offer us who follow Christ? What liar treasure, honor, and glory will be brought into the New Jerusalem at the end of time (Revelation 21:24-26)?


Or, what if Revoice was about murderers? What happens if we revise the Revoice website to be a conference about “Christian murderers?”


Revoice 2018
Supporting, encouraging, and empowering murderers, those who murder, those attracted to murder, and other murdering Christians so they can flourish while observing the historic, Christian doctrine of the sanctity of life.
New Community. Gather together with other murderers and murder-oriented minorities and those who love them and experience a new kind of gospel community.
Better Conversation. Listen to, learn from, and participate in conversations with murderers who bring a nuanced perspective to the table of discussion.
Diverse Collective. Benefit from curated presentations on a wide variety of topics related to the murder experience and the historic, Christian sanctity of life ethic.
Workshops
Rekindling Hope as a Murder-Oriented Minority in the Church
How can we fight back against the temptation towards despair of being a murder-oriented minority committed to historic Christian teachings on the sanctity of life? How might we engage our longings as we await our King's return? Join me as we consider what it may look like to abound in hope, together.
Journey to Embrace: A Conversation on Empowering the Church to Embrace the Murder Community in Fresh Ways
How can we live in harmony with the historic Christian sanctity of life ethic while also radically embracing the murderer community?
Redeeming Murderer Culture: An Adventure
For the murder-oriented minority seeking to submit his or her life fully to Christ and to the historic Christian sanctity of life ethic, murderer culture presents a bit of a dilemma; rather than combing through and analyzing to find which parts are to be rejected, to be redeemed, or to be received with joy (Acts 17:16-34), Christians have often discarded the virtues of the murderer culture along with the vices, which leaves culturally connected Christian murder-oriented minorities torn between two cultures, two histories, and two communities. So questions that have until now been largely unanswered remain: what does the murderer culture (and specifically, murderer literature and theory) have to offer us who follow Christ? What murderer treasure, honor, and glory will be brought into the New Jerusalem at the end of time (Revelation 21:24-26)?


And just one more. Since Revoice is about a sexually immoral sin, let's change that sin to a different sexually immoral sin. What if Revoice was about pedophiles? What happens if we revise the Revoice website to be a conference about “Christian pedophiles?”


Revoice 2018
Supporting, encouraging, and empowering pedophiles, those who engage in pedophilia, those attracted to pedophilia, and other pedophilic Christians so they can flourish while observing the historic, Christian doctrine of marriage and sexuality.
New Community. Gather together with other pedophiles and sexual deviant minorities and those who love them and experience a new kind of gospel community.
Better Conversation. Listen to, learn from, and participate in conversations with pedophiles who bring a nuanced perspective to the table of discussion.
Diverse Collective. Benefit from curated presentations on a wide variety of topics related to the pedophilia experience and the historic, Christian truth ethic.
Workshops
Rekindling Hope as a Sexual Deviant Minority in the Church
How can we fight back against the temptation towards despair of being a sexual deviant minority committed to historic Christian teachings on marriage and sexuality? How might we engage our longings as we await our King's return? Join me as we consider what it may look like to abound in hope, together.
Journey to Embrace: A Conversation on Empowering the Church to Embrace the Pedophilic Community in Fresh Ways
How can we live in harmony with the historic Christian marriage and sexuality ethic while also radically embracing the pedophile community?
Redeeming Pedophile Culture: An Adventure
For the sexual deviant minority seeking to submit his or her life fully to Christ and to the historic Christian marriage and sexuality ethic, pedophile culture presents a bit of a dilemma; rather than combing through and analyzing to find which parts are to be rejected, to be redeemed, or to be received with joy (Acts 17:16-34), Christians have often discarded the virtues of the pedophile culture along with the vices, which leaves culturally connected Christian pedophile minorities torn between two cultures, two histories, and two communities. So questions that have until now been largely unanswered remain: what does the pedophile culture (and specifically, pedophile literature and theory) have to offer us who follow Christ? What pedophile treasure, honor, and glory will be brought into the New Jerusalem at the end of time (Revelation 21:24-26)?

Now, I am not saying that homosexuals or those experiencing homosexual attraction are liars, murderers or pedophiles. Not by a long shot. Nor do I believe that they are. Again, not by a long shot. I trust, however, that by changing the topic of the conference from one sin to another you can see the anti-biblical, anti-Christian reality of the Revoice Conference. Do Christians who struggle with homosexual attraction/temptation need and deserve our understanding, our love, our compassion, our prayer, our fellowship? Absolutely. By the same token, Christians who struggle with the temptation to lie, steal, commit adultery, fornicate, murder, etc., also need the same level of love, compassion, prayer, fellowship, etc. What Christians who struggle with homosexual attraction/temptation do not need is a conference that tells them its okay to experience homosexual attraction/temptation. They do not need to be told that one can be both homosexual and a Christian; because the simple fact is, there is no such thing as a “gay Christian,” or a “lesbian Christian.” There are no “LGBT Christians.” The entire LGBT ethos is antithetical to God, to Scripture, and to Christianity.

The bottom line is this, homosexuality is a sin. It is an abomination to God. Scripture clearly and explicitly teaches this. And having a conference replete with discussions, lectures and workshops all centered around how to embrace sin, accept sin, look for the good in sin; and to support, encourage and empower those who are struggling with the temptation to sin “so they can flourish” in the Church is unbiblical to the Nth degree.
All Christians struggle with the temptation to sin. It's part of being human. It's caused by living in a corrupt human body, made corrupt by the sin of Adam; and the only – THE ONLY – way to overcome those temptations is to follow the God prescribed treatment plan set forth in Scripture:
1. Recognize your sin for what it is: SIN, and it is an affront to the holy and righteous God whom we serve.
2. Recognize that sin is endemic to all mankind. We are all infected with it, both believer and unbeliever alike. The difference between the two is, however, that while unbelievers are enslaved to their sin, chained, shackled, and controlled by their sin; the Christian is not. The Christian has the ability, through Christ, to be victorious over their sin nature. Not completely free from sin (which will only happen when we receive our glorified bodies), but no longer chained to and controlled by our sin.
3. Confess your sin to God, sincerely repent of your sin, and God, who is faithful and true will forgive your sin. Do this every time you sin, whether physically sin, or sin in your heart and mind. Confess it, repent of it, in all truth and sincerity. Every. Single. Time.
4. Understand the purpose of trials and temptations. They are not arbitrary. They do not randomly happen to Christians; and they do serve a purpose. They not only teach us to be patient in waiting on the Lord for our deliverance; they not only teach us to stand strong in the Lord; they not only teach us to be dependent on the Lord; but through the grace, mercy and strength of the Lord, they actually enable us to do these things. This is what can be referred to as the maturation aspect of sanctification. When you were born again in Christ, you became a new creation; and, like any new born, growth takes time and is not without its share of skinned knees and stubbed toes. It is a process of growth that helps us grow in Christ likeness, in holiness, in Christian maturity. The Bible refers to this process as being transformed by the renewing our our mind and the mortification of the flesh.
4. Ensure you are in His word daily. And I am not talking about a quick five minute devotional reading. I am talking about taking your time – serious time, and studying His word. Give up an hour or two of television watching if you have to, and give that time to the One who died for you.
5. Spend time, again, serious time, in prayer. Real prayer. Confessional, supplicatory, worshipful, sincere prayer. At least once a day, but more often if possible.
6. Surround yourself with God's people. Corporate worship, corporate prayer, fellowship. The love and encouragement that is shared among true believers in God is unequaled in any other environment.
7. Trust God. No, I mean sincerely trust God. If you believe in Him, if you believe in Jesus Christ, then really believe in Him. Love Him with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. With all that you are and with all that you have. Follow Him without hesitation. Obey Him without question. Live for Him without condition.
There you have it. Seven steps to biblically dealing with same-sex (homosexual) attraction; or any attraction to sin and the temptation to sin. No conference necessary, because God does not need a conference, nor can He be replaced by one regardless of how well meaning they may ostensibly be.
A final word for Christians struggling with same-sex (homosexual) attraction, or attraction to any sin and/or the temptation to sin. A brief lesson to remember and to constantly remind yourself of. We have three enemies in life. No, not the office bully, or unbearable neighbor, or some other human enemy; but three real enemies who are equally deceitful, dangerous, and damaging. They are our outer enemy: The World; our inner enemy: The Flesh; and our arch-enemy: Satan. Each one will cajole, coerce, lure with attractive bait, deceive, lie, damage and destroy. The World will use peer pressure, advertising, entertainment, so-called “societal norms,” threats, legislation, litigation and more all in a concerted effort to get you to sin, to accept sin, to condone sin, and to deny your faith in one way or another. The Flesh will also cajole, coerce and lure you to sin. It will tell you, “It's okay. It's not really sin to just fantasize about it. Come on, everyone is doing it. You want people to like you don't you? You don't want to stand out like a sore thumb. You don't want to be arrested do you?” The Flesh will use many of the same tactics the World does, but on a more personal level. And Satan, the dragon, the deceiver, the father of lies, the prince of the power of the air. He will utilize all of these tactics, and more, and on an industrial scale. Not only will he attack us, but he has an army of demonic minions at his beck and call to do his dirty bidding in attacking us. But that's okay. As our Lord Jesus has said, “...in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV)

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Where Do Black People Come From?

6/16/2018

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From time to time I receive questions which have been sent to me. Sometimes they are easy, and sometimes not so much, and they require more than a little bit of research. One of these was the question, “Where Do Black People Come From?” Confident the questioner would be satisfied with, “They come from their parents just like everybody else,” as an answer; I sat down and prepared to spend a significant amount of time researching this unique question. What follows is the result of that research.

There are several theories as to where Black people come from. Some are legitimate while others are so far off base they are accepted only by those with a racist or racialist ulterior motive. I'll address those after looking at the biblically based theories. In reality, the Bible doesn't really tell us where the various races come from, but it does provide some clues, and it is these clues, coupled with logic, that form the basis for the various theories.
The first theory is that when God confused the languages of the people at the Tower of Babel, he also created racial diversity. The second theory is that Adam and Eve carried the genetic traits for all the various races, and passed them on to their descendents. Personally, I think both contain some elements of truth. I'll explain, but first a brief lesson on racial genetics.
Most people believe the different races carry genes that are specific to their race. In other other words, there are Black genes, White genes, Hispanic genes, Asian genes, etc., depending on how many races one recognizes. This belief would, however, be untrue. In 2002, scientists at Stanford University discovered the differences between people was not a result of genes, but rather alleles. Alleles are variant mutations of a specific gene. For instance, every human, regardless of race has the exact same gene for hair. It is the alleles that cause the differences in hair color and texture. The reason this is important is, there are no alleles that are specific to race. In other words, there are no “Black” alleles, no “White,” or “Hispanic,” or “Asian,” or etc., alleles. The various alleles that cause different hair color, different hair texture, different skin pigmentation, etc., are found throughout all people around the world. There are no race specific alleles. There are no specific, distinctively separate genetic identities that can be legitimately referred to as “races.” What this means, particularly to the question at hand is, there is no such thing as race. Every human being that has ever been born, or will be born, belongs to the same race. Genetically speaking, every human being, regardless of skin color or physical features, is identical. We all have the exact same genes. Race (as in Black, White, Asian, etc.) is nothing more than a social construct, and not a biological one.
Interestingly, some people will point to diseases such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis are an indicator of race, pointing to the perception that sickle cell is found only in those of African descent and cystic fibrosis as being found in those of Northern European descent. This perception, however, is inaccurate. While it is true that those of African descent are more likely to contract sickle cell anemia, it is also common among Hispanics, South Asians, people from the Middle East, and, surprisingly, Caucasians from Southern Europe. It is not strictly a “Black” disease. As human beings, we share 99.9% of our DNA with each other. The 0.1% difference is the result of environmental factors, which produce various skin pigmentation and so forth; and may be more properly defined as ancestral history rather than race. This brings us back to the biblical theories mentioned earlier.
As the progenitors of the entire human race, it is obvious that whatever genetic traits, including allele mutations, which are found in modern humans would also have been found in Adam and Eve. This doesn't mean they would have exhibited each of these traits, but they would have carried them in their DNA and they would have passed them on to their descendants.
When the Lord confused the languages of the people of the earth (Genesis 11:1-9), logically the people separated into groups that spoke the same language as they moved away into different areas of the earth (verses 8-9). Thus, people who spoke one language went to one area, while those who spoke a different language went to a different area, and so on. This separate would significantly decrease the gene pool in each specific group as the people no longer had the entire human race to intermarry with. This served to create a type of inbreeding that increased exponentially thus causing the gene pool to decrease at the same or similar rate. The result would be that those of the same language group would begin to exhibit the same or similar physical characteristics.
The alleles mentioned above that would have existed in Adam and Eve would be affected by the geographical location of the various language groups. Science has shown that recessive alleles (those inherited from our common ancestors – Adam and Eve) are influenced by our geographic location, thus resulting in biological characteristics suited to specific geographic locations. For example, darker skin that is better suited to excessive heat, a layer of insulating fat that helps in colder climates, body size (and surface area) suited to excesses in climate, and so forth. This is commonly known among scientists as human biological adaptability. In reality, however, we know that it is nothing more than than part of creation. God created our bodies in such a way as to make it possible for us to biologically adapt to our environment.
So to answer the initial question of, where do black people come from, they come from Africa, where their ancestors had migrated after the confusion of the original language and the dispersion of the people at the Tower of Babel.



Where Black People Did Not Come From
Just as important as the question of where did Black people come from, is the issue of where they did not come from. Over the course of the past century or so, there have been numerous faulty theories about where Black people come from. Each of these faulty theories have one common denominator that links them all together, and that is racial hatred. These faulty theories can be grouped together in three categories, as all of them are variations of these three main faulty theories. They are, the Myth of the Hamites; the Seed or Curse of Cain Myth, and the Myth of the Serpent Seed; the Myth of the Kenites; and the Heresy of Kinism.



The Myth of the Hamites
This is a popular myth among many White Supremacist groups, and was often used to justify the sin of slavery. The Myth of the Hamites states that when Noah cursed his son Ham, the curse was a black skin on Ham and a curse that made his descendants into servants or slaves of everyone else. They go on to say that Ham then left and migrated to Africa and became the progenitor of all Black Africans, passing the curse onto them. A review of the passage in question (Genesis 9:18-27) reveals a significant problem with this theory:
“18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed. 20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said, 'Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.' 26 He also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.'”
The primary problem of this myth, as can be seen in the passage, is that nowhere is Ham said to have been cursed with a black skin. In fact, Ham isn't actually cursed at all, Noah cursed his son Canaan, not Ham! Proponents of the Myth of the Hamites often claim that the name “Ham” actually means “black” in Hebrew, thus validating the Hamite myth. In reality, however, it does not mean “black.” Reading the passage in a Hebrew Interlinear Bible that is keyed to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, gives the Strong's number H2526 to the name “Ham.” Strong's defines the word as a personal noun, “Cham: a son of Noah, also his descendants. Part of Speech: proper name, masculine person. Transliteration: Cham. Phonetic Spelling: (khawm).” It is a personal name, a noun, and it is used 16 times in Scripture, and always as a reference to the son of Noah or his descendants. Strong's also notes that it is also a Hebrew word meaning “Hot” (see Strong's H2525), and it is an adjective, a descriptive word. It is used only two times in the Old Testament; in reference to hot bread (Joshua 9:12) and hot garments (Job 37:17). It does not mean “black” as those who subscribe to this myth claim.



The Myth of the Seed of Cain
Also known as the “Curse of Cain,” this myth is peculiar to the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (the Mormons). This myth was popular during the early years of the Mormon church, and was not fully eradicated from the Mormon church until the late 1970's when the Mormon church officially lifted its ban on allowing Blacks into the Mormon priesthood. According to Mormon teaching, at some point prior to the creation of this universe, there was a war in heaven among the innumerable spirit children of the Mormon god. Some of these spirit children sided with the Mormon Jesus; while others sided with Satan, whom the Mormons teach was the brother of their Jesus. The Mormon god then punished those who sided with the Mormon Satan by placing them in the bodies of cursed people on the earth, specifically Cain and his descendants.
According to the Mormon church, Cain killed his brother Abel and entered into a covenant with Satan. Because of this, the Mormon god cursed Cain with a black skin and a flat nose. This “curse” was inherited by Cain's descendants, including one named “Egyptus.” The Mormon “Egyptus” married Noah's son Ham, who was also cursed, thus making all the descendants of Ham and Egyptus black and barred from the Mormon priesthood. Brigham Young, the second “Prophet, Seer, and Revelator” of the Mormon church promoted this racist doctrine publicly. In one instance, he stated, “the Lord put a mark upon him” referring to Blacks, “which is the flat nose and black skin....[and that] they should be the 'servant of servants.'” (LDS Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, page 290). The Book of Mormon, in “2 Nephi 30:6”, also promoted racism. It stated that once the cursed Blacks became righteous (presumably converting to Mormonism), they would become “white and delightsome.” This racist statement stood unchanged in the Mormon scriptures until 1981 when it was finally changed to “pure and delightsome” (which still implies that Blacks are something less than pure).



The Myth of the Kenites
Also known as the “Serpent Seed” doctrine, the Myth of the Kenites is popular among White Supremacists, and the followers of “pastor” Arnold Murray of The Shepherd's Chapel, a television ministry. (note, Murray passed away in 2014. His son Dennis Murray has taken his place). According to Arnold Murray, the serpent had sexual relations with Eve, and the result of that union was her son Cain. White Supremacists have taken the Serpent Seed doctrine promoted by Arnold Murray, and elaborated on it, teaching that Cain was cursed by God, and that curse was dark skin. They insist the Bible supports this, and they point to Moses marrying Zipporah, a Midianite as proof. They teach the Midianites are also Kenites, and the descendants of Cain. They then conflate and combine Moses' two wives – Zipporah the Midianite and his second wife who was a Cushite woman, into a single person, and state the Midianites were also Cushites, and therefore, Moses married a Black Midianite, who was a Kenite, therefore Kenites are Black, therefore Cain was cursed and marked with a black skin, therefore, Blacks are cursed people.
The problem with this myth is, that it is not supported by Scripture, but it actually refuted by Scripture. Genesis 4:1 states, “Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, 'I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.'” Clearly, Cain is the actual offspring of Adam and Eve, not Eve and the serpent. Furthermore, Exodus 2:15-22, which relates the marriage of Moses to Zipporah the Midianite, clearly takes place before the exodus; while Numbers 12:1, which relates that Moses had married a Cushite woman, takes place during the exodus, thus demonstrating that Moses was married twice, first to a Midianite woman, and second to a Cushite woman. The entire Myth of the Serpent Seed/Kenites falls completely apart when compared to Scripture. It is unbiblical and it is racist. Those subscribing to this myth are engaging in sin.



The Heresy of Kinism
Kinism is nothing more than a re-working of the Myth of the Hamites and the Myth of the Kenites. In short, Kinists believe and teach that both Cain and Ham were cursed by God with a black skin, and their descendants, who are also cursed, are the Africans, and all Blacks who have descended from Africans. In addition to this, Kinists are also rabidly anti-miscegenation. They condemn any mixing of the races, teaching interracial relationships are an abomination to God. To support this belief, they often point to the confusion of language and the separation of the people at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). Kinists teach that while the people of the earth wanted to join together as a unified people, God viewed this as an abomination, and so separated them in order to prevent any interracial marriages and/or mingling of the races. Of course, this is so far from the truth of Scripture to be laughable, and yet this is what Kinism teaches.
Scripture, on the other hand, does not condemn interracial marriage at all. In fact, there are several examples of both intercultural/inter-ethnic marriages, and interracial marriages. For example:
Samson and Delilah (a Philistine) – an intercultural/inter-ethnic marriage
Joseph married Asenath (an Egyptian) – an interracial marriage [in fact, they had two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, who were thus of mixed race]
Moses married Zipporah (a Midianite) – an intercultural/inter-ethnic marriage
Moses later married an Ethiopean woman – an interracial marriage
Rahab (a Canaanite) married a Jew – an intercultural/inter-ethnic marriage
Ruth (a Moabite) married Boaz – an intercultural/inter-ethnic marriage
Esther married king Ahasuerus – an intercultural/inter-ethnic marriage
David married Bathsheba (a Hittite) – an intercultural/inter-ethnic marriage
Solomon married the Shulammite Woman – an interracial marriage



Conclusion
Intercultural/inter-ethnic and interracial marriages are not condemned by God as the Kinist believes.
God does not prohibit marriage (intercultural or otherwise) except when it involves a Christian marrying a person who is not a Christian (2 Corinthians 6:14). In fact, as far as God is concerned, when it comes to Christians, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) and, “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3:11).
We've looked at where Black people (and all people) come from, and learned that all people come from the same common ancestors, namely Adam and Eve, and then later, Noah and his wife. We've also learned where Black people did not come from, namely as the result of a curse on Cain or Ham. Hopefully this has been beneficial as well as educational.


Sources:
Genetic Structure of Human Populations
https://web.stanford.edu/group/rosenberglab/papers/popstruct.pdf



There Is No Such Thing as Race
http://www.newsweek.com/there-no-such-thing-race-283123



Do Races Differ? Not Really, Genes Show
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/22/science/do-races-differ-not-really-genes-show.html



Taking Race Out of Human Genetics
http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/healthsciences/cmel/Documents/taking%20race%20out%20of%20human%20genetics.pdf



The Apportionment of Human Diversity
http://www.philbio.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Lewontin-The-Apportionment-of-Human-Diversity.pdf



Race Is a Social Construct, Scientists Argue
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/race-is-a-social-construct-scientists-argue/



Frequently Asked Questions About Genetic and Genomic Science
https://www.genome.gov/19016904/faq-about-genetic-and-genomic-science/



Why People Keep Misunderstanding the 'Connection' Between Race and IQ
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/05/why-people-keep-misunderstanding-the-connection-between-race-and-iq/275876/



Race in a Genetic World
https://harvardmagazine.com/2008/05/race-in-a-genetic-world-html


Nature Genetics “Implications of biogeography of human populations for ‘race’ and medicine”
https://www.nature.com/articles/ng1438.pdf

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Can My Name Be Blotted Out of the Book of Life?

6/14/2018

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There are many who believe and teach that God will remove a person's name from the Lamb's Book of Life. And there are verses within Scripture that seem to teach this very thing. Can my name be blotted out, or removed, from the Book of Life? Can I lose my salvation? These are vitally important questions, the answers to which each and every Christian should be confident of. My goal in writing this blog article is to hopefully, and prayerfully, be able to provide those answers, and thus provide my brethren with a reasonable certainty with regard to them.
As I said, there are verses in the Bible that talk about removing a persons name from the Book of Life. Well, kind of. It depends on how you read those passages. In order to interpret and understand the Bible correctly you must use proper or good Bible Hermeneutics (which is just a fancy way of saying interpret it correctly). The basic rules or principles of Bible interpretation are:
1. Pray before you begin.
2. Context! Context! Context! Always read a passage in context. Begin with the immediate context (those verses immediately above and below the passage you are concerned with); then move to a wider context (such as the complete chapter), and then to a progressively wider context (what the that particular book have to say on that subject? What does the Bible have to say on that subject? What is the historical context of the passage? Etc.)
3. What does the passage say in the original language?
4. Always remember that Scripture interprets Scripture. Don't interpret Scripture according to tradition or someone elses interpretation without first consulting the entire Bible.
5. Never interpret the explicit by the implicit. Always interpret the implicit by the explicit.
There are five primary passages in Scripture that are used to support a person's name being blotted out or removed from the Book of Life. They are:
1. Revelation 3:5 (ESV)
5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
2. Revelation 17:8 (ESV)
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.
3. Revelation 22:19 (KJV)
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
4. Psalm 69:28 (ESV)
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
5. Exodus 32:32-33 (ESV)
32 But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” 33 But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.
At first glance, these passages appear to clearly teach that a persons name can be removed from the Book of Life; and depending on a persons theological leaning, that is how they will be interpreted. Those with an Arminian (or other version of semi-pelagianism) who already believe a person can lose their salvation will interpret these passages that way. Those with a Reformed perspective will not interpret them this way as they believe a person cannot lose their salvation. But rather than looking that these two different theological traditions to understand these passages, let's look to what they Bible actually says.
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” [Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV] “To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” [1 Peter 1:4-5 ESV]
Here we see that upon becoming born again, the true believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit. This sealing is our guarantee (an important word to remember) that we have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven. An inheritance that is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven” for the true believer, who is him or herself being guarded by God's power for salvation. [see also: 2 Cor.1:22; 2 Cor.5:5; Eph.4:30]
We also read in Scripture the very words of Jesus, the Christ, our Lord and our God, as the Apostle Thomas called Him. He very clearly and explicitly says in John 6:37-40, “37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at that last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
And in John 10:27-29, Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”
Now read those two passages again and let them sink in for a minute.
Jesus says that every single person whom God the Father gives to Him will come to Him. Will come to Him, not might come to Him, or could come to Him, or should come to Him; but will come to Him. This is a statement of fact, not a statement of possibility. Jesus then says that all of those who will come to Him He will never cast out. Never cast out. That is not only a statement of fact, but a promise as well, and unless Jesus is a liar (which He is certainly not), then it is a promise we can hold on to with absolute assurance and certainty. Jesus then doubles down on this promise and says that out of all of those who will come to Him, He will lose none of them. Not one; and He says, as a statement of fact, that every single one of them will be raised up on that last day.
Now look again at John 10:27-29. Jesus makes even more statements that are statements of fact and not statements of possibility. He states as a fact that every single one of those who are given to Him by God the Father will never perish. He states that every single one of them is held firmly and securely in God's hand and that “no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.”
What these passages (Eph.1:13-14; 1Pet.1:4-5; Jn.6:37-40; Jn.10:27-29) very clearly and explicitly state is that every single true believer has been given to Jesus by God the Father; that every single one of them is sealed by the Holy Spirit; that this seal is a guarantee of salvation; that every single one of them is held firmly and securely in God the Father's hand; that every single one of them will not perish; that every single one of them has eternal life. Not may have or could have, but actually does have eternal life, that is guaranteed, permanent, and, as Romans 11:29 says, “irrevocable.” [“For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” ESV]
The Bible very clearly and explicitly teaches that once a person is actually saved – i.e. born again, places their trust in Jesus and follows Him in all sincerity and love, then that person has a guaranteed permanent salvation. It cannot be lost or forfeited or revoked. And these are not the only passages that teach this. See also: Philippians 1:6; Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:9,12; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 12:2; Jude 1,24; John 5:24; Romans 8:28-31,38-39; 1 John 5:13; Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 13:5; John 3:18; Psalm 34:22; Colossians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 1:8; and many, many more.
Remember rules #4 (Scripture interprets Scripture) and #5 (always interpret the implicit by the explicit). Learning from Church tradition is fine. Learning at the feet of a wise and accomplished teacher is fine. But check everything with Scripture. Traditions and teachers are fallible. God's Holy Word is not.
What does this have to do with the Book of Life? Everything! Having one's name in the Book of Life is synonymous with having salvation! Since, as we have learned, salvation is permanent and irrevocable; it is impossible to lose ones salvation (provided one actually has salvation, but more on that in a moment); and we must interpret those four primary passages listed above which ostensibly say we can have our names blotted out, or removed, from the Book of Life, in the light of the clear and explicit teaching of Scripture in the passages presented that teach no, you cannot have your name removed from the Book of Life. But let's take a look at those five passages again, this time in light of the biblical doctrine of eternal security of the believer.
Revelation 3:5 (ESV)
“The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”
Revelation 3:5 does not state that one can have his or her name blotted out, or removed from, the Book of Life. It simply does not state that anywhere in the passage. The only way to arrive at a conclusion that it does state this, is to approach it with the presupposition that losing ones salvation is actually possible –– which, as we've learned, is something Scripture states is impossible. A proper understanding of this passage is that it is a promise of eternal life for a true believer.
Revelation 17:8 (ESV)
“The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.”
Again, this passage does not state, nor even imply, that one's name can be removed from the Book of Life. But rather, it simply states (and strongly implies) that anyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life will be familiar with the beast who was thought to be gone, but has returned (and will not have eternal life).
Revelation 22:19 (KJV)
“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
While this passage appears to clearly state that “God shall take away his part out of the book of life,” thus indicating salvation (and one's name in the Book of Life) can be lost or revoked; it also contradicts numerous other passages that just as clearly teach salvation cannot be lost. The key to properly understanding this verse is found in rules #2 (context), #3 (original language), and #4 (Scripture interprets Scripture).
In Greek (rule #3), the passage does not read τοῦ βιβλίου τῆς ζωῆς [tou bibliou tēs zōēs, or the Book of Life], but rather, it reads τοῦ ξύλου τῆς ζωῆς [tou xylou tēs zōēs, or the Tree of Life]. The problem arose when the 15th century Dutch theologian Erasmus was compiling his Greek text (which later became known as the Textus Receptus, or Received Text, he did not have the last six verses of Revelation, and was forced to use a faulty copy of the Latin Vulgate. It was faulty due to the fact that the scribe who prepared it accidentally replaced the Latin word ligno (tree) with libro (book), thus changing that particular portion of Revelation 22:19 from Tree of Life to Book of Life. Virtually every translation of the Bible, outside of the King James Version which follows Erasmus' Textus Receptus, renders the passage Tree of Life rather than Book of Life. In defense of that scribe, however, when one compares ligno with libro in a handwritten form from that era, they are very difficult to distinguish from one another.
As we have already learned, if one's name is removed from the Book of Life, then one loses ones salvation. However, as we have also learned, the Bible is very clear and very explicit in its teaching that one cannot lose ones salvation. It is quite literally impossible to lose ones salvation, for the simple fact that God firmly and securely holds each and every true believer in His hand and no one is able to remove them from God's hand. No one is stronger than God (John 10:27-29). Therefore, Revelation 22:19 cannot be a reference to losing salvation. Scripture interprets Scripture (rule #4).
When we look at the context of this passage, however, we are able to understand exactly what it means. Revelation 22 contains a vision of heaven. In verses 1-2, John describes being shown the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, and running down through the middle of the street. Along either side of the river was the tree of life, the leaves of which provided healing of the nations. A glorious vision of the New Jerusalem, where true believers – those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, will live and glorify God for all eternity. Verse 14 calls them “blessed” and states they will have a right to the tree of life. Verse 15, however, describes those who are not blessed, and do not have access to the New Jerusalem and the tree of life. They are “the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” In other words, unbelievers. The unregenerate reprobate will not be allowed into the New Jerusalem and they will have no right to the tree of life.
Then we move on to verses 18-19, and the warnings of God. If anyone who hears the prophecy of the Book of Revelation and adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in the Book of Revelation. This is descriptive of an unbeliever, one who will suffer the tribulation. If anyone takes away from the words of the Book of Revelation, God will take away his share in the Tree of Life and the Holy City of New Jerusalem. Again, this is descriptive of an unbeliever. A true believer would not even entertain the idea of adding to or taking away from any part of the Bible; much less the Book of Revelation. Only an unbeliever would do such a thing. One who would end up outside the city walls, outside of heaven (verse 15).
Note also that in each of these passages (vv1-2, 14-15, 18-19) we see both the tree and the city mentioned together. Thus when tree is replaced with book in verse 19 as the King James does, the mistake sticks out like a sore thumb.
The contrast described in these passages is obvious. Those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, who are blessed, who live in the heavenly city, who have a right to the Tree of Life that grows there, and only there; contrasted with those who are unregenerate sinners, who live outside the heavenly city, who have no right to the Tree of Life. While any unregenerate sinner will have no place in the heavenly city, God makes it clear that tampering with His revelatory Scriptures are worthy of guaranteed condemnation if the sinner does not repent and rectify his or her sin. Again, this passage is not about losing salvation, but rather the contrast between those who are saved and those who are not.
Psalm 69:28 (ESV)
“Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.”
The Bible makes mention of several different books in its pages (Neh.7:5,64; 12:22,23; Jer.22:30; Ezek.13:9; Num.21:14; Josh.10:13; 2 Sam.1:18). Among them are the Book of Life (also known as The Book of Life of the Lamb and The Lamb's Book of Life), the Book of the Living, the Book of Remembrance, and the Books of Works. The Book of Life contains the names of those who will be saved – the elect. Their names were written in the Book of Life before the creation of the world (Phil.4:3; Rev.13:8; Rev.17:8; Rev.20:11-15; Rev.21:27). The Book of Remembrance contains the deeds of the righteous; those deeds done in faithfulness and obedience to the Lord and for His glory; as well as the sufferings of the righteous. It will be used for special blessings and rewards (Malachi 3:16; Psalm 56:8). The Books of Works contain the deeds by which the unrighteous will be judged (Rev.20:12-13; Dan.7:9-10). The Book of the Living is a record of all those who have lived. To be blotted out of this book means to experience physical death.
It is the Book of the Living which is referred to in Psalm 69:28. Again we refer to rule #2: Context! Context! Context! Psalm 69:28 is not a stand-alone verse; meaning it cannot be used by itself to define, determine or support a specific doctrine or belief. The entire Psalm must be taken into account in order to understand the meaning of any specific verse within the Psalm.
Psalm 69 belongs to a group of Psalms known as Imprecatory Psalms, or Psalms of Imprecation. Imprecatory Psalms include Psalms 5, 10, 17, 35, 58, 59, 69, 70, 79, 83, 109, 129, 137, and 140. The word imprecate means to pray a curse against someone or pray for judgment or calamity against someone. Therefore, the Imprecatory Psalms are the cries of God's people for vengeance upon their enemies and the enemies of God.
When read in full, Psalm 69 quickly becomes clear that David is not asking the Lord to remove anyone's name from the Book of Life, but rather, he is calling for the destruction and/or death of those who are attacking him. In verse 1 we see David crying out to God to save him. In verse 4 we see that he is calling for God to save him from innumerable enemies who are falsely accusing and attacking him. In verses 6-7 David says that all he has done has been for the Lord, and he does not want the Lord brought into disrepute because of the attacks of his enemies. In verses 13-18 David prays to God to save him, but to do so in God's time, according to God's steadfast love and abundant mercy. In verses 22-28, David prays for God to not simply kill his enemies, but rather to utterly destroy them. And, in verses 30-36 we see David praising the Lord for saving him, and noting that all those who love the Lord will be glad and all creation will praise Him as well.
When examined in its proper context, Psalm 69:28 is clearly a reference to the Book of the Living and not the Book of Life, which are obviously two different things entirely.
Exodus 32:32-33 (ESV)
“'But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.' But the Lord said to Moses, 'Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.'” Again, we must take this passage in its proper context. In this case, it is all of Exodus 32, which records the Israelites worshiping the golden calf while Moses is on the mountain receiving the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments from the Lord. God tells Moses the people are sinning against Him, and Moses leaves to return to the camp with Joshua where they witness the great sin the people have committed against God.
Moses commands the sons of Levi to go throughout the camp and strike down his “brother and his companion and his neighbor.” They put 3,000 men to the sword. Moses tells the people why this has happened and he goes back up to the Lord to try and make atonement for the sins of the whole people. Moses tells the Lord, if it is the Lord's will to not forgive the Israelites, then he wishes to die in their stead. Moses obvious love for his people as shown in his offer to die in their place, is similar to that of the Apostle Paul in Romans 9:1-5, where he says, “1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”
The Lord, however, tells Moses that punishment is reserved for those who have sinned against the Lord, not for those who have not; and later, the Lord sends a plague throughout the camp of the Israelites as punishment for the sins they had committed against the Lord.
The idea that Moses was asking the Lord to remove his name for the Book of Life does not make any sense whatsoever when verses 32-33 are examined in the light of the full chapter; and it is clear the passage is actually talking about the Book of the Living. In other words, the Lord and Moses are talking about physical death, not spiritual death. (cf. Ex.17:14; Deut.29:20; Ps.9:5-6; Ps.139:16).
As mentioned above, having one's name in the Book of Life is synonymous with having salvation, And, as we have learned, salvation is permanent and irrevocable. It is impossible to lose one's salvation. This is known as the Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints, or, Once Saved Always Saved (commonly abbreviated as OSAS). One of the main objections – if not the main objection, to this doctrine is that it justifies all manner of sin in the life of the Christian. And, in all honesty, this is a legitimate objection, especially in light of those who teach this.
In fact, there are many who, quite sadly, teach that once a person is saved they can live however they choose, and engage in any sin they choose, and still go to heaven. One very well known and beloved pastor wrote a book about the doctrine of eternal security, and in it he went so far as to write that even if a person were to deny Christ and live their entire life in sin, that person would still go to heaven when they die, provided they believed in Christ at some point in their life. This pastor went on to write that although the Christian who lives a life of sin (often referred to as a “carnal Christian”) will still go to heaven when they die, they will likely go to the “outer darkness,” which this pastor claims is not hell, but rather a part of heaven reserved for carnal Christians.
Not only is this completely unsupported by Scripture, but it is rank heresy, and is known as antinomianism. Antinomianism is the belief that while under grace, the Christian is under no obligation to obey any of God's moral laws, arguing that nothing more than faith is required for salvation; and that any additional requirement is nothing more than legalism. While this is true to a limited extent, in that we are saved “by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9); as James 1:21-2:26 so very clearly points out, those who believe in a faith that does not bear good fruit is simply not saved.
Nor is James the only person in Scripture to teach this. The Apostle Paul wrote at length against the heresy of antinomianism in Romans 5:12-8:39. His treatise can be summed up in three verses from chapter 7, where he wrote, “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:4-6).
Jesus also spoke against the heresy of antinomianism. While He did not teach that works were essential for salvation; He did teach that those who were truly saved would keep His commandments. He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ...If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.” (John 14:15,23-24). Unless one is willing to reject the Deity of Jesus, then one is faced with the very real problem of embracing antinomianism (rejecting God's moral law) and Jesus being the Author of the moral law as part of the Triune God who delivered it to Moses in Exodus 32. How can one accept Christ but reject His morality? Answer? One cannot.
The Apostle John recognized this, and addressed it very succinctly in his first epistle, where he wrote under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:4-10)
Those advocating an Antinomian view of salvation, such as the well known and beloved pastor mentioned above, are advocating a position that cannot be held by a Christian, but only by a false Christian, who is, in reality, nothing more than an unbeliever who is lost in their sin and in dire need of salvation. And, by advocating such a view of salvation, they are leading an untold number of people not to heaven and eternal life, but away from Christ and eternal damnation.

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