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 brett johnson 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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almost agree

things we almost agree on because substitution

  • 2co3:18; php1:6: God expects us to change some

  • 1pe4:1-2; 1co10:13: God helps us to overcome some sin

  • 2pe1:3; php3:15: God expects us to know some truth

  • eph6:13; heb13:21: God enables us to do some things we otherwise wouldn’t be able to do

    • x

    assurance & confidence

    eph3:12: full assurance of faith

    faith and grace are not the only things that give us confidence and assurance

  • php1:6: confident God will perfect us ("perform" επιτελεω "make perfect" gal3:3)

  • 2co5:8-10: confidence makes us labor to be accepted (ac10:35) because judged by what we do

  • heb6:11-15: diligence results in full assurance

  • heb10:22: xref heb9:14 conscience about doing

  • heb10:35-36: confidence receive promise after done will of God

  • 1jn3:18-19: assure our hearts by love in deed

    • x

    atonement

    atonement is simply reconciliation

    atonement (καταλλαγη): rom5:11; rom11:15; 2co5:18-19

    reconcile (καταλλασσω): rom5:10; 1co7:11; 2co5:18-20

    x

    substitution

    theory of atonement: that Christ substituted (traded) his righteousness for our sins

    note: see also "more details" below

    (see also "figures of sin" topic)

    quick flaws

    substitution fails to explain the cross

  • we still die physically

  • he didn't die spiritually

  • didn't endure eternity in hell

  • so there is no real sense where substitution actually took place (see ἁδης and שְׁאֹל below)

    • judged by works: no exceptions

  • list: rev22:12; mat7:21-23; rev20:12-13; rev2:23; ecc12:13-14; mat16:27; pr24:12; 1pe1:17; 2cor5:9-10; jn5:28-29; rom2:6-7

  • related: rom2:5-10; mat25:31-40; mat25:41-46

  • witness to character: heb11:4

  • final state ("confess & forsake"): pr28:13; ez18:27,24

    • saved without these…?

  • loving God? 1jn5:3; jn14:15; jn14:21

  • being loved by God? jn15:10

  • entering into life? mt19:16-17

  • knowing God? 1jn2:3-4

  • dwelling in him? 1jn3:24

  • entering the kingdom? 1pe1:10-11 (3x "these things" vss 8-10)

    • others

    inherit by: mt25:34-35 (vs mt25:41-42); gal5:19-21; eph5:5; 1co6:9-10; [mt25:31-40,46]

    lost by doing: 1co9:27; jas5:9; 1co11:29,34; rom14:23; mt10:33; 2tim2:12; jas1:26

    lost by not doing: 1tim5:8; mt25:41-42 [mt25:31-46]; (also 1tim6:17-19)

    condemnation: jas2:13; 1cor11:29,34; rom14:23; jas5:9; 1tim5:8; 1jn3:15; rom11:22; [heb10:26-31 "he was sanctified"]

    see also "not of works"

    five promises

    can there be assurance without substitution?

    the fears:

  • not know enough truth

  • not able to overcome enough

  • not live long enough to finish

    • instead of pretending we are righteous

  • God justifies those he has made righteous: rom5:19

  • God promises to make us righteous: eph3:16,20; 1pe5:10

    • jas1:6-7: you must believe and be willing; otherwise, don't think you will receive anything

    the promises:

  • finish php1:6 (επιτελεω gal3:3)

  • know truth jn7:17

  • enable eph6:13,16

  • bear temptation 1co10:13

  • protect life mt10:29 (agency jn15:5)

    • to transform not to transfer

    to eliminate sin, not to acquire sin

  • to eliminate sin from our hearts and minds

  • not to acquire the guilt of our sins

    • the purpose of

  • blood

  • death

  • curse

  • sacrifice

  • suffering

  • price and ransom

  • bear consequence (not guilt) of our sin

    • more details

    critical premise: categorical grace & law mutually exclusive for salvation

    how does substitution supposedly work?

  • assigns guilt to an innocent person for another’s crime and punishes them as guilty (violation of justice pr17:15; ex23:7)

  • all sins are paid for ahead of time, so even "do the best you can" is not required for salvation

  • God pretends we are sinless and infinitely good (divine alien righteousness) when, in fact, we are not

  • God pretended Jesus was guilty of our sins and was angry with him for it (making him out to be unreasonable)

  • God substituted infinite injustice for eternal torture/damnation (not equivalent!!!)

  • atonement becomes absolution/pardon (score-keeping) and is only indirectly reconciliation

    • ploys:

  • three fear tactics: not know enough, not overcome enough, not enough time

  • desperate to make it evil/arrogant to believe we can do what God commanded!

  • construes commands to be impossible: (see: "impossibles" topic)

  • redefines terms to be impossible: (e.g., perfect, righteous, etc.)

    • a priori:

  • final transformation (perfection & cease from sin) after death and after final salvation

  • 1co15:34; 1jn2:1; 1pe4:1-2 ceasing from sin is before death

  • php1:6; 2co13:11; mt5:48 perfection is before death and col1:28; eph4:13 it is expected of everyone

    • based on law-keeping & score-keeping:

  • entire theology based on a legal penal system for crimes/punishment (while calling us, "legalist," ironically)

  • makes many/most of God's laws (both ot and nt) an end in-and-of themselves, with no other apparent purpose

  • makes testing, transformation, and preparation moot for salvation (jas1:2-4; 2pe1:5-11; lk12:47; 1jn4:17; rom9:23; re21:2+re19:7; mt25:10)

    • fatal flaws

    theory: "Jesus took my punishment in my place" fails to demonstrate substitution

  • 1. we still die physically; 2. he didn't die spiritually; 3. he didn't spend eternity in hell

  • bait&switch theory: (ac2:24) is about physical death

  • we still die physically, so he didn't take away physical death from us

  • he did not suffer eternal condemnation by God (pr17:15 & hardship ≠ condemnation)

  • he did not die spiritually (rom8:6-7+jn8:29; 1tim5:6+rom7:9+1pe2:22)

  • ac2:27; ac2:24: both ἁδης and שְׁאֹל refer to the grave, not torment

  • 1pe3:19: communication from paradise to torment (lk23:43; lk16:23)

    • means only unbelievers amenable to the law of Christ

  • makes unbelievers amenable to the law of Christ, while christians (in effect) are not (because absolved)

  • 1jn3:4; jn8:21; 2th1:8: unbelievers will, in fact, be condemned for transgressing the law of Christ

  • if christians are categorically absolved from all transgression of the law of Christ: they are (in effect) not amenable to their own law

  • galling irony: “you unbelievers are lost because you transgress our law; come join us, so you can be exempt from our law like we are!”

    • if God were to make rules only deity could keep

  • the fact we were guaranteed to fail would make 1co10:13 a lie

  • to condemn the lost for failure to keep impossible rules would deny God unwilling anyone perish 2pe3:9; 1tim2:4

  • to create a way to bypass any impossible command would make that command pointless

    • inconsistent

  • claims belief that we can/must do all God's commands will cause a believer to be lost (because "pride")…

  • is pride the only sin not convered by the blood of Christ?

  • why would pride not be just another sin for substitution to absolve?

    • other problems

  • why do anything God commands? substitution works for a million sins just like one

  • pr17:15; deut25:1: violation of justice to punish as guilty (vs as consequence) the innocent

  • pr17:15; ex23:7: God will not do that which is abomination to him

  • makes God out to be unreasonable to have anger against a person he well knew was innocent

  • denies works are required for salvation and inheritance: (see "works" and "inherit"; see also "earning salvation")

  • lk12:47+2pe1:5,10-11+rom12:2+rom8:13: makes preparation/transformation requirements moot for salvation

    • x

    baptism

    1pe3:20-21: the "like"-ness was "saved by water"; noah was not saved by baptism

    faith moves us to do what's required: heb11:7 (2ki5:9-14; lk8:43-48; etc.)

    "no magic in the water": there's nothing magic about blood either, but if God says it's required, then it's required!

    "i'll let God make that decision": God has already decided, and he told us what that decision was

    mk16:16: "and" not "or is baptized"

    ac19:3-5: rebaptism for the right reason

    baptized into Christ

    rom6:3; gal3:27: baptized into Christ

    "i [verb] the cat into the house."

    what is "in Christ": 2co5:17; eph1:3; ac4:11-12; rom3:24; rom8:1; rom8:39; 1co1:2; 1co15:22; 2co2:14; 2co5:19

    2tim2:10 salvation is in Christ: does anything besides baptism put you into Christ?

    was the thief baptized?

    the thief was probably one of Jesus' devout disciples

    mt3:5-6: "all judea" baptized by john

    jn4:1: "jesus baptized more than john" (large % of "common" jews mk12:37)

    lk23:42: the thief understood the kingdom better than the disciples (ac1:6)

    note: only need to prove thief wasn't necessarily unbaptized

    ac2:16 (joel2:28); ac2:47: the theif died under the old testament law

    why require baptism?

    ps7:9; 1th2:41; chr29:17: God tests (proves) people's hearts

    ex16:4; judg2:21-22; judg3:1,4: to see if they will obey his law

    mt10:34-37: if we chose loved ones over God, we are not worthy

    exceptions would mean baptism not required at all

  • rom2:11; 1pe1:17; col3:25; eph6:9 exceptions for some & not others = respect of persons

  • mk13:31; rev14:6; gal1:8-9; 1co4:17 God makes rules, not exceptions, and the rules don't change

    • x

    blameless

    "blameless": is a type of behavior or way of life

    php2:14-15: without murmuring / disputing

    2pe3:14: requires diligence (ti3:12; 2tim4:9,21)

    1tim5:7-8: "charge" is a command (e.g., lk9:21)

    1th3:12-13: abound in love

    gal2:11-12: because he withdrew (jas2:9)

    (see also: "cease from sin")

    x

    blood

    things it does besides forgive

  • zealous: tit2:13-14

  • serve God: heb9:14

  • live for Christ: 2co5:15

  • "Lord" = live for Christ: rom14:8-9(6)

  • provide example to follow: 1pe2:21

    • before Christ

  • heb9:22; heb10:1; heb9:13-14; heb9:23: foreshadow deliverance by blood (αφεσις lk4:18)

  • lev5:11-13: non-blood offering for forgiveness

    • non-blood sacrifices

  • lev5:11-13: forgiveness thru “meat” (flour) offering

    • x

    borne

    (see also topic "bore our sins")

    "borne" and "bear": don't have to imply substitution

    ezk18:19-20: NOTE: guilt of sin is not borne by children or fathers (but consequence is)

    lam5:7: "borne their iniquities" is consequence, not substitution (guilt)

    ezk4:4,6: "bear their iniquities is consequence, not substitution (guilt)

    mt8:17: Jesus did not become sick or demon-possessed, not substitution

    num14:33: "bear your whoredoms" is consequence, not substitution (guilt)

    heb13:13: "bear his reproach" is sharing a burden, not substitution (guilt)

    scapegoat

    lev16:21-22: is this a conclusive case of substitution?

    substitution theory claims: Jesus got the guilt of our sin and we got credit for his righteousness

  • “bear into an uninhabited land…” is as much like removal as it is like ownership

  • substitution would be more convincing, if there were clear indication the goat retained the sins after he entered the “land not inhabited”

  • the goat's head was not righteous and did not impart righteousness

  • lack of sin is not the same as righteousness: a rock is neither righteous nor sinful

  • this part does not match the substituion paradigm

    • heb10:1: the ot sacrifices were a shadow and never the exact thing in every detail

  • scapegoat shadow a means of forgiveness to israel, plus a foreshadowing of Jesus removing sin from us

  • ac3:26: Jesus was sent to turn us away from iniquities

  • heb10:16: the covenant was to write his laws in our hearts and minds

  • rom11:26-27: not the same as guilt of ungodliness or guilt of sin

  • rom11:27: the covenant was to remove ungodliness and sin, not guilt alone

    • x

    commands

    what keeping the commands of God has to do with salvation

    saved without loving God? 1jn5:2-3

    saved without loving God? jn14:15; jn14:21

    saved without being loved by God? καθως "even as" = same way: jn15:10

    enter into (eternal) life: mt19:16-17; rev22:14

    saved without knowing Christ? 1jn2:3-4

    saved without being in Christ? 1jn3:24

    (side point) prayers granted because we keep commandments: 1jn3:22 (jas5:16)

    x

    creation theory

    (see also topic "forever (earth)")

    pradise earth

    "earth created to be eternal paradise"

  • gen1:31: "'very good' means eternal, sinless, painless

  • implies adam's sin necessitated "plan-b"

    • known & planned before creation

  • 1pe1:19-20: "before foundation" implies knowledge & intent

  • rev13:8: sacrifice implies sin

  • 2tim1:9: "our purpose" implies plan-a

  • eph1:4: "chosen us" implies plan-a

  • 1co2:7: gospel imples salvation from sin

  • titus1:2-3: gospel implies salvation from sin

    • physical death

    "sin requires physical death"

  • "God create man immortal, but adam lost it because sin"

  • gen2:17: "killed for eating fruit"

  • rom5:12,21: "death by sin"

  • rom6:23: "wages of sin"

  • 1co15:22: "in adam all die"

    • did adam never step on bug/flower?

    seed implies death

  • gen1:11: created with seed

  • jn12:24: "seed dies before growth"

    • sinless babies die

  • rom7:5-11: sin causes spiritual death

  • ezk18:4,20: soul dies spiritually (no original sin)

    • spiritual death from sin

  • gen2:17+gen3:4: "in the day"

  • rom6:16: "sin unto death" serve

  • rom7:13: "sin working death"

  • 1jn5:16-17: "sin unto death"

  • jas1:15: "sin brings forth death

  • rom8:6-7: "carnal mind"

    • physical suffering

    "physical suffering result of sin"

  • gen3:16; gen3:17-19: "all suffering resulted from sin"

    • "some suffering" provable; not "all suffering"

  • gen3:16: "increase" implies some suffering

  • gen3:17: new thorns, predators, disease would imply 2nd creation

  • no evidence for creation of new kinds

  • did adam never stub his toe? break a nail?

    • suffering is to test

  • ps11:4-5: "God tries men"

  • pr17:3: "God tries the hearts"

  • jdg2:21-22: "nations left to try"

  • gen22:1-2+gen22:12: "now I know"

  • ps53:2: "see if any did seek" (times when individuals do seek)

  • 2chr16:9: "eyes whole earth" (implies searching everywhere)

    • suffering is to transform

  • rom5:3-5: trials produce change

  • jas1:3,12: trials result perfection & crown

  • 1pe1:7: trials produce praise & honor

    • x

    condemnation

    implied condemnation: specific sins that cause people to be condemned

    not forgiving: mat18:35

    not showing mercy: jas2:13

    sin willfully: heb10:26-31 "he was sanctified"

    hating a brother: 1jn3:15,17

    holding a grudge: jas5:9

    not continuing in God's goodness: rom11:22

    defile conscience: rom14:23; 1co8:11-12

    eat αναξιως (αξιος suitable mt3:8): 1co11:27,29,34

    denied the faith: 1tim5:8

    απωλεια "destruction"

    απωλεια is "damnation"

    1tim6:9: will be rich (perdition)

    2pe3:7: ungodly men (perdition)

    2pe3:16: twist the scriptures (destruction)

    heb10:39: draw back (perdition)

    2pe2:1-3: heresies & false teachers (damnable/destruction)

    mt7:13: broad way (destruction)

    κριμα "legal sentence"

    lk20:47,mk12:40,mt23:14: religious hypocrisy

    rom3:8: do evil that good may come

    rom13:2: resist ordinance of God

    1co11:29: eat & drink unworthily

    κρισις "justice"

    κρισις is "damnation"

    heb10:27: sin willfully (judgement)

    jas2:13: not show mercy (judgement)

    mk3:29: blaspheme Holy Spirit (damnation)

    mt23:28,33: hypocrisy/iniquity (damnation)

    jn5:29: done evil (damnation)

    κατακρινω "sentence"

    rom14:23: eat with doubt

    jas5:9: grudge against another

    mk16:16: not believe (or be baptized)

    κρινω "judge/try/punish"

    rom2:12: sinned in the law (judged)

    2th2:12: believe not truth (damned)

    x

    context

    whole bible: mt21:21-22 + jas4:3 + 1jn5:14 + 1jn3:22; mt5:42 + 2th3:10

    God hides it: lk10:21; 2th2:10-12; isa28:9-13

    additive: mt12:5

    immediate context: php4:13

    x

    covenant

    the cross was a covenant, not just a sacrifice

    forgiveness was one article of that covenant

    mt26:28 "blood of the new testament": διαθηκη is covenant/testament (heb9:13-14)

    heb10:14-16 "this is the covenant": offering perfected…whereof witness for put my laws in hearts/minds

    heb8:10 "this is the covenant": put my laws in hearts/minds

    rom11:26-27 "this is my covenant": turn away ungodliness & take away sins

    heb13:20-21: "covenant…perfect in every good work to do his will"

    isa42:6; isa49:8: Jesus is the covenant (heb12:2+heb6:20; 1p2:21; 2co3:18; rom8:29; gal2:20; lk6:40; jn17:19)

    (see also topic "new testament [covenant] is a law")

    x

    establish the law

    rom3:28,31: "grace does not void 'the law'; it establishes it"

    what law does grace establish?

    1. grace-only: "no law justifies, but grace makes us 'do' the law"

      • "establish the law" in our lives

      • to some vague extent (sinner at top/bottom)

      • "establish" is about moving us to do the law

      • (see also topic "grace-only" section "indwelling replaces law")

    2. "establish" God's righteousness (but not moses' "deeds")

      • "establish the law" = consent to God's righteousness

      • witnessed by (but not limited to) the law of moses

      • does not include deeds of law of moses like circumcision

    rom3:31: context provably the law of moses

  • rom3:29; rom3:1,9: "Jews only" makes context the law of moses

  • rom3:30; rom3:1: "[un]circumcision" makes context the law of moses

  • rom3:21: "the law & the prophets" direct reference to law of moses

    • rom3:28: "deeds" of law of moses are voided

  • circumcision is voided: rom3:30; gal5:2; rom2:26; rom2:28-29

  • clean & unclean meats are voided: rom14:14

  • special holy days are voided: col2:16

  • exclusion of gentiles is voided: rom3:29; eph2:14

  • special treatment of jews is voided: rom3:29; rom2:28-29

  • all without exception from law of moses

    • God's righteousness established & not voided

  • rom2:26: righteousness established & not "deeds"

  • rom3:21: specifically righteousness of God witnessed by the law

    • rom2:21+ex20:15: don't steal

    • rom2:22+ex20:14: no adultery

    • rom2:22+ex20:3-4: no idolatery

    • 1pe1:16+lev11:44: be holy

    • titus1:2+col3:9-10+ex20:16: don't lie

    • jn14:31+mt22:37+deu11:1: love God

    • jn3:16+mt22:39+lev19:18: love your neighbor

    • ex20:12+eph6:2: honor parents

  • these righteous things all in both old law & new law

  • all require [righteous] works (mk7:10-13 & 1jn3:17+lk10:27,37 & 1jn5:3 & 2pe3:11)

    • x

    imputed and imparted

    grace-only: salvation only requires imputed righteousness

    rom5:19: God's righteousness both imparted and imputed

    mt25:35,46: salvation requires both imparted and imputed

    (see also topic "romans grace & faith")

    why reveal God's righteousness? (rom1:17)

  • 1jn2:29: we know what righteousness is

  • 1jn3:7: we know what to do

  • eph4:24; mt25:34-35,46: we know what to be

  • 1co6:9: we know what stops us from inheriting

  • 1jn5:16-17+heb10:26-27: we know what might kill us

    • expected to be like God

  • eph4:24: like God in righteousness & holiness

  • lk6:40: "like master" always been same thing

  • mal3:6; heb13:8: God doesn’t change

  • gen17:1; deu18:13; 2co13:11: required by every law of God

    • "righteousness of God" is a major theme of romans

  • rom3:21: specifically righteousness of God witnessed by the law

  • rom1:17: but also righteousness of God in the gospel

  • rom1:17; rom3:5,21,22; rom5:17; rom10:3: theme is pervasive in romans

  • rom6:18,13,22 "serve"; rom5:19 "made": righteousness required

    • x

    denominations

    "sect"="denomination" or "schism" or "division"

    αἱρεσις: ac24:5 sect 2pe2:1 + gal5:19-21(20) + ac24:14 heresy

    σχισμα: 1co1:10 division

    διχοστασια: rom16:17 + 1co3:3 division; gal5:19-21(20) sedition

    x

    earning salvation

    expression, "earn salvation": never occurs anywhere in scripture

    expression, "work your way to heaven": never occurs anywhere in scripture

    logical fallacy: false dilemma

  • falsely implies works-only salvation

  • presumes works for their own sake (record-keeping approach)

  • instead of "faith or works," real question "faith and works"

  • jas2:14,24: question always only ever been "faith-only or faith-plus-works"

  • noone in history of mankind ever argued Christian works-only salvation

  • (see also topic "flawless law-keeping")

    • why God demands works

    "earning salvation" is not why God demands works!

    servants

    servants must work because they belong to the master: lk12:47; rom6:16+rom6:19+rom6:22; jn8:34; lk19:16-17; mt25:26; col3:23-24; col4:1; eph6:6-7

    soldiers

    soldiers must work hard to survive: eph6:13; 2co10:4-5; 2tim2:3-4

    runners

    an olympic contestant must practice self-control and work hard to win the crown: 1co9:25; 1co9:27; jas1:12

    x

    everything is forgiveness

    substitution approach: all transformation language construed as forgiveness-only

    (note: in all these examples, God both changes and forgives)

    (note: burden of proof)

  • it's not that these are the only possible meanings for these terms

  • it's that there is another possible meaning besides substitution

    • redefined terms

    righteous

  • rom10:3; php3:9: (grace-only) "own righteousness" = "proper righteousness" (vs alien)

  • heb12:2; heb5:9; heb6:20; 1co3:18; gal2:20: Christ's life defines righteous, wise, & holy

  • mk7:11 (corban); mt12:10-12 (heal); mt23:23: it's about what we call "righteous" (vs traditions of men)

  • 1co1:30: (grace-only) "God sees us as righteous when we're really not"

  • mal2:17; rom3:7-8 (jude1:4): God condemns that doctrine outright

  • rom5:17; (gal5:5; 2co5:21): (grace-only) "'gift' of righteousness means credit/pretend"

  • 1jn3:7; eph4:24; 2tim3:16-17: giving righteousness ≠ pretend we are righteous

    • free

  • rom6:7; rom8:2; jn8:32,36: (grace-only) freed from punishment

  • rom6:18,20,22: freed from slavery/captivity/control of sin

    • redemption

  • eph1:7; col1:14: (grace-only) substitute pays off guilt debt

  • απολυτρωσις heb11:35: freed from captivity/control of sin

    • remission

  • eph1:7; col1:14: (grace-only) substitute pays off guilt debt

  • αφεσις lk4:18: freed from slavery/captivity/control of sin

    • healed

  • 1pet2:24: (grace-only) "sickness" = guilt debt (removed by substitute)

  • heb12:13; rev3:18; 1jn2:11; rom6:19; rom8:26; rom15:1: "sick" = evil heart/mind (God makes heart/mind good)

    • clothed

  • rev15:6: (grace-only) imputed righteousness conceals our impurity

  • ti2:10; 1th5:8; col3:10,12; eph4:24; eph6:11,14; 1pe3:3-5: adorning includes transformation of heart/mind

    • purge, cleanse, wash

  • heb1:3; 1jn1:7,9; heb10:22: (grace-only) God pretends we're clean when we aren't

  • ti2:14; jas4:8; 2co7:1; 1pe1:22; heb9:14; mt23:26: cleanse heart/mind requires action (among other things)

    • blameless

  • eph1:4: (grace-only) God absolves us so we aren't blamed

  • php2:14-15; gal2:11; 1th2:10; 1tim5:6-7; 2pe3:14: "blameless" is a type of behavior, not a status

    • holy

  • eph1:4: (grace-only) God pretends we're holy when we aren't

  • 2pe3:11; heb12:14; 2tim2:21; rom6:19; rom6:22; 2co7:1; heb12:10; 1thes3:12-13; 1thes4:3,4,7; heb9:13-14; 1pe1:14-16; eph4:24: "holy" is a type of behavior, not a status

    • atone

  • rom5:11: (grace-only) atone is to absolve guilt

  • rom11:15; 2co5:18-19; 1co7:11: "atone" is reconcile

  • rom8:7; jas4:4; col1:21: "reconcile" results in forgiveness rom7:25-8:2; ac26:18

  • (see also "please God" and "accepted" topics)

    • justify

  • ti3:7: (grace-only) "just as if I'd" never sinned

  • rom5:18-19: God justifies those whom he has "made righteous"

  • (not pretend we're righteous)

  • jas2:14,24: "can faith & no works save?"

  • (see also "justify the ungodly" topic)

    • dominion

  • rom6:14: (grace-only) sin's dominion is guilt via law of any kind

  • rom6:6-7; rom6:12-13; rom6:16-20; rom6:22: "dominion" is about what controls our behavior [who we serve]

  • rom3:21: the law [of moses] bore witness to God's righteousness, which supercedes it

    • perfect

  • heb9:9: (grace-only) God imputes Christ's perfect (infinite) righteousness to us

  • heb9:14; heb13:20-21; jas3:2; lk6:40+2co3:18+rom8:29: perfection is changed heart/mind

    • meet, worthy

  • col1:12; 2th1:11: (grace-only) God pretends we're meet/worthy when we aren't

  • 2co3:5+2co3:6; eph6:11+13+16; eph3:16+20: God changes our hearts/minds to make us capable/worthy

  • (see also topic "worthy")

    • armor

  • eph6:10-17: (grace-only) God pretends we're strong when we aren't really

  • eph3:16,20; 2co3:5; col1:12; 2co3:6; eph6:11,13,16: God changes our hearts/minds to make us strong

    • turn away ungodliness

  • rom11:26: (grace-only) God turns away guilt of ungodliness from believers

  • ac3:26: turning away guilt and turning away ungodliness are not the same

  • ("turn away ungodliness" results in forgiveness rom7:25-8:2; ac26:18)

    • take away sins

  • rom11:27: (grace-only) God takes away all guilt of sin, but not always the sin, itself

  • mt15:18-19: God also takes away sin from the heart/mind

  • ("take away sins" from mind results in forgiveness rom7:25-8:2; ac26:18)

    • x

    forever (earth)

    ps104:5 forever and ever (עוֹלָם "olam" H5769 and עַד "ad" H5703) both can be used for eternity or for "a long time"; both used: ps111:7-8 xref lev12:3 + gal5:2

    olam (עוֹלָם): deu15:17

    ad (עַד): amo1:11; 2pe3:10-13 dissolved; heb1:10-12 perish; heb12:26-27 removal; rev21:1 + mt24:35 + mk13:31 + lk21:33 passed away

    related: 1co15:50; 2co4:18; 2co5:1

    x

    "omni-" theories

    this is not questioning God; questioning specious human dogma

    “omni-” theories facade of honoring God, but instead prop up false doctrine

    “omni-” theories often explicitly/implicitly

  • contradict statements in scripture

  • create impossible conundrums

    • "omniscient," "omnipotent," "omnipresent" occur nowhere in scripture

  • omnipresence dogma injected: ps139:7+2th1:9

  • omnipotence dogma injected: lk1:37+nah3:9

  • omniscience dogma injected: ps147:5+gen41:49 (אַיִן מִסְפָּר infinite=without number) & ac15:18+1sam2:30; num14:30

    • when the scripture attributes any specific thing to God, implicitly or explicitly

  • (if presence): that is part of the scope of “his presence”

  • (if capability): that is part of the scope of “his power”

  • (if knowledge): that is part of the scope of “his understanding”

  • anything beyond that is conjecture

    • omnipresence

    ps139:7: fits better with unrestricted range of power

    jer23:24: "I fill heaven"

  • 1ki20:27: "the Syrians filled the country"

  • "earth" & "country": same hebrew word (eretz אֶרֶץ)

    • if God is omni-present

  • gen4:16; lev22:3; job1:12; job2:7; it is impossible "leave his presence"

  • jn20:17; heb9:24; ecc12:7: it is unnecessary to go anywhere to "be with God"

  • 2th1:9; ps51:11; jer23:39: impossible to be banished from God's presence

  • God would simultaneously fill both heaven and hell

  • God is not in hell (but his power definitely extends there: e.g., rev20:14-15)

    • omnipotence

    dan4:35: fits better with “none can stay his hand”

    some things are not possible to God

  • heb6:18; titus1:2: God cannot lie

  • jas1:13: God cannot be tempted with evil

  • 2tim2:13: God cannot deny himself

    • some things are not as God wishes them to be

  • if he could change them, he would

  • 2pe3:9; 1tim2:4; mt18:14: God wishes all men saved

  • 2th2:10; heb10:26: but not all men will be saved

  • lam3:32-33: God does not wish suffering were required for salvation

  • jas1:12; mt18:7; heb12:10: but suffering is required

    • time travel dogma extrapolated from "omnipotent"

  • implies fatalism & makes every outcome inevitable

  • similar to calvinism (but allows free will)

    • time-travel dogma extremely speculative & nonsensical

  • wild claims not supported by scripture

  • contrived to support indefensible doctrines

  • e.g., "'that day' Christ 'traveled thru time' and was crucified"

    • if "the future already exists, but it can be changed"

  • it’s not really the future

  • either all "changes" require direct, divine intervention (divine fatalism)

  • or we can “alter the future” without "time travel" (no real fatalism)

    • omniscience

    isa46:11; isa55:9: fits better with sufficient insight and power

    knowledge of future better attributed to (e.g., ac15:8)

  • sufficient power makes it happen: (e.g., isa46:11)

  • sufficient insight reliably predicts: (e.g., isa55:9)

    • "future-already-exists" dogma creates conundrums

  • no meaningful explanation for: "God can 'see' it but chooses not to"

  • implies fatalism (similar to calvinism, but not necessarily "unconditional")

  • contrary to existing evidence (see "if future already exists" below)

  • time-travel theory creates similar logical paradoxes

    • impossible if "future already exists"

  • 1sam2:30; num14:30: reversal of a decision based on new information

  • ti1:2: otherwise he knowingly made a false statement

  • gen22:12; gen18:21: "now I know" indicates previously didn't know

  • jer19:5; jer32:35: "[not entered] my mind" indicates previously didn't know

  • ex16:4; jdg2:22; jdg3:4; ps53:2; gen18:21: pointless, presuming "future-exists"

    • human uncertain forecasting vs God's inevitable prophecy

  • man predicting, “it will be dark tonight,”: might be wrong under unusual circumstance

  • isa46:9-10: God's prophecy inevitably comes to pass because

  • dan4:35: God he has all necessary power

  • isa55:9: God knows all knowable factors

    • "foreknow" (ac2:23; rom8:29; rom11:2; 1pe1:2)

  • eph1:5; ezk24:14; isa46:11: by fore-planning

  • rom8:29; 1pe1:12: by criteria

  • ecc12:7: known before; existed before

  • isa66:18: know heart enough to predict choices

    • x

    God & hate

    God loves mankind, so does he hate anyone? ps11:5; pr6:16; ps5:5 God hates some individuals (see also hos9:15; mal1:3)

    God abhors some individuals: ps10:3; lev20:23; lev26:30; ps5:6; ps78:59; pr22:14

    x

    God hid his face

    there is a clear, provable context change between isa53 & isa54

  • isa54:1-8 is quoted nowhere as a prophecy of Christ: so there is complete lack of proof

  • isa54:5 is addressed to a created being: so this cannot be God the Son

    • chapters 53 & 54 are clearly addressed to different subjects

  • in isa54:1-8 the subject is female, while the subject in isa53 is male!

  • Christ is not the wife of God: isa54:1,5,6; jer31:32

  • Christ is not a widow: isa54:4

  • Christ is not a woman: isa54:6

    • this is about israel

    isa54:7-8: God provably forsook and hid his face from israel

    isa8:17; isa59:2; isa64:7, ezk39:23-24: provable God hid his face from israel

    psa22:24 (mt27:46+ps22:1; ps22:16; ps22:8+mt27:43; ps22:18+lk23:34): God did not hide his face from Christ on the cross

    isa2:6; 2chron24:20: God forsook Christ on the cross, but it is provable God also forsook israel

  • "forsaking" Christ was about protection of his life: not about anger with him

  • jn7:30;jn8:20: God always delivered Christ from death before, because “his hour was not yet come”

  • mk14:41: but after the betrayal his hour was come

  • ps22:1; mt27:46; mk15:34: this quote was a sign to the disciples of fulfilled prophecy

  • no one knew better than Jesus why God forsook him

    • hab1:13 "cannot look on iniquity": is provably hyperbole

  • in the very verse, itself, it says: "wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously" (how is that not iniquity?)

  • ps10:14: “beholdest” is נָבַט (“look”) and “mischief” is עָמָל (“iniquity”)

    • x

    just like i am

    "God loves me just like i am" (rom5:8): 2pe3:9; 1tim2:4; jn3:16; ti2:11 God loves a lot of people, but not all of them will be saved

    "God accepts me just like i am": ac10:35 God says he accepts those who fear him and work righteousness

    do i have to change to be saved?: lk12:47; rom8:12-13; 1co9:27; 2pe1:5-11 ("these things" + entrace into the kingdom)

    x

    αφεσις (remission)

    deliverance, liberty: lk4:18

    forgiveness: mk3:29; ac5:31; ac13:38; ac26:18; (eph1:7; col1:14)

    remission: mt26:28; mk1:4; lk1:77; lk3:3; lk24:47; ac2:38; ac10:43; heb9:22; heb10:18

    (see also topic redemption απολυτρωσις)

    eph1:7; col1:14: both of these words translated "deliverance"

    x

    απολυτρωσις (redemption)

    deliverance: heb11:35

    redemption: lk21:28; rom3:24; rom8:23; 1co1:30; (eph1:7); eph1:14; eph4:30; (col1:14); heb9:15; heb11:35

    (see also topic remission αφεσις)

    eph1:7; col1:14: both of these words translated "deliverance"

    x

    God tests us

    deu8:2 (נָסָה): to prove you

    exo16:4: to prove them

    deu13:3: God proves you

    jdg2:22: to prove israel

    jdg3:1,4: to prove israel

    2chr32:31: to try him

    gen22:1: God proved abraham

    ex15:25: he proved them

    1th2:4: God tries our hearts

    jas1:3,12: crown after tried

    1pe1:7: trial produces glory

    1pe4:12: trials are not unusual

    rev2:10: prison to try

    x

    new testament is a law

    (see also topic "names of God's law")

    mt26:28 the cross was a covenant (διαθηκη), not just a sacrifice

    heb8:10; heb10:16: covenant to put laws in hearts/minds

    mt28:20: the great commission teaches to keep all commandments

    1co14:37: paul's epistles characterized as “the commandments of the Lord” (gal1:12)

    mt19:17: keeping commandments is required to enter into life

    God calls the new covenant a law!

  • “the law of Christ”: gal6:2

  • “the law of God”: rom7:22; rom8:7 (subject or dead)

  • “the law of the spirit of life”: rom8:2

  • “the law of liberty” (from Jewish law): jas2:12

  • “law of faith” (but not faith-only jas2:24): rom3:27

    • love is not just "an expression" of the fruit of the Spirit

  • mt22:36-40; jn13:34; jn15:12; jn15:17: “love God/neighbor” is commandment

    • commands prominent

    law of Christ highlights commandments multiple dozens of times

  • mt28:20: teach all disciples to keep all of them

  • mt19:17: how to enter into life!

  • jn12:50: is eternal life

  • 2pe2:20-21: break command not to be polluted worse than never believing

  • 1jn5:3: the love of God is keeping his commands

  • 2jn1:6: love is keeping his commands

  • 1jn2:7-10: don't hate your brother (rom13:9; 1jn3:15)

  • jn13:34: love as i love

  • jn14:15: in order to love Christ

  • jn14:21: how to be loved by God and Christ

  • jn15:10: how to stay in Christ's love

  • jn15:12-17: do whatsoever commanded in order to be Jesus' friend

  • mt22:36-40: love God/neighbor

  • mk12:28-31: love God/neighbor

  • rom13:9: "love neighbor" is the sum of any/all commands

  • 1jn5:2: it's not love of brethren if it's not God's command

  • lk18:18,20: to inherit eternal life

  • mk10:17,19: to inherit eternal life

  • 1co7:10: marriage laws

  • 1co7:19: keeping God's commands not irrelevant

  • 1co14:37: the things paul wrote

  • eph6:2: honor father/mother

  • 1th4:1-2: behavior to please God

  • 1th4:11: work to support yourself

  • 2th3:4: do what we commanded

  • 2th3:6: withdraw from the disorderly

  • 2th3:10-12: work to support yourself

  • 1tim1:5: love is the sum of all commands

  • 1tim4:11: evangelist is to teach commands

  • 1tim6:14: keep command without spot

  • 2pe3:2: be mindful of the commandment

  • 1jn2:3-4: don't know God if not keep commands

  • 1jn3:22: in order to receive what we pray for

  • 1jn3:23: believe and love (rom13:9)

  • 1jn3:24: to dwell in Christ and Christ dwell in us

  • 1jn4:21: love your brother (rom13:9)

  • 2jn1:4: walk in truth

  • 2jn1:5: love one another (rom13:9)

  • rev12:17: those who keep the commands have Christ's testimony

  • rev14:12: saints keep the faith and the commands

  • rev22:14: that they may have right

  • jas2:8-12: we will be judged by the law (including love and partiality)

    • x

    nature of God

    how many individuals?

  • provably more than one: jn17:22 "one as we are" καθως

    • gen1:26 + mt22:37: image of God

  • heb2:16-17: same kind but not same magnitude

  • jn4:4: "spirit" as opposed to "flesh"

  • jdg10:16, jer5:9: God has a soul

  • gen6:6, gen8:21: God has a heart

  • jer32:35: God has a mind

  • gen2:7: man is a soul

    • 1tim3:16: heart/mind/soul in fleshly body = human

  • heb2:16-17, php2:5-8: even if the magnitude is greater, it is the same nature/image

  • jas1:13: God cannot be tempted with evil (no flesh jas1:14; rom13:14)

  • heb4:15, heb2:18: but God the Son was tempted in his human, fleshly body

  • jas1:14: lust (which comes thru the flesh) is the source of temptation

  • gal5:16-17, 1jn2:16: flesh, eyes, and mortal life (human body) are the avenues of temptation

  • heb4:15: he was tempted like we are "in every way" (πας)

  • rev3:21: we overcome the same way: “even as” (ὡς) is “same manner”

    • 2pe1:4: divine nature is combination of spiritual "structure" (heart, mind, soul) and attributes (e.g., love)

    God the Son

    Jesus is The God: heb1:8 ο θεός thy throne O God

    του θεού purchased with his own blood: ac20:28

    του θεού laid down his life for us: 1jn3:16

    Jesus is from everlasting (eternal): micah5:2; mt2:6 thus impossible to have been created

    the God of God

    ps100:3+heb1:2; jn1:3; col1:16-17 Christ is creator, owner, and sustainer

    heb1:9-10+eph3:9; jn20:17; 2co11:31; 1pe1:3: God of God-the-creator

    1co15:28; 1co15:24-25: subject to the Father in eternity

    1co11:3: head of Christ is God (the Father)

    jn14:28: "my Father is greater than I"

    mk13:32: the Father knows but the Son does not

    authority relationship between Father and Son only goes one way

  • Father gives (grants); the Son "delivers" (yeilds 1co15:24): jn3:35; mt11:27; lk10:22; lk22:29; jn5:26; jn10:29; jn18:11; ac2:33

  • Father never asks permission of the Son: mt20:23; mt26:39,42,53; lk23:34; 1jn2:1; rev2:27

  • Son never sends the Father: jn3:16; jn5:30,37; jn6:57; jn8:16,18; jn8:29,42; jn10:36; jn14:24; jn20:21; heb1:2; 1jn4:14

  • Son never commands the Father: jn5:36; jn8:28; jn10:18; jn12:49; jn14:31; jn15:10; jn5:19-20

    • Father/Son relationship not categorically equal

  • jn5:18: equal in nature not provably categorically equal

  • php2:6 in this case context is [equal in] form: “equal” ισος = “similar” not always categorically exact equality (see ac11:17 “like”)

  • heb1:3 "express image" = "exact copy" (χαρακτηρ): makes the Father the one who is copied and is still authoritative

  • "Son" always implies under-authority relationship: heb1:5; mt10:32; mt16:27; mt26:29; lk2:49; lk23:46; jn1:18; jn2:16; jn5:43; jn12:50; jn15:1; rom15:6; rom8:17; eph3:14; 2jn1:3; rev3:5,21

    • God and the Father

    1th3:11; col3:17; col1:3 "God and the Father": και is “and” / “even” / “also”

  • “God and the Father”: 2co11:31; gal1:1; eph1:3; eph5:29; eph6:23; col1:3; col3:3; col3:17; jas1:27; 1031:3

  • “God even the Father”: jn8:41; rom15:6; 1co15:24; 2co1:3; 1th3:13; jas3:9

    • ac5:4: “lied to God” by lying to his representative

  • heb1:1: the prophet (Peter) representative of God the Father

  • jn16:13; 1co2:10: Holy Spirit representative of God the Father

    • x

    pharisee & publican

    pharisee condemned, but we completely misunderstand why

    grace-only "wrong plan" argument

  • "pharisee tried to use 'wrong plan' for salvation; therefore, not justified"

  • this explanation presumes the premise of grace-only

    • faith-only says: not justified for 2 reasons

  • 1. believed in justification by works (jas2:24)

  • 2. believed he could actually do those works (arrogant) (eph6:13; 1jn5:3 "not heavy")

  • basis: categorical grace vs law (see also topic "categorical law")

    • pr28:13: actual difference was confess & forsake

  • publican: confessed & repented

  • pharisee: 3 specific sins (despise, exalt, self-trust)

    • more details

    God states what the problem was:

  • lk18:9,11: despised others

  • lk18:14: exalted himself (boasting to God lk18:11)

  • lk18:9: trust self rather than God

  • lk18:11: praying to himself (προς εαυτον) not really to God

  • pr28:13: didn’t confess or forsake any of this

    • we can be righteous and do righteous things…

  • …without dispising others (gal6:1)

  • …without taking the glory for it (heb13:21; mt19:26)

  • …without trusting in ourselves to do it alone (php1:6)

  • trust in God to change us: php2:13; 2th3:5; 2th2:16-17; 1th3:12-13; eph3:16,20

  • (see also topic "almost agree")

  • rom6:16,19,22: do = righteous (1jn3:7 "even as" καθος = manner not extent)

    • x

    grammar tips

    grammar tips for greek and hebrew

    antanaclasis

    (dictionary.com) ant-an-ə-ˈklas-is

    (webster) an-tə-ˈna-klə-səs

    deliberate use of same word with different meanings

    (note: sometimes mistaken for context)

    examples

  • jn3:5,6,8: spirit(ual)/Spirit/wind

  • mt8:22: dead (spiritual/physical)

  • 1th5:7,10: sleep (slumber/dead)

  • 1jn1:1,10: Word/word

  • rom8:15-16: mindset/Holy Spirit/human spirit

  • (rom8:1-2,4-6,9-11,13-16,23,26-27)

    • similar device

  • polysemic pun

  • two related words used in different senses simultaneously

  • 2co8:9: rich/poor

  • 1co3:18: fool/wise

  • jn9:39: see/blind

    • εν (among)

    "in you" (εν = "among" with plural object)

  • 2pe2:8;: among them

  • mt16:7: among themselves

  • mt20:26-27: among you

  • mk6:4: among his own kin

  • lk2:44: among their kinsfolk

  • lk7:16: among us

  • lk10:3: among wolves

  • (dozens or hundreds more)

    • κατα (agency)

    κατα “by” can indicate means/agency

    examples

  • 2th2:3: "by any means"

  • rom4:16: "by grace"

  • heb11:7: "by faith"

  • eph3:3: "by revelation"

  • 1co12:8: "by the Spirit"

    • one-of-a-kind nouns

    “Certain nouns referring to persons or things which instead of being only one of a class are quite unique, are treated as proper nouns, the article being either inserted or omitted. So θεός or ὁ θεός, God; πνεῦμα or τὸ πνεῦμα, the Spirit; κόσμος or ὁ κόσμος, the world; νόμος or ὁ νόμος, the Law.”

    Machen, J. Gresham, D.D, Litt. D. New Testament Greek for Beginners, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1923. Print. (p. 141)

    mt22:40; gal3:17: absent any context to the contrary, "the law" would be the law of moses both to jews and to early christians

    zero conditional (if)

    ει vs. εαν conditionals

    hypothetical conditional

  • if/when: εαν with subjunctive

  • not presumed to occur

    • real conditional

  • (i.e., factual conditional or "zero conditional")

  • if: ει with indicative

  • presumed to occur

    • x

    good enough

    "none of us can be good enough" good enough for what? to be saved?

    can you be bad enough to be lost? if yes, anything better than that is good enough to be saved

    (see also pharisee & publican)

    "all bad enough"

    if we're "all bad enough to be lost but we're saved anyway," then please explain:

  • mat7:21 "prophesied in [his] name" means they believed!!!

  • 1co9:27 paul believed, but he would be rejected if he did not subdue his body!!!

  • rom8:13 if we do not kill the deeds of the body we will die!!!

  • jas2:13 judgement without mercy means condemnation!!!

  • as do: 1jn3:14,17 + 1co13:2; jas2:14-17; mat25:34-35,41-42,46

    • see also: merit

    see also: just like i am

    meaningless

    if nobody can be worthy, what do these even mean?

  • rev3:4: "they are worthy!" (not, "God pretends they're worthy when they really aren't")

  • if nobody can be worthy, what is the point of these passages? mat10:37-38; mat22:8; ac13:46: "so what? nobody's worthy!" (also rom1:32)

  • what is he asking us to do here? sin? eph4:1; col1:10; 1th2:12 (is it a sin to think we could obey these?)

    • unworthy = unsaved

    “unworthy” or “not worthy” (in salvation context) always refer to the unsaved: mt10:13; mt10:37-38; mt22:8; ac13:46

    untying shoe laces is not the same as salvation: Mt3:11; mk1:7; lk3:16; jn1:27; ac13:25

    "think you're better?"

    "you think you're better than me?"

    or: "you think you're better than everybody else"

    2co10:12: (cannot compare ourselves with anyone but Christ, so we are not allowed to answer that question)

    col3:9-10: called to be/do better than our former selves

    rom12:2; 2co3:18; gal6:14-15; 2pe2:20; jas1:27; col2:8; col2:20; eph2:2; eph4:15; gal1:4; mt5:20; 2pe1:4: (be better)

    if not called to be better, why be christian at all?

    mk8:38; rom1:16; 2tim1:8: we cannot be ashamed/renounce our calling

    this is ad hominem attack: accusation you are arrogant

    hypocrisy: condemns you for condemning him

    x

    grace comes from…

    grace comes from these things

    (see also: pleasing God)

    (see also: peace with God)

    (see also: assurance & confidence)

    (see also: merit)

  • rom5:2: faith in Christ

  • pr3:3-4: mercy & truth

  • pr8:35: wisdom

  • pr12:2: being good

  • jas4:6; 1pe5:5; pr3:34: humility

  • luk6:32-34; 1pe2:19-20: thank/acceptable = grace

  • heb12:15: resisting bitterness (fail of grace)

    • acceptance is closely related to grace

  • ac10:34-35: accepted by fear of God and working righteousness

  • rom14:17-18: accepted by righteousness peace and joy

  • 2co5:9-10: labor to be accepted because judged by works

  • 2co6:17: come out from the world and God will receive (accept) you

    • other things closely related to grace

  • 1co9:27: subdue body to avoid rejection (results in no grace)

  • heb10:26: sin willfully (no grace or sacrifice)

    • x

    holy

    holiness (sanctify) is behavior

    2pe3:11: behavior

    heb12:14: follow

    2tim2:21: purge himself

    rom6:19: serve righteousness

    rom6:22: serve God; fruit

    2co7:1: cleanse ourselves

    heb12:10,14: chasten produces holiness

    1th3:12-13: abound in love

    1th4:3,4,7: abound in love

    heb9:13-14: from dead works

    1pe1:14-16: behavior

    eph4:24: put on new man

    ti2:3: behavior befitting holiness

    ἁγνος chaste & pure "same as" holy ἁγιος

    1tim5:22: keep yourself holy

    ti2:5: be holy

    1pe3:2: holy behavior

    1jn3:3: make [yourself] holy

    jas4:8: make [yourself] holy

    1pe1:22: make [self] holy by love

    x

    inherit

    or not inherit: 1co6:9-10; gal5:19-21; eph5:5

    heb11:7-8: faith

    mat5:5: meek

    mat19:29: forsake all

    rom8:16-17: suffer

    rev21:7: overcome

    heb6:11-15: diligence

    1pe3:8-9: compassion

    col3:17-24; mat25:34-40: serve

    do to inherit

    mk10:17-21: what shall i do to inherit eternal life?

    lk10:25-37: what shall i do to inherit eternal life?

    x

    inspiration

    more sure because it came directly from God: 2pe1:19-21; 2tim3:16 (θεοπνευστος); jas1:25 (perfect); ezk2:7; ezk3:26-27; jer26:2; jer36:2-4+jer36:17-18; ex24:12; ex31:18; dan5:24-25; 1chr28:19; mt10:19-20; jn12:47-50; deut18:18-19;

    God put his own words in the prophets’ mouths: 2chr35:22; jer1:9; 2sam23:2; isa59:21; ex4:12,15; ac4:24-25

    moses was God's mouth: ex4:16; ex4:28; ex4:30

    words from God, himself: ezk3:4; zec1:6; hos6:5; jn17:8; 2chr36:12; jer37:2; jer29:19; zec7:7,9,12; 1ki17:16; mt1:22; mt2:15

    irrelevant without words direct from God: mt4:4; deut8:3; pr30:5-6; ps119:130; jn8:47; (1pe4:11 "oracles" (λογια) = "utterances" + ac2:4)

    words of the Holy Spirit: heb10:15; heb3:7; ac1:16

    hijacked

    how verbal plenary inspiration name was hijacked

    literal meaning of the term, verbal plenary inspiration:

  • verbal: the words, themselves mt4:4

  • plenary: completely, throughout (all of them 2tim3:16 and each of them)

  • inspiration: θεοπνευστος 2tim3:16 is compound word from θεος (God) and πνεω (breathe hard or blow)

  • literal meaning of the term: all the words completely throughout breathed by God

    • popular theology has hijacked the term, verbal plenary inspiration, to be anything except the literal meaning of this name

    here is how:

    1. create an effigy term of similar meaning, mechanical dictation, and mock the idea that God caused specific words of his own personal choosing to be spoken or written verbatim

    2. emphasize the expression, "God breathed," can be figurative: [which is provably possible in some cases (e.g., 1chr28:19; ezk3:26-27; dan5:24-25)]

    3. use the "figurative" argument as an excuse to deemphasize/deny the words, themselves, originated with God, while promoting arguments very similar to the other theories (intuition inspiration, thought inspiration, and concept inspiration)

    4. pretend to assert inerrancy of the word by making indefensible arguments (because no record of such ever happening), while implicitly denying inerrancy with those other arguments

    other theories

    other theories of inspiration

  • intuition: the prophet thinks about God and writes his own thoughts, feelings, and ideas

  • thought: God puts thoughts into the prophet's mind and the prophet writes those thoughts in his own words

  • concept: God speaks to the prophet, the prophet understands the concept, and writes the concept in his own words

    • intuition, thought, & concept theories impossible: 1pe1:10-11 why ask questions about words that came from your own understanding?

    similarities

    hijacked "verbal plenary" theory borrows from other theories

    some modern "verbal plenary" theologians: jw mcgarvey, norman geisler, william nix, rex turner sr, j gresham machen

    mcgarvey's horse argument: "it would be nearer the truth to compare the whole work of the Spirit to that of driving a well trained horse…":

  • "[the horse] is going most completely at his own will, and yet he is never without the control of the driver"

  • "well trained" implies either thought or concept inspiration: God "trains" the prophet with thoughts or concepts

  • "his own will" implies the prophet decides what words are used to express the message

  • this sounds remarkably like thought inspiration or concept inspiration

    • turner's research argument: lk1:1-4 "luke researched the life of Christ prior to his writing his gospel"

  • "traced the course" (παρηκολουθηκοτι): mk16:17 "follow"; 2tim3:10 "fully known"

  • jer36:10-11; jn12:47-50; 1th2:13 both prophet's words and God's

  • lev14:34-35(God commanded to say, "it seemeth to me…" sounds a lot like what luke said…)

  • research leaves room for some of the same kinds of human fallacies/uncertainties as intuition inspiration

    • specious arguments

    specious arguments against each word chosen by God

    first person argument: "God would not use first person for things written about the prophets or third person about himself"

  • ex3:18 (God commanded moses to say these words about himself in first person)

  • ac2:25-32 (david wrote this by supernatural revelation in first person about Christ)

  • 2chr34:23-24 (God commanded huldah to say, "God said to say, 'God said…'")

  • jer14:17 (God commanded jeremiah to say this in first person about himself)

  • hos14:2-3 (God commanded words to be spoken to himself in first person.)

  • lev14:34-35(God commanded to say words in the first person)

  • yet others: ex7:16; ex13:14; deut6:21

    • pache's style argument: "mechanical dictation would have produced a complete uniformity [of style] on all the pages of the bible"

  • God spoke to the prophet and his audience in language and style they understood best

  • he didn't speak to hebrews in chinese or the greek-speaking world in egyptian

  • Without witnesses/evidence, cannot prove what "the prophet's style" was; it can only be proven to have style different than other books

  • the prophet's own style is likely to be the most understandable both to him and his audience

    • personal commentary argument: "God would not make comments about the prophets' personal thoughts and feelings"

  • No one was more familiar with the innermost thoughts of the prophets than almighty, omniscient God

  • God gave inspired testimony to the prophets' personal words & thoughts & personal feelings

    • ignorance argument: 1co1:16 "omniscient God would not be uncertain who was baptized by paul"

  • God gave inspired testimony to paul's lack of knowledge

  • we can only guess why God chose not to reveal this information

  • the question of why he withheld it is problematic to any theory of inspiration

  • unless you doubt the inerrancy (jn10:35) and sufficient completeness (2pe1:3) of the word itself… (i.e., limited by fallable human mind)

    • the flawed statement argument: "God would not inspire someone to make a flawed statement"

  • for instance, he would not inspire someone to say something like, "i am become a fool" (2co11:17; 2co12:11)

  • (1co2:13; jn10:35; jn8:32) these are inspired examples of what not to do/say

    • personal judgement

    the scriptures comment on paul's personal judgement

    inspired record of uninspired judgement or words: mt4:3; lk5:22; 1sam27:1; gen7:17

    God knows men's thoughts and could tell the prophets words to write about their own thoughts

    we either believe these or not: 1co2:13; 2pe1:21 nothing but the Holy Spirit's words; jn10:35 "scripture cannot be broken"; jn8:32 not "maybe truth maybe not"

    "i speak not by commandment" (1co7:6; 1co7:25-26): inspired comment on uninspired judgement that God wanted us to be aware of

  • "by" (κατα) is “regarding”: the permission was for them to do it, not for him to speak it

  • other passages using κατα this way: rom9:5; rom11:28; 2co11:21; eph4:22; php3:6; rom4:1; heb9:9; php4:11

    • "i speak, not the Lord" (1co7:12): "i say" is inspired comment on uninspired judgement (as opposed to commandment); God wanted us to know about it but did not bind it on us

  • otherwise, is "I say" not inspired of God? rom9:1 "i say" clearly inspired by the Holy Spirit

    • "i think i have the Spirit of God" (2co7:40): must be irony; otherwise, if we are unsure of the truth of one statement in scripture, we can't be sure of any of them

    x

    interpretation

    2pe1:20-21: no personal explanation because prophecy came from God

  • "prophecy" is all of God's word: 1co14:3; pr31:1ff

    • gen40:8: interpretations belong to God

    why don't we have to explain the explanation? at some point one must simply understand (2tim2:7; jas1:5; eph3:4; lk24:45; 2pe1:3; ps119:130)

    gen41:16: it is not in me; God will give an answer

    dan2:26-28,30: daniel (a wise man), "wise men cannot interpret it, but God can"

    proverb or vision: to be understood after it happened

  • dan12:8-9: words closed up until the time of the end

  • jn13:18-19: understand when it came to pass so they would believe (in his deity)

    • 1pe1:10-12: prophets (including daniel) asked for interpretation of their own prophecies

    x

    judging (κρινω)

    types of judgement

  • determining guilt: 1co5:3,12-13; 1co6:1-7

  • discerning what is best or correct: lk7:41-43; 1co10:15-16; 2co5:14; 1co7:37

  • discernment whether an action is morally right or wrong: lk12:56-57; ac4:19; ac15:19; ac16:4; 1co11:13

  • condemnation or final judgement: jas4:11-12; 1co4:5; jn8:10-11; rom14:13

    • only final judgement forbidden

  • 1co4:5 final judgement: "until the Lord come"

  • jas4:11-12 condemnation: "judge the law" & "lawgiver" = make up our own rules

  • jn12:47-48+1pe4:11+1co2:13: my words will judge you because…

  • heb6:6; jas5:20; titus3:10-11; heb10:26-27: unbelievers condemned

  • so "before the time" is about disciples's final judgement

    • what will judge?

    don't have to pretend we don't know about those outside of Christ

  • jn12:47-48 the word judges, so i'm not

  • 1co5:13 “God judges (condemns) those without“

  • 2tim2:10; 2tim3:15 “salvation is in Christ” period!

  • heb6:6; jas5:20; ti3:10-11; heb10:26-27 those who repudiate the truth not saved

  • God told us what his judgement will be: (1pe1:17; mt25:31-40; mt25:41-46; mt7:21-23; 2th1:7-9; ecc12:13-14; pr24:12; rev20:12-13; rom2:5-10)

  • rom7:9: implies innocents not outside of Christ

  • (see also topic "baptism" exceptions)

    • 1co4:4-5 "judge nothing" not categorical

  • "judge not any" context whether paul (a christian) is saved

  • context is "hidden things" and "counsels of the heart"

  • "i know nothing against myself yet not hereby justified"

    • ezk18:20-24 all deeds judged, but the final state of a man is the verdict

    x

    judged by works

    final judgement is always by works without exception

  • rom2:5-10; rev20:12-13; mat16:27; pr24:12; 1pe1:17; ecc12:13-14; 2th1:7-9; mat7:21-23; mat25:31-40; mat25:41-46; 2cor5:9-10; jn5:29; rev22:12; rev2:23

  • heb11:4: this is the significance of works "witness he was righteous"

  • jas2:22: works first transform then bear witness

  • ezk18:20-24 all deeds judged, but the final state of a man is the verdict

  • mt25:35: small % can't feed hungry 1tim5:8;1sam15:22 (hindered)

  • mt25:15,21,26;1tim6:17-19: using abilities we are given is mandatory

    • judged by other things too

  • mt10:33: believe Jesus is the Son of God

  • mt12:37: our words

  • 1co16:22: love God

  • rom7:16-17: consent to the covenant

  • works is only one always mentioned

    • x

    "justified"

    "justify" (δικαιοω): "regard as righteous"

    lk16:15: men justify the unjust (jer17:9 because deceived/deceitful)

    rom5:19: God justifes those he made just (because God cannot lie ti1:2)

    (see also: topic "romans grace & faith" imputed and pretends)

    x

    grace-only talking points

    see also topic: saved by… (saved by grace alone)

    see also topic: earning salvation

    see also topic: none righteous

    see also topic: filthy rags

    see also topic: good enough

    see also topic: not to call the righteous

    see also topic: God hid his face

    see also topic: ridiculous extremes

    see also topic: pharisee & publican

    flawless law-keeping

    "'perfect' (i.e., flawless) law-keeping means i’m doomed!"

  • jas2:22; rom5:3-5: commands are for transformation (not score-keeping)

  • lk12:47; 2pe1:10-11: and transformation is required

    • false dilemma: "'justified by works' requires flawless execution"

  • "either flawless works required, or no works at all required"

  • ("presumes law-keeping would be required for its own sake")

  • false! if saved requires transform, and transform requires works!!!

  • 1jn4:16-17; jas2:22; jas1:3-4; rom5:3-5: doing required to transform

  • lk12:47; rom8:13; 2pe1:5-11 "these things": transformation required for salvation

    • why can't we know/do all the will of God?

  • 2pe1:3-4; jn8:31-32; php3:15: we can know it all (mt28:20)

  • 1jn5:3: we can keep any of them (if not, which?)

  • 1pe4:1: we can keep all of them

  • any narrative that construes any command impossible denies 1co10:13 & 1pe4:1

  • (see also topic "the impossibles")

  • 2co13:11; 1co15:34: sin to think humans can obey these?

  • rom2:6-7; col1:28; col4:12: sin to do this?

  • 1pe4:1-2; 1jn2:1: you won't necessarily sin (and recourse if you do)

  • an accident is not a sin, and a sin is not an accident

  • an accident is not the same as a sin of ignorance

    • what's the practical difference?

  • cease from sin with safety net: (prepare=transform+abound not optional)

  • grace-only with outward manifestation: (sinner at top/bottom no different)

    • rom3:27: "'law-keeping' is always pride/boasting"

  • is pride the only sin not covered by the blood of Christ?

  • rom3:29-30 (rom2:17,23,29): "boast" context is jews vs. gentiles & circumcision

  • (see also topic "pharisee & publican")

    • jas1:3-4; 1pe5:10: trials imply commands & transform

    ac14:22+2tim3:12+rom5:3: trials imply transform (enter kingdom)

    (see also topic "earning salvation")

    "in Christ" = saved

    jn10:9: "either in Christ & saved or outside & lost"

    reality: disciple also may be in Christ but lost

  • mt13:40-42: lost still in the kingdom at end of world

  • heb10:26: no more sacrifice (still believes heb10:27)

  • 1co5:5: dis-fellowshipped but still a brother

  • gal5:19-21: christians not exempt from this

  • jas5:19-20: (brother err) converted = soul saved from death

    • specific examples of in Christ but lost

  • mt19:9: adulterous marriage

  • 1jn3:15: hate a brother

    • remain in God's presence

    only God-level righteousness can remain in God's presence

  • hab1:13: passage itself falsifies taking this literally (gen6:12, etc.)

  • lk1:19 gabriel (and michael); rev8:2 angels; rev7:11 beasts; ps18:10 cherubims; isa6:1-2 seraphims

    • no one guilty of sin can remain in God's presence (absolution)

  • gen5:24 enoch; ex33:11,15 moses sinned but in God's presence

  • (note: someone's past sins forgiven in rom3:25, but whose?)

  • (ps32:5; ps99:8 impossible to prove sins pre-Christ "rolled forward")

    • change of mind real key to remaining in God's presence

  • ps51:10-11; ps140:13 david: "presence" requires right spirit

  • rom8:13; rom12:2; lk12:47: change of heart also ultimately required

  • rom8:6-7; rom7:16-17: become not an enemy (ezk18:21-23; ac10:35; 2co5:9-10; heb13:21)

    • note: heb10:26 (2pe2:19-20; col1:21): friend becomes enemy same way

    "grateful grace"

    this is a critical weakness in grace-only salvation: ("weak point; shout here")

    rom6:2; gal5:16 construed: "gratefulness/Spirit compels us to live godly"

  • improved in some vague way to some vague extent

  • jude1:4: "grateful grace" narrative is a myth!

  • rule (not exception) grace-only unapologetic for "endorsed" sins (e.g., fornication, profanity, covet, pride, etc.)

    • unapologetic sin quandary for grace-only: either…

  • are saved: (admits licentious grace jude1:4)

  • not saved: (effectively defeats "not of works")

    • if unapologetic sin not saved

  • works still effectively required

  • "not of works" becomes a technicality

    • if only those with outward-show saved

  • how much? (sinner at top/bottom effectively no different)

    • if remorse is only difference for salvation

  • sinner at top/bottom still effectively no different

    • indwelling replaces law

    theory: "natural outgrowth" replaces careful study/observance of law

  • gal5:16: "indwelling compels us to change our lives"

  • in effect becomes a substitute for searching law/doctrine of Christ

  • improves in some vague way to some vague extent

  • otherwise, “don’t have the Spirit” (not really saved)

    • gal5:18,22: "fruit/led of the Spirit means not under law"

  • can't divide between fruit and law: (jn13:34; eph5:9) love is both fruit and command

  • 2jn1:6; 1jn5:3: loving God is keeping his commands

  • jn15:10; jn14:21: keep commands is required to remain in God's love (but we are lost if we do it for that reason???)

  • how do we know what “love” is (vs. fornication/lying) unless we know his laws?

    • knowing doctrine matters

  • 1tim4:13-16; 2jn1:9: doctrine is a salvation issue

  • 2jn1:10-11; 1tim6:3-5; ti2:10; ti1:9: can't disregard doctrine

  • 2tim4:3-4; eph4:14: ignorance of doctrine is dangerous

    • knowing details matters

  • mt19:9: adulterous marriage

  • eph5:19: instrument

  • 1co11:29: proper observance of communion

    • we can know the truth

  • 2pe1:3: we have it all

  • jn8:31-32; mt7:7+pr2:4-5: God promised we can know it

  • php3:15; jn7:17; jas1:5: God promised to reveal it

    • x

    justified by works

    jas2:24: "working faith, not works" narrative (rom4:2; gal2:16)

  • rom4:10; gal2:15: context is circumcision & jews/gentiles

  • jas2:16; gal6:2; jn13:34; 1jn3:17: context is law of Christ

  • jas2:21,24,25: "justified by works" 3 times

  • the fact you feel compelled to change wording proves its not the same

    • jas2:14,24: "justified by men" narrative

  • question being answered: "can faith [without works] save him?"

  • human justification does not save: but this kind of justification does save

  • "human opinion" spin must be injected (never stated)

  • jas2:21,25: "justified by works" expressed as statement of fact

  • is "faith without works" actually dead: or is it mere human opinion?

  • "faith perfected by works": another real (not fake) benefit of works

  • if only human justification: "faith perfected by works" completely off-topic

    • rebuttal of faith-only via james

  • jas2:17,20,26: "faith without works is dead"

  • jas2:24: "not justified by faith only"

  • jas2:21,25: "abraham/rahab were justified by works"

  • jas2:22: "faith was made complete by works"

  • 1jn3:7: (works are both the means & evidence of transformation)

    • x

    justify the ungodly

    rom4:5 "God justifies the ungodly" is the same logical pattern as "God saves the lost"

  • once he saves them: they aren't lost anymore

  • once he justifies them: they aren't ungodly anymore

    • jude1:15; 2pe3:7 God will not justify those who remain ungodly

  • pr17:15; ex23:7: ungodly ("wicked" rasha רָשָׁע) not justified

    • "ungodly" in the past

    "ungodly" is what they were before they were made righteous and justified

    same as, "God saves the lost": "lost" is what they were before they were saved

    1tim1:15: "chief of sinners" but he was no longer committing those sins (e.g. killing christians)

    rom5:19 (context for rom5:1,9,16,18) God justifies those whom he has "made righteous" because they are righteous

    "worketh not" narrative

    rom4:5: grace-only narrative: vaguely "worketh not some things"

    proves too much

  • "worketh not" categorically proves too much

  • rom4:5: if “worketh not” is law categorically, grace truly is licentious

  • necessarily implies very thing grateful-grace denies

  • saved people could abandon the works of the law of Christ!

  • jude1:4: condemns licentious grace

  • law of moses fits this perfectly; law categorically does not

    • "worketh not" 2 possibilities

  • "worketh not but believeth" could be 1 of 2 things

    1. may be law of moses

    2. may be the spiritual mind (vs. flesh)

  • rom7:18: the spiritual mind consents to the law

  • rom7:17,20,25: the spiritual mind does not sin (but the flesh sometimes does)

  • rom8:6-7: the spiritual (alive) mind is subject to God

    • ultimately must kill the deeds too

  • rom8:13: to avoid being lost ultimately must kill the deeds of the body

  • rom8:11: "give life to your bodies" must be taken in context

  • Christ's resurrection figure of overcoming the flesh (similar to rom6:5,9)

    • x

    Spirit πνευμα

    1st century greek had no distinction of proper names by capitalization

    (hebrew still doesn't: see also ruach רוּחַ)

    almost 100% of personal indwelling doctrine relies on translation ambiguities and translator bias

    Translations of "πνευμα":

  • a breeze, breath, or current of air: (jn3:8)

  • a spiritual being like an angel, a ghost, or a demon: (lk24:36-37; mt10:1; mk1:23; heb1:7; lk4:33)

  • a mind(set) or mental disposition: (eph4:23; 2tim1:7; 1jn4:6; rom1:4; 1co2:12; 1co4:21)

  • things of spiritual nature: (jn3:6)

  • the spirit of man: (1co2:11)

  • the Holy Spirit: (rev2:29)

    • x

    personal revelation

    quick list

  • "in" (εν with plural object) = "among"

  • "Spirit" without "Holy" = usually "mindset"

  • 1co6:19 "body" = the church "temple"

    • antanaclasis (mistaken as context) e.g., jn3:5,6,8; mt8:22 (see "grammar" topic)

    • 1co3:17; 2co6:16: consistently one temple many people

    • eph2:22: one temple inhabited by the Spirit (i.e., "in the church")

  • indwelling was always miraculous; there never was a “limited measure”

  • “limited measure” is a gateway theory to Pentecostalism

  • compelling thought or strong emotion = you are your own God

    • notes

    ("protestant" translators tend to personal indwelling bias)

    "non-miraculous" indwelling can be gateway to personal revelation

    to anyone compelling thought and/or strong emotion is "God speaking": their own heart is their God!

  • 2co8:16; jn13:2: God may not be the source

  • pr28:26; jer17:9: not infallable

  • pr14:12; 2co11:14: satan makes untruth seem compelling

  • 1co4:17; 1co14:33: God will never contradict his own words

  • jn17:17; 2pe1:3; gal1:8-9: God's word source of all truth; why use anything else?

    • "indwelling" always miraculous

  • "baptized" at pentecost: ac1:5; mtt3:11; mk1:8; lk3:16; jn1:33 (cornelius ac11:16)

  • "filled" at pentecost: ac2:4 (churches ac4:31; ac13:52 & individuals lk1:15,41,67; ac9:17; lk4:1; ac4:8; ac6:3,5; ac7:55; ac11:24)

  • "poured" at pentecost: ac2:17 (cornelius ac10:45)

  • "come/fallen upon" at pentecost: ac1:8; ac11:15 (cornelius ac11:15 & samaria ac8:16 & church ac19:6 & individual lk1:35)

  • "gift/given" at pentecost: ac11:17; ac2:38 (cornelius ac10:45; ac11:17; ac15:8 & samaria ac8:18)

  • "promise" at pentecost: ac2:33; ac1:4; lk24:49; ac2:39

  • "received" at pentecost: ac1:8; ac2:33; ac2:38 (cornelius ac10:47 & samaria ac8:15,17,19 & church ac19:2)

  • "limited measure" not clearly mentioned/described

  • (see also "gifts ceased" below)

  • (see also topic "Spirit πνευμα")

  • (see also topic "grammar tips" subtopic "εν (among)")

    • body temple

    1co6:19: "your body is the temple"

    arguments for physical body

  • jn2:21: physical body called "temple"

  • 1pe1:13 vs lk10:27: plural "you" with singular noun is a thing

  • 1co6:13-18: physical body context

    • arguments for church body

  • physical context is not the only explanation of "body"

  • antanaclasis (an-tə-NA-clə-səs): intentional use of a word in different senses

  • examples: jn3:5,6,8 spirit/wind; mt8:22 dead; 1th5:6-7,10 sleep (see also topic "antanaclasis")

  • switch from 1co6:15 "your bodies" to 1co6:19-20 "your body"

  • 1co6:19-20: the body of believers (church eph2:21; 1co3:16-17; 2co6:16)

  • eph2:20-22: Spirit provably dwells in the one temple

  • "in you" (εν = "among" with plural object)

  • examples: 2pe2:8; mt16:7; mt20:26-27; mk6:4; lk2:44; lk7:16; lk10:3

    • 5 arguments against fornication

  • 1co6:15: our bodies belong to Christ

  • 1co6:16-17: a man's spirit is joined to the Lord

  • 1co6:18: sin against a man's own body

  • 1co6:19: "temple" belongs to God

  • 1co6:20: "body" should glorify God

    • context not 100% physical

  • 1co6:13-14: physical body

  • 1co6:15: physical bodies (of church members)

  • 1co6:16: physical body

  • 1co6:17: "spirit" (not physical body)

  • 1co6:18: physical body & "without the body"

  • 1co6:19-10: "temple" body

    • gifts ceased

    3 indications gifts ceased

    purpose of miracles

  • lk4:25-27: primary purpose not charity

  • heb2:3-4; ac2:22; jn3:2; mk16:20; mk16:17-18; mt12:28; ex19:9; 2ki1:9-10: bear witness to new revelation

  • i only need to sign my will once

  • gal1:8-9: no more new revelation after 1st century

  • jas1:25; 2pe1:3; 1co13:10; 2ti3:16-17: revelation perfect (complete)

    • end of gifts prophesied

  • zec13:1-2: "land" אֶרֶץ often translated "earth" (prophecy of Christ zec13:6-7)

  • 1co13:8-10: prophecy/tongues cease when "the perfect thing" comes

  • future to corinthian epistle

  • "perfect" is oddly neuter (i.e., not Christ)

  • jas1:25: "perfect law of liberty" is a thing (not a person)

    • nature of gifts

  • ex8:18-19: modern "gifts" all can be faked

  • unverifiable: "tongues" babbling, "prophecy" trickery, psychosomatic, etc.

  • new testament gifts verified

  • mt15:30-31; mk3:3-5: regeneration of limbs

  • ac3:2-8: known disability/healing

  • jn11:39,44; mt14:17-21; mt8:3; jn9:1,6,8,20-21: provably unnatural

  • jn3:2; jn11:47-48; mk6:2-5: hostile witness

  • deut13:1-3: doctrine must still match scripture

  • 1co14:33: prophecies cannot conflict

  • God will not contradict his own word

  • ac17:24-28; mt10:29; pr21:31; ps147:6-9: not every act of God is miracle

  • jas1:5; pr2:3-6: only inspiration infallable (jn13:2; ac5:3; pr28:26; jer17:9)

    • gift to "all afar off"

  • ac2:39: "the promise" to those afar off

  • ac22:21; eph2:12-13; eph2:17: μακραν gentiles were "afar off"

  • "you and your children" as many of those 2 generations as were called

  • ac2:33: "the promise" of Holy Spirit involved tongues & inspired prophecy

  • this witness was given once (1st century) for the entire church

    • x

    not under law

    "not under law" vs "the law"

  • rom6:14; gal5:18; gal3:23,25; gal4:21: “not under the law”

  • 1co9:21: we are “under law” (εννομος) to Christ

  • description fits law of moses perfectly

  • categorical law creates impossible conundrums

    • grace-only: "'law' is categorical"

    grace-only: "not under any law at all"

  • "no law" makes sin (transgression) impossible (rom4:15; 1jn3:4)

  • "can't sin" makes some passages false/meaningless

  • 1jn5:16-17: brethren can sin "not unto death"

  • 1jn2:1: "if we sin" proves it is possible

  • jas5:14-15: "if he committed sins" proves it is possible

  • jas2:9: disciples can sin by partiality

  • jas1:14-15: "every man is tempted [to sin]" proves it is possible for us

  • heb12:1: "[lay] aside…sin" means we have sin to lay aside

  • heb10:26: "if we sin willfully" proves we can sin

  • 1tim5:20: "those that sin" proves we can sin

  • 1co8:12: we can sin against our brethren

  • rom6:12: "don't let sin reign in your body" proves we can sin

  • ac8:22: "pray for forgiveness" proves Simon could sin

    • grace-only theory

    grace-only "not under law" theory

    1. impossibly hard to keep the law

    2. so Christ makes us not under law's condemnation

    3. but Spirit compels saved to keep it anyway

    "law-keeping impossibly hard"

  • "Failing to perfectly [flawlessly] keep the law results in condemnation and separation from God."

  • only true if objective is record-keeping

  • false if objective is transformation

  • law of Christ is framework for transformation

  • (aka pattern/instruction) lk6:40; rom6:17; jn13:15; 2tim3:15+2tim3:16-17; 2pe1:3-4

  • God's laws are not unbearable (1jn5:3; 1co10:13; eph6:13; 1pe1:1)

    • "so God freed us from law"

  • "Being ‘not under the law’ means believers are freed from condemnation [of law]." (because substitution)

  • "not under law" exempts from law, itself (rom4:15)

  • more than just the condemnation of law

  • fits law of moses exactly, but not law categorically

    • "God moves us to do it anyway"

  • (always to some vague extent: best/worst sinner no different)

  • dilemma: "not of works" either licentious or a technicality

  • rom4:5: "any law"+"worketh not" implies licentious, but most choose "outward show"

  • (see topic "grace-only talking points" section "grateful grace")

    • implications of categorical law

    "not under any law" = no condemnation + no rules

  • "no rules" = nothing to transgress

  • (e.g., italy’s mop law; mexico’s bike law)

  • literally can’t break that law right here & now (not under it)

    • "no transgression" = no sin

  • 1jn3:4; rom4:15: sin = transgression of law

  • without law, we literally can't sin in the first place

  • not just auto-forgiven, it's impossible

    • heb10:26: no need for a sacrifice

    • rom8:34: nothing to intercede for

    • 1jn2:1: nothing to advocate for

    • 1jn1:9: nothing to confess/forgive

    • 1jn1:7: nothing to cleanse

    if sin is impossible, what do these mean? (heb10:26; 1jn5:16; jas4:17; jas2:9)

    1co9:21: we are “under law” (εννομος) to Christ

    condemnation is possible

  • rom8:1: this is conditional, not absolute

  • jas5:9: grudge

  • jas2:13: unmerciful

  • mt18:34-35: not forgive

  • mt25:41-42: no charity (mt25:34-35,46)

    • recourse if we do sin (1jn2:1)

  • different than grace-only blanket exemption

  • heb10:26: not willful sin

  • 1jn2:1: requires an advocate, but not just an advocate

  • 1jn1:9; pr28:13: confess & forsake (way of life, not itemize)

  • rom7:25+rom8:1; rom8:6-7: serve God with mind therefore no condemnation

  • (but eventually must kill deeds of body: rom8:13)

    • x

    not justified by law

    faith-only: "grace & law mutually exclusive for salvation"

  • faith-only: "grace itself & law itself mutually exclusive for justification"

  • "mutually exclusive" fits law of moses perfectly

  • creates conundrums if law categorical

    • (see also topic "not under law")

    (see also topic "not of works")

    (see also topic "grace-only talking points")

    (see also topic "new testament is law")

    categorical law

    gal5:4 not justified by law categorical?

  • if so, that would include the law of Christ

  • false dilemma: "it's either faith or works (of law of Christ)" implies works-only

  • no one in human history ever argued new testament works-only salvation

  • question always only ever: faith-only vs. faith and works

  • rom3:28 justified by faith and not "the law": rom3:29; gal3:17 context provably the law of moses

  • gal4:24,31 paul says "faith or the law": because you can't be saved by two laws!

  • ac13:39; rom3:27: the two laws are the law of Moses vs. the law of faith in Christ

  • jas2:14,24: we are justified+saved by both works and faith

  • mt25:25: parable of talents is about cheap grace

    • proves too much

    to pit law against faith categorically: proves too much

  • categorical instead of "law of faith vs. law of moses": fundamentally changes the question!

  • gal5:18+rom6:14; rom4:15; 1jn3:4 (1co9:21 εννομος!!): if you're not under a law you can't sin

  • 1jn1:9: if you can't sin, there's nothing to confess or be forgiven of

  • jas1:14-15; gal6:1; jas1:2,12; 1co7:5: can't sin, can't be tempted to sin

  • 1jn5:16; 1jn2:1; jas5:16: can't sin, can't pray for or receive forgiveness

  • 1jn2:1-2; rom8:26,34: don't need an advocate or intercessor

  • 1tim1:15: "sinners" (world) amenable to law of Christ, but we're not?!

  • 1jn3:4: "you're all going to hell because you transgress our law; "join us so you can be exempt from our law like we are…"

    • grace no more grace

    rom11:6 faith-only construes this to support categorical grace

    [selection by] grace/works: is no longer [selection by] grace/works

    selected because God likes us (pleased), not because he's obligated

    “grace no more grace”: is about how we are chosen, not about how we are justified

  • rom11:5: "election of grace" & rom8:6-7 "mind pleases!" & rom7:25 "mind"

  • rom9:11 & 2tim2:25 & 2pe1:10 sure=firm: chosen by grace not works (1co13:3)

  • lev26:25 "do this or I'll kill you" not grace, not designed to please God

  • 1co5:9-10+rom3:21 works that please God don't require the law of moses

  • mt23:23 weightier matters; pr15:8+pr21:27 sacrifice of wicked: non-grace

  • rom2:13; jas2:14,24: we are justified by works

    • x

    romans grace & faith

    rom2:6-7: eternal life to those who seek [eternal life] by patiently continuing in good work

    rom2:13: the doers of the law shall be justified

  • rom2:26: righteousness of the law not include circumcision

  • rom3:21: righteousness of God witnessed by the law

  • rom3:20: contrasted with "deeds of the law" (e.g., circumcision rom3:1,30; rom2:26)

  • mt22:36-40+deut6:5+lev19:18: the righteousness of God is to love God and love your neighbor

  • rom12:20+pr25:21-22; etc.: the righteousness of God is to feed our enemy etc.

  • rom8:4-7: righteousness of the law is to be spiritually minded

    • rom11:22: cut off if not "continue in his goodness" (xref heb10:26-31 "he was sanctified")

    rom5:19: God justifies those he has "made righteous," first the mind (rom7:17,21), then the man (rom8:13)

  • rom5:17 righteousness is the "gift": (not pretend we have righteousness)

  • rom5:18-19: "made righteous" is how justification comes upon us

  • 2co3:18 μεταμορφοω; 2pe1:4: "righteousness of one" transforms

  • 1jn3:7 καθως; rev3:21 ὡς: "made righteous" is to become, not pretend

  • rom5:16,18: righteousness ("the free gift" rom5:17) results in justification

  • rom5:21: grace, δια (by means of) righteousness, results in eternal life

    • "not justified by the law"

    rom3:20; rom4:13-14: how are we "not justified by the law"?

    paul commissioned to teach that gentiles not under law of moses: ac15:22-29; rom11:13; 2tim1:11; 1tim2:7

    context of "not justified by law/works" explicitly law of moses

  • context: moses (4x), jew(11x) vs gentile(21x) rom3:9,29; circumcision(26x) rom2:28-29

  • eph2:9; ti3:5 the 2 exceptions to that rule are ephesus/titus

  • ac20:31;2co8:23: no one knew this doctrine better than ephesus and titus (he was paul's partner)

    • without exception every specific example of law/work that does not justify is from law of moses

  • lev12:3 vs 1co7:19 & gal5:2; lev11:46-47 vs rom14:14; lev11:25 vs heb9:10; ex31:14 vs col2:16

  • the works of the law of Christ are not treated that way!!! mt25:34-35,41-42,46; 1jn3:15,17; jas2:12-13,9; gal6:2; jas2:15-17; jas2:14,24

  • rom2:26 "deeds of the law [of moses]" (like circumcision) very specifically not the same as "the righteousness of the law"

  • the law of moses bore witness to God's righteousness (rom3:21; rom2:26 [rom2:21-22; mt22:36-40; lk10:27; eph6:2])

    • spin: rom6:14; rom4:14-15 "not under law = not under any law" proves too much

  • similar spin: rom4:15-16 inherit by "faith-only" because "all" law works wrath (no law no transgression 1jn3:4)

  • means we can't sin at all, if not under any law at all (but we provably can sin: 1jn1:8; 1jn2:1; 1jn5:16; 1co6:18)

  • no sin means nothing to ask forgiveness for (but we are commanded to pray for forgiveness: lk11:4; 1jn1:9; jas5:15)

  • rom7:17,20; 1jn3:6; 1jn5:18: "sinneth not" in these passages does not support "not under any law": because

  • context is sin of the mind vs flesh (see also rom8:10-13) and we provably can sin (1jn2:1)

  • rom5:20; 1jn3:4 logic of "law works wrath": a primary purpose of law of moses was that sin might abound (lev12:3;lev11:46-47; lev11:25; ex31:14)

  • rom5:17; heb9:9,14; heb7:19; heb10:1-2+heb13:20-21: by contrast faith in the blood of Christ can make us righteous

  • first fallback is, "we could sin but we sin less because grace": but if "less sin," how much less? 99%? 1%?

  • last fallback is, "sin degrades quality of life": but that means i can sin with impunity as long as i can tolerate the "hardships"

    • "righteousness imputed to those who disobey"?

    rom4;5-8,20-24: is "righteousness imputed to those who disobey"?

    rom4:11,13: faith counted for righteousness because it is righteous

    ti1:2;heb6:18;1jn3:17-20: God doesn't pretend/pronounce us righteous when we are not actually righteous

    "impute" (λογιζομαι) is "take inventory": see also "accounting" heb11:19; "numbered" mk15:28

    rom4:4 works of the law of moses are not counted as debt by God: only a jew would reckon that way

    ps32:1-2 david both confessed and forsook his sins of adultery/murder: pr28:13

    "God justifies the ungodly" is the same grammatical form as "God saves the lost": once he justifies them, they aren't ungodly anymore

    (see also topic "imputed & imparted")

    "God pretends we are righteousness"?

    rom3:22;rom5:1;rom5:9;rom5:15-19: does "justify" mean God pretends we have his "divine righteousness"?

    rom5:18-19: God justifies those he has "made righteous"

  • "as" (ὡσπερ): is "exactly like"

  • "so" (οὑτω): is "in this manner"

  • rom5:12: context of sin by following example

    • rom5:17: is "the gift of righteousness" credit for righteousness or being made righteous (rom5:19)?

  • 2pe1:4; rom5:19: God does not pretend we are righteous; he makes us righteous

  • the gift: is not [credit for] righteousness but righteousness [itself, in our selves]

    • what is the process (as opposed to substitution)?

  • lk22:20;1pe2:21;(php3:10-11+jn5:29 be "conformable" to attain): Jesus' blood created/defined the covenant

  • php2:5-8;rom7:25;rom6:13: we agree to the covenant & serve righteousness/God

  • heb8:10;heb10:16;rom11:26-27: God writes his law in our hearts/minds & forgives us

  • rom7:17,20,25: we are made righteous in our minds, because my mind no longer sins

  • rom5:19: God justifes those who he made righteous [in mind]

  • rom8:12-13: but that can't always be the full extent of it, and it won't be rom8:10-11

  • rom12:2;rom8:13;eph6:13: this new mind transforms our lives; therefore, we live (don't die)

    • rom3:25: "propitiation thru faith in his blood"

  • substitution says: faith provides forgiveness-only for salvation

  • "propitiation": ἱλαστηριον is a thing which reconciles

  • col1:21: reconciled by believing & agreeing to the covenant (col1:21-22 "by wicked works")

    • rom3:25: declare his righteousness for remission of past sins

  • "remission": παρεσις is to omit/tolerate

  • heb8:12: this is the covenant not to remember our sins

    • rom3:26;rom5:18-19: declare his righteousness to justify us

  • substitution says: God declares Christ's righteousness to be ours

  • to be justified: we must be made righteous

  • to be made righteous: we must know what righteousness is

    • rom5:21: righteousness by Jesus results in eternal life

  • jn17:3: eternal life is knowing God & Christ

  • 1jn4:7-8;1jn3:15,17;lk10:25-28;1tim6:18-19: this includes knowing the love of Christ

    • rom3:9-18 none righteous: [see topic "none rightous"] is about ethnicities (jew vs gentile) & cannot be "no righteous individuals"

  • gen22:12; ex1:17,21; neh7:2; job1:1,8; job2:3; ac10:2: no individuals fear of God?

  • 2ch15:4; 2ch17:4; ps78:34; ex33:7; ps34:4; ps77:2: no individuals seek God?

    • rom10:3: "their own righteousness" rather than God's righteousness

  • mk7:7-9: the pharisees righteousness is things like Corban

  • rom6:16,19,22;rom2:6-7: doing righteousness results in eternal life

    • rom4:25;rom5:6: Jesus was "delivered for our offenses"

  • "for": is not "instead of" us but "on our behalf"

  • rom6:16,19,22;rom2:6-7: to provide a covenant that frees us from slavery to sin

  • heb8:10;heb10:16;rom11:26-27: to provide the covenant that makes us righteous

    • rom4:25: Jesus was "raised to justify us"

  • rom5:18-19: God justifies those he has "made righteous"

  • 1pe1:3;rom8:23-25;rom5:5;1jn3:2-3;heb6:11-12;2co5:15: "made righteous" by hope of the resurrection

    • x

    place of transformation

    rom12:2: transform commanded

    rom8:29; lk6:40; titus2:14; eph1:4: the purpose of the called

    2co3:18: ("we all are being changed" μεταμορφοω present continuous)

    salvation issue: lk12:47 (see "saved prepared" below)

    rom9:23 prepared unto glory: ("glory" 2co3:18; col1:27; 1pe2:20; 1pe1:7; rom2:7,10)

    this life is the place of preparation/transformation (not after death)

  • a priori transformed between death/heaven: a) living always sin, & b) no sin in heaven

  • 2pe3:9; 1tim2:4: if "transformed after death" is how it works, nobody would be lost

    • transform is salvation issue

  • the saved prepared herself (by adorning): rev19:7-8+rev21:2 "arrayed"

  • adorn: mt22:11-13; 1pe3:3ff; ti2:10; rom13:12; eph4:24; eph6:11; col3:10; col3:12-14

  • other “prepared” salvation passages: rev19:7; 2tim2:21; lk1:17; lk12:47

  • rom8:29 "conformed" (συμμορφος) that we might be his brethren

  • ετοιμος prepared "ready": mt24:44; mt25:10; rom9:23; lk12:40

  • suitable (ετοιμαζω) for the master: 2tim2:21 (vs dishonor/unsuitable)

    • 2pe1:5-11: adding "these things" οὑτω how we enter kingdom

    Christ "in me" and "new man" imply transformation: gal2:20; col3:10-11; col1:27; rom8:29; eph3:17; eph4:24

    x

    logical fallacies

    ad hominem: personal attack

    appeal to pity: force concession out of pity ("you're a mean person if you say…")

    appeal to (dubious) authority: appealing to authority that is biased or otherwise flawed

    bandwagon fallacy: "everyone believes it"

    begging the question: circular reasoning ("x proves y and y proves x") or assume the premise

    either/or fallacy (false dilemma fallacy): e.g., "it's either a or b" when it's a and b

    equivocation fallacy: using dual meanings of a word to prove a false point

    genetic fallacy: rejecting an argument or assertion based on its origin (without due cause)

    loaded question: every answer is incriminating ("have you stopped beating your wife")

    red herring: divert attention to a different question

    special pleading: "for thee and not for me"

    straw man: oppose a position nobody argues

    tu quoque: "it must not be wrong because you do it too"

    x

    lost by…

    doing specific things

    lack of temperance: 1co9:27 (1co9:24 obtain crown; 1co9:25 temperance to obtain)

    no more sacrifice: heb10:26

    he was sanctified: heb10:28-29 "he was sanctified"

    denying Christ: mt10:33; 2tim2:12

    Lord's supper and foods: 1co11:29,34; rom14:23

    grudge: jas5:9

    denied the faith: 1tim5:8

    x

    lying

    eph4:25: put away lying

    pr6:17: God hates lying tongue

    pr12:22: liars abomination to God

    pr26:28: lying is hatred

    rev22:15: "a lie" not enter heaven

    rev21:8: al liars lost

    pr19:5,9: liar punished & perish

    pr21:6: lying tongue danger

    pr12:19: liar not established

    pr19:22: poor better than liar

    pr17:7: lying shameful

    x

    merit (unmerited)

    (see also topic "worthy")

    expression, "merit salvation" never occurs anywhere in scripture

    "merit"/"unmerited": never occur anywhere in scripture

    rev3:4; rev22:14: "worthy" and "right" do appear in scripture

    grace "unmerited favor"?

  • col3:16; lk2:40: if always "unmerited" what is this?

  • lk6:32-34: if always "unmerited" what point is he making here?

  • (see also topic "grace comes from…")

    • no requirements at all

    "unmerited" implies no requirements at all

    "merit" ≠ "requirement"

  • "requirement": a necessary condition

  • "merit": requirement + worthy

    • requirements for salvation

  • mt25:34-35: “inherit because…”

  • jas2:13+mt5:7: show mercy to get merciful judgement

  • mt18:34-35: forgive to get forgiveness

  • jas5:9+1jn3:15: “grudge not so that not condemned”

  • lk10:25,37: “do to inherit” (love your neighbor)

  • heb6:12,15+heb10:36: “thru patience inherit”

  • 1pe3:9: “called [to forgive] that you may inherit”

    • worthy & salvation

  • grace-only narrative: "only deity could be 'worthy'"

  • hyperbole: "worthy" does not imply "great as God"

  • worthy directly tied to salvation

  • 1th2:11-12: commanded to walk [behave] worthy

  • rev3:4: “walk with me because they are worthy”

    • x

    miracles (purpose)

    mt9:6: that ye may know

    heb2:4: bearing them witness

    1ki17:24: by this i know

    zech13:2: prophets pass out of earth [אֶרֶץ]

    1co13:8-10: prophecy shall cease after "the perfect (thing [neuter noun])" is come (jas1:25)

    x

    names of God's law

    names of the law of God

    rom7:22: law of God

    gal6:2: law of Christ

    jas1:25: law of liberty

    rom3:27: law of faith

    rom8:2: law of the Spirit of life

    rom9:31+rom3:21: law of righteousness

    jas2:8+rom3:21: royal law

    names of the law of Moses

    mt5:17: "the law" (see topic "one-of-a-kind nouns")

    lk2:22: law of Moses

    rom3:27: law of works

    lk2:23: law of the Lord

    ac25:8: law of the Jews

    ac22:3: law of the fathers

    eph2:15: law of commandments

    x

    none righteous

    none righteous (rom3:10-18)

  • rom3:9 "jew/gentile" implies: races/ethnicities not individuals: (i.e., no "righteous peoples")

    • "not one individual" narrative creates conundrums

  • none seek God: 2ch15:4; 2ch17:4; ps78:34; ex33:7; ps34:4; ps77:2

  • righteous: 1jn3:7; mt13:17; mt23:29; lk1:6; jas5:16

  • righteous: "just" (δικαιος) is same word as "righteous" mt1:19; mk6:20; lk2:25; lk23:50; ac10:22; jas5:6

  • no fear of God: gen22:12; ex1:17,21; neh7:2; job1:1,8; job2:3; ac10:2

  • none understand: ps111:10; lk1:3; 1ki3:12; 1ki4:29; ezr8:16,18; neh10:28; mt:13:23

    • "individuals" also falsifies

    deceit: jn1:47

    do good: jn5:29

    good men: lk23:50; ac11:24

    redefine presumes premise

    faith-only redefines expressions: to make them impossible

  • redefinition: creates circular reasoning

  • for instance: "righteous" becomes "divine alien righteousness" to which no man can attain

  • 1jn3:7 "even as" (καθως): is "just as" or "just like" (same kind but not same magnitude)

    • bottom line is: the same passage that says "none righteous" also says

  • rom3:11 "none that seeks God": this can't possibly be talking about individuals

  • rom3:18 "no fear of God": this can't possibly be talking about individuals

    • x

    please God

    heb13:21: do God's will

    heb13:16: do good

    1th4:1: abound; how to

    col3:20: obey

    php4:18: giving

    1jn3:22: prayers answered

    2tim2:4: by not entangle

    1th2:4: by speaking

    1co7:32,34: (more) by care

    x

    accepted

    ac10:35: work righteousness

    rom14:18: serving Christ

    2co5:9-10: what we do in the body

    eph5:9-10: goodness and righteousness

    rom12:1-2: living sacrifice & transformed

    x

    not to call the righteous

    lk5:30-32: "came not to call the righteous but sinners"

    grace-only narrative

  • no one can be righteous enough for salvation

  • to be saved we must acknowledge this inability

  • not acknowledge = wrong means of salvation = lost

    • salvation not about being as righteous as God

  • lk2:25; lk23:50; titus1:8; (rom7:16-17 mind): provably righteous ("just")

  • heb12:23: "righteous enough" (vs. as righteous as God)

  • (see also "quick intro grace-only" topic "remain in God's presence")

  • 1co6:9; rom6:19,22: but doesn't mean righteous not required

  • lk12:47; 2pe1:10-11: salvation requires transformation requires works (righteous)

  • (see also "saved prepared" under “transformation” topic)

    • operative word is "repentance"

  • pharisees wouldn't repent; publicans might; disciples already did

    • one who just thinks they are righteous won’t repent

    • one who actually is righteous has already repented

    • one who knows they’re not righteous might repent

    • the latter is the type Jesus was recruiting! sinners & publicans!

  • disciples already repented

    • lk15:7: "righteous [ones] who need no repentance"

    • "lost" proves "repentance" not about individual events

    • about radical change in way of thinking (μετανοια eph4:22-23)

    x

    not created

    Jesus is not a created being

    mic5:2 “from everlasting” quoted in mt2:6 conclusive proof not created

    jw "a god" argument

  • ac20:28 “του θεου”

  • heb1:8 “ο θεος”

    • rev3:14 “beginning of the creation” is lk12:11 “magistrate” or more likely col1:18 “beginning” of the resurrection

    col1:15,18 “firstborn of every creature” is about the resurrection, not that he was created

    x

    not of works

    "not of works/law" context always law of moses

    every specific example of law/work that does not justify is law of moses

  • no exceptions to this rule!

  • circumcision: lev12:3 vs 1co7:19 & gal5:2

  • unclean meat: lev11:46-47 vs rom14:14

  • sabbath: ex31:14 vs col2:16

  • washing: lev11:25 vs heb9:10

    • the works of the law of Christ are never said to not justify or save

  • jas2:12-13,9: judgement without mercy

  • mt25:34-35,41-42,46: inherit the kingdom (or not)

  • 1jn3:15,17: no eternal life

  • jas2:15-17: not profit

  • jas2:14,24: can faith save him?

    • when it says works/law do not justify, the context is judaism:

  • (see topic "context old testament")

    • mt25:25 parable of talents: is about grace-only salvation!

    x

    context law of moses

    "not of works/law" context always law of moses

    context of "works/law not justify" is provably judaism

  • rom3:27-28; rom3:19-21 (rom3:1-2 jew, circumcision, oracles of God; rom3:9 jews, gentiles; rom3:29-30 jews, gentiles, circumcision, uncircumcision)

  • rom4:1-6; rom4:13-16 (rom4:9-12 circumcision, uncircumcision, abraham)

  • rom9:11; rom9:32; (rom9:3-5 paul's [jewish] kinsmen, giving of the law, the fathers, service of God, ancestors of Christ, seed of abraham+isaac)

  • rom10:5-6 (rom10:1 israel; rom10:11-12 jew vs. greek [gentile])

  • rom11:1; rom11:5-7 (rom11:11-14 gentiles, paul's jewish kinsmen)

  • gal2:16; gal2:19; gal2:21 (gal2:2-4 gentiles, circumcised; gal2:12-15 jews, gentiles, circumcision)

  • gal3:2-5; gal3:10-13 (gal3:14 abraham, gentiles; gal3:16-19 the law 430yrs after abraham, the law our schoolmaster; gal3:28 jew, greek [gentile])

  • gal5:4; gal5:18 (gal5:2-3 circumcised, "whole law"; gal5:11 circumcision)

  • eph2:8-9 (eph2:11-12 gentiles, israel, circumcision, uncircumcision; eph2:15 the abolished law) also ac20:27,31

  • php3:9 (php3:3-5 circumcision, benjamin, hebrew, pharisee)

    • 2 exceptions: timothy & titus

  • timothy & titus already knew "not of works" doctrine

  • they would instantly recognize what this expression meant

  • 2tim1:9 "not of works": 2tim3:10; 1co4:17

  • ti3:5 "not of works": gal2:3-5; 2co8:23 (ti1:10-14 judaism)

    • x

    once saved always saved

    heb10:29: "he was sanctified"

    heb6:4: "partakers of the Holy Ghost"

    1co15:2: "saved if…unless you believed in vain"

    jas1:26: religion vain (vain: gal4:11; 1th3:5; 2co6:1; mt15:9)

    1co9:27: subdue my body and enslave it

    mt7:21-23: prophesied in thy name

    x

    old testament done away

    ac15:5-9,23-29; heb7:12; heb8:8,13; rom7:3,4,6; 2co3:7,11,13,14; eph2:11,15; gal2:14-19; gal3:17,24,25; gal6:12-15; col2:14-17

    old testament could not perfect

    law of moses could not perfect the followers' conscience: heb9:9; heb10:1-2; heb7:11; heb7:19

    law of Christ does perfect disciples' conscience: heb9:14,9; heb7:19; heb10:14-16; heb13:20-21 (heb6:1; mt5:48+rev3:21; heb2:10+heb5:9+1pe5:10+jas2:22)

    perfection not same as cease from sin: 1pe4:1-2; 2ki20:3+2chr32;25; job1:8+job2:3+job42:3-6

    x

    perfection

    presuming you are perfect: job9:20 xref job1:1,8; job2:3

    God shall make it happen: php1:6 (gal3:3)

    God provides what we need to finish: php3:15; 2tim3:17; eph4:11-13; 1pe5:10; 2co12:9

    only God knows when we've finished: 1co4:4

    in the heart (not a status): mt5:18+jas3:2; heb10:14-17 "whereof"

    result of patience and teaching (not a status): jas1:4; eph4:11-12

    in good works (not a status): heb13:20-21; 2tim3:17; jas3:2 ("bridle" is salvation issue jas1:26); 1jn2:4-5; 1jn4:12; 1jn4:16-18

    God commands disciples to do it (not a status): mt5:48; 2co13:11

    God expects all disciples to do it: col1:26-29; eph4:13

    the purpose of God

    the essence of God's purpopse for Christ & creation:

  • for all scripture: 2tim3:16-17

  • for design of the church: eph4:11-16

  • for all God's work on earth: rom8:28-29

  • for the blood of Christ: ti2:14; heb13:20-21

    • what perfection is not

  • num22:5-6; mt10:4-8: not ability to do miracles

  • job1:8; gen6:9+7:1; 1ki11:4; php3:15; eph4:13; col1:28: not attribute of only deity (or inability to make mundane mistakes)

  • heb4:15; mt26:38: not inability to be tempted

  • 2ki20:3+2chr32;25; job1:8+job2:3+job42:3-6: not same as cease from sin

    • what perfection is

  • 1chr29:19; heb10:14-17: in the heart

  • lk6:40: to be like a master

  • mt5:48: to be like the Father

  • heb6:1-2: more than just the fundamentals of doctrine

  • 2co7:1: to do with cleansing the flesh & spirit & being holy

  • col4:12: to do with all the will of God

  • rev3:2; heb13:21; 2tim3:17: to do with our works

  • jas3:2: to do with controlling mouth & body

  • 1jn2:4-5: to do with keeping God's word & commands

  • 1jn4:16-18: to do with living in love and not being afraid

    • definitions

    in greek:

  • verb, τελειοω: “to complete, i.e., (lit.) accomplish, or (fig.) consummate (in character): - consecrate, finish, fulfil, (make) perfect”

  • adjective τελειος: “complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness: - of full age, man, perfect

    • major facets:

  • full-grown: heb5:13-14 (but not just maturity! php3:12)

  • complete: jas1:4 (full count, but not infinite quantity lk18:22+mt19:20-21)

  • finished: php3:12+2tim4:7 (at end of life); php1:6+gal3:3+2co8:6 (heb12:2 similar)

  • (God has finished what he intends to accomplish in that person)

    • related

    perfection is often confused with ceasing from sin

    God also commands us to cease from sin: 1jn2:1; 1co15:34; jude1:24; (both mind and body rom7:17,20+rom8:12-13)

  • but if we do sin, all is not lost: 1jn2:1; mt27:44+lk23:43

  • we can cease from sin, and those who cannot are cursed: 1pe4:1-2; 2pe2:14

    • God makes it possible for us to obey the command to cease from sin: 1co10:13; 1th5:23-24; 1pe4:1-2; 1jn5:3

  • we will always be tempted and capable of sin: lk22:28; lk4:2; lk22:42-44

  • what is maximum time a human can go without sinning? if not provably quantifiable, cease from sin cannot be disproven

    • x

    outward manifestation

    these can't be explained away by: "outward manifestation of inward faith/grace/etc."

    rom2:6-7: "seek immortality by doing good" are the very ones substitution says won't be saved

    mt25:34-35: inherit because you fed me…

    mt25:41-42: depart into eternal fire because you fed me not…

    1pe3:21: that you must change it is an admission…

    jas2:14,24: that you must change it is an admission…

    rev2:5: "do the first works or i will take your candlestick"

    2tim2:12: we reign with him if we suffer with him

    1pe4:19: “keeping souls in well-doing

  • implies "well-doing" is the means by which you "keep your soul"

  • “in” εν is also “by means of”: (e.g., see "by" in lk1:77; ac13:39; gal2:17; tit1:9; heb10:19; rev5:9, etc.)

    • x

    figures of payment

    payment words are figures: job28:12-13; pr17:16; pr31:10; rev3:18; 1tim3:13; col4:5

    Christ's payment figures: eph1:13-14; ac20:28; 2pe2:1; 1co6:20; 1co7:23; mt20:28; jn6:51; 1tim2:6; gal4:4-5

  • purchase language is often effort expended, something suffered, or something given up

  • Christ purchases us, not our debts. there is no exception to that rule

  • "by means of paying off sins": to fit their narrative, substitution forced to inject this explanation (with no evidence)

  • rom8:3; 1pe3:18; heb10:26: "for sin" = "sake of" ≠ "instead of"; not same as purchase language

    • not like a fine

    penalty for sin: is not like a fine, it is like prison or death penalty

    i can volunteer to pay your fine: but i cannot legally volunteer to go to prison for you

    pr17:15; isa5:22-23: God will not do something that is an abomination (condemn Christ)

    rom3:8: God will not pervert justice so that good may come

    "God justifies the ungodly" is the same logical pattern as "God saves the lost": they were ungodly before but not now

  • 2pe3:7; jude1:4,15 God will not justify those who remain ungodly

  • pr17:15; ex23:7: ungodly ("wicked" rasha רָשָׁע) not justified

    • price to adopt/transform was death

    heb8:10; heb10:16; heb9:14; heb13:20-21: a covenant was needed by which to adopt/transform us

    jn1:1,14: Christ (the Word) was the enbodiment of the word he taught

    lk6:40; 2co3:18; rom8:29; (1pe2:21+jn13:15); gal2:16+20: his life was the covenant

    rev2:10; php2:5-8: he lived what he taught (e.g., "faithful unto death"); this became the covenant

    mk14:24: in order for "faithful unto death" to be part of that covenant, he had to die

    x

    quick intro grace-only

    gal4:24,31; ac15:22-25: can't be justified by 2 covenants (law of moses & law of faith)

    luther 1519 fatal assumption: categorical

  • gal5:4: "for justification, grace itself mutually exclusive with law categorically"

  • categorical law would include the law of Christ

  • fundamentally changes the question (2 concepts vs 2 covenants)

    • provably about covenants

  • gal3:17: "the law" in galatians provably the law of moses

  • no exception all specific examples works not justify: from law of moses (e.g., gal5:6; col2:16; rom3:30)

  • every law-vs-grace quote context judaism (except 2tim1:9/titus3:5 [2ti3:10; gal2:3-5])

    • "categorical" conundrums

  • categorical law creates conundrums (gal5:18+rom6:14; not under law)

  • not under law creates conundrums (rom4:15; 1jn3:4 [1co9:21 εννομος!!])

  • no sin creates conundrums (1jn1:9; jas1:14-15; 1jn5:16; 1jn2:1-2)

  • if we're not amenable to law of Christ, who is? (rom5:8 "sinners"?)

    • 2nd fatal assumption: faith-or-works

  • false dilemma: nobody in history of mankind… (jas2:14,24)

  • presumes: works would be for their own sake (record-keeping)

  • record-keeping would require flawless execution

  • works designed to transform do not require flawless

    • works required because transformation

  • salvation requires transform: (lk12:47+rev19:7; rom8:13; 2pe1:5-11 "these things")

  • transform requires works: (jas2:22; 1jn4:16-17; jas1:3-4; rom5:3-5)

  • 1co13:3: "law of Christ" is framework for transformation (not score-keeping)

  • 2cor5:9-10; heb11:4; ezk18:20-24: works both means to transform and the evidence it happened

    • (see also topic: "categorical law")

    (see also topic: "substitution")

    (see also topic: "grace-only [talking points]")

    (see also topic: "transformation")

    x

    figures of sin

    some passages are figurative regardless of the narrative

    so how would one prove what thing it represents?

    made to be sin

    2co5:21: "made to be sin" can't be literal

  • sin is act/attribute: a person is neither one of those

  • figurative regardless of framework: opinion not guilt

  • sin incarnate: in adversaries' eyes

  • mt26:65: blasphemer in man's eyes, not God's

  • mt27:63: deceiver in man's eyes, not God's

  • 1co4:13: offscouring in man's eyes, not God's

  • 1co3:18: fool in man's eyes, not God's

  • 1co1:18: foolish in man's eyes, not God's

    • bore our sins

    1pe2:24: "bore our sins" can't be literal

  • sin is act/attribute: not an object placed on/in a body

  • figurative regardless of framework: consequence not guilt

  • heb13:13: bearning his reproach

  • mt8:16-17: bore our sickness

  • lam5:7: born fathers' iniquities

  • num14:33: bear your whoredoms

  • (see also topic "bore")

    • made a curse

    gal3:13: "made a curse" can't be literal

  • curse is evil fate: a person can't be an evil fate

  • figurative regardless of framework: curse of hanging

  • deu21:23; deu27:26: two different kinds of curse

  • hang on tree is a curse: regardless guilty/innocent

  • lk22:20 reason: to create covenant, not for guilt

    • scapegoat

    lev16:21-22: scapegoat was shadow, not the very thing

  • heb9:23; heb10:1: sacrifices are shadow/figure; therefore, not literal

  • this image is more like removal than substitution

  • rom11:26-27; ac3:26: "turn away" as in "take away" (αφαιρεω removal lk10:42)

  • rom8:13; 1co9:25,27: Christ's blood not only remove guilt

    • abraham/isaac ram

    gen22:13: more like a free-will offering

  • what was the sin? zero indication this is a sin offering

  • who was the sinner? isaac was arguably an innocent child

  • who was the sinner? ram substituted for isaac, not abraham

  • no sin? no sinner? no substitution!

    • x

    filthy rags

    isa64:6: "our righteousnesses are as filthy rags"

    righteous things we do filthy rags to God?

  • 1pe3:3-4: meekness "filthy rags" to God?

  • pr31:10: virtuous woman "filthy rags" to God?

  • pr25:12: wise reprover, obedient ear "filthy rags" to God?

    • ti3:8,14: careful to maintain good works because it is profitable

    please God filthy rags? heb13:21; heb13:16; 1th4:1; col3:20; php4:18 (1jn3:22; 2tim2:4; 1th2:4; 1co7:32,34)

    acceptable to God filthy rags? ac10:35; rom14:18; 2co5:9-10; eph5:9-10; rom12:1-2

    idolatry is filthy rags

    their idolatrous righteousnesnesses violated these commands:

  • altars of earth, un-hewn stone, or brass (not brick): ex20:24-25; ex27:1-2

  • sacrifices in the temple (not in a garden): lev17:8-9

  • unclean to touch a dead body; no worship while unclean: num19:16-17; lev7:20-21

  • no trees by the altar: deut16:21

  • sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: pr21:27

    • the "righteousnesses"

    "righteousnesses" of idolaters

  • isa65:3: sacrificing in gardens and on altars of brick

  • isa65:4: lying among graves or in monuments (probably with dead bodies)

  • isa65:4: eating unclean pigs and "abominable things" (to idols?)

  • isa65:6: burning incenese on mountains (related to idol worship)

  • isa65:6: blaspheming God on hills (likely also with idol worship)

  • isa66:17: "sanctifying" and "purifying" themselves under trees, eating unclean pigs and mice

  • isa64:7: they were not calling upon God, so to whom were they sacrificing?

  • isa65:5: all the while calling themselves "holy" (i.e., righteous)

    • x

    five promises

    God's promises enable us to partake the divine nature: 2pe1:3-4

    three fears that drive people to salvation by grace only

    if God requires full compliance: we might miss some crucial truth

    if God requires full compliance: we might not be able to overcome some sins

    if God requires full compliance: we might accidentally die before we finish

    promise of truth

    these promises are conditional, but they are still promises

    2pe1:3,4: all things

    php3:15: in any thing! …shall be revealed

    jn7:17: shall know

    jn8:31-32: shall know

    jas1:5-7: shall be given

    2th2:10-12: on condition that you love the truth

    jn16:12,1co3:2: not right away if you can't bear it yet

    promise to enable

    eph6:10-17: shall be able; done all κατεργαζομαι work fully

    2co10:4-5: mighty through God

    2co3:5-6: our sufficiency of God

    col1:12: made us capable ικανος able/competent

    eph3:14-21: strengthened with might; power that works in us

    promise to protect from sin

    1co10:13: will not allow

    rom6:18,14,12: no dominion

    2tim2:25-26: captives

    eph4:8-13: captivity captive = freed from sin

    promise to finish

    php1:4-6: finish επιτελεω perfect or fulfill completely (gal3:3 translated "made perfect")

    1th5:23-24: will do it; see blameless not just a status

    rom4:20-22: glory to God perform promise

    2th2:16,17: every good word/work: Christ himself

    promise to preserve life

    level of detail God's control: ps104:14-21; ps147:7-9; mt6:11; lk11:3; ac17:24,25

    mt10:29-31: not a sparrow (jn15:5 "without" = agency)

    amo9:8-9: least grain

    rom8:28-29: all things (purpose)

    rom8:30-39: nothing separates us

    x

    rolled forward

    grace-only: sins before cross forgiven at the crucifixion

  • ps32:5; ps78:38; ps99:8: "forgave" is past tense, not future

    • grace-only: old testament sacrifices could not forgive sin

  • heb10:4,11: "take away sins" = removal of sin from the mind (rom7:16-17)

  • rom11:26-27: "take away sins" & "turn away ungodliness" = change of mind/behavior

  • jn1:29; 1jn3:5: "take away sins" = change of mind/behavior (results in forgiveness rom7:25+rom8:1)

    • grace-only: "make perfect" = absolve/forgive

  • heb10:1,11: this is about a change of conscience, not absolution (heb9:13-14; heb10:2)

    • grace-only: scapegoat was means of rolling forward

  • heb10:1; col2:17; heb8:5; heb9:5: sacrifices were a "shadow" [σκια figure/parable]

  • lev16:21-22: this figure is more like removal than hoarding

  • (see also topic "scapegoat")

    • grace-only: "sins that are past" = from beginning of time

  • rom3:25: "past sins" = believing individual's sins (not all people of all time)

    • x

    past/future salvation

    past/present salvation: from captivity/slavery

  • lk19:9: (but lk12:47 prepare self or be lost)

  • 1co15:2: (but 1co9:27 temperance or cast away)

  • 1co1:18: (but 1co9:27 temperance or cast away)

  • 2co2:15: (but 1co5:9-10 "all" and "good or bad")

  • ti3:5: (but ti3:7 "made heirs" is future)

  • eph2:5: (but eph6:13 "saved" is about being made alive)

  • eph2:8,11: (but eph6:13 "done all to stand" not fall)

  • 1p3:21: (but 1p4:17-18 "scarce" = "with difficulty" 5 other times)

    • future salvation: inherit/crown

  • mt10:22: "he that endures to the end"

  • rom13:11: "nearer" implies not yet here

  • 1pe1:4-5: "to be revealed" implies not yet

  • jas5:19-20: "any of you" means brethren

  • 1tim4:16: future save "by doing"

  • 1th5:8: rom8:24 "hope" is yet to be obtained

  • 1co5:5: to saved in the future

  • 1co3:15: 1co3:13 "trial by fire" required to be saved

  • rom5:9-10: justified/reconciled now, saved future

    • more to do

    baptism: saved from captivity/slavery to sin

  • rom6:3-4: raised to walk a new life

  • rom6:6-7: purpose so we not serve sin

  • rom6:18: "made free" implies slavery

  • rom6:22: "made free" implies slavery

  • col1:13: "power of darkness" is captivity 2tim2:26

  • ac26:18: "power of satan" is captivity 2tim2:26

  • 1pe1:4: inheritance is "reserved in heaven for [us]"

    • but more to do: after baptism

  • lk12:47: prepare yourself or be lost

  • 1co9:27: temperance or be rejected

  • rom8:13: kill carnal deeds or die

    • do: to inherit

  • lk10:25,28: "do this and you will live"

  • mt25:34-35: "come inherit because you [did things]"

  • rev21:7: "he that overcomes"

  • rev2:10: "faithful unto death" to get crown

  • jas1:12: crown after being tried

  • 1co9:25: temperance to get crown

  • heb6:12: inherit also requires patience

    • x

    saved by…

    …more than 2 dozen things

    whom

  • mat19:25-26: God

  • mat1:21: Jesus

    • what God does

  • eph2:4-5: love & grace

  • 2pe3:15: longsuffering of God

  • luk1:77: by remission of sins

  • rom1:16: gospel

  • ac11:14: words

  • 2tim2:10: in Christ

    • things others do

  • jas5:20: he that converts

  • rom1:16: gospel

    • passive things we do

  • lk7:50; heb10:39: faith

  • rom8:24: hope

  • 2th2:10: love the truth

  • 2cor7:10: repentance

  • php2:12: fear & trembling

  • ac2:21 (luk4:41; mk 1;24; mt7:21-23): call on the name of the Lord

    • apparently active things we do

  • mk8:35 (col3:3-5): lose (my) life

  • lk13:23-24 (mk7:13): enter strait gate

  • 2th2:13 (usage 1th4:3-4): sanctification

  • mt10:22 (jas1:12): endure to the end

  • 1cor5:5 (rom8:13): destruction of flesh

    • active things we do

  • 1pet3:20-21: baptism

  • heb5:9: obey (rom6:16)

  • php2:12: work (rom6:16)

  • jas2:14,24: works (not faith only)

  • 1tim4:13,16: continue in the doctrine

    • implies salvation

    1john 4:8: love God/neighbor=1jn5:3; jn14:15,21; jn15:10; 1jn3:17

    mt25:34-35; mt25:41-42: provide (brethren)

    1tim6:18-19: good works

    mt19:16-17: keep commands

    2pe1:10-11: diligently add

    1jn3:15: no murderer

    1co9:24-25,27: temperance

    mt10:33; 2tim2:12: confess

    1tim5:8: provide

    jas1:26: bridle tongue

    jas2:13: mercy

    mt18:34-35; mt6:15: forgive

    jas1:12; ac14:22+2tim3:12+rom5:3: endure trials

    (see also "inherit")

    (see also "judged by")

    x

    sexual sin

    rom1:26-27: vile affections

    rom1:28-32: reprobate

    lev18:22-24,29: abomination

    mt19:4-6,9: marriage

    1co6:9-10: not inherit

    gal5:19-21: not inherit

    col3:5-6: wrath of God

    1th4:3-6: God avenges

    heb12:15-17: lose birthright

    jude1:7 (gen19:5): eternal fire

    rev2:14-17: God hates it

    rev2:20-23: great tribulation

    mat15:19-20: defiled

    mark7:21-23: defiled

    x

    the impossibles

    this is a lynchpin issue for grace-only!

  • if this fails, it all fails

  • if impossible, we're forced to find another way

  • 1co10:13: if any command is impossible, this is a lie

  • 1jn5:3; 1pe4:1-2: if commands too weighty (individually/collectively) this is a lie

    • impossible definitions

    deliberately defined to be impossible: so we don't have to

    circular reasoning fallacy: doctrine proves definition proves doctrine

  • perfect redefined as: infinite, flawless, sinless, untemptable (something only God could be)

  • righteous redefined as: infinite, alien, divine righteousness (something only God is capable of)

  • (see also "perfection" topic)

  • (see also "merit" topic)

    • alien divine righteousness

  • vs "proper" righteousness: (artificial distinction)

  • alien: someone else's righteousness

  • divine: never sinned, ever; can't sin; can't be tempted; can't make mistakes

  • divine: infinite love, patience, wisdom, etc.

  • 1jn3:7: καθως = "just as" disproves artificial distinction

    • all the fullness of God

    number, not extent

    eph3:19: "all" here is number, not extent (quantity)

    each/every attribute of God's completeness

    not all attributes to infinite extent (2pe1:8 "abound")

    mt18:4: "greatest" implies unequal extents of each person’s greatness

    the context is God's attributes (2co3:18)

  • the context is the inner man (eph3:16) and God's heart

  • "completeness": πληρωμα & πληροω

  • so not about miraculous power or deity or authority

  • which attribute of God's heart can we not have? name it!

  • can we not have some amount of love? patience? meekness? self-control? honesty? etc.

    • measure of the stature of Christ

    standard of measurement, not extent

    eph4:13 "measure" (μετρον) here is standard, not extent

    εις ("unto") paired with measure (2co10:13-15 "of") is also a goal "toward" which one progresses: 2co1:16; ac27:40; ac28:14; ac1:10; mt28:1; lk13:22; jn6:17; mt25:22; 1tim6:18-19

    εις ("unto perfect… unto measure"): we reach perfection col1:28 but never full stature of Christ mt18:4; jn14:28

    εις is also "by" (e.g., ac7:53; mt5:35) would be "by the measure" (multiple uses of εις in same verse provable: e.g., rom5:12,18)

    (μετρον κανον) 2co10:13: "measure of the rule"; the context is the inner man (unity, knowledge, maturity: 2co10:13-15)

    (μετρον μετρεω) noun/verb = the standard or unit you measure by, not necessarily the exact extent of the thing used for measurement: mt7:2; rev21:17

    perfect as your Father

    manner, not extent

    mt5:48: "as" (ὡσπερ) here is manner, not extent

    he specifies which manner he wants: "as your Father" (e.g., gen22:17 same manner but not equal extent)

    gal4:29; eph5:24; heb4:10; mt25:14,32: there is more than one manner to be "perfect"

    (cf. 2chron4:21; isa18:5;ezk27:11 gen15:16 full [שָׁלֵם])

    sinneth not

    1jn3:6: it is the mind that "sinneth not"

  • rom7:16-17: "now then it is no more i that do it" (if the mind consents to the law)

  • rom8:6-7: the "spiritual mind" is subject to God's law

  • rom7:22-23: the flesh tries to subvert that determination

  • as long as the mind remains determined not to sin, in that sense he "sinneth not," because "it is no more i that do it."

  • caveat! rom8:13: if you do not eventually kill the deeds of the body, you ultimately die anyway

    • 1jn5:18; 1jn3:6-9: "sinneth not" ≠ not under law! (1co9:21 εννομος)

  • rom7:16-17; rom7:20; rom7:25: "consent to the law" means mind doesn't sin

  • rom8:13: but if we don't kill the deeds of the body we will ultimately die!

  • 1jn3:4: what are we confessing & being forgiven of if we are not under law? (mt6:12,14,15; jas5:15; 1jn1:9; ac8:22)

  • ("lawlessness" for ανομια is questionable: "transgressions" can be counted: heb8:12; heb10:17)

  • (xref jer31:31-34 עָווֹן [avon] transgressions: lam5:7; dan9:13,16; amos3:2; jer33:8; ps103:3)

    • sins of omission

    eph6:13: we stand (not fall) "having done all"

    jas4:17: "sees to do good and doesn't"

  • this is one of the easiest commands of all to obey!

  • 2co8:12: resources we have are considered (time, money, sleep, etc.)

  • "do good": is not the same as "do a good thing"!

  • how many christians do nothing good at all?

    • gal6:10; 1jn3:17: "do good to all men" provably not unqualified

  • 2th3:10: we are commanded not to help some people

  • 2co8:12: we are not asked to give more than we have

  • ac5:4; 2co9:7: things like giving are often discretionary

    • law of moses impossible

    "yoke" (jewish tradition) impossible, not law of moses

    grace-only: "God made impossible commands"

  • ac15:10: "[yoke] which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear"

  • ac15:5: was that actually the law of moses or jewish tradition?

  • lk11:46 mk7:2-7: pharisee tradition went far beyond the law of moses

  • lk13:14-15; col2:20-23; jn5:8-10; mk7:7: Jesus refused to keep those "laws"

  • lk1:5-6; 1ki15:5; 2chr34:2: zacharias & elisabeth kept it all blamelessly

    • sins of ignorance

    sins of ignorance not inevitable

    grace-only: "sins of ignorance inevitable"

  • php3:15 in anything otherwise minded God shall reveal it"

    • 1pe2:13: "every ordinance of man" is provably not unqualified

  • υποτασσω "subordinate": unknowing infractions are not insubordination

  • ac5:29: some ordinances and laws we are forbidden to obey

  • e.g., speed limit: an accicent is not a sin, and a sin is not an accident

    • "all depends on me" is a straw man fallacy

  • no one in earth's history ever claimed this

  • God-level righteousness not required doesn't mean nothing required

  • rev20:12-13; jas2:14,24; mt25:41-42; mt25:34-35: some amount provably is required

    • x

    the power is in the word

    rom1:16: God's word is the power to salvation

    rom10:17: faith comes by God's word

    ps119:130: words give understanding

    isa29:13-14: precept of men is cursed (1co1:17; 1co1:19-20; 1co2:4-5; 1co2:13)

    jer23:21-22; jer23:16; deut4:2: makes a difference to keeping God's commands

    deut18:20; jer26:2: speaking a word not commanded is cursed

    jn14:10; jn12:49-50; jn16:13: Jesus & Holy Spirit not speak of themselves

    jn7:18; 1co1:28-31; 1pe4:11: this is about who we glorify, God or man

    x

    "problem" of suffering & evil

    objection to God: based on existence of pain and suffering

    existence of benevolent God

    "a benevolent God: would never allow/cause suffering and evil"

    God never asked of us what he wasn't willing to do first!

  • lk22:44; mt26:38; heb2:18; heb4:15; heb5:8-9; heb2:10 (1pe1:19-20)

  • his willingness to do it, too, is proof: pain and suffering are regrettably necessary (lam3:33)

  • pain and suffering are necessary to: test, train, & punish

    • pain and suffering (and evil): tests

  • pr17:3; ps11:4-5: God tests people

  • lam3:33: if God doesn't want to do it but does it, it can't be done any other way

  • 1pe1:6-7: it is necessary to test

  • “If need be” (ει δεον εστιν) can also be translated “forasmuch as it must be.” (ac11:17) This ”if” is a case of fact, not hypothetical.

  • gen22:1-2+gen22:10-12: "prove" (נָסָה) is to test or try (Abraham)

  • jdg2:20-22; jdg3:1-4: to see if they would follow his law

  • ex16:4: to see if they would follow his law

  • ecc8:11: evil is necessary to test us to see what we are willing to do

    • pain and suffering: transforms

  • pr20:30: removes evil

  • 1pe4:1-2; ps119:67; jas1:2-4: changes behavior

  • ps119:71: teaches

  • ps119:75; heb12:5-11; 1co11:31-32: God does it for our benefit

  • ps99:8: doesn't mean God hates us

  • lam3:31-33: God doesn't want to do it (not sadistic)

    • pain and suffering: punishes

  • 2th1:6; rom12:19: God avenges wrong done to good people

  • mt18:6: God avenges wrong done to innocents

  • 2th1:7-9: (see below "right of God to punish sinners")

  • ps17:13; jer24:10; isa10:6: evil people are sometimes used to punish

    • suffering/death of innocents: what is the purpose?

  • ecc12:7: you can't return where you've never been

  • we all have some kind of history before put on earth: (whether a breif moment or eons)

  • we have no way to know what might have happened: during that time

  • whatever God does with innocents: he knows why, but it will never be pointless or unfair

    • God's right to punish

    “God doesn’t have a right to: make rules for me”

  • but you think: the government does?

  • why would you call the police? to enforce rules?

  • disbelieving God's existence: won't make him go away

  • ps100:3; rom1:20: God is creator, which makes him owner; sustainer, which makes us obligated

  • dan4:35: God is the most powerful, which gives him the privilege to make/enforce rules

  • where did you get your "rights" from? did you create anyone? are you powerful enough to grant rights?

    • “i have rights because: i didn’t ask to be created”

  • sure, you didn’t have a choice, sort of like you still don’t

  • what higher authority is there to deny God the right to make rules for you? and by what means would they deny it?

    • "hell is unfair"

  • dan4:35: what higher power has moral authority over God? you?

  • isa55:9: what greater mind has more wisdom of what is best/right than God?

  • ps136:5; pr3:19; rom11:33-34: you don't even have the wisdom to create anything ex nihilo, much less correct God

  • pr27:22; 2pe3:9; 1tim2:4: if it were possible, God would do it another way

    • x

    textual criticism

    x: x

    x

    traditions of men

    mk7:1-13: make command ineffective by tradition

    jn7:22-23: not because it is of moses

    rom9:32: as it were by works of law

    isa29:13-14: precept of men

    x

    translations

    x: x

    x

    truth

    thy word is truth: jn17:17

    does not contradict itself (house divided): mk3:25

    ti1:2; 2tim3:16: if all scripture came from God and God cannot lie then all scripture is true as stated; therefore, no passage can make another passage false or meaningless

    every word of God is pure - don't add: pr30:5-6

    x

    calvinism

    tulip acrostic: total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistable grace, preservation (perseverence) of the saints

    total depravity

    (the doctrine that every person is born enslaved to sin)

    rom7:9: alive without the law

    mtt18:3: like little children

    ezk18:4,20: soul that sins dies

    psa51:5: david was conceived out of wedlock

    unconditional election

    (the doctrine that salvation is God's sovereign choice from eternity, not based on foreseen faith or virtue or personal choice)

    2th2:10-12: for this cause (calvinism gets this exactly backward: this is the effect and not the cause)

    rev3:16: because you are lukewarm

    1tim5:12: because they cast off

    1tim1:13: because i did it ignorantly

    rev22:17: whosoever will have water of life

    limited atonement

    (the doctrine that Christ's blood was only intended to save specific people, not all people)

    2pet3:9: not willing any perish

    1tim2:4: would have all men saved

    mt18:14: not God's will little ones perish

    rom5:18: the purpose & intent was to justify all men

    heb2:9: taste death for every man

    irresistable grace

    (the doctrine that God's grace overcomes the personal will of the elect, so they cannot choose to reject him)

    heb6:4: partakers of the Holy Ghost

    heb10:29: he was sanctified

    gal5:4: you can't fall fram a place you never were

    heb12:15: diligence is irrelevant if grace is irresistable

    preservation (perseverence) of the saints

    (the doctrine that the elect cannot and will not be lost under any circumstance)

    heb10:29: "he was sanctified"

    1cor9:27: subdue body or be rejected

    gal5:4: you can't fall from somewhere you never were

    heb3:12: you can't depart from someone you were never with

    ezk18:20-24: soul that sins shall die

    1co8:11: brother perish

    rom14:15: destroy brother

    x

    unprofitable

    lk17:10: duty only

    mt25:30: unprofitable servants not saved

    1co13:3: duty without love profits nothing

    rev3:4: saved because they are worthy

    1th2:12: command to walk (behave) worthy

    see also "good enough"

    x

    vow, oath, swear

    mt5:33-34; jas5:12: swear not at all!

    mt5:33-34; jas5:12: to swear is to make an oath

    ac2:30; mt5:33; mt14:7,9; lk1:73; heb6:17: an oath is a vow

    ps132:2: "swear" and "vow" treated as same thing

    ec5:4-6: but if you do swear, you must perform it

    judg11:35: jephthah took his vow very seriously and made great sacrifice to keep it

    num30:2-3: vows/swear/oath all have same rules/context/treatment (e.g., “bound”)

    x

    repetition

    php3:1: "write the same things"

    ac20:31: "three years… night and day"

    jude1:5; 2pe1:12,13,15; 2tim2:14; 1tim4:6: put in rememberance

    x

    witnessed by the law

    rom3:21; rom2:26: provably not include all works in law of Moses

    righteousness of God: witnessed by the law

  • deut6:5; mt22:37: love God

  • lev19:18; mt22:39: love your neighbor

  • mt19:17-19: no murder, no adultery, no steal, no lie, honor parents

  • lev11:44; 1pe1:16: be holy

  • deut14:29; jas1:27: give to orphan/widow

  • ex20:3-5; mt4:10: only serve God

  • ; mt4:7: don't tempt God

  • ; lk4:4: live by every word of God

    • x

    cease from sin

    word, "sinless": never occurs anywhere in scripture

    who says, "we have no sin?"

    1jn1:8-10: who would say, "we have no sin?"

    the antagonist makes, not just one, but two statements

  • 1jn1:8: "we have no sin"

  • 1jn1:10: "we have not sinned"

    • the perfect indicative "we have not sinned" is a claim we have never sinned at all

  • (implies we don't need the blood of Christ)

    • "i have no sin" is not the same claim as "we have no sin"

  • this is about the sinfulness of humankind rather than individuals

    • atheists believe we (humankind) have no sin and have not sinned

  • joseph lewis (in an atheist manifesto, positive atheism) says, "there is no such thing as sin"

    • some gnostic sects believed and taught: we (humankind) have no sin and have not sinned

    mainstream judaism: did not teach this doctrine

  • jn7:19; rom2:17-23: jews did not attempt to keep all the law

  • rom3:7-8; rom2:1; rom2:21-24: jews' belief was, "jews aren't perfect, just forgiven"

  • urban myth: "jews tried to keep the law perfectly"

  • propaganda and provably false: mk7:8,13; jn7:22-23; rom9:32

    • traces of gnosticism

    gnostic doctrines recorded in 1st century

  • 1jn4:2-3; 2jn1:7: "Jesus did not come in the flesh"

  • re2:24: "special knowledge"

  • re2:6; re2:14-15; rev2:20: nicolaitan doctrine referenced in 2nd century

    • not all gnostics were ascetic

  • licentious gnostics included: docetics, nicolaitans, ophites and carpocratians

  • docetics believed sins were committed by the person's evil, material body, and the person's pristine soul was undefiled by the body's sin

  • carpocratians believed things are evil or good simply by virtue of human opinion; therefore, nothing is really evil by its intrinsic nature

  • ophites and nicolaitans (similar to docetics) believed because matter and spirit are complete opposites the soul could never be defiled by sin no matter how gross or carnal

    • always "have sin?"

    1jn1:7-8: does "have" and "cleanseth" prove we cannot cease from sin?

    humans will always be capable of sin

  • jas1:14: because temptation implies the capability to sin

  • 1jn2:1 but if we do sin, all is not lost

    • just because i can doesn't necessarily mean i will

  • eph4:12-15; jas3:2: because grown-up

  • all adults can soil their undergarments: but not all adults will (because grown-up)

    • does present continuous mean: we will always sin?

  • does "have" mean: all individuals will always "have sin?"

  • does "cleanseth" mean: all individuals will always commit sins that need subsequent cleansing?

  • claim "all individuals at all times 'have sin'" proves too much

  • ac22:16: when our sins are washed away, do we still "have sin?"

  • rom7:9: do innocent babies/children "have sin?"

  • present indicative in this case: is a collective present continuous

  • lk3:16 a provable example of this use is "baptize": continuous for the group as a whole, but not necessarily for each individual in the group

    • "cease from sin"

    1pe4:1-2: who is "ceased from sin" about?

  • it's not Christ: because he had no sin to cease from

  • it's not nobody: or that makes this statement a lie

  • it's not someone dead: because "the rest of his time in the flesh"

  • it cannot be something God only pretends we are doing, because that doctrine claims the sole cause of that is faith/grace, not suffering of the individual

  • it can only be that having a willingness to suffer (as Christ had) causes at least some individual(s) to cease from sin

  • 2pe2:14: those who cannot cease from sin are cursed

  • 1jn2:1; mt27:44+lk23:43: but if we do sin, all is not lost

    • is sin inevitable?

    sin is not inevitable: in a christian's life

  • 1pe4:1-2 (1jn5:3); eph6:13,16; 1co10:13; 1th5:23-24

  • rom8:13 "if you continue to sin you die" (present continuous): strong proof for pneumonia/cancer analogy!!!

  • rom8:13 "continue to kill": many/most present continuous have termination point (e.g., mt2:2, and both of these provably do 1pe4:1-2; 1jn2:1)

  • which sin is: impossible not to commit?

  • 1co15:34; 1jn2:1 if there were an impossible rule, why/how could God command us to "sin not?"

  • what is the minimum frequency of human sin? an hour? day? month? year? decade?

  • if you cannot quantify minimum frequency with proof: you cannot prove it's impossible to cease from sin

    • x

    works & salvation

    mat7:21-23: doeth the will of my Father… work iniquity

    1tim6:18-19: rich in good works… that they may lay hold on eternal life

    php2:13: work out your own salvation

    rom2:7-8: eternal life to those who seek immortality by patient continuance in good work

    rev2:5: "do the first works or i will take your candlestick"

    jas1:22,26: nothing that saves you can be called vain

    2pe1:11: οὑτω "in this way" by doing (2pe1:10) "these things" (2pe1:8-10) enter the kingdom

    see also "judged by works"

    grace-only narratives

    objections to requirement of works for salvation

    (see "categorical" under "not justified by law" topic)

    "working faith"

  • jas2:24: grace-only: "by 'working faith' not by works"

  • jas2:21,25,24: says "[are] justified by works" 3 times ("working faith" 0 times)

  • jas2:14,24: justified by men doesn't save us

  • heb10:26; mt25:41-42: lost by not doing means doing required for "saved"

    • "the door"

  • grace-only: simply "in Christ = saved; outside of Christ = lost"

  • willful sin: heb10:26

  • any of you err: jas5:19-20

  • not inherit: gal5:19-21

  • subtle details: mt19:9

  • neglect brother: mt18:34-35

  • disfellowship: 1co5:5

    • stand before God

  • God-level righteousness required to stand before God

  • false dilemma: either God-level righteous or none at all required

  • a priori: presumes record-keeping basis (vs saved requires transform requires works)

  • do gabriel, michael, cherubim, seraphim, beasts, angels have God-level righteousness?

  • jas2:22; heb11:4; ezk18:21-22: works for transform/witness

    • stand before God variations

  • "no one who committed sin can stand before God"

  • "no one capable of sin can stand before God"

  • "no one less righteous than God can stand before God"

  • same predetermined conclusion: "God must pretend we possess righteousness of deity"

    • sin can't stand before God

  • hab1:13: proof hyperbole in that very quote (gen6:12; gen4:16; jer52:3)

  • adam, cain, enoch, moses, & david stood before God; enoch, moses & david remained before God

  • pr28:13; rom8:13 cain vs david murder: forsake sin to remain with God

  • 2th1:9 "from presence of God": we overlay substitution

    • "grateful-grace

  • grace-only: "[grateful grace] makes us never go back to sinful living"

  • gal5:19-21 those who don't do don't inherit

  • dilemma: a) semantic technicality, or b) works not really required

  • "grateful-grace" the exception, not the rule

  • proof: unapologetic cursing/fornication: genuinely think it doesn't matter

  • rom4:5-6: implication "righteousness without works" & "worketh not" if law categorical

  • grace-only explicitly denies we can do 100%, so what is it? 92%? 2%? fatal flaw people pick up on

  • substitution works for a million sins just like it does for one

  • if no real difference between me and the worst sinner, what difference do a few extra sins make?

  • if sin won’t keep a believer out of heaven, influence and quality-of-life are the only real, practical consequences for sin

    • "a sin offering is a substitute; a sin offering takes the place of the one who sinned"

  • substitution proves too much

    1. we still die physically

    2. he didn't spend eternity in hell (ac2:27; ps16:10 both ἁδης & שְׁאוֹל = grave see #1)

    3. he didn't become spiritually dead (rom8:6-7; eph2:1-2 mindset/behavior)

  • substitution assigns guilt to an innocent person for another’s crime

  • substitution punishes an innocent person as guilty (not as a consequence).

  • pr17:15: God will not do that which is abomination to him

    • "[Jesus] fully experienced the punishment that we deserve"

  • sin is act/attribute: a person is neither one of those

  • 1pe2:24 bore our sins: figurative regardless of framework (heb13:13; mt8:16-17; lam5:7; num14:33; ezk18:20)

  • 2co5:21 be sin: figurative regardless of framework (1co4:13; 1co3:18; 1co1:18; mt26:65; mt27:63)

  • gal3:13 made a curse: figurative regardless of framework (two different kinds of curses deu21:23; deu27:26; lk22:20)

    • rom3:10,23: we will always sin

  • rom3:10,23: no individuals (vs peoples rom3:9) proves too much

    1. rom3:11 also says none seek God: 2ch15:4; 2ch17:4; ps78:34; ex33:7; ps34:4; ps77:2

    2. rom3:18 also says no fear of God: gen22:12; ex1:17,21; neh7:2; job1:1,8; job2:3; ac10:2

  • 1co10:13 (1jn5:3): if any command impossible, this is a lie

  • 1pe4:1-2: if all commands not possible, this is a lie

  • they don't want it to be possible so, they redefine/construe

  • (see also: "redefining" under "none righteous" topic)