Life from the Womb…

When Does Life Begin?

The inspired psalmist observed: “For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:13-14).

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

The Lord said to the prophet Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you;” (Jeremiah 1:5).

The prophet Isaiah confirmed: “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, and take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name… And now the Lord says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His servant” (Isaiah 49:1,5)

When James observed that “the body apart from the spirit is dead” (James 2:26), the corollary must also be true in that if the body is living, then the spirit must be present.

After experiencing terrible tragedy, Job asked: “Why did I not die from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost when my mother bore me?” (3:11). How can something die if it is not first living? In Job 3:13-16, the patriarch listed several formerly-living-but-now-dead people with whom he would have had something in common if he had died in utero. He mentions kings and princes and child who experienced a “hidden untimely birth” (i.e., a miscarriage). Job considered the miscarried child to be in the same category as others who once lived but had died.

It is obvious from the text that God views life to begin at conception rather than birth.

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¿QUIEN ES EL ANTICRISTO?

¿QUIEN ES EL ANTICRISTO?

Hay un gran numero de personas quienes están convencidos que el anticristo está en existencia hoy en día. La primera vez que escuché este término mi mente se trasladó directamente al Apocalipsis de Juan. Sin embargo le sorprenderá a usted que la palabra anticristo aparece solamente 5 ocaciones en el N.T y ninguna de esas 5 tiene lugar en el Apocalipsis; (1 Juan 2:18-22; 1Juan 4:3; 2 Juan 3).

¿QUIEN ES EL ANTICRISTO?

¿QUIEN ES EL ANTICRISTO?

Interesantemente los preminelialistas pintan la figura del anticristo como un único líder futuro que gobernará el mundo  y se revelará ante todo lo santo. Algunos han dicho que Hitler era el anticristo y que por tanto resucitará para cumplir semejante tarea. Otros han piensan que es el papa, mientras otro tanto que es el bebé de Rosmary… todo simplemente es fantasía de los preminelialistas. Los cinco textos anteriormente citados, identifican no a alguien en particular si no a muchos. Juan también expresa en los versículos anteriores que el anticristo ya estaba operando en sus tiempos. Antes del cierre del siglo I ya existía: ¿porque entonces los premilenialistas esperan a una persona en particular y esperan que sea a futuro?. Anticristo simplemente designa a alguien que está en oposición a Cristo y su doctrina, tal como Juan lo advierte en 2 Juan 9. Hay varias factores que pudieron haber estado en el la mente de Juan cuando escribe estas epístolas y hace uso de la palabra anticristo: 1) El judaísmo. Por supuesto que los simpatizantes de la ley estaban en oposición a  Cristo desde el inicio, cuando el Señor aún estaba con vida. Después de su muerte encarcelan e intimidan a los apóstoles en Hechos 5 y cuando los creyentes son esparcidos no se conformaron con sacarlos de la ciudad sino que salen ellos también en persecución, de la cual un joven llamado Saulo de tarso tenía parte, y la razón especifica era por anunciar a Cristo. Ni siquiera el hecho de haber perdido a uno de sus mejores cazadores los detuvo, la obra del diablo a travez de ellos continuó hasta casi arrastrar al fracaso a uno de los apóstoles, uno llamado Simón Pedro en Galatas 2, a quien Pablo reprende cara a cara porque era de condenar quien también dedico bastante espacio en el N.T para tratar el problema con estos anticristos; los Judaisantes. 2) El gnosticismo. Como si el problema no fuera poco esta corriente de pensamiento estaba corriendo rápidamente y estaba inundando a la Iglesia del Señor también. Básicamente estos anticristos creían, que la Deidad de Dios no pudo haber habitado en cuerpo humano como lo hizo en Jesús. Por lo tanto Jesús no pudo haber sido Dios en naturaleza. Negaban la existencia de un cielo eterno para el cristiano y un infierno para el impío, pensaban que la carne es pecaminosa  y que no existe nada bueno en ella. ¿ Puede usted imaginarse lo terrible que debió de haber sido escuchar semejantes disparates para Juan? como apóstol de Jesús él estuvo ahí presente cuando el Señor caminó sobre el mar, el vio a cientos de cojos de nacimientos andar y a mudos hablar, ¿quién más que Juan en la cruz del monte calvario? El estuvo ahí presente viendo el cuerpo fragelado de Jesús, pudo escuchar el sonido de la lanza introduciéndose en el costado de su maestro mientras aquel cuerpo frío colgaba en el madero todo desangrado. Es el mismo Juan quién en su evangelio se hace llamar así mismo “el otro discípulo” que el domingo por la mañana corrieron junto a Simón al sepulcro  después del anuncio de las mujeres y ven la piedra removida probablemente partida en muchos pedazos y el sepulcro vacío, y que por 40 días continúan viendo al Cristo resucitado hasta que en Hechos 9 asciende al cielo a la vista de ellos y que más tarde va a presentársele a travez del ángel para revelar el Apocalipsis diciendo “Yo soy el que estuve muerto pero vivo” (Apoc 1:18). Imagine usted con todo esto y que de repente algunos hermanos le comenten a Juan …¡Ah por cierto Juan, Jesús… bueno la verdad no creemos que haya sido Dios en naturaleza!. Por eso Juan usa estas palabras “anticristos” estas personas estaban en oposición directa al Señor. 
Los muchos espíritus que han salido para engañar (1Juan 4:1), todavía siguen por ahí andando de casa en casa y negando al Señor de la Gloria. El anticristo ha estado en nuestras narices desde hace siglos y probablemente usted ya haya conocido a alguno de ellos. Sin embargo el concepto tiene que ver con estar  en Contra de Cristo y si usted no está a favor de la verdad, si no está a favor de la única Iglesia de Cristo, si está en contra del santo libro la Biblia en toda su pureza y su correcta interpretación… usted puede pasar a ser un anticristo también. Oro al Señor para que no sea así, sino más que como el apóstol Juan y como Judas el medio hermano del Señor podamos contender ardientemente por la fe que sido dada una sola vez a los santos (Judas 3).
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The Issue of Fellowship?

Where Should We Stand on the Issue of Fellowship

The Bible doctrine of fellowship is a difficult subject for many because of the strong emotions involved in personal relationships.  No one wants to withdraw fellowship from anyone, especially their friends and family.  Yet the Bible teaches clearly in such passages as Matthew 18, 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Thessalonians 3, and Romans 16:17 that sometimes we must.  The Bible also teaches that failure to withdraw fellowship appropriately is equally offensive to God (2 Thessalonians 3:14).  Such underscores the seriousness God has regarding the command.

Failure to withdraw fellowship is offensive to God.

Failure to withdraw fellowship is offensive to God.

Practicing this command is not easy to do either spiritually or emotionally.  Because of this, some simply will not do what God desires: they will not withdraw fellowship when God’s word demands it.  This kind of thinking places our love for men above our love for God and His word.  These individuals need to be reminded that God comes first in our affections (Matthew 6:33, 22:37-38).  We love God by keeping His commandments (1 John 5:2-3).  Can we both love God and fellowship those who have left the faith?  We cannot.

In contrast to the above attitude, there are those who abuse church discipline.  These want to withdraw fellowship upon the slightest of indiscretions.  To compound their error, they hold faithful brethren, who in patience and love continue to work with these individuals, in equal contempt.  This view of fellowship is based upon the erroneous conclusion from 2 John 10-11 that mere personal appearances with certain people are enough to withdraw.  In contrast, 2 John 10-11 teaches that we ought not to give aid and comfort to deliberate false teachers.  If we do such, with support and encouragement, obviously we partake of their evil deeds.

2 John 10-11 does not suggest, however, that fellowship ought to be recursively withdrawn from anyone appearing with someone who is in error.  Such a position would imply that faithful brethren would need to withdraw fellowship from themselves as there is always someone with whom we are in fellowship, who fellowships someone who fellowships someone (etc.) who is not in fellowship.  Any doctrine of fellowship that implies that a faithful Christian need withdraw fellowship from himself is a false doctrine of fellowship!  On the other hand, we have those who say there are no boundaries of fellowship at all.  “We can fellowship everyone regardless of who they are or what they believe.”  Such is an equally repugnant and unbiblical position to hold.

How ought we to practice the Bible doctrine of fellowship?  We ought, on a case by case basis, to judge according to righteous judgment and not according to appearance (John 7:24).  We ought to accept each individuals person without partiality (1 Timothy 5:21, James 3:17) until such a point in time as they prove to us individually that they have left the faith (1 Timothy 1:19-20).  Such proof may take the form of their public writings, speaking, or other actions.  If their actions are private, we are obliged to follow the procedures set forth in Matthew 18:15-20 until such a time as it becomes public.  We have no precedent, however, to withdraw from someone other than dealing with their actions individually and personally.  Nevertheless, when such has been proven that they have left the faith, we must withdraw.

Such a view of withdrawal is biblical, balanced, loving, and consistent with the Bible’s complete teaching on the doctrine of fellowship.  It thus seeks to love God first in obeying His commands, and also our fellow man in respecting his personal situation without judging inappropriately.  Practicing the Bible’s teaching regarding fellowship is not easy one way or the other.  Let us not, however, seek to make it easy by either not practicing it at all, or by throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater and not having fellowship with anyone but our own clique.  Instead, let us seek to judge each individual fairly, on a case by case basis, without resorting to a cliquish or devilish mentality.

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The Problem is Not With Us

An Open Letter To All Of Our Denominational Friends, Neighbors, & Family Members, As Well As To Our Fallen Away & Out Of Service Spiritual Brethren:

What exactly is the issue here? Why is it you seem to have such a problem with us? Don’t kid yourself. We hear the comments. Like when someone or their children are invited to services or bible study with us and they say, “Oh no, I’m not going to that church,” or “Not with that bunch!” We see your responses when we are at the same supermarket, sporting event, or on the same roadway, and you do everything you can to evade, avoid, or completely ignore us. And we wonder… why do you do that? We are not a bad, unfriendly, or non-benevolent people. In many cases you have probably experienced our love, compassion, and acceptance, as well as having personally benefitted from our financial assistance. So what’s the deal?

One Lord, one faith, one baptism? No problem.

One Lord, one faith, one baptism? No problem.

It is not our fault that Almighty God said in His eternally-settled in heaven word (Psalm 119:89), that there is only one body/church (Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4-6); the one body/church which He had planned and purposed since before the beginning of time (Eph. 3:8-12); the one church which He sent His one and only begotten and beloved Son to establish (Matt. 16:18) – and that, during the reign of the Roman Empire just as He had previously promised (Dan. 2:31-45).

It is not our fault, nor are we to blame, that the Lord Jesus gave Peter the “keys of the kingdom” (Matt. 16:19) and allowed him, under the divine influence, guidance, and direction of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:12-15; Acts 2:1-4) to preach the first gospel sermon (Acts 2:14-36), thus unlocking or opening up His church on the Day of Pentecost some 40 plus days after His resurrection (a claim which no modern-day denomination which was established hundreds of years later and is therefore never seen in scripture, can honestly or with any integrity whatsoever, ever make)! Neither is it our fault, that on that day, Peter bound both repentance and baptism – specifically FOR the forgiveness of one’s sins – as the absolute and heaven-honored requirements for entry into Christ’s church (Matt. 16:19; Acts 2:37-47)! After all, Jesus Himself had previously said the same to Nicodemus (Jn. 3:3-5).

We didn’t “write the book” that clearly states that “calling on the name of the Lord” to be saved is something done as one is biblically baptized in water for the very purpose of washing away their sins (Acts 22:16), or that baptism is the very act of faith (Col. 2:12) by which God said one is saved (1 Ptr. 3:21)!

We are not responsible for the fact that God said He would only ever recognize as valid, but one faith (Eph. 4:4); and then went on to define that as the one faith, “once for all delivered to the saints” prior to the end of the first century (Jude 3); the one, undivided – or undenominated – faith (Jn. 17:20-23; 1 Cor. 1:10, 4:17, 7:17, 16:1-2; Gal. 1:6-10; Phil. 1:27-2;2; Rev. 22;18-19) which comes only by hearing God’s word (Ro. 10:17) and then implementing and insisting on only what God instructed in Scripture (Lk. 6:46; Jn. 12:48).

We are not to blame that within God’s and Christ’s first-century established congregations of Their one, pre-denominational body or church – known individually as “churches of God” (1 Thess. 2:13-16), or “churches of Christ” (Ro. 16:16-18) – that They commanded that the women were to “keep silent” in the assemblies (1 Cor. 14:33-37), and not “to teach or to have authority” – that is, to lead – over men; or, that this was exactly what They had established from the very beginning, and would therefore honor to the very end (1 Tim. 2:8-15)!

Neither are we responsible in any way, shape, or form, for God’s, Christ’s, and the Holy Spirit’s all-authoritative (Matt. 28:18-20) instructions regarding the fact that:

* “Faith alone” is not enough to save anyone (Jms. 2:19-24).

*  That Christians can indeed fall from grace (Gal. 5:4).

* Every member of the Lord’s church is to join in the joyful singing of His praise from their hearts, and that They never authorized the use of man-made instruments in Christ’s one, New Testament church’s worship (Acts 16:25; Ro. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; Jms. 5:13).

*  Those willfully choosing to deny the truth of God and live in the lusts of the flesh such as ongoing adultery, sexual immorality, homosexuality, covetousness, or constant partying or drunkenness will not go to heaven (Matt. 19:3-9; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-11; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 1 Ptr. 4:3-5).

* Following God must come first and foremost – even over the most beloved of pursuits and family relationships (Matt. 10:32-38; Mk. 8:34-38; Lk. 9:23-26, 57-62, 14:25-35).

* Forsaking the assembly of the saints means forfeiting Jesus as one’s Advocate on Judgment Day, leaving them with nothing but the very real expectation and experience of a very fiery future that lasts forever (Heb. 10:19-31).

Yes, in the spirit of those great heroes of the faith listed in Hebrews 11, while we are not in any way responsible for writing or originating even a single one of these things (2 Ptr. 1:20-21), we fully and fervently believe every single one of them, as well as every other word written in the scriptures (Matt. 4:4; 2 Tim. 3:12-4:5), which are the very words of God (Jn. 6:60-68, 17:17; 1 Ptr. 4:11). And so, with all due respect, please don’t insult both your own as well as our intelligence by pulling out that old devil’s deception and declaring, “Well, that’s just your interpretation.” The Scripture references have been amply provided for each of the above points. Look them up. They are so simple a child could understand them (Matt. 18:1-4). And so, as you can see, it’s not a matter of interpretation. It’s far more a matter of  honestly and simply seeking to see and give God what He commands, out of a sincere and legitimate love for Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:15).

And so, if you want to continue to live, act, believe, and worship contrary to what God said in the Scriptures, that is your business. Just understand: Your problem is therefore not actually with us, but with God Himself. In fact, every time you blame/snub/persecute/revile/bad-mouth/turn your back on us, for our just simply trusting, believing, preaching and insisting on what God said, you actually validate us further before Him (Lk. 6:22-26; Jn. 15:18-21). But, we’d much rather have you in heaven. How about a bible study (Acts 17:11)?

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What Difference Does it Make?

What Difference Does it Make?

Have you ever considered what difference it makes to the driver who ignores the signs at the four-way stop? The fact the signs are there makes no difference in his life. The same is true of the laws about speed limits, wearing seat belts, and dimming headlights to oncoming traffic. The laws have no impact on that person who chooses to ignore them.

Christ makes all the difference in the end.

Christ makes all the difference in the end.

Now think about this. The fact that Jesus came makes no difference in the life of that person who chooses to ignore His presence on the earth.

What difference does it make if Jesus was born of a virgin in Bethlehem? To those who are seeking to find God, the birth of Jesus announced the beginning of God’s eternal plan for mankind. But to that person who makes no changes in his life, it makes no difference. Jesus might as well not have been born.

What difference does it make if Jesus ever taught any lessons at all? So what if He taught about morality, marriage, self-control, dealing with enemies, prayer, the abundant life and the resurrection? He might as well have never said a single word—if one chooses to ignore Him.

What difference does it make if Jesus showed His deity by undeniable miracles? Even if He had healed every sick person on this earth, fed all mankind with loaves and fish and emptied every tomb on planet earth, it would make no difference to that person who chooses to ignore such manifestations of heaven’s power. As far as that person is concerned, Jesus wasted His time in every miracle.

What difference does it make if Jesus was raised from the dead? The empty tomb—the ultimate manifestation of His deity—has no meaning to those who ignore Him. His enemies arrested Him, mocked Him, beat Him without mercy, and took His life. So what? Let those accounts of His life close with a lifeless body hanging on a cross—so what? It makes no difference.

What difference does it make—look at the real difference the events make. Ignore every event of His life, pretend they did not happen, consciously choose to ignore reality—yet, one truth remains—Jesus lives! He lived, He died, He was raised and He lives eternally!

God did not just raise Him, He highly exalted Him above all creation. God gave Him all authority in heaven and on this earth. God has appointed a day when He will judge the world by the one He raised from the dead. All mankind will be raised to give account for the decisions they have made on this earth. You can ignore His birth, His teaching, His miracles and His resurrection—temporarily. On that final day, these things are all that matter. Do not be so foolish as to ignore Him.

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