Last edited: 12/26/2009
Keep in mind that these are sermon notes! They may not read like a Bible study.
I N D E X
What if Paul was taken out of the Bible
Prayer Gods Communication System December 27, 2009
JULY 2009
(1) Angels were created.
(2) Earth was created.
(3) Man was created.
But something happened. Issues had to be resolved. Sin had entered into the world. A perfect God was challenged by Satan. A plan was set into motion and we are a part of that plan. I believe in the Trinity. I also believe that God’s Son, Jesus, is the designer and creator of the Earth and our heavens. The Son, Jesus, has a major role in resolving a conflict that was started by Satan.
The cross had permanent results toward Satan, toward man, toward sin and toward God. Combined with His resurrection, ascension, and seated at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus Christ’s work on the cross won the victory over Satan in the angelic conflict. Satan had charged that a loving God could not be fair in condemning His own creatures to eternal judgment.
Jesus Christ provided salvation for mankind. He did this without compromising or taking away from God’s perfect nature. Volition became the main issue. At that point, Satan’s doom was sealed.
VOLITION: (a) A conscious choice or decision. (b) A choice or decision made by the will.
Matthew 25:41 Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
“Depart from Me’” Hell’s worst aspect is the separation from fellowship with God. God does not send men to hell; they send themselves by their lifestyle choices.
“into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” Hell was not made for man, but for angelic beings in rebellion.
Christ was free in His decision to go to the cross. Man is free to believe or not, shows that Satan alone is responsible for his own condemnation. In revolting against God, the devil by is own volition brought judgment upon himself.
Luke 22:42 Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.
Jesus paid the penalty that had already been charged against each one of us. Now, even though we will continue to sin as long as we live, we are nevertheless free from the power of sin.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
1John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Many times throughout the New Testament this central topic of Scripture is described by the technical phrase “the blood of Christ.”
1Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
I realize that this is a sensitive subject for many believers. For some, the phrase “blood of Christ” has been associated with a lifetime of emotional experiences. Since childhood we have heard the blood mentioned in hushed, reverent tones; we have vigorously sung the hymns about the “wonder-working power in the blood.” Still, we may actually know very little about the blood of Christ and because of a lack of understanding may not be able to fully appreciate what Christ has done for us. We may even be in danger of accepting false ideas.
In fact, there is not enough blood in the world to cover even one sin.
Prior to the cross and the completion of the canon of Scripture, God ordained specific rituals as expressions of worship and as training aids for communicating Bible doctrine to people who were by and large illiterate. Among these observances, certain animal sacrifices were used to teach the doctrines of salvation.
The innocent animal’s blood was a clear representation of a life given on behalf of others because the animal’s blood is its life.
God’s absolute righteousness can have nothing to do with man’s attempt at righteousness, and even man’s finest and noblest efforts can never impress God (Isa. 64:6; Titus 3:5).
Jesus Christ was born as a real human being, but without the sin nature. His birth was unique! In addition, He lived for thirty-three years without an act of personal sin. His life was unique! Christ had volition, and the free will of His humanity was put to the test time and time again. (Matt. 4:1-11).
The first man, Adam, rejected God’s plan and disregarded the Lord’s command to not eat from the tree, but when he bit into that fruit, did he suddenly keel over and die? No. In fact, Adam lived for 930 years after he first sinned (Gen. 5:5).
Physical death came about as a result of spiritual death, but physical death is never the same as spiritual death. If it were, members of the human race would all die physically at birth since we are all born spiritually dead. The Scripture is very clear that every human being (with the exception of Jesus Christ) is born with an old sin nature and is therefore alienated from God upon arrival.
Romans 5:12 for that all have sinned:
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
“were dead” This refers to spiritual death. The Bible speaks of three stages of death: (1) spiritual death; (2) physical death; and (3) eternal death, called “the second death.
“trespasses” In the Greek it means “falling to one side”. All Greek words for “sins” are related to the Hebrew concept of deviation from the standard of God’s righteousness.
In order to purchase our salvation, Christ had to pay the price of spiritual death. The great difference between the spiritual death of Christ and His physical death cannot be emphasized too strongly. The fact that Christ died twice on the cross is clearly shown in the Greek and Hebrew words in several passages.
For example, in Colossians 1:22 the word “death” is in the singular – one death. There is a Greek noun that refers to His spiritual death. When it comes to His physical death, another Greek word is used.
John 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Note that our Lord was still speaking after salvation was completed. Obviously He could not have spoken if He were physically dead! And certainly if He was still physically alive on the cross after salvation was complete, His physical death could have nothing whatever to do with the payment for sin! Jesus Christ died of his own volition, no one took his life.
When His spiritual death was complete, Jesus Christ shouted, “aloud! – Most translations say “It is finished”. This refers to the finished work of redemption. One translation is “paid in full”. The word Jesus used is more thoroughly translated, “It is finished in the past with results that go on forever!”
Remember the hyssop branch in John 19:29
“upon a branch of hyssop” The hyssop plant did not have a very long stem (only 2 to 4 feet), but it must be remembered that the crosses were not raised very high above the ground. Our traditional pictures of a high cross may be misleading. Jesus’ feet may have been within a foot or two of the ground.
“He bowed His head and gave up His spirit” The phrase “bowed His head” was like “going to sleep.” Jesus’ death was a calm moment for Him. In death the spiritual aspect of a person is separated from the physical. The Gospel parallels in Mark 15:37 and Luke 23:46 have “He breathed His last.” The Hebrew word for “spirit” and “breath” are the same. His last breath was viewed as His spirit leaving the body.
Physical death is a consequence of spiritual death; not the penalty for sin but a result of sin. This pattern was established in the first man, Adam. In contrast, Christ suffered spiritual death not as fallen man but as perfect man, and He was still perfect after paying in full the penalty for our sins and being restored to fellowship with the Father. Our Lord’s physical death, therefore, was not a result of His spiritual death but showed instead that His work in the first coming was completed.
Furthermore, His physical death was absolutely essential for His resurrection and is an essential part of the Gospel when resurrection is emphasized.
1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
“which also you received” Although Jesus died for all human sin, it is obvious from this passage and others that each person must personally receive God’s free offer of salvation.
The Lord Jesus Christ did not bleed to death. He was fully in command of Himself on the cross, and He died physically in fulfillment of His own words.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
When Christ had paid the penalty for sins, He announced that salvation was finished. He then pushed His head forward or He bowed His head.
Everything He did and said while on the cross had a purpose and a reason. It was essential that when He died physically, His body should be leaning in a specific forward position, so that when the spear pierced His side, it would enter at just the correct spot, piercing the heart. In this forward position the blood would pour forth and establish His physical death even at a distance.
Jewish law demanded that the body of any criminal be put out of sight during a Sabbath or feast day in order not to pollute the land.
Deuteronomy 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt bury him that day;
These pious Jews certainly did not want their victim, whom they had railroaded through the courts, to be hanging on a cross during one of their high Sabbaths.
The Roman soldiers went up to the two thieves, one on each side of Jesus, and in order to be able to take them down by nightfall, the legionnaires pounded their legs until the bones were crushed. Thrown into deeper shock and suddenly unable to force themselves up to relieve the pressure, the thieves could not exhale the rising concentration of carbon dioxide in their lungs and died of suffocation. Of course the Jews were waiting for the same thing to occur at the center cross.
John 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
Christ was already physically dead. The soldiers on the execution detail that day, undoubtedly experts at recognizing physical death, saw that He was already dead.
Psalm 34:20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
John 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Then one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear.
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Later Jesus rose from the grave; He had just conquered sin, spiritual death, and physical death.
1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
With Jesus now in heaven, there is no longer a need for animal sacrifice. Why would anyone prefer a dead animal over the living Son of God?
The blood of Christ is a technical term which expresses the fact that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament shadows. Jesus Christ did not bleed to death to pay the penalty for sin. In other words, it was not his actual physical death that completed or finished our redemption that day.
The Bible reveals Christ rather than hides Him in mystery. We can understand the essential truths of the Gospel. We have seen that literal blood cannot bring man eternal life and that Christ’s blood is a representation of His spiritual death. That explains why the blood of Christ is the payment that is central to our great salvation.
And that is my message for today.
Addendum . . . .
The words in blue are from the Bible. The words in - I guess it is maroon - are from Bob Utley's commentary which you can find on the Internet.
After I delivered this message I was met with a little opposition and was asked where I got the information about the cross on which Jesus died. The person did not like the idea that the the feet of Jesus could have been only a foot or two off of the ground.
Well let's just stop right there. This has nothing to do with what Christ did on the cross, it just gives a person another perspective of the scene instead of the paintings and statues that we see.
I did a little more research. A few believe that Christ was hung on a stake without the cross beam. Then there is the believe that the vertical beam was permanently positioned in the ground and then the condemned would carry the cross beam to the place of execution.
There were three types of crosses the Romans used. They used the high cross, the low cross and the tree (either living or dead).
The high cross looks like this.
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The low cross looks like this.
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Or something like that - I think that you get the picture.
Then of course there was the tree.
Then comes the discussion on whether the nails were driven through the hands or the wrist. I have read that if the nails were driven through the hands, the person on the cross would literally rip his hands off and fall from the cross.
And if that isn't enough, have you ever wondered why the Roman soldiers broke the legs of the first person on the cross, then skipped Jesus and broke the legs of the third. The soldier then walked back to Jesus and realized that he was already dead.
Well I read that Jesus and the other two condemned men were crucified on a tree - and it says so in the Bible. So that meant the soldier broke the legs of the first, walked around the tree to the third and then to Jesus.
The person that challenged me on my information said that he had heard sermons (as I have) about the cross of Jesus sliding to the bottom of the hole and creating such a jolt that the flesh of Jesus was torn. Like I mentioned, I have heard those sermons many times and believe that some of the preachers may be taking liberties and embellishing the story.
The physical death of Jesus was very much like so many thousand others of that time period. I have heard of roads lined on both sides of crucified people. The Romans were about pain and suffering. They enjoyed it. They were masters of pain. It is even said that they enjoyed watching wild animals eat the feet of the condemned while they were still alive, more proof of the feet of the condemned being close to the ground.
Don't get me wrong, I surely do not want to take anything away from the cross. Yet at the same time, I don't want to add anything to it.
Well, maybe you will read this and do some study of your own.
What if Paul was taken out of the Bible?
AUGUST 9, 2009 AM
A few weeks ago while in Mountain View, Arkansas I met a man and during our conversation, I learned that he belonged to the Unitarian Church. Since I didn’t know a lot about the Unitarians I asked he about their beliefs and doctrine.
Well it wasn’t long into the conversation that I learned that their doctrine is work based.
They travel about doing good works. You would find them in places like Habitat for Humanity.
He also said that they believe that there are many ways to God.
Then he said, “The writings of Paul should be taken out of the Bible.”
Unitarian Universalists are free to discern their beliefs about theological and ethical issues. Individual Unitarian Universalists may also identify as Atheist, Agnostic, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, or with other philosophical or religious traditions.
Unitarians believe Roman Catholics, Calvinist, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Baptist, Methodist have been the most disastrous in its influence upon the characters, the spiritual welfare, and improvement of men.
There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote:
Where is God?
Where is Salvation?
Where is Heaven and Hell?
I am giving you this information because I would like for you to examine your life and make sure you haven’t fallen victim to any of these untruths.
Could these doctrines be more wide spread than we might imagine?
The Hindus say Christians claim belief in Yahweh yet live life as practical atheists, denying Christ with their lives.
Romans is the most logical doctrinal book of the Apostle Paul.
Paul’s presentation of the gospel in Romans has played a major role in the church’s life in every age:
Saint Augustine was converted in A.D. 386 reading Romans 13:13-14.
Martin Luther’s understanding of salvation was radically changed in A.D. 1513 as he compared Ps. 31:1 to Rom. 1:17.
John Wesley, walking by a Mennonite meeting in London in A.D. 1738, was converted after hearing Luther’s sermon on the introduction to Romans being read because the assigned preacher did not show up!
To know Romans is to know Christianity! The letter shapes the life and teachings of Jesus into bedrock truths for the Church of all ages. Martin Luther said of it, “The chief book in the NT and the purest gospel!”
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
This verse mentions three aspects of God.
1. His invisible attributes (His character)
2. His eternal power (seen in natural creation)
3. His divine nature (seen in His acts and motives of creation)
Did you hear and understand what I just read?
God has written two books: nature and Scripture. They are both understanding and demand a response “so that they are without excuse” This is literally “no legal defense.” Remember the theological purpose is to show the spiritual lostness of all mankind.
Humans are responsible for what they have. God holds humans responsible only for that which they know or could know.
Men and women throughout the ages and every continent have been seeking and finding God. Most had no one to talk to or no written word to follow. Yet they found God through his character, His creation and His motives.
Today we have so much. Yet we are still blinded to the truth. We don’t see His character, we think that creation is just Mother Nature at work and we have no ideas about his acts and motives.
I once read about a City State in what is now known as Mexico. Their inhabitants had many Christ like attributes.
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Humans are not progressing religiously—they are progressively evil. Since Genesis 3 humanity has been going downhill. The darkness is increasing!
Human religious systems are monuments to spiritual rebellion and pride.
We have some Christian musicians who wrote about old Constantine and the church machine.
I was watching the news on TV the other day and Glen Beck said that we need to turn to God and get down on I knees and pray.
But then another person on the show in all sincerity mentioned that in his parish more people are lighting candles. They know this because there is a box nearby where the parishioner places a dollar for each candle.
I don’t come here to light a candle, participate in the music, eat or be entertained.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Willfully ignorant, humans who were made in God’s image turned God into earthly images such as:
1. animals (Egypt)
2. forces of nature (Persia)
3. human forms (Greece/Rome)—idols! Even God’s own people did this (Deut. 4:15-24).
Some new forms of this old sin are
1. environmentalism (mother earth)
2. New Age eastern thought (mysticism, spiritualism, and the occult)
3. atheistic humanism (Marxism, utopianism, progressive idealism, and ultimate faith in politics or education)
4. holistic medicine (health and longevity)
5. education.
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Homosexuality is one example of life apart from God’s obvious will in creation (be fruitful). It was a sin and a major cultural problem in the Greco-Roman world in Paul’s day.
Homosexuality is probably listed as one example of the fallen life because of the entire context’s orientation to Gen. 1-3. Mankind was made in God’s image.
God’s command was to be fruitful and multiply. Mankind’s fall disrupted God’s plan and will. Homosexuality is an obvious violation! However it must be stated that this is not the only sin mentioned in the context sins show mankind’s separation from God and their deserved punishment. All sin, especially lifestyle sin, is repulsive to God.
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:
Jesus as the object of our faith. This shows the main aspect of God’s justification. It is the righteousness of Christ made operative in one’s life by God’s free gift through Christ, which must be accepted by faith/belief/trust and lived out in daily life.
The gospel is for all humans. What a great truth! This must balance the biblical truth of election.
Old Testament election was for service, not privilege! God promised to redeem fallen man.
God called and chose all mankind through Israel. God elects through faith in Christ.
God always takes the initiative in salvation. Ephesians 1 and Romans 9 are the strongest biblical passages on the doctrine of predestination.
God chose believers not only to salvation (justification), but also to sanctification. This could relate to our position in Christ or God’s desire to reproduce His character in His children.
God’s will for His children is both heaven one day and Christlikeness now!
Jesus died for all humans. Potentially all can be saved. It is mankind’s personal reception that makes Jesus’ righteousness applicable to their lives. The Bible presents two criteria for imputed righteousness: faith and repentance. This text clearly reveals the universal scope of salvation, but not all will be saved.
There is only one way and one Person by which humans (Jews and Gentiles) can be saved. Anyone and everyone can be saved by faith in Christ.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
This is where the gospel begins—the grace of God who gives righteousness. The Greek term “justify” was from the same root as “righteousness”. There are three metaphors used to describe salvation: “justified” which was a legal term that meant “no penalty given” or to pronounce one not guilty; “redemption” which was from the slave market that meant “bought back” or “to set free”; and “propitiation” which was from the sacrificial system and meant the place of covering or atonement. It referred to the lid of the Ark of the Covenant where sacrificial blood was placed on the Day of Atonement.
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
There is an obvious emphasis in Romans on the “mercy” of God in dealing with fallen humanity. Because God’s grace and mercy are offered freely, believers must live godly lives out of gratitude, not merit.
Humans will either give themselves to God or to Satan. As Christ gave Himself uniquely to do the Father’s will, even death on a cross, His followers must also emulate His selfless living.
Believers need to commit their entire being or person to God as they had previously committed it to sin.
When it is said “a living” This was radically different from the dead offerings of the Jewish or pagan temples.
We should now seek active life service and Christ like love. We should not participate in harsh treatment of the physical body for religious purposes.
God’s mercy and love are inseparable from the theological concepts of covenants, justice, and essential character. Herein is the tension in God toward an unholy, fallen, rebellious humanity.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The 7 principles are conformed to this world by the very acceptance of so many human ideas.
1Co 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
It seems this incident with a man living with his father’s wife was “widely known”. This may have been one of the reasons Paul was so upset over this flagrant immorality.
The Corinthian church was glorying in it and it was being widely reported to the other churches. Paul had to deal with this out-of-bounds action and the attitude of this church lest they negatively affect all churches.
Even other pagans were shocked by Corinth’s immoral social license.
They were proud of this situation. This shocking incident has several possible rationales: (1) from the general context it is possible that this was seen by the church as an example of the radical newness which salvation brings or (2) it reflects the Jewish background of Rabbi Aqibah.
In 1 Corinthians Paul writes about the spiritual gifts.
1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
1Co 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Paul is not disparaging tongues, but asserting their proper relationship to other spiritual gifts and setting some practical guidelines. The Corinthians were apparently seeking this gift for egotistical, personal glory and prestige.
This is an evaluation based on Paul’s criteria that tongues are of less value in edifying the entire church. But remember that speaking in tongues is a valid gift of the Spirit. Paul is using a literary technique to underscore the need for understandable communication in gathered worship.
1Co 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
Paul talks about false teachers.
2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Satan’s major trick is masquerading as truth. Evil always tries to mimic or counterfeit the good. False teachers always come from inside the church.
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Paul lifts up Jesus.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In 1 Timothy Paul gives us the qualifications for the deacons of the church.
1Ti 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
God doesn’t make junk.
1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
“For everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected”. However, we must balance this with the fact that though all things may be good and clean to those who know their origin is in God, not all things edify the church.
Therefore, we as Christians limit our freedoms for the sake of others out of respect for Christ.
And here word of caution. Be careful about cultural and/or denominational traditions.
Now just listen to a few words from Paul that would not be in our Bible if Paul’s writings were taken out.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
And that is my message for today.
AUGUST 9, 2009 PM
Old Testament
Masoretic text (MT) - The Hebrew consonantal text was set by Rabbi Aquiba in A.D. 100. The vowel points, accents, marginal notes, punctuation and apparatus points started being added in the sixth century A.D. and were finished in the ninth century A.D. It was done by a family of Jewish scholars known as the Masoretes. The textual form they used was the same as the one in the Mishnah, Talmud, Targums, Peshitta, and Vulgate.
Septuagint (LXX) - Tradition says the Septuagint was produced by 70 Jewish scholars in 70 days for the
Alexandria library under the sponsorship of King Ptolemy II (285-246 B.C.) The translation was supposedly
requested by a Jewish leader living in Alexandria. This tradition comes from “Letter of Aristeas.” The LXX
frequently was based on a differing Hebrew textual tradition from the text of Rabbi Aquiba (MT).
Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) - The Dead Sea Scrolls were written in the Roman B.C. period (200 B.C. to A.D. 70) by a sect of Jewish separatists called the “Essenes.” The Hebrew manuscripts, found in several sites around the Dead Sea, show a somewhat different Hebrew textual family behind both the MT and the LXX.
New Testament
Over 5,300 manuscripts of all or parts of the Greek New Testament are extant. About 85 are written on papyri and 268 are manuscripts written in all capital letters. Later, about the ninth century A.D., a running script was developed. The Greek manuscripts in written form number about 2,700. We also have about 2,100 copies of lists of Scripture texts used in worship that we call lectionaries.
About 85 Greek manuscripts containing parts of the New Testament written on papyrus are housed in museums. Some are dated from the second century A.D., but most are from the third and fourth centuries A.D. None of these MSS contain the whole New Testament. Just because these are the oldest copies of the New Testament does not automatically mean they have fewer variants. Many of these were copied rapidly for a local use. Care was not exercised in the process. Therefore, they contain many variants.
Codex Sinaiticus, known by the Hebrew letter ! (aleph) or (01), found at St. Catherine’s monastery on Mt. Sinai by Tischendorf. It dates from the fourth century A.D. and contains both the LXX of the OT and the Greek NT. It is of “the Alexandrian Text” type.
Codex Alexandrinus, known as “A” or (02), a fifth century Greek manuscript which was found in Alexandria, Egypt.
Codex Vaticanus, known as “B” or (03), found in the Vatican’s library in Rome and dates from the middle of the fourth century A.D. It contains both LXX of the Old Testament and Greek New Testament. It is of “the
Alexandrian Text” type.
Codex Ephraemi, known as “C” or (04), a fifth century Greek manuscript which was partially destroyed.
Codex Bezae, known as “D” or (05), a fifth or sixth century Greek manuscript. It is the chief representative of what is called “The Western Text.” It contains many additions and was the main Greek witness for the King James translation.
Codex means Book.
Changes were made to correct a perceived problem in the text (cf. I Cor. 11:27 and I John 5:7-8). Some additional information as to the historical setting or proper interpretation of the text was placed in the margin by one scribe but placed into the text by a second scribe (cf. John 5:4)
The basic tenets of textual criticism (logical guidelines for determining the original reading of a text when variants exist)
1. the most awkward or grammatically unusual text is probably the original
2. the shortest text is probably the original
3. the older text is given more weight because of its historical proximity to the original, everything else being equal.
Harold Greenlee’s book, Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism, “No Christian doctrine hangs upon a debatable text; and the student of the NT must beware of wanting his text to be more orthodox or doctrinally stronger than is the inspired original”.
W. A. Criswell told Greg Garrison of The Birmingham News that he (Criswell) doesn’t believe every word in the Bible is inspired, “at least not every word that has been given to the modern public by centuries of translators.” Criswell said: “I very much am a believer in the textual criticism. As such, I think, the last half of the 16th chapter of Mark is heresy: it’s not inspired, it’s just concocted...When you compare those manuscripts way back yonder, there was no such thing as that conclusion of the Book of Mark. Somebody added it...”
Criswell added, “Textual criticism is a wonderful science in itself. It is not ephemeral, it’s not impertinent. It’s dynamic and central...”
A Biblical canon or canon of scripture[1] is a list or set of Biblical books considered to be authoritative as scripture.
Canons are usually considered closed (i.e., books cannot be added or removed). The closure of the canon reflects a belief that public revelation has ended and thus the inspired texts may be gathered into a complete and authoritative canon.
By contrast, an open canon permits the addition of additional books through the process of continuous revelation. In Christian traditions, an open canon is most commonly associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).
Canonical books have been developed through debate and agreement by the religious authorities of their respective faiths. Believers consider these canonical books to be inspired by God or to express the authoritative history of the relationship between God and his people. Books excluded from a particular canon are considered non-canonical — however, many disputed books considered non-canonical or even apocryphal by some are considered Biblical apocrypha or Deuterocanonical or fully canonical, by others. There are differences between the Jewish and Christian canons, and between the canons of different Christian denominations. The differing criteria and processes of canonization dictate what the communities regard as the inspired books.
New Testament Greek and Latin texts presented enough significant differences that a manuscript tradition arose of presenting diglot texts, with Greek and Latin on facing pages. New Testament manuscript traditions include the Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Bezae, Codex Alexandrinus, Textus Receptus, Vetus Latina, Vulgate, to name a few.
Though the Early Church used the Old Testament according to the canon of the Septuagint (LXX), the apostles did not otherwise leave a defined set of new scriptures; instead the New Testament developed over time.
The writings attributed to the apostles circulated amongst the earliest Christian communities. The Pauline epistles were circulating in collected form by the end of the first century AD. Justin Martyr, in the early second century, mentions the "memoirs of the apostles," which Christians called "gospels" and which were regarded as on par with the Old Testament.
The first major figure to codify the Biblical canon was Origen of Alexandria. He was a scholar well educated in the realm of both theology and pagan philosophy. Origen decided to make his canon include all of the books in the current Catholic canon except for four books: James, 2nd Peter, and 2nd and 3rd epistles of John. He also included the Shepherd of Hermas which was later rejected.
The religious scholar Bruce Metzger described Origen's efforts, saying “The process of canonization represented by Origen proceeded by way of selection, moving from many candidates for inclusion to fewer. This was the first major attempt at the compilation of certain books and letters as authoritative and inspired teaching for the Catholic Church at the time.
Evangelicals tend not to accept the Septuagint as the inspired Hebrew Bible, though many recognize its wide use by Greek-speaking Jews in the first century. They note that early Christians evidenced a knowledge of a canon of Scripture, based upon internal evidence, as well as by the existence of a list of Old Testament books by Melito of Sardis, compiled around 170 A.D.
Nonetheless, a full dogmatic articulation of the canon was not made until the Council of Trent of 1546 for Roman Catholicism, the Thirty-Nine Articles of 1563 for the Church of England, the Westminster Confession of Faith of 1647 for British Calvinism, and the Synod of Jerusalem of 1672 for the Greek Orthodox.
Some Christian groups do not accept the theory that the Christian Bible was not known until various local and Ecumenical Councils, which they deem to be "Roman-dominated", made their official declarations.
Gradual and independent definition of the canon by elders. In the year 367 an influential bishop named Athanasius published a list of books to be read in the churches under his care, which included precisely those books we have in our Bibles (with this exception — he admitted Baruch and omitted Esther in the Old Testament). Other such lists had been published by others, as early as the year 170, although they did not all agree. How did the men who published these lists decide which books should be called Scripture? Scholars who have studied this matter closely have concluded that the lists of books are merely ratifications of the decisions of the majority of churches from earliest days. We are able to prove this by examining the surviving works of Irenaeus (born 130), who lived in days before anyone felt it was necessary to list the approved books. He quotes as Scripture all of the books and only the books that appear in the list published on another continent and sixty years later by Origen.
It is evident that the elders of each congregation had approved certain writings and rejected others as they became available, and it turned out, by the grace of God, that most of the churches were by the year 170 in agreement, having approved the same books independently. Prominent teachers were also influential in this process. About that time bishops began to prevail in the Church, as governors of groups of churches, and they simply ratified with these lists the results thus arrived at. The approved books were then called the "canon" of Scripture, "canon" being a Greek word meaning "rod" or "ruler." These books constituted the standard rule of faith for all the churches. We must not imagine that the canon was imposed by ecclesiastical authorities. The canon grew up by many independent decisions of elders who were responsible for their congregations alone.
Universal agreement in modern times. Today we have no good reason for doubting the canon of the New Testament. It would be wrong for me to suggest that everyone needs to investigate these matters and decide for himself which books he will receive as Scripture, without any respect for the decisions of the early churches. We are not in such a position to judge as the early church was, and we are bound to respect the well-nigh unanimous opinion of so many Christians of the past. As Paul says to the Corinthian innovators, "What! Was it from you that the word of God went forth? Or came it unto you alone?" Against such presumption he recommends that which is done "in all the churches of the saints." (14:33b-36). Recently some scholars have tried to promote strange doctrines by suggesting that some of our canonical writings are not genuine, and that other writings such as the Gospel of Thomas are equally valid "interpretations" of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. I have studied their arguments, and I can assure you that they are not worth listening to. (I forgot who I is.)
The formation of the Old Testament Canon.
The formation of the Old Testament canon was gradual, and was composed of the writings which spread over many centuries.
Moses commanded that the books of the law be placed in the ark. This--with the addition of the book of Joshua--was done, and the sacred books were kept there during the wilderness journey, and also were in the ark during its permanent residence in Jerusalem. (Deuteronomy 31:9,26, cf. 2 Kings 22:8; Joshua 24:26; 1 Samuel 10:25.)
Then were gathered and placed in the temple the historical and prophetical books from Joshua to David's time. On the construction of the temple Solomon deposited in it the earlier books (2 Kings 22:8, Isaiah 34:16), and enriched the collection with inspired writings from his own pen, and also some prophetic writings. So we find Daniel (9:2, R.V.) referring to "the books," Isaiah to "the book of the Lord" (29:18, 34:16).
After Solomon's day a succession of prophets arose, Jonah, Amos, Isaiah, Hosea, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, and Habakkuk. These all flourished before the destruction of the temple, and enlarged the collection of existing sacred books by valuable additions.
After the Babylonian capture, when the temple was rebuilt and worship re-established, then doubtless were added the writings of Haggai and Zechariah.
About fifty years after the temple was rebuilt Ezra made a collection of the sacred writings (Neh. 8:2,3,14). To this collection were added the writings of Nehemiah, Malachi, and Ezra. It is a fact of history that Nehemiah gathered the "Acts of the Kings and the Prophets, and those of David," when founding a library for the second temple, 432 B.C. (See 2 Maccabees 2:13).
The canon of the Old Testament in the form we now have it, was the work of Ezra and the Great Synagogue. This fact is borne witness to in the most ancient Jewish writings. The Great Synagogue was composed of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. There is no doubt but that such a collection of books existed in the time of our Lord and the apostles (Luke 24:27,44).
b. The New Testament Canon
The New Testament canon was gradually added to that of the Old Testament. But it was some considerable time after our Lord's ascension before any of the books contained in it were actually written.
The first and most important work of the apostles was to deliver a personal testimony to the chief facts of the Gospel history (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:21,22). Their teaching was at first oral, and it was no part of their intention to create a permanent literature. A cycle of selected representative facts sufficed to form the groundwork of their oral Gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-10).
But in the course of time many endeavored to commit to writing this oral Gospel (Luke 1:1-4). So long as the apostles were still living, the necessity for written records of the words and actions of our Lord was not so pressing. But when the time came for their removal from this world, it became extremely important the authoritative records should be put forth. Thus the Gospels came into existence, two by apostles themselves, and two by friends and close companions of the apostles.
But already had arisen another kind of composition. Founders of churches, often unable to visit them personally, desired to communicate with their converts for purposes of counsel, reproof, and instruction. Thus arose the Epistles, which were put forth from time to time to meet special needs and emergencies.
The persecution of Diocletian (302 A.D.) brought to the front the question of the sacred literature of the church. The persecutors demanded that the Scriptures should be given up. This the Christians refused to do. Hence the question became urgent--What books are apostolic? The answer lies in our New Testament. There were at that time many false and spurious gospels and epistles. Careful, prayerful, and deliberate examination, however, proved which were genuine and which were false. The genuine were received by the church as the inspired writings of the apostles and others whose names the books bear. Thus arose the New Testament canon.
Thus far we have established a relationship between the apostles' written word and Christ's historical redemptive events. The question now arising is, "How did the apostles' writings come together to form the New Testament canon--the collection of books which are received as genuine and inspired Holy Scripture?" The answer to this question is simple. The Christians and the church simply acknowledged the apostles' authority and accepted their writings, and writings of those intimately associated with them (as Mark and Luke), as part of the Holy Scripture. The church did not put together a canon that made books authoritative because they were included in it. The church only acknowledged what was given by the apostles, and included books in the canon because of this apostolical authority. They never regarded these books as anything else than canonical.
The actual canonization process took a long time. At first each of the apostle/s writings were acknowledged individually as authoritative. There was no canon of them that gave them authority because they were in it. But as time passed the need for a canon increased. False teachers arose and questioned the authority of certain of the writings that did not agree with their ideas. This forced the Christian brotherhood to gather together the individual apostle/s writings and assemble them into a canon. The church gathered together the writings that were accepted as the apostles' from the very beginning. This was no real problem for the church since she as a whole generally acknowledged the same writings. The writings that were questioned were small in number and then generally questioned only in late times by obviously false teachers and in small local areas.
Today we accept the twenty-seven books of the New Testament as authoritative and can do so without the slightest doubt. We depend on the early Christians' decisions that each of the twenty-seven books has apostolic authorship. We do this since there were in a much better position to judge. The reason for this lies in the concept of apostolicity, which limits it to a certain place and time. Those at the correct place and time, the recipients of each writing, are in the best position to say where the writings came from. Thus we accept their decision and can do so with confidence since the Holy Spirit was at work guiding the decision.
In summary, the New Testament is our authority in religious matters because it is tied to the historical redemptive events. Christ established the means by which it was written. He called apostles to give His Word and gave the Holy Spirit as a guide. The early Christians accepted their word as Christ's Word because of this call. The early church gathered together the apostles' writings, and by acknowledging their authority from Christ, completed the last step in the recording of the final revelation of God to man, the New Testament.
It is clear that Christ and the Apostles treated Scripture as authoritative and as constituting truth. The question that now needs answering is, "Are the Scriptures we possess today worthy to be treated as Christ treated them?" We know that through the historical redemptive events Scripture was "breathed of God." This applies to the originals and not to copies of them. The original was made by men moved by the Holy Spirit. The copies were made by ordinary men. But does this fact mean a great loss to us? Are our present-day copies so poor that they are not trustworthy? When one realizes that God revealed His plan of redemption to men through historical events, and that we know about these events only through Scripture, one will also realize that these Scriptures must be trustworthy. Otherwise we would not know of His plan of redemption. It is beyond one's imagination that an infallible and loving God would let His plan of redemption be lost through untrustworthy copies of the Scriptures. Also, when one realizes that God prevented errors from entering the originals by guiding the writers by the Holy Spirit, one will realize that God would also have prevented significant errors from entering through copying.
One's confidence in our Scriptures is also supported by the attitude of Christ and the Apostles toward them. They did not hesitate to trust the Old Testament Scriptures. These too were not originals. If they had faith in the adequacy of their copies and never questioned them, we should have even more faith in our New Testament copies as being trustworthy.
Many of the copies we possess are bound to contain errors due to the numerous copyings and recopyings they have gone through. Although the copying process did introduce a few errors, it also increased the means for finding errors. By careful study and comparison of the many old manuscripts, it is possible to obtain a sound proximity of the originals. The errors that were introduced here and there in some of the copies are found by comparing the many manuscripts, making it possible to approximate the original. This approximation of the original can be considered as inerrant and infallible; that is, it can be held as a reliable authority (never deceiving or misleading) and is free from error (always giving the thought of the original). This does not necessarily mean that we have a slavish verbatim copy of the original down to every small word. There might be trifling variations in wording. But these are so minor that there is no doubt about the authors' thoughts not being known to us, and in most cases there is little doubt about now knowing the words they used to communicate the thoughts.
It is not within the realm of this paper to discuss the alleged discrepancies in Scripture. But some comments will be made. First, it should be said that many of the alleged discrepancies are the result of an eager search for them and from a conviction that they exist. They are not necessarily the result of an honest and scientific inquiry. Too often the desire to find discrepancies has resulted in passages being cited as discrepancies when they could be harmonized. Scientific methods do not treat a difficulty as an example of a discrepancy immediately, without seriously studying first to see if it can be reasonably and naturally explained. This does not mean that all apparent discrepancies can be harmonized. But this is not serious. In all probability, if more was known about the events surrounding such difficulties, we could readily understand them. our difficulties are often the result of a lack of knowledge. Actually it is difficult to prove a discrepancy. Because if any reasonable explanation can be found, a discrepancy can not necessarily be claimed.
Questions have been raised about the above view. Some say it should be admitted that discrepancies exist. But before this is admitted, one should examine the implications of such a move. The implication would be that God has presented a faulty revelation of His plan of salvation, but how could an all-knowing God "breathe" words that contain errors or faulty information? Man could do it, but not God. Also, if God allowed errors to arise in Scripture, can we trust any part of it? Logic would say that if errors exist in minor points, the major points could not be trusted. In light of these considerations one may well take the view point that there are no errors in our Scriptures. This can be done honestly. As said before, if alleged errors are closely examined, most can be explained. The few which cannot in all probability could, if all the details surrounding the events were known. It is honest to admit we lack understanding rather than hastily to proclaim that errors exist.
THE WORD OF GOD is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints and the marrow, and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart. All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God might be mature, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
God’s Communication System
WHILE GOD COMMUNICATES with man through His Word, He has given believers in the Lord Jesus Christ a gracious means of communication with Himself-prayer.
When the believer prays, he has a direct connection to the throne room of God. He has the opportunity and privilege to speak to God expressing his gratitude, interceding for others who are in need, and petitioning for his own personal needs.
Prayer is the most potent weapon of the spiritual life and the believer must take full advantage of this unparalleled approach to God.
Isaiah 65:24 "It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear."
From eternity past the omniscience of God knew and had an answer for every prayer that every believer would offer during his lifetime. God's omnipotence gives Him the absolute ability to hear and answer prayer, but His sovereignty, omniscience, righteousness, justice, and love determine His answers.
Two kinds of prayer are revealed in Psalm:
1. Everyday, routine prayers
2. Supplications - special, more intense prayers for serious or adverse circumstances. "I shall call upon Him implies a vocal request
It is not necessary to pray by speaking out loud. You can think a prayer as well as speak one.
Once the believer has made his request, he then turns the matter over to the Lord.
Unfortunately, prayer is often abused and misused. Some believers attempt to exploit the power of prayer to get their own way. Other believers use prayer only when they are in trouble. They promise God, “If you get me out of this jam, I will be a good Christian, give to the church, witness to a certain number of people a day.”
Prayer is not designed to bribe or manipulate God.
To the Throne Room
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
Jesus is seated in the presence of God the Father making intercession for us. When we pray, the Father in heaven hears us immediately.
Have you ever thought about how far and fast prayer travels.
Light travels at 186,000 miles a second. One light year represents about six trillion miles. Light from our sun reaches us in about eight minutes. The next nearest star is four light years away. The light we see from the Andromeda Nebula left there about two million years ago. Yet our prayer is received instantly.
The Mandate to Pray
Prayer is part of every believer’s spiritual life in every dispensation.
The Old and New Testaments record separate commands related to prayer.
Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.”
This verse reveals three facets of prayer for all believers: Asking is routine prayer; seeking is prayer with the concept of divine guidance; and knocking is intense prayer or supplication.
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER
In order to pray effectively, the believer must understand how to pray. God has ground rules, procedures that must be observed at all times.
Prayer Is for Believers Only
Only members of the family of God through faith alone in Christ alone have the right to approach the throne of grace and say, “Heavenly Father.”
The only exception to that is the prayer for salvation.
Protocol for Prayer
All prayer must be directed to the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the power or filling of the Holy Spirit. Since Christ and the Holy Spirit both make intercession for us, we do not address our prayers to “Dear Jesus” or “O Holy Spirit.”
Length of Prayer
Long prayers should be reserved for private prayers. Public prayers should be short, to the point, and avoid needless repetition.
Sequence for Private Prayer
REBOUND
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Greek word used is translated "confess," means "to name, cite, admit, acknowledge."
The verb was used primarily in a judicial context as "confess a crime in court, to make a legal statement."
1 John 1:9 is no exception. The word means simply to acknowledge or name your sins to God the Father.
This is rebound.
Without our proper sequence, our prayer does not rise above the ceiling.
God cannot hear you when you are in a carnal state.
THANKSGIVING
Col 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude ofthanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is the part of your private prayer that constitutes worship motivated from your personal love for God.
Thanksgiving is appreciation and gratitude for all that God has done in grace for you.
1 Thess. 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
"In everything" includes being thankful for bad as well as good circumstances.
"In everything" also means being thankful for spiritual as well as material things.
INTERCESSION
Intercessory prayer is praying for others. This aspect of prayer is a ministry of Christian service in which you provide a barrage of support for those in need.
To intercede for others, you should have a list to remind yourself of all those in need of prayer.
PETITION
Petition is praying for your own needs.
This is listed last, though it is not necessarily the least important.
We all have personal needs or problems of one kind or another.
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace."
Petitions address those particular circumstances for which there is no direct statement or solution from Scripture. If provision for your own needs or solutions to your problems are found in the Word of God, do not petition for those things.
For example, we are filled with the Spirit automatically when we rebound.
Therefore, do not pray a meaningless prayer by saying, "Fill me with the Spirit."
WHY PRAYER Is NOT HEARD
There are a number of reasons why prayer is not heard. Each of these reasons is a result of carnality and failure in the spiritual life.
Lack of Faith
Failure to have faith will prevent prayer from being heard. Mental attitude sins of fear and worry neutralize faith and the function of the faith-rest drill.
Be anxious for [fear] nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be
made known to God.
(phil. 4:6)
Once you commit a problem to Godin prayer, you must trust that God
will provide deliverance.
Wrong Motives
Prayer is not heard when the believer makes a request from false motivation. When he yearns for the "pleasures" and details of life contradictory to God's plan, he is falsely motivated.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, so that you may spend
it
on your pleasures.
(James 4:3)
PRAYER
Lack of Compassion
Apathy and cruelty toward the desperate conditions of the human race also will hinder answers to prayer. Only the believer's application of impersonal love within the framework of his spiritual life can prevent such enmity.
He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be answered. (prov. 21: 13)
Lack of Domestic Tranquillity
The least known of all reasons for unanswered prayer is discord in mamage.
You husbands likewise, live with
your wives
in an understanding
way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a
woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your
prayers may not be hindered.
(1 Pet. 3:7)
The husband is commanded to live with his wife in an "understanding way" gleaned from the wisdom of doctrine. When the husband fails in his leadership responsibilities and his wife reacts, the subsequent antagonism and mental attitude sins destroy the prayer lives of both.
Pride or Self-Righteousness
Pride, or arrogance, was Satan's original sin (lsa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28: 14-17) and is the root mental attitude sin that creates a portfolio of evil in the soul of the believer. 19 Arrogance is the main cause of failure not only in prayer, but in the spiritua1life in general (James 4:6).
"There they cry out, but He does not answer Because of the pride of evil men. Surely God will not listen to an empty cry, Nor will the Almighty regard it." (Job 35:12-13)
The believer who assumes his activities and priorities take precedence over spending time before the throne of grace has reached the height of self-centered arrogance."
Failure to Comply with Divine Will
The effectiveness of prayer is directly related to the believer's cognizance of God's will and plan.
And this is the confidence which we have before Him,
that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears
us. (1 John 5:14)
Since the immature believer does not have a complete understanding of God's will, he may not always pray in conformity to God's will. The more the believer advances, the more he learns of the plan of God, the more productive his prayer life will be.
Lack of Obedience
Ineffective prayer is directly connected with failure to obey the
mandates of Bible doctrine.
And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do
the things that are
pleasing in His sight. (1 John 3:22)
When the believer fails to subject himself to the will of God, his prayers are not answered.
Lack of the Filling of the Spirit
Regardless if a believer is reverent, fervent, moral, or sincere, if he is not filled with the Holy Spirit and fails to rebound from carnality, he is without the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit and his prayers will not be heard. This is why confession always must precede prayer.