Daily Bible Nugget #388, Ephesians 4:32

Posted on December 25, 2015 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

My Comment:

I write this post on Christmas morning. You will perhaps have noticed that my “Daily Bible Nuggets” have not been daily for some time! I am completing my vast project to provide more cross references for Bible study. This new Bible study resource may be released sometime next year in 2016 as Bible software.

Ephesians 4:32 has long been a favorite verse for me. Even at this Christmas season we need to renew our efforts to practice the principles taught in this verse. We are to be kind to one another. Recall that Jesus Himself taught we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us (see Matthew 7:12, which is worded a bit differently than we popularly quote it). Being kind to one another includes not holding grudges against another, not keeping in our remembrance negative things from the past (see especially 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, 6, 7). We are all in need of kindness and compassion and sympathetic forbearance and understanding from others. It works out to our benefit and God’s glory when we exercise the same to them.

At this season of Christmas we remember the announcement of the heavenly host:

Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Some Bible translations have a different rendering for the last clause:

Luk 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will!” (Noyes NT)

Many modern translations follow the second alternative translation. In any case, the matter of peace is of critical spiritual importance:

1Th_5:13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Notice particularly this all-important statement at Hebrews 12:14,

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Holiness is most important, for without it, no man shall see the Lord! Perhaps we can say that following peace with everyone is a part of holiness, or the author of Hebrews would not have placed them in such close connection here. It is very significant that though the Greek language has a future tense verb form for holy, the future tense verb for holy is never used in the New Testament. That means whatever we experience of holiness must be experienced in this life. There is neither salvation nor holiness after this life!

To dig even deeper into Ephesians 4:32 study the following cross references I share for this verse:

  1. And.  Gr. de.  be ye.  ver. Ep 4:26.  kind.  or, gracious.  Gr. chrēstos [S#5543g:  Rendered  (1) kind: Lk 6:35.  Ep 4:32.  (2) easy: Mt 11:30.  (3) better: Lk 5:39.  (4) goodness: **Ro 2:4.  (5) good: 1 Cor 15:33.  (6) gracious: 1 P 2:3].  Ru 2:20.  Ps 26:3.  112:4, 5, 9.  Pr 19:22.  Is 57:1mg.  Je 38:12.  +*Lk 6:35, 36.  Ac 28:2.  *Ro 12:10.  +**Ro 15:7.  *+1 Cor 13:4.  2 Cor 2:10.  6:6.  *Col 3:12, 13.  Phm 1:12.  +1 P 2:3g.  *2 P 1:7.  tenderhearted.  or, tenderly compassionate.  Gr. eusplanchnos (S#2155g, only here and 1 P 3:8), well compassioned, that is, sympathetic (Strong).  FS41, +Ge 10:1.  Ps 145:9.  Pr 12:10.  +*Mic 6:8.  +*Mt 5:7.  18:33.  Lk 1:78.  1 Th 5:14.  *James 5:11.  *1 P 3:8g.  1 J 4:11.  forgiving.  T#203.  *Ep 5:1.  Ge 50:17, 18.  Dt 15:9-15.  +Pr 16:7 (T#737).  Pr 19:11.  20:3.  +*Mt 6:12 (T#539), +Mt 6:14, 15.  +Mt 11:29 (T#62).  *Mt 18:21-35.  *Mk 11:25, 26.  *Lk 6:37.  *Lk 11:4.  *Lk 17:3, 4.  Ro 12:20, 21.  2 Cor 2:7, 10.  *Col 3:12, 13.  *1 P 3:8, 9.  **1 J 1:9.  +1 J 2:12 (T#583).  1 J 4:11.  as God.  +*Ex 34:7.  Jg 10:16.  *Is 44:22.  Ro 5:8.  2 Cor 5:19.  for.  =Ge 39:5.  =Nu 14:17-20.  hath forgiven.  Ps 32:5.  Mt 9:6.  +Lk 7:42.  Ac 13:38.  Col 1:14.
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Daily Bible Nugget #387, Matthew 5:44

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

My Comment:

Matthew 5:44 is a central passage in the Gospel record that testifies to the Character of Christ. No person, before or since, can lay claim for himself or herself to a character like Christ. Everyone, before or since, falls far short.  Jesus Christ is utterly unique. He is unsurpassed. He is unsuperseded.

If we read the New Testament with our eyes open we get a glimpse of the Character of Christ. If you read with a set of questions in mind, you will perhaps be equipped to see more than you would otherwise.

Just a few questions basic to any study of character in literature that may prove helpful are:  (1) what does the character say about himself? (2) what do others say about the character? (3) what conflicts does the character encounter, and how are these resolved?  (4) what is the character’s reaction to friends?  (5) what is the character’s reaction to enemies? (6) what is the climactic event in the character’s life?

There are more questions like these helpful to biographical study of Bible characters to be found under the category “How to Study the Bible” linked on the right hand side of this page.

There have been great works devoted to a study of the life of Christ. One of the very best is a relatively small volume by Philip Schaff titled The Person of Christ. When I asked Pastor Norman Douty many years ago while visiting in his home for a list of what he considered the ten best books to have and be sure to read, this book was on the list. The book was out of print back then, and may be out of print still. But of the books he suggested that I have read, all have been good, but this one surely has been the best.

I suspect that if anyone were to compare the character of Christ with the character of any other founder of a great religion, other religious founders would fall far short by comparison as to their personal moral character.  None of them can make the claim to be entirely without sin, but Jesus made that claim (John 8:46).

The morality advocated and exhibited by Jesus Christ has never been matched and has never been superseded.

On my shelves here I have a book by Robert E. Speer, The Finality of Jesus Christ. The second paragraph of the author’s preface is still well worth considering:

To the thought of the early Church Jesus Christ was the Son of God, the full and final revelation of the Father, the One Lord and Saviour. And He was also the most real life of that early Church, a power of joy and purity and love, the bond of a new fellowship, the Head of a new society, the Light of a new day. If, in our own time, we have lost Him in either of these two aspects, as the object of faith or the subject of experience, it is because we have not truly kept Him in the other.

Most significant is the statement that Jesus Christ is “the Son of God, the full and final revelation of the Father, the One Lord and Saviour.”

There are no prophets sent from God who are to come after Jesus Christ who in any way supersede our Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:2). All who claim to be such are false prophets and false teachers.

To dig deeper into Matthew 5:44 and Hebrews 1:2 read and carefully consider the cross references for these verses shared below:

Matthew 5:44

But I say.  ver. Mt 5:22. Mt 7:29. Ro 7:14.  Love your enemies. Ex 23:4, 5. Le 19:18. 2 K 6:22. 2 Ch 28:9-15.  *Jb 31:29, 30.  *Ps 7:4.  35:12-14.  +*Pr 16:7.  25:21, 22. Lk 6:27, 28, 34, 35.  *Lk 23:34.  *Ac 7:60. Ro 5:8-10.  **Ro 12:14, +Ro 12:20, 21.  *1 Cor 4:12, 13.  13:4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 1 Th 3:12.  5:15.  *1 P 2:23.  **1 P 3:9.  bless.  Gr. eulogeō (S#2127g), to speak well of, that is, (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper (Strong):  Rendered  (1) bless: Mt 5:44.  14:19.  21:9.  23:39.  25:34.  26:26.  Mk 6:41.  8:7.  10:16.  11:9, 10.  14:22.  Lk 1:28, 42 (twice).  Lk 2:28, 34.  6:28.  9:16.  13:35.  19:38.  24:30, 50, 51, 53.  Jn 12:13.  Ac 3:26.  Ro 12:14 (twice).  1 Cor 4:12.  10:16.  14:16.  Ga 3:9.  Ep 1:3.  He 6:14 (twice).  He 7:1, 6, 7.  11:20, 21.  James 3:9.  1 P 3:9.  (2) praise: Lk 1:64].  ver. %+Mt 5:3.  *Mt 18:33. Ge 42:25.  50:21. 2 S 2:6.  9:3. Jb 31:30. Pr 19:11.  24:17. Ob 1:12. Lk 6:28.  17:4.  +*Ro 12:14, 20.  1 Cor 4:12.  +*1 Cor 13:6. Col 3:13. 1 Th 5:15.  them that curse. Je 15:10.  James 3:9.  do good.  Gr. kalōs [S#2573g:  Rendered  (1) well: Mt 12:12.  15:7.  Mk 7:6, 37.  12:28, 32.  Lk 6:26.  20:39.  Jn 4:17.  8:48.  13:13.  18:23.  Ac 10:33.  28:25.  Ro 11:20.  1 Cor 7:37, 38.  14:17.  2 Cor 11:4.  Ga 4:17.  5:7.  Phil 4:14.  1 Tim 3:3, 12, 13.  5:17.  James 2:8, 19.  2 P 1:19.  3 J 1:6.  (2) good: Mt 5:44.  Lk 6:27.  (3) full well: Mk 7:9.  (4) very well: Ac 25:10.  (5) recover (with S#2192g): Mk 16:18.  (6) honestly: He 13:18.  (7) in a good place: Ja 2:3]. Ge 25:6. Dt 22:4.  *1 S 24:6, 7, 17, 18.  30:11. 1 K 2:9n.  +Ps 14:3. Pr 25:21. Jn 15:8. Ac 16:28.  *Ga 6:10. 1 P 3:11.  pray for.  T#1473. Ex 8:12.  10:18. Nu 12:13.  16:47.  *1 S 12:23.  15:11. 2 S 1:12. 1 K 13:6. Ps 35:13, 14.  141:5. Je 29:7.  *Mk 11:25.  *Lk 6:27, 28.  *Lk 18:1.  23:33, 34. Jn 17:9. Ac 7:59, 60.  16:25. Ro 10:1.  1 Cor 4:12, 13.  1 Tim 2:8.  %+*2 Tim 4:14, 16. 1 P 3:9.  which despitefully use you. Rather, are cursing, are hating, are despitefully using and persecuting you, i.e. even while in the act, and continuing this treatment of you (De Burgh). Ac 14:5.  persecute.  T#1639. Je 29:7.  *1 Cor 4:12.

Hebrews 1:2

these last days.  or, at the end of these days.  i.e.  at the period closed by the ministry of John (CB).  He 2:5.  6:5.  9:26.  +Ge 49:1.  Nu 24:14.  Dt 4:30.  18:15.  31:29.  *Is 2:2.  Je 30:24.  48:47.  Ezk 38:16.  Da 2:28.  10:14.  Ho 3:5.  Mic 4:1.  +Mt 12:32.  Ac 2:17.  1 C 10:11.  **Ga 4:4.  +*Ep 1:10.  James 5:3.  1 P 1:20.  2 P 3:3.  +1 J 2:18.  Jude 1:18.  spoken.  Aorist tense, indicative mood, third person singular verb.  This revelation was final because made by one who in all He is and does, reveals the Father (EGT).  ver. He 1:5, 8.  *He 2:1, 3.  *He 5:8.  7:3.  =Ex 20:19.  =Dt 5:5.  16:1n, Dt 16:6.  *Mt 3:17.  *Mt 17:5.  26:63.  Mk 1:1.  12:6.  *Jn 1:14, 17, 18.  **Jn 3:16.  *Jn 14:10.  15:15, 22-24.  Ac 3:22.  +*Ro 1:4.  by his Son.  No article, but its absence only “more emphatically and definitely expresses the exclusive character of His Sonship” (CB).  The revelation now consisted not merely in what was said but in what He was (EGT).  ver. He 1:8.  He 3:6.  4:14.  *He 5:8.  6:6.  7:3, 28.  10:29.  **Mt 11:27.  *+Mt 14:33.  17:5.  21:37.  +*Mt 24:36.  Mk 1:1.  12:2, 6.  +*Lk 1:32.  Jn 1:34.  **Jn 9:35.  14:10.  whom he.  Jn 14:28.  Ac 2:33.  appointed.  FS171J8, +Ro 4:17.  *He 2:6, 8, 9.  *Ps 2:6-9.  +*Is 9:6, 7.  *Is 53:10-12.  *Mt 12:42.  21:38.  28:18.  *Jn 3:35.  13:3.  16:15.  17:2.  +*Ac 10:36.  *Ro 8:17.  *1 Cor 8:6.  15:25-27.  Ep 1:20-23.  **Phil 2:9, 10, 11.  *Col 1:17, 18.  1 P 3:22.  heir.  He 3:6.  *Ps 2:8.  +*Ps 94:14.  Mt 21:28.  *+Mt 28:18.  Lk 20:14.  **Ro 8:17.  2 Cor 8:9.  Ep 1:11n.  all things.  Ge 25:5.  Ps 8:6.  Jn 1:3.  *Jn 3:35.  1 Cor 8:6.  11:12.  Col 1:16.  by whom.  He 2:10.  3:3.  Pr 8:22-31.  Is 44:24.  45:12, 18.  Mt 16:16.  *+Jn 1:3.  *1 Cor 8:6.  *Ep 3:9.  +*Col 1:16, 17.  made.  He 3:3, 4.  Ge 1:1.  Jb 38:4.  *Ps 33:9.  +*Ps 93:1.  Pr 8:27.  Is 42:5.  66:2.  Je 27:5.  *Je 32:17.  51:15.  Jn 1:10.  5:17.  Ac 17:24.  Ep 3:9.  1 P 4:19.  Re 4:11.  worlds.  Gr. aions, +Mt 6:13.  FS121P2, +Mt 13:22. Aiōnes, generally translated “ages,” but used by the Jews for the universe (Grant).  He 11:3.  +1 Tim 1:17.

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Daily Bible Nugget #386, John 6:44

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Jerry

The Nugget:

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.  (KJV) John 6:44 no one is able to come unto me, if the Father who sent me may not draw him, and I will raise him up in the last day;  (Young’s Literal Translation) 

 My Comment:

John 6:44 is a much misunderstood verse in the Bible. Prominent contemporary theologians and Bible teachers love to expound this verse by means of doing a word study based upon the word “draw.”

The Greek word underlying our English translation “draw” occurs 8 times in the New Testament:

(1) John 6:44, No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

(2) John 12:32, And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

(3) John 18:10, Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

(4) John 21:6, And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

(5) John 21:11, Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

(6) Acts 16:19, And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

(7) Acts 21:30, And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.

(8) James 2:6, But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Perhaps the English word drag might be a good synonym for drew in most of the above passages.

Looked at in this way, John 6:44, “except the Father draw him,” would indicate that this “drawing” is the work of God the Father, and man has no part or choice in the matter.

Such a conclusion is absolutely wrong, and directly contrary to the underlying Greek text at John 6:44.

In this case, only doing a word study leads to an absolutely false conclusion.

Why?

Such a study conducted this way is a fallacy, because it neglects to account for the underlying Greek grammar.

No Calvinist will dare to address the underlying Greek grammar behind John 6:44.

I heard Dr. R. C. Sproul expound John 6:44 at length in his program Renewing Your Mind this morning. He did a word study. Throughout his message he mentioned crucial aspects of Greek grammar, including a mention that “if” indicates a contingency, if I recall correctly, and similar matters, but though he was expounding John 6:44 in detail, he did not once address the underlying grammar of that verse.

The only publically available English translation I know of which faithfully renders the underlying grammar of John 6:44 is Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible:

John 6:44 no one is able to come unto me, if the Father who sent me may not draw him, and I will raise him up in the last day;

Notice carefully that the verb “draw” is correctly translated “may draw” by Young, because the underlying verb is in the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive mood indicates the presence in context of a contingency or requirement which must be met on the part of the person God “may draw.” That contingency is specified in the context. For example, John 6:45 says,

John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Jesus explains that it is the person who has heard and has learned of the Father who comes to Him. This requires receptivity on the part of the hearer and learner.

The person who truly believes on Christ continues to believe, and as a result now has everlasting life (John 5:24;  John 6:47).

Do not follow false teaching about such important matters as this! When an otherwise very competent and highly respected Bible teacher and theologian like Dr. R. C. Sproul fails to account for the grammatical evidence that strikingly contradicts his Calvinistic position, he is on that point a false teacher.

To dig deeper into the truths taught in John 6:44 consult the cross references and notes for this verse shared below:

John 6:44.  No man.  ver. Jn 6:65.  Jn 5:44.  8:43.  10:26.  *Jn 12:37-40.  Pr 5:22.  Is 44:18-20.  Je 13:23.  Mt 12:34.  13:10-17.  Lk 10:22.  Ro 8:7, 8.  1 Cor 2:14.  2 Cor 3:5.  Ep 2:8.  can come.  or, is able to come (Young).  ver. +Jn 6:35, **Jn 6:37, **Jn 6:45, 47.  %Jn 5:40.  Jb 14:4.  +**Is 55:3.  *Je 13:23.  31:19.  Mt 13:11.  Lk 6:47.  Ro 11:35, 36.  **1 Cor 2:14.  *1 Cor 4:7.  2 Cor 3:5.  except.  or, if (Young).  FS184C, +Mt 4:9.  ver. Jn 6:45, 65.  *Jn 3:3-7.  *Jn 10:26.  Ps 10:17.  Pr 16:1.  Mt 11:25-27.  *Jn 16:17.  18:3.  Mk 16:16n.  Ac 11:18.  15:11.  **Ac 16:14.  *2 Cor 4:6.  *Ep 2:4-10.  *Phil 1:29.  *Col 2:12, 13.  1 Th 4:9.  2 Tim 2:10.  Titus 3:3-5.  James 1:18.  1 J 2:3.  the Father.  Jn 4:23.  5:19.  Mt 16:17.  Ro 11:36.  Ep 1:17, 18.  which hath sent me.  ver. Jn 6:38.  +Jn 4:34.  7:16.  draw.  or, may draw.  Aorist tense, active voice, subjunctive mood, third person singular verb.  Logically, Calvinism cannot base absolute sovereignty and absolute predestination or the doctrine of irresistible grace upon (or in the face of) the “may” of the subjunctive mood in the probable future third class condition here and in verse Jn 6:65. That would be an absolute contradiction in terms. “May” expresses contingency; the “third class condition” expresses probability, but not certainty, because of the contingency. The “third class condition” asserts that if a specified condition is met, a certain result will follow. Thus, the Calvinistic position is proven absolutely untenable according to the grammar of Scripture.  The terms of the contingency are expressed in ver. Jn 6:37 and ver. Jn 6:40, and include continuing belief.  Gr. ελκυση (S#1670g:  Jn 12:32;  18:10;  21:6, 11;  Ac 16:19;  21:30;  James 2:6).  ver. **Jn 6:65.  Jn 4:23.  *Jn 12:32.  Ge 19:16.  Ps 25:8.  *SS 1:4.  Je 31:3.  Ho 2:14.  11:4.  Ro 8:14.  and I.  ver. +Jn 6:39, 40.  raise.  FS8, +Ps 118:1.  +**Jn 5:29.  11:25.  +**Lk 14:14.  +Ac 2:30.  2 Tim 1:12.  at the last day.  ver. +Jn 6:54n.  Jn 11:24.

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Daily Bible Nugget #385, 1 Peter 4:9

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Jerry

The Nugget:

1Pe 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. (KJV)1Pe 4:9 And be ye compassionate to strangers, without murmuring. (Murdock) 

 

My Comment:

I will attempt to share below a picture titled “How to Know that You Are Dying Spiritually.” It is basically correct. But it misses one major point also found taught in the Bible.

Cris Jackson's photo.

 

 

The visual concludes in its bottom line, “the church needs you.”

It most certainly does. But in my personal experience I have found that the people and the leadership in many local churches do not want me to be there!

My first experience of this should have been signaled when the pastor, on his first visit to my home, commented, “Jerry, you talk too much about the Bible, and too much about the Lord.”

What kind of a welcoming statement is that?

Not only that, I am by nature a very shy person, and I hardly speak at all! I am unable to engage in “small talk.” I do like to talk about the Lord and the Bible and spiritual things. But I guess this is not allowed in church, or after church on the way out, or at a church dinner, or anywhere else, like in Sunday School class discussion.

I assumed that given time, more people would get to know me, and I would eventually be welcomed among them. My assumption was wrong. After nearly five years of my regular church attendance there, the pastor suggested that I try another church that believed what I did. It is ironic that the central doctrinal issue the pastor thought I disagreed with is a major issue that I most certainly did agree with–he never bothered to ask.

So, when the visual above states “Frequent absences at the worship services (Hebrews 10:25),” and “No participation in the work of the church (Romans 10:1-3),” are a possible indication that an individual might be dying spiritually, an important problem is not addressed.

Many times, solid Christians, well-taught in the Bible, are shunned, and not permitted to have part in the local church. All the offices and jobs at the church are already taken. There is no room for newcomers to the community to take part. There is no genuine opportunity afforded for Christian fellowship. The church is simply not structured for fellowship. Just sit quietly in the pew and “worship,” pay your tithes and offerings, but do not talk about the Lord or the Bible to anyone. How contrary this is to Romans 15:7!

In such a case, I believe the church itself is already spiritually dead, not me.

For additional insight into 1 Peter 4:9 study the following cross references shared below:

1 Peter 4:9.  Use hospitality.  or, Be hospitable.  Gr. philoxenos (S#5382g, T 1:8), fond of guests, that is, hospitable (Strong), friendly to strangers (Wuest).  Ge 18:2, 6.  24:18, 19, 25.  26:30.  Jg 19:20.  2 K 4:10.  1 Ch 16:3.  Ne 5:17.  *Jb 31:32.  Pr 3:27, 28.  22:9.  Is 21:14.  61:3.  +*Ml 3:16.  Mt 10:11, 40.  *Mt 25:35.  +*Lk 5:29.  7:44-47.  11:5-10.  14:12-14.  Ac 2:46.  9:27, 28, 43.  10:23.  11:25, 26.  *+Ac 16:15.  17:7.  *Ro 12:13.  +**Ro 15:7.  16:3-5, 23.  1 Cor 16:19.  Col 4:15.  +1 Tim 3:2.  5:10.  +*Titus 1:8.  Phm 1:2.  *He 13:2, 16.  1 J 3:14.  %2 J 10, 11.  3 J 7-11.   one to another.  ver. 10.  +*Ro 12:5.  3 J 1:5.  without grudging.  or, murmuring.  Le 19:18.  +*Nu 11:1.  +*Dt 15:9.  %*1 S 25:11.  Ac 6:1g.  +*Ro 12:8.  *2 Cor 9:7.  **Phil 2:14.  Phm 1:14.  *James 5:9.  +*Jude 1:16.

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Daily Bible Nugget #384, 2 Timothy 2:2

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Jerry

The Nugget:

2Ti_2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

My Comment:

I submit Cris Jackson’s very fine Facebook post of December 2, 2015 below to which I appended a couple of my own comments and responses. Pastor Emery Moss, Jr. was a student in my English 6 Early American Literature class which I taught at Cass Technical High School. When my student, Pastor Moss asked me one Tuesday if he might be able to see me after school because he had some questions to ask me about the Bible. I agreed to meet with him. A couple weeks or so after, Pastor Moss asked me if he could see me again after school, like before. We met again, and he excitedly showed me how he was studying a little red book received, as I recall, from a neighbor. He had taken careful notes on his reading. He showed me the book, and his notes.

I explained to Pastor Moss back then that he must carefully go by the Bible itself. I said what he was reading was literature from a mistaken or false cult. I further explained that any religious group, faith, or denomination must be true to the Bible or it should be avoided. I said that if the literature or teaching any such group publishes does not contain the emphasis and balance of truth found in the Bible, to that degree the group is false or mistaken. I asked Pastor Moss what he learned about salvation, about the resurrection of Christ bodily from the grave, about prayer, about holiness, from that little red book. He embarrassingly had to answer, “Mr. Smith, this book does not address any of those things.” He was a bit disappointed that all his recent study and note taking were in vain. He said, “Here, Mr. Smith, I’ll give you the little red book and you can do with it as you please.”

I still have that little red book, and I may even have Pastor Moss’s notes too, I forget.

But Pastor Moss was a good student, and learned the lesson well. I loaned him books from my own personal library to help him go further in the right direction. I loaned him Irwin Linton’s helpful volume, A Lawyer Examines the Bible. I also loaned him Simon Greenleaf’s The Testimony of the Evangelists, and no doubt many more volumes. I took him with some of our young people to the Voice of Christian Youth bimonthly rallies at the Masonic Auditorium in Detroit.

Some years later I received a telephone call from Emery, who was then, he told me, stationed in Texas, for he was now in the Air Force. He told me he had met a wonderful Christian young lady, and would soon be married. I told him I would continue to keep him in my prayers.

Some years later my brother Mark told me he had met up with Pastor Moss in one of the Detroit suburbs at a Burger King or MacDonald’s restaurant, and they readily recognized each other. Mark shared my new telephone number with him. At that time Pastor Moss was attending Tyndale College. Pastor Moss called my home, and my wife Sue answered. Pastor Moss said to Sue, “Well, you probably would have no idea who I am….” My wife told him, “Oh yes I do! We pray daily for you by name!”

Many years later, Mrs. Mary Moss, Pastor Emery Moss’s wife, shared with me that she will never forget how deeply impressed and appreciative her husband was to learn of our continuing prayer support.

Pastor Moss has an amazing ministry today. I am thankful to the Lord I could have a very tiny impact on my student’s life, such that the Lord now uses him to His glory every day to reach more souls for Christ in the whole Southeastern Michigan area.

 

Cris Jackson added 2 new photos.

Biography of Pastor Emery Moss, Jr. : (Acts 20:28) “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.”

Pastor Emery Moss, Jr. has served as a pastor for over 40 years, he was ordained and licensed as a Baptist Minister at the age of 19, while serving on Active Duty at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, TX. (1971) He was later called into the Full Gospel Ministry while serving on active duty at George A.F.B. in Victorville, California (1975). There he served as Senior Pastor of a Full Gospel congregation for 2 ½ years. After returning to Detroit, Michigan, Pastor Moss was licensed and ordained as a Full Gospel Non-Denominational Pastor. He and his wife Mary were led by the Lord to start a Christian Center that would minister to children and adults. Pastor Moss then went on to serve as Senior Pastor of Christian Fellowship Church in Detroit and Roseville, Michigan for 4 years.

From there God called him to do a work at Evangel Ministries in 1985, where he served as an Associate Pastor under the leadership of Pastor Bogel for 11 years. In 1997, Pastor and Sister Moss were then led to start Strictly Biblical Bible Teaching Ministries (where there is no spiritual abuse) of Detroit, Michigan, where he now serves as Senior Pastor. Pastor and Sister Moss were married on May 16, 1970 and have been married for over 40 years now. They are the proud parents of three beautiful children, and also the proud grandparents of four beautiful grandchildren AJ, Jalen, CJ, and Katie. Pastor Moss served his country as a member of the U.S. Air Force for 23 years. While in the military, he was assigned to the Social Actions Department, where he provided drug and alcohol counseling, He was certified as a Human Relations Instructor, and also taught human relations classes.

Pastor Moss retired as a Major from the Air Force. Pastor Moss worked as a Mental Health Tech. for Holy Cross Hospital, Cottage Hospital and St. Joseph’s form 1979-1996. In 1990 he became a facilitator for “Chalk Talk” a business that he started. He taught Human Relations at the Judson Center and several other organizations. Pastor Moss attended Wayne State University, where he majored in Psychology and Sociology. He graduated from William Tyndale College in Farmington Hills, MI with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies from Ashland Theological Seminary in 1998. Pastor Moss has recently received his Diploma in Biblical Counseling from A.A.C.U.

Pastor Moss has authored several books; “Twisted Teaching of the Word Faith Movement,” “Twisted Teaching of the Homosexual Church” and “The Twisted Teaching of the Secret”, “just to name a few”. Along with Pastoring the Strictly Biblical congregation located in Detroit, Michigan, Pastor Moss is the Founder of Bible Boot Camp, Inc., where he and his wife, Mary Moss, conduct various seminars on marriage and relationships, as well as cult seminars, etc. Pastor Moss currently serves as Chaplain of the Dearborn Police Department and Instructor of Human Relations classes for the Dearborn Police Department. Pastor Moss can currently be heard on WLQV radio 1500 AM, Monday—Friday, from 6pm—7pm on the “Bible Talk Show” 
www.sbbtm.com

Cris Jackson's photo.
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Jerome Smith
Jerome Smith It is always a blessing to learn more about Pastor Moss.

Like · Reply · 3 · December 2 at 9:27am

Tiffany Camill Hall
Tiffany Camill Hall I’ve been a Bible Prophecy enthusiast since I was about 11 or 12 years old. Growing up, I attended Monday night Bible studies at Evangel Ministries (with my mom, sister and family friends) led by Pastor Emery Moss, Jr! Growing up in a Christian home and attending those Bible studies planted the seeds that cultivated my passion for studying Bible Prophecy and the Bible in general!

Like · Reply · 2 · December 2 at 3:01pm
Tiffany Camill Hall replied · 4 Replies
Cris Jackson
Cris Jackson Jerome Smith I would love to sit in some of your classes if you are still teaching…..You were Pastor Moss teacher, I make fun of him because of all the information he has in his head. I say Pastor Moss I think you have flames going on the inside of your head on each side. He is on fire for Jesus with those teachings. I am safe to say he knows what every religion believes and he knows their bible amazing.

Like · Reply · 2 · December 2 at 3:17pm
Jerome Smith
Jerome Smith Feel free to tell Pastor Moss I can still give him a good run for his money, an expression which means I have still more to teach him about the Bible from the Bible that I did not get a chance to years ago when I had more direct contact with him! But I am ever so delighted that Pastor Moss has gone on in ministry to be used of the Lord to reach many people for Christ. I continue to keep him in my prayers.
Like · Reply · 1 · December 3 at 7:46pm
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Daily Bible Nugget #383, Matthew 10:16

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Mat_10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

My Comment:

The teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ is totally contrary to the teaching of Islam and the Koran. Jesus taught us to be “wise as serpents.” In this day we all need to learn the wisdom found in the Bible (1 Chronicles 12:32;  Proverbs 4:7), and take great care to exercise that wisdom effectively and fruitfully (Proverbs 11:30). Jesus taught us to be “harmless as doves.” Our Lord Jesus Christ never suggested in His teaching that we should exercise violence toward unbelievers to persuade them to believe! The Koran, on the contrary, seems to have many passages which encourage outrageous violence against unbelievers. That would seem utterly contrary to the command of Christ to be “harmless as doves.” These facts alone ought to plainly indicate to sensible readers which source of teaching is true, and which source of teaching is false.

Relating these matters to today’s news headlines on the Drudge Report at 10:05 am on Friday, December 4, 2015, consider what the headlines themselves reveal:

Jihad comes to call

San Bernardino Shooter Passed ‘Homeland Security’ Vetting

Killer wrote of spending free time at Mosque, memorizing Quran

Left Remote Controlled Bomb at Party

Wiped Digital Footprint Day Before

Gun Violence Declining—Except in Gun-Free Zones

Loretta Lynch Vows to Prosecute Those Who Use ‘Anti-Muslim’ Speech That ‘Edges Toward Violence’

Muslims feel intense backlash

The “mainstream media” which might better be identified as the “lamestream media” seem incapable, just like our current President, to identify immediately and forthrightly just what happened and what group is behind what happened, and what the obvious solution must involve.

If the San Bernardino shooter passed “Homeland Security” vetting, then those doing the “vetting” need to be held accountable, and forced to abandon their foolish paradigm of “political correctness,” and whatever else caused them to miss what is now painfully obvious. It is about time we start profiling people in earnest. At least from what I have read in news reports in the past, Israel has a superior method of “vetting” that might well prove helpful here.

Notice that the killer wrote of spending free time at Mosque, memorizing the Koran. I suspect that what happened goes beyond that. I have listened to accounts in the past of at least one individual who looked very innocent, who attended a Mosque as a visitor, supposedly only a speaker of English. It turns out she was expert in Arabic, and found out in her visits that the message in Arabic to Arabic speakers did not at all match the message presented during services in English. The English services portrayed Islam as a peaceful religion. The Arabic services did not. If Islam were truly a “peaceful religion” as affirmed by former President Bush shortly after 9/11, spending free time at a Mosque and memorizing the Koran could be deemed both admirable and harmless. We would not fault a Christian for increased church attendance or for memorizing Bible verses.

But further Drudge Report headlines tell us the killer left a remote controlled bomb at the party and curiously “wiped digital footprint the day before.” Looks like this event was not spontaneous, but nefarious, and well-planned ahead of time.

The headline “Gun Violence Declining–Except in Gun-Free Zones” points to the solution, and indicates what should be done. The current President and all too many of those on his side are all too ready to propose additional restrictions on gun acquisition and gun ownership. These individuals are lawless and have no interest in protecting the public. Clearly, we need to immediately eliminate all “gun-free zones” and allow people who wish to take advantage of their God-given rights to self-defense (Luke 22:36) named in the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America to freely do so at all times and places. The Constitution is the highest law of this land. The Second Amendment includes a statement that this right “shall not be infringed.” All laws, therefore, which restrict the right to self-defense named in the Second Amendment in any way whatsoever are unconstitutional on their face and should be repealed.

As for Loretta Lynch, she may be as lawless as the rest of our incompetent lawless administration. When laws are only enforced selectively, according to the whim of the enforcer based upon the currently favored political climate, the result is lawlessness. Where there is no penalty, there is no law. If she is against those who use “anti-Muslim” speech that “edges toward violence,” how about anti-Christian speech that does the same? The First Amendment was written to protect the right to speech that is unpopular to some who may hear it. Perhaps no one would object to speech they agree with. The First Amendment, among other things, protects us from the “heckler’s veto” and the wishes of others who may not approve of the message declared.

To dig more deeply into Matthew 10:16 read the cross references shared below:

Matthew 10:16.  Behold. Lk 10:3. Jn 10:12. Ac 20:19, 20. I send.  ver. Mt 10:5. Mt 23:34. Ge 37:13. Je 1:17-19. Ezk 2:3-6.  +Jn 17:18.  +*Jn 20:21. 1 Th 3:3.  as sheep. Lk 10:3. Jn 10:12. Ac 20:29.  *Ro 16:19.  in the midst.  Mt 14:24.  18:2, 20.  Mk 6:47.  9:36.  14:60.  *Lk 2:46.  4:35.  6:8.  21:21.  22:55.  23:45.  *Lk 24:36.  Jn 8:3, 9.  19:18.  *Jn 20:19, 26.  of wolves. Mt 7:15. Ge 49:27. Dt 20:3. Ps 120:6. Lk 21:12. Jn 10:12.  17:11. Ac 4:3.  9:23.  16:19.  2 T 4:15.  wise.  T#457. Mt 21:24.  22:22.  +Mt 25:2. Ge 3:1, 13.  23:17.  32:7, 8, 16.  44:2.  49:27. Jsh 2:1.  7:2.  8:5.  9:4.  *1 S 16:2n.  18:5.  24:22.  25:36.  26:4. 2 S 2:6.  15:11, 34.  17:22. 2 K 9:3. 2 Ch 23:2. Ezr 4:3. Ne 2:12.  4:13.  6:3.  7:3. Est 2:10.  5:1, 2. Pr 13:16.  *Pr 16:20.  +Pr 31:4 (T#369). Ec 10:10.  +Je 23:2 (T#463).  Je 40:16.  *Ezk 2:8.  *Mic 7:5. Lk 21:15. Jn 2:24.  7:10.  8:6. Ac 6:4.  9:13.  16:37.  *Ac 20:28-31.  23:6, 17. Ro 2:21.  *Ro 16:19.  1 Cor 9:25-27.  *1 Cor 14:20.  2 Cor 11:3, 14.  12:16. Ga 2:2.  *Ep 5:15-17.  Phil 2:15. Col 1:9.  *Col 4:5. 1 Th 2:10.  *1 Tim 4:12-16.  6:20, 21.  2 Tim 1:13.  2:3, 4, 22, 23.  4:5, 7.  Titus 2:7, 8.  harmless. or, simple.  T#660.  +Mt 11:29 (T#62).  +Pr 16:7 (T#737). SS 2:2. Je 36:14. Hab 1:3. Ro 16:18, 19.  1 Cor 4:12.  13:4, 7.  14:20.  *2 Cor 1:12.  8:20.  10:3, 4.  11:3. Ga 5:22, 23.  +Ga 6:1 (T#437).  *Phil 2:14-16. 1 Th 2:10.  5:22. He 7:26.  10:34.  +He 12:14 (T#499).  James 5:6. 1 P 3:13, 14, +*1 P 3:15, 16.  doves. Ge 8:8.  =Le 1:14.  5:7. Ps 74:19. SS 2:14. Is 38:14.  59:11. Ho 7:11.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #382, Psalm 119:15

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Psalm 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. (KJV)

Psa 119:15 In thy precepts, will I meditate, that I may discern thy paths. (Rotherham, Emphasized Bible)

My Comment:

I listened to Pastor W. L. Wade this morning. He addressed the important issue of the lost art of meditation. Meditation is an important Christian exercise. We are encouraged to meditate on God’s Word, the Bible (Joshua 1:8), by the Bible itself. The word “meditation” seems to have been taken over and applied to Eastern religion. No one seems to emphasize meditation upon Scripture, nor is much ever said about how to do it.

In connection with Scripture, meditation involves thinking deeply about what we read there. Scripture memorization, I have found, helps in meditation because once portions of Scripture are committed accurately to memory, we can think about the verses or passages we have memorized more readily, even when, and especially when, we don’t have access to the printed page (or the electronic page these days) immediately before us. But for me, Scripture memorization has its limits, for I have never been able to memorize a great number of Bible verses. I stopped when I reached 200 verses when I was a student in high school. But some of my friends had memorized triple that.

Meditation upon Scripture cannot really be done in a group, not even in church. Meditation is an individual thing; we must do it for ourselves. It must be done when we are alone, or at least when we can close out all other distractions.

I find that reading Scripture, and then studying it more deeply by consulting cross references to striking verses I have just read, promotes meditation.

Meditation can also involve thinking back through what has just been read. Thinking back through is a powerful learning tool. If done formally as a means of remembering what we have learned, the process is straightforward, but is not easy to do because it requires great concentration. When reading, read through a verse, or in a paragraphed Bible read through a paragraph (if the paragraphs are not too long–the advantage of doing this verse by verse). Then close your eyes, and think back through the verse or short paragraph. Then, open your eyes and check back to see what idea you may have left out. Then, go on to the next verse or short paragraph, and do the same. Read it through. Close your eyes. Think back through the first and second verse or paragraph. Open your eyes, and check back to see what you left out when thinking back through. Spend 80% of your time thinking back through the material, and 20% of your time reading new or further material. That is the most efficient use of your time when reading and learning new material. It is best to keep the “blocks” of material short when using this process to keep from getting bogged down. A chapter, or even section of a chapter is long enough at a time. It is one of the “How to Study” strategies I shared with my high school classes. I learned about the strategy in my reading in college, and have used it myself when I needed to learn and remember accurately what I was studying in the shortest time. The strategy is not the same as meditation, but I think it could be used for meditation very effectively.

In following up Pastor Wade’s message today by getting into the Bible for myself, I turned to Psalm 119, one of the passages Pastor Wade made reference to. I focused in my study upon Psalm 119:15, because it contains the first mention of “meditation” in Psalm 119. I read that verse in more than one English translation, and found that Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible was most helpful to me because it confirmed a sort of “hunch” I had in reading the verse. I thought I saw a potential “cause/effect” relationship there. I looked at the now quite extensive list of “cause/effect” verses I have made and saw it was not on my list. Now it is.

The idea is this:  “I will meditate in thy precepts” is the “cause” in the first clause of the verse; “that I may discern thy paths” is the “effect” presented in the second clause. Focus upon the “cause/effect” relationship is instructive. Scripture thus teaches us that meditating upon God’s Word equips us to “discern thy paths.” In other words, the Bible is designed to provide us guidance from God. Sometimes, when we read such a cause/effect statement, considering its opposite is instructive. If we do not meditate upon God’s Word, we will not be in a position to discern God’s paths, his leading.

To dig deeper into Psalm 119:15 study the cross references shared below:

  1. I will meditate.  ver. Ps 119:23, 48, 78, 97, 148.  **Ps 1:2.  19:14.  104:34.  143:5.  Ge 24:63.  +**Jsh 1:8.  Pr 12:5.  1 Tim 4:15.  James 1:25.  in thy precepts.  ver. +Ps 119:4.  have respect.  or, discern (Emphasized Bible).  ver. Ps 119:6, 117.  **Jb 23:11, 12.  unto thy ways. or, toward Thy paths. The paths Thou hast marked out for me across the Desert (Kay). ver. Ps 119:9, 27, 59, 101, 104, 128.  Ps 16:11.  17:4.  25:4, 10.  27:11.  44:18.  139:3.  142:3.  *Pr 3:5, 6.

 

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Daily Bible Nugget #381, Colossians 3:17

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

My Comment:

Thanksgiving is a special holiday that is rooted in American history. It is surprising how many school children, and perhaps adults, are not well acquainted with the story of the First Thanksgiving. You may recall that the Pilgrims who came over on the Mayflower had a difficult time coping with the hardships of the new land to which they came. They received help from native Americans who were, of course, already here. We traditionally call them Indians, because Columbus when he sailed in 1492 thought he could reach India from Spain by sailing west, not knowing there were two large continents that were in the way. In any case, the Pilgrims, under the spiritual leadership of William Bradford, celebrated that first Thanksgiving, grateful to God for His providence and protection and provision for their survival. Thanksgiving has been a tradition since then. It surely has a sound Biblical foundation.

To dig deeper into Colossians 3:17 read the cross references I share below:

  1. whatsoever ye do.  ver. *Col 3:23.  *2 Ch 31:20, 21.  **Pr 3:6.  Jn 2:2, 5.  *Ro 14:6-8.  **1 Cor 10:31.  in word.  Pr 18:4.  Ro 15:18.  2 Th 2:17.  James 2:12.  *1 J 3:18.  or deed.  or, in work.  Col 2:6.  Ro 15:18.  do all.  2 S 15:15.  %Zc 7:6.  14:20.  +*Jn 2:5.  *Jn 15:14.  *1 Cor 10:31.  2 Cor 5:15.  James 1:22.  3 J 5.  in the name.  The Name of Jesus is a symbol of His character (WKF, p. 209).  =Dt 10:8.  =Dt 18:5.  1 K 18:32.  Ps 86:11.  *Mic 4:5.  Zc 10:12.  +*Mt 28:19.  Jn 14:13.  Ac 2:21.  3:6, 16.  4:10, 18, 29, 30.  5:40.  9:27, 29.  10:48.  16:18.  *Ac 19:17.  Ro 6:11.  16:22.  1 Cor 5:4.  6:11.  Ep 5:20.  6:5.  Phil 1:11.  2:10, 29.  +*He 6:10.  13:21.  James 5:14.  of the Lord Jesus.  +*Ac 10:36.  *1 Th 4:1, 2.  2 Th 3:6.  giving thanks.  Gr. eucharisteō (S#2168g, 2 Cor 1:11).  ver. Col 3:15.  *Col 1:12.  +*Col 2:7.  *Col 4:2.  Ps 34:1.  100:4.  107:1.  +Ps 136:1.  Ezk 45:17.  +*Da 6:10.  Mt 14:19.  26:27.  Mk 6:41.  *Mk 8:6.  Ac 27:35.  Jn 11:41.  Ro 1:8.  7:25.  1 Cor 1:14.  2 Cor 4:15.  8:16.  *+Ep  5:20.  *Phil 4:6.  +*1 Th 5:18.  1 Tim 4:3-5.  *He 13:15.  *1 P 2:5, 9.  *1 P 4:11.  Re 7:12.  God.  Ep 1:17.  Phil 2:11.  1 Th 1:1.  He 1:5.  *1 J 2:23.
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Daily Bible Nugget #380, 1 Chronicles 12:32

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Jerry

The Nugget:

1Ch 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

My Comment:

First, let me mention that these “Daily Bible Nuggets” may seem few and far between! I just recently completed the proofreading of my new major Bible reference work, a collection of yet more cross references to the Bible. Most likely this new work is enlarged beyond what was in my first book, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, even more than The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge was a considerable expansion of what was in the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. So this is a very large project, and no doubt represents the largest collection of cross references ever assembled for Bible study. It took from January 1 until November 3, if I recall correctly, to in effect proofread the equivalent of the whole Bible. Pray that this new work will greatly assist everyone who wishes to study the Bible in a manner that lets the Bible explain itself.

Now to today’s Bible Nugget. The “children of Issachar” were particularly gifted in their day to know what Israel ought to do because they had understanding of the times. Now, this could mean that they knew about the agricultural times and seasons, but I believe their knowledge went beyond that. In particular, they knew and understood what was needful to be done in the times at hand.

In recent news we have heard, read, or seen the violence that took place in Paris, France. There are threats of more violence coming from the same sources that claim responsibility for the violence already committed. They are threatening to extend the violence to other countries both in Europe and in North America.  Jesus told us that as it was in the days of Noah, so it would be when He returns. If you check out those days of Noah in Genesis 6:5 and Genesis 6:11 you will discover those days are characterized by wickedness and violence. But don’t get caught trying to time the Second Coming of Christ by these events in our day. The prophetic horizon in the Bible is likely broader than the events we see taking place just now. Things can change fast. But the alignment of nations is not yet the alignment of nations the Bible predicts at the time of the Second Advent.

On another front, Turkey apparently shot down a Russian fighter jet that strayed too far into their territory. Currently, Turkey is a part of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Members of that alliance are obligated to fully support any member which is attacked by some other nation. Some have lately said in the news that we may look back and see this incident as an important prelude to World War III. Jesus did tell us that there would be “wars and rumors of wars” (Mark 13:7), but He also said that “the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:6). Therefore, I doubt that the conflict in Syria will bring about world war, though it could.

ISIS militants or terrorists represent a growing threat worldwide. They are clearly connected to Islam. As a world religion, Islam has always had as a part of its religion an ideology of violence and conflict against unbelievers, and the goal of having the whole world live under “Sharia Law.” That is obviously the opposite of a “peaceful religion.” This is not the outlook of a religion that believes in love and justice and freedom. Islam does not promote any of these things. And because the Bible is the written Word of God, and Islam contradicts the Bible, that makes Islam a false religion or a false cult.

Why is it that Islamic or Muslim refugees are being allowed into Europe, and even being brought into the United States in large numbers? Why are they not admitted into neighboring nations who espouse the Islamic culture? United States law permits people to come to this country as refugees, and religion and religious persecution is the first permitted category on the list. But in terms of the Middle East conflict, the President of the United States wants a large number of Muslims to enter this country, but he is refusing to allow persecuted Syrian Christians to come. Thousands of Muslims have entered this country; only a very few hundred Christian Syrians have been admitted. He obviously has a very ominous agenda in mind, namely, to drastically change the culture of this country. I hope the voters will replace President Obama with someone who respects this country, its uniqueness, the values of its founders as expressed in the founding documents, who will make this country great again. When it comes to voting, no Christian in his or her right mind would dare before God and the Lord Jesus Christ to fail to exercise this right. National elections are often won by very slim majorities of late, and the difference between getting someone wise and placing someone foolish in office is at stake.

In economic news it is reported that the economy in both the United States and worldwide is too weak to allow the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates at this time, if ever. If they should raise rates, it will be by a very small amount. The Federal Reserve and other banking systems or cartels worldwide have boxed themselves into a corner by allowing too much debt, and by continuing zero interest rate policies beyond what they should have. This, too, has ominous implications in the long run.

All these matters and many more ought to be watched by every Bible believing Christian who wishes to be obedient to the Scripture. Pardon my extreme prejudice against sports, but I personally believe sports is the “opiate of the people.” Time devoted to watching sporting events on television or the equivalent surely could be put to better use studying the Bible, and keeping an eye on current events that may affect us.

Proverbs 22:3 tells us that “A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself:  but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

It is wise to be alert, be prepared, and continue in prayer (Ps 122:6;  1 Tim 2:1, 2, 3).

To dig deeper into 1 Chronicles 12:32, read the cross references I share below:

  1. the children of Issachar.  1 Ch 7:1-5.  +Ge 30:18.  46:13.  +Nu 1:29.  Jg 5:15.  had understanding.  Note:  That is, as the following words indicate, intelligent men, who understood the signs of the times, well versed in political affairs, and knew what was proper to be done in all the exigencies of human life;  and who now perceived that it was both the duty and political interest of Israel to advance David to the throne.  Matthew Poole notes the possibility that this may be a reference to “Skill in the stars, and several seasons and changes of the air;  which might be of good use in husbandry, to which this tribe was addicted, Ge 49:14;  Dt 33:18.”  2 Ch 11:23.  %+Jg 9:37mg.  Ezr 8:16.  %*Ps 74:9.  Ec 8:5.  10:10.  %+Je 8:7.  *Da 12:4, 9, 10.  +*Mt 24:45.  +*Lk 3:14n. %+*Lk 11:52.  %*Ac 1:7.  the times.  FS121P1.  Figure of speech Metonymy of the Adjunct:  the change of one noun for another related noun;  here, “time” is put for the things done in it, or existing in it (F/S 587 & F/S 593).  Here, understanding of the times refers to those who understood statesmanship, and those who understood what was needful to be done in the times at hand (for other instances of this figure see *Est 1:13;  Jb 11:17;  *Ps 31:15;  *2 Tim 3:1).  Ge 49:14.  *Est 1:13.  4:14.  Ec 8:5.  Is 22:12-14.  33:6.  Da 10:1.  Mic 6:9.  Mt 16:3.  *Lk 12:56, 57.  *2 Tim 3:1.  to know.  Pr 14:8.  +*Pr 22:3.  Ep 5:17.  the heads.  1 Ch 13:1.  all their brethren.  Pr 24:5.  Ec 7:19.  9:18.
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Daily Bible Nugget #379, 1 Peter 1:23

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Jerry

The Nugget:

 1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

My Comment:

The most important issue in this life involves our own relationship to God. If we are not born again, we are not rightly related to God. You cannot become born again by means of water baptism. Water baptism saves no one.

Peter tells us we are born again by the word of God. That word of God is now found in the Bible. You can discover for yourself how to be rightly related to God by reading the Bible, especially the New Testament.

In 1953 I was reading through the New Testament for the second or third time that fall. On this very date, Saturday, November 7, I was delivering the papers for my Detroit Shopping News paper route. Thinking about the Scripture I had been reading, I realized that though I had attended Sunday school from the time my parents carried me there as an infant, I had never personally accepted Christ as my Savior. I stopped at a home on Lumpkin Street, folding the next paper to be delivered, and while thinking about these things, I prayed silently and received Christ as my Savior with no church building in sight.

I have continued to read my Bible and study my Bible ever since. Even back in 1953, earning just $2 a week from my paper route, I used my money to buy high quality Bibles, and scholarly Bible reference books. One of the first books I bought was The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Studying the Bible by means of the extensive cross references found in The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge was immensely helpful. About the same time I bought a companion volume, The New Topical Textbook. Using both of these resources together enabled me to dig more deeply into the Bible.

One of the next books I bought was Milton S. Terry’s work, Biblical Hermeneutics. I think I read that book through about three times while I was still in the eleventh grade in high school. What I learned from that important book I have shared in much simpler form in the October 2010 archives on this site in my posts about the Rules of Interpretation. That list has now grown to 24 basic rules to follow to be sure to come up with the correct interpretation of Scripture.

Even as a new Christian, I realized it was most important to read God’s Word, the Bible, every day. I told some of my friends, “Three chapters a day keeps the devil away.” When we read the Bible, we allow God to speak to us through His written word. We also need to speak to God. That means we should spend time in prayer every day. There is much to learn about prayer that is taught in the Bible. The third daily practice I learned about was to talk to others about the Bible and salvation. I pictured these three things like the legs of a stool. You can sit securely on a stool if it has all three legs. If it has just two legs or just one, you will topple over. That may be a rather crude or simplistic portrayal of the chief elements of what should be going on every day in our Christian life, but it is succinct, memorable, and directly applicable. If these three things are not happening in your life, I trust this reminder will provide you helpful guidance.

To dig deeper into 1 Peter 1:23, read the cross references I share below:

  1. Being born again.  or, Having been born again.  Perfect tense, passive voice, participle:  you have been and continue to be. Having been born again translates anagegennēmenoi, compounded of ana, anew, back, again, and genaō, birth, born, bring forth. Jesus said in Jn 3:7:  “It is necessary for you to be born from above.” This new birth from above is a creative work of God answering to a new creation in Christ (cf. 2 Cor 5:17 and notes); accordingly, birth from above is a restoration from the Fall, a return to righteousness and holiness (cf. 1 P 1:3;  Jn 1:13;  3:3, 5-7;  1 J 5:7) [LNT, fn n].  See on ver. 1 P 1:3.  **1 P 2:2.  Ps 87:5.  +*Ps 119:50.  Jn 1:13.  *Jn 3:3, 5.  1 Cor 4:15.  *James 1:18.  1 J 2:27, 29.  *1 J 3:9.  4:7.  5:1, 4, 18.  not.  Ml 2:3.  Mk 4:26.  Ro 1:23.  *1 Cor 15:53, 54.  Phil 3:3.  but of incorruptible.  Gr. aphthartos (S#862g, 1 Tim 1:17).  ver. 1 P 1:4, 18.  1 P 3:4.  +=Le 11:37.  +*Ps 119:144.  Mt 13:24, 38.  *1 J 3:9.  *1 J 5:18.  by the word.  Gr. logos, Mk 9:32n.  T#1035.  ver. *1 P 1:25.  1 P 2:8.  3:1.  Dt 32:46, 47.  Ps 33:9.  +*Ps 119:93.  Is 55:11.  *Je 23:28, 29.  *Mt 24:35.  Mk 4:14.  *Lk 8:11.  Jn 6:63.  17:17.  Ac 10:36.  +Ro 9:6.  10:8, **Ro 10:17.  1 Cor 14:36.  2 Cor 2:17.  Ga 3:2, 5.  Ep 1:13.  *Ep 5:26.  Phil 2:16.  Col 1:5, 25.  4:3.  1 Th 1:6, 8.  **1 Th 2:13.  2 Th 3:1.  2 Tim 2:9.  +*2 Tim 3:15.  4:2.  Titus 1:3.  2:5.  *He 4:12.  8:10.  13:7.  *James 1:18, 21.  1 J 3:9.  which liveth.  ver. 1 P 1:3.  %Da 4:34.  %Da 6:26.  %Da 12:7.  %Jn 6:51.  Ac 7:38.  +*He 4:12.  %Re 4:10.  and abideth.  ver. 1 P 1:25.  +*Ps 119:89.  %1 J 3:15.  2 J 1:2.  for ever.  Gr. aion, +Mt 6:13.  lit.  unto the age, +Mt 21:19.
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