Category: gospel

gospel · Theology

We Are Justified by Faith.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Those who say that we are justified by our works, or obedience to the law, are deceived, and going about deceiving. Those who say that unless our faith produces good works it is not true faith, are not lying. Our works are not an effectual piece of the justifying work of Jesus. Our works are a necessary effect of the cause. That cause being, the new birth.

There is a category that holds all the subcategories of the process. The category of salvation has under it the doctrines within the ordo salutis. (order of salvation) It is a logical progression. If you would like to read about that, you can do so here. Specifically discussing the doctrine of justification, it is the judicially declaring a person free from their debt to God via the sin expiating, and propitiating, work of Jesus on the cross.

When we say that a person is justified by faith, we are simply saying that they must believe in who Jesus is, and what He actually accomplished on the cross. Justification is part of the salvation process. After being justified to God, which this cannot be undone, a person begins the sanctification process. This is one by which the person is set aside for God’s holy use, where He conforms them to the character of His Son Jesus.

As we consider the entire ordo salutis, we must make clear in our minds the distinction between justification, and salvation. Otherwise we end up in endless arguments about loosing our salvation, or the other error of antinomianism. When someone talks about being saved, or losing their salvation, they are usually being sloppy in their theology, and not making the distinction. They mean justification, but say salvation.

The following from Romans should make it exceedingly clear to even the most rank Roman Catholic, or Orthodox, heretic that justification is by faith alone.

Romans 2:12 – 5:21
(LSB Strong’s)
12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they demonstrate the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
The Jew Is Judged by the Law
17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, 21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the Law, through your transgression of the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written.
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law, but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man observes the righteous requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the Law, will he not judge you who, through the letter of the Law and circumcision, are a transgressor of the Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
There Is None Righteous
​1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief abolish the faithfulness of God? 4 May it never be! Rather, let God be true and every man a liar, as it is written,
“THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS,
AND OVERCOME WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.”
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is the God who inflicts wrath unrighteous? (I am speaking in human terms.) 6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.
9 What then? Are we better? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are in the Law, so that every mouth may be shut and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
The Righteousness of God through Faith
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that faith, is one.
31 Do we then abolish the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Abraham and David’s Faith Counted as Righteousness
​1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God! 3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not counted according to grace, but according to what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes upon Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
8 BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
9 Therefore, is this blessing on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS COUNTED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 10 How then was it counted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith has been made empty and the promise has been abolished; 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no trespass.
16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be according to grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the seed, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all— 17 as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”—in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR SEED BE.” 19 And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to do. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written THAT IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be counted, as those who believe upon Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over on account of our transgressions, and was raised on account of our justification.
Results of Justification by Faith
​1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we boast in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
The Gift of Righteousness in Christ
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the trespass of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
15 But the gracious gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were appointed sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be appointed righteous. 20 Now the Law came in so that the transgression would increase, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Likewise, those who properly understand James’ words, will not negate the work of God in you, to good works, as a product of that regenerating, justifying, and sanctifying work He is doing. This is an effect of the cause, it is not part of the cause, or the cause. Anyone teaching that is a deceiver.

James 1:19-27
(LSB Strong’s)
Doers of the Word
19 Know this, my beloved brothers. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, laying aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in gentleness receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he looked at himself and has gone away, he immediately forgot what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious while not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 2:14-26
(LSB Strong’s)
14 What use is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

After reading just this small amount of scripture, it should be obvious to any honest person, that sola fide is the truth. Only people with a demonic tradition would lead you away from this truth, to enslave you again to the law. The Word of God teaches thoroughly on this idea. If you deny it, you deny the very gospel itself, and Christ the one Who suffered for you.

communism · cultural · God · gospel · government

The Satanic Roots of Ideological Subversion

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

The Satanic Roots of Ideological Subversion: How Demoralization Plays Right Into Total Depravity

Folks, if you’ve been paying attention to the world around us, you’ve probably noticed how everything seems upside down these days. Truth gets twisted, right is called wrong, and wrong gets paraded as some kind of victim. Yuri Bezmenov, that former KGB defector, nailed it back in the 80s when he spilled the beans on how the Soviets planned to take down societies like ours without firing a shot. He called it “ideological subversion,” and the first step, demoralization, sounds an awful lot like the Devil’s playbook. As a Christian who’s spent years digging into God’s Word, I see this not just as sneaky politics, but as a straight-up satanic attack that exploits the sin-enslaved nature of the lost. The doctrine of Total Depravity explains how this works. Let’s break it down, because if we don’t call this out with biblical truth, we’re just playing into the enemy’s hands.

Bezmenov laid it out plain: Demoralization takes 15-20 years to brainwash a generation through schools, media, and even churches. He said it’s about eroding moral standards so people can’t tell right from wrong anymore. “A person who was demoralized is unable to assess true information,” he warned in his lectures. Facts, proofs, even pictures—none of it sinks in. In law and order, it’s especially nasty: Criminals get painted as poor victims of society, while cops and real victims are treated like the bad guys. “A criminal is not a criminal, actually. He’s a defendant… Nice fellow,” Bezmenov quipped. Meanwhile, the justice system gets mocked as oppressive.

His KGB buddies like Anatoliy Golitsyn, Ion Mihai Pacepa, and Stanislav Levchenko backed this up with their own stories. Golitsyn talked about long-term deceptions to make the West doubt its own foundations. Pacepa exposed how they used “disinformation” to frame the innocent and hype up the guilty, stirring up chaos in the name of liberation. Levchenko showed how they infiltrated media to divide people, turning protectors into villains. It’s all connected, a calculated inversion of morality that leaves societies ripe for collapse.

We can see the media doing this. They’ve been at it for a long time now. We can see the corrupt leftist Prosecutors punishing 70 year old grandmothers for praying outside of abortion clinics while letting thugs kill grandmothers in the streets. We can see the media glorifying the criminal, and demonizing the victims. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How can this be? How can anyone see this as good, and just? This is madness!” Here is the answer. It is intentional. The satanic left uses communism to increase human death, and suffering. They are anti-human, because they are anti-Christ. If you can get under this idea, and grab onto it, you can finally open your eyes to the evil that is corrupting our world.

Now, let’s get into the Bible here. This isn’t just human cunning; it’s satanic to the core because it preys on total depravity. Romans 3:10-18 spells it out: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” We’re all corrupted mind, heart, and sin-enslaved from the start. Demoralization doesn’t invent that; it fans the flames, making us even more blind to God’s truth. Jeremiah 17:9 calls the heart “deceitful above all things, and desperately sick.” Without the Holy Spirit opening our eyes, we’re suckers for these lies.

Satan’s the master inverter. Jesus pegged him in John 8:44 as “a liar and the father of lies,” with zero truth in him. He flips God’s order: Isaiah 5:20 woes those who “call evil good and good evil.” Sound familiar? Not prosecuting criminals while treating victims like suspects? That’s perverting justice, which Deuteronomy 16:19 flat-out forbids. Proverbs 17:15 says justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous is “an abomination to the Lord.” This fake mercy Bezmenov described sympathizing with crooks while slamming the law, it’s void of any real goodness. It’s demonic, straight from the “prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2, working through “sons of disobedience.”

I’ve seen this play out in my own life and in the church. Back when I was younger, I bought into some cultural lies until the Word of God me straight. Just like Bezmenov’s “useful idiots” who help their own downfall, we Christians can get duped if we’re not vigilant. History shows it too. Think of how false prophets like Joseph Smith twisted truth, as I’ve written before. The early Church fathers like Augustine warned against letting sin slide, tying back to God’s command in Genesis to be fruitful, not fearful.

In the end, this demoralization is satanic because it rejects God’s absolute standards for a mushy relativism where everyone does “what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). But praise God, there’s hope in the Gospel. Though we’re totally depraved, Christ regenerates us (John 3:3), giving us power to resist. Put on that armor of God from Ephesians 6:11, folks. Discern the lies, proclaim biblical justice, and repent if you’ve been swayed. Trust Him over the world’s schemes—because in Christ, the light crushes the darkness every time.

What do you think? Spotting this in today’s headlines? Drop a comment and let’s discuss. And if this hits home, share it—time to wake up the Church.

Book Reviews · gospel · government · politics

A Review of, “Karl Marx, And The Satanic Roots Of Communism” by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand.

Bob Snyder2 Comments

I’ve been alive long enough to have come to the conclusions that Marxism/Communism is satanic. I arrived at this conclusion due to the fact that Communism does not allow for a power more authoritative than the dictator, state, or politburo. Communism rejects the truth that God has created every man equally human, with all that entails, even their human rights. Under Communism the politburo is more than equal, and subjugates everyone else underneath them. You have no God given rights under the satanic system of Communism. I was curious what Wurmbrand’s insights would be. He experienced the literal torture of Communism first hand during the Communist revolution in his homeland Romania. He and his wife, were thrown into a gulag/prison work camp for 14 years. He was tortured on a daily basis. Eventually he, and his wife were released. They were never the same after that. Wurmbrand studied the writings, and correspondence, of Marx, and other prominent Communists after his release. Like I mentioned above, I understood that Communism was satanic, but I had no idea how fundamental satanism is to Communism, and those who fought to impose it.

I assumed Marx was a satanist ignorantly so by what he stood against, and was simply a fool seeking an impossible goal, and that he was willing to kill as many people as it took to achieve it. I was wrong. Marx was a satanist first. Communism was just a means to an end for him, and those like him. This book made that abundantly clear. Wurmbrand uses many citations from Marx, and his contemporaries. Some of the things these men wrote are so blasphemous, I had to skim through them as they afflicted my conscience sorely. I would warn you that this could also be your experience reading this book, but I find it necessary to know how blatantly satanic Communism, and Marx’s writings are.

Marx wrote, “I wish to avenge myself from the One who rules above.”

Here is an excerpt from the book,

“Let us remember that Marx’s ideal was to descend into the abyss of hell and draw all mankind in after him. Let us not follow him on this vicious path, but rather follow Jesus Christ who leads us upward to peaks of light, wisdom, and love, toward a heaven of unspeakable glory.”

This excerpt was at the end of the book recalling a citation from one of Marx’s writings. He wanted to have as many people die without hearing the gospel. He said something to the effect that he would go into hell laughing after them. Lenin, and Stalin, were also monsters. I encourage you to read this book, and share it with friends in the Church who are tempted to lean into socialism, communism, and warn them strongly.

I am glad to say that the gospel is shared towards the end of the book, so if you do share this book with someone who is curious, they will also get the gospel message. I hope you will take the short time this148 pages require to be forewarned.

Apologetics · Eastern Orthodoxy · gospel · roman catholicism

The One True Faith, and The Eternal Word of God.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

There are some arguments out there that go something like this. “We are the one true faith. We are the original Church. We are the oldest, and can trace our line back to Peter, or Jesus Himself. All other Churches are false, and cannot trace their authority back to Peter, or Jesus. You wouldn’t even have the Bible if it weren’t for us. That is why the early Church needed our traditions, because they didn’t have a Bible yet. They only had the traditions of the Apostles, and that is all our traditions are.” Some pagan cults like Hinduism, Odinism, & Native American tribal religions claim their gods were here before Jesus. So their religion is older. Older doesn’t mean true by the way. How many of you have ever heard these arguments from Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, or some other religious group? I want you to know there has always been the one true faith. Once God created man who was endowed with the ability to have that faith, there was the one true faith on Earth. Don’t forget that it was eternally established before the creation.

Ephesians 1:3-6
(LSB Strong’s)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love, 5 by predestining us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Adam and Eve had first hand knowledge of God. Their faith was one of knowing. God was with them, talking with them. They tried to hide from Him. These are not the actions of people who do not believe that they did something wrong. They were different from the angels, and demons. The angels, demons, and satan knew God is. They weren’t looking for a Savior. The Bible never talks about saving the demons, or satan. Adam and Eve were the first to hear of some hope in the future in regards to the curse of God for their sins. In Genesis 3:15 we have the protoevangelium.

Genesis 3:15
(LSB Strong’s)
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

The gospel plan of salvation is eternal. It has always been. The Son was always going to be Jesus in our fallen world. In the ancient times, man did not have much of the progressive revelation of scripture to explain the faith, but it was right there at the start. As time went on, more was revealed.

The Faith has been called different things through history. It was the faith of the patriarchs, it became known as the faith of Israel, and then the Hebrew, or Jewish faith. After the incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, it had become known as Christianity. Sometimes Christians were called people of the way. Some time between the 7th, and 8th century after the quran had been compiled, muslims began calling Christians people of the book. Earlier in the 4th century the Holy Roman Empire adopted Christianity. At the end of the 6th century around 590A.D. Pope Gregory the 1st consolidated much of western Europe under papal authority. This is when we see the Roman Catholic church start as a unified ecumenical group. The Roman Catholics have a tradition that would have you believe that they can trace their lineage back to the Peter, who they erroneously claim was the first pope. They had misunderstood a section of scripture, and put the misunderstanding into use. After a period of use, it became tradition. Whether they ignorantly made the mistake, or not, I do not know. I do know they have had centuries to repent, and double down instead.

Matthew 16:13-20
(LSB Strong’s)
Peter Confesses Jesus Is the Christ
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.

It is obvious that the rock, or truth that the Church is built on is Jesus. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus isn’t calling Peter the rock on which the Church is built, but his confession of Christ. We read in Isaiah 28:14-17

Isaiah 28:14-17
(LSB Strong’s)
14 Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh, O scoffers,
Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
15 Because you have said, “We have cut a covenant with death,
And with Sheol we have made a pact.
The overflowing scourge will not reach us when it passes by,
For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have hidden ourselves with lying.”
16 Therefore thus says Lord Yahweh,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone,
A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.
He who believes in it will not be disturbed.
17 I will make justice the measuring line
And righteousness the level;

Does that sound like prophecy about Peter? Of course not. Let’s look at Ephesians 2:19-22

Ephesians 2:19-22
(LSB Strong’s)
19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Seems pretty explicit to me. How about you? If that is not enough to seal the deal for you, Peter himself declares in 1 Peter 2:6-7

1 Peter 2:6-7
(LSB Strong’s)
6 For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES UPON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone,”

Moving on, we see that the one true faith continues on today. The apostasy of Roman Catholicism also continues. They may claim to be the one true faith, but they make an error by connecting their authority for their claims to the idea that the one true faith started with the incarnation, and Christ allegedly appointing Peter as the first pope. When we look past this further back into history, we see men like Noah, Abraham, and David, who truly believed God. They were looking ahead for God to provide salvation. The Old Testament saints were saved the same as the New Testament saints, by faith. Ours happens to be on the other side of the incarnation of the god-man who split time.

We’re going to switch gears and look at the eternality of the Word of God in both the person of the Son, and the progressive revelation of scripture.

Turn to Genesis 15, This is just after Abram’s encounter with the Prince of Melchizedek, which was a Christophany.

Read Genesis 15:1-21
Genesis 15
(LSB Strong’s)
​1 After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying,
“Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great.”
2 And Abram said, “O Lord Yahweh, what will You give me, as I go on being childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Since You have given no seed to me, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” 4 Then behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This one will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He brought him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your seed be.” 6 Then he believed in Yahweh; and He counted it to him as righteousness. 7 And He said to him, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.” 8 And he said, “O Lord Yahweh, how may I know that I will possess it?”
12 Now it happened that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
17 Now it happened that the sun had set, and it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. 18 On that day Yahweh cut a covenant with Abram, saying,
“To your seed I have given this land,
From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:

You’ll notice this is not the actions of a disembodied text floating before Abram’s eyes. This is the 2nd Person of the Trinity, the eternal Son, the Word of God. We know this is so because it is the first thing John tells us in Chapter 1 of John.

Turn to John Chapter 1.
John 1:1-5
(LSB Strong’s)
The Deity of Jesus Christ
​1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

John 1:14-18
(LSB Strong’s)
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *bore witness about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has been ahead of me, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Psalms 119:89
(LSB Strong’s)
89 Forever, O Yahweh,
Your word stands firm in heaven.

Isaiah 40:8
(LSB Strong’s)
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.

1 Peter 1:25
(LSB Strong’s)
25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”
And this is the word which was proclaimed to you as good news.

There is a distinction between the 2nd Person of the Trinity, and the physical script printed on hides, vellum, papyri, and paper. I’m not trying to convince you that the two are the same thing. What I do want you to consider is the character of our God. He did not leave us alone after creating us. He didn’t keep from us His character. He revealed Himself in both writing, and in person as well as the creation. During Jesus’ ministry, Old Testament believers recognized Him as the Savior from His written word. We get to know Him by His Word, or we know the Word of God, by the Word of God.

Through history, in different regions of the middle east, the progressive revelation of scripture was being revealed by various prophets. At the time of the incarnation the scriptures had already been compiled, and translated into Greek for approximately 250 years. It has been traditionally dated to the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt. The Septuagint had been in use before the time of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus, the Apostles, and the early Church could have very well been acquainted with the Septuagint, on top of their knowledge of the Tanakh. They had the word of God in print. Let’s remember what the scriptures primarily are. They are God’s mind for us to know Him by, with all that entails. Think about how they were conveyed being progressively revealed. Over time, there were more, and more revelations from God recorded until we had the entire canon of scripture. The Roman Catholics, and the Eastern Orthodox weren’t even around for the Septuagint. It was completed by Jewish translators who were Commissioned by Ptolemy II around 800 yeasrs before they were historically a thing.

How impoverished are the religious sects who don’t see this truth? They fight, and argue, about who was first on the scene, who has authority, or power. They practice all sorts of strange traditions that are no wheres mentioned in the Word of God. They put on all sorts of fine raiment. They cause men to bow down, and kiss their rings. They sit on gold encrusted thrones. They heap up odious labors upon their followers. They rob God of His glory. Martyrs have gone to their deaths destitute of earthly wealth, and go on to their eternal rewards which show these pious men to be spiritual paupers.

Our God, condescended from the majesty of heaven, deigned to put on human flesh, dwelt among us, and laid down His life as a sacrifice to justify us to Himself. We must repent of our sins, and trust solely in the finished work of Christ Jesus.

abortion · cultural · environment · gospel · government

It Should be Blatantly Obvious Now. This is Good, Versus Evil.

Bob Snyder2 Comments

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few decades you are aware of the moral decline in America, and the rest of the world. It should be blatantly obvious to everyone at this point. The Democrats are the party of baby murder, every type of sexual immorality, lawlessness, animosity towards Christ, and His people, worship of the creation/creature instead of the Creator, genital mutilation of children, mind altering drugs, money laundering, proxy wars, corruption and coverups, lies, coercion, blackmail, weaponization of corrupt law enforcement agencies, and so on. The Libertarian party is the party of, “Do as thou wilt.” Which is the only commandment of the satan worshippers. Then we have traitors promoting communism, and socialism, in those parties. Both of those ideologies are satanic, and rob the human being of his dignity being made in the image of God, and on a more important issue, are blasphemously attempting to impugn God’s character.

I’m not saying that Republicans are the answer. There are far too many RINOs who have been bought, and paid for. Blackmailed, or coerced into doing the bidding of the demonic globalists. We can see their influence in every local election. We get the word out, “Don’t vote for that guy! He’s a RINO.” Then big money comes in from out of state to smear the honest to goodness Christian candidate, and what do you know? The RINO wins somehow. I’m not encouraging people to give up on politics, but I am encouraging people to SHARE THE GOSPEL!!! If people become born again, and repent of their sins, their minds will be changed by God. He will put them in right order. They will, by accord with their new natures, begin to abhor evil in the world, and love righteousness. God will give us the leaders we deserve. You can see that by the things the other parties call their, “platform.” Which is really as platform of satanic ideologies.

It isn’t a matter of Californians, or New Yorkers, moving to your state. Your own public schools are brainwashing your children to hate themselves, their parents, their country, their skin color, Christianity, their gender, and their history. You have homegrown enemies that the state has formed in the image of satan. Homeschool your kids! Put them in a Christian co-op! Put them in a charter school, or classical academy! Do whatever it takes to get them out of public schools. Get on the school board! Fire the perverts!

We’ve all seen the unhinged, apoplectic, lunatic, ravings, of the pro-abortion crowd. They see baby murder as a right. They lose their minds when baby murder is made illegal. The seething, and frothing at the mouths of these exceedingly wicked people is grotesque, and disturbing. It should awaken in anyone with a conscience, the fact that these people are in deed, and purpose, satan’s slaves. They love the murder of infants. It is a unholy, blasphemous sacrament of theirs, that they communally take part, and pleasure in.

The godless have been lying to our kids, and people. They tell them that they can be whatever gender they want, and that it is not tied to the biological reality of sex. They pervert their minds, and corrupt them, young and old. They are grooming them to be their children, as they can not propagate their perverse pleasures by natural copulation alone. They reproduce in the spirit of the mind by damning lies! All of their works lead to the suffering, and death of people who were made in the image of God. These people seethe in waves of emotional duress, while lecturing us on how our words are violence! They commit actual violence! They murder our youth in the schools! The homosexual, “trans people,” pedophiles, and those who are practicing bestiality, are being normalized. It is only a mater of time before necrophilia, and cannibalism are normalized. Mark my words. I told people this was going to happen thirty years ago, if we didn’t repent, and here we are.

They encourage people to use drugs. They hate humanity. They love to see people addicted, dying in the streets, homeless, and dirty. It makes them feel superior, and virtuous simultaneously. They say, “Look how loving we are. We won’t put you in prison for using drugs. We love you.” All the while, sitting back drinking their fancy coffee drink, and watching people literally kill themselves, and others, while on the streets, using drugs. I retired from Corrections as an Officer after 26 years. I can tell you, over the years, many inmates told me prison saved their lives. I currently work part-time at a rehab. We lost a client who finished the program. After a month of being out, he overdosed. If he had been sent to prison, he would have lived. He wouldn’t be on the streets. He would have 3 hots, and a cot. He’d have health care, mental health care, chapel, training to become an electrician, plumber, cad-cam, sign shop, construction tech, and more. I ask you, who is more loving? Who cares more for the imago dei, Christians, or godless leftists?

They have convinced the kids to worship animals, plants, and the planet. They tell them not to have children because we are killing the planet. They convince them that animals are on the same level of being as humans. We are made in the image of God, and given dominion over the planet to subdue for the encouragement of human flourishing, and the reduction of human suffering. The godless cannot have this. They love human death, and suffering. God will uphold this creation until His purposes with it are completed. Then He will burn it up with fire. Don’t believe the lies. Worship God the Creator, not the creation!

The only way out, is the only way, Jesus Christ! He is the way, and the truth! No man comes to the Father, except by Him! He is our King! His word is our pleasure, and duty! We worship the God of the living! We begin truly living the life eternal upon our true birth! Repent of your sins, and trust the Savior! Communism makes everyone equally subject by force. Who are they subject to? The centralized, governing of tyrants! Someone has to be more than equal to subject others to a false equality! God makes man equally man. Communist can’t have that. They attempt to rid their society of any god who would wield supreme authority. They are satanic usurpers, and murderers! Better dead, than red, the saying used to go. Don’t fall for the lies of the evil one. The only way you can fight evil is to be born again. Otherwise, you will fight against true goodness, and think you are doing good.

It is blatant to me. It is becoming blatant to many in this hour. My hope is that you will all wake up to the fact that the world is spiritually dead, and enslaved to sin. If you are not in Christ, you are part of that. You think you are good, but you are not. You are in love with demonic thinking. You only seek to please your own fleshly desires. Even your mercy is cruelty. Your good deeds, are for your own feelings of pseudo-piety. Repent, and trust Jesus for your justification to God. Only then will your works pleas Him.

cultural · evangelism · gender dysphoria · gospel · homosexual marriage · sharing the gospel · transgender · transsexual

We Are All Perverts.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

***This article deals with adult subject matter, and is not suitable for minors.***

Part of the problem is that there are Christians who are quick to point out the perversions of others, while not recognizing their own. We aren’t very good at explaining that we don’t see ourselves as better than the other perverts we see. Some of you might argue that you are not a pervert. That is part of the problem I’m talking about. A pervert is someone who has a sexual appetite that is not pure. That can take the form of a person who likes to be treated a little more rough, a person who likes to read suggestive literature, someone who likes some part of marital relations unduly, or in excess, a person who likes to use profanity, or hear profanity during, a person who uses pornography, and so on. These things may seem vanilla lite to you, but to God, they are not pure.

Since they are not pure, they are sexual immorality. Sexual immorality is sin. It doesn’t matter if you agree with me or not. I know it is true. I know that everyone is a sinner, and everyone is sexually immoral to some degree. Even if you are the most pure human being ever, you still have had sexually immoral lusts, and thoughts. Ergo, you are sexually immoral. When we see the so called trans person who has mutilated themselves, we know it is sexual immorality because it is blatantly obvious to those who are not under demonic influence, or control. Let me make a little proviso here. When I write about demons, I’m not doing so from a superstitious, or pentecostal position. Demons are spiritual beings. A person’s spirit, is that of them that God created, is the way that individual person reasons. It isn’t some ghostly apparition that mystically motivates them. There are many among the Christian denominations that make much of demonic possession. They blame demons for everything they themselves have done, sort of a, “The devil made me do it” cope/copout. We are living in a demonic world. The lost think in accord with the spirit of this world. They can’t accept what God says is perversion because it goes against every part of their person. The only way for them to be free, and to be put in their right minds is to be born again.

This is why we must preach the gospel of Jesus to them. It is almost impossible to do at a pervert rally/parade/riot. You will be spit on, assaulted, and chased around. I’m not telling you to stay home, but I am telling you that many times the better way to reach them is one on one, with the gospel, including yourself as a pervert when you talk with them. This is why I love the Way of the Master method of evangelism. It gives them the mirror of God’s moral law, so that you are not accusing them, but God’s law is. It circumvents the sociocultural elephant in the room, while getting to the heart of the issue. What do you do with your blasphemies, thefts, adulteries, fornications, lies, and hate? How will you answer back to God on judgment day? If we can see ourselves the way the Apostle Paul saw himself, as the chief of sinners, and if we can do as he did, and consider others better than ourselves, we can reach even the most depraved, purple haired, face pierced, tattooed, perverts we encounter. Because we see ourselves as even worse. If you knew the depths of my sins, and I knew yours, we couldn’t look eachother in the eyes. Demonstrate grace, and mercy, one on one. It is very difficult to do when you are being attacked by a group. If you are mature enough in your faith to do so, carry on. Many people are not. If you need to see the Way of the Master method of evangelism employed, you can watch many encounters on Ray Comfort’s Youtube channel.

Here is a specific video where Ray witnesses to a so called trans person. He stopped them from committing suicide by giving them hope in Christ.

gay marriage · gender dysphoria · gospel · homosexual marriage · Liberal Christian · politics · transgender · transsexual · Uncategorized

We Told You So!

Bob Snyder2 Comments

I put this article up back in 2016 just after the country accepted, “gay marriage” in 2015 after the Obergefell v. Hodges decision. There are articles that don’t age well, as time proves the original premise of the article wrong, but this one was not one of them. Christians have been arguing for a long time that marriage is between a man, and a woman. This is straight from God’s word. It is a non-negotiable. To call the relationship of homosexuals, “marriage” is sin. To agree that they have the same right as a natural man, and woman, to marry is a sin. Marriage is not a thing for the state to define, or control. Marriage has always, and will always be, a covenant between husband, wife, and God. He has only ordained marriage this way. Everything else is worldly sin, and perversion.
There were several things that happened before 2015 that sped this all along. When perverts were considered part of a legally protected minority group, it opened the door to include them as minorities in general. The reason I want you to think in the terms of perversion rather than gay, and lesbian, is so you can see the cause, and effect. Many people were fine with the idea of, “gay marriage” but they were not fine with pedophilia, bestiality, or necrophilia. If you had mentioned those perversions as being part of the minority group, they would have had a strong negative response. This isn’t how it was presented to the American people. They were shown images of properly dressed, gays and lesbians, crying because they didn’t have the same rights as straight people. This was complete satanic manipulation, and it worked. It worked because people are Biblically ignorant, and unconverted.
In 2020 the Supreme court decision of Bostock v. Clayton County forced us to accept perversion as a protected minority class according to title 9. Title 7 also is being applied to perverts. It was originally to protect women from being discriminated against in the workplace. You can see how they equated sexual immorality to being female. The legal groundwork has been being set up by the enemy for years now, but hardly anyone was forward thinking enough to see where this was going. There were people like me out there telling everyone what a horrible mistake it is, but nobody listened. The enemies of God, the globalist politicians, and appointed officials, who were all in league with satan, knew exactly what they were doing, and they gleefully did it. The mindless masses shouted, “love is love!” The ignorant, inane, middle went along for the ride, not being able to coalesce a single reasonable objection with their sin addled minds. While the Church was eating itself seemingly from the inside with liberal christianity, (which is not Christian at all) protesting in like worldly fashion with their satanic comrades.
With the foundational work in place, the satanic politicians, and activist judges struck! Gay marriage was the nose of the camel under the tent for all the pedophilic atrocities we see being perpetrated against our youth now. You want to know why they are transitioning the kids? Because you all let gays steal marriage for their own perversion! Your idiotic sympathy for sin brought this on us as a nation. This and your holocaust against the unborn! Your whoring around with adultery, and premarital sex! Your acceptance of widespread pornographic websites! Your unrepentant, sin loving, evil hearts have brought this on our heads. Like Jeremiah, and Habakkuk, true Christians have been warning you, and now we are lamenting, because God is not going to start judging us some time in the future. The judgment has already begun! Go read Romans 1, Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Habakkuk! You can see God’s character, and what He will do. We won’t get away with what we are currently doing. God will punish us by giving us over to even more sin. Our guilt will be compounded, and so great, that on the day of God’s wrath, nobody will be able to rightly say, “We didn’t deserve this! Your wrath is unjust, and too great!” That doesn’t mean they won’t say it. It means they can’t rightly say it.
While there is time, REPENT OF YOUR SINS, AND TRUST JESUS!!! READ, AND STUDY HIS WORD. COME TO KNOW HIM. You aren’t promised tomorrow! If you die in your sins, you will be in hell for eternity. There is no maybe about this. It is a certainty. If you die in Christ you can be with Him for eternity, living life eternal, and enjoying Him for ever.

cultural · God · gospel · Uncategorized

Don’t Fear the Rona!

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Here is a copy of an e-mail I sent to some coworkers, and friends who are Christian. Maybe it will help you.

As many of you already know, the death rate is far lower than originally projected.  Many of us know someone, or know of someone who has died of the virus.  Several of us have had the virus.  I want to give you a little ray of sunshine.  If you look at the numbers as of today, 10,513,068 people in America have tested positive since they started keeping track almost a year ago.  This is not the number of active cases, even though that is how it seems to be presented by the media.  The total number of deaths in America has been listed as 242,527.  We know that this number has been inflated, and is actually lower.  How much lower, I do not know.  To give the doom, and gloom squad the benefit of the doubt, we’ll use that number.  The next number we will look at is the number of Americans who have recovered from the virus.  As we know, this number is dramatically under-reported by the media. In reality, you either recover, or die within a month.  So it is obvious they have not kept pace with all the recoveries. For some reason they don’t track, or report accurately on the number of recovered cases.  Perhaps it would seem to lead to a different narrative than the one we are being presented?

In my house, when I had the virus, I was the only one tested.  After I came down with it, I promptly infected everyone else.  My wife, 32 year old son, and 20 year old daughter all caught it.  Since they weren’t tested, their numbers didn’t get recorded, or added to the total number of confirmed cases.  The clinic would not test them.  They told them to stay home and quarantine.  I understand that this is pretty typical.  Also, around 50% of the people are asymptomatic.  If you take these factors into consideration, the real number of people who had the virus is more likely 3 times the official amount, and the government knows it.  That would be approximately 31,539,204 people who have had the virus.  If we divide the number of people who have died, by the number of people who have had the virus, we get .76% mortality rate.  In other words, 99.24% of all people, in all age groups, with all kinds of diseases, and pre-existing conditions survive the virus.  Tell me again why we are going through all of this?  Why are we shutting down jobs, and families? Why are we wearing useless masks? Don’t get me started on masks. Have you seen what kind of gear they wear in labs that work on viruses?

Don’t let your emotions, and fear take over.  Trust God.  Even during the bubonic plague when mortality rates were around 50% Christians still went into sick homes, and ministered to dying people.  This virus is not the same, but Christians should have the same message. God is sovereign.  He is in control.  Even this is in His will.  We all are guilty sinners, and deserve suffering, death, and hell.  If He has determined to bring me home by catching a virus, so be it.  It doesn’t change the fact that people need to hear the gospel.  They need to be warned, they are sinners, just like you and I.  We will stand before God on judgment day.  We will have no excuse for our sins.  We must repent, and trust the justifying work of Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection.  Be found in Christ on the day of your judgment, and live with Him in glory.  Don’t fear the virus, fear God, and live!


“The way to Heaven is ascending; we must be content to travel uphill, though it be hard and tiresome, and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh.”  ― Jonathan Edwards

cultural · evangelism · gospel · Uncategorized

Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary?

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

George Whitefield Revivalism

The great commission is a clear and direct command from God. We are to preach the gospel of Christ to all the earth, and make disciples of all men. Every Christian is an evangelist, if they are a Christian. No Christian can in good conscience sit idly by while people walk out of time into eternity without Christ. It is the most unloving, selfish thing a person can do. St. Francis was falsely attributed with the saying, “Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” This concept is no where to be found in the Bible. I guess if you don’t care that people are going to die and suffer in hell for all eternity you can just be a nice person, and hope that the people in your life convert before they get hit by a buss, and end up in hell, but why would you when eternity is on the line? Simply being nice to people does not give them the gospel. The good news of Christ is the penal substitutiary atonement that He accomplished on the cross of His suffering. He who knew no sin, became sin, for us. He was imputed with sin that was not His, and suffered for it. He paid the price that we could not pay, and makes the repentant sinner just to God by faith. His righteousness is imputed to the humbled sinner. They are saved by grace through faith. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Eph 2:8-9. If any of you have not repented of your sins, and trusted in Christ alone for your salvation, do not wait, or put it off. “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—
2for He says,
“AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”
Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—” 2 Cor 6:1-2.

Romans 10:14-15 (NASB)  How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who  bring good news of good things!”

cultural · firearms · gospel · government · Uncategorized

Where does murder come from?

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

pe9s_utah_pickup_gun_rack

With recent events in America, one wonders, “Why?  Why are people killing others?”  Meanwhile the left is using these tragedies as an excuse to shift the blame to an inanimate object.  This of course makes the right angry enough to commit murder of the heart, while the left is angry enough to actually commit murder.  Their pundits are encouraging it on the nightly news, if that is what you call it.  Of course on the right we’ve taken to calling if fake news, because we are tired of all the lies, half truths, and godless, communist, propaganda.  Before you run off, assuming this is a political rant, I urge you to keep reading.

Murder is nothing new.  Mankind has been killing since the beginning.  The agnostic, or atheist left would have you believe it is a matter of education.  They assume that people are naturally good intentioned, and if they grow up to be hateful, bigots, evil conservatives, or murderers, it is simply because they were given wrong, or inadequate education.  As a Christian, a Father of 4, and a Corrections Officer of 24 years, I can assure you that is not the case.

We are born with one thing on our minds, our own individual pleasure.  Our flesh is the most important thing to us.  We learn to love our parents, because they take care of us.  It still boils down to self.  Without them, I would have nobody to feed me, clean me, comfort me.  We don’t wonder why they do those things at first.  We just accept it.  We must have some quality about us that is worthy of that kind of affection, but then the lessons begin.  Punishment for doing bad things.  Rewards for doing good things.  Well the nature of a child loves rewards.  The flesh loves goodies, and compliments, but it hates spankings, physical pain, removal of fun things.

Being selfish, and evil is our nature.  We have to be taught to be good.  We want to be comfortable, and enjoy pleasurable things.  That is not necessarily sinful, but when it involves committing a sin, or sins of omission to achieve that comfort, or pleasure, then we are guilty.  Read what God has to say about it in His word,

James 4:1-10 (NASB) Things to Avoid
​  What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

It is pretty clear that we murder because we are selfish, sinners at heart.  We don’t rightly fear God, nor do we heed his laws.  We make up our own to please our flesh.  We make up our own gods as well.  Some depressed teen surmises that nobody loves him, or they don’t live up to his unrealistic expectations of how they should behave towards him, which further drives him to hate those who don’t participate in his self-pity, so he decides to teach the world a lesson.  This by the way is the result of all the self-esteem nonsense pushed down our throats for the last 40 years.  People don’t need to feel better about themselves, or esteem themselves more, especially if that esteem is misplaced.  We need to see ourselves as God sees us.  We need the truth.

You didn’t see this happening in the 60’s and 70’s.  We used to drive to school with our rifles in a wrack on our pickup cab rear window.  It was common place.  Kids would come to school with their dear, or elk in the back of the pickup to show it off after a successful hunt.  The problem isn’t guns, kids, or video games.  It is the sinful heart of man, and the lies that we are telling our kids.  This is a necessary consequence of becoming a godless secular society.  You want to blame someone leftists?  Blame yourselves.

People seem so shocked by murder partially as a selfish way to virtue signal.  We also are shocked by it because we see ourselves as good, and deserving happy lives with many rewards, and pleasures.  To think that someone would not value us they way we value ourselves is a shock.  Of course there are exceptions to the rule.

There are people who are shocked for the right reasons, most of those people are Christians.  They see the value of human life according to the word of God.  They understand that we deserve death, and hell, and that every day is a blessing from God where we should seek to glorify Him.  They understand the inherent idolatry, and blasphemy of destroying an image bearer of God, and spilling the blood unjustly, the blood of His creatures who belong to him, the blood that contains the life.

What we need is for people to be taught the truth.  We are sinners.  We need for Christians, the Church, to preach the gospel of Christ.  If people come to Christ, and are changed, they won’t become mass murderers.  Do you want to see America great again?  Preach Christ!  More laws won’t do it.