Christmas · prophecy

Scriptures for Christmas, and Always.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

I’ve compiled some verses that prophecy the birth of Jesus, as well as some scriptures that teach us the good news. These are all citations from the Legacy Standard Bible. I put them in order that should be easy to follow for most people. Have a Merry Christmas!

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.”

Genesis 22:18
(LSB Strong’s)
18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have listened to My voice.”

Numbers 24:17
(LSB Strong’s)
17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
A scepter shall rise from Israel,
And shall crush through the forehead of Moab,
And tear down all the sons of Sheth.

Isaiah 11:1
(LSB Strong’s)
​1 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,
And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

Jeremiah 23:5-6
(LSB Strong’s)
5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh,
“When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
And He will reign as king and prosper
And do justice and righteousness in the land.
6 In His days Judah will be saved,
And Israel will dwell securely;
And this is His name by which He will be called,
‘Yahweh our righteousness.’

Micah 5:2
(LSB Strong’s)
2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from everlasting,
From the ancient days.”

Isaiah 7:14
(LSB Strong’s)
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7
(LSB Strong’s)
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will accomplish this.

Psalms 72:10-11
(LSB Strong’s)
10 Let the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands bring a present;
The kings of Sheba and Seba offer tribute.
11 And let all kings bow down to him,
All nations serve him.

Jeremiah 31:15
(LSB Strong’s)
15 Thus says Yahweh,
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
Wailing and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
She refuses to be comforted for her children
Because they are no more.”

Matthew 1:18-25
(LSB Strong’s)
The Conception and Birth of Jesus
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the One who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place in order that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled, saying, 23 “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” 24 And Joseph got up from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.

Luke 1:26-56
(LSB Strong’s)
Jesus’ Birth Foretold
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”
Mary Magnifies the Lord
46 And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has looked upon the humble state of His slave,
For behold, from this time on, all generations will count me blessed.
49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
50 AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION
TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.
51 He has done a mighty deed with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
53 HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS,
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
54 He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his seed forever.”
56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

Luke 1:67 – 2:40
(LSB Strong’s)
Zechariah’s Prophecy
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He visited and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES,
And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US,
72 To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO MAKE READY HIS WAYS,
77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
To direct our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the desolate regions until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Jesus Is Born in Bethlehem
​1 Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. 6 Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guest room.
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. 11 For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
15 And it happened that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as was told them.
Jesus Presented at the Temple
21 And when eight days were fulfilled so that they could circumcise Him, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days for their cleansing according to the Law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the comfort of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Master, You are releasing Your slave in peace,
According to Your word.
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 A LIGHT FOR REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,
And for the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were marveling at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce through your own soul as well—that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had finished everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. 40 Now the Child continued to grow and become strong, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

John 1:1-18
(LSB Strong’s)
​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.
The Witness of John the Baptist
6 There was a man having been sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to bear witness about the Light.
9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to what was His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
The Word Became Flesh
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.

Hebrews 1:1 – 4:13
(LSB Strong’s)
God’s Final Word in His Son
​1 God, having spoken long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days spoke to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, 3 who is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power; who, having accomplished cleansing for sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say,
“YOU ARE MY SON,
TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”?
And again,
“I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM
AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME”?
6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,
“AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM.”
7 And of the angels He says,
“WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS,
AND HIS MINISTERS FLAMING FIRE.”
8 But of the Son He says,
“YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER,
AND THE SCEPTER OF UPRIGHTNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF YOUR KINGDOM.
9 YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS;
THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU
WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.”
10 And,
“YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING FOUNDED THE EARTH,
AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
11 THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN;
AND THEY ALL WILL WEAR OUT LIKE A GARMENT,
12 AND LIKE A MANTLE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP;
LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED.
BUT YOU ARE THE SAME,
AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT COME TO AN END.”
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said,
“SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES
AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Warning Against Neglecting Salvation
​1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every trespass and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? That salvation, first spoken by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
Jesus, the Author of Salvation
5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying,
“WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM?
OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?
7 YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS;
YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR,
AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
8 YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.”
For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels—Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of One; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,
“I WILL RECOUNT YOUR NAME TO MY BROTHERS,
IN THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”
13 And again,
“I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.”
And again,
“BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.”
14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to help those who are tempted.
Jesus Greater than Moses
​1 Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession—Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. 3 For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, in so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. 5 Now MOSES WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL HIS HOUSE AS A SERVANT, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope.
7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,
“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME,
AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,
9 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me,
AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.
10 THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION,
AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART,
AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’;
11 AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’”
Warning Against Unbelief
12 See to it brothers, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “TODAY,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, 15 while it is said,
“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME.”
16 For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
The Believer’s Rest
​1 Therefore, let us fear, lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have fallen short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news proclaimed to us, just as they also; but the word that was heard did not profit those who were not united with faith among those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,
“AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,”
although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken somewhere in this way concerning the seventh day: “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS”; 5 and again in this passage, “THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news proclaimed to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again determines a certain day, “TODAY,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,
“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall into the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are uncovered and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we have an account to give.

1 Corinthians 15:1-34
(LSB Strong’s)
The Resurrection of Christ
​1 Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I proclaimed as good news to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I proclaimed to you as good news, unless you believed for nothing.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that, He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
The Resurrection of the Dead
12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we bore witness against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign UNTIL HE HAS PUT ALL HIS ENEMIES UNDER HIS FEET. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death. 27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.
29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? 30 Why are we also in danger every hour? 31 I affirm, brothers, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE. 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34 Become righteously sober-minded, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

Romans 8
(LSB Strong’s)
The Spirit of God Dwells in You
​1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the practices of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, also heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we eagerly wait for it.
26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 29 Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers; 30 and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.
God Is for Us
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who indeed did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction, or turmoil, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE COUNTED AS SHEEP FOR the SLAUGHTER.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Uncategorized

Israel, for or against?

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

I know there is a lot of emotions swirling around right now focused on Israel. People are for them, or against them. There really isn’t much middle ground anymore. I’m just kind of sitting across the way in the bleachers watching. I don’t have a dog in the fight.

Israel has all the $$$, and weapons, they need. I don’t condone all of the hatred focused on the Jews lately. If my neighbors were constantly attacking me, and I had the means, I’d completely destroy them regardless of what the other neighbors thought. They could be next. I’m surprised they’ve waited this long to reduce the strip to rubble. It should have been done decades ago. Syria, and Egypt, need to mind their P’s and Q’s. Events will unfold as God has ordained.

As far as the silly argument of who owned it first, nobody has ever been able to make that claim to the land they are on. First of all, the entire creation belongs to God. I know that Biblically we would affirm Israel’s right to the land, but are the Jews who have returned actually the Jews that left? There were people in those lands before them, but if you think about it, all humans come from Adam. Like I mentioned earlier, I know that God has given the land to the Jews, but the rest of the world doesn’t care. If you look at it from the pragmatic perspective of the secular, I think you’ll understand what I’m getting at.

Second of all, wherever you are, someone else was there before you. We take what we can take, and we keep what we can keep. This is a good argument for maintaining a strong standing military. It is simply the history of mankind. We war, and take. You can be taken, or do the taking. The relative peace we’ve experienced these last few decades is not the typical way of the world. We’ve been insulated from what our military has been doing because we haven’t been officially, “at war.” with nations. Instead we’ve had a, “war on terror.” Well isn’t that an easy thing to define…

I’m more concerned with the amount of $$$ being laundered in Ukraine, and our traitorous leaders getting us back in bed with the communist Chinese. Seems like all the recent events are to take our eyes off of those two things. They’ll probably spring another emergency on us that would, “require” mail in ballots. They are about to try to rob us of our votes again, and install another puppet.

Bible study · Church · Eastern Orthodoxy · roman catholicism

Lies of Rome, and Eastern Orthodoxy

Bob SnyderLeave a comment
Deeds of the Antichrist At the Orviteo Cathedral in Central Italy by Italian renaissance painter, Luca Signorelli

A lie of the Roman Catholic church, and the Orthodox church, is demonstrably false, yet they keep fooling people with it. Here is how it goes, “Has the Church always had the Bible as it is now? How do you know your Bible is right? You don’t even have all the books. You wouldn’t have a Bible if it wasn’t for us! You can’t even practice the faith correctly without our traditions. There was a time when early Christians didn’t have the Bible, so they relied on the traditions handed down to them by Christ, via the Apostles. We can trace our roots back to Peter. He is the main Apostle who Jesus entrusted the church to.” There are a lot of lies in this short paragraph. People get fooled by this lies pretty often. They cause confusion, and trouble the hearts of young Christians.

Q. What is the Bible?

A. It is the word of God, the mind of Christ, that we may know Him.

That question, and answer, are not from one of the historic catechisms. It is a very brief reduction of the truths in those catechisms. If you’d like to read what the 1689 London Baptist Confession of faith says about the scriptures, you can do so here.

Here is what the Westminster Shorter Catechism says about the word of God.

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, [a] is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. [b][a]. Matt. 19:4-5 with Gen. 2:24; Luke 24:27, 44; 1 Cor. 2:13;
14:37; 2 Pet.1:20-21; 3:2, 15-16[b]. Deut. 4:2; Ps. 19:7-11; Isa. 8:20; John 15:11; 20:30-31;
Acts 17:11; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 John 1:4

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, [a] and what duty God requires of man [b].[a]. Gen. 1:1; John 5:39; 20:31; Rom. 10:17; 2 Tim. 3:15[b]. Deut. 10:12-13; Josh. 1:8; Ps. 119:105; Mic. 6:8; 2 Tim.
3:16-17

These are not being cited as any refutation, nor am I appealing to them, as that would be an appeal to tradition according to the Catholics, and the Orthodox. This is rather simply to demonstrate that my summation of what the Bible is, does not violate what we’ve accepted as Biblical truth historically speaking.

Looking at my question, and answer of what the Bible is, consider how the word of God was given to His chosen men in the Old Testament. How did Adam receive instruction from God? Was it not the very Word of God Who walked with him in the garden? Was it not the pre-incarnate Eternal Son? Certainly so! Why did Noah build an ark? Was it not by the instruction of God? (Gen 6:13-22) How did Noah find favor with God? Was it not by his faith? We know it was, because he actually built the ark. Why did Abram leave his homeland? Was it not the instruction he received from the Word of God? (Gen 12:1) Since when does a word walk, talk, and interact with a person as another person? You can see the pre-incarnate Eternal Son, Who is the Word of God, do so during a vision, with Abram in Genesis 15. We also see God talk with Abraham in Genesis 18. The only Person of the Triune God Who has specific locus in space-time is the Son. In the Bible He is called, the Word, the Son, God, and Jesus, to name a few. Since we live in a time where we do have the fullness of the progressive revelation of God in the Bible, we can see in John chapter 1 that Jesus is the Word. That Word has always been. He is the Creator. He is the sustainer, He is the light, and the life. We have never been without the Word of God. We have had as much of the progressive revelation of scripture as God has ordained throughout history, but we have never been completely without His instruction. We have had just as much as we were supposed to. God instructed mankind personally, and buy prophets whom He chose as professors of His Word, which is always true.

By the time of the incarnation, the Jews had the entire collection of Old Testament scriptures recorded in Hebrew, and Greek. The Greek Septuagint was in use at that time. Jesus cited the scriptures, and said they were all about Him. If you can’t see the Word of God being active throughout human history, perhaps your traditions, and sins, are blinding you?

Rome did not give us the Bible. Neither did the Eastern Orthodox. Their traditions of praying to the dead, revering a priest besides our one true Priest, Jesus, and worshiping Marry, are all anti-word, or antichrist if you will. Hopefully you can see by a reading of the Old Testament, that the Word of God, has always been, and in eternity the reality of Who He is, was something we experienced temporally. It is easy to understand how so many people would be fooled by the poor arguments of Rome, and the Eastern traditions as they don’t know the Old Testament, nor do they consider eternity in their reasoning. These two groups do what satan did in the garden. They question the truth of God, and His Word. Don’t fall for the tricks.

There were Christians in the world outside of Europe, and the East, who had their own Bibles. If you buy the lies of Rome, you’d have to think these people did not exist, and do not exist, but they did, and do.

We don’t need their baptism. We don’t need their priests. We don’t need their intercession. We don’t need Mary. We have Jesus Christ! His word, is none other than His mind! He has given it to us in a way that we could fathom some of Him, enough of Him, to be able to recognize Him, and be with Him in eternity! Praise God! Marry doesn’t intercede for us, and neither do human priests. If you trust Jesus’ atoning work, and Who He is, and you’ve repented of your sins, you are part of His Church! There is ONE intercessor between God, and man, and it is the Lord Jesus Christ! He is our High Priest! He is more than just our King, He is our God! All knees will bow before the Lord Jesus!!! Amen!

This has been a very brief introduction to the refutation of the ugly lies of Rome, and the Eastern Orthodox church. I haven’t had the time to write a more fleshed out paper. Perhaps a better educated theologian has fleshed this out more thoroughly at some point? If you know of a work fleshing this argument out in more detail please send me a link to the book. I’d like to read more on the topic. I hope this has been helpful.

Bible Reviews

The Compact Edition of the Legacy Standard Bible (L.S.B.)

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

I was in the market for a compact edition, and as it turns out, Three Sixteen Publishing has released a compact edition. I found one I liked in an edge lined, navy blue, goatskin leather.

As you can see from the photo, it is pretty compact. I was surprised that the font was still larger than that of the Cambridge Pitt Minion Bibles, and much easier to read. The Pitt’s font is 6pt. The Compact edition LSB is 8.5pt. This makes a significant difference.

The font is laid out in a two column, paragraph format. It is printed on 28 g.s.m. paper. The cover is pretty soft, and flexible goatskin leather. The edge lined binding, as well as the smyth-sewn spine, also aid in that regard. The inner cover is cowhide, and has the gold colored LSB logo printed on it. The head, and tail bands match the color of the navy blue cover. There are two ribbon markers. One is blue, the other is gold.

The page edges look more silver than this photo shows.

The page edges are blue under silver, and the corners are rounded.

If you are in the market for a compact edition, I highly recommend this one over the Pitt Minion. You can find it here, https://316publishing.com/collections/lsb-compact-edition/products/legacy-standard-bible-compact-edition-edge-lined-goatskin

Church · Theology

Lead by the Spirit, or Self-deceived?

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Being lead by the spirit is not some mystical prompting that you feel, and then decide to go along with. It is how God in His sovereign will causes you to do something that wouldn’t have naturally occurred to you. He moves you to do, think, feel, say, something so that you do it. When you see that you have done something good, and others have seen it, you give credit, and glory to God. So by saying that I was lead by His Spirit to do this, you should be giving Him the credit, not extolling your own pseudo-virtuous volition agreeing with His because you are just that special. Come on? Give me a break. I’ve had quite enough of these shenanigans.

If you say, “I was lead in the Spirit.” Make sure it is because you actually were. Any good that we do is God doing it through us. It is not from us, or our own volition independent of God. Many Charismatics say, “I was lead by the Spirit to come pray for you. Is there something you need healing from?” Now, this is the opposite of how this works, and it robs God of His glory. You come off, at best, as some self-righteous, fake faith-healer who probably means well, but is misguided. At worst, you look like a kooky religious nut, or charlatan. The Apostles, who actually did have the supernatural ability to heal people didn’t walk around, and say to themselves, “Oh look! A person I can heal. I think I’ll go heal them.” independent of God’s will, or void of His Spirit. They were given gifts to build the Church. These gifts were from God. He made them want to heal the people they healed. He did this in their subordinate minds/spirit with His Superior Spirit. Their spirit is subordinate to His sovereign one. Any good they did, was God doing it through them. They would never take any shade, or degree of credit for doing the will of God, and neither should we. Since the Apostolic era of the Church’s history has been over for around 2000 years, and there are no more Apostles, we should not be saying, “I was lead by the Spirit” unless we know that we truly were.

How do you know? In general, if you are a Christian, you are to be lead by the Spirit. That doesn’t mean what many Charismatics claim it does. Like I just explained. What does it look like when a Christian is lead by the Spirit? He is obedient to God. It is that simple. It is when you are walking in obedience to God, and not in the rebellious, unredeemed flesh. It also means we will recognize the difference between God’s truth, and the lies of the enemy. We won’t be blind, in the dark, stumbling about in sin. That is being lead by the Spirit. We definitely won’t be making the claims that the Charismatics are making, because we know that the Apostolic gifts have been over for a very long time.

As Christians we also know what the fruit of the Spirit is. This can be explained as the results of the Holy Spirit sovereignly reigning in your life, and you living out that eternal reality in this temporary world, that is fading away, being used up. To remind you, this is what it looks like, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 LSB Want to know if you are being lead by the Spirit? Here is another way you can know, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,” Romans 8:16 LSB. So, be lead by the Spirit, but understand it Biblically for what it is. Don’t make the same obvious errors that the Charismatics are making. They are demonstrably false because we still get sick, and die, and the children’s cancer ward is still full at Shriner’s. Get a grip on reality, what is true, and toss out the lies you’ve been told.

Uncategorized

Double Predestination is the Logical Conclusion of the Election of God.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

I’m not listing every section of scripture from the Bible where God chooses, a person, people, or place. I’m simply citing some of those sections to demonstrate an overwhelming testimony to God’s sovereign will in eternity, as well as our temporal world of space-time. People get hung up on predestination, and the logical conclusion of double predestination. I think it is because they think too highly of themselves, and their worth, while thinking too lowly of God, and His. People want to judge God for electing some to eternal life, while others are logically destined to be reprobate, and to suffer the eternal dying of death. This notion eats at them due to pride, self-righteousness, and man-centered thinking. They believe everyone deserves a choice, because they believe that we are made for our own purposes. They may not say it, but that is the prideful preconception that founds that type of entitlement. So, they say, “I won’t worship a God like that!” They can try to judge God. They can live like He isn’t Who He is. They can rebel, but in the end… God will be their judge. He will use them for His glory by demonstrating His justice by them. They will get what they have earned. I rather have mercy than justice. Let’s recognize that we are God’s creatures, made for His glory. He gets to decide how He will use us. He gets to decide how He will rescue some of us. If it doesn’t seem fair to you, it is because you think you are your own. God is good. What He chooses to do in eternity, and in temporal existence is completely up to Him. Since He has given us an existence in space-time, and a mind/spirit with a volition, we exercise it, but we never upset His eternal plan. Our choices are subordinate, and known to God before we were ever created.

Genesis 12:1-9
​1 And Yahweh said to Abram,
“Go forth from your land,
And from your kin
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
4 So Abram went forth as Yahweh had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 So Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go forth to the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. 6 And Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land. 7 Then Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “To your seed I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to Yahweh who had appeared to him. 8 Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to Yahweh and called upon the name of Yahweh. 9 And Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.

Genesis 17:1-14
​1 Now it happened that when Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him,
“I am God Almighty;
Walk before Me and be blameless,
2 so that I may confirm My covenant between Me and you,
And that I may multiply you exceedingly.”
3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God spoke with him, saying,
4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you,
And you will be the father of a multitude of nations.
5 And no longer shall your name be called Abram,
But your name shall be Abraham;
For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
6 And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will go forth from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your seed after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your seed after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
9 God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10 This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, one who is born in the house or one who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your seed. 13 A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”

Deuteronomy 7:6-8
6 For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God; Yahweh your God has chosen you to be a people for His own treasured possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
7 “Yahweh did not set His affection on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but because Yahweh loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your fathers, Yahweh brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 14:2
2 For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Psalms 33:12
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

Psalms 135:4
4 For Yah has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His treasured possession.

Isaiah 43:10-13
10 “You are My witnesses,” declares Yahweh,
“And My servant whom I have chosen,
So that you may know and believe Me
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no god formed,
And there will be none after Me.
11 I, even I, am Yahweh,
And there is no savior besides Me.
12 It is I who have declared and saved and caused it to be heard,
And there was no strange god among you;
So you are My witnesses,” declares Yahweh,
“And I am God.
13 Even from eternity I am He,
And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;
I act and who can reverse it?”

Isaiah 44:1-5
​1 “But now hear, O Jacob, My servant,
And Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 Thus says Yahweh who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you,
‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,
And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour out water on the thirsty ground
And streams on the dry land;
I will pour out My Spirit on your seed
And My blessing on your offspring;
4 And they will spring up among the grass
Like poplars by streams of water.’
5 This one will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s’;
And this one will call on the name of Jacob;
And this one will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to Yahweh,’
And will name Israel’s name with honor.

Jeremiah 1:5
5 “Before I formed you in the innermost parts I knew you,
And before you came out from the womb I set you apart;
I have given you as a prophet to the nations.”

John 15:16
16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would abide, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

Galatians 3:15-29
15 Brothers, I speak in human terms: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And TO YOUR SEED,” that is, Christ. 17 And what I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to abolish the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through promise.
19 Why the Law then? It was added because of trespasses, having been ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one person only, whereas God is one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed be by law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, being shut up for the coming faith to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor unto Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.

Romans 2:28-29
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.

Matthew 3:9
9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

Jude 1:3-4
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you exhorting that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:6-10
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,”
8 and,
“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE.”
They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this stumbling they were also appointed.
9 But you are A CHOSEN FAMILY, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Romans 9:12-26
12 it was said to her, “THE OLDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” 13 Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”
14 What shall we say then? Is there any unrighteousness with God? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” 16 So then it does not depend on the one who wills or the one who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND IN ORDER THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” 18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? WILL THE THING MOLDED SAY TO THE MOLDER, “WHY DID YOU MAKE ME LIKE THIS”? 21 Or does not the potter have authority over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 And what if God, wanting to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath having been prepared for destruction, 23 and in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles? 25 As He says also in Hosea,
“I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’
AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.’”
26 “AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’
THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.”

Revelation 13:8
8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

Revelation 19:11-16
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sits on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; having a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself, 13 and being clothed with a garment dipped in blood, His name is also called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 15 And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may STRIKE DOWN THE NATIONS, and He will RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; and HE TREADS THE WINE PRESS OF THE WRATH OF THE RAGE OF GOD, the Almighty. 16 And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

cultural · Drugs

The values of a culture determine the value of that culture.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

We can see this when we compare some cultures. For instance, let’s compare Christian culture, thug culture, Islamic culture, and secular culture. Of course, Christianity gave us the Renaissance, and all of the modern human flourishing we’ve ever experienced. It gave us the truths that founded our civilization, and made us greater than any other civilization that has been, all to extol the glory of God. You can argue against that, but if you do, it is because you live in a fantasy land, and have no firm foundation, or ability to perceive, and recognize truth, as you are lost, and dead in your sins.

Thug culture’s values are drug abuse, selling drugs, sexual immorality, assaults, murders, rapes, and on, and on. Pretty much the opposite of godly living. They don’t seek the glory of the one true God, nor His will, or holiness. No, they seek their own glory, and satisfaction of all their fleshly lusts.

Islamic culture seeks the death of everyone who will not convert to Islam. For those who do convert, it is a totalitarian system of, “do, and do not.” There is no mercy, or grace from Allah. It is a religion of hate, and revenge. All you need to do to see this, is objectively look around the world at the islamic nations. I don’t care to argue with you. Go back to your desert god whose prophet was a child molester, rapist, and murderer. Jesus is none of those things.

Not to be left out is secularism, which may be more pernicious than all the others. Since secularism denies deity entirely, they have no solid basis for moral good, or evil. Everything is permissible to them, except anyone who tells them they are wrong. They will promote the murder of babies in the womb, out of the womb, the murder of someone who is very ill, the murder of someone with situational depression, the murder of the elderly, and on, and on. They hate humanity, and love human suffering, and death, because they are of the father satan. They value every sin known to mankind. Every perversion is a virtue to them. Again, you can argue, but you are wrong. You’ve been given over to a debased mind, and your reasoning is debased, and foolishness.

If you want to have a valuable culture again, change your culture, by repenting of your sins, and trusting in Christ’s atoning work on the cross to justify you to God. There is no other way! Salvation is found solely in Jesus Christ! If you read His word, and believe it, your mind will become conformed to it. Your thinking in your spirit, will begin to walk it, and live it out! Your values will become conformed to what God says is valuable. This is the way, not all the pragmatic, worldly posturing, and virtue signaling! Repent, and believe!!!

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Mass Shootings. Who is to Blame?

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It seems like the world is employing the bogeyman of, “mental health issues” to all the mass shootings. We know where this leads. It leads to a removal of responsibility for the crime from the shooter, and places it on society, their families, or some other external source. Modern psychology is an offshoot of Puritan Christians practice of, “soul care.” Which in Greek the word soul is, “ψυχή” or transliterated as , “psuchē” or psyche for those of you who don’t know what an upsilon is. They practiced Biblical counseling, also known as nouthetic counseling. The practice involved listening to the problems, determining which sin, or sins, the person was in, and assigning them study from the Bible so they can read for themselves the word of God that would correct them. They would then be faced with a choice, admit their sin, repent, and try to do what they ought, or deny their sins, and refuse to repent, while making their troubles worse.

That is a very, “nut-shelled” explanation. This process usually never went longer than 12 weeks. If it had, the person wasn’t being genuine. Later men like Freud, and Jung came along, and secularized the practice. They removed every effective aspect of the practice, including the acknowledgment of personal sin, and guilt, repentance, and making amends. They shifted the blame to something external from the person. They believed the problem wasn’t sin, because they didn’t believe in such a thing. They thought the problem was the shame, and guilt a person felt. They sought to remove the impact of shame, and guilt. By the way, when the Holy Spirit convicts you of some sin, you should feel godly sorrow over it. This is why we have so many people who go to therapy for years, and always come up with some new disorder to continue going for.

The real problem is our sin. We raise children without the fear of God. We raise them in ignorance of His word. We raise them understanding a set of laws, but no idea of what grace is. We raise them to hate what is called good, and to have super egos. We raise them without teaching that each human life has value, and dignity, being made in the image of God. We raise them thinking that they have all the power in the world, and that the world is theirs. We raise them thinking they are the pinnacle of some intellect-free evolutionary force. Of course they see themselves as superior. Of course they see all of creation as being for them. The creation is for God’s glory. Their lives are not for them, but for God’s glory. You are not your own, but you belong to God, as His creature. He created you for His purpose! It isn’t our right to murder other people. They are God’s, just like you are God’s.

So here we are. The bogeyman of psychological problems. Seems legitimate. Until you look a bit deeper. Who will they blame? Society. Who needs to change? Society. Who is society? Collectively, we are. So it isn’t the shooter’s sin. It is ours. That kind of thinking leads to sweeping gun legislation, and a complete destruction of the country, and the left knows it. Granted, there are a lot of useful idiots out there who emote their way through these issues, rather than employing critical thinking. They are the ones who will be manipulated because of their insatiable need to be virtuous, not realizing they are doing the devil’s work.

What is the answer? Go back! Repent! We need to go back to God. We need to go back to revering Him, His Word, and Christ. We need to teach our children the gospel, and the entire Bible. We need to pray for our nation, and leaders. Pray that God will convert the slaves of satan in our government. Pray that if they are not to be converted, that God will remove them from power. Before any of this, get down on your knees, confess your sins, and ask God to forgive you. Be as good a parent as you know how to be. We’ll never be completely right here, and now. That will have to wait for glory, but we can take care of the mess in front of us, if God wills it.

cultural

The Original Snow White Fairy Tale.

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The dwarfs find Snow White asleep

In the Grimm’s Snow White fairy tale, she is taken out to the forest at 7 years old. The huntsman has mercy on her, and lets her go. He kills a wild pig, and brings it’s heart back as proof to the queen/stepmother/witch. She has it salted, and cooked, and eats it, believing it to be the heart of Snow White… That’s one sick woman. Anyhow, after three attempts on her life, she finally gets her with the poison apple. Some years have passed. The prince doesn’t awaken her with a kiss.

He sees her, asks the dwarfs for her because he can’t go on without seeing her beauty everyday. Keep in mind, she is supposed to be dead, and perfectly preserved in a glass coffin at this point. He has his men carry the coffin back to his kingdom. On the way they stumble, and the poison bit of apple is dislodged from her throat, and she wakes up wondering where she is, and what is happening. The prince explains, proclaims his love, and they get married. They invite the stepmother/queen/witch to the wedding. They confront her. They have a pair of iron shoes heated in a fire until they are glowing hot, put them on her, and make her dance at their wedding until she drops down dead. Happy ending kids!!! Instead of this, Disney made the classic that was watered down. Now they want to make one that is a feminazi dream, that includes all types of perversion. They keep digging their hole deeper. Who still watches their movies?

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Is God the Author of Moral Evil?

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I recently kicked a guy out of the group for writing that James White, and Calvinists, believe that God is the author of moral evil. (In a nutshell.) He was being very simple minded, and ignorant, as well as insulting. He was acting as if only Calvinists have been concerned with theodicy. The concept of moral evil, and the theological study of it is called, “Theodicy.” It isn’t just a Calvinist thing. People of all monotheistic religions have had to wrestle with this idea. You, as a Christian have probably briefly thought about it, but decided it was above your pay-grade, and simply trusted in the goodness of God. This is not a fault, so to speak. It is the default position until you are ready to deal with this idea, as one who is mature in the Faith.

Let me set the argument up. God is sovereign. He is omniscient. He is omnipotent. We accept these truths. If those things are true about God, and babies are still molested, and killed, then God must be responsible because, He knew it was going to happen, He has the power to stop it, and in His sovereignty did not intervene. At this point, most people shut down. We have to stare into the difficult things if we are to boldly share our faith, because this topic will come up when you argue with an atheist. It is the whole, “If God is good, why all the human suffering?” argument.

If you don’t know the terms; Sovereign- God is ruler of all He has created. Omniscient- God knows all that can be known, and He knows it perfectly, as He is the source of all knowledge. Omnipotence- God is all powerful. He alone upholds the creation by the power of His Word. If He willed it, you would simply cease existing.

Also, consider that moral evil, and human suffering are not the same. Human suffering isn’t necessarily directly caused by individual sin. For instance, you are told you have cancer, and are going to die a painful death. You may not have committed a sin that lead directly to this, but you are a sinner, and as a sinner are destined to die. The Bible is clear that suffering is God’s providence for our sanctification. Moral evil is the breaking of God’s laws, and violation of His character, by individual’s committing cosmic treason. They are His creatures, yet He has provided in His will for them to commit treason against Him as their Sovereign Lord.

Now, considering those ideas, look at the argument again. If God is all of those things, how can moral evil occur? Sure, we can understand why human suffering happens. We are all under the curse of God, due to the original sin of Adam. Well would you look at that? How was Adam able to sin? It is true that Adam, and Eve were the only two people who were created by God with a volition that was not enslaved to sin. Everyone after them, except for the second Adam, Jesus Christ, has been born as a slave to sin. If you answer this question, you’ll be able to answer all the other questions about moral evil, and why God has provided for it in His eternal, sovereign plan, that is also informed by all of His other attributes.

God owns everything He has created, even you, even an infant. How many people did God kill in the flood? Did He kill little children in the flood? Was it a death of suffering? Was it morally evil for God to kill babies in the flood? The way you answer these questions is telling. If you say that God was not morally evil for the killing of the infants, and their suffering death, you have to explain how that is. Most people say that it is because the world was so wicked, they deserved it, “but what about the innocent babies people will cry?”

By now, you should be able to see where I’m going with this. Since before God created anything, or anyone, He was always going to create just as He did. Remember, you can’t understand eternity, and you can’t understand God’s ways. You are just a small little speck of cosmic dust, floating around on courses you did not set for yourself. You may be self-deceived, and think you are setting your course, and are the master of your own destiny, and temporally you are, but eternally you are not. Still crying that I won’t consider the two categories in the flawed way you want me to? I don’t care. You are wrong. So now to it. God owns you. He owns the babies. He owns the criminals. He owns the murderers. He owns Satan. Satan is His creature. None of His creatures are omniscient, omnipotent, or sovereign! God’s plan will run its course, exactly as He intends. You are not yours. You are not for your own purposes. You are for God’s intended purposes. No matter how bad you suffer, and no matter at whose hands it happens, you cannot say that God has wronged you, or done evil to you. You are born in sin, in sin your mother conceived you. You are by nature a child of Adam, and must die! You can die, and rise in Christ, or you can die, and suffer the second death, and Hell. Do you believe that God is truly good, and has a purpose for every suffering moment of His creation, or do you believe that He is not in control of that suffering, and has no purpose for it in His creation? I for one, won’t question the validity of God’s sovereign volition in the causes of human suffering, and moral evil. God uses Satan for His own purposes, just like He uses our sins, for His own ends as well. Yes, you read that right! Stop trying to make yourself God’s judge in the matters of human sin, volition, and suffering! Does this make God the author of sin? Only if you haven’t understood a thing I just wrote, proving you are simple minded, and immature. You cannot judge the law giver, and Judge! We are subject to His laws. He is good, no matter what we think of how He has decided to run His creation.

After reading the long answer, here is the short answer. No, God is not the author of moral evil. Is it possible for us to understand how that is in light of what you just read? No, not fully, but yes, in part.