Tag: Jesus

Uncategorized

Given Over To Strong Delusion?

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

I think the following citations from God’s word can help us understand what is going on in the world today, yesterday, and tomorrow. There are times when God judiciously gives people over to delusion. This compounds their guilt. In 2 Thessalonians 2:11 the Greek words used are ἐνέργειαν πλάνης energeian planēs. Energeian is a noun, that is accusative, feminine, and singular. It usually means working, effectual working, power, and energy. Planēs is a noun, that is genitive, feminine, and singular. It usually means error, delusion, or deception. According to Webster’s Dictionary online, in English the word, delusional means;

“a
: something that is falsely or delusively believed or propagated
under the delusion that they will finish on schedule
delusions of grandeur
b
psychology : a persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary
the delusion that someone was out to hurt him
also : the abnormal state marked by such beliefs”

Think along the lines of a spirit that makes them delusional. Keep in mind that spirit/mind are alike. Your spirit is how you as an individual understands things, and reasons. God the Father is spirit, and must be worshipped in spirit, and truth. The task of understanding this is impossible for us to correctly apprehend in scope, and scale. We can, however, understand it in a way that is sufficient for God’s requirements in the faith. Imagine an unimaginably vast intellect that does not have a physical body. This description falls far short of God the Father. Angels are spiritual beings. Lying ones are demonic. Satan is the father of lies. It makes sense that the demons would also be liars/deceivers. So, the English translation is quite accurate. God, Himself is not lying, nor is He deceiving them. Rather, He sends an influence that causes them to believe what is not true. It is a judicial punishment. Since people behave in accord with what they believe, you will see them acting the way they are acting now, and have acted, and will continue to act.

Have you asked yourself how a person given over to trans ideology can believe what they say believe in light of the objective truth of their sex? This is how. It is the same in the first chapter of Romans. God punishes sin, by giving them over to more sin. Imagine continuing in sin, and then greater sin, and then dying, and going to hell. Their guilt before God has been increased. It would have been more merciful for them to have died sooner, but instead, they live their life, sinning more. Some people will repent. These people are of the eternally elect. This isn’t just a New Testament occurrence. I included a couple references from the Old Testament as well.

And for this reason God sends upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 2 Thessalonians 2:11 (LSB)

24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. Romans 1:24 (LSB)

9 He said, “Go, and tell this people:
‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
Keep on seeing, but do not know.’
10 Render the hearts of this people insensitive,
Their ears dull,
And their eyes dim,
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their hearts,
And return and be healed.” Isaiah 6:9-10 (LSB)

12 And Yahweh hardened Pharaoh’s heart with strength, and he did not listen to them, just as Yahweh had spoken to Moses. Exodus 9:12 (LSB)

39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, LEST THEY SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND RETURN AND I HEAL THEM.” John 12:39-40 (LSB)

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 And Jesus answered and said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;
15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
LEST THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’
16 But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17 For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:10-17 (LSB)

Don’t give up on trying to reach the lost, and deluded. Some of them are of the eternally elect. They may not have reached the point in their lives yet where they will have their eyes opened by God, and respond with God granted repentance, and faith, to the good news of Jesus’ atoning suffering on the cross.

Not to make you hopeless, I want to remind you that God’s word also says, “And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (LSB)” This was in reference to “9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (LSB)” You can see that this list includes some of the same sins that people are given over to. So, keep preaching the gospel, praying, and helping your lost friends, and family, to understand the truth. You never know. One day they might get it. It is only too late once the person has died. While they are alive, keep trying. Keep telling them the truth in love. Keep coming to God in prayer for them. Keep telling them that they need to repent of their sins, and trust solely in the work of Jesus.

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.

Uncategorized

Calvin on Idolatry: Citations from, “The Institutes of the Christian Religion.”

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

References to Idolatry and Idols in Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion

John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion remains one of the most influential works in Protestant theology. Across its four books, Calvin addresses the knowledge of God, salvation in Christ, the life of faith, and the nature of the Church.

Among these themes, Calvin frequently warns against idolatry — the worship of created things instead of the Creator. His discussions span biblical prohibitions, theological arguments, and critiques of both ancient paganism and medieval church practices.

The following is a curated reference guide highlighting where Calvin speaks about idolatry, idols, and related practices in the Institutes. Each citation is organized by Book, Chapter, and Section, and includes a brief quotation for context.

This guide is designed for students, pastors, researchers, or anyone interested in tracing Calvin’s thoughts on one of the central theological concerns of the Reformation.

Table of Contents

Book 1: Of the Knowledge of God the Creator

Chapter 10: In Scripture, the True God Opposed, Exclusively, to All the Gods of the Heathen

“Tertullian also proves the same thing from the common forms of speech. In his book, De Idolatria.” (Mentions “idolatry” in the title of Tertullian’s work.)

“For this reason, Habakkuk (2:20), after condemning all idols, orders men to seek God in his temple, that the faithful may acknowledge none but Him, who has manifested himself in his word.” (Mentions “idols”.)

Chapter 11: Impiety of Attributing a Visible Form to God—The Setting Up of Idols a Defection from the True God

Section 1: “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments” (Exod. 20:4-6). (Implicit reference to idols/images.)

Section 8: “There was a kind of renewal of the world at the deluge, but before many years elapse, men are forging gods at will. … The human mind, stuffed as it is with presumptuous rashness, dares to imagine a god suited to its own capacity; as it labours under dullness, nay, is sunk in the grossest ignorance, it substitutes vanity and an empty phantom in the place of God.” (Mentions “idolatry”, “idols”.)

“To these evils another is added. The god whom man has thus conceived inwardly he attempts to embody outwardly. The mind, in this way, conceives the idol, and the hand gives it birth. That idolatry has its origin in the idea which men have, that God is not present with them unless his presence is carnally exhibited…” (Mentions “idol”, “idolatry”.)

Section 9: “And because God wills not to be worshipped superstitiously whatever is bestowed upon idols is so much robbed from him. Let those attend to this who set about hunting for miserable pretexts in defence of the execrable idolatry…” (Mentions “idols”, “idolatry”.)

“It hence appears that men do not fall away to the worship of images until they have imbibed some idea of a grosser description… It makes no difference whether they worship the idol simply, or God in the idol; it is always idolatry when divine honours are paid to an idol, be the colour what it may.” (Mentions “idol”, “idolatry”.)

Section 10: “…they fight for them to blood and slaughter, as for their altars and hearths, showing more willingness to part with the one God than with their idols… I am only referring to what those profess who are most desirous to clear themselves of idolatry.” (Mentions “idols”, “idolatry”.)

Section 11: “…they think themselves blameless if they are only the servants, and not the worshippers, of idols; as if it were not a lighter matter to worship than to serve… Let them show how the things differ if they would be thought different from ancient idolaters.” (Mentions “idols”, “idolaters”.)

Chapter 12: God Distinguished from Idols, That He May Be the Exclusive Object of Worship

Section 1: “But God, in vindicating his own right, first proclaims that he is a jealous God, and will be a stern avenger if he is confounded with any false god…” (Implicit reference to idolatry through “false god”.)

Section 3: “Let it suffice to remember, that whatever offices of piety are bestowed anywhere else than on God alone, are of the nature of sacrilege. First, superstition attached divine honours to the sun and stars, or to idols…” (Mentions “idols”.)

Book 2: Of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer

Chapter 8: Exposition of the Moral Law

Section 12: “…in enumerating the commandments, he follows this order, Let one God be religiously obeyed, let no idol be worshipped…” (Mentions “idol”.)

Section 15: “…abandoning the living God, and setting up an idol.” (Mentions “idol”.)

Section 17: “The grossest vice here prohibited is external idolatry.” (Mentions “idolatry”.)

Book 3: The Mode of Obtaining the Grace of Christ

Chapter 14: The Beginning of Justification

Section 1: “Mankind, either endued with no knowledge of God, are sunk in idolatry…” (Mentions “idolatry”.)

Section 2 (footnote): “…in the life of infidels and idolaters.” (Mentions “idolaters”.)

Chapter 20: Of Prayer

Section 14: “…they defraud him of his due honour just as much as if they were fabricating to themselves new gods and idols…” (Mentions “idols”.)

Book 4: Of the Holy Catholic Church

Chapter 2: Comparison Between the False Church and the True

Section 7: “…after they forsook the law of the Lord, and degenerated into idolatry and superstition…” (Mentions “idolatry”.)

Section 9: “They have a grosser idolatry…” (Mentions “idolatry”.)

Chapter 7: Of the Beginning and Rise of the Romish Papacy

Section 24: “…so blinded by error and sunk in idolatry…” (Mentions “idolatry”.)

Section 29: “…no more makes them the vicars of Christ, than it makes an idol to become God, when it is placed in the temple of God (2 Thess. 2:4).” (Mentions “idol”.)

Chapter 16: Paedobaptism

Section 6: “…so long as they were plunged in idolatry, were strangers to the covenant (Eph. 2:11).” (Mentions “idolatry”.)

Chapter 17: Of the Lord’s Supper

Section 36: “This adoration is mere idolatry.” (Mentions “idolatry”.)

Source: John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, available at CCEL.org.

Uncategorized

Scripture Citations on God’s Sovereignty, Election, Aseity, and Omniscience.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment


This document compiles key Bible passages from the 1995 New American Standard Bible (NASB), English Standard Version (ESV), and Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) that address God’s sovereignty in election and predestination (of nations and individuals), His use of people for His purposes (including non-believers like Pharaoh), and His attributes of aseity and omniscience.

  1. God’s Sovereignty in Election and Predestination
    God’s sovereignty in election refers to His divine choice of nations (e.g., Israel) and individuals for salvation or specific purposes, rooted in His will, not human merit. Predestination describes His foreordaining of events or people’s destinies.
    Romans 9:10-18 (Election of Individuals and Nations)
    Context: Paul explains God’s sovereign choice in electing Jacob over Esau and Israel as His chosen nation, emphasizing that election depends on God’s purpose, not human works.

ESV (quoted): “And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’ What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.’ So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.” (Romans 9:10-18)
NASB 1995: Similar, uses “loved”/“hated” for Jacob/Esau; “running” instead of “exertion” in v.15.
LSB: Uses “Yahweh” in quotes (e.g., v.15, citing Moses); “slave” for “servant” in some contexts.
Note: This passage links election (Jacob, Israel) with God’s use of Pharaoh (see section 2).

Ephesians 1:4-5 (Predestination of Individuals)
Context: Paul describes believers as chosen by God before creation for salvation.

LSB (quoted): “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” (Ephesians 1:4-5)
NASB 1995/ESV: Nearly identical; ESV uses “predestined” consistently, NASB capitalizes “Him.”
Note: Emphasizes predestination as God’s initiative, not human action.

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (Election of Israel)
Context: God chooses Israel as His covenant people, not due to their merit but His love and promise.

NASB 1995 (quoted): “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers…” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)
ESV: Similar, uses “treasured possession” for “own possession.”
LSB: Uses “Yahweh” for “LORD”; otherwise aligned.
Note: Highlights national election based on God’s covenant, not Israel’s qualities.

Additional Citations

John 15:16 (NASB/ESV/LSB): Jesus says, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (individual election of disciples).
Acts 13:48 (NASB/ESV/LSB): Gentiles believe as “appointed to eternal life,” showing divine appointment.
Romans 8:29-30 (NASB/ESV/LSB): Describes the “golden chain” of predestination, calling, justification, and glorification.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NASB/ESV/LSB): Believers chosen “from the beginning” for salvation.

  1. God’s Use of People for His Purposes (Including Non-Believers)
    God sovereignly uses both believers and non-believers to accomplish His will, as seen in Pharaoh’s hardening or Cyrus’s role in Israel’s restoration.
    Exodus 7:3-4; 9:16 (Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart)
    Context: God hardens Pharaoh’s heart to demonstrate His power and glory through the Exodus.

ESV (quoted): “But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you…” (Exodus 7:3-4); “But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:16)
NASB 1995: Uses “make Pharaoh’s heart stubborn” for “harden”; similar in 9:16.
LSB: Uses “Yahweh” and “make stubborn” in 7:3; identical in 9:16.
Note: Pharaoh, a non-believer, is used to magnify God’s name, showing His control over human will.

Isaiah 45:1-5 (Cyrus as God’s Instrument)
Context: God anoints Cyrus, a pagan king, to deliver Israel, despite Cyrus not knowing Him.

LSB (quoted): “Thus says Yahweh to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have strengthened… ‘I will go before you… that you may know that I am Yahweh, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. For the sake of My servant Jacob and Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name… though you have not known Me.’” (Isaiah 45:1, 4-5)
NASB 1995/ESV: Use “LORD” instead of “Yahweh”; ESV has “grasped” for “strengthened.”
Note: God uses a non-believer for His redemptive plan, showing sovereignty over nations.

Additional Citations

Habakkuk 1:6 (NASB/ESV/LSB): God raises the Chaldeans (Babylonians) to judge Judah, using a pagan nation.
John 19:10-11 (NASB/ESV/LSB): Jesus tells Pilate his authority comes from God, despite Pilate’s unbelief.
Romans 9:17 (NASB/ESV/LSB): Reiterates Exodus 9:16 about Pharaoh’s role.

  1. God’s Aseity and Omniscience
    Aseity: God’s self-existence, independent of creation, needing nothing outside Himself. Omniscience: God’s perfect, complete knowledge of all things, past, present, and future.
    Isaiah 46:9-10 (God’s Omniscience and Sovereignty)
    Context: God declares His unique knowledge and control over history.

NASB 1995 (quoted): “Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure.’” (Isaiah 46:9-10)
ESV: Uses “counsel” for “purpose”; otherwise similar.
LSB: Uses “Yahweh” and “counsel”; aligns closely.
Note: Shows God’s omniscience (knowing the end from the beginning) and aseity (unique, self-existent).

John 1:1-3 (God’s Aseity)
Context: The Word (Christ) is eternal, uncreated, and the source of all creation.

ESV (quoted): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-3)
NASB 1995/LSB: Nearly identical; LSB capitalizes “Him” consistently.
Note: Establishes God’s self-existence, as He preexists and creates all things.

Psalm 139:1-4, 16 (God’s Omniscience)
Context: David marvels at God’s complete knowledge of him, including future events.

LSB (quoted): “O Yahweh, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar… Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Yahweh, You know it all… Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book all were written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” (Psalm 139:1-2, 4, 16)
NASB 1995/ESV: Use “LORD” for “Yahweh”; ESV has “discern” for “understand.”
Note: Highlights God’s omniscience in knowing all actions, thoughts, and preordained days.

Additional Citations

Acts 17:24-25 (NASB/ESV/LSB): God, as Creator, “does not dwell in temples made with hands” and needs nothing (aseity).
Hebrews 4:13 (NASB/ESV/LSB): “All things are open and laid bare” to God, showing omniscience.
1 John 3:20 (NASB/ESV/LSB): God “knows all things,” affirming His complete knowledge.

Uncategorized

God’s Sovereign Election: The Early Church and the Timeless God

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Hey there, folks! Grab your coffee, your Bible, and a comfy chair. We’re diving into a topic that sets my heart on fire: God’s sovereign election. I’m no ivory-tower theologian. I’ve been digging into Scripture and the early church fathers. Let me tell you. The idea that God picked His people before the world was spoken into existence isn’t just some Calvinist flex. It’s rooted deep in the Bible, echoed by the early Christians before Nicaea (A.D. 325), and flows straight from God’s awesome nature as the trans-temporal, omnipresent, spacetime-transcending King. I’m pulling from the 10-volume Ante-Nicene Fathers (ANF) collection, free for all you theology nerds at www.ccel.org, to show how those old-school Christians talked about God’s eternal choice. Big thanks to Reformed champs like Monergism.com, Grace to You, Ligonier.org, DesiringGod.org, The Gospel Coalition, and A Puritan’s Mind for the pointers. Let’s unpack this, crack a few smiles, and marvel at a God who’s bigger than time itself.

God isn’t stuck in our timeline, ticking off days like we do. He’s trans-temporal, existing outside and above time, omnipresent in every moment, and transcending the spacetime we’re locked in. This means His choice of the elect happened in eternity past, before “In the beginning,” because He sees all history at once. His sovereign election had to happen that way—He’s not waiting around to see who picks Him. But here’s the kicker: you and I, stuck in our Monday-to-Friday grind, don’t have to wrap our heads around this eternal act to be saved. It’s true forever in God’s realm, whether we get it or not. More on that later. For now, know that the early Christians weren’t writing Westminster Confession drafts over chariot races. They were battling heresies like Gnosticism, defending the faith, and explaining why Jesus isn’t another pagan deity. Their words aren’t always systematic. When you read them with Ephesians 1:4-5 in mind, “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world… having predestined us,” you see glimmers of a God who’s timelessly sovereign. I’ll define election, walk through the ANF quotes, tie in God’s timelessness, and wrap up with why this matters for us time-bound creatures.

What’s Sovereign Election, and Why Does God’s Timelessness Matter?

Let’s break it down. Sovereign election is God, in His infinite wisdom, love, and power, choosing His people for salvation before time even started. It’s not because we were holy, prayerful, or had a stellar testimony. Nope, it’s His call, His grace, and His plan. Predestination seals the deal. God didn’t just pick His people. He set their eternal destiny, think golden tickets to glory, before He kicked off creation. John Piper at DesiringGod.org calls it “unconditional grace from eternity past.” R.C. Sproul’s crew at Ligonier.org says it’s God’s “eternal decree.” He’s the boss, no debate.

Here’s where it gets wild. God isn’t bound by clocks or calendars. He’s trans-temporal, meaning He exists outside time’s flow, seeing past, present, and future all at once. He’s omnipresent, everywhere and everywhen, and He transcends spacetime, the fabric we’re stuck in. This isn’t just cool theology. It’s why election happens in eternity past. God doesn’t choose based on what we do in time—He’s already planned it from His eternal now, where every moment is present to Him. Picture it like God’s got the whole movie of history playing at once, and He wrote the script before the opening credits. That’s why Ephesians 1:4 says “before the foundation of the world.” His timeless nature demands a sovereign choice that’s not reacting to our temporal choices.

But here’s the comfort for us time-trapped folks: we don’t have to see or understand this eternal act to be saved. God’s eternal choice is true in His realm, where time doesn’t limit Him. In our temporal existence, we experience faith, repentance, and growth step by step. We don’t need to peek behind the eternal curtain to trust Jesus. His timeless decree holds firm, even if we’re just trying to survive Monday. Reformed sites, like Monergism.com, Grace to You, and A Puritan’s Mind, show the early fathers were picking up this notion. Irenaeus, for instance, links predestination to God’s love-driven choice, not a sneak peek at our decisions. Arminians or Orthodox folks might argue the fathers meant foreseen faith. This is just silly. It would violate God’s omniscience. He would be looking forward to learn who would choose Him. When you read these texts, God’s “foreknowledge” looks like Him setting the stage, not watching our audition. Let’s see what the early Church thought.

The Early Church Fathers: Echoes of a Timeless God’s Election

The Ante-Nicene Fathers collection is a theological treasure chest, packed with writings from guys like Clement of Rome, Ignatius, and Tertullian, who were preaching, teaching, and fighting for the faith. You won’t find “predestination” on every page. Greek terms like proorizo (“determine beforehand”) are rare. Words like “foreknown,” “ordained,” “chosen,” and “elect” show up in ways that point to a God who’s above time, choosing His people in His eternal now. I’ve scoured the ANF, with help from Reformed sites, and organized the gems by volume, grouping them into three themes: (1) God’s foreknowledge as His timeless blueprint, (2) Predestination to adoption, glory, and sonship, and (3) The elect picked before time existed.

Volume 1: Clement, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus

Starting with Volume 1, we’ve got the heavy hitters. Clement of Rome, in 1 Clement (Ch. 32:4), says, “We, therefore, who have been called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves… but by that faith through which Almighty God has justified all men from the beginning.” Plain and simple? God’s been calling His people forever. It’s His work, not ours. No gold stars for effort.

Clement keeps it going in Ch. 46:7-8; 49:5-6; 59:2; 64:1: “Let us cleave unto those to whom grace is given from God… By love are all the elect of God made perfect… For He foreknowing all things, He knoweth the thoughts of our hearts… [God] has predestinated us from the beginning unto adoption as sons by Jesus Christ unto Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” A Puritan’s Mind loves this. God’s foreknowledge isn’t Him checking our future box score. It’s His timeless, eternal choice, made outside our calendar, picking His people before the world was a sketch, all by His grace, love, and will.

Ignatius, in his Epistle to the Ephesians (Introduction), calls the church “predestined before the ages… that is, to the eternal and unchangeable glory.” In Magnesians (Ch. 8), he adds, “The elect are those who are united to Him… predestined in the counsel of God.” DesiringGod.org sees this as election before the Big Bang, rooted in God’s trans-temporal counsel, where “before the ages” is His eternal now. I’m like, “That’s my God!”

Justin Martyr, in First Apology (Ch. 43), writes, “We have been formed after His likeness, predestinated according to the prescience of the Father, that we, who had as yet no existence, might come into being.” Grace to You says this is God’s sovereign plan, made outside time’s limits. His prescience isn’t a prediction but a timeless decree.

Irenaeus, taking on Gnostic cultists in Against Heresies (Bk. 4, Ch. 37:5), says, “God hath completed the number which He before determined with Himself, all those who are written, or ordained unto eternal life… Being predestined indeed according to the love of the Father.” In Bk. 3, Ch. 16:6: “Those whom God foreknew He also predestined… God foreknowing all things, prepared fit habitations for both.” Monergism.com agrees with this. God’s eternal headcount of the elect, set by His love before time existed, shows His trans-temporal nature calling the shots.

Volumes 2 to 4: Apologetic All-Stars: Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Origen

In Volume 2, Clement of Alexandria in Stromata (Bk. 5, Ch. 14) says, “The elect of God are saved… those who before the foundation of the world are known intimately by God unto faith; that is, are appointed by Him to faith.” In Instructor (Bk. 1, Ch. 7), he adds, “The Lord… predestined us to adoption as children.” Monergism.com notes this is God handpicking folks for faith in His eternal now, before the universe got its building permit.

Tertullian, in Against Marcion (Bk. 5, Ch. 6), declares, “Predestined by God before the world was… to be conformed to the image of His Son.” Ligonier.org loves how this ties God’s timeless plan to shaping us like Jesus, outside the bounds of spacetime.

Origen, a bit of a wild card, says in De Principiis (Bk. 1, Ch. 6), “The elect are those foreordained by God… from the beginning.” In commentaries, he adds, “Chosen before the world.” The Gospel Coalition points out this reflects a God who transcends time, choosing His elect in eternity. Origen’s theology can get wonky, but this part works with God’s timeless sovereignty.

Volumes 5 to 10: The Later Crew: Hippolytus, Novatian, Methodius, and Lactantius

In Volume 5, Hippolytus in Refutation of All Heresies (Bk. 1, Preface) says, “The elect are called according to His purpose… predestined unto glory.” Novatian, in Treatise on the Trinity (Ch. 1), adds, “God… foreknowing and predestining the faithful.”

Methodius, in Banquet of the Ten Virgins (Disc. 8), writes, “Predestined to be conformed to the image… from the foundation.” Lactantius, in Divine Institutions (Bk. 7, Ch. 4), says, “God has foreordained the elect to eternal life.” These all point to a God whose eternal, trans-temporal will sets the elect’s destiny before time began.

Volumes 8 to 10 are like bonus tracks. They include apocryphal stuff and indices that don’t add much new but echo God’s timeless choice.

Why This Matters for Us Time-Bound Folks

So, what’s the takeaway? These early Christians, writing 1,800 years ago, show that God’s sovereign election isn’t a Reformation invention. It’s a golden thread through Christian history, woven by a God who’s trans-temporal, omnipresent, and above spacetime. He chose His people, set their course for glory, and locked it in before the stars lit up, all because His eternal perspective sees every moment at once. The Gospel Coalition says this aligns with Reformed truth. I’ll be fair. Some Arminians or Orthodox folks see more room for free will or foreseen faith in these texts. When I read Clement, Irenaeus, and their contemporaries, I hear a God whose timeless sovereignty rules, especially when they’re shutting down heretics trying to steal His glory.

Here’s the beauty for us time-bound creatures. We don’t have to grasp God’s eternal, trans-temporal decree to be saved. His choice in eternity past is true in His realm, where time doesn’t bind Him. In our temporal lives, we experience faith, repentance, and growth one day at a time. We don’t need to see the eternal blueprint to trust Jesus. It’s like trusting the architect while living in the house. Life’s messy: bills, kids, and that neighbor who mows at 7 a.m. Knowing God chose us before time began, in His eternal now? That’s a spiritual hug from the Creator. It humbles me, fuels my gratitude, and gives me confidence that He’s got this. Check out the ANF at ccel.org yourself. Dive into the old-school wisdom. What stirs your soul? How does God’s timeless grace shape your walk? Drop a comment below. Let’s chew on this together!

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.

Eastern Orthodoxy · heresy · roman catholicism

Mariology From the Bible, Not Tradition.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Here is a list of distinct passages where Mary the mother of Jesus is mentioned, removing the near-duplicates (like where the same story is retold across Gospels, or where multiple verses in sequence are really one scene).

Here’s the condensed list of unique references:

Matthew

  • Matthew 1:16 – Genealogy: “…Mary, of whom was born Jesus…” What is notable here is that v. 16 follows a genealogy leading up the Jesus. We see that repeatedly we are told that this man was the father of this man, except here in v. 16. This v. breaks with the list by telling us that Joseph was the husband of Mary, not that he was the father of Jesus.
  • Matthew 1:18, 20 – Mary with child by the Holy Spirit. This v. tells us that Joseph was not the human father of Jesus in the natural fashion. It also tells us that Jesus was a product of the Holy Spirit.
  • Matthew 2:11 – The Magi visit Mary and the child. In this v. you’ll note that the magi did not fall and worship Mary, but rather Jesus. “…they fell to the ground and worshiped Him…”
  • Matthew 12:46–50 – Jesus’ mother and brothers come while He is teaching. This section of scripture isn’t about Mary. It is about Jesus. This is true of most of the vs. that mention Mary. Note here that his actual mother, and actual brothers are there. Mary did have children with Joseph after the birth of Jesus. Some will argue this point, but they have to do so by ripping this section from it’s context as well as ignoring Matthew 1:25, Mark 6:3, 13:55.
  • Matthew 1:25 (LSB Strong’s) “…but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus…”
  • Mark 6:3 (LSB Strong’s) “…Is this man not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they were taking offense at Him…”
  • Matthew 13:55 – People identify Jesus as “the son of Mary.” Matthew 13:55 (LSB Strong’s) “…Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?…”

Mark

  • Mark 3:31–35 – Jesus’ mother and brothers seek Him (parallel to Matthew 12).
  • Mark 6:3 – Townspeople call Him “the son of Mary.”

Luke

  • Luke 1:27–38 – Annunciation to Mary (Gabriel tells her she will bear Jesus). There is nothing here elevating Mary. This declaration of what God is going to do glorifies God, not Mary.
  • Luke 1:39–56 – Mary visits Elizabeth; “Magnificat.” Mary is not the focus of this section of scripture. Mary says so, and so does Elizabeth. They are giving the glory to God. This is about Jesus. Mary continuously points to God here, not herself.
  • Luke 2:5–7, 16–19 – Birth of Jesus; Mary treasures events in her heart.
  • Luke 2:34–35 – Simeon’s prophecy to Mary. Again, Simeon is pointing us towards Jesus, not Mary.
  • Luke 2:41–51 – Jesus at the temple at age 12; Mary questions Him. This section is about Jesus’ growth in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

John

  • John 2:1–12 – Wedding at Cana; Mary prompts Jesus’ first miracle. This section is not about Mary, but rather Jesus. We can see Him providing wine for a wedding feast. Mary didn’t do it. She is not a miracle worker.
  • John 6:42 – People say, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose mother and father we know?” In this v. we see that the people knew Joseph, and Mary. They knew them as regular people. They did not revere Mary, nor look upon her as a miracle worker, healer, or sinless, perfect, virgin.
  • John 19:25–27 – Mary at the cross; Jesus entrusts her to the beloved disciple.

Acts

  • Acts 1:14 – Mary with the disciples in prayer after the ascension. Again we see Mary in with the group, not as a co-redemptrix, or sinless perpetual virgin. She needs a savior like everyone else.

Galatians

  • Galatians 4:4 – Jesus born of a woman (a general reference to Mary).

As you can see, there are no references in the Word of God to Mary being a co-redemptrix. There are no references to her being a perpetual virgin, quite the opposite. There are no prescriptive sections telling us to pray to Mary, or that she would intervene for us. The Bible does say in 1 Timothy 2:5-6,(LSB Strong’s)
“…For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the witness for this proper time…” Mary was not sinless. Psalm 51, 85, and Romans 5 refute that notion. No person born of a human mother, and father, after the fall is born righteous. Jesus was born righteous because His body was formed in the womb of Mary, a sinner, by the 3rd Person of the Trinity, God the Holy Spirit. This is what made Jesus sinless. Not Mary. She was merely the vessel of the Christ. Jesus is fully God, and fully man, sans the inherited sinful nature. See Romans 5.

The Word of God makes little of Mary. It is the traditions of men that maker her into more than she was. The focus of our faith is Jesus, not Mary. She can do nothing for you. Only Jesus saves.

Christian Nationalism

They Hate Christianity

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Daniel Walters claims to be an ethical journalist. After reading his article titled, “For and by Christians: How Idaho’s influential Christian Nationalist group wants to reshape the state” all I can do is disagree. I think he is another leftist, yellow journalist hack. The article is full of biased language aimed at painting anyone who wants to see the nation return to it’s Christian heritage as, “Christian nationalists” as if that is somehow a bad thing, a disparaging label. The left loves to call anyone who would like to see America be a nation comprised of mostly Christians as racist, clan members, NAZI, and bigots. They don’t understand that many of us embrace the label. We have varying ideas of how to get to the goal of a more Christian USA, but as Christians, shouldn’t we all want to see that?

The article called this controversial, “After all, his organization has swiftly become the largest conservative policy organization in the state, having a hand in successfully pushing some of Idaho’s most controversial bills in recent years, including laws restricting access to abortion, puberty blockers and controversial library books.” If you are for abortion, putting porn in grade schools, and transing kids, you are not Christian.

Another interesting section of yellow journalism is when the author penned this, “That’s where the policy center announced it was opening up another front: a law firm that will not only defend Christians for free, but also sue to enforce the laws that Conzatti wrote. The legal center is launching this summer.” A law doesn’t get passed in a vacuum. It must be voted in. If the people of Idaho vote a bill into law, and it doesn’t get enforced, the obvious recourse is to use legal action against those refusing to obey the law. If you don’t want the law to pass call your representatives.

The article paints the idea of having a Christian confession as a prerequisite for office as a negative thing, but until 1961 there were many states that still required the person to be a Christian. It wasn’t that long ago, and the country was better off. A nation comprised mostly of Christians would be a superior one, due to the fact that it would be comprised of people whose minds have been ordered by God’s word, and spirit. Only a non-Christian would oppose this. Anyone here pretending to be Christian, while opposing this, is actually worshiping a different god, and has the religion ultimately of satanism.

Our original laws were not made up by our founders in a vacuum. They were pulled from God’s word. The men who formed our government recognized God’s authority, and just judgment in determining good, and evil. Murder is illegal because God said, “Thou shalt not kill.” The same is true of theft, and many other crimes. Adultery used to be illegal. Homosexuality used to be illegal. All the antichrists have ruined this nation, not made it better. It wasn’t progress, it was abominable rebellion against our Creator.

Walters makes it sound like a bad thing to repeal the 19th amendment. Repealing the 19th amendment would be a good thing. Women are under their husbands headship. That is basic Christian doctrine going back to the beginning. Only a liar, and a revisionist would say otherwise. In a Christian home, the wife should be of the same faith, and opinion as her husband. She should vote the same way. What we see is more rebellion. God’s word views it as a curse to have women, and youths, as your nations leaders.

I’m not going to waste my time writing a step by step refutation of the entire article, and I rather you don’t give the author anymore clicks. He is obviously lost, and hostile to God. So are the people who hate the idea of God being our God, and the nation being Christian. At the end of the day there are more than a few ideas of what Christian nationalism is. I don’t know them all. I don’t care. I do care that it is being used as a boogey man like being called a racist. It just doesn’t matter to me. I will own the label, because the enemy is a liar. My specific brand of Christian nationalism is simple. I would that the nation were comprised mostly of true Christians, and that her laws reflected the convictions of her people, and their God. I hope that you agree.

As always, agree with God that your sins are ugly, and evil. We have merited death, and hell. God has come in the person of Jesus, lived a perfect sinless life, laid down His life, suffered the wrath of God on the cross, paid for our sins, justifies us to God, and grants us eternal life in Him. Repent, and trust Jesus.

abortion · cultural · marriage

Christian Procreation

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Fruitful Obedience: Why Christian Couples Should Welcome as Many Children as God Permits

I want to talk plainly today about a conviction that’s rooted in Scripture, and the early Church. It’s this: Christian couples should joyfully embrace as many children as God permits, not out of legalism, but as faithful gratitude for His design and gifts.

Why Children Are Blessings (Not Burdens)

Go back to Genesis 1:28, God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” That wasn’t a cultural suggestion—it came straight from the Maker of heaven and earth. Children aren’t a burden. They are blessings, wrapped in promise.

And again, Psalm 127:3–5: “Children are a heritage from the Lord… blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” David saw children as spiritual arrows—heirs of the faith, contributors to God’s mission. That’s how we ought to view them.

Jesus said in Matthew 6 not to worry over daily needs. Our calling to obey, trust, and walk by faith comes first. Stewardship is biblical—but faith in God’s provision must shape our decisions.

What the Early Church Told Us

The early Christians didn’t think twice about rejecting contraception, abortion, and the like. They believed marriage existed to produce life.

  • Athenagoras, writing around 177 AD, bluntly rejected birth control methods and argued Christians “marry only to produce children.”
  • The Didache (c. 1st/2nd century) commands: “You shall not kill the child by abortion, nor kill that which is born.” It underlines sanctity, conviction, and openness to life.
  • Clement of Alexandria warns against marrying merely for pleasure, apart from procreation.

These voices remind us that early Church letters saw procreation as inseparable from Christian marriage—not optional, not incidental, and not merely biological.

Augustine: Children, Marriage, and the Gospel

Augustine (354–430 AD) is crystal clear: in De Bono Coniugali, he holds up three goods of marriage—offspring, fidelity, and sacrament. Yet “offspring” is first among equals. Marriage without openness to life, he argued, is a distortion.

He wrote in On Marriage and Concupiscence: “Intercourse even with a lawful wife is unlawful… where the conception of the offspring is prevented.” Augustine isn’t just talking biology—he’s affirming childbearing as divine involvement, vocation, and gospel stewardship.

Raising children isn’t optional. It’s participatory discipleship—shaping souls in the faith, training them in the Lord (Ephesians 6:4), and building up the City of God.

John Calvin: Covenant, Providence, and Children

Jump forward to the Reformation. Calvin picks up these themes—in his Genesis Commentary, he reiterates that God intended marriage as the means to multiply humankind.

In Institutes 2.8.41, he offers a pointed critique: those who “refuse to receive the children that God gives them” are smothering grace, resisting providence, and placing self above God’s wisdom. For Calvin, rejecting children is often rooted in fear, pride, or comfort—not trust in God.

He frames children covenantally. God’s promise to Abraham—“I will be your God, and the God of your descendants” (Genesis 17:7)—is foundational. To refuse children is, in a sense, to shrink back from the continuation of God’s promise and blessing.

On Trust, Not Obligation

Some might say: “But what about modern concerns—world overpopulation, financial strain, or environmental issues?” In many ways the world is different, but in the most important ways, it is still the same. Truth is true, whether we like it or not. The world doesn’t need less people. It needs more! The principle holds: God calls us to fruitfulness, and then to trust His provision.

Perhaps you struggle with infertility—that grief is real. Maybe your health, age, or resources are limited. I’m not saying Christian couples owe the world a big family at all costs, but if God opens the door, we shouldn’t slam it shut out of fear, pride, or a desire for personal comfort.

Paul said, “God will supply your every need according to His riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). Obedience is rarely convenient, but more often, it is faithful.

How This Plays Out in Marriage

To live this out is to shift mindset:

  • Children cease being inconveniences, becoming arrows in your quiver.
  • Every baby is a covenant heir—a soul to nurture in Christ.
  • Your marriage rejoices in faith over fear, depending on God more than calculators.

This isn’t a glib “more is always better” bumper sticker. It is a gospel call to trust Him, take Him at His Word, and see children as gifts, not burdens.

Final Word

So church-families, listen up: from Genesis, through Athenagoras, Clement, Augustine, and Calvin, the tradition is clear. Openness to life is part of loving God, trusting His plan, and obeying His Word. Children are not obstacles. They are opportunities.

If God grants you life, welcome it. If God has withheld, trust His sovereignty. And if you’re struggling in that in-between, know the Lord sees, hears, and cares.

May Christian marriages, energized by the gospel, be marked by joyful fruitfulness. May our quivers be full. May our trust be firm. And may our families echo His faithfulness, generation after generation.

Key Biblical Anchors

  • Genesis 1:28; Psalm 127:3–5; Matthew 6:25–33; Ephesians 6:4

Early Church Witness

  • Athenagoras, A Plea for the Christians (~177 AD); Didache 2:2; Clement of Alexandria, Paedagogus

Augustine

  • De Bono Coniugali; On Marriage and Concupiscence

John Calvin

  • Commentary on Genesis; Institutes 2.8.41

love · marriage · Uncategorized

Do You Love Her?

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Navigating the Waters of Love: Deciding if You’re Ready for Marriage

As a young man, I faced a daunting question: did I love my girlfriend enough to marry her? I turned to my father for guidance, but he refused to make the decision for me. “No matter what I tell you to do,” he said, “if it didn’t work out, you would blame me.” Fast forward 34 years, and I’m still married to that same woman. We tied the knot when I was just a month shy of turning 20.

Many young people today find themselves in similar situations, unsure if they are truly “in love.” This uncertainty is why I’m writing this post—to help clarify what it truly means to love someone as a spouse. From birth, we’re fed lies about romantic love through movies, music, books, and websites. These sources often present nebulous, worldly ideals that aren’t always healthy. To find true guidance, we need to turn to the Creator of mankind and the institution of marriage: God.

The Struggle Between Love and Lust

As a young man, I struggled to distinguish between love and lust. I enjoyed being with my girlfriend—her soft, feminine nature, her scent, her beauty, and the way she looked at me. But is that love? In today’s world, marriage is a high-risk bet for young people. Choosing the wrong partner can jeopardize their futures. To mitigate this risk, we need to clear up the language and ideas surrounding love and marriage. Let’s try to unmuddy the waters.

God’s Design for Marriage

God created mankind, starting with Adam. He declared that it was not good for Adam to be alone and made Eve as his helpmate. Adam was formed from the dirt, but Eve was made specifically for Adam. If modern men and women refuse to submit to the basic truths of God’s Word, they will find strife in life and have disordered minds. Christians must marry Christians, but this is just the starting point. You need to know the person’s character and ensure you agree on the primary articles of faith. If you haven’t known the person long enough to verify their beliefs, don’t rush into marriage.

Physical Attraction and Compatibility

Physical attraction is a good starting point, but it isn’t everything. If you can’t see yourself having children with the person you’re with, you might be with the wrong one. Constant disgust with their habits or behaviors is a red flag. Remember, there is no perfect person out there. Waiting for “Mr. or Ms. Right” might cause you to miss the person God has placed right in front of you. Your “friend-zoned” person might actually be the one.

The Decision for Life

Marital love is more about making a decision for life. If you can see yourself building a life with this person, find them attractive, and genuinely enjoy their company, then you have a decision to make. Once you’ve made it and they’ve said “yes,” you only have between then and the wedding to change your mind. Marriage is a lifelong covenant between you, your spouse, and God, made in the presence of witnesses and carrying the weight of law. Don’t enter into it lightly.

The Roles of Husband and Wife

According to God’s Word, the husband is the head of the household, and his word is final. He is the leader, provider, and protector, actively engaged in raising the children. Wives are to submit to their husbands as if submitting to the Lord. They are the homemakers, caretakers of the children, and comforters of emotions, with a gentle spirit and inner beauty. Modern women often have an aversion to the notion of submitting to anyone, let alone a man. If either party has a problem with this, they should not get married.

Overcoming Selfishness

Both parties need to kill selfishness within themselves. Married love is one of intent, focused externally on your spouse and children. You will never love your spouse perfectly. There will be times when you’re doing well, and they’re not, and vice versa. These periods can last from a few days to several years. You don’t get to walk away. If you believe the lies of the world, your marriage will fail. The idea that “the heart wants what the heart wants” is satanic. The Word of God tells us that “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Another lie is that you deserve to be happy. As Christians, we know we deserve death and Hell, but thanks to God’s grace and the atoning work of Jesus on the cross, we are saved.

The Sacrificial Love of Jesus

Can you love your future spouse the way Jesus loved you? This is a serious question. Jesus was crucified for murderers, rapists, thieves, blasphemers, idolaters, and every vile sin under the sun. If your spouse is unfaithful, could you forgive them? If they hate you in their heart, could you still maintain a sacrificial love toward them? If they spread lies about you, could you still feel affection for them?

The Hard Work of Marriage

Marriage is hard work and a tremendous risk, but it is also one of the most sanctifying means God has ordained for our growth, along with child-rearing. In marriage, you will grow as a person and as a Christian. Not everyone will avail themselves of the opportunities to grow in a marriage and keep it until their dying day. I pray that all young Christians will find a godly spouse, marry, and be very fruitful in multiplication. May God bless you with many children and love worth learning.