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Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament by Christopher J.H. Wright. Grove, Ill: Intervarsity Press, 1992, 256 pp, softcover.

Dr. Christopher J.H. Wright introduces the importance of the Old Testament to New Testament Christians by presenting the unfolding prophetic events that accompany the arrival of the Son of God that are fulfilled perfectly, but in a manner that Israel does not fully understand. The reader is introduced to the mindset of Jesus Christ whose spiritual growth and understanding to His identity, purpose, and destiny unfolds through His reflection and revelation of the Old Testament. Christ is prophetically expressed as the promised Messiah, and according to the author, fulfills Israel’s covenants through the establishment of His church.

Summarization of the Book

The author presents the need to examine the self-understanding of Christ through His connection with Old Testament exegesis that He fully interprets as His self-identity is revealed to Himself and Believers. Wright develops his major theme of the absolute need to understand the Old Testament connection with the Lord Jesus Christ to understand Christ fully. The Lord’s teachings in relationship to Old Testament Scripture are expounded, and His New Testament instructions are shown to be the fulfillment of Law, rather than a new faith requirement separate from the older Testament. He also stresses that the fulfillment of some prophesy associated with Israel should not be interpreted literally, but rather, understood as an unfolding of events leading to the coming of Christ in ways not understood by the initial receivers of the promises made by God. Consistent throughout the book is the idea that Israel is replaced by the Church through the full development of the Covenant that is difficult for the original holders of the promises to understand.

The Lord Jesus Christ is presented in humanistic terms with a focus upon discoveries of His fulfillment of Old Testament promises,[1] His self-identity discoveries, [2] His Old Testament mission carried forth to the New Testament,[3] and the development of His Old Testament Values.[4] Wright constructs his arguments for Christ’s human revelations with the backdrop of specific Scriptures within the Old Testament that plausibly influence His development as the Son of Man; he also lists specific examples used by Christ to teach Believers the will of His Father. Dr. Wright also carefully constructs a covenant line that shows his belief of the fulfillment of the promises given to Israel but realized and completed through Christ’s church.

Dr. Wright’s major thesis is that “the Old Testament tells the story which Jesus completes,”[5] Christ is the climax of the unfolding Old Testament story,[6] and it is His deep spiritual roots in handling the Hebrew scriptures that is the “most essential key to understanding who he was, why he came and what he taught.”[7] The thesis of Jesus Christ’s humanness is woven throughout Wright’s writings, with the declaration that in Christ is the end time climax of Old Testament promise and the reason for the words of the Old Testament from the beginning.

Critical Interaction

Dr. Wright’s position reflects Replacement Theology, declaring the Church as the replacement to Israel, which is a popular view of the early church that predates Covenant Theology,[8] but also continues from the middle of the second century A.D. to today as a consensus among many churches.[9] Also, prominent theological concepts of salvation, redemption, and the choosing by God are addressed with both the Old Testament and New Testament promises.

Wright leans toward Replacement Theology, also known as Supersessionist Theology; this is the teaching of both the Roman Catholic Church and Martin Luther, who said “The Jews have lost this promise, no matter how much they boast of their father Abraham….They are no longer the people of God.”[10] While he is not as blatant in his statements, his position reflects his belief that Christ chose the Gentiles as His people, arguing against the idea that the Jew remains the Chosen People separated from Christians by their Covenant with the LORD God.

Wright rejects the literal two-covenant system where the Jews have one promise through their Covenant and the Gentiles another through Christ; instead, he believes that Jews can only be saved through acceptance of Christ as their Messiah and Lord, with the resulting salvation through faith required by all those who desire redemption and eternal life.[11]

Dr. Wright effectively presents his views, and develops an understandable progress of Christ as fulfillment of Israel’s covenants with His arrival. While Wright avoids the terminology that is familiar to the Replacement Theologists, his end conclusions do not fully support Christ’s intentions with Israel as recorded in the Word of God. Thus, his argument is presented soundly, but it has flaws that need to be defended further through solid Scripture exegesis.

Also, footnotes were deliberately omitted by Dr. Wright in his authorship of this book. The lack of references was glaringly apparent when a deeper theological examination became necessary; this forces readers to refer to the Bibliography and try to guess where many of these opinions originated.

Critical Weaknesses of Wright’s Views

One factor in applying a Replacement Theology removes the original promises and covenants that the LORD God made with Israel, and reapplying those covenants to Christian believers. Matthew 21:43 is an important verse for the replacement system, because theorists claim this proves that Christ invoked a transfer of the Chosen people of God from Israel to the church.[12] It is critical for proof of this position to prove that a permanent rejection of Israel is the meaning of this verse, and that this “nation” will be given to the church, not the Jews. While most Theologists agree that a rejection of Israel is made by Christ, there is vast disagreement of the length of time this will occur; those who believe it is only a temporary rejection leave open the chance for future restoration.[13]

Also, Christ believes in a future restoration of Israel; Matthew 19:28 shows Christ speaking to His disciples about the thrones from which they would occupy in their judgment of the twelve tribes of Israel.[14] When these two criteria are applied, Wright’s position of the replacement of Israel does not conform fully to Christ’s stated view from the Word of God. Matthew 23:37-39 shows Christ looking toward the future restoration of Israel using the word “until” that shows Israel will one day come to Him for blessings. Stanley D. Toussaint writes, “It is extremely important for one to note that Christ’s rejection of Israel is not an eternal one. The word ‘until’ of verse thirty-nine together with the following statement affirms that Christ will come again to a repentant nation to establish the promised millennial kingdom.” [15]

Summary of other Reviews

The most scholarly of three discoverable full-text reviews of Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament contrasts Wright’s writings with two other books concerning this subject. Frank Thielman points out that Wright believes “Jesus is God’s Son in the Gospels in the same way that Israel is God’s son in the Old Testament, with the crucial difference that whereas Israel rebelled against its Father, Jesus was obedient.”[16] Stanley Horton identifies the theology of Wright as reflecting a replacement theology in the expression of his belief in the relationship of Jesus with the Old Testament.[17] Also, Long believes strongly that Wright accomplished his thesis to prove the Old Testament reflective of the heart of Jesus.[18]

Author David E. Holwerda wrote Jesus and Israel: One Covenant or Two? (Eerdmans, 193 pp.). This book identifies Israel as Jesus fulfilled, but stresses that there still remains ethnic differences between Christians and Jews. Holwerda believes that unbelieving Jews continue to hold a special place in God’s saving works. [19] The Messiah in the Old Testament, by Walter C. Kaiser Jr. (Zondervan, 235 pp.) finds references to the Messiah in numerous Scripture of the Old Testament, and charges that Israel would not understand these references because they were like the two on the Emmaus road, “ignorant and slow in heart to believe everything the prophets spoke” (Luke 24:25).[20] All three books enlighten believers substantially in the fulfillment of Christ that is fully reflected in the first and oldest Testament.

Students, scholars, laymen, pastors, and believers would do well in both reading Wright’s book, and analyzing its contents. From a scholar’s perspective, Wright’s work is not complete; however, the general ideas expressed about Jesus as reflected in the Old Testament are worthy for contemplation and application. Pastors would benefit by forming a discourse of many of the concepts within this book, especially those that bring Christ’s human being in fuller light. Scholars must surely start with the thesis of this book, to form a beginning place of meeting Christ in the places He dwelled, both spiritually and mentally. Care should be taken, however, that exegesis of the concepts of Israel replacement by the Church is expressed with Biblical soundness.

Conclusion

Dr. Wright says that Christians cannot fully know the Lord Jesus Christ unless they examine the Old Testament influence upon Him. He effectively presents the need for Christians to connect the Old Testament with the New Testament and realize the necessary symbiosis between the two as a requirement for the Messiah and Lord Jesus Christ to come forth. However, his replacement theology, though seemingly more politically correct than most, is flawed when examined by Scripture; Christ’s words reflecting the future restoration of Israel in Matthew 23 disagree with the thesis development of Wright. While Christ may well be the fulfillment of Israel’s covenants, the author needs to contrast his views with the views of Replacement Theologists, and explain his position with scholarly reference that can be integrated fully with the Truth of the Word of God.

Dr. Christopher J.H. Wright received his Ph.D. from Cambridge; he is a mature biblical scholar who has a great deal of classroom experience in teaching critical theological issues.[21] He is the director of John Stott Ministries (Langham Partnership International). He is also the author of Old Testament Ethics for the People of God.

Footnotes

[1] Christopher J.H. Wright, Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament (InterVarsity Press, 1992), 55-101.

[2] Ibid., 103-129.

[3] Ibid., 136-179.

[4] Ibid., 181-248.

[5] Ibid., 2.

[6] Ibid., 7.

[7] Ibid., 3.

[8] H. Wayne House, “The Future of National Israel,” in Bibliotheca Sacra(Dallas, TX: Dallas Theological Seminary, 2009), 467-468.

[9] Michael J. Vlach, “Has the Church Replaced Israel in God’s Plan?,” in Conservative Theological Journal(Fort Worth, TX: Tyndale Theological Seminary, 2000), 7-8.

[10] House, 467-468.

[11] Wright, 176-177.

[12] Vlach, 18.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Stanley D. Toussaint, Behold the King: A Study of Matthew (Oregon: Multnomah Press, 1980), 265-266.

[16] Frank Thielman, “Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament,” Christianity Today 40, no. 3 (1996): 61.

[17] Stanley M Horton, “Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 40, no. 2 (1997): 287-22.

[18] V Philips Long, “Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament,” Presbyterian 19, no. 1 (1993): 61-62.

[19] Thielman: 58.

[20] Ibid., 61.

[21] Ibid.

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What really happens when a Christian dies? AVOID THE SHIPWRECK!

It will NOT be a bright lighted tunnel! It WILL be a ship in waves and wind! Call on Jesus!

(Note to Readers: REPOSTED. This is so important to understand deeply so it is sealed in your memory at the time of your death, that I have included part of the deep study on passing over from earth life to eternal life)

Death: Passing Over as a Christian
Lecture 111-3

By Kathy L. McFarland
The dying experience for a Christian is not complicated. Scripture tells us exactly what will happen, and how we are expected to respond. However, there is a slight complication in learning what the Lord Jesus Christ wants us to know. It is hidden in His Word, similar to the parables He spoke to His disciples. Do you remember what He gave as the reason for speaking in parables?

Matthew 13:34–35 (KJV 1900)
34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret
from the foundation of the world.

Mark 4:1–2 (KJV 1900)
And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine.

Mark 4:10-13 (KJV 1900)
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. 13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

Also understand:

Proverbs 26:7–9 (KJV 1900)
7 The legs of the lame are not equal:
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling,
So is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.

There is only one key to understanding the hidden symbology and typology in our life today that are contained within the Word of God. THE HOLY SPIRIT within Christians that have been baptized
with Him is a crucial means to that understanding. It is the Holy Spirit that guides our studies and reveals the deeper things in Scripture. So, when non-Christians read the Bible, their eyes understand only the literal words within it, and they handle any deeper things within like fools. But Christians have been given the ability to read literal words and find deeper things and teachings of the LORD God that are hidden from the profane and secular.
Sadly, Christianity has been watered down so much in these times, that there are very few teachers of Scripture that know how to seek those deep teachings of God. All Christians can be strengthened by those important Words, but seldom do they experience them because there just is no one to teach them how to really read the Word of God with the Holy Spirit’s help.

Thanks be to God! I have been taught by the Holy Spirit to teach you to see the hidden inside the Word of God. It is the process of passing over in the death of a Christian that we will begin studying that deepness today. Contained within the literal Word of God are important instructions and briefings to what will actually happen when we pass over, and how the Lord Jesus Christ expects for us to handle it. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in understanding this crucial Scripture instructions and be prepared for any traces of the fear of death to leave your thoughts forevermore.

Creation of the Seas

Genesis 1:6–10 (KJV 1900)
6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

The LORD God made the firmament from the waters and called it Heaven on the second day of Creation. He gathered the waters under Heaven and let the dry land of Earth appear. Between Earth and Heaven the waters were gathered together, and He called them SEAS! It is the sea that must be passed over between the Earth and Heaven; it is the division that separates both.

Physical Death

Mark 4:35–41 (KJV 1900)
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

1. The Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples the reason for parables, with the Parable of the Seeds, (Mark 4:3-8) and The Explanation of the Parable of the Seeds (Mark 4:13-32). He wanted the disciples understanding of the underlying meaning of their next experience to be forefront on their minds.

2. That very same day, the Lord told His disciples “Let us pass over unto the other side.”

3. Whenever we see the Words “pass over” or Passover, we are immediately drawn to the memory of the LORD God Passing Over those Israelites houses that had the blood of a lamb painted on
their door posts during the carrying out of the last curse for the death of the firstborn against the Pharaoh (Exodus 12).

4. We also remember the Passover remembrance ordained by the LORD God to be celebrated every year (Deuteronomy 16).

5. Those two examples show a critical need for Believers to understand deeply what “pass over” means, and to understand the events that happened in Mark 4:35-41.

6. Literally speaking, pass over speaks of “moving from one shore to another shore over water.”

Other side – 4305 πέραν (peran): adv. and prep. (never compounded with verbs); ≡ Str 4008—LN 83.43 across, on the opposite side; the region across (Mk 3:8; 4:35; 5:1;
6:45; Lk 8:22; Jn 1:28; 18:1)

Conclusion – 4306 πέρας (peras), ατος (atos), τό (to): n.neu.; ≡ Str 4009—1. LN 80.6 limit, end of a space (Mt 12:42; Lk 11:31; Ro 10:18+; Ac 13:33 v.r. NA26); 2. LN 61.15 conclusion, end of a matter (Heb 6:16+)

(James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

7. Note the Hebrew word for “other side” is “πέραν (peran)” which is “across, on the opposite side; the region across.”

8. Note the Hebrew word “πέρας (peras)” as just the end root changes it to “conclusion.”

9. The Lord Jesus Christ took His disciples after sending the multitude away. This journey is just for His disciples.

10. They notice that there are other little ships around them.

11. A great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, and it filled the ship with water.

12. The disciples got scared. Big time. The boat was rocking back and forth severely, and the waves were rushing and beating and splashing and roaring. It was scary, and the disciples reached out to their Lord Jesus Christ who was in the boat with them.

13. They crawled to Jesus in that furious storm. He was asleep on a pillow, unaffected by the buffeting ship. They awoke Him and screamed, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”

14. Jesus arose up, rebuked the wind and told the sea, “Peace, be still.” The wind ceased and the seas grew calm.

15. Jesus asked his disciples “Why are ye so fearful?” “How is it that you have no faith?”

16. By asking these questions, Jesus lets us know that to be fearful in this situation buffeting winds and furious seas while in a ship, shows A LACK OF FAITH!

17. This experience astounded the disciples and they became EVEN MORE FEARFUL, saying to each other “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

18. Let’s do a bit of word typology, then I will lay the experience out for you in the deepest teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

19. Pass over to the other side – Means to move from life on earth to life in Heaven.

20. When even(ing) was come – Evening represents the end of life.

21. Jesus said to them “Let us pass over unto the other side.” Note that you do not do that by yourself. He said “us.” Jesus and you pass over together.

22. The multitude, the secular and the perverse in the crowd of people just listening to Jesus and not making a commitment; they couldn’t come to the places the disciples were going in the little
ship to pass over.

23. The little ship conveyed the Disciples from one shore to the other as it will convey all Followers of Jesus Christ.

24. The great storm with the winds blowing and the waves beating into the ship is the test of faith given to every Christian as they pass over.

25. Jesus sleeping with His pillow shows us that it is absolutely nothing to be scared about.

26. He taught the disciples and us that he could easily rebuke the wind and the waves and they would calm down immediately.

27. “Why are you so fearful, how is it that ye have no faith?” asks Jesus to show that it is indeed a test of faith easily accomplished.

Conclusion:
Let me recapture what we have learned from this account of the disciples in a storm in a little ship. We have learned exactly what will happen at the moment of a Christian physical death: As your physical body dies and your soul is released, you will immediately find yourself in a little ship. You will see other little ships floating around you; those are floating the souls of the other Christians that have died at the same time you have. The wind will pick up ferociously, and the waves will become bigger and bigger and pound your ship back and forth.

It is a test of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you trust Him to be Lord over all?
Do you trust Him to have peace in the midst of the terrible storm?
Do you have confidence in His presence with you as the storm builds?
Do you have certainty that you will reach the other bank and exit your ship into Heaven?
Do you have the deep knowledge of Mark 4:35-41 to prepare you for your physical death and encourage your active strong faith at the moment your soul leaves your body?

Pretty exciting isn’t it! You now have learned how it will feel and what you will see and hear when you experience physical death. And you now know that it is a faith test, and as a strong Christian,
you are not going to fail that little test now are you?

But wait! There is a little problem, maybe. How many of you have heard about the white tunnel of peace that almost dead and temporarily dead report when they awake? The white tunnel where a peaceful entrance into Heaven shows you surrounded by your lost loved ones. Sometimes even angels and God and Jesus lookalikes as they embrace and encourage the almost dead to return to their bodies because it is not their time. And they return with a certain, strong belief, that they and all the people they have known that have died before them are in the peaceful, bright Heaven, celebrating and loving each other.

Quite a different account of physical death, isn’t it? What’s up with that? Could it be our enemy, Satan, that is purposely causing these illusions of the almost dead? What gain could Satan make by putting false illusions in the almost dead?

Possibly, if he tricks the almost dead, he might think they would never increase any faith they might possess in their remainder life. Sadly, for the devil, some actually start walking closer with Christ.
It is a Satan fail sometimes.

But what about strong Christians? Does Satan want them to become shipwrecked when they meet their test of faith and die? YOU BET HE DOES! He wants strong Christians to grow so scared at the crossing between this life and the one of Heaven, that they fail their test, and must go back to their grave and sleep until Jesus resurrects them in the Last Days. When Christians mistakenly believe that everyone can go down a peaceful tunnel and meet God and their loved ones with angels singing and white light comforting them, and instead find they are being buffeted by a great wind and storm that threatens to sink their ship, they are likely to become fearful. And if the great enemy Satan can make good Christians fearful, then he thinks he can win. Regrettably for the devil, it still is a Satan fail; strong Christians learn the secret of death before they die, and if they don’t and become shipwrecked, they still have a place in Heaven, it will just take them a little bit longer to get there!

Thanks be to God!

Shipwrecked
1 Timothy 1:19 (KJV 1900)
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 28. It is just a little tiny verse; but it confirms what we already know. If at the time of physical death, you have a weakness of faith, or a bad conscience, you are going to be shipwrecked! 29. If you are being buffeted by the storm in your little ship, and you were expecting a peaceful white tunnel leading to Heaven, and you lose faith or remember some of the bad things in your life, you will be shipwrecked.
30. What is faith? Faith is the surety of things to come. Faith is believing that the Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins, which should lead to a very good conscience from that moment you are saved. Faith is knowing God’s Word and believing it. Faith is knowing that your Savior will warn you before tough times occur. Faith is understanding the deep things in Scripture so you can prepare for physical death and have absolutely no fear when the storm hits!
Look at the Greek word for “wrecked:”

Wrecked: ῥῆγμα (rhēgma), N. wreck; ruin; collapse. Hebrew equivalent: 3) קְרָעִים ). Noun Usage 1. ruin (dissolution) — an event or act that results in destruction; especially that involves the breakup of component parts. Related Topics: Ruin; Desolate; Corrupt.

Wrecks cause ruin, desolation, corruption. Makes sense, does it not? Your faith is corrupted if it disappears at the moment of a scary event. You are made desolate for a lack of faith; you must sleep in your grave alone until Jesus resurrects you in the Last Days.
Please don’t misunderstand this. You are saved and will ultimately join Jesus for your little faith.

But if your faith is corrupted, if it is lacking, if you grow scared at the first storm upon your physical death, then you will be measured by the Lord Jesus Christ as “Lacking.” You will never assume a strong role in the New Earth if you cannot be strong getting there. Amen?

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About Us

This is an introduction to our ministry and our future hopes to establish Professional Theology as a legitimate participation in the education of seekers of Christ in untraditional places. A great deal more can be learned through our websites at http://becker.academy/ and https://biblestudydata.com/moodle/ . I have tried to be as transparent and forthcoming as possible to assist those analyzing our ministry. This is a brief summation of our efforts over the last decade in the development of Becker Bible Ministries, Inc.

We incorporated Becker Bible Ministries in 2016, and are in the process for developing the Becker Professional Theology Academy to train Christian leaders to participate in ministries within the marketplace to the unchurched. Sadly, more and more Christians are falling away from participation in churches across America. Though they are leaving the churches, or rejected by them, we believe that Christ intends all to gather together to learn and nurture and build upon His Things.

We believe that it is the nature of modern day activities, especially the Internet, that has changed the way people gather information and learn new things. About twelve years ago, we started putting Becker Bible Studies on the Internet, free of charge, to reach the unchurched. Within ten years, we had missionaries (many underground in dangerous places) that used our teachings in every country of the world. We also supplied the same studies to the U.S. Army Chaplains on the front lines during war. I always include this history not to elevate our status, but to relay that God’s movement was quite apparent, in that we operated for that entire period without charging money for our studies yet they were dispersed everywhere.

We gathered many Christians outside the church setting during this period. We always tried to get those we could connected to Christian fellowship. But, soon we discovered that many of the soldiers, especially those broken from PTSD, were coming back to the states and unable to participate in regular worship in neighborhood churches. Then God brought us many, many broken seekers of Christ that had been sexually or physically abused as children; their experiences commonly left them unworthy to even come toward the cross of Christ. Outliers soon followed as the ones we were ministering to brought society’s rejected, oppressed, persecuted, misfit, and lonely to our door. Quickly we realized that these different ministries required much more skill and knowledge than what we and our associates had.

So we all went to school while we ministered as best as we could. Several of us graduated from Liberty University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary with degrees in religion and counseling and continued on with Master degrees in Divinity. Now that we are equipped with the knowledge we need to do the next part of our ministry, we began to develop Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. with hopes that all of the fruits we first gathered, can be expanded to bring seeking Christians to the salvation of Christ and then mature into strong Christians that can begin works that will glorify Him.

We are conservative in faith. We believe that the Bible is inerrant. We believe that it takes the acceptance of Christ as Savior and the washing of sin with His blood and New Birth through the Holy Spirit to bring salvation, justification, and eternal life. Basically, all that we believe, is believed by most Baptists everywhere. But, our ministry takes us to places that normal Baptists do not go. While most Christian leadership in Baptist churches must take care to keep their churches sanctified and protected from the heavy-duty sinners within the world, Becker Bible Ministries, Inc., go in the midst of the marketplace to minister to those seeking to know Christ. Many of those we minister to, are not only outside the regular church parameters, but also, rejected by many in the conservative religion base. This has led to some accusations against us that we cater to sinners that should not have the Gospel of Christ until they have changed.

Which gets us to a major principle of our ministry. We absolutely believe that sins within people cannot go away because they wish it, or wrestle with it, or deny it. We believe that only Christ, and his sacrificed blood, and acknowledgement of Him as Lord and Savior can remove the sin from a person. We believe that any religion that demands a sinner to drop their sins before they meet Christ is contrary to His Gospel. We have witnessed many heterosexuals, homosexuals, asexuals, murderers, abortionists, thieves, rapists, abusers, and just plain ornery folks accept Christ, begin a walk with Him guided by our studies and leadings, and keep on their journey as their sins began dropping from them. As the sins loosened, God’s grace and Christ’s love would replace it and cause the sinners to turn away from darkness and desire the light more and more.
We believe becoming a Christian is more than an event that takes place once. Though we believe the saving grace of God is all it takes for eternal life, we believe to walk as a Christian and mature spiritually in order to do great works of God that it is a gradual, ever-increasing process. We believe that a steady increase of spiritual growth, with a good foundation of Scripture, and an encouragement for a personal relationship with Christ creates super Christians that God can use for His things. Certainly, those coming from our ministry have experienced a great deal of hardship. Those arising and becoming strong Christians with relationship with Christ are the type of people you hope to find when the tough times come.

We are just beginning the process of the formation of professional theologists who are able to take these concepts into the marketplace and offer Christ’s teachings to those that are unable to receive them in a church setting. It is a brand new walk for us. We find ourselves in a position that we have never been in before. It is crucial that we develop workers, volunteers, and funds for God’s works to be completed fully. In the midst of the preparation of this newest ministries, many of our leaders in scary places overseas are facing daily persecutions and some, sadly facing death and destruction of their families and their ways of life.
Mission and Vision Statements of Becker Bible Ministries, Inc.
Mission Statement

Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. objective is to define, develop, and establish the new field of Professional Theology and train, certify, appoint, credential, and bestow degrees upon qualified conservative Christian Theologists to educate those seeking to meet Christ within the marketplaces that are outside traditional religious gatherings.

Vision Statement
One day all people seeking the Lord Jesus Christ will have opportunity to learn about God and His inerrant Word without exclusion, threat, rejection, ridicule, or judgment through the leadership of Professional Theologists trained to guide chosen sinners toward personal spiritual relationships, lives, and works directed by Him.

What is Professional Theology?
Theology is the study and reasoned discourse concerning religious belief and God revealed by Him from all sources including both the Bible and the physical world of God. It is the science of the LORD God’s essential being and His relationship to the universe according to His Word. Professional Theology is one of five different types of theology contained in modern-day belief systems:

Folk Theology – Every living being that seeks answers about God or forms an opinion about His things is participating in folk theology. The Internet is crammed full of folk theologists who present their spiritual ideas to the world that stretch from urban myths, angelic encounters, supernatural events, and even a few out-of-body trips stirred by favorite drugs that offer extra insight into the deeper things in life. But, folk theology is not limited to the ethereal thinkers, but is practiced by almost every being on this planet at one time or another as a connection is made to the difference between the body and the soul, and the connection between one’s own actions and God’s movement.

Lay Theology – Initiated by Christians as spiritual maturity drives them to seek deeper answers from the Word of God. Every believer that is growing in the Word of God becomes a Lay Theologist. By the very nature of their spiritual growth, a seeking heart and an inquisitive mind associate theological ideas in life with Scripture in ever-increasing depth and revelation from God. It is the time when new believers began questioning the spiritual things that are expressed in their church and their life and they begin joining concepts of personal belief in a system that helps them understand. No longer satisfied with blind or rote participation in worship tradition, they seek answers with their search for a more intimate knowledge of God.

Ministerial Theology – This type of theology defines a significant effort toward connecting the things God has revealed to mankind to human life and existence. Explanations that are sought for difficult times are carefully answered by Ministerial Theologists who offer comfort and reassurance that God is in control. Ministerial theology is practiced by ministers and pastors, as well as by Christian parents, who participate in life by sharing the things of God with others to uphold, sustain, and encourage growth toward Him as common life and the mundane, as well as life assist with difficulties and support celebrations toward God and His things.

Professional Theology – Hard questions concerning God’s movement and revelation often require systematic ordering with a careful contemplation of His Word. Professional Theologists are the Programmers, Professors, Writers, and Teachers that apply detailed study to the things of God in an effort to fully express His will and ways to others. It is a serious commitment to connect revelations that God has given mankind to lay people in an ordered way that gives them support to live their lives as willed by Him. The tools of trade for a Ministerial Theologist are the Bible and the altar to lead parishioners, and for the Academic Theologists the textbooks and the lectern tools are used to lead students. The Professional Theologists’ tools of trade are computers, Bibles, books, movies, films, television, and textbooks with real life applications to lead others closer to God according to His will.

Academic Theology – This type of theology is not connected by God’s moving as much as it is connected to man’s efforts to form systematic ideas that reflect their educational efforts that are built upon others. More often than not, Academic Theology is practiced by an elite group of educated thinkers who awe each other with ever-increasing understanding of very specific, limited ideas, usually in a philosophical, rather than a spiritual, sense. Academic Theologists are less concerned about God, but more interested in the discipline and concepts of belief. Discussion and scholarship in Academic Theology does not rely upon Scripture; it favors textbooks, journal articles, and lectures to advance its field.
Where is the marketplace where Professional Theologists minister?
It is not in the churches. It is not in the mission fields. It is not in the prisons, hospitals, or on the reservations. It is everywhere, but seldom anywhere familiar to normal, traditional religious gatherings.

A large portion of a Professional Theologist’s ministry will be spent on the Internet, the new marketplace where most people gather. Another place that will be an important part to a Professional Theologist’s ministry is assisting home churches and small group gatherings with the ceremonies, teachings, and guidance necessary to establish strong works for the Lord to come forth out of their gathering. A Professional Theologist’s ministry is lonely, but it is not unsupervised. While most of the duties take place from the quiet home office where their work seems separate from community ministries, their activities are supported by a strong training, commissioning, endorsing, advocating, and restricting body established by Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. and Becker Professional Theology Academy.

The Professional Theologists will perform their duties in the places that people gather in life to inquire about God that is away from traditional churches. All sorts of Christians are chosen to do this quiet, but important work. It can be done with disabilities, seclusion, and differences that are often rejected and ridiculed by traditional religious gatherings. It is the newest career field developed by God to bring people in the marketplace closer to Him, as well as provide keen leadership to the small groups and home churches that have need to be supported by an authoritative agent that is well-trained and righteous.

The Professional Theology field is brand new. The Academy will begin the formal training process for the Christian leadership and soon their presence will be seen throughout the Internet, in the Bookstores, and assisting Home Churches and small groups in every corner of the world. And it will be the Internet, the worldwide web, that will convey their teachings to those rejected, oppressed, ridiculed, fearful, and odd people that are unable to find acceptance in the traditional Christian church.

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Appearances of the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ by Numbered Witnesses

By
Kathy L. McFarland

First Appearance: The Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ appears to a weeping Mary Magdalene at the tomb after Peter and John depart. She first mistakenly identifies him as a gardener, but immediately recognizes Him when He speaks to her (John 20:11-17; Mark 16:9-11)

Second Appearance: Christ appears to the fearful but joyous women, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary (mother of James) and others, on the way from the empty tomb to tell the disciples. (Matthew 28:9-10; Luke 24:1-10).

Third Appearance: The Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ reveals Himself to two disciples, one named Cleopas, as they walk on the road to Emmaus, approximately seven miles from Jerusalem. Christ
speaks of Old Testament Scriptures concerning His death and resurrection as He walks with them, and later connects these events with the blessed bread He breaks and gives to them. The sharing of bread, laden with deep typological shadows and mysteries, supernaturally reveals Christ in recognizable form, and the two disciples know Him. (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35)

Fourth Appearance: Peter runs to the empty sepulchre on Resurrection Day and finds only the linen clothes within the tomb, prior to Christ’s appearing to the two Emmaus disciples. At some point, the two Emmaus disciples report to the eleven disciples gathered in Jerusalem that Christ is seen arisen from death by both them, and the disciple Peter Simon (Cephas). (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5)

Fifth Appearance: The fifth appearance of the resurrected Christ is to the unbelieving, hard-hearted disciples as they sit eating. (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-23; 1 Corinthians 15:5)

Sixth Appearance: Christ appears to the eleven disciples eight days after His resurrection. Doubting Thomas is present in this meeting of the Resurrected Christ, and believes He is arisen from the dead because he sees it with his own eyes. (John 20:26- 29)

Seventh Appearance: Resurrected Jesus Christ next appears to seven disciples, Simon Peter, Thomas (Didymus), Nathanael, John and James (Sons of Zebedee), and two other disciples by the Sea of Galilee. He shouts to their boat from the shore and instructs the disciples to cast their nets for a multitude of fish. Simon Peter recognizes the Savior, and jumps out of the boat to come to him on land quickly. (John 21:1-23).

Eighth Appearance: The eighth appearance was to about five hundred brethren who see His Resurrected body with their own eyes, at the same time, and are able to tell others what they saw as proof through their testimonial witness. (1 Corinthians 15:6)

Ninth Appearance: Next Christ appears to James, the Lord’s brother (1 Corinthians 15:7). James was probably not a believer prior to the resurrection (John 7:3-5), but immediately after the resurrection he is numbered among the believers (Acts 1:14; Galatians 1:19). He later became one of the outstanding leaders in the apostolic church.

Tenth Appearance: Then the Lord Jesus Christ comes to eleven disciples on an appointed mountain in Galilee, where He gives them the Great Commission to preach the gospel. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Eleventh Appearance: His eleventh appearance occurs at the same time of His ascension from the Mount of Olives. This is the last appearance of Christ to His disciples prior to His glorification in Heaven. (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:3-9)

Glorified Appearance after Ascension

Twelfth Appearance: The Ascension glorified Christ appears to Stephen just prior to the time of his stoning martyrdom that was witnessed by Saul. (Acts 7:55-56)

Thirteenth Appearance: The thirteenth appearance of Christ is to Saul on the road to Damascus as he was about to continue his work of persecuting Christians. It is the time he was made blind for
three days, just prior to his conversion to the Apostle Paul. (Acts 9:3-6; cf. Acts 22:6-11; 26:13-18)

Fourteenth Appearance: Christ appears to Paul in the Temple and warns him of the persecution to come. (Acts 22:17-21)

Fifteenth Appearance: The fifteenth appearance of Christ is to Paul while in the prison in Caesarea. Scripture records that “the Lord stood by him,” and told him that he would bear witness in Rome. (Acts 23:11)

Sixteenth Appearance: The final and sixteenth appearance of the glorified, resurrected, Lord Jesus Christ is to the Apostle John at the beginning of the revelation given to him in setting of Heaven. (Revelation 1:12-20)

Updated Feb 04, 2024 12:38:38pm

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Beck, James R. (Ed.). Two Views on Women in Ministry. Revised ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005. ISBN: 978-0-310-25437-9.

Introduction

Dr. James R. Beck has compiled four scholarly articles that present the egalitarian and complementarian/hierarchical views concerning women in ministry with balanced counterpoints added to fully inform readers. The presentation of views seems to compare and contrast in a fair, balanced way that provides the reader with a good idea of the debate, with counter arguments presented at the end of each essay. However, the balanced approach to the presentation of both sides concerning women in ministry does not fully reveal God’s Truth; thus, the Two Views on Women in Ministry presents sincere but some flawed arguments with some conflict to the inerrant Word of God, possibly on both sides of the debate.[1] These differing opinions require Christians to sort through the issues with care, and compare and contrast the issues of both sides with a solid analysis that is dependent upon foundational, inerrant Scripture if the Truth of God is to be known fully.

Summarization of Belleville’s Essay Supporting an Egalitarian Perspective

Dr. Linda Belleville[2] addresses the role of women as equal to men in Christian leadership potential that should be given authority to assume pastoral duties and church leadership positions on an equal footing with male Christian leaders. Belleville seems to take a feminist, no hierarchy in principle/no hierarchy in practice spectrum[3] in her egalitarian position by setting the stage in identifying the problem as the backwards, traditional, hierarchical view that God created men to lead and women to follow. This argument, often prevalent amongst liberal, egalitarian feminists, formulates the beginning debate upon modern social advancement rather than solid Scripture exegesis with a repudiation that traditionalists’ views based solidly upon inerrant Scripture is actually the main issue.[4] Rather, she begins her argument with the supporting statement that it is now general agreement that women have the same spiritual gifts as men, but often denied leadership positions, based upon social issues that are prevalent in our society today.[5]

Belleville is a careful scholar; once the foundation of socially progressive egalitarianism vs. backwards, socially repressive, hierarchical traditionalism is laid, she then begins to carefully build her position with Scripture support. Thus, in her worldview, Genesis 1 and 2 affirms equality of man and woman, with the obligation to split subjugation duties of God’s creation on practical considerations as spiritual, personal, and social equals.[6] She conveniently disavows the definition of woman as helper to mean the inflammatory words of “submissive assistant” that probably is not often a traditional scholar’s choice of words. The traditional argument for man’s purpose to rule supported by Genesis 3:16 is elevated to shared partnership with co-dominion, with personal commentary that mocks traditional belief as a “sad state of affairs” when gender hierarchy is claimed.

Belleville presents the usual arguments and defense of women in Scripture that has risen to prophetic and teaching roles; however, these points are not at the crux of disagreement. While several Scripture, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 (women commanded to be silent in church), 1 Timothy 2:11-15 (women are not permitted to have authority over man), and 1 Corinthian 11:2-16 (different roles) are presented as important points in Belleville’s defense, 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is the defining biblical text that directs attention back to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1-3. It is these two Scripture issues (the hierarchy of male and female roles and the authority of women in church) that must be argued effectively if change to the complementarian view can begin.

Critique of Belleville’s Defense of Egalitarianism Perspective

Belleville’s defense of the lack of hierarchy in God’s creation of man and woman does not argue well from her modern views of desirable social norms. If her arguments were based upon Genesis 1-3 fully, without reference to modern relationships between the sexes today, her ideas would be more intriguing; however, her modern foundation clouds her points and develops suspicion of feminist agenda that bends Scripture to form liberal interpretation of Scripture.

Additionally, her arguments of the non-existence of established hierarchy are untruthful; Genesis 1-3 clearly shows an ordered creation, with traditional belief that this also emulates the subordinate role of Son of God to Father,[7] with husband as head and wife as helpmate that establishes a hierarchical role between men and women. Either God has developed a more equalized role for men and women throughout His relationship with mankind, or He has not. Belleville’s essay does not offer proof that hierarchal order of male and female has been increased to equal and shared order. There can be no middle-ground interpretation choice given by God in this matter; either a hierarchical order exists, or it does not. Any belief concerning women’s role in church leadership must address the hierarchy issue, with strong Scripture reference, that shows change from creation status, before traditional belief can be advanced. An increased development of the male and female order must be shown from the starting point of the Creation account that progresses as God’s will is revealed to man, or Genesis 1-3 must remain the standard of hierarchal order. Denial of established hierarchal order recorded in the creation account denies the inerrant Word of God.

However, she does approach 1 Timothy 2:11-15 more critically, and admits to the difficult understanding the Greek expression oude authentein andros that is commonly translated “nor to dominate (nor to exercise authority) over a man” found in verse 12. She convincingly argues that these Greek words, with considerable reference to extrabiblical text, have specific translated meaning “to domineer” that shows Paul is prohibiting teaching by the Ephesus women that are seeking the upper hand through extemporaneously teaching false things against God. But then, her conclusion returns to the sociological and psychological impact of a traditional view of women in leadership roles that undermine the Word of God, and cancel out any trust in her position that might have been gained in her numerous scholarly arguments.

Summarization of Blomberg’s Essay Supporting a Complementarian Perspective

Dr. Craig L Blomberg[8] defends the traditional Christian position that supports the complementarian/hierarchical view that differentiates ministry roles by gender and often forbids appointment of women to leadership roles in Christianity.[9] He makes an important point that often women trump biblical evidence by declaring the personal call of God to the ministry that places profound dilemma upon conservative leadership determination in churches today.[10]

Like Belleville, Blomberg discusses the examples of women in Old and New Testament times, including Intertestamental Period. Once again, this information is accepted on both sides of the argument, and irrelevant to the conflict. He identifies four key Scriptures that are often controversial between the different views; Galatians 3:28 (there is no male or female), 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 (headgear with praying), 1 Corinthians 14:33-38 (silence of women in church), and 1 Timothy 2:8-15 (the Ephesus women). Blomberg agrees with Belleville concerning the connection to false teaching with the Ephesians women. He challenges the word definition hesychia that commonly does not mean silence in Acts 22:2 or 2 Thessalonians 3:12.

Critique of Blomberg’s Defense of Complementarian Perspective

Blomberg’s defense is weak on Genesis 1-3 and agreeable with the egalitarian perspective concerning 1 Timothy 2:8-15. It should not be surprising that Blomberg supports the hierarchal order and the woman in the role as helper to man initially; however, it soon goes awry. Blomberg fairly addresses this issue as occurring during the perfect love period of Adam and Eve before they chose disobedience to God that shatters their harmony forever; thus, the idea of love is transformed into domination after distortion due to sin.[11] But, Blomberg falls short of Scripture support by declaring that there are just “hints” of divinely intended male headship found in Genesis 1-3 and he discounts the reference quickly.[12] Once again, it seems as if a conservative scholar has found it necessary to present politically correct evaluation, and ignore the strong position of God that expresses and ordered hierarchy between male and female found in Genesis 1-3. Blomberg makes a common mistake by interpreting the Old Testament with New Testament ideas of women’s roles[13] and civil rights of modern day.[14] Egalitarians are in the winning position when modern-day views are considered, and Traditionalists often bend to accommodate this popular position rather than provide a biblically and theologically compelling alternative.[15]

Blomberg analyzes verse 1 Timothy 2:12 by debating the odd Greek verb authenteo chosen to translate into “exercise authority,”[16] and declares the only thing Paul is prohibiting women from doing is occupying the office of overseer or elder, with all other leadership offices are open to women Christian leadership.[17] He resolves the debate by declaring male headship timeless, but, only the highest office of eldership is prohibited to women.[18] This view assumes a great deal of Scripture support for an obscure, complex idea that is less visible than is the strong hierarchical order in Genesis 1-3 that he declares merely a hint; this tendency of modern-day civil awareness complicates even the conservative complementarian positions.

Once again, the inerrant Word of God must be examined in balance, without bias, and fully open to discovery of the Truth of God. Both Blomberg and Belleville fail to fully comprehend the full teachings of God because they fail to measure their position completely upon the inerrant Word of God.

Conclusion

Dr. Beck has developed a scholarly work that balances both principle views concerning women in Christian leadership positions. In his revision, he includes Dr. Craig S. Keener’s perspective on the egalitarian view and Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner’s views on the complementarian perspective. The four essays, with the defense or objections of these authors upon each other’s works, give a good deal of knowledge of the actual debate that helps reflect opposing sides. Most importantly, it gives direction to those seeking Scripture support, and defines the arguments to narrow the reader to specific places of exegetical inquiry.

Through the limited examination of just two of the essays, the need for strong Scriptural support is glaringly evident. This complex issue cannot be fully resolved without the Word of God providing foundation to the discussion. Both liberal and conservative Christians should read the essays in Two Views on Women in Ministry in their entirety with attention to each detailed presentation, without bias, and consider the balanced points, with a Bible close at hand. Both sides have a great deal to learn, and Beck’s collection of articles informs the reader about this complex issue.

It is imperative that all Christians, especially those in male and female leadership roles, recognize that the position taken concerning this divisive issue might well subvert the Holy Spirit, or deny the will of God from advancing, or corrupt the theological system that His providence has established, should the wrong position be taken that conflicts with Scripture. While both positions do not reach the level of soul-robbing false teachings, leadership works by both males and females must be clearly represented by Scriptural support, or the entire system accomplishing the works of the Lord can be compromised and remove opportunity from those intended to receive the things of God through the hands of His selected leaders.

Bibliography

Beck, James R. Two Views on Women in Ministry. Revised Kindle ed., Edited by James R. Beck. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005.

Burk, Denny. “Younger Evangelicals and Women in Ministry: A Sketch of the Spectrum of Opinion.” Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood 12, no. 2 (2007).

Carlson-Thies, Christiane. “Man and Woman at Creation: A Critique of Complementarian Interpretations.” Priscilla Papers 18, no. 4 (2004).

Cowan, Steven. “The Metaphysics of Supordination: A Response to Rebecca Merrill Groothuis.” Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood 14, no. 1 (2009).

Dever, Mark. “Young Vs. Old Complementarians.” Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood 13, no. 1 (2008).

Grenz, Stanley J. “Anticipating God’s New Community: Theological Foundations for Women in Ministry.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 38, no. 4 (1995).

Moore, Russell D. “After Patriarchy, What? Why Egalitarians Are Winning the Gender Debate.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 49, no. 3 (2006).

Footnotes

[1] James R. Beck, Two Views on Women in Ministry, ed. James R. Beck, Revised Kindle ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), Kindle Location 179 of 6852. Though Beck acknowledges the concord of presenters that either position can obtain orthodox support with inerrancy, this seems unlikely. Careful exegesis of Scripture can only reveal one absolute Truth of God in this matter; it cannot be both ways nor based upon doctrinal worldview, regardless of sincerity of belief.

[2] Dr. Linda Belleville, (Ph. D., St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto) is a Professor of New Testament at Bethel College, Indiana. She has taught religion, theology, and biblical studies for North Park College and Theological Seminary and is also a translator for Tyndale House’s The New Living Translation, and the author of several commentaries and books.

[3] Denny Burk, “Younger Evangelicals and Women in Ministry: A Sketch of the Spectrum of Opinion,” Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood 12, no. 2 (2007): 35.

[4] Beck, Kindle Location 220 of 6852.

[5] Ibid., Kindle Location 258 of 6852.

[6] Ibid., Kindle Location 279-302 of 6852.

[7] Stanley J. Grenz, “Anticipating God’s New Community: Theological Foundations for Women in Ministry,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 38, no. 4 (1995): 598.

[8] Dr. Craig L. Blomberg is a distinguished professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary and past research fellow in Cambridge, England with Tyndale House. He has authored and edited 15 books, including The Historical Reliability of the Gospels, Interpreting the Parables, and other theological works.

[9] Steven Cowan, “The Metaphysics of Supordination: A Response to Rebecca Merrill Groothuis,” Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood 14, no. 1 (2009): 42.

[10] Beck, Kindle Location 2380-6852.

[11] Ibid., Kindle Location 2459 of 6852.

[12] Ibid., Kindle Location 2459-6852.

[13] Christiane Carlson-Thies, “Man and Woman at Creation: A Critique of Complementarian Interpretations,” Priscilla Papers 18, no. 4 (2004): 3.

[14] Mark Dever, “Young Vs. Old Complementarians,” Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood 13, no. 1 (2008): 20.

[15] Russell D. Moore, “After Patriarchy, What? Why Egalitarians Are Winning the Gender Debate,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 49, no. 3 (2006): 568.

[16] Beck, Kindle Location 3000 of 6852.

[17] Ibid., Kindle Location 2044 of 6852.

[18] ibid., Kindle Location 3222 of 6852.

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Your spiritual trials and tribulations may be similar to Luther’s Anfechtung Testing – Take note the importance!

By Kathy L. McFarland

I. Introduction

The extreme trials and tribulations you face today may be some of the same development of Anfechtung thought in Luther’s mind that formed his psychosocial being, defined his relationship with God, and figured prominently in his efforts of reformation leading to Protestant separation from the Roman Catholic Church. This concept of the German word Anfechtung and its Latin counterpart Tentatio is without complete English translation; the words “temptation, trial, affliction plus tribulation”[1] are often used in an attempt to define the word. However, Anfechtung needs a deeper definition that reflects the control of God during trials that causes Christians to suffer with endurable but real agony within their souls with the invasion of extreme “doubts, turmoil, pang, tremor, pains, despair, desolation, and desperation.”[2]

Anfechtung assaults believer’s most vulnerable places in the mind, body, or soul and creates real “fear, conscience, sin, or guilt, that is always a test of one’s faith”[3] Anfechtung originates from either the “hidden God” or from the devil[4] that is allowed by God to do his wicked testing for purposes of achieving Anfechtung in the believer; the test is always monitored by the Lord, often rewarding successful faith testing with additional spiritual works, leadership roles, extra attention to the believer, and a deeper spiritual relationship with Him.

Luther’s Anfechtung thoughts are deeply connected to real trials watched by God that forces him to resolve soul conflicts, and leads to a myriad of inward reflections and outward studies that form foundational beliefs and plant deep fear and awe for the Lord. This leads to the development of reverence toward God’s holiness, gives the believer an additional measure of discernment to separate the things of God from the temptations of Satan, and a persistent drive to find the Truth of God through His Word and a more intimate relationship shared with the believer. It is the intentions of this paper to show these key areas in Luther’s Anfechtung thoughts that lead to his strong stance of belief, and make a connection to the necessity of recognizing similar Anfechtung thoughts in present-day Christian leaders before responsibility, authority, and power are officially bestowed upon them.

II. Fearing God Develops Reverence through Wisdom

Young Martin Luther was not born a Reformer. He was a seeker of God before he became a leader of destiny. That journey began with a near strike of a lightning bolt searing his soul with passion to dedicate his life to God as a humble Augustinian monk and ended with his stance against the error of the Roman Catholic Church, leading to the Protestant Reformation.

But in his first steps of Christian faith, Luther was stricken with a deep fear of God that caused his body to tremble and his soul to shrink back in terror as his lips tried to form words of prayer to the Divine Majesty.[5] His wretched nature was most unworthy to dare speak to the most Holy and Eternal God, and he sought the courage to be able to lift up his eyes and hands with requests to Him. His first Canon of the Mass as a monk stunned his senses and made him shudder as he dared to call upon God to come in the presence of worshippers: “With what impudence I am addressing so great a Majesty, when everybody should be terrified when looking at or conversing with some prince or king!”[6]

We cannot know at which point in Luther’s religious and spiritual development that God chose him as the leader of Protestant reform. But, in the same way God delighted in an unlikely choice of young David and raised him to be king, the position of reformer was designated to be Luther, and his Anfechtung grooming began in earnest, with fear of the Lord given to him in great portion that was developed further through his theological studies.

It seems a common Anfechtung grooming for those designated to accomplish things for God. Success leads always to fear and awe of the Lord God, who rescues the believer from the condition that cannot be resolved alone. Fear of the Lord is an important prerequisite that God requires before designating more responsible works to leaders; numerous Scripture gives reason for this position and identifies many that have received this teaching. The fear of the Lord was given to Christ in his humanity (Isa. 11:2), the Israelites after their forty years of wilderness wanderings (Deut. 6:2), Prophet Obadiah for the saving of the prophets of God (1 Kin. 18:4), and placed upon the Jews and Greeks at Ephesus leading to acceptance of Christ. The Apostle Paul persuades men with the terror of the Lord always forefront in his mind (2 Cor. 5:11), and the fear of the LORD is extolled as it initiates knowledge and wisdom (Pro. 1:7, 9:10), prolongs days (Pro. 10:27), gives strong confidence (Pro. 14:26) and is the fountain of life (Pro. 14:27). It is an apparent critical component for leadership, and it is given by God to those He chooses to accomplish His works.

Luther’s Anfechtung development of fear of the Lord was seared into his soul at the crack of lightning that knocked him to the ground: “St. Anne, help me; I will become a monk!”[7] And he did just that; he became the monk filled with unworthy shame that tried his mightiest to serve a God that both attracted and repelled him.[8] While his soul longed for communion with God, the paralyzing fear crept in each time he approached Him in his monk duties or examined his personal life filled with bits of sin.

That process orchestrated a progression that brought Luther, step-by-step into a place of self-examination, obsessive confession, repentance, with deep struggles that eventually forced him to weigh all matters in his relationship with God’s Truth. The powerful storm brought Luther to conflict, not peace; the fear of the Lord within him propelled him to deep and true relationship with God by trusting only Him in his struggles, resulting in the gain of wisdom that prepared him to become the Reformer God willed.

The Anfechtung episodes were powerful trials of God that forced the worm of a man into conflict with his pained and depressed soul as moments of kairos time frozen by God in Luther’s memory added significance to his disquieting journey. He shamefully remembered his youthful chance meeting of an emaciated Prince William of Anhalt, who had rejected nobility and taken the robes of a friar, fasting to the point of near death carrying a burdened sack upon his back all for the sake of obtaining holiness for God.[9] The confessional closet became overwhelming, as Luther recanted sin after sin after sin in never ending reminders of his failure to become a man of God; as soon as his mind rested, another remembered sin would pop into his shame, and require a rushed penance to salvage his salvation. His depression held firm upon his thoughts, sucking the vitality of life from his breath; he was in a place of darkness and felt alone; his spirit desired to feel God’s presence while at the same time, resented Him for the depth of despair placed in his path.

Throughout Luther’s lifetime, there are periods of Anfechtung that caused him to focus more and more tightly upon God’s Word to find His Truth and accomplish the works required of him that led to the Protestant Reformation. An interesting letter written to John Lang by Luther from the Wittenberg Monastery in October 1516 complains to the Prior at the Erfurt monastery about his time-consuming duties in the midst of his geistliche Anfechtung struggles with “the flesh, the world, and the devil.”[10] Luther explains these same three struggles occurring in Anfechtung in more detail, offering a more perfect understanding of the forces that are involved in such a test. He says first comes temptation from the sin that clings to the flesh; next the world tempts with envy, hatred and pride, and finally, the Master Devil [Junker Teufel] tempts you to disregard God’s Word; thus, the flesh, world, and devil denotations are increasing degrees of Anfechtung.[11]

The importance of God’s Word to Luther must surely have planted deeply in his psyche as a result of this observation, and gives suggestion of why it was the Word of God that led to his reform and the stance he proclaimed at the Diet of Worms in 1521, “Unless I am convicted of error … by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God’s Word, I cannot and will not recant of anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me!”

Luther’s use of the word “conscience” is the evidence toward the conclusion that Anfechtung thoughts were developed throughout Luther’s ministry, tightly winding upon his conscience, compelling him to act in full accordance with the Word of God. It was impossible for him to do anything else, for he had survived the Anfechtung intact and he was spiritually changed toward deeper faith and intimacy with God and His Word forever.

III. Luther’s Six Steps to Successfully Endure Anfechtung

Luther asks, “What greater affliction [Anfechtung] is there than sin and the evil conscience which is always afraid of God’s anger and never has rest?” He found that his despair and unrest of conscience was sickened through Anfechtung, and he could not cure it by staying away from God, without sacrament and hearing mass. But, Luther found that when a believer is fully enveloped in the Anfechtung experience, there is no comfort against the grave temptations present in the testing even in the midst of religious worship. He warns others to avoid false security through the trust of their baptism by wantonly sinning because that could set up a condition of Anfechtung which God would decree a test so great that faith would not be able to stand.[12]

The affectations of tremendous, soul-wrenching conditions force the insignificant human to reject himself fully, to save himself completely. Luther shared his six steps to overcoming such tremendous pain and being victorious in the Anfechtung experience:[13]

1. Remove focus of yourself and cling to God’s name in trust; all thoughts and feelings must be directed toward Him.

2. Know you are not alone enduring trials and that there are others in the world enduring the same sort of Anfechtung moments; they are not rare among the godly. “Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1 Pet. 5:9)

3. Refuse to seek deliverance from testing and address God cheerfully and firmly; submit to the Will of God first. “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Lk 22:42)

4. Praise God; only then can the heart be glad. Lamentations, sadness, and anxiety do not remove evil from the Anfechtung testing. “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.” (Ps 18:3)

5. Thank God for choosing you for such an important Anfechtung testing; only those worthy are tested in such a manner.

6. Believe in God, His truth and in His promises.[14] Trust in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you shall receive it, and you surely will.”

Luther’s list provides ample argument that Christian leadership must experience Anfechtung before they are prepared to lead and teach others the things of God. It would be folly to set in place any believer over the authority of other Christians who had not developed the skills reflected in Luther’s six steps; to lead others without focus upon God causes heretical paths away from Christ to be formed. These crooked paths can be seen today amongst some Christian leaders that maintain a self-focused approach that requires praise, thanks, reward, and belief to be upon them, rather than the Lord. Only those who have not suffered Anfechtung would be unaware of Luther’s relief because the successful survivors of God’s testing are always victorious by placing their focus upon God.

IV. The Need for Evidence of Anfechtung Trials in Present-Day Christian Leadership

It is crucial that people of God, in particular, chosen leaders of God experience storms of God in their life that develops the necessary fear of the Lord within their souls. Without the fear of the Lord, leaders are without wisdom, knowledge, and long life; they must hold that disposition if they are going to be in a right relationship with God.

The fear of God develops how one speaks and relates to Him, and it is the fear of God that develops through Anfechtung trials. Scripture perspective shows a theologian as a “God-fearer,” and that fear is a theological necessity, according to Daniel Castelo, “in which cataphatic and apophatic moments are crucial to the possibilities and limits of theological reflection.”[15] In fact, Psalm 19:7-10, shows the fear of the Lord to be more than a singular, awestruck event, and shows the fear of the Lord to be synonymous with a divine revelation developing in man through the law, testimony, precepts, commandment and ordinances of the Lord.[16] This suggests a continuum of teaching that develops the fear of the Lord way past the episodic terror first visited upon those chosen by God, which biographical accounts of Luther confirm.[17]

It is important that any Christians appointed to a position of leadership, authority, power, and responsibility holds the same type of fear of the Lord that young Luther felt that stormy day that began his stance as a reformer of God. If that spark of terror flamed through Anfechtung development by God that specifically leads to fear and reverence for Him has not shaken the leadership candidate, then it glaringly identifies a person that has not been prepared by God to take leadership of His people or His works.

V. Conclusion

There is only one Luther; but, there have been many leaders doing God’s work since then and up to present-day. Though few leaders will be placed in such a specific time and place, and developed with extreme Anfechtung to give no choice but to follow the Word of God precisely and particularly, most Christians would hope their leaders to hold that nature fully. Luther recognizes that Anfechtung is the “means of which God tests, prods, and drives a person” to plead for increased faith, “… giving up all other hope, despairing of himself, he come[s] to hope exclusively in the grace of God and cling[s] to it without ceasing.”[18]

There must be specific Anfechtung questions developed for candidates by qualified, mature, Christian Trustees, Church Administrators, Board Members, Ordaining Committees, and Seminary Professors to fully ensure Christian leadership is given by God.

The Southern Baptist website at http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/faqs.asp lists the procedure policies for ordination in the Southern Baptist churches:

“Actually, there is no standard process or policy concerning ordination in the SBC. In fact, the SBC cannot ordain anyone. The matter of ordination is addressed strictly on a local church level. Every Southern Baptist church is autonomous and decides individually whether or not to ordain, or whether to require ordination of its pastor. When a church senses that God has led a person into pastoral ministry, it is a common practice to have a council (usually of pastors) review his testimony of salvation, his pastoral calling from the Lord, and his qualifications (including theological preparation and scriptural qualifications according to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-9) for pastoral ministry. Based upon that interview the church typically decides whether or not ordination would be appropriate. Some SBC churches require seminary training from an SBC seminary, while others may not, such a requirement is entirely up to the church.”

Clearly, there is no firm questioning of the Anfechtung experience for pastoral candidates with Southern Baptist Churches as a standard practice. A review of other independent Protestant ordinations are largely equal to or less intensified in their questioning of candidates, and focus upon seminary learning or Bible study opportunities rather than experiences initiated by God. Baptists must raise the bar if they desire to raise the leadership that God has prepared through Anfechtung experiences.

If the condition of Anfechtung has not been experienced by the candidate, then leadership is not established by God. Every authority, in that situation, should reject the candidate’s application, and encourage a deeper walk with God through increased study and worship. Leadership cannot be taught in the Christian faith; it must be bestowed upon those God has chosen to lead. His Anfechtung moments bring chosen Christian leaders to their feet after first bringing them to their knees. He gives them confidence and ability to complete the works God has given them, because their conscience has been entwined so fully through the captivation of God’s Word.

Bibliography

Bainton, Roland H. Here I Stand – a Life of Martin Luther. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC, 1950.

Castelo, Daniel. “The Fear of the Lord as Theological Method.” Journal of Theological Interpretation 2, no. 1 (2008): 147-160.

Cate, Robert L. “The Fear of the Lord in the Old Testament.” Theological Educator, no. 35 (1987): 41-55.

Luther, Martin. Luther’s Works, Vol. 4: Lectures on Genesis: Chapters 21-25 Luther’s Works. Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999.

________. Luther’s Works, Vol. 35: Word and Sacrament I. Vol. 35 Luther’s Works, Edited by Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann Jaroslav Jan Pelikan. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999.

________. Luther’s Works, Vol. 42: Devotional Writings I. Vol. 42 Luther’s Works. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999.

________. Luther’s Works, Vol. 48 : Letters I Luther’s Works, Edited by Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann Jaroslav Jan Pelikan. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999.

________. Luther’s Works, Vol. 51: Sermons I Luther’s Works, Edited by Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann Jaroslav Jan Pelikan. Philadelphia: Fortress PRess, 1999.

Scaer, David P. “The Concept of Anfechtung in Luther’s Thought.” Concordia Theological Quarterly 47, no. 1 (1983): 15-30.

Footnotes

[1] David P. Scaer, “The Concept of Anfechtung in Luther’s Thought,” Concordia Theological Quarterly 47, no. 1 (1983): 15.

[2] Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand – a Life of Martin Luther (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers Marketing, LLC, 1950), 22.

[3] Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 42: Devotional Writings I, Luther’s Works, vol. 42 (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999), 181.

[4] Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 51: Sermons I, ed. Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Luther’s Works (Philadelphia: Fortress PRess, 1999), 179.

[5] Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 4: Lectures on Genesis: Chapters 21-25, Luther’s Works (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999), Ge 25:21.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Bainton, 1.

[8] Ibid., 22.

[9] Ibid., 13-14.

[10] Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 48 : Letters I, ed. Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Luther’s Works (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999), 26-29.

[11] Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 51: Sermons I, 180.

[12] Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 35: Word and Sacrament I, ed. Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Luther’s Works, vol. 35 (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999), 42.

[13] Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 42: Devotional Writings I, 183.

[14] Luther makes an important point that when these six actions are implemented, the inner assaults may increase by the devil’s activity; that increase means that the devil is almost vanquished and the believer should maintain stance for victory.

[15] Daniel Castelo, “The Fear of the Lord as Theological Method,” Journal of Theological Interpretation 2, no. 1 (2008): 148.

[16] Robert L. Cate, “The Fear of the Lord in the Old Testament,” Theological Educator, no. 35 (1987): 2.

[17] Bainton, Chap. 1.

[18] Luther, Luther’s Works, Vol. 35: Word and Sacrament I, 18.

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Words Worth Reading!

Keyword: Evil

Expression:
“Wherefore the man who lives according to God, and not according to man, ought to be a lover of good, and therefore a hater of evil. And since no one is evil by nature, but whoever is evil is evil by vice, he who lives according to God ought to cherish towards evil men a perfect hatred, so that he shall neither hate the man because of his vice nor love the vice because of the man, but hate the vice and love the man. For the vice being cursed, all that ought to be loved, and nothing that ought to be hated, will remain.”

Voice: Saint Augustine

Circumstance: Book 14, Section 6: “Of the character of the human will which makes the affections of the soul right or wrong”

Citation: Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, The City of God, trans., Marcus Dods, Modern Library Paperback ed. (New York: Random House, Inc., 2000), 448.

Read More:

The City of God (Modern Library Classics)

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Don’t worry: I’m NOT going to knock on your door!

I am not going to force my belief upon you. I’m not going to go door to door with the assumption that only my belief is the correct one, and be vain enough to try to get you to believe my ways. I’m not going to stand on a platform and preach Hell and damnation so I can scare you. I’m not going to lead a revival of emotions to trick you into coming closer to God. I’m not going to have a weekly altar call that requires non-believers to go to the front of the church and be confronted by a good deal of emotion and confusion. If you invite me to one of your functions, I will seldom speak of my Lord Jesus Christ unless the conversation is first initiated by you. I am NEVER going to reject seekers of Christ and His things, no matter how different they are from me. I am not going to post a bunch of nonsense on the social media pages that is popularly spread amongst people that makes them feel good when they share the posts. I’m not going to act holier than you; nor am I going to act lower than you; I’m just going to be myself.

But, be forewarned, I am a very strong Christian leader, with constant and true faith in my Lord Jesus Christ. I take my assignments for the jobs He has given me to do very, very seriously. Almost all of my waking, and some of my sleeping moments involve planning and leading activities to reach the goals of my Lord. That’s why I sometimes don’t make good conversation. I am always thinking of the Lord’s work; social niceties often are difficult for me to navigate. And by the way, the closer I come to God through my Lord Jesus Christ, the more righteous and holy I do become. Yet, I always remain me; maybe a little bit better than before me…but I am still me.

I do not look like a Christian leader. I am extremely cognizant of my deteriorating looks. I do the best I can, but it is never enough to look my part. But, those that get to know me spiritually, honor and uphold my journey and respect my decisions. Most look to me to guide them to the places they should be in Christ’s world. We baptize more people yearly, on the average, than do the churches in our area. Though our creeks run cold most of the time, we’ve got access to warm water tanks, should old bones need it. Yearly, people we don’t even know knock on our door and ask for Bible Studies. We have many Bible studies with many student groups who are always different. I write Bible Studies specifically for the participating students of each group, guided by the Holy Spirit, in order that they are spiritually restored and moved closer to God. With the professional help of Joanne, we are able to counsel sexual abuse victims, drug and alcohol addicts, prisoners, oddballs, and your general broken people found everywhere amongst the unchurched.

Our ministry has missionaries and our teachings in every country of the world. Many of our missionaries are in dangerous places that we must continually watch out for to ensure their protection. We are known by the various governments, have been vetted often by the United States Pentagon, Army, CIA, and law enforcement agencies. Many foreign governments also monitor our teachings, and continue to allows us to place them on their internet; many have embraced Christ as their Savior because of these opportunities! We even have a pin in our ministry map for a place called “Hell.” We suspect it is a foreign country name, but that is how it was reported, so we stuck a pin in it! We proudly provided many Bible Studies, including our books to soldiers in danger in the Iraq wars. We also provided a training and counseling place for Chaplains during this wartime, and we were honored to gather together almost 500 chaplains with the Army and Pentagon into a group ministry. All of us were blessed to figure ways of accessing and including God in the midst of horror and despair. What a ministry life we have lived!

So, all of the new people meeting us, that’s what we do. We do our jobs very well for the LORD God and we try our hardest to be perfect in delivering His teachings to others. Sometimes our personal lives suffer, and people leave because they cannot rise up to the spiritual level that Joanne and I must maintain. It breaks our heart each time; sometimes more than others. But, we have to choose the life that God demands us to live and pray for those that must leave our presence that the seeds we have planted are not thrown away, but quietly waiting a regrowth and regeneration. Prayer is all we have in many situations.

I am me. I am different than most. But, if you are a part of Joanne’s and my spiritual life, you know us and love us just as much as we love you. It’s the way God made people in His Kingdom, and it promises to be just a small foretaste of what will come when this old earth comes to an end. I can hardly wait for the pains and disappointments of this life to be over on that Promised Day and finally be able to stand in the presence of my Lord!

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Words Worth Reading!

Keyword: Christianity
Expression:
“Christianity is more than a moral code, more than a philosophy, more than a system of rites. Although it is sufficient, in the abstract, to divide the Catholic religion into three aspects and call them creed, code and cult, yet in practice, the integral Christian life is something far more than all this. It is more than a belief; it is a life. That is to say, it is a belief that is lived and experienced and expressed in action. The action in which it is expressed, experienced and lived is called a mystery. This mystery is the sacred drama which keeps ever present in history the Sacrifice that was once consummated by Christ in Calvary. In plain words – if you can accept them as plain – Christianity is the life and death and resurrection of Christ going on day after day in the souls of individual men and in the heart of society.”

Voice: Thomas Merton

Circumstance: Introduction to St. Augustine’s The City of God

Citation: Saint Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, The City of God, trans., Marcus Dods, Modern Library Paperback ed. (New York: Random House, Inc., 2000), xvi.

Read More: The City of God (Modern Library Classics)

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Just a little more perspective on Baptism:

First set of Slides Faith given and measured by the LORD God alone

Slide 1 – You cannot become a Christian, receive salvation or become born again, until you first experience an opening of your eyes and your ears by God, as He moves you toward an opportunity to receive His gift of grace and faith (Luke 10:21-24; 24:30-35; Acts 13:48).

Slide 2 – Not everybody is given this opportunity. Most people in the world are blind and deaf to His things. When God chooses certain people to receive sight and hearing to obtain faith, He is showing great love for them (Matthew 11:13-17; 20:29-34; 1 Corinthians 1:17-31).

Slide 3 – Usually, when faith is given, you experience a curiosity and a driving need to learn more about God and His Things. You are no different than every other Christian that has also received the great gift of faith. Things are very confusing at the start, especially when you are from a non-believing family or a non-believing culture. Quickly, the Holy Spirit will bring you to fellowship with other Christians, and you will learn the words and doctrines of faith with the moving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:5-21).

Slide 4 – Your soul knows God, and hungers for His touch…that is why you seek answers. Now your mind must understand. God will provide you with exactly the things you need, to become more comfortable with His Things. He will provide you access to Christians that can answer your questions and feed you knowledge, and help you through these scary first moments of belief. His Bible will be made available to you, and will become your map as His Word speaks about all the things you need to know to begin your journey, and understand the things that you are thinking about in the first moments of faith (John 6:33-37).

Slide 5 – Simply put…you are very special to God, and He has chosen you to move closer to Him. The closer you come to Him, the more peace and joy you will have. To get really close to Him, you must be brought to Him by Jesus Christ (John 3:16).

Slide 6 – The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross allowed death to be brought to sin. That means that your sins can also receive death. Because Jesus Christ resurrected from death, you also can receive eternal life (John 6:37-40; 10:27-29). Once you no longer under the control of sin, and are resurrected into the life of a new believer, you can come closer to God (Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57).

Slide 7 – Each step of the way, God is going to open your eyes and ears more and more. Thoughts that seem scary to you now will soon pass, as you receive the Foundation of Jesus Christ. Take a deep breath, be courageous, and walk toward the place that God is leading you (Luke 6:47-49).

Slide 8 – Ask questions and read His Words through the Holy Bible, and know that there are many Christians here today that will be praying that your path is made clear, and your eyes opened fully to receive pure faith in His promises! You are very, very special to be called by God to come closer to Him through His Son Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:15)!

Second Set of Slides Faith brings Salvation, Baptism brings Heaven

Slide 9 – The only way be saved from damnation and resurrected to life eternal and inhabit the New Earth requires faith, and only faith, in the atoning blood and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, the baptism of Jesus Christ is required if you desire to go to Heaven for a time for rest until all things of God are in place for the New Earth to be established.

Slide 10 – Salvation comes to a Christian through faith (Hebrews 9:23-28). A Christian must have faith that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for the redemption of the Christian’s sins. There is nothing a person can do to save himself from sin. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ, and his crucifixion and resurrection, that a person can receive salvation (Romans 3:19-26). When a person receives the promise of salvation, he receives the promise that he will be forgiven of all sin, be judged innocent, and saved from the judgment of eternal damnation.

Slide 11 – Faith is the condition of believing. Christians cannot receive salvation from judgment of eternal damnation until they face Jesus Christ for judgment; those baptized will join Him in Heaven for Judgment, those unbaptized believers will be resurrected from their grave at a certain time and receive His Judgment (Hebrews 9:27-28). This Judgment officiated in Heaven is often called the “Glory Seat” Judgment by Christian scholars (Revelation 20:1-6; 22:12-14), and is different than the Final Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). Christians believe in God’s promise that they will be forgiven of all sin as a result of Christ’s crucifixion. A Christian must have Faith of this promise throughout his life, and even into his physical death. This faith brings the reward of promised salvation and eternal life through the free Grace of the LORD God as a result of the sacrifice given freely by His Son Jesus Christ (John 3:15-18).

Slide 12 – A simple way to distinguish the difference between faith, salvation and baptism is expressed fully in Scripture. Believers that have faith in Jesus Christ are children of the LORD God, and will receive the same inheritance as His Chosen people. Believers that receive the baptism of Jesus Christ, put Him on, and become one with Him; this means they are born again and resurrected in eternal life through His Resurrection (Galatians 3:26-27). All those with faith in Jesus Christ, whether baptized or not, receive salvation and are promised eternal life. The only difference between the baptized and unbaptized is the time of their resurrection into eternal life!

Third Set of Slides Faith Statements of Fact

Slide 13 – (1) As a result of sin, a person is separated from the LORD GOD’s presence (Exodus 20:18-21; Psalm 51; John 8:34-36).

Slide 14 – (2) The only thing that can remove sin is death (Romans 6:1-14).

Slide 15 – (3) Jesus Christ died for sin once, and as a result, those accepting him as their Savior, are promised salvation for life eternal (Romans 8:7-9; Galatians 3:19-26).

Slide 16 – (4) This salvation guarantees that when a person faces the Judgment of the LORD God, he will be able to redeem the sacrifice of the blood of Christ for his sin, and allowed to continue on to the New Earth. (1 Peter 1:6-9).

Slide 17 – (5) This promise of this redemption is accepted by faith. This faith in redemption does not make the person free from sin in their life (Ephesians 1:3-23).

Slide 18 – (6) To be free from sin in this life requires a believer to embrace the foundational doctrine of Jesus Christ (2 John 1:8; 1Timothy 6:1-6).

Slide 19 – (7) Two parts of this doctrine of Jesus Christ are the baptism by water and the baptism by the Holy Ghost (Hebrews 6:1-3).

Slide 20 – (8 ) Water baptism is the process in which death is brought to a believer. When a faithful believer goes under the water baptism, he is dying and going to his grave. As a result of his death, sin loses its power, and no longer has the ability to stay with that person, and it is destroyed (Romans 6:3-4).

Slide 21 – (9) As the believer rises from the baptismal waters, he is receiving the same resurrection in faith that was accomplished through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The faithful man is born again. He is no longer the man that died in sin, but a new man resurrected into the Kingdom of God (Romans 6:8-11).

Slide 22 – (10) The baptized faithful will never again experience death. Death occurs one time for the release of sin, and those believers who have died through baptism are cleansed of their original sin, and will never again go to their grave. Those faithful, who do not receive the baptism of Jesus Christ, are not released from sin until physical death comes to them (Hebrews 9:17-28). If they have not been baptized, then they must experience natural death to their grave to be released from sin (Romans 6:3-11).

Slide 23 – (11) The baptism of the Holy Ghost is given to the born again man, to burn up any sin that comes his way, and lead him on the path that the LORD God wills to walk (Matthew 3:11-12; 1 John 2:20-24).

Slide 24 – (12) Those baptized believers are taken to Heaven for rest for a time, until the New Earth and the New Heavens are established in His Time (2 Peter 3:9-13).

Slide 25 – (13) On the New Earth, the baptized believers, and those unbaptized who had faith in their redemption through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (now freed from sin as a result of death, and resurrected through the promised redemption) ( Romans 8:10-11) will be joined together once again.

Slide 26 – You must be cleansed of sin through the death of water baptism and resurrection to life eternal through faith in Jesus Christ before you can receive rest in Heaven for a time (1 Peter 1:3-5; 3:21-22). To receive the promise of eternal life and the ability to walk on the New Earth requires you only to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, believe in his resurrection, and have faith in the redemption of his sacrifice before you die in natural life and go to your grave until resurrection.

Slide 27 – Having faith of salvation through the sacrificed blood of Jesus Christ is all that is necessary to receive the promised salvation from eternal damnation. The process of receiving salvation through this sacrificed blood is called Redemption (1 Peter 1:18-23). At the designated time, all believing Christians who come through Jesus to the presence of the LORD God will have their sins redeemed through his shed blood, and they will be judged innocent as a result of their faith in Him. Until that day, faithful Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit and await the promised redemption to be paid in full (Ephesians 4:30).

Fourth Set of Slides Salvation is not the ticket to Heaven.

Slide 28 – Salvation is the promise of a verdict of innocence following the redemption of blood, and avoiding the sentence of eternal damnation. It is baptism, the lively expression of hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ that allows believers to enter Heaven upon their physical death (1 Peter 1:3-9).

Slide 29 – Many misguided, young, or self-focused Christians think that Heaven is a permanent place that everybody who is good gets to go to at their death. It is not. Heaven is a temporary dwelling place for the LORD God and His Spirits, Jesus Christ, the angels, and the saints who are righteous. Heaven is going to come to an end one day, at the moving of the LORD God (2 Peter 3:9-10; Revelation 21:1-8). All of the saints in Heaven, as well as those resurrected from their grave through their faith in Jesus Christ, and martyrs who died for the cause of Christ (Revelation 6:9-11) will one day populate the New Earth; joining them will be all of the others judged favorably on Judgment Day and who receive the verdict of not-guilty and given the reward of eternal life by the Supreme Judge who is also the Son of God (Revelation 20:11-15).

Slide 30 – To be Righteous means to be free of sin. Faith does not remove sin from a living body! Even though you have faith, original sin still dwells within you. There is only one way a person that is alive and walking the earth can become righteous. The original sin must leave his body (1 Peter 4:16-19).

Slide 31 – There is only one way that sin can leave the body. Physical Death of the body – The moment the body dies, sin has no hold, and dies (Romans 5:7-21). But here’s the problem… If you die with sin still within you, then you go to your grave. Sinful people do not get to rest in Heaven for awhile. In fact, that’s why death exists to start with. Because there is sin, then death must come to man. So the dead in sin stay in their graves until they are resurrected on the Day of Rapture, just before the rapture of living Christians (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

Slide 32 – There is a much better option laid out for Christians. The Baptism of Jesus Christ causes the body to die, and the sins to die in a faithful Christian. If a Christian goes under the baptismal waters to their grave, they die and the original sin’s control is removed from them. When the Christian comes up out of the baptismal waters and in faith experiences the same resurrection that Jesus did, then they come out of the waters sin free and new. This new person, free from original sin, is called Born Again (John 3:1-7).

Slide 33 – The born again Christian is a new being, and sin-hold-released baptized Christians have two options available to them to remain sin free, and increase their righteousness through His Will. The first one is the authority of Jesus Christ to forgive sin on earth (Luke 5:17-25). When a baptized Christian commits sin, he has the opportunity to confess, repent, and return to a righteous state through forgiveness and restoration by Jesus Christ.

Slide 34 – The second option is through the Holy Spirit Baptism, a baptism accomplished through the laying on of hands by an apostle of Jesus Christ. (Acts 19:1-7). When the Holy Spirit is infused into a baptized believer, then that Christian has all of his innocent sins burned away, helping to maintain a righteous state (Matthew 3:11-12).

Slide 35 – When the baptized and faithful Christian experiences a physical death, he is immediately taken to Heaven. This Christian will not feel the sting of death or lay asleep in the grave for even an instant (1 Corinthians 15:51-57). The baptized and faithful Christian is immediately taken to Heaven, where they serve the Lord Jesus Christ for a time in the bosom of the LORD God, until the rest of the LORD God’s plans are completed (Revelation 7:13-17).

Slide 36 – At the establishment of the New Earth and the New Heaven, the Christian will assume a new life on that new earth, along with all of the favorably judged people who stood before the throne of Jesus Christ. This New Earth life will be ruled by King Jesus Christ, and will begin its existence with sin free people who love the LORD God, and humbled forever by the undeserved grace and salvation received as a result of His Son sacrifice (2 Peter 3:11-18; Revelations 21:1-8).

Slide 37 – Faith in your salvation through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is all that is need to receive eternal life. The absence of Baptism or Works does not remove you from this promise. However, Baptism allows the grasp of sin to be freed from its hold upon you, and permits your entrance into Heaven for a short while. Works brings reward to you through the “Glory-Seat Judgment of Jesus Christ. When all is finished according to God’s Will with this old heaven and earth, it will be those of faith in Him that will occupy the New Heaven and New Earth. It is faith in Jesus Christ that makes us citizens of that new Kingdom of God, as it is revealed and established in His Time! Thanks be to God!