My name is Alfred Shannon, Jr. I am a member of the Church of Christ since March 15, 1970. I preach, and teach the Gospel of Christ, and I adhere to the principle of speaking where the bible speaks, and remaining silent where the bible is silent. (1 Pet 4:11) I do not add to or take from God’s Word nor do I go beyond that which was written. (Rev 22:18,19 f; 1 Cor 4:6) I prove all things by the scripture, and by no other source. (1 Thess 5:21) This site is designed to preach the gospel and doctrine of Christ unto all the world. (Mt 28:19,20 f; Mk 16:15,16) Not every sermon is authored by me, but all sermons are edited and approved by me. I only request that all the saints of God help me to spread the Word of God by publishing any content on this site on your website, Facebook, Twitter, Forum, bulletins, teaching materials such as tracts and or sermons. I am a fallible man preaching an infallible Word. Therefore, if you find any mistakes I may have made or over looked, please feel free to let me know and the changes will be made.
* This is not a debate forum for denominations to spread false doctrine. All comments will be delayed before they are posted, and reviewed before publication. Any foul language, insults, or abusive, nonconstructive comments will be deleted immediately and not published. Only legitimate, sincere questions will be answered in a timely manner and in the order they are received. Please keep your comments to a few sentences. In no way will your comments be amended if they are published. All repetitive and argumentative comments will be deleted immediately.
* Rules for comments on this forum.
Biblical Proof 
Comments on: "About Me & This Blog" (161)
Who does your artwork?
I like your site.
Thank you! I do my own artwork by the grace of God.
It would be nice if this were printer friendly so I could send them to my son who does not have access to a computer.
I jus found your site, great Word, Brother! I will share, Arnold
Al,
I have recommended your site on our congregation’s web site:
http://web.me.com/grantspasscofc/Site/Links/Entries/2011/6/6_Biblical_Proof.html
Thank You very much!
Keep those artwork going. I love these images.
Thank you.
Bro. Al,
Your site is great help in my studied at Nations University..
Bro Al,
I used your artwork in my sermon presentations, is it okay to you?
You are more than welcomed to use my art work in the furtherance of the gospel.
God’s blessing be with you brother!
Brother, i love your site..these are great daily encouragements and upliftments to me.
I LOVE your artwork!! I just found your blog and facebook posts on Saturday and used them in our powerpoints Sunday. Do you have a place you store all of them together? If not, would be interested in hosting your images so others can find them and use them for the furtherance of His Kingdom. I don’t know how much space you need, but if I’m able to provide the space I would be willing to do so. Hosting small congregations of the Lord’s Church and sources for material owned or created by members of His Church, is a part of my service to our Lord.
Please let me know if you are interested.
Pam, if you are able to host his images, I would be interested knowing of the location, the place where you will store them.
Thanks for the offer Pam. However, I prefer to keep my artwork, and posts on Biblical Proof where all can view the post with the art work. I would deeply appreciate a link from your site directing anyone to Biblical Proof. It is my goal to share the gospel to as many people as possible. Anyone can download for free any of my art work, or use my post as long as they don’t plagiarize it, or misuse it to teach false doctrine.
may god bless your desires
Your web-site is such a blessing!! Thank-you for the encouragement and that you are standing firm in the faith. So many of our brethren today have started “falling away” and letting false doctrine “sneak” in. So sad and heart breaking, but we do have the avenue of prayer for a change of heart and their repentance until the Lord returns. God Bless You!
Thank you so much! The last days and the great falling away must be upon us. Thank you for your words of encouragement. and may God bless all your endeavors in the Word of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.
Al,
My understanding of the falling away, mentioned for example in Second Thessalonians Two, is that it has already happened, beginning many centuries ago when the man of sin was revealed. The man of sin was revealed once the Roman Empire fell, and the church that had gone into the wilderness (Rev 12), reappeared riding on a beast, and many followed her into the world-wide dominant church that controlled much of the world for several centuries.
Don Ruhl
Don,
There are many who have argued and debated the true meaning of this passage. Some to the Roman Empire, others as recently to the Catholic Church. However, to fall away one must already be in the church. So to relegate this to mean anything outside of the church is to say that all are in the church, which can’t be true. For Christ to be at hand means he is to appear in his second coming. None of these things have come to pass despite mankind stating to the contrary, though many believe that it has. It’s certain that the two thirds of the population can’t be considered for they don’t even believe in Christ. Catholics can’t be considered because they worship God falsely. Most protestant churches are not even close to the doctrine of Christ. Only the true Church of Christ can be considered who once believed and obeyed Christ because they certainly can fall away. I believe i have witnessed many churches of Christ who have done just that today. They are teaching a secular gospel contrary to the gospel of Christ. They no longer are teaching to speak where the bible speaks and to be silent where the bible is silent. Some are using instrumental music. Some are teaching that to go strictly by the bible is false doctrine. Some are using women teachers and preachers. Some are engulfed in adulteries and teaching such practices is acceptable with God. Yes, I plainly teach and assert that the falling away is in the churches of Christ and has been going on for quite some time. As to when the Lord will come again, even the angels in heaven and the Lord himself knows not, only God. However, the falling away is taking place right before our eyes, and most can’t even see it happening. Sad, very sad, but true nevertheless.
Okay.
Great site and great artwork. You remind me of Richard Gunther who has mightymag.org – he does all his own artwork and is sold out for Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your encouraging words.
Craig, Hi, you know of Richard Gunther? He lives here in my home town of Timaru, New Zealand.
Al What program do you use in doing the art work? Is it done on a Mac or PC platform?
I use Photoshop 5 on win 7 pc format.
I thought it had to be Photoshop. I like Photoshop and just upgraded to CS6. I do a lot of Indesign on my Mac.
Are we (Christians) operating the New Testament only, Is not Jesus Christ referred to the Old testament as Scriptures? Even Apostle Paul says that we should use the Old Testament (exception of the Law of Moses Acts 15:24) in Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms…. and Colossians 3:16 teaching and admonishing one another in psalms… Please I need a response.
2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Dear Brother Al Shannon……I very much appreciate your timely Article “DELAYED JUDGEMENT” for many today very cleverly and cunningly hide their sins and submit FALSE WORK report on immersions and establishment of new congregation…..they should read this article….I am very much encouraged…thanks..keep up your good work…..God Bless…
Mr.Shannon – i don’t really understand the no music part– God gave us the blessing of music, and I can’t believe he would object to us singing praises to Him , using musical instruments to make it sound even more beautiful .Please let me know your thoughts—
I agree music in the secular world can be a good thing, but Christ never instituted it in His Church. Aside from the command to sing with music in our hearts to the Lord in Ephesians 5:19, consider that God is not worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. Acts 17:25
I am a church of Christ member. I grew up baptist, came to believe in our wonderful Lord Jesus in a baptist church as a child, felt true love for him in my heart as a child, then later strayed down the wrong road at a very early age (rock music.. the worldly music of the day.. , smoking pot, drinking, doing drugs, fornicating) and by the time I was grown (17 18 years old) I was totally mentally and spiritually destroyed. Totally separated from God. When I was at the bottom of the barrel and yearning to repent and get back with God I was super wary of being led astray and being decieved by false/wrong teaching. I knew that I was no more special than anyone else in the world and I knew that I was just as susceptible to being deceived and winding up in hell for eternity as the next person. So my mindset was to find a church that obeys the word of God exactly to the n’th degree, not being corrupted by the commandments of men, and I figured that would be my best chance of not being deceived. So that.. and God I imagine, is what led me to the church of Christ.
The preacher at the church of Christ that I wound up being baptized at put a question to me before I was baptized, when he knew that I was still pondering whether or not if I had the right church, he asked me the question “when God commanded Noah to build the ark of such type of wood, and by such and such dimensions, and left off his commandments with specific information, if Noah had decided to paint the ark red would Noah have been obeying God?” The obvious answer to me was no, because God did not say to paint the ark red. You see, if Noah had of painted the ark red when God didn’t say to paint the ark red then Noah would have been adding-to the commandment of God by his own willful opinion.
No where in the New Testament is mechanical instruments mentioned in worship. It only says “lift up your voices”. To use instrumental music in worship is to then add-to the commandment of God.
Why does God want us to only use our voices in worship absent mechanical instruments? I don’t know. He knows and he is Holy and we are most sinful and faulty. We should trust him.
There is one thing I thought about that I will throw out there, our voices are made by the hand of God and mechanical instruments are made by the hands of sinful men. And I know from reading the book of Exodus that God is very serious about maintaining the sanctity of the temple of worship.
Mr.Shannon- I forgot to tell you how much I enjoy your information 🙂 Thanks. It’s very tough to find a Church that doesn’t have mans doctrine woven in to what they teach and preach.Ive been forwarding your site to those who will listen.Take care and Thanks again for your work.
Thank you for helping me spread God’s Word. Yes, a church which doesn’t have the doctrine of men is hard to find. A good congregation comes with one faithful Christian at a time. Let that one be you. God bless you in the Lord always.
Al Shannon I sent a sincere statement to you and question but it did not “fit” your beliefs…..which are not all biblical. So you removed it and did not have the kindness of answering me. Do you honestly desire a sincere, biblical discussion, the sharing of ideas and view, or are YOU the great one that knows everything. I am sure you will delete this one as well.
My statement was, I graduated from Abilene Christian University. The Church of Christ state that the Bible is their only source and all truth comes from the Bible (which is true) However, my observation was that not ALL Church of Christ worship, practice and believe the exact same thing. I can give you exact details of numerous Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas and point out their differences. SO, if they all say their practice follows the same statement, which one is the true church.
Dr Stephen Joiner
The true church is the one whose doctrine matches that which Christ and his apostles taught. The name church of Christ doesn’t guarantee that they will all follow the doctrine of Christ and no more. Many churches of Christ are liberal or ultra-liberal and have rejected the biblical principle of not adding to or taking from God’s Word. I don’t know the ones you are speaking of, but our one true guide is the New Testament. If the church and the Bible don’t match, the Bible is right and that church is wrong and not the other way around.
It’s Christ church…those in a congregation/and or/ the congregation can make mistakes and fall as Paul mentioned to congregation making mistakes, ergo Corinthians and others but the church of Christ is the body the of Christ, that he gave so those who obey and fulfill the terms to salvation shall be added into the body of Christ, so I agree with you fully Al that those who cause a congregation to lose God by not fulfilling his Word, but the church meaning those who were added and are in total submission will go to heaven when our Lord and savior comes because it the body of Christ that we are added to !
Is it ok to share your artwork? I am intrigue and was tempted to use just one for my post. Please forgive me?
It is ok to share my art work as long as this link is added to it: https://biblicalproof.wordpress.com/
Yes, understood my friend, thanks, May Yahuah bless upon you and yours. Shalum Aleichem… Ahava-Love… Amein!
Mr Shannon– i think your issues about music may be of some confusion to your readers.In doing my research,I’ve found that the Jewish congregations had 12 different instruments in their worship.The size of their musical department would depend on the size of their congregation .In reading about King David-it is said he had up to 4000 in his musical department when praising God.Now it seems true that God made it known when He didn’t approve of how He was worshipped.So it can be assumed that He enjoyed and was pleased with the musical part of the worship.Also-when Jesus was here on earth teaching and giving instruction,He never complained or made known that the congregations should stop this practice. If God enjoyed the musical part of worship to Him in the past,what changed in the New Testament ? As you often say-speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.Don’t add to or take away from the Bible.I wanted to address this issue,as i enjoy your posts and do not want anyone confused– or driven away by this issue. Take care and keep up the good work of Christianity— Mike Ubl
Mike, your use of common reasoning that what God did under the law of Moses is reasonable for us today lacks credence. Do you sacrifice animals? Moses and David did. Do you practice polygamy? David and Solomon did. Do you worship on Saturday and keep the entire law of Moses? James wrote that anyone who keeps not the whole law of Moses is guilty of it all. Jam 2:10 I do practice speaking where the bible speaks and remaining silent where the bible is silent. Rev 22:18,19 ; 1 Pet 4:11 In doing so I find Paul commanding singing with the mouth but making music with the heart and not an instrument. Eph 5:19 If I add instrumental music to God’s Worship, I am guilty of sin. Speaking in God’s silence is lethal. Consider Nadab and Abihu who offered up strange fire to God. Consider Uzzah who touched the ark of the covenant. Is the playing of instruments of music worth your soul? Did Christ command you to play them? If not, then why do you do it? By whose authority?
Remember this, we must rightly divide God’s Word correctly. 2 Tim 2:15 The old testament is for our learning and not our obedience. Rom 15:4 Our guide is the new testament for Christ died for his church and not the church of Moses. Acts 20:28 Therefore, I serve Christ and follow his apostles and doctrine, and none other will I follow. Thank you for your comments and I hope this shines a little light on the use of instruments of music in the church and why we should never use them.
Totally agree, Bro. Shannon. We are not under the law of Moses, and wasn’t it about 600 a.d. when men decided to use musical instruments in their worship? Men decided, not God.
Yes it was about that time men began to use instrumental music in worship. Good point.
Your question can be answered in one sentence Stephen. All of these churches of Christ are not following the same biblical principles. Many churches of Christ have abandoned the biblical principle of not adding to or taking from God’s Word. This principle was what established the churches of Christ and separates us from denominationalism. The phrase “Speak where the bible speaks and silent where the bible is silent” is not a man made doctrine, but the doctrine of the entire bible. Take the time and read Deut 4:2; Deut 5:32: Deut 12:32; Deut 28:14; Josh 1:7; Prov 4:27; Prov 30:6; Eccl 3:14; Isa 30:20,21 — Acts 4:19,20; Acts 5:29; 1 Cor 2:13; 1 Cor 4:6; 2 Cor 4:13; 1 Pet 4:11; Rev 22:18,19
Those who still believe that God inspired every word in the bible will also follow this same biblical principle and honor the silence of God. 2 Tim 3:16 All those who believe that fallible men wrote their own opinions and were not inspired men of God have abandoned the silence of God. You are truly asking the right questions and I hope and pray you understand what I am trying to convey to you about these questions. Those who believe in choirs and alcoholic use also believe its not a sin to add to God’s Word. Those who don’t believe in Sunday schools and Christmas celebrations are more inclined to believe in the silence of the scriptures. When I became a Christian 43 years ago, most all Churches of Christ believed the same and revered 1 Peter 4:11, but today the great falling away is here. The liberal minded who think its alright to speak where God did not speak have gone the way of denominations. In fact, some are more liberal than the Baptist and Methodist.
To answer your question, yes, speaking where God did not speak will condemn your eternal soul. Anyone who abides not in the doctrine of Christ has not God. 2 Jn 9. Remember this, many are called but few are chosen. Remember, God’s Word at the judgment as it was written shall judge us all. Jn 12:48; Rom 2:16 The additions of mankind will not save you. Instrumental music was never commanded. Therefore it can’t save you. Sunday schools were never commanded. Therefore they can’t save you. Choirs were never commanded. Therefore they can’t save you. Going beyond that which God commanded through Christ and his apostles will condemn us. Rev 22:18,19 The only thing that can save you is your obedience to the gospel and your continuance in the apostles doctrine. Jn 8:31 Nothing more, and nothing less.
I do need to make one thing very clear. I loved my years at Abilene Christian University. I am NOT trying to say anything negative about ACU . To me it is an excellent University and the teachers are very sincere and caring. I received a great education.
Also, I am not saying anything negative about the churches that I have referred to. What I am saying is that as a SEEKER, I see things that just do not add up.
Hello Brother Joiner. Could you please contact me at bollweevil56@aol.com ? I live about 130 miles from Abilene and have spent time at the Oak Street church of Christ but it has been almost 40 years since I have been there. I attend the Ireland church of Christ in Ireland. I to see the differences that exist in the church as you mentioned and would like to discuss it further, if possible.
Thanks H.J. Billingsley
I am proud to be a member of the Church of Christ too like you brother Al! Keep on exposing the error and defending the truth!!! Praying for you and your family!
Al,
Thank you for your excellent answer. It is beginning to make sense. But I have other questions as follow up.
You stated that choir, instruments, sunday schools, etc, CANNOT SAVE YOU. I agree, but can those thing condemn you? Also, are you saying that we should or should not have Sunday School since it was never commanded? If you are saying we should not, then is that a different belief than the churches that follow Abilene Christian University? Will you go to hell if you have Sunday School, etc. I am confused because I have heard of Church of Christ’s that are not in line with the Church of Christ that approve of ACU? Oh me……confusing.
You wrote, “The only thing that can save you is your obedience to the gospel and your continuance in the apostles doctrine.” I thought the blood of Jesus through faith saved you. Does not the Bible say, we are saved by grace through faith? Are you saying that we cannot be sure we are saved until we die to find out, because you may or may not have followed all the right things?
YOU have an excellent site and are one of the few Church of Christ preachers that will honestly address questions such of these. In the past I have been “brushed off” when I asked such questions. I am excited to learn more. Thank you in advance for you answers.
“You stated that choir, instruments, Sunday schools, etc, CANNOT SAVE YOU. I agree, but can those thing condemn you? Also, are you saying that we should or should not have Sunday School since it was never commanded? If you are saying we should not, then is that a different belief than the churches that follow Abilene Christian University? Will you go to hell if you have Sunday School?”
To answer your question let me preface it by the scriptures. Paul said, “Where there is no law, there is no transgression” Rom 4:15 John said, “Anyone who commits sin transgresses the law; for sin is a transgression of the law.” 1 Jn 3:4
The scriptures commanded Christians how to sing in Ephesians 5:19. Therefore we have a law, and where there is a law we also have sin if we go contrary to the law. We are commanded to sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Why would a Christian be commanded to make music in the heart if God allowed us to make music by the use of instrumental music? The same applies to choirs. Choirs have only a few choice singers singing as opposed to all Christians singing. We are commanded to teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spirituals songs. Col 3:16 So, because we have a law on singing, anything contrary to this law would be sin.
As concerning Sunday schools or bible studies let me address what the scriptures instruct us. Paul said, “Be diligent (study kjv) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 This was a personal command which Paul instructed to a young Timothy. Yes, it applies to all Christians for all are commanded to study, read, and search the scriptures. 1 Tim 4:13; Jn 5:39; Acts 17:11; Heb 4:12-14 However, there is no commandment to do this collectively. Therefore, absent of a law, it is not a sin not to study collectively. It is a sin not to study personally. Is it a sin to study collectively? It is a sin if we bind this constructive tradition upon others as if God commanded it. It is like when you were in public school and had a study hall. You didn’t get credit for study hall, but it was a good idea to use it constructively if you want to do better in your credited studies. Such is the case of Sunday school or Wednesday night bible studies or gospel meetings.
“You wrote, “The only thing that can save you is your obedience to the gospel and your continuance in the apostles doctrine.” I thought the blood of Jesus through faith saved you. Does not the Bible say, we are saved by grace through faith? Are you saying that we cannot be sure we are saved until we die to find out, because you may or may not have followed all the right things?”
Yes, the bible does say: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph 2:8,9 Yet, notice the very next verse: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Eph 2:10
The works Paul was speaking about was the works of the law of Moses. However, we are commanded to do good works. Jesus said that “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” John 6:29 To say one is not saved by works of the gospel of Christ is to ignore the words of Jesus Christ. Yes, Christ died for our sins and this was the grace of God to give us his only begotten son. Jn 3:16 However, Jesus said again, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:13,14 What did Christ and his apostles command every sinner? Jesus said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned.” Mk 16:16 It requires both faith and baptism in order to be saved. One without the other is worthless or as James said, “Faith without works is dead” Jam 2:14-26 Peter said, “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” Acts 2:38 Therefore, repentance without baptism leaves on still in their sins. No sinner can inherit the kingdom of heaven. Gal 5:19-21
Yes, one can be assured of their salvation IF they do what they are commanded to do, and do no more than what the apostles did for our example to follow. 1 Cor 11:1 If we go beyond that which was written, we can’t be assured of our salvation. 1 Cor 4:6; Rev 22:18,19 After all, why should we stand in jeopardy every hour by following the commandments of men when we have the commandments of Jesus and his apostles to guide us through the strait and narrow path of life everlasting. 1 Cor 15:30; Mt 15:7-9; Mt 7:13-14 Only the Gospel of Christ has the power to save us. Rom 1:16 The commandments of men can save no one, and turn us from the truth. Tit 1:14
I hope I have answered your questions by the scriptures. May God bless and enrich your understanding and abiding zeal.
Thank you brother Al for an excellent lesson, defending the Truth in the bible. It makes me proud to be in the Lord’s church. It is proven more to me that the “Narrow gate” is difficult to enter, and singing with instrument for worship is one that makes it hard to enter, especially if you love music.
Bro Al I thought I was the only brother (like Elijah) who believed all activities of the church other than first day of the week worship, should not be binding i.e., Bible-class, gospel meeting etc. I have no problem with attending, and do. Nevertheless, some leaders bind them around our necks as law. One preacher said he would hate for Jesus to come Sunday evening, and he decided to stay home to watch football, using Heb. 10:25. Thank you sir! I accidently found your site at 2:30 am looking for something else. I was suppose to be going back to sleep, nevertheless, God blessed me with your site.
I am sure you will get a thorough response from Al, however I thought I’d chime in. I think the difference is that Sunday School is simply Christians gathering together on a Sunday or Wednesday to study the Bible. We can do that anytime, anywhere. We use those times and our buildings for convenience, not as a command in the scriptures. Our Sunday worship service and the activities that go along with them are commanded in the scriptures. They are not the same thing.
Keep up the good work!
Excellent answers, thank you. One final question for now, sin is what sends a person to Hell. Therefore, to go to heaven one must not have a sin. Is this correct? So, what if a person follows exactly everything you have stated in regards to worship practices, yet sins during the week in thought and deed. Will they go to Hell?
If the answer is yes, is it not true that we all are sinners and no one is perfect? Would not everyone die with at least 1 unforgiven sin? If you say the blood of Jesus and baptism covers those sins, then why would the same not cover the sins of not worshipping properly?
I believe you have answered all of my question in a good, honest manner. I appreciate that and have learned a lot. But the above questions are the only ones I have left. God bless.
One final question for now, sin is what sends a person to Hell. Therefore, to go to heaven one must not have a sin. Is this correct? So, what if a person follows exactly everything you have stated in regards to worship practices, yet sins during the week in thought and deed. Will they go to Hell?
It only takes one unrepentant sin to condemn us to hell, but thanks be unto God we have forgiveness of sins by our obedience to the gospel. If we worship correctly, yet go do evil such as fornication or adultery, we will lose our souls, and our worship will be in vain. Even so, we can avoid evil such as fornication or adultery and worship God by following the doctrines of men and our worship will be in vain. Mt 15:7-9 Both scenarios lose their eternal soul. Let us not be tempted into believing like the Baptist, “Once saved, always saved.” We can fall from grace. Gal 5:4 All the works of the flesh can send our soul to hell if we don’t turn from them and stop committing them. Gal 5:19-21 Worshiping God not in Spirit and in truth will condemn our souls as well. Jn 4:23,24
All Christians have a petition of prayer that if they ask anything according to God’s Will, they will be answered. 1 Jn 5:14 It is God’s Will that we be forgiven of sins and saved, for this is the reason Christ was sent into the world (to seek and save all who are lost). Jn 3:17; Col 1:14; Lk 19:10
As concerning worship, we have the knowledge of how the apostles worshiped, and they made it clear that we are to follow in their doctrine. Acts 2:42; 2 Thess 3:7; 2 Tim 2:2 Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Acts 17:30 We can’t willfully disobey God, and then cry ‘God forgive me’ and then go do it again and be pleasing unto God. If we sin willfully, (intentionally) after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. Heb 10:26 We should never tempt the Lord our God by doing evil intentionally and expect God to forgive such foolishness. Mt 4:7 To truly repent is to completely turn from sin and do the will of God, and not go back to it over and over again as a sow does to mud. 2 Pet 2:20-22
I pray that I have answered your questions and have enlightened your path. God bless your search for truth.
I have learned so much from you. Thank you. Just one follow up question. You stated if we sin willfully there is no forgiveness of sin. But in complete honesty, are you saying that YOU have never sinned willfully? (I know I have)
For example,
What if we willfully run a red light. Isn’t that a willful sin?
What if we willfully go over the speed limit. Isn’t that a willful sin?
What if we willfully not tell the complete truth. Isn’t that a willful sin?
What if we willfully have a bad thought towards someone. Isn’t that a willful sin?
I believe I could go on, but you get the picture.
I can understand the BIG SINS, i.e. fornication, adultery, homosexuality, etc. But does not the problem come with the so called “little sins” such as our thoughts, every day life of driving, littering, in other words breaking the small laws of our state or with God. It would seem to me that ALL HUMANS will die with a unforgiven sin that they willfully committed. I mean do we not do some things that are so “minor” to us that by the end of the day we forget that we did them?
It could be breaking driving laws or taking a pen from work to be used at home. It could be borrowing something promising to return it and you forget about it (a lie). I hope that you understand the picture that I am attempting to draw. Looks to me like, and I believe there are some scriptures, that say the blood of Jesus has forgiven ALL of our sins. So how do we balance all of this out.
Again, thank you for an honest discussion. You have help me tremendously
“I have learned so much from you. Thank you. Just one follow up question. You stated if we sin willfully there is no forgiveness of sin. But in complete honesty, are you saying that YOU have never sinned willfully? (I know I have)
For example,
What if we willfully run a red light. Isn’t that a willful sin?
What if we willfully go over the speed limit. Isn’t that a willful sin?
What if we willfully not tell the complete truth. Isn’t that a willful sin?
What if we willfully have a bad thought towards someone. Isn’t that a willful sin?
I believe I could go on, but you get the picture.”
Good question you pose and here is your answer. Keep in mind we are speaking of Christians and not sinners. A sinner can repent and be baptized and have every sin they have ever committed removed. We are speaking of Christians and all future sins in this reply:
In each of the scenarios that you pose are not willful sins. They are incidental sins. For instance, you didn’t get out of be with the intent to run the red light, or go over the speed limit or lie, or think bad thoughts. No, the situation you were in dictated the result. Even mankind has determined the difference between these to unlawful acts. If you kill intentional they seek life in prison or the death penalty. However, if you kill someone in the heat of the moment, or incidentally, it is called manslaughter and a lesser penalty is given. Even with large sins most Christians don’t commit them intentionally, though it can happen.
The old law stated this about intentional and unintentional sin:
“Also if one person sins unintentionally, then he shall offer a one year old female goat for a sin offering.”Num 15:27
“But the person who does anything defiantly, whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be on him.” Num 15:30-31
David wrote, “Also keep back Thy servant from intentional sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.” Ps 19:13
The New testament stated this about intentional and unintentional sin:
John said, “There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” 1 John 5:16-17
Take note of what the Hebrew writer said concerning Christians, “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame.” Heb 6:4-6
Now read Peter’s admonition: “For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.” 2 Peter 2:20-22
Then read the Hebrew writer once again: “Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.” Heb 10:25-27
All sins can be forgiven to a Christian but when we forsake the Lord knowing that such is wrong, there is no forgiveness of this. This is what some call the sin against the Holy Spirit because it was the one sin that was unforgivable. The Spirit gave us the Word of God and delivered it from God’s mouth to man’s ears. Jn 16:13 When we reject the Word after knowing the truth, we have blasphemed the Word of God. Jesus said anyone who rejects the Word shall be judged of Him. Jn 12:48
James said, He that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin. Jam 4:17 The reverse of this is true as well. He that knows right from wrong, and does it anyway (intentionally), to him it is sin.
The good news is that most don’t intentionally sin this way. Most are like Adam and Eve and their sins are dictated by their situation. As Paul said, “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Rom 7:19-20 A few like Cain do sin intentionally and their sin is unforgivable. This is why many lost their lives immediately like Nadab and Abihu of the old testament and Ananias and Sapphira of the new testament. They all knew to do good and intentionally rejected it. I hope and pray you are not among these.
Having said all this let me conclude by saying, It is God who judges and not man what is forgivable and what is not forgivable, what is intentionality and what was not intentional. I dare not say any human could judge such matters. Even so, it is imperative that we seek to do good always and not intentionally sin against our Lord and Savior lest we be standing before our Maker and hear the words “Depart from me, you that work of iniquity, I never knew you.”
Thanks, Al, for your good points made here directly from New Covenant teaching. I don’t believe I’ve seen yet, a reference to John’s teaching regarding the sins a Christian may commit in 1 John 1:6-10. This passage plainly teaches that even as a Christian walks “in the light” he or she may sin and the blood of Jesus cleanses (continually cleanses would be a better translation of this active term) us of those sins. Intentional sin must be confessed (which would indicate that a sin we committed without thinking or without premeditation is not intentional and may be something we were absolutely unaware of) and we would, as Christians, certainly want to ask God’s forgiveness. Our ultimate trust is in a God who loves us and wants us to be saved–but we must never believe that it is okay to sin on purpose and think we can merely ask God’s forgiveness and that makes it okay!
Hi,
Can I please use the picture of 1 Peter 5:8. I am teaching Sunday school about the Armour of God and want to use it in my introduction regarding Satan as a Roaring Lion. Do I just put Biblical Proof near the picture?
Thanks & God bless,
Andy
Sure, you may use the picture. I would appreciate you placing https://biblicalproof.wordpress.com under the pic. God bless.
Hi ! Please let m eknow who you are 🙂 ..I truly LOVED your work…These speak more than words can say. I AM USING THESE FOR NON BELIEVERS. But U R JUST AWSOME…………………………….GOOD AND NO WORDS FOR YOUR WORK…Even i am intersted to do such christian stuff…coudl u guide me ?
Thank you. You are more than welcomed to use them for nonbelievers. The best way to do photos is to use a software named Photoshop. I am sure there are cheaper ones that can do the same work. God bless.
Awsome……May the almighty father & his son jesus bless you with more creativity and imagination and ideas of his world …..Are there any possibilities of we providing ideas as well ?
Thank you very much. Yes, I am open to ideas and subject matter. God bless.
There are several ways you can help me in God’s Word. One, you could take my sermons to those in your region of the world. Two, if you were blessed in wealth you could assist my ministry monetarily. Three, you could set up your own website and write sermons even as I do. Four, you could pray for my ministry to continue and flourish. Five, you could preach and teach in your local community. These are just a few ideas you could help me to spread the gospel into all the world. Thank you for your comments and contributions. God bless.
Hello All, would you please make an article about the passage in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 amd also 2 Timothy 2:12. I am really confused about this matter. God bless you and your ministry!
Here is an article I wrote on this subject that might guide your path according to God’s Word:
Hello, I wanted to ask you a private question and was wondering if there was any possible way to contact you.
David, you can contact me privately at: alshannonky@hotmail.com
i really like this blog. so many people aren’t willing to stop out and share the gospel.
Hi Al,
It was hard to read but I believe that this week I received a tract in my mailbox in Brisbane with a link to this site. I have a few questions and would love to chat with you about them sometime. Am happy to do this on a blog somewhere or you can e-mail me. If it wasn’t from you I apologize. My starting questions, given that you your explicit statement is not to add anything to God’s word is I don’t understand three things for starters: 1) Clearly the Bible talks about a rapture but in any text are the words secret and rapture ever combined (certainly the text in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 given in the tract seems to suggest that it will be loud and unmissable with dead people popping up, the voice of an archangel, the trumpet of God etc. If your go to text is in the latter stages of Matthew 24 that will need a longer discussion); 2) John 5:39 states search the scriptures these are they which testify of me, where does the Bible ever talk about a 7 year period of tribulation, without significantly altering scripture of Daniel 9 to take the focus away from Jesus (i.e. in the midst of the week Messiah will be cut off but not for Himself) and instead placing the focus on the antichrist at some future point but inserting a multiple thousand year gap between Daniel’s 69th and 70th week which is not in the text (I would love to follow up with you in regards to the chain of events Loyala –> Riberia –> Lacunza –> Darby –> Scofield –> Lehaye/Jenkins that led to the introduction of this concept) and finally 3) 2 Thessalonians 2 talks about the antichrist in regards to the son of perdition, the only other place that this term is used is in reference to Judas, how can the antichrist be some opposition force that opposes the church, when Judas was clearly a member of Jesus disciples who corrupted and betrayed from the inside? Thanks for your time and thoughts. Dwane
This is the best breakdown of this subject I’ve ever read, thank you. How do I share this on Facebook?
Just right-click the title of the article and choose “copy location”; and then paste the results into FaceBook.
Alfred, I really love your article on “Qualifications for a Gospel Preacher”. Me and several preachers have went round and round on this issue. The Lord’s church today is so stuck on inferences. Many churches fail to see that a single man can be just as effective as a married man. A single man has more time to devote himself to the Lord’s work (1 Corinthians 7).
Hello brother, I hope you don’t mind, is this Church of Christ that you’re a member of is anywhere related to Manalo’s Church of Christ?
Only in the sense that we share the same gospel and the same doctrine and bare the same name. The church I attend is in the united states.
Al is not familiar with the Philippine history on this point. Felix Manalo (1886-1963) was associated with the church of Christ in the Philippines in the early 1900’s but defected to several denominations and in 1914 formed his own denomination using the name Iglesia ni Cristo. Manalo’s foundation doctrine is like the so-called Jehovah’s Witnesses who deny the deity of Jesus Christ. The headquarters of this denomination are in Quzon City, Metro Manila. I can assure you Al has no connection to the INC 1914 false religion even though I know Al only from scanning his blog just now. I have made 58 preaching trips to the Philippines and have studied INC in detail. Manalo hijacked the name church of Christ and used it to deceive people. He made bizarre claims such as he is the “ravenous bird from the east” in Isa. 46:11, a prophecy of King Cyrus, & he is the fifth angel of God mentioned in Rev. 7:2-3 sent to seal the true servants of God. In short, Manalo was a false teacher serving Satan not God.
Their doctrine, I do not share and I doubt it. Anyway, I like you’re posts, I’ve read several and it’s very helpful. You presented the Gospel very well. Please enlighten me on Christ’s divinity. Thank you.
I’d like to have chat with you some time. I got lots of questions to ask. Thank you and God bless you.
You can contact me on Facebook via email. Any valid question will be answered biblically.
You state on March 6, 2011… “Baptism is the final stage in one becoming a Christian. One can not be declared a Christian unless they first are baptized. No convert in the New Testament was called a Christian unless they were baptized.” Are you a legalist? The FINAL stage?
I must ask. Should I pity the poor thief on the cross who didn’t climb down off the cross and get baptized. That man is “damned” according to your belief and writing. Actually, I’ll believe Jesus who said to the thief, “today you will be with me in paradise.” FACT: New Testament Saint – The Thief on the Cross. He did die after Jesus stated, “It is finished”, right? He was now a part of the Church Age.
Also, you place a lot of emphasis on being “called” a Christian. Christian appears three (3) times in Scripture. The word CHRISTIAN was actually a derogatory name for Christ’s followers used by the Romans and Jews. Show me a verse where Jesus called His disciples Christians. I see words in Scripture like “suffering as a Christian” (1 Peter 4:16); “disciples were called Christians” (Acts 11:26); Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28)
The word Christian can be anything people want it to be. Mormons say they are Christians. Are they???? As a disciple of Jesus Christ – I don’t need any checklist. I do as the Lord says in John 15. “Abide in Him.” I have a relationship with Jesus, not a religion with Jesus.
Was I baptized? Yes. Did it save me? No. I already accepted Jesus as my Savior, confessed my sins and repented. These alone gave me the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. So why did I get baptized? As an outward sign – it told others that Jesus loves me, that He is my Savior, and that I am committed to following Him and the examples He gave to us. My purpose is to enjoy God and obey Him.
By the way, I still sin, as you do, but I confess immediately and live my live for the Glory of God. The best part is “I KNOW I’M HEAVEN BOUND FOR ETERNITY!”
You (KC WIzz) say that you believe that the thief on the cross was saved and that you will take Jesus’ Word for it. Why then won’t you take Jesus’s Word for it when he said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned. Mk 16:16 This is called this the gospel which was preached unto all the world in order for one to be saved. Mt 28:19,20 f; Mk 16:15,16 The apostle Peter said, “Baptism saves us today” 1 Pet. 3:21
Oh, and by the way, “Paradise” was never called heaven. In fact, after Jesus had risen from the dead, he told Mary Magdalene to “Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my (heavenly) Father.” Jn 20:17 Unless you can’t take Jesus word for it after all? The apostle Peter, who was inspired by the Holy Spirit told us where Jesus went after he died on the cross; And, as you said correctly, the thief went where Jesus went on that day. Peter said, and I quote, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison” 1 Peter 3:18-19 These were the lost souls who had drowned during Noah’s flood. This is where Jesus and the thief went on the day they died on the cross.
So, by your own decree, you have doomed your own soul by not taking the word of Jesus who commanded the entire world to believe and be baptized in order to be saved. If one doesn’t first believe, then of course baptism would not save a person. The same is also true. If one believes and is not baptized, they too are lost. This is why Jesus said, “He that believes and is baptized” (it takes both to be saved.) This is why the apostle James said that “Faith only is dead”. Even demons believed and trembled, but they too won’t be saved. Jam 2:19,20 Your problem is not believing me, your problem is that you don’t believe Jesus Christ Himself.
Mark 2:10
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)”
1 Peter 3:21
“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
On July 13, 2013, you wrote, “All sins can be forgiven to a Christian but when we forsake the Lord knowing that such is wrong, there is no forgiveness of this.”
So if a person gets saved and is baptized, and then decides to go out and get drunk and go dancing one last time before settling down to live as a Christian should, that person has committed the unforgivable sin?
When one forsakes the Lord and return not, their sin remains. There is no unforgivable sin except when we reject God’s Word which was delivered by the Holy Spirit.
Have you “Bookmarked” Keep up the good commentary We need God’s word to keep us uncomfortable and focused on “His Way”
hello Al thanks for the web site. I keep reading about your art work and how wonderful it is, no doubt. Forgive me I’m slow but where can I see it? What’s the easiest way for a tech novice (dummy) to build a web page?
The thief on the cross had no works, but his faith and confession were accounted to him for righteousness. Your use of ‘paradise not actually meaning heaven’ is, in my current understanding of the Scriptures, false. 1.) You state it was never before used to refer to heaven but, neither was it ever before used – or ever since for that matter, to refer to the ‘prison’ where the souls in which Jesus proclaimed His victory were kept. 2.) Prior to Christ’s mention of ‘paradise’ the thief requested of Him, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”, in which Jesus first replied ‘Amen’ which means ‘so shall it be’ or ‘truth’, (deriving from the Hebrew “El Melekh Ne’eman” which means ‘GOD the faithful King”). Jesus was promising that he, the thief, would truly be with Him in His kingdom–paradise, Heaven. Christ is faithful to what He says.
If I have erred, where have I erred?
You said, “The thief on the cross had no works, but his faith and confession were accounted to him for righteousness.”
Where in the bible does the bible ever say such a thing? Not once did the bible say the thief believed or confesses Jesus was the Christ the Son of God. If so, prove it.
You said, “since for that matter, to refer to the ‘prison’ where the souls in which Jesus proclaimed His victory were kept. 2.)
The scriptures make it perfectly clear where Jesus went to on the 3 days and nights he was dead. He went back to preach to the lost spirits who died in the days of Noah. 1 Pet 3:18-20 The thief went with him if Jesus kept his promises and as you said, and I agree, God keeps his promises.
If you truly believed in Jesus you would also believe in his words. He said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be condemned.” Mk 16:16 If you believed Peter you would know that baptism saves us today. 1 Pet 3:21 If you don’t believe their words, you surely won’t believe mine. Even so, I agree with Jesus who commanded baptism. I agree with Peter who said it saves. I agree with Ananias who commanded baptism. Acts 22:16 I agree with the 3,000 on the day of Pentecost who were baptized for the remission of their sins. I agree with Saul of Tarsus who had his sins washed away by baptism. I agree with the Ethiopian eunuch who believed, and was baptized. Acts 8:36-39 I agree with every Christian convert who was baptized in the new testament.
The thief on the cross is not our example for salvation. Not one reference was given to him after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. NOT ONE. He lived and died under the law of Moses. Not once did the bible say the thief was saved. You did. God didn’t. Not once did the thief asked to be saved. He asked to be remembered and that only. Well, he was remembered in the gospels. Jesus kept his word by having his name and his words remembered. However, Jesus never said that the thief was our example for salvation. Quite the opposite. It’s true, the bible never said the thief was baptized. It’s also true that the bible never said the thief believed. It is also true that the thief was not promised salvation. He didn’t even ask for salvation, nor did Jesus promise such to him.
Did Jesus not say “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Last time i checked, Hell isn’t paradise and Jesus most certainly isn’t going there??
Much could be said but few will be listened to. If you do not believe the thief’s confession, please believe the words of the Lord. Christ replied “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Paradise refers to heaven three times in Scripture (2 Corinthians 12:4, Revelation 2:7 and this time, in Luke 23:43). Scripture cannot be broken;let every statement be established by two or three witnesses.
Where did Christ promise the thief would be?
The thief never confessed Jesus was the Christ. No not once. Only such a confession can lead one to salvation if one repents and is baptized to wash away their sins. Rom 10:10 f; Acts 2:38
Jesus said to Mary Magdalene on the day of his resurrection where he had not gone. Where was it Guy? I will help you, it was heaven. He had not yet ascended to his heavenly father which abides in heaven. Thus, if Paradise meant heaven as you say, then Jesus lied and as we know, Jesus can’t lie. Peter told you where Jesus and the thief went and yet you choose not to believe it. 1 Pet 3:18-20 Jesus kept his promise to the thief. He went where Jesus went on that day and it wasn’t heaven. Don’t try and define God’s Word by man’s definitions. It won’t work. Only God can define his own words, and he defined Paradise for the place Jesus went and preached once he had died, i.e., where the evil people in the days of Noah were.
Hey Al, I love you and agree with you, Jesus cannot lie and the Holy Scriptures written by the Spirit of God cannot be broken. Christ did minister to the souls in prision; I am not refuting or going against 1 Peter 3:18-20, that is not up for debate, I am sorry for not making that clear. I am affirming John 3:13, Jeremiah 23:24(b) and Psalm 139:6-8 in conjunction with 1 Peter 3:18-20. Jesus is GOD, and GOD is omnipresent in Spirit. I urge you to meditate on John 3:13 and Psalm 139:6-8. How could Jesus inform Nicodemus that the Son of Man came down from heaven AND was is in heaven at the same moment in time? Also, I shared two supporting verses, in my previous comment, from the Holy Scriptures that bare witness to the definition of ‘Paradise’, perhaps you did not notice them: 2 Corinthians 12:4, Revelation 2:7. All three uses of ‘paradise’ are the Greek word ‘paradeisos’. Again, I believe you have too quickly assumed something; ie “don’t try and define God’s Word by man’s definitions.” Humbly I ask, do you believe and practice John 7:24? The full understanding of GOD is not obtainable by human minds, His ways are unsearchable/infinite; not all things will make sense to our minds [Isaiah 40:28; 1 Corinthians 13:9-10]. Who can be in two places at once save GOD Himself?
It is self evident that the word Paradise doesn’t mean the same in all three instances. In fact, the one in Revelation denotes Paradise of God and the one in Corinthians denotes a third heaven. Hardly the same place. The one in Luke means neither of these, for Jesus did not ascend up to heaven. He descended into hell like David denotes. “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell or suffer your holy one to see corruption.” Ps 16:10 f; Acts 2:27 Jesus is a God but he is not God the Father. If that were so, please tell me who he was referring to on the cross when he said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Yes, God is everywhere. However, Jesus unlike the Father was placed in human form. He was not everywhere while in human form. There is a God head and it consists of three, and yes they agree as one, but they are separate divinities. 1 Jn 5:7
The oddest part about the thief on the cross is that no matter his condition in the hereafter, he doesn’t affect the soul of anyone. He was born and died under the law of Moses. He shall be judged by the law of Moses. Now, if you are saying you believe that the law of Moses is in effect today, then we shall discuss that fallacy. The law of Christ didn’t come into effect until after Jesus died for thus is the gospel. Jesus died, was buried and was resurrected. This is the gospel of Christ. 1 Cot 15:1-4 If one believes this with the mouth and confesses such with the mouth; Rom 10:9,10 If one repents and is baptized for the remission of their sins, then are they added to the Lord’s church. Acts 2:37-47 If one remains faithful unto death, then are they saved. Rev 2:10 Therefore, the thief was not alive under the law of Christ.
The bible never tells anyone the condition of the thief. It only tells us he died the exact same day Jesus died, which wasn’t normal for it’s day. Most remained on the cross for days, not mere hours. Secondly, the thief went where Jesus went, and if you believe 1 Pet 3:18-20, then you must also believe the thief was with him. Jesus did not ascend to heaven until after his resurrection, not before, according to the gospels. As I said, it’s a mute point to make, but it is self evident that the thief was not winged to God’s heaven. He went to the place where wicked souls went. What Jesus did with him after that, the bible never once said, nor does it matter whatsoever. Jesus gave the great commission to his apostles to be preached to all the world. This included belief and baptism. Mk 16:16 The gospel matters, not the thief nor his condition.
‘The law of Christ didn’t come into effect until after Jesus died’, that is blessed news, for the thief died after Christ; Christ died quickly and was the first to die out of the three (John 9:31-33, Mark 15:43-45). Search the Gospels friend, no one died in the presence of Jesus Christ bodily.
You made some great points but flaw in this: there is nothing in the Word of God that ‘does [not] matter whatsoever’. EVERYTHING matters in the Word of God, for as the Lord said “Man shall not live by bread alone but by EVERY word that proceeds from the mouth of God”, all Scripture is God-breathed.
John 3:13, John 1:18 (King James)
directly from the mouth of Jesus.
Would you believe that Christ could be in heaven and on earth at the same time (in Spirit, not flesh/physically)? Do you believe that Christ could minister to the souls in prison and be in heaven (in Spirit, not flesh/physically) at the same time? The Word is God, the Father is God and the Holy Spirit is God and all three are omnipresent. Though the Word took on flesh, this does not change that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
GOD has not changed; repentant faith not works, the only way to be justified in His sight is by believing in Him alone which is the seed that brings forth fruit in due season; though the thief was not able to bear fruit, his root was of faith (Romans 4:5).
Have you received the Holy Spirit Al?
It doesn’t matter what I believe concerning the ability of Jesus. What matters is what Jesus said. Jesus said he had not yet ascendeded into heaven after his resurrection. This nulls and voids all supposition as to what Jesus could or could not do unless you are saying Jesus was a liar or mistaken. Both of which is impossible.
The gospel of Christ did not come into effect until after Christ died. Specifically on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2 It wasn’t first preached until after Christ resurrected for thus the gospel was complete..death, burial and resurrection. It is quite fundamental.
All scripture came from God. 2 Tim 3:16 The book of James states a man is justified by works and not faith only. Jam 2:24
I received the gift of the holy Spirit on the day I was baptized into the body of Christ on March 15, 1970.
Might I add that the discussion about the “salvation” of the thief on the cross–which, as you have said is not what Jesus actually said even though one might determine that from the use of the word paradise which seems to be equated with something good and not bad in all places–should be considered along with the other instances of Jesus saving people, forgiving sins, during His earthly ministry? Jesus could save whoever he wanted to save. But the doctrines of the New Covenant of Christ were not revealed, were not “obeyable,” until the first Pentecost after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Since that time, those who would be saved, pleasing to God, Christians, must not just believe IN Jesus but must believe Jesus and submit to His will which is revealed in the New Covenant–beginning with Acts 2.
I would agree Jimmy that the word ‘Paradise’ sounds like a good place if not for the testimony of Jesus, and the words of the apostle Peter. Jesus said to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection to touch him not for he had not yet ascended to his Father which was in heaven. Jesus told the thief that “Today you shall be with me in Paradise”. Thus, this wasn’t heaven. We must conclude that Jesus went to Hades. Hades has two places of abode as Jesus described with “The Rich man and Lazarus”. One might think Jesus went to the good part of Hades except for what Peter said, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.” 1 Pet 2:18-20
If the Thief went where Jesus went during those 3 days, it is quite conclusive he went with him to the prisons which kept the wicked. What happened to the thief after that is not for me to say. I know this much, I would hate to think anyone who would place their salvation based upon the thief on the cross.
I agree with you that gospel had not yet come to mankind until the day of Pentecost and was subsequently preached unto all the world. The thief could not have obeyed what had yet to come into effect. Therefore, no matter what one believes concerning the thief, no one is saved outside of the gospel of Christ which requires one to believe and confess Jesus is the Christ; Rom 10:10 and to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins; Acts 2:38 And to remain faithful unto death. Rev 2:10
Brother Al, I would suggest that your understanding of what the Spirit said through Peter may be in error. I understand that this gets a bit detailed and one never wants to pit scripture against scripture. God’s Word always is right and true. If we understood Christ preaching to the spirits in prison as the pre-incarnate Word of God preaching through Noah to those who ignored the Word of God then and were subsequently lost–to the flood and spiritually–and made comparison to those who even in the Christian age would be lost if they ignored the Word of God, I believe we would have a more accurate understanding. Christ, in the resurrection, was made alive by the Spirit. In the Spirit the pre-incarnate Word of God preached to those who had been disobedient in the days of Noah. This, too, fits the type/anti-type concept of those who ignored God before Christ were lost as well as those after Christ will be lost who ignore Him. Those who believed and obeyed God before the cross–even as far back as Noah–were saved by God (Noah and his family on the ark and we in the church of Jesus Christ). The difficulty with the passage in 1 Peter 3:18ff is that we make the timing of the events–Christ suffered, was put to death, was made alive, and went and preached to the spirits in prison. The text does not actually indicate an “order” here. It’s worth considering. The text says that Christ was made alive by the Spirit “by whom He went and preached . . .” Rather than the timing, Peter deals with the form in which Jesus preached to those who had been disobedient during the days of Noah. Obviously Jesus was in the Hadean world–the grave. He was dead! That’s the emphasis. Had He not died then he could not have been truly resurrected. And our hope of being raised from the dead is based on the fact that Jesus was truly raised “from the dead.” May we understand that Jesus was in Paradise without having “ascended to the Father?” The ascension “to the Father,” in prophecy as well as fulfillment, always, I believe, is promised and seen AFTER the resurrection of Christ from the dead. This IS, though, one of the more difficult passages in Scripture to understand, I believe, and in the end of the day, does not impact my salvation at all nor yours or anyone else’s this side of Pentecost AD 30. But it IS interesting study!
Brother Jimmy:
I fully understand why brethren are hesitant to say Jesus was the HE in verse 19 which preached to the spirits in prison. It is because the Catholics use it to say one has a second chance once they are dead. Now, we know this contradicts all the bible ever taught. Heb 9:27 In fact, the bible never said or implied that the ones preached to had a second chance for salvation.
Secondly, the Baptist are quick to say that the HE in verse 19 means Noah, and thus support their theory that Paradise meant heaven. Now, we both know the thief wasn’t saved by the gospel, but truly in your version of events, it does lead most to believe that Jesus laid dormant, dead as a door nail in the grave in the bosom of Abraham. Thus, Jesus and the thief were in the good part of Hades. Thus, I am sure, all Baptist will say AMEN! to your version. They say the thief and Jesus went to heaven and Abraham’s Bosom is the waiting place for the saved. Perhaps you agree to this as well. I do not believe the bible teaches such. Jesus verily had the power to save anyone he wanted while on earth but he never did. He didn’t save his apostles, his followers, his family. No not one. And yet, the Baptist want us to believe that the thief was the Lord’s one and only pick to be saved. Why? He never once said he believed Jesus was the Christ. He never once repented. Jesus never once told him he was saved or forgiven. All we have is where Jesus went that day. A place called Paradise. It’s easy to ASSUME this meant heaven or a saved condition, and that is why 1 Pet 3:18-22 is imperative. If you are right by rearranging events, then the Baptist are right to believe the thief was saved. They are also right to assume if one set of verses are out of order, then all of them can be out of order. Thus, faith only is plausible in Mark 16:16 for they say one is saved by faith and then they are baptized. I don’t buy any of this kind of rearrangement of the scripture to fit a convenient conclusion.
I have more than 20 versions of the bible and none of them read the way you rearranged the scripture to make it sound as if Noah himself was the preacher to these spirits. In fact, about 1/4th of these translations have capitalized the HE in verse 19. In fact, there is no version which implies any other person than Jesus Christ for the “He” in verse 19.
I can truly say this with no desire to persuade you one way or the other, if these verses were in no particular order, then I can understand how the Baptist reached their false conclusions regarding baptism. Apparently the same denominational commentaries had a problem making the thief a saved man with these verses in tact. I do understand why the church of Christ agree with Baptist doctrine on this subject. They know the thief wasn’t under the law of Moses and thus crushing the Baptist “Faith Only” doctrine. They also can crush the Catholic doctrine of baptizing for the dead and their second chance doctrine. The bad news is that neither the Baptist or Catholic are going to change based on these verses.
I totally agree that no member of the body of Christ will lose their soul no matter how they feel about these verses, but denominations are another story. For me, there are more than one reason to believe that it was Jesus preached to the lost spirits. One, the pronoun HE is in reference to Jesus. Secondly, I know of no verse in the bible which refers to “spirits in prison” to mean human beings. Lastly, and I think this is more important than all others, is that the Holy Spirit must have known these verses would apply to where JESUS went when he died. In verses 18-20, they speak of him preaching to the lost spirits who once lived in the days of Noah. In verse 22 it says, “Who (Jesus) has gone into HEAVEN and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.” The Baptist till this very day say Jesus went to heaven when he died. These verses make it clear that what Jesus told Mary Magdalene was correct. He had not been to heaven until after he arose from the dead. The scripture even tells us why the Word was preached to the dead. “For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” 1 Peter 4:6 No, Catholics, they didn’t have the chance to be saved once dead, but by the same power we are judged, so shall they be judged. The psalmist David is the biggest clue that most misconstrue when he prophesied, “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” Ps 16:10 And then the words of Peter who while preaching on the day of Pentecost said, “He, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.” Acts 2:31
If the thief was saved, he is the first and only one saved in his sins. If the thief was saved he is the first one who admittedly committed a sin worthy of death. If the thief was saved, he is the only one who kept not the Mosaic Law for he broke the law and the law of Christ was impossible to believe for Jesus had not yet died or risen from the dead. 1 Cor 15:1-4 In fact, no where is the thief ever mentioned again by Jesus, his apostles or any new testament writers whatsoever. All others were saved by obeying the gospel of Christ.
Brother Al, Thanks for your response. I believe we will have to agree to disagree on some things but on these things we must agree.
Jesus is the source of salvation for all men today. Our access to God is only “in Him.” And to be “in Christ” one must come to true faith–believing, accepting and obeying the teachings of the New Testament–you have well stated those in various posts. Upon hearing and believing the gospel we will confess Jesus as Lord, as God’s Son, repent of our sins and be baptized for the forgiveness of those sins. Examples of such are found in Acts 2:36ff; 8, 16, 22, etc. with further explanations in Romans 6, Galatians 3:26ff, etc. Prior to the giving of the New Covenant, God has dealt with humankind in many ways and communicated in various ways (Hebrews 1:1ff).
God has always desired that people know Him and come to repentance and obey Him to have His favor. From Adam and Eve to Cain and Abel to Noah and Abraham and forward. God is a jealous God and those who seek to be His must not put others ahead of Him. Exodus 20:1ff.
Prior to the giving of the Law of Moses to the Israelites, God’s Law prevailed being given orally from fathers to their children. Even the Ninevites, non-Israelites, were expected to be obedient to God–else Jonah would not have been sent by God to preach a message of repentance to them. We have no “list” recorded of those teachings prior to the written Law of Moses but we see from the Biblical record that certain things were right and certain things were wrong–and many of those were included in the Law of Moses and also in the New Covenant of Christ. Murder has always been wrong, drunkenness has always been wrong, deception which is a characteristic of The Evil One has always been wrong, etc.
Jesus is God and existed prior to coming into the world in the flesh. He is seen in creation, leading the people of God, bearing God’s message-He is, after all, The Word–as the Angel of the Lord and the Messenger/Message of the Lord. He is Yahweh as much as the Father is Yahweh.
AS God “in the flesh” Jesus endured temptation even as all people do but He did not sin. Jesus had “power on earth to forgive sin” which he did numerous times–eg. the woman who anointed Jesus feet with perfume (Luke 7:37ff) was told that her sins were forgiven and she was to go and sin no more. When Jesus healed the paralytic in Mark 2 the crowd was critical of him for saying that the man’s sins were forgiven and Jesus asked, Which is easier–for me to heal the man or forgive his sins? And he told the paralytic, Rise, take up your bed and walk. Jesus breathed on His apostles and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus could do all these things while He lived on earth. He was God even while in the flesh, even while having “given up” or willingly surrendered his equality with the Father (Phil. 2).
After Jesus died on the cross, He was raised from the dead giving those who lived, and now live, in obedience to God the hope, the understanding, that we, too, can and will be raised from the dead.
And we both understand that we will be judged by God, How imperative it is that we study diligently the Word of God and obey God’s Will for us as we worship Him and serve Him faithfully by loving God and one another. Jesus did say, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.” And “If you love ME, you will keep my commandments.”
I pray God’s blessings on you as you continue to study and learn and obey and teach the pure unadulterated Word of God. That is my purpose–to be as non-sectarian as possible. Absolutely non-denominational–indeed, anti-denominational. Jesus prayed for unity among those who call Him Lord and so should we all. May we continue to study and learn and obey to that end.
Brother Jimmy, I am sure we agree on 99% of all of God’s Word. It’s inevitable that we will disagree on a few things. Even the apostles were not immune from such disagreement but it did not divide them, and neither shall it divide the children of God. The gospel of Christ unites all true Christians. Surely this is why Paul wrote, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Cor 2:2
Seasonal Greetings Al. What a fantastic,educational,informative site you have.WELL DONE. As a born again Christian I have learned so very much from you. The many liberalised,watered down beliefs of many religious Churches do not sit comfortably with me,yet when I started to read your sites post it all made sense and felt comfortable with me. Like an enlightenment. Thank You Al,keep up the good work. God Bless You…Peace be with you Brother..
Greetings Bro,Al.This is my first time,visiting this site.I have to say,bro.Thank-you for the Truth.You are a man after my own heart,i seek for truth,for the sake of truth alone.I no were you are coming from,when it comes to the word of God.I am a Bible Believing Christain.You are doing a wonderful job,Keeping you in my prayers Bro.Al. Your faithful bro,in Christ.Bro,Stephen Hooper.
Hi, I love your blog, very well written and I learn a lot. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for Blog , and your advice .
You are most welcomed Belinda.
Just found your site, and love your (brief) statement of faith. As the apostles taught, but many fail at today, you only shared the truth of Him and His Word. Not the opinions of men, which is rare to see in today’s idea of church. We tend to walk in a building (called the church), and claim a change has taken place. Only to walk out professing to be changed people, when we should be proclaiming “We Are the Church,” and not merely labeling a building as such.
Meeting together is most important as often as humanly possible. Yet we (the Church) should be living out His Word moment by moment in a world that drastically needs it most today. Time is way to short to simply go to Church; we truly need to realize whole heatedly that we are the Church and what He truly meant when He (Jesus) said “go” (Mark 16:15). Every corner, every ally, and peeping under every rock, living and being the Church.
It is a breath of fresh air to see others who, above the denominational divide, seek to proclaim His (Absolute) Truth without all the added (later authorities) opinions being added. Thank you for standing in His truth alone, and may God always bless your work for His purpose.
Sincerely,
Anthony…
Hello, Alfred! You have a very nice blog you are maintaining here, and I hope God continues to bless you in all of your efforts in spreading the truth of the gospel.
Your picture, “The Church of Christ-Built Upon the Standards of God’ Word,” I was wondering if I could have your permission to use this in my website, “Fools for Christ,” and app for my website. The illustration is very beautiful and I would love to use it in my website and app. You can check my website I am developing here: sites.google.com/site/foolsforchristjesus
Grace and Peace,
B.J. Tan
Hi B.J. , yes you can use that pic for your website.
I want to follow you and read more about Gods word, I hope when I leave this site I can come back to it. Can I subscribe to it? Thank you sir for sending Gods holy word out to the world, God bless you😊😊
Yes, you can subscribe by placing you email address once you enter https://biblicalproof.wordpress.com/
Then you will receive an email each time a new post is made. You can also visit the site and search for many topics or just simply scroll down and read nearly 2,000 sermons. Thank you for your interest in this site. I hope it adds to your faith in God’s Word.
Re:
“~On the first day of the week, Jesus arose from the dead (Mk. 16:1-9).~”
“In the Sabbbath’s fullness mid-afternoon as it began to dawn towards the First Day of the week … there was great earthquake … as the angel of the Lord … cast the stone from the door …” and Jesus arose from the dead. He did not arise from the dead “~Mk. 16:1-9~”.
There is no Indicative Finite Verb stating Jesus ~arose~ in Mark 16. There only is the Aorist Participle which states that “RISEN / as the Resurrected—‘anastas’—, He early on the First Day of the week, appeared—‘ephaneh’—to Mary Magdalene first”.
“~This is a book, chapter, and verse FACT!~”
You are wrong to say Jesus did not rise from the dead. Notice the words of the apostle Paul who said, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” (1 Cor 15:3-4).
How about Mutual Education in the Pulpit not a paid Preacher, The new Testament teaching has not a paid preacher just Evangelists like Paul did and the Apostles did.
As long as one is able to teach and preach, money is definitely not necessary. Churches often neglect the talent among them who would teach and preach for little or no compensation, in lieu of an outsider receiving almost all of the church’s resources. If Paul rejected compensation (1 Cor 9:17) even so we should also follow in his steps (1 Cor 11:1) as he followed in Christ’s steps.
Paul was compensated in some churches and refused compensation in others–and in churches where he was not compensated, he made tents until brethren came who could do the tent building and he devoted his time to teaching and preaching. Some churches sent Paul gifts to enable him to continue preaching and not have to make tents–or starve. “the laborer is worthy of his hire” is appropriate for preachers as well as anyone else–but whether a preacher is compensated or not should not be a reflection on his abilities or the viability of the congregation where he preaches. This should not be a divisive issue among brethren.
The question is not whether or not a man is worthy to be paid. Yes, a preacher is worthy to be paid and should be paid. The question is whether or not congregations should seek preachers and teachers who like elders accept no compensation. Apparently most churches think they don’t have a real preacher if they don’t pay him or if he comes from within their own congregation. I think that is a sad fact.
Why do so many now teach that baptism is just symbolic? It is just so out of line with biblical verses.
Do you know why so many teach that baptism is non essential? Does God command things that are non essential? When Christ gave the great commission did he say do it only if you feel like it?
How do I forward the sermons or post them on Facebook?
Right click on the title on any subject and choose “Copy link location”. Then go to Facebook and right click in your message box and choose “paste”. Then choose POST as you would normally do when making a post on Facebook.
I hope this helps you.
It has been laid upon my heart to make a video called “The State of the Church Address” designed to help people stop playing games and repent and make the pursuit of CHRIST their main objective. In the video there is a part we reference repentance and would love to use your image here https://biblicalproof.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/repent-before-its-too-late/ with a link back to the page in the credits and on YouTube. Would that be permissible? Please email me and let me know. Thanks for the work of the LORD you have faithfully committed to do.
Yes, that would be permissible. I hope all goes well with the video.
I would like to use some of the information you have on the work of the Christian and the image in a Men’s workshop; giving you credit of course; is this permissible?
Hi Arnold. Yes, you may use the image and info as long as it goes unedited (not taken out of context) and proper credit is attributed to: https://biblicalproof.wordpress.com/
I think you will find this link very interesting. http://www.jewishnotgreek.com
I could use your help with something, if you have time.
Help with what may I ask?
I was wondering if my own church is safe. As in, not teaching any false doctrine, like some of the stuff you listed in a recent post.
Compare what your church is teaching with new testament doctrine. If they are not the same, something is wrong with the church you attend. Acts 17:11
I had this dream last night involving Jesus’ return to the mortal world, and I might need your help interpreting it.
Let me hear your dream…..
Okay, so I was at this sort of party or cotillion or something like that, with my parents and a whole bunch of other people. I saw something like a shooting star in the sky, bigger and brighter than any humans had ever seen before, then the earth shook and sure enough, there He was.
I guess it could be taken in several ways. One, you were at play and suddenly the Lord came. Secondly. it coincides with the biblical account that the Lord will come as a thief in the night. No matter how it is taken, it is telling you to be prepared and watch.
Then all the people around me were surrounded in sparkling lights, one by one, until they hovered over to what looked like either a cathedral or some other form of place of worship, which I knew had to be heaven or salvation. I saw the sparkles surrounding me, too. I waited to find myself in the chapel-like location, but instead I came face to face with a beautiful but stern woman, like a witch, I suppose, and she beckoned me towards what looked an infernal chasm.
Appears you were given a choice between two distinctively different places.
Did you get my last message?
I don’t see one from you.
Al Shannon, Do you use computer aided Bible searches? If so what software?
I use PC Study Bible 5 pro package.
I was unfamiliar with that program but I have watched a youtube introduction. I started out in the early 90’s with Quick verse for windows my invoice was #24, continued with many updated versions I believe the last one was version 7, used logos scholar version for a while, found it so slow and cumbersome it became useless. I have settled on e-sword fast and easy, not only that its free. I purchased extra resources and still less than $100.00. While using your software have you located areas which were being taught in error by professors in the college that you attended?
I have good luck with PCStudy bible mostly because it’s easy to use and has lots of bible versions to compare. I also use E-Sword, mostly because it keeps track of my memory verses.
As for your question, yes, I have noticed several errors that were taught when I attended college.
Al, will you give me permission to copy this article and post to Face Book?
Hi Diane,
Yes, you can post this on FB or any other article on this forum.
I would like to use winners and loses, and a link to your site, I am adding another page to my site about losing the battle in this world, in searching for that, I found your site. No one knows the price they will pay for salvation today. All preaching is about all you will receive not what you will pay can I use some art with link to page I took it from See you in heaven, God bless and lead you. I pray for you.
Yes, you can use my art as long as you give a link back to my forum. God bless.
Keep continuing those Jesus images and Church of Christ images. Those are really nice.
Acts 17:29
“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.”
1 Corinthians 11:14
“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?”
King James Version (KJV)
I like your blog and the idea that you helping a lot of people with it. #spreadTheWord
Thank you.
sources for edification from solid churches of Christ preaching
http://www.wsoj.net/index.html
http://www.oldpathsmedia.org/
Lord God almighty i pray for the unity of the churches of Christ in that we speak the same thing and be of the same mind one ye of another and be doer’s of the word not hearers only deceiving ourselves. in the name of Jesus Christ i pray amen
Great info! Thank you for this.
I hear you guys say you believe the entire New Testament, and then I’m seeing things on the net where some say there are teachings in the NT you guys do not believe iin… not things I would consider salvation critical (cause I’m not a calvinist which is false doctrine)
So, is there a list of exactly what the Church of Christ believes?
I don’t speak for every local church of Christ. Even so, every Church of Christ teaches the gospel of Christ (1 Cor 15:1-4). Upon hearing that gospel (Rom 10:17), one must be a confessed believer (Rom 10:9,10). Then they must repent of their sins and be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38). Then the Lord Jesus Christ adds them to the church (Acts 2:47).
After becoming a Christian they must worship God in Spirit and in truth (Jn 4:23,24). This means singing (Eph 5:19, praying (1 Cor 14:15), teaching/preaching (2 Tim 4:2-5), giving (1 Cor 16:1-3), partaking of the communion (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 11:24,25).
Beyond this, a Christian must live a godly life (Gal 5:22-23; 2 Pet 1:5-9). They must help the needy (Gal 6:10). They must endure persecutions (2 Tim 3:12). If a Christian remains faithful to the doctrine of Christ and his apostles (Acts 2:42; 2 Jn 9), they will receive a crown of life (Jam 1:12; Rev 2:10).
Your site came up while searching for a verse for my own effort (and you had it, thanks!). It appears we are aligned in purpose, and I hope my site in time will reach as many as yours has! I’m motivated by the many that just ignore God’s word but also the few (it seems to me) that are beginning to seek spiritual answers from other sources.
http://www.scriptureinterpretsscripture.com
I have dedicated one board on my Pinterest site to your fine, scriptural topics, called “Posters: Scriptural Lessons with Evidence.” My site is a clearing house for non-institutional churches of Christ: https://www.pinterest.com/4biblestudy/_saved
Thank you Paul for helping me spread God’s Word through these visual messages on Pinterest.