*CALVINIST OR ARMENIAN?*

-Calvinism (John Calvin, 1509-1564) and Arminianism (Jacobus Arminius, 1560-1609) are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility regarding salvation
-Sovereignty means jurisdiction, supremacy, dominion, power, ascendancy, suzerainty, tyranny, hegemony, domination, sway, predominance, authority, control, influence
-God is sovereign regarding the material creation: nothing happens without God’s will (matter and animals don’t have a free will). Sovereign regarding creatures means that He initiates based on His Will but creatures have a free will to make a choice. God is sovereign to offer a free salvation and man is also sovereign to receive or reject salvation
-God is sovereignly authoring salvation alone without man’s participation other than accepting it (man is not co-author of salvation, Heb12:2, Jn19:30)
-I, Daniel, HOLD TO THE ARMENIAN VIEW
Key aspects about the 2 views:

*1. DEPRAVITY*
-Calvinism says people are so depraved and rebellious that they are unable to trust God without His special work of grace to change their hearts without the free will of man being involved.
-Arminians say, people are depraved and corrupt, but are able to decide to trust God with the general divine assistance that God gives to everybody, Jn16:8
-Man is totally depraved, meaning he cannot save himself through his own effort and there is nothing good in man that could motivate God to love and save man; remember man ate from the forbidden tree of ”knowledge of good and evil”, so human good is still condemned before God, see Is64:6
-Verses: Rom3:9-12,23; 5:7-8,12,19; 6:6-20; 7:14; 11:32; Job15:14-16,25:4-6,Ecc9:3, Ps143:2, 2Cr6:36, Is53:6, Micah7:2-4, 1Jn1:8-10, Mark7:21, 10:18, Luke18:19, 1 Kg8:46; Ps51:12;116:11, 130:3, 143:2; James3:2, Jer17:9, Tit1:15-16; 3:3, Eph4:17-18, Jer10:7-14, Prov28:26;Jn8:34, Gal4:8, 2Tim2:25-26; Jn8:31-36, Is1:5-6. See our study on ”Total Depravity”
-Man is depraved but still has a free will to make choices. See #6 below

*2. ELECTION*
-Calvinism says God chooses unconditionally whom he will mercifully bring to faith and salvation and whom he will justly leave in their rebellion then send to hell
-Arminians say God has chosen us, elected to bring to salvation all those whom he foresaw would choose to accept Jesus as Savior, God knows the future as He is outside of time
-God offers the choice to the unsaved, to which he says yes or no. After believing in Jesus the Christian receives from God faith (capacity of trust in God for his daily life) based on man’s free will, or availability to God, see below point on faith

*3. ATONEMENT*
-Calvinism says the death of Christ God provided sufficient atonement for all (some say only for the saved), but designed it to be effective only for those that were chosen by God
-Arminians say the death of Christ God provided a sufficient atonement for all and designed that it would become effective for everyone that decides to receive Jesus as Savior
-Verses on unlimited atonement: Is53:6; Jn1:29, 3:16, 1Jn2:2, 4:14; Rom11:32, 2Cor5:14-19; Heb2:9, 1Tim2:4,6; 4:10, Tit2:11; Rev22:17; 1Pet3:18;
-Verses that say Jesus died for the church or for believers do not say Jesus died only for them but brings out the aspect that Jesus’ death is benefiting only those who accept Jesus: Acts20:28, Jn10:15; 17:9; Mat1:21, Eph5:25, Mat20:28; Rom8:31-35
-The death of Christ offered an unlimited atonement in its purpose, aiming all humans (2Pet.3:9) but unsaved men limit the outcome of atonement by rejecting it (Ps78:41, Gal5:4, Luke7:30)

*4. NEW BIRTH*
-Calvinists say that the new birth is God’s work of renewal in our hearts which produces the act of willing saving faith, so they say new birth precedes faith and man has no part in getting saved
-Arminians say the new birth is God’s work of renewal in our hearts in response to our act of saving faith by accepting Jesus, new birth follows faith and man has a part in getting saved by accepting Jesus

*5. PERSEVERENCE*
-Calvinists say God works to preserve in faith all who are truly born again and that no one is ever lost who was truly chosen by God
-Arminians say God works to preserve his people, but does not always prevent ones who were born again from falling away from faith in this life: Heb6:4-6, Rom11:22, 1Cor9:27; 2Cor6:1; Gal5:4; Col1:22-23; 1Tim1:19; 3:6; 4:1,16; 5:8; 6:10,20,21; 2Tim2:18; 2Pet2:15, 3:17; 1Jn2:26; 2Jn1:8
-One can’t lose his eternal salvation which he has received without merit as a gift: Rom6:23, you cannot un-merit salvation by behavior; see our study “Salvation is secure”

*6. FREE WILL*
-God created angels and man with a free will to make choices; animals live by instinct
-God provided the options of choices: obedience or disobedience Gen2:9-17; one third of angels chose to follow Satan in his rebellion, also Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. After their fall, demons and humans still have a free will
-God in his sovereignty decided to offer salvation to all humans only but not all humans decide to receive salvation, also damnation to all demons with no chance of salvation (Mat25:41; Heb2:16)

*7. GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE*
-God knows the end from the beginning Is46:10
-God is outside of time and space, therefore He knows the future and knows who will receive Jesus and thus He is able to initiate towards those individuals based on His foreknowledge: John the Baptist chosen from the womb, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jacob, Pharaoh, Judas, Paul; Mat19:12, Lk1:41; Jn17:12; Gal1:15, Rom9:13; Is49:1; Jer1:5
-God knew who would believe even before creating the world because He knows the future: Acts2:23; Eph1:4, Rom8:29; 2Thes2:13; 2Tim1:9; 1Pet1:2,20; Tit1:2; Rev13:8; 17:8

*8. GOD’S JUDGMENT*
-If God would elect some for hell and some for heaven then He is responsible for those choices; how can God punish unsaved humans if they are not responsible for rejecting Jesus?
-Punishment involves responsibility for a choice; Jn3:18; 2Thes1:8,9; 2:10-12

*9. EVANGELISM*
-Why evangelize if God decides who goes to heaven and who goes to hell?
-Some accept calvinism to escape responsibility for evangelism. However, some great evangelists were calvinists who evangelized as obedience to the Bible but did not believe their evangelism can make a difference since God has already decided who goes to heaven. Jn20:31; Rom10:14

*10. FAITH*
-Calvinism says salvation faith is offered by God regardless of the decision of the individual, they call it ”irresistible grace”, see point #11
-Armenians say God offers the possibility of choice of salvation and man makes a choice using his free will with assistance from God, see John16:8; after salvation God offers to the Christian the possibility to have his trust (faith) in God increased (Rom.10:17 ‘faith comes by hearing the Word of God’; 12:3 ‘God gave every believer a measure of faith’): God initiates and man accepts or refuses
-Why did Jesus weep at the unbelief of the Jews if faith comes sovereignily from God without humans sovereignly responding (Jn11:35, Lk19:41)? Why did God weep (see Book of Jeremiah)? Why Jesus rebuked the disciples for having little faith in Mat6:30?
Ask me for our study on faith

*11. IRRESISTIBLE GRACE*
-Calvinists believe God calls man to salvation without him being able to refuse; armenians believe you can oppose the grace of God, see again verses from point #5, also Gal.2:21, Heb4:16; 12:15; Jam4:6
-Col2:6: ”as you have received Christ, so walk ye in Him”. If you have received Jesus irresistibly, then why your daily walk with Jesus is a choice, not an irresistible call? God does not drag you every day
-If grace for salvation can’t be resisted, then why daily living grace can be resisted?
-There are variations of types of armenians and calvinists regarding above points
-Armenians and calvinists should not hate each other of above different views.
Pastor Daniel

*TWO DIVINE PARACLETES*

In John 14:16 we read: “And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another
COMFORTER (PARACLETE), that He may abide with you forever.”
Here the Lord Jesus, Who was going to leave His disciples, promised to send them
another COMFORTER, the Holy Spirit. Both the words “another” and “Comforter” indicate that
the Holy Spirit is a Person. Note Acts 13:2 – Acts 5:3 and Romans 8:26 for the work of the Holy Spirit as our Paraclete.

The word “Comforter” means literally “Paraclete”. Christ is one “Paraclete” and the Holy
Spirit is another “Paraclete.” This is just what Jesus Christ the Righteous is called in I John 2:1:
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not, and if any man sin we have an
Advocate (PARACLETE) with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.”

“PARACLETOS” is from “para-kaleo” (Greek) = to call near. Christ is called the believer’s
“Advocate.” The word “ADVOCATE” is the same Greek word translated “Comforter,” in John
14:16. Read Hebrews 9:24 and Hebrews 7:25 and Romans 8:34.
In chapters thirteen to seventeen in the Gospel of John we have the work of the two
“Paracletes” set forth. In chapters thirteen and seventeen, the washing of the disciples’ feet and
the interceding of the Lord Jesus are recorded. In chapters fourteen and sixteen, we find the work
of the Holy Spirit, another “Comforter,” the Spirit of Truth, Who is to guide the believers into all
truth and to be the earnest of the believers’ inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession. (Ephesians 1:13 and 14).
The Lord Jesus Christ on the cross was the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. (I
Jn2:2).
The work of the same Lord Jesus Christ as “ADVOCATE” in God’s presence in heaven
(Heb9:24) is for those who have been redeemed by the precious shed blood of Christ.
Therefore, the believer should know the blessed truth of Hebrews 7:25 and Philippians
1:6: “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the UTTERMOST that come unto God by Him,
seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” “Being confident of this very thing, that He
which hath begun a good work in you will PERFORM it unto the day of Jesus Christ.”
The word “uttermost” in Hebrews 7:25 is the same Greek root as “perform” in
Philippians 1:6, and both mean “all the way to the end.” “Panteleo” – “Epiteleo.”
The prefix before the word “end” in Hebrews 7:25 is “pan” meaning “all,” and in
Philippians 1:6 is “epi.” The Greek root “end” is the same as John 13:1: “Now before the feast of
the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world
unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the END.”

Christ loves His own unto the end. In John 17:24 and 25 Christ prayed that His disciples
will be with Him in His glory. And they will be. (Colossians 3:1 to 4). They are sealed by the Holy
Spirit until the manifestation of that glory. (Ephesians 4:30).
If we have Scriptural right to speak of the carnal Christian (I Corinthians 3:1 to 4) as a
back-slider, who has to come back to God, he must come through Christ at God’s right hand. It is
because He is there that the believer has that sure and steadfast hope and anchor of Hebrews 6:19
and 20. Christ is in God’s presence to maintain the saints’ fellowship. He died on the cross to
establish the believers’ sonship relationship.
In John 13:4 to 12 we have the account of Christ washing the feet of His disciples and
interpreting to them the meaning of that ministry. Note two different words “know” in John 13:7 (first ”know” speaks of understanding, ‘eido’ in Greek; second ”know” is ‘ginosko’, meaning ‘to know intimately by experience’); also notice two different words “wash” in John 13:10 (first ”wash” is ‘louo’=to bathe, second ”wash is ‘nipto’=rinsing of hands or feet).

When once a believer is washed all over by the blood of Christ, he needs only the work
of Christ as Paraclete in heaven.
So after Christ was raised from the dead, Peter and others knew John 13:10. Compare
Hebrews 10:22 and I John 2:2. AMEN

*THE WORK AND PERSONHOOD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT*

*A. Grammar and the Personhood of the Spirit*
First, *’HAGIOS PNEUMA’ in Greek*, the language of the New Testament, means ‘Holy Spirit’; translation ‘Holy Ghost’ is wrong, as ‘ghost’ in Greek is ‘phantasma’, see Matt.14:26 when the disciples with fear thought they saw a ghost but it was Jesus; ‘pneuma’ is used 234 times in the Bible, being translated ‘spirit’ (we have a human ‘spirit’ 1Thes5/23, not a human ‘ghost’) but only for the Holy Spirit it is wrongly translated ‘ghost’; a ghost is an apparition of demon.
Sometimes a little knowledge is dangerous. A relevant case is the contention by some that the Holy Spirit cannot be a person because the Greek word (pneuma) is neuter.

Those who study the Greek language discover that there are three main endings to its nouns. Because many clearly feminine objects tend to have the same ending, all the words with that pattern are called feminine. Because many clearly masculine objects seem to have the same ending, all the words with that pattern are called masculine. However, these are general designations and do not at all imply that every item in the one group is a man or that every item in the other group is a woman. The Greek words road and epistle are feminine. They are not ladies! The Greek words fruit and world are masculine. They are not men! The word spirit is indeed neuter. It is simply the Greek word for wind. Authors commonly used this neuter word for wind to refer to invisible (as wind is invisible) elements or beings. Humans are spirits. Angels are spirits. Demons are unclean or evil spirits. Likewise, God is Spirit (John 4:24). When the Biblical authors chose to make the word spirit into a proper name, the Holy Spirit, they were not trying to deny personhood any more than when a human is called a spirit. Likely, the term is intended to express His invisible nature and His power (as the wind).
The student of the Holy Spirit should also realize that there are plenty of references to Him that are not neuter but rather masculine. The word Comforter (helper) or Advocate is masculine. Christ said the Holy Spirit would be “another comforter” (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7) i.e., another of the same kind as the Lord Himself. Just as the Lord Jesus Christ is a person, so must the Holy Spirit be a person. Furthermore, masculine personal pronouns are used of the Holy Spirit in many places (John 15:26–ekeinos,16:7–auton, 16:8–ekeinos, 16:13–ekeinos, 16:14–ekeinos;Eph 1:14–ekeinos).

*B. Elements of Personhood*
A person is defined as a being with intellect, emotion, and will. The Holy Spirit is portrayed in the Scripture as possessing all of these elements of person-hood.
*1. Intellect*
The Holy Spirit searches the deep truths of God (1Cor2:10,11). According to Rom8:27, He has a mind.
‘For to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the *Spirit searches all things*, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God *no one knows except the Spirit of God*‘ 1Cor2:10-11.
‘And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God’ Rom8:27.
*2. Emotions*
Since the Holy Spirit may be grieved, He must possess emotions.
‘And *do not grieve* the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption’ Eph4:30
*3. Will*
The Holy Spirit decides what gift or gifts to bestow upon each believer. He definitely has a will.
‘But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just *as He wills*‘ 1Cor.12:11.
*C. Holy Spirit Performs Personal Actions*
1. He teaches Jn14:26
2. He speaks Acts13:2; 21:11; Gal4:6; 1Tim4:1; Rev2:7,11,17,29
3. He reproves Gen6:3; John16:8
4. He prays or intercedes Rom8:26
5. He leads Acts16:6; Rom8:14; Gal5:18
6. He testifies Jn15:26; Rom8:16
7. He gives life Jn3:6; Tit3:5
8. He commands and appoints Acts13:1-4; 20:28
9. He fellowships 2Cor13:14
*D. Holy Spirit Treated as a Person*
1. He may be grieved and resisted Gen6:3; Is63:10; Eph4:30)
2. He may be lied to Acts5:3
3. He may be tested Acts5:9
4. He may be insulted Heb10:29
5. He may be blasphemed Matt12:31

*E.The Deity of the Holy Spirit*

*A. Statements of Deity*
‘But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to *lie to the Holy Spirit*, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have *not lied to men, but to God*” Acts5:3-4.
‘Now the *Lord is the Spirit*; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty’ 2Cor3:17.
‘And the angel answered and said to her, “The *Holy Spirit* will come upon you, and the power of the *Most High* will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God” Luke1:35.
‘Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?’1Cor3:16

*B. Proofs for the Trinity*
Every evidence for the Trinity is also a proof for the deity of the Holy Spirit.
The following are some common New Testament Trinitarian formulas: Matt3:16-17; 28:19; Jn14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7-15; Rom8:14-17; 15:30; Gal4:4-6; Eph1:3-14; 4:4-6; 1Cor12:4-6; 2Cor1:21-22; 13:14; Heb9:14; 1Pet1:2. Note that the Holy Spirit is listed first in Eph4:4-6 and second in Rom15:30

*C. The God of the Old Testament as the Holy Spirit of the New Testament*
Several times a reference in the Old Testament to God is said to be speaking of the Holy Spirit by a New Testament author. Compare Is6:8-10 with Acts28:25-27; Ps95:7-11 with Heb3:7-11; and Jer31:31-34 with Heb10:15-17

*D. The Holy Spirit and Attributes/Works of Deity*
1. Omnipresence Ps139:7-10
2. Eternality Heb9:14
3. Omniscience 1Cor2:10-11
4. Creator Gen1:2; Job 33:4; possibly Job26:13 and Ps104:30
5. Life giver Jn3:6; Tit3:5; resurrection in Rom8:11
6. Author of Scriptures 2Sam23:1-2; 2Pet1:21
7. Blasphemy against the Spirit is more serious than blasphemy against God the Son Matt12:31-32

*E. Symbols of the Holy Spirit*
A. *Dove* Matt3:16; Mark1:10; Luke3:22
As a dove, the Holy Spirit should be associated with love, peace, and gentleness.
B. *Water* Ezek36:25, 27; Is44:3; Jn7:37-39; Titus3:5
As water, the Holy Spirit brings life, fullness, refreshment, and purity. Scripture sometimes speaks of the Spirit being “poured out.”
C. *Fire* Matt3:11; Luke3:16; Acts2:3
Fire in the Bible can portray the presence of God (Ex3:1), the power of God (1Kings18:38,39), the protection of God (Ex13:21), and the purging judgment of God (Heb12:29).
D. *Wind* Jn3:3-8; Acts2:2; 2Pet1:21; the word ‘moved’ is used of wind in a boat’s sails in Acts27:15,17
In the Hebrew (ruach) and the Greek (pneuma), the term for Spirit is the same as the term for wind. As wind, the Spirit is invisible and powerful. Also, God’s breath is linked with creation—the creation of man (Gen2:7), the re-creation of the nation Israel (Ezek37), the regeneration or new birth (Jn3:3-8), and the creation or “breathing out” of the Scriptures (2Tim3:16 and 2Pet1:21)
E. *Oil*
The Bible associates oil with the Holy Spirit and uses the word anoint in connection with the Spirit (see 1Sam10:1, 6; 16:13; Is61:1; Luke4:18; Acts10:38; 2Cor1:21,22; 1Jn2:20,27). Oil is related to healing (Luke10:34; James5:14), the blessings of God such as joy and comfort (Ps23:5; 45:7; 104:15; Joel 1:10; 2:24), inauguration unto a new task (Ex29:7; 1Sam10:1,16:13) and light (Ps119:105, oil lamp). The Holy Spirit heals us spiritually by bringing life. He provides joy and gladness. He gives truth, and He is the source of power for our service for God.
F. *Wine* (Luke1:15; Acts2:13; Eph5:18)
The Holy Spirit is contrasted with wine. He provided a different (beneficial) kind of control and true joy.
G. *Seal*
The Holy Spirit is likened unto a seal. In ancient times a seal conveyed thoughts of ownership, approval, and protection. The sealing of the Spirit (2Cor1:22; Eph1:13,14;4:30) guarantees the eternal security of the believer.
H. *Down Payment or Pledge*
Both 2Cor1:22 and Eph1:13-14 mention the Holy Spirit as a pledge in the same sentence that refers to His sealing work. (also 2Cor5:5). The Holy Spirit is said to be the earnest, or pledge, of our full inheritance. The King James word earnest is somewhat archaic. The phrase “down payment” communicates better. The underlying Greek word means “engagement ring” in modern Greek. Amen

*THE WORD OF GOD – psalm 119*

The WORD of God … :

01. …brings blessing upon me when I walk in the Word v1
02. …makes blessed the one that keeps the Word v2
03. …it will not let me be ashamed when I honor it v6
04. …it produces praises in my heart towards God v7
05. …it keeps me in close fellowship with God v8
06. …it keeps me from sin v9,11
07. …it is God who teaches me His Word v12
08. …it motivates me to proclaim it with my lips v13
09. …it produces in me a greater joy than having all the treasures of the world v14,36
10. …it produces in me deep consideration for the ways of God v15
11. …it is my delight to the point where I can’t give it up v16, 143
12. …God opens my eyes so that i can see the wonderful things of His Word v18
13. …it produces in me a burning desire to hear it more v20
14. …it removes from me the reproach and shame v22
15. …it is my pleasant meditation even when the powerful and the rich of this world mock me v23
16. …it is my counselor and my joy v24
17. …God lifts me up through His Word v28
18. …i make a personal decision to follow it v30
19. …it enlarges my heart to have a greater capacity for God v32
20. …it produces in me a desire to walk in it until the end no matter the cost v33
21. …it motivates me to pray for wisdom to understand it better v34
22. …it contains God’s promises towards me v38
23. …it gives me protection against my adversaries v42
24. …it brings me to a large place with God v44; Mal.4:2
25. …it gives me authority to witness to the great and the rich of this world v46
26. …it is pleasant v39
27. …it makes me to love it v47,48, 127
28. …it makes me put my hope in it v49
29. …it is my comfort in my trials v50
30. …it gives me life v50
31. …it keeps me from quitting under persecution v51
32. …it reassures me v52
33. …it is my song in my daily pilgrimage through this world v54
34. …it reveals to me God’s mercies v58
35. …it draws my feet unto God’s way v59
36. …it draws me day and night to praise God v62
37. …it shows me whom should have as friends v63
38. …it gives me wisdom and understanding v66
39. …it gives me God’s comforting merciful kindness v76
40. …it lasts forever v89
41. …it keeps me from destruction v92
42. …it gives me salvation v94
43. …it has no end v96
44. …it makes me wiser than my enemies v98
45. …it makes me wiser than my teachers v99
46. …it makes me wiser than old men v100
47. …it keeps me from wrong paths v101
48. …it is sweeter than honey v103
49. …it teaches me to hate false ways v104
50. …it gives me understanding to discern wrong or false ways v105
51. …it is a light and a lamp v105
52. …it is the rejoicing of my heart v111
53. …it is the only occupation of my thinking v112
54. …it teaches me to hate vain thoughts or double-mindedness v113
55. …it teaches me to separate myself from the wicked v115
56. …it promises me God upholds me and gives me life without shame v116
57. …it produces in me reverence towards God v120
58. …it causes God to intervene when the wicked make the Word void v126
59. …it is wonderful and motivates me to follow it v129
60. …it gives light and understanding to the simple v130
61. …it causes me to desire it v131
62. …it keeps my feet from being dominated by iniquities v133
63. …it causes me to suffer seeing those that don’t follow it v136
64. …it is the shining of God’s face over me v135
65. …it is righteous and faithful v137-138
66. …it makes me be consumed by zeal for God’s Word v139
67. …it is pure and I love it v140
68. …it is truth v142
69. …it is righteous, everlasting and it gives me life v144
70. …it makes God bow His ear to listen to me v145
71. …it gives salvation v155
72. …it give me strength against enemies and persecutors v157
73. …it causes me to grieve seeing transgressions v158
74. …it makes my heart to stand in awe and adoration of God’s Word v161
75. …it causes me to hate lies v163
76. …it causes me to praise God all day long v164
77. …it gives me peace and protects me from being offended by anything that comes my way v165
78. …it makes my voice heard by God and it places my way under God’s protective and guiding sight
79. …it makes the hand of God move on my behalf v173
80. …it makes God look for me as after a lost sheep v176

Pastor Daniel

*WOMEN PASTORS – WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?*
(part 2 of 2)

The clear implication is that women are not to serve in any role which involves the authoritative spiritual teaching of men. By this definition, the role of teaching pastor/shepherd is reserved for men. This is confirmed in the two passages which deal specifically with the qualifications for church leadership (1Tim3:1-13; Tit1:6-9). Church leaders are described as the “husband of one wife”, “a MAN whose children believe” and “MEN worthy of respect.”

Rather than focusing on what ministries women are restricted from, *the focus should be on the multitude of ways God calls and gifts women to serve*. Women are nowhere restricted from proclaiming the gospel to the lost (Acts1:8; 1Pet3:15). In Greek, ”euaggelizo” means to evangelize, the translation ”to preach the Gospel” is not accurate, for ”to preach” in Greek is ”kerusso”, therefore when women are sharing the Gospel, they are not preaching to men when they are evangelizing.

*Women are encouraged to teach other women (Tit2:3-5)*. Women are nowhere restricted from teaching children. Women seem to excel, far beyond men, in some of the spiritual gifts and fruit of the Spirit (1Cor12; Gal5:22-23). Women being restricted from spiritual teaching authority over men is not a punishment. Rather, it is a refocusing to the ministries, skills, and gifts God with which blesses women.

*Verses to consider:*
–Rom16:1-2 – Phebe – an investor of Christ in many, a servant, to be received as a servant of the church;
–1Tim3:11 – deacon’s wives – grave (worthy of respect and serious), not gossips, temperate and self-controlled thoroughly trustworthy in all things.
–1Tim2:9-15; 3:11-12 – discreet, dress not like harlots, filled with good deeds, reverential fear for and devotion to God, learn in quietness and entire submissiveness, faithful
–1Pet3:1-7 – inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, gentle and peaceful spirit
–1Cor14:34-35 – should keep quiet in the churches – not to usurp and exercise authority over men in the church
–Rom16:2 – godly women should be received and honored
–2Tim3:6-7 – caution how they hear and are instructed
–1Tim3:11 – controlled tongue, trustworthy, self-controlled
–Phil4:2,3 – caution against divisiveness

*The History of the Ministry of Women:*

1. Loving Givers and Hospitality Initiators
–Widow’s mite Mk.12:42-44; Luke 21:2-4
–Certain women who gave and ministered out of their substance unto the Lord Luke8:2,3
–Dorcas full of good works and alms Luke9:36-41
–Lydia opened her home for the gathering of people to hear the Word Acts16:14-15
–Phebe servant of the church helped and loved many Rom16
–Priscilla and Aquila – helpers of Paul – laid down their own necks for Paul and the Gospel – Rom.16
–Mary ”who bestowed much labor on us” Rom16
–Tryphena, Persis, and Tryphosa labor in the Lord Rom16
–Brought up children lodged strangers (3John); relieved the afflicted; diligently followed every good work 1Tim5:10

2. Communicators of the Gospel
–Woman at the well Jn4:29
–Proclaimer of the Resurrection Matt28:8
–Announced Redemption in Jerusalem Luke2:37,38
–Expounded together with her husband to Apollos the way of God more perfectly Acts18:26

3. Persistence in Godliness and Faith
–Syrophenician woman Mark7:26
–The importune widow Luke18:5
–Women at the Crucifixion Luke23:27-29, 49, 55-56
–Testimony to Apostles of the Resurrection Luke24:10,24
–Women at the Cross Jn19:25-27

4. God’s Plan and Order of Women in Life
–Man is the head of the woman as Christ is head of the man 1Cor11:1-12
–Order in the church assembly 1Cor14:33-35
–Order in life Eph5:21-33
–Order in the home Tit2:4-5
–Adornment, speech and communication 1Tim2:9-15
–Subjection, submission and obedience 1Pet3:1-7, Titus2:3
–Priorities of life in relationship to hungering and thirsting after God Luke10:38-42

5. Old Testament Hints at the Women’s Responsibilities and Portions that are Timeless
–Care of the home Gen17:9, 1Sam8:13, Prov31:15
–God’s call for wives Gen2:18, 24; Ps128:3; Prov12:4, 18:22, 19:14, 31:11
–Giving of gifts Ex35:25-26
–Sacrifice in labor Ruth2:7; 1Sam8:13; Prov31:13,24
–The treasure women are Prov31:10-31
–The joy of the marriage Prov5:18-19, Song Sol.1:13

6. Older, Spiritually Mature Women are to Minister and be an Example to the Younger (1Tim5:1-16), Titus2:3,4

Certain Conclusions and Warnings:
–1Tim2:9-15 No usurping over men in leadership
–Rom16:2 Magnification and importance of womanhood and the identification of Christ’s relationship to the church
–1Tim5:13-15, 1Pet3:2 Guarding against sins of the tongue: Not tattlers, Not busybodies, Not speaking things which they ought not
–Give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproach fully – some are already given over to the devil in that area
–Chaste conversation to honor, esteem, appreciate, prize; and, in the human sense, to adore him, that is, to admire, praise, be devoted to, deeply love, and enjoy your husband
–Not to be idle, Not wandering from house to house
–Caution to widows and single women 1Tim5:1-16
–The Greek word “diabolos” means slanderous or accusing falsely. The noun form means slanderers – 1Tim3:11; 2Tim3:3; Tit2:3 those who are given to finding fault with the demeanor and the conduct of others and spreading their criticisms in the church. Diabolos is used 34 times as the title of Satan, the devil, as the accuser. The Tit2:3 reference uses the same word root for the devil in referring to a false accusing woman.

Important Scriptures for all men and women in this matter: Matt5:37; Col4:6; 2Tim1:13; Tit2:8;3:1-2; Prov10:19, 16:24, 14:23, 17:27, 21:23, 29:11; Eccl5:3, 10:12-13; Is50:4; Ep4:31; Jam1:26, 3:2, 4:11; 1Pet2:1, 3:10; Ps34:13.

Pastor Daniel

*Women pastors – what does the Bible say?*
Part 1

A key passage on the women pastors issue is 1Tim2:11-12, which reads, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” Paul restricts women from teaching or having spiritual authority over men. In the context the focus is on the concept of pastoring/shepherding. A pastor’s duties are primarily teaching, preaching (which involves teaching but also explaining, exhorting, rebuking) and shepperding (counseling, caring for the spiritual advancement of the flock). It is the preaching, teaching and shepherding over men that God, through Paul, restricts to men. A woman can teach man on non Biblical issues (maths, singing, languages and others).
-Some might say that a woman does teach man by SONGS, testimonies or personal conversations but in these situations man has the possibility to refute, question, debate, refuse to listen or to accept to believe and assimilate the information received without denying the spiritual authority of the church in which he hears these from a woman. And by the way, when the woman sings or gives a testimony in church, she is doing so under the supervision and spiritual authority of the pastor of the church. When a woman is a pastor, she is not under spiritual authority but she claims to be the spiritual authority.
-Some say LYDIA led the church that was gathering in her house, Acts 16:40, but she only housed the church, it does not say she lead it. Remember she was gathering previously with a group of women for prayer v13.
-Joel2:28-29 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; *your sons and YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHECY*, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. *Even on the male and FEMALE servants* in those days I will pour out my Spirit’ – this happens since Pentecost, all who receive Jesus receive the the Holy Spirit, but it does not say that all become pastors, or that some women can be pastors. Women can ‘prophesy’ or ‘preach’ to women Tit2:4 and can evangelize men.
–*Rom16:7 ‘Salute Andronicus and JUNIA*…who are noted AMONG THE APOSTLES” does not imply that Andronicus and Julia were among and equal with the 12 apostles of Jesus. Remember that Rev21/14 says that the New Jerusalem heavenly city at the end of history will only have 12 names of apostles on its foundation. Someone might be called apostle (meaning ‘sent one’) of a local church, but they cant be an apostle of Jesus, who only had and will ever have only 12 apostles. The apostles appointed ELDERS (pastors: ‘presbuteros’, ‘episkopos’, ‘poimen’, all in masculine in Greek), they didn’t appoint apostles, ‘apostolos’ (Tit1:5, 1Pet5:1-3, Acts14:23, 20:17)
–*All 12 apostles were MEN*, Paul’s disciples pastoring churches were MEN (Timothy, Trophimus, Epafroditus, Tichicus, Titus and others); for 1900 years pastors were MEN, only in the last 100 years women started to be pastors, as a result of the FEMINIST MOVEMENT. As much as we agree that women should have certain social rights (to drive, to teach in public schools, to take public positions, to vote), we do not agree that they should be usurping authority over men as teaching men on spiritual issues or pastoring. Satan wants men to act as women and women to act as men. God created man to be initiator and woman to be a responder, not the other way around, just as Jesus is the initiator and the church is the responder. See Eph5:32, the mystery of the husband – as head – and his wife is paralleled with the mystery of Jesus as the husband and the head of the church. A woman pastor is thus affirming she is the head of her husband. Satan lies again to Eve: ‘You will be like God’, you will be the head!!
–*The fact that some women ‘pastors’ have some ‘fruit’ does not confirm them as pastors:* remember that some will say to Jesus, ‘we have prophesied in your name, made miracles, cast out demons’ but Jesus will answer, ‘depart from Me, I never KNEW (‘GINOSKO’=knowing through personal relationship) you’ Mat7:23, their apparent fruit did not confirm them as genuine preachers!
-In 1Pet5:1-3, *every occurrence of the word, “elder(s),” is in the masculine* form in the Greek

*1Tim2:11-12:*
–There are several lines of argument against this interpretation of the women pastors issue:

(1) Some argue: ‘Women were uneducated at that time, and therefore not qualified to be teachers’. The passage nowhere mentions education. Education is not mentioned as a qualification for church leadership in 1Tim3:1-13 or Tit1:6-9. If education was a requirement, few, if any, of Jesus’ disciples would have been qualified. Judas only was educated, and probably Matthew, who was a tax collector.

(2) Some argue: ‘Paul was only dealing with Artemis worship at Timothy’s church in Ephesus’. The context, and all of 1 Timothy for that matter, nowhere mention Artemis or the prominence of women in the worship of Artemis. If there was a problem with women usurping authority over men in the church in Ephesus, Paul would have addressed it directly.

(3) Some argue: ‘Paul is referring to husbands and wives, not men and women. Wives are not to teach or have authority over their husbands’. The Greek words could refer to husbands and wives, but the context indicates otherwise. Are only husbands to lift up holy hands in prayer or all men? Are only wives to dress modestly or all women (1Tim2:8-10)? The immediate context indicates that men and women in general are the subject, not husbands and wives exclusively.

(4) Some argue: ‘There are women in the Bible who served in ways that contradict this interpretation of 1Tim2:11-12’. Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Priscilla, and Phoebe are the most commonly given examples.
*MIRIAM, DEBORAH AND HULDAH:* Miriam might have been a prophetess for women, she has never addressed as a prophet the whole congregation as Moses did (in fact she did a bit but not at God’s command: when she rebelled against Moses…). We do believe in women teaching women, as Paul instructs in Tit2/4. Miriam was leading the nation in singing, not in teaching and preaching. Women can lead music ministry, of course under the supervision of the pastor.
*In regards to PRISCILLA AND PHOEBE,* the New Testament nowhere describes them serving in a way that contradicts 1Tim2:11-12. Priscilla helped her husband Aquila to disciple Apollos in their home, she did not teach Apollos alone, maybe did not even say one word but approved what her husband said (Acts18:26), and her name is always by her husband’s name, never mentioned alone. Phoebe is simply identified as a servant/deaconess of the church (Rom16:1)
*THE FOUR DAUGHTERS of Philip* the evangelist (Acts2:19) are said to be prophesying but when Paul stayed in Philip’s house the prophet Agabus (a man) was sent by God from Jerusalem to Caesarea, 120km distance, to give a message to Paul (God gave directly to Paul 12 visions/messages in Acts but here He used prophet Agabus as a testimony for the others: will Paul be fearful or courageous when receiving news of future persecution?…and courageous Paul was, having received grace); God did not use the 4 daughters to pass a message to Paul; I believe they were prophesying to women and also evangelizing (just as their father), as women can evangelize men.
-Is3:12 ‘As for my people, *CHILDREN are their oppressors, and WOMEN rule over them*. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.’ In this verse, God implies that children and women are leading the people astray. Children lack knowledge and women are not meant to be leaders above men. As in Rev2.20 where *Jezebel called herself a prophetess.*

When God chose women to be judge *(DEBORAH)* or prophets over men, it was as a rebuke, as God could not find a godly man to do His work, just as Israel wanted a king ‘as the other nations’ and God gave them Saul who was not spiritual, to chastise Israel, then in His grace gave them David but still allowed David and Solomon to have many wives from among Israel to chastise Israel, see 1Sam8:11; Just as He rebuked Israel in these verses:
-Is3:4 ‘And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.’ – children and babes have no wisdom to lead, resulting in oppression and social problems as described in verse 5.
-Ecl10:16 ‘Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child and thy princes eat (feast) in the morning!’
-Mat21:16 ‘…And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? ‘ (as a rebuke to adults, babes did praise God but adults didn’t).

(5) Some argue: ‘Gal3:28 says that *men and women are equal in God’s eyes’*. The subject here regarding equality in Christ, is equal access to the salvation Christ offers, access to and fellowship with God. Men and women, Jews and Gentiles, slave and free are absolutely equal in this context. Church leadership is not the subject of Gal3:28, but this verse only applies to salvation, or else homosexuals can use this verse outside to its context to support homosexual marriage; or some could use it to support change of sex or ‘no gender’ theory that is taught in secular education lately.

Reason of prohibition of women pastoring is given in the next two verses: *”For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived”* (1Tim2:13,14). The order of creation and the nature of the fall impacts spiritual leadership in the church, and in the family where man is the head (translation ‘source’ is wrong) of the woman just as Christ is the head of the church (see Eph5:22,33). Women are not to teach or have spiritual authority over men because women were created to be “helpers” to men and because Eve was deceived into sin. Through creation, and because of the Fall, God has chosen to give men the primary teaching authority in the church.

…end of part 1
Pastor Daniel

*WHO I AM IN CHRIST*

[Christ in you the hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)]

*THE WORD OF GOD SAYS:*

*I AM:*
…God’s child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the WORD OF GOD which liveth and abideth FOREVER…1Pet1:23

…forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood…Eph1:7; Heb9:14; Col1:14; 1Jn2:12; 1:9

…a new creature…2Cor5:17

…the temple of the Holy Spirit…1Cor6:19

…delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God’s Kingdom…Col1:13

…redeemed from the curse of the law… 1Pet1:18, 19; Gal3:13

…blessed…Deut28:1to14; Gal3:9

…a saint….Rom1:7; 1Cor1:2; Phil1:1

…the head and not the tail…Deut28:13

…above only and not beneath…Deut23:13

…holy and without blame before HIM in love elect……1Pet1:16; Eph1:4

…elect……Col3:12; Rom8:33

…established to the end…1Cor1:8

…made nigh by the blood of Christ…..Eph2:13

…victorious….Rev21:7

…set free…..Jn8:31-33

…strong in the Lord…Eph6:10

…dead to sin…Rom6:2,11; 1Pet2:24

…more than a conqueror…Rom8:37

…joint heirs with Christ…Rom8:17

…sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise…Eph1:13

…in Jesus Christ by his doing…1Cor1:30

…accepted in the Beloved….Eph1:6

…complete in Him…Col2:10

…crucified with Christ…Gal2:20

…alive with Christ…Eph2:5

…free from condemnation…Rom8:1

…reconciled to God…2Cor5:18

…qualified to share in His inheritance……Col1:12

…firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with gratitude…Col2:7

…circumcised with the circumcision made without hands…Col2:11

…a fellow citizen with the saints and of the household of God…..Eph2:19

…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets; Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone…Eph2:20

…in the world as He is in Heaven…1Jn4:17

…born of God and the evil one does not touch me…1Jn5:18

…his faithful follower…Rev17:14b; Eph5:1

…overtaken with blessings……Deut28:2; Eph1:3

…his disciple because I have love for others…Jn13:34-35

…the light of the world…Matt5:14

…the salt of the earth…Matt5:13

…the righteousness of God…2Cor5:21; 1Pet2:24

…a partaker of his divine nature….2Pet1:4

…called of God….2Tim1:9

…the first fruits among His creation…James1:18

…chosen…1Thes1:4; Eph1:4; 1Pet2:9

…an ambassador for Christ…2Cor5:20

…God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works…Eph2:10

…the apple of MY FATHER’S eye…Deut32:10; Ps17:8

…healed by the stripes of JESUS…1Pet2:24; Is53:6

…being changed into His image…2Cor3:18; Phil1:6

…raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places…Col2:12; Eph2:6

…beloved of God…Col3:12; Rom1:7; 1Thes1:4

…one in Christ! Hallelujah!…Jn17:21-23

*I HAVE:*
…the mind of Christ…Phil2:5; 1Cor2:16

…obtained an inheritance…Eph1:11

…access by one Spirit unto the FATHER…Heb4:16; Eph2:18

…overcome the world….1Jn5:4

…everlasting life and will not be condemned…Jn5:24; Jn6:47

…the peace of God which passes understanding…Phil4:7

…received power; the power of the Holy Spirit; power to lay hands on the sick and see them recover; power to cast out demons; power over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt me…Mk16:17,18; Lk10:17,19

*I LIVE:*
…by and in the law of the Spirit of Life in CHRIST JESUS…Rom8:2

*I walk in:*
…in Christ Jesus…Col2:6

*I CAN:*
…do all things in Christ Jesus…Phil4:13

*I SHALL DO:*
…do even greater works than Christ Jesus…Jn14:12

*I POSESS:*
…the Greater One in me because greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world…1Jn4:4

*I PRESS:*
…toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God…Phil3:14

…always triumph in Christ…2Cor2:14

…show forth His praise…1Pet2:9

*MY LIFE:*
…is hid with Christ in God…Col3:3

Amen.

*THE UNITY AND THE TRINITY OF GOD*

*A. The Unity of God*
The Scriptures teach monotheism.
There are three persons who are united into one God (Deut4:35; 6:4; 1Kings8:60; 2Kings19:15; Is43:10; 44:6, 8; Zech14:9; 1Cor.8:6; Gal3:20; 1Tim2:5; James2:19)
”Hear O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is *one*!” Deut6:4
”You believe that God is *one*. You do well…” James2:19; also Cor8:6; Gal3:20; 1Tim2:5

*B. The Triune Nature of God*
Although the Trinity cannot be completely understood, it should be accepted as being a clearly taught and repeated Bible doctrine.
*1.The Trinity in the Old Testament*
The doctrine of the Trinity is most fully developed in the New Testament; however, it is interesting that Trinitarian doctrine is also present in the Old Testament in an indirect way (See also Is9:6, Ps110:1, Jer23:5-6).

a. The Hebrew word for God is plural (Elohim). The fact that the Hebrew word for God is plural would not by itself prove the Trinity. It could be what grammarians call “the plural of majesty.” The Hebrew words for face, water, and heaven are also plural. However, the plural grammatical form of God does make room for a Trinitarian concept. Also, when supported by other clearer evidences for the Trinity, one satisfactory explanation for the plural form is that it was intended to be a veiled hint to the triune nature of God.

b. In a number of texts of the Old Testament, pronouns that are best taken to refer to God are plural. Again, by themselves, they would not establish the Trinity for other explanations are possible. Yet, in the light of other clearer texts these do support the doctrine of the Trinity as secondary evidences.
”…Let Us make man in *Our* image…”Gen1:26
”Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us…” Gen3:22
”And the LORD said,…“Come, let *Us* go down and there confuse their language…Gen11:6,7
”Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”…Is6:8.
Jn12:41-42 indicates *Christ was the one on the throne speaking in Isaiah6*. Acts28:25ff says the Holy Spirit said these things. In the Isaiah context one would assume God the Father was speaking. A combination of these texts supports the Trinity.

c. God seems to be distinguished from God although there is only one God.
”…And the LORD said to him…“But I will have compassion on the house of Judah and deliver them by the LORD their God…” Hosea1:6-7.
”The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” Ps110:1

d. Even the Old Testament indicates that God has a Son (See also Is9:6)
”I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, “Thou art My Son, today I have begotten Thee.” Ps2:7
”Do homage to the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way…”Ps2:12a
”…Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name?…”Prov30:4

e. The Angel of the LORD appears to be separate from God and yet is God.
(1) The Angel of the LORD is separate from God.
Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, “O LORD of hosts…Zech1:12
(2) The Angel of the LORD is recognized as God

• By Hagar – “Thou art a God who sees” Gen16:13

• By Moses as the author of Genesis – “…the LORD who spoke to her” Gen16:13

• By the author of Judges – “And the LORD looked at him and said…” Judg6:14 and “But the LORD said to him…” Judg6:16

• By Gideon – “O LORD, how shall I deliver Israel?” Judg6:15

• By Samson’s parents – “…we have seen God” Judg13:22

(3) The Angel of the LORD claims to be God (Gen22:11-12)
I am the God of Bethel…Gen31:13
”…I am the God of your Father…” Ex3:6
”Now the angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you’ ” Judg2:1

*(4) Conclusions*
The Angel of the LORD is God, yet, He is separate from God. There can be two possible conclusions: either there are two gods (which Scripture will not allow), or the Old Testament hints that there is more than one person in the Godhead.
f. The Messiah is sent by God, however, He is God (Ps110:1; Jer23:5-6; Is7:14;9:6)
(1) Messiah is separate from God: He is God’s servant.
”Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations” Is42:1
(2) Messiah is God.
”For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” Is9:6

g. There are a number of plurals used in reference to God (e.g., verbs in Gen20:13 and 35:7 and nouns in Eccl12:1 and Is54:5). These would not by themselves prove the Trinity. They could be dismissed as grammatical oddities by anyone wishing to object to the Trinitarian doctrine. Since the Trinity can be established by other texts, it is possible by hindsight to view these plurals as intentional hints to the Trinity.
”Remember also your Creator Hebrew: Creators in the days of your youth” Eccl12:1
”For your husband is your Maker” He-brew: “Makers”Is54:5

*2.The Trinity in the New Testament*
*a.Each person of the Trinity is called God or claims deity*
*(1)The Father* (Rom1:7; Gal.1:3; Eph1:2; Phil1:2)
*(2)The Son* (John1:1,18;5:18; 8:58; 10:30; 14:9; 20:28; Acts20:28; Rom9:5; Phil2:6; Col1:15-16; 2:9; Tit2:13; Heb1:8; 2Pet1:1; 1Jn5:20;Jn1:1 (ask me for a more complete study)
*(3)The Holy Spirit*
”But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God” Acts5:3-4
”Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” 2Cor3:17
(ask me for a more detailed study on the fact that the Holy Spirit is God)

*b.Two persons are associated in the God-head*
…“This is My beloved Son…” Matt17:5
”I and my Father are one” Jn10:30
“…He who has seen me has seen the Father…” Jn14:9

*c.Three persons may be associated together as God*
There are a number of passages that make reference to all three persons of the Trinity (Matt.3:16-17; 28:19; Jn14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7-15; Rom8:14-17; Gal4:4-6; Eph1:3-14;4:4-6; 1Cor12:4-6; 2Cor1:21-22; 13:14; Heb9:14; 1Pet1:2).
”And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice the Father out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” Matt3:16-17
”…baptizing them in the name note the singular of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” Matt28:19
”And I God the Son will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper…that is the Spirit of Truth” Jn14:16-17
”But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law…And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”’ Gal4:4,6
”The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all” 2Cor13:14
”…according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood; may grace and peace be yours in fullest measure” 1Pet1:2

Pastor Daniel

*ANGELS’ TONGUES OR NATIONAL LANGUAGES?*
Here are some thoughts on the subject of ”tongues”; students are free to believe otherwise but can’t practice or promote other opinions on the college’s premises.
Etymology: *Greek word ”glossa”* means ”tongue” as organ and also ”spoken language”*. In Acts2/5-11 there are listed 16 nationalities that heard ‘the wonderful things of God in our own mother tongues (languages)’; in Revelations it speaks of ‘people from every tribe and tongue (languages)’: 5/9, 7/9, 10/11, 11/9, 13/7, 14/6, 17/15. ”Glossa” means always *national language* in Acts and in Revelations. In modern English usage of ancient word ‘tongue’ denoting the action is replaced by ‘language’ and ‘tongue’ should only be used for the organ. French and Romanian translate ‘tongue’ (as organ) and ‘language’ using the same word, just as in Greek.
*Some believe that speaking in angelic languages is a proof of having received the Holy Spirit* but 1Cor.12/29-30 says: ”are they all apostles?…are they all teachers?…DO THEY ALL SPEAK IN LANGUAGES?” The answer to all these question is NO!! Therefore not all Christians receive the gift of speaking in languages. True assurance of having received the Holy Spirit is seen in Rom8/9 and Galatians 5/22-23, not in speaking in languages. In many situations in Acts languages are not mentioned when some received the Holy Spirit as in Acts8/14-17, Acts8/38. In Mark 16/17-18 Jesus says that those who believe in Him shall speak in new languages, but it also says that they will also cast out devils, heal the sick, drink poison and will not be harmed; I do believe in these promises of Jesus, but all these miracles do not happen to all Christians and at all times. (In Romanian prisons many Christians have been killed by poisoning. If you pretend to speak in angels’ languages, please do not drink poison to prove to me that you truly speak in tongues!)
*Some believe they speak in angels’ languages*, using 1Cor13/1 but there Paul says: ”though (if) I would speak in languages of humans and of angels”, word ‘though’ is ἐάν in Greek, it is a conditional particle, correct translation is ”if”’ not ‘though”;the same word is translated ”if” in: Mat4/9, 5/13, 5/23, 6/14, Rom7/3 and in other 290 verses. Romanian and French bibles translate it ”if”, not ”though”. The conditions: ‘if I would speak in languages of men and angels’, ‘if I knew all mysteries and all knowledge’ (and Paul didn’t know all mysteries, see 1Cor8/2 and 13/9, also surely he didn’t have all knowledge – ‘gnosis’ in Greek, which means science), ‘if I would have all the faith so as to move mountains’ , all these mean: ‘if I had these – and I don’t – but I have not love, I am nothing’. Paul didn’t say he spoke in languages of angels but simply said, ‘if I did speak in all the human languages and in languages of angels but I have not love, I am nothing’. His point is that love is more important than speaking in all kinds of languages. Love is the much better way he spoke of in 1Cor12/31 and described in the following verses in chapter 13.
Paul said, ”If I spoke in human languages”…; there are 6600 languages in the world, but Paul didn’t speak all; in 1Cor14/18 he said he spoke in languages more than all the Corinthians combined, as in his travels he met peoples of different languages so God gave him by miracle the capacity to speak many languages to preach the Gospel to many.
*1Cor14 gives more details on the subject:*
–v2 he who speaks in another language is not understood by others that do not speak that language; part b of the verse says ”*nobody understands him*” because the respective language is unknown to them, so he should talk to God only
–v5 *he who preaches is greater than one speaking in a language* unknown to hearers, unless that language is translated and thus becomes preaching
–v6 what use to speak in a language that brings no benefit to the hearer?
–v7-11 all languages have words that can be understood, or else those languages are ”*speaking in the wind*”; Paul here addresses the pagan practice of gibbering, so called ‘languages’ by pagans (see further)
–v14 if I pray in a language (unknown to one speaking it, as understood from the context), then my spirit prays but the *mind does not benefit*: it is what happened in the Catholic church from around 600AD until 1965, as Latin was used in liturgy without most people understanding the Latin language, as it became slowly a dead language, out of use.
–v15 I desire therefore to pray with the spirit but also with my *understanding* (or mind, intellect, ”nous” in Greek) which implies a praying in a language that the speaker understands;
–v16 if you pray in a foreign language, how will *the unlearned* say ”Amen”? ”Unlearned” in Greek is ”idiotes”, meaning ”ignorant”, it implies that the unlearned has not learned that language which could be learned; if the speaker was speaking in a heavenly language of angels, instead of ‘ignorant’ it should have been said ”one lacking the gift of understanding”.
–v16,17 purpose of preaching or prayer, even in languages, is *edification* or teaching, which implies translation of language for understanding;
–v18 ”*I speak in languages more* than you all” combined–means that Paul spoke many languages; not in terms of time but of number of languages
–v19 better *5 understood words* than 10.000 in an unknown language
–v20 one that wants to speak in a foreign language without others understanding anything is *’childish’*, immature
–v21-25 for the unbeliever *languages are a sign* (‘miracle’, Greek word ”semeion”, used 77 times in New Testament); vain babbelings or gibbering are never a miracle for the unbeliever; a foreigner speaking in someone’s mother language without ever having learned the language is indeed a miracle; there are tribes of 100 people that are the only ones speaking a certain language on earth, so an outsider is easily recognized and him speaking perfectly their language without one of them teaching it unto him is a clear miracle that the unbeliever can’t deny.
Verse 21 quotes Isaiah28/11-12 where God promised to Israel the *miracle of speaking in languages* and He says that Israel will still not listen and indeed all Israel didn’t listen to God but accused the disciples of being drunk, only 3000 believed (see Acts2/1-41); the miracle of speaking in other national languages can happen at any time in God’s sovereign will and will happen again on a large scale as in Acts 2 in the near future after the rapture through the 144.000 Jewish evangelists (Rev7)
–v27 if some speak in (other) language, they should speak 2 or at the most 3, one after the other (not in the same time); *one should translate*
–v28 if there is no translator, *he should keep quiet* in the church; it means that tongues are not for personal use but for others’ benefit through teaching with the help of a translator. 1Cor12/7 says also that the gifts of the Spirit are for others’ benefit, not for personal benefit
–v32 *the spirits of the prophets are submitted to the prophets*,v33 for God is not the God of disorder or confusion; therefore one can’t stand at once in church and shout some ”new prophecy from God” mixing some ”tongues-babbelings” as many often do; speaking as a medium possessed by a spirit is not from God but from demons (1Sam28 the witch of Endor)

*OTHER POINTS TO PONDER:*
–Mat.6/7 Jesus forbids *vain repetitions* in prayer;
–all believers are *priests with free access* to God in prayer (1Pet2/5,9) without a need of a special miracle gift for prayer; many prayers are recorded in the Bible and all have understandable words, not in ‘tongues’ or babbling; read the prayer of Jesus in John17
–some say they pray in the language of angels so that Satan could not understand the prayer, forgetting that *Satan is an angel as well* (a fallen one of course), forgetting that *God is a loving Father* who hears and understands any language you speak (Shona, English, German or other) and He chases away demons to hear your prayer (James4/7, Mat4/10-11)
–many are *like Thomas*, in need of a miracle to support their faith but Jesus said, ”blessed are they that didn’t see (miracles) and believed”; many try to *manufacture miracles* by ”speaking in tongues” to convince themselves and others that they are spiritual.
People from ancient history wrote about the practice of ”babbling in an ecstatic state”, see Virgil of the first century writing about pagan priestess on the Isle of Delos, see also National Geographic Society in ”Greece and Rome” page 171, also Christian theologian Chrisostom wrote of such babbling of pagans in the 4th century; Joseph Smith, who started the Mormons’ cult, spoke in ”tongues” (see ”Speaking in tongues” by Joseph Dillow page 173); many false religions and past nations practice or have practiced ecstatic babblings: ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, Muslims, Mormons, Tibetans, Borneo cults, voodoo demon-worshipers in Benin; many Christians testified of ”speaking in tongues” even years before getting saved, when they did not have yet received the Holy Spirit (see testimonies gathered by Miles, in ”Introduction to Christian Doctrine”,p3; I personally also know of such testimonies).—
Pastor Daniel

*TITHES AND GIVING*
part 2

*3.THEIR GIVING WAS NOT BY COMMANDMENT, NOR OF NECESSITY*
Under the law, a tenth was commanded and its payment was a necessity, not required for salvation but as an act of obedience to God; under grace, God is not seeking the gift, but an expression of devotion from the giver. Under grace no law is imposed, and no proportion to be given is stipulated; and, while it is true that God works in the yielded heart both to will and to do His good pleasure (Phil.2:14), He finds pleasure only in that gift which is given CHEERFULLY, or more literally, ”hilariously” (2Cor9:7). If a law existed stipulating the amount to be given, there are those, doubtless, who would seek to fulfill it, even against their own wishes and thus their gift would be made “GRUDGINGLY”, and “of necessity.”
It is true that to support the work of the Gospel we must have money, but it is not the amount which is given important to God, but rather the DIVINE BLESSING upon the cheerful gift that accomplishes the desired end. Christ fed five thousand from five loaves and two fishes, and there is abundant evidence to prove that wherever the children of God have fulfilled their privilege in giving under grace, their liberality has resulted in “all sufficiency in all things” which has made them “abound unto every good work,” for God is able to make even the grace of giving to “abound” to every believer (2Cor9:8).

*4.THEY GAVE THEMSELVES*
Acceptable giving is preceded by a complete giving of one’s own self (2Cor8:5). This suggests the important truth that giving under grace, like giving under the law, is limited to a certain class of people. Tithing was never imposed by God on any other than the nation Israel. So, Christian giving of money is limited to believers, and is most acceptable when given by believers who have fully YILDED THEIR LIVES to God.
Some hide behind the tithe to avoid giving more than 10%, also to avoid giving themselves, Luke18:12

*5.THEY GAVE SISTEMATICALLY*
Like tithing, there is suggested systematic regularity in giving under grace. “Upon the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1Cor16:2). This injunction is addressed to “every man” (every Christian man), and thus excuses none; and giving is to be from that which is already “IN STORE”, not a promise or pledge concerning funds which they have not yet received.
Sadly, today believers are everywhere urged to make their “pledge” based on what they hope to receive. Some borrow to give to God, it is not doctrinal.

*6.GOD SUSTAINS THE GIVER*
God will sustain grace-giving with limitless temporal resources (2Cor9:8-10;Luke6:38). In this connection it may be seen that those who give as much as a tenth are usually prospered in temporal things; but, since the believer can have no relation to the law (Gal5:1), it is evident that this prosperity is the fulfillment of the promise under grace, rather than the fulfillment of promises under the law. No blessings are thus dependent on the exact tithing. The blessings are bestowed because a heart has expressed itself through a gift. There is no opportunity here for designing people to become rich. The giving must be from the heart, and God’s response will be according to His perfect will for His child. He may respond by bestowing spiritual riches, or in temporal material blessings as He shall choose. Giving is NOT MAKING BUSINESS with God: ‘I give you this much so now you have to return back 5-10 times’, as some say.
When someone becomes a Christian, he might even become poorer, because of persecution, but also because of his giving money as led by God, also loosing business opportunities that now he refuses because they might separate him from Christian fellowship (schedule of business, ethics and other reasons) but God will not forsake such a believer Ps37:25

*7.TRUE RICHES ARE FROM GOD*
The Corinthian Christians were made rich with heavenly riches. There is such a thing as being rich in this world’s goods and yet not rich toward God (Luke12:21). All such are invited to buy of Him that gold which is tried in the fire (Rev3:18). Through the absolute poverty of Christ in His death, all may be made rich (2Cor8:9). It is possible to be rich in faith (Jas2:5), and rich in good works (1Tim6:18); but in Christ Jesus the believer receives freely “the riches of grace” (Eph1:7), and “the riches of glory” (Eph3:16).

Some preachers use the TITHE TO MANIPULATE believers to give, as these preachers are often pocketing the money.
A godly preacher motivates his church to GIVE IN LOVE 2Cor5:14, taking Christ as example.

A healthy church will present at least once a year the church SPENDINGS TO THEIR CONGREGATION in a special meeting: ‘this year our church has received this much money and this much we spent on rent, this much on chairs or other building-related materials, this much for tracts and evangelism costs, this much for the poor and brethren crisis, this much on staff wages (pastor’s wage itself can be a bit confidential or private but church should be able to guess from the staff budget just about roughly how much the pastor gets) and so on’. All expenses should be documented with receipts and witnesses signatures. The pastor should not handle church money, but an accountant. Ushers (at least 2) should collect the offerings and give them under signatures to the church accountant.

A PASTOR CAN RECEIVE A WAGE 1Tim5:17-18, 1Cor9:6-14, GIFTS for ministry Phil4:10-20 and at times the pastor might REFUSE TO RECEIVE anything from the church for the sake of testimony and to prove to them he is not after their money 2Cor11:7, 12:13-15, at times the PASTOR MIGHT WORK with his own hands to sustain himself financially Acts18:3.

It would be good for the sake of testimony if a church would be registered with an organization for FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, as accountants of such an organization verify the bookkeeping and can testify once a year, through a yearly certificate, that the church is handling the money in a godly way. One of the most appreciated organizations is ECFA (www.ecfa.org); our church, ‘Greater Grace’ is registered with it.

Since giving should not be compulsory or by force, tithes are gives before God, secretly, WITHOUT ENVELOPE WITH NAME of the giver or else it becomes MANIPULATION: pastor manipulates the believers to give and believers manipulate pastors with the amount they give, requiring positions or changes in the church. In the Old Testament the priests were not checking on Israel if they gave all their tithe or kept back a bit; in Malachi 3 the levites were receiving nothing of their rights from the people’s tithes and they ran to villages to work for their sustenance, study the context; nobody counted if the tithe was exact when one brought it forward, it was between the bringer and God.

Pastor Daniel