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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | What about so-called revelation knowledg | Bible general Archive 1 | Radioman2 | 81851 | ||
1. Summary: The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland [Note: Numbers within or at the end of sentences are footnote numbers. To read the footnotes providing reference sources for this article, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm)] 'Summary 'Kenneth Copeland stands today as one of the Faith movement's leading spokesmen. His voluminous material (in print and broadcast media), combined with his crusades and international outreach centers, attest to his vast influence. 'Copeland is responsible for spreading many of the Faith movement's unbiblical teachings. He distorts the biblical concepts of faith and covenant. He reduces God to the image of man while elevating man to the status of God. He lowers Jesus to being a product of positive confession who took on a satanic nature at the cross. And he promotes the occult practice of creative visualization. 'Copeland's errors are largely due to his negative stance on reasoning, his poor handling of the Bible, his aversion toward theology, and his bias against tradition. 'On the night of November 2, 1962, a young man twenty-five years of age, struggling against "sin, sickness, and strife," asked Jesus to "come into [his] heart."1 His decision came two weeks after his wife had done likewise.2 Today, these two individuals head a ministry that literally stretches around the globe, while remaining in the forefront of what has come to be known as the "Faith" movement. They are Kenneth and Gloria Copeland. 'Part One of this series explored the roots of the Faith movement and surveyed some of its leading proponents today. In this installment, our primary attention will be devoted to cataloging and critiquing the core theology of one of the most widely recognized and respected Faith teachers to date - Kenneth Copeland.3' ____________________ The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland by Hank Hanegraaff and Erwin M. de Castro. To read more, including extensive footnotes, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm) |
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2 | What is the "Force of Faith"? | Bible general Archive 1 | Radioman2 | 82146 | ||
What is the "Force of Faith"? 3. 'THE FORCE OF FAITH: The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland [Note: Numbers within or at the end of sentences are footnote numbers. To read the footnotes providing reference sources for this article, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm)] 'THE FORCE OF FAITH 'Of the multiple views of faith held by Faith teachers,10 Copeland focuses primarily on an understanding of faith as a force. "Faith is a power force," he claims. "It is a tangible force. It is a conductive force."11 Moreover, "faith is a spiritual force....It is substance. Faith has the ability to effect natural substance."12 As "the force of gravity...makes the law of gravity work...this force of faith...makes the laws of the spirit world function."13 'Copeland affirms that "God cannot do anything for you apart or separate from faith,"14 for "faith is God's source of power" (emphasis in original).15 Moreover, "everything that you're able to see or touch, anything that you can feel, anything that's perceptive to the five physical senses, was originally the faith of God, and was born in the substance of God's faith."16 In other words, "faith was the raw material substance that the Spirit of God used to form the universe."17 'Copeland adds that "God used words when He created the heaven and the earth....Each time God spoke, He released His faith - the creative power to bring His words to pass."18 For "words are spiritual containers,"19 and the "force of faith is released by words."20 'Copeland derives his definition of faith from Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (KJV). He interprets the word "substance" as some transcendent, primary element that makes up the universe; it was and is activated by spoken words at the onset of creation (both God's original creation of the world and all subsequent creations, whether by God or man). 'Contrary to Copeland's view, the word translated "substance" in the King James Version is the Greek word hypostasis which, in the context of Hebrews 11:1, means "an assured impression, a mental realizing."21 Far from being some tangible material or energetic force, faith is a channel of living trust stretching from man to God. It is an assurance that God's promises never fail, even if sometimes we do not experience their fulfillment during our mortal existence. Other translations render hypostasis more precisely as "being sure" (NIV), "to be sure" (TEV), and "assurance" (NASB). 'Neither the original Greek text nor any of the modern translations support Copeland's understanding of faith. The same holds true for his understanding of spoken words. Besides, the idea of words functioning as faith-filled containers makes no sense if there is no such thing as a "force of faith" (requiring packaging and transportation) in the first place. ____________________ The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland. To read more, including extensive footnotes, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm) |
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3 | What is the "Force of Faith"? | Bible general Archive 1 | gracefull | 82156 | ||
Substance according to Strong's that which has foundation, is firm that which has actual existence a substance, real being the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution confidence, firm trust, assurance According to Strong's Hebrews 11:1 the Greek word is translated substance and means 'nature'. And above it is broken out as 'a substance, real being the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing ' The other uses of this word are translated 'confidence'according to Strong's. (go to Study tools, click on Lexicon and type in keyword 'substance'or 5287) Interesting contrast to the above posted definition of substance. It would appear there is room for deeper understanding based on the fact that even Strong's recognizes a difference in this translated word 'faith' and the others. Each of us must listen to the Holy Spirit for clear revelation of truth. Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith God spoke the worlds into existence. God bless |
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4 | What is the "Force of Faith"? | Bible general Archive 1 | Morant61 | 82161 | ||
Greetings Graceful! One quick correction if I may! Heb. 11:3 does not say 'By faith God spoke the worlds into existence'. It says that 'By faith, we believe...'. What is it that we believe? We believe that 'the ages were completed by the Word of God'. I did a quick scan of the Greek and I could not find a single verse where God was said to do anything 'by faith'. If I may also go on to Heb. 11:1, there is nothing in this verse which teachs that faith is a force capable of creating reality. Examine the context. The NIV translates Heb. 11:1 - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Literally, the Greek says, "And faith is assurance of what is being hoped for and deed of proof of what is not being seen." The words 'assurance' (# 5287) and 'deed' (# 1650) are both used in Greek in contexts dealing with contracts. So, what do they mean in this context? Simply this: Those who act in faith, act as though they have already received the promise. Chapter 11 goes on to list all of those who acted in spite of the fact that they had not yet seen what they hoped for. For instance: By faith, we believe that God created, even though we never saw it - v. 3. By faith, Noah built an ark, even though he had not see the rain - v. 7. By faith, Abraham went when he did not know where he was going - v.8. Verse 13 is one of the key verses in this chapter. Listen to what it says. Heb. 11:13 - "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth." Notice, that it does not say 'By faith, they created the things they wanted'! It says that they did not receive the things promised, yet they acted as though they had. Faith is not a power, but simply a trust or confidence in God. Faith doesn't create reality. Faith ignores reality, and believes God. By this, I don't mean 'positive confession'! ;-) I simply mean that reality doesn't cause me to doubt God's promises even if reality seems to be in opposition to God's promises. My favorite example is Abraham. Abraham didn't go around and speak a position confession, denying that he was too old to have kids. He believe in spite of reality, because God said it. Rom. 4:19 - "Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead?since he was about a hundred years old?and that Sarah?s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Faith is powerful, but it is not a power. It is our complete and absolute trust that God will do what He has promised. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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5 | What is the "Force of Faith"? | Bible general Archive 1 | Radioman2 | 82163 | ||
Amen and Amen! Excellent! Well said. Thanks, Tim. Thank you for un-distorting Scripture that had been distorted. |
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