Results 241 - 260 of 420
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: Radioman2 Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
241 | 1. Summary.Teachings of Kenneth Copeland | Matt 24:11 | Radioman2 | 83011 | ||
8. SPIRITUAL DEATH AND REBIRTH IN HELL: The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland - - - - - - - - - - - - - 'The "spiritual death of Christ" teaching entails an implicit denial of Christ's deity and, in turn, of the Trinity.' - - - - - - - - - - - - - [Note: Numbers in text are footnote numbers. To read footnotes providing reference sources for this article, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm)] 'When it comes to defining the Atonement, Copeland says, "It wasn't a physical death on the cross that paid the price for sin...anybody can do that."63 Jesus supposedly "put Himself into the hands of Satan when He went to that cross, and took that same nature that Adam did [when he sinned]."64 Copeland is here referring to the nature of Satan, as God pronounced that "Adam would die spiritually - that he would take on the nature of Satan which is spiritual death."65 He adds that "the day that Jesus was crucified, God's life, that eternal energy that was His from birth, moved out of Him and He accepted the very nature of death itself."66 'During an alleged conversation with Copeland, Jesus is said to have remarked, "It was a sign of Satan that was hanging on the cross....I accepted, in my own spirit, spiritual death; and the light was turned off."67 We are told that Jesus "had to give up His righteousness"68 and "accepted the sin nature of Satan."69 'Contrary to the teaching that Christ underwent a change of nature (into a satanic being), the Bible depicts Jesus as having an immutable divine nature (Heb. 13:8; cf. Mal. 3:6). Moreover, in saying that "spiritual death means separation from the life of God,"70 Copeland tacitly admits that Jesus completely lost His deity. For, as we noted earlier, Copeland defines the "life of God" as "the unseen force that makes God, God." However, Scripture declares that God is eternal and unchanging and thus never ceases to be God. The Father says of Christ, "But you remain the same, and your years will never end" (Heb. 1:12). 'Finally, the notion of Jesus being overtaken by "the very nature of death" is contradicted by Jesus' claim that He has "life in Himself" (John 5:26; cf. 1:4), is "the resurrection and the life" (11:25), and is "the way, the truth, and the life" (14:6). The "spiritual death of Christ" teaching entails an implicit denial of Christ's deity and, in turn, of the Trinity. 'Still, Copeland insists "Satan conquered Jesus on the Cross and took His spirit to the dark regions of hell" (emphasis in original).71 Copeland's description of Christ's ordeal in hell is nothing short of chilling: "He [Jesus] allowed the devil to drag Him into the depths of hell....He allowed Himself to come under Satan's control...every demon in hell came down on Him to annihilate Him....They tortured Him beyond anything anybody had ever conceived. For three days He suffered everything there is to suffer."72 'The situation seemed hopeless, as Jesus' "emaciated, poured out, little, wormy spirit is down in the bottom of that thing; and the devil thinks he's got Him destroyed."73 However, Copeland explains that "Satan fell into the trap. He took Him [Jesus] into hell illegally. He carried Him in there [when] He did not sin."74 God found the opening He needed: "That Word of the living God went down into that pit of destruction and charged the spirit of Jesus with resurrection power! Suddenly His twisted, death-wracked spirit began to fill out and come back to life....Jesus was born again - the firstborn from the dead the Word calls Him - and He whipped the devil in his own backyard."75 'Copeland's account, vivid though it may be, is not in the Bible. It misuses the phrase "firstborn from the dead" (Col. 1:18) to bolster the "born again Jesus" doctrine. Actually, the term "firstborn" (Greek: prototokos) primarily denotes primacy, headship, and preeminence. And the phrase itself points to Christ's supremacy "over all creation" (v. 15) in general and those who will be raised from the dead in particular (alluding to Christ's bodily resurrection - not some spiritual resuscitation in hell). 'Moreover, Jesus was not dragged into hell by Satan, but instead committed His spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46) and went directly to paradise (v. 43). Nor was He tortured by a host of demons; He triumphed "over them by the cross" (Col. 2:15). Jesus paid for humanity's sin in full (Greek: tetelestai) at the cross (John 19:30) - not by becoming a satanic being, but through His physical sacrifice (Heb. 10:10; Col. 1:22). ____________________ To read more, including extensive footnotes, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm) matt2411 |
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242 | How were ancient "soundings" performed? | Acts 27:28 | Radioman2 | 82858 | ||
"threw a line with a weight on it" So they threw a line with a weight on it into the water. It sank 120 feet. They waited a little while and did the same thing again. This time the line sank 90 feet. Acts 27:28 GOD'S WORD Translation In English Bibles it says "sounding(s)" because since the 15th century "sounding" is the English word that means "1 a : measurement of depth especially with a sounding line b : the depth so ascertained c plural : a place or part of a body of water where a hand sounding line will reach bottom" (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary) |
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243 | Whose Son is He? | Bible general Archive 1 | Radioman2 | 82848 | ||
In the immediate context, David was the father (forefather) of Jesus (v.31). AMPLIFIED Luke 1:31-32 And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great (eminent) and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David, |
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244 | God chose Israel first. Why? | Gal 3:14 | Radioman2 | 82845 | ||
Joyce Ong: Welcome to the forum! Could you clarify your question a bit? What do you mean by God chose Israel FIRST? Was some other nation chosen second to be or do what Israel was chosen to be or do? What was Israel chosen for? My intent is not to challenge your questions, but to seek clarification as to what you are asking. Grace and peace, Radioman2 |
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245 | Jews saved without Christ? | John 14:6 | Radioman2 | 82828 | ||
'Salvation Without Conversion?' - - - - - - - - - - - - - John Hagee "...believes that Jewish people do not need to be saved, since they are under a different covenant' (http://www.equip.org/free/DE405.htm). - - - - - - - - - - - - - 'Hagee is recognized as a fierce foe of anti-Semitism... 'While his bold stance against anti-Semitism is certainly praiseworthy, Hagee’s zealousness for the Jewish people and their cause has led him to commit a most serious doctrinal error — salvation for the Jews without conversion to Christianity. One newspaper account puts it this way: 'Trying to convert Jews is a “waste of time,” he [Hagee] said. . . . 'Everyone else, whether Buddhist or Baha’i, needs to believe in Jesus, he says. But not Jews. Jews already have a covenant with God that has never been replaced with Christianity, he says. '“The Jewish people have a relationship to God through the law of God as given through Moses,” Hagee said. “I believe that every Gentile person can only come to God through the cross of Christ. I believe that every Jewish person who lives in the light of the Torah, which is the word of God, has a relationship with God and will come to redemption. '“The law of Moses is sufficient enough to bring a person into the knowledge of God until God gives him a greater revelation. And God has not,” said Hagee . . .[9] '“There are right now Jewish people on this earth who have a powerful and special relationship with God,” declares Hagee in one of his books. “...Let us put an end to the Christian chatter that “all the Jews are lost” and can’t be in the will of God until they convert to Christianity! . . . there are a certain number of Jews in relationship with God right now...” [10] 'Hagee also affirms: “If God blinded the Jewish people to the identity of Jesus as Messiah, how could He send them to hell for not seeing what he had forbidden them to see?”[11] He continues, “All people will gain entrance into heaven through Christ. The question is one of timing.” [12] 'Such rhetoric raises some thorny questions. When Hagee says “all people will gain entrance into heaven through Christ,” he is either advocating universalism (literally all people — Jewish and Gentile — will be saved), or he believes that all Jews will be saved. In either case, both positions are in serious error, but the latter is more consistent with his other statements' (http://www.equip.org/free/DH005.htm). To read more, including footnoted references, go to: (http://www.equip.org/free/DH005.htm). |
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246 | Why Magdalene 1st witness Jesus is alive | NT general Archive 1 | Radioman2 | 82827 | ||
Does it say in the text of the Bible why Jesus Christ chose Mary Magdalene to be the first to see Him alive after dying from the cross and buried in the tomb? If the Bible account of this event says why, then you have your answer. If not, then we don't know, do we? | ||||||
247 | What did they do with 12 basket ? | Bible general Archive 1 | Radioman2 | 82824 | ||
Does it say in the text of the Bible what they did with 12 baskets? If so, then you have your answer. If not, then we don't know, do we? | ||||||
248 | 1. Summary.Teachings of Kenneth Copeland | Matt 24:11 | Radioman2 | 82764 | ||
7. THE SPOKEN WORD MADE FLESH: The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland [Note: Numbers in text are footnote numbers. To read footnotes providing reference sources for this article, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm)] '"God is injecting His Word into the earth to produce this Jesus," Copeland explains. "This [sic] faith-filled words that framed the image that's in Him....He had to sneak it in here around the god of this world [Satan]."52 Using a combination of faith and confession, "God spoke His Word and then spoke His Word again....He kept saying, 'He is coming. He is coming.'"53 However, "the only avenue God had to get His words into the earth was through men... [t]hrough the mouths of His prophets....Finally, the great moment came when that Word was brought forth in human form."54 'During this final phase, "the angels spoke the words of the covenant to her [Mary], and the Spirit of God hovered over her and generated that seed, which was the Word that the angel spoke to her. And there was conceived in her, the Bible says, a holy thing. The Word literally became flesh."55 'The notion of Jesus being the end product of generations of positive confession is categorically unbiblical. It suggests that the Word of John chapter one was a creation (the personalization of the previously impersonal words of God) rather than the eternally existent Creator (see vv.1-3), thus subverting the deity of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity. 'Copeland also gave a "prophecy" in which Jesus allegedly said, "They crucified Me for claiming that I was God. But I didn't claim I was God; I just claimed I walked with Him and that He was in Me."56 Copeland asserts Jesus did not openly claim to be God because "He hadn't come to earth as God, He'd come as man. He'd set aside His divine power."57 Citing Philippians 2:5-7, he states that the incarnate Christ "had no innate supernatural powers. He had no ability to perform miracles until after He was anointed by the Holy Spirit."58 'The passage Copeland cites (v. 6), however, describes Christ as "being in very nature God." The participle "being" is rendered in the present active tense (Greek: huparchon), denoting Christ's ongoing condition as having the nature of God. Christ did not give up His divine attributes during His incarnation (cf. Col. 2:9; Heb. 13:8), but instead added to them (see Phil. 2:7, "taking") a full human nature in the form of a servant. Moreover, Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man (Mark 2:5-10; cf. Dan. 7:13-14) and the unique Son of God the Father (John 5:18; 10:30-33), demonstrating His claim to be God.59 'In Copeland's view, three basic factors enabled Jesus to perform miracles. First, "the force of faith was controlling His ministry."60 Second, "He exercised that authority by the use of words."61 Third, "He used the Covenant to control the laws of nature."62 Copeland's view, however, rests upon a false understanding of faith, the spoken word, and the Abrahamic covenant, and is therefore erroneous. ____________________ To read more, including extensive footnotes, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm) matt2411 |
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249 | Am I saved until Christ returns? | Phil 1:6 | Radioman2 | 82761 | ||
Eternal life, by definition, is not temporary. AMPLIFIED Philippians 1:6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. NASB John 5:24"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." AMPLIFIED John 5:24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life. AMPLIFIED John 10:27-29 The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand. AMPLIFIED Romans 8:35 Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? AMPLIFIED Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, AMPLIFIED Romans 8:39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. AMPLIFIED 1 Peter 1:4-5 [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time. AMPLIFIED Hebrews 13:5b for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] [Josh. 1:5.] |
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250 | Who are the 144000? Is it literal | Rev 7:4 | Radioman2 | 82735 | ||
Who are the 144,000? 'In prophetic circles, there are numerous attempts at identifying the 144,000 Jews mentioned in Revelation 7 and 14. A common identification is that they are Jewish evangelists that traverse the world during the 70th week of Daniel and are instrumental in bringing untold numbers of people into the kingdom of God. That understanding is, however, never taught in the Scripture! 'When a study is made of the 144,000, we learn that there are only three verses in the entire Bible that mention these people (Rev. 7:4; 14:1,3) . From a study of these three verses we learn the following: '1. They are 12,000 Jews from 12 tribes of Israel that are sealed for protection... '2. In Revelation 14 they are with "the Lamb...standing on Mount Zion" and bearing the name of His Father "written on their foreheads". In 14:3 they sing a new song "before the throne". '3. In 14:3-4 we also learn that these are "purchased from the earth" as "first fruits to God and to the Lamb" (from among the Jews), are spiritually pure ("not ... defiled with women"), follow the Lamb "wherever He goes", are absolutely honest and "are blameless".' (Who are the 144,000? by Rev. Charles Cooper) To read more go to: (http://www.solagroup.org/articles/faqs/faq_0023.html) |
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251 | John 17:3 | Bible general Archive 1 | Radioman2 | 82710 | ||
John 17:3 and the Only True God "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent," (John 17:3, NASB). 'The Jehovah's Witnesses, among others, cite John 17:3 as a proof text to deny the Trinity and claim that Jesus Christ is not God. They reason is that if Jesus were God, then He would not have called the Father, "the only true God." If the Father is the only true God, then it must require that Jesus cannot be God. 'First of all, it is not proper to make a theological doctrine out of one verse. Of this the Jehovah's Witnesses are sometimes guilty. Nevertheless, they do tend to take one or two verses on a subject and use them to interpret all the others. Instead of getting a balanced position, they arrive at an interpretation that is in agreement with their theological position. This is called "proof-texting" and is something the Jehovah's Witnesses do frequently. 'Second, the context of Jesus' comment was that He was speaking as a man to His God. Remember, Jesus is both God and man, second person of the Trinity, the word made flesh (John 1:1,14). Since He was both divine and man, as a man He would naturally, and properly say that His Father was the only True God. He was not denying His own divinity, but affirming the Trueness of God as was done in the OT: “And now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that Thou alone, Lord, art God,” (Isaiah 37:20). The truth is that Jesus was a man made under the Law (Gal. 4:4) and as a man He would be subject to God. Only in this case, Jesus was subject to the Father. That is why Jesus called the Father the only true God. But it is not a phrase that excludes Christ for Christ Himself said "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58) and did not deny being called God by Thomas in John 20:28. 'Third, John 17:3 must be examined in the light of the totality of scripture. We see that Jesus is called God in John 1:1,14; 8:58; 20:28; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:8. Therefore, John 17:3 cannot be interpreted in a way that disagrees with other scriptures. Of course, some people simply state that John 17:3 cannot allow for Jesus being God. But the simple fact is that Jesus is called God by God and others. Therefore, the whole of scripture must be harmonized. 'Fourth, this verse reflects the sonship of Jesus. The Father and the Son have a unique relationship. Jesus is the eternal Son. The terms Father and Son denote a relationship which is why God is called the God of the Son in 2 Cor. 11:31. 'Fifth, if we are to be consistent using the Jehovah's Witness logic that the Father is the only true God, then the following verses present a problem -- if we use their logic. '"For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ," (Jude 4, NASB). 'Does this mean that the Father is not our Master and Lord? Of course not. Yet, Jesus is called our only Master and Lord. '"There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him," (John 1:9-10). 'Here we see Jesus being called the true light. Does this mean that the Father is not the true light? If not, then we have both the Son and the Father being the true light. '"And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone," (Mark 10:18, NASB). 'Does this verse mean that Jesus is not good? Jesus said only God was good. Then, if we use the Jehovah's Witness logic, Jesus is not good. Of course, that doesn't make any sense. '“I, even I, am the Lord [YHW]; And there is no savior besides Me," (Isaiah 43:11). 'We know that Jesus is the Savior. Again, according to Witness logic, Jesus could not be the Savior since the Bible tells us that YHWH is the only Savior. '"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the Lord [YHWH], am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, And spreading out the earth all alone,'" (Isaiah 44:24, NASB). 'According to John 1:3 and Col. 1:16-17 Jesus made all things. With JW logic would have a problem. 'Col. 1:16-17 says, "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together," (NASB). 'As we can see, we cannot simply make a doctrine out of one verse. To do so is to invite error and it only serves to use the Bible to validate preconceived ideas about doctrine.' (http://www.carm.org/jw/John17_3.htm) |
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252 | Verification on Charles Taze Russell | Col 2:9 | Radioman2 | 82631 | ||
Watchtower 12/1/1916, page 357 'Russell never claimed to be the "Faithful and Discreet Slave." 'God's Kingdom of a thousand years has approached, 1973, p.345-47 '"The Slave who lived to see the sign" '"From this it is clearly seen that the editor and publisher of Zion's Watch Tower disavowed any claim to being individually, in his person, that "faithful and wise servant." He never did claim to be such." (God's Kingdom of a thousand years has approached, 1973, p.346). 'COMMENT: This contradicts Watchtower 12/1/1916, page 357 where the watchtower states Russell did in fact claim to be the Faithful and Discreet slave. "Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of 'that faithful and wise servant,' and that his great work was giving to the household of faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation," (Watchtower 12/1/1916, page. 357.) ______________________ (http://www.carm.org/jw/docs/1000years_p346.htm) |
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253 | significance of number 40 "forty" | Bible general Archive 1 | Radioman2 | 82629 | ||
'Matt 12:40 *three days and three nights.* Quoted from Jon. 1:17. This sort of expression was a common way of underscoring the prophetic significance of a period of time. 'An expression like "forty days and forty nights" may in some cases simply refer to a period of time longer than a month.' (MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1415, Word Publishing, 1997). |
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254 | 1. Summary.Teachings of Kenneth Copeland | Matt 24:11 | Radioman2 | 82614 | ||
6. COVENANT OF CONVENIENCE: The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Copeland's view deflates the biblical concept of God in numerous other ways. He parallels God's actions with those of Satan. In effect he makes man to be the dominant party over God..." - - - - - - - - - - - - - [Note: Numbers in the text are footnote numbers. To read the footnotes providing reference sources for this article, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm)] 'According to Copeland, "God had no avenue of lasting faith or moving in the earth. He had to have covenant with somebody....He had to be invited in, in other words, or He couldn't come."39 In fact, "the reason that He's making covenant is to get into the earth."40 "God is on the outside looking in," says Copeland. "In order to have any say-so in the earth, He's gonna have to be in agreement with a man here."41 '"Since man was the key figure in the Fall," Copeland argues, "man had to be the key figure in the redemption, so God approached a man named Abram."42 An agreement was struck between God and Abram that "gave God access to the earth."43 God, in turn, "promised to care for Abraham and his descendants in every way - spiritually, physically, financially, socially."44 Commenting on the deal, Copeland writes that God "re-enacted with Abram what Satan had done with Adam, except that God did not sneak in and use deception...and Abram bought it."45 'As his comments indicate, Copeland views divine covenants no differently from business contracts.46 They are benefit-oriented, not relationship-oriented. They are formed by mutual agreement (for mutual benefit) through negotiation, as opposed to being initiated by the stronger party offering non-negotiable help (not of necessity but of grace) - which is the traditional Christian understanding of God's covenants. They focus on the fulfillment of certain terms (performance) rather than personal loyalty. Copeland himself states that "the Word of the living God is a contract."47 'Copeland's view deflates the biblical concept of God in numerous other ways. He parallels God's actions with those of Satan. In effect he makes man to be the dominant party over God - even claiming that Abraham could have told God to "bug off" when God offered him a "proposition."48 And he seemingly attributes the ultimate sacredness of divine covenants not to the figure who stands behind them (viz. God), but to the fact that they are composed of words: "Words are the most sacred things....This is a word planet...governed by words...created by words....Words cause it to function...cause life...cause death....Words go on forever....Words are holy."49 'Copeland maintains that God "used His right that Abraham had given Him"50 to provide a way for Jesus to enter the earth. Abraham gave God what He needed: "the chance to use his [Abraham's] mouth, because what God was after was a vehicle in the earth that was a man to get His Word in there."51 ____________________ To read more, including extensive footnotes, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm) matt2411 |
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255 | 1. Summary.Teachings of Kenneth Copeland | Matt 24:11 | Radioman2 | 82613 | ||
5. MEMBERS OF GOD'S CLASS: The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland - - - - - - - - - - - - - 'Copeland also claims that Adam's transgression empowered Satan to evict God from the earth. "God's on the outside looking in," says Copeland. "He doesn't have any legal entree into the earth. The thing don't belong to Him."37 (Psalm 24:1 says otherwise.)' (Footnote 37. Kenneth Copeland, The Image of God in You III (Fort Worth: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1989, audiotape #01-1403), side 1.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - [Note: Numbers in the text are footnote numbers. To read the footnotes providing reference sources for this article, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm)] 'Copeland overemphasizes similarities between God and man to the point where any distinction becomes virtually nil: "God's reason for creating Adam was His desire to reproduce Himself....Adam is as much like God as you could get, just the same as Jesus....Adam, in the Garden of Eden, was God manifested in the flesh" (emphasis added).26 'Referring to his so-called law of genesis, Copeland asserts, "Adam was created in God's own image and likeness, a spirit-being...[and] takes on the nature of his spiritual father or lord."27 In explaining the terms "image" and "likeness" in Genesis 1:26, he adds: "If you stood Adam upside God, they look just exactly alike....If you stood Jesus and Adam side-by-side, they would look and act and sound exactly alike....The image is that they look just alike, but the likeness is that they act alike and they are alike....All of God's attributes, all of God's authority, all of God's faith, all of God's ability was invested in that man."28 'Actually, the terms "image" and "likeness" refute Copeland's point. The Hebrew word for "likeness" (demuth) simply means similarity or resemblance, not identity.29 Furthermore, the term itself actually "defines and limits" the word "image" (Hebrew: tselem) in order "to avoid the implication that man is a precise copy of God, albeit miniature" (emphasis added).30 'Humans are created in God's image in the sense that they share, in a finite and imperfect way, God's communicable attributes (e.g, rationality and morality). These attributes, in turn, give individuals the capacity to enjoy fellowship with God, develop personal relationships with one another, and take care of God's creation as He has commanded.31 God's incommunicable attributes (e.g., omnipotence, omniscience, self-sufficiency), however, remain solely His. 'Along with the "image of God," Copeland also refers to "the life of God," which he interchanges with the terms "the absolute life of God," "absolute life," "life force," "life in the absolute sense," "eternal life," and "everlasting life."32 He applies these terms to a quality of life, the source of which is God.33 But he also speaks of it as "the substance - the source, the power - the unseen force that makes God, God...[and] places Him above everything else that exists."34 'Copeland states that "man was created to know that great life force and he longs for it in his dreams. Adam had that life force in him before he committed high treason" (emphases added).35 This is yet another sense in which Copeland believes Adam to be created in God's class. He was made to partake of "the unseen force that makes God, God" - once again diminishing severely if not altogether destroying any final distinction between creator and creature. 'Furthermore, this "force" is at times spoken of as a reality more ultimate than God Himself, conferring deity not only on the Creator but on His creation, man. This again puts God and redeemed man in the same class. 'In Copeland's theology, Adam (and, consequently, the rest of humanity) does not appear to have a uniquely human nature. Initially possessing the nature of God, "when Adam committed high treason [sinned] against God and bowed his knee to Satan, spiritual death - the nature of Satan - was lodged in his heart."36 Adam had, in effect, allegedly traded in his divine nature for a satanic nature, otherwise called "spiritual death." However, Scripture reveals that mankind is wholly distinct from both God (2 Sam. 7:22; cf. Mark 12:32) and angelic/demonic beings (Ps. 8:5; cf. Heb. 2:7). And even after the Fall, man is still said to bear the image of God (1 Cor. 11:7). 'Copeland also claims that Adam's transgression empowered Satan to evict God from the earth. "God's on the outside looking in," says Copeland. "He doesn't have any legal entree into the earth. The thing don't belong to Him."37 (Psalm 24:1 says otherwise.) And supposedly, since "the sin of Adam went all the way up to, but not including, the throne of God...[even] the Heavenly Holy of Holies had to be purified."38 ____________________ To read more, including extensive footnotes, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm) matt2411 |
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256 | 1. Summary.Teachings of Kenneth Copeland | Matt 24:11 | Radioman2 | 82612 | ||
4. A GOD OF HUMAN PROPORTIONS: The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland - - - - - - - - - - - - - 'Copeland's deflation of God is best exemplified by his comment that "the biggest failure in the Bible...is God."* (*Kenneth Copeland, Praise-a-Thon, TBN, 1988. Copeland has, in another instance, stated that God "is not a failure" (Kenneth Copeland, The Troublemaker [Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Publications, n.d.], 23).) - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4. 'A GOD OF HUMAN PROPORTIONS: 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)] 'Copeland's view of God fares no better biblically than his understanding of faith. He describes God as someone "very much like you and me....A being that stands somewhere around 6'2," 6'3," that weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of a couple of hundred pounds, little better, [and] has a [hand]span nine inches across."22 'Copeland's statement is based on his hyperliteral reading of Isaiah 40:12 ("Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, marked off the heavens with a [nine inch] span,..." [AV]). Yet following the same line of interpretation, one would also have to conclude that God literally held a basket full of dust and weighed mountains on a gigantic set of scales (v. 12b) - an absurd proposition ruled out by the context of the passage. The fact is that Isaiah 40 makes extensive use of figurative language to underscore the vast difference between the Creator and His creation. 'Giving a literal spin on verses that figuratively describe God in humanlike (anthropomorphic) terms, Copeland makes God out to be a "spirit-being with a body, complete with eyes, and eyelids, ears, nostrils, a mouth, hands and fingers, and feet."23 However, the Bible never intended to convey the notion that God has physical features like His human creation. Anthropomorphic descriptions were simply meant to help us understand and relate to our Maker. Jesus declared, "God is spirit" (John 4:24), not a spirit-being with a body (cf. Deut. 4:12). The Creator is, after all, "God, and not man" (Hos. 11:9). 'The idea of God possessing a body (physical or spirit) implies the unbiblical view that the Trinity is actually composed of three separate beings. Moreover, a God who has a body with definite, measurable dimensions cannot truly be omnipresent, unlike the God of Scripture who is present everywhere in all His fullness (Jer. 23:23-24). (It is true that in His human nature Christ has a body and is localized in space and time. But in His divine nature He remains nonphysical and omnipresent, sharing this immutable nature with the Father and Holy Spirit.) Copeland's deflation of God is best exemplified by his comment that "the biggest failure in the Bible...is God."24 In stark contrast, the biblical God is an all-powerful being (Dan. 4:35) whose plans cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2) and who considers nothing too difficult (Jer. 32:17; Luke 1:37). 'Copeland's diminished view of God is further amplified by a correspondingly inflated view of the universe in general and man in particular. He claims that the earth is "a copy of the mother planet [i.e., heaven] where God lives."25 Exactly how Copeland could "squeeze" God on any planet is difficult to fathom, especially since Solomon pointed out that heaven itself cannot contain God (1 Kings 8:27).' ____________________ The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland. To read more, including extensive footnotes, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm) matt2411 |
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257 | 1. Summary.Teachings of Kenneth Copeland | Matt 24:11 | Radioman2 | 82611 | ||
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)] 3. '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) matt2411 |
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258 | 1. Summary.Teachings of Kenneth Copeland | Matt 24:11 | Radioman2 | 82610 | ||
2. FROM OBSCURITY TO CENTER STAGE: 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)] 'FROM OBSCURITY TO CENTER STAGE 'Though best known for his "prosperity" message, Copeland began his ascent to Faith stardom from a state of financial disarray. Beset by monetary problems, in 1967 he decided to resume his education at Oral Roberts University (ORU), where he subsequently "landed a job as copilot on Oral Robert's [sic] cross-country crusade flights."4 'It was not until August of 1967, however, that Copeland experienced a revolution in his outlook through the preaching of yet another evangelist - Kenneth E. Hagin, regarded by many to be the "father of the Faith movement." With reference to his "distant mentor," Copeland has been quoted "as saying that he 'learned nothing' during six months at Oral Roberts University but was so excited by Hagin's teachings that...[he] spent the next month in his garage listening to them."5 'The Copelands returned to Fort Worth, Texas in 1968 where they established an evangelistic association. Within a few short years their home-based Bible studies reportedly grew into large revivals, sometimes with crowds large enough to fill entire "civic centers and international arenas."6 'In 1973 the ministry began publishing its own newsletter, Believer's Voice of Victory. Two years later, Copeland claimed the Lord "commanded him to 'preach the uncompromised Word on every available voice.'"7 This prompted him to launch the Believer's Voice of Victory radio broadcast in 1976. By 1979 Copeland's ministry was established firmly enough to enter the arena of television, paving the way for its 1981 venture into satellite communications. And in August of the following year "the ministry made history by initiating the first global religious broadcast" (emphasis in original).8 'Copeland continues to experience popular acceptance within various charismatic and Pentecostal circles. His books, booklets, and taped messages can be found in a number of Christian bookstores, and his crusades and revivals consistently produce large turnouts. Furthermore, the ministry's international scope and influence is well attested by its offices in England, the Philippines, South Africa, Australia, Canada, and Hong Kong. 'While not every Faith teacher holds to all of Copeland's doctrines, they, along with his followers, consider him a leading - if not the leading - authority on Faith theology. "Many have already coronated Copeland as the new king of the Faith movement," writes one observer. "In a recent article, even Time magazine refers to Copeland as the 'chief exponent' of the Faith movement."9 ____________________ The Teachings of Kenneth Copeland. To read more, including extensive footnotes, go to: (www.equip.org/free/DC755-2.htm) matt2411 |
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259 | what is baptism in the holy spirit? | John 14:26 | Radioman2 | 82568 | ||
Baptized by, indwelt by, filled with the Holy Spirit 1) Upon salvation we are *baptized* (placed) into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. NASB 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. AMPLIFIED 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit. 2) Also, at the time of our salvation, we are *indwelt* by the Holy Spirit. NASB Romans 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. AMPLIFIED Romans 8:9 But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God]. [Rom. 8:14.] 3) We are also commanded to be *filled* with the Spirit. Eph. 5:18 NASB Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, AMPLIFIED Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. [Prov. 23:20.] While all believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9), it is obvious that not all believers at all times are *filled* with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). - - - - - - - - - - - - - 'X. THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT. 'A. DEFINITION. Being filled means being controlled by the Spirit.' NASB Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, AMPLIFIED Acts 4:8 Then Peter, [because he was] filled with [and controlled by] the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and members of the council (the Sanhedrin), AMPLIFIED Acts 13:9 But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit, looked steadily at [Elymas]) 'B. CHARACTERISTICS. '1) Filling is commanded (Eph 5:18, the verb is imperative). '2) Filling is repeated (Acts 2:4; 4:31). '3) Filling produces Christlikeness (Gal 5:22-23). 'C. CONDITIONS FOR BEING FILLED. '1) *A dedicated life*. Yielding to the Spirit's control, though commanded, is voluntary and necessitates an act of dedication. This includes two aspects: initial dedication (Rom 12:1-2) and continual dedication of one's life (Rom 8:14). '2) *An undefeated life*. Victory over sin in daily experience is necessary in being controlled by the Spirit (Eph 4:30). This means responding to the light of the Word as it is continually revealed (1 John 1:7). '3) *A dependent life* (Gal 5:16). 'D. CONSEQUENCES. Being filled or controlled by the Spirit means: '1) A Christlike character (Gal 5:22-23). '2) Worship and praise (Eph 5:18-20). '3) Submissiveness (Eph 5:21). '4) Service (John 7:37-39).' (Page 2064, the Ryrie Study Bible: Expanded Edition, Moody, 1986, 1995.) Eph. 5:18 'be filled with the Spirit. Paul has taught in this epistle that all believers are sealed with the Spirit when they believe (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30), but not all are filled, since that depends on yieldedness to God's will (5:17). 'Filling' describes an experience that can be repeated (Acts 2:4; 4:31), and here, as in Acts, it is connected with joy, courage, spirituality and Christian character. 'Though contrasted with drunkenness, the filling of the Spirit compares the idea of CONTROL, either of wine over a person or the Spirit over the believer' (Ryrie Study Bible: Expanded Edition, note at Eph. 5:18. Emphasis added). |
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260 | what is baptism in the holy spirit? | John 14:26 | Radioman2 | 82564 | ||
ONE baptism, MANY fillings Because the Bible itself makes a distinction between "baptized by the Holy Spirit" and "filled with the Holy Spirit", we too must make a distinction between the two terms. Baptized and filled do not both mean the same thing. Filled is not just another way of saying baptized. 1 Cor 12:13 NASB For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. The Bible in 1 Cor 12:13 says: "By one Spirit we were all baptized." Notice that this verse, in contrast with Acts 2:4, DOES use both Spirit and baptized in one sentence. This is how we were initially placed into the body of Christ. It ocurred to each of us ONCE -- when we received Christ as Savior and were born again. Also note that in Acts 2:4, the text there does not say: "And they were all baptized with the Holy Spirit." It uses the word "filled". "And they were all FILLED (emphasis mine) with the Holy Spirit." Filled, not baptized. Not according to the plain text of the Scripture. So, each individual believer is baptized by the Holy Spirit (placed into the body of Christ) ONCE, when he is born again and first becomes a Christian. However, the filling with the Spirit is a repeated reality in the life of the believer. I.e., there is ONE BAPTISM, BUT MANY FILLINGS. The fullness of the Spirit affects all areas of life, not just speaking boldly. Also note the Bible teaches that ALL believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9). |
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