Comical Contentions on the Ear by Evolutionists by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=722

Comical Contentions on the Ear by Evolutionists

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

Humans are proficient masters of self-deception. Many tend to believe what they want to believe, and see what they want to see. Especially when it comes to our own actions, we generally believe and defend those ideas that enable us to behave the way we choose. “I desire to engage in same-sex relations—so homosexuality is genetic;” “I don’t want a child—so a ‘fetus’ is not a human and abortion is okay;” “I want another woman—so God will accept my divorce.”

The essential contention of evolution is that the God of the Bible does not exist and, therefore, the Universe and all life forms came about gradually by blind, non-intelligent, non-purposive, mechanistic forces over millions and billions of years. Hence, all value—including moral value—is merely and strictly the product of subjective human inclination. Right and wrong are purely relative. Such thinking is attractive and convenient to some, since it allows man to think and act as he pleases, without any interference from a higher Power.

Yet, with all their intellectual prowess, academic attainment, and sophisticated scientific jargon, the evolutionists frequently express themselves in such a way that the honest person of average intelligence can see the foolishness of their theory. Indeed, the theory of evolution is downright laughable. Take, for instance, the explanation advanced for the evolution of the human ear. Renowned evolutionist Richard Dawkins is typical of the comical contention of evolutionists that the human ear evolved over millions of years by means of the chance, mindless, naturalistic forces of evolution: “If you think about the evolution of a really complex adaptation like an eye or an ear, then precisely because it cannot have come about as a single chance step it had to have come about as a gradual improvement” (see Brown, 2004, emp. added). It could not have just happened on its own—“a single chance step.” So with what options are we left? An all-powerful, transcendent God? Absolutely not—not even an option! So it just had to have come about gradually by multiple chance steps. A single chance step? Impossible. But multiple chance steps? Certainly! Rational, or comical gobbledygook?

Consider the claim by two evolutionists at Uppsala University in Sweden: “The structure that became the sound-conducting middle ear of land animals began as a tube that permitted ancient shallow-water fish to take an occasional breath of air out of the top of their heads” (Brown, 2006). Sounds reasonable—the nose became the ear. Why not? Given enough time, maybe your nose will do the same.

Then we have an article, appearing in a Turkish newspaper, by evolutionist Veysel Atayman claiming that “[o]ur hearing organ, the ear, emerged as a result of the evolution of the endoderm and exoderm layers, which we call the skin. One proof of this is that we feel low sounds in the skin of our stomachs” (1999, emp. added). The BBC televised a special on “The Human Body” advancing the notion that the common evolutionary ancestry of man and fish is seen in the evolution of the human ear from the bones associated with the gills of fish (“Evolutionary Tell...,” 2002).

And we mustn’t omit the shrewd observation by Michael Benton who holds the Chair in Vertebrate Paleontology at the University of Bristol, England: “At a certain point, in the Late Triassic, the reptilian jaw joint had shifted function. We can still detect the legacy of this astonishing transition: when you chew a hamburger, you can hear your jaw movements deep inside your ears” (2001, emp. added). Did you catch that? You hear yourself chewing because parts of your hearing structure evolved from reptilian jawbones.

Let’s recap: the human ear evolved from a breathing tube. No, it was from skin layers connected to the stomach. No, it was from fish gills. Wait a minute, actually your ear came from a jaw. It all makes perfect sense—if you’ve been educated beyond your intelligence. Observe that evolutionists not only disagree among themselves on such matters as the evolution of the ear, the sheer speculation they advance consists of very specific scenarios in which they describe imaginary events as if they really happened. Even then, often their conjuring is laced with very telling admissions that concede their lack of substantive evidence. For example, consider the admissions that riddle an article titled, “The Evolution of the Human Ear,” by the “Senior House Officer” at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, England: “Much of the story of the evolution of the human ear is controversial” (Bhutta, 2004, 13[5]:50, emp. added); “These early steps are conjecture” (13[5]:50, emp. added); “Evolution is a poor method of design” (13[5]:50, emp. added); “We actually know little of the early amphibian ear” (13[5]:51, emp. added); “Why this change occurred...is a matter of debate” (13[5]:51, emp. added). Observe: the evolution of the ear is controversial, conjecture, and a matter of debate. Yet we are supposed to be assured that it nevertheless happened.

This is self-delusion—not science. The explanation of the Bible is sensible and rational: “The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both” (Proverbs 20:12).

REFERENCES

Atayman, Veysel (1999), “Maddeci ‘Madde,’ Evrimci Madde” (“Materialist ‘Matter,’ Evolutionist Matter”), Evrensel Newspaper, June 13, [On-line], URL: http://www.darwinismrefuted.com/irreducible_complexity_08.html#359.

Benton, Michael (2001), “Evidence of Evolutionary Transitions,” American Institute of Biological Sciences, [On-line], URL: http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/benton2.html.

Bhutta, Mahmood (2004), ENT News, 13[5]:50-52, November/December.

Brown, David (2006), “Evolution of Ear is Noted in Fossil,” Washington Post, A03, Thursday, January 19, [On-line], URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/18/ AR2006011802159.html.

Brown, Doug (2004), “Richard Dawkins: The Biologist’s Tale,” Author Interviews, [On-line], URL: http://www.powells.com/authors/dawkins.html.

“Evolutionary Tell Tales from BBC (2)” (2002), September 25, [On-line], URL: http://www.darwinism-watch.com/bbc_evolutionarytales_02.php.

Computer Puts Evolution In “Jeopardy” by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3736

Computer Puts Evolution In “Jeopardy”

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Science fiction writers have been portraying the face-off between computers and humans for years. Ever so often, what once was science fiction becomes a reality. Such is the case with the upcoming television showdown between the two most-winning contestants from the popular game show “Jeopardy” and a new supercomputer named Watson (Fitzgerald and Martin, 2011).

On February 14-16, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter will be challenged by the latest in computing technology. The humans in the contest are certainly no slouches. Jennings won 74 “Jeopardy” games in a row. And he and Rutter combined to amass over 3.3 million dollars in prize money. Their challenger, Watson, an IBM supercomputer named after the founder of the company, can store the equivalent of over 200 million pages of information, is “the size of 10 refrigerators,” and is the “result of four years of work by IBM researchers around the globe.” In a practice round with the human champions, Watson outscored its opponents $4,000 to Jennings’ $3,400 and Rutter’s $1,200.

As enjoyable as contests like these are to watch, they bring to light a very serious truth that needs to be underscored. Would any person who was thinking correctly look at a supercomputer like Watson and conclude it did not have an intelligent designer (or several) behind its construction? To suggest such would be absurd. And yet it challenges brilliant humans, who are much less physically bulky, and who have proved their mental prowess repeatedly on “Jeopardy.” Does it make sense to suggest that Watson was the product of thousands of man-hours of IBM’s most brilliant researchers across the globe, but the human contestants were the products of blind chance and random evolutionary processes that lacked any type of intelligence and had no goal in mind? Certainly not. If Watson is the product of intelligence, then the IBM technicians who built it and the “Jeopardy” champions competing against it must have been designed by an even more impressive Super-intellect. As Hebrews 3:4 says, “For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.” One could express that sentiment in another way and just as truly state that every computer is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. Supercomputer Watson adds one more piece of evidence that puts the theory of evolution in “Jeopardy!”

REFERENCE

Fitzgerald, Jim and David Martin (2011), “Computer Could Make 2 ‘Jeopardy!’ Champs Deep Blue,” http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110114/ap_on_hi_te/us_man_vs_machine/print, January 14.

Consider God’s Creation—Think About God’s Greatness by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1591

Consider God’s Creation—Think About God’s Greatness

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Christians in the 21^st century think too little about God’s creation; consequently, we think too little about God. We are so enamored with ourselves—our schedules, our work, our technology, our extracurricular activities, etc., that we often fail to see the stars and smell the roses. Today, perhaps more than any time in history, man misses the apparently simple things in life that should cause us to meditate continually upon the greatness of the Creator. Of course, nothing is more important for Christians to meditate on than God’s Word (Psalm 1:2), but in conjunction with God’s special revelation (His Word), we ought to ponder about how God’s amazing natural revelation testifies to His infinite power, intelligence, and care.

Time and again, Holy Writ points to God’s creation as proof of His greatness. Since the time of Job, Noah, and going as far back as Adam, man has learned some wonderful things about God by considering His amazing creation. Paul wrote: “Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead” (Romans 1:20, emp. added).

Perhaps no other book of the Bible leads man to deeper meditation on God’s greatness than the book of Psalms. Yet, interestingly, oftentimes this same inspired book turns man’s attention to God’s creation. In Psalm 8, for example, the psalmist praised the excellent name of the Lord Who set His “glory above the heavens,” Who made the Moon, stars, man, and even “the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.” What did the psalmist conclude? “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9). In Psalm 19:1, we are reminded that “[t]he heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” In Psalm 33, we learn of one of the reasons that humanity is to fear and stand in awe of the Lord (33:8)—because “by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth…. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (33:6,9).

Consider the climax of the book of Job, when God spoke to the patriarch out of a whirlwind. Instead of informing Job of the exact reasons for his serious suffering, God spoke to him about His creation. Beginning in Job 38:39 and going through chapters 39, 40, and 41, God spoke to Job about several different animals, including the lion, the hawk, Behemoth, and Leviathan. Of all of the things God could have said to Job, He spent some 77 verses talking about some of His animal creation. He chose to teach Job about His all-powerful, all-knowing, supreme nature by describing some of His magnificent animal creation.

The prophet Isaiah once wrote about being allowed to see a vision of the throne of God. In the Lord’s presence were angelic beings crying out one to another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3). What is the basis of this praise? What is one reason we should be driven to worship God? Isaiah revealed one of the pillars of God’s praise in the very next line: “The whole earth is full of His glory” (6:3).

Indeed, the beauty, splendor, and design of God’s creation should drive us closer to the Creator. His “fingerprints” should make us stand in awe of Him. They should drive us to our knees in worship of Him. And they should compel us to tell others about Him. As the psalmist sang, we should “declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised” (96:3-4).

"Postcards", Hymns and Jesus by Gary Rose

 

 

To listen to this hymn sung by a quartet, paste the link below into your browser...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ciw3d6oUYAU

I saw the “Postcard from God” and started singing it to myself. I enjoyed singing this brief portion of the hymn so much that I searched and found the sheet music for it and then an acappella quartet singing it. I noticed that at the top of the sheet music there was a reference to John 14 and I thought to share it with you…

John 14 ( World English Bible )

¹ “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.

² In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.

³ If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.

⁴ Where I go, you know, and you know the way.”

⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

⁷ If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him.”

In these tumultuous times, it is reassuring to remember that this world is truly not our home, for that home awaits us in heaven. Believe in God and in his one and only son; someday all the faithful “in Christ” will go home – FOREVER! May the “Postcard”, the sheet-music, the singing and the words of Jesus, enrich your day and bring you closer to God; It did for me!

Bible Reading for January 8 - 10 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading for January 8 - 10

World  English  Bible

Jan. 8

Genesis 8

Gen 8:1 God remembered Noah, all the animals, and all the livestock that were with him in the ship; and God made a wind to pass over the earth. The waters subsided.

Gen 8:2 The deep's fountains and the sky's windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained.

Gen 8:3 The waters receded from the earth continually. After the end of one hundred fifty days the waters decreased.

Gen 8:4 The ship rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on Ararat's mountains.

Gen 8:5 The waters receded continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.

Gen 8:6 It happened at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ship which he had made,

Gen 8:7 and he sent forth a raven. It went back and forth, until the waters were dried up from the earth.

Gen 8:8 He sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from the surface of the ground,

Gen 8:9 but the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned to him into the ship; for the waters were on the surface of the whole earth. He put forth his hand, and took her, and brought her to him into the ship.

Gen 8:10 He stayed yet another seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ship.

Gen 8:11 The dove came back to him at evening, and, behold, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from the earth.

Gen 8:12 He stayed yet another seven days, and sent forth the dove; and she didn't return to him any more.

Gen 8:13 It happened in the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth. Noah removed the covering of the ship, and looked. He saw that the surface of the ground was dried.

Gen 8:14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.

Gen 8:15 God spoke to Noah, saying,

Gen 8:16 "Go out of the ship, you, and your wife, and your sons, and your sons' wives with you.

Gen 8:17 Bring forth with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply on the earth."

Gen 8:18 Noah went forth, with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives with him.

Gen 8:19 Every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatever moves on the earth, after their families, went out of the ship.

Gen 8:20 Noah built an altar to Yahweh, and took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Gen 8:21 Yahweh smelled the pleasant aroma. Yahweh said in his heart, "I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake, because the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I ever again strike everything living, as I have done.

Gen 8:22 While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." 

 

Jan. 9

Genesis 9

Gen 9:1 God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.

Gen 9:2 The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything that the ground teems with, and all the fish of the sea are delivered into your hand.

Gen 9:3 Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As the green herb, I have given everything to you.

Gen 9:4 But flesh with its life, its blood, you shall not eat.

Gen 9:5 I will surely require your blood of your lives. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man's brother, I will require the life of man.

Gen 9:6 Whoever sheds man's blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image.

Gen 9:7 Be fruitful and multiply. Bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply in it."

Gen 9:8 God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,

Gen 9:9 "As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you,

Gen 9:10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ship, even every animal of the earth.

Gen 9:11 I will establish my covenant with you: all flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood, neither will there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth."

Gen 9:12 God said, "This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

Gen 9:13 I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be for a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.

Gen 9:14 It will happen, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud,

Gen 9:15 and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

Gen 9:16 The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."

Gen 9:17 God said to Noah, "This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth."

Gen 9:18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ship were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham is the father of Canaan.

Gen 9:19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these, the whole earth was populated.

Gen 9:20 Noah began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard.

Gen 9:21 He drank of the wine and got drunk. He was uncovered within his tent.

Gen 9:22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.

Gen 9:23 Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn't see their father's nakedness.

Gen 9:24 Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done to him.

Gen 9:25 He said, "Canaan is cursed. He will be servant of servants to his brothers."

Gen 9:26 He said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.

Gen 9:27 May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant."

Gen 9:28 Noah lived three hundred fifty years after the flood.

Gen 9:29 All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years, then he died. 

 

Jan. 10

Genesis 10

Gen 10:1 Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

Gen 10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Gen 10:3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

Gen 10:4 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

Gen 10:5 Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.

Gen 10:6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

Gen 10:7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.

Gen 10:8 Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth.

Gen 10:9 He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh. Therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Yahweh."

Gen 10:10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

Gen 10:11 Out of that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,

Gen 10:12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (the same is the great city).

Gen 10:13 Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,

Gen 10:14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (which the Philistines descended from), and Caphtorim.

Gen 10:15 Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth,

Gen 10:16 the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite,

Gen 10:17 the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite,

Gen 10:18 the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad.

Gen 10:19 The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as you go toward Gerar, to Gaza; as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, to Lasha.

Gen 10:20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, in their nations.

Gen 10:21 To Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.

Gen 10:22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.

Gen 10:23 The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.

Gen 10:24 Arpachshad became the father of Shelah. Shelah became the father of Eber.

Gen 10:25 To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother's name was Joktan.

Gen 10:26 Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

Gen 10:27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

Gen 10:28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba,

Gen 10:29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

Gen 10:30 Their dwelling was from Mesha, as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.

Gen 10:31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, after their nations.

Gen 10:32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations. Of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Jan. 8

Matthew 4

Mat 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Mat 4:2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward.

Mat 4:3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

Mat 4:4 But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.' "

Mat 4:5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,

Mat 4:6 and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will put his angels in charge of you.' and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don't dash your foot against a stone.' "

Mat 4:7 Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, 'You shall not test the Lord, your God.' "

Mat 4:8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.

Mat 4:9 He said to him, "I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me."

Mat 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.' "

Mat 4:11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.

Mat 4:12 Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.

Mat 4:13 Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Mat 4:14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

Mat 4:15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,

Mat 4:16 the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned."

Mat 4:17 From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

Mat 4:18 Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

Mat 4:19 He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men."

Mat 4:20 They immediately left their nets and followed him.

Mat 4:21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.

Mat 4:22 They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Mat 4:23 Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Mat 4:24 The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.

Mat 4:25 Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him. 

 

Jan. 9,10

Matthew 5

Mat 5:1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples cJame to him.

Mat 5:2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mat 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Mat 5:5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Mat 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.

Mat 5:10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mat 5:11 "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Mat 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.

Mat 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can't be hidden.

Mat 5:15 Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.

Mat 5:16 Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Mat 5:17 "Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Mat 5:18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

Mat 5:19 Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mat 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mat 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not murder;' and 'Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.'

Mat 5:22 But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

Mat 5:23 "If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,

Mat 5:24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Mat 5:25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him in the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.

Mat 5:26 Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny.

Mat 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;'

Mat 5:28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Mat 5:29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

Mat 5:30 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.

Mat 5:31 "It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,'

Mat 5:32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

Mat 5:33 "Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,'

Mat 5:34 but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

Mat 5:35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

Mat 5:36 Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black.

Mat 5:37 But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

Mat 5:38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'

Mat 5:39 But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Mat 5:40 If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.

Mat 5:41 Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

Mat 5:42 Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.

Mat 5:43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.'

Mat 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

Mat 5:45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

Mat 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?

Mat 5:47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?

Mat 5:48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

JUDE by Paul Southern

 https://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Southern/Paul/1901/jude.html

JUDE

1. THE TITLE

The epistle is named for the writer, Jude.

2. THE WRITER

The writer signs his name as "Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James" (1). It is generally agreed that he was a brother of the Lord (Mat 13:55), and therefore not one of the apostles, for the brethren of the Lord did not believe on Jesus until after the resurrection (Jn 7:5; Acts 1:13-22). However, a few expositors try to identify the writer of this epistle as "Judas (Thaddeus) the brother of James," one of the twelve apostles (Lk 6:16; Jn 14:22). Since Jude does not call himself an apostle, we are inclined to believe that he was not.

3. TO WHOM ADDRESSED

Although the letter is addressed to Christians in general, "To them that are called, beloved in God the father, and kept for Jesus Christ" (1), it was likely intended at first for Jewish Christians in Palestine. Several allusions presuppose an acquaintance with Old Testament scriptures and Jewish traditions. Some critics believe that the epistle was sent to Antioch in Syria and that it was intended for both Jewish and Gentile Christians.

4. TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING

There is no suggestion concerning the place of origin, but critics estimate that it was written about A.D. 66. Evidently it was written before A.D. 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed, for Jude would certainly have mentioned that event along with the other persecutions given.

5. PURPOSE AND CONTENTS

False teachers among the brethren were teaching heresies in the congregational meetings. Some of the men were also immoral in conduct. Jude wrote to expose their immoralities and heresies, urging Christians "to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (3). This epistle and the second chapter of II Peter are very similar. Some think that Jude wrote first, but in our present state of knowledge it is impossible to reach a definite conclusion regarding the matter. A distinctive feature of the book is the writer's fondness for triplet expressions. It is somewhat terse and picturesque. Alford describes it as an "impassioned invective with epithet on epithet, image on image." The stern warnings concerning the fate of wicked disturbers give some the impression that the writer was a harsh character with little or no pathos. This criticism, however, overlooks the fact that the writer was discussing a very serious problem as he was guided by the Holy Spirit. Some of the words have a definite poetic ring.

6. EXERCISES FOR STUDENT ACTIVITY
1. Complete the following triplets:
1. The threefold salutation: "…to them that are ________, _________ in God the Father, and ___________ for Jesus Christ."
2. The threefold benediction: "____________ unto you and __________ and _________ be multiplied."
3. Three examples of divine retribution: "…the Lord, having saved a ________ out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And __________ that kept not their own principality, …he hath kept…unto the judgment…Even as __________ and __________…suffering the punishment of eternal fire."
4. Three types of wickedness: "They went in the way of __________, and ran riotously in the error of _____________ for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of ___________."
5. Three classes of evil-doers: "these are ___________, _____________, __________ after their own lusts."
6. Three exhortations to Christians: They are to build up themselves in the most holy faith by "____________ in the Holy Spirit, __________ yourselves in the love of God, ______________ for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
7. Three expressions of Christian service toward the erring: "And on some have _____________, who are in doubt; and some ___________, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have _____________ with fear."
8. Doxology: "…_______________ all time, and _____________, and __________."
2. Topics for further study
1. List all the things said about evil workers.
2. What does the epistle teach concerning angels?
3. Summarize the teaching of the epistle regarding the punishment of sin.
4. What had the apostles foretold concerning false teachers described by Jude?

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

ARE WE ALL GOD'S CHILDREN? by steve finnell

https://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/01/

ARE WE ALL GOD'S CHILDREN? by steve finnell

Are Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, atheists, and all other men, God's children? No, they are not. They are all created by God, but they are not all God's children. God loves them all, but they are not all God's children.

Who are God's children? Christians are God's children.

Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (KJV)

Men become children of God by faith in Christ Jesus and being baptized into Him.

John 11-12 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name;(KJV)

The Jews who rejected Jesus as the Christ were not God's children. Those who believe in Jesus have the opportunity to become God's children.

GOD LOVES ALL MEN, HOWEVER, SALVATION IS CONDITIONAL.

Terms to become the children of God.
A. Faith: John 3:16
B. Repentance: Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19
C. Confession: Romans 10:9
C. Immersion in water: Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21.

All men have the opportunity to become God's children. Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you all one in Christ Jesus.(KJV)


ALL MEN ARE NOT GOD'S CHILDREN, HOWEVER, THEY ALL CAN BE.  

Is the Rapture Coming Tomorrow? by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

https://thepreachersword.com/2017/09/22/is-the-rapture-coming-tomorrow/

Is the Rapture Coming Tomorrow?

The world won’t end (Saturday), “but the world as we know it is ending,” David Meade, told the Washington Post in a recent interview.

Meade is a self-described “specialist in research and investigations.” Apparently, his doomsday claim has some people nervously eyeing tomorrow, September 23, 2017, as the beginning of catastrophic events that will begin to befall Earth. His claims have been reported in Newsweek, Fox News, the Huffington Post and several other media outlets.

The basis for Meade’s calculation is based on last month’s eclipse. He said the rapture would occur 33 days later. Here’s his explanation. “Jesus lived for 33 years. The name Elohim, which is the name of God to the Jews, was mentioned 33 times [in the Bible],” Meade told the Post. “It’s a very biblically significant, numerologically significant number. I’m talking astronomy. I’m talking the Bible … and merging the two.”

Really? You can’t make this stuff up.

Furthermore, Meade believes global catastrophes will be caused by a secret planet called Nibiru passing the Earth on Saturday. NASA has repeatedly debunked stories about Nibiru as a wayward planet. They “are an Internet hoax,” the space agency said. “There is no factual basis for these claims.

Religious leaders from various groups are “calling out Meade and others over the latest doomsday predictions.” “Meade’s views are not endorsed by Roman Catholic, Protestant or Eastern Orthodox branches of Christianity,” Fox News reported.

“Meade is a made-up leader in a made-up field, and should not be on the front page of anything, let alone Fox News,” Ed Stetzer of Christianity Today wrote.

This latest end of the world prediction is based upon a false doctrine and faulty Biblical exegesis.

There are many different theories about “the rapture” propagated by various cults. They are all based on an incorrect understanding of the book of Revelation and the Old Testament prophets.

End of the world predictions are nothing new. Three theologians said the world would end in 500 A.D. Various clerics predicated Christ’s coming at the end of the first Millennium, January 1, 1000. Past predictions have targeted the years 1260, 1370, and 1700. Charles Taze Russell, the first President of the Watchtower Society of Jehovah’s Witnesses, said Christ would come in 1874. The “Witnesses” have made several other failed predictions through the years.

In more modern times the end of the world has been predicted by religious leaders Herbert W. Armstrong, Jerry Faldwell, Harold Camping and Jack Van Impe. In fact, there have been well over 200 documented predictions regarding the end of the world. Obviously, all such prophecies have not come to pass.

The apostle Peter affirms by inspiration that the “Day of the Lord” will come “as a thief in the night.” (2 Pet. 3:9-10).

When the apostles asked Jesus what would be the signs of the His coming He responded this way. “Watch, therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” Then he used the thief analogy to illustrate His point.

“But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.” (Matt. 25:42-43)

Indeed Christ is coming again. But nowhere does the Bible teach we will be raptured for 7 years, then return to reign with Christ on earth. Here’s what the Bible says.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

According to the apostle Peter “day of the Lord” will bring an end to this world, “in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”

Time will end. The world will be destroyed. Both the righteous and wicked will be raised (Jn. 5:28-29). Jesus will deliver the Kingdom to the Father (1 Cor. 15:20-27). And heaven will become an eternal reality for the righteous (Matt. 25:46)

John’s warning is appropriate when considering Meade’s predictions and others of his ilk. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn. 4:1).

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman