AATBB - All Around The Bloggler’s Bench

So everyone has their form of blogspotting, blogwatch, around the blogosphere, etc etc…

I don’t really look for mentions of this blog around the net, however, I do find myself commenting (or thinking about it) on many other blogs. I always prefer to trackback so that I can reference my posts easily in the future if need be. *Note: This of course excludes the blogs that decided to use the lame trackback’less blogspot.com. At the very least those people should seriously consider using haloscan to minimize the lameness of blogspot and their lack of trackback capabilities.

At any rate, I have decided to deem my form of blogspotting or whatever…all around the bloggler’s bench.

I will most likely create a category such as AATBB or something similar so this post is just clarification on what that category stands for.

In the wake of the 4th of July, I thought I would link to an article by Steve Camp titled, The Christian’s “Bill of Rights”.

It is a pretty good read and I have reproduced some of it below (modified so the Scripture links appear). You can click on the above link to read the complete article.

The Christian’s Bill of Rights
1. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we have only one right: and that is to give up all rights to ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:14-16; Romans 14:7-9).
2. We have the right to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him ( Matthew 16:24-26).
3. We have the right to esteem others more highly than ourselves; and love our neighbor as ourselves ( Matthew 22:39;
Philippians 2:1-5).
4. We have the right to fulfill the law of Christ in bearing one another’s burdens of sin ( Galatians 6:1-3).
5. We have the right to be wronged and to maintain a faithful testimony (1 Corinthians 6:1-8).
6. We have the right to live in unreciprocated self-sacrificial love ( Ephesians 5:1-2).
7. We have the right to forgive others the smaller debt, as God in Christ has forgiven us the larger debt ( Ephesians 4:31-32; Matthew 18:12-35).
8. We have the right to suffer for the gospel and to take the blows for the One who took the blows for us (1 Peter 2:21-24)
9. We have the right to be “subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all men” ( Titus 3:1-2).
10. We have the right to not be political agitators trading the truth of His Word to play politics with men’s souls; thinking that true spiritual change occurs through legislation rather than the transforming power of the gospel of grace. (1 Peter 4:10-16).
11. We have the right to turn the other cheek ( Matthew 5:39).
12. We have the right to be stripped of all earthly things ( Matthew 5:40-42).
13. We have the right to not repay evil for evil and to be at peace with all men as much as it depends on you ( Romans 12:17-18).
14. We have the right to love our enemies, do good to them that hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for those that despitefully use us ( Matthew 5:44-45).
15. We have the right to pursue holiness-not personal happiness (1 Peter 1:13-16).
16. We have the right not to be ashamed of the gospel (2 Timothy 1:6-18).
17. We have the right not to harbor revenge, anger, bitterness, clamoring, wrath, malice and slander ( Ephesians 4:31).
18. We have the right not to quench or grieve the Holy Spirit. ( Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19).
19. We have the right to repent of and not cherish our sins ( Psalm 66:18).
20. We have the right to guard the trust; and to contend for the once for all delivered to the saints faith (1 Timothy 6:20; Jude 1:3).
21. We have the right to train our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord ( Ephesians 6:1-3).
22. We have the right to reflect God’s covenantal relationship with us by honoring our vows in the covenant of marriage with our spouse ( Matthew 19:6).
23. We have the right to worship Christ Jesus as God of very God; Creator; Redeemer; Sovereign Lord and Ruler of all ( Colossians 1:15-19; Hebrews 1:8; Philippians 2:5-11).
24. We have the right to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable pleasing unto God ( Romans 12:1-2).
25. We have the right to live in the expectancy and hope of the Lord’s return by which we purify ourselves ( Romans 12:1-2).
26. We have the right to march daily on our knees in prayer; praying for our leaders in government; our church leaders; our fellow believers; our families; and the lost (1 Timothy 2:1-3; Ephesians 6:18-21).
27. We have the right to praise and glorify God according to how He has revealed Himself through the pages of His Word ( Colossians 3:16-17).
28. We have the right to the accountability of the local church; to obey our leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over our souls, as those who will give an account ( Hebrews 13:17).
29. We have the right to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations ( Matthew 28:18-20).
30. We have the right to have no rights apart from Christ Himself; “for whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it” ( Matthew 16:25; John 15:5).

Addendum 7/29:
17 Marks of a Sound Christian by Thomas Hooker

This is a continuation of my post on preterism. I may add a few addendums as I did on the previous post (when/if I get the time).

Question: How can preterists claim that there isn’t a bodily resurrection of the dead?

1 Corinthians 15:12-26
(12) Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
(13) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
(14) And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
(15) We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
(16) For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
(17) And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
(18) Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
(19) If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
(20) But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
(21) For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
(22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
(23) But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
(24) Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
(25) For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
(26) The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Be sure to note the chronology (order) of the events being discussed above. Specifically in verses 23-26.
When is death destroyed (swallowed up)?

1 Corinthians 15:51-54
(51) Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
(52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
(53) For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
(54) When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

It is clear that “death” here is referring to death of the physical body. At some point in the future our perishable physical bodies will become imperishable. This did not take place in 70 A.D. and it hasn’t taken place to date. Even if some preterists were to argue that this isn’t referring to the physical body, their point would be moot. This was written in ~55 A.D. and the events had not yet taken place. Couple that with the fact that “death” for the believer is no different now (post 70 A.D.) than it was then (pre 70 A.D.) and what you have is the death of full preterism by way of the Scripture.

Addendum(7/14):
More Scripture on the physical return of Christ. The below passage is not a dream, it is not symbolic or allegorical, it is a physical event that took place.

Acts 1:6-11 ESV
(6) So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
(7) He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
(8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
(9) And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
(10) And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
(11) and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

I would like to point out that one of the problems with preterism is that it is a doctrine devised from a few verses in the Scripture and “human reason/assumption”. I have pointed out the danger of doing this (in regards to doctrine) several times in previous posts. Hinging a doctrine on a few verses isn’t a good thing to do. What takes place next is trying to make other verses fit into your understanding based on merely a few verses, or worse yet, discarding some of the verses and their meaning. Many cults are formed in a similar fashion.

This is why it is so important for us to interpret Scripture by Scripture, examine it line by line, and build precept upon precept.

There are an overwhelming number of verses and Scripture that support the physical return of Christ, bodily resurrection, and incomplete prophesy. The multitude of verses I have used in my two posts are merely a small sample on the subject. However, pretty much everything you read in support of preterism starts with an assumption on a few verses in Matthew, an event, and circular/human reasoning trying to explain away opposing verses. There are plenty of exegetical studies on the verses in Matthew that are perfectly acceptable and do not require a heretical preterist stance.

Addendum(8/15):
Just wanted to add this link on the subject, it is really good. Two Dozen (or so) Orthodox Arguments Against Hyper-Preterism

AMDG

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV)

I recently had a discussion on this verse with someone who believes that we see “face to face” now, we “fully know” just as we are “fully known”. I disagreed with that person so I thought I would look at this verse a little closer.

Since this verse deals with time let us look at when this was written. 1 Corinthians was written by Paul and it is widely accepted that it was written somewhere around 55 A.D.

So at that point in time “we” saw in a mirror dimly but at some future point in time we will see face to face. The question is what/who will we see face to face. In the NT I found that seeing “face to face” always referred to people seeing each other face to face. I did not find one instance where it was used to refer to an inanimate object. With that in mind, I think this verse means being face to face with someone instead of something. My assumption has always been that it means face to face with Christ.

The reason I come to this conclusion is twofold and I am open to correction if it is Scriptural. My first reason is a bit questionable. A few verses up 1 Cor 13:10 refers to that which is “perfect” coming. Christ is perfect. However, verse 10 does open the question of what “the perfect comes” is referring to. It surely doesn’t have to mean Christ. On a sidenote, there are some that say that “perfect” is referring to the Bible. I reject that assumption and it is a pretty big stretch.

My second reason is the second part of verse 12, “…then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known”. In context, this helps strengthen my first line of thinking mentioned above. Nobody knows fully as they are fully known, nor will they, until they are “face to face” with God. Then they will know everything there is to be known. God and only God fully knows someone. I don’t believe anyone can make a claim that they know as they are fully known.

I am not 100% convinced that 1 Corinthians 13:10 is referring to Christ but I am thoroughly convinced that nobody knows fully as they are fully known. I am thoroughly convinced that only Christ fully knows someone. Based on that, I come to the conclusion that we still see in a mirror dimly and “face to face” is referring to the One who knows us fully. We know in part now, we see in a mirror dimly, but when we are “face to face” with God we will know in full, just as we are fully known.

As I stated above, feel free to comment with Scriptural reproof on these passages if you have any.

AMDG

Bobby recently wrote about preterism on his blog.

I would like to spend more time on this subject, however, I am extremely busy at the moment so I just wanted to mention one thing (food for thought).

All of the ancient Christian creeds are post A.D. 70.

I believe the Apostles’ Creed was dated around A.D.215, followed by the Nicene Creed (A.D. 381), etc etc…

The importance of this is that they all speak of the future return of Christ and some of the physical resurrection of the body.

Addendum (7/13):
Question: Do preterists believe that Christ physically appeared in 70 A.D.?
I am trying to stay away from extra-Biblical references if at all possible. Take a look at the below verses, read them in context (I only pasted one verse to save on space), and then ask yourself again if Christ’s return is physical. Pay particular attention to the verse in bold.

2 The 2:8 - and then shall be revealed the Lawless One, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the manifestation of his presence,
1 Tim 6:14 - that thou keep the command unspotted, unblameable, till the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Tim 1:10 - and was made manifest now through the manifestation of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who indeed did abolish death, and did enlighten life and immortality through the good news,
2 Tim 4:1 - I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign–
2 Tim 4:8 - henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of the righteousness that the Lord–the Righteous Judge–shall give to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to all those loving his manifestation.
Tit 2:13 - waiting for the blessed hope and manifestation of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ,

* The above verses are from the Young’s Literal Translation because I was trying to show the verse as literal as possible. If you click on the chapter/verse link at the beginning of each verse it will bring up the ESV translation of that verse, which is easier to read.

Addendum (07/14):
Question: Did Christ gather all of His elect throughout the world and heaven in 70 A.D.?

Mark 13:26-27 - And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. (27) And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

Question: Is Satan loose or is he bound? Is he no longer deceiving anyone?
Question: Have the rest of the dead come to life? (the first resurrection)
Question: Has the devil been thrown info the lake of fire forever?
Question: Have the dead great and small stood before God and been judged?
Question: Has the sea given up the dead that are in it?
Question: Have Death and Hades given up the dead that were in them?
Question: Have they all been judged?
Question: Have Death and Hades been thrown into the lake of fire? (the second death)
Question: Has everyone whose name was not found in the book of life been thrown in the lake of fire?
Question: Has every tear been wiped from our eyes? Are we free of mourning, crying and pain?

Revelation 20
(1) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.
(2) And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,
(3) and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
(4) Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
(5) The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
(6) Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
(7) And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison
(8) and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea.
(9) And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,
(10) and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
(11) Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.
(12) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
(13) And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.
(14) Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
(15) And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 21:4 - He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

This post continues here.

AMDG