THE BIBLE AND HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY

Culture, Ethics March 27, 2018 Leave a comment

PMT 2018-025 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Postmillennialism expects salvation to overwhelm the world bringing in a long era of righteousness, peace, and prosperity. Thus, postmillennialism is not simply interested in the gospel alone, but in the gospel and what it can accomplish. The gospel can and does change lives. One of the big moral challenges facing the Church today is the homosexual movement.

The Scriptures universally condemn homosexual conduct as a reprehensible (e.g., Gen. 19:5; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Rom. 1:24, 26–28; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:8–11; Jude 7). [1] Yet, some scholars argue that the only clear, definitive proscriptions (rather than historical descriptions) against such are found in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. These show that they involve temporary, old covenant ritual laws. Continue reading →

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TABERNACLE, CREATION, NEW CREATION

Creation, New Creation March 23, 2018 Leave a comment

PMT 2018-024 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Perhaps one more study from Exodus might be helpful in encouraging our reaching out to all creation with God’s salvation. Let us consider the tabernacle and its reflection of creation. Worship and creation belong together, because created the world to bring him glory.

God’s people in God’s world
We must understand that Israel is the continuation of the redemptive seed line begun in Genesis (Gen. 4:26) with Seth and who as a people dominate the Old Testament revelatory record. That seed line continues from Seth through Noah (Gen. 5:4–32) to Shem (Gen. 10:26), then is narrowed to Abraham (Gen. 11:10–12:3). Abraham’s family will carry the redemptive seed through the Old Testament all the way to the birth of Jesus (Matt. 1:1; Luke 3:36–38), the Savior (Matt. 1:21) who is “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). Continue reading →

GOD AGAINST THE GODS

Optimism, Theology March 20, 2018 Leave a comment

PMT 2018-023 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In my last article I gave a brief exposition of God’s name which was given to Moses to encourage him to lead Israel out of bondage. We saw in that name reason to have hope in this world. Our God is a great God. And I will continue in Exodus by showing that our God is a great God above all gods. I will do this by briefly focusing on the Ten Plagues against Egypt and summarizing their theological purpose. Continue reading →

HOPE AND THE GREAT “I AM”

Optimism, Theology, Worldview March 16, 2018 Leave a comment

PMT 2018-022 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Postmillennialism goes against the pessimistic expectations of contemporary Christianity. Christians have adopted Woody Allen’s view of life: “More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”

This is because we take our eyes off of God and his great power. We are like the Israelites who feared entering the land. We declare that “we are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us” (Num. 13:31). We need to gain a renewed sense of the glory and power of God. Continue reading →

CHRISTIANITY IN AMERICA IS NOT DYING!

Church, Culture, Optimism March 13, 2018 Leave a comment

PMW 2018-021 by Lita Cosner (Creation Ministries, Intl.)

Gentry note: In 1897 Mark Twain was reported to have died, to which he supposedly responded: “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” This response can be applied to the claim that Christianity in America is dead. Lita Cosner’s article makes some encouraging observations for us in this regard.

Lita Cosner article:

We’re used to hearing that religion is dying in America, secularization is inevitable, and that young people are leaving the faith in droves. But a new Harvard research study has great news for Christians. Previous research typically focuses on the massive increase in the proportion of people who claim atheism or ‘no religion’. But these reports generally don’t address where the decline is happening. This new research demonstrates that the decline is in ‘moderate’ religion. So it turns out that ‘religion’ isn’t dying, but the differentiation between believer and unbeliever is becoming clearer. Continue reading →

GAY MARRIAGE HARMS

Culture, Ethics, morality March 9, 2018 Comments: 15

PMW2018-020 by Keaton Halley (Creation Ministries, Intl.)

Gentry note: This is an excellent article on an important culture topic which greatly impacts one’s worldview. Sadly many Christians are succumbing to the liberal agenda for our culture, even in an area historically opposed to biblical norms.

Article by Keaton Halley

Three reasons that abandoning God’s design for marriage is bad for society.

Even now that same-sex marriage has become widely accepted in many countries, Christians cannot surrender. We must continue to lovingly and graciously stand for the truth. Also, if we want to be effective, we must learn to articulate the reasons why gay marriage not only violates God’s moral standard, but actually harms society. Indeed, a faulty view of marriage will create many victims, as we highlight in response to today’s question.

[M]y question is what do you think about gay marriage and adoption?

Continue reading →

MATTHEW 23:39: DISPENSATIONALISM OR PRETERISM?

AD 70, Dispensationalism, Israel, Preterism March 6, 2018 Leave a comment

PMW 2018-019 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Matt. 23:39 is a favorite statement by Jesus that dispensationalism cling to as evidence of the future conversion of Israel. Read through their lens, it seems to state that Israel will one day be converted, and only then will the great tribulation begin (according to the order of verses following Matt 23:39). They hold that this would confirm dispensationalism and undermine preterism and postmillennialism.

Matthew 23:39 read:

“For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Continue reading →