The purpose here is not to prevent non-believers from reading the Bible (I'd probably buy Bibles for them if I knew they would read them and I'd help answer their questions), but this is a Bible study for the disciples. And, I'm not trying to keep the EO out of this Bible study. I understand you do not use the Nicene or Athanasian creeds. But, I do suspect that you don't think there is anything wrong with them, either. This is just to make it known that this is a believers Bible study for disciples.
Here is the format:
The daily devotional is based upon the Bible reader in the 1662 Episcopal prayer book (what else would an ex-Episcopalian pick) and is divided into Morning prayer & Evening prayer. Each prayer time is divided into 2 lessons, one OT & one NT, and several readings from the book of Psalms.
The result is that the OT is read once each year (minus some duplicate type passages & a few other passages) and the NT is read twice (Revelation is read once in December). The book of Psalms is read every month (some people opt for the alternate reading from Proverbs during months with 31 days).
Anyone wishing to be added so that you can receive the lessons list needs to let me know and I'll get you added.
Additional information:
Additionally, via email for those interested, I publish Spurgeon, Edwards, & other Calvinist sermons, and various commentaries which pertain to the current reading on a fairly regular basis. The volume can be quite large, but I'd rather send too much than not enough. This way, should you want to receive the sermon material, you can have plenty for you reading enjoyment to enhance your study by reading the wealth of other venerable Calvinist divines. Simply read what you want or have time for, but know that I read everything before it is sent and I have a full time job and a mess of kids so it's not that much.
I'm also not opposed to occational sermons by non-Calvinists. After all, I get one every week and I haven't been turned to mush yet. But, this is Reformed so the bulk of extra material will be Reformed in nature.
The translations:
This year, I am reading the Geneva Bible, with the study notes. Anyone who desires can download a copy to read with me from http://www.e-sword.net/ Since this is a Reformed Bible study, why not use the Bible of the Reformers and the Bible that was carried to America and the Bible that got under the English King's skin (what can I say, but if you hadn't guessed from my avatar, I have a bit of the Scottish blood and anything that irritated the English must be a good thing).
The actual study list pulls the reading material directly using the Bible Gateway and the NJKV. When I have a few other things finished, I'll have the translation as a user option. But, until then, any translation will do. I'm just fore-warning you now what is programmed into the system.
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(19) Again he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sit on his throne, and all the (p) host of heaven stood about him on his right hand and on his left hand. (20) And the Lord said, Who shall entice Ahab that he may go and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
(21) Then there came forth a spirit, and (q) stood before the Lord, and said, I will entice him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? (22) And he said, I will go out, and be a (r) false spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. Then he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt also prevail: go forth, and doe so. (23) Now therefore behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath appointed evil against thee.
(Geneva) (p) Meaning, his angels. (q) Here we see that though the devil is always ready to bring us to destruction, yet he has no more power than God gives him. (r) I will cause all his prophets to tell lies.
I have a few comments:
This is an excellent verse to demonstrate that the Lord has always had perfect control over Satan & his demons. Even in Eden, Satan was no more able to deceive Eve than he was given permission to do so by the LORD God. They have always had this chain around their necks. So, I think it amusing that the Premills chide us Amills about Satan being bound. The boy has always been bound. He is just bound in an interesting new way in this "time of the Gentiles," according to us Amills.
The Lord clearly appoints evil against men. He sent an evil spirit to entice Ahab to go and get himself killed in battle and even preserved Jehoshaphat when he knew that they were taking the council of false prophets. Unless one is willing to test the spirits to know whether they speak the truth, you will fall for any old Satanic lie. This requires that one already know the revealed word of God before seeking anything from the spirits. Though it not worthwhile to mention any pseudo-Christian church, there are those who pray for a secret word of confirmation first, even praying to see what written words to believe. It is entirely possible that the Lord has appointed evil against them. It should cause a trembling fear to know that one is completely at the mercy of God to receive the truth.
Wouldn't this delusion sent by God violate the "free will" principle that is a cornerstone of Arminian theology?
The angels are God's servants, His messengers, His chariots. They ever hearken to the word of His mouth and do His commands. "And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and He repented Him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed. It is enough, stay now thine hand... And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put his sword again into the sheath thereof" (1 Chron. 21:15, 27).Many other Scriptures might be cited to show that the angels are in subjection to the will of their Creator and perform His bidding -"And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent His angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod" (Acts 12:11). "And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to shew unto His servants the things which must shortly be done" (Rev. 22:6). So it will be when our Lord returns: "The Son of Man shall send forth His angels and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity" (Matt. 13:41). Again, we read, "He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other" (Matt. 24:31).
The same is true of evil spirits: they, too, fulfill God's Sovereign decrees. An evil spirit is sent by God to stir up rebellion in the camp of Abimelech: "Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem," which aided him in the killing of his brethren (Judges 9:23). Another evil spirit He sent to be a lying spirit in the mouth of Ahab's prophets-"Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee" (1 Kings 22:23). And yet another was sent by the Lord to trouble Saul-"But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him" (1 Sam. 16:14). So, too, in the New Testament: a whole legion of the demons go not out of their victim until the Lord gave them permission to enter the herd of swine.
It is clear from Scripture, then, that the angels, good and evil, are under God's control, and willingly or unwillingly carry out God's purpose. Yea, SATAN himself is absolutely subject to God's control. When arraigned in Eden, he listened to the awful sentence but answered not a word. He was unable to touch Job until God granted him leave. So, too, he had to gain our Lord's consent before he could "sift" Peter. When Christ commanded him to depart-"Get thee hence, Satan"-we read, "Then the Devil leaveth Him" (Matt. 4:11). And, in the end, he will be cast into the Lake of Fire which has been prepared for him and his angels.
The Lord God omnipotent reigneth. His government is exercised over inanimate matter, over the brute beasts, over the children of men, over angels good and evil, and over Satan himself. No revolving world, no shining of star, no storm, no creature moves, no actions of men, no errands of angels, no deeds of Devil-nothing in all the vast universe can come to pass otherwise than God has eternally purposed. Here is a foundation of faith. Here is a resting place for the intellect. Here is an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast. It is not blind fate, unbridled evil, man or Devil, but the Lord Almighty who is ruling the world, ruling it according to His own good pleasure and for His own eternal glory.
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An argument for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, & Limited Atonement.
This is the gospel of Christ:
John 10
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.... and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep...."
The Lord Himself says it crystal clear: "I give my life for the sheep." We hear His voice, we believe, because we are sheep. Those who are not sheep don't believe just exactly as the Lord Himself tells us:
But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep!
Jesus gave His life for the sheep, not the goats. Goats dont' turn into sheep because they believe. The don't believe because they are ALREADY goats, just as we are told.
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Aren't children innocent and aren't we suppose to be converted and be like them? At least, this is what my Methodist brethren insist. Why then would the name of the Lord be stained with innocent blood, over nothing more than an insult that Elisha is bald?
2 Kings 2:23-24 GB
(23) And he went up from thence unto Beth-el. And as he was going up the way, little children came out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Come up, thou bald head, come up, thou bald head.
(24) And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed (n) them in the name of the Lord. And two bears came out of the forest, and tare in pieces two and forty children of them.
(Geneva)
(n) Perceiving their malicious heart against the Lord and his word, he asks God to avenge the injury done to him.
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Aren't children innocent and aren't we suppose to be converted and be like them? At least, this is what my Methodist brethren insist. Why then would the name of the Lord be stained with innocent blood, over nothing more than an insult that Elisha is bald?
2 Kings 2:23-24 GB
(23) And he went up from thence unto Beth-el. And as he was going up the way, little children came out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Come up, thou bald head, come up, thou bald head.
(24) And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed (n) them in the name of the Lord. And two bears came out of the forest, and tare in pieces two and forty children of them.
(Geneva)
(n) Perceiving their malicious heart against the Lord and his word, he asks God to avenge the injury done to him.
I think we also have this false image in our head that these "children" ripped apart by the bear were these cute, little 4 and 5 year olds when that was probably not the case.
__________________ "In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."
Perhaps they are of the same age of the "children" used by Clinton in his gun ban stats? But I stray from the topic....
__________________ A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. Proverbs 29:23
____________________________________________________________ My hope arises from the freeness of grace, and not from the freedom of the will. Charles Haddon Spurgeon
The primary focus of evangelism is to be faithful, not convincing. Just as the primary focus of our works is to be faithful, not to earn something. -frumanchu
Perhaps they are of the same age of the "children" used by Clinton in his gun ban stats? But I stray from the topic....
__________________ "In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."
Here is a fascinating commentary from the Geneva Bible study notes:
Hebrews 2:5 GB
(5) (3) For he has not put in subjection unto the Angels the (f) world to come, whereof we speak.
(Geneva)
(3) If it was an atrocious matter to condemn the angels who are but servants, it is much more atrocious to condemn that most mighty King of the restored world.
(f) The world to come, of which Christ is Father, (Isa_9:6) or the Church, which as a new world, was to be gathered together by the gospel.
I'm not quite sure what to make of this comment.
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Definition
child, son, boy, offspring, youth
.....child, son, boy
.....child, children
.....descendants
.....youth
.....apostate Israelites (fig.)
could it have something to do with the figurative? a type?
__________________ A life lived in fear is a life half lived.
~Strictly Ballroom
The Bible says that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit . . . And He figured,
why build a chapel, when you could build a cathedral? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
~Liz Curtis Higgs
Reputation: something we should not seek, nor is it "given";
it is earned - by a life of increasing Christlikeness;
and yet it is wholly undeserved...
if we realize that Jesus is the only One
who deserves a Good Name.
(as such, i boycott drive-by's.)
Offense is like a gift: you can willingly receive it, or you can choose to refuse it.
~me
Here is a fascinating commentary from the Geneva Bible study notes:
Hebrews 2:5 GB
(5) (3) For he has not put in subjection unto the Angels the (f) world to come, whereof we speak.
(Geneva)
(3) If it was an atrocious matter to condemn the angels who are but servants, it is much more atrocious to condemn that most mighty King of the restored world.
(f) The world to come, of which Christ is Father, (Isa_9:6) or the Church, which as a new world, was to be gathered together by the gospel.
I'm not quite sure what to make of this comment.
Father:
'ab
Phonetic Spelling awb
Noun Masculine
Definition
1.father of an individual
2.of God as father of his people
3.head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
4.ancestor
.....a.grandfather, forefathers -- of person
.....b.of people
5.originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
6.of producer, generator (fig.)
7.of benevolence and protection (fig.)
8.term of respect and honour
9.ruler or chief (spec.)
kind of another way of saying Christ is the HEAD of the church, i guess...?
__________________ A life lived in fear is a life half lived.
~Strictly Ballroom
The Bible says that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit . . . And He figured,
why build a chapel, when you could build a cathedral? To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
~Liz Curtis Higgs
Reputation: something we should not seek, nor is it "given";
it is earned - by a life of increasing Christlikeness;
and yet it is wholly undeserved...
if we realize that Jesus is the only One
who deserves a Good Name.
(as such, i boycott drive-by's.)
Offense is like a gift: you can willingly receive it, or you can choose to refuse it.
~me
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