November 3, 2002 Volume 3 Number 44
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The Holy Spirit in Conversion In the New Testament times the Holy Spirit operated on the hearts of men and women to save them from sin. This, no one should deny! Yet we find ourselves at variance with various religious groups over the place of the Holy Spirit in the conviction and conversion of sinners. The question at issue is not over the fact of the Spirit's work, but over the manner of operation. How does the Spirit operate in the conviction and conversion of sinners---directly or through some medium? The Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit operates through the medium of the Word in conversion, yet it is possible to say that the Holy Spirit accomplished the conversion. Illustration: A man is drowning; a man on the shore throws a rope; the drowning man is pulled to shore. Who or what saved the drowning man? The man casting the rope or the rope itself, the man taking hold of the rope---all had a part? The Holy Spirit convicts and converts, but He acts through the agency or instrumentality of divine truth. Paul writes in Eph 6:17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”What Is Conversion? The elementary meaning of conversion is to change a thing or person into something else. Trees are converted into pulp; pulp into paper; paper into book, etc...In a Biblical sense, conversion is the mental and moral change, which begins with belief of the gospel and ends with obedience to it. Man has never been able to frame a system that could purify the sinner's heart. In Romans 3:23 we read, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We here certain terms applied to conversion. Some false terms applied by man: joining the church, getting religion, praying through, encounter, an experience. While in the NT we find these terms----Born of water and Spirit: John 3:5-Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” The washing of regeneration: Titus 3:5-“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Made alive with Christ: Eph 2:5---even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). Obedient to the faith: Acts 6:7-Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.What Is Involved In Conversion? There must be a purification of the heart by faith (Acts 15:9), a change of life by repentance (Luke 13:3), and a change of state or relationship by baptism (Rom 6:3-4; Gal 3:26-27). The Doctrine Of The Direct Operation Of The Holy Spirit Is False The major doctrines of Calvinism --- all false --- are easily remembered by the use of an acrostic of the word TULIP. 1. Total Inability--commonly called hereditary total depravity. 2. Unconditional Election-God elected those to be saved before the foundation of the world. 3. Limited Atonement-Christ died only for the elect. 4. Infallible Grace-or Irresistible Grace-the direct operation of the Holy Spirit to convert the elect. 5. Perseverance of the Saints--popularly called the "impossibility of apostasy" (See Buswell, A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion, III:138ff).These doctrines need to be examined, we will spend our time showing that the doctrine of the direct operation of the Holy Spirit is based on the false doctrine of total depravity of man. Always remember that there is no respect of persons with God. In Acts 10:35 we read, “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” And in Rom 2:11 we read, “For there is no partiality with God.”The Calvinistic Doctrine of Hereditary Total Depravity "Calvinists trace depravity to an inherent corruption of nature inherited from Adam" (Charles C. Ryrie, "Depravity, Total, " Baker's Dictionary of Theology, 164). Let’s note some examples:N.L. Rice, Presbyterian: "We believe and teach that in conversion and sanctification there is an influence of the Spirit in addition to that of the Word, and distinct from it---an influence, without which the arguments and motives of the gospel would never convert and sanctify one of Adam's ruined race" (The Campbell-Rice Debate, 628).J.B. Moody, Missionary Baptist, in the Nashville Debate: "...man is so depraved that he is unable without the direct enabling power of the Holy Spirit to obey the gospel of the Son of God. We could go on and on with example after example but these should suffice. The doctrine of total depravity is not taught in the Bible. It is based on perverted Scriptures. It is true that the consequences of sin may pass to another, but the guilt of the sin does not pass. The Bible does not teach that all were born sinners, but that all sinned. Paul writes in Rom 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. One becomes a sinner by sinning: James writes, “Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren (1:13-16). Sin is not inherited. We read in Ezekiel, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (18:20).CHURCH HISTORY: A BIBLICAL VIEW Part VI - No. 44 Compiled and written by Gary Eubanks The Modern Age: The Major Cults I. Introduction A "cult" needs to be defined in order to be classified and understood, but it may be more easily described than defined. Indeed, there are differences of opinion among scholars as to the proper definition of a "cult" and which religious groups should be so classified. Though not all the following characterizations may be applicable to every religious group labeled a "cult," together they form a general picture of one. (1) A cult differs radically from what are conceived to be the fundamental beliefs of the mainstream of religious thought. (2) A cult is centered around a specific authority figure and his teachings or interpretations. (3) A cult looks to some extra-Biblical source of authority, perhaps a set of writings it regards as equally authoritative and inspired as the Bible, for guidance. (4) A cult conceives of itself as being the one true faith and the exclusive possessor of the truth. (5) A cult is close-minded to the extent that it is uninterested in hearing what outsiders have to say or even unwilling to admit the possibility of being instructed by them. (6) A cult is possessed with a missionary zeal to propagate its message. (7) A cult enforces a radical alteration in lifestyle which may involve subordination of every aspect of the individual's life to the control of the cult. (8) A cult possesses a personal antagonism toward outsiders. (9) A cult has a goal that is physical or earthly in nature, relating to things that are near, visible, and tangible. II. Mormonism The Mormon Church (Latter Day Saints) was formed in 1830 under the leadership of Joseph Smith, a self-proclaimed prophet who claimed to have translated the Book of Mormon from golden plates to which he had been directed by an angel named Moroni. The Book of Mormon is supposedly a historical account of two ancient American civilizations established by emigrants from the Middle East about 2,250 and 600 BC. The earlier group, and the righteous wing of the later group, were totally destroyed, but not before the latter deposited the golden plates which Joseph Smith later discovered in a hill near Palmyra, New York. The evil wing of the later group are the predecessors of the American Indians. The Book of Mormon claims that the Bible has been severely corrupted (I Nephi 13:23-29) and ridicules the idea that nothing more than the Bible is needed (II Nephi 29). Hence, Mormons regard the Book of Mormon and two other works by Joseph Smith, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, to be equally as inspired and authoritative as the Bible, if not more so. These Mormon works not only contradict the Bible, but also one another, in many instances. Furthermore, there is much weighty evidence of an archaeological and historical nature which proves the Mormon story to be untrue. Yet, despite this, persecution, and division within their own ranks, Mormons have not only survived, but they have grown. In 1979 the main branch of the Mormon Church, centered in Salt Lake City, Utah, numbered 3,300,000. Mormon theology teaches polytheism - that the gods in heaven have wives through whom they procreate spirit-children who are sent to earth as men for a probationary period. Mormons believe that God was once a man, and men may progress to eventually become gods. III. Seventh Day Adventism Seventh-Day Adventists grew out of the work of William Miller who twice predicted that Christ would return in 1842-44 but, of course, was disappointed. Despite their failures, Seventh-Day Adventists continued to cling to one another and the hope that Christ would soon return. When Miller died in 1849, the reins of leadership fell into the hands of a visionary by the name of Ellen G. White. She not only reinterpreted some of Miller's teachings, but she also added some of her own. Her writings are virtually acknowledged as inspired and authoritative by Seventh-Day Adventists. This group is characterized by a belief in the imminent return of Christ, observance of the Sabbath, and adherence to dietary restrictions. A peculiar belief among Seventh-Day Adventists is that Christ's death upon the cross did not complete atonement for sin, which will be completed when Christ comes out of His sanctuary and lays the sins of His people upon Satan. In the United States Adventists number about half a million. IV. Christian Science Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) is recognized as the founder of Christian Science. Her writings, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, are also recognized as inspired and authoritative by Christian Scientists. The first Church of Christ, Scientist was organized in Boston in 1879. Mrs. Eddy claimed to have rediscovered and revealed the secret of Jesus' healing powers. Christian Scientists believe that matter, sin, disease, and death are unreal - illusions. Heaven and hell are states of mind. Jesus is not divine. Mrs. Eddy's bylaws prohibit publishing of membership statistics. V. Jehovah's Witnesses The beginning of the Jehovah's Witnesses (a name adopted by them in 1931) may be traced to the work of Charles T. Russell, whose followers were first formally organized in 1872. When Russell died in 1916, he was succeeded as president by Joseph F. Rutherford. Both men wrote voluminously and left an indelible imprint upon the thinking of their followers. Though Jehovah's Witnesses are avid students of the Bible and claim it as their only inspired authority, they must, for all practical purposes, submit to the publications of their leaders and even have a "translation" of the Bible (New World Translation) which reflects their peculiar beliefs. Jehovah's Witnesses deny the divinity of Jesus Christ and the personality of the Holy Spirit. They believe in the imminent battle of Armageddon in which the forces of Christ will inflict severe carnage upon the forces of evil. They teach the righteous will live on earth forever, except for 144,000 who will reign with Christ in heaven. THE BIBLE AND TELEVISION Oh, Lord, I love to read the Bible; I read it for my own upbuilding; No other book is like the Bible, Perhaps I'll read it just a moment Some nights I'm somewhat dissapointed; That Bible slightly hurts my conscience, Sometime I'll really read the Bible; From Jack Exum's "For All Things Are Yours". Food For Thought It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret. "And he will go on before the lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of righteousness - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17)"If you and I haven't time to help youngsters find the right way in life, someone with more time will help them find the wrong way." We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study. 2
Sam 22:31
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