Reformation Manifest - Five or Six "Solas"?

On October 31st, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis on door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, protesting against the doctrine of the Catholic Church. 

October 31 we commemorate the Reformation Day or the Lutheran Reformation. 

The Five Solae are five Latin phrases that emerged during the Protestant Reformation and summarize the Reformers's basic theological beliefs in contradiction to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church of the day.

As it has been said, while the Reformation Manifesto comprises of MORE than these five points, it is not LESS than these.

Five or Six fundamental principles?

Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone);

Sola Gratia (by Grace alone);



Sola Fide (by Faith alone);

Solus Christus (by Christ alone);

Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone);

I know that the Five Solae emerged specially to rejected the teachings of the then-dominant Catholic Church, but I believe the reformers left something out that should be at least included by the followers of the Reformed Theology in our days.

A.   What or who has been left out?

Although I have many godly friends in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles, I don’t subscribe to all Pentecostal and Charismatic views such as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Spirit and Signs and Wonders.

Even though my views on the matters above are more conservative then in some circles, I believe that the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit of God, cannot be left out! We must give Him the place that is attributed to Him in the Word of God.

NO MORE, NO LESS!

I don’t want to leave the Holy Spirit of God out. That's the reason why I have included Solus Spiritus to my Personal Manifesto

B.   Solus Spiritus (Holy Spirit Alone)

Solus Spiritus

The divine revelation regarding redemption is equally concerned with both Word and Spirit, they go hand in hand, and are inseparable in God's divine economy.

The Word and the Spirit came together in the ministry of Jesus Christ - the Word-made-flesh. During His ministry Jesus spoke nothing without the Holy Spirit's anointment and did nothing without the Father's direction. 

There are many analogies that try to represent the relationship between the Word and the Spirit, but none of them can entirely represent the fullness of this eternal, divine relationship.

The Word is like the body, the Spirit is like the blood.

The Word is like the temple, the Spirit is like the priest in the temple.

They both go together: the Word of God and the Spirit of God.

1. The Holy Spirit inspired the Word of God 

2 Peter 1:20-21 "First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke form God".

Why has the Bible always had relevance and power throughout history? I believe the answer to this question is found in the verse above: The Holy Spirit is the divine author of all scripture.

2. The Holy Spirit enlightens the Word of God to us

1 Corinthians 1:18 "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God". 

Romans 1:16 "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes"

It is only by the the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit that we can have spiritual understanding of the Bible and also the message of the Gospel, which is the power of God to us who are being saved.

3. The Holy Spirit confirms the Word of God

John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”

John 6:63b "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life."

No one can pin down the Holy Spirit, neither can we easily prove what is of the Holy Spirit and what is of the ego-flesh or of Satan, but we have the Spirit-inspired scriptures to help us know the truth and our Spirit-inspired consciences to confirm the truth.

The written Word of God contains boundaries. In this age, knowledge of spiritual things cannot go beyond these boundaries and still be true. These boundaries protect us from heresies, from the lies of Satan.

I Corinthians 4:6 "Do not go beyond what is written".

Deuteronomy 12:4 "You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God". (Revelation 22:18-19) 

But anyone can claim to have the right interpretation of the Bible, and who can say that they are right or wrong? I believe that the Holy Spirit Alone can convict us of truth and error when we interpret the Word of God. 

4. The Holy Spirit convicts the World of guilt

 He will convict ...

John 16:8 "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement" 

Jesus said "When he comes" referring to the Holly Spirit. 

"When he comes" He will convict sinners that they are lost and need to repent from their sins and put their faith in Christ.

The work of conviction in the heart of man is performed by the Holy Spirit, He alone can convict men of sin.

But the work of the Holy Spirit to remove the darkness from man's heart is mainly done by the light of the Gospel.

The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12 

5. The Holy Spirit baptises believers into the Body of Christ

1 Corintians 12:13 "For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free we were all given the one Spirit to drink."

We are all baptised by the Spirit of God, to form one body - the Body of Christ. 

6. The Holy Spirit confirms our adoption

Romans 8:15-16 “¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to son ship.  And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

After being baptised by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit testifies to us that we have been adopted to son ship and by Him we cry "Abba, Father" because the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

7. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness

Romans 8:26 “²⁶ in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

When we feel helpless and we are going through suffering because we are still part of this sinful creation, we sometimes don't even know how to pray but the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. 

8. The Holy Spirit equips believers in the service of God

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth".

Matthew 28:19:20 "therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and in the name of the Son and in the name of the name of the Holly Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you".

We must understand the distinction between the Fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit. Paul said clear in 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 that "Gifts" without "Love" are like a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal". 

However the Spirit equips the saints to serve, by giving them gifts for service.

All believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit; however, not all believers are "filled" with the Spirit and His power, if this were so God would not have commanded us in Ephesians 5:3-4 "to be filled with the Spirit".

It is the Holy Spirit alone who fills believers with "the Fruit" and equips them with "power and gifts" to go and proclaim the Gospel, making disciples of all Nations and teaching them to obey everything commanded in God’s Word. 

They both go together: the Word of God and the Spirit of God.

We cannot dismiss the Third Person of the Trinity. I am sure the reformers knew that, but they should have included Solus Spiritus in the Reformation Manifest.

C. Why “Sola”, if they are Five (Six in my opinion)?

Martin Luther

I have to confess that I have always asked: why did the reformers need to add the word 'alone' (sola) to each of these elements? 

How can any of them be alone, if they are five, (six, if we include Solus Spiritus?)

Don’t they all work together? So, how can any of them be 'alone' when there are five or six? 

However, I can understand the reformers’ rationale, because it seems clear that the 'alone' is there for one purpose - to exclude certain other options that were believed to be heretical. 

The “Solas” are a kind of creed that helped the reformers stand firm in their doctrine:

Scripture alone (versus all other sources of knowledge), 

Grace alone (versus anything we can do), 

Faith alone (versus works), 

Christ alone (versus any other authority),

God's glory alone (versus anyone or anything that would take credit for our salvation and sanctification).

"Sola Scripture" and  "Sola Spiritus"

Spiritus alone, (versus error and heresy)

The Word of God and the Spirit of God, they both go together to reveal and confirm to us the Bible teachings about "Sola" Scripture and "Solus" Spiritus.

But, also about "Sola" Grace, "Sola" Faith, "Solus" Christ and "Soli" God's Glory.

I have looked on the internet for sites to help me, but I didn't find much help. However, the site below gave me a few ideas for my post "Solus Spiritus":

 Special to Virtueonline 

Bruce Atkinson Ph.D.

Sept. 29, 2012

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/print.php?storyid=16583

Tea Party

WHY the "TEA PARTY" is UNCHRISTIAN -by Andrew Strom.

I write this as a conservative evangelical Christian. I am anti-abortion and hold all the usual 'conservative' views. 

But I have come to believe that the Tea Party is one of the most misguided and misleading movements in America - especially since it claims to be so "Christian".

Andrew Strom

I saw a piece written by pro-Tea Party activist recently who quoted statistics saying that the majority of Tea Party members are evangelical Christians. He coined the term, "Teavangelicals". 

He says they are going to have a new Awakening and "Take Back America". I don't know what kind of "Awakening" he is talking about, but it is very different from the true spiritual Awakenings of the past.

America certainly needs a Revival. But not the kind that these guys are pushing. 

I believe it is a counterfeit of the real thing. And if we fall for the counterfeit, then the true can be utterly lost. So what exactly is the problem with the "Teavangelicals"?

Below is a very basic list of things that, in my view, make this movement truly un-Christlike and unchristian:-

1. An Unhealthy Mixing of Christianity with Nationalism-.

When you "wrap the cross in the flag" so-to-speak, you instantly distort the entire message and essence of Christianity. 

You are taking two totally different "kingdoms" and mixing them together. Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world." 

So in mixing Christianity with Nationalism, you are totally distorting what His kingdom truly stands for. 

You get "Patriotic" actions such as saluting the flag or the Pledge of Allegiance being seen as "Christian" things to do. 

Marching off to war becomes a "Christian" activity. 

The two "kingdoms" are being completely confused. 

There is a great deal of this happening in the church in America right now - and the Tea Party is really pushing it. -Utterly distorting what real Christianity is all about.

2. Being Basically the Biggest Supporters of WAR in America-.

(This is closely related to 1). One US commentator seriously stated that without the support of the American Christians the war would be over much quicker, because they are the staunchest and strongest supporters of War in the whole country. 

Now, can you imagine Jesus being like this? Can you imagine Him telling his disciples, 

I want you to support military invasions and the shooting, killing and destroying of thousands of people? 

Because that is what WAR is. Does it sound "Christian" to you? Can we find anywhere in the New Testament where true Christians had this attitude? NO! 

They wouldn't have dreamed of being the biggest supporters of War in their generation! 

Just think what a terrible testimony this is today to all the unbelievers who are watching. How un-Christlike. 

No wonder they call us "War-mongers".

3. Siding with the Rich and Against the Poor-. 

This is the exact opposite of Jesus - as we see again and again in the gospels and the entire New Testament. 

Pay close attention to the following words of Christ:

Woe to you that are rich, for you have received your comfort Luke 6:24, 

How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven Mt 19:23 

You cannot serve God and Money. Mat 6:24. 

Jesus also said: 

Blessed be you poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven" Luke 6:20 

I have come to preach good news to the poor. Luke 4:18.

Can you imagine Jesus coming across like today's "Tea Party" Christians, where they seem utterly against the cause of the poor, and totally for the Rich and the 'Big Money' interests? 

Perhaps we have forgotten that Big Business exists largely for MAMMON and GREED. Can anybody tell me anything "Christian" about that?

4. HEALTH CARE Denying it to the Needy. 

I am not talking about "Obama Care" here. 

I have no comment on Obama Care one way or the other. What I am talking about is a general attitude amongst Christians. 

I cannot tell you the number of emails that I've gotten from believers who want to deny poor uninsured Americans any decent Health Care. 

I guess because they are lower-class and can't afford it.  Do you know that millions and millions of Americans are being denied basic Health coverage that is totally taken for granted in other countries? 

And that it is the CHRISTIANS who want to deny it to them? 

And do you know that there are multitudes of Americans who wind up bankrupt or losing their home simply because they can't pay their medical bills? 

Does that sound like a "Christian" ideal to you? 

Does it sound like something that believers should be fighting for? -Fighting on the side of Big Business against the "little people" who can't afford to pay? What kind of "Christianity" is that?

5. Pushing the Idea that "Political" Answers can Solve America's Problems-.

To me, this is the worst deception of all - the idea that America's problems can mainly be solved with "Political" activism, or a change of government, or a new President. 

The USA's problems are almost entirely SPIRITUAL. 

It is because she has lost her way SPIRITUALLY that is causing all the other problems. And to get the Christians all caught up in a "Political" movement is a total distraction. 

A PRAYER movement, Yes! A Political movement, No! 

It will not solve the problems in any real way at all. In fact, it is like a "counterfeit" Awakening to push the Christians into Political activism instead of focusing on the SPIRITUAL. It is like a false savior, a "pseudo" solution. 

The problems in America are Spiritual - and they need Spiritual answers. Not this "counterfeit" that gets everybody caught up in Political fights.

 In summary, I want to say that I believe that many of the attitudes and behaviours of the "Tea Party" evangelicals in America are totally un-Christlike and unchristian. 

They come across as ugly, mean-spirited and anger-filled. It is awful to see real believers caught up in anything so unlike Jesus.

 I would like to challenge every Christian reading this to forward it to your conservative friends. 

Tell them to come and meet me over at our discussion board, if they think they can prove me wrong. I am open. 

If they think they can prove from the New Testament that Christians should be thinking and behaving the way these "Tea Party" people behave, then let them come.

I will be waiting. THE CHALLENGE is LAID DOWN.

http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/about-contact/

Have you heard about "Kundalini" written by Andrew Strom in his book KUNDALINI WARNING?

Would you like to know if FREEMASONRY is of the devil? Please, click below:

• Is Freemasonry of the devil?

What did Jesus mean by abundant life?

Question: "What Jesus meant by abundant life?"

This post was inspired by: http://www.gotquestions.org/abundant-life.html

In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (NKJV).

A. Wealth, prestige, position, power are not exactly heading the top of God's list of blessings.

Unlike a thief, the Lord Jesus does not come for selfish reasons. He comes to give, not to get. He comes that people may have life in Him that is meaningful, purposeful, joyful, and eternal. We receive this abundant life the moment we accept Him as our Savior.

Kingdom Theology 'Now'? Nooo!

This word “abundant” in the Greek is perisson, meaning “exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate.”

In short, Jesus promises us a life far better than we could ever imagine, a concept reminiscent of 1 Corinthians 2:9: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”

The apostle Paul tells us something that is utterly profound: God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think and He does it by His power, a power that is at work within us if we belong to Him (Ephesians 3:20).

But, before we begin to have visions of lavish homes, expensive cars, worldwide cruises, and more money than we know what to do with, we need to pause for a second and think about what Jesus teaches regarding this abundant life. The Bible tells us that wealth, prestige, position, and power in this world are not exactly heading the top of God's list of blessings 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

In terms of economic, academic, and social status, most Christians do not come from the privileged classes. Clearly, then, abundant life does not consist of an abundance of material things. If that were the case, Jesus would have been the wealthiest of men. But just the opposite is true Matthew 8:20.

B. The biblical definition of life — specifically is eternal life.

Abundant life is eternal life, a life that begins the moment we come to Christ and receive Him as Savior, and goes on throughout all eternity. The biblical definition of life — specifically eternal life — is provided by Jesus Himself: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

What abundant truly life is?

This definition makes no mention of length of days, health, prosperity, family, or occupation. As a matter of fact, the only thing it does mention is knowledge of God, which is the key to a truly abundant life.

What, then, is Jesus telling us about what abundant life truly is?

First, abundance is spiritual abundance, not material. In fact, God is not overly concerned with the physical circumstances of our lives. It is enough that He assures us that we need not worry about what we will eat or wear Matthew 6:25-32; Philippians 4:19. Physical blessings may or may not be part of a God-centered life; neither our wealth nor our poverty is a sure indication of our standing with God. Solomon had all the material blessings available to a man yet found it all to be meaningless Ecclesiastes 5:10-15. Paul, on the other hand, was content in whatever physical circumstances he found himself Philippians 4:11-12.

Second, eternal life, the life a Christian is truly concerned with, is not determined by duration but by a relationship with God. This is why, once we are converted and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are said to have eternal life already 1 John 5:11-13 though not, of course, in its fullness. Length of life on earth is not synonymous with abundant life.

John 7:38 Streams of living water will flow from within him ...

C. Growing in abundant life involves learning and maturing as well failing and enduring

Finally, a Christian's life revolves around “growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 3:18. This teaches us that the abundant life is a continual process of learning, practicing, and maturing, as well as failing, recovering, adjusting, enduring, and overcoming, because, in our present state, “we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror” 1 Corinthians 13:12. One day we will see God face to face, and we will know Him completely as we will be known completely 1 Corinthians 13:12. We will no longer struggle with sin and doubt. This will be the ultimately fulfilled abundant life.

Natural life needs sun and rain...

In our natural life we need rain and sun, in our spiritual life we need blessings but also to face trials and tribulations to learn to be patient and trust in the Lord. Romans 5:3-4 e Romans 8:35-39

Although we are naturally desirous of material things, as Christians our perspective on life must be revolutionized Romans 12:2. Just as we become new creations when we come to Christ 2 Corinthians 5:17, so must our understanding of “abundance” be transformed. True abundant life consists of an abundance of love, joy, peace, and the rest of the fruits of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23, not an abundance of “stuff.” It consists of life that is eternal, and, therefore, our interest is in the eternal, not the temporal. Paul admonishes us, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” Colossians 3:2-3.

D. Many preachers have fallen into the Kingdom theology 'Now'

watch out for false prophets...

                                                                                                            The above article by gotquestions, gives a biblical answer to the question: "What did Jesus mean by abundant life?"

But, if if you read other articles you can understand better how easily Christians can be mislead by the devil and fall in certain heresies:

Like Kingdom Theology 'Now' and Dominion Theology, preached by Bill Johnson, Benny Hinn and others prosperity preachers who are intentionally misleading many people to get power and wealth.

If you want to know more, please click below:

• Bill Johnson's 'Kingdom Now' theology
• Third Wave, Kingdom Theology....
• 
  

Is BILL JOHNSON a false Teacher?

WARNING from Andrew Strom against BILL JOHNSON and BETHEL CHURCH

ANDREW STROM

BILL JOHNSON

I am really hoping to make this the last of this type of article for a while. Some people think I "love" putting out this stuff. But I honestly wish it would all go away, so we could get on with the 'real' work of building the kingdom. 

However, Bill Johnson is doing such damage to the Body of Christ around the world that I simply cannot stay silent.

In New Zealand (where I am currently) he holds a huge Conference once a year called "Manifest Presence". This is almost certainly the biggest and most influential Christian conference in the whole country. And likewise in other nations, such as UK, Australia, Singapore, and many others. His influence is enormous.

Bill Johnson is a very charming man. He also emphasizes a number of things that I heartily agree with - such as street evangelism using the gifts of the Spirit, prophecy and healing on the streets, etc. But the problem is that he endorses and promotes an "anointing" exactly identical to the one that Todd Bentley promotes.

The "drunken glory", fire-tunnel, laughing, jerking, gold-dust, "Angel-mania"-type anointing that has done such damage to the Charismatic movement around the world - and in many cases reduced it to a shocking travesty of what it once was. 

What would Derek Prince or Keith Green think of the things these men are into - spiritual drunkenness, "portals", 'visualization', spirit-travel, fire-tunnels, angel-orbs and the like? (Found all the way through the New Age movement, but not in the Bible).

TODD BENTLEY

Bill Johnson was one of the biggest supporters of the Lakeland revival led by Todd Bentley. 

And even after the fiasco that it became, he publicly endorsed Todd Bentley's ministry again in 2011. 

But Bill does it all with such "down-to-earth" charm and wise-sounding words - "how could this be deception?" 

That is what makes him so dangerous.

His wife Beni is co-pastor with Bill of Bethel church in Redding, California. And interestingly she is even more open about the bizarre things that they are into. She even puts it in writing on the Internet, for all the world to see.

For example, in her "Life and Wellness" blog on July 6 this year, here is what she wrote in an entry called 'Love Shack Time': 

"I was talking with Ray Hughes the other day and was telling him about using a 528 HZ tuning fork as a prophetic act. Someone told me that this tuning fork is called the tuning fork of LOVE..." (Please note that crystals and tuning forks are used in NEW AGE therapy - and have nothing to do with Christianity in any way).

Beni continued: "Recently I got up to speak at a meeting and walked up to the song "Love Shack" by the B52's. I was calling people to more love. It was so fun."

I guess we are now beginning to get a sense of the strange spiritual world that these people inhabit. Another blog post that Beni wrote about 'WAKING UP ANGELS' in March 2009 was also very revealing:

"In the last couple of months, I personally have become more aware of the angelic activity in this realm. One of those times was when we were on a prayer trip to Arizona... One morning as we were driving up over Tehachapi Pass and coming down into the Mojave Desert, I began to feel angels. The closer we got, the stronger the impression felt. I could see them everywhere!..

I announced this to the group and said, "We have got to stop! We have to stop somewhere..." As we drove around a corner I said, "I think that we are going to wake up some angels here..." 

"We knew we were to turn around, get out of the RV and wake up the angels. I wish I could convey to you the energy and the quickness of how God was working. 

BILL & BENI JOHNSON

We jumped out of the RV, I blew the shofar and rang the bell, and we yelled ‘WAKEY, WAKEY’. We got back into the RV and drove off. As we drove off, hilarious laughter broke out! We were stunned at the speed  at which this all took place and were spinning from the adventure and the angelic activity.”

What in the world had just happened?! 

Heaven collided with earth. Woo hoo!! 

"Since that time, there has been a stirring in me to awaken the angels for use in this Kingdom reign that is upon us here on earth. I have shared these two stories in other places and have done a prophetic act of waking up the angels: having everybody cry out, ‘WAKEY WAKEY!’ I know it is strange but it is very effective... One of our gals who enjoys God's angels... gets pretty wacked when they are around..." 

The reference that Beni makes here to "Heaven colliding with earth" is of course directly tied to Bill Johnson's most famous teaching on "When Heaven Invades Earth". Clearly, this is the kind of thing they mean when they use that phrase. So if we get with their program so-to-speak, we too can go around "waking up angels" and getting "pretty wacked" when these 'angels' are around.

I guess the obvious question is whether they are "serious" about all this. Sadly, the answer is "Yes." When you get so completely deceived that you think "drunken glory" and 'tuning forks' and getting "wacked" are normal Christian behaviour, you are open to anything.

Tragically, if we look at all that these people have said and done now for years and years, we have to conclude that one of Christendom's biggest leaders (Bill Johnson) inhabits the most bizarre quasi-spiritual universe that you can imagine. And he is spreading this deceived foolishness in the Body of Christ on a mass scale. It might seem almost "funny" if it wasn't so 'New Age' serious.

One young lady named Johanna who had been a student for many months at Bill Johnson's 'Bethel' school wrote to me the following: "In August 2008 I moved to Redding, California to attend Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM). I graduated in May 2009... Almost right away I began to question the bizarre behavior that is so normal there. 

"At Bethel, there are many sayings that are tossed around daily... "God only has nice things to say," "There´s no high like the Most High." There would be all kinds of distracting behavior (random shouting, laughing, etc.) during school sessions and church services. When any guest speaker came to school, students would flock to the front to get as close to the speaker as possible. 

We were taught that any anointing we wanted could be received by simply "claiming it" for ourselves. Students would rush the stage and the front of the sanctuary so the speakers could lay hands on them. 

"Among the guest speakers were Bob Jones, Heidi Baker, Georgian and Winnie Banov, Randy Clark, John and Carol Arnott... We also had regular sessions with Bill Johnson, Beni Johnson... and other Bethel pastors. The drunken behavior and questionable teachings from some, if not all, of these speakers was shocking at times. I can safely say that I never heard the word "repentance" once in any teaching. 

"I remember when the Banovs came, the whole place was complete chaos. When they touched someone, that person would jerk violently or stumble around as if they were drunk. The Banovs minister to people in trash dumps around the world... What I remember them talking about was love, joy, bliss, and the new wine. 

"Angels were often talked about. I remember Beni Johnson actually took an RV across Arizona and New Mexico to wake up angels that were supposedly sleeping. (Another one of the common phrases, "Wakey wakey"). I would always hear people talking about their encounters with angels and how they visited heaven. 

One young woman I knew said she could see angels everywhere, she talked to them all the time, and she would help her friends to do the same... God becomes like Santa Claus. Without the preaching of the true gospel, the fear of the Lord is lost."

ANDREW AGAIN: As you can see from all these reports, the ministry of Bill Johnson is highly suspect. Sadly, because the deception is not as "obvious" as Todd Bentley, people are charmed into thinking he's "fine". Charismatic leaders around the world flock to his meetings and openly endorse his teachings. For this reason I believe he is far more dangerous than Todd Bentley ever was.

The Bible says that in the last days will come false teachers and "lying signs and wonders" to deceive if possible the "very elect." And what do we see today? New Age practices and spirits are flooding the church. And it is men like Bill Johnson that have become the "acceptable face" of this 

invasion. Please, friends, steer well clear.

http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/

http://www.JohntheBaptistTV.com/

God bless you all, Andrew Strom.

If you to know more about Bill Johnson on my blog Viriato Martins - Religion & Philosophy, please click below:

Bill Johnson's 'Kingdom Now' theology

Bill's Johnson twitter comments

Third Wave, Kingdom Theology....


Would you like to know if FREEMASONRY is of the devil? Please, click below:

• Is Freemasonry of the devil?

Does the Bible prohibit abortion?

Abortion in the Bible and Church History

 
A major part of this article is from Christian answers:

http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-abortioninthebible.html

There is a small but influential circle of prochoice advocates who claim to base their beliefs on the Bible.

They maintain that "nowhere does the Bible prohibit abortion."

Yet the Bible clearly prohibits the killing of innocent people Exodus 20:13.

All that is necessary to prove a biblical prohibition of abortion is to demonstrate that the Bible considers the unborn to be human beings.

I. Personhood in the Bible

A number of ancient societies opposed abortion, but the ancient Hebrew society had the clearest reasons for doing so because of its foundations in the scriptures. 

The Bible teaches that men and women are made in the image of God Genesis 1:27. 

 

As the climax of God's creation mankind has an intrinsic worth far greater than that of the animal kingdom placed under His care. 

 Throughout the Scriptures, personhood is never measured by age, stage of development, or mental, physical, or social skills. Personhood is endowed by God at the moment of creation - before which there was not a human being and after which there is. That moment of creation can be nothing other than the moment of conception.

The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament to refer to the unborn Exodus 21:22-25 is yeled, a word that "generally indicates young children, but may refer to teens or even young adults." 

The Hebrews did not have or need a separate word for unborn children.  

They were just like any other children, only younger. In the Bible there are references to born children and unborn children, but there is no such thing as a potential, incipient, or “almost” child.

Job graphically described the way God created him before he was born Job 10:8-12:

The person in the womb was not something that might become Job, but someone who was Job, just a younger version of the same man.

To Isaiah God says:  This is what the Lord says "he who made you, who formed you in the womb".

Isaiah 44:2  Says that each person is, not merely what he might become, was present in his mother's womb. 

Psalm 139:13-16 paints a graphic picture of the intimate involvement of God with a preborn person. 

God created David's "inmost being,” not at birth, but before birth. 

David says to his Creator, "You knit me together in my mother's womb." 

Each person, regardless of his parentage of handicap, has not been manufactured on a cosmic assembly line, but has been personally knitted together by God in the womb. 

All the days of his life have been planned out by God before any have come to be Psalm 139:16.

As a member of the human race that has rejected God, each person sinned "in Adam" is therefore a sinner from his very beginning Romans 5:12-19. 

David says, "Surely I was sinful at birth." Then he goes back even further, back before birth to the actual beginning of his life, saying he was "sinful from the time my mother conceived me" Psalm 51:5 ".

Each person has a sinful nature from the point of conception. Who but an actual person can have a sinful nature? 

Rocks and trees and animals and human organs do not have moral natures, good or bad. Morality can be ascribed only to a person. 

That there is a sin nature at the point of conception demonstrates that there is a person present who is capable of having such a nature.

Jacob was given prominence over his twin Esau "though not yet born" Romans 9:11. 

When Rebekah was pregnant with Jacob and Esau, Scriptures says, "The babies jostled each other within her" Genesis 25:22.

The unborn are regarded as “babies” in the full sense of the term. God tells Jeremiah, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you" Jeremiah 1:5. 

 He could not know Jeremiah in his mother's womb unless Jeremiah, the person, was present in his mother's womb. The Creator is involved in an intimate knowing relationship not only with born people, but with unborn people.

In Luke 1:41,44 there are references to the unborn John the Baptist, who was at the end of his second trimester in the womb. 

The word, translated baby, in these verses is the Greek word brephos. It is the same word used for the already born baby Jesus (Luke 2:12) and for the babies brought to Jesus to receive His blessing Luke 18:15-17. 

It is also the same word used in Acts 7:19 for the newborn babies killed by Pharaoh. To the writers of the New Testament, like the Old, whether born or unborn, a baby is simply a baby.

It appears that the preborn John the Baptist responded to the presence of the preborn Jesus in His mother Mary when Jesus was probably no more than ten days beyond His conception Luke 1:41.

The angel Gabriel told Mary that she would be "with child and give birth to a son" Luke 1:31. In the first century, and in every century, to be pregnant is to be with child, not with that which might become a child.

The Scriptures teach the psychosomatic unity of the whole person, body, soul, and spirit 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Wherever there is a genetically distinct living human being, there is a living soul and spirit.

I I. The Status of the Unborn

One scholar states: "Looking at Old Testament law from a proper cultural and historical context, it is evident that the life of the unborn is put on the same par as the person outside the womb."

When understood as a reference to miscarriage, Exodus 21:22-25, is sometimes used as evidence that the unborn is subhuman. 

But a proper understanding of the passage shows reference is not to a miscarriage, but to a premature birth, and that the “injury” referred to, which is to be compensated for like all other injuries, applies to the child as well as to his mother. 

This means that, "far from justifying permissive abortion, in fact grants the unborn child a status in the eyes of the law equal to the mother's."

Meredith Cline observes, "The most significant thing about abortion legislation in Biblical law is that there is none. It was so unthinkable that an Israelite woman should desire an abortion that there was no need to mention this offense in the criminal code."

All that was necessary to prohibit an abortion was the command, "You shall not murder" Exodus 20:13.

Every Israelite knew that the preborn child was indeed a child. Therefore, miscarriage was always viewed as the loss of a child and abortion as the killing of a child.

Numbers 5:11-31 is an unusual passage of Scripture used to make a central argument in A ProChoice Bible Study, published by Episcopalians for Religious Freedom. 

They cite the New English Bible's peculiar translation, which makes it sound as if God brings a miscarriage on a woman if she is unfaithful to her husband. 

Other translations refer to a wasting of the thigh and swelling of her abdomen, but do not take it to mean pregnancy, which would presumably simply be called that directly if it were in mind.

The woman could have been pregnant by her husband, assuming they had been having sex, which Hebrews couples normally did. It appears that God was expected to do some kind of miracle related to the bitter water, creating a dramatic physical reaction if adultery had been committed. 

The text gives no indication of either pregnancy of abortion. Indeed, in the majority of cases of suspected adultery, there would be no pregnancy and therefore no child at risk.

The Prochoice Bible Study that cites the NEB's unique translation suggests if God indeed causes miscarriage, it would therefore be an endorsements of people causing abortions. This is a huge stretch, since neither the wife, husband, nor priest made the decision to induce an abortion, nor would they have the right to do so. 

The passage does not seem to refer to a miscarriage at all; but even if it did, there is a certainly nothing to suggest any endorsement of human beings initiating an abortion.

I I I. Child Sacrifice

Child sacrifice is condemned throughout Scripture. Only the most degraded societies tolerated such evil, and the worst of these defended and celebrated it as if it were a virtue. 

Ancient dumping grounds have been found filled with the bones of hundreds of dismembered infants. This is strikingly similar to discoveries of thousands of dead babies discarded by Canaanite's abortion clinics.

One scholar of the ancient Near East refers to infant sacrifice as "the Caanaanite counterpart to abortion." 

Unlike the pagan sacrifices, however, with abortion, child killing need no longer be postponed till birth.

Scripture condemns the shedding of innocent blood Deuteronomy 19:10; Proverbs 6:17, Isaiah 1:15, Jeremiah 22:17. While the killing of all innocent human beings is detestable, the Bible regards the killing of children as particularly heinous Leviticus 18:21; Deuteronomy 12:31.

The prophets of Israel were outraged at the sacrifice of children by some of the Jews. 

They warned that it would result in the devastating judgment of God on their society Jeremiah 7:30-234; Ezekiel 16:20-21, 36-38; 20:3; compare 2 Kings 21:2-6 and Jeremiah 15:3-4y.

I V. Abortion and Church History

Christians throughout church history have affirmed with a united voice the humanity of the preborn child.

The second-century Epistle of Barnabas speaks of "killers of the child, who abort the mold of God." 

It treats the unborn child as any other human “neighbor” by saying, "You shall love your neighbor more than your own life. You shall not slay a child by abortion. You shall not kill that which has already been generated" (Epistle of Barnabas 19:5).

The Didache, a second-century catechism for young converts, states, "Do not murder a child by abortion or kill a newborn infant" (Didache 2.2). 

Clement of Alexandria maintained that "those who use abortifacient medicines to hide their fornication cause not only the outright murder of the fetus, but of the whole human race as well" (Paedogus 2:10.96.1).

Defending Christians before Marcus Aurelius in A.D. 177, Athenagoras argued, "What reason would we have to commit murder when we say that women who induce abortions are murderers, and will have to give account of it to God?

The fetus in the womb is a living being and therefore the object of God's care" (A Plea for the Christians, 35.6).

Tertullian said, "It does not matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth. In both instances, destruction is murder" (Apology, 9.4). Basil the Great affirmed, "Those who give abortifacients for the destruction of a child conceived in the womb are murderers themselves, along with those receiving the poisons" (Canons, 188.2).

Jerome called abortion "the murder of an unborn child" (Letter to Eustochium, 22.13). Augustine warned against the terrible crime of "the murder of an unborn child" (On Marriage, 1.17.15). 

Origen, Cyprian, and Chrysotom were among the many other prominent theologians and church leaders who condemned abortion as the killing of children. 

New Testament scholar Bruce Metzger comments, "It is really remarkable how uniform and how pronounced was the early Christian opposition to abortion."

Throughout the centuries, Roman Catholic leaders have consistently upheld the sanctity of human life.

Likewise, Protestant reformer John Calvin followed both the Scriptures and the historical position of the church when he affirmed:

The fetus, though enclosed in the womb of its mother, is already a human being, and it is a most monstrous crime to rob it of the life, which it has not yet begun to enjoy. 

If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field, because a man's house is his place of most secure refuge, it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a fetus in the womb before it has come to light.

Modern theologians with a strong biblical orientation agree that abortion is the killing of a child. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who lost his life standing up against the murder of the innocent in Germany, argued that abortion is “nothing but murder.” Karl Barth stated,

"The unborn child is from the very first a child… it is a man and not a thing, not a mere part of the mother's body.

Those who live by mercy will always be disposed to practice mercy, especially to a human being which is so dependent on the mercy of others as the unborn child."

In the last few decades it has become popular for certain theologians and ministers to be proabortion. 

The Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights, for instance, has adopted the motto, “Prayerfully Prochoice,” and prochoice advocates point to it as proof that conscientious Christians can be prochoice.

Yet the arguments set forth by such advocates are shallow, inconsistent, and violate the most basic principles of biblical interpretation. Their arguments are clearly read into the biblical texts rather than derived from them.

The “Christians” prochoice position is nothing more than an accommodation to modern secular beliefs, and it flies in the face of the Bible and the historical position of the church. 

If the church is to be the church, it must challenge and guide the morality of society, not mirror it.
 

V. Conclusion: The Bible and the Children

Even if church history were unclear on the matter, the Bible is very clear.

Every child in the womb has been created by God, and He has laid out a plan for that child's life. 

Furthermore, Christ loves that child and proved it by becoming like him. He spent nine months in His mother's womb. Finally, Christ died for that child, showing how precious He considers him to be.

Christ's disciples failed to understand how valuable children were to Him, and they rebuked those who tried to bring them near Him Luke 18:15-17.

But Jesus called the children to Him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." 

He did not consider attention to children a distraction from His kingdom business, but an integral part of it.

The biblical view of children is that they are a blessing and a gift from the Lord Psalm 127:3-5. Society is treating children more and more as liabilities. 

We must learn to see them as God does:

Deuteronomy 10:18. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. 

Furthermore, we must act toward them as God commands us to act:

Psalm 82:3-4. Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless; Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them from the hand of the wicked 

Matthew 25:40. As we intervene on behalf of His littlest children, let's realize it is Christ Himself from whom we intervene.

V I. How do I ask the Lord for forgiveness?

If you have committed an abortion or you have helped someone get an abortion, and you would like to ask the Lord forgiveness for your sins, you can do the following prayer:

Please, forgive me ...

Heavenly Father

I want to ask you forgiveness for all my sins and I want to put my trust in Jesus today. Please, have mercy on me, a sinner. 

I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. 

I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless.

I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Savior and my Father.

I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ."

Amen.