tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25155930663400425532024-03-14T12:40:35.941-04:00Defense and ConfirmationA virtual conversation devoted to equiping believers for the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
"Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace." Philippians 1:7Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-11303153018421855032011-09-01T06:45:00.002-04:002011-09-01T06:55:06.537-04:00Wycliffe: The Morning Star of the ReformationI had the privilege of teaching the following lesson on John Wycliffe at the 2011 Grace Impact Family Bible Conference in Chicago this past July. In this study we consider the history of English Bible translation before John Wycliffe. Particular attention is also given to Wycliffe's career at Oxford, his legal and political career, as well as his anti-papal beliefs. Lastly, we study the translation, distribution, and impact of the Middle English Bible that bears his name.<div>
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<br /><div>For a PDF copy of the notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GraceImpactFamilyBibleConference/Wycliffe%20The%20Morning%20Star%20of%20the%20Reformation.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div>For the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GraceImpactFamilyBibleConference/Overhead%20-%20Wycliffe%20The%20Morning%20Star%20of%20the%20Reformation.pdf">click here</a>.</div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-90253096643438354492011-08-26T12:30:00.003-04:002011-08-26T13:00:12.469-04:00Inerrancy and the King James BibleLast month, at the 2011 Grace Impact Family Bible Conference, I was asked to teach a seminar on the subject of Inerracy and the King James Bible. My task was simple and straight forward, answer the following question, "is it possible or proper to claim inerrancy for a translation of Scripture?" As one might except many in our day would say no, only the original manuscriptes were inerrant. While this is a popular claim in our day, it does not prove anything since we no longer possess the originals. Matters are complicated for supporters of the King James when one considers the various editions between 1611 and the standardization of the text in 1769. <div>
<br /></div><div>The following video contains what I believe to be the Scriptural answer to this difficult problem. Interested parties should be sure to consult the accompanying PDF notes because they contain an entire section on the history of the doctrine of inerrancy that was not covered in the video due the constraints of time. Moreover, the PowerPoint has also been included below to make it easy for people to read and follow along with the examples contained in the video. </div><div>Lastly, I have also included links to the sources I used to prepare this lesson. This is very important subject that anyone interested in the King James Bible should find useful.</div><div>
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<br /><div style="text-align: left;">For a PDF copy of the notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GraceImpactFamilyBibleConference/Inerrancy%20and%20the%20King%20James%20Bible.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">For a copy of the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GraceImpactFamilyBibleConference/Ovehread%20-%20Inerrancy%20and%20the%20King%20James%20Bible.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">To access the audio file <a href="http://thekjv400.com/Audio/July2011GSB/2011_Seminar_Bryan_Ross_L_101.MP3">click here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Supplemental Materials</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>
<br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Bratcher, Dennis. <a href="http://cresourcei.org/inerrant.html"><i>The Modern Inerrancy Debate</i>.</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Geisler, Norman. <i>Inerrancy</i>. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1980.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Norton, David. <i><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/KJB/ATextualHistoryOfTheKingJamesBible.pdf">A Textual History of the King James Bible</a>.</i> Cambridge University Press, 2004. (One should pay particular attention to Appendix 8)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">
<br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Perry, John. <a href="http://quodlibet.net/articles/perry-inerrancy.shtml"><i>Dissolving the Inerrancy Debate: How Modern Philosophy Shaped the Evangelical View of Scripture</i>.</a> </span></span></span></span></div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-67979275859027565472011-07-29T09:11:00.003-04:002011-07-29T09:23:29.312-04:00The Language and Readability of the King James BibleMy fourth message from the 2011 Great Lakes Grace Bible Conference was on The Language and Readability of the King James Bible. In this study we cover new ground regarding the history of the English Language as well as the cultural and linguistic setting in which the King James translators came of age. Learn how the English Language itself was crowing achievement of the English Renaissance. Discover how the King James Bible is the pinnacle of written English prose. Study with us as we consider how the loss of a common English Bible has negatively impacted the Body of Christ. You will not want to miss this important message. <i>Note</i>: There is a lot of detailed information contained in the notes that I was only able to summarize in the message. You may want to consider looking at them.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/z39RGeGqBbU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div>For a PDF copy of the notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/The%20Language%20and%20Readability%20of%20thr%20KJB.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div>For a copy of the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20The%20Language%20and%20Readability%20of%20the%20KJV.pdf">click here</a>.</div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-35272834316172050232011-07-23T14:11:00.002-04:002011-07-23T14:24:38.503-04:00The Product of PreservationMy third message at the 2011 Great Lakes Grace Bible Conference was on the Product of Preservation. In this study we define textual criticism and explain the difference between the critical text and the preserved text. In addition, we offer a Scriptural critique of the Westcott and Hort theory of textual criticism in order to demonstrate that it is not in line with the viewpoint of faith. Moreover, we demonstrate by comparing key texts in both the KJB and modern translations that there are fundamentally only two different Bible and that the differences are serious. Lastly, we briefly consider the modern viewpoint on subject of inerrancy and demonstrate who the King James Bible is God's Word for English speaking people.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/D9g1395G190" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><div>For a PDF copy of the notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/The%20Product%20of%20Preservation.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div>For a copy of the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20The%20Product%20of%20Preservation.pdf">click here</a>.</div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-68103515049311926982011-07-13T09:40:00.002-04:002011-07-13T09:49:12.067-04:00The People and Process of PreservationMy second message at the 2011 Great Lakes Grace Bible Conference was on the process and people of preservation. Study with as we consider how God's promise to preserve his word was executed. In addition, learn about the men to whom the process was entrusted. The view point of faith demands that we believe what the Bible teaches about itself. Learn why the original manuscripts are not the issue with God.<br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3peGHZOLk-o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><div>For a PDF copy of the notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/The%20People%20and%20Process%20of%20Preservaton.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div>For a copy of the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20The%20People%20and%20Process%20of%20Preservation.pdf">click here</a>.</div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-58288100041669304492011-07-06T07:08:00.003-04:002011-07-13T09:40:28.243-04:00What is Truth?At the 2011 Great Lakes Grace Bible Conference I preached on the topic of What is Truth? This was a fitting message to begin a conference on the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. Most in our day view truth as totally relative to the individual and not absolute. Please watch the following message where we deal with inadequate views of truth and offer a defense for the absolute nature of truth. In addition we address the question of whether or not supports of the KJB engage in circular reasoning when stating our position. Please note there is singing for the first couple minutes of this video.<div><br /></div><iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lLfH2Gnr4jQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><div>To view the PDF notes from this message <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/What%20is%20Truth.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div>To view the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20What%20is%20Truth.pdf">click here</a>.</div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-3563025956700650772011-06-14T15:22:00.003-04:002011-06-14T15:40:42.716-04:002011 Great Lakes Grace Bible ConferenceOver memorial day weekend my family and I had the privilege of attending the 2011 Great Lakes Grace Bible Conference in Wilmot, Ohio. We had a wonderful time visiting with old friends and meeting new saints. The conference was a celebration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Over the weekend, I had the honor of preaching four times on a variety of topics related to the supremacy of the KJB.<div><br /></div><div>All of the audio from these meetings can be found on <a href="http://thekjv400.com/index_files/Page400.htm">theKJV400.com</a> website. In addition, I would like to make my notes and PowerPoints available for further study for anyone who might be interested. The following is a listing of my messages in the order in which they were preached.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/What%20is%20Truth.pdf"><i>What is Truth?</i> </a> (PDF Notes)</li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20What%20is%20Truth.pdf"><i>What is Truth?</i> </a>(PowerPoint)</li><li><i><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/The%20People%20and%20Process%20of%20Preservaton.pdf">The People and Process of Preservation</a></i> (PDF Notes)</li><li><i><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20The%20People%20and%20Process%20of%20Preservation.pdf">The People and Process of Preservation</a></i> (PowerPoint)</li><li><i><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/The%20Product%20of%20Preservation.pdf">The Product of Preservation</a></i> (PDF Notes)</li><li><i><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20The%20Product%20of%20Preservation.pdf">The Product of Preservation</a></i> (PowerPoint)</li><li><i><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/The%20Language%20and%20Readability%20of%20thr%20KJB.pdf">The Language and Readability of the KJV</a></i> (PDF Notes)</li><li><i><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2011GLBC/Microsoft%20PowerPoint%20-%20The%20Language%20and%20Readability%20of%20the%20KJV.pdf">The Language and Readability of the KJV</a></i> (PowerPoint)</li></ul><div>Please enjoy these notes and <a href="http://thekjv400.com/index_files/Page400.htm">audio</a> from all the messages from this important meeting.</div></div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-49230422961999333782011-05-20T19:44:00.002-04:002011-05-20T20:08:47.215-04:00History of the King James BibleThomas Nelson Publishers working in conjunction with the History Channel Magazine have created a website commemorating the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible. The following short videos on the History of the King James Bible are simple and straightforward. A visit to <a href="http://kjv400celebration.com/index.php">KJV400celebration.com</a> is a must for any advocate of the King James Bible. Also be sure to listen to their daily <a href="http://kjv400celebration.com/podcasts.php">KJV400 podcast</a>. This collection of 400 podcasts is designed to present a different historical nugget regarding the impact of the KJB on the English speaking world.<br /> <br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px" width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q_smywC05ys?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q_smywC05ys?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px" width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rnGYT4s01a4?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rnGYT4s01a4?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px" width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ye_RjxVzYAQ?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ye_RjxVzYAQ?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px" width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/v2ZU9GBfFKk?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/v2ZU9GBfFKk?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-49493830676766993182011-04-26T18:02:00.004-04:002011-05-05T18:45:34.420-04:00Begat: The King James Bible & the English LanguageIn commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible a host new books have been published celebrating the effect this legendary translation has had on the history, culture, and language of English speaking people. One such book published late in 2010, by Oxford University Press, is entitled, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Begat-James-Bible-English-Language/dp/0199585857">Begat: The King James Bible & the English Language</a></i> by David Crystal. I came across this book while preparing for my message at the <a href="http://www.ohiograceministries.org/images/2011conferenceflyer.pdf">2011 Great Lakes Grace Bible Conference</a> titled <i>The Language and Readability of the KJV</i>.<div><br /></div><div>While there are many books currently available discussing the various popular idioms derived from the King James Bible, Crystal's book is unique. Crystal started by reading through his King James Bible two times solely for the purpose of locating all the idioms commonly used in modern English. Next, since the King James translators were explicitly instructed to follow the Bishop's Bible where the truth of the original would permit as well as to consult other 16th century translations i.e., Tyndale's, Matthews, Coverdale's, Great, or Geneva Bibles where they agreed better with the Greek text, Crystal consulted these sources to see where each idiom's true origin could be found.</div><div><br /></div><div>According to Crystal, the King James Bible carried many of the idioms found in previous translations forward and popularized them. Moreover, Crystal offers a total for the number of idioms truly originating in the text of 1611. To find out how many there are you will either have to listen to the interview with Crystal provided below or attend the 2011 Great Lakes Grace Bible Conference. Better yet get the book and read it for yourself it will fascinate you.</div><div><br /><embed src="http://www.npr.org/v2/?i=132262167&m=132262157&t=audio" height="386" wmode="opaque" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" base="http://www.npr.org" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></div><div>I don't normally support NPR but this is a good interview.</div><div>For a list of 122 everyday phrases that have a Biblical origin <a href="http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/bible-phrases-sayings.html">click here</a>.</div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-16903215717230550722011-04-25T18:00:00.002-04:002011-04-25T18:16:58.406-04:00The Making of the King James BibleIn 2003, Adam Nicholson a British historian, published <i>God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible </i>under the original title <i>Power and Glory</i>. Now in commemoration of the 400 year anniversary of the King James Bible the BBC has utilized Nicholson's scholarship to produce a documentary commemorating the translations landmark anniversary. Portions of Nicholson's book are <a href="http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/Z5224G.pdf">available online</a> for free and are worth reading. Please take the time to watch this informative documentary about the historical setting in which the King James Bible was produced.<div><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/R7lxzhlOtWI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></div><div>To learn more about Adam Nicholson <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Nicolson">click here</a>.</div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-92228541070635992412011-04-13T18:43:00.003-04:002011-04-13T18:59:28.335-04:00The Place of Preservation Part TwoUnfortunately the YouTube version of this message is not available, however, the PDF notes and PowerPoint are. Please read through the notes concluding our Final Authority: Locating God's Word in English study. Discover that despite claims to the contrary, the differences between the King James and modern versions are serious and due affect basic doctrines of the faith. In addition, learn how the new Bible obscure dispensational truth.<div>For access to the audio of video please <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/King_James_Version.htm">click here</a>.<br /><div>For a PDF copy of the notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/020710/The%20Place%20of%20Preservation%20Part%20Two.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div>For a copy of the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/020710/Overhead%20-%20The%20Place%20of%20Preservation%20Part%20Two.pdf">click here</a>.</div></div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-23456810517418112712011-03-23T19:15:00.003-04:002011-03-23T19:33:31.057-04:00The Place of Preservation Part OneIn <i>The Place of Preservation Part One, </i>we begin to apply the five points in the logic of faith to the historical record in an attempt to locate God's Word in English. In this study we cover the following critical points:<div><ul><li>What is textual criticism?</li><li>Differences between the Preserved Test and the Critical Text</li><li>Summary of the Westcott and Hort theory of textual criticism</li></ul><div>In the end, we offer a Scriptural evaluation of the critical approach as well as looked at textual differences in an attempt to demonstrate that there fundamentally only two Bibles. Don't miss this important study.</div><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/upSqm8B2tIw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dr_U-z97PTA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z3HF9ah8keM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cT4ziw7VFj0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/itONphW7tvU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-JGGnwjp6jc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div>For a PDF copy of the notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/013110/The%20Place%20of%20Preservation%20Part%20One.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div>To view the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/013110/Overhead%20-%20The%20Place%20of%20Preservation%20Part%20One.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div>To view the chart on the Critical Text <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/StudyHelp/Pictures/Two%20Bible%20Lines/The%20Critical%20Text.jpg">click here</a>.</div><div>To view the chart on the Preserved Text <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/StudyHelp/Pictures/Two%20Bible%20Lines/The%20Preserved%20Text.jpg">click here</a>.</div><div><br /></div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-80782841330866185072011-03-08T17:41:00.003-05:002011-03-09T18:37:01.688-05:00The People of PreservationIn the last posting we looked at the process of preservation. Not only has God promised to preserve his Word, but He did so through a multiplicity of accurate reliable copies that are just as authoritative as the original autographs. In this study, we consider the men who were entrusted to over see the copying and transmission of God's Word. Discover the God ordained role that the tribe of Levi and the New Testament prophets played in the preservation process.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/C80rWmM9IW4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xLGcDs8SRAU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wsq4vvphLu8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c3tB1ylikuk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KpwhHZpkt2o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WqhGH5PgQdo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div>To download the audio from this lesson <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/2010_Online_Messages.htm">click here</a>. (Message dated 1/24/10)</div><div>For a copy of the PDF notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/012410/The%20People%20of%20Preservation.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div>For a copy of the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/012410/Overhead%20-%20The%20People%20of%20Preservation.pdf">click here</a>.</div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-26847326406431958142011-02-18T15:39:00.003-05:002011-02-26T16:45:59.551-05:00The Process of PreservationIn this study we consider what the Bible teaches regarding how God is going to preserve his Word. Study with us and consider why the original never were the issue with God. Discover how God has promised to preserve his Word through a multiplicity of accurate reliable copies that are just as authoritative as the originals. Join us we follow the next step in the logic of faith.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_yKTvsffzzc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4JlFxpu4Fig" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NfwlnRr-HFE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Z8e-FEHPLZ4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3eQ00QAtYm4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IB9EJ4xmYQ4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div>For a PDF copy of the notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/011710/The%20Process%20of%20Preservation.pdf">click here</a>.</div><div>For a copy of the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/011710/Overhead%20-%20The%20Process%20of%20Preservation.pdf">click here</a>.</div>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-22692851008861555122011-01-21T17:11:00.003-05:002011-01-22T13:35:54.981-05:00What is Preservation and Why is it Necessary?In this study we consider the long over looked doctrine of preservation. Modern doctrinal statements have much to say about inspiration but little if anything to say about preservation. Inspiration without preservation is incomplete. The same God who perfectly inspired every word of Scripture is perfectly capable of preserving that which He inspired. Study with us as we take the next step in explaining the logic of faith and demonstrate why preservation is necessary.<br /><br /><iframe class="youtube-player" title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F3OL49Q_KZY" frameborder="0" width="480" type="text/html"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe class="youtube-player" title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/k4O1SBlE5aU" frameborder="0" width="480" type="text/html"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hriGiJeKXZ0" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe class="youtube-player" title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hza-lHajOHU" frameborder="0" width="480" type="text/html"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe class="youtube-player" title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vqwxAvWofL4" frameborder="0" width="480" type="text/html"></iframe><br /><br /><iframe class="youtube-player" title="YouTube video player" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xeltTlSGEs4" frameborder="0" width="480" type="text/html"></iframe><br /><br />To view the PDF notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/011010/What%20is%20Preservation%20and%20Why%20is%20it%20Necessary.pdf">click here</a>.<br />To view the PowerPoint<a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/011010/Overhead%20-%20What%20is%20Preservation%20and%20Why%20Is%20it%20Necessary.pdf"> click here</a>.Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-52759905607942554412011-01-07T15:43:00.002-05:002011-01-07T15:51:27.647-05:00What is Inspiration?<span xmlns=""> <p>As 2010 gives way to 2011, many English--speaking Christians will be celebrating the 400<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the King James Bible. Initially known as the Authorized Version, this translation has had a profound effect upon the English Language as well as Western cultural history. Throughout 2011, Defense and Confirmation will be commemorating the publication of this influential work by presenting various videos and essays highlighting critical issues of the modern version debate. Moreover, we will consider the impact the King James Version has had upon the language, culture, and history of Western Christianity. We hope you will join us as we articulate the Viewpoint or Logic of Faith and how it should impact our search for God's Word in English.<br /></p><p>Defense and Confirmation desires to shed the light of truth upon the modern version debate as well as to address many of the misconceptions that supporters of modern versions have used to bolster their position. Our goal is to speak the truth in love on this issue without the verbal assaults and character assassination that have all too often characterized both sides of this debate.<br /></p><p>The first video presented below is the opening message in a series entitled, <em>Final Authority: Locating God's Word in English</em> preached in January and February of 2010 at Grace Life Bible Church in Grand Rapids, MI. Please enjoy watching <em>What is Inspiration?<br /></em><em></p></em></span><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NZ2hU1KPABk?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NZ2hU1KPABk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ct8w13h8YMA?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ct8w13h8YMA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/adq3CWLachY?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/adq3CWLachY?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/y6Sb0NH5ITg?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y6Sb0NH5ITg?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KYzooLMRxf8?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KYzooLMRxf8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vg-QJnEN_bs?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vg-QJnEN_bs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/053oQ5uuqWc?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/053oQ5uuqWc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />For a PDF copy of the notes <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/010310/What%20is%20Inspiration.pdf">click here</a>.<br />For a copy of the PowerPoint <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/OnlineMessages/2010/010310/Overhead%20-%20What%20is%20Inspiration.pdf">click here</a>.Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-78068474644735323792010-08-06T05:48:00.001-04:002010-08-06T05:49:00.164-04:00Summer Update<span xmlns=''><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:12pt'>It is hard to believe that the first week of August is almost over already. Some of you may have noticed that I have not done much blogging this summer. As a school teacher, I try to take a break from the routine of life and make sure I spend a lot of time with my wife and kids during the summer. Between family, ministry, and work responsibilities September through May are often quite crazy. It is good to be able to slow down for a while.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The summer of 2010 has been great thus far. Becky and I have been able to accomplish many projects around our house that have needed our attention. In addition, we have spent a lot of time with our boys. In June, I had the privilege of teaching the teens at our first summer camp. On July 1<sup>st</sup>, Becky and I celebrated our 10<sup>th</sup> wedding anniversary. It was an honor once again to speak at the Grace School of the Bible Summer Family Bible Conference this past July. My message entitled <a href='http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/I%20Reckon%20Myself%20Dead%20and%20Alive.pdf'><em>I Reckon Myself Dead and Alive</em></a> was well received which was encouraging. After the conference, thanks to my parents, Becky and I were able to sneak away for a couple of days for anniversary in Galena, IL. Thanks to the support of the saints, we sold out of our entire stock of books from the printing ministry. Two weeks from now Grace Life Bible Church will be hosting its first ever Vacation Bible School event. Moreover, planning is underway for the <a href='http://www.westmichigangracebibleconference.com/'>2010 West Michigan Grace Bible Conference</a> at the church October 8-10.<br /></span></p><p><span style='font-family:Trebuchet MS'>As you can see, I have not had much time for writing this summer. However, I have been doing a lot of reading to prepare for my Sunday School class on Church History beginning September 12. I have decided to call the class <em>Church History: A Tale of Two Churches. </em> The class is designed to trace the history of the loss and recovery of Pauline truth. Once school starts again and my daily routine stabilizes, I plan on picking up my weekly writing schedule once again. Until then, I hope everyone has a great conclusion to their summer.</span></p></span>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-29796453849557621592010-06-29T07:01:00.002-04:002010-06-29T07:13:13.655-04:00The Scientific Argument against Evolution, Complete Artical<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgllFKda2EetE2ADosUzIq2FkAHkJDrIjdMdfPUkkTtV06e7QtIkANZa-pFZJBKcoTofv8_INvAOvExH5GfBZAGv8KzkvRf0PaZWMOsV_5mbp_sZctRrG9Y2rQ35v_ZTmn7_z83v4FBq0/s1600/evolution2.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 96px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488149578262582242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgllFKda2EetE2ADosUzIq2FkAHkJDrIjdMdfPUkkTtV06e7QtIkANZa-pFZJBKcoTofv8_INvAOvExH5GfBZAGv8KzkvRf0PaZWMOsV_5mbp_sZctRrG9Y2rQ35v_ZTmn7_z83v4FBq0/s200/evolution2.bmp" /></a><br />A few weeks ago, at the end of May and beginning of June, I had written a series of articles on the issue of science and Evolution. Recently, I took those individual postings and edited them to read like a single essay. A PDF copy of the revised essay is now available on the Grace Life Bible Church web page. Discover that Evolution is a religion which requires more faith to believe than Creationism.<br /><br />If you would like a copy of <em>The Scientific Argument against Evolution, </em>please <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/The%20Scientific%20Argument%20Against%20Evolution%20Complete%20Artical.pdf">click here</a>.Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-45734999622359754212010-06-22T07:27:00.003-04:002010-06-22T07:57:23.455-04:002010 Teen Summer CampLast week, my family and I had the honor of being involved in the 2010 Summer Teen Camp at Forth Faith Camp in Morely, MI. This camp was a collaborative effort on the part of <a href="http://www.shorewoodbiblechurch.org/">Shorewood Bible Church</a>, <a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/">Grace Life Bible Church</a>, and <a href="http://ohiograceministries.org/canton_grace_fellowship.htm">Canton Grace Fellowship</a>. Mike and Marlene Taylor, of Shorewood Bible Church, did an excellent job of planning and running the camp. About 15 teens form the churches listed above enjoyed the week's festivities. There were many different activities including paintball, river tubing, capture the flag, basketball, and the 300 foot water slide.<br /><br />Brother Alex Kurz taught during the morning chapel sessions on basic issues regarding salvation and right division. I spoke during the evening session on The Four Freedoms of Grace. The teens really seemed to enjoy the Bible teaching and by all accounts were challenged to grow in their faith and dig deeper into God's Word.<br /><br />I promised the teens to make the PowerPoints I used available on the Internet. A PDF copy of my notes as well as the PowerPoint presentations are now available on the Grace Life Bible Church web site. Please use the following links to access the notes. Please disregard any typos or grammatical mistakes in my personal notes.<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2010TeenCamp/The%20Freedom%20to%20be%20Different.pdf">The Freedom to be Different (PDF)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2010TeenCamp/The%20Freedom%20to%20be%20Vulnerable.pdf">The Freedom to be Vulnerable (PDF)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/Pastors_Pen.htm">The Freedom to be Vulnerable (PowerPoint)</a> After you click here scroll down and click.</li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2010TeenCamp/The%20Freedom%20to%20be%20Candid.pdf">The Freedom to be Candid (PDF)</a></li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/Pastors_Pen.htm">The Freedom to be Candid (PowerPoint)</a> After you click here scroll down and click.</li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2010TeenCamp/The%20Freedom%20to%20be%20Make%20Mistakes.pdf">The Freedom to Make Mistakes (PDF)</a> </li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/Pastors_Pen.htm">The Freedom to Make Mistakes (PowerPoint)</a> After you click here scroll down and click.</li></ul><p>Thanks to all the counselors who took time out their busy lives to spend time with the teens. I am already looking forward to next year. Thanks to everyone for a great week.</p>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-10601310776881168732010-06-11T20:31:00.001-04:002010-06-11T20:31:40.083-04:00The Scientific Argument against Evolution, Part Four<span xmlns=''><p><span style='color:white'>Darwinism, like all nontheistic worldviews borrows from the theistic worldview to make its own position intelligible. How so? Darwinists continually emphasize the superiority of reason over faith. Reason requires that the universe is reasonable, which presupposes order, logic, design, and truth. But order, logic, design, and truth can only exist and be known if there is an unchanged objective source and standard of such things.(1) "To say something is unreasonable, Darwinists must know what reasonable is. To say something is not designed, Darwinists much know design is. To say something is not true, Darwinists must know what truth is, and so forth."(2)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white'> Many currently believe that "science is the only sourse of objective truth." While a statement such as this claims to be objective, it is certainly not scientific. The statement is philosophical in nature and cannot be proved scientifically. Therefore, it is self-defeating. In fact there are many truths that cannot be proven scientifically that all rational people accept:<br /></span></p><ol><li><span style='color:white'>Mathematics and logic (science can't prove them because science presupposes them)<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white'>Ethical judgments (one can't prove by science that the Nazis were evil because morality is not subject to the scientific method)<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white'>Aesthetic judgments (the beautiful, like the good, cannot be scientifically proven)<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white'>Science itself (ironically, the belief that the scientific method discovers truth can't be proven by the scientific method itself).(3)<br /></span></li></ol><p><span style='color:white'>This leads us to one of the most important lessons we can learn from considering the scientific arguments against evolution. Science is built on philosophy. In fact, science is a slave to philosophy.(4)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white'> "Bad philosophy results in bad science, and good science requires good philosophy."(5) Norman Geisler and Frank Turek, co-authors of <em>I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist</em>, offering the following to substantiate this point:<br /></span></p><ol><li><span style='color:white'><strong>Science cannot be done without philosophy</strong>. Philosophical assumptions are utilized in the search for causes, and therefore, cannot be the result of them. For example, assume (by faith) that reason and the scientific method allow us to accurately understand the world around us. That cannot be proven by science itself. One can't prove the tools of science—the laws of logic, the Law of Causality, the Principle of Uniformity, or the reliability of observation—by running some kind of experiment. You have to assume those things are true in order to do the experiment.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white'><strong>Philosophical assumptions can dramatically impact scientific conclusions.</strong> If a scientist assumes beforehand that only natural causes are possible, then probably no amount of evidence will convince him that intelligence created the first one-celled or any other designed entity. When Darwinists presuppose that intelligent causes are impossible, then natural laws are the only game in town. Likewise, if a creationist rules out natural causes beforehand, then he also risks missing the right answer. However, a scientist who is open-minded to both natural and intelligent causes can follow the evidence wherever its leads.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white'><strong>Science doesn't really say anything—scientists do.</strong> Data is always interpreted by scientists. When those scientists let their personal preferences or unproven philosophical assumptions dictate their interpretation of the evidence, they do exactly what they accuse religious people of doing—they let their ideology dictate their conclusions. When that's the case, their conclusions should be questioned because they may be nothing more than philosophical presuppositions passed off as scientific facts.(6)<br /></span></li></ol><p><span style='color:white'>The evidence simply does not support the Darwinian worldview or Darwinists would not have to borrow from the theistic worldview to make their case. "Intellect, free will, objective morality, and human rights as well as reason, logic, design, and truth exist only if God exists."(7) Evolution assumes some or all of these realities when articulating their naturalistic view. In short, Naturalists cannot have it both ways.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Endnotes<br /></span></p><ol><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Norman Geisler. <em>I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist</em>. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004), 130.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 130.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 126-127.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 127.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 127.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 127-128.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 132.</span></li></ol></span>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-24952642958144563422010-06-08T07:52:00.006-04:002010-06-10T08:15:58.556-04:002010 Great Lakes Grace Bible Conference<span style="color:#ffffff;">This past Memorial Day weekend, Becky and I had the privilege of attending the Great Lakes Grace Bible Conference in Wilmot, Ohio. This meeting sponsored by </span><a href="http://www.ohiograceministries.org/"><span style="color:#ffffff;">Ohio Grace Ministries </span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">was an excellent weekend of scenery, food, and fellowship around God's Word. In addition, to seeing old friends, I had the privilege of meeting many saints who are new to "right division" from all over the country.<br /><br />I had the honor of preaching twice on the subject of Prayer for Today. Brother David Reid, one of the conference organizers, gave me challenging task of discussing <strong>how we should</strong> pray today during the dispensation of grace not <strong>how we should not</strong> pray. As I prepared for this conference it became apparent that it is much easier to tell someone how not to do something (negative) than it is to give clear instruction on how it should be done (positive). The fruit of my studies on this topic is summarized in the notes and PowerPoints I used to present these messages. I am pleased, as promised, to make these notes available for further study on this important topic. Please select from the following links.<br /></span><ul><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2010GLGBC/The%20Pauline%20Prayer%20Paradigm.pdf"><span style="color:#ffffff;">The Pauline Prayer Paradigm (PDF)</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2010GLGBC/The%20Pauline%20Prayer%20Paradigm.ppt"><span style="color:#ffffff;">The Pauline Prayer Paradigm (PowerPoint)</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2010GLGBC/The%20Pauline%20Prayer%20Paradigm%20Practically%20Applied.pdf"><span style="color:#ffffff;">The Pauline Prayer Paradigm Practically Applied (PDF)</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/2010GLGBC/The%20Pauline%20Prayer%20Paradigm%20Practically%20Applied.ppt"><span style="color:#ffffff;">The Pauline Prayer paradigm Practically Applied (PowerPoint)</span></a></li><li><a href="http://www.gracelifebiblechurch.com/PastorsPen/Index%20of%20Pauline%20Prayer.pdf"><span style="color:#ffffff;">The Index of Pauline Prayer</span></a></li></ul><p><span style="color:#ffffff;">While Becky and I were in Ohio, the saints of Grace Life Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan put on a yard sale to raise money for our upcoming Bible conference in October. I am pleased to announce that through their hard work we raised almost all the money we need to cover the expenses of the conference. My heart rejoices to be part of a Grace Church where there is life and vitality. I love all the members of my church family.</span></p><p><span style="color:#ffffff;">Finally, if you have not already done so please consider attending the </span><a href="http://www.westmichigangracebibleconference.com/"><span style="color:#ffffff;">2010 West Michigan Grace Bible Conference </span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This year's theme is The Grace Life at Home. Study with us as we seek to practically apply Grace doctrine to all aspects of family life. Even if you aren't married or don't have kids, you will not want to miss this weekend of practical application and edification. Please visit the </span><a href="http://www.westmichigangracebibleconference.com/"><span style="color:#ffffff;">conference website </span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">for complete details.</span></p>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-1452138432248532802010-06-04T07:41:00.003-04:002010-06-04T07:47:29.722-04:00The Scientific Argument Against Evolution, Part Three<span style="color:#ffffff;">Whether one is discussing the origin of the universe, origin of the first life, or new life forms, there are fundamentally only two options. Either everything came to be as the result of natural causes as evolution teaches or an intelligent supernatural cause is responsible for all things. For the sake of brevity, let us consider the origin of new life forms as a means of proving our overall point. Evolution maintains that new life forms developed through natural selection without any intelligent intervention. Conversely, the Bible teaches that all life forms came into existence by special creation through the work of an intelligent designer (God).</span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_edn1" name="_ednref1"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[i]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"><br /><br />In order to prove his hallmark doctrine of natural selection, Darwin compared the selection that supposedly occurred in nature and which was devoid of intelligent intervention with the artificial selection practiced by breeders.</span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_edn2" name="_ednref2"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[ii]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Take for example the breeding of dogs. While there can be no doubt that breeders are able to selectively mate dogs to achieved a desired outcome, this by no means proof that one species becomes a totally different species. A breeder’s ability to mate a Golden Retriever with a Poodle to create a Golden Doodle, which does not shed and is hypoallergenic, is an example of artificial selection. As elementary is it may seem, one should note that the result of this type of selective breeding is still a dog. When the discussion is framed in these terms, it is clear that the human action of selective breeding is not analogous to the blind action of natural selection but directly opposite.</span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_edn3" name="_ednref3"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[iii]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"><br /><br /><br /></span><blockquote><span style="color:#ffffff;">Man has an aim or end in view; natural selection can have none. Man picks<br />out the individual he wishes to cross, choosing them by the characteristics he<br />seeks to perpetuate or enhance. He protects them and their issue by all<br />means is in his power, guarding them thus from operation of natural selection,<br />which would speedily eliminate many freaks; he continues his active and<br />purposeful selection from generation to generation until he reaches, if<br />possible, his goal. Nothing of this kind happens, or can happen, through<br />the blind process of differential elimination and differential survival which we<br />miscall natural selection.</span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_edn4" name="_ednref4"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[iv]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"><br /></span></blockquote><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">Once again, anywhere design can be observed, as in the case of the breeding of dogs, one should always look for intelligent causes.<br /><br />Over three centuries ago, Isaac Newton stated, “This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful being.”</span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_edn5" name="_ednref5"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[v]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Christian philosophers and theologians for centuries have long held to the Teleological Argument for the existence of God. Steaming from the Greek word <em>telos</em>, which means design, the Teleological Argument states:<br /></span><ol><li><span style="color:#ffffff;">Every design had a designer.</span></li><li><span style="color:#ffffff;">The universe has highly complex design.</span></li><li><span style="color:#ffffff;">Therefore, the universe had a Designer</span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_edn6" name="_ednref6"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[vi]</span></a></li></ol><span style="color:#ffffff;">William Paley (1743-1805) popularized the argument through his common sense observation that every watch requires a watchmaker.</span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_edn7" name="_ednref7"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[vii]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> “Imagine you’re walking along in the woods and you find a diamond-studded Rolex on the ground. What do you conclude is the cause of that watch: The wind and the rain? Erosion? Some combination of natural forces?”</span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_edn8" name="_ednref8"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[viii]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> God forbid! There would be no question in your mind that some intelligent being made the watch and some unfortunate person accidently dropped it on the forest floor.</span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_edn9" name="_ednref9"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[ix]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"><br /><br />There can be no doubt that the universe resembles the design found in our misplaced diamond-studded Rolex, only infinitely more complex. Scores of examples could be provided to document the highly ordered design that is present within creation. For time’s sake, consider just one. If someone took apart a watch and threw all the pieces in their dryer, what are the chances that after one hundred cycles the parts would have reassembled themselves into a fully functioning watch? About the same chance that 1,000 monkeys with typewriters have of writing <em>Romeo and Juliet</em>. The greater and more intricate the design, the greater the intelligence of the designer.<br /><br />In the end, the ordered and complex nature of the world around us leads to only one plausible conclusion, God, an intelligent primary cause, is creator of all things. One need not read even one verse of Scripture to know that it is totally absurd to believe that nothing made something. God is the uncaused cause who created the universe out of nothing by the word of his power. The words of Romans 1:20 rings powerfully true, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Man does not suffer from a lack of evidence. Rather, it is man’s sinful heart that wishes to escape accountability before almighty God. “The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.”</span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_edn10" name="_ednref10"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[x]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"><br /><br />Endnotes<br /></span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_ednref1" name="_edn1"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[i]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Norman Geisler and Ron Brooks. When Skeptics Ask: A Handbook of Christian Evidences. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1990), 227.<br /></span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn2" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_ednref2" name="_edn2"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[ii]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Ibid., 227.<br /></span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn3" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_ednref3" name="_edn3"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[iii]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Ibid., 227.<br /></span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn4" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_ednref4" name="_edn4"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[iv]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Ibid., 227-228.<br /></span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn5" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_ednref5" name="_edn5"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[v]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Isaac Newton. “General Scholium,” in Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1687) in Great Books of the Western World. (Chicago, IL: Encyclopedia Britannica), 369.<br /></span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn6" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_ednref6" name="_edn6"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[vi]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Norman Geisler. The Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 714-720.<br /></span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn7" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_ednref7" name="_edn7"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[vii]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Norman Geisler and Frank Turek. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004), 95.<br /></span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn8" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_ednref8" name="_edn8"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[viii]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Ibid., 95.<br /></span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn9" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_ednref9" name="_edn9"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[ix]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Ibid., 96.<br /></span><a title="" style="mso-endnote-id: edn10" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2515593066340042553#_ednref10" name="_edn10"><span style="color:#ffffff;">[x]</span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> Psalm 14:1</span>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-85705725232022276412010-05-27T05:05:00.001-04:002010-05-27T05:05:04.026-04:00The Scientific Argument Against Evolution, Part Two<span xmlns=''><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Last week we considered the difference between primary and secondary causes as well as operation science and origin science. In doing so we concluded that evolution is seeking to apply the principles of operation science to explain things that by their very nature only happened once. This week we want to consider the question of whether intelligent primary causes are possible.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> Origin science is not restricted to secondary causes (the natural causes that operate the universe); therefore, origin science sometimes finds evidence that suggests an intelligent primary cause.(1) Previously we considered the example of the detectives and medical examiners on the television show, CSI. These law enforcement personnel have to determine for each death whether they are looking for a natural cause of death or a murderer—an intelligent cause. More often than not it is concluded that an intelligent being has intervened to bring about the victim's demise.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> In the case of the origin of life, what type of evidence is needed to safely suggest the handiwork of an intelligent being? Noted evolutionist, Carl Sagan, has said that a single message from outer space would confirm his belief that there is extraterrestrial life.(2) Unwittingly, Sagan has admitted that some normal events such as communication require an intelligent cause. Do you remember Alphabets Cereal? It's that sugary kid's cereal where the pieces are shaped like the letters of the alphabet. Suppose you awoke one morning to find the following message spelled out on the table in cereal, "Good morning, honey. I hope you have a good day at school today. Love, Mom." Your first inclination is not to assume that the box of cereal tipped over and the characters randomly assembled themselves to deliver you a message. Rather, your first reaction would be to perceive that some intelligent source, in this case your mother, has purposefully arranged the bits of cereal to deliver a message.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> The type of order necessary to spell out messages in cereal is known as <em>specified complexity</em> and it always points to an intelligent primary cause. Specified complexity is more than simply design or order; it is order of a complex nature that possesses a clear and specific function.(3) Consider the following three types of order.<br /></span></p><ul><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Orderly (repetitive) and specified (GIFT GIFT GIFT GIFT). Example: crystal, nylon<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Complex (unrepeating) and unspecified (TGELDHT TBWMHQC PUQHBT). Example: random polymers.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Complex (unrepeating) and specified (THIS SENTENCE CARRES A MESSAGE). Example: DNA(4)<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Only one of these three types of order is the result of intelligent intervention. "It is obvious that wherever we see a clear and distinct message—a complex design with a specified function—it was caused by some form of intelligent intervention imposing limits on the natural matter that it would not take by itself."(5)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> To bring the point home let us consider two geological formations. As we make this comparison, we need to remember that origin science is a forensic science based upon the principle of uniformity, which maintains that causes in the past are similar to the causes we observe today.(6) In order to illustrate the point, consider the following question, "What caused the Grand Canyon?" Even though we were not there to see the formation of the Grand Canyon, we can observe the natural process of water erosion causing canyons today and see the results produced, which are similar to the Grand Cayon. Therefore, we can surmise that the Grand Canyon was formed through the natural process of water erosion even though we did not directly observe its origin.(7)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> In contrast, no reasonable person consistently applying the principle of uniformity would look at Mount Rushmore and conclude that it was the result of the natural process of water erosion. "Since we never observe natural laws chiseling a highly detailed sculpture of a president's head into stone at the present time, we rightly conclude that natural laws couldn't have done it in the past either."(8) In the present, we observe that only intelligent beings are capable of carving detailed sculptures out of rock. "As a result, we rightly conclude that, in the past, only an intelligent being (a sculptor) could have created the faces on Mount Rushmore."(9)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> The implications of these conclusions are magnified when one considers the extraordinary complexities of human life. Recall that Darwin theorized that all life emerged form a one-celled organism through spontaneous generation alone (natural process). This is the height of absurdity when one considers that a single strand of DNA contains the equivalent of 1,000 encyclopedias worth of complex information. "Natural laws have never been observed to create a simple message like 'Drink Coke,' much less a message 1,000 encyclopedias long."(10) Spontaneous generation of life according to the Darwinian model has never been observed. Rather life only arises from similar existing life.(11) Ironically, any experiment that seeks to prove the spontaneous generation life suffers from the intelligent intervention of the scientist conducting the study.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> We have seen that it is valid science to look for intelligent primary causes to events that show signs of intelligence. Archeology is based on this principle. When archeologists discover pottery or arrowheads they rightly conclude that some intelligent being produced it.(12) Likewise, present experience tells us that intelligent causes should be sought anytime we find specified complexity. "This gives us a criteria to show when an intelligent cause is operating and when it is not."(13) <br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Even the noted atheist, Richard Dawkins, author of <em>The Blind Watchmaker</em>, acknowledges that life bears evidence of design. Dawkins writes, "Biology is the study of completed things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose."(14) Despite acknowledging "the intricate architecture and precision-engineering"(15) in each of the trillions of cells in the human body, Dawkins rejects the notion that any form of life is the product of design. All of this highlights the point Norman Geisler and Frank Turek make in <em>I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist</em>, "the creation-evolution debate is not about religion verses science or the Bible verses science—it's about good science verses bad science."(16)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Since evolutionary biologists can offer no support for spontaneous generation, either empirical or forensic, it appears the "scientific" deck has been stacked against creationism by ruling out intelligent primary causes in advance. Phillip Johnson, author of the essay, <em>The Unraveling of Scientific Materialism</em>, states "Darwinism is based on an <em>a priori</em> (prior) commitment to materialism, not on a philosophically neutral assessment of the evidence. Separate the philosophy from the science, and the proud tower collapses."(17) Physicist Hurbert Yockey confesses, "The belief that life on earth arose spontaneously form nonliving matter, is simply a matter of faith in strict reductionism and is based entirely on ideology."(18) <br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Yockey highlights the dirty little secret naturalists don't want the public to know. Naturalism is a religion. It takes more faith for a reasonable person to believe that life spontaneously arose from nonlife than it does to believe that God, an intelligent cause designed the created order.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Endnotes:<br /></span></p><ol><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Norman Geisler and Ron Brooks. <em>When Skeptics Ask: A Handbook of Christian Evidences</em>. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1990), 216.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 216-217.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 217.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 217.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 217.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Norman Geisler and Frank Turek. <em>I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist</em>. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004), 117.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 117-118.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 118.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 118. <br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 118.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 118.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Geisler and Brooks. <em>When Skeptics Ask: A Handbook of Christian Evidences</em>. 217.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid.,218.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Richard Dawkins. <em>The Blind Watchmaker</em>. (New York: Norton, 1987), 1.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 3.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Geisler and Turek. <em>I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist</em>. 120.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Phillip E. Johnson. "The Unraveling of Scientific Materialism," <em>First Things</em> (November 1997): 22-25.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Hubert Yockey. <em>Information Theory and Molecular Biology</em>. (Cambridge, NY: Cambridge University Press, 1992), 284.<br /></span></li></ol></span>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-42068017581643217072010-05-20T05:57:00.001-04:002010-05-20T05:57:08.936-04:00The Scientific Argument Against Evolution, Part One<span xmlns=''><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Most modern Americans associate the theory of evolution with the publication of <em>On the Origin of the Species</em> by Charles Darwin, in 1859. In reality, many nontheists prior to Darwin believed the universe was eternal or uncaused. Darwin's pivotal contribution was the notion of natural selection, which provided a mechanism to make evolution work beginning with matter alone. According to Darwin, life began as the result of chemical relations in a "warm little pool."(1) Over time, through the process of natural selection, new life forms evolved as organisms adapted new characteristics to meet the challenges of their changing environment. Darwin appealed to the fossil record to prove his theory that species that adapted survived while those who did not passed into extinction.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> For Bible believers this naturalistic explanation for the origin of life does not pass the scrutiny of Scripture for a number of reasons. Adam was created as a fully functioning adult male made in the image and likeness of God. Moreover, Genesis one reports that the myriad of life observable in the biosphere was created in fully developed adult form and reproduced after their own kind. Lastly, the Bible is explicitly clear that God alone is responsible for the complex design of the crated order:<br /></span></p><ul><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Genesis 1:1—"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."<br /></span></li><li><div><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>John 1:1-3—"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2) The same was in the beginning with God. 3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."<br /></span></div><p><br /> </p></li></ul><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The observant reader will notice how God's word clearly teaches that the universe is not eternal since it did not exit before God created it. Consequently, at every turn the Bible stands against the unproven theoretical suppositions of evolutionary theory.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> Unfortunately, the prevailing thought in modern culture is that something is only true if it can be proven scientifically. In fact, many suppose that science alone is the only source for truth in modern life. This thinking is that if something cannot be subjected to intense scientific experimentation then it is not true. Statements such as, "science is the only source of objective truth" claims to be an objective truth, but it's not a scientific truth.(2) Believers should never allow themselves to be deceived by this sort of philosophical "tomfoolery." How can science be the only source of truth when statements such as this cannot be scientifically proven? In short, the statement is philosophical in nature—it can't be proven by science—therefore it defeats itself.(3)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> The verses quoted above speak of "the beginning" of which God was the cause. Consequently, it is impossible for the universe to be eternal since everything that has a beginning has a cause. In this case, the eternal God is the originator of time and life. Obviously, these Scriptural realities stand in direct opposition to modern teaching on evolution. While the Bible has sufficient basis to reject evolution simply because it is repeatedly repudiated by the Scriptures, even those how disbelieve the Bible should reject evolution since there is abundant scientific evidence to disprove it.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> This reality can be seen by comparing two different types of science, origin science and operation science. "All science is based on the notion of causality, every event has a cause."(4) Since things don't happen willy-nilly, even if we do not know the specific cause of some event, we can surmise what kind of cause it must have been because of the kinds of effects we see today. "The idea that whatever caused some effect in the past will cause the same effect in the present is called the principle of uniformity. All science is based on finding cause using these two principles: causality and uniformity."(5)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> During the Scientific Revolution when men such as Francis Bacon, Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, and William Kelvin were developing the Scientific Method, they made as distinction between primary and secondary causes.(6) "A primary cause was a first cause that explained singularities—events that only happened once and had no natural explanation."(7) In contrast, secondary causes were thought of as being natural causes and laws that govern the way things normally function.(8) Just as it is wrong for supernaturalists to explain ordinary events such as earthquakes, tornados, and hurricanes using primary causes, it is also wrong for the naturalists to explain all singularities by natural causes.(9)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> The result of distinguishing between primary and secondary causes has led to the development of two different types of science: origin science (forensic) and operation science (empirical).(10) Operation science deals with the way things normally operate; it studies things that happen over and over again in a regular and repeated way.(11) "Operation science seeks answers that are testable by repeating the experiment over and over, and falsifiable if the cause does not always yield the same effect."(12) For this reason, operation science seeks out natural (secondary) causes for the events it studies. This repeatability allows the scientist to project the outcome of future experiments.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> Despite naturalistic claims to the contrary, origin science is not just another name used by those who teach creationism. Rather it is an entirely different kind of since. Dr. Norman Geisler, author of <em>When Skeptics Ask</em>, offers the following definition of origin science:<br /></span></p><p style='margin-left: 36pt'><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Origin science studies <em>past singularities</em>, rather then <em>present normalities</em>. It looks at how things <em>began</em>, not how they work. It studies things that only happened once, and by their nature, don't happen again. It is a different type of study that requires a difference approach. Rather than being an <em>empirical </em>science like physical or biology, it is more like a <em>forensic</em> science.(13)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>The hit television show, CSI, is an example of origin science in action. A person's death is a singular event, meaning it cannot be reproduced through experimentation in a laboratory. Therefore, the detectives and medical examiners on CSI investigate a past singularity (a person's death) by examining the effect and than deducing what could have caused that event.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> Mechanically, origin science works on different principles than operation science. Since past events cannot be presently repeated, origin science utilizes comparisons between cause and effect relationships observable today with the effect being studied. In this fashion, a medical examiner is able to determine if someone died from natural causes or if some other cause (murder, accident) is responsible for the effect. The bottom line is this: just as operation science recognizes that some events demand intelligent causes, origin science also makes allowances for intelligent causes when the evidence calls for it.(14)<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'> Herein lies the basic scientific argument against Evolution, namely it has taken the wrong approach. Evolutionists have applied the principles of operation since to the study of origins. Consequently, they are seeking regular and repeated causes for an event (creation) that occurred only once. Naturalists have endeavored to use the operations that are presently observable to explain how the world got here in the first place. However, in order to properly understand origins, we must use origin science, not operation science.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Next week we will consider the evidence for intelligent primary causes.<br /></span></p><p><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS'>Endnotes<br /></span></p><ol><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Charles Darwin. <em>On the Origin of the Species</em>. (London: John Murray, 1859).<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Norman Geisler and Frank Turek. <em>I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist</em>. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Book, 2004), 127.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 127.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Norman Geisler and Ron Brooks. <em>When Skeptics Ask: A Handbook of Christian Evidences</em>. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book, 1990), 213.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 213.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 213.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 214.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 214.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 214.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Norman Geisler. <em>Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics.</em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 567.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Geisler. <em>Why Skeptics Ask</em>. 214.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Geisler. <em>Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics</em>, 568.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 568.<br /></span></li><li><span style='color:white; font-family:Trebuchet MS; font-size:10pt'>Ibid., 568.<br /></span></li></ol></span>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2515593066340042553.post-12666988866258705142010-05-13T05:40:00.006-04:002010-05-13T08:02:00.183-04:00Calvinism, Arminianism, and Dispensationalism<span style="color:#ffffff;">Watch the videos first before reading my commentary.<br /></span><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TgR_6j5itC0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TgR_6j5itC0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UczcvSEIUMI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UczcvSEIUMI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">Calvinism and Arminianism as described in the above videos are both wrong and typify extreme view points. Theologians would have you think that these are the only options that exist. In reality, the only answer to these theological extremes can be found in rightly dividing the word of truth according to the Pauline model.<br /><br />Calvinism is a theological superstructure based on the five points, commonly summarized by the acronym TULIP. If one can disprove any of these five points, the entire flower wilts despite some Calvinistic claims to the contrary. In other words, four point Calvinism is also scripturally unsustainable. Works such as <em>The Other Side of Calvinism</em> by Lawrence Vance or <em>The Power of God unto Salvation</em> by Joel Fink have already demonstrated in voluminous detail the interconnectedness and spurious nature of Calvin’s theological framework. Consequently, our goal here is not to write a lengthy dissertation rehashing information that has already been addressed. Rather our purpose is to offer a few key points demonstrating that mid-Acts dispensationalism is the answer to Calvinistic confusion.</span><br /><br /><ul><br /><li><span style="color:#ffffff;">I Timothy 2:4—“Who <strong>will have all men to be saved</strong>, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” The express stated will of God is that all men be saved. This stands in direction opposition to Calvinism which teaches a limited atonement for the elect only.</span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#ffffff;">II Corinthians 4:4—“In whom the god of this world <strong>hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them</strong>.” Despite the fact that God’s will is that all men be saved, the reality is that all men will not be saved because some will reject the gospel. This causes a theological problem for the Calvinist who believes that the sovereign will of God can never be thwarted. II Corinthians 4:4 teaches that Satan is actively thwarting the will of God by blinding the minds of the lost. Satan knows that the preaching of the gospel of grace has the capacity to turn on the light of understanding in the minds of the lost, and therefore, he actively works to silence the clear preaching of the cross work of Christ. Furthermore, this verse highlights the true nature of the Calvinistic doctrine of Total Depravity. Rather than simply teaching that man cannot save himself, Total Depravity teaches that man is totally unable to respond to gospel on his own and needs the Irresistible Grace of God to regenerate him so that he can believe. This theological double speak stands in direct contradiction to the verse. The preaching of the gospel turns on the light of understanding in the mind of a lost man at which point he is perfectly able to decide for himself whether or not he is going to believe.</span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#ffffff;">Matthew 20:28—“Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his <strong>life a ransom for many</strong>.” At face value, this verse as well as Mark 10:45, seem to be teaching a Limited Atonement. This is a prime example of why the word of God needs to be rightly divided. Historically, as of Matthew 20:28, according to all the information that God had progressively revealed up to this point in history, the atonement was limited to Israel first and any gentile who would identify himself with Israel. John 1:11 states, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” Matthew 1:21 reads, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Moreover, in Matthew 15:24, Christ states, “. . . I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” According to the Apostle Paul, in “time past” the gentiles were, “strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.”(1) Moreover, Paul clearly states that during his earthly ministry, “. . . Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.”(2) Consequently, during Christ’s earthly ministry, He came to atone for the sins of his people (Israel) as well as any gentile who associated himself with God’s nation. Therefore, in “time past,” the atonement was limited.</span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#ffffff;">I Timothy 2:5-7—“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6) Who gave himself <strong>a ransom for all, to be testified in due ti</strong>me. 7) <strong>Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle</strong>, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” Paul in I Timothy Two teaches the exact opposite of what Christ taught in the upper room in Matthew 20:28. Notice that Paul says that Jesus Christ gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. In other words, when the time was right in the outworking of God’s plan, further information about what Christ accomplished at the cross was made known and revealed to humanity. Verse seven confirms that Paul was made a preacher and an Apostle of this due time message. As a result, in Paul’s epistles the atonement is revealed to be unlimited.</span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#ffffff;">Romans 3:22—“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ <strong>unto all and upon all them that believe</strong>: for there is no difference.” According to Paul, salvation is being offered today “unto all” people. In other words, the atonement is unlimited in its potential application; Christ offered his life’s blood for the sins of all of humanity. However, the actual application of the righteousness of God is only “upon all them that believe.” That is to say, the only requirement to have the righteousness of God imputed to your account is to believe that Christ died, was buried, and rose again as the only complete payment for your sins. Christ did not just die to pay for the sins of the elect as Calvinism teaches with its Limited Atonement doctrine. Rather, Christ shed his blood to pay for the sins of all humanity. However, not everyone is going to chose to believe.</span></li><br /><li><span style="color:#ffffff;">Ephesians 1:4—“According as he <strong>hath chosen us in him</strong> before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” When a Calvinist reads this verse, they insert the word “to be” before the phrase “in him” which results in the following reading, “<em>According as he hath chosen us</em> <em><strong>to be</strong></em> <em>in him before the foundation of the world</em>.” This misreading of the passage greatly alters its meaning. We are not chosen or predestinated for anything until we by faith chose to get into Jesus Christ, i.e. we are chosen in him. In other words, God chose Jesus Christ(3) before the foundation of world, and we are chosen also because we by faith have been placed into Jesus Christ. If I board a plane in Michigan this afternoon heading for Florida the destination of that plane is predetermined, baring complications or disaster. However, no one forces me to board the plane. The choice to board or not board is left to my own volition (free will). So, it is with salvation. We are not forced on to the plane or into Christ against our will. Rather, when we willing believe the gospel the Holy Sprit baptizes and seals us in Jesus Christ. Then once placed into living union with the head of the body of Christ, we are chosen, elected, and predestinate to a glorious future in him.</span></li></ul><br /><p><span style="color:#ffffff;">Therefore, we see that the doctrine of Calvinism is completely inconsistent with the scriputures.</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#ffffff;">Endnoes<br />1) Ephesians 2:11-12<br />2) Romans 15:8<br />3) Isaiah 42:1</span></p>Bryan C. Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14238595911523080155noreply@blogger.com2