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Jean Ross: Good
morning, friends.
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Welcome again to "Sabbath School
Study Hour," coming to you here
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from the Amazing Facts offices
in Sacramento, California.
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I'd like to welcome all of those
who are joining us across the
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country and around the world.
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We have our regular online
members that tune in every week,
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but joining them today is
also our regular Sabbath School
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members that actually
come to our church every week.
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But, of course, with the
virus and the pandemic and the
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lockdown, they're
joining us online.
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So we'd like to welcome all of
our regular Sabbath School and
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church members to our
Sabbath School time today.
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Well, to our lesson for today,
we've been studying through a
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series of studies
dealing with the Scripture.
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Our lesson quarterly is entitled
"How to Interpret Scripture."
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Today we find
ourselves on lesson number six.
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It's entitled "Why is
Interpretation Needed?"
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Very important study.
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That will be what we're going to
be looking at in just a minute.
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We'd also like to tell you about
our free offer for today, a book
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entitled "The Rich Man and
Lazarus," and this is actually a
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passage that we're going to
be talking about a little bit in
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our study today.
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If you'd like to receive
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number 866-788-3966 and you can
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by calling the
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Man and Lazarus."
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I think you'll
be richly blessed.
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Well, Pastor Doug, before we get
to our study, let's begin with
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the word of prayer.
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Dear Father, we
thank you for your Word.
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We thank you for the opportunity
that we have together to gather
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to study a very important
subject about how we ought to
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interpret the Word of
God, to interpret the Bible.
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So bless our time here in
the studio, and be with those
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listening in their homes across
the country and around the
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world, in Jesus' name, amen.
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Doug Batchelor: Amen, well,
friends, our lesson today is
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probably one of the most
important that we can understand
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as Christians because I think
everyone knows that we've got
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one Bible, one
Jesus, one Holy Spirit.
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There's one Lord, one
faith, one truth, one baptism.
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And 4,000 different
denominations, they call
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themselves Christian.
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Why is that?
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It could probably be boiled down
to the word hermeneutics, and
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that has to do with basically
the study of--hermeneutics is
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the skill and the art of
carefully translating and
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interpreting the texts in the
Bible, and hermeneutics is the
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theory or methodology of
interpretation of the biblical
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text, and the word--you know,
there was a Greek god called
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Hermes, and he was the
messenger for the gods.
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And so that's where
the word is derived from.
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But it's really saying, how
do we understand the message
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from God?
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How do we compare
Scripture with Scripture?
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And so our lesson is based
on how to interpret Scripture.
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We have a memory verse, and
the memory verse is Hebrews 11,
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verse 6: "But without faith it
is impossible to please Him, for
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he that comes to God must
believe that He is and He is a
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rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him."
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And so this is a key to
really--getting the right
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interpretation is by going
here a little, there a little,
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comparing Scripture with
Scripture, running to and fro
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through the Bible, and
using some principles to come to
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conclusions of truth.
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Jean: Now, just to add to that,
Pastor Doug, before we actually
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get into the details of the
lesson, if you have a question
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relating to the Bible, maybe a
passage of Scripture that you've
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been struggling with to try and
understand, you can go ahead and
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ask your question on Facebook
if you're watching us live
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on Facebook.
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They can actually be emailing
the questions to me, and we're
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going to try and
take those questions live.
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So if you have a Bible
question, feel free to do that.
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Pastor Doug, talking about the
Bible and the importance of the
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interpretation of the Bible,
there are a couple of principles
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that we need to bear in mind.
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For example, when studying a
passage of Scripture, we need to
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find out, is this a parable that
Jesus is telling or is this a
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historical event?
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Is it a doctrinal truth
that is being emphasized?
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When you deal with prophetic
passages of Scripture, you need
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to ask yourself, what
does the symbol represent?
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What does it mean?
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And you got to
compare other passages.
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Is this a historical narrative?
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Is this a story that we
read about in the Bible?
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So any text can quickly lose its
significance if it's taken out
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of context.
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You can manipulate or twist.
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Somebody once said, "You can
make the Bible say anything you
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want it to say if you
take things out of context."
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Doug: Yeah, you can--yeah.
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And I've seen it before, we
all have, where a pastor will
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torture a text to try to make it
to say what he wants it to say.
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But you don't
arrive at truth like that.
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It's the truth
that sets us free.
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So we want to know, what did the
Lord really mean and what was
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the intention of the
writer in their texts?
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And so there's
several things to consider.
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First of all, be aware
that whenever we come to the
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Bible--when we first look
into the Bible, we're going to
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probably bring our own personal
experience, perspective, and
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even some presuppositions.
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That's the first section here.
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One of the major presuppositions
that was a problem for the
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apostles is their concept.
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They had been taught that when
the Messiah came, that he was
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going to sort of come galloping
into Jerusalem on a white horse
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and be leading an army against
the Romans and overthrow the
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Romans and once again he would
sit on the throne of David.
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And instead of having the
territory of Israel, the whole
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world would be
subjugated to them.
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So there was just this very
glorious, untrue concept they
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have of the first
coming of the Messiah.
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They've gotten some of the
Scriptures about the second
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coming, where Jesus comes as
a king, mixed up with the first
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coming where he comes
as a lamb and a sacrifice.
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And I'll just give
you a couple of examples.
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Pastor Ross
might read one or two.
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I'll read, for
example, Matthew 16, verse 21.
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This is right after Peter said,
"You are the Christ, the son of
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the living God."
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But then it shows he
misunderstood the mission
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of Jesus.
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"From that time, Jesus began to
show his disciples he must go to
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Jerusalem and suffer many things
from the elders and the chief
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priests and the scribes,
and be killed and be raised the
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third day.
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Then Peter took him aside,"
he has the audacity to chastise
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Jesus, "and he began to rebuke
him and say, 'Far be it from
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you, Lord.
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That's not going
to happen to you.
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That's not what--that's
not what the Messiah does.'
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But he turned and he said to
Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan.
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You're an offense to me, for you
are not mindful of the things of
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God but the things of men.'"
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He had really misunderstood the
first mission of the Messiah.
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They didn't get it right away.
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Jean: And even up till after the
resurrection, they didn't quite
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understand fully the
first work that Jesus came.
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Even after the resurrection,
Pastor Doug, they asked Jesus,
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said, "Is this the time you're
going to restore the kingdom
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back to Israel?"
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And they didn't quite understand
the establishment of a
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spiritual kingdom.
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We can read in Luke chapter 24,
this is after the resurrection
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when Jesus appeared to
the disciples and he said to
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them--Luke 24, verse 36
he said, "Peace be to you."
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But they were terrified and
they were frightened and they
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supposed that
they'd seen a spirit.
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Then it goes on.
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Jesus talked to them.
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He ate in their presence.
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And then verse 44 says, "Then
he said to them, 'These are the
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words which I spoke to you while
I was still with you, that all
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things must be fulfilled, which
were written in the Law of Moses
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and in the prophets and
the Psalms concerning me.'
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And he opened their
understanding that they might
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comprehend the Scriptures."
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So here we find even the
disciples after the resurrection
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did not fully or did not
perfectly interpret Scripture.
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Jesus had to
help them understand.
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Where did Jesus go?
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He went to the Old Testament.
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He went to the Law of Moses,
the prophets, and the Psalms.
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And so he went back
to the Bible to provide a
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correct interpretation.
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Doug: You know, Pastor Ross,
I hadn't thought of this and it
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wasn't in our
notes or discussion.
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But what happened to the
disciples, they experienced a
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great disappointment because of
a bad hermeneutic and they were
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still God's people.
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The Adventist movement had
a great disappointment because
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they assumed in Daniel 8:14 the
sanctuary being cleansed--world
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would be cleansed by fire.
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Yeah, the world is a sanctuary,
even though there was no
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Scripture in the Bible that
called the world the sanctuary.
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And so, you know, they learned
after that that it was based on
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a bad hermeneutic.
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So you can see why it's so
important to compare Scripture
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with Scripture.
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Now today, for instance,
if the average Christian reads
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Revelation 1, verse 10 and John
says, "I was in the spirit on
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the Lord's Day."
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What do you think people think
the Lord's Day is--most people?
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Jean: Immediately they say,
"Well, that's the day Jesus rose
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from the dead.
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That must be Sunday,
the first day of the week."
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Doug: Yeah, where's the
Scripture that says that?
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There isn't any.
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Matter of fact, in my Bible when
I look up Revelation chapter 1,
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verse 7, it's got--but when
it says Lord's Day, it's got a
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little sub note there and
it takes you back to Acts 20.
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It says that--it talks about
they gathered on the first day
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of the week and you're thinking,
"How do they know the Lord's Day
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is the first day of the week?
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Where did they get that?
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What hermeneutic
is that based on?"
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Because when you look in the
Bible and you say, "All right,
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what does the Bible say?
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Let it speak for itself.
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No presuppositions."
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You know, I kind of came to
Christianity with real--I had no
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denominational preference.
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I had no--I'm sure I had some
presuppositions that I built,
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but didn't matter to me.
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I wanted to know,
what's the Bible say?
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Well, Exodus 20:10, "The seventh
day is the Sabbath of the Lord."
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Which day is the Lord's Day?
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The Sabbath.
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Isaiah 58:13, "If you turn away
your foot from the Sabbath, from
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doing your
pleasure on my holy day--"
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What day is the Lord's Day?
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The seventh day, the Sabbath.
00:10:27.16\00:10:29.19
Jesus said, "Therefore,
the son of man is Lord also of
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the Sabbath."
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What day is the Lord's Day?
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The Sabbath day.
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Now, show me where the Bible
it says the first day is the
00:10:36.33\00:10:38.03
Lord's Day.
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That's based on a very severe
presupposition that is popular.
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Jean: People have built a whole
theology over misunderstanding
00:10:42.54\00:10:44.67
one verse.
00:10:44.71\00:10:46.47
And, you know,
interpretation is important.
00:10:46.51\00:10:48.51
In some cases, it is
life-threatening or has an issue
00:10:48.54\00:10:52.28
of life and death.
00:10:52.31\00:10:53.95
I read this, Pastor Doug.
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It was quite interesting.
00:10:55.62\00:10:57.15
We might look at this
and say, "How could anybody
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misunderstand this?"
00:10:58.82\00:11:00.36
But you read in Mark chapter 16,
verse 17 Jesus says, "And these
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signs shall
follow those who believe.
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In my name, they shall cast out
demons, they'll speak with new
00:11:05.53\00:11:08.40
tongues, they will take up
serpents; and if they drink
00:11:08.43\00:11:10.93
anything deadly, it
will by no means hurt them.
00:11:10.97\00:11:13.84
They'll lay hands on the
sick and they'll recover."
00:11:13.87\00:11:16.77
I was doing a
little research on this.
00:11:16.81\00:11:19.81
Back in 2014, there was a news
headline, February the 17th,
00:11:19.84\00:11:23.75
2014, that says, "Snake-handling
pastor of a small Pentecostal
00:11:23.78\00:11:28.02
Church in Kentucky died after
being bitten by a rattlesnake
00:11:28.05\00:11:31.55
during the
weekend church service."
00:11:31.59\00:11:35.09
Kind of interesting.
00:11:35.12\00:11:36.89
This pastor's name was
Jamie Coots, was bitten by this
00:11:36.93\00:11:40.60
rattlesnake 'cause they take
these snakes and they handle
00:11:40.63\00:11:43.10
them during
their church service.
00:11:43.13\00:11:45.07
And the people told him he needs
to go to the doctor 'cause his
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arm started swelling up and he
started to look real sickly and
00:11:47.14\00:11:50.87
pale, but he said, "No.
00:11:50.91\00:11:53.21
The Bible says those who
believe can take up serpents."
00:11:53.24\00:11:55.58
And he refused to
get medical treatment.
00:11:55.61\00:11:58.05
A few hours
later, he actually died.
00:11:58.08\00:12:00.25
All based upon a total
misinterpretation of what Jesus
00:12:00.28\00:12:04.45
is talking about
here in Mark chapter 16.
00:12:04.49\00:12:08.06
Jesus is not telling us to
go look for snakes and carry
00:12:08.09\00:12:10.43
them around.
00:12:10.46\00:12:12.43
We do have an example in the
Bible where Paul was bitten by
00:12:12.46\00:12:14.23
a serpent.
00:12:14.30\00:12:15.93
He didn't go looking for
it, but he was not harmed.
00:12:15.96\00:12:18.53
Also, Pastor Doug, serpents
in the Bible, there's a symbolic
00:12:18.57\00:12:21.64
meaning for that.
00:12:21.67\00:12:23.77
The devil is described as that
old serpent of all called the
00:12:23.81\00:12:26.74
devil and Satan.
00:12:26.78\00:12:28.24
So here Jesus he says, "You'll
cast out demons," meaning that
00:12:28.28\00:12:30.21
you'll have the power over
the forces of darkness, over
00:12:30.25\00:12:34.05
the enemy.
00:12:34.08\00:12:35.55
Doug: Yeah, in Psalms, David
says, "You'll tread on the lion
00:12:35.58\00:12:37.49
and the serpent."
00:12:37.52\00:12:39.32
And those are two
symbols of the devil.
00:12:39.35\00:12:41.09
Yeah, it's an Acts chapter 27.
00:12:41.12\00:12:42.82
Paul is not looking to get bit.
00:12:42.86\00:12:44.93
He does get bit.
00:12:44.96\00:12:46.49
He takes up the serpent putting
wood on a fire, and he shakes it
00:12:46.53\00:12:48.43
off and no harm comes to him.
00:12:48.46\00:12:51.43
But it's principally--I think
there's a spiritual analogy
00:12:51.47\00:12:54.34
there that--you know,
Jesus said, "As Moses lifted up
00:12:54.37\00:12:57.87
the serpent--"
00:12:57.91\00:13:00.18
That was a sign that the serpent
had been defeated, and the blood
00:13:00.21\00:13:02.34
of Christ neutralizes the
venom of the devil in our lives.
00:13:02.38\00:13:05.55
And so there's a much bigger
meaning here when he said,
00:13:05.58\00:13:08.22
"You'll take up serpents."
00:13:08.25\00:13:10.02
And Jesus said,
"Don't tempt the Lord.
00:13:10.05\00:13:11.79
Don't go looking for
serpents and picking them up."
00:13:11.82\00:13:14.06
'Cause if you stumble,
an angel might pick you up.
00:13:14.09\00:13:16.73
But if you jump off the
temple, well, you're looking
00:13:16.76\00:13:19.09
for trouble.
00:13:19.13\00:13:21.40
So you've got to compare
Scripture with Scripture.
00:13:21.43\00:13:23.23
Jean: You know, we have a
question that's come in, and
00:13:23.26\00:13:25.00
thank you.
00:13:25.03\00:13:26.60
I see they're just
really coming in now.
00:13:26.63\00:13:28.54
That's great.
00:13:28.57\00:13:30.17
We have Billy who's asking a
question relating to the Bible.
00:13:30.21\00:13:32.14
He says, "When did the New
Testament officially begin?"
00:13:32.17\00:13:34.84
Doug: Well, as soon as any
book of the New Testament was
00:13:34.88\00:13:37.08
written, it was Scripture.
00:13:37.11\00:13:40.22
And so I think Gospel of Mark
was written maybe 40 AD and--but
00:13:40.25\00:13:46.02
as soon as he was circulating
it, they understood that this
00:13:46.05\00:13:48.39
was sacred writing, as
with the other writings.
00:13:48.42\00:13:51.39
Some proof for that
might be in 2 Peter chapter 3.
00:13:51.43\00:13:55.83
That's actually
in our lesson later.
00:13:55.86\00:13:58.20
Paul--Peter refers to the
writings of Paul as Scripture.
00:13:58.23\00:14:02.50
He knew that Paul had been
called as an apostle of Jesus.
00:14:02.54\00:14:05.77
He was filled
with the Holy Spirit.
00:14:05.81\00:14:07.98
Paul had raised the dead and did
many miracles, and those letters
00:14:08.01\00:14:11.11
he wrote were
Spirit-inspired letters.
00:14:11.15\00:14:14.05
And so Peter refers to the
writings of Paul as Scripture.
00:14:14.08\00:14:17.05
Jean: You know, we have
another question that's come in,
00:14:17.09\00:14:18.39
Pastor Doug.
00:14:18.42\00:14:19.89
It actually ties into our next
section in our lesson that talks
00:14:19.92\00:14:21.52
about the importance of
translation and interpretation.
00:14:21.56\00:14:25.36
Let me just mention this.
00:14:25.39\00:14:28.03
There are two different groups
of Bibles that you can find.
00:14:28.06\00:14:31.93
You have the actual
translations, which the
00:14:31.97\00:14:35.00
translators would go to the
original languages and they'd
00:14:35.04\00:14:37.54
find the best English word to
convey that thought or that idea
00:14:37.57\00:14:41.41
in the original language.
00:14:41.44\00:14:43.35
But then we have Bibles
that we call paraphrase.
00:14:43.38\00:14:45.91
They're all--they're not all
bad in and of themselves, but
00:14:45.95\00:14:48.25
basically what that is, is
somebody might read the Bible in
00:14:48.28\00:14:51.62
English and then they'll try and
rephrase the passage using their
00:14:51.65\00:14:56.52
own words and
sometimes conveying some
00:14:56.56\00:14:59.16
devotional thoughts.
00:14:59.19\00:15:01.10
And I think paraphrases are
useful and helpful if you're
00:15:01.13\00:15:03.20
doing more of a devotional
study and you want to get some
00:15:03.23\00:15:06.17
different insights
on how to apply that.
00:15:06.20\00:15:08.64
But when you're studying
doctrine, it's always a good
00:15:08.67\00:15:11.01
thing to go to
the original sources.
00:15:11.04\00:15:13.11
Try go to a translation
that is as close to the original
00:15:13.14\00:15:15.34
as possible.
00:15:15.38\00:15:17.88
And the reason I even mentioned
that is we have a question that
00:15:17.91\00:15:19.95
came in, Pastor Doug.
00:15:19.98\00:15:21.82
Cindy is asking, "Can you
explain Genesis 6, verse 4?"
00:15:21.85\00:15:25.15
What are these nonhumans
that's been referred to there?
00:15:25.19\00:15:28.26
Doug: Yes, that's a
great--that's really a great
00:15:28.29\00:15:30.26
example of how you need to
let the Bible interpret itself.
00:15:30.29\00:15:33.56
A number of people read this
passage in Genesis chapter 6
00:15:33.60\00:15:36.60
where it says, "The sons of God
saw the daughters of men, that
00:15:36.63\00:15:39.90
they were fair
and took them wives."
00:15:39.93\00:15:42.47
And notice where it says
here, "Now it came to pass--"
00:15:42.50\00:15:48.34
And I'll go to verse 1.
00:15:48.38\00:15:50.28
"It came to pass when men
began to multiply on the face of
00:15:50.31\00:15:52.21
the earth--"
00:15:52.25\00:15:54.25
Now keep in mind there are two
groups of men when that happens.
00:15:54.28\00:15:56.52
Cain took his sister wife.
00:15:56.55\00:15:59.22
They went off in
a separate place.
00:15:59.25\00:16:01.39
They began to grow and marry
and intermarry and multiply.
00:16:01.42\00:16:04.79
And Adam and Eve and their new
son Seth and his family, they
00:16:04.83\00:16:09.33
began to grow.
00:16:09.36\00:16:11.00
But one group worshiped God.
00:16:11.03\00:16:13.07
They were
called the sons of God.
00:16:13.10\00:16:15.30
And you say, "How do
you know that, Pastor Doug?"
00:16:15.34\00:16:17.77
This is where you compare
Scripture with Scripture.
00:16:17.81\00:16:20.18
"As many as follow him,
they are the sons of God."
00:16:20.21\00:16:23.14
1 John chapter 3, "Behold
what manner of love the Father's
00:16:23.18\00:16:26.82
bestowed on us, that we
should be called sons of God."
00:16:26.85\00:16:29.28
Isaiah says, "We are the
sons and daughters of God."
00:16:29.32\00:16:32.22
A lot of Scripture says
believers are called the
00:16:32.25\00:16:34.29
children of God.
00:16:34.32\00:16:36.16
Jesus says that don't--those
who don't believe you're the
00:16:36.19\00:16:38.29
children of your
father, the devil.
00:16:38.33\00:16:40.60
And they were
called the children of men.
00:16:40.63\00:16:42.56
They're mortal.
00:16:42.60\00:16:44.27
I think the word was enos
that was being used there.
00:16:44.30\00:16:46.30
And it says, "When the sons
of God saw the daughters of men,
00:16:46.33\00:16:48.17
that they were beautiful, they
took wives for them of all whom
00:16:48.20\00:16:50.47
they chose."
00:16:50.51\00:16:52.47
As long as the distinction
between the descendants of Seth,
00:16:52.51\00:16:54.74
Adam and Eve stayed separate
from Cain and his posterity that
00:16:54.78\00:16:59.91
had turned from God,
they had been faithful.
00:16:59.95\00:17:03.08
But when they began to
intermarry, the result was--God
00:17:03.12\00:17:06.49
said, "My Spirit will
not always strive with men.
00:17:06.52\00:17:08.92
The thoughts of man's heart
were only wicked continually."
00:17:08.96\00:17:13.36
One of the main things God
told His people all through the
00:17:13.40\00:17:16.03
wilderness, "Do not intermarry
with the Canaanites, with
00:17:16.06\00:17:19.67
the unbelievers."
00:17:19.70\00:17:21.40
Samson got in
trouble doing that.
00:17:21.44\00:17:23.30
Solomon got in
trouble doing that.
00:17:23.34\00:17:25.71
And here the Bible starts out.
00:17:25.74\00:17:27.78
It was through those
mixed marriages that the faith
00:17:27.81\00:17:30.21
was lost.
00:17:30.25\00:17:32.45
Jean: And talking about
translations in paraphrase,
00:17:32.48\00:17:34.38
there's a fairly well-known
paraphrase that actually
00:17:34.42\00:17:37.12
misinterprets that verse and
says the angels took wives of,
00:17:37.15\00:17:40.66
you know, the daughters of men
and as a result giants were born
00:17:40.69\00:17:44.96
unto them.
00:17:44.99\00:17:46.83
Well, that's
not the translation.
00:17:46.86\00:17:48.50
That's a paraphrase.
00:17:48.53\00:17:50.37
You know, Pastor Doug, when
we do our radio program in the
00:17:50.40\00:17:52.03
beginning of the year, we
encourage people to read through
00:17:52.07\00:17:53.67
the Bible.
00:17:53.70\00:17:55.30
We almost always get somebody
that asks about, who are these
00:17:55.34\00:17:57.01
angels that took human wives and
as a result giants were born?
00:17:57.04\00:17:59.87
Well, that's actually a
misunderstanding of what the
00:17:59.91\00:18:02.71
verse says.
00:18:02.74\00:18:04.35
Of course Jesus said, speaking
of angels, they neither marry
00:18:04.38\00:18:06.25
nor give any marriage.
00:18:06.28\00:18:08.35
So couldn't have been angels
that took human wives and as a
00:18:08.38\00:18:11.32
result giants were born.
00:18:11.35\00:18:13.32
That's just really a
misunderstanding of what the
00:18:13.36\00:18:15.49
verse is actually saying.
00:18:15.52\00:18:17.39
Doug: Now there--it is true that
when the descendants of Seth
00:18:17.43\00:18:19.89
intermarried with the
descendants of Cain, says their
00:18:19.93\00:18:22.50
children were mighty ones.
00:18:22.53\00:18:24.47
But that's what you call genetic
vitality, and that's just a
00:18:24.50\00:18:26.77
common fact of science.
00:18:26.80\00:18:30.17
You can cross a lion and a
tiger, you get a liger, but
00:18:30.21\00:18:33.38
it'll be bigger than the two.
00:18:33.41\00:18:35.44
And so--yeah, donkey and a
donkey, the mule--I'm sorry.
00:18:35.48\00:18:40.48
Donkey and a horse,
you end up with a mule.
00:18:40.52\00:18:42.35
A mule is going to be a
lot bigger than a donkey.
00:18:42.38\00:18:44.65
Jean: We have another question,
Pastor Doug, if you have your
00:18:44.69\00:18:46.65
Bible there.
00:18:46.69\00:18:48.36
1 Corinthians 15:29.
00:18:48.39\00:18:50.36
Cindy's just asking, "Can
you please explain this verse:
00:18:50.39\00:18:53.09
1 Corinthians
chapter 15, verse 29?"
00:18:53.13\00:18:56.10
Doug: I'm looking in my notes
here because I think--yeah,
00:18:56.13\00:18:57.63
I did, I put that in my notes.
00:18:57.67\00:18:59.63
She's got--the Lord
designed that, Cindy.
00:18:59.67\00:19:02.00
Thanks for your calling.
00:19:02.04\00:19:03.97
Let me read it to you.
00:19:04.01\00:19:05.94
It says, "Otherwise--"
00:19:05.97\00:19:07.41
Now, the whole purpose
of 1 Corinthians chapter 15,
00:19:07.44\00:19:09.01
talking about the resurrection.
00:19:09.04\00:19:10.88
Some of the Corinthians had
lost faith in the resurrection.
00:19:10.91\00:19:13.21
And Paul says in verse 29,
"Otherwise, what will they do,
00:19:13.25\00:19:16.22
who are baptized for the dead?
00:19:16.25\00:19:18.25
If the dead do not rise at all,
why then are they baptized for
00:19:18.29\00:19:20.22
the dead?"
00:19:20.26\00:19:22.42
That is a very
common misunderstanding.
00:19:22.46\00:19:24.66
First of all, you have to
ask by comparing Scripture
00:19:24.69\00:19:26.93
with Scripture.
00:19:26.96\00:19:28.83
Don't ever build a
doctrine on one Scripture.
00:19:28.86\00:19:30.87
There's at least one
denomination that baptizes
00:19:30.90\00:19:33.34
living people in
behalf of those who are dead.
00:19:33.37\00:19:35.84
There's a really big theological
problem with that 'cause the
00:19:35.87\00:19:39.07
Bible says once you die your
destiny is forever determined.
00:19:39.11\00:19:42.01
It's appointed
unto men once to die.
00:19:42.04\00:19:44.18
After that, the judgment.
00:19:44.21\00:19:46.01
While you're
alive, there is hope.
00:19:46.05\00:19:47.52
To all the
living, there is hope.
00:19:47.55\00:19:49.32
After you die--it says that
a living dog is better than a
00:19:49.35\00:19:51.95
dead lion.
00:19:51.99\00:19:53.32
There's no more hope for them.
00:19:53.36\00:19:54.72
Their destiny is sealed.
00:19:54.76\00:19:56.32
So you can't believe you
can be baptized for the dead.
00:19:56.36\00:19:59.16
It's kind of like praying for
the dead and burning candles for
00:19:59.19\00:20:01.83
the dead.
00:20:01.86\00:20:03.37
It's a very pagan teaching.
00:20:03.40\00:20:05.17
How do you translate this verse?
00:20:05.20\00:20:06.97
There was no punctuation
in the original Greek.
00:20:07.00\00:20:10.14
And so when the translators
were translating, they had to
00:20:10.17\00:20:14.21
punctuate the way they saw best.
00:20:14.24\00:20:16.98
Some of their presuppositions
ended up getting into
00:20:17.01\00:20:19.08
the punctuation.
00:20:19.11\00:20:21.22
So this is the way it ought to
read properly punctuated, and I
00:20:21.25\00:20:24.29
think there may be some
translations out there that
00:20:24.32\00:20:26.19
do this.
00:20:26.22\00:20:28.66
1 Corinthians 15:59, "Otherwise,
comma, what will they do who are
00:20:28.69\00:20:32.43
baptized, comma, for the dead,
comma, if the dead don't rise at
00:20:32.46\00:20:36.53
all, comma, why are
they baptized, question mark.
00:20:36.56\00:20:39.57
For the dead?"
00:20:39.60\00:20:41.57
So he's basically saying, "All
those who have been baptized--if
00:20:41.60\00:20:44.01
you don't think
there's a resurrection.
00:20:44.04\00:20:46.44
Otherwise, what are they doing?
00:20:46.47\00:20:48.14
If the dead don't rise
at all, why get baptized?
00:20:48.18\00:20:49.98
For the dead?"
00:20:50.01\00:20:51.61
You're not doing
it for their sake.
00:20:51.65\00:20:53.25
So it's what you call
a rhetorical question.
00:20:53.28\00:20:55.32
And so once you understand that
it's punctuated incorrectly, it
00:20:55.35\00:20:57.72
starts to make sense.
00:20:57.75\00:20:59.69
And another famous example of
that is the thief on the cross.
00:20:59.72\00:21:03.53
Jean: You read in Luke where
the thief said to Jesus, "Lord,
00:21:03.56\00:21:06.36
remember me when you
come in your kingdom."
00:21:06.39\00:21:08.53
Now I just want
to underline that.
00:21:08.56\00:21:10.87
The thief wasn't expecting
to be remembered that day.
00:21:10.90\00:21:13.40
He said, "Lord, remember me
when you come in your kingdom."
00:21:13.44\00:21:16.60
Jesus responded and said,
"Verily I say unto you today,
00:21:16.64\00:21:19.47
you shall be
with me in paradise."
00:21:19.51\00:21:22.08
Now as Pastor Doug
said, there's no comma in the
00:21:22.11\00:21:23.95
original language.
00:21:23.98\00:21:25.71
You'll pretty much look at any
Bible today and you've got the
00:21:25.75\00:21:28.38
presupposition where the
translators put the comma before
00:21:28.42\00:21:32.65
the word today, meaning Jesus
said, "Verily I say unto you,"
00:21:32.69\00:21:36.32
comma, "today you will
be with me in paradise."
00:21:36.36\00:21:39.83
Sounds like that day Jesus
was going to be with the thief
00:21:39.86\00:21:42.03
in paradise.
00:21:42.06\00:21:44.13
But if you'll put the comma
behind the word today, Jesus was
00:21:44.17\00:21:46.60
simply telling the thief that
day--while he was on the cross,
00:21:46.63\00:21:50.11
he was promising the thief he
would remember him when he came
00:21:50.14\00:21:53.74
in his kingdom.
00:21:53.78\00:21:55.34
"I'm telling you today, you
will be with me in paradise."
00:21:55.38\00:21:57.98
So where you put the punctuation
is rather significant.
00:21:58.01\00:22:00.95
You gave me an example just
before the program of somebody
00:22:00.98\00:22:03.62
that put the comma
in the wrong place.
00:22:03.65\00:22:05.92
Doug: I think it
was Czar Nicholas.
00:22:05.95\00:22:09.06
Someone had offended him, and
he wrote a note and he wanted to
00:22:09.09\00:22:12.29
send them to Siberia.
00:22:12.33\00:22:14.30
And the families pleaded,
"Don't send them to Siberia."
00:22:14.30\00:22:16.73
And he wrote back on a
note, "Pardon not possible.
00:22:16.77\00:22:19.53
To go to Siberia."
00:22:19.57\00:22:22.20
Well, his wife
was more merciful.
00:22:22.24\00:22:24.21
She got his note.
00:22:24.24\00:22:27.18
And before it went off to the
officer, she put the comma after
00:22:27.21\00:22:29.61
the word pardon.
00:22:29.64\00:22:31.35
It said, "Pardon, not
possible to go to Siberia."
00:22:31.38\00:22:33.92
So he was freed.
00:22:33.95\00:22:35.75
But, you know, it's
not just the punctuation.
00:22:35.78\00:22:37.85
Look at the other verses.
00:22:37.89\00:22:40.09
Did Jesus go to
paradise that day?
00:22:40.12\00:22:42.16
John chapter 20 or 21, he says
to Mary, "Do not cling to me for
00:22:42.19\00:22:44.63
I've not yet
ascended to my Father."
00:22:44.66\00:22:47.03
And the thief--you know,
days end and begin at sundown.
00:22:47.10\00:22:50.40
We don't even know if he died by
sundown, which would have been
00:22:50.43\00:22:53.47
when that day ended.
00:22:53.50\00:22:55.90
And so there's no way he could
have been with Jesus in paradise
00:22:55.94\00:22:58.54
that day.
00:22:58.57\00:23:00.34
That was not the
emphasis of that phrase.
00:23:00.38\00:23:02.11
Jean: Of course you can't build
a whole doctrine on one verse.
00:23:02.14\00:23:03.85
You got to look at what the rest
of the Bible says when it says,
00:23:03.88\00:23:06.51
"The dead know not anything."
00:23:06.55\00:23:08.22
Jesus speaks of
death as being as asleep.
00:23:08.25\00:23:10.35
So you got to put all of
the verses together to reach a
00:23:10.39\00:23:12.45
correct understanding,
especially on doctrinal issues.
00:23:12.49\00:23:15.12
You can't build it on
just simply one verse.
00:23:15.16\00:23:17.53
Pastor Doug, that brings
us to our next section there
00:23:17.56\00:23:19.93
on Tuesday.
00:23:19.96\00:23:21.63
It's entitled "The
Bible and Culture."
00:23:21.66\00:23:23.70
And of course, the Bible wasn't
written in western mindset or
00:23:23.73\00:23:26.13
western culture.
00:23:26.17\00:23:28.37
So it is helpful to have
somewhat of a knowledge of some
00:23:28.40\00:23:30.81
of the cultures at the time
of the writing of the Bible.
00:23:30.84\00:23:34.44
Now, for somebody that reads the
Bible, they will actually learn
00:23:34.48\00:23:37.45
some of these cultures just
by simply reading the Bible.
00:23:37.48\00:23:40.98
If you read the Old Testament,
you get a feel for the culture.
00:23:41.02\00:23:43.35
A little bit different today.
00:23:43.39\00:23:45.29
But we do have some
examples of where cultures is
00:23:45.32\00:23:47.39
rather important.
00:23:47.42\00:23:49.69
There's an interesting verse
that you find in Genesis chapter
00:23:49.72\00:23:52.06
24, verse 2 where Abraham asks
his servant Eliezer to put his
00:23:52.09\00:23:57.40
hand under his thigh, and he's
making a promise he's going to
00:23:57.43\00:24:01.64
go get a wife for his son Isaac.
00:24:01.67\00:24:04.41
Now I've heard people read
that verse and say, "What in the
00:24:04.44\00:24:06.71
world, put his
hand under his thigh.
00:24:06.74\00:24:10.05
What does that mean?"
00:24:10.08\00:24:13.68
Doug: Yeah, today if you
shake hands like that, you might
00:24:13.72\00:24:16.02
get slugged.
00:24:16.05\00:24:18.35
That's not how
they make contracts.
00:24:18.39\00:24:20.36
But in the Bible, it meant that
someone was resting on--they're
00:24:20.39\00:24:23.79
going to rest and
trust on your promise.
00:24:23.83\00:24:26.46
And when Jesus comes, on
his thigh he's got the words
00:24:26.49\00:24:28.93
written: King of
kings, Lord of lords.
00:24:28.96\00:24:32.47
Yeah, so that was a custom
back then that just meant, "I'm
00:24:32.50\00:24:35.10
resting on your promise.
00:24:35.14\00:24:38.01
We're making an oath.
00:24:38.04\00:24:39.71
We're making a covenant."
00:24:39.74\00:24:41.58
And they used
to do it with salt.
00:24:41.61\00:24:43.28
There was different ways that
they would ratify an oath or a
00:24:43.31\00:24:45.31
covenant, with a meal.
00:24:45.35\00:24:47.15
And that was just
one of the customs.
00:24:47.18\00:24:49.05
Jean: And the reason they used
the thigh is because it's the
00:24:49.08\00:24:51.02
biggest muscle in the body.
00:24:51.05\00:24:53.02
It's the biggest
bone in the body.
00:24:53.05\00:24:55.06
So represents
strength, a promise.
00:24:55.09\00:24:56.83
"Absolute, I'm
going to stick with it."
00:24:56.86\00:24:58.79
They didn't sign a piece of
paper the way we would do it
00:24:58.83\00:25:00.80
today in western culture.
00:25:00.83\00:25:02.66
But having a little bit of
an understanding of the--of what
00:25:02.70\00:25:04.47
was taking place at
that time kind of helps you.
00:25:04.50\00:25:06.87
You have another story in
Luke chapter 7, verse 44 where a
00:25:06.90\00:25:09.70
woman comes into a feast at
Simon's house and she begins to
00:25:09.74\00:25:14.64
wash the feet of Jesus with
her tears, and Jesus--of course,
00:25:14.68\00:25:18.91
she's a sinner.
00:25:18.95\00:25:20.62
And Simon says, "If Jesus would
have--if he was a prophet, he
00:25:20.65\00:25:22.82
would know what
kind of woman this is."
00:25:22.85\00:25:24.95
Then Jesus turns to Simon and
says, "I came into your house.
00:25:24.99\00:25:27.72
You didn't give me any
water to wash my feet."
00:25:27.76\00:25:30.26
Now for us
today, we might think--
00:25:30.29\00:25:32.76
Doug: And he said,
"You didn't kiss me also."
00:25:32.79\00:25:34.50
We don't typically do that.
00:25:34.56\00:25:36.20
Jean: That's right.
00:25:36.23\00:25:37.70
And we might think, "Well,
that's kind of strange if you go
00:25:37.73\00:25:39.47
to somebody's house and
they want to wash your feet."
00:25:39.50\00:25:41.47
But if you were walking in
sandals back on dirt roads in
00:25:41.50\00:25:43.57
those days and you arrived at
somebody's house, it was an act
00:25:43.61\00:25:46.57
of hospitality to wash
the feet of your visitor.
00:25:46.61\00:25:52.81
Simon neglected that
in the case of Jesus.
00:25:52.85\00:25:55.05
Doug: Today when you go to
someone's house, before dinner
00:25:55.08\00:25:56.95
you might say, "Where's
the restroom so I can wash
00:25:56.99\00:25:58.32
my hands?"
00:25:58.35\00:26:00.19
Back then, they shared the roads
with the donkeys and all the
00:26:00.22\00:26:01.86
other animals and it was
unthinkable that you'll go to
00:26:01.89\00:26:03.99
someone's house to eat with your
feet smelling like you just came
00:26:04.03\00:26:08.33
from the barn.
00:26:08.36\00:26:10.47
And so Jesus said, "Here, she's
humbling herself washing my feet
00:26:10.50\00:26:12.60
with her tears and
drying them with her hair."
00:26:12.63\00:26:15.50
And like--as I said, Jesus said,
"You didn't give me any kiss."
00:26:15.54\00:26:19.34
Well, it was common back then
when men--you know, the prodigal
00:26:19.37\00:26:23.95
son comes home, they kissed him.
00:26:23.98\00:26:26.11
Jacob and Esau,
they kissed each other.
00:26:26.15\00:26:28.15
Joseph--Jacob and then later
Joseph, they kiss each other.
00:26:28.18\00:26:30.12
And the Bible says, "Greet the
brethren with the holy kiss."
00:26:30.15\00:26:32.95
Now, don't do that
during the pandemic.
00:26:32.99\00:26:35.12
But they were a little--I've
gone to Russia and Argentina.
00:26:35.16\00:26:37.63
And in France, I
got kissed a lot.
00:26:37.66\00:26:40.80
So it was a culture back then.
00:26:40.83\00:26:43.50
You have to know the culture.
00:26:43.53\00:26:45.37
Jean: I remember we had a
visitor once come to our church,
00:26:45.40\00:26:47.24
and we had somebody that was
doing the greeting that morning
00:26:47.27\00:26:51.01
and this person must have
come from a French culture
00:26:51.04\00:26:53.11
or something.
00:26:53.14\00:26:54.78
And he was so excited to come
visit our church that he grabbed
00:26:54.81\00:26:56.61
a hold of one of the deacons and
gave them, you know, the kiss on
00:26:56.64\00:26:59.45
one side and kiss on the other.
00:26:59.48\00:27:02.02
Kind of surprised
the deacon somewhat.
00:27:02.05\00:27:03.79
And afterwards, he walked up to
me, says, "That guy just kissed
00:27:03.82\00:27:05.52
me on my shoulder."
00:27:05.55\00:27:07.36
I mean, that's not really
something we do in our culture.
00:27:07.39\00:27:09.56
But, you know, that's a
sign of greeting and just a warm
00:27:09.59\00:27:12.63
greeting there in
some of the parts.
00:27:12.66\00:27:14.83
So culture is important.
00:27:14.86\00:27:16.60
We have a question
that somebody sent in.
00:27:16.63\00:27:19.20
It has to do with
Elijah, Enoch, and Moses.
00:27:19.23\00:27:22.50
And the question is, did they or
were they taken to heaven by God
00:27:22.54\00:27:26.81
or did they die?
00:27:26.84\00:27:28.58
And I think the root
of the question is in the
00:27:28.61\00:27:30.25
Old Testament.
00:27:30.28\00:27:32.18
We read about Moses dying.
00:27:32.21\00:27:34.05
We know Elijah
was taken to heaven.
00:27:34.08\00:27:35.95
But how do we
know they're in heaven?
00:27:35.98\00:27:37.62
Elijah, Enoch, and Moses.
00:27:37.65\00:27:39.69
Doug: Well, you can
look in Mark chapter 9.
00:27:39.72\00:27:41.56
Matter of fact, Matthew, Mark,
and Luke all have the Mount of
00:27:41.59\00:27:43.86
Transfiguration vision where
Moses and Elijah appear and talk
00:27:43.89\00:27:47.40
with Jesus, and
it's really them.
00:27:47.40\00:27:49.93
It's not a vision because three
humans see it at the same time.
00:27:49.96\00:27:52.57
It's not like, you know, three
people ever have the same dream.
00:27:52.60\00:27:55.34
But--then you also--it tells
us Moses was resurrected in Jude
00:27:55.37\00:28:01.04
verse 9.
00:28:01.08\00:28:03.14
Michael came, did not dispute
with the devil about the body
00:28:03.18\00:28:05.05
of Moses.
00:28:05.08\00:28:07.12
Michael is the
resurrection and the life.
00:28:07.15\00:28:09.45
And he didn't come for the body
to relocate the body, he's come
00:28:09.48\00:28:13.62
to resurrect Moses.
00:28:13.66\00:28:15.62
Even a Jewish tradition--that's
not the Bible, but it's called
00:28:15.66\00:28:18.79
the vision or the
assumption of Moses.
00:28:18.83\00:28:20.96
They always said Moses was
raised 3 days later so he could
00:28:20.96\00:28:24.47
see the people go
into the Promised Land.
00:28:24.50\00:28:26.97
And then you have where
Enoch--it says Enoch walked with
00:28:27.00\00:28:30.27
God and he was
not for God took him.
00:28:30.31\00:28:32.51
That's both in Hebrews
11 and it's in Genesis.
00:28:32.54\00:28:36.44
So you have Scripture
that they were exceptions.
00:28:36.48\00:28:39.41
Typically people die, they sleep
until the resurrection when
00:28:39.45\00:28:43.72
Jesus comes, but God
has a few exceptions and He
00:28:43.75\00:28:46.19
identifies them.
00:28:46.22\00:28:47.99
Jean: Pastor Doug, we've got a
question that you going to like.
00:28:48.02\00:28:50.76
Here it is.
00:28:50.79\00:28:52.59
Octavia is asking, "The Bible
says that Jesus was in the earth
00:28:52.63\00:28:54.76
for as long as Jonah was
in the belly of the whale.
00:28:54.83\00:28:58.10
How do you get three days
and three nights from Friday?"
00:28:58.13\00:29:01.84
Doug: Pastor Ross said I'm going
to like it because one of my
00:29:01.87\00:29:04.31
favorite books is Jonah.
00:29:04.34\00:29:06.37
I wrote a little book on Jonah,
and you'll find this answer in
00:29:06.41\00:29:08.44
more detail in that book.
00:29:08.48\00:29:10.55
It's downloaded for free.
00:29:10.58\00:29:12.95
It's a common misunderstanding.
00:29:12.98\00:29:14.92
The only one time in Matthew
chapter 12 does Jesus say, "As
00:29:14.95\00:29:18.19
Jonah was in the belly of
the whale three days and three
00:29:18.22\00:29:20.92
nights, so the son of man will
be in the heart of the earth
00:29:20.96\00:29:23.99
three days and three nights."
00:29:24.03\00:29:26.03
Well, if Jesus died Friday
afternoon, he spent Friday night
00:29:26.06\00:29:30.33
in the tomb, Saturday night
in the tomb, and he rose Sunday
00:29:30.37\00:29:33.13
morning, that's parts of three
days but only two nights no
00:29:33.17\00:29:36.20
matter how you cut it.
00:29:36.24\00:29:38.37
But the common misunderstanding
is, they think that, heart of
00:29:38.41\00:29:41.34
the earth, as Jonah was in the
belly of the whale, the son of
00:29:41.38\00:29:44.61
man will be in the heart of the
earth," everyone automatically
00:29:44.65\00:29:46.88
thinks that must be the tomb.
00:29:46.92\00:29:48.98
Wouldn't you be in the heart of
the earth if you're in a tomb?
00:29:49.02\00:29:51.12
Where else in the Bible does it
say that the heart of the earth
00:29:51.15\00:29:54.06
is a tomb?
00:29:54.09\00:29:55.76
Let the Bible explain itself.
00:29:55.79\00:29:57.56
When we say the Lord's Prayer,
"Thy will be done in earth as it
00:29:57.59\00:29:59.93
is in heaven," that
doesn't mean in the tomb.
00:29:59.96\00:30:02.23
So the word heart there
is kardia in the original.
00:30:02.26\00:30:05.60
It always helps--our lesson
later talks about look at the
00:30:05.63\00:30:08.10
original words.
00:30:08.14\00:30:10.17
And the word for earth there
is talking about the tear of
00:30:10.21\00:30:13.38
the world.
00:30:13.41\00:30:15.51
Jesus really became a captive of
the world when God withdrew his
00:30:15.54\00:30:19.05
protection from him.
00:30:19.08\00:30:21.72
The devil is called
the prince of this world.
00:30:21.75\00:30:24.22
Thursday night in the garden of
Gethsemane is when he began to
00:30:24.25\00:30:27.89
suffer for our sins.
00:30:27.92\00:30:29.76
Right after the Lord's Supper,
that covenant was sealed.
00:30:29.79\00:30:33.06
He prayed, "Father, if
there's any other way--"
00:30:33.09\00:30:36.93
There was no other way.
00:30:36.97\00:30:38.70
He perspired blood.
00:30:38.73\00:30:40.47
He shed blood.
00:30:40.50\00:30:42.50
He began suffering for our
sins when the mob arrested him.
00:30:42.54\00:30:44.37
The penalty for sin
is suffering and death.
00:30:44.41\00:30:46.78
He began to suffer.
00:30:46.81\00:30:48.48
Thursday night, he was
in the heart of the earth.
00:30:48.51\00:30:50.61
The devil was punishing him.
00:30:50.65\00:30:52.91
They were beating him
Thursday night, Friday night,
00:30:52.95\00:30:55.98
Saturday night.
00:30:56.02\00:30:57.92
The heart of the earth
really begins Thursday night.
00:30:57.95\00:30:59.92
Christ came to the
disciples at that point.
00:30:59.95\00:31:01.92
In the garden he
said, "Now is the hour."
00:31:01.96\00:31:04.49
And so you can start your
stopwatch right then; Thursday
00:31:04.53\00:31:06.83
night, Friday night.
00:31:06.86\00:31:08.96
Three days, three nights, he was
in the clutches of the devil,
00:31:09.00\00:31:11.07
paying for the penalty of sin.
00:31:11.10\00:31:12.97
In the heart of the earth, it's
not talking just about the tomb.
00:31:13.00\00:31:15.27
Jean: All right.
00:31:15.30\00:31:17.01
Good answer, Pastor Doug.
00:31:17.04\00:31:19.04
Moving on with our lesson
then--was anything else you
00:31:19.07\00:31:21.11
wanted to add Bible and culture
or should we move on to our
00:31:21.14\00:31:23.35
next section?
00:31:23.38\00:31:25.35
I'm not sure if we
covered everything we needed to.
00:31:25.38\00:31:27.62
Doug: Let me see.
00:31:27.65\00:31:30.29
You know, I think that it's
important--when we're talking
00:31:30.32\00:31:32.39
about Bible and culture,
sometimes we bring our ideas and
00:31:32.42\00:31:34.62
we need to be taught
more thoroughly by those who
00:31:34.66\00:31:36.86
are grounded.
00:31:36.89\00:31:38.83
I was just looking,
for example, of Paul.
00:31:38.86\00:31:41.66
When he goes into Athens, he's
surrounded by idols and he is
00:31:41.70\00:31:44.87
brought off into the theater
there and he's smart enough to
00:31:44.90\00:31:49.17
say, "I understand the
culture of the Greeks."
00:31:49.20\00:31:52.01
Paul was born in Tarsus.
00:31:52.04\00:31:54.38
And he said, "If I'm going to
reach these idolaters, I've got
00:31:54.41\00:31:56.88
to speak to them
on their own terms."
00:31:56.91\00:31:59.65
And so he said, "I was noticing
on your promenade you've got a
00:31:59.68\00:32:01.75
lot of idols dedicated--you
got one idol with--you got one
00:32:01.78\00:32:03.99
pillar with nothing on it.
00:32:04.02\00:32:06.72
It says, 'To the unknown god.'
Let me tell you about that God."
00:32:06.76\00:32:08.79
So that was a brilliant move on
Paul's part to say, "I'm going
00:32:08.82\00:32:11.73
to use their culture
to try to reach them."
00:32:11.76\00:32:14.83
So understanding culture when
you're teaching the Bible helps
00:32:14.86\00:32:17.83
you reach people.
00:32:17.87\00:32:19.60
Jean: And I think that's
especially true when you do
00:32:19.63\00:32:21.70
mission work.
00:32:21.74\00:32:23.47
We have a series of missionaries
that work with Amazing Facts in
00:32:23.51\00:32:25.21
different places around the
world, and one of the things
00:32:25.24\00:32:27.64
that they--we encourage them
to do is to look at the culture
00:32:27.68\00:32:30.01
that they're working with and
try and tailor-make the gospel
00:32:30.05\00:32:34.02
material that we're going to
share with them, try and make it
00:32:34.05\00:32:37.69
applicable to them.
00:32:37.72\00:32:39.49
I remember a story about a
missionary that was preaching
00:32:39.52\00:32:42.92
the gospel to some Eskimos
and--of course, they have no
00:32:42.96\00:32:45.66
idea about what sheep
and goats and lambs are.
00:32:45.69\00:32:48.53
And he was trying to illustrate
the point of what the lamb of
00:32:48.56\00:32:52.10
God that took away
the sins of the world.
00:32:52.13\00:32:54.80
To them, a lamb
didn't mean anything.
00:32:54.84\00:32:56.87
They were surrounded
by polar bears and seals.
00:32:56.91\00:32:59.07
And the missionary trying to
illustrate the idea of a meek
00:32:59.11\00:33:02.44
and lowly animal, the lamb in
that case became the seal to try
00:33:02.48\00:33:07.05
and help them understand
the significance of an innocent
00:33:07.08\00:33:09.62
animal dying for the
sins of somebody else.
00:33:09.65\00:33:13.15
So sometimes you got to try
and tailor- make--at least use
00:33:13.19\00:33:16.16
language that
people can understand.
00:33:16.19\00:33:18.43
Doug: Yep, absolutely.
00:33:18.46\00:33:20.96
And then it talks about
that you've got some people that
00:33:21.00\00:33:23.30
are--they're dedicated,
they're committed, they're God's
00:33:23.33\00:33:26.27
children, but they
need deeper Bible studies.
00:33:26.30\00:33:28.77
So because a person maybe
doesn't understand all the
00:33:28.80\00:33:32.14
Scripture doesn't mean God isn't
working with them or in them.
00:33:32.17\00:33:34.74
You know, Jesus said to James
and John, "Don't forbid them.
00:33:34.78\00:33:38.31
If he's not
against us, he's with us."
00:33:38.35\00:33:40.92
And when Priscilla and Aquila
ran into Apollos, he was mighty
00:33:40.95\00:33:44.39
in the Scriptures, preaching the
baptism of John, but he didn't
00:33:44.42\00:33:47.96
know about the outpouring
of the Spirit and understand
00:33:47.99\00:33:50.06
Jesus' ministry.
00:33:50.09\00:33:52.16
And by the way,
that's Acts 18:24.
00:33:52.19\00:33:54.30
They sat him down.
00:33:54.30\00:33:56.10
They went through the
Scriptures, using the Scriptures
00:33:56.13\00:33:58.17
and hermeneutics.
00:33:58.20\00:34:00.30
They proved from the Old
Testament that Jesus was the
00:34:00.34\00:34:02.30
Messiah by comparing Scripture
with Scripture, and he became
00:34:02.34\00:34:05.04
one of the most powerful New
Testament preachers because he
00:34:05.07\00:34:08.48
did have his hermeneutics
repaired, you might say.
00:34:08.51\00:34:11.58
Jean: Well, then that
brings us to our next section
00:34:11.61\00:34:13.48
on Wednesday.
00:34:13.52\00:34:15.45
If you're following with
your lesson, the title is "Our
00:34:15.48\00:34:17.39
Sinfulness and Fallen
Nature," and how true this is.
00:34:17.42\00:34:19.85
There are too many times when
Christians will try and justify
00:34:19.89\00:34:23.39
their behavior because of the
unwillingness to make a change
00:34:23.43\00:34:27.46
or repent, and then they look
for passages in the Bible to try
00:34:27.50\00:34:31.63
and justify their disobedience.
00:34:31.67\00:34:34.74
And, Pastor Doug, one of
the areas that come to mind with
00:34:34.77\00:34:38.17
this is--I've had an opportunity
to do a number of evangelistic
00:34:38.21\00:34:42.18
meetings and Bible studies with
people, and one of the truths
00:34:42.21\00:34:44.45
that is so clear in the
Bible is the truth of the
00:34:44.48\00:34:47.15
seventh-day Sabbath.
00:34:47.18\00:34:49.22
That is the day that God set
aside and that's the day that
00:34:49.25\00:34:50.95
God blessed, and I've even
gotten into discussions with
00:34:50.99\00:34:53.89
pastors who
don't keep the Sabbath.
00:34:53.92\00:34:56.76
And I asked them, "What's the
reason why you don't keep one of
00:34:56.79\00:34:59.39
the Ten Commandments?"
00:34:59.43\00:35:01.13
"Well, the Ten Commandments
are nailed to the cross.
00:35:01.16\00:35:03.03
We don't have to keep
the Ten Commandments."
00:35:03.06\00:35:04.83
Well, then just follow up
and say, "Is it all right for
00:35:04.87\00:35:06.63
Christians to steal, to
commit adultery, to lie, to
00:35:06.67\00:35:08.90
worship idols?"
00:35:08.94\00:35:10.71
They'll say, "No, no, no, no."
00:35:10.74\00:35:13.07
But yet they're saying the
Ten Commandments are no longer
00:35:13.11\00:35:14.84
binding, and the reason they
have to say that is because they
00:35:14.88\00:35:16.95
don't want to observe the
fourth commandment that says the
00:35:16.98\00:35:19.31
importance of the Sabbath.
00:35:19.35\00:35:21.28
So we have to reinterpret
Scripture to justify something
00:35:21.32\00:35:23.28
that we are unwilling to do, and
that's really what the problem
00:35:23.32\00:35:26.55
with the Pharisees.
00:35:26.59\00:35:28.49
The scribes and the Pharisees in
the days of Jesus, they refused
00:35:28.52\00:35:31.19
to acknowledge that they were in
error in the interpretation of
00:35:31.23\00:35:33.90
the Bible.
00:35:33.93\00:35:35.66
And in order to justify
their own ways, they ended up
00:35:35.70\00:35:37.90
rejecting and
even persecuting Jesus.
00:35:37.93\00:35:40.30
Doug: And Jesus said over and
over that it is lethal to put
00:35:40.34\00:35:43.64
aside the commandments of God
in order to observe a tradition.
00:35:43.67\00:35:47.68
He said, "In vain they
do worship me, teaching for
00:35:47.71\00:35:49.91
commandments the
doctrines of men."
00:35:49.94\00:35:52.25
And you can't put popular
tradition ahead of a thus saith
00:35:52.28\00:35:56.95
the Lord.
00:35:56.99\00:35:58.89
Jean: In John chapter 9, verse
39 we read these words: "And
00:35:58.92\00:36:01.92
Jesus said, 'For judgment I've
come into the world that those
00:36:01.96\00:36:04.99
who do not see may see,
and those who see may be
00:36:05.03\00:36:09.10
made blind.'
00:36:09.13\00:36:11.10
Then some of the
Pharisees who were with him
00:36:11.13\00:36:12.93
heard these words and they said
to him, 'Are we blind also?'
00:36:12.97\00:36:16.50
And Jesus said to them, 'If
you are blind, you would have
00:36:16.54\00:36:19.81
no sin.
00:36:19.84\00:36:21.71
But now you say, 'We see.'
Therefore your sin remains.'"
00:36:21.74\00:36:24.68
So again, we have this
misinterpretation of the
00:36:24.71\00:36:27.45
religious leaders.
00:36:27.48\00:36:29.62
They totally rejected the
teachings of Jesus 'cause it
00:36:29.65\00:36:32.12
didn't fit into their mindset
or their philosophical idea
00:36:32.15\00:36:34.79
or theology.
00:36:34.82\00:36:36.86
Doug: Yeah, and today, you know,
one of the most common mistakes
00:36:36.89\00:36:39.59
I see is the idea that God's
law has been done away with and
00:36:39.63\00:36:45.10
because the
Bible does teach grace.
00:36:45.13\00:36:49.10
But what is that grace?
00:36:49.14\00:36:51.51
Is it grace--is grace a license
that God gives us where you're
00:36:51.54\00:36:56.85
allowed to sin with no
consequences or is grace power
00:36:56.88\00:37:03.39
that God gives us that not only
forgives our sin, but empowers
00:37:03.42\00:37:07.76
us to live a
different kind of life?
00:37:07.79\00:37:10.36
And so the same grace it can
cover our sin, that grace can
00:37:10.39\00:37:12.79
empower us to be new creatures.
00:37:12.83\00:37:15.13
And people sometimes fail to
emphasize that because of our
00:37:15.16\00:37:17.90
sinful and fallen natures.
00:37:17.93\00:37:20.17
Jean: We've got a question
that's coming from Nicole, and
00:37:20.20\00:37:22.60
she says, "I've
always been surprised--"
00:37:22.64\00:37:25.01
She says--let me read it.
00:37:25.04\00:37:27.14
"Can you please explain 2
Corinthians chapter 12, verse 2?
00:37:27.18\00:37:29.78
Being confused about
this verse for quite a while."
00:37:29.81\00:37:32.41
So let me read it
here, Pastor Doug.
00:37:32.45\00:37:35.35
2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse
2, Paul is writing and says, "I
00:37:35.38\00:37:38.19
know a man in Christ who 14
years ago whether in the body I
00:37:38.22\00:37:41.96
do not know or whether out
of the body I do not know, God
00:37:41.99\00:37:45.13
knows such a one was
caught up to the third heaven."
00:37:45.16\00:37:49.10
She's confused about
what is Paul talking about.
00:37:49.13\00:37:52.43
Doug: Well, a lot of Bible
scholars think Paul is talking
00:37:52.47\00:37:55.10
about a vision he had, and it
was so real that he's saying, "I
00:37:55.14\00:38:00.48
knew a man."
00:38:00.51\00:38:02.28
And he's not
going to say, "It's me."
00:38:02.31\00:38:04.18
Because he said he was actually
tempted to be proud about the
00:38:04.21\00:38:06.58
abundance of
visions that he had.
00:38:06.61\00:38:09.08
And he said, "This man
who was caught up to the third
00:38:09.12\00:38:12.95
heaven--"
00:38:12.99\00:38:14.96
Now in the Bible when it
says third heaven, there's three
00:38:14.99\00:38:17.03
words the
Hebrews use for heaven.
00:38:17.06\00:38:19.19
The first heaven, they called
the air around our planet.
00:38:19.23\00:38:21.63
We call the atmosphere; when
God says in Genesis he made the
00:38:21.66\00:38:24.83
heavens and the earth.
00:38:24.87\00:38:27.04
Then you get the second heaven,
which is where the sun, moon,
00:38:27.07\00:38:29.30
and stars hang and the
heavenly bodies that we see from
00:38:29.34\00:38:31.71
our planet.
00:38:31.74\00:38:33.94
Third heaven was the
dwelling place of God, paradise.
00:38:33.98\00:38:37.25
Paul says, "I was
caught up to paradise."
00:38:37.28\00:38:39.98
And it's like when John in
Revelation chapter 4 he says, "I
00:38:40.02\00:38:42.78
was caught up in the spirit."
00:38:42.82\00:38:44.15
It was so real he said, "I don't
know if I was in the body 'cause
00:38:44.19\00:38:46.69
it felt 100% real.
00:38:46.72\00:38:48.56
It could have been in my
mind and it just felt real.
00:38:48.59\00:38:50.26
I don't know.
00:38:50.29\00:38:51.93
But I heard and saw things
it's not even lawful to utter."
00:38:51.96\00:38:54.83
And I think he said such a one
because he didn't want everyone
00:38:54.86\00:38:58.37
to probe him for,
"What did you hear?
00:38:58.40\00:39:00.17
What did you see?"
00:39:00.20\00:39:02.07
So is that your
understanding of Paul?
00:39:02.10\00:39:04.37
Jean: Yeah, absolutely,
yeah, talking about a vision.
00:39:04.41\00:39:05.87
A good question, moving
on then with that topic--
00:39:05.91\00:39:09.11
Doug: Does that mean
there's seven heavens?
00:39:09.14\00:39:10.95
Jean: No, there's three.
00:39:10.98\00:39:12.98
You explained that, right?
00:39:13.01\00:39:14.55
The atmosphere, the stars--
00:39:14.58\00:39:15.95
Doug: People always say,
"I was in seventh heaven."
00:39:15.98\00:39:17.32
But there's no seventh heavens.
00:39:17.35\00:39:18.72
Jean: There's no seventh heaven.
00:39:18.75\00:39:20.16
The next section that we
have is "Why Is It Important to
00:39:20.19\00:39:21.76
Interpret Scripture?"
00:39:21.79\00:39:23.46
And we need to take care
when interpreting Scripture.
00:39:23.49\00:39:25.59
Nehemiah chapter 8, verse 8,
this is when all the children of
00:39:25.63\00:39:28.40
Israel gather together.
00:39:28.43\00:39:30.30
It says, "So they read
distinctly from the book and the
00:39:30.33\00:39:32.50
law of God and they gave
the sense and help them to
00:39:32.53\00:39:35.57
understand the reading."
00:39:35.60\00:39:38.01
So is there a place for good
preaching and teaching to help
00:39:38.04\00:39:41.58
explain the Scriptures?
00:39:41.61\00:39:43.38
Absolutely.
00:39:43.41\00:39:45.55
You know, you
mentioned--I forget.
00:39:45.58\00:39:47.52
Maybe last week, Pastor Doug,
you mentioned that, or maybe
00:39:47.55\00:39:49.55
last night, whenever somebody
comes up with a teaching or an
00:39:49.58\00:39:51.85
idea that is somewhat unique
to them and when you share that
00:39:51.89\00:39:56.69
idea with other Christians,
they might look at you and say,
00:39:56.73\00:39:59.63
"Yeah, that's not correct."
00:39:59.66\00:40:01.60
Sometimes we have people
who have particular ideas, but
00:40:01.63\00:40:04.37
because of pride of opinion and
they don't want acknowledge that
00:40:04.40\00:40:07.90
they are wrong, they will
stubbornly cling to error and
00:40:07.94\00:40:11.27
eventually they begin to
propagate that and share that.
00:40:11.31\00:40:14.38
I know a person who was a good
Christian, solid Christian, but
00:40:14.41\00:40:16.58
he came up with an idea about
when Jesus is going to come.
00:40:16.61\00:40:21.05
And even though he said, you
know, "The Bible doesn't say we
00:40:21.08\00:40:23.22
know the day or the hour."
00:40:23.25\00:40:25.35
But he kind of reached the
conclusion and stubbornly held
00:40:25.39\00:40:27.56
on to that, and today he's
pretty much given up his faith
00:40:27.59\00:40:29.89
in the Word of God because
things didn't turn out the way
00:40:29.92\00:40:32.66
he had thought they would.
00:40:32.69\00:40:34.83
So recognizing that we can make
mistakes in interpretation of
00:40:34.83\00:40:38.80
Scripture and allowing others
to kind of give their input
00:40:38.83\00:40:41.94
is important.
00:40:41.97\00:40:43.30
Doug: Yeah, an example would
be--you've got that parable in
00:40:43.34\00:40:45.71
Luke chapter 16, starts at
verse 19, about the rich man and
00:40:45.74\00:40:50.61
Lazarus and people read this
parable, and it must be properly
00:40:50.65\00:40:54.18
interpreted and understood.
00:40:54.22\00:40:56.95
And people
sometimes have to be taught.
00:40:56.99\00:40:59.05
Don't build a
doctrine on one parable.
00:40:59.09\00:41:01.49
The idea that punishment begins
immediately after death before
00:41:01.52\00:41:04.73
the resurrection and before the
judgment is--it doesn't go along
00:41:04.76\00:41:08.53
with any other Scripture.
00:41:08.56\00:41:10.63
But people read this one parable
and they think it's literal.
00:41:10.67\00:41:13.44
And you've got, of course, this
rich man who's clothed in purple
00:41:13.47\00:41:17.17
and he feast sumptuously every
day, and at his gate lays a poor
00:41:17.21\00:41:20.68
beggar named Lazarus who desires
the crumb--crumbs that fall from
00:41:20.71\00:41:24.31
his table and only the
dogs comfort him by licking
00:41:24.35\00:41:27.08
his sores.
00:41:27.12\00:41:29.18
They both die.
00:41:29.22\00:41:31.55
The rich man, he goes to Hades,
hell, and he's in torment.
00:41:31.59\00:41:34.02
The poor man, he
goes to Abraham's bosom.
00:41:34.06\00:41:37.06
Now, where else in the
Bible do you literally find
00:41:37.09\00:41:39.69
Abraham's bosom?
00:41:39.73\00:41:41.43
Does it say anywhere in
the Bible that the dead are all
00:41:41.46\00:41:43.57
looking forward to
going to Abraham's bosom?
00:41:43.60\00:41:45.77
This is a parable Jesus
tells, warning the Jewish
00:41:45.80\00:41:48.94
religious leaders.
00:41:48.97\00:41:50.91
They think because they're
children of Abraham they're
00:41:50.94\00:41:53.44
going to be saved, and they're
neglecting to reach the Gentiles
00:41:53.48\00:41:57.41
around them that are dying for
the crumbs of truth that fall
00:41:57.45\00:42:01.62
from the table of
the Jewish people.
00:42:01.65\00:42:03.92
They had the truth and they're
desiring the crumbs of truth,
00:42:03.95\00:42:06.89
and they said,
"We're the chosen people.
00:42:06.92\00:42:09.46
It's too bad for you, folks."
00:42:09.49\00:42:12.03
And so the whole purpose of
Jesus' parable is not to say
00:42:12.06\00:42:14.20
someone dies and goes
right to heaven or hell.
00:42:14.23\00:42:16.30
He's using an
incredible paradox.
00:42:16.33\00:42:18.63
Lazarus, this poor Gentile--he's
a symbol of a Gentile, who's
00:42:18.67\00:42:22.50
outside of the rich man's
house, outside of the fellowship
00:42:22.54\00:42:27.38
of Israel.
00:42:27.41\00:42:29.51
He ends up going
to Abraham's bosom.
00:42:29.54\00:42:31.38
That's the place of
reward for the Jews.
00:42:31.41\00:42:33.55
While the rich man
represents the Jewish nation.
00:42:33.58\00:42:35.72
It's got the truth,
the religious leaders.
00:42:35.75\00:42:37.75
He dies, he goes to the
pagan place of torment, Hades.
00:42:37.79\00:42:39.72
And so Jesus is using just a
great contrast here, a paradox
00:42:39.75\00:42:45.06
to try and teach this parable.
00:42:45.09\00:42:47.10
And people in heaven and hell
aren't going to be able to talk
00:42:47.13\00:42:49.36
to each other.
00:42:49.40\00:42:51.40
And he says, "I'll send
Lazarus with a drop of water."
00:42:51.43\00:42:53.70
A drop of water is not
going to cool anybody's tongue.
00:42:53.74\00:42:56.91
So the message is usually in
what you call the punch line.
00:42:56.94\00:43:01.31
The moral of the story is
usually--if it's told well, it's
00:43:01.34\00:43:04.41
in the last phrase.
00:43:04.45\00:43:06.61
The rich man says, "Well, if
he can't go back, if you'd send
00:43:06.65\00:43:09.68
Lazarus back from the
dead, then they'll believe."
00:43:09.72\00:43:13.82
Now, Jesus literally raises
a person by the name of Lazarus
00:43:13.86\00:43:16.96
and the religious leaders--not
all, but many of them, they want
00:43:16.99\00:43:19.93
to kill Lazarus.
00:43:19.96\00:43:22.26
And Abraham says in the parable,
"If they do not hear Moses and
00:43:22.30\00:43:25.60
the prophets, they will not be
persuaded the one from--should
00:43:25.63\00:43:28.37
rise from the dead."
00:43:28.40\00:43:30.37
Jesus is saying that as you go
through Moses and the prophets,
00:43:30.41\00:43:33.34
you will know
that I am the Messiah.
00:43:33.38\00:43:35.64
That is the greatest evidence.
00:43:35.68\00:43:37.38
The hermeneutics is the evidence
that Jesus is the Messiah.
00:43:37.41\00:43:39.98
So this parable is really a
parable about, you must believe
00:43:40.02\00:43:43.59
Moses and the prophets.
00:43:43.62\00:43:45.45
It's not a parable that you die
and go right to heaven and hell.
00:43:45.49\00:43:47.79
Compare
Scripture with Scripture.
00:43:47.82\00:43:49.99
Jean: Pastor Doug, we got--just
a couple questions has come in
00:43:50.03\00:43:52.16
and they're really good ones.
00:43:52.19\00:43:54.10
So we might want to try and give
a quick answer in the time that
00:43:54.13\00:43:56.10
we have.
00:43:56.13\00:43:57.63
This question is, "Can you help
me understand what happened to
00:43:57.67\00:43:59.33
Jephthah's
daughter in Judges 11?
00:43:59.37\00:44:01.24
Doug: Yes, it says Jephthah
makes a vow that if God gives
00:44:01.27\00:44:06.37
him victory over the--I think
it's the people of Amman, that
00:44:06.41\00:44:10.58
whatever comes out of his gates
when he comes home, he'll make a
00:44:10.61\00:44:13.95
burnt offering, a sacrifice
and--he uses his word burnt
00:44:13.98\00:44:17.02
offering 'cause that's typically
how they would sacrifice.
00:44:17.05\00:44:19.45
I used to have goats and I'd
come home, they'd all run out to
00:44:19.49\00:44:22.02
meet you.
00:44:22.06\00:44:23.79
So he expected the family cow,
the goat, the oxen, the sheep to
00:44:23.83\00:44:25.69
come out and meet him
when he came to the ranch.
00:44:25.73\00:44:28.96
He comes back victorious.
00:44:29.00\00:44:30.97
His daughter
comes out first singing.
00:44:31.00\00:44:33.40
He'd been watching carefully,
"What will come out my gates?
00:44:33.44\00:44:35.64
I made a vow."
00:44:35.67\00:44:37.54
His daughter came out.
00:44:37.57\00:44:39.44
He says, "My daughter,
you've brought me very low.
00:44:39.47\00:44:41.24
I've opened my
mouth to the Lord.
00:44:41.28\00:44:42.94
I cannot go back."
00:44:42.98\00:44:44.41
She says, "Do unto
me as you promised."
00:44:44.45\00:44:46.51
So it says he then did
to her as he had promised.
00:44:46.55\00:44:48.35
Now, that doesn't mean he
sacrificed her 'cause the Jews
00:44:48.38\00:44:50.22
knew you're never
supposed to sacrifice a person.
00:44:50.25\00:44:52.45
The firstborn of every Jewish
man was to be a sacrifice to the
00:44:52.49\00:44:57.59
Lord, but they
never offered the person.
00:44:57.63\00:44:59.93
They are offered an animal.
00:44:59.96\00:45:01.96
And what happened in the case
like this; as Hannah offered her
00:45:02.00\00:45:04.83
son to the temple to serve the
Lord, as the Bible says Hannah
00:45:04.87\00:45:08.17
was dedicated in the New
Testament to serving God in
00:45:08.20\00:45:12.21
the temple.
00:45:12.24\00:45:14.14
The daughter of
Jephthah would never marry.
00:45:14.18\00:45:16.48
She was to be serving in the
temple for the rest of her life.
00:45:16.51\00:45:20.12
That's why once a year the
daughters in Israel would mourn
00:45:20.15\00:45:23.75
with the daughter of Jephthah,
her virginity; just like Hannah
00:45:23.79\00:45:27.32
came up to the temple
every year, brought a coat for
00:45:27.36\00:45:30.79
little Samuel.
00:45:30.83\00:45:32.69
So no, he did not
burn his daughter.
00:45:32.73\00:45:34.56
God does not
want human sacrifice.
00:45:34.56\00:45:36.23
But he had no offspring
'cause she never married.
00:45:36.26\00:45:38.27
Long answer.
00:45:38.30\00:45:39.97
Sorry.
00:45:40.00\00:45:41.74
Jean: Yeah, that's good.
00:45:41.77\00:45:43.61
In the last few minutes that we
have, Pastor Doug, do you want
00:45:43.64\00:45:45.34
to just talk about
the importance of correct
00:45:45.37\00:45:46.91
understanding or interpretation
of the Bible leading to unity in
00:45:46.94\00:45:49.01
the church and a lack of
correct understanding leading to
00:45:49.04\00:45:52.58
disunity in the church?
00:45:52.61\00:45:54.38
Doug: Yes, you know, Jesus says
several times in his Word that
00:45:54.42\00:45:56.95
it's important that we abide
in him and that we become one
00:45:56.99\00:46:00.79
in truth.
00:46:00.82\00:46:03.06
Jesus says there in John
17--three times he says, "I want
00:46:03.09\00:46:05.76
you to be one."
00:46:05.79\00:46:07.76
Look, for instance,
in John--let me see.
00:46:07.83\00:46:12.03
John 17:17,
"Sanctify them by your truth.
00:46:12.07\00:46:15.30
Your Word is truth.
00:46:15.34\00:46:17.57
As You sent me into the world,
I've sent them into the world,
00:46:17.61\00:46:20.34
and for their sake I sanctify
myself they might be sanctified
00:46:20.38\00:46:23.61
in the truth."
00:46:23.65\00:46:25.35
Notice truth, truth, truth.
00:46:25.38\00:46:27.52
And then he goes on and he
says, "That they might be one."
00:46:27.55\00:46:32.39
Verse 21, "As You, Father, are
in me and I in You, that they
00:46:32.42\00:46:35.56
may be one in us, that the world
might believe that You sent me.
00:46:35.59\00:46:38.53
The glory that You have given
me, I've given them that they
00:46:38.56\00:46:41.53
might be one as we are one."
00:46:41.56\00:46:43.53
Three times
truth, four times one.
00:46:43.57\00:46:45.87
God is saying we should be one,
but don't ever seek to be united
00:46:45.90\00:46:49.00
apart from the
truth in the Bible.
00:46:49.04\00:46:52.07
That is critical 'cause in
the last days the beast power is
00:46:52.11\00:46:55.34
going to say--they'll quote John
17, but they'll misquote it.
00:46:55.38\00:46:58.95
They'll say unity, unity,
unity, but they'll be willing to
00:46:58.98\00:47:02.05
sacrifice doctrinal truth to
achieve unity and that ends up
00:47:02.08\00:47:06.15
becoming a lie when you do that.
00:47:06.19\00:47:08.82
So we must be united in truth,
in the Word of God through
00:47:08.86\00:47:11.63
proper hermeneutics.
00:47:11.66\00:47:13.76
Jean: Again, we want to
thank you for all of the many
00:47:13.80\00:47:15.60
questions that are coming in.
00:47:15.63\00:47:17.57
Some really good questions.
00:47:17.60\00:47:19.53
We're going to take some
more of these questions in our
00:47:19.57\00:47:21.04
next program.
00:47:21.07\00:47:22.47
It's going to be
starting in about 10 minutes.
00:47:22.50\00:47:24.54
We want to remind you
about the free offer today.
00:47:24.57\00:47:26.44
It is a book entitled
"The Rich Man and Lazarus."
00:47:26.47\00:47:28.28
We'll be happy to send this
to anyone who calls and ask.
00:47:28.31\00:47:30.45
The number is 866-788-3966,
and you can ask for offer
00:47:30.48\00:47:34.68
number 140.
00:47:34.72\00:47:37.09
We'll be happy
to mail it to you.
00:47:37.12\00:47:39.22
Or you can receive a digital
download of the book by texting
00:47:39.25\00:47:41.79
the code "SH140"
to the number 40544.
00:47:41.82\00:47:49.20
announcer: Don't forget to
request today's life-changing
00:47:49.23\00:47:51.23
free resource.
00:47:51.27\00:47:53.00
Not only can you receive this
free gift in the mail, you can
00:47:53.03\00:47:55.17
download a digital copy
straight to your computer or
00:47:55.20\00:47:57.64
mobile device.
00:47:57.67\00:47:59.47
To get your digital copy of
today's free gift, simply text
00:47:59.51\00:48:01.91
the keyword on your screen to
40544 or visit the web address
00:48:01.94\00:48:06.72
shown on your screen and be sure
to select that digital download
00:48:06.75\00:48:10.32
option on the request page.
00:48:10.35\00:48:12.45
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:48:12.49\00:48:14.99
Amazing Facts wherever and
whenever you want, and most
00:48:15.02\00:48:18.19
important to
share it with others.
00:48:18.23\00:48:22.46
announcer: Amazing
Facts changed lives.
00:48:26.07\00:48:32.17
Justin: Growing up as a kid, my
mother was on drugs and alcohol.
00:48:36.81\00:48:42.68
Lots of fighting in the home.
00:48:42.72\00:48:44.92
My mom would be abused
mentally, verbally, physically.
00:48:44.95\00:48:48.66
Went from California to Oregon.
00:48:48.69\00:48:52.53
Spent some time in Oregon and
it was just the same cycle of
00:48:52.56\00:48:55.50
drugs, alcohol, violence.
00:48:55.53\00:48:58.13
My mom's boyfriend
would go to jail at times.
00:48:58.17\00:49:02.27
She would wait until he would,
you know, get out of jail and it
00:49:02.30\00:49:06.34
was back to square one.
00:49:06.37\00:49:08.44
The drugs and alcohol escalated
to a lot harder drugs: crystal
00:49:08.48\00:49:12.41
meth, cocaine, and
lots and lots of alcohol.
00:49:12.45\00:49:16.99
So I started using the
alcohol to--as a medication.
00:49:17.02\00:49:22.59
It was like a--to the
misery and the fear that I had.
00:49:22.62\00:49:26.03
I wanted to
drown all that misery.
00:49:26.06\00:49:28.60
Times I would just grab, you
know, a bottle of beer and go
00:49:28.63\00:49:32.77
out into the desert and just
drink until sometimes I just
00:49:32.80\00:49:36.74
pass out in the desert somewhere
and wake up the next morning
00:49:36.77\00:49:40.48
and, you know--and I
just couldn't find rest.
00:49:40.51\00:49:44.01
My stepdad had
gotten me a motorcycle.
00:49:44.05\00:49:47.45
And so I started
riding motorcycles.
00:49:47.48\00:49:49.98
I'd drink a lot of beer, get
on the motorcycle, ride into the
00:49:50.02\00:49:53.56
desert, do donuts, and just
throw out--you know, just ride
00:49:53.59\00:49:57.89
on private property.
00:49:57.93\00:50:00.23
People would chase me off, and
I was just causing--stirring up
00:50:00.26\00:50:03.33
dust and rocks and
just causing chaos.
00:50:03.37\00:50:06.97
And the adrenaline rush that
I had was so exciting and the
00:50:07.00\00:50:11.77
feeling of it was so intense
that I loved it and I forgot
00:50:11.81\00:50:16.44
about all my problems, you know,
at the moment and I thought that
00:50:16.48\00:50:20.85
material things would
make me feel so good, you know.
00:50:20.88\00:50:25.39
And so I started working,
started making money, had
00:50:25.42\00:50:28.52
a responsibility.
00:50:28.56\00:50:30.76
But as time went
by, I had more money.
00:50:30.79\00:50:34.60
So I would, you know, use my
money that I made to buy drugs
00:50:34.63\00:50:39.57
and alcohol.
00:50:39.60\00:50:41.74
Got pulled over drinking and
driving, ended up going to jail
00:50:41.77\00:50:45.27
for a couple of days.
00:50:45.31\00:50:48.08
I lost my job because I
missed work for a few days.
00:50:48.11\00:50:52.15
Lost my girlfriend.
00:50:52.18\00:50:54.82
Lost all the money that I had.
00:50:54.85\00:50:57.79
So once again, I was empty.
00:50:57.82\00:51:00.46
No money, no drugs, no alcohol,
and that was a turning point in
00:51:00.49\00:51:04.19
my life.
00:51:04.23\00:51:06.16
At this time, I was
living with my grandfather.
00:51:06.19\00:51:08.86
And as I was flipping through
the channels on the satellite
00:51:08.90\00:51:11.73
system, I found Amazing Facts.
00:51:11.77\00:51:14.74
Pastor Doug Batchelor
was telling his--sharing his
00:51:14.77\00:51:18.07
testimony about how he was
living in a cave, and he was--he
00:51:18.11\00:51:22.78
struggled the same
struggles of alcohol and drugs.
00:51:22.81\00:51:25.71
And I continued to read the
book, "The Richest Caveman," and
00:51:25.75\00:51:29.45
it really impacted my life and
really related to the things he
00:51:29.48\00:51:33.79
was struggling with and all
the events that took place in
00:51:33.82\00:51:37.29
his life.
00:51:37.33\00:51:39.43
And when I started reading the
Bible, Philippians 4:13 says, "I
00:51:39.46\00:51:42.53
can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me."
00:51:42.56\00:51:45.03
I recognized that
I had no strength.
00:51:45.07\00:51:47.37
I was weak and I was
wretched, and I needed help.
00:51:47.40\00:51:51.11
So I just asked the Lord,
I said, "Just help me, Lord."
00:51:51.14\00:51:54.21
And the Holy Spirit convicted me
and I decided to be baptized and
00:51:54.24\00:52:01.18
to give my life to Jesus Christ.
00:52:01.22\00:52:04.02
A few years after the Lord took
the temptation of drinking and
00:52:04.05\00:52:07.96
doing drugs, he
gave me a beautiful wife.
00:52:07.99\00:52:10.99
I met her at church.
00:52:11.03\00:52:13.19
Now I have a beautiful
baby boy, 2-year-old baby boy.
00:52:13.23\00:52:16.30
Just exciting to see, you know,
what God is doing in my life and
00:52:16.33\00:52:19.73
in my family.
00:52:19.77\00:52:22.70
I met with some friends
from my local church that I was
00:52:22.74\00:52:26.81
attending and they had told
me about Amazing Facts Center of
00:52:26.84\00:52:31.61
Evangelism training seminar.
00:52:31.65\00:52:34.18
The AFCOE to-go program really
inspired me and motivated me to
00:52:34.22\00:52:38.45
tell young people about, you
know, the same struggles that I
00:52:38.49\00:52:44.39
was struggling with, to help
these kids give their life to
00:52:44.43\00:52:47.86
Jesus Christ.
00:52:47.93\00:52:49.90
And there's nothing
else that you could ask for.
00:52:49.93\00:52:52.07
I'm Justin and God
used you to change my life.
00:52:52.10\00:52:56.44
¤¤¤
00:52:56.47\00:53:01.74
announcer: Amazing
Facts changed lives.
00:53:09.15\00:53:14.02
male: I had a lot of pressure
as a pastor's kid to perform.
00:53:18.29\00:53:23.26
They're not allowed to make the
same mistakes as everyone else.
00:53:23.30\00:53:26.60
Not only are people looking
at you, but they're judging your
00:53:26.63\00:53:30.77
father according to
what they see in you.
00:53:30.81\00:53:34.81
After a while, you get tired of
carrying that load as a child.
00:53:34.84\00:53:38.51
By the time it got time for me
to leave home, I was pretty much
00:53:38.55\00:53:43.89
finished with all that.
00:53:43.92\00:53:45.92
I just--I wasn't good enough
and I didn't belong in there.
00:53:45.95\00:53:49.32
So when I left
home, I went to the world.
00:53:49.36\00:53:52.79
I had a dead run.
00:53:52.83\00:53:55.83
You know, I partied and went to
work and, you know, was living
00:53:55.86\00:53:59.50
my life as the way I wanted
to, and I just wanted to be
00:53:59.53\00:54:02.20
left alone.
00:54:02.24\00:54:04.74
One day I was driving my
motorcycle with some buddies
00:54:04.77\00:54:07.14
of mine.
00:54:07.18\00:54:09.08
All of a sudden, I had oil
running everywhere; all up and
00:54:09.11\00:54:11.08
down my arm and across my legs
and rippling down the tank in
00:54:11.11\00:54:14.32
the wind.
00:54:14.35\00:54:16.38
And loaded it up on a trailer
and sent it to the shop to have
00:54:16.42\00:54:19.55
it fixed.
00:54:19.59\00:54:21.52
So I went to pick it up
and the mechanic came out.
00:54:21.56\00:54:23.69
He said--you know, he said,
"We got your front end rebuilt."
00:54:23.73\00:54:26.63
He said, "That
wasn't the bad part."
00:54:26.66\00:54:29.16
He said, "The bad part was
the only thing holding the front
00:54:29.20\00:54:31.50
tire on was the
weight of the motorcycle."
00:54:31.53\00:54:33.84
So all I would have had to have
done was accelerate quickly and
00:54:33.87\00:54:37.54
the front tire
would have came off.
00:54:37.57\00:54:40.44
And it got my attention.
00:54:40.48\00:54:42.18
It got me to thinking, you know,
you hear a lot of people talking
00:54:42.21\00:54:44.65
about, you know, the
relationship that they have with
00:54:44.68\00:54:47.82
Jesus and all that and I didn't
even know what that was supposed
00:54:47.85\00:54:50.59
to look like.
00:54:50.62\00:54:52.62
It began to work on my mind.
00:54:52.65\00:54:54.46
I think God was
beginning to speak to me.
00:54:54.49\00:54:57.16
I believe that you can say I
might be a poster child for the
00:54:57.19\00:55:00.16
shepherd's lost sheep
story because I wasn't looking
00:55:00.20\00:55:03.16
for God.
00:55:03.20\00:55:05.57
I didn't really care, but he
cared about me and he came and
00:55:05.60\00:55:12.91
got me.
00:55:12.94\00:55:15.41
announcer: Together, we have
spread the gospel much farther
00:55:23.15\00:55:25.82
than ever before.
00:55:25.85\00:55:28.09
Thank you for your support.
00:55:28.12\00:55:31.86
¤¤¤
00:55:35.43\00:55:41.67
Doug: I'm here in the beautiful
island nation of Fiji that's
00:55:45.91\00:55:48.51
filled with exotic animals,
beautiful vegetation, and
00:55:48.54\00:55:52.31
spectacular scenery.
00:55:52.35\00:55:54.28
The people here are some of
the nicest in the world, but it
00:55:54.32\00:55:56.69
hasn't always been that way.
00:55:56.72\00:55:58.55
This was once known
as the cannibal isles.
00:55:58.59\00:56:02.12
The Fijian warriors were some
of the fiercest in the South
00:56:02.16\00:56:05.43
Pacific and greatly feared.
00:56:05.46\00:56:07.40
You can understand why.
00:56:07.46\00:56:09.43
This is one of the weapons that
they used for breaking the neck
00:56:09.46\00:56:11.67
of their adversaries.
00:56:11.70\00:56:13.94
And long before they were
killing and eating missionaries,
00:56:13.97\00:56:16.37
they were fighting with and
killing and eating each other.
00:56:16.40\00:56:19.27
In fact, as you go to the
different tourist locations on
00:56:19.31\00:56:21.54
the island, they'll sell
you remakes of some of the forks
00:56:21.58\00:56:25.11
they used for
eating human brains.
00:56:25.15\00:56:29.75
In fact, there was one cannibal
chief, Ratu Udre Udre, during
00:56:29.78\00:56:33.49
the 1800s that is in the
Guinness Book of World Records
00:56:33.52\00:56:36.06
for having killed and
eaten the most victims.
00:56:36.09\00:56:39.29
He bragged that every time
he killed someone, he set a
00:56:39.33\00:56:41.80
stone aside.
00:56:41.83\00:56:43.67
By the end of his life, he
had a pretty big pile of stones.
00:56:43.70\00:56:46.00
It's estimated he ate somewhere
in the neighborhood of 900
00:56:46.03\00:56:48.20
people, oh my.
00:56:48.24\00:56:53.11
You know, the Fijians were
not the only ones that had a
00:56:53.14\00:56:55.28
monopoly on cannibalism.
00:56:55.31\00:56:57.15
In fact, the Bible says
that we are all capable of
00:56:57.18\00:56:59.48
being cannibals.
00:56:59.51\00:57:01.35
Galatians 5:15 says, "If we bite
and devour one another, we may
00:57:01.38\00:57:05.32
end up consuming one another."
00:57:05.35\00:57:07.29
That's talking about destroying
people's reputation by
00:57:07.32\00:57:09.62
mean gossip.
00:57:09.66\00:57:11.53
One famous missionary named
Paton, when he was preparing to
00:57:11.56\00:57:13.80
go to the cannibal isles, his
friends and family begged him
00:57:13.83\00:57:16.83
not to go.
00:57:16.87\00:57:18.50
They said, "You'll be eaten."
00:57:18.53\00:57:20.14
He said, "It doesn't matter
to me if I die and I'm eaten by
00:57:20.17\00:57:22.10
worms or if God wills that I'm
eaten by cannibals, as long as
00:57:22.14\00:57:25.01
I'm doing the will of God."
00:57:25.04\00:57:27.04
Well, he went to the cannibal
isles and brought many to
00:57:27.08\00:57:29.54
Christ, and died
peacefully in his old age.
00:57:29.58\00:57:32.35
Some of the ancient cannibal
cultures believe that when you
00:57:32.38\00:57:35.18
killed and when you devoured
your enemy, you would somehow
00:57:35.22\00:57:37.92
take within you their spiritual
strengths or powers, but that's
00:57:37.95\00:57:41.46
really absurd.
00:57:41.49\00:57:43.22
But there is a kind of
cannibalism endorsed in
00:57:43.26\00:57:45.46
Scripture, that's right.
00:57:45.49\00:57:47.46
Jesus said in John chapter
6, verse 53, "Except you eat my
00:57:47.50\00:57:50.40
flesh and drink my
blood, you have no life in you."
00:57:50.43\00:57:54.50
And you don't need
these tools to do it.
00:57:54.54\00:57:56.87
What you need is to read his
Word and learn about his life.
00:57:56.91\00:58:00.14
Accept by faith his sacrifice
in your place and you can have a
00:58:00.18\00:58:02.78
new heart and be a new creature.
00:58:02.81\00:58:05.41
You can even do it right now.
00:58:05.45\00:58:08.78
¤¤¤
00:58:08.82\00:58:13.69