Acts Lesson 47
Tuesday Night Bible Study
March 17, 2015
Study of the Book of Acts
Tonight’s Text – Acts 17:22-34
Brief review
- The “superstitious” Athenians
- Idolatry and “devotions”
- σεβασμα (seh-BAS-ma) – something adored. An object of worship
- “too superstitious”
- δεισιδαιμονεστερος (“dice-ee-dah-ee-mon-ES-ter-os”)
- δειλος (DIE-los) – a sense of dread, timid.
- δαιμον (“dah-EE-mon”) – a demon, a supernatural spirit.
- δεισιδαιμονεστερος (“dice-ee-dah-ee-mon-ES-ter-os”)
- Paul makes a comparison
- The dynamic at work.
- Idolatry and “devotions”
- Making the “Unknown God” known
- God the Creator
- Needs no man-made dwelling
- Not worshiped in a “place”
- “Unity” of man
- “out of one blood” rather than the making of one blood
- The “offspring” of God
- Citation of secular literature
- A philosophical appeal, not theological
- God the Creator
- Paul’s argument for God’s existence
- God is not defined by the material/physical
- because His offspring are not defined that way
- God is aware of man’s ignorance
- God is ready to deal with ALL men EVERYWHERE
- repentance from ignorance
- warning of coming judgment
- Assurance by the testimony of Jesus Christ
- God is not defined by the material/physical
- Results of Paul’s discourse
- Some mocked
- “throw out the lip” – compare with Psalm 22:7
- Some believed
- Dionysius the Areopagite
- Damaris
- Others
- Some mocked
The Protestant Twisting of 1John; A Clarification
Does Christ continue His work of salvation in heaven to keep us saved? Does sin committed by Christians separate us from grace unless we live by faith alone in the same gospel that saved us? Is our sin ended, or does it need a continuing atonement? Whether people realize it or not, Protestantism’s forensic justification answers all of those questions,”yes,” and 1John is a primary go-to book to make the case. But is this true? Join us Friday night at 7PM for this all important gospel discussion.
Show Link: The Protestant Twisting of 1John; a Clarification
Acts 10: Reformed Theology and the Problem With Cornelius
Originally posted October 3, 2012
I was asked recently what I thought the primary key to discernment is. I answered this way: one of the major keys is daily Bible reading. If nothing else, read through the Scriptures and get a general idea of what is going on.
When you do that, you discover that things you hear from the pulpit may need a little bit more consideration and thinking.
We know the Reformed drill. Man is totally depraved. He can’t do anything to merit salvation. You’re either chosen, or not chosen. We can’t do anything to please God—all of our works are as filthy rags before God, and so forth.
So, as you are taking my advice, drinking some morning coffee and reading through Acts 10, you’re stopped dead in your tracks and immediately realize why Luther hated reason so much.
We read the following there:
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Um, is it just me, or does this kinda throw a monkey wrench in the whole “all of our works are filthy rags before God” routine? Now, heretics like Paul David Tripp would quickly step forward and say, “That text needs to be seen in its gospel context.” Oooookay. So, somehow, in the “gospel context,” “memorial” really means “filthy rags.” Right.
Furthering the complexity leading to a need for more consideration is the question of whether or not Cornelius was officially saved when the angel made this statement.
Watch out for neatly arranged theological systems. Especially Reformed ones.
And read your Bible daily.
paul
Camp on This: The Problem with Church
Steve Camp is a Reformed leader and contemporary Christian music icon. In fact, while still blinded by the ways of Protestantism, I was a huge fan of Camp and have probably purchased every CD he ever recorded. He recently posted a comment on his Facebook page that is an almost perfect thumbnail of Protestant heresy and churchianity in general.
Let’s unravel this invitation to go to hell in a handbasket one idea at a time:
As I read FB and Twitter each day, it saddens me to read Christians posting for help with basic needs in their lives. When you see this, it’s proof positive that they are not part of a local church.
Oh really? Home fellowships are in a much better position to help people because of expendable income not going to the Protestant temple tax. As a former Reformed elder, I can tell you what percentage of tithe goes to infrastructure and it ain’t pretty. Not only that, there are always strings attached to any help you get from a Protestant institutional church. One such church offered to pay for my education in fire safety engineering. I said no because I knew it was a control move. In fact, because of what was going on at the time, their motives were so obvious I was embarrassed for them. Home fellowships accomplish EVERYTHING we are called to do at a fraction of the cost.
May I encourage you today to get plugged into a gospel-centered church.
Being interpreted: a church that continually “shows forth” the same gospel that saved us. That’s Protestantism: a return to the same gospel to maintain forgiveness for “present sin.” Calvin taught that sin in the Christian life “removes us…from grace” (“grace,” ie., justification) and reforgiveness of such sin can only be found in formal Protestant church membership.
Be taught God’s Word; worship the Lord Jesus; celebrate the Lord’s supper; fellowship with other believers; pray; serve; give; help meet the needs and bear the burdens of another; develop and use your Spirit given gifts; grow in grace; share your faith; glorify God.
In this list are the Protestant, and don’t miss this, “means of grace.” Stripping this term of its nuance, it is better stated “means of justification.” Notice towards the end of the list we read, “grow[ing] in grace” which is more truthfully rendered “growing in justification.”
Sitting under the teaching of seminary certified philosopher kings, taking the Lord’s Table, being faithful to the church, tithing, etc., “imparts grace” (justification) and are the “means of grace” (justification).
Also notice that instead of worshiping God in spirit and in truth wherever we are because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and not some “local church,” “worship” only takes place when we meet corporately in the local expression of the “holy mother Church” as Calvin enjoyed calling it.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
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