The "Talking Snake" Objection

For awhile  now I've been hearing those who are against christianity object to it on the basis of it having a talking serpent and donkey.

They usually state this objection as though its some kind of supreme logic that completely reduces the bible to fairytale land.

This, of course, is absurd.

The argument is actually quite nonsensical when you actually put some thought in it.

So, for the benefit of exercising the ole grey matter, i thought i'd refute this objection.

First things first, we need to understand the presuppositions behind this argument.

That would be that a serpent cant talk because... ?

Well, the first thing we think of is literal verbal communication.

A serpent can't verbally talk because they dont have the necessary biological organs to permit them to do so.

Also, it's not that a serpent cant communicate at all. After all, they communicate with each other at the very least.

However, the bible didnt say that the serpent spoke like a human did.

This is simply assumed as being the case.

Also, the bible doesnt say that this was an everyday occurrence.

There is no biblical indication that adam and eve spent their days conversing with animals. This isnt The Jungle Book afterall.

No. This was a one off. Something different than the norm was going on that caused the serpent to be able to "speak" in a way that adam an eve could not only understand but to fully converse with.

The issue is that the Holy Spirit chose not to give us a lot of details in regards to how this was happening. So, speculation and imagination tend to run wild as to the how.

One option is that at this time in human history, due to the affects of sin not being present, that humans actually had a relationship with animals that included actual understanding.

We actually see instances of this today. Not with just cats and dogs, but animals such as lions, elephants, horses, etc.

Where there is a level of "friendship" where the human seems to have a connection to an animal where they seem to "understand" each other.

There are numerous cultures throughout human history who believe that its possible to have spiritual connections with animals.

Even with some people having an affinity to one sort of animal as opposed to others.

There are even people who claim to be "animal whisperers".

Once sin entered into creation through the rebellion of Adam, nature was set against him. One aspect being that humanity was no longer able to have that easy connection with animals to understand one another on such a level.

Another option is that it wasnt a real serpent, but rather one of the biblical antagonists know of Satan, who took on the form of a serpent.

Satan, after all, is an angelic being. He has the capacity of reason just like humans and us able to speak as well.

Angels are also able to transform themselves into other creatures, such as humans.

The third possible option is that Satan actually possessed an actual serpent, granting it the ability to communicate somehow.

Out of these three options, the 3rd one is considered to be the orthodox christian position.

The 1st option is a close second in popularity.

Some even combine those two and say they're both true.

The 2nd option is not believed by a large amount of people.
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With that, we can see that the first presupposition is dealt with.

That is, the serpent was able to "speak" due to a spiritual ability to communicate with humans that was either innate or enabled by the possession of the spiritual entity known as Satan.

Those who have some knowledge of the bible are actually aware that this is the orthodox belief.

So, there is a second presupposition that we must look at.

That is, that its not possible for this scenario to take place.

This is where the objection becomes nonsensical.

For someone to maintain that this scenario couldnt take place, regardless of whether it is option one or option three, theyd have to be a materialist.

And once you're a materialist, you're worldview is not worth having.

A materialist is one who claims to believe that the only thing that exists is matter.

This means that there is no spiritual reality. So there is no spiritual entity known as Satan.

However, this also means that there is no such thing as a soul. Feelings aren't real either. Having a mind (not a brain) isnt possible. Logic and its laws aren't real either.

For materialism to be true, all nonmaterial truths, that even materialists believe to be true, must be false.

But since the very laws of logic are immaterial, and there is no scientific evidence to show that "matter in motion" will produce truth, holding to such a worldview means that you do not function within reality.

For example, no one is actually making decisions to do something. Decisions and reasoning are all immaterial.

Within a materialistic worldview, ones actions are detetmined by "matter in motion". In other words, a person doesnt actually have control over themselves, but are simply being controlled by their biological matter within their bodies.

Just as blood flows throughout our body and our heart beats without our control, so too, in a materialistic worldview, would our actions and decisions be beyond our control but would simply be the result of matter moving within our body... independent of our input.

We wouldnt even be considered sentient puppets.

For something to have sentience, it would need to have a mind. A mind is different from a brain as a mind is what we would consider to be consciousness. Some might call it awareness.

So a computer's brain would be its circuitry, but if a computer had a mind, it could recognise that its brain is the circuitry.

A materialist would have to deny the existence of the mind as its not material in nature, and so the puppet would never be sentient as without a mind, consciousness is not possible.
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Lets do a brief recap before we continue.

Those that raise the objection that christianity is false because it has a talking serpent do so by presupposing two things.

The first presupposition is that serpents can't speak as humans do.

However, the bible doesnt say the serpent did that.

Instead the bible indicates that there was something spiritual happening rather than a serpent being able to speak like a human does.

The second presupposition is that there is no such thing as a spiritual reality.

This means that materialism is true. However, materialism is self-refuting as it is not what is experienced by any materialist and is not affirmed by science, as all science presupposes immaterial truths such as logic.

So, now that we know that position is flawed the only one left is that spiritual reality is indeed real.

Since it's real it makes no sense to assume that a spiritual being could not possess a creature nor cause it to do something that it couldnt do before.

As a matter of fact, the bible shows that this is actually the case. That spirits can and do unhabit and possess creatures, be they human or not, and cause creatures to be able to do things not normally possible.

One example of this is the demoniac mentioned in the new testament. He was possessed by multiple spirits and was able to break chains with his bare hands which is not a normal human feat.

It also states that when Christ Jesus spoke to the demoniac that it was the spirits who spoke back... as a collective... instead of the man himself.

In other words, once the existence of the spiritual side of life is affirmed there is no good reason to deny the possibility that a serpent can indeed speak as long as the right spiritual conditions are met.

That being said, the majority of the people who use this objection are not materialists. They arent atheists either.

They are simply those who have an unreasonable bias against christianity and will use any nonsensical argument to try and knock christianity down, as long as it looks good on the surface.

However, this argument doesn't even look good on the surface because the spiritual life, that which is immaterial in nature, is actually reality.

Everybody affirms that this is the case.

And those who don't affirm this basic truth, do not function within reality, but are the ones believing in fantasy.

Soli Deo Gloria

LGBT from the Christian POV

The christian/biblical position on lgbt is not that one can't be born with such a disposition.

Although there are many christians who erroneously state this, it's simply not true.

The bible clearly teaches that all of humanity are born sinners. We are born with a disposition to do things, think things, and want things, that are contrary to God's desire.

Therefore, it is obviously possible for a person to be born in the spectrum of lgbt.

However, its equally possible for a person to be born with an overt desire for some other sin.

This includes the spectrum for all other sins.

Lgbt proponents balk when they get compared to beastiality or incest, however, from the biblical view, their sin is like other sin.

Just like they are born with a desire for lgbt, others are born with a desire for beastiality and incest.

This is undeniable fact. There are people who want to have sex with inanimate objects like cars.

Once we get into the realm of being born with a sinful desire, then all sinful desires are up for grabs.

The difference is that the lgnt have couches their sin in an expression of love.

The incestuous adult couple are never afforded the same even though there isnt a non-religious reason not to allow their relationship.

So being "born this way" makes one no different than anybody else. And makes their sin no less than anyone else's.

Even having their sin define their life is not different than a lot of other ppl. Its just that their sin has becone socially acceptable in contrast to other similar sins.

And the answer to all of these sins is the same as the answer to the sins of non-lgbt people.

The answer is found in the life, death, and ressurection of Christ Jesus of Nazareth - who came to pay the price for the sins of all those who would turn away from their sins and turn to Him for salvation.

Show Love (part 3)

In the last post, we took a brief look at how a christian is supposed to love others.

However, there are two things that are often left out when dealing with a believer's responsibility to love.

The first one we need to look at and understand stand is that the kind of love that God is and shows, does not mesh with sin in any way.

We get a glimpse of this in God's proclamation of Himself, but He is quite explicit about it.

Psalms 5:5 (ESV)  The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.

Psalms 26:5 (ESV)  I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

Psalms 97:10a (ESV)  O you who love the Lord, hate evil!

Proverbs 8:13 (ESV)  The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Amos 5:15 (ESV)  Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Zechariah 8:16-17 (ESV)  These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

Romans 12:9 (ESV)  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

1 Corinthians 13:6 (ESV)  it (love) does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

1 John 5:16-17 (ESV)  If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death.

There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that.

All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
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The love that we are supposed to show, is one that calls out sin. Love is shown when one cares enough about another to warn and help them deal with their sin.

It's akin to the following famous verse...

Proverbs 13:24 (ESV)  Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

The one who turns a blind eye to another's sin, doesn't really love them.

Even worse, the one who celebrates in the committing of sins, definitely doesn't love them.

Just like the expression of God's love causes Him to not only highlight the sins in our life, but to also use the rod of correction to drive those sins out of us, we too are called to expose and seek to deal with the sins in those whom we love.

The goal of this love isn't simply so our loved ones can stop doing a specific sin. It's not simply for their benefit so that their life can be stopped from a downward spiral.

The goal, is the love of God. To glorify God. When we show love to others, especially to those within the body of Christ, we show love to God.

Matthew 25:34-40 (ESV)  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
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On that note, we see the second forgotten part of love.

That is, that it's embedded and cannot be separated from, loving God.

Loving our neighbours can only be done in the context of loving God.

And the way we show that we love God is to obey Him. Not a begrudging obedience either.

God wants the heart of His people to be one which delights in doing what He commands.

Hosea 6:6 (ESV)  For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV)  And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

1 John 2:5 (ESV)  but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

1 John 3:24 (ESV)  Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

1 John 5:2-3 (ESV)  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

John 14:15 (ESV)  If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:21 (ESV)  Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 14:23 (ESV)  Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

John 14:31a (ESV)  but I (Jesus) do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.

John 15:10 (ESV)  If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
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Jesus drills into our head the idea that our love for God is shown in our obedience to Him.

Loving our neighbour in the way He commands, and not in our own way... or according to the standards of the world, is actually loving God.

1 John 4:21 (ESV)  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
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What about those who not only dont obey, but don't care about obeying God's commands?

Well, God tells us...

John 14:24a (ESV)  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.

John 3:18 (ESV)  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 6:28, 40 (ESV)  Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Numbers 15:31 (ESV)  Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.”

2 Samuel 12:9a (ESV)  Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight?

2 Kings 17:15 (ESV)  They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them.

Proverbs 13:13 (ESV)  Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

Mark 7:9 (ESV)  And He said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!

Luke 10:16 (ESV)  The one who hears you hears me (Jesus), and the one who rejects you rejects me (Jesus), and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me (the Father).”
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There are many more verses that can be called upon to prove the point.

Those who disobey God, are showing that they not only don't love Him, but that they despise His commands and by extension, Him.

This even extends to believers, as its an indication that sin still dwells within us, warring against our new man.

However, the difference between the unbeliever and the believer is that the believer has the desire to mortify that sin.

They may not always recognise their sin, whether its ignorance or self-deception, but because the Holy Spirit dwells in them, He will not allow them to go their own way for long.

He will call them back to obedient repentance and faith, and will chastise them with the rod of correction if necessary.
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With all that said, we now have an overall view on the sort of love that God is, and the sort of love He commands us to have.

God is love. That means God is merciful and gracious. It also means He is righteous and just.

To those whom He loves, He calls them to be like Him in their love towards others.

So they are supposed to be merciful and gracious, while at the same time being righteous and just.

They are to treat others as how they'd want to be treated, while calling people to holy living.

Their love for others should be spurred on by their love for God first and foremost.

Just as how people recognise that love without mercy and grace is not love, so too, love without righteousness and justice is also not love.

We show the love of God when we, in obedience to God, love our neighbours in the way God commands us to love them.

Amen

Show Love (part 2)

Last time, we had a brief look at what it means to say the love of God, or how God is love.

We see that God Himself defines the love He is talking about.

Now, that is God's love. That is how God is love.

However, we are not God.

It makes sense for God to determine who should receive mercy and grace and who shouldn't.

He is the just judge who sees the hearts and minds of everyone.

So the question is, how does God expect us to show this love of His.

Clearly it would take on a different aspect once the finite sinner applies this love.

This is true, of course.

So how does God expect us to show His kind of love?

First things first, He commands us to love Him above everything and everyone else.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV)  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Luke 14:26 (ESV)  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

The love that we are supposed to have, is one that makes God pre-eminent in their lives.

Our love for God is supposed to be far above our love for everyone else, including family.

So, we don't love man with the same love we love God.

Our love for God should be much more.

This is why Jesus says the following...

Matthew 10:34-39 (ESV)  Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
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So, if thats the case, what is our love towards humanity supposed to look like?

Well, God gives us a number of situational examples as to what this love looks like. I won't refer to them all, but will focus on only some of them.

Leviticus 19:18 (ESV) You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:34 (ESV)  You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Matthew 5:44 (ESV)  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)  But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Ephesians 5:33 (ESV)  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
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Our love for humanity is supposed to be a reflection as to how we want to be loved ourselves.

Just how we care for ourselves... our wellbeing... our self interests... we are supposed to place those same cares unto others.

This is where the commonly known "Golden Rule" is actually derived from.

Luke 6:31 (ESV)  And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
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Going a bit further, Jesus actually tells us that all the commands and laws that were ever given actually stems from those two expressions of the love of God.

Matthew 22:36-40 (ESV)  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

This is the great and first commandment.
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
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Now, a lot of people stop here when it comes to the discussion of biblical love.

But there are two more aspects that must be taken into consideration.

Show Love (part 1)

"we scream love, love, love, but don't know what the word means"
- Corban

What is love from the christian perspective?

When it comes to christianity, people tend to twist and bend the idea of love into all sorts of ways to fit their agenda.

People will even go so far as to say its christian love to not just condone, but to celebrate what the bible calls sin.

What does God have to say about love?

What is it? How do we show it?

I thought it would be beneficial if we spent some time meditating on this.

The first thing we need to understand is that God is love.

1 John 4:8 (ESV)  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

From this understanding, we have to say, that to have the kind of love that the bible talks about, is to have God.

For God is the love that we ought to have.

Unbelievers are quick to point out that God doesn't act in a very loving way plenty of times throughout the bible, so how can we claim that God us love.

The issue is that their definition of love is different from the one declared in the bible.

Since God is love, He is the standard by which we identify what is and isn't love, or loving.

With that said, does God describe Himself in a way that helps us to understand what love is?

There is a place in scripture where God declares Himself to moses.

Here's what He said about Himself.

Exodus 34:6-7 (ESV)  The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

God, who is love, states that the standard for the kind of love that He deals with, not only has mercy and grace, but also has anger.

He forgives the iniquity, transgression, and sin of some, but won't clear the guilty of others.

Even visiting the iniquity upon ones lineage.

Thats the kind of love that God is, and the kind of love that God shows.

This is why He protects and helps some and brings the utter destruction upon others.

So the love He is and shows is not one that can be demanded of Him.

He has no obligation to extend His love. This is why He begins His proclamation by saying He's merciful and gracious.

Mercy is the witholding of the just punishment or consequence that one rightly deserves.

Grace is the giving of favor that is undeserved.

Those two things, by definition, can't be demanded. They can only be asked for, with the decision to do so being left up to the one who is being petitioned.

This makes the love that God is, and has, one that is freely given.

This is why those who've been recipients of God's love, rejoice, are thankful, and seek to love Him back.

I Sympathise With Peaceful Muslims

Lately, i've been feeling more and more that "black" christians are in a unique position to speak on certain topics due to what has happened to them in western society.

One of those topics is abortion.

A lot of the reasoning being used to murder children in the womb, are very similar or exactly the same as those used to kidnap, enslave, and treat horribly scores of africans and those of a darker complexion.

Recently, there was another islamic attack on british citizens.

I was in the middle of discussing it and encouraging people to read the quran, when it dawned on me that this is another unique position.

Although i'm not hostile to peaceful muslims, and i fully understand what is going on and why its happening, i started to feel a bit sympathetic to the peaceful muslims.

As one who is a christian and as one who's skin enjoys the sun, i can understand what they may be going through.

You see, from the christian side there are a number of instances where people who claimed to be christian, did some incredibly wicked things.

Slavery, for example.

Even though the majority of christians didnt engage in slavery, even though slavery was ended because of the major contribution of christians, and even though the bible doesnt teach it but declares the death penalty for those who wouldve engaged in it, a lot of people see christianity as pro slavery/slave trade.

Even though a minority did wicked things in the name of christianity, people paint the entire religion in the same color.

I also sympathise because of the color of my skin.

A minority of people with my shade of brown act a certain way. Others then assume that we all act and think the same way - even though its completely illogical to think that way.

The peaceful muslim believes that they're in the same predicament.

That there are violent people claiming to be muslims carrying out horrific acts in the name of their religion - islam.

And even though the majority don't behave that way, more and more poeple are treating the peaceful ones like the violent ones.

I can sympathise with that a bit because i have been through it, and will continue to go through it.

There is a difference though.

For the christian issue, i can point to the bible that proves it doesnt teach the kidnapping and enslaving of people in both the old and new testaments.

There are even copies of the bible that go back to before america existed to prove that the text hasnt changed as well.

For the color issue, we are not the borg.

Each person is an individual with their own mind. Its completely illogical to say people who share the same skin color will behave alike.

Only a complete idiot would believe that.

The peaceful muslim though, doesnt have that kind of an out.

Islam was given through muhammed.

Muhammed is the best example of a muslim since he was the first one, and the prophet of islam.

The quran gives information about his life. Not in complete detail, but its there nonetheless, and muslims are commanded to follow and obey him.

Muhammed lived two different lives once he became a prophet.

The first was indeed peaceful.

Thats where the peaceful verses come from.

Thats where the 'you have your religion and i have mine' comes from.

In the beginning, he did preach tolerance, and people tolerated him in return. People weren't afraid of him or anything.

They simply didnt believe he was a prophet.

Then he changed. He was no longer peaceful and tolerant to those who weren't muslims. And for the rest of his life, the peaceful and tolerant muhammed is gone.

It waa no longer 'religion is without compulsion'. Now, it's submit or die. And there are plenty of people he conquered in that manner.

Some people identify it as the muhammed of mecca vs the muhammed of medina.

its this period where the violent verses and commands come in.

The peaceful muslims, who truly do want to live in peace, look to the peaceful prophet.

The violent ones, look to the violent prophet.

The peaceful ones are taught that islam is about peace.

The violent ones are taught that peace extends only to believers in allah, muhammed, and the last day.

Its not easy to convince a peaceful muslim that offensive violence even exists in islam.

All sorts of excuses will be used, even changing the promised virgins into raisins.

But when they stop making excuses they either do one of 3 things.

1. They leave islam.

2. They stay in islam but try to reform it by pointing out the verses and denouncing them.

Th most recent islamic figure to do this is the muslim leader in australia

3. They submit to the quran and commit violence

The thing is... the violence is not simply for the purpose of being violent. It isn't purposeless.

The violence is for the purpose of converting non-believers.

Those who see the attacks are basically being given a warning. Convert to islam or this will happen to you.

So, my sympathy for peaceful muslims only goes so far.

Where as I can point to the source of christian and fundamental logic and prove my case, the peaceful muslims have a problem if they do that.

The quran shows this transition from peaceful to violent.

It shows this transition from, the peole of the torah and gospel are on the same level as muslims and worship the same god, to the people of the torah and gospel are to be forced to convert to islam, made to pay the protection money, or killed.

I have had peaceful muslims laugh for me telling people to read the quran, which is odd in itself, and I've had peaceful muslims tell me there are absolutely no violent verses in the quran.

Which is absolute nonsense.

The bible, for example, is filled with violence.

Violence is described, done by God's people, and even done by God Himself in the bible.

The christian is not suppose to try to hide or deny this fact.

The muslim, however, tries to downplay the violence of their prophet.

This is where claims of taqiyya comes into play.

Taqiyya is an islamic teaching that it is ok to lie in order to further the cause of allah.

So there are a lot of people that will say that peaceful muslims aren't actually peaceful.

They are fully aware of the violence in their religion, and agree with it.

The only reason there is a peaceful muslims is to trick gullible and ignorant people into accepting islam as peaceful and thereby allowing islam to spread... not simply unhindered... but actually aided by sympathisers.

They point to not only muhammed's own actions, not only islamic history, but the present reality of the spread of islam in the west. Especially with islam alone receiving concessions and protections for their beliefs that no other religion receives.

The christian bakery court cases are prime examples of this.

So many people see all muslims in the same light. They all want sharia law to be implemented and will even lie to the public at large as to the real nature of islam so that islam can get big enough to dominate with little resistance.

Is that the truth though?

I don't think it is.

I do believe that there are muslims who do have that in mind, but i believe that there are a majority of muslims who truly believe that islam is actually peaceful.

I believe this because the vast majority of the muslims I've talked to are ignorant of what is actually in the quran.

So, just like there are numerous people who proclaim Christ who are ignorant about the scriptures as well as church history and come to all sorts of conclusions because of it... and just like there is a number of "black" people who also don't know their history and comes to all sorts of conclusions because of it... there are muslins who come to the conclusion that islam is peaceful because of what they don't know.

So, i can sympathise with muslims who are peaceful.

And i pray that God would open their eyes and draw them to repentance and faith in Christ Jesus

The Sin of Sinless Perfectionism (3/3)

Recently, our christian brother Jeff Durbin of Apologia Radio, was interviewed twice for project that he is doing called End Abortion Now - (Interview 1, 2).

During the interviews, the host of the show that he was on, was pushing false/heretical doctrine known commonly as Sinless Perfection.

In the last post, I looked at what would happen the the scriptures if their position was true.

This time, we'll tackle the elephant in the room. If the previous posts weren't bad enough, lets look at the most glaring and obvious issue.

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(continued)

3. Sinless perfectionism, hold the perfection.

The last point that i think is necessary to be made is the sheer self-deception and gall one would have to have to consider themselves sinless.

Not only does it elevate oneself way too much, but it greatly lowers God and robs Him of His due glory.

Why? Because God alone is perfect.

The sinless perfectionist of any stripe, to actually claim sinlessness, has to say that they've reached perfection.

Why? Because that is the command of God.

Matthew 5:48 (ESV)  You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

To be perfect and sinless, one would have to love their neighbor perfectly and love God perfectly, as those are the commands that every other command rests on.

Matthew 22:36-40 (ESV)  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 

This is the great and first commandment. 

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

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Jesse as well as Joyce state that they are becoming more like Christ.

That's not possible if you're sinless.

If there are areas in your life that needs to conform to Christ, that means there is sin in your life.

Why?  Because Christ was indeed sinless.

Meaning He loved God and man perfectly.

So if the sinless perfectionist truly believes what they are saying, then they have already reached the end goal of every christian.

They are the real life standard that a christian can look to and imitate.

This means that God's perfection, His standard of holiness, is absolute moral standard is displayed at all time in the lives, hearts, and minds of the sinless perfectionist.

Never mind that the Apostle Paul says this...

Philippians 3:12 (ESV)  Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

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The sinless perfectionist elevates themselves and at the same time brings God to their level.

After all, if one is truly sinless then they become a reflection of God.

Why? Because you must remember that to be sinless is to be perfect like God is perfect.

So although one wouldn't necessarily be able to say raise people from the dead because of their being perfect, all of their actions and motives would be perfect due to their being no sin present.

The level of their love for God and man could not be surpassed. Even Jesus would be on their level.

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We've now taken a look at sinless perfectionism and 3 aspects of how this doctrine is false and heretical.

It is not possible for a believer to ever reach a state of sinlessness in this life.

However, once the second coming of Christ takes place, and we receive our glorified bodies, then, and only then, will we be sinless and perfect.

As we will be like Christ from that moment and forever more.

Until then, the old man of sin will always be present, warring against our spiritual man.

And it's our responsibility to crucify our flesh daily, sowing to the spirit and not to the flesh. Walking in the good works that God has prepared for us.

Like Paul, let us continue to strive for the prize that is before us. Let us continue to set aside every weight of sin so that our race be not hindered and we can endure until the end.

Maranatha

The Sin of Sinless Perfectionism (2/3)

Recently, our christian brother Jeff Durbin of Apologia Radio, was interviewed twice for project that he is doing called End Abortion Now - (Interview 1, 2).

During the interviews, the host of the show that he was on, was pushing false/heretical doctrine known commonly as Sinless Perfection.

In the last post, I looked at some verses that are use for the position and against the position.

This time, we'll see what would happen to the scriptures if their position was true.

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(continued)

2. Contradiction and Consequences

Those who hold to sinless perfectionism will usually dismiss the  context and continue to force their position.

This, of course, means that the scriptures are contradictory, and therefore cant be considered the word of God... at least those books that present the contradiction.

For example, if their position was true, we'd have to get rid of romans, and anything that is from Paul before that point in his life.

Why? Because Paul contradicts this position, which in turn contradicts 1 John 3.

Romans 7:17-25 (ESV)  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 

Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 

For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

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Here, we see the Apostle Paul describe the life of a believer. But he does so by pointing to himself and what he struggles with and sees within his own life.

According to Jesse Lee Peterson's take on sinless perfectionism, Paul couldn't be an apostle because he still sins. Therefore is of the devil because one born of God can't sin.

It actually gets worse.

In the letter to the Galatians, we see the Apostle Peter sinning as well.

Galatians 2:11-14 (ESV)  But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 

For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 

And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 

But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

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So according to Jesse's doctrine, Peter wasn't an apostle either, nor was he saved for that matter.

This means we need to disregard anything Peter said to the church authoritatively. As he wasn't speaking the word of God.

If you notice, the new testament is starting to get smaller.

However, that's not even the worse part.

You see, for Jesse's doctrine to be true, God would have to be wrong.

You see, Peter was one of those who were filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of pentecost.

He is one of those who spoke in tongues and was one of the people God used to draw to the Jews attention that God was also saving gentiles via the incident at Cornelius' house.

Barnabas, whom the Holy Spirit commanded the church to set aside for the work He called him to, was said to be a Holy Spirit filled believer in Acts.

Acts 11:22-24 (ESV)  The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 

When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

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The reason I'm pointing this out is because only believers are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:9 (ESV)  You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Christ Jesus even tells us that those who are not saved, meaning they're of the world, can't receive the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16-17 (ESV)  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

If Jesus is correct, then Jesse is wrong.

If Jesse is correct, then Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not God because they do the opposite of what Jesse says can happen.

So the Holy Spirit shouldn't have filled Peter and Barnabas as they weren't saved as evidenced by their sin later on.

Only those who are saved cant sin.

Also, Jesus shouldn't have said the world can't receive the Holy Spirit when they surely can.

The Sin of Sinless Perfectionism (1/3)

Sinless perfectionism is the belief that a believer cannot commit sin once they are saved.

If a professing believer was to sin, it is actually evidence that they are not actually saved.

The first time i came across this false doctrine was years ago when i was reading an article at carm about the heretic Joyce Meyer.

She holds to this belief. She even goes as far as to say that believing otherwise is a lie from hell.

This is the first time i'd heard something so ludicrous.

The second time i heard this false doctrine was when i reconnected with an acquaintance that i used to go to church with.

Both of us left that church and hadn't seen each other in years.

He started his own church and after a number of anti-calvinist tirades, i found out that he also held to this false doctrine.

That was not too long ago.

More recently, i came across this false doctrine a third time.

This time, it was in a radio program featuring brother Jeff Durbin from Apologia Radio.

Brother Jeff was on a radio program twice, being interviewed because of the work he is doing with the End Abortion Now project. (Interview 1, 2).

The host of the program is also a professing christian, a reverend apparently, and one who holds to the false doctrine of sinless perfectionism.

The hosts name is Jesse Lee Peterson.

Joyce as well as Jesse have the ears of an incredibly large amount of people.

Sinless perfectionism isn't simply a false doctrine, but is actually heresy (maybe a damning heresy, depending how far one goes with it).

The majority of the time, the discussion will revolve around one point in scripture.

1 John 3:6-10 (KJV)  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

These verses are usually what the sinless perfectionist clings to.

They will point and say that someone who is saved will not and can not sin.

How can they be wrong when the scriptures clearly affirm what they are saying?

Well, thats what we're going to be looking at.

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1. Context, Context, Context

The first issue we should deal with is the context of these verses.

If you notice, I used the KJV.

Translations that are more up to date will have the word practice inserted.

1 John 3:9 (ESV)  No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

Sinless perfectionists usually don't accept this.

The reason practice, and keep on sinning, has been included is because the greek word used here emphasises a continuous, habitual, lifestyle.

This is why modern translations translate it differently than the older translations do.

For more details on the greek, I recommend reading about it on carm.

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The second issue relating to the context is that these verses appear 3 chapters into the letter.

In the first chapter, we are told the following:

1 John 1:8 (ESV)  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

And...

1 John 1:10 (ESV)  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

This letter is being written to believers from a believer.

The author includes himself as one who would be deceived and not have God's word in him if he doesn't confess that he has sin.

Even if one wants to say that that wasn't addressed to believers, the author still includes himself by saying "we".

But that makes no sense if he is now sinless.

-

The second chapter shows the same thing.

1 John 2:1-2 (ESV)  My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

If sinless perfectionism was true, his reason for writing would be a waste of time because they CAN NOT sin.

But not only does he say they can, if they do, Christ is their advocate. Christ is also their propitiation.

So not only does the author make it crystal clear that he is speaking to believers, but he also includes himself as having sin.

Y.A.C. Ep 5 - News

Political Christianity

Christians are commanded to pursue justice, mercy, and righteousness - as defined by the God of the bible.

If a professing christian is able to get in a position of power within the government, so that they are able to put in policies and laws, but that professing christian declares that they reject the justice, mercy, and/or righteousness as defined by the God of the bible...

... then that person is not one you should trust

#twofaced #doubleminded #speaksoutofbothsidesoftheirmouth #untrustworthy

Have You Not Read?

One of the saddest things in christendom today is the widespread unbelief that exists in the church.

And this unbelief is spread by those who claim to believe in Christ.

What does it look like?

Well, the scriptures tell us that the righteous walk by faith and not sight.

The the just live by faith in Christ.

Jesus even says that those who believe and do not see are blessed.

Yet in the church, there are many who will disregard the word of God if they don't see something.

Christian will make vain prayers to God, asking the Holy Spirit to "show up", as if God hasn't already told us that He already dwells in us.

If God doesn't do something visible for people to see during a service we treat it as though it wasn't the same written word of God that was being preached.

In these last days we see christians running here and there in hopes that God will give some kind of physical sign.

Yet the scriptures tell us that it's in that very same climate and mind frame that will cause many to be deceived because the enemy will provide many signs and wonders for people to get excited about... all of them being false and pointing to someone or something other than God.

Scripture tells us that it's by God's word, that has been written down and preserved for us, that will teach and prepare us for every good work that we will ever do within our christian life.

We are not supposed to be searching for a "fresh anointing".

Scripture doesn't say to wait for a still small voice.

Instead, we are commanded to read, study, and meditate on the word of the living God.

If a church is elevating signs and wonders to be on par with or more important than the study and expounding of the scriptures, that is a church to be wary of.

Many christians have even wandered into witchcraft thinking that God has spoken to them in some secret way that they have to figure out, when scriptures say that God explains whatever He speaks to His people.

Christians are reading omens and seeking to interpret dreams, when scripture warns us about doing those things.

Scripture even says that those who go on about dreams and visions are not people who we should look to for sound biblical teaching, yet those are the same people that christians not only run to but hold up as an example of what a christian should be.

If we are children of God, why doesn't our desire for the milk and meat of the word not trump all other spiritual desires?

Why are we constantly seeking for a sign, or some supernatural manifestation, before we simply trust and believe in the scriptures?

Is our trust in God so weak that we can't take Him at His word?

If it's true that the word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, why are we not trusting in the word of God, the scriptures, to do its job?

Let us repent for our disdain of the scriptures. Let us turn back to God with faith in what He's given to us.

For it is the only thing that He has chosen to give us that we know is without a doubt from Him.

And its through these scriptures that we learn everything that we need to know about God and how to live our christian life.

As it is written, "all scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work".

Christian Extremist?

So, the argument goes like this...

How can you demonise muslims when there are extremists in all religions.

Even christianity has extremists.

Where do we see christian extremists today?

Its not where but when.

Christian extremists use to rob and pillage and rape people all the time in previous centuries.

The african slave trade was started and perpetuated by christian extremists.

Christian extremists murdered many non-christians across europe and the americas.
- - -

Many ppl who hear this argument feel that the person who states it is correct.

Even christians give a hardy amen to the muslim apologist who gives this as a rebuke to people's concern with islam.

Is there a problem with this reasoning?

Why yes, there is.

Its a glaring problem as well.

So, is there such a thing as christian extremism?

Yes... and no.

Yes, because someone can go to the extreme in their christianity.

For example, Jesus says, 'if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. If your hand causes you to sin, chop it off'

People read this and understand the seriousness of sin.

However, most ppl who read this understand that Christ isny literally saying to pluck out an eye or chop off a hand.

Especially because its not ones eye or hand that causes one to sin, but their sinful man (flesh), that causes them to sin. They are also aware that we'll never be rid of this sin nature until the ressurection.

What would a christian extremist do with this though?

They would chop off their own hand and pluck out their own eye.

They will quickly find out that doing so didnt stop the sinful desires as well.

So when Jesus says we should pray in secret in our closet, the extremist might literally only pray in an actual closet.

Is this christianity taken to its extremity?

No, its not.

This is ideas taken from christianity and twisted so that it doesnt resemble what was originally intended.

It would be the same if someone took the command for christians to die to themselves to mean they should commit suicide.

A real christian extremist would take the words of Christ to the extreme.

The problem is that everybody knows what Christ taught.

Even those who never read the bible know that Christ taught christians to love.

Have an attitude with a non-believer and they'll be quick to throw that fact in your face.

What about murdering, raping & robbing people?

Well, how can Jesus teach love and tell people to do these things.

These arent things taught by Christ so how can they be called 'christian'?

Its obvious that they cant.

However, that doesnt mean that people who claimed to be christian didnt do these things in times past.

Some even claimed that they were doing these things in the name of Christ.

Take the famous witch trials in Salem.

This phenomenon exists today.

If you talk to people on the street, you will encounter a number of people who claim to be christian and not only dont have a clue what christianity teaches, but will even describe a completely different God than the one shown in the bible.

Are these people christian?

Of course not.

And here is where the muslim apologist wants to get you to.

You see, the musim  apologust knows fully well that Christ sidnt teach to rob, rape, and murder. But they are also aware that people claiming to be christians did.

And so, they want to put islam in the sane position.

They want you to have in your mind, that just like christianity, evil people took the name of islam, and committed evil acts that their religion doesnt teach.

And their proof is that they follow islam and dont do those wicked things, nor do they teach them.

Here is where they depend on the ignorance of islam within the hearer.

The reason this is the case is because the glaring problem with the argument is found in each religions book.

In christianity, each and every one of those evil acts are condemned by the christian God.

Even in the old testament, that has a lot of violence, these acts are even condemned there as well.

Jesus even spoke directly about this. That people were using the name of God to commit evil acts. He even said that people would murder christians in the name of God as well.

All the evil acts throughout history that were committed by people who claimed to be christian could not have happened if the people were actually following the bible.

As a matter of fact, when the roman catholic church was the ruling religious power, they murdered many christians who attenpted to translate the bible into common language so that the everyday person would know what it said and what it didn't say.

If these people were actually obeying the bible, there wouldn't have been any salem witch trials, african slave trade or many other despicable acts.

It's not that the bible doesn't teach it. No. The bible teaches directly against it.

The bible doesn't just say, love your neighbor, and because of that, we know not to enter into the african slave trade.

No. The bible says to love, and anybody who steals a man, that person is to be put the death.

The rapist is supposed to be put to death.

The bible even says that the death penalty cant be done just on an accusation either. There had to be two or three lines of evidence or witnesses to prove that these things happened.

Even if people joined together and framed someone and got them put to death.

If the truth was found out, those people who lied would get the death penalty themselves for purposefully sending an innocent person to their death.

The bible is consistent with its message of justice, love, and mercy.

Not just to our own either. In both the old and new testaments, people are commanded to love their people, their neighbours, and their enemies.

We're even told to go out of our way to even show love to our enemies.

On top of all that, conversion is not something that can be forced.

This isnt something that I'm just saying as though it's a modern concept.

You dont see forcrd conversions anywhere in the bible.

Old testament wars weren't fought with a 'convert or die', mentality. And christians weren't commanded to do it either.

Now, i say all of that to say this... it's not the same within the holy book of islam.

In the quran, the vast majority of the rhetoric is 'convert or die'.

It didnt start out that way either.

In the beginning, muhammed was actually peaceful.

The problem was that he was rejected by majority of those whom he brought his message.

Its when he realised that he wouldnt be accepted be being peaceful and started to murder, rob, and rape.

The quran shows muhammed doing a lot of the same acts that the ISISs of todays world are doing, and commanding all muslims to do likewise.

The quran, has the islamic god telling muhammed to do some of these things, and even giving him permission when he's not sure.

This is why the islamic "extremists" constantly point to a number of verses in the quran, as well as islamic history.

Since the inception if islam, muslims have literally been at war with everyone who isn't a believer and at times would war with each other.

Even the first crusade that was started by one of the roman catholic popes, actually began as a defensive military response against islam, as muslim had taken over country after country, by the sword.

Anybody who didnt convert to islam was either murdered or forced to pay a high tax for protection, in order to not be killed.

This is the same actions the muhammed practiced, and its clearly seen in the quran.

What makes it even worse, is that the muslims also kept a collection of sayings of muhammed. These are called hadiths.

These are supposed to be read along side the quran, as it explains much of what was going on when a verse was "revealed" to muhammed.

It details questions that people asked him, his responses to their questions, what othet groups thought of him, and many other interedting information that would help someone to understand islam and muhammed better.

Of course, each group of muslims trust some hadiths over others, but regardless if which ones you go to, they all present the muslim with problems to their religions.

This is the information that the islamic apologist is hoping you do not have.

Many people have not even read the quran, much less any of the hadith.

Being ignorant in this area then, allows the islamic apologist to place christianity and islam side by side, and say they are the same.

Both are religions that teach peace that people have hijacked and done evil in its name.

But the reality is, that that description is only actually true for christianity, not islam.

So, is there actually christian extremists in the true sense of the word?

Yes. But these "extremists" wouldnt be harming people at all because Christ doesnt teach that, but the opposite.

A christian extremist may be seen preaching the gospel to a captive audience on a bus or train - annoying the masses in the process, but thats about it.

Christ's commands to the church was not one that could be used to do evil things in the slightest. So the answer to the question is also no.

However, that is not the case with islam.

As a matter of fact, i dont even think "extremism" can be used to define the muslims who go around murdering people in the name of allah.

Why? Because muhammed commands them to do it.

So they arent actually going to extremes but are rather simply doing what they are told to do.

That is the glaring problem in this argument.

Scripture Meditation

Exodus 14:16-18 (ESV)  Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.

And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen.

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

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God will receive glory for all those whom He has saved, and He will receive glory for all those who will be thrown into the lake of fire