Two Highly Recommended Books on the Historical Adam

New evangelicalism as a whole has caved in on a literal Adam, a young earth, and death before the fall.  Yet they plead with everyone that it has no effect on the gospel or a healthy church.  Yet in droves their young people are leaving their own churches.  It is not the music?  It is not being real, trendy or relevant.  It is simple.  New evangelicalism as a whole has lost their authority found in the scriptures alone.  They want a gospel found in the scriptures but not the historical narratives it is based upon.  Adam was the real first person in a real first historical narrative.  I offer the following two texts for your study.  The church has truly been weakened by years of evolutionary undercutting of biblical authority.  Even worse is the trendy, cool-kid popular pastors who say is doesn't matter.  Pragmatism is still king in evangelical church effectiveness.



The Quest for the Historical Adam by William Vandoodewaard (345 pages)
Forward by Albert Mohler

Synopsis from AiG website, "The Quest for the Historical Adam provides a faith-affirming survey of the theological perspectives on man's origin. Like a crime scene investigator, the author meticulously traces the development, and, at times, disappearance of critical hermeneutical and exegetical insights. This semi-technical book equips readers to stand firm in their faith, and should be read by every Christian leader."



Searching for Adam: Genesis & the Truth About Man's Origin (600 pages)
Edited by Terry Mortenson

From AiG, "

Though there are a growing number of books out on Adam, in this unique book 16 experts present biblical, historical, theological, paleontological, genetics, archaeological, and ethical arguments in defense of the literal truth about Adam and the Fall. In the process you will see the lie that man evolved from some ape-like creature over millions of years. An increasing number of professing evangelical leaders and scholars are doubting or denying a literal Adam and a literal Fall (or at least some of the details in Genesis about Adam), which thereby undermines the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Last Adam, who came to undo the damaging consequences of Adam’s sin and restore us to a right relationship with our Creator. Know that you can be confident in the truth of Genesis and in the gospel!"

Contributing authors are Dr. William Barrick, Dr. David Croteau, Dr. Michael Naylor, Dr. Eugene Merrill, Dr. Tom Nettles, Dr. David Menton, Marvin Lubenow, Dr. Stuart Burgess, David Casas, Marvin Lubenow, Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson, Dr. Jeffrey Tomkins, Steve Ham, Dr. Jerry Bergman, Don Landis, and Tim Chaffey, as well as Dr. Mortenson.

Enjoy!

Martyrs and Confessors: Attacks come from within and outside Christ's Church

Martyrs and Confessors: Attacks Come from within and outside Christ's Church

I was reading this Lord's day morning an article on the history of Christ's church in the second century ("Twenty Centuries of Church History, "The Reformation Heritage Study Bible, p. 1944).  It is readily apparent that the church has not come far from the second century.  We still have the same problems within and without the church today.  However, the problems are only expanded upon with the invention of printed media and now internet, blogs, websites, and iphones.

The church history article describes two major problems facing the church in the second century.  First, is the problem of blatant persecution.  This is a systematic or outright attack on God's people.  My friends, this will only get worse in the days ahead.  Christians businesses are attacked.  Churches are be attacked for marriage and building use issues.  Employees are attacked and jobs lost for not participating in their employer's sanctioned events.  Hebrews 11 mentions many generations who were attacked, persecuted, and even killed for the sake of Christ's name.  First Peter repeatedly mentions the concept of suffering for both good and evil.  If we are to suffer and be persecuted then let it be for doing right and not evil in God's eyes (society is rapidly redefining God's ways and evil and the world's ways as good).

The second problem is from within the church.  This is the problem of false teaching.  False teachers remain to this very day.  They take many shapes, forms, and charismatic personalities.  They have small and large followings and have deceived many.  False teaching takes many forms but there are three primary ways in which false teaching exists today.

The first way is through doctrine.  This is simply heterodoxy.  The second way is through wrong works, fruit, and actions.  This is heteropraxy.  The third false means is through false emotions and affections.  We'll call this heteropathy.  So there you have it, the three false ways our church is attacked from the inside: false doctrine, false living/practice, and false affections/desires.

All three of these can take many forms.  But let's start with some simple questions:  How would you identify them?  What biblical grid or worldview would you use to identify these three categories?  Add this to the equation, when in history was your conclusion correct?  Has it always been this way?  Who acknowledges certain categories but not the others?  Every wonder why they don't acknowledge the other categories?

Is it possible to believe the right doctrines but to live a sinful and worldly lifestyle (and to encourage others to do likewise)?

Is it possible to practice all the right and godly ways and yet to believe all the wrong doctrinal truths?

Is it possible to have a correct doctrine or practice but to habitually expose yourself and others to sounds, behaviors, and sources that damage your desires and affections?

History is not all that far behind us.  The second century had their specific problems with Christian persecution and false teaching.  We have our own today.  May God give us grace to persevere through the days ahead and give us discernment to see and avoid false doctrine and practice.

Hope this is helpful to some.  As always comments encouraged.

Evangelical Study Bibles: A Last Evaluation and Warning concerning evolutionary compromise

Evangelical Study Bibles: A Last Evaluation and Warning concerning evolutionary compromise (simply: why they don't believe in a literal 24-hour, six day creation week and a young earth)

This small three part series has investigated the introductory notes and verse comments found with several well-known evangelical study Bibles.  By way of review we have previously covered the following list of study Bibles: The MacArthur Study Bible, The Reformation Heritage Study Bible, The Zondervan Study Bible (KJV Edition), the Ryrie Study Bible, the ESV Study Bible and lastly the Reformation Study Bible.

As has been shown there is a dramatic pull or push (which ever is worse) within new evangelical circles to present nearly every possible position on the creation account of Genesis chapter one.  Whether motivated by a broader audience appeal from particular publishing houses or simply a desire to be a respected scholar within the new evangelical sphere is besides the point.  What matters is that people read these study notes from these well-known and influential writers and walk away believing it doesn't matter.  In essence, these modern new evangelical "scholars" have redefined historical doctrine and made it of secondary importance.  Worse case (in this new way of thinking) it has not effected the content of the gospel (which in the end is all they want you to believe is important).  I would challenge you to produce a list of theological journal articles which actually support and defend a literal 24-hour, six-day view of the creation account found in Genesis One.  If and when you are actually able to produce a list take note of the journal and the date when it was published.  New evangelicalism does a very good job keeping these articles from appearing in print.

Today in this last episode concerning the view of creation found within study Bibles we shall review three remaining sources: the NET Bible, the Apologetics Study Bible and lastly the Archaeological Study Bible.

First is the NET Bible from Biblical Studies Press (2006).  This is a lesser known study Bible, the notes located within it appear to be more focused on translation and exegetical concerns.  Most study Bibles do not comment on manuscripts, variants, and various other details such as case uses and grammatical sentence structure.  Concerning the NET Bible comments on 1:1, "If the first view is adopted, then we have a reference here to original creation; if the second view is taken, then Genesis itself does not account for the original creation of matter."  In relation to these two positions later on in the notes they comment, "This second view presupposes the existence of pre-existent matter."  How then do they evaluate this alternative in the notes, "The following narrative strongly favors the second view..."  Did you catch that detail?  Pre-existing matter prior to creation and this is the favored view.  Please let me know if I am wrong and misunderstood this.  I'll gladly make correction to be academically correct and honest.

Well, on to the Apologetics Study Bible.  They list in their notes on page four, "Both sides believe they have strong arguments favoring their interpretation and rebutting the other side."  Ultimately, they take no position and offer no rebuttal for any position.  They are at least willing to acknowledge theistic evolutionists have sold out to Darwin, "those who accept evolution as God's mechanism in creation."  They simply don't understand the issues at stake and allow evolutionary scientists to define what "science" is and don't question it, "Some YCs accuse OCs of compromising the Bible with evolutionary science.  Some OCs charge YCs with undermining biblical credibility by generating a false conflict between science and the Scriptures."  Can you read what they are saying about broader new evangelical scholars?  Since OCs refuse to question the unbelieving views of evolutionists, everyone who opposes their accommodating Biblical interpretations is a trouble maker.  The end of their section really sums up the views of broader evangelical's refusal to take the text at face value, "even if the correct interpretation of the creation days is not readily apparent in the present generation."

Lastly, we shall discuss the Archaeological Study Bible.  The back cover explicitly identifies it as a joint project with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  It's main editors are Walter C. Kaiser and Duane Garrett. We begin with comments on 1:1-31, "The length of the creative days of Genesis 1 is not specified in the Bible."  They continue after listing three views for the gloss "day", "There is no indisputable indication as to which of the three is meant in Genesis 1."  We go on, "The Bible provides no specific statement as to how long ago matter was created, when the first day or creation began or when the sixth day ended."  To their credit concerning 1:1-2 and a supposed long gap, "Hebrew syntax, leaves no room for such a view."  So at least their willing to take a stance again the gap theory but won't give any critique of the compromised views of new evangelical scholarship.

This series has come to a conclusion.  So in conclusion in evaluating study Bibles in their handling of the account of creation and accommodation to new evangelical scholarship only three stand out as the least compromised or again evolutionary theory.  These three are the MacArthur Study Bible, Ryrie Study Bible and the Reformation Heritage Study Bible.

Hope this helps some.  Again if any facts or copied quotations straight from their own notes are not accurate please let me know.  In the end, keeping reading and memorizing the scriptures.  Don't forget the notes are not given by inspiration from God.

Comments of course as always encouraged.

Ark Exceeds Attendance Projections

Ark Encounter Exceeds Attendance Projections

Click on the link below or copy paste.

See what God is doing is Williamstown, KY.



http://wlwt.com/news/riding-wave-of-popularity-ark-encounter-exceeds-attendance-projections/41685082